clearly conveyed communications

Please stop telling me you’re busy.

This topic has been on my mind for quite some time, but I continued to bite my tongue. Then a fellow business owner shared an article on LinkedIn that hit home and encouraged me (OK, pushed me) to throw in my two cents on the subject.

Stop the glorification of busy. — Do you always need to be busy?

Please stop telling me you’re busy. Over the phone, on Facebook messenger, via text. Via sky writing, a telegram and even ‘snail mail.’ Seriously, stop.

We’re all busy, someway or somehow. Yes, you’re probably handling more at work than ever with slow hiring levels and a sluggishly growing economy. Maybe you own your own business, so you’re never really ‘off the clock.’ Perhaps you have children with a myriad of activities or aging parents that you proudly take care of. We get it. You have a lot on your plate.

So does everyone else. When did it become so cool to be busy? To run from one commitment to the next only to ‘make an appearance’ at a function in between? We’re still trying to keep up with the Joneses, only this time it’s with commitments and over-scheduling instead of houses and cars.

“To assume that being ‘busy’ (at this point it has totally lost its meaning) is cool, or brag-worthy, or tweetable, is ridiculous.” –Meredith Fineman

Maybe you’re a workaholic in your current situation due to necessity. Your boss requires you to be on call or feels the need to contact you at all hours with “emergencies” that are not emergencies in anyone else’s world (i.e. a routine assignment or her second grader’s extra credit project). That’s definitely a problem in corporate America, as Jennifer J. Deal has so eloquently touched on in Welcome to the 72-Hour Work Week (an excellent read) in the Harvard Business Review. If you’re in one of these situations, I hope you can eventually move on or have a serious heart-to-heart with your boss. I believe in work ethic as much as anyone, but no one really wants workaholic duly noted at his eulogy.

“What does bother [executives, managers and professionals] is when companies use 24-7 connectedness to compensate for organizational inefficiencies and when it significantly undermines their personal lives, productivity, creativity, and ability to think strategically.” –Jennifer J. Deal

Skydiving — Stop and smell the roses — or jump out of an airplane.

Why should you stop being so busy? Filling in every single second of your ridiculously, overfilled schedule?

It’s killing your mojo. Human beings thrive on relationships, even introverts like me. When you’re so busy that you don’t have time for anyone, your relationships — business and personal — suffer.
It makes you look bad. Seriously, other people’s perception of you is that you’re really bad at time management or you just don’t care (about your work, a friend, etc.). Do you want to work or socialize with someone who has this image?
You’re pissing people off. When you go on and on telling people how busy you are, you’re inferring that your time is more valuable than theirs. Or that they’re just sitting around watching soap operas and drinking wine. Neither tend to go over well.

Please understand that I am NOT trying to say that your workload isn’t enormous, or you don’t have hundreds of responsibilities. I’m just asking you to take a step back, take a deep breath and look at the big picture. It’s said that your life flashes before your eyes right before you die. What will you remember?

What do you think?

Do we glorify busy? Is it ‘cool’ today to be a workaholic? Do we try to outdo each other with how busy we are?

Is this attitude different in different cultures?

I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts! Thank you in advance for taking the time.

Stop the glorification of busy photo courtesy of Campari & Sofa
Meredith Fineman quoted from her article, Please Stop Complaining How Busy You Are
Jennifer J. Deal quoted from her article, Welcome to the 72-Hour Work Week
Skydiving photo from personal collection (Yes, that’s me!)

Cheers,
Jaime

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Gray Area: Do Ethics Still Have a Place in Business?

I’m a racing fan (OK, a sports fan in general) so I was following the race last Saturday night at Richmond International Speedway, which was the final race of the ‘regular season’ in NASCAR. As usual, there were a few drivers and teams who were on the bubble of making it into The Chase, NASCAR’s playoffs. If you haven’t heard, Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) was levied penalties and a record fine by NASCAR’s governing body for manipulating the end of the race so its driver could make The Chase.

