I really think that there are two types of ways businesses have the ability to choose  how to interact with their customers. They both have to do with attitude and they seem to lean to one extreme or the other. Rarely do I see a combination of both within the same organization. I suppose it’s a result of a combination of things. The corporate culture, employee training, size of a company and leadership involvement on a day to day basis. The first way is what I believe to be the way things should be done in order to gain customer loyalty , increase referrals and therefore grow. We all know it by name as Customer Service. We buy a product or service. We might have an issue possibly at some point, it happens, life’s not perfect we know. We must rely on the company or its’ partner that sold us the good or service for support to solve the problem. In a perfect world, we would always have a great attitude, an eagerness and willingness to get the help we need. But, I find in my life experiences, that is usually not the case. It’s more so like climbing up a mountain while pulling out our teeth, nails on a chalkboard while holding our breath on infinite loops of hold times just waiting, hoping and praying for someone to help. This is what I describe as a company with the attitude that “Customers Serve Us”. A completely opposite approach, a more common approach unfortunately. It is where we are treated as if the company is doing us a favor by letting us shop with them (when we have countless options these days) and to top it off, if a problem does occur with the product or service we had bought, we must exhaust ourselves and waste countless hours just to get what we rightfully deserve. Why is that? Is it just poor management, too large to care? I pride myself in trying the best I can to go overboard as a businessman in this department because, honestly, we can always find it cheaper somewhere. So what else can set us apart other than giving the value of caring enough to understand our customer needs, delivering what they deserve, and growing our customer loyalty and business as an end result? What experiences have you had? Anything a company ever did to resolve an issue that made you more loyal as a result? Did a frustrating problem ever turn out to be a great thing in the end? On the flip side, did you ever have such a horrible issue that could have been resolved so easily, but the company attitude was that you serve them? Love to hear your rants and raves in the comments section down below. Appreciate you talking the time and look forward to some great discussion.

I’ve been thinking quite a bit lately about where I connect with people the most online. It has brought me to an observation I found quite interesting. I’ve noticed, whether we have a large or small web presence, really makes no difference, but that the people I engage with online have quite a bit more followers versus friends (or vice versa) on Facebook versus Twitter. Including me. I was wondering if there is a reason for that. I’ve even noticed the “internet celebrities” have this same factor themselves. For example, Gary Vaynerchuk has well over 800,000 Twitter Followers but on his Facebook fan page, the last I checked, was a little over 40,000 people. My Facebook page is private, although I have close to double the connections as I do on Twitter. I would have to say I am more open on Twitter due to the fact the conversation goes fast and I feel more comfortable kidding, joking and being more myself. On Facebook, I suppose it’s a little more serious tone for me, although I do tend to try and cut up from time to time and have a good time. I was curious as to how you feel about this? Is there a specific reason you believe causes this to occur? Do you know of anyone who has large connectivity that is about the same on both sites? Or, are they just so different in what they deliver as a service to us that we have that much different of a connectivity level for both always? Would love to know your take on this and how you feel they differ and what they mean to you.

I was recently asked, what I found to be, a very interesting question on the anonymous question asking site, Formspring, regarding my opinion on what really draws us to beauty as it pertains to “sparkly objects” (diamonds). Nature (instincts) or Nurture (externals)?

Here is the question asked and the answer I gave.

The Question:

Do you think we have an instinct to be drawn to sparkly objects or do you think we learn that sparkly things are associated with wealth and success. Love of Sparkly things, nature or nurture?

My Answer:

“That is a great question and something I have often that about during my 14+ years in the business. To answer the question, I think it’s different for each and everyone. I believe externals do play a huge role in shaping our tastes for anything to do with being drawn to items of this nature. Just as if somewhere were to like artwork. Is it an acquired taste or something we’re born with is very difficult to truly ever know for sure in my humble opinion. But, I do know that in my experience, when I really started full time in the business is when I fell in love with diamonds rather quickly. I have been somewhat exposed to jewelry in some way, shape or form my entire life, but when I really started working with them closely and understanding what I was seeing when I looked in the stone, what the 3 types of light were returning to my eyes, that’s when it really set in for me in that aspect. Watches were next and designer clothing has always, since early childhood, been something I’ve been into so therefore when branding of jewelry became such a mainstay I took to it immediately. TO sum it up I truly think it depends on a combination of variables….Our surroundings, what we’re exposed to, what experiences we have when those two things happen, and then some of it basic instinct, as well.”

