Welcome

I’m a traveling speaker, coach and seminar leader. My blog will include lessons and adventures on the seminar circuit. You can also find my newsletter, “The One Minute Note.” Welcome and thanks for visiting.

 

 

An Experiment in Corporate Branding

As the Principal and Resident Human Being at Jean Franzblau Consulting, I want to talk to you about a very personal branding question I am grappling with. On the one hand, I’m the professional speaker that you already know and love. The one who gets rave testimonials and has been asked back to many big, fancy companies.

On the other hand, if you were to Google me, you would find that I’m also a comedy actor and writer. I am brought to this question: As a corporate professional, must I only show to you – my potential client – a stuffy, corporate façade so that you will like and hire me? Does it burst my credibility if you see more?

As of this post, I am outing myself as a professional speaker and seminar leader who happens to also like to write, act, dance, sing and bed jump.

What was that last thing? Well, dear reader, client, potential client and friend, you’re about to find out in this 56 second clip. It’s a Valentine to the silliness and humanity in us all.

Process Improvement

Join in for a few minutes of this seminar for Administrative Assistants. I recommend being a thinking, proactive professional on the job by looking for opportunities to improve processes.

Here’s a process improvement tip about note taking.

I Have What I Want

Green with envy?

A friend, Thomas, once made the strangest discovery. He found himself observing another guy and becoming really jealous. He asked himself the question: What does this guy have that’s making me jealous? Thomas was able to pinpoint several things and then realized, “but I have all of the things I’ve just listed! What’s going on here?”

I can really identify with Thomas’ bafflement. When I become clear about the kind of life I want to create for myself, it’s a strange experience to go from envisioning a golden era in the future to realizing that the future is here, now and good.

Are there aspects of your life that are exactly as you want them right now? I’d love to hear what they are.

Life is sweet!

Business Email Tip

Did you know your emails were like a garden? Find out how in this handy vlog courtesy of Yours Truly at Jean Franzblau Consulting.

Difficult People Redefined

Be like a fly on the wall in this communication seminar. The question that’s being answered is this: What’s the definition of a difficult person?

June “One Minute Note” What’s Your Snapshot?

Connecting quality people feels good. There’s real satisfaction in helping a friend find just the right doctor, matching a talented person to her first client, or simply being the one able to say, “I know just who can help you.”

I want to help you, and there are oodles of others who want to as well. That’s why it’s really helpful if you can describe whatever it is that you do in a simple phrase. A phrase that’s easy to remember and understand. Let’s call it a snapshot:

“I help professional athletes get their heads on straight.” (Marc Levine)
“I teach investors from dabblers to day traders.” (Stephanie Radkay)
“I’m a seminar leader specializing in Administrative Assistant training.” (Jean Franzblau)

Keep your snapshot simple. Write a mediocre one and try it out on people so you can make it better. I’ll be your guinea pig. Email me your snapshot ; I’ll be happy to give you feedback.

Jean Making-It-Snappy Franzblau

Lyle’s Room

Gifts get dropped in my lap.

My client, SkillPath, asked me to give a seminar for the Pine Mountain Lake Association in Groveland, California near Yosemite. I’m a city girl with a heart for the mountains, so I was essentially paid to be in paradise.

I was put up in a bed and breakfast that’s a historical landmark. It’s right next to the oldest saloon in California. As I checked in, I saw information about a room that’s apparently haunted by a ghost named “Lyle.” I wanted to meet Lyle. I didn’t feel at all scared about it. I was able to get that room.

Lyle allegedly turns on and off faucets and the TV. Here’s one guest’s story:

Lyle’s most consistent trick is that he removes ladies cosmetics from “his bureau” and puts them in places like under a chair. I was encouraged by a local to put all my cosmetics there just to see what would happen. I felt like that would be rude so I abstained from testing out the ghost’s ire.

Lyle's bureau

The room was a pleasure to be in. I felt and experienced nothing odd except that I didn’t sleep well. But I will attribute that to the baby back barbeque ribs I had for dinner. Mmm good and totally worth it!

Taking time to smell the dandelions

Scatological Road Warrior Tip

I’d like to offer a new tip for the road warriors among us. When living in a hotel room, it’s easy to miss the comforts of home. Even something as simple as bathroom air freshener might seem a luxury.

A friend from my women’s group introduced me to a product that eliminates bathroom odor before it even gets started. It’s called “Just a Drop.” You drip a drop into the lieu before you have a seat. The result is zero bathroom odor. And it comes in a tiny bottle that fits right into your TSA zip-lock bag.

I ordered one for home and one for the road. Not that bathroom odor is an issue for me. I’m a very dainty person.

Shout Out for ASTD

Do you or someone you love have an interest in being a trainer?

Back in 1999, when a mentor heard that I got a promotion to be a corporate trainer she immediately suggested the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD). “You’ll love the people. It will feel like home.” What wonderful conversations I had at my first chapter meeting.

I attended the ASTD Train the Trainer course to teach me how adults learn. I was riveted by the experience and came away with oodles of tools that allowed me to transition to my new position like a pro.

When I opened my own consulting business, I started calling fellow ASTD business owners to network and get bright ideas. One kind person suggested SkillPath Seminars to me. I hadn’t yet heard of them. Over two years later, SkillPath remains my bread and butter client. I’ve been able to work in six countries and in groups of over 300 people. And now I can relish this moment and realize that my life changed dramatically based on one conversation with an ASTD member!

Now I feel like a peacock flaunting its feathers when I tell people I’m on the Board. It sounds so fancy and serious. As it turns out, it’s growing me in ways I never would have been able to guess. I’m making new friends and getting noticed for my own unique contributions.

Reach out to me if you have any questions about ASTD. I’ll be happy to help.

You Never Forget Your First Vlog

I dedicate this foray into the vlogosphere to the wayward curl you will see on one side of my head. I could have let that darling lock of hair keep me from hitting my goal to post my first vlog by May 19, 2009. I greet that curl with affection and a reminder of this wonderful quote:

Sloppy success is better than flawless mediocrity.

Welcome to my vlog!