Passion, Purpose and Meaning

Today, I'm taking the day off from wordiness, and simply passing along a share. A few days ago, in one of those moments of internet serendipity, I stumbled upon this video. It's a clip very little need be said about. You watch it - and you get it.

http://vimeo.com/17689185

It reminded me of a quote (from Tuesdays with Morrie): “Devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.”

A little Thursday food for thought: What are you doing with your energy, your time, your one, precious life? Are you doing it with passion (or compassion)? Does it give you purpose and meaning in life? And if not, what are you waiting for?

An Apple a Day: Thoughts on Steve Jobs

The entire world is talking about Steve Jobs this morning. And rightfully so. Last night I sat in front of my Twitter stream - from the first tweet breaking the news to an unreasonably late hour - watching people from all corners of the world come together to celebrate an innovator who changed human communication forever.

Confession: until just over a year ago, I wasn't an "Apple person." After another run-in with a PC "blue screen of death," I finally decided it was time to jump ship and shell out the cash for a MacBook. When I brought my MacBook home in July of 2010, I spent the first 24 hours seriously considering returning it to the store because it didn't have a delete key. Sure, it had a <em>delete </em>key, but the MacBook delete key functioned like a PC backspace key. How could I live without a delete key and a backspace key? Furthermore, where was the left click button?! A few days (and keyboard shortcuts) later, and I was in love. Turns out... I <strong>am</strong> an Apple person.

Flash forward a year. The tidbits and nuggets of my life are captured, stored and preserved in the form of photos, documents and videos in two places: my MacBook and my iPhone. My MacBook and my iPhone aren't my life, but they <em>are</em> tools that help me live better, think better, work better and communicate better.

If I could share one story with Steve Jobs, this would be it.

24 years ago, a 5-year-old version of me sat at Epcot Center, listening intently as the narrator's voice described a vision of the millennium ahead. He explained that one day we would find ourselves eating from flavored tubes of food like astronauts, bidding farewell to vehicles and skateboards in exchange for flying cars and hoverboards. From all the visions of the future I caught a glimpse of that afternoon, the one that has always stuck with me was the promise that one day I would hold a phone and be able see the person I was speaking to on the other end of the line.

I remember filing that promise away in my head. I remember making a conscious mental note, that if that day ever came, it must really be true that anything is possible.

Last month I connected to Facetime for the first time. On the other end of the line? My father. 800 miles away.

In the flurry of tweets last night, someone said it simply and eloquently (two qualities I think we can all agree Steve Jobs would appreciate): <strong>He was our Edison. </strong>

As for his legacy, I don't think I could sum it up any better that this passage from the Brains on Fire Book (page 14):

<em>If your company were (heaven forbid) to be hit by a bus tomorrow, would you brand live on without you? In other words, is your customer's brand loyalty so strong that it's self-sustaining? Are you the main drive of what your brand stands for? Is it in the ads that the marketing department prints in the monthly pubs? Or does it live in the hearts and minds of your employees and customers? </em>

<em>Brands that truly matter can, without a doubt, answer this question in a heartbeat. The culture of fans is so loyal that the brand they love so much will live on, even if it's not there to feed them anymore. And if something happened to you (or your company) there would be an outcry from your fans. Calls would be made. E-mails would circulate. You would be mourned. But, in your absence, those who love you would pull together and somehow continue the word you'd begun.</em>

<strong>We don&rsquo;t get a chance to do that many things, and every one should be really excellent. Because this is our life.</strong> | Steve Jobs

The Power of Thank You - Part 2

[The first part of this post is a recap of an awesome podcast by Shawn Achor, CEO of Aspirant and author of The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work. You can check out the full podcast here.]

Happiness precedes success. It’s plain and simple. When your brain is happy, it significantly outperforms your brain when it is negative, neutral or stressed. Unfortunately, for many people, their workplace puts their brain in a negative, neutral or stressed state, creating roadblocks and hindrances to dealing with problems, challenges and tasks.

Among other things, a positive state of mind affects your energy level, how long you can work on a project, how many possibilities you see when working on a project and how well you perform on a task. A recent study put this theory to the test. When researchers primed one group of children with positive reinforcement before asking them to complete a block puzzle, the children in the “positive” group completed the task 50% more quickly than the control group that received no priming.

