theONblog

Don't slay my dragon!

2012-01-24T17:27:28-05:00

2012 is the Year of the Dragon...

according to the Chinese Horoscope. The Dragon is a creature of myth and legend. "A symbol of good fortune and sign of intense power, the Oriental Dragon is regarded as a divine beast - the reverse of the malicious monster that Westerners felt necessary to find and slay."

Dragons are not just for the Chinese! Early cartographers used the Latin phrase hic sunt dracones, i.e., "the dragons are here", or "here be dragons", to denote dangerous or unexplored territories.

So, what does any of this have to do with marketing and business? The bottom line is this...just because a creature seems to be a fire-breathing monster, we need to take a closer look. Sometimes the scariest demons can actually have a positive impact on our lives. For example:

A fire-breather can sometimes protect those people and things that cannot defend themselves. (Look here for other dragon types and their meaning!)
Dragon dust (the condensation of dragon breath) is useful for magical spells. What doesn't kill us can make us stronger
People born in the year of the dragon have a natural charisma and are said to be gifted with power and luck -- and who doesn't need that in their business?

So, before you contemplate slaying or fleeing the dragon, think about how making friends with him/her can be a good thing!

Dragon names (most of which are probably NOT appropriate as baby names!)

Here's why many Chinese couples are hurrying to have a baby in the Year of the Dragon.

"Puff the Magic Dragon" was conceived at Cornell, according to this "myth" and the song made it to #2 on Billboard! Listen to it here.

Thanks...Just Thanks (a timeless message)

2011-11-22T04:00:00-05:00

NOTE: In honor of the holiday season (and because I'm feeling a bit tired and uninspired this week), I decided to re-post this little blurb I first wrote back in 2006 (!) Despite the changes in media, devices, and economic conditions since then, it still holds true.

So, thank you for reading this -- and feel free to share!

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I've taken to contacting people recently just to say "thank you."

It usually freaks them out a little bit. I say thank you and then they wait for me to ask them for something.

As we enter the "home stretch" of 2006, we should take a moment (in-between inhaling large amounts of turkey, dealing with the stress of family reunions, and finishing up everything we swore we were going to do in 2006) to just stop...reflect...and give thanks to those people -- colleagues, mentors, clients, and all others -- who helped us get to where we are today.

Gratitude these days is often translated into finders fees, commissions, mark-ups, reciprocal leads, and a host of other financially-based systems. Don't get me wrong. Money is always swell. But a simple "thank you" can make another person's day ...especially when you really mean it and that's how you end your sentence. (By the way, thanks for reading this!)

Cat got your tongue? Write a note. Here's how.

Say thanks in 465 languages.

Is hey for horses anymore?

2011-11-04T12:55:19-04:00

Or, do I need to just saddle-up to new speech?

Whenever I used to use the word "Hey!" my mom used to say "Hay is for horses." That meant (in mom-speak) that I should find another expression to use. (Other Nancy-isms that fell into that category were "shut up," "crap," "Ya know?" "Your momma!" and "moron.")

But "Hey" seems to be the new "Dear Nancy" whenever an intern or marketing associate writes to me. And they never usually REALLY write to me (as in an e-mail). It's usually a text message, e.g., "Hey! I finished that project. Got anything else for me?"

I'm actually sort of digging (as we used to say in days or yore) this new casual speech thing, although as an English major and former banker I admit that I cringe a bit whenever I see "Hey!" I like it more than "Dear Ms. Shenker" (which makes me feel old) or "To Whom it May Concern" (which is so impersonal) or "Nance!" (which is way too familiar -- only a chosen few call me Nance). And, when you're applying for job, the lead-in should probably never be "Hey!"

As long as people still know how to write a great marketing plan, craft a compelling press pitch, or proofread their resumes, I can put up with the "Hey" thing.

Hey! Do you agree?

Me and My Mishegoss

2011-09-19T23:00:00-04:00

My mother used to say that only Yiddish can describe certain things.

I have to admit, she was right about this one. This colorful and dying language (spoken by less than a million people, most of them in New York) is especially descriptive when it comes to doing business these days. I find myself weaving it into my work lexicon. And, since we are approaching the Jewish New Year (teglach anyone?), I decided to devote this blog to a handful (aka a bissel) of my favorite biz-yiddishisms.

They aren't as intelligent sounding as Latin phrases (like "alenda lux ubi orta libertas") or as poetic as Irish proverbs (e.g., "May your home always be too small to hold all your friends") but they often do the trick.

The good ones...

Bashert: like Yiddish kismet or karma; that random person you meet who turns out to lead you to a giant business deal...or meeting-up with an old friend on Facebook and then finding out he can get you free tickets to Fashion Week or floor seats for the Knicks.
Mazel: Andy Cohen of Bravo brought this one into the mainstream. It's "congratulations" on steroids.
Mensch: Not a chazzer , schnorrer, or gonnif (see below). He (or she) is that precious person who helps you selflessly through recessions, hurricanes, and business angst.

The bad ones...

