Screw Klout...These Are My Influencers

So, tomorrow I celebrate my one-year anniversary at my job. It's not really a big deal, one year woohoo, but I (at the very least) wanted to pay a #FF debt of gratitude to the folks I've met through Twitter that inspired my interest in Social Media and ultimately led me down this career path. Thank you all so much for your generosity and willingness to share knowledge and wisdom!

I don't care what Klout says, these are my influencers:

@ImMarkBernhardt

@krcraft

@KreusslerInc

@997dave

@cynthiakahn

@MostDarren

@Ken_Rosen

@PaulBiedermann

@Karen5Lund

@Shinng

@patrickthoburn

@M_Gagnier

@KnowledgeBishop

@erkramer

@mikulaja

@relevance

@seanmcginnis

@fredmcclimans

@CoachLibbytalks

@Sheree_W

@67tallchris

@mhandy1

@PaulaKPorter

@Spofcher

@RicDragon

@PegFitzpatrick

@WriterChanelle

@MyAgenda

@dabarlow

@SueanneShirzay

@LovelyLu

@samfiorella

@SteveCassady

@herskos

@righteousgeek

@BethGrangerSays

@sandyhubbard

@_Signalfire_

@OneJillian

@mantywebdesigns

@sumnermusolf

@DeRochier

@SMSJOE

@Clark_Jill

@MatthewLiberty

@lttlewys

@lindaperrybarr

@REALChaseAdams

@StephenCaggiano

@KyBedard

@Wedding_Crasher

@40deuce

@LewisPoretz

@Josepf

@joey_strawn

@tedcoine

@MargieClayman

@KatherineBull

@JessicaNorthey

Thank you all!!!

Facebook Pages...

As we (community managers) are aware, the pages notifications have disappeared from the left-hand side of our Facebook Homepage. A friend on Facebook recommended a solution to this problem (Thanks, Shane), please see below instructions:

1)      Go to your Home Page messages inbox and select any message from the inbox.

2)      Click in the comment box as if you’re going to type a message

3)      On the left hand side, the “Pages” should come up – Click on “Pages” or "More"

4)      A new window will appear which lists all of your pages – next to each page name, there is a pencil icon – click the pencil and select “Add to favorites” for each page

 

5)   The pages will then appear on your homepage!!!!

Hope this helps!!!

For the Communication Student...

So, I was going through some old files on my jump drive, and came across an oldie but goodie from the college days... The professor in my Senior Seminar class asked us to write a one-page paper that answers the question, "What is communication?" It's been a long time since I blogged, so I figured, what better way to get back into it than to share what I am thinking about right now...

Communication

“Persuasion.  Influence.  Understanding people.  Sales.  TV Broadcasting.  Public speaking.”  While these common misconceptions about the definition of communication help us describe what we can do with an educational background in the field, they do not get to the meat of what Communication truly is.  More often than not, people take communication for granted.  When asked this difficult question, “What is communication?” we often hear canned responses such as those with an occasional, “Communication is everything we do!” or “Without communication we wouldn’t exist today.”  While all these things are true, a similar observation could be made by a kindergartner.  To a college graduate in the field, communication should be something we define ourselves by.  As a Communication student, I overanalyze every bit of information that I perceive and assign some kind of psychological or emotional value to these perceptions.  I am constantly analyzing these perceptions and their value to uncover-on the deepest level-what inspired them, what perpetuates them, and, of course, how and why they were perceived.

Communication is a bit like Buddhism.  Our Nirvana or “Enlightenment” is the acceptance of one set of ideas globally.  If “red” could just be “red” and not “rojo,” “rouge,” “rot,” “rosso,” “vermelho,” “Červená,” “红色,” or “الأحمر,” all the world’s problems would be solved.  It sounds a bit farfetched, but most people look at conflict as a difference of opinion, two or more opposing viewpoints.  If you really think about it, there is no such thing as having opposing viewpoints.  Red will always look the same whether it is called rojo, rouge, rot, rosso, or anything else for that matter.  It’s not then, a matter of opposing viewpoints, but rather a matter of simple mis-communication.  Somewhere along the line of human existence, the “telephone game” got screwed up, and what was once “red” was mis-communicated as “rojo” and so on.  This simple idea applies to the root of every conflict; somewhere in its lineage, every conflict starts with a mis-communication.  Communication students are not only responsible, but also OBLIGATED in our ability to overanalyze, decode, interpret, understand, evaluate, assign meaning, persuade, influence, sell, publicly speak, whatever! We are obligated to bridge the communication gaps in the world. No matter your field, communication is...calibrating.

