CBS Sunday Morning

 

My favorite thing to do when I wake up on Sunday morning is to watch the television program CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood. This program is always full of “feel good” stories and there’s always a story that brings a tear to my eye. These tears come straight from the heart. With all the shootings and bad things you hear every day going on all over the world, this hour and a half show proves that there are still really good people out there. 

Every week there’s a commentary segment and a couple Sundays ago, I found this commentary from Paula Poundstone to be very interesting. It’s called ‘Electronics and kids’ brains don’t mix’. She talked about an addiction to smartphones, tablets and video games being no good for developing brains and asks, “Are we all spending too much time looking at screens?”

While she’s only a comedienne and not a doctor or a psychologist with the credentials to support this fact, she still brings up some very interesting comments. I guess I support her points of view because I don’t consider myself “addicted” to electronics. In this day and age, I believe there are more people addicted to electronics than those who are not. Read or view her commentary and decide for yourself. Let us know what you think in the comments!

Eire's in the Holiday Spirit!

This past weekend I was looking at emails and ran across a video of a man walking up to people on the street and asking them for a hug. I have included the short video below, but you will see every person he encountered on the street walked out of their way way to get around him. The video then cut to a shot of the same man asking to hug a homeless person. Each homeless person he encountered gladly hugged him back. At first I didn’t think much of the video but later that afternoon I was laying around the house not doing anything in particular.

I am part of a parish teen group and each year at Christmas we participate in an annual Christmas Carol and Gift Exchange with a group of developmentally challenged women from St. Mary of Providence, www.smopchicago.org.

I just didn’t feel like getting off the couch, but I ended up driving down to the facility located on the Northwest side of the city. Each year I supply the Santa outfit for one of the teen boys to wear and hand out the gifts. This year I forgot the beard, belt and boots and as I arrived the teens said that I had to wear the outfit because I was the only one with a grey beard – I fit the part.

Well, as I walked out into the gym I had over 90 woman wanting to see me. Some talked very softly about what they wanted, a couple dropped off letters, but every person came up to me and hugged me. I was grinning from ear to ear. What a gift! And just hours before I was acting like those people in the video not wanting to engage. A simple smile or a simple hug is such any easy thing to do and that small act gives so much joy to those giving – and those receiving – the HUG. 

As you can tell from the photos I had a great afternoon. What a great way to get into the Christmas season!

AirBnB vs. HomeAway

I'm sure all of you have heard of AirBnB and some of you may know HomeAway/VRBO. These websites offer options to booking a hotel room that are generally cheaper, more unique and more personal. You can rent a spot on a couch or a chateau.

Overall, AirBnB seems the better option for solo or coupled travelers to big cities who are on a budget and don't mind sharing a condo or townhouse with the homeowner or other travelers. There are many options for private accommodations on AirBnB, but the savings are not as significant. A million years ago I shared a "flat" in London with 3 other travelers and saved a bunch of money. I pretty much just slept and showered there so "the others" didn't bug me.

AirBnB gets a lot of press (good and bad) and they have done a great job creating awareness of the whole vacation rental industry. In reaction to the bad press, they have developed a whole battery of safeguards that protect both the guest and the homeowner. Reservations and online payments are easy and the review system works both ways – both the homeowner and guest get reviewed.

HomeAway is geared more to families or groups of friends looking to rent a single-family home in a resort area, although there are great number of condos and homes available in big cities. Guests and homeowners are usually older than AirBnB users and the accommodations are generally more expensive. But for the money, you get a lot more space (multiple bedrooms/baths, plus kitchen and living areas) and privacy. Online reservations and payments are also easy and there are reviews for each property (homeowners don't review guests). HomeAway also has safeguards for both the guest and homeowner and they are constantly improving the guest experience.

There is a lot of debate in the comments sections of articles about AirBnB and HomeAway and which one is better. The bigger differences are on the owner-side about things like fee percentages and payment timing. A slight difference for the guests on HomeAway is that you can be put in direct contact with the homeowner before you actually book, allowing you to ask more questions and get a better read on the homeowner. AirBnB's system allows for anonymous e-mailing between both parties. Both sites have lovers and haters that boil down personal experiences and preferences. And just like Yelp reviews, you have to use your best judgement to determine if the property is right for you.

