SpeakerNet News 4/26/2024

4/26/2024

Editors: Rebecca Morgan & Ken Braly

See “About SpeakerNet News” at the end for information on how to submit tips and use this newsletter. Remember, your “dues” for this free ezine are submitting two tips a quarter. Send your best tips to editor@SpeakerNetNews.com.

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SNN Webcast Info

Feedback on the SNN webcast, “How to Find and Manage Interns at No Cost to You” with Rebecca Morgan, CSP, CMC, CVP, VMP:

“Thanks for your insightful and engaging session on interns. Brilliantly done!” —Donald Cooper
“This session was excellent!” —Gina Carr

Miscellaneous Tips

Get AI headshots — Susan Friedmann

At www.businessphoto.ai, you can get professional business portraits in minutes with our AI-photographer. Upload photos, pick your styles and receive 60+ headshots for $19.99. More photos available for a bit more money.

How to stay strategic in a volatile world — Vickie Sullivan

Every year, I determine an overall theme for the year. I select a general phrase that becomes the lens through which I view situations and goals.

For 2024, my focus is attention management. Here’s why: What we pay attention to drives everything else. It drives our choices, responses to specific situations, overall energy levels, everything.

Making strategic decisions that way is easier said than done. We may be tempted to react emotionally in the heat of the moment. Those responses feel right then, but they push us off track. To help you, here are two things you can do to remain focused and stay strategic.

Set up standards for worthiness: Many people get drawn into the details when what they should do is step back and ask, “Is this (situation, idea, relationship, etc.) worth my attention?” Having benchmarks can prevent you from going on wild goose chases and down rabbit holes.
Know when to cut and run: A lot of things look good on the surface but become less desirable once you’re knee-deep into the details. Instead of automatically doubling down to prove your perseverance, give yourself permission to change your mind. New information leads to new decisions.

A lot of us are pulled in many directions at once. By remaining focused, you can streamline big decisions and save your energy for making big things happen.

Complacency is the enemy of excellence. Have you become complacent with your virtual presentations? Learn enhancements that will make you go way beyond “good” in the Rebecca Morgan/eSpeakers Virtual Master Presenter course and designation. Five-part, live, virtual course starts May 15. Early bird rate ends April 30. Limited space. Details

Travel Tips

Get free travel insurance with your Amex Platinum — Rebecca Morgan

Did you know you can get free travel insurance if you pay for your airline ticket with your Amex Platinum, *even if you use award miles* from an airline (not necessarily Amex rewards)? You must just pay *something* — even just $1 — for taxes/fees on your Platinum card and it *must* be a round trip ticket. (The ticket can have multiple destinations, but can’t be one-way. It gets complicated, so call for clarification: 844/933-0648, 1; 8 am–9 pm ET).

Why should you care? What if you have other travel insurance? (I have other travel insurance.) As long as you are at least 100 miles from home, and you meet the criteria outlined above, you are covered. Here are a few important benefits: If you have to be medically evacuated, as long as you (or someone on your behalf) calls the AMEX Premium Global Assist Hotline before evacuation for approval, you are covered. Plus, if you are expected to be in the hospital 10 days or longer, they will fly in an adult of your choice to stay with you! (I choose Brad Pitt). Wow.

They provide other coverages for trip cancelation and interruption, baggage delay and loss, which is great. But I thought the medical pieces were extraordinary so wanted to point them out if you had or were considering the card (if considering the card, contact me). Make sure to follow the rules to get the coverage so if you need to use the benefit, all your ducks are in line.

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Requests for Info / Advice

Looking for blog platform suggestions — Ann Wylie

I’m looking to create a lifestyle blog separate from my speaking business. Any suggestions for tools I could use to make this a quick-and-dirty DIY venture? I don’t want to bring in my corporation’s digital marketing team, but I also don’t want to spend too much time doing backend admin/tech stuff. Is WordPress the best choice? Is there an easier tool to use for DIY posting? Any other thoughts or suggestions?

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