Remembering Diane

True friendship...

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Creating a Culture of Honesty

Two emails crossed my inbox this afternoon within two hours of each other, that when read in context of each other zeroed in on a critical need for integrity and honesty in today's dealings, and the subsequent devastation that occurs when ethics are tossed aside.

First, this arrived within the Knowledge@Wharton Network from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania:

Leadership

Dan Ariely on ‘The Honest Truth About Dishonesty’

Everyone cheats a little from time to time. But most major betrayals within organizations start with a first step that crosses the line, according to Dan Ariely, author of ‘The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty.’

Source: http://knlg.net/1pySS9E

Then, this arrived from National Journal's The Edge daily update:

SENATORS ACCUSE GM OF 'CULTURE OF COVER-UP': A day after taking heat from a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee, GM CEO Mary Barra faced a hostile Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. Sen. Claire McCaskill said the company had a "culture of cover-up that allowed an engineer to lie under oath repeatedly." Sen. Barbara Boxer mocked Barra's attempts to distance herself from GM's failure to notify people of a dangerous ignition-switch flaw, saying, "You don't know anything about anything." (Keith Laing, The Hill)

Source: http://thehill.com/blogs/transportation-report/automobiles/202423-senators-gm-had-culture-of-cover-up-that-led-to

The first talks of the need for organizations to create their own code of conduct that embraces honesty, clear rules and expectations, and that these elements are critical to keep organizations from sliding down a slope that begins with minor betrayals and what some would view as minor cheating.

Ariely is quoted: "I have had lots of discussions with big cheaters – ... With one exception, all of them were stories of slippery slopes. You look at the sequence of the events – you look at the end – and you say, my goodness, what kind of monster would do this? But then you look at the first step they took and say, I can see myself under the right amount of pressure behaving badly. Then they took another step, another step, and another step. Most organizations go down a slippery slope rather than having some vicious, vicious plan…."

The second article discusses charges of a culture of cover-up being lodged at General Motors as a result of the delay in the recall of more than 1 million GM vehicles due to a dangerous ignition switch flaw and linked to 13 deaths. GM CEO Mary Barra is recently at the helm, but as the CEO she is being held accountable and to answer to House and Senate lawmakers over the issue. Reporter Keith Laing quoted Sen. Barbara Boxer: "Ms. Barra, I really hate to say this, but if this is the new GM, it is sorely lacking in leadership," adding "As a woman to woman, I am very disappointed, because the culture that you are representing here today is a culture of the status quo."

I agree when Boxer is reported telling Barra, "You're a really important person to this company," but not because of what she did or did not know about the delay in recalling vehicles.

Rather, Barra will be critical at GM as the leader insisting on and directing policies and procedures that will ensure what Ariely calls for, a culture of honesty, that pervades all levels of employees, from the board room to the assembly line.

What would YOU do?

Does money talk? In the face of a disappointing customer experience, one of every two customers say they would take their money and run, or at least so say customers in the UK (

Majority of UK Consumers Say They’d Ditch A Company Due To A Poor Customer Experience)

According to this poll, 3 out of 4 of us will reward excellent customer service by sharing positive experiences and return and half will never darken the doors again after a poor experience. When I've had a horrible experience, I have vented my displeasure with family and friends, and when someone indicates they are planning to spend their money with that business and asks my opinion, I suggest businesses where excellence in service and product has been my experience.

Marketing and promotions can pull the customer in, but failure to provide the best possible experience and the resulting word-of-mouth advertising will drive potential customers away.

Positive customer experiences abound. Just as recently as yesterday I was exposed to an example of excellence in the face of what could have been a catastrophe when I stopped to get a carry-out lunch for myself and office colleague at the local Panera. The order line was short and swift, but the line to wait for orders to be completed was probably 20-people deep and not moving. The manager stepped into action, pulling staff over to get orders filled faster. Before I knew it, another worker had whipped up some cherry limeade smoothies and was walking a tray of samples among us for us to try. It was a delightful treat and before I could even finish it, my order was ready to go.

I have found that offering an element of lagniappe certainly promotes a positive experience and I have voiced this before here.

"Aren’t you delighted when you frequent a business and they go out of their way to fit you into their service schedule, locate a misplaced article or take the needed time to fully and patiently answer your questions? You expect great customer service because that’s been your experience there. Are you willing to give your loyalty in exchange for that lagniappe?...When it comes to loyalty, ‘‘All things being equal, people will do business with people they like. All things not being equal, they still will,” claims John C. Maxwell."

What has been your recent lagniappe in customer service? More importantly, who will you tell? The best lagniappes are the shared lagniappes.

Excellence in Touring

A recent tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater was a lesson in how to build a relationship quickly.

