“We sometimes underestimate the influence of little things.”
-Charles W. Chestnutt
Yesterday was my birthday (yep, I’m a Pisces). Upon the outpouring of well wishes from friends, family and business associates, I was reminded that life is so much about the little things.
A message on social media wishing someone a happy birthday. Making time for dinner with your family or lunch with an out of town friend. Calling someone you haven’t spoken to in awhile just to check in. Small acts that cost you little but brighten someone’s day.
Little things are just as important in business. My mantra has always been, “People do business with people.” I always try to put a face behind my company name, make my digital world seem more human and personal. Although much of what I do is electronic – writing, marketing strategy, social media, etc – I love connecting with people and putting a face with a name.
I believe that rich relationships are what life’s all about, in business too. Reach out and connect with people, care about what they do and how you can help them. The business will come, but first you have to connect with people, develop and nurture relationships.
Who knows what could come out of a simple birthday wish?
When Argo won Best Picture at this year’s Academy Awards, I was thrilled. Don’t get me wrong; there was some stiff competition in the category, and I was impressed by some of the challengers, most notably LINCOLN. However, it was interesting to watch how Ben Affleck’s Best Director snub by the Academy became a leading story, how the actor handled it, and ultimately, how it helped push Argo to the forefront of the Best Picture discussion. And of course, how we can all learn from it.
Ben Affleck has been in Hollywood a long time, bursting onto the scene with his pal Matt Damon while winning an Oscar for Best Screenplay for Good Will Hunting in 1998. As he noted in this year’s rambling, heartfelt acceptance speech,
“I was here years ago or something. I had no idea what I was doing. I stood out here in front of you all… really just a kid.”
Despite this initial success, Affleck continued to seek out and learn from others in the industry while honing his craft. He thanked the “… so many wonderful people who extended themselves to me when they had nothing to benefit from it in Hollywood.” We can all continue to learn every day, no matter how many years of experience we’ve accumulated or success we’ve achieved. Appreciate those who have contributed and continue to contribute to your career.
In addition to learning every day, perseverance is key.
“It doesn’t matter how you get knocked down in life because that’s going to happen. All that matters is that you gotta get up.”
-Ben Affleck
We all need to learn to persevere because things won’t always go as planned. There are a lot of potholes, detours and speed bumps on this road we call life.
Along with his perseverance, one of the qualities throughout the entire process that drew people to this story was Affleck’s humility. He didn’t respond angrily when the Academy snubbed him of a Best Director nod; he only spoke of the deserving directors who were recognized. This was a big reason why the press and social media picked up the story and brought Argo back to the forefront of the Best Picture race. People empathized with Affleck, spoke positively about him and rooted for his movie.
When you are humble, it goes a long way to connecting with others and forming meaningful relationships — in business and in life.
So there you have it — continued learning, perseverance to his craft and humility along the way; three reasons that Ben Affleck has achieved success and his personal story helped carry his film to the forefront of the Best Picture discussion. The same three qualities that can help carry you in business and in life. If you missed Affleck’s heartfelt speech (or just want to watch it again), enjoy!
What do you think?
Did Ben Affleck’s personal story help carry Argo to a Best Picture win? What are other examples of the press and/or social media bringing an issue to everyone’s attention and affecting an outcome? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below or hit me up on social media.
Today, February 12th, is Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, which brings me to LINCOLN the movie. I had high expectations due to some of the names involved: Steven Spielberg, Daniel Day-Lewis, Tommy Lee Jones — and the trailer looked intriguing. But WOW, was I blown away.
While reflecting on the movie afterward, I realized that there were some interesting takeaways I could apply to my business, and even my life.
Seize the moment While some shy away from critical decisions and important moments, Abraham Lincoln (portrayed so eloquently by Daniel Day-Lewis) was proud to be a part of history. He knew that abolishing slavery was going to be a moment that changed our country’s future, which only made him want to pass the 13th amendment even more — despite the law’s unpopularity at the time. Lincoln knew the amendment was necessary for the country to reunite, heal and move forward together. Takeaway: Don’t be afraid to make the decision that everything hinges on or step into the spotlight. Live in the moment.
“We’re stepped upon the world’s stage now with the fate of human dignity in our hands. Blood’s been spilled to afford us this moment.”
