Thursday, September 24, 2009
Children of the Corn?
I grew up in Iowa and even worked for Pioneer Seed Corn in the corn fields during the summers between my college years, but I have never seen corn like this. This photo was taken in Culver, Indiana on my uncle's farm. This field had the most amazingly TALL corn! I had to have my photo taken next to the field. If you are from the midwest, you understand how amazing this is. Keep in mind that I'm 5'9" tall, so this is VERY tall corn! I've never seen anything so healthy and green, although everything that we had out of the gardens in Indiana was also amazing -- tomatos, peppers. Living in Texas, I miss sights like this. There's not much that grows down here, and cotton just doesn't look this impressive. My aunt was telling me about a book she was reading about how corn really controls the world. With corn this tall, I can see how it could!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Put Yourself First First (sic)
With September 1 being my personal New Year's Day, and a nice relaxing long weekend behind us, I'm planning to put into play a new focus and renewed energy today.
I've decided that my role is to make other people feel better, and to help other people succeed.
Through this, my personal success is achieved, and definitely multiplied.
However, the only way I can help other people is if I have my own act together. (Therein lies the dilemma on many a day.)
But today I'm going to do whatever I can to be a success at helping others. To do that requires a good cup of coffee (or two or three), a bit of exercise, some meditation, some prayer, some order (which involves a little cleaning), and some bill paying. (Designers and printers and magazines need to be paid!) After that I can focus on the other things that help my clients succeed: writing, media relations, research, radio shows, web sites, trade show ideas...
-----
I love this time of year. The long hot summer is about over, and people are doing what they can to jump start new ideas and new initiatives. The economy is sputtering along, but people are starting to realize they have to do things differently than before, and I'm fortunate that for me that means the chance to do a lot of new work.
Life can be very good. You just have to be happy with what you encounter every day and enjoy it to its fullest. Quit wishing you were doing something else. You're not. Just do what you're doing the best you can.
That's what I'm trying to do.
I've decided that my role is to make other people feel better, and to help other people succeed.
Through this, my personal success is achieved, and definitely multiplied.
However, the only way I can help other people is if I have my own act together. (Therein lies the dilemma on many a day.)
But today I'm going to do whatever I can to be a success at helping others. To do that requires a good cup of coffee (or two or three), a bit of exercise, some meditation, some prayer, some order (which involves a little cleaning), and some bill paying. (Designers and printers and magazines need to be paid!) After that I can focus on the other things that help my clients succeed: writing, media relations, research, radio shows, web sites, trade show ideas...
-----
I love this time of year. The long hot summer is about over, and people are doing what they can to jump start new ideas and new initiatives. The economy is sputtering along, but people are starting to realize they have to do things differently than before, and I'm fortunate that for me that means the chance to do a lot of new work.
Life can be very good. You just have to be happy with what you encounter every day and enjoy it to its fullest. Quit wishing you were doing something else. You're not. Just do what you're doing the best you can.
That's what I'm trying to do.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Life Happens
In the last 90 days, within my family, there has been a wedding, a divorce, a death, and a birth. We are also praying for a family member with advanced cancer, helping a family member who broke her ankle, and comforting a teenager whose first love broke it off two weeks into school. There's definitely a lot going on.
The range of emotions required to deal with my life at this stage of the game is intense. I'm lucky, I guess, because it's not my first time dealing with the realities and imperfections of life. I've been wearing the big girl pants for quite a while now. It's almost sad, because at this point in my life, nothing really rattles me. It's almost as if I've been through most of it anyway, so bring it on. I'm not afraid.
One thing I've also learned through all of the last few weeks is that you never ever ever know what someone on the other end of the phone or email line is dealing with. They too may be dealing with family issues, illness, or the death of a parent or a marriage. We tend to think that it's all about us. Someone doesn't return our call, and we think, "What did I do to her?" Someone doesn't return an email and we think, "They don't want to deal with me."
The truth, I believe, is that everyone is involved in complex situations all the time. You never know what people are dealing with. None of my clients probably realize that I'm crippled on a particular day with pain or heartache. I don't tell them. I figure it's really not anything they'd care to know or that impacts what I do for them. If it does, I'll let them know.
So on the flip side, now when I deal with people I am going to do my best to just assume that their lives are in tatters and that the one interaction that day that makes them happy or helps them laugh just might be me.
That's my goal. And for those of you who read this and feel like you can make me smile, bring it on. We can all use a little uplifting, not just now and then, but every single day of our lives.
The range of emotions required to deal with my life at this stage of the game is intense. I'm lucky, I guess, because it's not my first time dealing with the realities and imperfections of life. I've been wearing the big girl pants for quite a while now. It's almost sad, because at this point in my life, nothing really rattles me. It's almost as if I've been through most of it anyway, so bring it on. I'm not afraid.
One thing I've also learned through all of the last few weeks is that you never ever ever know what someone on the other end of the phone or email line is dealing with. They too may be dealing with family issues, illness, or the death of a parent or a marriage. We tend to think that it's all about us. Someone doesn't return our call, and we think, "What did I do to her?" Someone doesn't return an email and we think, "They don't want to deal with me."
