I’m lucky because I’ve had the opportunity to be both a journalist and a PR person and I’ve seen the good, bad and the ugly from all sides.
So with that said, I also want to quickly touch on why it’s wise to think before you ask a journalist to sit through a one hour briefing. This is espescially the case when the journalist literally has only about a 300 word story to write.
(If you’re an author or musician of course you want the journalist to read your book or listen to your CD so they know what they are writing about!)
But if you’re a tech company please don’t encourage your PR folks whether they be in-house or outside agency to force a journalist to sit through a one hour briefing for an updated product release. (Unless this product is going to take us all to the moon, then we don’t need a one hour briefing on it.)
Journalists that cover your industry are smart and generally savvy folks who really know the products etc. they are covering so they don’t really need a one hour briefing on an updated product release.
Also, on the journalist side, it’s not all that great to have a PR person on the phone while you’re doing an interview. It’s not that journalists don’t like PR people, it’s just that it tends not to make the conversation as convivial and lively as it could be. And when I say lively, I don’t mean your CEO spilling company secrets, I just mean letting the journalist ask questions without prompting or response from a PR person.
Be open and authentic, that goes a long way.
There is one amazing phrase that we could use with one another, our clients, our business partners and bloggers who write about our products or books. It’s been around for centuries and I try to use it as often as I can in email or snail mail notes. It’s the most meaningful phrase beyond “i love you” that one can use.
Here are some samples of the phrase:
Bulgarian (Bulgaria) Blagodarya
Bulu (Cameroon) Akeva
Bunun (Taiwan) Uninang
Bura (Nigeria) Maraba
Burmese (Myanmar) Chezu ba
Burushashki (Northern Pakistan) Juu na
Cahuila (United States) ‘Ácha-ma
Cakchikel (Mexico) Matiosh chawe
Camuno (Italy) Gràsce
Cantonese [Chinese] [in advance- service] M goi nei sin
Cassubian (Northweast Poland) [old] Bóg zaplac
Catalan (Andorra, Spain, France) Gràcies
Catalan (Andorra, Spain, France) [very] Moltes gràcies
Catalan (Andorra, Spain, France) Mercès
Chamorro (Guam) Si yuus maasi
Chatino (Tataltepec Mexico) Ngua tsaa xlay’be hii
Chechen (North Caucasus) Barkal
Cherokee (United States) Wa’-do
Cheyenne (United States) Néá’eshe
Chichewa (South Africa, Malawi) Zikomo
Chilomwe (Malawi) Zikomo
Chinyanja (Zambia, Mozambique) Zikomo
Chitumbuka (North Malawi) Yewo
Choctaw (Oklahoma United States) Yokoke
Chol (Mexico) Wokolix awölö
Chuukese (Micronesia) [very much] Kili so chapur
Chuukese (Chuuk Lagoon Micronesia) Kini so
Chuvash (Russia) Tavssi
Comanche (North America) Urako
Comori (Comoros) Marahabha
Cornish [middle/unified] (Great Britain) Dew re-dallo dheugh-why
Cornish [middle/unified] (Great Britain) Durdala dywy
Cornish [modern] (Great Britain) Durdaladawhy
Cornish [modern] (Great Britain) Gwra’massi
Cornish [modern] (Great Brit.) [very much] Merastawhy