So, that’s my take on what I think draws me to beauty. I find that what one might think is gorgeous, another person might find repulsive. I think it pertains to anything our eyes can see, take in, and process an emotion on the way it makes us feel. Whether it be diamonds, a painting or sculpture, presentation of the food we eat, packaging of a new hardcover book, style of a home or the body style of a sports car . I truly think it’s a combination of things that lead us to be drawn to one more so than another. I think it’s a fascinating subject and I would love to hear your thoughts on what does it for you. Thanks for taking the time to read.

Thanks, DG

Link: http://www.formspring.me/DanGordon/q/206503663

As a retail jeweler I hear lots of stories. In that area, I suppose,  one could say we draw parallels to that of a bartender. Except for the fact most of all of ours’ are told in a sober state of mind. The stories and personal information I hear are so many different things. Sometimes it is about the death of a family member or loved one, which is heartbreakingly sad and horrifying. Sometimes it’s the news of a newborn baby which is so joyously exciting and happy to say the least. But, what I find the most interesting are the of different stories I’ve heard on how  marriage proposals are done and their results. I’ve heard so many ideas over the 14 years I’ve been selling engagement rings. Some are creative, funny and bright. Others were well intended, but end up a nightmare. I’d have to say the one that comes to mind that did not go according to plan the most, involved a beach, an outside the box thinking guy, and a sea shell. This creative young man strategically planned ahead to hide and mark the shell that he hid the ring inside on a beach and his plan was to nonchalantly take his soon to be fiance’ on an afternoon walk on a particular stretch of sand, collecting shells, and secretly leading her to that particular one without her knowing, and then her eyes would open wide and he’d drop to a knee and ask her to marry him right then and there. Didn’t work out that way. Fortunately he did get her to the right shell, but unfortunately when she picked it up and dusted off the sand, before she noticed that a ring was lodged up inside, she quickly chucked the shell as hard as she could with all her might as far into the Ocean waters as she could. That obviously didn’t work out so well, fortunately the ring was insured. But the important part, money aside, is that they have an amazing story and memory to share for the rest of their lives’. The good and the bad, the boring and the simple. They all have a special meaning to us all. Mine was pretty boring. Christmas eve in 1994 I had the waiter bring the ring out on a covered tray for dessert. May have thought, coming from a jeweler and all, would have been much more exciting or inventive. I guess it just wasn’t in me creatively that far back. But, I will never forget where I was sitting, where we ate and visually seeing it memory wise in my head. I think there just some things in life like that we just never lose. Anyway, I’d love to hear your proposal adventure, large or small, simple or extravagant. The meaning behind it is what I find the best. I’m sure there’s something I haven’t heard yet. Please let me know how it went for yours’ in the comment section down below.

Thanks, _DG

The message of the title of this post is what I’ve been reading alot about lately.

Basically boils down to time management in todays’ world.

I would love to know your methods and thoughts in the comments section down below on how you manage and gauge what distractions are truly of value and any experiences you’ve had in this department!

Thanks

_DG

As you may already know, I try a large amount of new and existing social services on the web. One of my most recent explorations is a site called http://formspring.me where users can setup an account and then proceed to invite people to ask them anonymously, if they wish, questions about anything. I really like this idea for many different reasons. One of which is that it gave me a brand new blog topic. One of the questions I was asked was on the topic of watering down online presence.

Well, on to the topic. Here is the question that I was asked:

How many digital forums (i.e FB, Twitter, Formspring, etc.) do you feel that you can sustain without watering down your online presence?

Very interesting and thought provoking question. And I believe it’s something well worth conversation and I’m calling this post “Watering: Growth or Dilution”.

