Communicators Anonymous

Zany: Teletubbies

I became addicted when my daughter became addicted three years ago...she was the controversial Tinky for her first Halloween.

"Teletubbies is celebrating its 10^th anniversary with a tour and pop-up store targeting new age groups—tweens, teens and young adults.

Ragdoll Ltd., the creators of Teletubbies, a show for kids that features four characters with screen in their abdomens, is taking the British preschool sensation from the TV screen to New York for the group’s first U.S. appearance.

The costumed four kick off their tour March 26-29 with visits to city landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty, Grand Central Terminal and Times Square. At each stop, the group will stage a live photo shoot.

The company wants to mark its milestone by engaging with consumers beyond its preschool audience.

“We saw this benchmark as a great opportunity to expand our core audience,” says Lynn Godfrey, Ragdoll’s senior director of marketing. “We are reaching out to teens and tweens, that audience that grew up with us and loved us then. People will find Teletubbies are as relevant as when they first experienced them.” -- Telletubies Invade New York Via Tour, Pop-Up Store: Promo

Round-Up 03/30/07

All the things one does not have time to extend the conversation:

• Change the World, Don't Pretend You Have: Make Marketing History -- This post makes me so happy! This is the Twelve Steps in action...Coming to Understand
• The Changing Perspective of "Premium": Note to CMO
• Integration, Consumer Control Ascend as Top Marketer Issues: Experience Manifesto
• Free Hugs - A YouTube Phenomenon: Young PR
• Blogging Code of Conduct? Marketing Pilgrim
• April Fools Joke Ideas: Hyku
• How to Kill Your Brand - Part 379: The Brand Builder Blog

Digital Identity: Please Read

I spoke extensively about Digital Identity during first Marcom classes. I must emphasize this again after recent happenings in the Blogosphere. Please take time for Two must-reads and a must-listen. Thank you, Shel.

The power of "WE"

Step 1: We admitted we were powerless over word – that our lives had become unmanageable.

"WE" is a powerful word. We come together because we have a common problem and together we must find a common solution. We have shared experiences, we can share hope to better our professional lives and relationships with those we serve.

We are vulnerable to words. Words cannot stop the pain. Talk is cheap; behavior shows who is walking the talk. We cannot control others, only selves. Talking about how we can theoretically solve the industry problem of authenticity or the credibility of public relations cannot stop the bleeding.

Repeat after me: "We are not in control."

Zany: Death by Penguin Mints

The Caffeine Database is my new fave site. If you have spent any time with me, you know I have a caffeine addiction. I can easily slam a twelve-pack, Lost Energy drink and two quad lattes a day. This is by no means exaggeration. I am not a fan of water...to put it mildly.

Now I can calculate my caffeine intake to see just how off the charts I am (as if I needed that calculated) or use caffeine as sunscreen. Don't forget to check out, Death by Penguin Mints! Because you know I cannot resist a Mumble screaming, "My iceberg is melting!"

Communications Trade Barter?

I am proposing a communications trade barter.If one red paper clip can be traded for a house, I am hoping my communications skills and abilities may be traded for professional training. This is why I am proposing usage my communication skills and abilities in return for sponsorship/funding of professional training.

I will not grip or rant, here. I was extremely excited to to the Spring PRSA Professional Development Resources Guide appear in my mailbox. As you may know, I have been wavering between whether to pay the membership fee for PRSA or IABC. My membership with TPRA just expired and I did not get any benefit. My goal for 2007 is to attend a schedule rotated professional affiliation monthly meetings (including Social Media Club). This I have completed, but yet to go to PRSA Dallas.

Everything is so expensive. I am proud of my extensive education and certifications, but when the bills come to the door, sometimes I question why I spent all that money! I do not receive anything other than standard ethics and sexual harassment training at my "real" job. All of my continuous education and seminars have been paid for out of my pocket. This has taught me the value of money and appreciate the privileged knowledge. Being a student is full-time though for any professional in order to remain relevant and competitive in the industry.

I consider myself incredibly lucky and insurmountably grateful for the blogs and podcasts free of charge authored by great minds and talents. I strive for perfection and soak up all the knowledge I possibly can....this is why it disappoints me that all the seminars and memberships is much more than the $10-$20 I could afford. It is frustrating not to have a sponsor want to build its next generation force, but ultimately I am responsible for my learning.

Thus, my proposal. Here is a list of those events I would find useful. (Of course, advice and guidance of my benefactor(s) would be golden.)