Your thoughts?

About Human Decency...

A few nights ago, I was in Milwaukee, WI having dinner with friends when I was temporarily separated from the group.  I began tweeting that I was lost in an unfamiliar neighborhood and attempted calling my friends but none of them answered.  At that point, I was taken in a car by three gentlemen of African descent.  They drove me to a dead end road underneath a very large bridge by the side of a river.  They forced me out of the car and one of them put a gun to my head.  He demanded my iPhone and my wallet which I reluctantly gave to him and then they took off.  It's kind of a blur at this point, but the only thing that sticks out in my mind is the 30 seconds from when we pulled up to the river to the time they peeled out.  In that 30 seconds, I have never been more afraid in my entire life.  It was surreal, something you typically only see in movies, but it was actually happening.  I had just gotten my iPhone a few days prior so I am not sure if there were any features that could have alerted the authorities in that short period of time, but I wish there was.  In browsing some emergency apps online, the only one I can find that may be useful in this situation:

- Silent Bodyguard is an app that sends E-mail, TXT, and Facebook/Twitter messages with your GPS location every 30 seconds to emergency contacts.

Technology being what it is, why haven't we come up with an app that can alert the police/EMS personnel of our location if an emergency arises? I mean, there are EPIRB, ELT, PLB devices that alert authorities immediately of our location and are responded to instantly, but they are often bulky and emit noise and some type of signal light.  How is there no iPhone app that, with the press of a button, can call the police immediately to your location? Is there something like this out there that I am missing?

Apps aside, I am beginning to lose faith in humanity.  The reason I never expected something like this to happen is because it's hard for me believe the level of disrespect it takes to put a gun to some ones head and take something that they have worked diligently from nothing for.  I'm not rich, by any means, but I'm no longer poor either.  The fact is, a little less than a year ago, I was homeless (living on a friends porch), enrolled in college, near starving, and I hadn't a dime to my name.  I didn't even have a phone at that time.  As embarrassing as that is to share, it makes me all the more proud to say that  in that time I was able to climb back up on my feet.  I spent last summer working odd (legitimate) jobs for cash.  For three months after that I worked three fourteen-hour nights a week at a factory 187 miles away while going to school full-time.  I then found an excellent job in my field that I love, pays well, and is close to home.  I am bouncing back stronger than ever and it is not happening by doing nothing, going out partying and finding some out-of-towner easy target to rob.  It makes me sick that people exist that think this type of thing is okay, and what makes it worse is that society has gotten to the point where they can turn a blind eye to it.  I did.  None of us think something like this can happen to us until it does.  So we don't do anything to stop it.  Kind of like none of us think a Tsunami will never wash away our home, a plane will bring down our workplace, or fire will consume our house.  You don't have to like everyone, but you must certainly respect their right to pursue and achieve happiness.  

So long as space exists, 

So long as sentient beings exist, 

I will exist, 

In order to help, in order to serve, 

In order to make my own contribution.

365 Birthdays a Year...Personalizing Social Media

I’ve been talking a lot lately with some Social Media Marketing Guru’s from #usguys and #smmeasure and reflecting on a statement someone made to me:

 “Social media is about building relationships; it’s about knowing your customer and becoming friends with them.” – Everyone on Twitter

It occurred to me, in my consideration of this statement, that some people that choose to represent themselves as my friend may not actually know me at all.  To test this theory, I recently conducted an informal Facebook experiment in which I changed my birthday.  On March 9, 2011 at 10:26 AM, I updated my status:

“If i listed my birthday on facebook as tomorrow(which it's not) I wonder how many of my "friends" would still say "Happy Birthday" to me...we'll call this social experiment #1-A "Let's See Who Knows It's Not My Birthday Tomorrow" and social experiment #1-B "Let's See Who Leaves a "Happy Birthday" Comment Despite Todays Status. Shhhh...don't tell!”