When it came to adults, researchers found that it is possible to rewire the much more quickly than they thought possible. When managers just increased their praise and recognition of one employee once a day for 21 business days in a row, six months later, those teams had a 31% higher level of productivity than the control group.

Praise doesn’t have to be monumental. Achor suggests something as simple as writing a 2 sentence gratitude e-mail each morning, or starting a meeting by writing down three things you’re thankful for can dramatically alter the way in which your brain processes the challenges your team is about to deal with.

So. How does this apply to brands?

If a little recognition from a supervisor can yield such positive results, imagine what being positively recognized and praised by your brand’s fans could do.

If you’ve seen Geno speak in the past year, you’ve probably heard the story of his MINI experience. If not, here you go. I’ve never owned a MINI, but every time I see one on the road, I feel a positive sentiment wash over me as I remember Lindsey, Geno’s MINI “Motoring Assistant,” and the way she made him feel throughout the process of bringing his new baby home.

Last weekend I visited a local Chipotle. When we asked for a to-go lid, the employees could have handed us a lid and sent us on our way. Instead, they sang a song about taking Chipotle home, using the lids as cymbals in their impromptu ditty. A typical experience was instantly transformed into something remarkable. We left smiling, and you better believe I was tweeting @chipotle_tweets to share the story (and say thanks) faster than you can say “burrito bowl.”

If you are looking for a way to make your brand better, start by making it easy for fans to recognize the people (read: your employees – who ARE the brand) creating remarkable and inspiring experiences, products and services. Make it even easier for your fans to share the stories of those remarkable experiences with others.

A little thanks, as it turns out, goes a long way.

The Power of Thank You - Part 1

Photo credit: Ben Fredericson

Last Friday I found myself scrambling to pack for a flight. With no food in the house, I did what every red-blooded American does in such situations – I turned to delivery. As someone who has done my fair share of “Are we there yet?” over the course of my life, I love Domino’s Pizza tracker. I no longer have to hover around the front door waiting for the delivery guy. Instead, I just let the tracker do its thing. If you haven’t ordered pizza from Domino’s in the past few years, allow me to explain.

Once you pull the trigger on your order, you can “watch” as it goes through the process, from prep to delivery to doorbell. Along the way, the tracker even reports the names of the employees working on your order. Anna is prepping your pizza. It’s in the oven! Juan is doing quality inspection. Out for delivery.

And if that’s not enough, customers can choose from several tracker themes, from hair band to romance novel, to hear the steps announced from start to finish. I must admit, the simple act of placing a pizza order becomes remarkably more intriguing when a Latin lover coos from your MacBook to let you know that your pizza is “being baked with the fires of passion.”

Recently, Domino’s added another feature to the tracker, and this one has truly endeared the brand to me. The tracker now includes the option to send an electronic note of encouragement to the staff preparing your order. Pizza patrons can choose from a drop-down list of positive messages including “Keep up the good work,” “You’re my favorite Dominos team members" and “You are my pizza heroes!”

With the click of a button, the anonymous process of placing a pizza order becomes personal. Anonymous employees become pizza heroes to hungry customers, and customers become cheerleaders to employees. Sure, the tool is cool, but far more importantly, it is a conduit for customers to express gratitude - and employees to receive it. The brand helps the people who ARE their brand connect with the people who LOVE their brand and vice versa. And that bridge is a mighty thing.

An electronic “thank you” may not seem like much, but it turns out those two words may be more powerful than we ever imagined, and even a small act of gratitude can have a profound impact on satisfaction and performance. A recent study found that when your brain is positive, it outperforms your brain when it is negative, neutral or stressed. No big surprise there, right? Well, the study also found that the simple act of consistently saying “thank you” can increase a person's productivity by 31%.

Tomorrow, we’ll dig into the nitty gritty of the study to find out just how powerful giving thanks really is. In the meantime, a tiny, thoughtful TED talk on thanks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag-Oyn8vIPE

Thank you for taking a few minutes out of your day to read all the way to the bottom of the post. Happy Hump Day, friends.