-Abraham Lincoln
Cast your characters well LINCOLN, the movie, was cast perfectly. I’ve already mentioned Day-Lewis, who should win an Oscar, and Tommy Lee Jones played the powerful Thaddeus Stevens perfectly. Sally Fields was so elegant, yet human, as Mary Todd Lincoln, and the list goes on. Takeaway: Choose the people around you carefully. Hire people for your business who fit into your culture, think for themselves and have the necessary skills, not only the latter. Associate yourself with people who bring you up, not tear you down.
Be yourself in everything you do. One of the reasons I love LINCOLN so much is that the characters are portrayed as human. You see their strengths and their weaknesses, what ultimately drives them and what they’re willing to compromise on. Takeaway: You are unique and bring value to your business, life, social circle, etc. When you’re transparent, people become more comfortable with you. That’s when they buy from you, work with you, spend time with you and develop relationships with you.
Have you seen LINCOLN? What are your thoughts?
What other movie(s) made you think about your life or business?
Will LINCOLN win Best Picture? Daniel Day-Lewis best actor?
I was thinking about adding another (overdue) 50 Things I’m Grateful For.. post when I came across Lesley Carter’s entry about entering a contest to fulfill a bucket list trip. Lesley’s Bucket List Publications is one of the blogs I follow, because her updates about checking items off her always evolving bucket list inspire me. As she notes, “Some people create a bucket list because they are dying; I created one because I want to live.” That’s exactly how I feel about life.
Without further ado, my 2013 bucket list:
Attend a Kent State University basketball game (my alma mater!)
Go ice skating
Watch a hockey game live
Attend a professional networking event
Go for a twilight hike
Enter a trail running event
Register for my first triathlon
Celebrating hitting my goal in my 3rd — and final — half-marathon in Sept 2012
Get together with my family at least monthly
Celebrate special occasions with family & friends
Watch the inauguration festivities for the first time
Bring on 5 new dream clients
Read 100 books! (Yep, full fledged book worm here.)
Write the first chapter of my novel
Make time for me 🙂
Jump out of another airplane!
The skydiving crew — Sean, Steven, Yours Truly & Greg (celebrating his bday!)
Speaking of the Super Bowl commercials, I felt like they grew more interesting along with the game in the second half, and more specifically, after the blackout. Or I should say during the blackout.
How about Oreo? It almost seemed as if the company knew the blackout was coming. (Hmm, cue up the conspiracy theorists.) More likely, this fun brand was just prepared for the big game instead of sitting back and watching its ad run. Talk about great social media management. And better yet, it’s impromptu ad reminding us all that “You Can Still Dunk In The Dark.” actually made me crave an Oreo. Go figure, an ad that sells!
As of the writing of this post, Oreo’s clever tweet had earned nearly 16,000 retweets and almost 6,000 favorites on Twitter alone not too mention its success on other social media platforms. There’s something to say about being ready to take advantage of an opportunity!
Of course, Budweiser weighed in with another winner. I almost expect this giant in the beer industry to top USA Today’s Ad Meter and satisfy fans annually. The company used its famous Clydesdales for instant brand recognition and included a direct call to action, which many ads did not. People watching the commercial were asked to help name the baby Clydesdale pictured in it by suggesting names with the hashtag #clydesdales on Twitter.
Budweiser just launched its first-ever X/Twitter account on January 27th (after X/Twitter introduced age verification), so the commercial was a great way to attract attention to its new handle. As of February 5th, the new account already has nearly 10,500 followers despite being restricted to fans at least 21 years old.
Last, but certainly not least, let’s not forget about JELL-O! The legendary snack company came on right after the dramatic ending to congratulate San Francisco on being #2. How many companies have thought of that strategy?! JELL-O promised fans in San Fran free product today (Feb 5th), because winners shouldn’t have all the fun.
In addition to free pudding, distraught 49ers fans can install the Baltimore Blocker Google Chrome extension, which replaces the words Baltimore and Ravens anywhere they appear on the Internet with blah blah blah and swaps out pictures of celebrating Ravens fans with cute animals. This strategy has people talking on Twitter, Facebook and watching the pudding drop on the company’s website. “Who’s the big winner now, Baltimore?”
