The Educated Emotion

Media Release: Mom Genius Helps College Bound Students

noreply@blogger.com (lesgo4it) — Mon, 15 May 2017 15:35:00 +0000

Press Release

_________________________________________________________________________

“Genius” Mom Launches New Campaign To Help College-Bound Students To ‘Up Your Game’ With Your Writing

ANN ARBOR, MI / (May 11, 2017) –Essay Coaching is announcing the launch of Up Your Game With Your Writing – a tutoring, mentoring, and education campaign designed to help both students and parents reduce the family stress involved with the college admissions essay process.

Because teenagers and young parents are so busy, the campaign includes numerous quick and free elements, including a new information and resource hub at www.essaycoaching.com, FREE original college essay quizzes as seen on WXYZ-TV, college essay readiness training for students and parents, private coaching packages, a new Twitter channel with weekly writing tips at @debmerion and new book due out in 2018.

The first workshop is May 16, 2017, from 7-8:30 pm. in Saline. Students and/or parents will receive handouts, samples of winning essays, and advice on what admissions officers are looking for. Attendees will learn how to find your best topic, how to bring out your unique writing voice, engaging ways to emphasize strengths without bragging, and how parents can help. This event is $29, requires registration and is expected to fill up quickly.

Award-winning author and writing coach Debbie Merion, the founder of Essay Coaching, is a mother of two successful daughters who are both using their college degrees. Merion was crowned “genius mom” by WXYZ-TV on the segment “Mom's A Genius: College essay coach helping students crack the college application code.” She also authored the article “Paper Cut –U-M Picks Its Freshman Class,” the only detailed description of how a major University selects its students and an article that launched Essay Coaching over a decade ago, giving thousands of parents the “inside scoop” on how their application is read.

“Colleges want to hear your voice. They want to read about what you care about and what you’ve done about it. Student essays shine when they show how you’ve taken initiative,” said Merion. Once she had to steer a student away from writing an essay about his mother’s battle with cancer. “My heart went out to him,” said Merion, “I suggested he might want to publish his essay in a teen publication because it was so well written. But the topic was not a good fit for a college admissions essay because no one has any control over an illness. All we can do is react and fight the illness.” Merion encouraged him to write about a passion he has, a choice he wanted to make, or what he has done about something he chooses to do—whether it’s a job, playing lacrosse, reading poetry, or working with kids.

A well-written essay is a part of the critical information the admissions officer receives. It is important but does not hold the same weight as transcripts and GPA in the decision-making process. “Not every qualified student can get into a school,” said Merion, “so sometimes tipping the balance can be an essay that really helps the college admissions officer say ‘I can tell that this student is going to fit in, they’re going to be successful.’”

Media Contact:

734.707.7537; Leslie@LesGo4It.com

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Helpful Links:

http://www.essaycoaching.com/about/tv-appearances

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He2CDsNhkMI

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140929164515-4776572-five-questions-i-was-asked-on-wxyz-tv

Good Morning Sunshine

noreply@blogger.com (lesgo4it) — Mon, 08 May 2017 10:00:00 +0000

In general, entrepreneurs and small business owners tend to practice healthier lifestyles. That may be because many entrepreneurs understand that losing time or illness can hurt business. Still, that healthy lifestyle is not the reality for many startups or female entrepreneurs who tend to have increased demands on time and unique challenges that can leave them depleted.

Fresh and New

Spring is a good time to think about beginning a new project or starting over, and Monday is a good time to begin a new project. But, most small business owners do not have a clean break between work and play, week and weekend. Friday is not the jubilant release and Monday morning does not always bring the refreshed promise that we see and hear around us.

However, each morning is actually a new opportunity to start again. Whether you practice yoga, journal, exercise on the treadmill, or just still -- find some time to rejuvenate this morning so that you can have enough of you left at the end of the day to carry on.

From one entrepreneur to another,

Les

The Educated Emotion

Inspiration for Entrepreneurs via the Olympics

noreply@blogger.com (lesgo4it) — Sat, 06 May 2017 13:30:00 +0000

With the help of Social Media, we are all surrounded by discussion about the Olympics! The only people talking online about the Olympics more than the United States are Great Britain and Australia. The media has been struggling to keep up with all the news, controversy, and highlights.

Handball Event at 2012 Summer Olympics.
Photo by: los_bandito_anthony

Recently, one of my clients pointed out to me that there are a lot more competitions in the Olympics than he was privy to via his local television networks or newspaper. Out of curiosity, I looked it up and found that there were some 36 competitions with everything from Beach Volleyball to Shooting.

It would be nice if there was more time and attention afforded to some of the other sports represented at . There are some really talented and dedicated folks competing. It is inconceivable how much they all sacrifice to participate. It is inspirational to me even before execution or finding out who wins...just the mere concept of giving up everything within your comfort zone to step out on faith and do something different from everyone around you because you believe in what you are doing that strongly....and to work extremely hard with delayed gratification in order to realize your dreams coming to fruition. I find that inspirational.

2012 Summer Olympic Competitions:

1. Aquatics - Diving
2. Aquatics - Water Polo
3. Aquatics - Swimming
4. Aquatics - Synchronized Swim
5. Triathalon

6. Modern Pentathalon
7. Rowing
8. Sailing
9. Shooting
10. Archery
11. Judo
12. Sailing
13. Equestrian - Jumping
14. Equestrian - Dressage
15. Equestrian - Eventing
16. Taekwondo
17. Gymnastics - Trampoline
18. Gymnastics - Artistic
19. Gymnastics - Rhythmic
20. Volleyball
21. Beach Volleyball
22. Badminton
23. Football
24. Basketball
25. Fencing
26. Golf
27. Hockey
28. Table Tennis
29. Rugby
30. Handball
31. Cycling BMX
32. Cycling Mountain Bike
33. Cycling track
34. Cycling Road
35. Weightlifting
36. Boxing

that's right...THIRTY SIX OLYMPIC COMPETITIONS

3 Sweaty Lessons for the Entrepreneur

noreply@blogger.com (lesgo4it) — Fri, 05 May 2017 10:57:00 +0000

When the remake of the movie, Sparkle, arrived to theaters, I had to watch the 1976 version just one more time. This has been a favorite since I first watched it as a teen almost 20 years after it was released. Every time I watch the movie something different stands out. This time that I watched it, I noticed how sweaty Stix, the character played by Philip Michael Thomas, was when he hugged the girls mom. It was at the point that I experienced an epiphany as to why this movie impacted me so much. Here are three sweaty business lessons that I learned from the movie:

1. Sweating is Natural

In Sparkle, when Stix came to Sparkle's debut and hugged her mom he was sweaty. She didn't turn him away. In fact, she gave him a full embrace while in her finest threads. He had made a mistake and she knew it, but he had survived it and she was encouraged. As a entrepreneur, I have to put in my sweat equity to get my business off the ground. There aren't always casual or ladylike ways to go about this. I just have to allow myself to get dirty, make mistakes, fall down, get up...It's okay. As I take risks, I see my clients taking risks. They inspire me. That determination and perseverance becomes contagious.

