My seven-year-old daughter celebrated her birthday this weekend with a pool party with several friends. We held the event at the indoor pool at the local LifeTime Fitness Center, where the staff does a great job of orchestrating a two hour fun-for-all.
After the swimming and water slide, the whole party moved upstairs for pizza and cake. The room upstairs is more like a board room than a kids birthday party location (obviously it is used for more professional gatherings). During the short break between pizza and cake, all 12 kids jumped up grabbed the dry erase marker pens and begun doodling on the white board, leaving behind a mural of art and names.
One of the dads in attendance is a successful local entrepreneur. He and I both noticed that grown ups do not do this when there is a short break in a meeting. Have the executives in your company ever crowded the white board and illustrated small drawings and written their name in big letters just for fun?
Kids have that spark to create things just because. We need to be more like seven-year-olds! Success follows those who can imagine and visualize things that others do not see. I was reminded to be more playful. Later this morning when I arrive at the Monday morning meeting at vcfo I plan to illustrate something silly on the white board!
Have A Great Day.
thom
Monday, February 09, 2009
Sunday, February 08, 2009
People Matter. Objects Don't
Sometimes you see something that sums it all up. The below is simple, but profound.
Hugh MacLeod at GapingVoid posted this cartoon on his blog today. It is perfect.
Hugh is a cartoonist and philosopher that has become a major voice in the blogosphere and on Twitter. He has a lot to say. Often he is opinionated, and sometimes rude to people who approach the world (especially the online world) differently than he does. Other times he is part of the noise that has taken over social media. Yet then he also has explosions of brilliance that are hard to equal in how it inspires. This is why he is so popular (thousands hang on his blog posts and tweets).
His cartoon style is unique, and some of his messages, while simple, sing to the soul.
Read the above several times. Live it.
Have A Great Day.
thom
Hugh MacLeod at GapingVoid posted this cartoon on his blog today. It is perfect.
Hugh is a cartoonist and philosopher that has become a major voice in the blogosphere and on Twitter. He has a lot to say. Often he is opinionated, and sometimes rude to people who approach the world (especially the online world) differently than he does. Other times he is part of the noise that has taken over social media. Yet then he also has explosions of brilliance that are hard to equal in how it inspires. This is why he is so popular (thousands hang on his blog posts and tweets).
His cartoon style is unique, and some of his messages, while simple, sing to the soul.
Read the above several times. Live it.
Have A Great Day.
thom
Friday, February 06, 2009
Austin Entrepreneur Network Offering Startup Classes
Austin Entrepreneur Network will soon offer Startup Business Classes
Entrepreneurs often ask the question, “where do I go to get help in starting my business?” Universities offer educational programs that take far too much time and often don’t focus on the practical issues of starting a new venture. First time entrepreneurs are often left with nowhere to turn to gain the practical knowledge they crave to help them along their new path.
To help solve this problem the Austin Entrepreneur Network will roll out its first classes on February 24, 2009. The course runs eight weeks - 2 hour sessions each week.
Attendees will receive: $495 per company for up to 3 attendees
This is a great way to find assistance with validating the market, identifying the business model, and building the management team. These topics tended to be the key elements that keep most from getting very far towards funding.
Speakers will include many of Austin's industry experts (I am speaking on the power of business relationships and networking) talking about topics such as product development, networking, crisis management, financials, intellectual property, and more. A little bit of guidance and instruction in the early days can go along ways to achieving success for a startup.
If you are interested in learning more about the course, please email Hal Martin at
Director (@) austinentrepreneurnetwork (DOT) org.
Have A Great Day.
thom
Entrepreneurs often ask the question, “where do I go to get help in starting my business?” Universities offer educational programs that take far too much time and often don’t focus on the practical issues of starting a new venture. First time entrepreneurs are often left with nowhere to turn to gain the practical knowledge they crave to help them along their new path.
To help solve this problem the Austin Entrepreneur Network will roll out its first classes on February 24, 2009. The course runs eight weeks - 2 hour sessions each week.
Attendees will receive:
- Eight two-hour classroom sessions over an eight-week period covering critical topics on starting and launching a company.
- Two one-on-one working sessions to provide feedback on your one-page Executive Summary and Fast pitch.
- Course book with presentation slides, work assignments, and reference materials.
Dates & Times:
Tuesdays from 4-6pm
February 24, 2009 through April 21, 2009 (skipping March 17, 2009)
Location:
Acton School of Business
1404 East Riverside Dr.
Austin, TX 78741
Cost:
This is a great way to find assistance with validating the market, identifying the business model, and building the management team. These topics tended to be the key elements that keep most from getting very far towards funding.
Speakers will include many of Austin's industry experts (I am speaking on the power of business relationships and networking) talking about topics such as product development, networking, crisis management, financials, intellectual property, and more. A little bit of guidance and instruction in the early days can go along ways to achieving success for a startup.
If you are interested in learning more about the course, please email Hal Martin at
Director (@) austinentrepreneurnetwork (DOT) org.
Have A Great Day.
thom
Thursday, February 05, 2009
The People You Have Known Are The Ingredients Of Life
I have been pleasantly surprised recently with the number of people from my past who have suddenly crossed my path on Facebook.
I speak and train about networking skills, and one key point I emphasize with audiences is how important it is to keep your friendships alive. If you do not have regular contact with people they will drift away. Out of sight is out of mind. This is not good or bad, it is just the way life happens.
All of us, throughout our very mobile lives, have lost touch with interesting people. Maybe they were not our "best friends", but they are wonderful souls who left a positive impact in the stream of our history.
I believe we are at our core a combination of the people we have known and the experiences we shared with them. Our inner-self is a stew of these ingredients. Alone some of these people and experiences would be spicy, bitter or bland -- but mixed together they become delicious.
Ten years ago (heck two years ago) most people who drifted away would have just been memories. If they were not directly connected to you or one of your close friends you may never see them again (especially if you moved across the country or across town!). They might cross your mind on some winter day as you commuted to work. The thought would trigger a smile, and then you would move on with your own life.
But in our new interconnected online world, our web of contacts is re-energized. As more and more people venture into social media / networking communities, the possibilities of reconnecting with some very cool, but random, old friends becomes very real.
I got the following note last night from a woman I went to college with: "NOW I get what Facebook is all about! So nice to see a friendly face from long ago." She sums it up beautifully and she is right. There are so many people who tell me "I don't do Facebook" or "I don't get it". But it is when you run across that one person whose memory and / or current story inspires you, it suddenly makes sense.
All opportunities in life come from people. Therefore investing your time and effort in others will make your life more rich.
I have read the profiles and blogs of people I had not seen in years and now understand that in my lifetime I have been surrounded by amazing people with hearts of gold, ambition, compassion, talent, character and spirit.
This is making me look closer at those I see everyday, as these traits are not just reserved for those people from the past. I think we get busy and take for granted how amazing people are when we look beyond the surface.
Do not just "friend" people on Facebook (or other communities), but instead communicate with them. Read what they write. Cherish others.
For those whom I have reconnected with lately (you know who you are) - THANK YOU!!! My heart is more full of spice today than it was before. And for those whom have been with me all along - THANK YOU !!! Together you have helped me make a damn good stew.
Have A Great Day.
thom
PS - Have you read about my family's February Fundraiser for Children's Hospital? Please Click Here and read about the story of "The Kate Singer Endowment for Cranio-Facial Research"
I speak and train about networking skills, and one key point I emphasize with audiences is how important it is to keep your friendships alive. If you do not have regular contact with people they will drift away. Out of sight is out of mind. This is not good or bad, it is just the way life happens.
All of us, throughout our very mobile lives, have lost touch with interesting people. Maybe they were not our "best friends", but they are wonderful souls who left a positive impact in the stream of our history.
I believe we are at our core a combination of the people we have known and the experiences we shared with them. Our inner-self is a stew of these ingredients. Alone some of these people and experiences would be spicy, bitter or bland -- but mixed together they become delicious.
Ten years ago (heck two years ago) most people who drifted away would have just been memories. If they were not directly connected to you or one of your close friends you may never see them again (especially if you moved across the country or across town!). They might cross your mind on some winter day as you commuted to work. The thought would trigger a smile, and then you would move on with your own life.
But in our new interconnected online world, our web of contacts is re-energized. As more and more people venture into social media / networking communities, the possibilities of reconnecting with some very cool, but random, old friends becomes very real.
I got the following note last night from a woman I went to college with: "NOW I get what Facebook is all about! So nice to see a friendly face from long ago." She sums it up beautifully and she is right. There are so many people who tell me "I don't do Facebook" or "I don't get it". But it is when you run across that one person whose memory and / or current story inspires you, it suddenly makes sense.
All opportunities in life come from people. Therefore investing your time and effort in others will make your life more rich.
I have read the profiles and blogs of people I had not seen in years and now understand that in my lifetime I have been surrounded by amazing people with hearts of gold, ambition, compassion, talent, character and spirit.
This is making me look closer at those I see everyday, as these traits are not just reserved for those people from the past. I think we get busy and take for granted how amazing people are when we look beyond the surface.