What does this have to do with business, you ask? If you’re not a fan, you may not know that NASCAR is big business. Companies spend millions of dollars sponsoring drivers, teams and races trying to garner the celebrated loyalty of NASCAR fans. Those fans purchase over $2 billion dollars in licensed merchandise annually and are three times as likely to try to purchase products and services from their favorite drivers’ sponsors.^ They’re a loyal bunch, and loyalty pays.

Besides, it’s not just the big business of sports where ethics seem to have disappeared. I recently came across a great read, Confessions of a Sociopath: A Life Spent Hiding in Plain Sight, in which M.E. Thomas (a pseudonym) states that sociopaths often excel in business due to some of their common traits: excessive self-esteem, lack of empathy, superficial charm and intelligence, excessive risk-taking, pathological lying and lack of remorse.

We climb the corporate ladder faster than the rest, and appear to have limitless self-confidence. Who are we? We are highly successful, non-criminal sociopaths and we comprise 4% of the American population (that’s 1 in 25 people). –M.E. Thomas

Wow. Think about that for a moment. Sociopaths, who are often characterized as lacking the ability to feel or sympathize with others, often win in the boardroom due to their character traits.

Obviously not all successful business people are sociopaths; some are genuinely good-hearted, ethical people. But are they a dying breed?

Does today’s 24/7 instant gratification culture that we live in cater itself to those with a ‘do-it-at-all-costs’ mentality? With a demand for instant results and real-time information, does the end always justify the means? Is there a long term view any more in the business world? Or has the need for short term success obliterated it?

Please chime in –> Do ethics still have a place in business? Would love to hear your thoughts!

^NASCAR fan statistics courtesy of HLG Licensing
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons via a Creative Commons license
Quote from Confessions of a Sociopath: A Life Spent Hiding in Plain Sight, by M.E. Thomas

Cheers,
Jaime

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Pay It Forward: A Movement For You & Me

Pay It Forward.

You’ve probably heard this mantra before. Maybe you saw the movie or read the book or even came across a bracelet. Maybe you dismissed it as another empty phrase that someone felt the need to put on a silicone wristband to be cool.

It’s not. It’s not an empty mantra or hollow words or a trendy phrase. It’s a mindset that’s gained momentum to become a movement. A movement that’s about everyday people performing random acts of kindness for their peers. It’s not about money or prestige or power. You don’t have to buy a book or DVD or online access to someone’s ‘secrets’ to success.

“What we need is a movement that doesn’t have a guru to follow.” –Charley Johnson

CCC Pays It Forward — Paying It Forward… a vital part of CCC’s mission.

At CCC, we’re big believers in the Pay It Forward moment and mindset. In fact, it’s one of the main reasons why this company was started. To be more active in the community. To have more freedom to volunteer our time to worthy causes. To positively affect more people. To be a tiny, tiny part of a movement that’s changing the world.

The best part? It’s so easy to join. No forms or membership fees or background checks. Anyone can perform an act of kindness for someone else. Hold the door for the person coming out of the restaurant behind you. Leave your waitress a little larger than normal tip. Write a thoughtful letter to a relative you haven’t seen lately or pick up the phone. Pick up a few pieces of trash while you’re out for a walk.

Join the Movement -- donate blood or platelets! — There’s so many ways to Pay It Forward.

Sometimes it’s depressing to hear so much negativity around us: an uneven economy, ongoing wars, senseless killings, job losses, foreclosures. You feel like there’s nothing you can do to make the world a better place. There is. And you can start today. With one small step. Start Paying It Forward so you can help change the world.

Need more inspiration? Listen to this talk by Charley Johnson at TEDxSMU. It’ll be 14 minutes well spent.

How do you Pay It Forward?

Has someone ever paid it forward to you?

Chime in… let’s talk about something positive! (If you’re ever having a bad day and need to smile, check out the #PayItForward hashtag on Twitter. Plenty of feel good moments!)

Simplicity in a Complex World video courtesy of TEDxTalks

Paying It Forward,
Jaime

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Getting Started

“The scariest moment is always just before you start.” –Stephen King

What do you need to start?

