Communicators Anonymous

Better Days 2008

My last post of 2007 is best sung (by the Goo Goo Dolls):

Better Days
And you ask me what I want this year
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days

So take these words
And sing out loud
Cuz everyone is forgiven now
Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again

And it's someplace simple where we could live
And something only you can give
And thats faith and trust and peace while we're alive
And the one poor child that saved this world
And there's 10 million more who probably could
If we all just stopped and said a prayer for them

So take these words
And sing out loud
Cuz everyone is forgiven now
Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again

I wish everyone was loved tonight
And somehow stop this endless fight
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days

So take these words
And sing out loud
Cuz everyone is forgiven now
Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again
Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again


[

www.LyricsTop.com ]

Yes, but who is listening?

Thank you, Robert, for posting "A Vision of Students Today" - It Speaks To Me, Does It Speak To You? The companion piece by Professor Wesch is not shocking content, but shocking to hear and read. The rumble is audible. I am cross-posting these comments on Marcom Colloquy, my teaching blog for Northwood University. Many of the frustrations Professor Wesch states are not over exaggerated and I have expressed on MC.

We must change education expectations.

I have just completed my first year teaching at University. I have heard the wackiest excuses for not turning in homework on time or missing class. As I start my second year teaching, I am more cynical of our education system, but more passionate than ever! In addition to a full time job, teaching night classes and conducting various projects, I have found myself being manipulated into a babysitter. Harsh. It is what it is. Education should be earned. Effort is required.

Students are too coddled. (And I say this as a teacher of adult students with intentions for second career!) Teachers are too lenient. It is time for both generations to be held accountable.My class syllabus is a contract with students. Life lessons can be taught in conjunction with communication theory! Life does not come with an instruction booklet.

Zany: New Santa Baby Lyrics

I am no Dr. Seuss, but with the little help of the RhymeZone...Perhaps this was a project for Utterz, but I am no Marilyn Monroe either!

Buh-bum.. buh-bum...
Santa baby, just slip a Mac Book under the tree, for me
Been an awful good girl
Santa baby so hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa baby, a Trendnet TV-IP300 web cam too, thank you,
I'll wait up for you dear
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight

Think of all the fun I've missed,
Think of all the seesmics that I've dismissed
Next year I could be just as good
If you check off my Christmas list

Santa baby, I want to be a big shot and really that's not a lot
Been an angel all year
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa honey, one little thing I really need, a new credit line
Please don't decline,
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa cutie, and fill my stocking with new projects,
Sign your x on the line
Santa cutie, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Come and trim my Chirstmas tree,
With some software for this busy bee
I really do believe in you,
Let's see if you believe in me

Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing, a zing,
I don't mean a buzzing noise,
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight

Hurry down the chimney tonight
Hurry, tonight.

Speak! (My Utterz)

Cookies we left for Santa

I love checking mail...real mail. I'm OK with spam...it's my natural energy source. The usual pile of junk is waiting on my desk when I return from lunch. Today, there is an envelope from Eisenberg and Associates. The name of the company does not ring a bell...normally the mail would go to trash instantly, but it is the holidays and I like to save my spam for scrapbooking material.

Inside I find a 4.25x6.25" 4-color booklet of cookie recipes. The cover is silver and reads, "Cookies we left for Santa." Inside cover:

Cookies are a big part of any holiday tradition, and we wanted to offer the opportunity to share some of our (and our clients') favorite holiday cookie recipes. So, from the Eisenberg and Associates Family, we're extending our warmest wishes (and cookies) for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Following the greeting is nine cookie recipes opposite a picture or graphic of the delectable treat.

The inside back page reads:

To see the full list of recipes and submit your own, please visit us online at cookies4santa.com and don't forget the milk!

Nowhere in the document is a description of Eisenberg and Associates as to give me a clue about our relationship.

I go to the site referenced in booklet...now I am confused. I read about a thank you for recipe submissions. No one has asked me for a recipe... Finally, I type in the Eisenberg and Associates URL (found in tiny print on back of booklet). Aha! Advertising, Interactive and Design firm. A quick scroll through the list of team members and I recognize a name of person I had given my card at an IABC lunch several months prior.

