Friday, May 27th Part I
It was either the dumbest thing I'd ever done, or the bravest.
I had signed us up to go camping with my girls' newfound group of friends from Sarabande, a reasonably priced, not-at-all snooty horseback riding school.
The operative word here is camping. I had never been camping.
Two crucial family members would be absent: my oldest son with years of Boy Scout skills under his belt - including camping. He is thirteen, full of teenage angst and feels everything his siblings say, do, or even think is embarassing. The younger siblings, tired of his eye-rolls when they did anything silly, were perfectly happy to go without "Squidward". It was my husband's absence we all quietly worried about.
I am fortunate to have a husband with the patience of Job. With our family, he needs it. But, sadly, he had to work Sundays so weekend trips of any sort are virtually out of the question. "Job" also had the camping experience from going with Squidward. He also posessed the required tent assembly skills that I lacked. He patiently tutored me through the process while my youngest daughter videotaped on my iPhone in the event I couldn't figure it out. My youngest, "Blondinchka" narrated, explaining what she thought I was doing and noting how different it was from what Job explained. Later, she turned the camera on herself and said matter-of-factly "we're going to die."
My younger daughter, Blondie and her older sister, "The horse whisperer" took lessons at Sarabande most Saturdays, and we were meeting up with a group of other barn moms and their daughters similarly obsessed with horses. I had tried for months to get my youngest son to go, as he loves animals. I think horses are too big for him. He likes animals he can hold. The only way I could persuade him to go camping with us was to tell him about the pond at the campsite that had frogs in it. "Frogboy" was game. And so, together, the four of us, completely inexperienced campers drove north toward Prescott, the car groaning under the weight of every camping accoutrement we could think of.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Audience Cultivation
When it comes to social media, there are two things a small business owner, practice or non-profit must take into account:
1. Are you a host or a guest?
2. What do you want to give and receive from the exchange?
First, a social media presence you are nurturing is like hosting or going to a party.
If you are the host, it is your job to fetch your guest the proverbial drink, (needs assessment) introduce him or her to someone who they would enjoy knowing, and touch base with them from time to time when you find other like-minded individuals to acquaint them with (who have different levels of experience with your brand). This gives roots to your audience and helps you know who your influencers are so you can give them extra love.
If you are the guest at the party, your role is to be the most fascinating person in the room. Say very little, but see if you can pick out positive energy people who are not affiliated with the brand. Ask them questions. Thank them for their insight. Make them feel as though they are the most fascinating person in the room.
Now, as for goals, before we go anywhere, repeat after me: "I will not be obnoxious on Social Media and alienate my Friends, Fans, and Followers. Social Media shall be consensual with my customers and prospects & is to be used for their benefit."
Next time: Goals.
1. Are you a host or a guest?
2. What do you want to give and receive from the exchange?
First, a social media presence you are nurturing is like hosting or going to a party.
If you are the host, it is your job to fetch your guest the proverbial drink, (needs assessment) introduce him or her to someone who they would enjoy knowing, and touch base with them from time to time when you find other like-minded individuals to acquaint them with (who have different levels of experience with your brand). This gives roots to your audience and helps you know who your influencers are so you can give them extra love.
If you are the guest at the party, your role is to be the most fascinating person in the room. Say very little, but see if you can pick out positive energy people who are not affiliated with the brand. Ask them questions. Thank them for their insight. Make them feel as though they are the most fascinating person in the room.
Now, as for goals, before we go anywhere, repeat after me: "I will not be obnoxious on Social Media and alienate my Friends, Fans, and Followers. Social Media shall be consensual with my customers and prospects & is to be used for their benefit."
Next time: Goals.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
The Bridal Affair
The Arizona Daily Star just hosted its twice annual fair featuring products and services for couples planning weddings and for families planning for their daughters turning 15, a 'quinceniera' which is like a southern cotillion.
As I am new to the Star, this was my first up close and personal experience, which was a nice change from two recent events which had rocked our collective worlds: on Thurday, January 6th, our VP of Sales resigned, and two days later, six people were gunned down in the worst mass shooting in our town since...well, I'll have to check the news archives. Shootings in the old west were a hazard of the locale, as were stage coach robberies. We will be covering this all year in our centennial celebration events. (More on that later.)
Today was a balm of healing, a day meant for joy. Nervous brides. Overprotective fathers. "Yes, Dear..." from the fiances. So many decisions. I tasted so many cakes my sweet tooth ached. I saw so many limos I thought I was at the Oscars. And I remembered as we planned and financed our own wedding, hopelessly in love, poor as church mice, having no idea that happily ever after would exceed our wildest dreams. Not the way we thought when we first got married, but through our kids, the greatest joy in the world. To get to 'Happily ever after' there were bumps in the road, detours we didn't plan, and it couldn't be rushed. But 'Happily ever after' can be if you just let it...be.