Start with fresh flowers picked nearby. Offer complimentary umbrellas should showers arrive. And stagger tours and sizes so the group is intimate enough to ask questions but large enough to get people through the tour efficiently.


Our tour guide on our recent visit was a master's student in architecture, and so had a passion for the topic. She shared a wealth of information and personal insight from her coursework without the sense of her presentation being canned. It had the right mixture of facts and figures with the magic of storytelling. She offered her type of lagniappe by pointing out best places to anticipate Kodak moments and she was patient with questions.

While our tour may have been a brief hour, it was sufficient to demonstrate 60 minutes of excellence on the part of someone who wanted to pass along her love for the subject. 

Behind the Lens & Seeing Gold

I've been fortunate throughout my career to have worked with a variety of talented photographers, beginning with Peter DeMott during my Arlingtonian days of high school and reporter/photographer/friend Brian McDermott during my Reporter days in New Jersey. They introduced me to the world of 35mm cameras.

Since then I've been inspired by the work and eyes of Gary Smith, a longtime photographer at the Maryland Independent who unexpectedly passed away four years ago, and Augie Selckmann, the first full-time photographer at the Times-Crescent and later the Calvert Independent. I will never forget the photo that Augie caught of a rescue from a car crash ~ it was of a volunteer fireman holding a baby to his shoulder as he soothed and patted its back while the other firefighters finished getting the mother out of the car. The emotion caught in that instant still catches my heart. These two photojournalists widened my view of photography.

There are many others who inspire me to seek a documentary viewpoint, whether in storytelling or catching life's milestone moments, and these include Amanda Banning Pankhurst and most recently Backpack Journalist and Documentary Filmmaker Extraordinaire Bill Gentile.

But for the past 12 years, I've considered myself most fortunate to be inspired daily by my colleague, Val Nyce. The college's lead photography coordinator, Val gives generously of her time, encouragement and tutoring as she shares her expertise and experience. I've always considered her work as golden ~ and now my opinion has been affirmed by the National Council of Marketing & Public Relations District 1 Medallion awards. Congratulations, Val; it is well-deserved!

Behind the Lens at the College of Southern Maryland
CSM’s Photographer Val Nyce Earns Gold Award from NCMPR
"Often before her first cup of coffee, Valerie Nyce is evaluating the probability of a beautiful sunrise. While peering through the viewfinder of her Nikon, she frames shots of the vibrant red, orange and purple backdrops as the sun rises over the Wicomico River outside her backdoor. “Every morning is different—every sunrise is different,” said Nyce of the ritual that began when she opened a Facebook account several years ago and wasn’t sure what to post there. In addition to spectacular sunrises, the College of Southern Maryland's lead photography coordinator posts her images of soaring bald eagles and flora and fauna she finds on her rounds of Southern Maryland... More here."

Making Room in the Empty Pickle Jar

Click here for three minutes of fabulous inspiration:

The Empty Pickle Jar.

What's in your jar? Remember to make room for the chocolate! Thanks to Mac Anderson and Simple Truths for this inspirational, three-minute clip ~ take a moment to enjoy this wonderful gift.

Headstrong and Relentless

Wrapping up its sixth annual Nicholas "HEAD" Colleluori fall collegiate classic, the HEADstrong Foundation again demonstrated the incredible support of the lacrosse community. In its brief history more than $1.1 million has gone out to support blood cancer research and financial assistance for families who are experiencing the hardships of having a sick family member. Nick's parents understand their pain firsthand. From that pain has come a tribute to a relentless young man, resulting in the "Nick effect".

Good morning, Joe!

I couldn't resist this infographic from Dunkin' Donuts and Career Builders. If you're laughing, it's either because you can totally relate that we Morning Joe PR types need a java-jolt, or you find us Morning Joe PR types hilariously ridiculous. If you happen to be latter laughing type, then this other find today is for you ~

Now, for some of my favorite coffeeshops:

Irving Farm in NYC

Brewing Grounds in Leonardtown

And my newest find, Filter Coffeehouse on Dupont Circle.

Where are your preferred coffeehouses to savor a favorite hot or iced cup of coffee?

Farewell, Sheriff Taylor

“@AP: Andy Griffith was funny and wise, a small-town sheriff and Southern lawyer. Looking back at his TV career: http://t.co/ugqkHBEu -PP” The breaking news about the passing of Andy Griffith this afternoon was akin to learning the loss of a much-loved father, in this case, America's hometown dad. The inspiration for my "Front Porch PR" piece nearly three years ago, Sheriff Taylor was the face of hometown hospitality. As a tribute to Andy Griffith, I am looking forward to the re-runs of Aunt Bea, Opie and Sheriff Taylor enjoying the antics and neighborly visits with the Mayberry family. And, in memory of days goneby with my father, I plan to spend some sweltering summer days over the next week, sipping lemonade, sitting under a lazy fan and enjoying the front porches and backyards of longtime friends and new acquaintances. Rest in peace, Andy.

