My daughter is quickly approaching the eight year mark.  As I look back at those fast fleeing years, I’ve always encouraged her to feel like she can do or become anything she wants.  Sometimes it doesn’t come naturally, like sports, but with hard work and practice, you can get there.   I try to indulge her creativity even when it is a struggle for me.  I tell her she can be the president, an astronaut, a teacher, yes, even a horse trainer.  But, I always wonder if she actually gets what I’m saying.  I encourage her to visit me at work.  It’s more than sitting at a desk.  I encourage her and her scout troop to talk to women business owners like Erica Allison, who graciously endured an afternoon of 20 brownies asking her about her business.  I encourage her to be inspired.  I’ve seen a spark lately that tells me she does get it.

They Really Do Listen After All

I have been invited to Africa this summer on a mission trip with Compassion International.  Before I committed to such a large undertaking, I had to talk to my family. They are more than supportive of my trip. My daughter wanted to make sure I brought her something back and of course, take lots of pictures! This sort of trip requires us to do some fundraising because of the expense involved.

The Spark that Sticks

My daughter decided she was going to start her own business. Her proceeds would go to help fund my trip.  We had many discussions about starting a business. What type of product would you sell?  Who is your audience? What costs are involved?  After much thought and a morning art class, she found her passion for duct tape wallets.  She recruited six of her friends to help her sell her wares. After a few days, she learned a valuable lesson on competition as the six friends decide to start their own businesses. They didn’t venture into duct tape but they are competing for the allowances of the other children.

As she gets more creative, she has evolved her line into pencil holders, tote bags, pens and hair bows. We have spent numerous hours together finding the right tape, contemplating on what will hold up and what will sell.  I encouraged her to name her business. After several days of brain storming, she thought of it: Sticky Fingers. She said “that’s because that’s what you have after dealing with duct tape.”

We’ve spent a few hours making signs and yes, a Facebook page. (I figure I might as well teach her about social media!) Granted, as the sole investor, I’m in the hole. But the life lesson my daughter is learning on how running a business isn’t always easy or glamorous is all the return I need on my investment.

Who knows, the seeds we are planting today might blossom into a world famous designer. I can’t wait to find out!

Autumn can be found online via Twitter, LinkedIn, and the ADG Facebook page. She’s one tough “mudder,’ having killed it on the USMC Mud Run, crushed up some color on a Color Run, and pretty much killing it 5 days a week doing Cross Fit, running, or keeping up with her active daughter and husband. We’re lucky to have her here at ADG!

At the risk of sounding ungrateful here, please, for the love of all things genuine, stop endorsing me on LinkedIn for things you’ve never seen or heard me do!

I know. That’s going to get me just what I asked for, right? All of a sudden my endorsements for skills that I should possess are going to take a nose dive. I’m fine with that. You know why? Because unless you’ve seen me do it, been the benefactor of the results produced by my work, or heard me speak, then don’t endorse me.

The Easy Way Out

Remember when you had to actually ask someone for a recommendation on LinkedIn? I loved being asked and put great thought into what I wrote so as to be accurate and convey a positive snapshot for my colleague. Receiving one was even better. I loved to read what my clients or colleagues wrote about me and always found something surprising in them that made me beam. That was really all the endorsement we needed.

Then, LinkedIn got clever. In the fall of 2012, they rolled out endorsements. From their blog post, they noted that the new endorsements feature would function as:

…a way to affirm people for skills listed on their profiles and recommend new skills that might not appear there yet.

In theory, I can see how that might hold water. You’re in effect verifying someone’s skills listed on their profile, or helping them improve what’s out there. Unfortunately, I don’t think that’s what’s happening. It’s actually making us lazy. It’s putting the super back in superficial.

The Online Quid Pro Quo

This endorsement game we find ourselves in reminds me of an ongoing volley in a tennis match. “Oh, you’ve endorsed me? Well great, I’ll go endorse you!” Lob one over the net, return, do it again.

I know that’s how many people treat their online and business relationships. The rule of quid pro quo applies and favors are returned. When it’s truly valid and we actually know the person on the other side of the ‘net, I see no problem with returning an endorsement, especially if I’m confident in my understanding of that person’s skills and I can speak to them not only in the superficial world of online marketing and networking, but in a room full of actual people. Then by all means, endorse away.

What I dislike greatly is when I feel like I’m being thrown into a game of status – part of a mad cap dash to amp up the status factor in the hopes that someone will take notice and, and…what? For me, I’m always hopeful that my skills will stand on their own and that I’ll be contacted for work. I can’t say that is how everyone else operates. I hope it is, but I also wonder if it’s part of a quest for status above business, losing sight of what LinkedIn should be about.

