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Relationship Building the Key to Social Networking

June 7, 2010 By 10 Comments

As humans we are social beings.  This means that we place value to developing meaningful relationships.  This started back in childhood when we played with other children. We wanted to be friends and make friends with others.  We were interested in what the other children liked to do and the common interest we shared.   We were excited about new things that we discovered through others.

The things we did to develop good relationships with others when we were children are the same things that we need to do now with our social networks.  Why, because although there is technology that allows us to connect to one another in our social networks, the people are the same on either end of the technology.  This means that we both are looking to develop meaningful relationships if we are interested in developing a great social network.

To be successful we need to do the same thing in our virtual relationship as we do in our face to face relationship.  These points were mentioned in a recent blog post that I read by Kathryn  Griffiths, (a fellow 30 day challenge blogger) and I would like to bring them to your attention.  Kathryn said we should:





  1. Use our own picture on social networking sites not an avatar
  2. Use audio with your voice when possible
  3. Be transparent  – using an e mail and other means of contact where possible
  4. Be open to connecting off line -  in person or via phone

While I do agree with the first 2, I would like to provide an air of caution on numbers 3 and 4.  We live in a different world then we did when we were growing up.  This means that we need to not give out too much personal information when on social networks.  Using a P.O. Box is a way to provide an address without revealing your own.  This is important especially to avoid identity thief or if you have a business.  Meeting people in person may not always be practical, because of the physical distance between you (living in another state or country) and this too may be unsafe.  I encourage you to use caution and meet in a public place if you choose to meet in person.

There is one more format that I would like to suggest you use to connect with others online and that is video.  Video allows the viewer to connect with you in a way that is stronger than a picture and audio alone.  I recommend that you consider these tips when connecting with others in your social networks and I invite you read the “Virtual Relationship” post by Kathryn.

Filed Under: Relationship, Social Network Tagged With: , , ,

Fishing For Your Talents

June 6, 2010 By 10 Comments

Finding your talents can be a kin to going fishing.  Not familiar with fishing, let me share what is involved.  You must be willing to take the following 5 steps:

  1. Make the choice to go fishing
  2. Check the weather report and be prepared
  3. Make sure you choose the right bait
  4. Get ready to spend the time needed
  5. Be prepared to catch the fish

Let’s review this list as it relates to finding your talents.

  1. You must be willing to take the journey to find your talents. This means you are willing to take the next 4 steps in the process.  If you are not, you will not be successful in the process.
  2. What is your mindset?  Are you open to the possibility that you have hidden talents? Are you willing to take assessments, and be coached to help you find your talents?
  3. It’s homework time.  Are you willing to do the research with the people who know you best, family, coworkers, your spouse or significant other to find synergy?
  4. Take the time to reflect?  Look at all of the data that you have compiled from assessments, coaching, homework and reflection and get the help you need to interpret it.   Having someone to help you in this part of the process is a key aspect to being successful.
  5. Flexibility and open mindedness are keys to embracing your newly defined talents.  How open are you to change?  Your talents may reveal that you would be better served taking a different approach to your work and the things that you do.  This will allow you to be more productive.


To emphasize this process I made a video.  I would like to encourage you to take the fishing trip to find your talents and I guarantee you will not return home empty handed.

Filed Under: Video, Your Talents Tagged With: , , , , , ,

A Talent Based Work Environment

June 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Imagine a job where everyone was doing the job that they were best suited to do. A workplace where there was intentional collaborative team development was the norm not the exception. Each team member enjoys their job, has fun doing it and genuinely embraces their talents in their work.

Do you think this sound like the future? Well it could be happening in your organization, business, office or department today. There are a few requirements to achieving this success. The first requirement is to have an open mind. If you are open to the belief that this is truly possible then you have take the first step. Step two, do you have buy in from management. If management is not on board this will not work, they need to be willing to change their mindset about who can perform what tasks. Next step is for everyone to identify and embrace their talents. This can be done through a series of workshops and trainings that will allow attendees to interact and develop a true team environment centered on their individual and collective talents.

If this sounds exciting and you would like to learn more feel free to complete my contact form and let’s have a conversation.

Filed Under: Relationship, Your Talents Tagged With: , ,

A Talent Revolution

June 4, 2010 By 6 Comments

I found a great video that supports the views that I believe and speak of in my presentations. We have poor use of our talents. Many of us do not believe that we have talents at all. This is a great misnomer.
Tell me what type of work you would prefer to do, work that is a chore or work that you enjoy. Do you believe you can actually enjoy the work you do daily? I know, for a number of people this is unbelievable, only because they have never tired it.

If you were doing a job which spoke to you, the real you inside, you would enjoy it and not even consider the fact that it was work. Consider something that you enjoy so much that you lost track of time and you wish you had more hours in the day to do what you are doing. This is when you are working from a position of using your talents.

Sir Ken Robinson talks about having a revolution in education to provide an opportunity to develop creative thinkers and value the talents that people have. To stay competitive in the global market we need to develop more talent focused organization, businesses and institutions of education. What do you think? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Filed Under: Video, Your Talents Tagged With: , , , ,

Talent Education

June 3, 2010 By 5 Comments

When we were in school we were told to follow the rules. We were all taught the same thing the same way. There was no thought given to what we all know to be true today, people have learning preferences. In fact people can look at the same problem and find different solutions. Our educational system did not reward creativity, but rewarded the ability to return one specific result to a problem as the correct answer. Our talents are connected to our creativity. Most teachers that I had in school did not encourage creative thinking.

