Melissa Cohen’s Post

Aside from LinkedIn, my Notes app is the most used one on my phone. Searching through it is like visiting an antique shop. I never know what I am going to come away with. Sometimes it is notes from an event I attended. Sometimes it is a random thought that popped into my head while walking down the street. Sometimes, it's a grocery list that I forgot to delete. I truly can't recall the context of the note I found last night. But, maybe it can be just that simple. How can you give away some happiness today?

Hello, LinkedIn friends. It's time for another Sunday #fourtofollow. Here are four terrific people that I am connected with here. If you are not already following/connected with them, I hope you will check out their content. Elangovan Perumal, PMP® is a strategic thinker who uses a data-driven approach to drive transformation. He leverages a growth mindset and his expertise in leadership, strategy, transformation and collaboration needed to propel businesses in IT Services and SaaS. Elangovan is committed to continuous learning, and holds certifications including PMP, IBM Project Management, and SAFe, and earning multiple IBM Digital Badges. Follow him to learn about strategy & transformation, organizational leadership, and leadership development. Zion Enogieru is Mr. Positive Energy - and he does not disappoint. As the Chief Positivity Officer (CPO) at Kudos International, Zion leads and empowers a global team of positive people who all share the vision of making humanity better. He also facilitates and hosts online and offline events, workshops, and audio rooms that promote positivity, love, kindness, compassion, empathy, integrity, and humanity as the core values of human existence. Follow Zion to be instantly uplifted and learn about relationship building, leadership and of course, the power of positivity. Li-Min Huang empowers women to discover, share and monetize their brilliance so that they can express their gifts and live life on their own terms. Li experienced four layoffs during her career, and this led her to take charge of her life and embark on an entrepreneurial journey. She has built multiple businesses and additional income streams while working full time, and her mission is to help other women to do the same. Follow her to learn about entrepreneurship, business strategy, and finding your brilliance! Kyle R. Bell 🛎🔔 is a copywriter for B2B Fintech companies. His areas of expertise: email marketing, digital ads, and landing pages. His about section will tell you all about his work and the results he will deliver. I also highly recommend following Kyle because his content is highly entertaining while at the same time insightful. His "10 Facts About Me" series is fast becoming one of my favorites. Follow Kyle to learn all about copywriting, email marketing, and direct marketing. Also.... coconuts, apparently. I hope you enjoyed this week's Four to Follow! Please share in the comments who you think is a must follow.

TGIF, and thank goodness - it's time for another a serving of #linkedinnuggets! What are LinkedIn Nuggets? They are nuggets of wisdom that my connections dropped for us this past week that were so good, I want to share them with you: ✨ “People who are neurodivergent make exceptional leaders and bring a lot to the table. But biases and stigma cause people to focus on our deficits instead of strengths.  Remember to find the strengths alongside the struggles.” - Nidhi Tewari, LCSW ✨ “You will face disappointments, experience fear, and doubt yourself from time to time. However, you are the only person who can convince yourself to take a deep breath and try again.” - Charmaine G. ✨ “Sometimes we think we need a change. A new job. A new home. A new partner. Sometimes what we really need is a new perspective, a different mindset.” - Dr Kimberly Adams Tufts, FAAN ✨ “The golden rule is, you don't have to put YOURSELF down to lift others up. You don't have to put OTHERS down to lift yourself up. A sunset and a sunrise are two different things, but still beautiful nonetheless.” - James F. ✨ There’s no substitute for massive dreams combined with tiny consistent actions…life changing. Josiah Pledl ✨ We learned through play as children, and we still do as adults. By taking some of the pressure off the learning process, we create opportunities for adults to experiment, take risks, and enjoy the learning process again. - Pamela (Walters) Oberg, MA, PMP There is so much wisdom to be found every day on LinkedIn. I encourage everyone to stop the scroll and look for the nuggets in your own feeds. I promise you will be pleasantly surprised. Which nugget resonated most with you today?

When I hear lots and lots of chatter about reach and engagement on posts.... I go back to the same advice I swear by here. Our content is important. Content is king. But the comments -- are the keys to the kingdom.

Has the perfect book ever found you at the perfect time? I met Liz Elting at a Bold Table dinner hosted by Leigh Burgess. I am a little embarrassed to admit, before that night, I didn't know a lot about Liz's story. Check out her profile and you will see why I can't believe that either. But it was a good thing, because I probably would not have had the courage to speak with her at the cocktail hour if I knew just how accomplished she is. Side note - she was incredibly friendly and kind and I felt like I was speaking with a good friend. Over dinner I heard Liz's inspiring story. It left an impact on me and made me think. However, I was not yet in a place of total clarity around my business. As part of the evening, I received a copy of Liz's book, Dream Big and Win. I added it to my library knowing that I would read it when the timing was right. My books find me when I need them. In recent months, I have started to dream big. I pulled Dream Big and Win from the shelf and started reading. And I couldn't stop. This book is for every entrepreneur with a vision, and a dream to follow your heart. Filled with life lessons, words of wisdom, personal anecdotes and life experiences, this book is a joy to read and a life lesson in entrepreneurship. I have pages of notes and wore out my highlighter. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to turn their passion into something so much more. You will not be disappointed.