The truth, I believe, is that everyone is involved in complex situations all the time. You never know what people are dealing with. None of my clients probably realize that I'm crippled on a particular day with pain or heartache. I don't tell them. I figure it's really not anything they'd care to know or that impacts what I do for them. If it does, I'll let them know.
So on the flip side, now when I deal with people I am going to do my best to just assume that their lives are in tatters and that the one interaction that day that makes them happy or helps them laugh just might be me.
That's my goal. And for those of you who read this and feel like you can make me smile, bring it on. We can all use a little uplifting, not just now and then, but every single day of our lives.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Business is Booming (well, almost)
Every once in a while I get in the mood to remind my clients that I'm still around. In my business, that's actually a pretty good thing to do. Agencies come and go. Consultants (like me) get tired of the cash flow ebbs and tides and decide they'd rather have a job. I'm a little different, I suppose. I haven't had a "real job" in more than a dozen years. I've been through up cycles and down cycles in the economy, as well as the dog days of summer when you can't get anyone on the phone, but nothing in my self employed life has been as bad as the things I experienced in the corporate world.
Most people say they want the "security" of a corporate job. They want a paycheck every two weeks. I'd like that too, but I don't buy the security bit. I spent 12 years in corporate America, and I didn't see a whole lot of security going on. Sure, it was nice to get a steady paycheck and an annual bonus just for showing up. But I knew people that made a game out of seeing how long they could go without actually doing any work. Sometimes it could be months, if not years! Then there were the people who worked really hard, but they made someone higher up nervous or said the wrong thing at the holiday party and got sacked. Corporate just never made that much sense to me.
So because I don't ever want to have to go get another "real job," every few months I feel the need to send something out to my growing list of satisifed clients. Contrary to popular belief, a client is not just the person you're working with today. Clients are the people you worked with last month, last year, even last decade. If you treat them right, there's always a chance they'll come back. In my experience, they usually do.
In my line of work, you have to do things in advance of when you need it. If you want to be in a magazine in December, you better contact them in June. If you are expecting business to pick up in January, you need to increase production in October. The same goes for when business slows down, which it usually does just briefly for me around this time of year.
The good news is this is a great time of year to be a little slow. It's Texas and it's hot as Hades outside. I don't want to be pulling on panty hose and driving to the city. I want to come to work in my shorts and flip flops and maybe take off at 3 and lay by the pool. I want to play tennis in the morning while it's cool, or stay up late and watch a movie with my kids. Summer is a great time.
But summer ends and everyone has to get back to work. This year, we're waiting for the long summer called RECESSION to end and for everyone to get back to work. I've managed to stay busy during this time, and my clients -- knock wood -- are doing well. Perhaps it's because they didn't cut back on their marketing or PR and instead took advantage of having more space available in the papers for their news or fewer ads in the magazines which helped them stand out. Thats a good thing.
As summer winds down, I'm ready to jump back in with both feet. I'm hoping the dozens of clients I've had the privilege of working with through the years feel the same way. I think we're in for some real growth ahead. I know my business is preparing for it. I'm staffing up, cleaning up, and getting ready for 2010. Okay, it's still four and a half months away, but if you don't plan ahead, you won't be ready. Get ready. Business is about to boom for all of us. I can feel it!
Most people say they want the "security" of a corporate job. They want a paycheck every two weeks. I'd like that too, but I don't buy the security bit. I spent 12 years in corporate America, and I didn't see a whole lot of security going on. Sure, it was nice to get a steady paycheck and an annual bonus just for showing up. But I knew people that made a game out of seeing how long they could go without actually doing any work. Sometimes it could be months, if not years! Then there were the people who worked really hard, but they made someone higher up nervous or said the wrong thing at the holiday party and got sacked. Corporate just never made that much sense to me.
So because I don't ever want to have to go get another "real job," every few months I feel the need to send something out to my growing list of satisifed clients. Contrary to popular belief, a client is not just the person you're working with today. Clients are the people you worked with last month, last year, even last decade. If you treat them right, there's always a chance they'll come back. In my experience, they usually do.
In my line of work, you have to do things in advance of when you need it. If you want to be in a magazine in December, you better contact them in June. If you are expecting business to pick up in January, you need to increase production in October. The same goes for when business slows down, which it usually does just briefly for me around this time of year.
The good news is this is a great time of year to be a little slow. It's Texas and it's hot as Hades outside. I don't want to be pulling on panty hose and driving to the city. I want to come to work in my shorts and flip flops and maybe take off at 3 and lay by the pool. I want to play tennis in the morning while it's cool, or stay up late and watch a movie with my kids. Summer is a great time.
But summer ends and everyone has to get back to work. This year, we're waiting for the long summer called RECESSION to end and for everyone to get back to work. I've managed to stay busy during this time, and my clients -- knock wood -- are doing well. Perhaps it's because they didn't cut back on their marketing or PR and instead took advantage of having more space available in the papers for their news or fewer ads in the magazines which helped them stand out. Thats a good thing.
