Embrace Digital or Die? Time to Evolve

In the last twenty-four hours I’ve received two articles ( from The Wrap and Hollywood Journal) with the same message: “embrace digital or die”.  I’m super passionate about this topic as I’ve worked in “digital” for over a decade and this was my slogan for years. I often mentor young go-getters trying to break into Hollywood and encourage them to look into the digital departments. The sustainable and creative jobs are there! And yet “digital” is an interesting animal and you have to study it and understand its beauty and nuances to really leverage it correctly.

I think it’s interesting when people say they understand or know “digital.”  There are essentially two main business areas in digital, distribution and marketing, and often people only know one of them well. If you know marketing, it doesn’t mean you understand the production, delivery, technology, and deal side which directly impacts the bottom line.  And if you know distribution, it doesn’t mean you know ALL of the ways to use marketing to reach an audience and the impact of added value tactics gained from relationships. 

The studios are blessed with budgets and infrastructure. Leaving that world has been a huge learning curve for me as I have to boot-strap my start-up and learn a new form of digital marketing, what the personal development gurus call internet marketing and cross-promotion. The studios can buy their way with ads but I don’t believe they are leveraging email lists, blogs, mobile, strategic alliances, and social to their best ability. I thought I was a digital marketing expert until I learned that real marketing skills come from building an audience from nothing and viewing every single person that supports your brand as a gift and a potential evangelist. And strategic partners can help you grow if you get out of the mindset of competition and step into one of collaboration and synergy.

I recently learned that a big production house in town saw a huge spike in buys of their film and they had to do some research to see where it came from. After much research they learned that a blog site in Ohio had an active email list that was sending information around about a specific film. The studios buy IMDB.com to blanket the world with an ad (or as I like to say “mark their territory”) but they don’t realize the intense power one person with a community of fans of a specific genre can have on their sales. And they are so busy that its hard for them to get innovative and strategic while people in their garages build the next tech/content game-changers.

The point with digital is that you have to be a risk-taker, and you need to understand how technology and psychology works. If you have great relationships, you win in this arena because Amazon, iTunes, and Xbox control their shelf space. You can’t buy your way in like you could with Walmart. But you can be a friend and helpful curator to those you partner with and being generous, smart, and creative can get you an entire week of promotion of just your films.

The issue right now with the studios is that there is still a lot of fear as the old paradigm of windows and rights and control was so heavy for so long. Now consumers have all the power and they want it now, for free, and on their phone because they aren’t tied to an HDTV or laptop all the time. I realized recently a big mistake I was making with my start-up which was thinking like a studio and thinking “I know best.“ I assumed I knew what my customer wants because I am one of them– well that isn’t the case because I wasn’t listening enough to their real problems and desires and how they are shape-shifting the marketplace. The best businesses listen to the problems of their people and they address them and provide excellent solutions at a reasonable cost so the masses can join, love them, and then share about them with their friends.

Social media needs to be used more as a listening tool, a focus group, and it has to be a two-way conversation. There is real gold there and it’s not just about selling. The problem with many brands is that it’s all about them and they aren’t approaching their content as a service to their fans. The “what can I get out of this person” game is OVER. Transparency is queen now! Customers have better BS meters today than ever before, and they are demanding more high-quality content that is actually story and character driven. As smart distributors and markets, all we can do is ask “how can I be of service to you and solve a problem for you?” because once we help others, and I mean truly help them, then we become wealthy and wise.  This is when we feel fulfilled instead of burnt-out. That is when employees feel engaged and excited to come to work!

I love the studios, I really do. I don’t know where I would be without them. It was my big dream to work inside one and I felt like the luckiest person alive to have my job for many years.  It’s like The Wrap says: I was one of those talented individuals often doing the work of five people and “tinkering in obscurity”. I rose quickly to VP and was invited to top-level meetings like Amy Powell was because I understood digital and because I had strong relationships with decision makers at the MVPDs. One of my fond memories was being flown on the corporate jet to iTunes with some of the top division heads and it was because I had strong relationships and understood the business frontwards and backwards – both the distribution and the marketing side.  That knowledge is priceless. I will forever be grateful for working the long hours that I did, for the mentors who taught me, and the friendships I made along the way.