I continued to change my birthday every day for four days.  The results are in and are impressive:

-          36 people responded with birthday praise-this is 6.8% of my network.  On my real birthday (December 3), I got 75 similar posts (14.1% of my network).

o   32 of these are people I actually know personally including:

§  9 people I have celebrated my birthday with in the last 2 years.

§  3 co-workers (one whom sits in the office next to me and ate my treats when it WAS my birthday, actually sent me a singing e-card at work).

§  3 women I have had a “relationship” with.

§  4 Fraternity Brothers.

§  AND 3 members of my own family, including my oldest sister!

-          To be fair, 13 people or 2.4% of my network (including 7 family members and 2 co-workers) publicly called out that it was not, in fact, my birthday.

In a world where your “friends” aren’t even your friends, how are you supposed to befriend the customer? 

The reason people (whether they admit it or not) are afraid of Social Media is not because of the change itself; rather, what the change is destroying.  Customers are people, not “followers” and Friends are Friends, not “friends”.  We need something personal, something real.  Social Media makes them feel that they are losing that personal relationship.  When done right, social media can be the perpetual motion of marketing.  But, in order to do Social Media right, we must reflect on the things we are attempting to preserve with this change.  We must bear in mind the traditional values of genuine human existence; Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship, and authentically represent ourselves, our brands, and our companies as a reflection of those values. 

**continuing to ponder what this means to me, and ways to improve my social media experience. Advice welcome…**

Year of the Unimaginable...? Part II.

Thank you to my friends @margieclayman and @tommyismyname (twitter) for their thought provoking feedback on my last post.  I want to take this opportunity to expand on this subject, and hopefully generate some more insight.

"Real Life Mad Man (@margieclayman) said...

It seems like you're kind of playing both sides - and that's the problem marketers are running into as well, I think.

On the one hand, there are people like me who literally would run away from data mining if I could. I mean, shoot me in the back, I am a coward in the face of that stuff. It creeps me out!

On the other hand, though, there is what some are calling the "opportunity economy." I was just reading a chapter about this in The Now Revolution. A restaurant worked it out so that whenever you check into a neighboring restaurant on Foursquare, a little pop-up comes up saying, "Well, you could also come over here since you're so close."

Creepy because they know exactly where you are, but a great marketing technique.

Good post - lots to ponder :)

February 11, 2011 6:22 PM    "

"tommyismyname (@tommyismyname) said...

Excellent and thought provoking post!

But to answer your question about anyone doing this, the answer is yes. I'm that marketer who is tapping into your thoughts. I am that marketer that plants the subconscious seed that says "I just did this, I think I'll go here next" I use all of the information you have talked about, and a little bit more to reverse engineer people's social media profiles to get them to spend more money with my clients.

As a consumer, I wish more marketers were doing this too. I would love to only see deals for things I already wanted. I would love to see less noise in the products that are advertised to me. I wish life were a bit more like pandora radio. I wish advertisers understood my needs, and gave me what I wanted. I think that would cut back on wasted dollars for sure.

February 11, 2011 9:41 PM           "

Margie, you're absolutely right, I am tip-toeing the line the line a bit.  I'm torn.  The marketer in me wants to capitalize on this, but the sociologist in me says, "Whoa, total invasion of privacy!" Recently, Wisconsin passed legislation regulating the Payday Loan industry because folks were being taken advantage of by outrageous fees and interest rates.  On the one hand, they knew what the terms of the agreement were when they signed the contract; on the other hand, these businesses profited by knowingly lending money to people who would not be able to pay it back.  Who is in the wrong? 