Cornish [Kemmyn] (Great Britain) Meur ras
Cornish (Great Britain) Meur ras dhis
Corsican (France) Grazia
Corsican (France) À ringraziè vi
Corsican (France) À ringraziavvi
Cree (Canada) (to one person) Kinanâskomitin
Cree (Canada) (to more than one person) Kinanâskomitinawaw
Cree (Canada) E’kosi
Cree (Canada) Têniki
Cree (Canada) Mikwec
Cree (Canada) Nunasko’mowin keya
Cree [Ouje Bougoumou] (James Bay Canada) Mîkwêc
Cree [Plains Cree] (Canada) Kitatamihin
[Creek, see Muskogee]
Creole (West Indies) Mese
[Créole (Seychelles), see Seselwa]
Crioulo (Guinea-Bissau) Obrigado
Croatian (Bosnia, Yugoslavia) Hvala
Croatian (Bosnia, Yugoslavia) [very much] Puno hvala
Croatian (Bosnia, Yugoslavia) [very much] Hvala lijepa
[Crow, see Apsaaloke]
Czech (Czech Republic) Dêkuji
Czech (Czech Republic) [informal] Dik’
Dagaare (Burkina Faso, Ghana) Barka
Dakota (North America) Pidamayado
Danish (Denmark, Greenland) Tak
Danish (Denmark, Greenland) [very much] Mange tak
Dega (Vietnam) Lac jak
Dekelh [Carrier] (Canada) Musi
Dhivehi (Maldives) Shukuriyyaa
Dhivehi (Maldives) [very much] Varah bodah shukriyyaa
Dinka (Sudan) Yin acaa muoc
Diola (Senegal) Mersi
Diola (Senegal) Emitekati
Domari (Egypt) Daarim
Dusun (Sabah Malaysia) Pounsikou
Dutch (Netherlands, Belgium) [polite] Dank u
Dzongkha (Bhutan) Kadinche
Egyptian (ancient Egypt) [to a woman] Dua Netjer en etj
English (America, Australia, UK, New Zea.) Thank you
English (America) [informal] Thanks
English (Australia) Ta
English (New Zealand, Midland England) Cheers
Ewondo (Cameroon) Abui ngan
Eyak (Alaska) ‘Awa’ahdah
Fang (Gabon) Abora
Fante (Ghana, Burkina Faso) Medagse
Fante (Ghana, Burkina Faso) Medawagse
Faroese (Faroe Islands) Takk
Faroese (Faroe Islands) Takk fyri
Farsi [Persian] (Iran, Afghanistan) Merci
Farsi (Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan) Tashakkur
Farsi (Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan) Motehshakeram
Farsi (Iran) Mamnoon
[Filipino, see Tagalog and Visayan]
Fijian (Fiji) Vinaka
Fijian (Fiji) [very much] Vinaka vakalevu
Fijian (Fiji) [very much] Vinaka sara vakalevu
Finnish (Finland) Kiitos
Finnish (Finland) Kiitoksia
Finnish (Finland) [formal] Paljon kiitoksia
Finnish (Finland) [informal] Kiitti
[Flemish, see Dutch (Belgium)]
Fon (Benin, Togo) Ablo
Fon (Benin, Togo) A houanu
Fon (Benin, Togo) [very much] A houanu ka ka
Fon (Benin, Togo) [formal] E na ce nu we
French (France, Belgium, Africa, Canada) Merci
French (France, Belgium, Africa, Canada) Merci beaucoup
Frisian [Westerlauwer] (Netherlands) Tanke
Frisian [Westerlauwer] (Netherlands) Tanke wol
Frisian [Westerlauwer] (Netherlands) Tankje
Frisian [Westerlauwer] (Netherlands) Tankje wol
Friulian (northern Italy) Graciis
Fulani (West Africa) Jaaraama
Fulani (West Africa) [to one person] A jaaraama
Fulani (West Africa) [to several people] On jaaraama
Futuna (Wallis and Futuna) Malo
Futuna Aniwa (Vanuatu) Fafetai
Futuna Aniwa (Vanuatu) Jinisa
Ga (Ghana) Ogiwadong
Gaam (Eastern Sudan) Áwdém áalò
Gaam (Eastern Sudan) Àayyá
Gagauz (Moldova) Saa olsun
Galician (Spain) Gracias
Gallo (France) Mèrczi
Garifuna (Guatemala) Téngi nían bún
Gascon (France) Merci
Georgian [Kartuli] (Georgia/former USSR) Mahd-lob