Now I take all of that expertise and funnel it into what I’m really passionate about: uplifting humanity and inspiring change and transformation through mindful movies. I personally believe in niche markets that grow to a tipping point of power over time. This is why I started a digital only channel for the conscious crowd that is tired of the “blow-it-up” and “scare-me-to-death” genres. I also found a super smart tech team, DotStudioz, to partner with who gets digital distribution, the power of a niche network, and strategically managing your content, data, and audience. Will it work? I truly don’t know and that is in God’s hands. But if the motto “embrace digital or die” rings true, well then I think I’m doing alright…

Kate Neligan

CEO/Founder of Synergy TV

 

What Makes a Great TED speech? Review of TEDx Malibu

This past weekend I attended an excellent TEDx Malibu event full of inspiring people doing amazing work in the world. Did you know there are over 1,000 TED talks which equals 250 hours of video?  Here is a highlight of the latest batch from Malibu where the theme was "Living out Loud = LOL":

Claire Wineland gave my favorite talk of the day and she spoke about living a life of impact. Claire has cystic fibrosis and speaks openly and passionately that she uses this so-called “challenge” to live a more meaningful life. She is an amazing inspiration because she is only 15 years old, has a life-threatening illness, and yet is more vibrantly alive than any adult I know. She was a power-house speaker that left the room with a standing ovation. www.clairesplacefoundation.org

Greek sass was also in the house when Agapi Stassinopoulos spoke about living life with an unbound heart. She was so passionate about her story and full of color and wisdom that I wanted to take her out for coffee, pick her genius brain, and immediately become her friend. Her new book is now a must-read: http://www.amazon.com/Unbinding-Heart-Wisdom-Generosity-Unconditional/dp/1401930735

Dr. Benjamin LaBrot is a young doctor who was nominated as CNN Hero of the Year 2013 and he travels the world by boat to bring medical care to those who need it most with his organization called Floating Doctors. He is truly someone in touch with his purpose and living a life of service which is awe-inspiring. www.floatingdoctors.com

Charley Johnson gave a very raw, authentic, and passionate portrayal of leaving the ego-centric lifestyle filled with millions to pursue a calling to give back and make a difference. Of all the speakers, I could relate most to his story and I immediately wanted to learn more about his company, Pay it Forward. http://www.payitforwardfoundation.org/

Another theme of the event was about how music can help one live out loud and heal. There were amazing musical performances by one of my favorite singers/band: Eric Lumiere, a new favorite singer Bekah Eden, Cantor Marcelo Gindlin, and the SoundMindMusic band.

Some key take-aways from what makes a great TEDx speech were:

1) Show your passion - it needs to exude out of your voice and body so the room is riveted

2) Keep a PowerPoint simple with more pictures than words as this is more engaging

3) Use humor - as we all need to take ourselves more lightly and everyone enjoys a good laugh

4) Keep it real, be authentic and honest, and share personal stories

5) Speak slowly, with a smile, and get to the point

6) Quotes can really showcase your story

7) Dress professionally as you are being filmed and seen as an expert in your field

Someone said at the event that "nothing is more powerful than the inspired" and I would have to agree. I feel this way when I am full of inspiration or inspiring another and I left the event pumped up with power and possibility.

I'm very grateful to Lisa Cypers Kamen who planned and held this inspirational event and who is also doing amazing work in the world with Harvesting Happiness. I made a list of all the empowered people I know, and want to know, while I was in the audience that day and she is most certainly on my list. Attending a TED event was also on my bucketlist and speaking at one just moved up on the list as well.

If you get the chance to do either, just say YES and don't forget to LIVE OUT LOUD!

The Synergistic Entrepreneur,

Kate Neligan - Founder of Synergy TV

Entrepreneurs: Embrace the Power of Synergy with Min-e-book™ Success

Every one of us is a blessed being capable of an infinite amount of abundance and success. Generally speaking, though, we each tend to excel in a special area. It could be writing or composing music. It could be teaching. It could be auto mechanics or architecture. We all have that one thing in life we know we are supposed to do; it’s almost as though we were built to do it. We are happy when we do our “thing,” and this is because we know we are gosh darn good at it.