F4 Strong Makes Us Stronger, 10 Years Later

Credit: NOAA and NASA

On the eve of the anniversary of a devastating tornado that swept through Southern Maryland, and in particular my home town of La Plata, Md., many of us have stopped to reflect on what has transpired in the past 10 years since that fateful evening, Sunday, April 28, 2002.


For me, I recall that dawn broke with a downpour. With fellow sponsors, my colleague, Sherry Santana, and I were to staff one of the spirit stations for a walk in the center of La Plata that morning. We were drenched at our corner by the time the organizers came around to advise us there was just too much rain. Sherry and I shoved our cases of water back into our trunks and headed to the local diner for French toast and pancakes before heading back home. By late afternoon, the rain had stopped, the sun was shining, and my family was planning what to grill for dinner.

The town is directly north of our backyard, and as we waited for our chicken to grill, we noticed the odd shade of the sky a split second before hearing the scanner my husband carries as an EMT and life member with Charles County Volunteer Rescue Squad. As it relayed a sighting of the impending storm, we flew downstairs. The storm's path was just north of us, and once it was by we emerged. The tornado had brushed right by our neighborhood, but we had nary a leaf nor limb displaced on our property. The electricity was snapped, and we knew from the eerie quiet that descended that my husband needed to respond. He didn't get much more than a mile from home before he pulled off and went into action. It would be midnight before we saw him again and heard of the devastation that we would see upon dawn's light.

Driving from our neighborhood into town was like entering a war zone. Trees snapped like toothpicks; houses ripped apart. The images are burned to memory of debris and litter everywhere with little left to recognize in the path cleared by the tornado. His newly constructed rescue squad building was destroyed, and gratefully the members inside had emerged uninjured. Their cars parked outside the squad were not as blessed.

Amazingly, the fatalities were few. However, the tornado damaged or destroyed 860 homes and 194 businesses in Southern Maryland. Most of our friends and their families were severely impacted. They lost homes, their school or their church. All of our routines were shattered for months in the wake of rebuilding the familiar -- grocery stores, banks, churches, post office, dentist and other professional offices. For us, it meant interruptions to the most trivial of routines, from getting our hair cut to cashing a check to having monthly orthodontic check-ins, what would seem a rather small incovenience compared to the loss others endured. Nonetheless, it rattled us all, a raw reminder that nothing is guaranteed beyond this moment, this very breath.

From the devastation we saw our community come together to help each other survive and rebuild. Our families, my co-workers and our neighbors were among the very first responders on the scene, and they stayed the course until the work was finished. The neighboring Amish community were beyond belief, arriving in force the very next morning to lend a hand and returning daily until their muscle was no longer needed. Other neighboring communities were just as helpful.

By the way, those cases of water in my trunk that we had intended to distribute as part of our sponsorship for the Sunday morning walk? It wasn't walkers that received them but rather the volunteers who arrived en force Monday morning intent on another type of workout ~ clearing debris.

Ten years after, the Town of La Plata has done an extraordinary job to mark this anniversary, and many will be gathering on the day to pause and reflect. Yes, much has changed when you look at the various before and after photos. It was a frightening time for us and for our kids. Just a brief six months earlier we had dealt with September 11 and the impact on our family and Washington, D.C.; six months later we would struggle with the weeks of Beltway sniper shootings and deaths. Our idea of what it meant to be safe was being redefined.

Today, 10 years later, we understand that we do survive but more importantly we grow stronger in the path of adversity: it is life at its best.

More on finding creativity ~ in your imagination

NPR had a recent piece on how creativity works, with All Things Considered interviewing Jonah Lehrer, a writer specializing in neuroscience, regarding his book, Imagine: How Creativity Works. You can listen to the interview here:



Imagination is critical, Lehrer asserts, and what I found liberating in his interview highlights with NPR, in fact an affirmation of my previous post on Where the Road Ends, is his response to what you do when you hit the proverbial brick wall:

What you should do then — when you hit the wall — is get away from your desk. Step away from the office. Take a long walk. Daydream. Find some way to relax.... what scientists have found is that when people are relaxed, they're much more likely to have those big 'A ha!' moments, those moments of insight where these seemingly impossible problems get solved.

So, feel empowered to put your imagination to work by taking a break, whether it be in Key West or just around the corner. Regardless where you find that place of relaxation, you will also more than likely find yourself freed to encounter that "A-ha!" moment, sooner than expected.

Where the Road Ends ....

Where the road ends is where creativity begins. There is no GPS to chart your course; the way is open to whatever direction your heart and passion drive you to create.