Do not just "friend" people on Facebook (or other communities), but instead communicate with them. Read what they write. Cherish others.
For those whom I have reconnected with lately (you know who you are) - THANK YOU!!! My heart is more full of spice today than it was before. And for those whom have been with me all along - THANK YOU !!! Together you have helped me make a damn good stew.
Have A Great Day.
thom
PS - Have you read about my family's February Fundraiser for Children's Hospital? Please Click Here and read about the story of "The Kate Singer Endowment for Cranio-Facial Research"
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting - Austinite of the Year
Today the Austin Chamber of Commerce honored AISD Superintendent Pat Forgione as the 2008 Austinite of the Year.
Dr. Forgione has done so many amazing things for our local schools. This honor is long overdue. He has helped the school district reach national recognition for excellence in urban city schools (Austin is the 14th largest city in the United States), and has made parents proud to be able to say "My kids go to and AISD school!" (my two kids are in the public schools, and we are very happy with their education).
Congratulations to Pat Forgione and his family.
Additionally there were honors for nine other community leaders as the 2008 Volunteers of the Year for their outstanding service to Austin and The Chamber:
Rick Whiteley - Oxford Commercial (Economic Development)
Barry Mayer - Tokyo Electron (Education & Talent Development)
Dave Claunch - Liaison Resources (Education & Talent Development)
Bobby Jenkins - ABC Services (Government Relations)
Rashed Islam - HDR/WHM (Inrastructure & Regional Development)
Ron Dusek - Hilton Austin (Communications)
Beverly Boyd - ScentAir (Membership)
Tim Gillespie - Green Bank (Small Business)
Jeff Browning - Austin Ventures (Technology)
Austin is fortunate to have so many who give so much to make our community spectacular.
Have A Great Day
thom
PS - On a side note, I learned today that one of the areas top business executives is exploring the options for a run for the U.S. Congress. This is great news. He is exactly the type of person that we Americans SHOULD be sending to Washington D.C. : Experienced in running a REAL business (AKA, most of our politicians have no clue what real business professionals face when it comes to the realities of profit/loss, payroll, benefits, sales projections, customer service, etc.... Instead they just go to Congress and pass laws that impact businesses and then they attend cocktail parties - yes, I am jaded with the actions of most of our elected officials in Washington!).
More on this later!!! We (Austinites and beyond) will be fortunate if he runs and wins.
Dr. Forgione has done so many amazing things for our local schools. This honor is long overdue. He has helped the school district reach national recognition for excellence in urban city schools (Austin is the 14th largest city in the United States), and has made parents proud to be able to say "My kids go to and AISD school!" (my two kids are in the public schools, and we are very happy with their education).
Congratulations to Pat Forgione and his family.
Additionally there were honors for nine other community leaders as the 2008 Volunteers of the Year for their outstanding service to Austin and The Chamber:
Rick Whiteley - Oxford Commercial (Economic Development)
Barry Mayer - Tokyo Electron (Education & Talent Development)
Dave Claunch - Liaison Resources (Education & Talent Development)
Bobby Jenkins - ABC Services (Government Relations)
Rashed Islam - HDR/WHM (Inrastructure & Regional Development)
Ron Dusek - Hilton Austin (Communications)
Beverly Boyd - ScentAir (Membership)
Tim Gillespie - Green Bank (Small Business)
Jeff Browning - Austin Ventures (Technology)
Austin is fortunate to have so many who give so much to make our community spectacular.
Have A Great Day
thom
PS - On a side note, I learned today that one of the areas top business executives is exploring the options for a run for the U.S. Congress. This is great news. He is exactly the type of person that we Americans SHOULD be sending to Washington D.C. : Experienced in running a REAL business (AKA, most of our politicians have no clue what real business professionals face when it comes to the realities of profit/loss, payroll, benefits, sales projections, customer service, etc.... Instead they just go to Congress and pass laws that impact businesses and then they attend cocktail parties - yes, I am jaded with the actions of most of our elected officials in Washington!).
More on this later!!! We (Austinites and beyond) will be fortunate if he runs and wins.
RISE Austin - An Entrepreneurial Experience!!!
RISE is looking for Austin area entrepreneurs to host informative / educational seminars on March 3rd, 4th and 5th. Sign up NOW to host your session (I did!). More info at www.riseaustin.org.
In its third year, RISE – a Relationship & Information Series for Entrepreneurs – is an annual conference series dedicated to providing a free forum for entrepreneurs to connect and exchange ideas that inspire the entrepreneurial spirit.
Co-hosted by MPOWER Foundation and the Acton School of Business, RISE is a non-profit initiative with no cost to participate. Through RISE expertise is exchanged as entrepreneurs from multiple industries and backgrounds connect with each other as well as members of the academic, financial, non-profit, and government sectors.
RISE is thrilled to welcome John Mackey and Roy Spence, two of our city's most storied and admired entrepreneurs, as the keynote speakers for RISE 2009.
From March 3-5, aspiring entrepreneurs may attend free RISE Sessions led by successful members of the Austin business community. Unlike a traditional conference, RISE Sessions are limited to 25 participants and take place all over the city in areas where entrepreneurs naturally congregate. From board rooms to coffee shops, from office parks to Zilker Park, entrepreneurs gather to learn, share and recharge.
Join the RISE community in 2009 by participating in a RISE Session, attending a RISE event, or telling others you know about the opportunity to connect with expert experience and expertise.
This is a great program. If you live and work in the Austin area, do not miss out on RISE 2009.
I will be hosting a session titled "Some Assembly Required: How to Make, Grow and Keep Your Business Relationships" on the morning of March 5th.
Even if you do not present a session, be sure to attend one. The Schedule is online... but new sessions are being added every day, so keep checking back to find out who is involved with RISE 2009.
Have A Great Day.
thom
In its third year, RISE – a Relationship & Information Series for Entrepreneurs – is an annual conference series dedicated to providing a free forum for entrepreneurs to connect and exchange ideas that inspire the entrepreneurial spirit.
Co-hosted by MPOWER Foundation and the Acton School of Business, RISE is a non-profit initiative with no cost to participate. Through RISE expertise is exchanged as entrepreneurs from multiple industries and backgrounds connect with each other as well as members of the academic, financial, non-profit, and government sectors.
RISE is thrilled to welcome John Mackey and Roy Spence, two of our city's most storied and admired entrepreneurs, as the keynote speakers for RISE 2009.
From March 3-5, aspiring entrepreneurs may attend free RISE Sessions led by successful members of the Austin business community. Unlike a traditional conference, RISE Sessions are limited to 25 participants and take place all over the city in areas where entrepreneurs naturally congregate. From board rooms to coffee shops, from office parks to Zilker Park, entrepreneurs gather to learn, share and recharge.
Join the RISE community in 2009 by participating in a RISE Session, attending a RISE event, or telling others you know about the opportunity to connect with expert experience and expertise.
This is a great program. If you live and work in the Austin area, do not miss out on RISE 2009.
I will be hosting a session titled "Some Assembly Required: How to Make, Grow and Keep Your Business Relationships" on the morning of March 5th.
Even if you do not present a session, be sure to attend one. The Schedule is online... but new sessions are being added every day, so keep checking back to find out who is involved with RISE 2009.
Have A Great Day.
thom
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Public Speaking Is A Skill You Can Learn - If You Care To Make It A REAL Priority!
Throughout human history people who have had the "gift of gab" have succeed in society.
For thousands of years expertly delivered stories of Confucius, Socrates and Jesus have impacted how people live their lives.
In the last two centuries leaders like Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Ronald Reagan (and others) are remembered for their command of the spoken word.
There is a pattern when you view the history of those who are remembered as truly great, and that is that most of them had a powerful way of connecting with their audience via the words they used.
In the business world we regularly attend seminars, conferences, happy hours, training classes, and other events where we are forced to listen to industry experts opine their brilliance. The problem is that most of these presentations are "blah" at best. Sometimes I sit in the audience and imagine if it would be less painful to stick needles in my ears than to have to listen to the speaker continue through his PowerPoint.
Some people are blessed with a natural ability so spin their oratory in a manner that captivates the masses. Others are so painfully shy that a public speech will always look more like they are having to perform an autopsy on their dog with a butter knife. However, the rest of us have the ability to fine tune our public speaking skills and discover the art of connecting with the audience.
In his book, Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell says that anyone who is amazing at what they do has most likely invested over 10,000 hours in the practice of their craft. Piano players, star athletes, top level attorneys, etc... all share that in common. They do not just show up and "wing" their performance. They have invested in the preparation of their talents.
Thus I do not understand why business leaders just assume that they can toss together a few slides and deliver a speech that will do anything beyond bore the crap out of the people in the audience.
To become a better public speaker means you have to honor the act of speaking as a real skill. When we see Olympic level athletes we admire the dedication they put into reaching the top - but often when we see a great speaker we assume they were born with the ability to connect with others.
The goal of a business speaker is to be remembered above the others in the pool of muck that is the combo of presenters who have come before. This is accomplished with more that the valuable information. It comes touching the audience in their soul.
