Email Dead? Not Quite!

The COO of Facebook recently announced that email is dead. Why, because only eleven percent of teen-agers use email on a daily basis. They prefer Facebook and Twitter. Today’s teens have been conditioned to over share. Their every thought, every picture and every experience is on the internet in seconds of the occurrence. With youth often comes indiscretion and subsequent regret. In our teens we have yet to filter what is appropriate, maybe not appropriate, but what can be shared with trust. Items shared with a few friends can soon become viral and instead of a joint laugh or romantic exchange can become a huge embarrassment. Social media is in many ways the high school of the internet. Is anyone volunteering for a do-over of those four years?

Forget what is exchanged on Social media but remember who controls it. As an example Facebook can drop you from its rolls at any time without warning or reason. It currently only allows personal profiles though savvy business owners have learned to use it to their limited advantage.

There is no point in denying that in time email will be replaced or will evolve into another medium but much must happen before that will take place. Email is a trusted and timely tool that allows businesses to set rules for use in their own environment. Until technology offers something that can be used with security and business driven, not personal, guidelines email will continue to be the workhorse of daily business.

Do not take this as a get out of jail free card. Watch what the kids are doing and how they communicate. You don’t have to be ahead of the technology curve but it pays to know what is on the horizon. The only certainty is that technology is driven by change and that change happens at a rapid pace. The technology writer for the Wall Street Journal said he expects a bold new technology announcement to occur at least every six months. Think about that. Human generations are timed at about twenty years but technology generations are timed at six month intervals. You can perhaps afford to be two or three generations behind but you will limit your business if you are more than six generations behind. This doesn’t mean you personally have to be technology savvy but you do need to have someone on your team who is. Isn’t it better to manage the curve than to have it manage you?

The Buzz is Social Media

Every business owner on the globe has been told social media is the answer to his marketing needs.  If you're not on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc the buzz says you and your business are dinosaurs.   But buzz is a funny thing.  It’s a lot like the Platte River a mile wide and an inch deep.  When you try to dig deep you find a muddy bottom rather than clarity or direction. 

Would you invest in a stock you know nothing about?  Would you give the guy around the corner hours of your business week because a stranger said he was a good guy?  The probable answer to both questions is no though the stock and or the nameless guy could prove to be valuable assets.

Buzz is also similar to stereotypes.  Though overplayed and under-thought there is usually a core kernel of truth.  So bottom line can social media become a tool in your marketing arsenal?  YES!  Is it the silver bullet?  NO!  It will not benefit your business or your customers if it is used passively.  It requires tending, like your garden.  There are also things social media are not.

Social media is not a replacement for a marketing strategy.  It is not a stand-alone substitute for a holistic consistent marketing plan.  An effective program should include social media elements, but the launch of a Facebook page or a Twitter account is not enough on their own.

You will not achieve instant success by setting up social media accounts.  If you set up a Twitter account and send a few tweets it is unrealistic to expect an immediate herd of followers. Social media is a marathon, not a sprint; it takes time, consistency and patience to cultivate a presence and following. Be patient with social media and work at it diligently.

You believe that your business, product or service has something special to offer your customer base.  You may be certain your offerings are far superior to your competitors.  It is your job to convince others that your beliefs are true.  Again, social media is a tool that can help communicate that message but not without that dreaded diligence mentioned above.

Social media is not a lifeline.  If your business is in trouble the implementation of a social media campaign will not make a valiant rescue.

Social media is not a monologue directed at potential customers.  It is a dialogue and you might not like some of the responses.   Honesty is key with social media. Your reputation can be tarnished in hours if you fail to be transparent. The good news is that in a dialogue you have a rebuttal stream but keep it professional not personal.

When your business is actively involved with social media, each employee becomes a potential ambassador.  It’s up to you to train everyone on your staff to promote your brand.     

Social media isn’t a miracle, a cure all, a silver bullet or the single pill that will allow you to lose twenty pounds without diet or exercise.  Is it worth the effort?  YES!  But like diets it’s the work that makes you succeed not the buzz about the latest fad.

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Challenges

As my intern and I enter into our final week of the grueling Body Quest Boot Camp, we are both anxious for the sweat and ache that is waiting for us on the field. Each morning we arrive at 6 o’clock to fight against the bugs, the mountain, the elements and ourselves in a battle for fitness. From the loud (sometimes tough) encouragement of our instructors and fellow boot campers we push our bodies past exhaustion to a brink that we did not realize we could reach. Just when we cease to believe that we can muscle through the last push up, sprint the last lap or hold the last plank something inside pushes us to the end -- a powerful determination from within. With our teammates cheering us through the last exercises, we find a second wind to battle on. By the end of the strenuous hour we stretch our sweat covered limbs with a smile, somehow energized and strengthened for the coming day.

We all face tough patches in life. Whether it is our health and wellness, our relationships, or our work it is inevitable that we feel frustrated at some point. Sometimes rough moments can be avoided and sometimes they can’t, but it is how we push through these difficult times that make us who we are.

Greek philosopher Epictetus once said, “the greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it.” We are measured by our ability to weather the storm and our resilience and focus to push towards the other side. Without difficult times to drive us forward how can we be challenged to grow? How can we become stronger as a friend, a parent, a co-worker, a business owner or as a person?

By facing these daily challenges both large and small, we fortify our core values to become stronger as individuals. Although it may take a large amount of effort and determination, the pride we feel for our accomplishments at the end is undeniable. From these testing experiences we learn from our mistakes, challenge ourselves and others, to flourish.