2. Sweating is Good for you

Yes; I am a writer. Yes; I am a poet. But, THIS time I am not speaking figuratively. In the movie, when Stix got upset, he would put his feet to the pavement and take a walk. Similarly, no amount of reading, savvy, and mental exercises can replace a good workout. Physical exercise is good for your health AND the health of your business. Dan Brown, author of the Da Vinci Code is quoted as saying:

In addition to starting early, I keep an antique hourglass on my desk and every hour break briefly to do push-ups, sit-ups and quick stretches. This helps keep the blood, and ideas, flowing.

As an entrepreneur, you are not only the worker bee - you are the thinker bee. The one with the vision. When I allow myself to become exhausted, it compromises the amount of energy I have to put towards my projects. Time at the gym or walking has produced some of my most creative ideas.

3. Use your Sweat to Sparkle

There are fifteen key minutes of the movie that completely elevate the story line from being about a poor family living in Harlem to a much more universally-themed story line about choices...specifically choices that have to be made in the face of adversity. The following words were said by Sparkle (portrayed by Irene Cara) after the funeral for her sister and Stix returning to town after leaving to pursue his career. She is hurting or, in the words of the old Dry Idea commercials, letting him see her sweat. But, it is pivotal to her growth and independence. This stronger, confident person emerges than we have seen up to this point in the movie. This person becomes the Sparkle whom we see command the stage at Carnegie Hall.

Give you a chance? Wanna know something funny? When you first left, I wasn't sure if I'd be able to live without you. Yeah, I used to sit in this room and wondered if I would ever get through another second. Can you imagine a person so unhappy? To not know if they'd live through another second? I got through the second, Stix. Minutes, days, months, weeks. I'm doing fine without you. Just fine.

As an entrepreneur, I am faced with many challenges. Unlike the years I spent in higher education, I don't have a meeting to call, protocol to follow or standard practices guide. Many choices are complex and there is no right or wrong. I have mentors and resources in place which help. But, some decisions and challenges are unique to my own business. Going through the process, the sweat, learning from own lessons, and recovering from my own decisions all are helping this solopreneur to evolve.

The Purpose of a Vision

noreply@blogger.com (lesgo4it) — Thu, 04 May 2017 01:30:00 +0000

A Full Moon, taken around midnight on August 1, 2012,
several minutes after it reached its fullest phase.

Have you ever witnessed something so breathtaking that you wanted to capture the image and share it with the world? At the top of August, I was outside when the moon became Full. It took up the entire sky. Due to street lights and limitations with the photography (lacking proper equipment and skill), I was unable to capture the full glory of the moon. But, whenever I look back at this photograph, I am reminded not only of what I can see in the picture - but the memory of what I saw that night. Similarly, most entrepreneurs and businesses begin with a vision. But one of the key purposes of a vision, is being able to share it. If a business is unable to communicate that vision with stakeholders, prospects, and employees - the purpose is lost. Here are a few necessaries to capture that vision to share with others:

Focus - In order to focus, you must be still. If you move your vision, and the vision you share with others will be blurry. Many top professionals find that starting their day with private time is helpful. This can be prayer, meditation, journaling, exercising, skimming emails to get a handle on daily priorities or a combination of these. Additionally, you must understand timing. Being ready to capture that vision at the right moment is key.

The right tools - A vision cannot be captured without the right tools. Business translation? Resources! Money is a good resource to have access to - - but so are mentors, networking opportunities, information, social media, continuing education, and physical equipment. Due to the internet, finding resources, like this resource list for entrepreneurs, is easier than ever.

Skill - all the preparation in the world cannot substitute skill. Some skills and talent are innate, but most require education, training, and practice. Even after you have the skills you need to succeed, you need continuing education, continued training, and more practice to continue to succeed.

Below, is a clip of Jim Morrison sharing his vision for the future of music. He had it all: focus, the right tools and resources, formal education, training, and skill. Unfortunately, Morrison used drugs and alcohol to find his focus and place of still. This resulted in his early departure from this world. But, that doesn't take away from all the lessons he shared with the world. Truly a visionary, he was able to communicate the direction where he thought music would go.

The purpose of a vision is for the person who sees it. When the vision is coming into view, a dream begins. As the vision becomes more clear, he or she can share it and live it. It becomes real.

There are things known and things unknown and in between are the doors. ~ Jim Morrison

Starting with a Blank Page

noreply@blogger.com (lesgo4it) — Tue, 02 May 2017 12:00:00 +0000

One of the hardest things to do is start fresh, start anew. As an entrepreneur, you will inevitably find yourself in situations where friends, family, mentors, former coworkers...are simply unable to help. That is because you are doing something different, something that has not been done before.

A Template For Life

In an excerpt from a poem I wrote in 2010, "Blank Pages and Empty Rooms" I weigh the pros and cons of a blank page. I was raised on templates. There is a way to cook, to bake, to love, to study, to be a lady. As an adult, that has been expanded to include a way to eat, walk, talk, write a contract, and even begin a business. As much as I complained about all these "rules" of society, I realized recently that I had also been comforted by this structure.

As an entrepreneur, I have had to reexamine my fears of the blank page. In the planning stages, I still had templates to rely on - business books, business plans, financial sheets - are pretty standard. However, as I grow into my niche I find myself in more and more situations where there really is no template. It is intimidating, and sometimes even lonely, to stare at a blank page or look around an empty room or office.

Last week, we lost an important inventor in the tech industry: Mr. Douglas Englebart. Until last week, I only knew him as the inventor of the mouse. Upon his death, and the fresh circulation of information about his life, I learned of his many contributions. In an interview with the Computer History Museum, they describe the 1968 demo (below) of his invention as an embodiment of "Engelbart's lifelong commitment to solving humanity's urgent problems by using computers as tools to improve communication and collaboration between people."

If you have time to watch the entire video, it is worth your 9 minutes. If you don't have much time, fast forward the cursor to begin the video three minutes and 15 seconds in to hear his description in his own voice. It was by watching this demo that I realize that scary feeling I get when I start a new project or begin to write something new is healthy and every time I run away from it, procrastinate, or fail to start my own new sheet of paper, that I am taking steps away from my vision.

start at 3:15

How Monday Mornings Can Kill Business

noreply@blogger.com (lesgo4it) — Mon, 01 May 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Monday mornings come every week; they are just crazy like that. But, did you know that they can kill productivity for the entire week? I didn't know that either -- until I reached the end of my first year in business and realized much of my year had been just a string of bad Monday Mornings. Here are four things I learned over the course of my first year:

It Was The Night Before Monday and All Through the House..

Whether you have 3 hours or 15 minutes, a little preparation on Sunday evening can help in big ways on Monday morning. For me, that is often just 15 minutes creating a to-do list or journaling. Laurita Thomas, who is the associate vice president and chief human resource officer at the University of Michigan, spent several hours each Sunday in her office, preparing for the week ahead for the first few years in her position. "I don't do that anymore" said Thomas, "but I do spend time each Sunday evening preparing for the week."

Schedule your priorities for the week prior to reading email.

Spending Monday morning responding to email can put you more in line with everyone's needs--except your own. Schedule your top priority tasks first, then check your email to see what other items you need to include. Janice Reuben, who is the senior associate for programs and outreach at the Center for the Education of Women at the University of Michigan, is responsible for dozens of programs each semester. Reuben spends a few minutes Monday morning looking at emails and sorting out the ones that are most urgent before arriving to work.