Georgian [Kartuli] (Georgia/former USSR) Gmadlob
Georgian (Georgia) [to more than 1 person] Mahd-lobt
Georgian (Georgia) [to more than 1 person] Gmadlobt
German (Central Europe) Danke
German (Central Europe) Danke schön
German (Central Europe) Vielen Dank
German (Central Europe) [informal] Dank dir
German (Austria) [in spoken language] Dankschen
German (Bavaria) [in spoken language] Danksche
German (Switzerland) [in spoken language] Dank schön
German (Zurich Switzerland) [spoken] Dankë
German (Zurich Switzerland) [spoken] Dank schön
German (Zurich Switzerland) Merci
German (Zurich Switzerland) [very much] Merci villmahl
Gong (Thailand) Ang kêun
Greek [Hellenic] (Greece, Cyprus) Efcharisto
Greek (Greece, Cyprus) Sas efharisto
Greek (Greece, Cyprus) [very much] Efharisto poli
Greek (Greece, Cyprus) [very much] Sas efharisto poli
Griko (Salento Italy) Kali’ sso’rta-ssu
Guarani (Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia) Aguije
Guarani (Paraguay) Aguyje
Guarani [Mbyá] (Brazil) Ha’evete
Gujarati (India, Bangladesh, S. Africa) Aabhar
Gujarati (Gujerat State, India) Dhanyawaad
Gumatj (Australia) Ga’
Gurrangung (Australia) Yaddung jee
Gurung (Nepal) [to a child] Syaabaas
Gurung (Nepal) [to an equal or superior] Dxanyaa’baad
Gwich’in (Alaska) Mahsi’
Gwich’in (Alaska) Mahsi’ choo
[Gypsy, see Romani]
G/wi [San] (Kalahari Africa) !kaen se !tau
G//ana [San] (Kalahari Africa) Kaen se !tau
Haida (Alaska) Háw’aa
[Hal-Pulaar, see Fulani]
Hän (Alaska) Mahsi’
Harari [Adare] (Ethiopia) Gaza yagabzal yushen
Harari [Adare] (Ethiopia) Alla magah
Hassaniya (Mauratania) Shukram
Hausa (West Africa) Na gode
Hausa (West Africa) Yauwa
Hawaiian (Hawaii) Mahalo
Hawaiian (Hawaii) [very much] Mahalo nui loa
Hebrew (Israel) Toda
Hebrew (Israel) [very much] Toda raba
[Hellenic, see Greek]
Helong (Timor, Semau Island Indonesia) Nodan mamomamo
Hindi (India, East Asia, Suriname) Shukriya
Hindi (India, East Asia, Suriname) Danyavad
Hindi (India, East Asia, Suriname) Dhanyawaad
Hiri Motu (Papua New Guinea) Tanikiu
Hmong Daw (Laos, Thailand) Ua tsaug
Hmong Daw (Laos, Thailand) Ua koj tsaug
Hmong Daw (Laos, Thailand) [very much] Ua tsaug ntau
Hmong Daw (Laos, Thailand) [very much] Ua koj tsaug ntau
Hmong Du (Vietnam) Ô chò
Hmong Njua (Laos, Thailand) Ua tsaug
Hmong Njua (Laos, Thailand) [very much] Ua tsaug ntau ntau
Hmong Njua (Northern Thailand) Zoo sab muab
Hñähñu (Mexico) Jamadi
Hoi San (China) U de
Hokkien [Chinese] (Singapore, Indonesia) Gum xia
Hokkien [Chinese] (Taiwan) Kam sia
Hopi (North America) [said by men] Kwakwhá
Hopi (North America) [said by women] Askwali
Hopi (North America) [said by women] Hevé
Hopi (North America) [very much, by men] Is kwakwhá
Hopi (North America) [very much, by women] Is askwali
Houailou (New Caledonia) Ei
Huambisa (Peru) See
Huambisa (Peru) Maake
Huaorani (Ecuador) Ewa ra
Huastec (Mexico) Jalbinchi yaan
Huastec (Mexico) C’ac’naamal yaan
Huave (Mexico) Dios mangüy ic
Huichol (Nayarit and Jalisco Mexico) Pan parius
Huichol (Nayarit and Jalisco Mexico) Pam parios
Hungarian [Magyar] (Hungary) Köszönöm
Hungarian [Magyar] (Hungary) Köszi
Hungarian [Magyar] (Hungary) [very much] Nagyon köszönöm