There’s another option of course and that’s the fact that we’ve all stopped thinking and just started clicking. We see the buttons and the question posed on the screen and think, “well, sure!” And off we go.

I reciprocate as I see the opportunity. If I know that you possess excellent skills in health care management or human resources or green building practices, I’ll certainly endorse you. However, I don’t endorse for that which I know nothing about. I just can’t. As easy as that little click of a button is, it’s not genuine and it contributes to this false sense of importance and grandiosity that we all fall victim to while hanging out online.

Now That We Know Where I Stand

Please, endorse me. Endorse me for what you’ve heard or seen me do. I was just endorsed this week for public speaking by someone that I’ve actually never met in person. Now, it’s possible they’re basing their assessment of my skills on one of my videos (let’s hope it wasn’t the one of me on my Chiropractor’s table), or attended a speaking engagement of mine years ago and I didn’t know they were in attendance. Sadly, I don’t think it’s either one of those. I think it’s a mindless click of the button when the fun option comes up on their screen.

I have great skills. Don’t get me wrong. Skills that took years to hone and cultivate and which are quite frankly, a work in progress. I’m proud of them all. I appreciate the endorsements by folks who’ve witnessed them or been a part of a project on which I used those skills. I pledge now to continue to endorse you for things that I KNOW you can do and that you do well. Please, do the same for me.

Fabulous photo via Flickr.

Don’t just read it from me! Check out this article from CBS News with much of the same thoughts.

Not one to have a toy that really should be a business tool, I’ve been on a quest to make it right. I’m happy to say that I’ve found success. As I mentioned above, I KNOW I’m not alone here and I also know that I’m surrounded by really smart people who already make their iPad work for them, rather than the other way around. I’m counting on those smart folks to share their favorite tools, apps and tricks in the comments.

If you don’t want to watchthe video, here are my four must have tools:

1. Belkin Bluetooth Keyboard, with case.

2. Evernote.

3. Google Drive.

4. Office2 HD

(As you can see, I’ve not yet mastered blogging on my iPad. I will return and provide links when I’m not in a hurry!).

Your turn! What are your favorite tools to make your iPad business ready?

This morning, as always, I woke to NPR. In and out of sleep mode I happened to catch this wonderful story with publicist Marvin Levy, Steven Spielberg’s #1 marketer, message maker and above all else, his mission keeper. What I loved about this story, was not so much the fun publicity nuggets the interviewer was trying to pull from Levy, but more the role that Levy (80 something wonder and still going strong) continues to fiercely embody…even today.

Levy knows and understands his client, in this case Steven Spielberg, better than most. He gets the mission that is Spielberg and he makes sure that he guards it and doesn’t throw it under the next trendy bus rolling through town.

The Mission Keeper Role Isn’t for Everyone

I often marvel at the role that our firm plays with our clients. For our long term, strategic accounts, we go well beyond the role of “message maker” to one of mission keeper. We become a member of their advisory team. We make sure we know what makes their business tick and what keeps it strong; we make sure we know their true mission.

Then? We set about guarding their mission.  This approach is not for everyone.

Let me be clear. Understanding and safeguarding the mission of your client, as a marketing firm, should be your goal anyway. Actually doing it in a world where clients come and go and your value based service can be viewed via a commodities lens? That’s tough. That is where the mission keepers stand apart from the message makers.

Not a Yes Man (Woman)

What our clients find when they work with us is that we are not going to be that firm that says “yes” to everything and churns out exactly what they throw at us. We’re thinking about what’s best for their business, based on a thorough exploration and understanding, as we’re also identifying what messages will resonate best with their customers and their market.

Sometimes, that goes well and sometimes, well…it’s challenging. We overcome that challenge by demonstrating that we understand the mission and weave it into everything that we do. Trust also helps.

So, no, we’re not a yes man organization. We’re mission keepers. We’ll say no when we think it’s not in the best interest of your business. We’ll offer reasons why and we’ll also provide you with alternatives.

I’d like to think that’s what’s kept Marvin Levy at it for 40 plus years in this business. I’d like to think that’s what will keep us at it as well.

image via Flickr

Bold, right?

I know. I’m a little guy. I am. Who am I to ask PR Daily to do something for me? Well, I’m pretty certain I’m speaking for a LOT of us who use our smart phones to read blog posts and catch up on content when we have a spare moment. The thrill of being able to do so without the pinch and spread action on a non-mobile site is just awesome. Pulling up a blog post or an article, whether it’s on Spin Sucks or Inc.com, and having it load as it should for the screen in which I’m viewing it is flat out thoughtful. I read both of those while on the table last night.