As an entrepreneur, I can easily find myself in a whirlwind of activity--answering emails, reading newsletters, forwarding information, connecting people to resources. Once I start down that path, the week begins to vanish down the hole I dug Monday morning, following up on commitments I should not have made in the first place. I now strive to address inquiry and situations in a thoughtful and timely way, placing less stress on the need for immediate or reactive responses.

Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost ~ JRR Tolkien

Performance and Change Facilitator, Deb Nystrom, believes that the time many people spend on Monday morning can actually be a healthy part of productivity. "Some people are in learning mode, others need time for reviewing what's going on in the world..." says Nystrom, "the question I tell clients to ask themselves is "What's the most important use of my time right now?" She also stresses the importance of creating a time frame for how long you will "wander" before getting to higher priority or deadline-driven tasks.

As an entrepreneur, 'Monday mornings' have happened to me at various points throughout the week. Nystrom, who is also a small business owner, manages her week by deadlines and breaks the week down according to what is necessary to complete each task. However, she also allows herself time to wander. In my first year in business, I had the tendency of beating myself up for those times that I wandered. Punishment for a Monday morning spent writing or lurking on social media could be as severe as being shackled to the computer until after midnight. The result? A downward spiral for the week. After honest appraisal, I have discovered that Monday mornings are just not the best time to work on structured tasks. Now, I spend this time reading industry news, working on social media, scheduling for the week, and blogging.

Learn to Say Yes More Often

I once heard a speaker say that every time you are asked to do something you should ask yourself, 'what am I denying myself?' If you are asked to do something that will only take an hour only because you don't want to tell the person "no", you are telling yourself "no". Maybe you are telling yourself no to an hour walk. Maybe you are telling yourself no to an hour of time with your family. Or, that one hour could be the one hour you said you don't have to devote towards marketing or planning and development. I am learning to tell myself yes more often.

Post by Lamar Walter.

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Three Lessons on Social Media From Dick Clark

noreply@blogger.com (lesgo4it) — Sun, 30 Apr 2017 12:30:00 +0000

*originally posted on April 18, 2012

Three Farmers and Two Geese

Today the entertainment industry lost one of its greatest contributors, Dick Clark. He spent over 60 years in numerous memorable roles from radio to music to television. One of the roles that he is less noted for is entrepreneur; some of Clark's biggest marks on the industry were actually ones he created. Dick Clark was always the 'cool kid'. He wanted to be a part of what was new. In fact, he said that he wished he had been a little younger when the Internet takeover began. In an 1999 interview with James Moll, Clark was asked "How do you describe the start to your professional career?" Clark responded with a story of his first job in the mailroom of a radio station. In the mornings he would sit with disc jockey, Danny Fusco and give the weather forecast for the rural radio network, assuming that no one was listening. But when Clark started performing as if someone was listening, that was when his career began. That set him in motion to receive the DJ job in college that moved him to the next step. He did his best no matter who was listening - and eventually someone did listen.

"I suddenly realized one day that there's like three farmers and two geese listening somewhere and I got sweaty palms." - Dick Clark

Photo Courtesy of Shazz

Speak to One

One of the most challenging things for a small business or nonprofit is to decide how much time or energy to spend on social media marketing. Building a community online is about relationships, making it a tedious process. Recently at a meeting for a local nonprofit, someone said "We're not going to make money posting something up on our Facebook page each day." That is true. Sort of. But, you have to start somewhere. It doesn't matter how many followers you have if they aren't engaged or interacting with you.

"He had the ability to communicate to that one person that was listening," Clark said about Arthur Godfrey, whom he modeled after. Looking back on his American Band Stand interviews, he always made the audience feel as though he was having an intimate conversation with just that artist. Similar to live radio and television, social media is dependent on people feeling connected. If your message is always to the masses, you might start losing your crowd one by one.

"There's only one person listening at a time...just be yourself" - Dick Clark

Mariah Carey and Dick Clark Rockin' in the 2005 New Year.
Photo Courtesy of nypost.com

Have Fun

Dick Clark was known as the nation's oldest teenager, mostly for his youthful appearance. But, there was something else fresh and youthful about him: he enjoyed himself and tried new things. He acquired his own certitude within his career by being open to try new things. When the position opened up as the host of the American Bandstand he had been a DJ for an easy listening station. Imagine his thoughts when he was asked to play this as his first record:

Clark didn't hesitate to learn a different type of music and a new kind of job. "I learned by the seat of my pants." If you don't find some enjoyment in what you are doing, it will show. Speaking with business professionals, I have heard "I know I have to learn social media, but I really think it's a waste of time" or "I don't have time to play around online." My prescription? Do what you like. For instance, if you like organizing things into pretty little groups - you might be a great candidate for Pinterest. If you need to use Twitter, but you don't like it or understand it - think of your five favorite famous people and follow them. Chances are, you will find a new reason to log on. Once you get in the hang of tweeting for fun, doing it for work will be less of a nuisance. Social media isn't going anywhere - so why not enjoy it?

I was planning to run the 2nd part of The Educated Emotion: People Talk series today. However, spontaneity and emotion took over and I felt it was appropriate to pay tribute and say goodnight to a great.

Rest in Peace, Dick Clark!

Pitch Ypsi 5000! Live

noreply@blogger.com (lesgo4it) — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 22:43:00 +0000

Perhaps you hadn't heard about this Pitch Competition going on in Ypsi? Perhaps you, like me, are on mommy duty. Whatever the case might be, tune in to the Pitch Ypsi Live event where 5 winning applicants will compete for $5000. #IWD #Ypsi

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SOCIAL Media Week

noreply@blogger.com (lesgo4it) — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 21:03:00 +0000

C'mon! Let's put the 'social' back into social media week!

#SMW2017

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LinkedIn Has Been Listening

noreply@blogger.com (lesgo4it) — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 21:43:00 +0000

Linkedin is now shinier and more functional than ever! I haven't had time to go through all the new features yet, but here are my favorite three new features so far:

1. Familiar Menu and Profile. You don't have to dig through drop down menus on your profile page for basic information like 'Notifications' and 'Messaging'. Also, the profile and header area take up less space so you can see more information above the fold.

2. A Clean Home. Did you ever feel like you needed a map to get around your own home page? Yeah, me too. Now there is a distinct newsfeed/timeline in the middle with your own numbers on the left.

3. Easy to Navigate Privacy. I remember taking 15 minutes just to explain to a class where to find some of the privacy controls in LinkedIn a few years ago. Now it is laid out so clearly I dare say other social utilities might take note!

I imagine there will be more I'll have to say about the new improved LinkedIn over the next few months. In the meantime, go in and play around!

Please note: Comments can be made directly underneath each blog post. Any Comments made previously, via Google +, will no longer show up under blog posts.

Upcoming Classes, Events, Poetry, and Stuff

noreply@blogger.com (lesgo4it) — Wed, 02 Nov 2016 00:42:00 +0000

Happy Monday!

After being swept away with my new bundle this year, I am stirring up a little bit of action. I hope to have a full set of offerings this coming Spring. In the meantime, I have some classes and activities that might be of interest. Note: All times provided are EST.