Hungarian [Magyar] (Hungary) [very much] Köszönöm szépen
Huron [Wyandotte] (USA, Canada) Yontonwe
Huron [Wyandotte] (USA, Canada) Ti-jiawen
[Ibo, see Igbo]
Icelandic (Iceland) Takk
Icelandic (Iceland) Takk fyrir
Icetot (Uganda) Ilakasugotia
Ido (international use) Danko
Igbo [Ibo] (Nigeria) Imena
Igbo [Ibo] (Nigeria) Imela
Igbo [Ibo] (Nigeria) Yâuwá
Igbo [Ibo] (Nigeria) Dalu
[Ik, see Icetot]
Ilokano (Philippines) Dios ti agngina
Ilokano (Philippines) Agyamanac
Ilokano (Philippines) [very much] Agyamanac unay
Ilonggo (Philippines) Salamat
Ilonggo (Philippines) Daghang salamat
Indonesian (Indonesia) [formal] Terima kasih
Indonesian (Indonesia) [informal] Makasih
Indonesian (Indonesia) [very informal] Thanks ya
Indonesian (Jakarta Indonesia) [slang] Trims
Ingush (Russia) Barkal
Ingush (Russia) [in spoken language] Barkl
Ingush (Russia) [lit. thanks be to you] Barkal xalda hwa
Ingush (Russia) [thank you very much] Saagha xalda hwa
Ingush (Russia) [thank you very much] Deala reaza xalda hwuona
Innu (Labrador and Quebec Canada) Tshinashkumitan
Interlingua (constructed) Gratias
Inuktitut (Baffin Island Canada) Qujannamiik
Inuktitut (Canada) Qujanaq
Inuktitut (Canada) [very much] Qujanarssuaq
Inuktitut (Canada) Mutna
Inuktitut (Canada) Nakorami
Inuktitut (Alaska) Taikkuu
Inuktitut (Barrow Alaska) Quyanaq
Inuktitut (Barrow Alaska) [very much] Quyanaqpaq
Inuktitut (Noatak Alaska) Taku
[Inupiaq, see Inuktitut]
Inuttut [Greenlandic] (Greenland) Qujanaq
Ioway (United States) [by men] Aho
Ioway (United States) [by women] Aha
Irish Gaelic (Ireland, Britain) [to one] Go raibh maith agat
Irish Gaelic (Ireland) [to more than one] Go raibh maith agaibh
Irish Gaelic (Ireland, Britain) Go raibh maith ‘ad
Irish Gaelic (Ireland, Britain) [to one] Go raibh mile maith agat
Irish Gaelic (Ireland) [to more than one] Go raibh mile maith agaibh
Isamurongen (Batanes Philippines) Dios mamajes dinio
Italian (Central Europe, E Africa) Grazie
Itbayaten (Batanes Philippines) Ah Dios mamexes
Itbayaten (Batanes Philippines) Ah Dios mamexes dimo
Itbayaten (Batanes Philippines) Dios mamexes dimo
Itbayaten (Batanes Philippines)[very much] Rakux u kapamaxemaxes namen dimo
Ivasayen (Batanes Philippines) Dios mamajes dimo
Ivasayen (Batanes Philippines) [very much] Mamajemajes kami dimo su racuj
Itzaj [Itzá Maya] (Guatemala) D’yos b’ot’ik ti’ij
Itzaj [Itzá Maya] (Guatemala) D’yos b’o'tik
Itzaj [Itzá Maya] (Guatemala) D’yos b’o'tikil
Ixcatec (Mexico) Skanaa-ri
Ixil (Guatemala) Ta’n tiz
Jacalteca (Guatemala) Nich’an tiox
Japanese (Japan) Arigato
Japanese (Japan) Domo arigato
Japanese (Japan) [act of thanks not ended] Arigato gozaimasu
Japanese (Japan) [act of thanks has ended] Arigato gozaimashita
Japanese [Izumo] (Japan) Dan san
Japanese [Kansai Ben](Kansai, Osaka Japan) Ookini
Japanese [Kansai Ben](Kansai, Osaka Japan) Ookini arigatou
Japanese [Kumamoto] (Japan) Kora doshi
Japanese [Kyo Kotoba] (Kyoto Japan) Ohkini
Japanese [Shodoshima] (Shodoshima Japan) Ookini
Kannada (India) Vandanegalu
Today is “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day” and I hope everyone out there is spending time with their daughters and sons by their side at work today.