WHAT? Touch them in their soul.... Dang, Thom, that sound hard! No. People want to know that you care about them, that you are like them (they want to relate to those on the stage) and that you want to see them succeed. Never forget that it is called "giving a speech". Every time you present you are giving a gift to your audience.
But think about birthday gifts. Are the best presents things that the giver likes, or things the receiver likes? Construct your talk around what matters to the audience and you will have a better chance of connecting than if you just sing your own resume.
The best speakers are authentic. If you make your presentation about yourself then you will not stand out from anyone else who gets up and sells themselves. If you make it about bringing value to the person listening to your words, you will find that the audience will enjoy your presentation much more.
Public speaking is a skill you can learn if you care enough to make it a real priority. Fake it and you will just be "blah".
Have A Great Day.
thom
For thousands of years expertly delivered stories of Confucius, Socrates and Jesus have impacted how people live their lives.
In the last two centuries leaders like Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Ronald Reagan (and others) are remembered for their command of the spoken word.
There is a pattern when you view the history of those who are remembered as truly great, and that is that most of them had a powerful way of connecting with their audience via the words they used.
In the business world we regularly attend seminars, conferences, happy hours, training classes, and other events where we are forced to listen to industry experts opine their brilliance. The problem is that most of these presentations are "blah" at best. Sometimes I sit in the audience and imagine if it would be less painful to stick needles in my ears than to have to listen to the speaker continue through his PowerPoint.
Some people are blessed with a natural ability so spin their oratory in a manner that captivates the masses. Others are so painfully shy that a public speech will always look more like they are having to perform an autopsy on their dog with a butter knife. However, the rest of us have the ability to fine tune our public speaking skills and discover the art of connecting with the audience.
In his book, Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell says that anyone who is amazing at what they do has most likely invested over 10,000 hours in the practice of their craft. Piano players, star athletes, top level attorneys, etc... all share that in common. They do not just show up and "wing" their performance. They have invested in the preparation of their talents.
Thus I do not understand why business leaders just assume that they can toss together a few slides and deliver a speech that will do anything beyond bore the crap out of the people in the audience.
To become a better public speaker means you have to honor the act of speaking as a real skill. When we see Olympic level athletes we admire the dedication they put into reaching the top - but often when we see a great speaker we assume they were born with the ability to connect with others.
The goal of a business speaker is to be remembered above the others in the pool of muck that is the combo of presenters who have come before. This is accomplished with more that the valuable information. It comes touching the audience in their soul.
WHAT? Touch them in their soul.... Dang, Thom, that sound hard! No. People want to know that you care about them, that you are like them (they want to relate to those on the stage) and that you want to see them succeed. Never forget that it is called "giving a speech". Every time you present you are giving a gift to your audience.
But think about birthday gifts. Are the best presents things that the giver likes, or things the receiver likes? Construct your talk around what matters to the audience and you will have a better chance of connecting than if you just sing your own resume.
The best speakers are authentic. If you make your presentation about yourself then you will not stand out from anyone else who gets up and sells themselves. If you make it about bringing value to the person listening to your words, you will find that the audience will enjoy your presentation much more.
Public speaking is a skill you can learn if you care enough to make it a real priority. Fake it and you will just be "blah".
Have A Great Day.
thom
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Together Let's Raise Money For Charity To Celebrate Kate's 7th Birthday
Please consider making a donation to the Dell Children's Medical Foundation in Kate's name to celebrate her 7th birthday. Even a small amount helps the hospital in their efforts to treat children who face a variety of medical issues. CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW!
Kate turns seven-years-old this week, and she is thrilled. She has been planning for the big event for a whole year (she begins preparing immediately after eating cake on the previous birthday). Kate is a beautiful girl who was born with a medical condition known as Sagital Synostosis, where the bones in her head had fused together prematurely. This was a tough time for our family.
At six months old Kate underwent major surgery to remove part of her skull and reconstruct her head. Today she is doing great. The bones grew back and she (hopefully) will never have any side effects from the ordeal. Kate is happy, smart, healthy and a true enthusiast for life. She has no memory of the surgery -- her mother and I will never forget.
We were fortunate that it has all worked out so well. Our family now donates a portion of my speaking fee every time I am hired to speak professionally. We started the Kate Singer Endowment for Cranio-Facial Surgery at the Dell Children's Medical Center to help fund cranio related research in Austin.
(Kate was treated by the wonderful doctors at Children's Hospital of San Diego. Since that time a new state-of-the-art hospital has opened in Austin. Now, children born in Central Texas do not have to travel across country to find top level medical services!!!! Our plan is to one day establish a similar endowment for the hospital in San Diego).
I would like to ask the readers of this blog and my other friends to donate this month in support of a great cause. Every little amount can make a difference. $5. $10, $25, $100, $250. Together we can assist others who will face similar issues in the future.
I am hoping that we can raise more money than we did last year. In 2008 together we raised $1700 for the Dell Children's Medical Center Foundation. Let's do more in 2009.
TELL A FRIEND!
Have A Great Day.
thom
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Happy New Month
There was a real sense of excitement on New Years Eve and New Years Day 2009. People embraced the idea of a fresh start. 2008 was not a good year for many, but the thoughts of 2009 had them roaring to go.
Then real life and routine came back for everyone and by now many people have already forgotten the feeling of a "new beginning".
Come on folks, it is only 31 days into 2009.
Tomorrow is February 1st. Why not feel that way you did on January 1st?
Happy New Month!!!
Reclaim your enthusiasm.
Have A Great Day.
thom
Then real life and routine came back for everyone and by now many people have already forgotten the feeling of a "new beginning".
Come on folks, it is only 31 days into 2009.
Tomorrow is February 1st. Why not feel that way you did on January 1st?
Happy New Month!!!
Reclaim your enthusiasm.
Have A Great Day.
thom
Friday, January 30, 2009
Local Mayor Candidates And Twitter. Does It Matter?
I would like to preface this post with the fact that I am biased in my view of the upcoming Austin Mayors Race. I support Mayor Pro Tem Brewster McCracken to be the future leader of our great city.
But I do find the below observation an interesting look at the workings of social media. At the end of the day, social media is social and it has to be authentic. If you try to manipulate social media or use it just for your own PR (without legitimately engaging others) then it is not real.
The social media world is not a fad, and Barak Obama has proven that politicians can and should live online. It is a wonderful two-way communication vehicle. Obama was not the first politician to appear in social online communities, but he certainly did it better than anyone else. He was engaging and engaged. The grassroots power of those who live, work, and play in the online world is here to stay.
Brewster McCracken has a presence on Twitter and other online mediums (Long term user of LinkedIn - over 200 contacts AND Facebook - over 800 contacts). He has not just looked at these tools as something new to use for the election.
He has always been a supporter of the local entrepreneurial tech community and he understands that Austin's future depends on the same innovation and vision that matter to growing businesses. Our city has never looked backwards or avoided the risks that come with growth.
Only one of Brewster's two opponents is on Twitter (interesting, however that many of the candidates for City Council are also "tweeting"). Lee Leffingwell is on Twitter as @TheLeeTeam, not as @LLeffingwell (which makes his involvement appear to be a campaign stunt). Brewster is there clearly as @BMcCracken. He is not using it as part of a campaign, he is there as a human being. A real person. He is communicating with people on Twitter. Sure, he is running for mayor, but as a person.... not a team of campaign people.
It is really, really him talking with his followers on Twitter. I know, because I have talked to him about it. It is not some random campaign staffers filling up Twitterville with more noise by chatting away in 140 characters or less. Brewster is interested in using Twitter, learning about Twitter (and all things that are impacting our society), and connecting with constituents. He knows that real people participate in social media communities, and thus he sees the value in being an active participant in social media himself.
Twitter is not for everyone, and many who read this blog might say "Twitter - waste of time - who cares if a mayor candidate is on Twitter". But this goes deeper than than the debate of the value of Twitter, or any other social media platform. It is about authenticity.
Everyone believes President Obama was personally involved with his campaign social media strategy... NOBODY thinks McCain was involved with his (yes, McCain had a social media strategy, too... just not executed very well - and all run by staffers).
I could be wrong about Mr. Leffingwell. Maybe he does all his own "tweeting". But in my opinion he is only on Twitter for the election, telling his 83 Twitter friends (84, I now follow him, too) about his latest fundraiser or other activities. From looking at it, there is a lot of talking "at" people in his Twitter strategy. I question why Leffingwell's Team is even there at this point (maybe because Brewster is there? Ouch, not the right reason to join a social media community! His page appeared three days after McCracken joined Twitter).
Why does this matter to regular people and businesses? (AKA, those of us NOT running for mayor). It matters because the social media train is leaving the station, and we can choose how we want to ride... or if we are going to let it pass us by. This does not mean everyone has to jump on the train RIGHT NOW (you have to want to be there).... And fortunately there will be other stops along the way, and you will be welcome when the time is right!! Twitter is not so much the social media "answer" (I still question it in some ways) as it is a high profile case study of how to authentically engage with others via an internet community.
