Update: Samba anyone?

Eliane my fitness trainer introduced samba dancing to our class. Samba's origin is from Brazil and involves a lot of hip movement. At times your hips, feet and torso are moving independently of each other.

Your editor is not a dancer and looked very odd on the dance floor. Perhaps he should stick to something easier like sunbathing. As expected, a lot of ladies hung around for this fun lesson and had a great time.

Because of this interest, our instructor will introduce more Latin dances in the future. Hopefully easier ones. This is beginning to shape up as a diverse fitness program.

Feature Article: Winning with a Proactive A-Game

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Social Networking Blues...

As usual things in Cyberspace do not always bode well. There is the Dark Side that wants to destroy anything that's good. Here's a dialogue from some of my associates and a tip for everyone in social networking:

"A lot of us are on Facebook. I strongly recommend that you change your password. Angela, you may want to check your Facebook account. I opened something that I thought you sent last week and now it's clear to me that it was sent by someone else." (Melissa)

"Your Facebook account sent out a mail to lots of your friends. I think you've been hacked. The mail just had a link to a phishing site. You probably hit a phishing site somewhere too. These are pages that offer to add something to your Facebook page if you just put in your account name and password. Sometimes they're made to look like the Facebook login page itself. If it wasn't that, then you might have some malware infecting your computer that logged your login information while you typed it.

"Best thing to do is run anti-virus and anti-adware software scans, clean up, then go change your Facebook password in that order. And be careful clicking." (Todd)

Winning with a Proactive A-Game

Dear Associate,

At an event, when you walk into a room — what happens?

Do people check you out and make a mental note to see you later? Does one spouse elbow the other to ask, "Who's that?" Do complete strangers walk up to meet and greet you?

Or do you head straight for the bar or buffet table because it's been a hectic day and you're hungry or need a drink to relax?

My guess is that it's somewhere in-between. Because we're human beings and we have fears and doubts that influence us to blend in with the crowd rather than stand out from them. I mean: didn't mama teach us about modesty when we were young?

But that's what I call playing the B-game...

You go through the motions to show what you think is your best face, but you're really holding back because you fear what people might say or think. Or you may try to seek approval from people rather than appear as a rebel. So you become agreeable. The awful truth is — you're playing small.

How do I know this?

Because I'm an expert at it. For as long as I can remember. At business events I'd always sit in the back and take notes and never ask questions. I never got involved. I never participated. I wouldn't even mumble a word during private conference calls fearing I'd sound stupid or incoherent.

I was stuck playing an average B-game. I just didn't know how to elevate my game. I knew if I ever wanted to make a positive impact in people's lives, I'd have to put together a proactive A-game.

I began observing people who played big. These were people who were sure of themselves. They were confident in their beliefs and actions. They seemed to send out good vibes that attracted more success.

Here are three keys they've mastered that will enhance you with your A-game...

1) Attitude. This is huge. Attitude covers everything from the clothes on your back, to how you feel, what you're doing, to how you respond and everything in-between. They all have to be positively laced with confidence.

I attended a networking workshop where my speech coach Ann was the moderator. When she saw me walking in she came down from the podium to hug me in the center aisle. She invited me to sit front row center.

What Ann did spoke volumes... because people in the crowd began wondering who I was and what position I hold with the meeting organizers. And all I did was give away positive vibes that attracted more positivity in return. This stems from generating a confident attitude wherever you are.

2) Body language. These are the non-verbal cues, body movements, posture and facial gestures that send a message to people around you. And you are always transmitting them. Even when you're completely still.

When you're walking, walk erect. When you're sitting, no slouching. Open arms are better than clenched fists. And remember to always smile.

Women are better at reading non-verbal cues than men. They can detect things about a person that doesn't register on normal radar. If you have any questions about your body language, it's a good idea to consult with a woman.

3) Connection. This is where the rubber meets the road. This is where conversational skills come to play. This is where people who feel good about you begin to experience the real you.

Always be cordial and polite. Ask questions. Include a compliment. Ask for their opinion. Show an authentic interest in the other party. And if you're able: trigger their funny bone with light, clean humor.

Get good at this and people will want to know you more and see you more often. They will want to know what's on your mind. And probably invite you as a friend in their social network.

When you are sure of yourself, your beliefs and your actions — people notice. You are now playing your A-game. So get proactive today.

Warm regards,