I also wanted to share two pictures of my amazing daughter who really gave me a whole new career when she came into my life. I had to leave my old life at a NBC news station in Austin behind and start a new career because I wanted to stay at home with her.
Which led me to interviewing celebs for a time, and then to the Internet.
Beyond her birth, the new career I started was the greatest possible gift I could have received at that time.
So thank you to Emma today and to my wonderful boy Gibson who really make everything else I do worthwhile. We all had breakfast in my home office this morning and it was great!
If you only have time to read one book in April, then I highly recommend, Richard Laermer’s latest book, 2011: Trendspotting For the Next Decade.
Laermer’s prose is witty, confessional and dead on in terms of where we’re at in marketing and trends and where we need to be.
The book is a literary and marketing masterpiece of much needed insight. (And no, I don’t work for Richard, have not met Richard, and am not vying for a job.) Ok, ok, I still might stalk the guy because he’s just so darn engaging, literate and funny, but that doesn’t mean I can’t give the book a fair review.
Drats, it turns out I can’t give the book a fair review. It’s a giant, great, fantastically engaging book.
Highlights of the book in no particular order:
The list he does on Donald Trump and the Apprentice
Chapters titled, “Lying: Is That Your Final Answer”, We Fib and Why Smart Sellers Can Spell Fnord and Why It Really Matters.”
Everything else in the book.
Also don’t miss his list on pages 212-213 titled, “On Writing Poorly: Singing Out for the Day When Someone Takes the Language Seriously”.
The most baffling thing about the book is that it’s listed as #77 under the category Divination (see below), but perhaps that’s the Universe having fun that a book targeted at helping all of us trendspot is listed in this category as well.
Amazon.com Sales Rank: #33,394 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
Popular in this category: (What’s this?)
#77 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > New Age > Divination
Now go and read the book amongst yourselves! I hope Laermer sets five books free on BookCrossings.com and that everyone reads Laermer’s post on publishing titled, “Publishing…Truly Makes No Sense.”
P.S. (Is it just me or does everyone think Bill Clinton is trying to sabotage Hillary’s campaign?)
And by the way, is this latest thing from Google not the coolest thing ever! You have to go to the link to see what i’m talking about!
It’s interesting to read Jeff Bezo’s Letter to Shareholders that references Kindle and dropped this morning on Kindle on the Amazon Investor’s site.
He notes in the letter that one of his early quandries was how to do electronic book signings. I’m wondering why he doesn’t reference Margaret Atwood’s Long Pen? How come that amazingly good idea has not caught on yet?
Meanwhile here’s an excerpt from Bezos letter:
“We humans co-evolve with our tools. We change our tools, and then our tools change us. Writing, invented thousands of years ago, is a grand whopper of a tool, and I have no doubt that it changed us dramatically. Five hundred years ago, Gutenberg’s invention led to a significant step-change in the cost of books. Physical books ushered in a new way of collaborating and learning. Lately, networked tools such as desktop computers, laptops, cell phones and PDAs have changed us too. They’ve shifted us more toward information snacking, and I would argue toward shorter attention spans. I value my BlackBerry—I’m convinced it makes me more productive—but I don’t want to read a three-hundred-page document on it. Nor do I want to read something hundreds of pages long on my desktop computer or my laptop. As I’ve already mentioned in this letter, people do more of what’s convenient and friction-free. If our tools make information snacking easier, we’ll shift more toward information snacking and away from long-form reading. Kindle is purpose-built for long-form reading. We hope Kindle and its successors may gradually and incrementally move us over years into a world with longer spans of attention, providing a counterbalance to the recent proliferation of info-snacking tools. I realize my tone here tends toward the missionary, and I can assure you it’s heartfelt. It’s also not unique to me but is shared by a large group of folks here. I’m glad about that because missionaries build better products. I’ll also point out that, while I’m convinced books are on the verge of being improved upon, Amazon has no sinecure as that agent. It will happen, but if we don’t execute well, it will be done by others.