If you treat social media as you do traditional advertising / marketing (one way communication), you are old school and everyone will know it. Twitter is not about a team of people trying to market a candidate. It is about real people (not hired staff) who are actively sharing with other human beings.
On a funny side note, @TheLeeTeam deleted or "blocked" the people involved with the McCracken Campaign from following them on Twitter. Their "tweets" are not private (you can see them at www.twitter.com/theleeteam even if you are not an anointed and approved follower), so blocking them was only an "anti-social-social-media-maneuver". In social media, being anti-social can be a bad bad thing.
I don't think that Brewster will block any of the citizens of Austin from his Twitter stream...even if they support his opponents. I would be offended if someone who wanted to be mayor blocked me on Twitter because I supported the other guy. I thought in today's era of "change" we were supposed to be beyond such things.
Have A Great Day.
thom
But I do find the below observation an interesting look at the workings of social media. At the end of the day, social media is social and it has to be authentic. If you try to manipulate social media or use it just for your own PR (without legitimately engaging others) then it is not real.
The social media world is not a fad, and Barak Obama has proven that politicians can and should live online. It is a wonderful two-way communication vehicle. Obama was not the first politician to appear in social online communities, but he certainly did it better than anyone else. He was engaging and engaged. The grassroots power of those who live, work, and play in the online world is here to stay.
Brewster McCracken has a presence on Twitter and other online mediums (Long term user of LinkedIn - over 200 contacts AND Facebook - over 800 contacts). He has not just looked at these tools as something new to use for the election.
He has always been a supporter of the local entrepreneurial tech community and he understands that Austin's future depends on the same innovation and vision that matter to growing businesses. Our city has never looked backwards or avoided the risks that come with growth.
Only one of Brewster's two opponents is on Twitter (interesting, however that many of the candidates for City Council are also "tweeting"). Lee Leffingwell is on Twitter as @TheLeeTeam, not as @LLeffingwell (which makes his involvement appear to be a campaign stunt). Brewster is there clearly as @BMcCracken. He is not using it as part of a campaign, he is there as a human being. A real person. He is communicating with people on Twitter. Sure, he is running for mayor, but as a person.... not a team of campaign people.
It is really, really him talking with his followers on Twitter. I know, because I have talked to him about it. It is not some random campaign staffers filling up Twitterville with more noise by chatting away in 140 characters or less. Brewster is interested in using Twitter, learning about Twitter (and all things that are impacting our society), and connecting with constituents. He knows that real people participate in social media communities, and thus he sees the value in being an active participant in social media himself.
Twitter is not for everyone, and many who read this blog might say "Twitter - waste of time - who cares if a mayor candidate is on Twitter". But this goes deeper than than the debate of the value of Twitter, or any other social media platform. It is about authenticity.
Everyone believes President Obama was personally involved with his campaign social media strategy... NOBODY thinks McCain was involved with his (yes, McCain had a social media strategy, too... just not executed very well - and all run by staffers).
I could be wrong about Mr. Leffingwell. Maybe he does all his own "tweeting". But in my opinion he is only on Twitter for the election, telling his 83 Twitter friends (84, I now follow him, too) about his latest fundraiser or other activities. From looking at it, there is a lot of talking "at" people in his Twitter strategy. I question why Leffingwell's Team is even there at this point (maybe because Brewster is there? Ouch, not the right reason to join a social media community! His page appeared three days after McCracken joined Twitter).
Why does this matter to regular people and businesses? (AKA, those of us NOT running for mayor). It matters because the social media train is leaving the station, and we can choose how we want to ride... or if we are going to let it pass us by. This does not mean everyone has to jump on the train RIGHT NOW (you have to want to be there).... And fortunately there will be other stops along the way, and you will be welcome when the time is right!! Twitter is not so much the social media "answer" (I still question it in some ways) as it is a high profile case study of how to authentically engage with others via an internet community.
If you treat social media as you do traditional advertising / marketing (one way communication), you are old school and everyone will know it. Twitter is not about a team of people trying to market a candidate. It is about real people (not hired staff) who are actively sharing with other human beings.
On a funny side note, @TheLeeTeam deleted or "blocked" the people involved with the McCracken Campaign from following them on Twitter. Their "tweets" are not private (you can see them at www.twitter.com/theleeteam even if you are not an anointed and approved follower), so blocking them was only an "anti-social-social-media-maneuver". In social media, being anti-social can be a bad bad thing.
I don't think that Brewster will block any of the citizens of Austin from his Twitter stream...even if they support his opponents. I would be offended if someone who wanted to be mayor blocked me on Twitter because I supported the other guy. I thought in today's era of "change" we were supposed to be beyond such things.
Have A Great Day.
thom
The Spirit To Innovate Is Not Dying
Let's face it, the downturn in the economy and the fear and trepidation that has hit everyone from Wall Street to Main Street is real.
No matter how much we keep hoping for good news, the headlines every day sing about more layoffs, shady payola dealing in Corporate America and sketchy government bailouts (can our elected officials do anything without stuffing it full of earmarks and bogus programs? Even when crisis is looming our loony Congress still pads important legislation with crap - but that is a whole other topic!).
Pessimists seem to have taken control and it is not making anybody feel good about the future. But as my 94-year-old father points out from his year of experience..."Every bust has been followed by a boom!".
Earlier this week I read a great blog post by a Colorado Venture Capitalist, Brad Feld. He too had had enough of the pessimism in the news (specifically about the venture capital industry).
His post was titled "I'm A Venture Optimist" and he rolled his eyes at the naysayers in the venture industry and noted that VC's are part of the business ecosystem and are here to stay. He knows there will be a shake out for some in his industry, but he is there to stay.
He had a great line when he said "In the mean time I don’t see an endpoint to the human animal’s desire to innovate". Amen. The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well, in good times and in bad. Our spirit to innovate is not dying!
Last night's Austin Tech Happy Hour was proof. Sure, there were people there looking for jobs. Layoffs happen. But there was as sense of optimism in the room of over 300 local professionals. Entrepreneurs, VC's, Deal Makers, Innovators, Knowledge Providers, Programmers, Marketers, Sales Professionals, Recruiters and many others were all there looking to help move the world forward.
When our desire to innovate and create dies, it is "game over". Sitting around waiting for a bail out never made anyone rich. I believe we will get through these rough economic times and that the future is still amazing for those who want to be part of it.
Have A Great Day.
thom
No matter how much we keep hoping for good news, the headlines every day sing about more layoffs, shady payola dealing in Corporate America and sketchy government bailouts (can our elected officials do anything without stuffing it full of earmarks and bogus programs? Even when crisis is looming our loony Congress still pads important legislation with crap - but that is a whole other topic!).
Pessimists seem to have taken control and it is not making anybody feel good about the future. But as my 94-year-old father points out from his year of experience..."Every bust has been followed by a boom!".
Earlier this week I read a great blog post by a Colorado Venture Capitalist, Brad Feld. He too had had enough of the pessimism in the news (specifically about the venture capital industry).
His post was titled "I'm A Venture Optimist" and he rolled his eyes at the naysayers in the venture industry and noted that VC's are part of the business ecosystem and are here to stay. He knows there will be a shake out for some in his industry, but he is there to stay.
He had a great line when he said "In the mean time I don’t see an endpoint to the human animal’s desire to innovate". Amen. The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well, in good times and in bad. Our spirit to innovate is not dying!
Last night's Austin Tech Happy Hour was proof. Sure, there were people there looking for jobs. Layoffs happen. But there was as sense of optimism in the room of over 300 local professionals. Entrepreneurs, VC's, Deal Makers, Innovators, Knowledge Providers, Programmers, Marketers, Sales Professionals, Recruiters and many others were all there looking to help move the world forward.
When our desire to innovate and create dies, it is "game over". Sitting around waiting for a bail out never made anyone rich. I believe we will get through these rough economic times and that the future is still amazing for those who want to be part of it.
Have A Great Day.
thom
Thursday, January 29, 2009
What, News On Your Computer? So Modern!
I saw the below video clip on John Cook's Venture Blog (Seattle) and it made me laugh for the whole afternoon.
You have to watch the whole 1981 news clip from San Francisco TV Station KRON. The idea of reading news on a home computer was so unique that they interviewed a person and below his name put the tag line "Owns Home Computer". Funny to think that not that long ago owning a computer would make you news-worthy.
I wonder what utterly cutting edge things we use today will seem so ridiculously silly and outdated in 25 years. Facebook? Twitter? Will our kids look back at us and say "oh, please! How sad!" when looking at our technology, media, communications, and fashion in the year 2009.
Have A Great Day.
thom
You have to watch the whole 1981 news clip from San Francisco TV Station KRON. The idea of reading news on a home computer was so unique that they interviewed a person and below his name put the tag line "Owns Home Computer". Funny to think that not that long ago owning a computer would make you news-worthy.
I wonder what utterly cutting edge things we use today will seem so ridiculously silly and outdated in 25 years. Facebook? Twitter? Will our kids look back at us and say "oh, please! How sad!" when looking at our technology, media, communications, and fashion in the year 2009.