Nov. 1 - Tru Story Blog Reloaded

With renewed focus and content, I am finally ready to relaunch the Tru Story Blog. Expect honest conversation about success, failure, entrepreneurship, social justice, community and more.

Location: WORLDWIDE at www.trustorysuccess.com

Nov. 1 - #NaNoWriMo2016

National Novel Writing Month and the Writer's Digest PAD (Poem a Day) Challenge

Location: United States at www.nanowrimo.org or http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/2016-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-1

When: Nov. 1 -Nov. 30

Nov. 5 - Remembrance Project

Author and Producer, H. Buchanan, will launch The Remembrance Project

Location: Carr Center, 311 E. Grand River, Detroit, MI

When: 6-8 pm.

Nov. 6 - Blogging Basics I

Location: Ann Arbor District Library - Downtown Branch, 343 S. Fifth Avenue

When: 1:15-3 p.m.

Nov. 10 - Bookbound Open Mic and Share featuring H. Buchanan and Tracy Kash

Location: Bookbund Bookstore, 1729 Plymouth Rd. Ann Arbor, MI

When: 7-8:30 p.m.

Nov. 12 - Find Your Twitter Tribe

Location: Crazy Wisdom, 114 S. Main St. Ann Arbor, MI 48104

When: 12 - 1:45 p.m.

Nov. 18 - SMART Ways to Slow Down

Leslie McGraw (Tru Story Success) and Charnita Thomas (Fruition 360)

Location: LIVE (Follow www.Facebook.com/TruStorySuccess for details)

When: 2-2:30 p.m.

Nov. 20 - Blogging Basics II

Location: Ann Arbor District Library - Downtown Branch, 343 S. Fifth Avenue

When: 1:15-3 p.m.

Dec. 8 - Bookbound Open Mic and Share featuring Saleem Peeradina

Location: Bookbund Bookstore, 1729 Plymouth Rd. Ann Arbor, MI

When: 7-8:30 p.m.

Dec. 10 - LinkedIn Unloaded

Location: Crazy Wisdom, 114 S. Main St. Ann Arbor, MI 48104

When: 12 - 1:45 p.m.

Smiles for All Seasons

noreply@blogger.com (lesgo4it) — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Last week, I had professional photos taken. This was after several situations came up in the past few months where I was asked to provide a professional, high resolution photo of myself to go with my bio. I found that I had plenty of selfies, goofy, and off guard pictures, but none that represented me professionally. After reaching out to my young, retired photographer friend and writing buddy I had a photo shoot. It was much less painful than expected and she sent me sixteen decent photos among three backgrounds to choose from. I narrowed the poses down to the top six choices from myself and family, but still wasn't sure which picture would encapsulate my personality and professionalism at the same time. So, I took my photos to Facebook to poll friends, family, and followers.

Top four photos chosen in Facebook poll. Photography Credit: Bethany Neal.

I labeled each of the six poses A through F and asked people to choose one of the options. What happened next was completely unexpected. Instead of receiving feedback from 20 to 30 people, as I had anticipated---I received hundreds of responses within hours!

Over 400 people interacted with the photos, including 270 that picked a favorite pose. Photo C came in with the most "votes" at 65, followed by Photo A (my personal favorite) with 60 votes. My only successful pose without a full smile, Photo D, came in with 49 votes and Photo E, an outdoor shot, received 43 votes. The other two photos (not shown in the infographic above) received 28 and 25 votes each. What was equally as helpful as the numbers, were the detailed explanations of why people made their choice. During this process I learned a few things that might be helpful for your next photo shoot.

1. You can have more than one professional photo

I was focused on finding the perfect one photo. A few commenters mentioned how I could use more than one photo, depending on the intended usage. Immediately I felt relieved. I have decided to use the top four choices in different ways. For instance, the top photo choice fits the description of what LinkedIn researchers say make the best LinkedIn profile photo. I have already changed my LinkedIn photo. Meanwhile, I plan to use the pose with the beautiful fall leaves in the background to go along with my poetry and writing bio.

2. Know your audience and platform

The poll received responses from a wide variety of people who all know me from different facets of my life. I have been researching the best practices for professional photos for the past month and there doesn't seem to be one standard anymore. Many photographers prefer a closed-mouth smile to convey seriousness and approachability at the same time. This is different from the plain background with an open smile and slightly squinted eyes, which are popular on LinkedIn.

3. The same smile can convey different messages

With very subtle changes, the entire dialogue changed. Authenticity, approachability, confidence and professionalism can all be skewed with background, a slight tilt of the head, or hand placement.

This whole process has been eye-opening, fun, and educational. I'm grateful to those who participated in this poll and hope you all find this experiment helpful.

Ciao,

Leslie
Please comment or Tweet Me at @lesgo4it

Is There Room for Impulse in Business Decision-Making?

noreply@blogger.com (lesgo4it) — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 17:57:00 +0000

Please note: Comments can be made directly underneath each blog post. Any Comments made previously, via Google +, will no longer show up under blog posts.''

If you have a pulse, at some point you have done something on impulse. Recently, tennis player Svetlana Kuznetsova cut her hair during a match before returning and winning the match. I don't know the details surrounding the emergency haircut, but definitely looked like an impulsive decision at its finest.

Tennis player cuts her hair in the middle of match ✂️🎾

In art and sports, spontaneity and split-second decison-making are often encouraged. In the business world, not so much. If you are starting a business, own a business, or even work in a business --you probably have plenty of cautionary tales of impulsive decisions gone wrong. The six-figure-earning account executive who got into a fist fight with a co-worker, the business owner who built an expense around money not yet earned, the employee who leaves a passive-aggressive (or just plain aggressive) note on the refrigerator, or the elected official with the insensitive tweet. All true stories of decisions that were so irresistible in the moment that the person curved their entire trajectory.

Darrin Stevens working on a campaign

Although we are more familiar with the cautionary tales of impulse gone wrong in the business arena, there are a host of examples of when it goes right. I am reminded of my very first marketing mentors: Darrin and Samantha Stevens (Bewitched). Much of the ongoing plot of the popular sitcom was built around the hard-working mortal, Darrin Stevens, who would inevitably be plugging away on a high-stakes marketing campaign when some sort of witch-related catastrophe would develop around his magical wife, Samantha. Witches, warlocks, incantations, and spells did not come close to the biggest trick (or treat) of the show: Samantha would seamlessly come up with an instinctive and innovative way to wow the clients Darrin and his two-faced boss Larry had been working weeks on. In hindsight, it was not magic; Samantha, as a mother and housewife, was a member of the target audience for many of the products Darrin was trying to market.

Now that I have grown up (a little) and learned (a little), I realize that the business - especially marketing--has to have a balance of strategy and spontaneity. In technology, we see it all the time: carefully planned new product launches are tempered with relatively quick decisions to acquire or sell products. When Facebook bought Instagram from Kevin Systrom for one billion dollars, it broke the internet. In hindsight, it was a good move but at the time it seemed too risky.

I don't recommend making any billion dollar decisions on the fly. However, I think there is a bit of room for impulse in the business decision-making process. What say ye?