Those of us who become entrepreneurs usually choose to do so because we enjoy the freedom of working for ourselves, of allowing ourselves to pursue our passion however and whenever we want. But, we’re also making a business of it so it’s important for us to be innovating constantly, creating new avenues and outlets, and building onwards and upwards to our highest and greatest potential. That is our thing. It challenges us perpetually, and we love it.

Writing is certainly not everyone’s area of expertise, yet I wholeheartedly encourage entrepreneurs to consider writing and publishing a book. Here are a few reasons why:

·         Right now, only you understand the value you have to offer your world, but undoubtedly you are an expert, or a best source, on a certain subject. By publishing a book, you can offer that expertise to a much larger audience, opening yourself to even greater influence and abundance potential.

·         Being a published author will expand your media presence (new avenues and new outlets, remember!) which means more attention for your business.

·         Sharing your knowledge helps people genuinely interested in knowing what you know, and when you enter the process from a desire to help others, your book will improve the lives of those who read it. Improving the world is a chain reaction: you can start with one person and then create a bigger impact from there.

·         Embracing the challenge of doing something new will inspire personal growth and the pride of a new accomplishment. Go forth and chart new territory for yourself!

·         At the end of the process, you will have a brand new product: a book! You can use it to your marketing advantage by offering it as a complimentary item to orders through your website or by showcasing it at conferences and speaking engagements.

It’s important for entrepreneurs to understand that establishing yourself as an expert does not require publishing a book on the scale of “War and Peace.” I tell entrepreneurs who come to me for help the opposite, actually. I suggest starting with a favorite form of mine, which I’ve trademarked, the min-e-book™. A min-e-book™ is a shorter style e-book designed for a quick read, or a mini e-book. Around 10,000-15,000 words, a min-e-book™ can be read in about an hour. I like this form because its nature keeps the information succinct and allows readers to put the information to immediate use.

Still not sure you can do it successfully? This is where synergy comes in to play: writing, publishing, and marketing a book is not an undertaking that must be accomplished alone. In fact, there is much help available! For instance, what I’ve created as part of my company, Absolute Love Publishing, is an assisted self-publishing imprint, Spirited Press. We take on clients, many of whom do not necessarily consider themselves “writers,” and we help them with any or all areas needed to publish a book. We offer them the freedom to pick and choose from our list of author services. This includes coaching, editing, proofreading, book design, and marketing. Our clients and members of our team collaborate to create—a true act of synergy.

And, isn’t this the call of today’s entrepreneurs? To create the life you want, while empowering others to do the same? I encourage you to embrace the synergy all around, and create something new that will showcase your talents. Step into the wholeness of all you have to offer the world, and open up to expanded channels of abundance and synergy today!

Guest blogger: Caroline A Shearer - Founder of Absolute Love Publishing

P.S. From The Synergistic Entrepreneur: I met Caroline through her book "Women Will Save the World" which I was asked to be a part of and have an essay in the "trailblazing" section. I can't recommend this book enough as it is full of inspirational women, tips, tools, and transformation!

 

Raising The Bar Of Authenticity

This morning my insecurity spoke to me. I received an email about the opportunity for my company to be showcased in front of thousands and then remembered another one about a week ago where massive organizations and a very well-known TV personality would be directing people to watch a video on Synergy TV and that voice showed up then too.  In both instances I froze.

Because that is what fear does to us, it paralyzes.  Here is what “Miss Insecurity” said: “I’m not ready, I’m not perfect, people are going to judge me.” Have any of you ever felt this way about yourself or your company? Well she is partly right but her intent is also SOOO wrong. See this part of us wants to keep us small and has done a great job in the past. And I love her for this because her core mission has been to protect me and make sure I’m safe and secure. She needs a new story!

Here is what you can tell this small voice.  Honey, I love you but you have shrunk the kids! ;)  And this is what I mean: this voice shrinks our true, authentic, playful, live-out-loud, shining light which was FULL on (like the full moon) when most of us were care-free kids.