There are a few other sites that do vacation rentals, but these are the two biggest for their respective categories. Here is a link to an article that gives a nice comparison.

Oh, and if you need a weekend out of the city before, during or after the holidays, I happen to know of two:

The Hollywoods, South Haven, MI
The Prairie Wood, South Haven, MI

Change is definitely good!

After 18 years in our River North office space, we moved one block to our new River North office space.  One block didn’t seem like a big move, but it felt like we moved cross-country.  It wasn’t so much the packing, although we had way too much paper in every drawer we opened, but it was all the changes that come along with a new space and address.  The end result was definitely worth it.

We’re settled into a brand new space with everything bright and shiny, and all new equipment.  Our team worked really hard to make the change happen, and we all love the new space.  I guess our enthusiasm was contagious because we’ve been busier than we were before the move.  The changes made us re-evaluate how we work, how much paper we use (our biggest learning), and how we interact now that our work space is smaller and we’re all “closer” than ever before.

  

I have to say that I was reluctant to move and to change anything about how we were doing business – we were comfortable.  But, what I recognized is that the best way to make new things happen, and to generate new business and new ways of thinking about how we do business, is to change.  We started by changing our environment, and along the way, changed how we were viewing generating new business from both current and prospective clients.

Clients want to do business with teams who are current, motivated and feeling great about themselves and their agency.  It reflects in the work we do, and we all benefit in the end.  So, just when you think that making that change is too much work and not necessary…think again.  Our lives and the marketplace are moving more rapidly every day, and to keep up, we have to move faster.  This often involves change…and, it’s good!

One of my favorite quotes on change…”If we don’t change, we don’t grow.  If we don’t grow, we are not really living.” – Gail Sheehy

Billboard Advertising

 
Some people may believe that billboard advertising has become outdated. I happen to agree. In my opinion, they are not as effective as they once were and are usually rather plain and boring. The last time I took a good look and recognized a billboard was when I was on a road trip playing the Eye Spy game. Especially living in the city, I find bus stop ads, truck wraps, and ‘El’ stops ads more effective.

However, after coming across some articles on creativebloq and hubspot I may have to rethink a few of my comments, as there is nothing plain or boring about the billboards in the links below. It seems that if billboards are clever, creative and used in the right way they can be effective and memorable. My verdict is still out. What do you think?

http://www.creativebloq.com/design/billboard-advertising-1131681
http://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/creative-billboards-around-world

A Conversation...

...is an art that we cannot let slip away as we become more and more dependent on technology.  I know that it is easier and quicker to send an email or text to get your message or question to someone.  But, with clients and team members, you can't under estimate the power of meeting in person and really having a conversation.

I don't mean a transactional dialogue where you're just exchanging facts.  I mean a real conversation where you are listening (not looking at your smartphone or checking email on your laptop) and participating.  It's amazing how much trust and understanding is built when you are able to look someone in the eye, read their body language and actually hear the words being said as they're intended.  I think that more problems and conflicts could be avoided if we just took the time to walk over to talk with a team member - try and solve the problem together instead of just pushing your own views back and forth in writing.  When taking feedback from a client, it's so much better to understand the context behind their changes or to hear why they are satisfied or dissatisfied.  Not every situation warrants an in-person meeting.  Sometimes a phone call can be just as effective.  And, in many instances, email can be the best choice for communicating if the information being shared is mutually understood.

The 'art' is knowing when this just isn't enough.  It's knowing when it's necessary to take the time to have a conversation...be ready to listen (whether the news is good or bad or just information you need to perform better).  Be ready to participate (honestly and authentically).  Be ready to problem solve and own decisions.

Technology advances with computers and smartphones make it almost a requirement to be available at all times.  And, it's an expectation that you'll reply right away.  What the technologies don't offer is a 'stop and think' button so that we are thoughtful and smart about replies; considerate of how the message comes through to the recipient; able to give us a clue that it's time for a conversation. 

I feel so much more connected to clients, co-workers, family and friends after we spend time together.  The better you know a person, the stronger your relationship, and the quicker you can resolve a problem or come up with a great idea together.  Make real connections...not just clicking buttons on social media.  Take the extra time to have a conversation.  It's worth it.