Your team of missionaries here is fervent about driving free cash flow per share and returns on capital. We know we can do that by putting customers first. I guarantee you there is more innovation ahead of us than behind us, and we do not expect the road to be an easy one. We’re hopeful, and I’d even say optimistic, that Kindle, true to its name, will “start a fire” and improve the world of reading.
As always, I attach our 1997 letter to shareholders. You’ll see that Kindle exemplifies our philosophy and long-term investment approach as discussed in that letter. Happy reading and many thanks!”
Ok, so I’m still stinging from the Newsweek story on the plastic surgeon who wrote a children’s book for Moms to read to their children prior to the Moms going in for tummy tucks. And because I really try to be a very positive person, I have to get the negative mojo off the blog, and post something powerful about women.
Thus I will post a link to a brilliant cartoon by Jen Sorensen, which gives us marketers pause in terms of how many cookies we all really need in the online tracking world.
And props to Jen for outsassing the heretofore male political pundit club with her kick in the ass comic wit and intelligence. If Cathy Guisewite’s strip was the answer to women in the 80s, then Jen’s strip should be a resounding call to arms for any literate, thoughtful, and witty thinking man or woman!
And now I will end with a quote from Erma Bombeck, who has oft been forgotten as a fantastically insightful, and powerful writer in her own right. “When humor goes, there goes civilization.”
I also like this one from Erma, “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, “I used everything you gave me”.
This is the single most disturbing book I’ve ever heard of and it’s even more disturbing that it’s targeted at kids.
One of the things I asked most of the authors I worked with is to leave a few copies of their books in airports as close as possible to the bookstore.
The other thing I always encouraged them to do is to set five books free via Bookcrossing.com .
The site now boasts over 664,499 people in over 130 countries who share their unabashed (that’s the second time I’ve used that word tonight) love for books.
If you register your book with the site, you get these nifty stickers you can put inside the book, and I always encourage a handwritten note too and then you let the book go. When someone finds it with the sticker, they hopefully will log into the site and register the book so you know where it went! They also might review the book.
I had one author a couple years ago who dropped off a book in the Oklahoma airport and it was registered from India only three weeks later.
I don’t know if it sells more books, will get you on Oprah, will crown you guru of all literary geniuses past, present and future, but it will make you feel good and it’s fun.
So if you’re an author, and you’ve got five books sitting around just aching to be left somewhere: park bench, doctor’s office, post office bench, airport, restaurant – register them with Bookcrossing.com and see where they fly. It’s free. It’s free. It’s free.
Interesting piece that comes from CareerBuilder.com and is on CNN today on what to say and not to say during a job interview.
Here are the story highlights according to CNN:
* Talk about what motivates you, excites you, why you are in your industry
* Stray from talking about lifestyle choices, politics, religion or family plans
* Stay away from your health history — mental and otherwise
The CareerBuilder story is titled, “Leave this info out of your Interview”, and it inspired me to add a few interviewing tips below that work well, whether you’re marketing a company, book, or product.
Here are additional tips on interviewing:
1. Don’t boast or exaggerate and don’t use the terms “leader or leaders” when responding to a question in reference to you, your book or your company.
2. Highlight the differences from competitors without denigrating competitors.
3. Make sure you’re familiar with the journalist’s or interviewer’s work so that you can understand how they interview and be responsive to their techniques.
4. Don’t fall for their techniques. (Don’t say more than you need to, don’t reveal something secret because they look sad and get quiet, and if they’re not clear on something you just said, make sure you take more time to explain it.)