Two forms of watering, two separate results.

Growth

In order to live and grow we all know we must have food and water. I believe a presence on the web is no different. I think there are two main reasons that I try so many different social web services and sites. First of all because I am passionate about them. I enjoy them. But to me at least, the real deal is as follows. Ideas and Opportunities = Life and Growth. It’s that simple. Why would the web be any different than our experiences in face to face life? I mean I think it would be a bit naive, presumptuous and pretty close minded of me to really think that we all like to play, learn, evolve and connect to the same people or information base on a limited amount of venues in the real world. Isn’t that kind of like running on a treadmill or a very large circle? How far do we really travel. At some point I believe we end up returning to where we started. Of course there are many new people joining the community on Facebook and Twitter, and that’s a very valid point. But, what about the next generation of users that we can connect with in different ways in which we never even thought about?  What about the early adopters and people that you haven’t reached out to and connected with? There is no question that Facebook has the largest user-base, but I like to think further into the realm of watering growth. Where are others going with similar or even different interests that I may have not had the opportunity to introduce myself to otherwise. What other features and benefits do smaller sites, not so well known up and coming sites, and groups on the web have to offer versus the majority populated community bases. In other words: water, grow, connect, learn, evolve and as a result we have the opportunity to possibly to branch out and grow in other directions we never imagined.

Dilution

If you add too much water you dilute the substance.

This form of thinking is of substance. I believe there is such a thing that exists I call substance abuse. I define it as interruption based personal identity communication awareness, which can be experienced with or without your control. Within your control, if you aren’t taking the substance abuse approach, I don’t believe can you water yourself down by using too many sites and personal communication spaces. I think not and here’s why. As long as we are engaging and not interrupting, we as a community are still deciding with whom and where we chose to empower ourselves by choosing each others’ content. I might think you are of great value to me and you and I are the only ones in this particular community. Sound familiar? Sure, it’s an Instant Message. You might be on Facebook with it’s 300 million users + and post and idea about a site I’ve never heard of before, where we can snap and share photos and type text to communicate and it may sound more interesting to me and therefore connect me with an entirely different community of users. I don’t discount the fact for a second, that if you are yelling, screaming and interrupting on any of these different small niche or highly populated mainstream sites that you are surely taking the watering technique of dilution. But, I think that it holds true in life whether online or face to face, it’s all about the approach and technique by which we garner the results we are hoping to stumble upon. The other point I’d like to make about dilution is ourselves. If we participate in too much, will we dilute by not having the time, energy and effort it takes to give each area the attention it needs and deserves in order to grow. Here’s what I think. Not everything is meant to grow, the diluted die and the growth comes from trying and nurturing where the path takes us. Having said that, I’ve had a decent amount of luck with many different areas growing, therefore it is time consuming and does take a great deal of dedication. But I Love It and that’s why I do it. This spawns one last thought to conclude with that comes to mind. Is it more beneficial to be less of more as opposed to a more of less when it comes to online web presence? I like hitting the less of more. But, I’d love your thoughts on this topic. As always I write one draft, try my best to check for spelling and just create posts from the web arousing thoughts that pop in my head.

That’s why I’m just a jewelry salesman and need your help and opinions in the comments section right down there.

Respectfully,
DG

I’ve been starving for some ideas on what to write about for my next blog post. Sunday night never disappoints. All I have to do is read and participate in Twitter #blogchat. Usually gets the job done.

Basically, the topic of the evening was “blogger burn out” in which I was very interested in because I really believed that I was burned out. Not just blogging, but keeping up with and/or thinking of new ideas for the many different sites I choose to participate in. In fact, I stated that I was “burned out” in #blogchat and got many responses in return on how to handle that. The ideas themselves got my brain thinking again and I soon after, realized that I was not burned out. I just thought I was. And it was my fault for thinking as such. I also realized that never do I have to be.

I’m calling this post “The Social Medium” and now will explain what it means to me.