Have A Great Day.
thom
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
2009 Austin Under 40 Awards Finalists Announced
The Austin Under Forty committee has announced the 2009 Finalists for the 11th Annual Austin Under Forty Awards! Five finalists were chosen in each of the ten categories and are listed in alphabetical order below. The finalists will be formally recognized at the awards presentation scheduled for February 27, 2009 at the Austin Music Hall. Finalists were selected on the basis of excellence in their professional field and commitment to the Austin community.
I am proud that several of my friends, including four of my classmates from the 2008 Leadership Austin Essential Class , are finalists: Jay Ellwanger, Trey Halbert, Adrienne Longenecker, and Rebecca Bray.
Additionally, my co-worker, Corey Blahuta (Managing Director of vcfo's Austin Office) is also a finalist!!
Additionally, Additionally - Chad Goldwasser, the co-author for my next book: "Some Assembly Required: A Networking Guide for Real Estate Professionals" (New Year Publishing, Spring 2009) is also a finalist!!
I was a finalist years ago when I was young enough to be part of this very cool program. Now I sit in the back with the over 40 crowd and drink cocktails and cheer for my friends!!!
Good luck to everyone!!
Arts & Entertainment
Amy Davis Coplen, KXAN-TV NBC Austin
Rochelle Rae, Rae Cosmetics
Carolyn Schwarz, Health Alliance for Austin Musicians
Joseph A. Stallone, Bracewell & Giuliani LLP
Roxanne Wilson, KPEZ-FM 102.3 The River
Business & Entrepreneurship
Zach Anderson, TicketCity
Joshua Dana Baer, OtherInbox
Natalie Kennedy, Kennedy Creative
Kyle Parks, Maxwell Locke & Ritter LLP
Scott Thomas, Intelechy Group
Community Service
Brandi Marie Clark, Austin EcoNetwork
Ellen Patricia Jefferson, EmanciPET/Austin Pets Alive
Adrienne Longenecker, Capital Area Food Bank of Texas
Heather Summers Parsons, Texas CASA
Jennifer Ransom Rice, Texas Senate, Senator Florence Shapiro
Financial Services
Corey Blahuta, vcfo
Trey Halbert, McQueary Henry Bowles Troy
Dawn Ambuehl-Sadek, A+ Federal Credit Union
Stuart Vick Smith, Maxwell Locke & Ritter LLP
Tom Wiley Wilkinson, PMB Helin Donovan
Government & Public Affairs
Matthew Durkin Curtis, Capital Metro
Amy Nicole Holloway, Avalanche Consulting
Mike William Martinez, City of Austin Council Member
Shannon Phillips Meroney, AETNA
Jeff Lee Rose, Deputy First Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General of Texas
Legal
Jay Ellwanger, DiNovo Price Ellwanger & Hardy LLP
David Michael Gonzalez, Sumpter & Gonzalez, LLP
Michael J. Nasi, Jackson Walker L.L.P.
Brooks Schuelke, Perlmutter & Schuelke, LLP
Tai Cu Tran, Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP
Medical & Healthcare
Chad Paul Dieterichs, MD, Capitol Anesthesiology
Kenneth Lambrecht, Planned Parenthood, Texas Capital Region
Dustin L. Reid, Restora Austin Plastic Surgery
Matthew Thompson, Medical Management Solutions
Marc Jason Zimmermann, American Physicians Service Group, Inc.
Real Estate
Tausha René Carlson, Marathon Real Estate
Scott Flack, Live Oak Gottesman
Chad Goldwasser, Goldwasser Real Estate
Holly Mace Massingill, Keller Williams
Mark Adrian Villanueva, Marcus & Millichap
Technology & Sciences
Rebecca Anne Bray, Klotz Associates, Inc.
Gregory Lee Harrington, Dell
Brett Hurt, Bazaarvoice, Inc.
Kathy Kempff, Charity Dynamics
Jeff McAdams, HigherOut
Youth & Education
Heath Hignight, Cockrell School of Engineering, UT
Michelle Krejci, Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders
Karen LaShelle, Theatre Action Project
Rene O. Sanchez, Austin ISD, High School Principal
Julie Shannan, Girlstart
Clearly this will be a wonderful event. Austin is fortunate to have so many great young leaders who will help shape our city for decades to come.
Have A Great Day.
thom
I am proud that several of my friends, including four of my classmates from the 2008 Leadership Austin Essential Class , are finalists: Jay Ellwanger, Trey Halbert, Adrienne Longenecker, and Rebecca Bray.
Additionally, my co-worker, Corey Blahuta (Managing Director of vcfo's Austin Office) is also a finalist!!
Additionally, Additionally - Chad Goldwasser, the co-author for my next book: "Some Assembly Required: A Networking Guide for Real Estate Professionals" (New Year Publishing, Spring 2009) is also a finalist!!
I was a finalist years ago when I was young enough to be part of this very cool program. Now I sit in the back with the over 40 crowd and drink cocktails and cheer for my friends!!!
Good luck to everyone!!
Arts & Entertainment
Amy Davis Coplen, KXAN-TV NBC Austin
Rochelle Rae, Rae Cosmetics
Carolyn Schwarz, Health Alliance for Austin Musicians
Joseph A. Stallone, Bracewell & Giuliani LLP
Roxanne Wilson, KPEZ-FM 102.3 The River
Business & Entrepreneurship
Zach Anderson, TicketCity
Joshua Dana Baer, OtherInbox
Natalie Kennedy, Kennedy Creative
Kyle Parks, Maxwell Locke & Ritter LLP
Scott Thomas, Intelechy Group
Community Service
Brandi Marie Clark, Austin EcoNetwork
Ellen Patricia Jefferson, EmanciPET/Austin Pets Alive
Adrienne Longenecker, Capital Area Food Bank of Texas
Heather Summers Parsons, Texas CASA
Jennifer Ransom Rice, Texas Senate, Senator Florence Shapiro
Financial Services
Corey Blahuta, vcfo
Trey Halbert, McQueary Henry Bowles Troy
Dawn Ambuehl-Sadek, A+ Federal Credit Union
Stuart Vick Smith, Maxwell Locke & Ritter LLP
Tom Wiley Wilkinson, PMB Helin Donovan
Government & Public Affairs
Matthew Durkin Curtis, Capital Metro
Amy Nicole Holloway, Avalanche Consulting
Mike William Martinez, City of Austin Council Member
Shannon Phillips Meroney, AETNA
Jeff Lee Rose, Deputy First Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General of Texas
Legal
Jay Ellwanger, DiNovo Price Ellwanger & Hardy LLP
David Michael Gonzalez, Sumpter & Gonzalez, LLP
Michael J. Nasi, Jackson Walker L.L.P.
Brooks Schuelke, Perlmutter & Schuelke, LLP
Tai Cu Tran, Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP
Medical & Healthcare
Chad Paul Dieterichs, MD, Capitol Anesthesiology
Kenneth Lambrecht, Planned Parenthood, Texas Capital Region
Dustin L. Reid, Restora Austin Plastic Surgery
Matthew Thompson, Medical Management Solutions
Marc Jason Zimmermann, American Physicians Service Group, Inc.
Real Estate
Tausha René Carlson, Marathon Real Estate
Scott Flack, Live Oak Gottesman
Chad Goldwasser, Goldwasser Real Estate
Holly Mace Massingill, Keller Williams
Mark Adrian Villanueva, Marcus & Millichap
Technology & Sciences
Rebecca Anne Bray, Klotz Associates, Inc.
Gregory Lee Harrington, Dell
Brett Hurt, Bazaarvoice, Inc.
Kathy Kempff, Charity Dynamics
Jeff McAdams, HigherOut
Youth & Education
Heath Hignight, Cockrell School of Engineering, UT
Michelle Krejci, Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders
Karen LaShelle, Theatre Action Project
Rene O. Sanchez, Austin ISD, High School Principal
Julie Shannan, Girlstart
Clearly this will be a wonderful event. Austin is fortunate to have so many great young leaders who will help shape our city for decades to come.
Have A Great Day.
thom
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Tag, You're It
We move fast in online social media communities.
Those you meet at a networking event send you a LinkedIn request within hours of meeting. Silly how some think an exchange of a business card means a permanent connection. Having a LinkedIn connection means nothing if you do not really know the person.
People from high school pop up in your life in Facebook for the first time in decades. Some of them who want to be "friends" were never your friends in high school.
Celebrities get 10,000 followers in Twitter overnight, while personally only following 13 people (most of them are not actually Tweeting, their PR firms is doing it!).
Photos of you from the college fraternity / sorority parties appear in others online-albums and you are "tagged" - letting the world glimpse into your less than brilliant wanton youth (like the photo of when you passed out drunk and your friends drew on your face with a marker). People do not think through what they are doing and have no consideration for whom else might now have access to what they say about your online.
Connect, connect, connect. Link, link, link. Share, share, share.
It all moves fast in the social media online world.
Well, slow down. For social media to have power there must be meaning. Too many think it is a game, and that cheapens the value.