5. Don’t be belligerent, haughty or snarky with the interviewer – they don’t get snark, and it usually doesn’t come across the way you meant it in print form. (Re: funny or humorous)
6. Don’t ask to preview the article before it comes out.
7. Don’t tell them about your latest breakup, your problem childhood, your greatest long lost love unless it’s absolutely necessary and the story happens to be titled, “How A CEO reeling from a terrible breakup, still recovering from his crappy childhood and searching desperately for his long lost high school prom love, successfully outpaced all his competitors to win top CEO of the year.”
8. Don’t lose your sense of humor when you interview. If you have one it’s ok to laugh and use your sense of humor as long as you’re not laughing at the interviewer.
9. Be charming and conversational.
10. Don’t over-correct the journalist or reword every question they’re asking. (Email me privately if you want to know how horrible this can be first-person and I’ll tell you my story about one of the main guys from Spinal Tap and my interview with him for the film, Best In Show.)
Sometimes I have to remind clients and people I work with that ambition is still a good thing. Being ambitious has received a bit of a bad wrap in these long 8 “presidential years”, but truly having ambition means you’re going to inspire yourself to work harder and do more in your life.
My favorite quote about ambition comes from Somerset Maugham who is one of the best writers that ever lived, “It’s a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.” (William Somerset Maugham)
Imagine if Edison, Einstein, Madame Curie, The Wright Brothers had not wanted to live ambition filled lives?
Here are some other quotes to inspire you for the weekend.
Henry Ford:
I am looking for a lot of men who have an infinite capacity to not know what can’t be done.
Charles F Kettering:
I am not interested in the past. I am interested in the future, for that is where I expect to spend the rest of my life.
Mikhail Baryshnikov:
I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to dance better than myself.
James R. Cook:
I had ambition not only to go farther than any man had ever been before, but as far as it was possible for a man to go.
Seneca:
If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable.
Henry David Thoreau:
If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.
Now go and ambitiously market yourself, your product, your book and your mission!
1. Use more pictures. (“A picture says a thousand words.” Really.)
2. Join the blogosphere conversation and stop blogging on the sidelines. Reach out, meet fellow bloggers and inspire and empower link love.
3. Keep the blog conversation focused on your readers and possible clients – not on you!
4. Keep your blog sunny-side up. Keep your messaging positive, edu-focused and insightful.
5. Engage comments by using every fifth blog post to ask a question of your readers.
Great story on the results of the 2008 PRWeek/PRNewswire Media Survey.
One of the most interesting reveals of the survey is how journalists are finding experts for stories using LinkedIn. While folks are touting that everyone must have a MySpace and Facebook profile too, I really like LinkedIn and have used it both as a journalist and in my work as a blogger.
With over 1200 media folks taking part in the survey it also revealed that 1/3 are on LinkedIn and 1/3 are on Facebook themselves.
“When asked how they acquire information about a company, journalists cite company Web sites (89%), Google (73.8%), e-mailed press releases (72.7%), and conversation/personalized e-mail from a PR person (70.9%). Nearly half (49.5%) use newswires, while only 13.9% report that they use RSS feeds.
Journalists are also turning to social networking sites and blogs to supplement their news coverage or find sources. Of those surveyed, 25.5% say they have a profile on MySpace, 29% are on Facebook, and 32.3% are on LinkedIn. While only 8.4% say they “always” use blogs for research, more than 36.5% say they use them “sometimes.” In addition, 57.7% report using blogs to measure sentiment, 38.7% for finding subjects, and 29.5% for searching industry experts.”
The survey also reveals that folks are still lacking “pitch” technique because many of the bloggers are receiving pitches that have nothing to do with what they’re blogging about!
Boo on that.
When I was blogging for Allbusiness.com as the Senior Editor for Must Read Business Books and the Professional PR blog, I received tons of pitches that had nothing to do with my blog topics at all.
Please give bloggers a break and make sure you have the respect to read their blog and not just think of it as a way to “push your own messaging.” It’s not about you – it’s about their readership and that readership really trusts and values the blogger!
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