What is “The Social Medium”

Creativity sparks content, content is needed to create and therefore creation persists. So, if we truly believe that we’re at some sort of stopping point, or mental road block then I believe all we have to do is tap into this thing I’m calling “The Social Medium”. I mean it’s really exciting and fascinating when you really think about it, to know at any given point and time we can talk to anyone  just about anywhere for ideas and suggestions. We no longer are sitting in the room alone if we choose not to be. The recommendations I received last night on how to deal with burnout was a very real thing and an idea, in itself, when you break it out. The topic ideas were great things that will all definitely work, but for me the fact that they are readily obtainable for any of us whom choose to inquire within is a topic within itself.  “The Social Medium” or in other words, the ability to communicate, network, and add value to each others’ lives is very hard to think of as anything else. It’s Social and It’s a Medium. I feel extremely fortunate to live in a day and age where we can all have this in our lives’ because the value of it personally and professionally is, and will continue to be, the most priceless source of information we will ever find. I have written posts on my thoughts of searching online for information versus communicating with other people in order to find the same results and I guess last night just proved to me, one more time, that this “internet stuff” we’re doing or whatever the many different things it has been and will change into being called over the years is simple. It’s just “The Social Medium”. That’s all.

Would love your thoughts on burn out and my posts in the comments down below.

Thanks!
DG

I caught the last few minutes of #blogchat on Twitter last night. If you have a Twitter account and like to discuss topics having to do with blog related subject matter, I highly recommend checking it out. I’m pretty much addicted to it now. It’s Sunday night at 8PM CT and Mack Collier, the founder, posts a different topic every time. Last nights’ topic was particularly interesting to me. Mack tweeted out earlier in the day to ask if anyone had any recommendations on topics they’d like to discuss for the session. One of the topics covering “Should You Advertise On Your Blog?” was recommended by Patrick Allmond and settled upon as the final decision.

This topic is very interesting to me, one that sparks enough thought to write a new blog post, and I’m calling this one “Advert Eyes”.

A few questions for thought here first…
How do we effectively advertise in this new day and age? What does it mean to advertise anyways, anymore?  Who’s  Adverting Your Eyes?

One of The Definitions of Advertising by the online Merriam-Webster Dictionary :

The action of calling something to the attention of the public especially by paid announcements.

OK, so the dictionary states “especially by paid announcement”. Just wanted to get that fact established before I move on. Why? Because that’s the part I am most fascinated with exploring.

It’s a very simple fact to state that we all need to call attention to the products or services we sell. There is no way to let people know what we have to offer unless they are made aware. Pretty simple stuff, I know. My big question is: are people being adverted and therefore sold by paid advertisements themselves anymore? Yes, of course they are. I’d be a fool to think otherwise. But, I am talking more about the future and how the web landscape is changing everything so dramatically and quickly. In my humble opinion, the future could hold a very different answer. It’s happening on small scales more and more everyday. I’ve written about how different traffic driving techniques can occur to land on sites. I’ve also written about authenticity and/or lack thereof. See my previous blog posts. I think this topic of “Advert Eyes-ing” fits perfectly in the middle of those two others, like the meat inbetween two slices of bread to make for a great ham (or turkey, if you prefer) sandwich. And Yes, I know it’s getting close to lunch time. Get to the point, we’re all getting hungry.

The Point:

I believe that paid advertising, note I stated Paid, is slowly dying. Painfully Slow, but nevertheless it is. I don’t believe in many ways, shapes or forms it’s ever going away. There is a huge difference between something dying and going away. Advertising is effective today and will continue to be. Although, I think it will become less and less important as time marches on.  Here  is my rationalization: As more people personally brand themselves, earn the trust and as a result successfully become their own advertiser, or what I’m calling Advert-Eyes-er (adverter), without the payment, without  the eyeball adverting financial influence, and most importantly WITH authenticity to sell a product or a service they represent and passionately believe in, the more “advertising” by the textbook definition will dissolve one drip-drop at a time. We are talking both ways, influx and outbound. Paying me to steer eyeballs to you or paying You to steer eyeballs to me. I also know the argument can easily be made that the masses and the amount of eyeballs for any given audience cannot be seen on that large of a  level, scale and magnitude versus the paid versions currently available. And that’s a very valid point  for now, at least. But the more people personally brand, the more these early personal brand ambassadors will stand out in their respective fields,  and therefore the more people will follow suit to play catchup to them. And then, we all knows what happens next….

