I've spent the better part of the last week - possibly two - consumed by all things Google, Google+, Chrome, Android and a myriad of other social media topics, gadgets, gurus. I'm positively on information overload.
And I've been experimenting in private. Or at least I'd hoped in private. Reading, implementing, tweaking, trying. In the midst of all that I have clients to take care of, my husband's crazy ex-wife stalking me (which I stumbled upon due to a freaky IP address on my stat counter) and the holidays looming.
Tonight I experimented a little more publicly and I have a message for you geeky tech snobs. Don't snooze on the users trying to get up to speed on how to use the tools you are developing at such a rapid pace.
Ultimately, I'm a late adopter but I'm still a demographic on the upswing for your products and as a content creator seeking to reach my own demographic, and serve their information needs here on the web, I suggest that, just as Home Depot did in the early 2000s, you learn how to treat us with the respect our Gold Amex deserves.
And then the frivolity came to a grinding halt
Ah! Just when I think I will make myself proud.
Having slept over most of the July 4th weekend I had last night what was a seemingly sleepless night. That is except for the few minutes it took for me, in some sort of "wake-nap" stupor to somehow link my old Yahoo email account with my LinkedIn account. LinkedIn is my least favorite of all the social media tools as it is too painful a reminder of my recent past. It doesn't sparkle with the fresh promise of all my new bloggy friends and the SEO cool kids and twitter moms etc.
Having slept over most of the July 4th weekend I had last night what was a seemingly sleepless night. That is except for the few minutes it took for me, in some sort of "wake-nap" stupor to somehow link my old Yahoo email account with my LinkedIn account. LinkedIn is my least favorite of all the social media tools as it is too painful a reminder of my recent past. It doesn't sparkle with the fresh promise of all my new bloggy friends and the SEO cool kids and twitter moms etc.
A Definition of Social Media
If you can believe this,today I actually took a step I never wanted to take. I looked up the exact definition of Social Media.
I had one of those experiences where I was reading along, nodding in agreement and then suddenly I became glazed over. As if a car mechanic had suddenly lost me somewhere between the carburetor and the fuel pump and I'd never wanted to be shown in the first place.
I had one of those experiences where I was reading along, nodding in agreement and then suddenly I became glazed over. As if a car mechanic had suddenly lost me somewhere between the carburetor and the fuel pump and I'd never wanted to be shown in the first place.
BlogTalkRadio Evens the Playing Field
I've had the most spectacular few months reconnecting with my sister. Our entire lives our relationship has been strained at best and horrifying at worst.
But for a few reasons I won't disclose on this blog, we rediscovered each other a few months ago and she is now one of my all-time favorite people on the planet. What happened yesterday evolved out of thin air and was a miracle and a joyful surprise. My sister stopped by around 2pm to inform me that she wanted to do stand-up comedy again and would I write all her material for her. I said...uh..yeah...NO! But I reminded her how fun I thought it would be to do a radio show.
But for a few reasons I won't disclose on this blog, we rediscovered each other a few months ago and she is now one of my all-time favorite people on the planet. What happened yesterday evolved out of thin air and was a miracle and a joyful surprise. My sister stopped by around 2pm to inform me that she wanted to do stand-up comedy again and would I write all her material for her. I said...uh..yeah...NO! But I reminded her how fun I thought it would be to do a radio show.
In Search of the Elements of A Good Blog
It's like having a TV remote with an infinite number of channels to surf. And the more time I spend online the more I realize I have to learn about blogging, social media etc. I'm a broadcast PR person. I'm used to 210 TV markets with finite number of TV stations in each market a handful of nationals and the cable outlets. This is taking me some time to navigate. I can use the various lists to find out what the "top" blogs are but what I really want to know is what it takes to become a "top" blog.
If Anyone is interested...
To Anyone Who May Still Have Any Interest In Anything I Have to Say:
I recently "lost" my job and have given myself pause to re-evaluate. The problem is that in this rapidly changing world if you re-evaluate too long there is no question that you quickly
become irrelevant and take on the stench of loserdom.
I recently "lost" my job and have given myself pause to re-evaluate. The problem is that in this rapidly changing world if you re-evaluate too long there is no question that you quickly
become irrelevant and take on the stench of loserdom.
What is wrong with me?
Today my husband and I are going to a party we have been really looking forward to. We are looking forward to the people we will see there, to being outside and having fun. But the party started 15 minutes ago and we're both still on our laptops! Blogging, tweeting, tweaking...at least I think that's what he's doing.
This is my cry for help.
This is my cry for help.