I'm not suggesting that Social Media Marketing is nearly as deceitful as what happened in the loan industry; but, when you create a Facebook account or add a new app to your iPhone, you agree to the terms and conditions (which you may or may not read) that, in some cases, allow those applications to tweet on your behalf or share your information with third parties.  It seems now that you’re almost obligated to be on Facebook, at minimum.  I currently use Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace (although I haven’t been on MySpace in half a decade) and I am beginning to feel pressure from my fellow social media-lites to join some other platforms as well.  None of them are coming out and telling me to join, but by not joining, I feel left out.  At any rate, “Social Media (Peer) Pressure” is a whole other topic in itself.  The point is, we are kind of “forced” into divulging all this personal information and have little to no control over how it is shared. 

In the corner of my Facebook page at this very moment I see that I should support our troops by purchasing a survival bracelet at "survivalstraps.com".  Coincidentally, I recently posted well wishes on my cousin’s wall.  He just arrived in Afghanistan for his 5th (or so) tour.  I also have (roughly) 57 “friends” that have served, in some capacity, in the armed forces.  Coincidence?  Not likely.  I can’t represent survivalstraps.com, but I am willing to bet that they are in no way endorsed by the armed forces.  That’s just one click I don’t want to make in the event that it causes this marketing chain to spin on and batter me with more ads.  My question then, is this: How far is too far?  I agree 100% with what @tommyismyname said, “I would love to see less noise in the products that are advertised to me. I wish life were a bit more like pandora radio. I wish advertisers understood my needs, and gave me what I wanted.”  I think this strategy would be better than any existing strategy for the marketer and equally as beneficial to the consumer.  My concern comes from Peter Parker’s (Spiderman) Grandfather, “With great power comes great responsibility!” I’m weary that many marketers may use this power negatively, deceitfully, to create exponentially more amounts of noise.  Thoughts?

Year of the Unimaginable...?

In one of my favorite Twitter chats (#smmeasure) the @Marketwire team covered a topic that got me thinking, as their topics usually do, about the direction Marketing, Social Media, PR, and (quite frankly) Society in general is headed. 

We are now a world of skeptics and non-believers.  As Seth Godin says, “All that succeeds is the unreasonable.”  Consumers are looking for unbeatable prices on unattainably high quality items that are unimaginably marketed.  In this particular post, I’d like to address the latter of the three.  I won’t pretend to be a Marketing expert, as I am still “wet behind the ears,” but I want to attempt to paint a picture of an otherwise unimaginable marketing strategy of which I’m certain I am not the first to consider. 

The Patriot Act in 2001 was sold to the public, by our elected few, based on the fear of terrorism and has since been under immense scrutiny based upon the invasive nature of the legislation (among other reasons).  However, the level of invasiveness we consciously gave our government is peanuts compared to that which we are unconsciously giving to Marketers on a daily basis.  The folks in #smmeasure yesterday were talking about "locator" apps such as Google Latitude, Layar, Wikitude, FB Places, and it FREAKED me out; and, not just in a “big brother” kind of way.  We hear all the time that “the power of social media is endless” and we should “be careful what we post online” but, how is the “power endless”?  Why should we “be careful”? 

The simple, cookie-cutter response is:  It’s so “powerful” because millions use it and you should be “careful” because you never know who’s watching (creepers!).

But there is a far more complex answer to these seemingly simple questions:

The information we make public about ourselves and our friends is to Marketers what plutonium is to Marty McFly.  That is no lie!  When we allow Marketers access to our likes, our dislikes, our favorite music, what we are watching on TV, who we are watching TV with, their likes and dislikes, etc. we are planting information for them to harvest and it truly is a cash crop.  Though the arenas have changed, marketing itself remains the same it always has: INPUT à ANALYSIS à OUTPUT.  The “INPUT” is everything you tell them; be it in a focus group, survey, consumer report, or (nowadays) on Facebook.  What you don’t realize is that, now you don’t even have to offer the information, you offered it as soon as you accepted the “Terms and Conditions” of Facebook use.  The “ANALYSIS” is everything they think your saying and how they plan to respond with exactly what you want to hear.  This may or may not have changed much, but the technique and philosophy of analytics vary from company to company.  Some successful examples of truly impactful analysts; Clotaire Rapaille, Frank Luntz, Mike Maslansky, Leo Burnett, and the list goes on.  The “OUTPUT” is the message they are sending you; you know, the one you told them you wanted to hear (though you may not realize you did so) during the “INPUT” phase.  The “OUTPUT” is the part of the equation I am increasingly weary of. 