The creative is cute, but what was the purpose of this holiday card/book and boring, non descriptive site? I have more cookie recipes. So what? I receive spam cooking cards in my home mail all the time! This direct mail is from an interactive agency...just lacking interaction. What if the recipe submissions were paired with a picture of executive or client? Maybe a personal story shared? Can this agency prepare a similar direct mail with online draw for me and my company? Ouch.

Multi-channel idea, but the follow thru definitely lacked doting of i's and crossing t's.

Changing the world: One day at a time

Hands up, hair wind-blown and throat raw from screaming...my ride on the 2007 roller coaster of life is coming to an end. Thank goodness. This year has been the most challenging - personally, professionally and financially.

(Photo courtesy Flikr/realkuhl.)

"A woman is like a tea bag - you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water." -Eleanor Roosevelt

Did 2007 reflect lessons learned in 2006? Challenges built scar tissue necessary to accept opportunities.

"Do what you feel in your heart to be right - for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't." -Eleanor Roosevelt

This past year, I questioned me: What do I represent? The definition of our industry has been debated numerous times. Occasionally, I confuse this professional identity crisis with my identity.

There are too many year-end lists to post here, so I built lists on del.icio.us to track 2007 updates.

Blogs are ten years old. We now enter the tween years...let the fun begin.

Trends

"Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people." -Eleanor Roosevelt

Has Facebook outgrown its welcome? We shall see... Until then, I will stay away from the vampire applications and may add scrabulous...did you know I have never even played Scrabble in real life? Connie Reece, please share your wisdom! For now, I will stick to playing chess in real life to keep strategy insights free of rust.

Predictions

"Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself." -Eleanor Roosevelt

I am depending on all of you testing beta programs to keep me in the loop! I'd be stoked if I could play with seesmic this year, but I don't think this app will be sent my way before public explosion. Applications like Zoho are invaluable and I will continue to use and pass the word.

Year In Review

"One thing life has taught me: if you are interested, you never have to look for new interests. They come to you. When you are genuinely interested in one thing, it will always lead to something else." -Eleanor Roosevelt

My RSS reader has been cleansed. I have been introduced to new voices and rediscovered some voices buried in unread posts. Communications feeds are now in Google Reader and all news/personal interest feeds remain in Bloglines.

Your Direction

"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do." -Eleanor Roosevelt

Lauren's Direction

"People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built." -Eleanor Roosevelt

One of these years, I will learn how to play the cello, but in the meantime I resolve to continue contributing to the community:

• Mondays: Communicators Anonymous-Twelve Step Principles(1/mo) More info soon!
• Tuesdays: Marcom Colloquy-Former students guest posts
• Wednesdays: Life Artist/Communicators Anonymous-Mashup More info soon!
• Thursdays: Now Is Gone
• Fridays: Communicators Anonymous-Zany topics

My intention is to attend three major conferences (some like this) and meet some virtual friends face-to-face! I have several colored paper clips to barter for registration fees...

I am debating whether to pursue my PhD...my plate is full with family, teaching at Northwood University, my virtual presence and real job, but the challenge and research is intriguing! I would love to be a professional student.

For now, I am living one day at a time.

Cheers, good friends (true definition)!

Zany: Happy Bday to Me!

(My Threadless T of the day.)

I love my birthday. It is 11 days until Christmas and another day closer to death! (What do you expect? I share my birthday with Nostradamus!)

• 348th day of year
• 1542 - Princess Mary Stuart becomes Queen Mary I of Scotland
• 1903 - Wright Brothers make first attempt to fly
• MY FAVORITE - Nostradamus was born this day in 1503

I am starting my morning with a venti vanilla soy cafe mocha and potato chips! I may treat myself to Sonic for lunch and craving Green Papaya for dinner. I spent my birthday money on Threadless T shirts and I am contemplating getting an ouroboros tattoo. Just another day in the life of...

