BlueRioStrategies

Shutting Blog down

2011-01-11T12:21:00.001-08:00

Until further notice - this blog will be inactive. However, you an view current posts on the Brand Leadership Blog.

New Survey Tool - Free for Teens

2010-08-04T09:33:00.000-07:00

Values – and Decisions – Free Assessment for Youth

Now offering a survey tool ( online) that can help a student decipher the importance of decisions based on prioritizing values. I am certified to administer many different professional assessments/surveys. Two are from the same company. Golden LLC. One of them has been very helpful for my clients; VAL. It helps a person prioritize values in ways that help clarify why and how decisions are made. Now the gentleman who developed that has opened up a version for youths ages 13 – 20 and he is allowing me to offer it FREE.

New Values Arrangement List for Teens (VAL-Teens) assessment is being trial tested. The resulting one page report is also designed with the teenage student in mind. The purpose of the VAL-Teens survey and the report is to help students develop a language system and improved self-awareness needed to help make better decision and life choices. Results are confidential. Please contact me to schedule taking this free survey tool - a great addition to any teens life choices.

Launching new services

2010-04-05T09:40:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to let everyone know that we are launching new products and services soon. Also the blog that is updated more frequently can be found at FullSync.

In just a few days we will be offering recorded versions of the LIVE personal branding boot camps held earlier this year. Also professional development tools ( assessments) will be available to purchase as well.

And if you want to say abreast of all news & updates, please sign up for the newsletter.

Thank you!

Jessi L.

2009-09-12T07:48:00.000-07:00

First – thank you to all who tried to endorse me. It seems to have been a frustrating experience for some of you. If you just clicked “endorse” well, it actually never endorsed. They do not make this clear at all.

In fact, You must register first, be logged in and then you can endorse me. And some of you tried that – and it still did not work. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your efforts!!!!

If you were one of those who thought you had endorsed me by just clicking “endorse” and if you have 5 minutes to spare today, could you register and try endorsing me again?

I believe our team has a great chance of winning if we can get the 50 endorsements to go to the next level. It would mean a lot to me to launch the new business model – which I truly believe will make huge impacts on our society. So again – if you have 5 minutes to spare – I would be VERY grateful. If you did actually complete your endorsement – YEAH – and if you do not have the time – I understand. Sunday is the deadline to reach “50.”

First Register: http://shinealight.ivillage.com/register/

Then once you are logged in, you can endorse:
http://shinealight.ivillage.com/sbo-profile/?ProfileID=7087

Please support our team!

2009-09-11T16:25:00.001-07:00

What is Brand Leadership?

2009-09-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

Brand Leadership is a term coined by a few marketing and communication strategists to highlight how the brand is managed and delivered through means other than just its visual identity. It’s a common misconception that a brand is just the logo, slogan, brochures and products. Some experts point to integrated branding as a strong practice – where all parts of the whole – a systems approach matters most. This means that the human resources department along with accounting, sales, janitorial etc., are part of the brand creation. In the book, Brand Driven, by F Joseph LePla, Susan V Davis and Lynn M Parker, the authors demonstrate the power of integrated branding through leadership.

“Integrated branding us the path to training every employee how to treat the customer right. To work, it must be the seed within the company that blooms in every department, creating a consistent customer experience. And good leaders will make guiding people on how to live the brand one of their chief aims.” (page 6, Brand Driven)

When one of the United State’s most prominent Executive Coaches, Marshall Goldsmith, interviewed Dave Ulrich a world-renown expert on leadership, Ulrich commented:

“Leadership brand extends thinking about leadership in two ways. First, the focus is less on the individual leader and more on the leadership capability within the organization. Second, effective leadership is defined less by what happens inside an organization and more by how leaders turn external customer and investor expectations into employee abilities and organization capabilities."