Have a Happy,

Leslie
Please Comment Below or Tweet Me at @lesgo4it

Monday Soloist

noreply@blogger.com (lesgo4it) — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 19:08:00 +0000

Please note: Comments can be made directly underneath each blog post. Any Comments made previously, via Google +, will no longer show up under blog posts.

An Ode to the Monday Morning Soloist

She pulls into the parking lot of the library, away from familial responsibility, where she plans to get things sorted out for the week ahead. Mind and body are tired, yet she still is ready to push ahead. She calls a fellow solopreneur to wish her a great week and shares a virtual laugh and fist bump. When she walks in the building, she passes tables of kids and parents with tidy spheres of chaos contained in the front section and retirees and tutors trying to establish routine with their open schedule in the back.

She quietly sits in the farthest seat near the back window overlooking the man-made marsh rendered beautiful by the gorgeous sun. She exhales before opening her computer and viewing all the things she was not able to attend to over the weekend. "Some guys have all the luck" blasted Rod Steward from her laptop speakers. She frantically logged on and turned down the volume. Embarrassed, she sat looking around with a jolt of energy.

Softly, from the other side of the partition, she heard someone softly singing "Wo-oh Woo hoo Woo-oh-oh". It was at this point, she realized there were other solopreneurs out here, lurking behind the partitions. Feeling good about not having the low-risk monotony of a 9 to 5 but a little frightened at the uncertainty each new week brings to new business.

Blogging After a Social Breakup

noreply@blogger.com (lesgo4it) — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 12:30:00 +0000

A social breakup is when social media followers decide, for whatever reason, they are tired of following you or your brand. Top reasons for social breakups include too much length of time between posts, hyper posting (posting too many times for the social media tool you are using), inconsistency, too much selling, or sometimes the honeymoon period (giveaways, initial excitement, or novelty) is just over.

Do All Blogs Go to Heaven?

A couple years ago I started to see a decline in my blog reader engagement. Unlike the 95% of bloggers who give up on their blogs, I knew what to do. After all, I have been blogging for almost 15 years. I simply wasn't doing it. I was spreading myself too thin, disorganized, and to be honest...a bit bored/burnt out.

Here we are two years later. With the new addition to the family (shown below), I have less time than ever. So, why in the heck would I decide to rebirth a blog? Good question. There is a lot of research on the increase in inbound traffic for brands with blogs and how blogs are still popular with readers, but that is not why I decided to blog again. I am blogging again because I have had a chance to reconnect to my personal priorities and goals for each of my blogs and have information to share that I feel will be valuable to others.

A photo posted by M y z L e s l i e (@lifebypoetry) on Jul 18, 2016 at 5:21pm PDT

While I was "away" for the past year and a half I stopped forcing content onto social media. This allowed several things to happen:

1. I got the chance to enjoy social media again with no pressure. I found myself playing Words with Friends, discovering new selfie and pic collage apps and software. I learned how new social utilities and communities worked like Snapchat and Medium and lost myself in group discussions. I captured moments in life that did not fall neatly into categories. I found fun and satisfaction. Why is having fun important in social? Think about it: your upcoming event, new research, blog, book or product line is seldom the reason people log into social accounts. What most of us do as bloggers, artists, or business owners is disruptive marketing...meaning that we interrupt people on social sites to share our information. The reason that this arrangement works is because people have accepted us into their community or vice versa. You cannot become a part of a community if you don't have any ties to that community.

2. I listened. I am always telling clients to listen before they move. I like to think of it as the chipmunk approach. (You know how a chipmunk will dart out in the street and then do a quick listen and look from left to right before advancing?) That is the way it is on social media as well. It is so tempting to build a marketing strategy where you spend an hour a week scheduling your blog post and social media. You know what I mean: Okay let's see: Gonna send out my blog to LinkedIn on Monday, Twitter on Tuesday, post it to Facebook on Friday.. Yep. That ought to do it. When I hear this, I cringe. As a social media manager, I am most obviously quite into marketing plans and content calendars. However, if you do not listen and observe what your target audience is doing, you will always be behind the power curve. I suggest before posting on any site, blog or social media, you should spend a couple hours over the course of a week to read what others are posting, what type of language and format is popular, and trends.

3. I reflected on my weaker areas. Because I have this creative, run-a-way train kind of a brain, I will often trace the dots inside my head without making them absolutely clear to others. For instance, I held a blogging workshop on June 11 of this year. I called it Blogging 611 to highlight the year as well as give a nod to the popular cheat code to reach cellular customer service (with most cell phones you can engage directly with customer service with your provider by dialing 611, just as I see blogging as an extension of your brand's customer service). Unfortunately, not one (not one single participant) drew the connection to the date or the customer service reference. That is the kind of sh%t I have to tighten up on.

4. The most important thing I noticed while I was "away" was something that is integral to the "Les Go" model, which is it that it is okay to start now (Get it: Let's Go = Les Go). It is okay to start before you obtain X or learn Y or calculate the risk on Z. The most important thing is to BE SOCIAL! Ironically, a client that I have worked with in the past on several occasions about being more spontaneous and less fretful about "doing it right" on social posted this graphic (shown below) on their Facebook Business Page. Today, I am taking my own advice and starting now. I have already started rekindling my relationships with my communities on Twitter and Facebook; now is time to rekindle this blog. Use the comment section to tell me what you think, what you miss, what you would like to see.

Special Announcement

noreply@blogger.com (lesgo4it) — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 10:46:00 +0000

This year has been a year of transition and change, just as 2016 promises to be a year of New Beginnings.

Effective immediately, Les Go Social will be on hiatus until February 8, 2016 as we welcome the new addition to our family.

In the meantime, please enjoy this holiday season.

Warmly,

Les

The Unofficial Beginning of Fall

noreply@blogger.com (lesgo4it) — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 19:00:00 +0000

End of Summer

Have you ever noticed how a slogan will start to be passed around in advertising for a while? As a kid, I remember all the stores that were open late in the fall would call their sales "midnight madness" or something to that effect. A few years ago the buzz phrase was "Christmas in July". This year is no different. I have heard Labor Day termed "the unofficial last day of Summer" more than a handful of times this year. It doesn't have quite the same charm as Christmas in July but it does give one pause. Ending Summer when living in the Midwest is quite a sobering thought.

But guess what? In Michigan, Summer isn't the only exciting season around here! Fall in Michigan means amusement parks without blistering heat, cider mill and maple tree tours, and...the ARTS!! One way to verify that fall is here is with the Kerrytown Bookfest happening this Sunday.

John F. Buckley

The writing and poetry community is definitely ready to jump back into action. In fact, Thursday is the Fall Season Kickoff for Bookbound's Open Mic and Share Poetry Monthly Event with John F. Buckley.

Just in case you hadn't heard.

A graduate of the Helen Zell Writers’ Program at the University of Michigan, John F. Buckley has been writing poetry since March 2009, when his attempt at composing a self-help book went somewhat awry. After a twenty-year stint on and near the West Coast, he now lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan with his wife. His publications include various poems, two chapbooks, the collection Sky Sandwiches, and with Martin Ott, Poets’ Guide to America and Yankee Broadcast Network. His website is http://johnfbuckley.net/.