You do not have to connect with or follow everyone. You are not obligated to read everyone's comments, blog posts, or other pontification. Many view the internet as a giant time suck, and it can be if you are not careful. There is a lot of noise on line.
It is okay to take your social networking activities at your own pace.
*************
On a side note, I had a funny experience last night while not really watching what I was doing on Facebook.
I was reconnected with one of my pledge brothers, John Gilham, from my college fraternity. He was a nice guy, but nobody knew what happened to him after college. Yes in the days before cell phones and the internet it was not uncommon to lose touch! Hard for some to remember, but these things were not common ten year ago.
He had just joined Facebook, and I jumped in and "tagged" him in photos from college in another friend's photo album. But my fingers were moving fast and I tagged John Gilham as Jonathan Gilliam. Gilliam is a friend here in Austin, Texas who is a local business professional and sales consultant.
Ooops.
Fortunately there we no embarrassing pictures (I would not tag someone in a photo that is not flattering, as that is not the right thing to do - on so many levels)... but all of Johnathan's friends would have be alerted that he was tagged in three photos.... three photos from 20 years ago of some other guy.
This is a reminder to pay attention and slow down.
Have A Great Day.
thom
Those you meet at a networking event send you a LinkedIn request within hours of meeting. Silly how some think an exchange of a business card means a permanent connection. Having a LinkedIn connection means nothing if you do not really know the person.
People from high school pop up in your life in Facebook for the first time in decades. Some of them who want to be "friends" were never your friends in high school.
Celebrities get 10,000 followers in Twitter overnight, while personally only following 13 people (most of them are not actually Tweeting, their PR firms is doing it!).
Photos of you from the college fraternity / sorority parties appear in others online-albums and you are "tagged" - letting the world glimpse into your less than brilliant wanton youth (like the photo of when you passed out drunk and your friends drew on your face with a marker). People do not think through what they are doing and have no consideration for whom else might now have access to what they say about your online.
Connect, connect, connect. Link, link, link. Share, share, share.
It all moves fast in the social media online world.
Well, slow down. For social media to have power there must be meaning. Too many think it is a game, and that cheapens the value.
You do not have to connect with or follow everyone. You are not obligated to read everyone's comments, blog posts, or other pontification. Many view the internet as a giant time suck, and it can be if you are not careful. There is a lot of noise on line.
It is okay to take your social networking activities at your own pace.
*************
On a side note, I had a funny experience last night while not really watching what I was doing on Facebook.
I was reconnected with one of my pledge brothers, John Gilham, from my college fraternity. He was a nice guy, but nobody knew what happened to him after college. Yes in the days before cell phones and the internet it was not uncommon to lose touch! Hard for some to remember, but these things were not common ten year ago.
He had just joined Facebook, and I jumped in and "tagged" him in photos from college in another friend's photo album. But my fingers were moving fast and I tagged John Gilham as Jonathan Gilliam. Gilliam is a friend here in Austin, Texas who is a local business professional and sales consultant.
Ooops.
Fortunately there we no embarrassing pictures (I would not tag someone in a photo that is not flattering, as that is not the right thing to do - on so many levels)... but all of Johnathan's friends would have be alerted that he was tagged in three photos.... three photos from 20 years ago of some other guy.
This is a reminder to pay attention and slow down.
Have A Great Day.
thom
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Two Quick Starbucks Stories
Story One:
One morning last week my friend, Diana Holford (of Jones Lang LaSalle), called me to see if I was in my office. She and a co-worker had been at the Starbucks nearby my office and on their way out they decided to buy me my favorite "Grande Non-Fat Vanilla Latte" and drop it by my office. They called and instructed me to meet me in the parking lot outside my office, where they handed me my cherished hot beverage "just because".
Wow. That was cool. Out of the blue someone who is near your office buys you a treat and drops if off for no reason (other than being a nice friend).
The kind gesture made my day. No, it probably made my whole week! It was a simple act that was neither time consuming nor expensive -- but it made a big impression.
What can you do for the people in your network that will be remembered?
Story Two:
My six-year-old is currently selling Girl Scout Cookies. I took her to the University of Texas on Saturday morning to stand on the corner of 24th and Guadalupe to sell the boxes of baked goodness. My thought was that hung-over college students could not say "no" to a cutie pie such as Kate.
The strategy worked, except for the fact that it was freezing cold in Austin this weekend so the foot traffic along "The Drag" was light. It took a little longer than expected, but she sold out her supply of cookies. However, the cold and wind was awful.
I suggested a hot chocolate at the nearby Starbucks on 24th. She agreed that this was a great idea (ummm, what kid would say no to that??!!). The very nice person behind the counter recognized the familiar Brownie brown vest that my kid was sporting. She engaged Kate in conversation about how cookie sales were going, and then told her since she had worked so hard to raise money for a good cause (she, too, had been in Girl Scouts as a child), that Kate's hot chocolate was going to be free.
Wow. To Kate this was really special. She had never seen a person working somewhere reward a customer with a free hot chocolate just because!
All day she was telling people that her hot chocolate at Starbucks was given to her for free because of her charity cookie selling activities.
The $1.50 that was waived by the woman behind the counter was much more valuable to the 6-year-old customer (whose dad was going to pay for the delightfully chocolaty beverage, anyway). It made Kate feel special.
See, the little things do make a big difference. Always look for ways to make others feel special and you will be a big success in life!!!
Have A Great Day.
thom
One morning last week my friend, Diana Holford (of Jones Lang LaSalle), called me to see if I was in my office. She and a co-worker had been at the Starbucks nearby my office and on their way out they decided to buy me my favorite "Grande Non-Fat Vanilla Latte" and drop it by my office. They called and instructed me to meet me in the parking lot outside my office, where they handed me my cherished hot beverage "just because".
Wow. That was cool. Out of the blue someone who is near your office buys you a treat and drops if off for no reason (other than being a nice friend).
The kind gesture made my day. No, it probably made my whole week! It was a simple act that was neither time consuming nor expensive -- but it made a big impression.
What can you do for the people in your network that will be remembered?
Story Two:
My six-year-old is currently selling Girl Scout Cookies. I took her to the University of Texas on Saturday morning to stand on the corner of 24th and Guadalupe to sell the boxes of baked goodness. My thought was that hung-over college students could not say "no" to a cutie pie such as Kate.
The strategy worked, except for the fact that it was freezing cold in Austin this weekend so the foot traffic along "The Drag" was light. It took a little longer than expected, but she sold out her supply of cookies. However, the cold and wind was awful.
I suggested a hot chocolate at the nearby Starbucks on 24th. She agreed that this was a great idea (ummm, what kid would say no to that??!!). The very nice person behind the counter recognized the familiar Brownie brown vest that my kid was sporting. She engaged Kate in conversation about how cookie sales were going, and then told her since she had worked so hard to raise money for a good cause (she, too, had been in Girl Scouts as a child), that Kate's hot chocolate was going to be free.
Wow. To Kate this was really special. She had never seen a person working somewhere reward a customer with a free hot chocolate just because!
All day she was telling people that her hot chocolate at Starbucks was given to her for free because of her charity cookie selling activities.
The $1.50 that was waived by the woman behind the counter was much more valuable to the 6-year-old customer (whose dad was going to pay for the delightfully chocolaty beverage, anyway). It made Kate feel special.
See, the little things do make a big difference. Always look for ways to make others feel special and you will be a big success in life!!!
Have A Great Day.
thom
Friday, January 23, 2009
Social Media and the Land of Misfit Toys
No matter how much things change, some things remain the same.
Take high school. Most people, no matter where they grew up, had similar experiences when it came to how social cliques took shape. This is the reason the movie The Breakfast Club is such a timeless classic - We all had popular kids, brainiacs, freaks, jocks, thugs, etc.... in our graduating classes. Everyone saw the experience from their own vantage point.
The majority of "too cool for school" people toned down their personal levels of self love and inflated egos after moving onto the real world. Observing people attending a 20 year reunion, there seems to be a great equalizer that takes over. Maybe this happens because they get older and fatter (and thus realize they are just human), or are so too tired to care about being the coolest kid on the block from five years of fighting aging - hello Botox!).
No matter what the reason, the older people get, the less seemed to care about cliques.
Until now. Welcome to the world of social media. Some of the "popular kids" in this new medium have begun to believe their own press. The levels of "full of self" and "full of shit" are reaching epic proportions.
I enjoy the interactions on Twitter, Blogging, Facebook, etc...., but there are some who have proclaimed themselves as the royal court and they look down their noses at those who are not part of the "Twitterati" (etc...). These self proclaimed "social media stars" are as phony as any pimply faced, Clearsil-covered teenager I have ever seen. Oh please.
I stopped following one guy because he is nasty. Sure 6,500 other fawn all over him, but the times I have seen him interact with others online there is a since of arrogance that I have not seen since sitting next to the homecoming queen in math class.
But to "unfollow" jerks comes easily in a social media world. You could not do that in high school. Wow, this is refreshing.