Final Thought:

I would believe You any given day of the week (if I like what you are saying) well before I would believe it coming from your company, business or what you represent.  Humans are adverts in today’s world, not Things.
Like I always state. “I am just a jewelry salesman”. I always love to learn and keep an open mind to other ideas and opinions. I encourage and respect your thoughts/comments down below. They are all greatly appreciated. Thanks for taking the time!

-DG

While on Twitter last night, I posted a question, “What’s The Biggest Goal U Have for 2010?”

I got many responses and they all were really good. I truly enjoyed hearing what others are trying to accomplish going into the New Year. Then I ate and went to bed. When I woke up this morning I checked my email, some other stuff and then went to Twitter like I normally do. I saw my last tweet response from the night before, and it was from fellow Twitterer and friend Patrick Allmond. He “dared” me to list my goals online, as well. This made perfect sense since he had already listed his own goals on his own site, Stop Doing Nothing, on this page here.

At that point “the writing was on the wall” so to speak. I immediately knew what my last blog post topic for 2009 was going to be, and I’m calling this one “Truth Or Dare”.

OR…How about Both?

The Truth: What I’ve Learned

1. All of my life experiences are one of two things: A Lesson or a Blessing.
2. If I fail that means I’m trying, and that’s a success.
3. I always know there is hope even when there seems to be no way out.
4. My most powerful growth has come from my most powerless moments.
5. There is no replacement for human touch.
6. We all have the right to change our minds anytime.
7. Fear is the most common decision making emotion.
8. Patience is one of the greatest gifts a human being can have.
9. Life is a path or a journey, not a choose your own adventure book.
10. Character is what I do when I think no one is looking.
11. I use money, I do not make money.
12. Letting go leads to gaining control.
13. There is a huge difference between self confidence and false pride.
14. I cannot hear you when I am the one talking.
15. I will never get to be perfectly humble no matter how much I practice humility.
16. I can’t make everyone happy and I shouldn’t try to either.
17. Results are all that matter.
18. Nice guys often do finish first.
19. Always know when to pick the right battles to win the war.
20. What I do is not who I am, who I am is what I do.

The Dare: My Goals

1. Spend more quality time with my family.
2. Go to Church more and get back into growing my spiritual side.
3. Organize my life better.
4. Take real time to re-energize and rejuvenate.
5. Take more time for reading.
6. Unplug a bit more. (who am I kidding)
7. Exercise and eat healthier, get back into running.
8. Meet as many new people as I can.
9. Grow existing relationships with people I like.
10. Dedicate more time and focus on my blog.
11. Layout a general blueprint for 2010. Not an outline.
12. Do more service work out in the field itself.
13. Find an unknown jewelry problem that needs to be solved.
14. Be a better listener.
15. Be where I’m at when I’m there.
16. Take time to stop and enjoy the fruits of the labor.
17. Pray More.
18. Try to focus more on one thing at a time.
19. Keep a much more open mind.
20. Get more rest.

Well, that’s about it for ‘09. I appreciate all the friendships I’ve had the privilege of forming this whirlwind of a year, and truly hope to grow them and make many more as time marches on.

Also, If you’re taking the time to read this I’d really like to say Thank You. One of the many things that I never take for granted is, what one of the many things we all seem to run out of, Time. I appreciate everyone and as always, respect and encourage your thoughts on this post down below. Hope you had a Great 2009. Happy New Year to You and Yours, and “Here’s to Hopefully an Even Better 2010.”

Respectfully,

DG

Well, I said this is my personal blog right? OK, Well here goes… To me this is what Christmas is all about. Waking up Christmas morning and watching these little guys (and of course spending time with my wife That goes without saying.  Appreciate your video commentary down below.