Jaime

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The Soundtrack of Life

Recently I began taking sign language classes to better communicate with the hearing impaired. During the first session, the instructor asked us to think about sounds that we associate with waking up in the morning. While members of the class chimed in with a variety of answers, I thought about how strange it would be to live in a silent world.

In today’s society, we are flooded with noise – car radios, traffic sounds, birds chirping, construction equipment, lawn mowers, people talking, public address announcements and more. We often block out as much of this noise as we can in order to stay focused on the day’s goals. But maintaining our tunnel vision has its costs. Are we missing the soundtrack of life?

While I’m often visually inspired (despite being visually impaired — go figure), I make a point to not forget about my other senses. We have five (touch, sight, taste, smell, hearing) for a reason; they all contribute to our life experiences.

Our sense of hearing opens a whole new world to us. Helen Keller, the renowned American author, political activist and lecturer who was both blind and deaf, thought deafness to be even more of a setback than blindness due to the power of sound.

“…[Deafness] means the loss of the most vital stimulus–the sound of the voice that brings language, sets thoughts astir and keeps us in the intellectual company of man.”

Have you ever stopped to think about not being able to have a verbal discussion with a colleague or client? About not being able to listen to that song that takes you back to a memorable moment in your life? Not being able to take in the sounds of nature to soothe your soul?

Our sense of hearing is a vital part of communication. It allows us to listen to others, hear their concerns and ideas, and react accordingly. Is it any surprise that the ability to listen has become a rare, sought after skill in today’s drowned out world?

The next time you’re tempted to stick your head in the sand, stop and listen. Listen to the world around you and what it has to say. Listen to a friend or colleague during lunch instead of burying yourself in your phone. Listen to the person on the other end of the phone — across town or the world — instead of checking email or watching TV. Listen to the birds chirping. Listen to your inner voice. Listen.

You just might be amazed at what you hear.

Your Turn — I’m Listening

What song or sound takes you back to ‘that’ moment?

What sounds make you smile?

What’s the most annoying sound in the world?

Who’s someone you love to talk –and listen — to when you’re stuck?

Do poor listeners turn you off?

When’s the last time you’ve just stopped and listened to what’s around you?

Photo courtesy of Luis Miguel Bugallo Sánchez via a Creative Commons License
Helen Keller quoted from Helen Keller in Scotland: a personal record written by herself, edited by James Kerr Love (London: Methuen & Co., 1933).

Always listening,
Jaime

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The Art of Branding

Branding is a buzz word today, so everyone wants to drop it like the name of the hottest new rapper out there. While it’s overused and abused, it’s still an instrumental element to companies and people everywhere.

“Good brands are able to set the tone, create the scene, and make us a part of it all.” –Danny Trizio

We’re all brands, you and me, Apple and Google. Living, breathing entities that customers and fans connect with, get to know and enter into relationships with. Sound strange? OK, think about why you buy an iPhone instead of another smartphone or why you choose Google over Bing. It may be a subconscious choice, but it’s not likely random.

Apple has designed a brand with staying power.

Of course, some brands get it more than others. The aforementioned Apple is one of the strongest brands alive today, and this is coming from an Android fan. I came across a blog post by Danny Trizio, marketing campaign manager at Proforma, touching on why Apple ‘gets it,’ so I’ll let him explain.

Along with the tech icon, another brand who forges a deep bond with customers is ABSOLUT. (Full disclosure: I am a customer!) I previously offered a toast to this icon for its fine take on branding.

One of a kind, millions of expressions…
ABSOLUT UNIQUE

Keep in mind that it’s not only industry leaders who can develop strong brands. While I’m a fan (and heavy user) of Starbucks, I also love our local spot, Angel Falls Coffee Company. It’s located in a neighborhood with a unique flavor that loves to support mom and pop shops. Angel Falls embraces its role as a local favorite, with an eclectic spot that welcomes you in to play some checkers, discuss current events or people watch while enjoying its brew (and a delicious, fresh out of the oven baked good).

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A post shared by Jaime Shine 💬 Marketer (@jaimeshine)

So how can I bond with two brands in the same industry? First, as previously noted on this blog, I’m an espresso addict. Second, I patronize both of these companies on different occasions. I love to walk to Angel Falls to enjoy a steaming GingerBeast (relax, it’s only a gingerbread latte) while catching up with a friend or gazing out the front picture window, lost in thought.