Chazzer: Literally, a pig. I love this quote from Scarface where Tony Montana gets a Yiddish lesson. The greedy chazzers (or pigs) often wind up chain-sawed or bullet-riddled (literally and figuratively).
Schnorrer: Like a chazzer, but best defined as a "taker;" that colleague who endlessly picks your bain and takes advantage of your generosity without ever reciprocating.
Gonnif: A thief. One hand is always in your wallet when you're not looking.

The ugly ones

Meeskait: Even if you're model-gorgeous, if you have a sour puss or are consciously hurtful, you can be homely. In short, you can't always perfume a chazzer.

Have a favorite biz-yiddishism? Feel free to add it here or on Facebook!

Want more?

itunes Yiddish app

Yiddish with Dick and Jane

"A Hard Day's Night" in Yiddish

Yeah...I f****ed-up

2011-09-06T04:45:00-04:00

Yup! That's a pretty bold statement (even with the missing letters)!

It stands for I fessed up, actually I had the great pleasure of hearing Moira Forbes, Publisher of ForbesWoman, speak at the International Year of Youth Culmination Celebration at the United Nations, courtesy of AllyKatzz and Fashion Camp NYC. I was accompanied by my Her Honor "mentee" and Jill Tipograph. Moira Forbes talked about mistakes. I had never previously throughout about the name Forbes and the word "mistake" in the same sentence. After all, her great-grandfather B.C. and grandfather Malcolm built a media empire, has incredible brand recognition, and owned a yacht with a cool helicopter on it. The talk was all about how errors, when embraced and treated as learning experiences, can lead to wisdom and innovation.

As I sat there, I recounted my own failures as a late-life entrepreneur, boss, employee, co-worker, client, parent, wife, and human being. It was like a preview of Yom Kippur (without the fasting). Rather than beating myself up over my (many) missteps, I created a mental list of things I will never do again.

On vacation in Cancun last week (which was extended due to Mother Nature's screw-up named Irene), I translated that list into a fall action plan. I will turn to my small group of trusted advisors and colleagues to remind me if I'm on the verge of repeating an old error (or am on the brink of a new one). I will replace "Boy, was I dumb//blind/self-delusional" with "Boy, I sure learned something great and useful from that mistake." So, thanks Moira (if I may be so bold!) You could't save me from my mistakes but you sure made me feel better about them -- and more optimistic about the future.

And, to all my blog-reader friends out there...feel free to share your errors with me in the Comments section. That's not to say that I won't repeat some of the, but at least I'll be forewarned and may learn from them a little faster. Although I don't think Shenker is a great name for a yacht someday, maybe I'll name my boat the Do-over. Or simply I F---ed-Up.

Business errors that ultimately led to better things

The most common spelling mistakes

Goofs in movies

Don't Touch the Screen, Touch ME!

2011-08-15T20:10:05-04:00

How much more stuff can possibly fit into my brain? What else can I train my poor stubby fingers to do? I love technology as much as the next guy (or woman) but I find myself hoping that face-to-face is again becoming as important as Facebook. Some of the signs are there.

I admit...I'm still tethered to technology. This summer, I finally taught myself how to use the iPad that has been sitting in its box for a couple of months. I couldn't quite master the touch screen thing. (Those fingerprints are so unsightly!) And I was invited into Google+ during the first week. I'm not sure why. I'm not all that cool. But there I was, adding circles and inviting more friends.

But when I was in the Apple store, getting advice from one of the salespeople, I looked around and realized that so much of the "experience" in the store ultimately involved people helping other people. Perhaps conversation is making a comeback.

This summer I attended a couple of live concerts. Yeah, people were posting and posing and tweeting, but they were also swaying and dancing and singing along.

I also had the pleasure of attending a remarkable event at the United Nations last week in celebration of the International Year of Youth. There were girls, as young as ten, talking about the non-profits they founded and some of their hopes and dreams for using their mad social media skills to raise money for PEOPLE in need. Yes, real people...with flesh and blood and hearts.

Although I can use live chat to get help online, I enjoy live chats even more. Earbuds just aren't the same as live drums and guitars. And Apps can facilitate awareness and donations, but they will never replace the human spirit behind a cause.

So, try to unplug and look around every now and then. Your device won't even notice you're gone!

It's All About ME (or is it?) Personal Branding or Narcissism?

2011-05-17T09:09:19-04:00

"Personal Branding" is hot.

And I confess...I have jumped into the media flames too, teaching many workshops about personal branding. And offering personal branding services for clients. And hell, here I am even blogging about personal branding.

Everyone from your local babysitter to your fave Real Housewife has a personal brand.

But what we seem to have forgotten is that the essence of a product or service brand is the VALUE it delivers to the customer. Coke is a great brand because it refreshes. Citibank is/was a great brand because it never slept (until, of course, the bank crash -- when it developed narcolepsy and lost a good deal of my retirement funds). Truly wonderful brands have a benefit (or at least a stated benefit) that helps, entertains, inspires, delights, or soothes human beings or businesses.