What is the surest way to build brand loyalty? Exceptional and unparalleled customer service. Depending upon the source, it is estimated that somewhere between 70% and 80% of New York City restaurants fail within the first five years. Union Square Cafe has been one of my favorite destinations for most of my adult life. While it opened in 1985, I started dining there in the mid '90's. I felt like I was part of something special when I ate there; a restaurant that was simultaneously chic and not the easiest reservation to score and yet was homey, welcoming, and friendly. USC never disappoints. For our anniversary last month, my husband and I had dinner there. From the moment we walked in, that amazing hospitality and focus on the customer shone through. Our table was reserved outdoors, but the evening was proving to be unusually warm. With a smile, we were assured that they could find a table for us indoors. And they did. When we arrived at said table, a handwritten postcard congratulated us on our anniversary and thanked us for spending it with them. Every single person at every single touch point was friendly, engaging, and seemed genuinely happy to be there. From the person who brought us water (still or sparkling, on the house, no awkward "oh, tap is fine"), to the person who brought our drinks, noticed the table was slightly wobbly, and knelt to fix it immediately, to our waitstaff (scallops cooked well, not just seared, no problem at all), everything was a ten out of ten. Full from our delicious meals but wowed by the dessert menu, we ordered an unbelievable stracciatella affogato to share. Brought along with it - a complimentary companion dessert, plated with celebratory chocolate ganache lettering. Despite the fact that our table should have been outside and we were in prime dinner hours, we never once felt rushed or pressured to leave. We were checked on to make sure we were happy, not to nudge us to towards the door. This is how you build a brand and keep customer loyalty -- outstanding food and unrivaled service and hospitality. Well done Union Square Hospitality Group. See you again soon. 📸 1 - credit Union Square Cafe

Hello, LinkedIn friends. It's time for another Sunday #fourtofollow. Here are four terrific people that I am connected with here. If you are not already following/connected with them, I hope you will check out their content. Brooke Deterline is the CEO of Courageous Leadership, and a TEDx Speaker. She has spent her career working with colleagues, teams and orgs to positively affect organizational culture, equity and engagement. With Courageous Leadership, she uses evidence-based tools to help people develop the understanding and skills to act with ethical courage and ingenuity in order to overcome complex challenges together. Her TEDx, Bridging Divides for a More Courageous Democracy, is truly inspiring. Follow Brooke to learn about change management, organizational culture, and leadership. Isabel Pollen is an actress, a performance under pressure coach, and the founder of the podcast "Beautiful Mess", which highlights diverse global voices speaking about the beauty we can find in the messiness of life. As a coach, she brings a unique combination of skills and expertise in voice, breath, body, storytelling, and mind work, as well as distinction in the ICF accredited certification in 'Physical Intelligence'. Isabel is a renowned actress with experience in stage, TV, and film. She facilitates keynotes and workshops on topics such as performance, storytelling, resilience, and confidence. Follow Isabel to hear her speak about leadership development, storytelling, and personal development. Nikki Estes is the President of Market Me More, an organization dedicated to empowering technology brands with strategic excellence. She is also a member of Nacha Payment Innovation Alliance Member. The Alliance brings together diverse, global stakeholders to identify existing and future payment trends. Nikki is a virtual educator, a software and B2B evangelist, and an active philanthropist. Above all else, she is a positive voice, an outstanding resource for information, and a sounding board for so many on LinkedIn. Follow her to learn about business development, payments, and partnerships. Stacy Olinger, MSN is a transformative healthcare consultant with expertise in synthesizing clinical care, executive leadership, home care operations, and healthcare technology implementation. Before launching her consultancy, Stacy served as VP of home care services at BJC Healthcare. Here, amongst many accomplishments, she employed Six Sigma lean principles to overhaul the organizational structure and culture, orchestrating a patient-first vision as well as prioritizing staff well-being. Stacy is a rare blend of clinical insight, strategic thinking, and deep experience in nursing, technology, and finance. At the heart of it all; human-centered healthcare solutions. Follow Stacy to learn about patient centered care, lean transformation, and healthcare tech. I hope you enjoyed this week's Four to Follow! Please share in the comments who you think is a must follow.