I understand why Ernest Hemingway spent afternoons here at the end of US Route 1 in Key West: to loosen his life, to set his own artistic path, to free his spirit.  The writer finds words flowing as smoothly as the cruise ships slide easily into port or the sunset sails glide past the crowd, and as vibrant as the deepest blue waters of the Gulf or the sweet cotton candy swirls of pink and white and blue, setting with the sun. The artist's latest inspiration awakens on a lazy afternoon; a sheet of paper, a few brushes, some swipes of color and splashes of water take shape into a burst of tropical paradise.

It's where entrepreneurship flourishes, where everyone stakes his and her claims to have a share of the gold. A bit reminiscent of "Paint Your Wagon," Cleo the dog and his partner, a double for Lee Marvin's Ben Rumson, share the sunset with the throngs on Mallory Square and pull in one-fifty on the evening, one buck at a time. A banjo. A song. A Golden Retriever. Each sunset a similar routine, just a different crowd to entertain.

It's an incubator for innovation. Where young Cooper religiously catches the bus two Keys east in order to catch the daily sunset at Mallory, his juggling tools tucked inside a white plastic bucket and joined with his hand-scrawled cardboard sign encouraging tips for his college fund. The eighth-grader intends to study science at Florida, and the regulars of Mallory have coached him in entertaining skills to spur his artistry and storytelling to attract some share of the funds. He's committed to his goals, and his skills are swelling as are hopefully his college investments.
 
It's where campers with assorted cars, vans and trucks from Washington, California, Quebec and Ohio park it for the day along South Roosevelt Boulevard, their Sterno-fueled stoves warming the morning's coffee in anticipation of savoring a day of renewed spirits and fresh ideas.

No need to worry about Daylight Saving Time, it's Key West Time, kept only by the rising sun along South Roosevelt and its subsequent setting at afternoon's end to the west of the southern most end.

 Almost heaven. Definitely paradise.

The Double Dares of Adventure

Double dare you? Reminiscent of my childhood days when we would double-dare each other, this modern day version came in the form of two tweets ironically posted within 4 minutes of each other earlier this week.

The first, shown in the graphic right by @statemaryland, was a plug to enjoy a winter adventure. The intentions by the state tourism office are on the mark, to get people excited about heading into the winter wonderland that Western Maryland has to offer: snowboarding, dog sledding and snowshoeing. It sounds delightful!

Ironically, the State Police, as reported by @CBSBaltimore, are nearly simultaneously describing some not-so-delightful, off-road snow mis-adventures for the same region as they issue difficult driving condition warnings. Now the lure sounds a far cry from delightful, and more like dangerous!

Dare you tackle a double dose of adventure, or do you stay? Timing is everything, so armed with these two tweets, the cautious adventurer could plan the trip accordingly and not drive into the getaway snowblinded. Better yet, what if the tourism tweet advised the adventurer that with snow on the way, head for the winter wonderland after checking current driving conditions with the State Police, and if already en route, stop at any of the restaurants listed and get a discount that could have been pre-arranged with the restaurants on their meals as travelers wait out the storm. That takes monitoring and pre-planning, but the rewards for businesses and travelers alike are worth the extra effort.

PR tip of the week: keep a pulse on what is trending in the headlines, take advantage of seasonal news, and time your messaging accordingly to work in tandem with the news of the moment. The result? Everyone's a winner.

SnapTags: An appealing alternative

Much more appealing graphically, SnapTags are the trending 2d barcodes popping up everywhere.

Jeff Hayzlet has it pegged when he says, why use an ugly QR code when you have the option of a SnapTag that clearly shows off your brand? To hear more from Jeff and their appeal, listen here,

Or check out this read from imediaconnection to see their examples here:

 
I'm game; how about you?

Celebrating Communicators, and the Success of Teamwork

CSM Advancement Team celebrates NCMPR Communicator of the Year Theresa Johnson, center

I consider myself blessed to be part of a hard-working and successful team at the College of Southern Maryland, of which Theresa is a part. We all work well together, building upon the strengths of one another and encouraging each other to think and work outside our comfort zones to rise to our potentials. So, it was a joy to attend this conference and share in the celebration for a fellow team player and communication hero being so aptly honored.

When it comes to teamwork, my hero is John Maxwell. Years ago I became acquainted with John, having the honor to learn from him in person during several of his conferences presented in the DC area. My bookshelf is loaded with volumes of his teachings, with their share of dog-eared pages, highlighted passages and hand-written responses in the margins. John has been teaching the benefits of leadership and team building for years. He tackles the importance of teamwork head on, writing about its necessity for every kind of leader, and showing how team building can improve every area of your life.

Now I am enjoying a daily dose of his inspiration through John's "Minute with Maxwell." His morning video is as welcome a wake-up as my morning cup of Joe! Both focus me to begin the day: the java may kick-start my brain but John's explanation of one word sharpens my soul and influences the way I will approach my day. It enourages me to grow beyond myself and inspire whatever team with which I am involved that day. Sometimes by day's end I sense how the word positively affected my interactions; other days I see defeat in not allowing the inspiration to more fully impact my work.