TV Girl Gone Google
I'm a TV girl from way back. Besides being a hairdresser the only thing I ever wanted to do was work in TV. I thought and still do think that it's the coolest field in all of the
world. So I've worked in TV for most of my adult life. But now I'm falling in love with Blogging, Social Media, online marketing. I can't get enough. The idea of creating web
influence is captivating me. Figuring out who has it - how they got it - how they use it and who wants it.
For those who have been at this for a while - you "early adopters" I'm sure it's all very passe and I'm the equivalent of an out-of-towner with my fanny pack looking up at the Empire State Building with my mouth hanging open while my husband in his socks and sandals looks nervously around.
In fact we are both smitten. We don't sleep. We race to figure things out online and we are having a more than slightly friendly rivalry. "How many hits did you get? Well how many of them were yours?"
I'm excited to be here. But don't count out the old TV yet. She still gets the eyeballs you know. They're just a little more glazed over these days.
world. So I've worked in TV for most of my adult life. But now I'm falling in love with Blogging, Social Media, online marketing. I can't get enough. The idea of creating web
influence is captivating me. Figuring out who has it - how they got it - how they use it and who wants it.
For those who have been at this for a while - you "early adopters" I'm sure it's all very passe and I'm the equivalent of an out-of-towner with my fanny pack looking up at the Empire State Building with my mouth hanging open while my husband in his socks and sandals looks nervously around.
In fact we are both smitten. We don't sleep. We race to figure things out online and we are having a more than slightly friendly rivalry. "How many hits did you get? Well how many of them were yours?"
I'm excited to be here. But don't count out the old TV yet. She still gets the eyeballs you know. They're just a little more glazed over these days.
Compulsive Nopping
OK I hate to shop. It's just that simple. I hate it. I don't know if it's because I'm cheap or because I'm lazy or because I'm usually broke but I just hate to shop. But I've finally realized that my complete hatred of shopping is probably causing me as many problems in my life as compulsive
While the most obvious result of my compulsive nopping is the borderline criminal amount of money wasted on pizza and fast food - not to mention the completely unhealthy nature of the food and my ever-expanding buttock. In fact, I recently asked my assistant (for the first and last time) to sort some receipts for me and she blurted out "OMG how many times a day do you guys eat?" Part of me wants to erase this entire paragraph but I'm forcing myself to press on.
Another ongoing issues caused by my compulsive nopping is the mount of money I end up spending on pantyhose! Yes that's right. Pantyhose become a very next costly item as a result of nopping. And not because of the actual price of the pantyhose but because of the bribes I have to offer people when I am rushing to get somewhere and me wearing pantyhose is absolutely essential. Examples you want? Once, back when I worked in PR and I used to take car service into NYC very early in the morning, I needed pantyhose and of course I had put off shopping for them the night before. Well I asked the driver to stop at CVS and he obligingly did so. Only to later charge me $15 for that favor.
Another time my daughter had to run and pick up pantyhose for me when we were in Mobile, AL producing a segment - that cost me a $20 webcam (she's an excellent negotiator) and finally most recently my sister went to pick up pantyhose for me and while there was a financial bribe involved the biggest cost was the fact that she got me "A" size instead of "Q" size causing me great discomfort and VPL for most of the day.
At this very moment I finally understand why people don't want to go into rehab. I am not yet ready to give up my compulsive nopping however, I am almost ready to admit that I have a problem.
While the most obvious result of my compulsive nopping is the borderline criminal amount of money wasted on pizza and fast food - not to mention the completely unhealthy nature of the food and my ever-expanding buttock. In fact, I recently asked my assistant (for the first and last time) to sort some receipts for me and she blurted out "OMG how many times a day do you guys eat?" Part of me wants to erase this entire paragraph but I'm forcing myself to press on.
Another ongoing issues caused by my compulsive nopping is the mount of money I end up spending on pantyhose! Yes that's right. Pantyhose become a very next costly item as a result of nopping. And not because of the actual price of the pantyhose but because of the bribes I have to offer people when I am rushing to get somewhere and me wearing pantyhose is absolutely essential. Examples you want? Once, back when I worked in PR and I used to take car service into NYC very early in the morning, I needed pantyhose and of course I had put off shopping for them the night before. Well I asked the driver to stop at CVS and he obligingly did so. Only to later charge me $15 for that favor.
Another time my daughter had to run and pick up pantyhose for me when we were in Mobile, AL producing a segment - that cost me a $20 webcam (she's an excellent negotiator) and finally most recently my sister went to pick up pantyhose for me and while there was a financial bribe involved the biggest cost was the fact that she got me "A" size instead of "Q" size causing me great discomfort and VPL for most of the day.
