This little image – normally a square, cropped image – is what the users see whenever messages or status updates are sent.  It should therefore be representative.

Seth Godin has written an excellent post about how to create the best representation of yourself online:

Seth’s Blog: The power of a tiny picture (how to improve your social network brand)

If you’re serious about socialising online, I highly recommend you make an appointment with a professional photographer & together create a small portfolio of close-up, 3/4 & full body photographs.  You should be dressed professionally, as you wish to be seen in public.  You won’t need to print them out, simple request a CD or have them copied straight to a flash disk. Some studios will offer to ‘touch-up’ your photographs; unless you’re familiar with professional graphics applications, I suggest you spend the extra money to have the professional make you look good.

Or watch this video to see how you can make a ‘manga’-style avatar without a photograph. 

As suggested by my mentor, I used the 6 Power Poses to create a collection of photographs that I can use for practically any purpose.  Some of them have been cropped for my avatars, others work well for printing.  But the hour or so it took me to have the different poses caught on film has been well spent, as I no longer need to search to find an appropriate photograph for a press release, newsletter or blog post.

I can highly recommend Ant from That’s Me Photographic Studios.

You can contact him here: 
Physical Address: Unit A112, The Old Biscuit Mill, 373 Albert Road, Woodstock, Cape Town, 7925 
Website: http://www.thatsme.co.za
Tel: (021) 447 1280

(My upcoming seminar, “The Magic Experience: De-Mystifying Marketing For Entrepreneurs“, will include information about the best Power Poses for photographs, how this images can be used & how to ensure that you look fantastic in the shot.)

Well, I’ve discovered a really great secret about renting cars…

Firstly, where possible I only rent cars from Avis.  Their service is superb & on the rare occasion that I’ve had a problem with the car, they are able to sort it out quickly & efficiently.  They have rental offices at every airport & major city centres, & are able to do collections & drop-offs practically anywhere.  The Avis Car Rental offices are always the nearest to the terminal building, which means I don’t have to walk far to pickup or drop-off the vehicle – particularly helpful if you’re in a rush!

But now I’m able to get my hired vehicle much faster.

A few months ago, I saw that Avis has a ‘Preferred Bookings’ counter.  I made a few enquiries & was happy to find out that they have a super-dooper personal service!

1. Join the “Preferred Bookings” club by completing the application form (click to download the .pdf).
2. You’ll receive a “Preferred Bookings” club card & a unique “Wizzard” account number.
3. When you make a booking, provide your “Wizzard” account number.
4. Arrive at the airport & walk straight to the “Preferred Bookings” counter, bypassing the 50 people waiting in the queue (this is particularly true at “rush hour”).
5. Hand over your card, driver’s license & mobile ‘phone number.
6. Receive the key & drive off. NO SIGNATURES REQUIRED!

I now literally get my car in 5 minutes! That’s NOT an exaggeration.

The bonus is that you get much better rates that a ‘normal’ Avis rental – the “Preferred Bookings” rates are competitive even against the budget rental companies.

Plus you can link your rentals to either SAA Voyager Miles, BA Executive Club Miles, or even eBucks. In fact eBucks have recently launched an online booking facility on their website where you can spend your eBucks on Kulula air flights.

All charges are done straight to your nominated credit card, so you don’t have to take your company credit card with you.  Your signature is on their files so you don’t have to sign anything!

Without a doubt, this is the fastest & cheapest way to hire a rental car & it’s highly recommended, even if you don’t travel as regularly as I do.

George Carlin: Brilliant comedian. Foul language. Inappropriate for corporate events

With so many year-end functions, Christmas ( X-mas?!) parties & corporate events happening around this time of year, I thought I’d share something that’s been irritating me.  If you’re an event co-ordinator, or a party planner, you may have experienced this kind of frustration with corporate event entertainers before.

Occasionally I get the honour of sharing the stage with some of South Africa’s most well-know MCs, comedians, singers & other performance ‘artistes’, & so I relish to opportunity to watch their performances & learn from their experience & techniques.  However, I find it absolutely shocking that some of them use foul language or risqué material at the most inappropriate times.

I’d agree that in certain circumstances this may be considered acceptable by the audience – comedy club audiences have completely different level of tolerance for sexist, racist or sexual jokes & material.  But all performers at a client’s company event should be fully aware that they are not only damaging their own reputation (with potential repercussions) but the reputation of their client.

Corporate event entertainers are expected to assume that inappropriate language, humor or materials will not be tolerated; except under situations where the client’s representative has cleared this during the event briefing process.  In my humble opinion, even performers – particularly comedians – who have become established because of their extreme behaviour should be very careful when they consider what material they will be performing.

Foul language is ‘easy humour’ – but a true professional understands that event is not ‘about them’ & they are not the main feature of the event. The client’s guests are to be treated with the utmost respect, since it’s because of the guests’ support that event is happening at all.

If you have had the misfortune of working with an entertainer that made you cover your eyes out of embarresment, or had to deal with guests’ complaints, please comment & tell me your story.  Please do not mention the entertainer’s name: rather, let this be an opportunity to share your experience & what you learnt with other event planners & corporate function coordinators.