I believe the brand extends to ALL stakeholders such as members, colleagues, board members and the public and very much deals with what happens inside the company as well as outside of it. The leadership effort can be initiated at any level – although without the buy-in from the “top,” brand leadership as a successful strategy may be very difficult to implement. Considering this, the leadership portion of branding happens not only when supervisors or managers act – but when everyone from Leader – to – Line moves forward in their efforts based on visions, missions and promises

So in essence, brand leadership is more than just the how the management team works with other employees to maximize the customer’s experiences. It is a systemic, holistic, deeply penetrating and highly successful approach to organizational development. An organization’s brand is only as strong as what others think, feel and perceive about every aspect of it. Brand leadership – or leading through your brand is about how the organization as a whole and the individuals within it live up to their visions promises and solutions – which ultimately impacts the reputation. This is where the “leadership” comes in. How you, your team and your stakeholders guide delivery of your services or products is how you craft your brand above and beyond the traditional marketing tactics. Brand leadership as a pivotal component to build and sustain healthy organizations, not just to extend awareness in a consumer’s mind.

Companies which have powerful, authentic brands utilize them to increase customer loyalty and retention, foster excellent product quality and services, improve teamwork and cross departmental interaction and improve sales and profits.

Decision-Making in Difficult Times!

2009-08-25T15:04:00.000-07:00

Still Time To Register for Decision-Making in Difficult Times!

And for those with a schedule conflict - no worries - you can always access the recording later if you cannot make it "live."

Tomorrow - On WED August 26^th, I am launching the very first “Pay What You Can” webinar. Using the Columns of Possibilities you can face tough decisions with more confidence, clarity and ease.

A few years ago I devised a method for clarity and decision-making that is quick and powerful. My clients have told me many times how much it has helped them – and what is most intriguing is how much more confidence they gain for future decision-making situations. Now you have a chance to learn the steps of this exercise – and pay only what you can! This simple tool webinar is normally valued at $25, however, this session starts at just $5…

If you have already registered - thank you and feel free to spread the word..

Find CLARITY and ease of decision-making for important life-style and professional choices in less time than it takes to navigate rush-hour traffic (Ok, well almost). Learn more here.

“Wow, that [Columns of Possibilities] was amazing – it was truly cool and really helped!” Jaime Cole, Owner, Pilates-A-Go-Go (Oceanside, CA)

This short webinar – less than 45 minutes will give you a strong tool for a small cost. What are you waiting for? Sign up now here!

Outside the Box Innovation Workshop©.

2009-06-12T07:20:00.000-07:00

Still slots left for the Innovation Workshop!

For more information visit us here.

Outside the Box Innovation Workshop©.

Artists have great abilities to move people in new directions. For three select sessions, BlueRio Strategies will be tapping into artists’ skills for a new workshop. Susan Adler George, a well-respected East Coast Arts Educator and Artist, will be here in San Diego this July and has agreed to help me with the new Outside the Box Innovation Workshop©.

This workshop’s goal is to:

Reduce stress levels.
Heighten creativity and innovation.
Spur “outside of the box” thinking for San Diego business professionals.

Class size will range from 3 – 15 people per each 2-hour & 4-hour session and on-site at the company’s location. It is based on a workshop that George, Jessi LaCosta's mother, has conducted in Baltimore. Ideally this workshop will be part of my facilitation programs for brand leadership and strategic planning. While these workshops will eventually be priced at $500 and up, to those experiencing it in “test form” the price will only be $100 - $250 for up to 15 participants in a session.

Artist helps Facilitator Pioneer Innovation

2009-05-16T13:56:00.000-07:00

How does an artist help a facilitator pioneer innovation and creativity?

I was thinking of the enormous talent my mother – a Baltimore Arts Educator –has, and how I could tap into it to benefit my clients. At first I was stumped – yet artists have what so many of us want and need – especially when it comes to branding, strategic planning and facilitation in general – artists wake up every day with VISION.

In the past I approached her about workshops in companies and she envisioned carting tons of supplies into well-designed, polished and impeccable work places – leaving a trail of paint, clay - and well - damage in her wake. So it was a no-go.

But today I tried a different approach and I struck gold! You see it is not just teaching art. It is what she does and the way she does it – she helps people get outside of the box and open their worlds.

Trying to facilitate a group of people can be challenging. Teams who feel stunted or tired lose ability to see beyond immediate goals, corporate politics and status quo. Yet – when a few people can take an hour or two out of their week to free-flow ideas – to get outside the box – amazing things can happen.