Below, is an excerpt from the Bookbound Newsletter explaining how it all works:

What:

Ann Arbor's new Bookbound Open Mic & Share poetry series

When:

The 2nd Thursday of every month at 7pm.

Where:

Bookbound -- 1729 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor -- in the Courtyard Shops.

Who:

The General Poetry Community: Poets, Aspiring Poets, Published Poets, New Poets, Experienced Poets, Readers of Poetry, Poetry Lovers, Poetry Enthusiasts, Writers and Poetry Community Supporters.

How:

The event structure is simple: 3 to 5 open mic poets read for about 5 minutes each, then we hear from the featured poet for 20 minutes, followed by time for book signing and conversation.

Why:

As a poet, community member, and small business owner specializing in marketing publicity for writers and poets, I saw two distinct needs in our community:

1. Safe venues for poets to hone their craft of presenting, hear their work come from their lips, especially poets who were not connected to a formal program or were a little shy.

2. Places for poets without big book deals or followings to share their work before an audience and extend a low-risk opportunity for bookstores to sell their work.

How does it all work?

I have come a long way since I shared my first poem publicly at a poetry slam. It was such an unsettling experience, I ended up in bed for a day. I couldn't get the cadence of my voice to work like an instrument that wowed audiences...in fact, I couldn't even remember the words! I pulled out my paper and then couldn't keep my place reading on the page. I was so nervous. Eventually, I got (a little) better and even placed in a slam competition. However, I have found that I prefer the nurturing audience that an open mic can provide, without competition.

So, when I contacted Megan and Peter from Bookbound I explained the cafe open mic model, but with a twist. It would begin with around 3 people sharing poetry in front of the group. If they did not have original poetry, poetry lovers in the audience or staff members could share a favorite poem recited or read from the poetry books on the store shelves. Next, the featured, published poet would have 20 minutes to read and discuss their work, followed by 20 minutes for people to buy, sign, browse and socialize. The books the author sold would be available that night and on the shelves on a consignment basis that Megan and Peter constructed to be mutually favorable for all parties.

And that, folks, is how the Bookbound Open Mic & Share Series was born!

If you would like to be an open mic poet, please email: info[at]bookboundbookstore.com

If you would like to be considered for the featured poet spot, please email Leslie[at]LesGo4It.com

Please share your thoughts in the comment section.

Peace,

Les

The Ways to Keep the Flavor of Memorial Day

noreply@blogger.com (lesgo4it) — Mon, 25 May 2015 14:12:00 +0000

The Character of a Community

If you've ever dabbled in culinary arts, you know that one of the key rules when introducing new flavors to recipes is retaining some of the original flavor. You can add all sorts of ingredients to the meatloaf...until it doesn't taste like "meatloaf" anymore. Once that occurs, you will start to offend tastebuds. Similarly, for many Memorial Day can be celebrated, observed, and honored in a host of ways. But, this year the Internet has drawn attention to the fact that we have lost much of the original flavor of Memorial Day.

When I was a young girl, Memorial Day meant getting up early and attending the Memorial Day parade, visiting the grave site of fallen loved ones, followed by food and family. By the time I was a teenager, Memorial Day also included furniture sales and decorations. At some point, over the last twenty years, Memorial Day has become nothing more for some than a "Happy Memorial Day" status, hashtag, or salutation before heading out for barbecue and summertime fun. Before you head out to the lake, picnic or fire up the grill, here are a few ways to keep some of the original flavor of Memorial Day in tact. For businesses, before you send out the next "Happy Memorial Day Come Buy Some Stuff" E-mail, just think that you could be alienating part of your customer base.

1. Show reverence to fallen soldiers.
It doesn't need to be an elaborate public speech or graveyard tear jerker, but some sort of acknowledgement to someone who may be hurting or expression of appreciation may be a start...or maybe even a prayer. The Washington Post published an article today about a veteran who has attended over 75 funerals of friends and comrades since 2001 and how horrible it feels to hear no mention of fallen soldiers in all of the Happy-Memorial-Day-Let-The-Summer-Begin campaigns going.

2. Know and Share Memorial Day History.
Nothing gets someone fired up to share or teach about a subject moreso than knowing about it. A starter would be knowing the difference between Memorial Day (for the fallen) and Veteran's Day (for the survivors). Here are a couple good articles that highlight some of the rich history of Memorial Day.

Memorial Day Origins - Theories, Claims, and Facts.
Memorial Day Meaning - Why Does it Exist?
Memorial Day - Is it okay to say Happy Memorial Day?

3. Go to a Memorial-Day-Focused Event
It'll only take an hour. Seriously. Most communities have a Memorial Day Parade, demonstration or exhibit. Our community has a list of local activities. If you have visiting guests or children, this is a very subtle way to sprinkle a little of the true flavor of Memorial Day into your daily activities. Don't worry: the corn on the cob will await thee.

Facebook: Beyond the Likes

noreply@blogger.com (lesgo4it) — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:30:00 +0000

#TipTuesday
#TechTuesdays

You may have noticed that the number of followers have decreased for your Facebook Brand Page. That is because after March 12, Facebook began purging all inactive accounts. Likes that you obtained through paid advertising or from years ago may be connected to inactive accounts. It makes sense. But, it's also discouraging if you are trying to build your followers. Before you despair, remember that everyone is basically in the same boat. Getting your numbers back up may not happen as quickly as it has in the past, but it is still simple as 1 2 3. #lesgosocial

1. Invite friends. It has probably been a few months or years since you have invited people from your personal friend list to Like your Facebook page.

2. If you are responsible for social media for your business or organization, adjust your success metrics to match what Facebook insights are telling you..beyond the Likes.

3. Love the one you're with: Encourage engagement with existing followers and that will attract more followers. Noone wants to Like yet another "dead" Facebook page. Although hashtags are not as popular on facebook, they are still used in trending search topics. Just be sure to use the social media hashtags that already have a conversation brewing as opposed to attempting to recreate completely new tags.

Too Good To Be True!

noreply@blogger.com (lesgo4it) — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 22:41:00 +0000

#TechTuesdays
#TuesdayTip

Free Ninety Nine!

Doesn't it sound good? Oh boy! Two FREE roundtrip airline tickets to wherever you wish. All just because you just happened to be on Facebook at the right time, connected to the right friend. Have you seen an ad or been tagged on an ad like the one below on your Facebook timeline?

I hate to break this to you...but it is a scam. Perhaps you received something like this in your email inbox?

Examples:

[Collected via e-mail, November 2011]

Receive 2 FREE Southwest Airline Tickets Today!

[URL elided]

For a limited time you can receive 2 FREE Southwest Airline Tickets good for any travel within the USA! Don't wait, this is a one time free gift offered just in time for the Holidays!

[Collected via e-mail, October 2012]

Planning for the holidays? Lucky you! Southwest Airlines is sending out thousands of complimentary flight vouchers to current Facebook users! To get yours, fly by [URL elided] to follow the on-screen instructions. Happy flight, courtesy of Southwest!