At this very moment I finally understand why people don't want to go into rehab. I am not yet ready to give up my compulsive nopping however, I am almost ready to admit that I have a problem.
A New Me
Having dubbed myself the Makeover Mom I decided to take a look at some areas in my life that need a makeover. I'm not talking about my bangs needing chemically straightened or my ever expanding buttocks getting on a treadmill. I'm referring to areas of a less "cosmetic nature".
I have, what some might call, a few...character defects.
I'm always late. I procrastinate causing myself and others unnecessary stress. I'm loud and occasionally abrasive. I make promises I don't keep. I'm irresponsible in a lot of ways - I have been known to apply make up while driving and frequently fed my kids fast food instead of cooking. But I'm also cute and funny and smart and helpful and I care deeply about my family. (Previous sentence thrown in so that those of you who now feel sorry for me realize that I'm also arrogant.)
The problem is that realizing I have these "flaws" and actually doing something about them are two different things. For me, change happens slowly. First I have an "aha" moment. Then I start to notice the same thing more and more. Then I decide to do something about it. Then I make a change.
Who am I kidding? If I'm being honest it goes more like this. "Wow - that sucks about me" or "Wow - that sucks about that person". Then I proceed to ignore it and lose myself in whatever current addiction I'm involved in whether it's Bejeweled or Twitter or reruns of CSI.
So I continue with my harmless distractions until either the pain gets so great that I remove the person from my life, pay the bill, or make a change in myself.
When I was younger I was a more energetic about making changes but it's getting harder as I get older. Although the stakes are getting higher. I recently thought about what I would regret on my deathbed and the list is long.
So here's a change I'm getting ready to make that will reduce the list of deathbed regrets and will also require little energy. I'm ready to give up fear. Not the healthy fear of the obvious dangers in life that keep us safe. But the insidious malware type fear that has been eating away at me for most of my adult life and has driven me to become a stressed out, people-pleasing, passive-aggressive crazy person. (Occasionally)
I'm afraid about what people think of me and say about me. I'm afraid people are mad at me or won't like me or think I'm a bad mother. Afraid that people will figure out that I'm really stupid or lazy or clueless. Afraid I'm going to get fired (which finally happened and I'm still standing). Afraid my kids will like their Dad better than me or that my neighbors really can hear me yelling. It goes on and on and on.
As a result of all of this, I've run myself ragged and pushed myself fairly well to the brink.
After watching me have a mini-breakdown yesterday over what he considered to be nothing, my son said to me "Mom are you in any kind of therapy?" It made me realize maybe it's time. As they say, out of the mouths of babes. When I realized later why I had cried it was because I felt like a big stupid loser. I didn't have his health insurance card with me at the doctor, I didn't pay my mom back some money I owed her on time, and a client just put off doing a project I was counting on. But after a good night's sleep and some time to think today I realized I'm not a big stupid loser. I'm just afraid that people will think I'm one or that I will actually become one.
And now for a little background. I grew up in an extremely violent and abusive home and recently in my professional life I was able to do some work on behalf of a move called "Telling Amy's Story" which chronicled the life of a woman who had been living with domestic violence. Just when she was about to leave her husband he shot and killed her at point blank range. If you have a chance to look into it, please do as well as Verion's efforts to end support domestic violence. My boss at the time sent me to Washington DC for the premiere of the film as he knew that domestic violence was an issue I care deeply about.
What happened to at that event surprised me. As much as I care deeply about putting an end to domestic violence, I began to realize that the way I was living my life is partly a result of what happened in my childhood (Um...duh). I found some programs for adult survivors of child abuse and started exploring recovery but I guess I was too busy or got distracted or the just wasn't ready to make the change. But now the same boss referenced above has given me the luxury of lots of time on my hands and I am ready to start changing the things in my life that are causing me the greatest discomfort (and I don't mean my ugly mom jeans that are too tight) .
I'll keep you posted on how it goes. Right after this next game of Bejeweled!
I have, what some might call, a few...character defects.
I'm always late. I procrastinate causing myself and others unnecessary stress. I'm loud and occasionally abrasive. I make promises I don't keep. I'm irresponsible in a lot of ways - I have been known to apply make up while driving and frequently fed my kids fast food instead of cooking. But I'm also cute and funny and smart and helpful and I care deeply about my family. (Previous sentence thrown in so that those of you who now feel sorry for me realize that I'm also arrogant.)