Well, that’s my wrap on Super Bowl XLVII, which despite a dramatic second half and some intriguing commercials, will be remembered for a blackout. While I had no loyalties on either side, I am happy for Dean Pees, current Baltimore defensive coordinator and former Kent State head football coach. Way to represent, Coach Pees!
What’s your take? Did you enjoy the game? The commercials? Or did you switch over and watch Downtown Abbey? (I DVR’d it.)
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below or hit me up on social media. I”m always up for a discussion, especially on football or commercials.
Waiting for pitchers and catchers to report- Jaime
As marketers, we’re always looking for the story beyond the story. The one that will draw you in, grab your emotions and make you care. Yes, even for mammoth events like the Super Bowl.
In 2013, the game is full of story lines, but the one grabbing everyone’s attention is the sibling rivalry. For the first time, two brothers, John and Jim Harbaugh, will lead their teams in the biggest game of the year. Imagine what their parents, Jack and Jackie, are thinking.
Of course, there are other story lines as well. Ray Lewis’ final game in a remarkable career. The overnight sensation Colin Kaepernick has become. With the game on the line, how confident is anyone in David Akers? Including David Akers?
While the game actually looks exciting this year (not always the case), people around the world will tune in for the ads. As I used to ask my training session attendees, what’s the one day of the year that people watch advertising? Yep, the Super Bowl. In fact, an estimated 44% of women and 31% of men admitted to tuning into the game ‘primarily for the commercials,’ according to a 2012 survey by CouponCabin.com.
And at $3.7 million per 30-second spot (according to the Ad Age Data Center), this year’s advertisers will once again be shelling out. Obviously these companies and brands feel like the ROI (return on investment) they generate makes the high price tag worthwhile. It’s hard to believe that when you actually watch some of the spots though.
It has been interesting to see the increase in social media marketing leading up to, during and after the game. Pepsi made quite a splash in 2010 by only utilizing social media for the big game. I’m not saying that’s the right choice for everyone, but it definitely raised some eyebrows around the industry and helped fuel the discussion about social media marketing as a legitimate option, even for larger companies.
Speaking of Super Bowl advertising, what’s your favorite? Immediately, two ads/advertisers come to mind for me. The first is Budweiser, who does a fantastic job every year delivering attention-grabbing ads that tie into their brand. (No, I’m not a customer; I’m more of a liquor fan.) It’s not just that people are still talking about their ads the days following the big game, but they’re also talking about Budweiser. (That’s not always the case with popular commercials.)
One of my favorite Budweiser spots (of many) is Respect, aired during the ’02 game. It was Budweiser’s tribute to New York City after the terrorist attacks the previous fall.
My other favorite is the iconic Mean Joe Greene commercial for Coca-Cola which aired during the 1980 game. Yes, I’m a Steelers fan, but the spot still resonates with viewers today and instantly brings Coca-Cola to mind. (In a tribute to the ad’s popularity and effectiveness, Downy has actually remade the spot for this year’s game.)
Now I’m passing the ball to you. What’s your favorite Super Bowl commercial or advertiser?
Are you a Traditionalist? A Millennial? Or somewhere in between? Chances are, your communication habits have been heavily shaped by the experiences and times you’ve grown up with. They’re also probably so ingrained into who you are that you may not even notice them.
I recently attended a networking luncheon featuring a communication skills consultant speaking on inter-generational communication differences. It was enlightening and entertaining while proving that these differences affect nearly everything that we do.
We’re in a unique age: your cubicle neighbor could belong to one of four generations.
Which generation do you belong to? Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Generation X or Millennials (aka Gen Y)? Do you find yourself showing the tendencies subscribed to your generation? (If you’re not sure, check out the chart below.)
The speaker actually put on outfits and changed her point of view to each generation as she discussed them, along with how they interacted. It was eye opening.
How many times have you had a negative experience with someone in a different generation and naturally wrote him off as out of touch, self-centered, etc.?
If we actually take a moment to understand where the other person is coming from and understand her experience, it’s amazing how much better we can all communicate — and get things done.
I actually discovered that I’m technically a Millennial while I’ve always associated myself with Gen X. I’m right on the border, so I’ve probably been influenced by the number of older kids and adults I grew up around, socialize with and have worked beside.