Innovation increases
Productivity increases
Stress levels are reduced
Employee engagement and retention improves.
Bottom-line improves

With all the downsizing and layoffs – what is happening to those left standing? How exhausted and burned out are they? And how, as leaders, can we thank them for their efforts all the while engaging them and inspiring their abilities?

By helping them get outside the box – maybe not all the time – certainly – but just once in a while. This is where the “Out of the Box” found object arts workshop comes in…

Susan Adler George conducts “found-object canvas art” workshops for adults. Using things from the home – a yard sale - the trash – wherever & whatever– adults can incorporate these items onto previously painted canvasses and explore their creative side. This is sustainability at its core – it is using recycled art for inspiration and self-reflection and for many decorations for the home. She is a wonderful teacher and facilitator of creative thinking. Having watched her before with a group of adults, I knew she could bring to the corporate setting this type of art along with her exceptional ability to make people feel at ease as a way to improve work-life balance, innovation and workplace productivity.

So I am now announcing a BETA program this July – when I have my mom – Susan Adler George, out on the West Coast. We will launch Outside the Box Innovation Workshop© for organizations. Stay tuned for more.

Branding is NOT a band-aid or an image alone

2009-04-23T04:45:00.001-07:00

Just posted on another blog more on personal branding but great reflection of how we can manage within our brand - our great talent...

Branding is NOT a band-aid or an image alone

I have been thinking about this for some time - how we often think of branding - whether for a person or an organization as this external approach - a wonderful dressing of the inner-soul - the workings. And yet when we do that we miss the point. Yes a brand can be reflected in an image - but it is NOT the image itself. Read more here.

Learning about Mission from the Monks

2009-04-20T09:11:00.001-07:00

Quick share on a thought-provoking article in Forbes:

Business Secrets Of The Trappists, Part 1

August Turak,

"For more than 12 years I have been going to a Trappist monastery in Moncks Corner, S.C., called Mepkin Abbey. As a monastic guest, I wear a habit and temporarily live the life of a Trappist monk. I go primarily for spiritual reasons, but as a businessman and entrepreneur I am fascinated by the worldly aspect of the monastic life.

Mepkin, like monasteries the world over, runs a business. These monastic businesses are invariably based on just the kind of low-margin, highly competitive "me too" commodity products--cheese, fruitcakes, eggs--that any first year MBA student would "wind down" and "exit" as fast as possible.

Yet these monastic businesses are hugely successful. The demand for their prosaic products far outstrips supply, giving monastic businesses the kind of pricing flexibility usually associated with dominant brands or patent protection............."

"All too often our organizations fail to reach their potential because people spend too much time looking over their shoulders. What is so striking about Mepkin is that the monks are never looking over their shoulders. They are passionately committed and totally focused on the task at hand, and they know that their brothers are doing the same. As a result, they are highly efficient and get an enormous amount done in the four hours a day they dedicate to earning their living.

Yet if we allow ourselves to be impressed by the monks because they manage to accomplish so much despite their single-minded dedication to their mission, we make a common but cardinal error. It is because of their focus on mission that they operate a multimillion-dollar business with a degree of frictionless efficiency that would drive most profit-driven executives to distraction with envy. And if we are willing to learn from the monks, our secular corporations can do the same."

To read more - visit: http://tinyurl.com/cnaj8d

Now in its 13th year, GILD is a transformational experience for leaders and leadership teams

2009-04-20T06:47:00.000-07:00

We are getting closer to the deadline for obtaining an early-bird special on the GILD conference. And if you register through BlueRio Strategies you can earn rebates back as I am offering my special price to you. Please contact me directly for the registration code.

Now in its 13th year, GILD is a transformational experience for leaders and leadership teams that develops improved capability through a combination of large-scale learning, hands on application, and one-on-one coaching. Over 6,000 leaders from around the world have profited from this experience, which in 2008 not only achieved an overall evaluation score 9.63 out of 10 but earned it’s third consecutive spot as the #1 leadership development experience in the world in the Leadership Excellence rankings.

This year’s Institute takes place October 18-23 in San Diego, CA. Participants will benefit from a proven 360° assessment and one-on-one coaching process, facilitated peer learning, and a competency-based curriculum led by renowned faculty members such as Carly Fiorina, Robert Kaplan, Marshall Goldsmith, Patrick Lencioni, and more.

