Behind the bar at the #NCCAF Standup Afterparty. #itsjustwhatido #partyhustle (@ DSI Comedy Theater) http://t.co/CrqcpmMf 20 mins agoFollow Zach on Twitter

Archive for April, 2010

Apr
30

Best Face Forward

robin-williams

Robin Williams might just have a FACE for everything.

As a popular phrase, to put your “Best Foot Forward” means to Embark on a journey or task with purpose and enthusiasm. Best Foot Forward has also been a musical, a film and an album by REO Speedwagon. But those probably take me away from my point (Except for REO Speedwagon, who always takes me back).

What was my point? Oh yeah. We want to know the people BEHIND the scenes. We need to know them and trust them. It has become incredibly important for people to personally connect with the people BEHIND the products and services they use everyday. Large corporations and brands can afford to bypass that need with celebrity endorsements, but did the local business community budget for that? I didn’t think so.

So how are we communicating to the public? Our clients, customers, and employees.

Are you Behind-the-Scenes? Have you put your “Best Foot Forward”?

You probably have an AWESOME product or service that can really help people in your community. But do you know what it means to put your Best Face Forward? You could be the CELEBRITY endorsing your own business. But we need to understand how to read the client (audience), identify with the public, project authority and inspire confidence while communicating a genuine message from an authentic place.

Easier said than done. I know.

But we have the tools to communicate ANY message, ANYtime, to ANYone who wants to listen. As entrepreneurs and small business owners get wrapped up in the task list #Hustle and #inboxzero are they missing an opportunity (AND A CRUCIAL TASK FOR BIZDEV) to personally connect with the world by working to put their Best Face Forward to endorse the work they are doing with their Best Foot Forward.

Aside, “Best Foot Forward” implies that we have three or more feet. Weird.

What do you do to put your Best Face Forward?

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Posted in business, leadership | No Comments »

Apr
27

Improv and Youth Leadership

ZW-YMCA-leadership

Last week the Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA asked me to organize an interactive comedy show to close out their annual day-long Leadership Rally for students from all over the state of North Carolina. Of course I said YES! (AND! then promptly booked DSI Comedy TourCo to back me up on stage).

It was a true All-Star show because our objective was simple: Offer an interactive improv comedy set that engaged as many students and student ideas as possible, to make them the stars of the night. I wanted to show what a true LEADER could do with the spotlight by turning the focus on our volunteers. We supported the student volunteers unconditionally and set THEM up to succeed in every game. Why? Because when THEY experienced success, we did too. And when people see you as a Manager or Leader that truly cares about the success of your TEAM first, they jump at the chance to work with you.

Imagine managing a team of people who are not only excited about the work itself, but excited to do whatever that work might be FOR YOU as a Leader. The fundamentals of improvisation can help to breed that type of passion and team loyalty, which creates a pretty sweet by-product, personal satisfaction (and comedy). Do you want the world to be a better place? Do you want to help the next generation?

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

Look for an improv class near you and sign your kids up for it.

DSI classes (and summer camps) help students: Improve verbal ability; Enhance active listening skills; Build body awareness and Boost self-confidence. Improvisation can have a positive impact on students both on- and off-stage. By learning performance games in a safe environment, DSI students are encouraged to take risks and they develop the ability to both tell stories collaboratively and work in the moment.

Oh, it works for adults too. (details online)

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Posted in improv, leadership | No Comments »

Apr
25

Foursquare Nowhere

As soon as I get to sleep I am officially off the grid for two days.

I wanted to make it two SOLID days. I even booked a short stay a couple hours outside of town, which I can do now because of the Prius, but I got a call from a rep at NBC UNIVERSAL on Friday with an opportunity to moderate a panel with the cast of MacGruber. Monday at the Varsity Theatre. Wtf? Really? Night Two of my Two-Night vacation. Anyway, I guess I can drive back to hang out with Jorma Taccone, Will Forte, John Solomon and Ryan Phillippe in Chapel Hill.  I mean, twist my arm… You can be sure that I’ll have another post about that later this week. (Meanwhile, check out Lonely Island History and Boner Ghosts).

But still, until Tuesday, I’m offline. No Email. No Facebook. No Twitter. AND absolutely No Checking-in anywhere. No Foursquare, No Gowalla. And I still haven’t even started using Tri-Out.

Chances are you know every single time #ZW Works Out.

You know when I’m eating steak or drinking coffee, or both. You know WHERE I am WHEN I’m there because I check-in on apps that have, on more than one occasion, helped me connect to people who were just a short walk away. I talked to CNN last month about being “Mayor” of The Hotel Minneapolis and why social networking (READ: opt-in information overload) means so much to people today.

But for the next two days, I’m checking OUT of this:

zw-foursquare

And I’m checking IN to this:

floating-leaf

A leaf on the surface of the water, My #AntiHustle.

For the last 6 years I’ve used any floating leaf image to help me center.

A little #AntiHustle so I can get back to work (on Tuesday).

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Posted in personal, social media, travel | 1 Comment »