-------------------------

Just can't get enough blog? Check out The Brains on Fire Book for more thoughts, insight and stories from the BOF crew.

The Art of We: The Future of Word of Mouth Marketing

Over the past several months, millions of Americans have been logging off Facebook. In May alone, more than 6 million said good-bye to the social networking site for good. To give you some perspective, that loss is greater than the total population of Denmark. It may seem like a monumental figure, (let’s be honest, if most of us lost 6 million customers in a month, we’d not only be sounding the alarm, we’d be looking for a new job, too...) but for a company that has over 500 million users, it’s a drop in the bucket. At least for now. For the past year or so, I have started to notice the people around me putting down their smartphones. I’ve watched them grow progressively more comfortable stepping away from the Twitter stream in order to engage in “real-time” hobbies or spend time with their families and friends. They’ve left status updates unmanned. They’ve silenced their ringers, alerts, whistles and bells. And they have begun to become much more present in their real lives.

And to be perfectly frank, I find it refreshing.

I believe we are witnessing the beginning of what I lovingly refer to as “The Return to Real Life.”

For years brands have been putting their eggs in various online baskets. Some were early adopters, others waited for the water to warm up a bit before they hopped in. Many jumped on the bandwagon in search of a quick fix and a magic bullet.

But there is no quick fix. There is no magic bullet.

You know why? Because real life is complicated. And real life happens offline.

Unlike widgets, wonkets, dashboards and baubles, WOMM is sustainable because it is about the people. Real people. It is founded on real relationships. Among other things, WOMM celebrates transparency, trust and community. Three things that cannot be bought, coerced, contracted, rushed or forced.

Real relationships do not come from shiny toys, the app of the day or the simple click of a button. Real relationships stem from a genuine, honest place. Real relationships take time, patience and tending.

Once upon a time, we were primarily exposed to marketing messages through radio, television and print. We didn’t necessarily choose which brands we were exposed to. We sat through commercials, we drove past billboards, we flipped the radio dial. We were exposed to a certain set of brands and marketing messages, and we exercised choice in store aisles when we decided whether or not to buy a certain product or service. We lived in a world of being marketed to.

Today, almost every brand - big and small - has a Facebook page and a Twitter page, and despite advances in DVRing and commercial-free radio, we find ourselves in a somewhat un-evolved situation. The mediums have changed, but we’re still being marketed at.

Instead of sitting through a 30 second TV spot, we’re logging on to find the same conversation taking place in a difference venue...and it still sounds like a (140 character) rendition of the same, old, tired conversation: “ME ME ME ME ME! Buy MY product. Buy MY service. I am so great.”

So what does that mean for the future of WOMM?

When I look into my crystal ball, I see The Return to Real Life as the dawning of a new era. An emergence of WOMM in its purest form.

I believe people will begin to make better use of the minutes of their precious lives.

I believe part of that will include applying much stricter filters to the messages and marketing that they invite into their live and wallets.

I believe brands that dare to show their humanness will be welcomed into our hearts and homes.

I believe there will be a shift from online to offline.

I believe brands that turn their focus from tools and numbers to the real people on the other end of the conversation will not only survive, but thrive, while those who have refused to adapt will find themselves on one side of a self-created wall - and their customers on the other.

I believe brands will not be evaluated based on the number of Facebook fans, rather they will be defined (and celebrated) by the quality of their interaction with fans.

I believe the most successful brands will stop focusing on toys and technology, and start focusing on human beings.

I believe brands will start to recognize the innate and precious power of a small group of passionate, vocal fans.

I believe people will want to connect with brands that make them feel like friends and family.

I believe people will want to connect with brands that are loved by their friends and family.

I believe people will start turning down the volume on brands that talk AT them, and tuning into brands that not only talk WITH them, but listen TO them, too.

A curious observation: If you take the word “ME” and flip the M 180 degrees, it turns into a new word: WE.

The future of WOMM: I believe that people will embrace and elevate brands that reject the notion of “ME” and actively practice the art of “WE.”

Finding Identity: Fill in the Blank

http://vimeo.com/11527784 Confession: I really like Twitter bios.