Regardless of how I fared, John arrives the very next morning, ready to inspire me anew to reach that next level. That's teamwork: growing each other beyond our titles, failing forward together, and expecting more and the best of each other.

If you don't have the time to invest in digesting his books, his daily dose will get you started on the right note for the day. It's just a thought. Hope to see you there.

Here's to celebrating communicators extraordinaire, building teams, and making a difference.

Connecting with the Authors

11-11-11. I captured an entirely new perspective of Veterans Day this year when I had the chance to listen to the inspiration behind the intense writing of Poet Jehanne Dubrow at the College of Southern Maryland's Leonardtown Campus. Part of our "Connections" series to bring well-known writers up-close and personal with our community, that Veterans Day evening included a reading by Dubrow from her recent collection, "Stateside," as well as a student round table in which she candidly responded to their questions. I gathered the conversation into an interview that was featured this evening among the selections chosen for the Fall 2011 "Connections"  literary magazine published each semester through this program.

Although her poetry is centered on a military husband’s deployment, the collection is driven by intellectual curiosity and emotional exploration. The voice of the poetry experiences the deployment through the eyes of a spouse waiting at home, and Dubrow is described as fearless in her contemplation of the far-reaching effects of war on the homefront, and even more so in her excavation of a marriage under duress. Here's a sampling of the raw emotions she exposes as she reads "Nonessential Equipment."

During her hour-long conversation with the students and faculty who had spent the semester studying her work, Dubrow described the lack of a military spouse's voice in literature today. "If the military spouse perspective has never been represented in literature, what does that mean about the way we think about how difficult it is for a military spouse and how difficult it is to be a part of a military family? If that experience simply isn’t being given a voice, what does that say about us? Does that mean we just don’t want to hear about that voice or we don’t think it matters? Or that military spouses should just be quiet and suck it up?"

Through questioning, Dubrow described how she began her writing career when she was managing coffee shops and challenged herself to write a sonnet daily. The results she described as some really bad sonnets, but the practice and discipline were worth the effort although not monetarily, cautioning, “You don’t become a poet for the money.”

 

Dubrow's observation gave me pause and offered a point for me to make tonight as I offered the reporting perspective of writing with the other magazine contributors. Among those poets, photographers and short-story authors who like Dubrow bring a literary freedom to their creative works are Geralyn Adams, Judith Allen-Leventhal, Julian Cooperman, Tabor Elisabeth Flickinger, Allison Gragg, Rachel Heinhorst, Robin Karis, William Poe, Lisa Presgraves, Kate Richardson, Chris Rubenstahl, Tyler Scott, Linda Cooke Smith, Dee Sydnor, Paul Toscano, Joanne Van Wie, Joyce Vincent, Shannon Wilder, Brett Worrell and Brittany Yee.

As Dubrow noted, money isn't the allure of being a poet, and from my perspective, neither does a byline lure your into PR. As a reporter, my bylines were common, and delightfully so for this Connections feature as well, but those days are infrequent within PR since pieces are written from the organization's voice, not an individual's.

I still love writing regardless if I get the credit. In PR, the joy comes for me from searching out an individual's story, then sharing it, as I've done in the interview in the Connections magazine. Dubrow would say you become a poet because "poetry chooses you;" for me, I became a writer because storytelling chose me.

Click on this link if you're interested in previous author interviews and upcoming CSM's Connections programs. If the video link above doesn't open, use this link: http://youtu.be/fmCeHRYJhNc.

But, it's only a minute ~ or is it?

My reading in the Idiot's guide to Time Management last night left me with the statistic that by the time you are 48 years old, anything that you've done for 30 minutes a day each day will total to one year of your life. I did some calculating, and if my math is accurate that translates to mean that anything we do for two hours a day accumulates to a little more than one month a year.

If we work 8 hours a day, sleep an average of 6 hours, eat for roughly 1-1/2 hours, then in other words we spend almost 8 months each year just working, sleeping and eating. What we do with the remainder of our year, each year, is up to each of us and the priorities we set for our lives.

How do you use your 4 months a year: do you spend it, waste it, or invest it? As for me, I'm going to readjust how I use my day to reclaim some of that time!

No news is ... still news

Shared by Editor & Publisher in its daily e-newsletter , Aug. 4, 2011

David Brinkley, whose career spanned 1943 to 1997, ranks right up there among the most trusted voices and journalists in America. His nightly reports on ABC and NBC spanned wars, a moon landing, presidential conventions, and, in his own words*, "2,000 weeks of news." 
In his heyday and my childhood days, news wasn't instantaneous via a tweet or immediately viral via a posting on Facebook or other favorite social network. Instead, our family read it in the Dispatch or waited for the 6 o'clock evening news. Credit cable networks for introducing us to 24/7/365 news in the 1980s.