They already know how to strategically advertise via social media platforms.  I’m sure you’ve realized this every time you log onto Facebook and see an ad for Dick’s Sporting Goods if you “like” hunting, or an ad for Tangled if you have 4 year-olds, or an ad for Depend if you’ve recently retired ;)  Marketers have clearly been successful in infiltrating social media ad space, and are proving to be nearly as successful in engaging via SM, but what I have yet to see is “unimaginable OUTPUT” coming from social media.

With all these “locator” apps, marketers possess the capability to slap an @DairyQueen ad on an e-billboard across the street as I’m walking away from the dinner table @ChinaBuffet and tweeting about how much I could go for an ice cream.  Isn’t it creepy enough when you’re driving and happen to be craving something very specific, a taco perhaps, and all of the sudden a Taco Bell ad comes across the wavelengths?  Now, they know what you want, they know where you are when you want it, and most importantly, how to deliver it instantaneously.  Imagine leaving the office with a tweet, “Could totally go for a burger right now…@(myoffice) #starving #mcdonalds” and as soon as you walk out the door an LED billboard flashes golden arches and an arrow, “1.2 miles to Mouth Watering, Heart Stopping (quite literally) Goodness.” 

I wanted to get my feet wet in SM Consumer-ism so I recently “followed” some products I use as well as signed up for some mobile coupon offers from some stores I shop at.  I am NOT impressed (from a marketing standpoint).  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve mentioned @verizon @sprint or @mtn_dew and gotten ZERO response.  Why do you have a twitter account if you’re not going to engage?  In some of those cases, I have asked direct questions to them and been referred to a link about their products.  As a consumer, I don’t want to be “referred” anywhere.  I asked you on Twitter, because I want you to talk to me on Twitter.  My mobile coupons are a joke! @JCPenney texts me a coupon maybe twice a month.  How about @JCPenney figure out when I am in need of new clothes for work or when my tennis shoes crap out (like when my Facebook status says ‘D#!@ I just blew a hole in my shoe…in the market for some fresh tennies!’) and send me a sweet coupon on shoes?!?  Is it possible to monitor hundreds of thousands of followers and engage them individually?  I sure think it is, there are certainly the metrics available to monitor what your “followers” or “likers” are saying, why not use them to your advantage?!

Can you imagine an otherwise unimaginable marketing strategy like this? Is anyone out there doing this?  I’m sure the boys @Marketwire are cooking something up as we speak!

@spittk07

What is the most important position at your company?

When I was in high school, I applied for my first job as a lifeguard at the local outdoor swimming pool.  Working there carried with it somewhat of an “Elite” status in my hometown.  I’m not sure that is the case anymore, but in my day it was most certainly the most highly coveted place to work in that small Iowa town as a high school student. 

The thing about that job that stands out most, now that I am in the “real” workforce, had nothing to do with the pool hotties, the spectacular tan I came back to school with, or even the rare occasions I felt heroic by rescuing a struggling kid in the deep end.  What stands out most now, is a question the Parks Director asked when I interviewed for the position.  He prefaced the question with, “Now the next question is one I always like to ask just so I know a little more about how you think.  There is no right or wrong answer; I would just like to know your thought process.”  The question was this:

“What do you think is the most important job at Riverview Pool?”