I also unfollowed anyone on Twitter who said mean spirited things during the United States Presidential Campaign. Sure, people can have differing opinions about political issues, but if they crossed the line and said mean and hateful personal stuff about Barak Obama, John McCain, Hillary Clinton or Sarah Palin...I just stopped following them. There is no time and no room in my social media world anybody who is dark in their soul.
I stopped reading the blogs of two popular bloggers that are seen as "all that and a bag of chips" in the blogosphere. They had clearly begun to believe that they were enlightened beyond the masses. Think Marie Antoinette. I don't want cake. At first I was curious what sparky outlandish things they might be saying, but within a week I no longer cared. I am not trendy-cool enough to be caught up in their wave anyway.
Today I read a tweet that said "I've noticed most guys who love talking about tech, Twitter, etc. actually have nothing to say. All megaphone and no message". I don't want to call the person who said it out by name, as that would be rude. His statement made me ponder about his message for a long time. Who is he judge the next guy's value? When was he appointed king of the internet? I must have been sick that day.
I am convinced that much of Twitter is just "noise", anyway, but so what. Sprinkled between the 140 characters of noise are powerful pieces of profound pontification. If you don't think someone adds to the stimulation of your brain, simply delete them from your Twitter Stream or stop reading their blog. Poof, they are gone from view, and their empty megaphone is no longer your problem. Why spend the time complaining about them, unless it is the superior feeling of the incessant whiner that you desire!
I tell my followers on Twitter that if I am just noise, they are free to unfollow me - no hard feelings. When I make such terse tweets I do see my numbers decline. But that is cool, because I only want to be connected with those whom there is a mutually mastered motif that magnifies the momentum of each other's mastery. If we cannot have a conversation, then we have nothing anyway.
We should all enjoy the ride that is the social media super highway. Moving fast and changing lanes is the name of the game. There are a lot of fun things to see along the way. But it is open to all, and we must not be overly judgemental of the others who have now come to play.
No matter how cool we think we are, we are all really living in the Land of Misfit Toys. And proud of it.
Have A Great Day.
thom
Take high school. Most people, no matter where they grew up, had similar experiences when it came to how social cliques took shape. This is the reason the movie The Breakfast Club is such a timeless classic - We all had popular kids, brainiacs, freaks, jocks, thugs, etc.... in our graduating classes. Everyone saw the experience from their own vantage point.
The majority of "too cool for school" people toned down their personal levels of self love and inflated egos after moving onto the real world. Observing people attending a 20 year reunion, there seems to be a great equalizer that takes over. Maybe this happens because they get older and fatter (and thus realize they are just human), or are so too tired to care about being the coolest kid on the block from five years of fighting aging - hello Botox!).
No matter what the reason, the older people get, the less seemed to care about cliques.
Until now. Welcome to the world of social media. Some of the "popular kids" in this new medium have begun to believe their own press. The levels of "full of self" and "full of shit" are reaching epic proportions.
I enjoy the interactions on Twitter, Blogging, Facebook, etc...., but there are some who have proclaimed themselves as the royal court and they look down their noses at those who are not part of the "Twitterati" (etc...). These self proclaimed "social media stars" are as phony as any pimply faced, Clearsil-covered teenager I have ever seen. Oh please.
I stopped following one guy because he is nasty. Sure 6,500 other fawn all over him, but the times I have seen him interact with others online there is a since of arrogance that I have not seen since sitting next to the homecoming queen in math class.
But to "unfollow" jerks comes easily in a social media world. You could not do that in high school. Wow, this is refreshing.
I also unfollowed anyone on Twitter who said mean spirited things during the United States Presidential Campaign. Sure, people can have differing opinions about political issues, but if they crossed the line and said mean and hateful personal stuff about Barak Obama, John McCain, Hillary Clinton or Sarah Palin...I just stopped following them. There is no time and no room in my social media world anybody who is dark in their soul.
I stopped reading the blogs of two popular bloggers that are seen as "all that and a bag of chips" in the blogosphere. They had clearly begun to believe that they were enlightened beyond the masses. Think Marie Antoinette. I don't want cake. At first I was curious what sparky outlandish things they might be saying, but within a week I no longer cared. I am not trendy-cool enough to be caught up in their wave anyway.
Today I read a tweet that said "I've noticed most guys who love talking about tech, Twitter, etc. actually have nothing to say. All megaphone and no message". I don't want to call the person who said it out by name, as that would be rude. His statement made me ponder about his message for a long time. Who is he judge the next guy's value? When was he appointed king of the internet? I must have been sick that day.
I am convinced that much of Twitter is just "noise", anyway, but so what. Sprinkled between the 140 characters of noise are powerful pieces of profound pontification. If you don't think someone adds to the stimulation of your brain, simply delete them from your Twitter Stream or stop reading their blog. Poof, they are gone from view, and their empty megaphone is no longer your problem. Why spend the time complaining about them, unless it is the superior feeling of the incessant whiner that you desire!
I tell my followers on Twitter that if I am just noise, they are free to unfollow me - no hard feelings. When I make such terse tweets I do see my numbers decline. But that is cool, because I only want to be connected with those whom there is a mutually mastered motif that magnifies the momentum of each other's mastery. If we cannot have a conversation, then we have nothing anyway.
We should all enjoy the ride that is the social media super highway. Moving fast and changing lanes is the name of the game. There are a lot of fun things to see along the way. But it is open to all, and we must not be overly judgemental of the others who have now come to play.
No matter how cool we think we are, we are all really living in the Land of Misfit Toys. And proud of it.
Have A Great Day.
thom
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Heart House Austin HALOS Kick-Off Party: January 27th at 5:30
Heart House Austin needs YOU!!!
This Austin based charity organization is a good cause, and is looking to get more people involved in 2009.
Next week Heart House Austin will launch "The HALOS" Group, which is a professional auxiliary group designed for both service (AKA: give back to the community) and social (AKA: have a lot of fun).
We are looking for people with an entrepreneurial spirit who can help grow, shape, and cultivate this important group.
The kick-off party is at 5:30 on Tuesday, January 27th at Roux Restaurant on 6th Street.
If you live in Austin and are looking for a good cause to support, come check out the Heart House HALOS.
See you on Tuesday.
More info HERE
thom
This Austin based charity organization is a good cause, and is looking to get more people involved in 2009.
Next week Heart House Austin will launch "The HALOS" Group, which is a professional auxiliary group designed for both service (AKA: give back to the community) and social (AKA: have a lot of fun).
We are looking for people with an entrepreneurial spirit who can help grow, shape, and cultivate this important group.
The kick-off party is at 5:30 on Tuesday, January 27th at Roux Restaurant on 6th Street.
If you live in Austin and are looking for a good cause to support, come check out the Heart House HALOS.
See you on Tuesday.
More info HERE
thom
Managing Corporate Culture During Hard Times
Austin's most dynamic technology companies should all be attending TEXCHANGE!
Last night over 140 local professionals were in the audience to listen to Southwest Airlines legend Colleen Barrett talk about managing corporate culture during hard times.
Ms. Barrett had a very relaxed speaking style. She had no prepared remarks, but instead just allowed her mind to free-flow a stream of consciousness. She talked to the crowd like a next door neighbor, sharing her anecdotes and passion about corporate culture. Clearly sage advice.
To Southwest Airlines culture is their difference. While a company needs a good business model and strong business thinkers, good people in at all levels and a passion for customer service can propel a business ahead of the competition.
The company is fanatical (almost arrogant) in their hiring process. It would not be uncommon to interview thirty people for one baggage handler position. Why? Because the right person can help the company succeed, but also a bad hire can sour the whole department. From the beginning of the company in 1967 they have looked for employees who viewed the airline as not a "career", but a "cause".
When Herb Kelleher began the company, but before they were flying passengers, the bigger airlines (the bad guys) filed law suits to block them. This move by the large carriers (who lost the cases) directly made a difference for the success of Southwest Airlines. It gave the employees a "spirit" - a fighting spirit! Had they not had this battle to forge their dedication and culture, they may have never made it into the 1970s. But instead they became scrappy warriors who fell in love with their cause.
The company requires those who work there to exhibit three traits everyday: Spirit, A Servants Heart, and A Fun Loving Attitude. They take business seriously, but do not take themselves seriously - from the top down.
They are proud of the fact that they changed the face of the airline business. In 1967 only 13% of adults flew commercial airlines. Now it is up near 90% of adults, but also people of all ages fly on planes regularly. They made air travel affordable and accessible. They have cherished their passengers and they hear back from them that they make a difference in their business and personal lives. (Brian Krpec of Performix who was sitting at my table at the dinner met his wife on a Southwest Airlines flight...and now they have four kids. Hey, that's not just a bag of peanuts!).
In hard times the corporate executive's commitment to culture is even more important. Your company's culture builds a bond with people (employees and customers), and it makes them WANT to see you get through the rough times and continue to thrive. Employees will look for ways to help you save money, and clients will look for ways to buy from you in the tough economic climate if they have loyalty and trust. They are all pulling for the company's success when you have the right culture.
It is easier to build a good culture from the start of the business. Changing a culture is hard (not impossible with the right leader, but difficult no matter what).
