2008 October

Sometimes we are reminded that even those we are close to, those we have friendships and other relationships with, can be dramatically different.  I'm not talking chocolate vs. vanilla, The Office vs. CSI, or even Sean Connery vs. Roger Moore (blasphemy!) kind of different. I'm talking about "So why do you do all this Internet stuff, anyway?" kind of different. What-planet-are-you-from kind of different. Which is interesting, considering I've been married for 14 years.  I understand him better...

"A veteran is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to the United States of America, for an amount "up to and including my life.""--author unknown* Wow.  That's a pretty strong statement.  But when you really think about what it must mean to commit yourself (and maybe by extension, those that love you) to your country, it's a serious act.  I know enlisting is a generous and noble pledge, but something about putting it in these stark terms really sums...

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the most recent McKinsey Quarterly placed a large focus of its content on women and leadership.  This is a fascinating topic to me, and my mind travels down several paths just thinking about it on a very basic, topical level. Many of the qualities that I associate with leadership-- being courageous, demonstrating good listening skills, sensing the needs and struggles of those around you, possessing strong communication skills, having a willingness to support...

I really had no plans to make any mention about the time of year it is.  Or more specifically, the crescendoing campaign period.  On any level.  I figure there's enough of that going on, enough yelling and posturing, innuendo and poor humor.  And that's just from the supporters of each of the opposing political parties, not to mention the Main Men themselves. But as much as I've grown weary of the magazine covers, telemarketing calls, text ads, Facebook groups, and personal, hand-scrawled...

I learn most effectively when I can make associations between topics or concepts.  Sometimes the relationships or analogies I make have my husband raising an eyebrow, but hey, I say if finding (or making) connections between two subjects (alright, maybe even seemingly disparate subjects) helps me understand, then I'll stick with it, thankyouverymuch. The truth is, I call these connections "bunny trails" and get a perverse kind of pleasure out of taking twists and turns and finally hooking Tab A into...

Some say image is everything.  I don't believe that's wholly true, but just as I believe I feel a little stronger when wearing heels instead of my New Balance , I believe that a company with an intentional, deliberate image has greater control over its future because its stakeholders are mindful of the company's personality, voice, tone, and posture.  When those are all familiar and well-woven into the culture, ensuing decisions and actions come with ease. The Cobbler's Children Hath No Shoes It...

The Sky Is Falling Some feeds I've been reading lately has me catching up about big brands and the way they're reaching (or trying to reach) their consumers.  I might as well say it--it's the "Esc" button on my keyboard--but of course the state of our economy factors into some of the discussion.  The question being considered is how will budgetary belt-tightening induce companies to achieve objectives with less. What Do We Do Now? And I'm wondering if, when faced with the challenge to reach...

I've read some posts lately that have given me pause.  Those posts, and the ensuing thoughts niggling around in my head, prompted some site trolling I might not otherwise have done.  I visited a few--as a first-timer-- and was struck surprised by what I encountered. I'm Yours To Lose (30 Seconds or Less) Wearing my Consumer hat (it fits the best), I'll unequivocally state that my online expectation is that any site I visit will enable me to do what it is I need to do.  Whatever that need may be. ...

HubSpot Asks Our friends at Hubspot have issued a call for opinions, and I'm not about to let the call go unanswered.  They want to know what you think about terms like "digital marketing," "online marketing," and in particular, "inbound marketing." I posted a comment to this effect on their site, but I'll elaborate some on my personal observations/opinions--to some degree, I think the terms are only semantically separated.  Or rather, how highly one magnifies their zoom when considering the (and...

The 25 Words That Connect US This post is in response to the challenge/contest posed by blogger Liz Strauss, as she strives to compile an aggregated expression of what it means communicate ideas with others. My 25 words: "Connections are about reaching and sustaining synergy with a target or audience; value must be generously gifted if it is to be reciprocated."---Heather Rast What would your 25 words be?  It's tough to distill your thoughts or position down into a very specific and singular...