My job today was assisting the models in the dressing room. SpeedBrides! For the pre-fitting, I helped them choose their gowns, adjusted them with pins if they were too large, took photos for their moms, and befriended many of them. During show time, I unzipped/zipped them while they balanced on one stiletto heel and held onto me for dear life so as not to puncture the silk train and undo the elaborate veils. One beautiful blonde from Scottsdale had just broken up with her boyfriend and vowed celibacy for a year and just treat herself right. Well spoken and very intelligent, she set a goal for herself to write a best-selling novel. I believe she'll do it! Another Latina beauty, somewhat more experienced and with an artistic spirit, clearly covered her bases with a number of jobs and skills. She clearly took nothing she has been given for granted. I admired her work ethic and fortitude. Another 19 year old Nicole Kidman look-alike (I swear she must have been a size zero) was majoring in psychology and minoring in marketing. We talked about sales - she is interested in pharmaceutical sales because it is a recession-proof career with good benefits.
We had two shows, one hour each, three hours apart. Each dress was more beautiful than the last... But the last ones for some reason weren't as comfortable and the models were in a frenzy to get them off, taffeta and sequins flying, tiaras and hairdos now hair don'ts, stilettos swapped for flip flops, and comfy sweats donned for the ride home. I turned around... Where had my models gone? My impish teenagers and twenty-somethings stood with duffel bags over their shoulders, grinning sheepishly. It was hard to say goodbye. So, we whipped out our cellphones, connected on facebook, exchanged hugs and kisses and they were gone.
I thought about every one of them as I drove home. These weren't empty-headed beauties who only had their looks to provide them with a career. These were formidable young women who will be running the world someday. It's comforting to know our future is in such beautiful, capable hands. I just want to thank their moms and mentors who raised them up to be such exemplary role models. If you could have seen the way they carried themselves backstage and in public, they would have made you proud.
As I am new to the Star, this was my first up close and personal experience, which was a nice change from two recent events which had rocked our collective worlds: on Thurday, January 6th, our VP of Sales resigned, and two days later, six people were gunned down in the worst mass shooting in our town since...well, I'll have to check the news archives. Shootings in the old west were a hazard of the locale, as were stage coach robberies. We will be covering this all year in our centennial celebration events. (More on that later.)
Today was a balm of healing, a day meant for joy. Nervous brides. Overprotective fathers. "Yes, Dear..." from the fiances. So many decisions. I tasted so many cakes my sweet tooth ached. I saw so many limos I thought I was at the Oscars. And I remembered as we planned and financed our own wedding, hopelessly in love, poor as church mice, having no idea that happily ever after would exceed our wildest dreams. Not the way we thought when we first got married, but through our kids, the greatest joy in the world. To get to 'Happily ever after' there were bumps in the road, detours we didn't plan, and it couldn't be rushed. But 'Happily ever after' can be if you just let it...be.
My job today was assisting the models in the dressing room. SpeedBrides! For the pre-fitting, I helped them choose their gowns, adjusted them with pins if they were too large, took photos for their moms, and befriended many of them. During show time, I unzipped/zipped them while they balanced on one stiletto heel and held onto me for dear life so as not to puncture the silk train and undo the elaborate veils. One beautiful blonde from Scottsdale had just broken up with her boyfriend and vowed celibacy for a year and just treat herself right. Well spoken and very intelligent, she set a goal for herself to write a best-selling novel. I believe she'll do it! Another Latina beauty, somewhat more experienced and with an artistic spirit, clearly covered her bases with a number of jobs and skills. She clearly took nothing she has been given for granted. I admired her work ethic and fortitude. Another 19 year old Nicole Kidman look-alike (I swear she must have been a size zero) was majoring in psychology and minoring in marketing. We talked about sales - she is interested in pharmaceutical sales because it is a recession-proof career with good benefits.
We had two shows, one hour each, three hours apart. Each dress was more beautiful than the last... But the last ones for some reason weren't as comfortable and the models were in a frenzy to get them off, taffeta and sequins flying, tiaras and hairdos now hair don'ts, stilettos swapped for flip flops, and comfy sweats donned for the ride home. I turned around... Where had my models gone? My impish teenagers and twenty-somethings stood with duffel bags over their shoulders, grinning sheepishly. It was hard to say goodbye. So, we whipped out our cellphones, connected on facebook, exchanged hugs and kisses and they were gone.
I thought about every one of them as I drove home. These weren't empty-headed beauties who only had their looks to provide them with a career. These were formidable young women who will be running the world someday. It's comforting to know our future is in such beautiful, capable hands. I just want to thank their moms and mentors who raised them up to be such exemplary role models. If you could have seen the way they carried themselves backstage and in public, they would have made you proud.
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