Make Every Performance Seem Like the First
As I headed to the Kennedy Center last night for a show, I began thinking about the preparation involved in stage production and what an immense undertaking it is. The behind the scenes work takes months to produce a seemingly effortless result; the performance.
I was always taught that the trick to acting is to make each performance seem like the first time. To make each word and motion authentic to the moment, current and un-contrived.
I believe the same idea applies to real life and to business, especially from a customer service standpoint. Each interaction with a customer or client should feel real, not a canned corporate answer and definitely should not sound like a rehearsed script.
No matter the interaction, act as though you are the only personal contact that the customer has with your company. Be prepared and behave as though the entire company’s image depends on you.
More on this tomorrow…
Photo by: Beck Exposed
Self- Indulgent Marketing
Do marketers avoid being persuaded by their own art?
Or do marketers love the hypnosis that comes from their own craft?
Over the past 3 years I’ve worked with a lot of marketing and PR professionals. As a result of the work I see happening around me I have become much more aware of my surroundings and the messages that are being sent to be from products and logos. Simultaneously, I have found myself analyzing and critiquing advertising campaigns.
I feel comfortable saying that most folks find a little enjoyment in making sure Apple doesn’t do something politically incorrect, or that Coca Cola doesn’t run into a communication crisis over water pollution or something, right?
We all want brands to do well- but not too well. I also think that fans of good branding campaigns enjoy that the message being received by them also says something about them.
But I wonder if marketers are a little too keen on the meanings of messages and ads they see in their everyday lives? Take McDonalds Olympic ads: I know that Olympians don’t eat McDonalds and drink soda. Or what about Gas and oil companies? We have all noticed an increasing amount of commercials and positive green campaigns. But- because I recognize the message being sent, what does that say about me? I still eat McDonalds. I still buy gas.
I think the interview with Exxon’s CEO, Rex Tillerman was one of the best examples of a company explaining themselves. He said his job is to provide, fast and reliable energy.”- That’s it- Not to save the world. Remember, he wants to get paid just like you and I - and I think he was correct in saying this isn’t up to just Exxon.
Consumers have the power. If we continue to buy cars that run on gas -we fuel the flames- so to speak. He explains that there is not just one simple solution; this will take a hybrid (some jokes?) approach. We will need to combine other energy sources; sun, water, light & wind, to create a balanced energy solution. Now I sound like a politician…
I believe that Exxon and others like them can sit back and wait for their consumers to tip the multi-faceted energy scales from oil to something else. But Green Ad’s do nothing for me.
We have to walk the walk first to bring about change- literally, walk.
When is bike to work day? Did I miss it?
A Brand New Deal?
Money, Money, Money. Do I get any part of this $700 billion bailout?
NO?! Why NOT?
Money’s tight. We all are feeling the crunch that our government and our banks have us in.
Part of me wishes the U.S. had just left the banks to their own devices. Let ‘em fail. I know, I know, this may have brought about another Great Depression, right? But maybe it would help eliminate the sense of entitlement we have. I’m mostly talking about the people who think because they have a credit card with a $10,000 limit they can buy 10 grand worth of clothes and tv’s.
There is definitely a connection between this sense of entitlement and what it means to live within your means. Earning a days wage and saving money isn’t what it once was.
The problem is bigger than us. The flow of money is complicated, so much so, that had the banks failed I think we would have seen a ‘grand depression’- yes- but only for a short time- long enough for a new wave of entrepreneurs and new ideas to take the lead and build our economy from the ground up.
Fixing a complicated and intricate economic process by throwing $700 billion may hold off the problem for a few years- but it is not a fix.
Photo’s Over A Year
About a year ago, I bought a MacBook and starting taking crazy mugshots with photobooth, the built-in camera.
I like to think of this as my MacBook’s point of view over the past year and all the faces it has seen:
Welcome!
Welcome to the totally redesigned MikeToner.com! This is the third redesign I’ve been through. The first website I created back in June 2002 was a static iWeb site hosted via godaddy with a blog that was really hard to update. I was having to manually update blog posts to my site via FTP. This made things way too difficult!
I made the decision after graduating college to move my blog to a blogger site that was much easier to update. The link to my blog was sort of cheesy though. It was hosted on the static site (as shown above) but linked to the blogger website- http://mike-toner.blogspot.com/
It made my life easy, but I felt like I was sacrificing design for convenience. I wanted the ability to really customize it.
So, here we are… Welcome to MikeToner.com version 3.0. I have upgraded to wordpress, designed a logo and created a custom theme with the help of Tony at Razolution. Bascially, I wanted a design that demonstrates my unpredictable style but kept the business of the blog in the forefront. What do ya think? Did we accomplish that?
