Social media for the reluctant
October 13, 2011
I was at a networking lunch recently. When asked for a show of hands about half the room was not using social media, or even sure what it was exactly. That inspired me to create this basic overview.
The constantly changing world of social media can quickly become overwhelming. There are expressions, abbreviations, and ways of communicating unique to the milieu, Facebook has Likes and Twitter has hashtags (#), for example.
If you want to dip your toe into social media, I encourage you to explore. I had to experience it before it made sense. Choose just one thing, be clear about what you want to get out of it, and start exploring.
That one thing could be reading a blog. (Hey, you’re doing that right now!) The next level of experience might be leaving a comment on the blog. (Just keep scrolling and you’ll be there. Go ahead, leave a comment. I’ll answer.) You might find links to other blogs on similar topics of interest. (There are two links in this post you could visit.) Over time, you get familiar with blogs, commenting on blogs, you might even feel you know the bloggers you have been reading. This applies to any of the social media platforms. Now rinse, and repeat. You’ve started. Read the rest of this entry
How horses teach us about communication & leadership
September 27, 2011
I’m standing in the arena with three horses and a lunge whip in my hand. My job is to move them around the perimeter as a group, then change their direction to move in the other direction. Lunge whips aren’t actually used to whip the horses. As an extension of my arm, it helped me communicate with three 1,000 pound horses.
I was comfortable doing this with one horse, but keeping three animals moving together was quite different. Each animal was different; one was a donkey half the size of the other two, Each moved at a different pace; their relationships with each other influenced how close they wanted to be to each other.
How do I let them know what I want? What would give them enough motivation to do it? How do I keep them moving together? Read the rest of this entry
What Jetexas taught me about patience & persistence
June 28, 2011
We have an elderly visitor at our house this week. His name is Jetexas. He is an elegant, sweet-tempered black Labrador retriever. He is bright-eyed and glad to be alive, even though his body doesn’t work as well as it used to, especially his hindquarters.
He spends most of his time sleeping, but when it’s time to get up for a meal or a trip outside, he needs help, and getting his balance those first few steps takes time.
Today as I helped him get up and guided him gently towards the outdoors, I had to wait several times for him to come along with me. Yes, I can carry the 65-pound dog, but forcing him doesn’t help him or me. So I wait, guide, wait, call him, wait, help him balance, and wait some more. Patience with persistent guidance gets him safely and happily down the steps to the lawn and back up again. Read the rest of this entry
I’m not sure I should tell you this
February 28, 2011
I struggle with my own marketing. I agonize over finding the right words for my own marketing message. All the objectivity and inspiration that I love bringing to my clients . . . POOF! Suddenly my head is going in circles.
Finally I realized that I need to get OUT of my head to make progress. And I need another human being to interact with who can hold an objective, outside perspective.
Why is this so important? There are a few reasons.
Now more than ever we are required to be crystal clear in our marketing communications, and that all boils down to our core message: the bedrock of how you promote your business. Read the rest of this entry
Why I want you to love planning
February 22, 2011
I love to plan. It’s not just that I like some control and predictability. There is such satisfaction in gathering up the pieces in my mind and putting them on paper in some meaningful relation to one another. I see connections. I get more ideas. It’s fun!
I know that we are not all wired this way. I have no illusions that my plan will happen by the ‘script,’ but experience has convinced me that any planning makes my clients (and me) better prepared when life happens. And I don’t have to tell you that life typically doesn’t ask us how we’d like it delivered. It simply arrives. Read the rest of this entry
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As a 25-year veteran of marketing professional services, Barbara Breckenfeld is a strategist and a storyteller. She helps helps businesses grow as a consultant, marketing coach, and seminar leader.