The Cobbler’s Shoes

We all have a ways to go to stay up to date and ahead of the curve. Heck, my website isn’t currently fully mobile (it’s in production, ahem, Hannush Web), but I can say that my blog posts have been mobile friendly for well over a year.  Go ahead, check.

Those of us in the business of communication, marketing, and PR absolutely must make sure our shoes are presentable. We should also make it a priority that our clients’ shoes are made for walking. I’m sure many of you reading this do. I’m not trying to take pot shots at PR Daily. It’s just that if anyone should be mobile friendly, shouldn’t they lead the way?

Let’s make a commitment right now to make sure that if we’re not already, we’re well on our way to making ALL of our online content mobile friendly. Why in the world not? And when we do, let’s make sure we don’t throw the whole site in there, but just what’s relevant and can lead to sales, calls, or actions.

Did She Really Shoot a Video Like That?

Hard to believe, right? I shot a video lying down – on my belly, no less- on the fly, to make a point. Women know that lying down on our backs is not a bad way to be photographed… but looking down? Well, let’s just say gravity isn’t kind.

All kidding aside, there’s a second point to be made here. Remember my short on time, big on ideas post? Well, this is part of that. I have less time now than I did before to keep my blogging where I want it, so I take advantage of super useful tools like my smart phone and video. Easy. Peasy. No excuses.

I also have less time to sit at my desk and read blog posts and articles. My solution is to catch up on reading while I wait – at the chiropractor in this case, but it could be anywhere that gives you unexpected moments to catch up.  My phone is always with me, so it’s the natural medium by which I gather my news and info.

Video, if the point can be well made, is a powerful way to communicate your message. It’s an equally easy tool to receive information and content.  If you’re not already using it, give it a whirl. Put yourself out there.

And PRDaily.com? Please know that I love to catch up on your posts and when you make them mobile friendly will be doing it more often. xoxo!

Most of us intuitively believe that the things we labor at are the things we love. Mochon and his colleagues, Michael Norton at the Harvard Business School and Dan Ariely at Duke University, have turned that concept on its head. What if, they asked, it isn’t love that leads to labor, but labor that leads to love?

Labor of Love? Or a Love of Competency?

I get that. That which I labor over most, investing my time and energy into, gives me the most satisfaction.It also has the power to make me feel very accomplished, most of the time. With work, my labors of love are my client accounts. The more creative the campaign with the most tangible, measurable outcomes are my proudest moments. I get extreme satisfaction from that. There’s a desire to feel competent, usually a high level of competency, in fact. It goes beyond the actual outcome to the feeling we get from doing it and the motivation inherent in that process.

Where we run into issues as service providers is when we get too tied into the labor and become unaware of the outcome or the potential lack of said outcomes. We operate in a vacuum, convinced we are correct and that the approach will succeed, when in reality, we may need to abandon ship or try a new approach. We have essentially generated our own happy place, succumbing to our love of competency and the feeling we have from simply creating.  We lose objectivity.

Pin me, baby.

I consider myself a DIY kind of gal, but I still can’t sew or lay tile. I am a crazed fabric swatch and tile sample hoarder, always with a new design in mind. It’s the process of creating that feeds me and as a result, I feel competent in my designs, but thankfully, I know enough to hire out the actual upholstering or tiling.

Pinterest seems to feed that feeling, don’t you think? It feeds the creative outlet. We’re creating boards for goodness sake around our idea of what works for home decor, beauty, DIY and countless other items. We find like minded souls there. Some of the top topics for Pinterest boards confirms that: Home Decor, Beauty, and DIY.

One of our top sources for all of those pins? Etsy. The epitome of DIY and accomplishment.

Finding your way out of Ikea

Have you ever actually visited an Ikea? It’s truly awesome. It’s ginormous and full of DIY stuff that gets me all excited. Ever visited with two kids age 3 and 8, after a full day at an indoor water park? No? Really?

Well, I have. And you know what I found? There’s no way out. There’s no escape hatch or emergency opt-out when the wheels come off the proverbial wagon. Let me explain.

You’re pretty much funneled in, by design, a path that you can not veer from. It’s an internal Ikea effect really. You’re in their zone and there is no outside interference. You’re quite happy there and have all the comforts you need (food, childcare if they’re potty trained – not quite there at that visit), and silently become one of the lambs being led to slaughter, I mean, check out. You go from floor to floor, along with everyone else, until you reach the end of the line. Well done, Ikea!