Authenticity and being who we are, with where we are at in our stage of evolution is beautiful. It’s priceless and it’s something to be proud of and to expose. It’s not to be hidden until we get more "ready". Now is the time to show the world who we are. Tomorrow we’ll be different because we grow every day so why not come out of any “closet” you have been hiding in today?

For me there has been something nerve-wracking about coming out of what I call the “spiritual closet” and it’s probably because I didn’t talk about my deep passion for self-help books, personal growth worth, and spiritual psychology when I was at work because it seemed so outside the norm. I felt I would be laughed at. And now that IS my business and I have to own it. Yet it feels a bit foreign at times and I have to remember that's okay. I’m still in the process of trailblazing the new paradigm and it takes time to build a new road but I am 100% certain that faith, transparency and authenticity are part of it.

It is also time for us to rise up and meet the challenge of the self-doubt, insecure, fear-based voice that wants us to stay small. Our egos need our acceptance and they require a new job. The one I’m giving to myself today is to raise the bar of authenticity. How truly ME can I be today?  No false advertising in any way!!!  This means wearing, saying, doing, and being in full alignment with the shiny light inside. And letting the truer, wiser, calmer, and more loving voice speak the reality of who I am.

We are either a slave to our ego or a server to our soul. I am full-on choosing my soul. It’s just a choice.  It’s really that simple, always that profound, and not usually easy. I encourage you today to be as REAL, GENUINE, and AUTHENTIC as you can be. You will find it’s a breath of fresh air to everyone around, including yourself. Go ahead and raise the bar. Hold the hand of the child inside when you do it and let him or her know it’s safe and its time again to play full out and live out loud. Send me a story of how you shared your gifts today. I can’t wait to learn who you truly are!

The Synergistic Entrepreneur,

Katie Neligan

P.S.  I once watched a documentary about Oprah and I wrote down every word people used to describe her and guess which one was the winner? The word "real" won and the word "genuine" was the close second. People love authenticity because its attractive, refreshing, sexy and needed! If you want even one tenth of what Oprah has - go be YOU!

Just saw Gregg Braden post this and its so true and related!

 

May The Road Rise Up To Meet You

Ever had those days when everything just worked and fit together like a beautiful puzzle? Those are days of high synergy. Today I had the blessing of one of those experiences.

So often synergy is just like synchronicity, flow and magic. Things just work!  I've also found this to be true about anything that is related to our calling or mission. I believe Spirit meets us as the point of action. 

I was working with my tech-team-extraordinaire and we filmed some video for an upcoming app I'm launching for Synergy TV. First we re-designed the color scheme on the app and then I realized the outfit I brought wouldn't work so well on camera with this new color scheme. Well my colleague and friend, Phoenix, just happened to have the perfect shirt to lend me. Then I forgot earrings and she had the perfect ones that matched my necklace. There was an area in her house that worked perfectly for the shoot. I had the idea to have her dog Honey in the video and even she knew just what to do on camera. There was beautiful synergy between us ALL!

Then we had to fix our logo and Joe, who I call the Wizard of Oz because he really is a magician behind the computer screen, fixed my logo in a matter of minutes and made it even better than I could imagine.

It was just one of those experiences where everything worked, it was easy, there was so much grace and I felt so held and supported by the Universal force called L-I-F-E.

I was reflecting on this on the drive home and just smiling. Of course anchoring it all with gratitude is my powerful tool to continue to create more synergy. And yet, I also know a deeper truth. This is the way life works when we say YES to our dreams. When we show up and say YES to ourselves. When we surround ourselves by good, caring, smart people like the folks at DotStudioz.

There is such a huge difference both inside and outside when we push against the river of life, force something to happen, and try to control the outcome. When we show up in joy and surrender to the co-creative process then all the magic happens and things just click and work.

Every time I have an experience of synergy, I feel so excited because I know I am walking my talk. I am living my brand and I am being a synergistic entrepreneur.

If you are reading this and feel any sort of push inside or resistance just walk away. Let the magic come back in, say YES to one of your dreams.  Mine was this app and I have no clue if it will work but I know its got a ton of heart behind it and if  this prep meeting is any indication of its potential success then we are going to rock it!

