1800askDonna

Communications - They're a Changing

Link: Communications - They're a Changing :: Public Relations and Publicity Blog.

I've been talking to friends about how much the internet and technology have changed the world. Mostly for the better, but not always. Take employment, for example. I work virtually from home. I rarely meet any of my coaching clients...they can live anywhere in the world since we have our appointments on the phone, and communicate the rest of the time via email. And the company I am Vice President of http://www.coachville.com is a totally virtual organization. We have team meetings on a telebridge, communicate via phone, email and IM, and conduct classes via telephone.

I have clients that are now shifting to at least part-time telecommunicating, and who stay in touch with the office via laptop and Blackberry.

But there's a shadow side to all this as well. Most of the people I know who operate virtually, work far too many hours...after all, they can just "accomplish one more thing." And expectations of how fast you get back to someone have increased. Pop someone an email and expect a reply within twentyfour hours....or less.

And what about the "mom and pop" stores? The internet has had a profound effect on them too. I know several locally that have gone out of business, unable to compete not with the megastores, but with the internet. Some have embraced it in order to survive, creating websites and selling via ebay. But not all have the skills or desire to do that. They liked the one on one interaction with customers, and you don't get that in the same way via email!

Now lest you think I am craving "the good old days", let me assure you that I do not. I am a self confessed closet technogeek. I adore gadgets. New technology. Innovaton.

Mostly I am just fascinated at how much the world has changed in the fifty plus years I've been here. Computers, cell phones, digital cameras, IM, email, internet, wireless web, text messaging.

I "talk" more to my kids now that they are out of the house than I when they were in high school, living at home. The cell me when they are running errands, and IM me from work and home. And I even get the occasional webcam introduction to friends. My 79 year old mom uses a fax machine to keep track of things. My 84 year old mother in law uses a cell phone. My 89 year old fatther in law is taking a computer class.

I can't wait to see what's next!

On being Clucid

No...that's not an error.  I didn't mean lucid.

Tonight I coined a new term.  Clucid...for people suffering from Clueless/Clued-In disorder.  A unique condition where they swing from being totally clueless, to awesomely clued-in.

Know anyone like that?

The truth...or what passes for the truth

Wladyslaw Bartoszewski, Auschwitz prisoner No. 4427 and former Polish foreign minister: "The question we ask ourselves and of the world is how much of the truth about the horrible experiences of that totalitarian regime we managed to pass down to the younger generations. Much of it, I believe, but not enough."

With the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz upon us, there have been numerous articles, television shows, blogs and other rememberances.  I did not read or watch one of them.  I didn't have to.

I grew up with the horror of the holocaust as a part of my existance.  Both my mom and dad were Auschwitz survivors.  Dad was lucky, four of his siblings (out of twelve) survived.  None of my mother's family survived. 

Growing up, most of their friends were also survivors.  Of course I had no idea that my experience was different from other children.  This was normal for me. And the rest of the children of survivors I met, well...we never talked about it. It was too uncomfortable, thinking about your parents being treated like that.

My mom, on the other hand, does watch.  And each time she says the same thing.  It was much worse than any depictation.

I believe her.  I've heard the stories.  Seen the look in her eyes.  Listened to my father's nightmares.

So today i celebrate the strength and fortitude of my parents.  And all of those who survived...when reason would have said they shouldn't.  For they are the ones who helped shape me.  And showed me that strength and a belief in survival could work miracles.

Dirty Little Secrets

Link: PostSecret.

I know...two posts in one day. It's shocking. But it's cold outside, and in addition to not liking football, I don't like the cold. Two of my secrets now public!

But I came across this PostSecret blog, and couldn't stop myself from reading it. Now obviously, some of those folks made their secrets up. However many feel authentic, (not to mention artistic) and got me wondering why folks would want to (albeit anonymously) share their secrets with the world. Is it cathartic? Are they closet exhibitionists? Or is this a form of public confessional whereby sharing their secret gives them absolution?

In any case, I did find it highly entertaining. And occasionally sad.

I'm not going to fake it anymore.

Link: FOXSports.com - NFL Playoffs- How to fake it on Super Bowl Sunday.

So here's the thing. Why would I want to fake knowledge of Football, or a desire to watch the Superbowl? And why are there all these articles cropping up telling me how to do it?

Are there equivalent articles telling men "How to enjoy What Not To Wear" or "Everything you need to know to fake loving a chick flick?" I think not.

This takes me back to my early teen days, where I the teen magazines had articles on how to fawn on his every word. Give me a break.

I am out of the closet...I DO NOT ENJOY WATCHING SPORTS. Apologies to my son Adam, who already knows this, but I didn't even enjoy watching his school games (although I did enjoy when he was up at bat). Give me a dance recital any time. (And even those were sometimes excruciating...except when daughter Lauren was on stage)

Although I do like a good half-time show, and I adore chili.

Yes...I have friends who do like to watch, and know the difference between a linebacker and a line of prose. But I can't be alone.

I'm not going to fake it anymore.

What's your security blanket?

I was talking to some friends recently, and we got into the discussion of security blankets.  No, not actual security blankets, but what we needed to be certain of, or have, in order to to function fully.

I found the answers fascinating.  So I decided to poll some more people.  So far, here are the answers I have received.

"chocolate"

"a weeks supply of diet coke"

"my meditation time once a day"

"sex once a week"

"my cell phone"

"no problems with my computer"

"hugs from my children"

All great answers.  All things I want as well.  (Except for the Diet Coke!) But I recognized that (apart from the love of my family, which keeps me sane) for me, it's knowledge.  I need to know that I have access to books and knowledge to fully function.  It can be a stack of books, several hours worth of unheard books/classes on my IPod, or access to the internet.  But I need my daily (hourly?) idea fix.  Actually, not bad, as obsessions go!

I'm a convert to mind mapping

I spent the weekend Mind Mapping. Of course I am not new to the concept, I've mind mapped before. But always on paper, and one I had it done, there was the chore of converting my map to paper (ok, not paper...computer) and that didn't always get done.

But then, working with friends and colleagues this weekend, we plotted out intentions and objectives for the year using mind mapping software. And when it was done...well, all i can say it I was a fan. I had tried mind mapping software before, but the MindManager software from Mindjet is outstanding, fun to use, and links to excel and Outlook. And for creative fun, you can even insert graphics into your mindmap!

Of course the company was fun too.  I was there with some of the CoachVille crew (Dave Buck, Maria Andreu, Kim George and Tracy Adams) working on 2005 Annual Conference on Redefining Leadership and on objectives and I have to say that I can't ever remember another company where working and having fun were one and the same.  We laughed as much as we worked.   Curious, read more about it here.     Link: CoachVille 4thAnnualConference.