3068

Play off pre-game thoughts: Who can you give a boost to who you know supports the opposing team today? Say hello, wish them well and have fun watching 'together' today.

Today, I'm a Chiefs + Lions (DETROIIIIIIT!) cheerleader.

Who will you be cheering for and who can you give a real-life cheer and shout out to?

3067

This week, I had the opportunity to present a keynote at an incredible client event in Boston.

CarGurus was holding an annual summit awarding major acknowledgments for outstanding accomplishments, and I was privileged to witness it all first hand.

Their audience of 250 eager participants was especially exciting to watch. What a remarkable team!

With each concept I shared, their enthusiasm and interest grew. They dove headfirst into multiple mini-workshop segments and were able to see how universal these solutions could be. Their comments afterward in word and via dozens of messages have humbled and touched me.

You see, any one, including me, could just get up and talk 'at' them.

However, I knew from the start of my professional speaking opportunities over 15 years ago that it was the audience, those who chose or were asked to join in, that was all that mattered.

👉🏻Would I understand their real challenges?
👉🏻Would they feel seen, heard and respected?
👉🏻Would there be material that was easily and quickly actionable for them?
👉🏻Would I start them on a path towards greater success?
👉🏻Would I do everything I could to include every person in the room?
👉🏻Would I, could I, even from a stage with what could feel like a stranger, make sure they knew I cared about them?

It was my full intention to deliver a quality experience for their team. They were entrusting their people and their time- it's incumbent on a speaker to meet and hopefully exceed their expectations.

I shared with them that true, lasting partnership success is never an accident. It takes intention, planning, commitment and execution. It is my wish that they saw me living out the message I was sharing to them.

We have to lead by example.

There are so many people to thank, so many new faces I hope to know forever.

For the short list, it all began with Jennifer Sherry and Kurt Bolgen who first heard a presentation I delivered at #UsedCarWeek in Arizona that started all of the ensuing activity.

After they received the internal 'green light', Tonya Montella and her team including Sara Gaiero and @Brook stepped in as they were responsible for coordinating the entire event.

Many thanks also to those who gave their approval and support before, during and after the presentation. Sam Zales Matt McGarry Christian Galvin Jackie Anthony Elina Haynes and so many others, thank you for adding us to your event.

Wishing you all a record-breaking 2024!
#BetterTogether

For more information on our professional, customized presentations, reach out via dm or email info@fosterstrategiesgroup.com.

3064

Back in Boston! I'm excited for the week ahead.

I lived here from '05 -'07, then was out here with family constantly for the next six or seven years.

I cannot wait to see the big team here and all we will do together!

Going through Big Dig territory.

3062

How comfortable-and how skilled-are you or your team with speaking or presenting in any or all of these environments:
👉🏻 One-on-one events, known or unknown to you?
👉🏻 In front of groups around a table of 6-10 people- some known, some not?
👉🏻 In a 20 Group setting- most unknown to you?
👉🏻 At a conference in a small room, 15-25 attendees, unknown to you?
👉🏻 At an event in front of 30-100 people, mostly unknown?
👉🏻 At a State, Regional or OEM type annual meeting?
👉🏻 As a panelist on a stage?
👉🏻 As a moderator facilitating an important panel discussion?
👉🏻 As a mainstage presenter at a large event?

What thoughts went through your mind as you went through our list just now?

Are you fully prepared to deliver an impactful presentation, regardless of the setting? The fact is, more people *want* these opportunities, sometimes for ego purposes, than are fully and appropriately prepared to bring high value to the audience.

Some people have skills sufficient for specific environments.
Some are fantastic as a keynote, but not in other settings.

We help companies and individuals prepare for important events to ensure the audience receives the highest possible value.

We determine current skill set level, without the emotions of colleagues making choices, set benchmarks for expectations, and help each person prepare for their current and future opportunities.

🎯Why do we do this at Foster Strategies Group? We have found that most companies and individuals currently have no program or qualifications embedded in their processes to ensure excellent outcomes.

We strip away titles, egos, potential internal conflict and operate with facts, strategy and planning with a process to help everyone move forward quickly.

💸Why does this matter to you or your company?
1. Reputation Matters!
2. Audience: They are trusting/hoping you bring value when they join
3. Resources at Risk...time and effort and more
4. Invited Back: You don't want to have to ask or pay- you want an invite!
5. More Prepared People: You want a variety of your team and topics prepared to deliver solid presentations, more often!
6. Spending: You are investing a great deal of your budget to sponsor, participate and travel...and could do more to maximize these important opportunities.

Our Event Strategies start with your people, not the place.
Once we have your people fully prepped, we move on to purpose, preparation and performance.

What company or individual who could benefit from our unique services? Please recommend us today.

Encourage them to reach out today to a trusted partner. We can quickly and seamlessly improve their peoples' performance and dramatically affect their Conference, Event and important meeting performances, presentations and outcomes.

3061

As National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA)annual conference approaches, we're excited to meet with company leaders and executives who serve Auto Retail along with Dealers, CFOs, and GMs from Dealers/Dealer Groups. Our proven performance strategies help companies of all sizes see a swift and sound increase in their team's performance, as well as the success of their clients.