With the redesign comes a re-focus. I have “re-thought” my use of this site and made a conscious decision to be more involved with my friends, colleagues and clients via the internet. I have begun to realize a fusion of my work life and personal life and hope that I can help facilitate the integrations of work and play via my website.
I know that my positive outlook on life is something I want to share. I know that my relationship is something I want to be open about; I know that that I love my job and want to talk about the lessons I learn and share my knowledge of marketing and social media with you.
This is going to be a hard balance to achieve- so stick with me here. Perhaps think about signing up for the email subscription at the top?
On Thursday I’ve got a video which I think you’ll enjoy.
-Mike Toner
www.MikeToner.com
Juggling As A Business
In a post from August I mentioned that Tim Ferriss suggests creating a Dreamline. My Dreamline includes some of my hobbies and taking these talents to the next level.
Within the next 6 months I have made a goal to get paid for a juggling gig. I used to juggle for childrens birthday’s and other events. The most I ever got paid was maybe $40…not bad for being a 12 or 13 years old. I think I could charge $100 now, throw in a few card tricks…I’m golden.
Today I decided if I ever wanted to book a juggling gig, I better practice. So I gathered up my equpiment and headed down to the park, where wouldn’t you know it, there was a birthday picnic happening…
So, I figure- I gave the first performance away for free, but the next time It’ll pay off. And, YES, I had a blast!
Work/Life Balance for the Recent Grad
“You build a successful career, regardless of your field of endeavor, by the dozens of little things you do on and off the job.”- Zig Ziglar
For my friends who are experiencing their first semester without returning to college and perhaps simultaneously experiencing the start to a new career, here are a couple of things to think about:
1. Yes, I still think about college around this time every year and I’m 3 years out. The feeling fades slowly, but, Back-to-School is always an exciting time of year.
2. For those starting their first job after college, you’ll be in a work/ career environment 40 hours a week, but what will you do with the other 128 hours?
We all go through a rough patch upon entering the “real world.” It’s tough. Monday through Friday, for what seems like every sun-lit hour, you’ll spend your time looking at a computer or scheduling meetings, or typing emails, or drafting reports etc.
My first step towards finding the positive in the “real world” was realizing that I would need to find a work/life balance. Wow. That’s a big undertaking for any 22 or 23 year old. I knew that I would have some decisions to make. How much would I involve myself with networking for work and how much time would be spent meeting up with old friends from college?
Finding the right balance isn’t easy. I have up and downs. Some weeks I’ll work late, some weeks I’ll leave at 5 on the dot. Other days, my mind moves between my career and my next big adventure outside of the office.
Monday through Friday is only as good as what you make of the whole week, in and an out of work.
Anyone doing something outside of work, please feel free to tell us about it. Kickball league, community service, a hobby…How do you find balance?
SMPR Questions
Yesterday I had an opportunity to speak to a group of graduate students earning their degree in Strategic Public Relations at George Washington University. I focused primarily on the Social Media Press Release and what steps they can take as PR professionals to create shareable, interactive news releases.
Here are two questions from the class:
My Answer:
Sure, if you felt it would be well received you could include an SMPR as an HTML document in the body of an email; however, each journalist or blogger will vary on how they prefer to receive press releases.
What’s your answer?
How would you think organizations should email SMPR formatted news? In an email, a link…?
Question #2
My Answer:
I am not sure how many journalists or bloggers are publishing the full text press release to begin with? Of course there are certain news sites have automated, full text postings of the press release in which the SMPR may or not be retained, depending on technical limitations of the news site. In general, I would venture to say that the SMPR does not lend itself to full text re-posting, but rather- it seems to lend itself to well-reasoned and well informed reporting, thus encouraging the journalist or blogger to use the facts presented to craft their story.
Please feel free to leave some comments and help answer the questions from these students.
I Dream Of Beaches
I just finished reading “The Four Hour Work Week” By Tim Ferriss while on vacation with my girlfriend and best friends from home. Now -I don’t know whether or not it was necessarily because I was on vacation- but it was- that the entrepreneurial side of me came out in full force. Something about being on vacation makes you want to be “away” from the real world stresses of life and work. In his book, Ferriss outlines a plan to fulfilling your dreams (what he calls dreamlining) and how anyone can achieve success and happiness- you just have to make it happen for you.
One of the main chords that struck me so effectively was Ferris’ description of retirement dreams. He explains that when most folks think of retirement, they imagine having X amount of dollars in their bank account and traveling and or taking care of their families, right? What Ferriss explains is that, life doesn’t have to be a beginning to end; start-to-finish race, it can be a series of high points: I’ll call them Life Rushes- you know, those moments when you feel alive, those times when you are being who you imagine yourself to be?
Who are you?
Stay Posted…update in progress
I am making the move to a new website- stay tuned for the new and (hopefully) improved MikeToner.com!