The jobs at Riverview Pool include; Lifeguard, Swim Instructor, Cashier, Concessionaire, and Manager.  At the time, I had no exposure to any type of business.  I had never really had a “big picture” view of any kind of operation.  I would venture to say I was a bit narrow-minded and un-educated.  That being said, I gave him a response I suspect was quite typical of his applicants.  I chose “Manager” as most important and said something along the lines of, “Without a high quality management team, the operations would not run smoothly…blah blah, BS BS, etc. etc.”  Looking back, knowing what I know now about business, I would change my response.  I would tell him that EVERY position is the most important position.  For fear of sounding cliché, I’ll immediately say that the justification for changing my response is NOT “because everyone plays an important role in the organization.”  Rather, if you think about it, every position serves a specific purpose to the patrons.  The most important position within that organization depends on the perspective of the patrons.  To the folks standing in line waiting to get in right when the pool opens, the Cashier is the most important position.  To the little kid struggling in the deep end, perhaps the Lifeguard is most important?  To the mom who has a gripe about paying admission and encountering a sudden downpour, the Manager is likely most important.  To the folks trying to pass the swim test in order to go off the diving board, I’m sure the Swim Instructor is most important, and to the 12-year old in need of his daily sugar fix-Lemonheads and Mountain Dew-the Concessionaire is DEFINITELY the most important position at Riverview Pool.

Think about it.  How many times have you seen some Brand Manager or some Executive walking around like they are the cat’s meow?  How many times have YOU walked around like the cat’s meow?  It may be subtle things, I know I’ve done it.  I'e done it as a Lifeguard at the pool and I've done it in business.  No matter how blatant or subtle the gestures of self-appreciation are, remember you are a part of a TEAM that services MILLIONS of people…you, individually, don’t always matter to them!

If your product isn’t up to your CO’s gold standard, your consumer gets on the phone and the person they talk to is most important.  If a distributor is missing a pallet from their last shipment, the Supply Chain Rep is the most important person in the company.  If a competitor is calling you out, “Your product is 50% less effective than ours!” then the Research and Development Analyst is most important!  Point: Stop and think about where you, as an individual, fit into the big picture.  When it’s your time to shine, SHINE!  When it’s your time to listen, listen.  When it’s your time to be invisible, be invisible…Let others have their moment too!

-@spittk07

The Not-So-Convinced Conspiracy Theorist...

So, Google just came out with a "Death Map" of all the recent clusters of animals that seem to be dropping dead everywhere.  I'm definitely not one of "those guys" but I do think something is a little odd about 4 species across 5 continents literally "falling over dead."  I'm not saying the Apocalypse is coming or anything...but how are people NOT talking about this?

The list of creepy mass deaths is to long too share in it's entirety, but among the list are:

- 5,000 Blackbirds in Arkansas

- 100 Pelicans in Jacksonville, NC

- 300 Doves in Italy

- 70 Bats in Tucson, AZ

- Thousands of fish in SE Asia

- 200 Cows in Sheboygan, WI

Okay...I'm no wildlife expert, but it seems incredibly coincidental that these and more would all occur within weeks of each other.  I don't buy the Plague theory, the UFO theory, the Secret Government Mission theory, or even the It's Been Happening For Years Just Not Reported theory.  But I do think something other than coincidence is going on here.  The question is what?

"If everything is changing, nothing is changing..."

In reading a number of blogs and articles via my new Twitter community: #usguys #smmeasure @socialmedia2day etc.  I have been thinking a lot about success.  Success on an organizational level, stems from any number of values that reflect quality leadership.  You see companies that die, and you see companies that continue to grow.  Have you ever heard a CEO blame a bad economy or a horrible market for a company folding.  If so, then you've likely heard a runner blame poor weather or faulty track conditions for losing a race?  The fact is, all of your competitors are experiencing the same conditions.  Why then did you watch them hit the finish a second and a half ahead of you?  Why in the midst of all that is "changing" did you fall behind?