In only a couple sentences, I am able to weed the “cake people” from the “pie people,” and the “cat people” from the “dog people.” In one little paragraph, I have learned that the head of a rather large public relations firm considers himself a french fry fanatic, and the CEO of a big brand is a self-professed “pencil person.” When it comes to Twitter bios, there seems to be something about the limited character space compels people to put a stake in the ground, make a personal declaration and swiftly self-identify.

But what is identity, really? How would you define it? One dictionary suggests it is simply “knowledge of who one is.” Whether you’re a brand or simply a human being, it’s an important question to ask yourself – and an even more important question to answer.

Why? Because the answer helps us connect to our kindred spirits, our passion and our purpose in this world.

From The Brains on Fire Book (Lesson 7, page 109)

Fill in the blank: I am a ______________.

A mac? A PC? A card-carrying member of the NRA? Buddhist? Vegetarian? What would you fill in that blank with?

Whatever it is, it’s part of your identity. It’s a label. It’s something with which you identify and something you support. And most important, it’s a part of you.

As humans, we are fundamentally hardwired to desire to be a part of something bigger than ourselves, more important than we are alone. Religion, sports teams – even brands. We’re always on the lookout for things that we can incorporate into our personalities – because it creates a sense of belonging. And we all want to belong.

Powerful identities help draw kindred spirits to you and give them a badge of honor to wear. It allows you to recognize others in the movement, be able to share their stories, and both with like-minded people. It’s an extremely powerful tool, considering that we spend much of our lives being identified by what people call us. Getting a chance to say, “This is who I am in spite of what everybody things” in an authentic way can be a really exciting moment for someone. Joining a movement is a chance to take control of your identity rather than falling victim to someone else’s labeling.

Me? I am a sister, a daughter, a dog person. A BOF-er and a displaced Midwesterner. A Buckeye. A first-born ENFP. I am a Catholic, a former Texan and a part-time vegetarian. I’m a writer, a Honda driver, an optimist and a life enthusiast. I’m a Googler, a storyteller, a dreamer and a pixie dust sneezer. I am a hopeless romantic, an iPhone-user and a lover of Sharpies.

Who are you?

Why Community Matters: On Life, Love and Loss

"A community needs a soul if it is to become a true home for human beings. You, the people, must get it this soul." | Pope John Paul II Once in awhile you come across an unexpected story that really puts everything in perspective. I had one such experience last week when I clicked the link to a video titled "Peanut Butter Pie for Mikey."

After Jennifer Perillo lost her husband of 18 years to a sudden heart attack, she made one simple request: that those wishing to celebrate her husband's life make a Peanut Butter Pie (his favorite) and then share it with those they love.

From Jennifer's blog: "As I spend Friday reflecting on the love and life that was gone in an instant, I'd like to invite all of you to celebrate his life too. Mikey loved peanut butter cream pie. I haven't made it in a while, and I've had it on my to-do list for a while now. I kept telling myself I would make it for him tomorrow. Time has suddenly stood still, though, and I'm waiting to wake up and learn to live a new kind of normal. For those asking what they can do to help my healing process, make a peanut butter pie this Friday and share it with someone you love. Then hug them like there's no tomorrow because today is the only guarantee we can count on."

Along with a outpouring of peanut butter pies, came an outpouring of love and support by way of Twittersphere and blogosphere...

Just spoke to the GM at @BlueSmokeNYC and they only had one slice of #apieformikey left at the end of the evening. How awesome is that?

I didn't blog it, but I did make #apieformikey, and I shared it with the people I love.

Just made #apieformikey after reading the very sad story. It's date night tonight, and I'm feeling very appreciative of what I have.

See how Yvette in San Juan adapted my #apieformikey cupcake recipe. Love is an international language!

My friend made the pie and printed Jennies post to hand out at her dinner. #apieformikey is impacting lives.

I just found out some of the students on campus have even been baking #apieformikey .

"In full force, with fierce love and commitment, the online food community banded together as one family to celebrate Mikey and everyone dear to us. Under the twitter hashtag #APieforMikey , a beautiful explosion of peanut butter pies came pouring out of all our hearts to be shared with our loved ones." (via White on Rice Couple)

After discovering the video, I spent a couple hours exploring hashtag #APieForMikey on Twitter. It introduced me to people from all walks of life around the country (and world) sharing their own stories of love, loss and life celebration. People brought together by a tragic loss, a simple request and a social medium - in order to feel and heal together. Strangers surrounding one grieving family, lifting them up with love.