As is typical with me in big environs like that, with lots of pretty things, I start grabbing stuff and shoving it into my cart, measurements be damned. The experience becomes my little labor of love…seeking euphoria via home design and DIY.

That particular visit, with one child melting down in the cutest little kitchen vignette you’ve ever seen and another doing wheelies with the cart, I was made painfully aware that my project was a failure. My husband and I exchanged looks; I gave him the universal sign for “stop the ride, we’re getting off,” and frantically looked for a way out.

Stops along the way

We all have tendencies from time to time to operate in our own little Ikea, whilst pinning to our favorite DIY board, all in the name of a job well done and instant gratification. What we all need, especially those of us in service to others, is an escape plan…a way out. We need to have an objective view.

Who on your team or in your posse do you count on to help you find your way out? Or better yet, who are you talking to at critical points in the process?

Do you have someone? I do. I have a few people I call on. Sometimes, it’s the client. Yes, I do leave myself open to criticism from the folks who pay me. The outcome is ALWAYS better when I have many eyes on a project than when I keep it to myself and only come up for air at the end. ALWAYS.

I can’t tell you how many posts I’ve read in the past 24 hours outlining the importance of not hiring “yes men” or in my case, women. The posts continually point to the intrinsic value of having that outside marketing or PR pro who has the hutzpah to say no when the client is really looking for a yes. All good stuff, but come on. Let’s push a little further than that, shall we?

Beyond the No

Saying no isn’t necessarily the hard part. Nor is it where the client might suddenly think, “Wow! I’m really getting my money’s worth here. She just told me no!” No, the real return on the investment comes when your PR or marketing pro says “have you thought about…?” and offers a well thought out, reasoned overview of what you, the client, might have missed in your zeal to launch the next big thing, or send out that press release within seconds of something happening.

Or, not so much what you missed, but what might enhance your current big idea or how it might be vulnerable to outside attack. In other words, your PR pro just might be thinking beyond the basics and yes, refraining from being a yes gal, and instead becoming a proactive, thinking member of your team.

THAT’s what you should be paying us to do…to THINK and to reason and to offer such sound reasoning with humility, respect and the wisdom that comes from doing a job well and having herself heard the phrase…”have you thought about this…?” a time or two.

Happy thinking out there!

There’s been quite a lot of discussion among marketing and PR professionals lately about who has bragging rights, I mean ownership, of social media. In other words, who is the best of the best at making it happen for their clients and who should be the big SM Master in Charge.  I’m kidding on that last one.

For many folks, ownership boils down to perpetuating those darn silos and continuing to separate duties, turf battles within and outside of agencies, and whether or not they land an account.  It’s the ownership of money that is often at the root of such “discussions.”

The recent debates (this has been a topic for years) started when one PR pro in particular got the debate going again, declaring that 2013 would be the year that PR pros finally win the battle of ownership. Seriously? Is this something that keeps us up at night?

The ever so smart and lovely Shelly Kramer (whom I do declare I have a serious brain crush on) offered up an awesome-tastic post on how it’s everyone. period. end of story. I couldn’t agree more.  Do read all of her post to get that perspective and then come right back here because I have something to add to it.

The problem with eye candy…

is that it just doesn’t satisfy.  This has all been very interesting to read, and enlightening to see how folks in the PR and marketing industry still view this world of social media. I would wager a hefty sum however, that it’s only been interesting to those of us in the practice of utilizing social media to achieve results for our clients.

You know who really doesn’t care who “owns” social media? The Customer.

Truly, if you asked the mom or dad surfing the internet looking for the best deal on their kid’s Amazon Kindle who owns social media you’d get that look I get when I tell my son to “put a little elbow grease into it” as he’s washing dishes. Huh?

They. Don’t. Care.

You know what’s even more important to understand about these folks?

Customers own social media.

There’s that look again. Really. It’s true. Yes, all of us in a well oiled machine of an organization with any presence in social media or the digital sphere should have our toes in the pool and be aware of the impact across all disciplines and facets of our company or our clients’ companies. We have responsibilities. Every word in Shelly’s post is accurate and to the point.

I want to remind business owners that customers are the ones who shop, purchase our goods or services, complain about said goods or services, tell their friends about their purchases, and decide whether to return for another round. Know how they do it?

The customer will like, share, follow, clip, post, comment on, rail upon, laud, or claim as their own original idea, all that is related to your business. They are driving the bus here. Sure, we’re on it and often times, we provide entertainment, direction, in-flight services, and clean up the messes, but for all intents and purposes, they are in charge.