Success in business, like on the track, depends on the values and beliefs upon which that business was built in the first place.  A number of things contribute to this belief system, both positive and negative and in uncertain, changing times we can lose sight of some of those things that have contributed to our success.  Like an athlete who has experienced great success, a CEO can just as easily tune out from the fundamental values that set the ship asail.  Organizations are changing so much now, that the greatest change that could occur would be to not change at all.  We often fail to remember that Change only occurs with respect to Stasis.  You see, too many executives look at change as a linear process by which people that resist represent something to conquer, an obstacle.  What they forget is that the very resistance they are trying to overcome is required for change to exist.  Successful change is something deeply rooted in the interaction between the changing and the unchanging.  I may have lost you there, so let me reframe my point.

As companies grow and move into the 21st century it is essential for them to remember the fundamental values that got them there in the first place.  Values such as; tradition, loyalty, authenticity, etc. are values that, while many things are changing, should never change.  Companies can and should undergo operational changes as newer and better technology strides forward.  They should be finding ways to optimize efficiency and maintain a competetive advantage in the marketplace without compromising the foundation of the company.  When CEO's find themselves faced with resistence, it is important for them to remember that those who are resisting the change are making an essential contribution to the process.  They are not operating out of stubborness, they are operating out of fear.  Not fear of the unkown; but rather, fear of losing that which is known (the core values the company was built upon).  If that is the case, prior to any change, CEO's should be asking themselves, "What exactly is it that should be preserved by this change?" This question may show those in support of the status quo that you are on there side.  That, ultimately, by proceeding with certain changes, you are really preserving the lifelong values that made your company successful.  Bottom line; Every decision made, be it by a CEO, a runner, a waitor, a telemarketer, should start with this thought process..."I am on their team...we both want the same thing...what do I hope to preserve in making this decision...what changes will allow me to preserve this while moving forward?"

On the Violence...

A lot of folks seem to be crying out with opinions on Gun Control, harsher sentencing, whatever after the recent violence in Tucson...It's so fundamental I wonder why anyone bothers trying to pursuade either side to change their mind...that's about as effective as trying to push an elephant off a cliff...

This topic, while tragic, stirred a lot of response. I'm sorry if I neglect to take sides on the issues of Gun Control, Religion, International Policy, Psychology, or any other hot topic for that matter in this post.  I have but one thing to say, and forgive me if someone has already said it:

"Treat other's the way that you want to be treated..."

I would NEVER say that anyone "deserves" to be shot at, nor would I agree that any kind of violence is the answer to anything.  I certainly don't know the messy details of what happened in Tucson; merely the what and the when...  But I will say this; that shooter CHOSE a horrible reaction to some-thing or some-one.  Nobody is born with the innate desire to murder.  Some external provocation conditioned this response from him.  That does not excuse what he did, nor does it justify people being hurt.  What it does do is offer ALL OF US an opportunity to think about the way that WE treat people.  It’s called “empathy” – putting oneself in one other’s shoes.

I lead a workshop at a leadership conference in college that focused on diversity.  Particularly on the things we do every day that we are unaware of which may have a negative impact on someone else’s world.  A few examples to think about:

When you go to the company cafeteria, think about the person washing your dishes before overloading the ketchup and dressing and leaving your garbage in the salad bowl...

When you are waiting in line at the gas station, remember, they are human and doing the best they can to serve the morning rush...

When you find someones lost wallet and it is stuffed with $300 cash, what if that was all that was left after cashing their paycheck?  What if they still had to get groceries for the family and pay the utility bill?

In a nut shell:  GET OUT OF YOUR OWN LITTLE WORLD!  Yes, you have a life, but we all exist TOGETHER.  I may be a lowly peon in the corporate ladder, but my friend Katie graduated with an HR Degree-maybe she’ll be the one who moves me up some day.  Katie’s brother Joe is an MIS graduate and he’s going to fix mine and Katie’s computers when they go down.  Joes friend Melissa is a Nursing graduate, she’s going to take care of all three of us when we are sick.  WE CAN’T GET THROUGH LIFE ALONE.  The world is an interdependent place.  Just once, stop and think about how OUR actions now can cause an unforeseen, tragic, conditioned response at some point in the future BEFORE you throw someone under the bus…

Where do I fit in?

