Leaving the Rat Race Blog...

I'm moving over my blogging thoughts to my new website.  Those of you wishing to follow me can find me there.  PoshPorts is a site I think you will find different and fun. 

Although I didn't write as often as I should have on this blog, I enjoyed the time I did.  Now that I'm more focused on the new business all my thoughts on travel, wine, food and media will be combined into one blog.  Hope you join me. 

WOTW Twitter Event Today

I had a fun time being a panelist at today's Women of the World, "Twitter While You Work" event. As always, the topic of Twitter and any social media platform makes for great conversation and debate.

The audience was very interested in the topic and asked a lot of great questions.  Joining me on the panel were Jeannie Walters of 360 Connext and Jacqui Monieson of Gossip Genie.  I don't think Donna Gutman, WOTW's fearless leader could have done a better job of picking three people with completely different backgrounds and views about using Twitter, and how we personally use Twitter for our businesses.

I think we did all agree that you need to talk in your authentic voice whether using Twitter for business or personally and that it is imperative that you listen to what your followers are saying especially if they are talking about your brand, product or services.

It is also essential to keep in mind your over arching marketing strategies and goals when considering using social media. Using social media in conjunction with your marketing plans will assure that your messages will be in lock step with your marketing objectives.

We also discussed at length that if you are considering hiring someone else to manage your social media messaging that they are given specific guidelines to follow. They also need to understand your marketing goals and objectives.

In a nutshell, Twitter is a terrific micro-blogging platform that can help you stay connected with friend, colleagues and customers. And can also be a wonderful resource for information and business. Most importantly, it's fun where else can you connect with people from around the world with similar interests and have a great conversation in just 140 characters at a time.  

Thanks to all who attended and I look forward to answering more questions and continuing the conversation.

Shopping

Is there anywhere in the world that people aren’t shopping? Doesn’t matter where you go…Paris, London, Chicago, Barcelona, Singapore at some point they all look the same. Endless shopping at the same upscale stores. Why do people go to these world famous destinations to shop? And to shop in stores that are undoubtedly available in their own cities? It’s baffling to me. Some say because the prices are lower. Really? I certainly didn’t see that. Expensive stores are expensive no matter where they exist. Does Singapore really need a two Prada's on the same block on Orchard Road?

I wonder where people are going to put all the merchandise they buy. We cram our suitcases and our carry-on bags till the point of bursting. Then get home and add it to our pile of stuff and wonder why we don’t have enough room. Do you really need another Ralph Lauren sweater? Of course the answer is I don’t need it, I want it. Seeing all the shiny merchandise under the bright florescent lighting must make the goods more appealing. To me it makes me not want to buy.  It’s kinda like going on a cruise ship and seeing a rather blotted passenger load up their plate at the midnight buffet. It makes me not want to eat at all the rest of the trip.

I have seen the opposite occur. People see folks piling up their carts or plates and immediately want what the next guy has, and usually more of it. Maybe that’s why all the stores everywhere are busy. And people aren’t just looking they’re buying. Carrying around lots of nice looking shopping bags brandished with the fancy status logos.

And yet we all know that the world economy is on the brink of another disaster. One of my friends believes that people are spending any money they can get their hands on and expecting to not pay it all back when they lose their credit line or their house or their job. Basically, just keep going until another bubble bursts. I find that hard to believe. Maybe people are doing better than they let on and were actually conservative with their money and now are buying. They say more people are going on vacation this summer than last year. Things are improving they say.

Who knows? But it annoys me none the less. All the people running around the duty free shops in Heathrow airport like they are getting a deal of the century. Really? And they’ll all from different countries, so it’s not an American or European thing.

What am I doing? Exchanging my pounds back to US dollars that’s what I’m doing. And putting the money right back in my pocket for the ride home. Sure I thought about buying something. I only had about 70 pounds left. But after wandering around I thought first, I don’t want to carry anything else, I hate carrying things and second I don’t really need anything else, truly I don't.

Ugly American? Perhaps. But just one that doesn’t want to shop anymore. 

Memorial Day...Can it really be happy?

I know we all spend the time before Memorial Day preparing for parties and visiting with friends and family. If our family does not have an active member of the military we still send out our best wishes to all who have.

But as I hear myself and others wishing each other a "happy" memorial day I wonder is this really possible? Memorial Day commemorates all the folks who have lost their lives in service to the United States. So shouldn't Memorial Day be more of a solemn holiday? I guess because it also falls at the start of the summer season people tend to focus on the fun outdoor activities and delicious food that comes along with BBQ season.

So I am suggesting that in between your weekend celebrations you take a few minutes to really remember what this day is all about. Whatever your political leanings every American should feel a heartfelt gratitude to those who lost their lives while serving this country. We should also honor all those who willingly joined the forces, served and made it home. They should have a special place in our hearts. And lastly, the folks that are actively servicing today as we enjoy our freedom here at home. We should wish them a safe return and protection while they are away.

Let's just dream that someday we won't need to have these courageous people and lives will not need to be lost in order for everyone in the world to live in peace and harmony. 

Here's to that dream.

John Lennon Video from YouTube Imagine

More Government Folks Watching Porn

After reading the article from Fast Company Meth, Porn, Guns, Graft at Agency Overseeing Gulf Oil Companies I became further frustrated not only with the current environmental crisis in the Gulf of Mexico but the apparent availability of government workers to view and share porn on government computers shared on government email systems.

Seriously?



Just when you think it's the world running a muck you find that it's not the world it's the people who are running the world that are running a muck. Big corporations and big government agencies have proved that bigger is not only not better but is in most cases not responsible or holds no one responsible.

Ok, I know I said I was going to stay on media topics. But this story, while it does pop up in the media, still deserves more attention than it's getting right now.