Tradition

The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays. Not because I’m such a big patriot (although I certainly appreciate the benefits of being an American), but because it’s a chance for me to participate in some long-standing family traditions and catch up with family members – many of whom I don’t see the rest of the year.

I am blessed to come from a large extended family. With over 25 first cousins, almost all of whom have children (and grandchildren) of their own, family get-togethers can quickly become overwhelming. But every year around the 4th of July, we have a family reunion at the lake where my grandfather bought land and built a cabin over 60 years ago. The 4th of July reunion began 40 years ago and has continued with only a few alterations, to this day.  The day starts with games – musical chairs, cherry spitting, watermelon eating. Prizes are awarded for winners (this year the prizes were strings of brightly colored beads which I saw on kids the rest of the week!). A potluck dinner follows, which always includes the same standards: roast beef, twice baked cheesy potatoes, green salad, and fruit salad with cookies and brownies for dessert. The day of the celebrations, the kitchen in every house is busy chopping, sautéing, baking, mixing to prepare their portion of the meal.

Finally, there is the talent show. It’s usually about an hour long, not because we have so much talent in the family; but rather, because we “think” we have so much talent! There are toddlers shaking rattles, young boys swinging swords along to music, singing (usually the truly talented), playing of musical instruments, and even some tumbling and gymnastics. We’ve had magic shows, made up songs, and skits. It’s a lot of fun and one of the best parts of the day. My favorite act this year was a 2 ½ year old boy singing “This Land is Your Land” and strumming a full size guitar along to the beat.

The best part of the tradition, for me, is the comfort that comes with knowing exactly what to expect – the same games, same meal, even same songs at the talent show. Yet each year I also delight in the new things, like seeing my niece play musical chairs and almost win. Or having my son in the talent show for the first time ever. And throughout the entire weekend, I get the opportunity for conversations with some of the most amazing and interesting people I know. One of my cousins told me about work she’s involved in to bring basic medical care to remote villages throughout Africa. Another one spoke about her decision to maintain a gluten-free diet and how it’s positively impacting her health. With yet another relative, I talked about the state of the economy and the world of marketing agencies.

Coming back from this trip each year, I feel relaxed, refreshed, and ready to tackle my work and get back to the real world with a new perspective. I can’t wait for next year.

Summer

I'm a Chicago girl through and through, and with that comes a real appreciation for summer.  Even this year, with our relatively mild winter, we've earned our summer, as always.  The Chicago lakefront. Light until almost 9pm. Dining al fresco, backyard BBQs, beaches, pools, and being barefoot. Reading outdoors. Riding a bike. Thinking about summer also got me thinking about summer music.  Here's Billboards list of summer's top 30 songs.  Whether it surprises or disappoints, it will get you thinking about your favorite summer music.

If at first you don’t succeed…

My 10-month old son is learning how to do many things these days. He’s crawling like crazy, and now learning how to pull himself up to standing by holding on to a chair leg, the couch, a table, my leg. He’s listening hard to noises we make, and learning how to say them himself (they’re not complicated noises obviously… consonant noises like da-da and ga-ga and the ever-popular raspberry noise!). One day a couple weeks ago I watched him attempt to stand using the dining room table and chair. He worked on this for about 20 minutes before he got tired or distracted.  For every time he successfully stood up, he attempted and fell at least twice. The next day, he was at it again. Now, he’s a pro and can pull himself up using only one hand.

As I have been watching him, I’m amazed by his perseverance. Where does a tiny child get the urge and desire to try and try again? Of course, he gets frustrated. Of course, he falls and hits his head, or knee, or fingers. But after he cries for a minute, he usually gets right up and tries it again.

As adults, we tend to not be as resilient as children. While we’ve all heard the adage, “If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again”, how many of us have really done this lately? We tend to get complacent, expecting that things will go our way without much effort. If I run a meeting that doesn’t go well, present a plan that falls flat, or pitch our services to a new business prospect who chooses someone else, I’m disheartened and disappointed, and sometimes feel like I will never succeed.

Mostly, though, I’m thinking about the failure from every angle. What should I have done instead to achieve success?  Should I have prepared differently? Been more creative in my approach to the problem? Talked to others to get more information before beginning? How can I change my work so it’s better the next time?