Each generation has its pros and cons, but I do tend to see myself reflecting the attributes linked to Generation X more so than Millennials. Watch the video clip below for a short trip into this fascinating presentation.
How about you? Which generation are you a member of?
Do you see the mindsets referenced above in yourself?
Or are you more aligned with another generation (especially a borderline one)?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on what makes your generation great, inter-generational communication and how we can all just get a long. (Or can we?) 🙂
I’ve long known that I’m an introvert, and for just as long, thought it was a weakness, something that I needed to work on. Why? I figured out early on in life that those who made the most noise generally got what they wanted.
Our culture made a virtue of living only as extroverts. We discouraged the inner journey, the quest for a center. So we lost our center and have to find it again. -Anais Nin
The book discusses how introverts struggle to be heard in a country that heavily promotes the Extrovert Ideal, which directly affects how we educate our children, position our workplaces and gauge success. There’s pros and cons to both personality types, so it makes sense to have a mix in your workplace and social circle. Why?
Bill Gates named “The Power of Introverts” as one of his all-time favorite TED Talks.
First, based upon studies, one third to one half of Americans are introverts, whether you realize it or not. “If you’re not an introvert yourself, you are surely raising, managing, married to, or coupled with one,” says Susan Cain. So it’s helpful to understand this personality type to have more harmonious relationships, manage employees more effectively and tap into the positives of an introvert’s personality to apply to your own life.
Second, research has shown that introverts and extroverts can make a great team. In fact, introverted leaders are generally a better match for proactive employees while extroverted leaders are better coupled with more passive workers. Depending on your industry, you can gauge how your workforce leans and what type of managers would be more effective. Remember that you likely have both introverts and extroverts represented, so it’s a good idea to seek feedback from all types of employees.
Buzz is JFK’s Camelot, but it’s also the Kennedy Curse.
-Susan Cain
Interestingly enough, research has shown that effective CEOs, not necessarily the most well known, often have little or no charisma and have little use for it. While charismatic leaders may be effective, their charm may also be hiding the fact they’re not performing.
Face it: where would we be without some of these introverts?
Rosa Parks
Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist
Albert Einstein
Bill Gates
Theodor Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss
Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, was an introvert despite his catchy rhymes and delightful writing.
As some of the aforementioned successful people know, you can stretch yourself to fit a certain situation, but only so far. For example, an introverted college professor can handle (and appear quite fluent) at delivering lively, enthusiastic lectures on a subject close to his heart. However, if he spends his entire day lecturing, socializing and networking, he won’t have any down time to recharge his batteries and will eventually burn out.
The secret to life is to put yourself in the right lighting. For some, it’s a Broadway spotlight; for others, a lamplit desk.
-Susan Cain
That’s why it’s so important to figure out what you love and do it as much as possible. You’ll be happy and ideally situated in the comfort of your personality. Yes, sometimes it’s necessary (and exciting) to step out of your comfort zone, but there’s a reason it’s your comfort zone. If you live outside of it, you can burn out quickly and affect those around you.
We all write our life stories as if we were novelists, with beginnings, conflicts, turning points and endings.
-Dan McAdams
Understand who you are, so you can write the best life story for you.
Are you an introvert or an extrovert? Does your life fit your personality or are you constantly stretching to be someone else? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
This post from the TED Blog captured my attention. Can you capture the essence of your life in only 6 words?
As an introvert, people often think I’m not participating in the world. But I am, in my own way. I’m also a nature lover, from my days growing up in a rural area, and a free spirit who loves life. Even as the quiet type, I love sky diving, paddle boarding, tubing, riding roller coasters and other thrill-seeking activities. My bucket list includes going in a shark cage and snorkeling with sharks.
Here are my takes at expressing my life in 6 words:
Introvert, introspective, smiling in the sunshine.
Living in my head, breathing fresh air.
Living out loud, in my way.
It’s a wonderful world, come in.
See the world through my eyes.
Born again, experiencing life first hand.
Free spirit awed by nature’s beauty.
Soaking in sunshine; my movie plays.
Starring in the movie of life.
Starting over, getting it right now.
Thinking, laughing, while the music plays.
Touched by nature, blessed by God.
Hello sunshine, come out and play.
In my head, living out loud.
What’s your favorite one?
Your turn! Express your life in just six words. Comment below or share on a social network…
clearly conveyed communications 