(Courtesy Flikr: Tinctory's Photostream)

Resistance is Futile

"The future is uncertain and no one really knows." -Geoff Livingston/The Buzz Bin: Convergence

Of course that does not keep the blogosphere from predicting!

While re-reading my blog post archives (beg. February 2006), the question of my role in the communications world kept resurfacing. I am suffering from multiple personalities. Geoff does a fantastic summary of the most recent conversations around the blogosphere about communication roles and responsibilities.

I found this definition of convergence:

Biology The adaptive evolution of superficially similar structures, such as the wings of birds and insects, in an unrelated species subjected to similar environments. Also called convergent evolution.

Too bad I am not a better graphic designer because I have this awesome visual of a morphed communicator!

We are in a constant state of convergence. Our skills are evolving each day. As we grow into these skills, are we outgrowing others? By slapping labels and limits on roles and responsibilities we may stunt the learning process. On the flip side, becoming an expert at everything is failure of knowledge of anything. Are we overdosing on communication skills to be a jack of all trades and diluting our trades?

My rope is frayed because of all the tug-of-war.

Me-March 2006:

"Perhaps because faith is not a tangible concept, practitioners must mold the thoughts of customers.  All I can envision right now is The Borg from Star Trek.  It would really be a test of our profession if we could hold a conversation with our customers, wouldn't it?  Let them speak and lead the conversation?"

Service Requested

I do not use this blog to rant about customer service issues unless it is as brutal as my engagement ring fiasco at Jarods Jewlers.

This answer from Michael's Customer Service is brutal. It is obvious this was an automated reply because Recollections is no longer a new or existing store.

This is a notification from the Michaels Customer Care Department.

Your Ticket Number 01313287 has been  updated.

Call Description: To Whom It May Concern:

The Recollections Store in my community is shutting down. I have read
the
official news release and understand efforts will be directed to
Michaels
stores. While Michaels has increased the scrapbook assortment in main
stores, the inventory level of supplies and diverse paper assortment is
substandard. Will Michaels expand the scrapbook section again with the
closing of Recollections? If not, please note there will be many
dissatisfied customers. Many scrapbook elements require touch and feel.
Recollections offers this. Competitor, Scrap Pad, offers more selection
than Michaels, but the atmosphere of Recollections and exclusive paper
supply is not duplicated.
----------
New Entry: Thank you for taking the time to write to Michaels.com about
our
new Store
idea called Recollections.

We are always looking for good business opportunities, and we think we
might have found one with the scrapbooking concept.
We currently have two stores open in the Dallas, TX area, with more
planned
for the Phoenix, AZ, Atlanta, GA and Washington, DC areas. 

Recollections currently has a website at
http://www.recollectionsonline.com

Thank you for visiting us at Michaels.com,

Sincerely,

Michaels Customer Care

CCCallID: 01313287

Step 12: Thought Leadership

Communicators Anonymous Step 12: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to communications practitioners and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

(Those words highlighted are words differing from the original twelve steps text as written by Alcoholics Anonymous.)

To carry this message is to practice thought leadership. We claim not to be experts, but come to the table as professionals with knowledge and experience to back up our statements. "It is okay to make definitive statements, but the risk you take is being able to admit when you are wrong and take responsibility for your actions." Issues change; challenges change, but the principles remain the same.

Yesterday, Geoff Livingston tweets: "There are few new ideas. There are only rehashed ideas from other eras repackaged for new media forms."

My response: Voltaire, "Originality is nothing but judicious imitation. The most original writers borrowed one from another. The instruction we find in books is like fire. We fetch it from our neighbors, kindle it at home, communicate it to others, and it becomes the property of all."

Fear not of letting go of intellectual property of which you never had possession.

"Selfishness--self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles. Driven by a hundred forms of fear, self-delusion, self-seeking, and self-pity, we step on the toes of our fellows and retaliate." BB pg. 62

• PR-Squared's "Social Media Tactics" Series...Using del.icio.us for Thought Leadership
• David Meerman Scott - Thought Leadership blog category