The 2009

Global Institute for Leadership
Development

October 18-23, 2009 – San Diego, CA

Download the Brochure (PDF File)

Call For Entries for Pro Bono Clients

2009-04-15T10:02:00.000-07:00

Deadline is coming near and the application is fairly simple. If you would like to be considered for a slot as a pro bono client or even sliding scale - please apply. All those who apply even if not chosen will be offered special pricing! Some information is below - but you can read full description here:

Most of the work that will be available for pro bono will focus on organizational development including strategic planning, capacity building, branding and coaching. BlueRio Strategies utilizes change management and development tactics ranging from traditional training focus on systemic solutions to more cutting-edge techniques of coaching and Appreciative Inquiry and emotional intelligence development, for example. The core of BlueRio’s work is a proprietary solution called the FullSync Method ^TM. The FullSync Method^TM is a rich, full way of obtaining organizational effectiveness through brand leadership coaching and strategic planning. By syncing up all resources and people with visions, missions and goals, BlueRio Strategies yields the FullSync Fulfillment of healthy, productive organizations with great capacity to build.

Stemming from a strengths-based philosophy, consultants and coaches will help grow organizations and individuals in a robust, rich and holistic way, looking for long-term sustainable growth versus short-term quick fixes. In most cases all techniques will be offered free of charge, with some exceptions including out of state travel and specific assessment instruments. Still these additional components will be offered at cost without any mark-ups, should the clients need them. Personal Brand coaching for executives, small business owners and professionals in transition will be offered by phone only to individuals nationwide.

Details of Call for New Clients:

Please submit your case for consideration to be accepted as a pro-bono or sliding scale client using one-page only. May be single-spaced and type any size larger than 8 pt font. Please answer in sentence/paragraph form the following:

Name of individual/organization, location and contact information
Goal you would like to achieve with help of a coach/consultant
Current budgetary constraints
Time-frame expected to start & complete this goal
Are you for-profit or not-for profit? (Organizations-only)
Current mission/vision (organizations-only)
Personal dream/mission/vision of future success (individuals)
Any obstacles/constraints we should be aware of?
Are you willing to be mentioned, as a client and offer testimonials should you feel the experience was beneficial?
Any additional information you feel important for us to know about why you want to be our next pro-bono or sliding scale client.

Assessments

2009-04-08T07:40:00.000-07:00

Been spending more than 6 months trying to understand all the possible work-style, behavioral style strengths etc assessments for clients. It has been overwhelming! Alas I landed on a few that BlueRio Strategies will now offer.

One thing I really felt comfortable about with these assessments is how they can be leveraged to develop someone's strengths, without being blind-sided by weaknesses or shall we say areas of concern. In offering several types - we can also hit several price points to work within various budgets.

The assessments we have brought on cover career, personality/behavioral, values, and leadership.

Currently we are using Golden's products as well at the InsightMirror360 and will also be offering the Workplace Behavioral Inventory.

Find more at our new assessment page:

Offering Rebates for Leadership Institute

2009-04-01T13:54:00.001-07:00

This year the event that has changed many professionals' lives comes local to San Diego. The GILD program by Linkage is a power horse of leadership development opportunities. An early bird discount is involved for all if registered by May 29th. (inquire about additional rebate from BlueRio Strategies.) The event is October 18th - 23rd and offers Powerful Resources and Participation with world-class faculty including:

Bill Strickland is the CEO of Manchester Bidwell Corporation and a champion for empowerment of disadvantaged urban youth
Tim Hurson is an expert in the field of creative intelligence and author of Think Better
Richard Boyatzis is an expert on emotional intelligence and best-selling author of Primal Leadership and Resonant Leadership
Nando Parrado is the author of Miracle in the Andes whose story of courage and survival was depicted in the 1993 movie Alive
Marshall Goldsmith is one of the best executive coaches in the world, rated among the top ten executive educators by The Wall Street Journal
Carly Fiorina is the former CEO of HP and best-selling author of Tough Choices; first woman to head a Fortune 20 company

More exciting than just an early-bird discount is that - as an authorized reseller of the program, I am willing to offer a rebate of 5 - 10% to any of my clients, colleagues, partners and readers who register on their site with my special code. Please contact me for the special registration code.