Life/Spirit/God/Love - whatever you want to call it - WANTS us to say YES to our dreams, to step up and take action, to dive in deeper, to move forward on the journey of our calling and mission.  As they say in one of my favorite Irish prayers - "may the road rise up to meet you."  It will when you are living a life of synergy.  ENJOY the ride! :)





Kate Neligan
The Synergistic Entrepreneur

Are You Good Enough?

Why is it that we all want to feel good enough and so often we don't feel this way?

Every single person I’ve met who gets truly honest with what is beneath everything they are doing comes to see that their drive is about BEING ENOUGH.

Here is what I have to say to you and to myself: STOP.  You are enough, I am enough.  I am so frikin tired of this story, my story, our story.  We are not wounded beings in our true essence. We are loving beings, children of God, divine beings with infinite potential.

I once received a clear download from Spirit, or as NealeDonald Walsch would say, in a “conversation with God” and it was this: NOTHING (or NO THING) IS REQUIRED OF YOU.

What does this mean?  It means we don’t have to DO anything for love, for worth, for happiness. 

Trust me, a 6 figure salary and a Vice President title doesn’t make you happy.  You don’t feel like you’ve finally made it and that your parents are finally impressed with you, you just get a bit more comfort and more responsibility.  There are ridiculously poor people in other countries that are a lot happier than many of the corporate VPs I know making big 6 figure salaries.

Why?

Well they don’t walk around thinking they need to do something to be happy, to get somewhere, to make it, to prove themselves, and they aren’t caught up in the American dream that accumulation means happiness.  In fact many of them live in tight-knit communities, they are connected, they are spiritual, and they just live their lives in accordance to natural laws.  Why do animals seem so relaxed and happy?  They just are what they are - present in the moment. 

Guess what?  Being present in this moment is the only way I’ve experienced happiness and if you get present and you aren’t happy be with whatever you feel until it clears like the clouds to the sun beneath.

It’s the only way and I’m tired of doing it differently.  There is no GETTING somewhere.  We are here.  God  (aka LOVE) loves me as I am.  I can choose to love me as I am.  No one really gives a cr%p about what I’m doing with my life anyways. I just think they care or think they might love me if I change the world.  It doesn’t matter.  I am not here to save the world.  Neither are you. I am here to love myself and that’s it. It doesn’t matter if anyone else even loves me, yes it feels good but if I don’t love myself well then others’ love won’t even stick. 

We are here to grow in love for ourselves and then the natural byproduct of a full cup/being of love is to share it with others.  It’s that simple and it’s that profound and if it was that easy well there wouldn’t be wars internally or externally. 

All I have to say to you if you are a Type A, a visionary, a do good-er, a driven striver, an over-achiever, a socially conscious entrepreneur that feels the weight of the world on your shoulders: just SLOW DOWN.  You will want to throw a rock at me for saying this because I have wanted to throw them at every mentor and coach that has ever said it to me. But they were right!

It’s time to go within.  Peace starts with me. Happiness is readily available N-O-W.  The secret to having it all is believing that you already do!! If you want to achieve something, get somewhere, or accomplish a mighty project - ask yourself WHY?  If it’s because you love what you are doing and are enjoying the journey then you are on-course and I applaud you.  If you think you need to get someone, somewhere or something to be happy, think again.  There is always a new goal once you get somewhere, always something else on the to-do-list.  Life is what is happening while we plan our future full of the stuff we want.  Your gift is NOW, it’s here, it’s inside.  Stop looking anywhere else for it.  The treasure map has a big blinking light on the spot called your heart. 

You are the gift and so is your life.  Nothing else you get will bring you what you REALLY want or make you any better than you are in this moment.  I promise you this truth and I love you.  Why?  Because I know you suffer like I do, you fear like I do, and you want something in this very moment and think you’ll feel better when you have it.  You are disillusioned like I am and it’s time for us to band together and forgive ourselves for this misunderstanding.

My commitment right now is to believe, with all my strength and all my resources, that I AM ENOUGH. I AM LOVE. I AM DOING THE BEST I CAN.  When I embody this, I will be a magnet to all good because I already reside there and I will be reinforcing the enoughness and goodness in myself and all of you.