Starbucks is a different breed. It’s everywhere, so I can stop in for a mouth-watering soy hazelnut macchiato, breakfast sandwich or old fashioned glazed doughnut whenever I want. The breakfast sandwiches are available all day, so it’s perfectly OK if I want breakfast for dinner or am really slow moving on a lazy Sunday. I can meet business associates or customers there to discuss projects while enjoying the breeze on the patio. One of the main reasons I became a Starbucks fan is the company’s prevalence in airports. I could grab an espresso and Perfect Oatmeal (which fits neatly on top of a lidded Starbucks cup, by the way) en route to my connecting flight at 7am. Haven’t we all been there?!

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A post shared by Jaime Shine 💬 Marketer (@jaimeshine)

Now that I’m not traveling so much, I find that I love hitting up my local Starbucks, which makes every effort to fit into the community. Its baristas are some of the happiest people I see all day, the atmosphere is conducive to thinking (which I like to do) and this coffee giant’s reward program is phenomenal. I was pretty excited when I received my gold card in the mail this week. Brightened up my Monday!

Follow my take on my favorite brands on Pinterest

Chime In

So, who are some of your favorite brands? Who ‘gets’ the power of branding?

Did I miss the boat on any brand I referenced above? Who did I miss?

Let your voice be heard!

(Oh, and I’d be remiss not to mention my favorite brand, Clearly Conveyed Communications.)

Apple ad courtesy of Apple, Inc
ABSOLUT UNIQUE photo courtesy of ABSOLUT US

Cheers,
Jaime

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Wilson: Friend, Confidant & Idea Man

As I’ve noted before, I like to get moving when I’m trying to think, brainstorm or solve a problem. It just works for me and apparently I’m not alone, as I’ve seen this tactic cited in various business and news publications.

Related reading: Need an Idea? Just Walk Away…

Granted I’m an active person and sometimes need to dispel a little extra energy, so sitting behind a desk just doesn’t cut it. Sometimes I’ll hit the trails for a blood-pumping run or a quiet yet vigorous hike, where I’m always inspired by the sheer beauty of nature.

Hocking Hills Resevoir — The beauty of nature inspires me.

On other days, I’m content to take a brisk walk around my neighborhood, through the park, soaking up the sunshine, to get the ideas flowing. That’s when Wilson joins me.

Wilson -- my idea generator — Meet Wilson, my friend, confidant & idea man.

Wilson is my friend, confidant and idea man. I’ve hashed out many a good plan bouncing Wilson while traversing the streets of my neighborhood. I’ve made decisions, outlined blog posts and constructed marketing plans for clients with him by my side. For some reason, he inspires ideas within me. Perhaps it’s the added activity of bouncing the ball or the rhythmic feel of the worn, fuzzy surface hitting my hand. Whatever it is, it works.

Yes, Wilson is a pink, fuzzy tennis ball. On a whim, I picked up a tube of tennis balls on clearance at Target a few years ago. (Hence, the pink.) I don’t own a tennis racquet, so clearly that wasn’t the plan. I just knew when I looked at that tube on the shelf that I needed to take Wilson (and his bros) home. Who knew?

I’m curious… what unexpected item or situation sparks your genius? Are you a mover and shaker or do you like to meditate and chill out? Do you have a lucky charm that you always take to presentations or always drink the same tea while writing? Do you hit the cinema or catch a poetry reading when you need to crank up the old brain?

What inspires you?

Cheers,
Jaime

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Eat: An Experience, Not An Obsession or Afterthought

We’ve been conditioned for years to treat food as the enemy. There are so many delicious, savory foods out there that we can’t have. Cake. Cookies. Lasagna. French Fries. Hamburgers. The more we tell ourselves that we can’t have these foods, the more we want them.

Relax. I’m not selling you a food system, juicing program or magic weight loss pill that will transform your body overnight. (I’m actually not selling you anything right now.) I want to recommend a book that you should read. Yes, a book about food.