Okay, so it just occurred to me  that I am on a "need to know basis" at work.  I didn't think that existed anymore!  My friend @tedcoine tells me that "knowledge is power in the 20th century" and that big companies are often too secretive about everything.  Okay, so where do I fit in then?  I was brought in to serve as a Social Media Specialist.  Allthough I am not highly skilled with some SM applications, I do know a great deal about customer service, marketing, influence, brand building, etc.  I thought I was brought in to help develop our currently out-source SM Marketing strategy.  I've been here 3 months, and I have sat in 1 SM meeting with my boss who, essentially picked our brains for ideas and in turn, gave us no feedback on what was taken out of the meeting. 

The "powers that be" just announced a new SM project that this team of "Specialists" had no hand in developing.  I get my jolly's by the work I do in marketing and communications, I love it!  Why, in a fortune 100 company, would you neglect to include a team of 5 millenials that grew up on this stuff in planning such a project?  These people all have 30+ years with the company and treat us like we are at the bottom of the corporate ladder?  They proudly declare themselves "agents of change" but are still stuck in this 20th century idea that "Knowledge is Power" and of course, no one is eager to speak up...we all know how difficult it is to find a job these days... Does that mean I just become a "yes man jellyfish" and watch our company fall behind the competition because we are not keeping up with the times?

-Please Advise

Listen to the Music: Margie's Music



The Doobie Brothers said it best...

...but my girl Margie Clayman is right on the money in her latest blog You Do It Yourself as well.

I saw the Doobie Brothers live two summers ago in Oshkosh, WI at the world's largest air show "EAA Air Venture" and walked away with a powerful message that Margie has evidently learned as well.  It's simple: Listen to the Music!

Do you ever feel, when a song comes on, that there couldn't be a more perfect song to narrate your life at that particular moment?  It happens to me all the time! For example; about two years ago, Bruce Springsteen told me to start Working On a Dream so, on a whim, I decided to introduce myself to the Festival Operations Manager (FOM) of a multi-million dollar country music festival in the area.  It is a lifelong dream of mine to put on concerts - specifically the 50th Anniversary of Woodstock...  Anyhow, I approached this "FOM" during the festival one year.  I told him how much I loved attending his event despite the fact that I was NOT much of a country music fan.  I also asked him if he had any opportunities to volunteer or intern for their organization.  He didn't hesitate to blow me off with a, "Thanks, I'm pretty tied up for the rest of the summer, shoot me an e-mail in the fall." Looking forward all summer to my next communication with the FOM it finally came time to call him and again he blew me off, "Well, we really don't accept volunteers, but get ahold of me again this spring, and maybe I'll have something for you."  I felt like giving up.  A number of things weren't going my way in life as it was, so the Beatles had to remind me that I should just Let it Be.  I shook it off and remembered to myself that all events are neutral, that I had nothing to be afraid of by putting myself out there and being rejected.  But then I also realized that I had not been rejected, the FOM told me to get ahold of him in the spring and that's exactly what I did!  I called him back six months later and again, "I just really don't know what I can do to get you involved here.  Why don't you get ahold of me the first week of June around festival time."  This time, I definitely knew I was cooked, until Journey said to me Don't Stop, Believin'!!!  It wasn't until the first week of June 2010 that I finally made some headway.  I happened to be helping put on a local Irishfest and was at the festival grounds the night prior to opening day watching another concert (Gin Blossoms) when who was standing behind me but the FOM himself!  I turned around and again, re-introduced myself.  He noticed my Irishfest Committee shirt and expressed interest in coming by to check out the festival.  I was able to secure two VIP Passes for the festival through a good friend to give to him and his wife.  After this, the FOM asked me to be a part of the country music festival I had been so persistant in trying to get involved with all year long!  Bruce Springsteen started me on this quest and Toby Keith capped it off reminding me that I could stick my toungue out at those who were calling me crazy and say, "How Do You Like Me Now?"

This is just one example from my life of the music telling me important messages.  Margie, thanks again for showing me that you too are always looking to learn wherever possible.  I know we all Listen to the Music and sometimes it is the only thing that clears out all the noise telling us we can't!

-Kyle