The problem is that realizing I have these "flaws" and actually doing something about them are two different things. For me, change happens slowly. First I have an "aha" moment. Then I start to notice the same thing more and more. Then I decide to do something about it. Then I make a change.
Who am I kidding? If I'm being honest it goes more like this. "Wow - that sucks about me" or "Wow - that sucks about that person". Then I proceed to ignore it and lose myself in whatever current addiction I'm involved in whether it's Bejeweled or Twitter or reruns of CSI.
So I continue with my harmless distractions until either the pain gets so great that I remove the person from my life, pay the bill, or make a change in myself.
When I was younger I was a more energetic about making changes but it's getting harder as I get older. Although the stakes are getting higher. I recently thought about what I would regret on my deathbed and the list is long.
So here's a change I'm getting ready to make that will reduce the list of deathbed regrets and will also require little energy. I'm ready to give up fear. Not the healthy fear of the obvious dangers in life that keep us safe. But the insidious malware type fear that has been eating away at me for most of my adult life and has driven me to become a stressed out, people-pleasing, passive-aggressive crazy person. (Occasionally)
I'm afraid about what people think of me and say about me. I'm afraid people are mad at me or won't like me or think I'm a bad mother. Afraid that people will figure out that I'm really stupid or lazy or clueless. Afraid I'm going to get fired (which finally happened and I'm still standing). Afraid my kids will like their Dad better than me or that my neighbors really can hear me yelling. It goes on and on and on.
As a result of all of this, I've run myself ragged and pushed myself fairly well to the brink.
After watching me have a mini-breakdown yesterday over what he considered to be nothing, my son said to me "Mom are you in any kind of therapy?" It made me realize maybe it's time. As they say, out of the mouths of babes. When I realized later why I had cried it was because I felt like a big stupid loser. I didn't have his health insurance card with me at the doctor, I didn't pay my mom back some money I owed her on time, and a client just put off doing a project I was counting on. But after a good night's sleep and some time to think today I realized I'm not a big stupid loser. I'm just afraid that people will think I'm one or that I will actually become one.
And now for a little background. I grew up in an extremely violent and abusive home and recently in my professional life I was able to do some work on behalf of a move called "Telling Amy's Story" which chronicled the life of a woman who had been living with domestic violence. Just when she was about to leave her husband he shot and killed her at point blank range. If you have a chance to look into it, please do as well as Verion's efforts to end support domestic violence. My boss at the time sent me to Washington DC for the premiere of the film as he knew that domestic violence was an issue I care deeply about.
What happened to at that event surprised me. As much as I care deeply about putting an end to domestic violence, I began to realize that the way I was living my life is partly a result of what happened in my childhood (Um...duh). I found some programs for adult survivors of child abuse and started exploring recovery but I guess I was too busy or got distracted or the just wasn't ready to make the change. But now the same boss referenced above has given me the luxury of lots of time on my hands and I am ready to start changing the things in my life that are causing me the greatest discomfort (and I don't mean my ugly mom jeans that are too tight) .
I'll keep you posted on how it goes. Right after this next game of Bejeweled!
Just When I think I've had enough
I have to be honest. I struggle most days with most things in life. The herculean tasks of life for me are actually easier than the everyday stuff. I look at people I know who are organized, pay their bills on time, remember other people's birthdays and sit down at an actual table to eat a meal and I remember that while they may be gifted at that, I have other gifts.
What are they exactly. Well I'm not sure how to put it into words but on a good day important people have asked my help.
But back to my daily struggles with daily life.
I'd say a good 30% of my waking hours are spent trying to decide whether to "keep going" (at what you ask - well reaching for the golden ring I suppose) or just blow it all off. Put my feet up - and not as a means to support my laptop - but just put my feet up and relax. I am actually unemployed at this time for the first time in my adult life and I really do wish I could just kick back. But I can't. Something makes me keep going. Not just for the golden ring stuff - but because I do really think there are people counting on me. On some days I think I have an overinflated sense of self-importance and that everyone would do just fine if I decided a cashier job was my next move. And then other days someone hits me with the wet dishrag of reality and makes me realizes that people are making actual decisions with their life based on promises I've made. Like ... um... my kids.
Anyway - bottom line - I had an experience today that made me realize how little it takes to encourage me to keep going. I discovered that someone somewhere thought that one of my makeover tips were worth putting on a "list". It was enough to fuel me for at least another couple of days.
Check it out and do me a favor and follow @realbeauties on Twitter just in case they ever decide to metion me again!
http://bit.ly/fqt10u
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