Finally, Ms. Barrett closed the evening by hitting the point that communication is the key. She feels that email has hurt corporate culture and has made interactions impersonal. She encouraged companies to communicate, communicate, communicate with their employees (and customers) using a variety of mediums, including in person communications. A leader cannot lead via email, so you have to look for many, many ways to ensure your message is being delivered and recieved.
Colleen Barrett was one of the most "real" presenters I have witnessed (and I study the style and poise of anyone who takes the stage). I think it is her genuine quality that has lead her and Southwest Airlines to reach the top.
Have A Great Day.
thom
Last night over 140 local professionals were in the audience to listen to Southwest Airlines legend Colleen Barrett talk about managing corporate culture during hard times.
Ms. Barrett had a very relaxed speaking style. She had no prepared remarks, but instead just allowed her mind to free-flow a stream of consciousness. She talked to the crowd like a next door neighbor, sharing her anecdotes and passion about corporate culture. Clearly sage advice.
To Southwest Airlines culture is their difference. While a company needs a good business model and strong business thinkers, good people in at all levels and a passion for customer service can propel a business ahead of the competition.
The company is fanatical (almost arrogant) in their hiring process. It would not be uncommon to interview thirty people for one baggage handler position. Why? Because the right person can help the company succeed, but also a bad hire can sour the whole department. From the beginning of the company in 1967 they have looked for employees who viewed the airline as not a "career", but a "cause".
When Herb Kelleher began the company, but before they were flying passengers, the bigger airlines (the bad guys) filed law suits to block them. This move by the large carriers (who lost the cases) directly made a difference for the success of Southwest Airlines. It gave the employees a "spirit" - a fighting spirit! Had they not had this battle to forge their dedication and culture, they may have never made it into the 1970s. But instead they became scrappy warriors who fell in love with their cause.
The company requires those who work there to exhibit three traits everyday: Spirit, A Servants Heart, and A Fun Loving Attitude. They take business seriously, but do not take themselves seriously - from the top down.
They are proud of the fact that they changed the face of the airline business. In 1967 only 13% of adults flew commercial airlines. Now it is up near 90% of adults, but also people of all ages fly on planes regularly. They made air travel affordable and accessible. They have cherished their passengers and they hear back from them that they make a difference in their business and personal lives. (Brian Krpec of Performix who was sitting at my table at the dinner met his wife on a Southwest Airlines flight...and now they have four kids. Hey, that's not just a bag of peanuts!).
In hard times the corporate executive's commitment to culture is even more important. Your company's culture builds a bond with people (employees and customers), and it makes them WANT to see you get through the rough times and continue to thrive. Employees will look for ways to help you save money, and clients will look for ways to buy from you in the tough economic climate if they have loyalty and trust. They are all pulling for the company's success when you have the right culture.
It is easier to build a good culture from the start of the business. Changing a culture is hard (not impossible with the right leader, but difficult no matter what).
Finally, Ms. Barrett closed the evening by hitting the point that communication is the key. She feels that email has hurt corporate culture and has made interactions impersonal. She encouraged companies to communicate, communicate, communicate with their employees (and customers) using a variety of mediums, including in person communications. A leader cannot lead via email, so you have to look for many, many ways to ensure your message is being delivered and recieved.
Colleen Barrett was one of the most "real" presenters I have witnessed (and I study the style and poise of anyone who takes the stage). I think it is her genuine quality that has lead her and Southwest Airlines to reach the top.
Have A Great Day.
thom
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Austin, Texas Mayors Race - Vote Brewster McCracken!!!
Seems like just yesterday the country was celebrating the Inauguration of Barak Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America.
Oh, it was just yesterday.
But all politics is local, and now it is time for people in Austin, Texas to start thinking about the ever-growing list of candidates running for mayor of our fine city (the 16th largest city in America).
I am not here to tell anyone how to vote, but I do want to encourage my fellow Austinites to look closely at my friend, who is a two-term city councilman and Mayor Pro-Tem, Brewster McCracken.
Brewster understands and embraces what makes Austin unique (some call that uniqueness "weird" - but some also say "Brewster" is a weird name!!).
He is passionate about the environmental issues and clean energy initiatives that are important to the the future - not just for the city, but for the whole world.
He embraces the arts community that has always been an important part of the town.... AND he is a friend to businesses and the entrepreneurial spirit that sparks ideas that change the world.
Yes - Business, the Arts, and the environmental causes can all live together in a thriving city, and Brewster McCracken wants to make sure that Austin thrives today and tomorrow (I heard one of his opponents pooh-pooh "the vision thing". WHAT? Only a "yesterday thinker" looks down on vision!!!)
Last year he and I sat down for a long lunch and I knew right away that he had the vision to lead our city. While he did not say it at the time, I was hopeful that he would run for Mayor of Austin, Texas. Now he is running and I want to help him win.
He was open to fresh ideas and perspectives. He is hopeful that all Austinites can and will converge to make our city shine in the new realities of the world around us.
Campaigns need money, and Brewster has not raised as much of it as the old-time politicians that are also seeking the position. The max you can give is $350, but even $10, $25, or $50 can make a difference. We learned from Barak Obama that the grassroots actions of the people are what really matter to uncovering candidates that can lead us into the future.
If you live in Austin, I hope you will look at Brewster McCracken closely and consider tossing your support behind whom I hope is our next mayor.
Thanks for letting me rave about my candidate.
You can follow Brewster on the campaign trail on Twitter at @bmccracken.
Have A Great Day.
thom
Oh, it was just yesterday.
But all politics is local, and now it is time for people in Austin, Texas to start thinking about the ever-growing list of candidates running for mayor of our fine city (the 16th largest city in America).
I am not here to tell anyone how to vote, but I do want to encourage my fellow Austinites to look closely at my friend, who is a two-term city councilman and Mayor Pro-Tem, Brewster McCracken.
Brewster understands and embraces what makes Austin unique (some call that uniqueness "weird" - but some also say "Brewster" is a weird name!!).
He is passionate about the environmental issues and clean energy initiatives that are important to the the future - not just for the city, but for the whole world.
He embraces the arts community that has always been an important part of the town.... AND he is a friend to businesses and the entrepreneurial spirit that sparks ideas that change the world.
Yes - Business, the Arts, and the environmental causes can all live together in a thriving city, and Brewster McCracken wants to make sure that Austin thrives today and tomorrow (I heard one of his opponents pooh-pooh "the vision thing". WHAT? Only a "yesterday thinker" looks down on vision!!!)
Last year he and I sat down for a long lunch and I knew right away that he had the vision to lead our city. While he did not say it at the time, I was hopeful that he would run for Mayor of Austin, Texas. Now he is running and I want to help him win.
He was open to fresh ideas and perspectives. He is hopeful that all Austinites can and will converge to make our city shine in the new realities of the world around us.
Campaigns need money, and Brewster has not raised as much of it as the old-time politicians that are also seeking the position. The max you can give is $350, but even $10, $25, or $50 can make a difference. We learned from Barak Obama that the grassroots actions of the people are what really matter to uncovering candidates that can lead us into the future.
If you live in Austin, I hope you will look at Brewster McCracken closely and consider tossing your support behind whom I hope is our next mayor.
Thanks for letting me rave about my candidate.
You can follow Brewster on the campaign trail on Twitter at @bmccracken.
Have A Great Day.
thom
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Celebration
Tonight my wife and I attended the Texas Presidential Inaugural Celebration at the Four Seasons in Austin, Texas. It was not quite the same as being in Washington DC, but the sold out event was packed with local folks who wanted to come out and dance the night away to honor the 44th President of the United States.
We attended with a small group, and we were also celebrating our friend Kelsey's 40th birthday. On the day she was born, Richard Nixon was sworn into office. Who could have imagined the changes the world would see during those four decades.
It was fun to watch the festivities and party atmosphere, which were kicked off by local television personality Judy Maggio. The rendition of "God Bless America" by Pamela Hart brought the house down. And kudos to the red-headed lady in the green dress (with full length golves) and her husband (date, boyfriend???) who knew how to dance the samba like nobodies business -- They were great!!!
I love any time people can come together. The spirit of people being united is the key to all success. This day was a symbol of a new beginning. Inspiration seems to be looming over everyone, regardless of where they stand in the phony political divide.
Good luck, Barak Obama. Godspeed.
Have A Great Day.
thom
We attended with a small group, and we were also celebrating our friend Kelsey's 40th birthday. On the day she was born, Richard Nixon was sworn into office. Who could have imagined the changes the world would see during those four decades.
It was fun to watch the festivities and party atmosphere, which were kicked off by local television personality Judy Maggio. The rendition of "God Bless America" by Pamela Hart brought the house down. And kudos to the red-headed lady in the green dress (with full length golves) and her husband (date, boyfriend???) who knew how to dance the samba like nobodies business -- They were great!!!
I love any time people can come together. The spirit of people being united is the key to all success. This day was a symbol of a new beginning. Inspiration seems to be looming over everyone, regardless of where they stand in the phony political divide.
Good luck, Barak Obama. Godspeed.
Have A Great Day.
thom
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