• Misc
  • Bulldog Reporter PR Intelligence Training (On Demand)
  • APR
    • Overall fee is paid, but I do have April testing fee
  • Conferences
    • AMA Strategic Marketing Conference 30 Apr-2 May, 2007
    • Ragan Communications Annual Corporate Communications Conference
    • PRSA PR/EVOLUTION International Conference - 20-23 Oct, 2007
• Technology & Emerging Trends
  • PRSA Think Small, Not Big: PR Secrets for Engaging Niche Audiences Online (On Demand)
  • PRSA Buzz PR and Influencer Marketing (On Demand)
  • PRSA Blogosphere: Why PR Professionals Should Sit Up and Take Notice (On Demand)
  • PRSA Ppodcasting for the Professional - 18 May, 2007
• Media Relations
  • Ragan Communications Integrating Print and Online
  • PRSA Meet the Media - 24 Apr, 2007
  • PRSA Pitching Secrets of the Pros - 27 Apr, 2007
• Relationship & Reputation
  • PRSA Extreme Brand Makeover (On Demand)
  • PRSA Uncivil Discourse and the Rise of the Outrage Industry - 5 Jun, 2007
• Communications Planning & Evaluation
  • San Antonio PRSA Planning Made Simple - 5 Apr, 2007
  • PRSA Transforming Brand Loyalty into Grassroots Evangelism (On Demand)
  • PRSA Driving Organizational Change Through Research (On Demand)
  • PRSA Calculating the ROI on Your Communications - 5 Apr, 2007 (Teleseminar)
  • PRSA Message Mapping - 2 May, 2007 (Teleseminar)
  • PRSA Data Driven PR - 29 Jun, 2007
• Techniques & Tactics
  • PRSA Make Your Copy More Creative - 21 Jun, 2007 (Teleseminar)
• Management & Leadership
  • Winchester Center/PRSA Leadership: Leaders and Work-Life Balance - On Demand
• Global Perspective
  • PRSA Counselors to Higher Education (CHE) Senior Summit - 18-20 April ( I am an adjunct!)
  • Over the Horizon PRSA Counselors Academy - 10-12 Jun, 2007

The line is now open. Thank you!

Go Mavs!

We (Dallas Mavs Basketball Team) just won over the New York Knicks! Mavs Fever. Catch It. Spread It. I am not a fair-weather fan. Transplanted in Dallas from Europe just seven years ago, I embraced the Dallas teams...a HUGE hockey fan (STARS) too. I cannot call play-by-play or use sports analogies, but I enjoy professional sports. I took a double-take on Steve Ruebel's post about work ethic. I cannot agree with Steve that Dirk is the only reason the MAVS are on fire; however, there are all-stars.

Pure talent will open doors, but the long-haul is made by those who are never satisfied and still have a love for the game. These people are the all-stars and Steve does not mean the entertainment box office drama queens and kings. Being an all-star is being a leader, selfless and distinguished. These people are not as easily extinguished as a flame. Their blazing trail serves as a beacon for those of us striving for perfection, learning patience and tolerance. Accept, but never settle.

"The most satisfactory years of your existence lie ahead." Big Book p.151

By the way, I am on the "V-List." Come to understand.

Zany: March Madness!!

Truly, I am shocked (in America). As I flip through TV channels, this story catches my eyes and ears. Her first child no less!

Now, I tried to find the quote from the TV news story, but could not locate..."If it were a man, he wouldn't have gone."

NOT Trumpeting Change

You can smell a fake a mile away...The trumpet analogy used by incoming PR President and COO in the Bull Dog Reporter interview made me gag. Ick. Amateur writing trying too hard to be innovative.  Don't worry, I'll be blunt. The interview was disgusting from the beginning. Murray is anything but a new tune. The interview headline is deceiving, A New Tune, PRSA President Murray Trumpets Change, Acknowledges Critics; rather he does not acknowledge anything. The interview questions were great and not the fault of the reporter for the poor responses.

Fresh blood in a company is good and needed for growth. However, writing a RFP and hiring a pr pro does not make a person qualified for the PRSA job. Sounds more like fresh meat, if you get my drift.

Murray keeps repeating that he will listen and talk to those who are "professional"; what is his definition of that word? If it is an APR, he does not have one, so why should we bother to listen to him? Murray does not define his strategic plan; his outline represents what can be found in a text. Does he know what the PRSA value proposition is? Murray knows all the buzz words, but shows no intelligence of their definitions. This guy is a salesman, not a community spokesperson driven by authenticity.

Trumpet all you want Murray, but interviews like this won't give you a seat at the table no matter what your shingle reads.

Remember, do not base your profession on demi-gods. "Some of us have taken very hard knocks to learn this truth: Job or no job-wife or no wife-we simply do not stop drinking so long as we place dependence upon other people ahead of dependence on God." Big Book p.98 Replace drinking with thinking and God with customer and come to understand.

Monday Round-up 3/12

This morning I posted the Web 2.0 Tool List, but there are three links I would like to pass on without the extended commentary:

• The New "Ticker Truth" - How Bite-Sized Media Threatens PR and Journalism -- Complimentary article to Engineering Naturalness
• Teaching PR - The Week's Best, 12 March 2007
• South by Southwest Conference Podcast Archive -- I may not be able to be there, but this option beams me there in spirit!