Well, it’s not about food exactly. It’s about our relationship with food and how distorted it has become in today’s society. Counting calories, watching our weight, only drinking grapefruit juice for the next 7 days to make up for last night. What?! It sounds crazy, but we used to eat for nourishment and energy.

Linda R. Harper’s Eat is all about returning to your natural relationship with food. Cut out the noise and busyness of modern society to ask yourself, “What kind of eating experience do I want now?” Seriously, stop what you’re doing and think about what you want to eat the next time you’re hungry. Think about where you’d like to eat — outside on a patio, with friends, alone with a good book — and incorporate that into your decision. It may take a little time to truly be able to listen to your body again, but you’ll be surprised what happens when you do.

Your body naturally wants what’s good for you, what you need to survive and thrive in life. Really, it does. It’s just that we’re always in a hurry, darting through a drive-thru on our way to pick up the kids or meet with clients or get to Billy’s soccer match remotely on time that eating has been relegated to an afterthought. We don’t stop to listen to what our body actually wants.

After trying them, I’ve discovered that I love green smoothies!

Initially it may be hard to give up control, which is really what counting calories and diets are about. But you have to trust yourself. Trust that you can listen to your body and hear what it’s asking for (and yes, that may be a doughnut or french fries sometimes).

I’ve been on a journey the past 10 years to a healthier me. No, I haven’t lost 100 pounds or underwent some shocking physical transformation. However, I have lost about 30 pounds and managed to keep it off while changing my eating habits and lifestyle. I’m so much healthier today and love fresh fruits and veges. Yes, I still eat some processed food and will never give up my Italian favs, but I’m healthy across the board. And the best part is that no one is telling me what to eat; I’m making these decisions myself.

So do yourself a favor and read this book. Read part of it or one chapter or however much of it that makes you get back to best self eating. And no, that doesn’t mean only eating vegetables for the rest of your life. OK, I’m heading out for a macchiato right now. Tell me what you think of the book!

Speak Up

How’s your relationship with food?

Does this book sound appealing?

Feel free to chime in with any good green smoothie recipes! I’d be happy to swap.

Let me know your thoughts on this book and other books/documentaries/media that focus on your relationship with food.

Happy Saturday!
Jaime

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Finding Courage

“America woke up that day from a decades-long slumber and found to its surprise that it still possessed the courage, can-do pragmatism, inventiveness, idealism, and teamwork that had made the nation the envy of the world.”

–Frederic C. Rich, Christian Nation

Intriguing read that gets more difficult to put down page by page… Have you read it? What were your thoughts?

What book do you highly recommend to your fellow readers? Why?

Happy Friday!
Jaime

Do You Mow Your Blog?

As a homeowner, there are certain tasks that you tackle on a regular basis. Mowing the lawn, taking out the trash/recycling, washing and drying clothes, cleaning, etc. While they can seem repetitive and sometimes annoying, they’re necessary to maintain the look and feel of your home.

As a blog manager, there are also certain tasks that you should tackle on a regular basis. These include:

posting quality content
responding to readers’ comments
updating the About page
cleaning up your categories/tags when necessary
analyzing blog stats and making updates as necessary
ensuring that contact information is up to date
visiting your blog on various devices to test loading speed/quality
checking for broken links to external content
reading and engaging with other blogs

Regularly visit your site as a reader does. What kind of experience do you have? Does your blog load quickly? Is it easy to navigate on a smartphone and tablet? Does it have compatibility issues with any browsers or operating systems? Is it easy to find specific content via categories, tags, archives or a search box? Can a reader quickly contact you if interested?

Yes, these are basic blogging tasks, but they’re easy to forget or push to the back burner — just like those homeowner tasks. Admit it. When’s the last time you’ve decided to clean only because the massive amount of dust is triggering a sneezing attack? 🙂

So remember to mow your blog. You don’t want to be that creepy blog with stale content, overgrown navigation and an absentee owner.

What other blog tasks do you perform on a regular basis? Do you disagree with any I’ve listed? Chime in below!

Happy blogging,
Jaime

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