If you're attending NADA, let's connect! Foster Strategies Group's founder, Laurie Foster, will be onsite from Wednesday, January 31 to Monday, February 5. Contact our EA Molly at molly@fosterstrategiesgroup.com or call directly at 269.217.0414 to align our calendars.

Why people and companies like yours bring us on as a success partner:

🎯With our customized Performance, Sales, Events, Leadership, Growth, and Talent Acquisition strategies, we're dedicated to helping you achieve your business goals. The help and insight we provide can extend to all of the people and teams in your company.

🎯Looking to take the next step in your career? Check out FORWARD Executive Careers for customized Leadership and Career Coaching designed for busy and talented professionals. Let's go farther, faster together.

✨Our proven performance strategies help companies of all sizes see a swift and sound increase in their team's performance as well as the success of your clients.

🗓I will be onsite from Wednesday, January 31 to Monday, February 5.
Please contact my EA Molly at molly@fosterstrategiesgroup.com or call me directly at 269.217.0414 to align our calendars.

Foster Strategies Group is celebrating our 5th Anniversary, live in Las Vegas and we cannot wait to help you the way we have already helped hundreds of companies like yours.

🥇Join us at NADA and let's make a difference!

3060

We have been so busy with all of *YOU* that we nearly forgot it is a big anniversary for us! I am eternally grateful for everyone who helped along the way, trusted me before we had a firm foundation and that sends more and more great clients our way.

Who do you know that would benefit from an ESTABLISHED company that offers proven strategies including *Performance *Leadership *Growth *Event Success *Partnerships and more?

You are no longer sending them to a start-up. We are here, we are growing and we have nothing but blue sky and a few blue oceans ahead!

At our 5th Anniversary, Foster Strategies Group is looking towards our 10th and are here to take every one of you with us.

Thank you for making our success a reality! I can hardly believe it's been 5 years. Hooray!!!
#BetterTogether though strategic Partnerships is now becoming language in the Automotive industry and beyond.
You Are Very Welcome!❤❤❤

3058

This trip changed everything. It was designed to help me make a decision: Accept a job offer or start my own business.

Booking an 11 day trip to London and Paris was meant to give me time to think and measure the risks and opportunities. No interruptions. Surrounded by history and self-imposed silence. This was a big decision and it deserved the respect of time.

I live alone, so there would be no safety net.

Was this a tightrope I could stomach? Who knew how long it would be from here to success? Would it ever come?

Next week we celebrate our 5th anniversary.

I could recite the stats on businesses who don't make it this far, but I won't as I understand their journey from the inside out. Everything is on the line. I feel badly for those who just could not whether the storms.

You see, we were off to a good start from my January 2019 launch gaining momentum, yet who could have predicted the devastating changes brought on by Covid in January 2020?

My one-year anniversary became a potential nightmare.

But I persevered.

I talked to everyone. I took every call. The good ones, the other ones, the 'free help', the lending a shoulder, always looking to give encouragement, solutions and reassurance, without putting the burden of my own fear on others.

At some point, someone has to be strong so others can have hope and see beyond the current chaos. And at some point amidst all of that activity, I began to find my place in my value to the market.

These pictures from my sojourn are meaningful to me. My journey to bravery and courage I wasn't sure I had. Grit, resilience...and somehow almost always maintaining a realistic-optimistic POV.

I will be sharing more of the pictures from this special trip over the next few weeks as I celebrate this accomplishment. I'm grateful for all who have given so graciously and generously to me from the beginning.

What inspired you to chase your dream?
What kept you going when challenges arose?
What are you going to do next with all of that verve and talent?!

Allow me to continue to cheer you on and wish you every bit of success you deserve.

3057

On Your #NADA Must-Do List: Meet the ACERTUS Team!

Michelle Malebranche
Paul Bergeson
Brook Wiebers
Olivia Lane
Julie Lawton
Terrance Evans are all ready to show you how you can upgrade your Transportation and Logistics today.

Your OEMs have already vetted them and are delivering your incoming vehicles through ACERTUS, and now we can offer our services to Dealers.
#Acertus #BetterTogether #Auto #Transport #Logistics #TechEnabled
Trent Broberg 🚘

3056

On the Power of Persistent Performers:

It's always inspiring to witness a team of talented industry professionals come together to achieve success. I've had the privilege of knowing part of the ACERTUS front line for over a dozen years, and it's amazing to see them repeat their previous accomplishments now with a leading Tech-enabled Transport and Logistics company.

This team is a testament to the power of persistence and hard work. They embody the idea that success is not a one-time event, but rather the result of consistent effort over time. It's clear that their dedication has paid off, and I look forward to seeing what they accomplish next.

The 'Whatever it Takes' banner on the wall here at their St. Louis office is the perfect phrase to encapsulate their commitment and care for their #Dealers at #Automotive groups across the country.

It's terrific now to be in partnership with the entire team of 700+ ....and growing...at ACERTUS.