I hate to break this to you...but it is a scam as well. According to Snopes, people who follow the links to these freebies reach phishing sites (counterfeit websites) that can result in the following:

Clicking what appear to be Facebook "share" buttons and post comments to the scammer's site (which is really a ruse to dupe users into spreading the scam by sharing it with all of their Facebook friends).
Prompts to add a lot of personal information
Prompts to complete lengthy surveys
Forced sign up (with monetary commitment) for "Reward Offers" (e.g., Netflix subscriptions, credit report monitoring services, prepaid credit cards)
Fine print giving permission for "marketing partners" (telemarketers) to call and text you
Malware
A Facebook "lifejacking" attack, a malicious script that takes over a user's Facebook profile without their knowledge and propagates itself to their friends' accounts as well.

...you're welcome:) Les

Can Professional and Effective Coexist in Social Media?

noreply@blogger.com (lesgo4it) — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 04:15:00 +0000

Good News! Social media does not have to be boring and ineffective to still maintain professionalism. Many organizations have started to get hop by adding cute photos, taglines, humor, and video. But, a thousand likes on your pictures of cats in cute hats won't necessarily translate into new paying customers or increased awareness for your organization. Below are twelve ways to begin to strike a balance in communicating effectively and professionally the key parts of yourself, brand, or organization. This list comes from years of seeing people and organizations struggle with keeping their online presence professional, yet engaging and effective.

This presentation was created for the University of Michigan's Center for the Education of Women hosted its 33rd Women of Color Taskforce Career Conference, one of the oldest and largest career conferences for the University. We were happy to be a part of this day of learning with the session Communicating Professionally and Effectively Using Social Media.

Start Connections in Person, Continue Online
Know or Learn the basic terminology used in social media
Know who is on each social media tool that you use
Observe people and platforms before branching out
Use Settings to establish friend groups and privacy
Share valuable resources and info
Content is King; make sure info is accurate, professional and interesting
Humor Shouldn’t Hurt; always strive to be inclusive
Make Information Easy to Share
Mentions, Replies, Tagging, and Conversations; cite sources, but get pics approved
Reach out to your social and professional circles to Shape your online community
Use conversation etiquette in all online Discussions
Rinse and Repeat; grow your network and possibilities

Driving, Living and Doing Business in Bad Weather

noreply@blogger.com (lesgo4it) — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 16:30:00 +0000

Photo, "A Snowy Day in Michigan" Courtesy of Bryan Johnson, 2011

Yesterday afternoon, I was quietly thinking about how I would spend the rest of my day. Having the house, and time, to myself after non-stop holiday activity was just too good to not enjoy. I decided to take a nap and just allow myself to wake up when my body told me to. Only problem is, there was this one fly that didn't get the memo. He danced on the ceiling and buzzed between my blinds and the light globe relentlessly. When I got to the height of my irritation, I had a spiritual "bop" upside my head: having to deal with a fly in late December in Michigan is a miracle. The same miracle that allowed me to take a walk on dry land wearing just a sweater, not have to clean off my car, and turn down my heat.

Today, Michigan is looking like Christmas again. I woke up to snowy roads and wet tires on pavement making dirty noises outside my window. As a Michigander, grim forecasts for drivers this time of year is the norm. Oddly enough, however, I heard a lot more firetrucks, screeching tires on the unseasonably warm days we had this weekend. Just like my adventure with the house fly the other day, I think we can take things for granted when things are going smoothly. When driving, living, or doing business, we can afford to do this. Here's a few tips for driving in bad weather that can be applied to life and business:

1. Be prepared for inclement weather at all times, with the flexibility to relax and connect with your surroundings. Similary, in life and in business we have to reconnect with our vision to gain a sense of direction.

2. Use your rearview mirrors! Look back at what has worked and what hasn't worked for you in the past and see what might be coming back into view or creeping back into your life. Change can save a business, but keeping your best practices in constant view can keep it.

3. Clean the snow and debris off your car so that you can see clearly. Hurt, fear, too much or too little confidence can distract from your view of what lies ahead.

4. Keep Your Eyes on the Road! In other words, Stay Focused!

Cyber Monday

noreply@blogger.com (lesgo4it) — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 02:00:00 +0000

Les Go Social Super Cyber Events

Buy today and get 40% off Constant Contact for 3 months. This is
your chance to get an amazing deal, plus all the tools you need to
connect with customers and grow your business like never before.

4 days only. Ends at midnight, Thursday Dec 4. Don't wait!

#ShopSmallSaturday

#SmallBusinessSaturday

#CyberMonday

#WorldAIDSDay

#GivingTuesday

#ventureLOCAL

#EOHPoetry

#lesgosocial

As you have probably noticed, each of these newsletters will generally start with a set of hashtags. These hashtags are trending topics and have information indexed on all platforms that support hashtags. For instance, today is Worlds AIDS Day as well as Cyber Monday.

Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday, the day dedicated to our non profit sector. Many local and community organizations depend on holiday giving to close the gap in resources so that they can provide new and maintain the same services customers need. Something as simple as giving a fact or "shout out" to a helping organization or cause that you believe and ending it with the hashtag #GivingTuesday can expand your reach exponentially as others reshare your post or tweet.

The most popular social media platforms that support hashtags are Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Try it, you just might like it. How to join the conversation:

1. Log into your favorite social media platform

2. Type in one of the hashtags above as shown (pound sign followed by topic with no space)

3. View interesting posts, tweets, pictures, and links to relevant blogs and articles.

4. Respond, reshare, or reblog information.

Please note that our Small Business Saturday Special to build a brand page on the social media site of your choosing has been extended for Cyber Week until Thursday, December 4. Details can be found on the website or Facebook Page.

I have offered social media marketing and management, training, and content creation services to entrepreneurs in the greater Ann Arbor area since 2012. In that time, I've helped clients from as far away as Chicago get the results they need to see their business grow. And I'd like to do the same for you.

As a Constant Contact Solution Provider, I'm specifically trained to help businesses like yours. A great first step that I highly recommend is starting a free trial of Constant Contact today. Together, we have the online marketing tools you need to achieve the growth you desire in 2015. Please contact me so we can get started on a marketing plan for you.

Have a great week,

Leslie McGraw

Lead Content Strategist and CC Solutions Provider, Les Go Social Media Marketing & Training

Events Calendar

Les Go Social Connected and Client Events

December 1 - CYBER MONDAY

Our Super Cyber Deal
December 2 - Giving Tuesday
December 3 - Crazy Wisdom Poetry Circle

featuring Kathryn Edgren
7-8:45 p.m.
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

December 4 - venture MANCHESTER Community Gathering

Organized by venture LOCAL
Registration Required
Thursday from 6:00-8:30 at Village Office
Free, but registration requested

December 11 - Monthly Open Mic & Share Poetry Event hosted by Les Go Social MM&T

Bookbound Bookstore at 7 p.m.

no featured author, just pure open mic and fellowship this month

Leslie McGraw

Content Strategist

Les Go Social Media Marketing & Training

Leslie [at]LesGo4It.com

www.lesgo4it.com

[734 469-0460

CONTACT US TODAY

STAY CONNECTED

Facebook: facebook.com/lesgosocial

Twitter: twitter.com/lesgo4it

Linked In: Les Go Social Media Marketing & Training

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/lesgo4it/social-media/

Happy Veterans Day Nov 11

noreply@blogger.com (lesgo4it) — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 16:53:00 +0000

#HappyVeteransDay
#ThankfulTuesday
#freestuff4veterans
#VeteransDayDeals
#LesGoSocial

On today,Tuesday, November 11, businesses are honoring veterans, military personnel, and their families with freebies and discounts. This holiday has been recognized in the U.S. since 1918 and has a history rich in peace and tribute to those who serve, rather than Memorial Day which focuses on fallen soldiers. Be sure to call ahead to ensure a specific location is participating in the deal. Most businesses will require proof of service, such as a VA card, military ID or Veterans Service Organization (VSO card). Thank you for your service!

