Communicators Anonymous

What's Next Input

The realm of PR 2.0 is still rich with unexplored frontiers, but making your mark (and being noticed) is becoming more difficult. Every three or four months, I reevaluate my voice and value in the blogosphere and other social media networks. The Twelve Step Program for Communicators is my foundation and I will continue to promote this ethical way of career/personal life. Please send me examples of how the Program is working in your career/personal life or other topics you would like explored on this blog. Thank you!

Working Topics:

• Accountability in a Virtual World (Where in the world are those who fumbled in the blogosphere? Real people and accounts.)
• Four Generations of Females in the PR Workplace (Interview with Traditionalist, Boomer, Gen Xer and Millennial)

If you would like to contribute to either working topic, please send me an email.

Zany: Just Listening

This week I have been listening. Yes, I've made comments here and there, but this week I have learned more by just listening. What I have learned has nothing to do with a fascinating app. Right here, right now I can learn everything I need to know at this moment.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Let's call a truce. Being young does not automatically equate to party-goer and disrespect. Being older does not automatically equate to frumpy and out-of-touch. Look beyond the extremes of age. All of us have our own strengths and quirks. We are not our resume or someone's first impression. Let's get real. Life is a series of 'breaks' and we all want "The One"-I don't want to be served the opportunity of a silver platter. Things are so much sweeter when earned.

Look beyond the superficial and give each other a break. How do you learn how to manage if you aren't given a chance to prove self? Life is like a twisted version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. We are all looking for something "just right," but how do you know if you don't give it a try first? It is what it is.

Evolution of a Conversation

The blog/Twitter conversation, Young PRs - Know Your Place, is the best exchange I have read in several months. All ages, read everything and take notes. A big thank you to Paull Young for compiling tweets, posts and comments!

Age and respect are daily internal and external battles. Sometimes the result is nasty and I just suck it up and live another day. My tone dripping in sarcasm, I joke about being 26 with an old, reincarnated soul to make up for experience I automatically seem lacking because I am young. This blog has been the place for experience versus expert debate. My writing has matured and I have learned many a lesson the hard way. We must emulate the authenticity and transparency we preach and practice restraint. It takes time to learn how to listen.

A perfect segue to Communicators Anonymous step of the month, Nine: Made direct amends to such people, wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. We can be of maximum service to ourselves and industry only when we are fit.

...We should be sensible, tactful, considerate and humble without being servile or scraping. [BB, page 83, line 25]

Token amends aren't sufficient!

Don't rush into amends!

Remember forgiveness.

Instead of posting a new Zany tidbit, let's revisit: Respect World Game.

Zany: Forget School

Short and Tangy:

The definitions of meet and exceed are not the same in industry as they are in the dictionary.

"If the world should blow itself up, the last audible voice would be that of an expert saying it can't be done." -Peter Ustinov

Twitter Aha

As stated in recent Twitter Active post, my preconceived notion of Twitter was only blah, conversational vomit. A bit harsh, but there is an element of truth. You are responsible for the noise you put out and receive.

This week I documented what I have learned and how Twitter saved my life. Not really, but I wanted some dramatics.

• Dr. Pepper Method: Ike's tweet-to-post filtering method (10-2-4 is easier to remember than any long-winded book method).
• Thank you, Todd for the Diva tweet-to-post...perfect timing, as always (shh)!
• Paull, my weekend would have been too depressing if you hadn't lightened the mood with tweets about your jaunt to Outback Steak House with your friends!
• Kami, love the Twitter Blocks app! (presently cannot link to b/c site is under maintenance)
• What would I do without Steve on the bleeding edge of apps or the whining about Apple price slashing?

News Flash - you don't have to turn notifications on for all of the people you follow. Prioritize who you follow. Twitter complaints I have read only seem to whine about these issues. Not every tweet was earth shattering, but some led me on different paths of thought and perspectives that may not have warranted a post. I do not blame my scatter brain on the Twitter app. Do schools teach time management?

Interesting posts I have read along the way:

• Creating Passionate Users-Is Twitter TOO Good?
• PR Studies-Who Owns This Stuff?
• Lifehacker-Don't Want Up-To-The-Second Updates for All?
• Logic+Emotion-Influence Ripples+Social Media Fragmentation (WICKED COOL post)

When I think of the name, Twitter, it reminds me of a fave childhood book by Roald Dahl, The Twits. Gotta laugh.