“For Gilbane, GILD is the focal point of a year-long leadership experience. Linkage’sLeaders Teaching Leaders process combines leadership awareness, skills, and action learning. It forges teamwork and camaraderie among our top leaders as they work on business challenges. This, in turn, creates step-function improvements in our organization and prepares Gilbane for continuous growth. If leadership development is a priority for your organization, then GILD/LTL deserves your attention.” --- Diane Fasching, vice president, Enterprise Learning and Development, Gilbane Co. The Global Institute for Leadership Development (GILD) is a development experience for leaders and leadership teams that provides transformational growth in areas proven to differentiate superior from average leaders.
The core of the experience is a 5-day immersion program that integrates the best learning methods employed by university executive education programs, leadership academies, and large-scale, global conferences to deliver accelerated growth. This is accompanied by The Year of Learning, a year-long development process that combines peer learning with timely and content-rich resources to sustain long-term leadership growth.

Key Benefits:
For participants:

Measurable growth in areas proven to differentiate superior from average leaders

Improved capacity to adapt to change and act on new business opportunities and challenges

An actionable and fully personalized development plan to drive long-term commitment to growth

Year-long exposure to new insights and perspectives through a global cast of faculty and participants

A network of global leaders who serve as a vibrant community of educational resources, business ideas, advice, and contacts

For organizations:
A more experienced, driven, and connected leadership team who are committed to driving results

A larger cadre of qualified successor candidates to take on crucial roles in the organization

Increased excitement and passion for learning among leaders at all levels

Long-term, organization-wide access to exclusive leadership development resources

Greater performance and results from your organization's managers and leaders

Visit the site here and remember to contact me regarding the code for a rebate equal to $249 - $499 per registrant.

New Exercise for Clarity: Columns of Possibilities™.

2009-03-21T09:26:00.000-07:00

For a limited time, I am offering a PDF download ( only $9, usually $25) of a great exercise I have been using with clients over the past 3 or so years with great success. Below is an excerpt of the document:

We all will notice things, which add and take away and are even neutral in our lives/situations. The objective is to align with what brings the most positive - with what offers the most additions – this is the healthy zone in the Columns of Possibilities™.

This column exercise will help guide what we keep and what we transition out from and to something better. But it is just the first step. We must remove some of the personal attachment so we can gain a better perspective of the situation.

You can use these exercises in reverse. If you find out what you feel you really cannot handle or what definitely has a negative impact on your life, you can approach the situation by saying who or what has the things I will NOT put up with, and cross those off the list. Maybe you despise commuting in traffic. Than research online or at the library the worst cities for commuting traffic and say – I will never move there. Remember we all want to be in situations that have neutral and yes even take-away zones – but most important is to find and manifest those experiences that add more to our life than they do take away. Enjoy the Columns of Possibilities™. Moving forward is about authenticity, realization and powerful positioning of who we are – what we want and where we want to be.

New downloads at site

2009-03-18T16:44:00.000-07:00

For anyone interested in a high-level overview of the insight-insync personal branding steps, visit here.

LaCosta in the news

2009-03-04T09:00:00.000-08:00

Dave Mendoza writes about BlueRio Strategies founder, LaCosta , and how she bridges the gap between traditional HR, OD and Branding.

Read article here.

Win a Coaching Session

2009-02-18T10:00:00.000-08:00

Feb promotion:

The first 28 people to respond to this newsletter with a simple sentence, paragraph or three (please no longer than one page in MS Word) describing why you desire a session but cannot quite afford it - will have a chance to win a valuable session. The Voluntary Advisory - team (sans founder) will review these and then choose 8 of the 28 to win a complementary strategy phone session or personal brand coaching session.

So - are you networking or notworking?

2009-02-17T11:54:00.000-08:00

Just read an article that poses the question - are you networking or notworking? And it struck a chord. Recently I have felt the tug of the powerful posting - my fingers seem to be addicted to my keyboard - and I am working longer hours.

But am I really working?

Enjoy more of the article here.