Thankful for "Chicken"

This story is especially humorous to me because as a child my mom fixed chicken every way imaginable. I swore, I would never eat chicken once I left home.. LOL … Of course, while I was a big talker, today, it is one of my favorites! As moms we all have the immeasurable experiences of witnessing how our children interpret and think of things. This week, my 5 year old son brought home a project. They are asked to think of one thing they are thankful for and decorate a feather for a large turkey to be posted in the school hallway. As Hilton and I sat down to discuss what we are “thankful” for, I explained how mommy is thankful for both of my kids, my family and my friends. He asked, “what else are you thankful for?” I told him that I feel thankful and blessed to have good health that our family has a roof over our heads, food on our table and the freedom to make choices in life. He asked me if daddy is thankful for the same and I replied, “why sure he is.” Then he asked what about Haley? (his sister) I went on to say that while I cannot speak for her, I am sure that she too, is thankful for her family, friends and life. “So buddy”, I said, “what are you thankful for”? He said, “that’s easy momma… I am thankful for chicken. I love chicken”.

5 Qualities of a Good Social Media Manager

By Chris Nerney

1. You understand technology, but you love people. Social media technology is a means to an end, that end generally being to communicate effectively, build trust and foster community. The quiet geek in the corner who wears a reddit t-shirt, knows how to use any Twitter application ever invented, but never interacts with co-workers, probably isn't the right person for the job.

Better would be the outgoing person who gets what social media can do and wants to use it to reach out to people -- friends, customers, clients, people with similar interests, etc. If that's you, don't worry about whether you have sufficient "passion" for a social media manager's job. You do.

2. You possess intellectual and emotional curiousity. Sure, you're supposed to know stuff -- your company's business, details about products and services, problem resolution procedures, etc. -- but your real strength is the desire and ability to look at things from another person's perspective. Empathy. The best customer reps have it; for a social media manager, it's imperative.

3. You're thoughtful, not impulsive or reactive. Being a social media manager is about more than tweeting positive thoughts and virtual brand-building. There's a lot of pressure. Many organizations aren't totally sold on social media, measuring its impact (especially short-term) can be difficult, not all your co-workers may be "getting it," and dealing with crises (or even just haters) can test your patience. If you can handle these types of things, you may be able to handle the stress that comes with being a social media manager.

4. You think strategically (and communicate the strategy). An effective social media manager understands an organization's social media goals and attempts to measure results against them. Equally important, they know how to convey strategic goals to colleagues.

5. You are an ensemble player, not a diva. There are some giant egos in the social media business, a lot of self-proclaimed "gurus" who amass a lot of Twitter followers and land numerous speaking engagements. Many would make lousy social media managers because they see themselves as superstars or saviors. A good social media manager freely gives out credit for successes to teammates and accepts blame for failures.

Those are the qualities I'd consider to be most valuable in a social media manager. Let me know if there are any you think should be on the list.

Simple Tips to Avoid Colds and Flu

Avoiding colds and flu this season is at the top of everyone's list. Here are 14 tips to help you keep healthy and happy as compiled by medical experts who want to keep you out of their offices and safe at home and work.
1. Wash your hands often, including every time you shake someone's hand.
2. Do not touch your nose and eyes.
3. Feeling bad? Go to bed and get some sleep.
4. Get a flu shot (you may need two this year with H1N1 widespread).
5. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables.
6. Exercise to enhance immune function.
7. Stay away from sneezers, coughers and sick people.
8. Use alcohol-based hand wipes often.
9. Stop smoking if you have not already done so.
10. Avoid 'double dipping' with chips or watch out for those who may be dipping double.
11. Use a purse that can be wiped down, like leather or vinyl.
12. No nail-biting.
13. Get happy!
14. Sneeze into the crook of your arm and not your hands.

Andy’s Answers: How Coca-Cola is connecting fans all over the world

By Andy Sernovitz on November 17, 2009

In this interview, Adam Brown, Coca-Cola Group Director, Digital Communications, shares a few tips based on the case study he’ll be presenting:

• Fish where the fish are. Coke is focusing on putting content where the fans are by sharing everything on Twitter, Facebook, Bebo, Orkut, etc.

• Learn to sell these big ideas as internal partnerships. Coke’s Expedition 206 is a partnership of marketing and communications. It’s a new concept at Coke, and probably at any company — and one of the biggest challenges of new media is internally determining where to host these activities.

• Start using these new tools yourself. Get a feel for them by just trying them out. The vast majority of them are free, and your testing might be where some great new ideas come up.

Social Media Revolution

Did You Know?

-1 out of 8 couples married in the U.S. last year met via social media

-If Facebook were a country it would be the world’s 4th largest between the United States and Indonesia (note that Facebook is now creeping up – recently announced 300 million users)

-2009 US Department of Education study revealed that on average, online students out performed those receiving face-to-face instruction

-% of companies using LinkedIn as a primary tool to find employees….80%

- Eighty percent of Twitter usage is updated outside of Twitter (which means a bad customer experience could spread like wildfire)

Still think you don't need Social Media?