I would encourage us all (marketers, PR pros, customer service departments, CEOs, and owners alike) to remember that as we embrace social media and it’s potential for business marketing, communication, sales, profits and losses for 2013.  How about we approach it from a customer perspective and less from an ownership perspective?

More on this topic from years ago…

Mashable 2010: Which Department Owns Social Media?

Adweek 2010: Who Owns Social Media?

JeffBullas.com 2012: Who Owns Social Media? (hint: Moms)

image via Flickr

What prompted this discussion for me? Two things:

The #SpreadtheCheer hashtag takeover (read about it here) and numerous new clients coming to me with the same question:

How can I control what people say about me online?

Spoiler alert: You can’t.

In the video, I explain my take on what you CAN control and what you simply can NOT control. It’s a tough one for many folks, especially type-A CEO/business owners, to get their minds around. However, in my opinion, I think this sort of discussion is healthy. You know why?

The added scrutiny and ready access to our businesses should make us all do a better job of delivering results to our clients and our communities. As a result, we provide very little opportunity for negativity to surface. The odd time that it does? Well, we’ve built such a solid fan base and loyalty among our customers and clients that it’s a minor blip on the screen, rather than a permanent part of our record.

Enjoy your time with your loved ones and we’ll see you next year!

Often, we need perspective the MOST when we have it the least. Whether it’s in the midst of a client crisis, a PR nightmare, or a personal situation, perspective is a rare commodity to have and often most difficult to obtain when you’re IN IT.

The Curious Case of Perspective Anemia

What I’ve witnessed and experienced lately is a self-imposed lack of perspective. You heard that right. We’re creating situations where we purposefully wall ourselves off to perspective. I see it in the online world of blogging and social media expertise. I see it in situations where so called “leaders in the community” convince those around them that their bad business practices are not abnormal, but rather quite the opposite and to be held up in esteem.

When the blogging and social media experts deem a practice the norm, like “you must blog x times a week, while commenting on a percentage of posts daily, sharing y amount of this type of post,” all while reading the latest social media eBook, it makes me crazy! You know why? Because they’ve walled themselves off to perspective and to the world around them. The folks who follow along are the ones laying the bricks. Together, they’re creating a weaker version of what we could be.

Lest you think this is a rant towards social media experts, it’s not. The same thing occurs in the off line, or “real” world. It’s natural, really. When faced with a difficult situation with an immense amount of public scrutiny or attention, the view of what’s real and what’s not can become skewed. I like to think it’s some sort of fight or flight reaction, but sadly, I’ve seen too often that it’s a creative way to redirect the light.  What follows is the recruitment of others to help shine the light elsewhere and off the real problem.  Perspective is lost and recreated in order to cover up or downplay the core issues.

A False Sense of Perspective

When you lose perspective, do you know it? I think it’s hard for many of us to know, but it usually comes in the form of confusion over next steps, doubt in our approaches and confrontation that previously didn’t exist.  How do you handle it?

For many of us, we seek out “support” from those that we know will offer sympathy and not a shot of real perspective a la a Moonstruck slap in the face.  Why? Because it feels better that way. It builds up our wall of warped perspective even more and makes us feel all cozy.  Unfortunately, it only hurts us in the long run.

Time and Switzerland

I’ve been in a few situations lately where only time could provide the much needed perspective to get me into a solid frame of mind. I’ve also witnessed a few situations lately where a good ol’ shot of honesty and outside objectivity is the cure for what ails us.

What I’ve decided to do from now on is to a) give it time and/or b) go to Switzerland.

With time, you’re able to truly gain valuable perspective because you grow and learn from it along the way. The trick is to recognize that you’re going to give yourself time and in the interim, just put your head down and move forward without further casualty.

Obviously, while nice in theory, I don’t advise physically going to Switzerland. What I do recommend is this: seek counsel from a truly neutral party not intimately tied to a situation and not likely to choose sides.

You know the kind…the one who won’t immediately sit down and join you in a ‘b!tch’ session about the other party or parties. Often, we seek out those who will reinforce our view of the world. What I want are those folks who make me question it.  What I want and need is someone who is objective and can dole out the tough love you need to ‘snap out of it’ and move on.

I find that giving a situation time works well in the real world, and that Switzerland should be visited more often in the online world. Seriously. Seek out a mentor not as engrossed in your online world and ask them what makes their business a success. I’ll bet you find some a ha moments in there.

The results of both approaches? Smarter, stronger leaders for smarter, stronger businesses.

Abstract image via Flickr.