Brinkley understood the passion of sharing news, and was among the best and most intense of storytellers. With the non-stop cycle in which we indulge today, we can as well share that passion of news. At our fingertips. Immediately. As a consumer or as an originator. In 140 characters. To click to read later or to share with our circle. To blog or leave comment on.

Brinkley's quote gives several questions with regard to news today. Does hyping all news with the same intensity skyrocket stress levels? If we overindulge in a steady stream of news, will the overabundance numb its impact or instead lead us to become news connoisseurs?

The news consumer ultimately judges the worth of the news, nosing out the trivial from the catastrophic. Case in point, here are two examples of posts on my feeds from the past 12 hours: Thought that night would never end. Finally home vs. Death toll from Turkey earthquake rises to over 400 as 2 week old baby is found alive in the rubble. The first is an opinion, the second a fact. The former raises further questioning since the reader is left uncertain what catastrophe the author returned home from: a flat tire? Horrendous traffic? A seemingly endless meeting? A dinner date gone awry? Whatever the cause, the individual is likely not commenting as a survivor of the earthquake. Yet, the emphasis, as Brinkley reminds us, is just as intense as if that were the situation.

It's our role as the author to understand the emotion of our words, and in today's non-stop cycle, let's put our words in perspective. The intensity of the storyteller shouldn't overshadow the intensity of the story. Our goal as the consumer is to understand the difference.


*as cited in One Man's America (2008), George F. Will, Random House, p. 118 (Chapter 15, Lingerie and Duct Tape) : ISBN 0307407861 9780307407863

What a difference a day makes



Noon approaches at Sotterley Plantation





A day can make a world of difference.

Case in point, I arrived at 11:30 a.m. to the wine fest at Historic Sotterley on a rather breezy Saturday. I had left the house some 20 miles up the road amid rain, but arrived in Hollywood to find clearing skies and dry roads. My perspective quickly shifted within a half hour of leaving home from dreary to promising.

The afternoon alternated between clouds and cold winds into brighter skies and warm sun drenching us. My husband had recommended me slipping gloves into my pocket, and I found an extra coat in the trunk and a hand-knit shawl among the local vendors. Success: I was layered for the cooler breezes off the river, and good to go for the remainder of the day. No longer focused on shivering, I could concentrate on the task at-hand to extend a warm welcome to the afternoon's guests. I could text friends to bundle in layers and come to enjoy the event as well. I could snag photos of favorite tastes enjoyed by guests in the VIP tent and of children rolling down the picturesque grassy knoll at this historic landmark to then upload to Facebook. I could fully enjoy the event and meet the needs of the organizers.

By day's end, the sun had won out, and a spectacular sunset awaited all of us as we headed back to the parking lots, the colors vivid and warming to the soul. What a difference a few hours in the day had made.

The garden aglow as sun sets on Sotterley

It's similar when it comes to our daily challenges, and how our perspective can emerge positively by day's end when we remember a few simple principles. As with my afternoon at Sotterley:

• Be prepared for the unexpected.
• Use the resources you already have on-hand but perhaps have been tucked away.
• Seek new resources that may be close by.
• Lastly, breathe and remember to smile.

You will emerge at the end of the day with a fresh perspective and able to enjoy the richness of the moment.

Steve Jobs: Today, may he rest in peace as everyone's hero

Looking for a pick-me-up? A bit of inspiration to get you through the day? A reminder that today well-lived is always the best day?

Take 15 minutes and listen to Steve Jobs offer the 2005 Stanford Commencement Address. He delivered it to the graduates after learning a year earlier that he had been handed a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. He had spent the last several months staring at his own mortality, and as we are able to connect the dots now -- peering backward, as he would say -- he gave all of us a lasting gift that brings comfort as we mourn his passing today.

He made a difference, and yes, he is today's hero ~

* Note: images above are viewed at http://www.apple.com/stevejobs/

Who is your hero?

My friend, Brian, at GrowthWorks shared a video of Iraqi war orphan Emmanuel Kelly at the X Factor 2011 auditions. With the video nearing a million views within a week of its posting, Emmanuel Kelly's story is quickly catching our attention.

Imagine, John Lennon's inspirational message of peace, has been performed by the most notable of voices, from Elton John to Joan Baez to Jon Bon Jovi, Aretha Franklin and more. None are more poignant than that of the young man at the X Factor auditions, who shared his vision of "living life in peace... You say that I'm a dreamer...but I'm not the only one..."