Too many people have their fingers in the till on this one. Too many boondoggles, too many bad promises and clearly no sense of simply right and wrong. 

Folks in the Gulf Coast and around the rest of the country should be out protesting. This catastrophe needs to be made right. We need answers and we need people held accountable. No more finger pointing.

Hasn't the Gulf area suffered enough? First Hurricane Katrina, now this? It's unimaginable.

If you can help, please contact the Sierra Club or some other environmental group to help save the environment the many species that may not recover from this disastrous oil spill.

Boycott BP. Do not provide financial support for this company this includes Castrol, Arco, Aral, am/pm, Amoco, Wild Bean Cafe and Safeway Gas.  Join the Facebook Boycott bp Group which provides news updates as well.

Lastly, it's time to let the government know that the time for usage of alternative sources of fuel is now, not years from now. It needs to be a priority. We need to stop pandering to the big oil companies and start seriously looking for alternatives.

Thanks for listening. As you know, I think this is an important situation, I do not typically discuss these types of situations but this article just made a bad situation even more deplorable.

It's Just Getting Started

So now Time wants to take on the Facebook privacy issue. I still can't get over how many people are still talking about this. To me it's like people who complain about certain television shows, or movies or any "entertainment" they might consume. It's so simple. Turn if off, close your account, change the channel, read a book, take a walk, talk to your family - just do something else.

Before I continue, I must say that I am also shocked that Facebook privacy has become more important that the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill. I just can't think of something that is more important than the effects this mess will have on our environment for generations to come. I digress. 

While I'm on the topic of privacy. I forgot to mention in my post yesterday that during one of my scans of my Tweetdeck yesterday, I noticed a rather large media companies tweet about how cool a certain perk that a certain vendor had provided was. I usually wouldn't pay much attention or comment on it but I've noticed this several times from the same company, and it irked me. Yes, irked. Although working in media does inherently come along with a certain amount of perks, I don't think it's right to brag about it or even call attention to them. I was schooled by a very bright media director who very rarely talked about the perks that he got, with co-workers or clients. I followed that rule and thought it was smart knowing that not all people in the business or for that matter sometimes even on your team have the same privileges. It's just a little classier. Anyway, back to the subject at hand, since this type of information was sent out for the John Q. Public to see I immediately felt like here's some junior level media person bragging about their perks. In the current environment, there are still plenty of people looking for jobs, or struggling in the one they do have so I don't know what good this post does for anyone. One might say reading this post that others may be encouraged to go work there, I hope there's more reason to work there then free pizza and a night out with co-workers.

When all is said and done I would hope that someone in management is reviewing or guiding the messages that are being shared. If we haven't learned anything from the social networking sites it's that information spreads very quickly. You want to be sure you know what's being said and you want to be sure it reflects your company in the most positive light it can. It's very much like PR. It's hard enough to repair damage that may come around when something really does go wrong - KFC on-line coupon anyone? But to outright create a bad impression on your own - or through a company "spokesperson" is as a favorite media planner I know used to say "nutty".

Privacy, What Privacy?

There's been an awful lot of talk around privacy as it relates to social networking sites. I'm confused as to why people are shocked and amazed to hear that people can find out a lot of information about folks from these sites. I'm further confused that many people don't know how to adjust their privacy setting, either because they don't know they exist or don't care to find out.  Lately there has been a litany of apps that people can download to help them be sure they have the correct settings.

I guess my confusion is centered around the fact that people just don't bother to check out what they are signing up for. How often do people really look at the terms and conditions that some corporate lawyer has created for any site they use let alone a social networking site.  It would amaze you what the rules of the road are on some of these sites.

I recently signed up for a small business networking site and was asked to check the box on the "I agree to the terms and conditions below".  The very detailed terms included that the site could use anything that was written in any "comment" section as they saw fit, you lost any rights to it. They could develop an idea or sell an idea you may propose. They also prohibited the reposting of any of their material. I'm certain that most people don't check a sites policy before reposting material on the web, their blog or elsewhere.  Interesting.

So what does this all mean? Here's a couple of rules to think about, it may not include everything but it's a good start:

1) First off I'm not suggesting you leave Facebook. We all assumed the risk to some degree when we joined. Just check your privacy setting and determine which settings work best for you. Just keep in mind that the more you keep to yourself the less "social" the experience is.

2) This is an easy one. For goodness sake, don't put information on any social networking site you don't want anyone to see. That includes your employer, your HR department, your co-workers, your boss, your spouse/significant other, your family, and most importantly as I always say to my students your Grandmother. That's the bar I always use if I'm not sure. If I wouldn't want my Grandmother to see it - it doesn't go up. Period.

3) Know what you're getting yourself into. If you're not prepared to talk about certain subjects: religion, politics, sex, life-style choices, then don't start, like or comment on those conversations.

4) Stop whining, may be the most important one, surprise, surprise, social networks are trying to make money with advertising. To do that they look at your information and target messages to you that you might more likely respond to. Shocking. I guess we forgot about all the other forms of media that have been doing this for years.  This is called engaging, captivating, targeting (or some other clever name) a captive consumer group.

5) It's only 2010. The creepiness has just begun. Is it creepy? Certainly, and will it get creepier, you betcha. Anyone seen the facial recognition out-of-home screens yet? I have, and I think everyone can agree that it's creepy.

6) Have fun. Sharing information and staying in touch is wonderful. Folks a half a world away are seeing your ideas and experiences in real time. It feels like they are closer and still part of the dialogue.  And guess what? People like that. Sharing photos of loved ones, travel highlights or just life's simple pleasures couldn't really be any easier.

So please stop the chatter about privacy. It's gone, whether we like it or not.