Take a few minutes to watch the video, and then go forth into your week. Whether you bake a peanut butter pie for Mikey, or just share a few minutes of conversation with a colleague over a peanut butter and jelly sandwich - be thankful for this day, and the communities you are a part of.

http://www.vimeo.com/27654447

SHARE | How has social media (or the relationships you nurture through social media) impacted your "real" life?

The Story of YOU (is really the story of US)

Monday was a new beginning for me. Not just a new week beginning, but a new decade beginning. A fresh start. A "round three." A clean slate. Why? Because on Monday, I turned 30. (I am still trying that declaration on for size.) As we are obligated to do with any milestone birthday, I decided to bid bon voyage to my twenties and welcome my thirties surrounded by a handful of my favorite people on the planet. I live in a little house. It was built sometime in the 30s. I chose to live there after a good friend (who happens to be an interior designer) shared her philosophy with me: "Buy the smallest space you can make work for you... in the nicest neighborhood you can afford." Essentially, quality over quantity. As it turns out, I love my little house. My only real complaint is the tiny kitchen. It would be generous to say there is an 8x8 square of floor space. It is walled on all sides. And ever since the first time I entertained in my little house, it left me longing for an open floor plan. Whenever anyone comes over, I find myself apologizing for the little kitchen. Frankly, the little kitchen irritates me.

So there we were on Saturday night, 20 or so of my nearest and dearest Greenvillains (I'm not sure if they realize I refer to them as such, but now they do...) strewn throughout the house, eating, drinking and reveling in a general sense of merriment. At one point in the evening, I glanced over my shoulder to discover that nearly all of the guests were crowded in the little kitchen. They were chatting and happy and enjoying each other's company - shoulder to shoulder, but nobody really seemed to mind.

In a moment so full of life and love - a little kitchen has never seemed so big.

When the last of my guests had left, I found myself giving thanks for the joy of dirty dishes, evidence of an evening well spent. And it gave me pause to reflect on the relationships in my life.

These most important relationships and people cannot be summed up by the "about me" section on a Facebook profile, but here is what I can tell you about them...

They are the kind of people who show up early, volunteering to help party-prep so you could enjoy the evening just a little bit more. They are the kind of people who bring your beloved dog a housewarming gift, too. They bring you homemade biscotti for the morning after - and wine for whenever. They are the kind of people who  pay attention to a dream you mentioned  in casual conversation, and months later, show up carrying the dream topped with a bow. They are the kind of people who arrive with a hug and take a hug one last hug for the road. They are the kind of people who can fill a little kitchen with so much light, you forget it is little at all.

For me, my birthday was less about celebrating me - and so much more about celebrating the people, experiences, choices and relationships that have filled the first 30 chapters of the Story of Me.

"Buy the smallest space you can make work for you... in the nicest neighborhood you can afford." It's a theory that applies to relationships, too. In a time where "more" is often equated with "better," many people have lost site of what really matters: quality. Fill your small space, your little kitchen, your one, precious life with the best people you can find. The best friends, the most passionate people, the believers, the celebrators, the enthusiasts, the dreamers and doers. Fill your days with people who care about and believe in something you care about and believe in, too.

These are the people who will show up to your party. These are the people who will get down in the trenches with you, and rise up and take a stand with you. These are the people who will not only tell, but help you write The Story of You.

Which, in the end, turns out to be less "The Story of You" - and more of "The Story of Us."

Who will tell your story?

Great Storytelling: More Than Words

A story is told as much by silence as by speech. | Susan Griffin The other day I came across an article written by Steve Slaunwhite on how to be a better copywriter. His opening paragraph made me laugh.

“You slave over your copy, writing powerful headlines and body copy that sizzles. You cover all the salient selling points and describe the product features and benefits in a compelling manner. Then, once you've completed your masterpiece, your graphic designer comes back to you and says, “The text doesn't fit into the layout. It's too long. Can you cut it?”