RESTAURANTS:
Applebee’s — Veterans and active duty military receive a free meal from a limited menu, on Veterans Day, Tuesday, November 11.

Bar Louie – On Monday, November 10 and Tuesday, November 11, veterans and active military personnel get a free meal up to a $12 value.

Bob Evans — Veterans and active military personnel receive free all-you-can-eat hotcakes on Tuesday, November 11.

California Pizza Kitchen – Veterans and active military receive a complimentary entrée from a special menu on Tuesday, November 11.

Carrabba’s – All active and retired veterans get a free appetizer November 8 through 11.
Restaurants – Veterans and active duty service members get a free entrée and 25 percent off to their accompanied family and friends on Tuesday, November 11 at participating restaurants.

Cheeseburger in Paradise — Active and retired military personnel receive a complimentary All-American Burger with fries on Tuesday, November 11.

Chuck E. Cheese’s – Veterans and active duty military get 20 free tokens from November 9 through November 15.

All Veterans can enjoy a complimentary piece of Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola® Cake today #VeteransDay #ThankYou pic.twitter.com/4MmgkgYiIQ
— Cracker Barrel (@CrackerBarrel) November 11, 2014

Denny’s — Active, inactive and retired military personnel get a free Build Your Own Grand Slam on Tuesday, November 11, from 5 a.m. to noon at participating locations.

#Veterans get free admission to @DetroitZoo Tuesday #VeteransDayDeals #VeteransDay #Freebies http://t.co/Ljajn4Dzaw
— Detroit Free Press (@freep) November 10, 2014

We're saying thank you today with $10 off. Use code VETS2014 http://t.co/NG4564hKFr. #VeteransDayDeals pic.twitter.com/CHZ4Wt5JsD
— Edible Arrangements (@edible) November 11, 2014

Famous Dave’s — On November 11, former and active military receive a free One Meat Salute at participating locations from 11:00 am to 4:30 pm.

Golden Corral — Golden Corral Restaurants’ Military Appreciation Monday free dinner will be available on Monday, November 17, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Military retirees, veterans, active duty, National Guard and Reserves are all welcome.

Hooters – Veterans and active duty military get a free meal up to $10.99 in value with a drink purchase at participating locations on Tuesday, November 11.

IHOP — On Tuesday, November 11, participating IHOP Restaurants offer veterans and active duty military free Red, White and Blue pancakes from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Krispy Kreme – Krispy Kreme is offering a free doughnut and small coffee to all veterans on Tuesday, November 11 at participating locations.

LongHorn Steakhouse – Veterans and current service members receive a complimentary Texas Tonion appetizer and non-alcoholic beverage from a select menu on Tuesday, November 11.

Massage Envy: Six Massage Envy locations in Southeast Michigan are offering free one-hour massages to veterans, active military members and their spouses. Massage appointments are still available at the company's Northville, Rochester Hills Hampton Village, Traver Village Ann Arbor and West Bloomfield locations. To make an appointment, branch contact info is available here.
Max & Erma’s – On Tuesday, November 11, participating Max & Erma’s locations are offering veterans and active military personnel a free Best Cheeseburger in America Combo meal.

Menchi’s — All veterans and active duty will receive a free 6 oz. frozen yogurt on Tuesday, November 11.

Olive Garden – On Tuesday, November 11, all veterans and current service members get a free meal from a limited menu.

Orange Leaf – Retired and active duty military get a free cup of froyo on November 11.

Outback Steakhouse – All active and former service members receive a free Bloomin’ Onion and a beverage on November 11. Outback is also offering active and former service members 15 percent off their meals Nov. 12 through Dec. 31.

Red Lobster — Veterans, retired and active-duty military personnel receive a complimentary appetizer from a limited menu from Monday, November 10 to Thursday, November 13.

Red Robin – Veterans and active duty military get a free Red’s Tavern Double Burger with Bottomless Steak Fries on Tuesday, November 11.

*NEW* Ruby Tuesday — Veterans, active duty and reserve service members get a free appetizer on November 11.

Starbucks — Free tall (12 fl. oz.) brewed coffee for veterans and spouses.

Texas Roadhouse — Texas Roadhouse locations nationwide will offer veterans a free lunch on Tuesday, November 11 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Offer is good for active duty, retired or former U.S. military.

Tim Hortons Café & Bake Shop – Active duty military and veterans receive a free donut all day long on Tuesday, November 11.

Tubby’s — Veterans and active duty military members get a free small Grilled Steak N’ Cheese or Tubby’s Famous Sub on Tuesday, November 11.

*NEW* Wayback Burgers – Veterans and active duty military get a free Wayback Classic Cheeseburger with purchase of any side and any drink on November 11.

My Dad, Lester McGraw, while in service.

RETAILERS:

AARP – 20 percent off AARP membership dues.

*NEW* Bed Bath and Beyond – Veterans, active duty, Reserves, Guard and spouses get 20 percent off their entire purchase November 8 through 11.

*NEW* Firestone Complete Auto Care –Between November 9 and 16, veterans and active duty personnel receive an additional 10 percent off the lowest advertised price of any automotive service.

Great Clips – On Tuesday, November 11, customers who come in for a service can get a free haircut card to give to their favorite veteran. Veterans can also receive a free haircut or get the free haircut card. Haircuts are redeemable until Dec. 31.

Home Depot — Home Depot offers a 10 percent discount to all veterans on Veterans Day November 11. Home Depot offers the 10 percent discount year round to for active duty and retirees.

*NEW* JCPenney — Veterans, active duty, Guard, Reserves and family members receive an extra 20 percent off select apparel and 10 percent off select furniture in stores November 3-15 with coupon.

Jockey — Active Duty military, veterans and their families receive 25 percent off discount online.

JoAnn Fabric — 20 percent off total purchase from Nov. 7-11.

Veterans take note: @LinkedIn is offering a free one-year Premium account: https://t.co/MVtRlWx5ch #VeteransDayDeals
— Peter Somerville (@PeterSomerville) November 11, 2014

Lowe’s — All veterans receive a 10 percent discount on Veterans Day, November 11. The offer is available in stores only.

Sleep Number — From October 14 through November 16, Sleep Number is providing special offers for current and past military personnel. Save $400-$700 on selected Sleep Number mattress sets.

Sport Clips — Participating locations are offering veterans and active duty service members free haircuts on Tuesday, November 11.

Steve Madden — Steve Madden offers everyone 20 percent off the entire purchase, and service members receive an additional 10 percent off on November 11.

This poem is featured in the newly released poetry collection, Emergencies of the Heart.

Information from Military.com, MLive, Military Wallet, Tune Up Man, Jockey, and Twitter.