Congratulations to this incredible team on their continued success!

Michelle Malebranche Brook Wiebers Paul Bergeson Olivia Lane

3054

Don't Repost!
Do this instead!
Our FSG LinkedIn Growth Tip of the Week for you.

So many talented professionals like you responded to our message about helping you grow on LinkedIn a few weeks ago.

Today, I'm sharing a tip to help you get your mind headed in the right direction. Trying this was a big help to me when I became serious about my efforts on LI.

BEFORE: You spotted an article you enjoyed and reposted it to share it to your network.

It took me a while to figure out that LinkedIn stopped recognizing these actions that we all thought were helpful and actually began relegating your shares into a black hole of nothingness.

Not only did this keep your audience from receiving material you had carefully culled for them, it did not support your intention to speak to your network and add interest and connections.

We can blame the bots for this or port decision-making butthe fact remains: Reposts/Shares are almost always a waste of your time.

Moving on to the good stuff.

NOW:
PowerPost!
Use an article you've read or an impressive chart or study for inspiration.

1. Grab your pen and jot down a few of the key ideas you gleamed from the messaging.

2. Take special note of the author.

3. Immediately send them an invite to connect with a special note saying I enjoyed your article today.

4. Check to see if they have written anything else recently and comment on it as well. You might find additional interesting material here.

5. If the work is attached to a company, make sure you have their name ready.

6. Now you're thinking seriously about posting. Go back to your short list and jot down the main reason you want to share information with your audience.

7. Decided simple and quick headline.

8. As you start to write tell people why you wanted to share your thoughts today.

9. Add 3 bullets or so.

10. Include the original author of the post like this: @ then their name Laurie Foster, and put the @ next to their name, @Lauriedfoster, so that they are now officially tagged in your post, extending your reach...and showing appreciation.

11. Add a saved image, a picture of yourself or something else relevant as this gets you at least twice the number of impressions.

12. As you start to close, tell viewers
what else you'll be chatting with them about.

Lucky 13: Walk back through it and edit it! Nothing erodes credibility like a series of mistakes that could have been avoided. Being human is one thing, but errors that could have been easily caught is another.

14. POST IT!!! Don't get caught up in the results of a singular post. You're looking at number of impressions per week, month, year. And the number of conversations and phone calls directly to you.

Yes, this is how you can use others' posts for inspiration without wasting your time simply reposting them.

This is now authentic, genuine material coming from you and your perspective.

Get started and let us know how we can help!
#LinkedInLaurie❤️
Tony Taylor
#BetterTogether

3053

Working from home sounds great, until it doesn't.
Take time to apply every last ounce of New Year's Energy to drastically improve the space you said you always wanted to have...at least until you had it!

I almost used our 5E Process to lay this out tonight, but you'll see them embedded here.
🎯 Effective
🎯
🎯 Easy
🎯 Enjoyable
🎯 Evolving

Here are several steps we created for ourselves in an endless mission to keep performance and enjoyment at the highest levels.

1️⃣ Edit it- aka, sorting, saving tossing, recording
2️⃣ Organize it- I mean...I just heard on NPR a few minutes ago that we each spend SIX MONTHS of our life looking for things we already possess.
3️⃣ Feng Shui it- Does it flow and does it feel good and create good energy?
4️⃣ Plaintiff it. There's nothing like a living presence in your space.
5️⃣ De-cord clutter it-For a few dollars you can buy cord organizers that remove tangles and improve the visuals. What else needs de-cluttering?
6️⃣ Retool it- it's time for new tech or bring your current tech current!
7️⃣ Ergonomic-alize it- Are things easy to find, reach, put away?
8️⃣ Comfortize it- Enough said. My new $180 chair from Amazon is simply amazing...lumbar support, head/neck support, woven fabric-what do they call this???, swivels and reclines a bit. All on a sturdy base with 5 wheels.
9️⃣ Reimagine it- Move things around. Re-inspire your space with a shift, a change of view, new pictures or photos on the wall...breathe life and inspiration into the space where you spend a huge percent of your life. :)/:(
🔟 Beautify it- Why not? Keep going and remember, you and your office are all most people see of you daily to decide if they trust and have confidence in you and your abilities. Let them see a glimpse of a hobby or something that reflects your personality or interests.

And before you're done, step back and edit and organize one more time.

Things are always changing including projects, clients, even companies. Choose a date each month to touch things up and keep your office highly efficient and rewarding for exactly where you are at the moment.

3052

On this first, peaceful day of 2024- who do you know that could use your encouragement? Do yourself a favor and start your new year by making that call, sending the text, inviting them for coffee or anything that is on your heart.

Making a difference for others is my top priority for 2024. There are a lot of pieces to my plan, but it all starts off with the basics...make the call.

Take what has crossed your mind and put words and action to it.
People, at least one person, are going to benefit from your kindness.
You will be one of them.💗 <3

Good morning and welcome to our new year, friends!

Find out how our program ‘Automotive Performance Plus’ transforms relationships and results for dealers and vendors!