The video shows Emmanuel wowing the audience, and the judges, with not just his heart full story, but with his amazing attitude and his inspirational audition. Emmanuel and his brother, both casualties of chemical warfare and abandoned at an orphanage, found their hero when Children First's Mona Kelly found them at the orphanage, and took them in as her sons.

Imagine....you have the influence to be someone's hero today as well. To intentionally make a difference. To add value to them. What will it take of you? A kind word? An open mind? A generous heart? A loving spirit? A moment, an hour, a day, a lifetime?

Thank you, Brian, for being my hero today and saying something nice ~

Timing is, well, everything

John C. Maxwell via SocialOomph posted on Twitter the other day the following quote:

People generally see what they look for and hear what they listen for. -Harper Lee

Indeed, Harper Lee says it quite well ~ If I'm uninterested in what you are selling, I'm not going to notice your marketing. Period

Case in point. We switched providers a few years ago for our cable service. Other providers pepper my post office box with direct mail, but since I'm not looking to change the materials are generally tossed aside. However, my daughter headed to college and she and her roommate are setting up their new apartment with subscribing to cable TV and Internet service on this week's to-do list for them. I was online and up pops an ad for a college student special. Now Comcast has my attention since the savings match the girls' need and my budget. Any other time, the marketing would have gone unnoticed, but, as Harper Lee so aptly describes, Comcast was offering the right message at the time I was listening.

A similar example occurred this summer during the fifth annual Twilight Performance Series at CSM. An exuberant 5-year-old was having the time of her life enjoying the music of "Another Level." She hardly sat still a moment, jumping and dancing in time with the toe-tapping beat. Smiles galore, and mom, grandma and grandpa were all reveling in pure enjoyment. I took a moment to chat with the grandmother and she mentioned that her husband had been scanning the newspaper earlier in the day to find something for them to do that evening, and he ran across the calendar listing for the free concert on the lawn. They decided it would be a perfect evening of entertainment for the mix of generations to enjoy. She said they had never noticed the offerings before that day.

It may often seem that no one is hearing you, but that is no reason to stop talking. Keep sharing your story. Tweak your message to match the seasons of time and of life stages. And when the timing is right, I'll hear your message.

Steady...and...action!

Running across an on-location shoot in the Big Apple is hardly a novelty for New Yorkers whose home is a favorite for close-ups, as reported recently in the New York Times. “There is just no better or more versatile character for television than New York City,” Hal Rosenbluth, the president of Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens, is quoted there in describing the increasing number of TV shows filiming in New York City, including 23 prime time shows slated for the upcoming season.

 
Understandably, the inconveniences of street parking being dislodged or crowds awaiting a glimpse of a favorite performer must become wearisome for residents. But, as a recent visitor to New York City, I must admit it was pretty exciting to walk up on actor Bill Pullman on July 2 filming as part of  Lola Versus.

"7-1-11 Bill Pullman is currently working on the independent comedy "Lola Versus" filming on location in NYC."

Intrigued by the crew's use of the Steadicam which I just had been discussing the previous day with College of Southern Maryland Associate Professor Alan Lifton, it took a moment to focus instead on the person who was being followed as in Pullman rather than the one doing the following as in the Steadicam operator. Now doubly interested, I paused and watched the action steadily unfold. 

Steadicams when introduced in the 1970s are credited with revolutionizing how filming occurred, enabling action scenes to be caught smoothly without jerks, bumps and jolts. The components include a vest worn by the camera operator, an arm  and a sled, which work together to isolate the camera from operator.

CSM's Alan Lifton demonstrates a Steadicam

CSM's Lifton, who is launching the college's new Digital Media Production program with two classes this fall, is somewhat of a pro when it comes to using Steadicams. As he explains, "When I was the senior producer in the Corporate Communications group at Wang Laboratories in Lowell, Massachusetts, the company sent me to a workshop to learn how to be a Steadicam operator, and two weeks later, when I returned to the Boston area, I was bitten. I bought my own Steadicam in 1986 when I was a professor in Idaho, and worked with it for about six years doing commercials and corporate video."

"In all my subsequent positions I've made it a point to obtain at least one Steadicam for teaching and shooting. I've trained hundreds of people in its use. In order to be good enough to use it in a production, one needs to regularly practice. Having a few tips is really counter-productive and won't help. I've presented Steadicam training workshops all over the world and would hope to incorporate Steadicam training into my classes here, as well as offer off-site training and production assistance to others in the local region. Depending on interest, I could easily offer a short-course."

On a smaller scale, many amateur videographers, myself included, would welcome a stabilizing resource when we use our video cameras. Once we eliminate the shaking that can accompany hand-held video shoots, then we could focus on telling the story.

As we enjoy the big-screen visual results of memorable chase scenes or special effect sequences, we can appreciate the technical expertise that Steadicam operators possess. Considering an operator may be manuevering upwards of 60 pounds in equipment, their physical stamina is also amazing. Even more impressive? The endless creativity that becomes possible when the other stuff is under control.

