How to Achieve Enchantment NOW

In my sister blog, PNW District Optimist Clubs, I wrote about an effort to bring new Optimist Club members into your Optimist Club called a NOW event. NOW stands for New Optimists Welcome. Generally such an event is conducted around a meal and guests are treated to a presentation about Optimist Club projects as they learn what it's like to share the camaraderie of Optimist friends and colleagues.

The new twist on the NOW activity is to be bigger and grander. Clubs are encouraged to come together in their zones - a group of 4 or 5 clubs - to display their projects at one time. Sort of trade show style, it requires planning, coordination and a number of Optimist Club members who are willing to talk about what it means to belong to an Optimist Club. As club spokespersons, it really helps if these representatives are likable. I thought this might be a good time to introduce the likability infographic from Guy Kawasaki, part of the collateral provided during the rollout of the successful Enchantment (affiliate link) book.

Please scroll down and see what it takes to be enchanting. Can you apply these ideas to your Optimist Club?

Enchantment: A lesson in optimism

I took my time reading Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds and Actions by Guy Kawasaki; and then I took even a little longer to write my review. The reason for my delay is what I have found most enchanting about the experience has been reading Kawasaki's updates on Facebook where he has epitomized the very art of influence; the very art of enchantment. 

There is nothing new about writing a how-to book on how to influence people. There is, however, value in writing a book that helps the reader transform into a person who influences others. We learn best when we see leaders doing what they say we should do, and that has been my greatest joy of reading Enchantment. 

Through the Enchantment Facebook page and other social media outlets, it has been easy to watch Kawasaki doing all the things he advocates and more: 

• Smile and mean it. Boom ... there is a picture of Kawasaki grinning with crow's feet. 
• Dress for a tie. Boom ... there is a picture of Kawasaki at the Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association's Meeting, appropriately attired for his audience. 
• Make it personal. Boom ... there are snippets and stories on his blog, on Facebook and Twitter of how Kawasaki uses his advice to manage his life. 
• Build an ecosystem. Boom ... there is Kawasaki at SXSW with his literal and figurative team. 
• Diversify the team. Boom ... did you know there were 260 people involved in designing the cover of the book alone? 

Some are saying that Enchantment is the 21st century replacement for Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People.  Perhaps, but I rather think it is more of a blueprint for honest engagement with others in a world replete with networked relationships that are both enhanced and strained by technology. 

In this ever-evolving medium, guided by interactive rules and often abridged discussion, we have to be reminded always to take a positive approach.  Kawasaki effectively demonstrates something highly valued by Experience Optimism readers; a positive, optimistic approach to business and life is not only enchanting, it is the best path to follow.  

Read Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions and follow the blueprint. You will discover that you can be positively enchanting – and more successful – too. 

You can buy Enchantment from your local bookseller or online through a choice of online retailers. 

Music Sunday: In Motion

My brother Mike died much too young and I'm somewhat ashamed to say that I don't think of him every day. Life is fluid, we move forward, and because we may not dwell on those who are gone from our lives, it makes it that  much sweeter when something current reminds us of them.  The soundtrack from The Social Network made me think of my brother fondly and strangely, it also made me appreciate his choices in music much more than I did ten years ago. I wish I could tell him so.

One of Mike's many talents was music; his instrument was the organ (yes, many years ago) which evolved into the keyboard and synthesizer. He liked all genres, but electronic music was his favorite and Jean Michel Jarre comes to mind as one of his favorite composers. As I thought about this post,  I listened to Oxygene 7-13, and I thought of him and smiled.

I do believe I feel something similar in Trent Reznor's 'In Motion' for The Social Network soundtrack. It's vibrant and pulsing with a touch of playful whimsy in the synthesized sound. Dare I say, it is just like my brother?  He would have appreciated it and he would have emulated it. I just get to enjoy it.



This clip from the Carpetbagger with Melena Ryzik for the New York Times explains how the score was written. Please take a few more minutes to watch: An interview with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross about the Oscar nominated score.



I'm not rooting for The Social Network tonight, Oscar Night; as I said in a previous post, The King's Speech has my vote, for what it is worth. However, the movie I will watch over and over again will be the former. I can relate more to it and now that I have made a familial connection, it will be that much more enchanting.

There is just something surreal about the ability to change the world with language, and in this case, especially when that language is code. The Social Network is the movie of the decade, combined with the soundtrack of life.