We’ve all been there.

As writers, we spend our lives filling our toy boxes with words – big and little, simple and sophisticated, snarky and refined. We have a soft spot for the thesaurus, and most of our friends dare not go up against us in a game of Scrabble. Words are what we do – and what we love.

Great writers are as skilled at listening as they are at speaking. They don’t let the words mute the message. They know when to reel in an overzealous adjective, just like they know the importance of holding out for the just-right verb. (Which often shows up in the middle of the night, waking them from a dead sleep.)

The greatest writers are also gifted storytellers. Sometimes their message is conveyed in words - other times, the white spaces in between.

But there is a difference between being a great writer and a great storyteller. Great writers share great words with the world. Great storytellers carry great stories to the world.

This week I discovered an amazing video on Vimeo. The Adventures of a Cardboard Box. It tells a wordless story that says more than any script could. Take a few minutes and allow yourself to drift back to childhood. Take a journey through the blank space in between. Let yourself be enfolded by a story that says so much – without saying a word. It’s 8 minutes well spent. I promise.

http://www.vimeo.com/25239728

Your turn. Share a story that has moved you recently.

4 Ways to Put Some Human Back in Marketing

This weekend I was StumbleUpon-ing through marketing pages, looking for some Monday morning blog inspiration. As I hit the Stumble button, phrases like “trusted data,” “targeted results,” and “how to make your stock photos stand out from the crowd” kept popping up. It made me feel – in a word – icky. Why? Because something was missing. What was that something? People.

Somewhere along the way, it seems people (and real relationships) have been swept away in a sea of LIKES and fan numbers and [insert metric du jour here]. But people-less marketing is like showing up to run a marathon in flip-flops.

Have marketers lost their human touch? Are we investing in trusted data and targeted results instead of people? It’s time to put people back in the equation, I say.

Behold: four ways to do just that.

ONE | Engage imagination and a sense of wonder (because, let’s be honest, we could use more imagination and wonder in our grown-up lives.) Method recently sent out an e-mail sharing the news that their product refills now come in pouch form. True to Method-form, however, they presented the change to fans with a dose of fun and humor - and a story about how the pouch came to be “in the midst of developing a potential line of rodent pool loungers.”

They also gave fans an opportunity to do some brainstorming about alternative “uses” for the pouch – with winning entries to be featured on future pouches.

TWO | Turn ME into WE. In college, I had good professors and bad professors. The best of the best were the kind who could walk into the classroom, sit down and make us feel like a collective “WE” and “US.” They didn’t stand at the front of the room and lecture. They weren't self-righteous or feel a need to show off their brainpower. They were quiet, powerful leaders. They sat with us. They created a space for conversation. If we got a little (or a lottle) off topic, they adjusted the plan – because they understood what was important was that we were learning and growing and thinking together. Not that we were checking items off a curriculum TO DO list.

Creating a space where people feel that we’re all in this together changes attitudes, opens hearts and imprints on minds.

Check out Virgin Airlines for an example of one brand doing this well.

THREE | Make it meaningful. In case you missed the memo (and massive amounts of love), for every pair of TOMS shoes purchased, TOMS donates a pair of shoes to a child in need. I have always been a shoe-lover, but I have never felt quite as good about my footwear purchase (read: addiction) as I did the day I brought home my first pair of TOMS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKhV9kpGM-k

TOMS invites fans and customers to become part of their passion project (providing shoes for those in need) by simply purchasing their shoes. It doesn't require a lot to become part of the cause - or the solution. Just a pair of shoes you were already contemplating purchasing. TOMS elevates their fans and supporters – and positions the company as the medium that simply passes the love along. Everybody becomes part of the love chain. Everybody wins. And suddenly a marketing message becomes a movement message.

FOUR | Surprise ‘em and delight ‘em. When was the last time you had a remarkable pizza delivery experience? When was the last time your pizza delivery guy battled through a zombie apocalypse to ensure your pizza was delivered hot and on time? Right. New Zealand's Hell Pizza offers customers a “choose your own adventure” pizza delivery experience. Zombies + pizza = unforgettable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p1yBlV7Ges