As summer winds down, I'm ready to jump back in with both feet. I'm hoping the dozens of clients I've had the privilege of working with through the years feel the same way. I think we're in for some real growth ahead. I know my business is preparing for it. I'm staffing up, cleaning up, and getting ready for 2010. Okay, it's still four and a half months away, but if you don't plan ahead, you won't be ready. Get ready. Business is about to boom for all of us. I can feel it!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
It's hard to believe it's almost hockey season again. Probably because hockey never stops at my house. We're in the middle of summer league -- 4 on 4, no checking, no icing, no offsides, no clock stops...it's an interesting chance for the kids to play the game a little differently and maybe learn some new skills. I've enjoyed watching this version of hockey. Since my son's a big kid, taking the "check" out of the game is challenging for him. It's been fun to watch.
But "real" hockey season kicks off in earnest later this month. Fees must be paid, those early morning practices begin, and in my son's case, he enters his senior year and his last year of high school hockey. As for me, I'm going to use this inspiration to try to get a little new business. This ad may begin running in Ice Times this month (on a space available basis). I proofread the columns each month pro bono, and this week the publisher offered me an ad. (The HP logo indicates to other hockey parents that I'm a hockey parent. It's the magazine's way of taking care of its own.)
I'll report here if this leads to new business. The rinks themselves could sure use the help!
Monday, July 20, 2009
You know your Mom has made it when...
I have to laugh at my mother. Over the last ten years as she's settled into her retirement at Cedar Creek Lake she's become very involved in several clubs and organizations. She has a club for every day of the week. Literary Club, Garden Club, Civic League, Women's Club, Years Ahead Club, Friends of the Library, United Methodist Women, Joker groups...it's hard for me to keep track, but there's always a luncheon or meeting or event somewhere.
Influenced in part (I'd like to think) by the fact that I moved to the lake ten years ago and Mom had better access to what I do and how I do it, she gravitated into a PR role with many of these organizations. I used to help her with some articles, press releases and flyers, and I know I gave her the addresses and taught her how to attach photos and press releases to emails for our two weekly newspapers. She's a fast learner (National Honor Society in High School, graduated from college with honors too), and once I showed her how to do something on the computer or with her camera, she was off.
My mom's busy career as a club member and officer is inspiring. She does a lot of good for the community and gets to go out to lunch a lot. She's made great friends, and she's created herself a very nice life. I don't get the local papers, but Mom does, and her picture is always in them. I used to buy a newspaper when she told me she was in it. But they really started to pile up. It's a little ridiculous, and I'm not organized enough for scrap booking.
But today sort of topped it. This morning among my emails was one from Mom. It was one of her usual "FYI I'm headed to ..." We like to know when she's out of town, and she's even started calling me to tell me when she's driving up to Dallas. She's a young 70 and can take care of herself, but it's good to know when she's going some place. This morning she reported she was heading on an overnight trip to a casino in Louisiana. The funny thing was, it was addressed to my brother, my sister, myself, and -- I'm not kidding -- the local newspaper.
I don't know if that was a mistake (I hope so) or if this means this trip will make it into the paper. I don't know if she really thinks the paper cares? Nonetheless, my mom's promotional efforts have moved to a new level. I guess she's finally made it.
Next thing you know I'm going to have to follow her on Twitter. What a way to start the week. Enjoy!
Influenced in part (I'd like to think) by the fact that I moved to the lake ten years ago and Mom had better access to what I do and how I do it, she gravitated into a PR role with many of these organizations. I used to help her with some articles, press releases and flyers, and I know I gave her the addresses and taught her how to attach photos and press releases to emails for our two weekly newspapers. She's a fast learner (National Honor Society in High School, graduated from college with honors too), and once I showed her how to do something on the computer or with her camera, she was off.
My mom's busy career as a club member and officer is inspiring. She does a lot of good for the community and gets to go out to lunch a lot. She's made great friends, and she's created herself a very nice life. I don't get the local papers, but Mom does, and her picture is always in them. I used to buy a newspaper when she told me she was in it. But they really started to pile up. It's a little ridiculous, and I'm not organized enough for scrap booking.
But today sort of topped it. This morning among my emails was one from Mom. It was one of her usual "FYI I'm headed to ..." We like to know when she's out of town, and she's even started calling me to tell me when she's driving up to Dallas. She's a young 70 and can take care of herself, but it's good to know when she's going some place. This morning she reported she was heading on an overnight trip to a casino in Louisiana. The funny thing was, it was addressed to my brother, my sister, myself, and -- I'm not kidding -- the local newspaper.
I don't know if that was a mistake (I hope so) or if this means this trip will make it into the paper. I don't know if she really thinks the paper cares? Nonetheless, my mom's promotional efforts have moved to a new level. I guess she's finally made it.
Next thing you know I'm going to have to follow her on Twitter. What a way to start the week. Enjoy!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
The Guys from Extreme How-To Love Aurora Deck Lights
OutreachPR client Aurora Deck Lighting makes some great outdoor lighting products. In this video, the editor of Extreme How-To Magazine shows how to install some low voltage deck lights on an existing deck. This video is an excellent example of how magazines are reaching out to their readers with multi-media, linked to websites, and blogs.
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