What is your rough patch? Maybe it is a difficult client, a hard decision, a scary opportunity or business venture. Face these challenges and know that the experience will provide for growth within your business and its surrounding marketplace. And remember that no matter how ominous a problem may seem there is always someone cheering you on from the sidelines.

Collaboration not Competition

Baby boomers were raised to compete. They vied for everything from spelling bees to who could be the coolest. Today’s children are raised to believe that showing up is enough. Every child on a team gets a ribbon or trophy regardless of effort. As in all things, reality lies somewhere in the middle.

The Boomer’s competitive focus on their perceived competition was about winning but not about excellence. A competitive focus is outward directed. Everything the other guy does is a threat, something to act against. There are inherent problems with this mind set. It presumes that you have nothing to learn; winning is everything; and the other guy has the potential to beat you.

In spite of a Quaker upbringing Richard Nixon was the poster boy for professional competitiveness. He had a successful first term as President. He was a shoe-in for re-election. But during the campaign season he took his eye off of his strengths and weaknesses. He turned his focus on George McGovern. It wasn’t enough to beat him; Nixon wanted to annihilate McGovern. When annihilation became the goal principles and ethics fell by the wayside. A smart man with unparalleled skills threw away his legacy to compete against someone who had little chance to win.

Collaboration is cross-focused. It presumes that that someone in your market or others with a similar business offering might have something to proffer that could enhance your business. It presumes that by joining forces you could enhance both of your businesses. We have many wonderful collaboration models in our market. The Historic Inns of Rockland work together to drive calendar events and to promote their businesses. Maine wineries sponsor a state wide wine trail that features all of the wineries. Our art galleries do simultaneous openings to maximize viewing of shown artists’ works. The businesses mentioned collaborate to minimize costs and to maximize exposure. They join forces to set quality standards and customer satisfaction levels. They learn from and teach each other.

It’s about everyone winning but unlike the trophies for everyone crowd it’s about more than showing up. It means doing your best and sharing your knowledge. It’s an exchange of ideas and constructive criticism. It’s about being an individual and a team player. It’s about winning in a new way.

Change is always in the air

A beautiful spring turned into summer last Monday; I was reminded of the eternal changes of the seasons. Four times every year we experience a change in our surroundings and ultimately, our lifestyle. Warm summers spent outside in the bright sunshine never fail to turn into cold winters where we retreat to the warmth of home and shelter from the elements. We accept these changes as part of life and adapt to live in these four different seasons accordingly. So why are we afraid of change outside of this universal lifecycle?

We live in fear of change. Change deals with the unknown, a territory that is an uncharted challenge. We avoid unknown because it is comfortable and safe within familiar borders. But if we never venture outside of our boundaries, how can we improve? If we stay safe within the known, we may miss precious experiences and opportunities that we did not dream possible.

Fear of change applies to the business world as well. In today’s uncertain economy, a safe harbor is hard to find. We can’t rely on familiar business practices and customs as the world shrinks with globalization and a shifting marketplace. The only familiar aspect of today’s fluctuating environment is change itself. As individuals and business people, we must use change as a tool to better ourselves and our community. Yes the unknown is scary, but it is inevitable. If used as a weapon of choice rather than a preconceived hindrance it will foster improvements to the struggling economy.

Just as we adapt to the turning of the seasons, we must adapt to our shifting marketplace. The only thing we can count on is change; embrace it. The challenge of change will open doors to improvement and growth. Conquer that fear and step into the unknown, you might be surprised by what you find.

Expand Your Bucket List

Bucket list has been added to our vocabulary in recent years. What’s on your bucket list is a question that elicits ready answers. Parachute jumps, hang gliding, a specific mountain trek or a romantic trip to an idyllic place with that one special person are among the common answers. Yes, even bucket lists can be common.

But, what is your bucket list for your work, your business, your career? Is there a business goal you want to achieve that would give you the same rush as jumping out of an airplane? Is there a client you could attain that would give you the sense of satisfaction that you might achieve from a successful, but arduous mountain climb?

Look at your work goals with the same ardor you make a list for your personal goals. You might be surprised to find they will feed each other and you. You might find that one will give you the resources to fulfill the other. You might push yourself to achieve things you had not previously considered. Dreams apply to all aspects of your life. Take a shot.

Fear as a Virtue

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear. Mark Twain

Like most emotions fear runs on a continuum from mild discomfort to terror. It serves as a warning in all of its forms. Some fears are irrational, some can be terrifying and some are indications of opportunity. In life threatening situations fear drives our response mechanisms and triggers adrenalin levels that enhance our survival skills. But what role does fear play in our business life?

The answer depends on how willing you are to listen to fear indicators, respond to them and most importantly to overcome them. In business fear most often arises when we are faced with opportunity. We might experience butterflies, anxiety or more than normal doubt. Many of us make the mistake of focusing on the fear rather than the opportunity. Focus on the fear echoes all of the reasons to avoid change.

The opportunity might be the pursuit of a client that is more of a challenge than you are used to; it might be an option to partner with someone new, to launch a new aspect of your business, or move to a new location. Any opportunity is a challenge to the status quo and that challenge is manifested in the mild discomfort of low range fear.

Those butterflies are telling you something, but are you willing to listen? To listen is to analyze your confidence in your ability to grow your business. To listen to the fear or your instincts is review your goals and confront the courage necessary to fulfill them. How many times have you heard someone say, “I could have ……” That opener is to frequently the encore to regret. As in your personal life view every opportunity in the context of how sorry will I be if I don’t do it?

Fear’s role at this level is to maintain the status quo not to provide the adrenalin necessary to move forward. The status quo is comfortable but it does not provide the challenges needed to grow, develop and achieve the next level of success. Fear complacency not opportunity.