I’m on my way.  This is the first stop on the train. Please join me as a fellow traveler in this journey called life on planet Earth!

Love & Light,

Kate - The Synergistic Entrepreneur

 

Lessons Learned from the 2012 Summer Olympics

While watching the Olympics I’ve been thinking a lot about this question:  What makes a champion? It is amazing to me that there are 7 billion people in the world and only 1 world champion in each Olympic event. How does one go from being one in the masses to being THE one?

I’ve been fascinated by the Olympics this year, partly because I used to live in London and partly because I have loved them since I was a kid. One of my big dreams was to attend the games one day, I even had a huge pepsi bottle bank to save my coins to go. The Summer Olympics cover such great sports like gymnastics which I did for years as a kid, track and field which dominated my high-school years, and horseback riding which I’ve done most of my life. This year they are affecting me in a deeper way.

I think it is because being an entrepreneur is a lot like being an Olympic athlete. The odds of a start-up succeeding are so ridiculously low that most wouldn’t even try if they knew them (or believed they could be one of the ones that failed). You certainly wouldn’t play any games in Vegas on those odds. And yet these athletes beat the odds. What does that take? How can I learn from these masters and apply this to my business?

Well the skills and qualities of an Olympic athelte that I’ve noticed over the last few days are:

-          Persistence

-          Courage

-          Commitment

-          Determination

-          Ambition

-          Dedication

-          Calmness

-          Enthusiasm

-          Strength

-          Consistency

-          Endurance

-          Confidence

-          Grace

All of these innately human qualities come from a perfect blend of our ego supporting our soul and our mind and body working in service to the heart. These athletes inspire me. They believe in themselves; they are crazy enough to believe they can – so they do! They also never ever give up.  They spend countless hours training and they are often not with their families or friends for long stretches of time so they can focus fully on their sport. They truly understand that sacrifice means making one thing sacred.

I think this is why we are collectively moved by this global televised event every four years. We see what we are capable of when we fully commit to our dreams. The level of discipline these champions commit to is truly awe-inspiring. They are required to remain calm amongst the pressure of one event determining their fate. They are forced to block out any external stimuli while using tons of mental preparation and tools.

While not everyone wins at these games, I don’t think anyone really loses. The chance to travel to a foreign country (for most) and to compete for best in your class is a chance of a lifetime. This is how I feel about being a Founder and CEO, it is truly an incredible opportunity and yet it tests me in all ways. Daily, I need to work on my mind, body and soul just like an Olympic athlete. I have to continually show up to my “desk” just like putting in the hours at the gym. Over time muscles get stronger and we become the best at what we do. Practice truly does make perfect.

Most won’t ever leave the comfort of corporate America and a stable paycheck to jump into the wilderness of running a start-up.  Then again many would prefer to watch the Olympics rather than train for them. Why? Well let’s be honest – it is HARD work. But for those of us who are foolish enough to believe in our dreams, well the journey and the blessings are priceless.

In service to changing the world, or changing our own world, we push ourselves to the limit, we make our dreams our priorities and we show up – over and over again. This process takes discipline, commitment, sacrifice, love, passion, and a strong will.  It is not for everyone but as Gabby Douglas, 1st African American All-Around Gymnastics Gold Medal  Winner, said last night: “if you can push through the hard days, you can get through anything.”

Being a champion is in my DNA and I have an Olympic-sized heart. It’s partly why my ambition, drive, and sensitivity are not always a curse because they keep me motivated to always give my best and often stand out from the crowd. Being a leader was natural to me at five years old and yet watching these athletes makes me realize I need even more discipline, more mental preparation, a deeper reservoir of strength and of course a great coach and support system! To be the best at business, as a CEO, as a female founder and an entrepreneur – I have a lot to learn from these Olympians. We all do. If these athletes can do it, I CAN DO IT. AND SO CAN YOU J

Love & Light,

Kate Neligan - The Synergistic Entrepreneur

P.S.  This is an excellent article on Gabby’s win. Her coach told her that everyone has pain and to not focus on it and then this part was my favorite:  “She never doubted she could be the best. Even when she was the only one who thought so.” The real lesson?  ALWAYS BELIEVE IN YOURSELF