It started as early as preschool. I was thrown out of preschool for talking too much. I was told that I would be the valedictorian of my class. I had learned my graduation speech and we were going to put on a play for our parents. My preschool teacher, Ms. Dusseldorf, suspended me because I repeat the other children’s line in the play when they did not remember them. She called my mother who took me home and spanked me (this was before there were child protective services). Needless to say I was a good little boy, never speaking out of turn from that point forward.

Kevin Thompson Pre School Graduation

On graduation day I approached the stage to say the valedictorian speech. I was told by my teacher that she choose someone else to deliver the speech since I had been suspended from class. I was hurt, dejected and returned to my seat. I watched the little boy go up to the stage to say the speech. He stood there looked out at the crowd and broke out in tears. Ms. Dusseldorf rushed him off the stage and asked me to come up deliver the speech. Speaking in public is one of my talents. But I did not rediscover it as a talent until 6 years ago. Now I am a professional speaker.

Pre-School Graduation Certificate

I share this story with you because your talent may be waiting to be discovered just like mine. Just think what progress could be made in our educational institutions if we considered valuing and developing people’s talents. Have you had a similar experience? Please feel free to share your comments below.

Filed Under: Your Talents Tagged With: , , , , ,

Talents Waiting To Be Discovered

June 2, 2010 By 10 Comments

You have hidden talents just waiting to be discovered. The bad thing is that your friends, family and coworkers cannot help you find these hidden talents. Why? You have yet to discover them yourself so you have not displayed them. I recommend that you challenge yourself to discover these talents by doing something that you have never done before.

Allow me to share a story to illustrate this point. I went to the National Speakers Association National Conference in Orlando in the summer of 2005. This was my first time attending this conference and I went with a couple of friends/coworkers Rosie and Ray Horner. There was an opportunity to be a part of an improvisation group to put on a show on stage before the conference started. I told Rosie I was going to enter the group and she joined me. Rosie having been a professional speaker for a number of years told me that I had no idea of the caliber of speaker I would be meeting. I smiled and thought to myself it was not a big deal. I could do this. After all I did this improv thing watching the TV show “Who’s Line is it Anyway”. And I felt that I was just as good as those guys. (The thing I would like to point out to you is that I have never done improv before)

What made me believe that I could do improv? It was this feeling inside. I was comfortable, confidant, and it just felt natural when I played along with the TV show. To me it was a game and it was fun. I had no concept that well know and accomplished speakers who would be in the audience. If I did I probably would have been scared out of their mind.

To make a long story short, I was in every other improve skit and when it came time to challenge the master I did. I excelled in every skit I was in and held my own with the master Stevie Ray. It was a time I will never forget. But I would have never found out I could do it if I had not challenged myself. Now this is a talent that I use when I present on the stage to association and businesses.

If it worked for me it will work for you. Stretch yourself, challenge yourself, try something new that you think you would enjoy and you might find a hidden talent. Please share your thoughts about discovering a hidden talent in the comments below.

Filed Under: Your Talents Tagged With: , , , , ,

Your Hidden Natural Talents That Others See

June 1, 2010 By 10 Comments

You have talents that you might not be aware of, hidden from your view. In fact I believe there are two types of hidden talents, the first set are those known to others and not you. These are the things people come to you for because they know you can do them with ease. In fact the look to you for help in the area that you have talent, this can be things like, negotiating a deal, organizing a party, and communicating a complicated idea in easy to understand language. These are thing that are simple for you to do in fact you do not give a second thought to doing it. And that is the point. You don’t think about it but others do. They see you master these tasks and marvel at the way you do it. That is why I say the talent is hidden to you and known to others. Think about those things that others come to you for. I bet you can name them. Feel free to ask your friend and colleagues and write down what they say your talents are. Write them down on a piece of paper and look at them. What do they have in common? The one thing I guarantee that they have in common is that you enjoy using them. Please share with me in the comments what your talents are and how you enjoy using them.

Filed Under: Your Talents Tagged With: , , ,

Why Speak?

January 6, 2010 By

A number of people have asked me this question over the years.  Why speak?    I speak to inspire others, share knowledge and make people smile.  It is my passion to touch other people’s lives in a meaningful way.  Having the opportunity to deliver a message that resonates with the audience, inspires them to be their very best and makes them smile brings me joy.  It is my intention that whenever I speak the audience will walk away more informed, enlightened, and joyful.

Kevin Thompson MPA presenting at CUNYHumor plays a major role in my presentations.  People learn and retain more when they are enjoying the message.  My goal is to ensure that the message the audience hears is memorable if not unforgettable. This is the reason that I tailor and customize my presentations for each organization or association.  Yes this requires more preparation but it results in making an unforgettable connection with the audience.  I believe there is nothing better than making that type of connection with the audience.  I enjoy watching their eyes light up as I speak.  Seeing them smile and roll with laughter brings me joy.  I am happy and fell fulfilled knowing that I made that connection.  Having the opportunity to touch another person’s life, mind and heart in a positive way is one of the best ways that I know to spread joy in the world.  Why do I speak? I speak for all of these reasons.  I am looking forward to speaking to your organization or association.   Click this link, fill out the form and let’s discuss how I can communicate a message that will resonate with your audience.

Filed Under: Business, First Impression, Relationship, Speaking Tagged With: , , ,
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