Capturing the Blue Dog...sort of

 


Artist Don Zimmer's blue dog



The legend of the Blue Dog has captivated me for years. The story is one I learned shortly after moving into Charles County and connecting with local artist Joan Sutton Wooddy and her husband Dr. Arthur O. Wooddy. They had published a children's book filled with her drawings of the blue tick hound who haunted Port Tobacco's Rose Hill, mourning the loss of his master who was murdered at the hand of robbers seeking his gold one cold February night.



Courtesy of College of Southern Maryland Library





The story caught my imagination and several years later I had the opportunity to interview Connie Stuart, the owner of Rose Hill, as part of a feature article I wrote for the Times-Crescent newspaper. She weaved the story for me as well, taking me and the paper's photographer, Augie Selckmann, to the location where the legendary murder was to have occurred. That was 20 years ago.



What strikes me today is that legends live on, generation to generation, only because someone takes the time to hand it along. That's the case with the Blue Dog, whose legend now thrives today at The Blue Dog Saloon, courtesy of Artist Don Zimmer and Chef Gary Fick. Longtime friends, Gary approached Don when patrons kept asking Gary after he took over the restuarant if he was going to change its name. Not a chance, he shares here.

Gary found a willing partner in Don to tell the story. Having been away from painting for more than a decade, Don found inspiration quickly and the story came to life. Soon the project took on epic proportions and the four-foot-by-six-foot canvas laid claim to his living room, graciously turned over to the project by his wife, Sheri. A storyteller on numerous fronts (he just authored and released "Leadership and Listening: Spiritual Foundations for Church Governance"), Don was able to visually cast an image that captures the heart and soul of this more than 200-year-old legend.

Together, Don and Gary hung the painting in The Blue Dog Saloon's dining room the evening of July 26. Wthin minutes after settling it on the brick wall, patrons were drawn to it, captured by the story unfolded in the snowy February scene as moonlight floods across the dog, a tear glistening in the corner of his eye.

Don describes the contemporary scene he created, "Several accounts say that what we now refer to as the 'blue dog' was in fact an English Mastiff or simply a Mastiff. The Mastiff is one of the heaviest dog breeds with males sometimes exceeding 200 pounds. Like other Mastiffs, he is a gentle giant, self confident, watchful and patient. Intelligent and dignified, Mastiffs rarely bark, preferring instead to simply place themselves between any threat to their family and their family¹s things. The dog in the painting continues to guard his master¹s possessions and mourn for him. I have chosen to paint a contemporary winter night scene with a full moon and snow cover to accentuate the light and to use the trees introduce an element of eeriness. The stories talk of a dark Mastiff. The mark on the forehead is a wound from the assailants. Several accounts associate the alleged treasure's location with a holly tree; others talk about a rock. The dog is lying with a leather bag and folio next to large snow covered rock, which bears what people have said, is a paw print (now covered with snow). The dog is surrounded by holly.... The ravine that extends back into the distance on the left of the painting leads down to the existing Rose Hill Road. Route 6 is in the far background, La Plata is out of view on the left, Port Tobacco out of view on the right."

What story do you have to share? We all have one. For you, perhaps it's a story that reflects the values of your organization to help a newcomer appreciate the culture. Perhaps it's a story of courage that can help sharpen the leadership skills of a young manager. Or perhaps it's a story of your ancestors that will help your children understand their heritage. Whatever your story, you are its keeper, and its longevity into future generations rests on your storytelling. Don't let the story stop with you.

Taking the High Line




A monarch along the High Line.

New York City's newly expanded High Line is a great stroll in the park. On my recent two-day trek to the city, I hiked the length of the trail, thoroughly enjoying the above-the-street perspective, the lush presence of landscaping and the remnants of the past as reminders of the line's original purpose.

My inner shutterbug went into overdrive as I attempted to capture the vivid images that confronted me.

The day my friend and I enjoyed the High Line, we shared it with a variety of other walkers, runners, children splashing in the water, photographers (including those associated with shooting scenes for the upcoming film "Lola VS") and even a slumberer or two.

A pleasant experience, for sure, and so I was surprised to read the post this morning at @Gothamist "Residents Next To The High Line: We Have No Privacy." It would seem that living in the largest city in the United States, with some 8.1 million other people, that residents would know how to adjust to achieve what little privacy can be found within a big city. Living in a fish bowl where every movement is noted would be difficult, but taking the high road, as described in the post by the 23-year-old waitress on 28th street, is a good approach to responding to what some view as an intrusion. Cheers to her: she smiles, waves and enjoys the perspective ~ just like those exercising and enjoying this delicious slice of green in the Big Apple known as the High Line.