True rock stars have strong personal brands because they get people out of their seats dancing...or weeping and swaying because their words bring back sweet memories. Faux media rock stars simply blah-blah-blah about themselves and the fact that they have powerful personal brands.

So, as you develop your own "personal brand" make sure you are not just unique -- but also helpful to others. And be mindful of the fact that a truly great brand is not just memorable for the length of a clever tweet or a YouTube video or a cat fight on BRAVO...it lives on in the hearts and minds of others. Like Narcissus, be careful not to drown in the rapture of your own image!

The story of Narcissus

Best global brands (oh no...I'M not on the list! :)

Little Stuff

2011-04-19T17:30:00-04:00

Small is good. Simple is good.

When my daughters (now almost 23 and almost 19) were little, I used to bring them what we called "little stuff" when I came home from work. Pennies...trinkets from gum machines...a pen that I got at a trade show. They loved these gifts as much as their giant Barbie duplex mansion and their huge stuffed bears. Although they never really expected anything, when I said "I have some little stuff for you" they squealed with glee.

The principle holds true in business too. Our best clients are not necessarily those with the biggest budgets...they are the ones who believe most passionately in their missions, values and products. I had grown my business rapidly at one point and then realized I was actually quite miserable working on projects that I wasn't passionate about and managing all the moving parts. I had done that once in corporate life and had no pressing desire to do it again. We focus now mostly on things that matter -- food, kids and education, health/wellness, shelter, summer camps, alternate energy, and other products/services developed by visionary, caring people.

Entrepreneurs' heads are often filled with a million ideas -- some big and some small. The challenge is learning how to de-clutter, to focus, to get back to those core principles, products, services, and practices that ultimately makes a huge difference -- that bring us joy and profitability. Even as adults, we can learn to squeal with glee upon receiving little stuff!

Simple Places to Visit (online and in the real world):

Real Simple's work/life section

Good (a great source of simple facts and projects that do good things for humanity)

Places to "digitally detox" this summer

Or, go "back to the farm" with an agritourism vacation

Comment-ary

2011-03-01T04:00:00-05:00

Join the conversation!

That seems to be the mantra of the social media era. Every TV show I watch encourages viewers to "tweet-in" their comments and questions. We post status updates on Facebook with provocative queries at the end, eagerly awaiting our friends to weigh-in. And, of course, this blog post has a "comments" section. We are all being urged throughout the day to voice our opinions and questions...to say something, to say anything. And sometimes, conversations that should be taking place in private (on the phone or via messages or e-mails) are occurring on a Facebook Wall...and the rest of us can simply be voyeurs to other people's conversations.

Is all of this interactivity making us smarter and more collaborative and more engaged? Or, have we just created a lot of chatter -- one worldwide dial-in radio show with no true host, where anyone with a voice and an opinion can have a platform for free speech? Is this really dialogue or a series of parallel monologues?

I'm not sure.

Please comment. Or weigh-in. Or tweet me. Or post on my Wall. Or simply keep it to yourself and smirk.

Reflecting, ruminating, re-purposing and rabbits

2011-01-31T17:30:00-05:00

January is over...pick up a rear view mirror a composter, a cool notebook and a flashlight. (And then buy chopsticks and a valentine)

Well, you don't actually have to literally do that. It would involve a trip to the auto accessories shop, a housewares emporium, an office supply depot, and a hardware store. Then, you'd need to go to Chinatown and Hallmark. And really...who has time for that? Especially with all this snow we've been having here in New York.

I'm just using them all as symbols to talk about the whole process of looking back, detoxifying and learning, setting clear and visionary goals, and forging ahead with purpose and heart.

As the end of the month nears, I reflect back on all the things I set out to do at the start of the month and, amazingly, I did them all. Don't dwell on what's behind you (because then you might crash). Just take a long hard look at all the good things that happened...those that were planned and some that just came out of nowhere. And even if you didn't get done everything you set out to do, you have a notebook (but more on that later.)

Of course, I made a bunch of mistakes in January, but that's what the waste recycler is for...even trash can have a purpose. We all need to look at how we may have screwed up, analyze why, and pick out the little life lesson gems from the refuse heap.

The notebook (or other writing device of our choice) is to capture goals for February, because as we all know, writing stuff down and sharing it with others is the first step towards actually doing it.

And next, put some extra batteries in your flashlight or headlamp and forge into the next 28 days. You've celebrated your January successes, learned from your mistakes, and emerged 31 days wiser.

I'm really looking forward to February. It's the Chinese New Year -- the Year of the Rabbit. It's supposed to be a placid one, which is just fine by me. And I have all of those wonderful "supplies" from January. Just add to your "tool kit" a pair of chopsticks (for precision) and something heart-shaped (always useful, because having heart is always important -- even in business), and we'll all be just fine...placid, soulful, and prepared!

Anything else you have in YOUR February tool box?

Cool flashlights

Such lovely composters!

Combination fork/chopsticks (for those with manual dexterity issues)