And then, I pick myself up, dust myself off, and get ready to do it all over again the next time, learning from my son in the process.

VALUE: A term that expresses relative worth, merit or importance.

With the economic downturn over the past few years, providers of goods, services and products have seen the word “value” be transformed into the word “price.”  Value traditionally was defined as being able to deliver a quality product and results, all at a fair price.  This applies to virtually every business in the service category supplying goods or services to their clients and customers.  But lately, price seems to be the new definition of value.

 

You see it with retailers – people are accustomed to waiting for the final markdown because many consumers don’t want to pay full price.  Are the retailers marking down to their thinnest margin, or are the initial prices inflated to account for price-shoppers?  Consumers don’t always know that answer, but they have been trained to wait for the markdown.  Conversely, there are shoppers who consider their highest priority as quality.  They may even over pay for an item because they have been trained to believe that higher prices equate to better quality.  Neither scenario is completely right.  We need to go back to the basic definition of “value” – it’s a combination of quality and price – relative worth, merit or importance.

 

The same applies in the agency business.  If a client is focused on price, a freelancer will win the bid over a full-service agency.  And, if a client is focused on quality and results, they might not even include a qualified freelancer in the bidding process.  As with the retailers, neither scenario is completely right. 

 

It takes time and effort to define “value”, and it’s not always as simple as lowest price or highest quality.  We need to remember that relative worth is part of the definition too, and customers need to feel that they received a fair deal.  People want to deliver value – they want their customers to be satisfied and feel that they were treated fairly.  As consumers in our personal and professional lives, we need to remember that there is a person on the other end of all our transactions wanting to be treated fairly.  And, in return consumers should expect a quality, fairly priced product or service.

Why do we need bloggers?

The internet has put enormous amounts of information at our fingertips. Whether you want to learn the weather forecast in Timbuktu, the 19th president of the U.S., or find a picture of a snub nosed monkey, the information is only milliseconds away. With all these advancements in information availability, in my opinion, blogging typically only clogs the process.

Apparently there are over 150 million blogs on the internet. Who writes all these? Is anyone reading them? Many bloggers remind me of a man that we used to see periodically in college. I guess you might call him a little extreme. He would stand on his soapbox when students were walking to and from class and yell provocative statements. Some were about religion and others about the end of the world coming soon. For added effect, I believe he often wore a cape. People just chuckled and walked on by.

Why do bloggers bring back memories of him? Both have an enormous energy and incredible belief in their proclamations, but a very limited following. The louder you scream or the more blogs you post does not ensure that people are listening. I guess it takes just one listener/reader to create a following though.

Aren't you mad you spent three minutes reading this post? Go ahead and google the snub nosed monkey. It's whats great about the internet.

Oh, and the 19th President of the U.S. was Rutherford B. Hayes. I googled it.

I miss the Pink Sheets of paper.

Here are some reflections on the changes going on in the business world in 2011, for instance...

Last week while walking down the street, I saw an interesting QR code on the side of our building.  Reaching for my iPhone, I took a shot of the QR code and instantly saw Luminare's fancy website. In 1987 after walking down the street, I came into my office and my secretary gave me a handful of pink "WHILE YOU WERE OUT" slips so that I could return my missed phone calls.

Last week while in the car and lost, I typed in an address for Addison, Illinois and instantly had 11 step-by-step directions.  In 1987 before going to a meeting with a new prospect, I looked at the map on my wall and wrote down directions, expressways and side streets in my notebook to find my way.

Last week I decided to download a 2011 Rugby World Cup app. This gave me access to all of the current scores, videos and standings for the month-long tournament in progress.  In 1987 I called Sports Phone, a telephone recording of sports scores for up-to-the minute action on the Cubs and Sox. (I believe Les Grobstein was the voice of Sports Phone and I paid $.99 a call.)

Last week I participated in a webinar on "New Social Media Techniques" right in my own office.  In 1987 I saw Norman Vincent Peale speak at a seminar, "How to win Friends and Influence People" at the Chicago Amphitheater. There was still saw dust on the floor - they had just wrapped up a week of bull riding at the venue.

I miss those Pink Sheets of paper...