By Joanne Maly
January 23, 2010
Courtesy of the Flickr photostream of tomt6788
Excellence Exemplified … quietly
Two events in our own family lately have me reflecting today on the power of individual people in the world around them. One of these family events will be written about another day. The second event though is the focus of today’s post – the death of a special person this week – an aunt (M. B.) – who, simply said, exemplifies excellence.
When I began writing Simply Said blog posts, I knew that I wanted to write about the people and things that inspire me. In-turn, my hope was to inspire readers. My focus would be on excellence in business, in creativity, in marketing, in communication, in leadership – and I’d like to add – life.
There are people in my own life who I could name in a nano-second who define for me ‘the best’. The best CEO. The best corporate executive. The best marketing mind. The best social media trend-setter. The best professor. The best political leader. The best friend.
The most creative musician. The most talented artist. The most Renaissance-like thinker. The most charismatic personality.
To me, M. B. characterizes the impact that one person can make in the world without headlines, clamor and fireworks. Her quiet, understated beauty of spirit evolved throughout her life into an inimitable power that radiated to those who came in contact with her. The person who met her on the elevator at work. The colleague who sat next to her in the office. The person sitting next to her on the bus. The children in the neighborhood. The women and men in her community. Her friends. Her family.
With my marketing hat on, I could say that ‘M’ was the epitome of the concept of viral marketing. She touched a person, a life, a day. That person was then calmed, inspired, loved. That life was then left changed. That day was then left whole. The chain had begun. That chain of events would continue. Then multiply. And spread … virally.
There is a magic that some people can bring to the world just by the simplicity of being who they are. ‘M’ was this type of magical person with an engaging heart and giving soul. An excellence that so many of us aspire to model.
M. B.
Excellence and Beauty
Small woman. Beautiful heart.
Deepest soul. Giving soul.
Laughing smile.
Twinkling eyes.
Tender hands. Warm spirit.
Quiet power.
So very missed.
Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comment box below.
If you liked this post, please share it on Twitter, Digg, Delicious, StumbleUpon, Reddit, LinkedIn, or Facebook. And, I’d be honored if you would like to follow me on Twitter @JoanneMaly or visit the Lincoln Maly Marketing page.
Feel free to join the Lincoln Maly Marketing Facebook page as well for regular updates on excellence, creativity, management, leadership, motivation, marketing, and corporate communications.
Tags: B2B, B2C, Blogging, Blogs, Business, Business Communications, Business Excellence, Business to Business, Business to Consumer, Cincinnati Blogger, Cincinnati Bloggers, Cincinnati Blogs, Cincinnati Marketing, Cincinnati PR, Communications, Corporate Communications, Creative Marketing Ideas, Creativity, Excellence, Excellence in Business, Joanne Lincoln Maly, Joanne Maly, Leadership, Lincoln Maly Marketing, management, Marketing, Marketing Communications, Motivating, Motivation, PR, Social Marketing, Social Media, Social Networking, Strategic Business, Strategic Marketing, Viral Marketing, Word of Mouth Marketing
Posted in Blogging, Blogs, Business, Business Communications, Business Writing, Cincinnati Blogger, Cincinnati Bloggers, Cincinnati Blogs, Cincinnati Marketing, Cincinnati Marketing Consultant, Cincinnati Marketing Firm, Cincinnati Media Relations, Cincinnati New Media, Cincinnati PR, Cincinnati PR Firm, Cincinnati Social Media, Corporate Communications, Creative Marketing Ideas, Creativity, Excellence, Excellence in Business, Ideas, Innovative Ideas, Leadership, Marketing, Marketing Communications, Marketing Consultant, Motivating, Motivation, New Media, Performance, PR Firms Cincinnati, PR Firms in Cincinnati, Social Media, Uncategorized, Viral Marketing, Word of Mouth Marketing, Writer | 8 Comments »
By Joanne Maly
August 5, 2009
Creativity is like juice. It can give you an inspiration buzz similar to drinking a 10 oz. glass of freshly-squeezed chilled, foamy orange juice on an empty stomach.
And yet….
Creative energy can be easily sucked out of us by our own and others’ negativism, woe-is me talk, and by focusing on the reasons ‘we can’t’ instead of focusing on the reasons ‘we can.’ Relentless talk about the downturn of the economy, disappointing political heroes, and business leader trust gone awry, can almost visibly drain the inspiration right out of us.
I have an image though that I’d like to share with you …. and together then, perhaps we can all … break free of the things that are holding us back from being all we can be, and start again to ‘think large’, and believe in the big picture and in fact, a bright picture.
Here is your picture for the day.
Barnacles.
Barnacles are an unattractive, pervasive crustacean. (My apologies to all barnacles.)
Instead of working hard and ‘crawling after their own food’ barnacles glue themselves to rocks and other living and non-living things and wait for food to wash by. (www.library.thinkquest.org). Once something alive, free-floating and yummy swims by, that’s when the barnacles reach out their barbed legs and grab onto whatever and absorbs or ‘sucks out’ the oxygen of its grabbed prey. Through adulthood, the barnacle species will remain in their ‘spot’, held permanently by one of the strongest-known natural adhesives.
Barnacles have ‘trap doors’ that rhythmically open and close. (www.chesapeakebay.net).
An unscientific, personal interpretation of the above description:
a) Barnacles are lazy and are leeching off of the energy of others.
b) Barnacles ‘stick’ onto unaware passers-by.
c) Once grabbed, the passer-by is definitely ‘stuck’.
d) If not alert, the unsuspecting can fall into the barnacle’s ‘trap door.’
A business and ‘real’ life interpretation of the barnacle saga:
a) In our own worlds, both business and in our ‘real’ lives, we need to be wary of the lurking barnacles around us.
b) Barnacles need our creativity and energy to feed themselves.
c) Barnacles can be people, businesses climates, work settings, the news, ourselves …. anyone and anything that can suck our own oxygen or drink our creative juice.
d) The barnacle folks will glue-us-back from being all that we can be.
e) It’s easy to be unaware that we have even fallen into dangerous waters where our creativity and spirit are threatened. It can just ‘happen.’
My thought for the day then?
For me, I’m going to think about what lurking negativity is ‘out there’ and ‘within me’ – holding me back from all that I can be. And then, I’m going to go against the scientific theory of being stuck by ‘the strongest known naturally adhesive’. I then plan to break free of any barnacles that are holding me back.
Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comment box below.
If you liked this post, please share it on Twitter, Digg, Delicious, StumbleUpon, LinkedIn, or Facebook.
And, I’d be honored if you would like to follow me on Twitter @JoanneMaly or visit the Lincoln Maly Marketing fan page.
Tags: #followfriday, B2B, B2C, Blogging, Blogs, Business Communications, Business to Business, Business to Consumer, Cincinnati, Cincinnati Blogger, Cincinnati Bloggers, Cincinnati Blogs, Cincinnati Marketing, Cincinnati PR, Communication, Communications, Corporate Communications, Creative Business Ideas, Creative Marketing Ideas, Creativity, Excellence, Excellence in Business, Good PR, Integrated Marketing, Joanne Lincoln Maly, Joanne Maly, Lincoln Maly Marketing, LinkedIn, management, managing, Marketing, Marketing Communications, Media Relations, Performance, PR, Public Relations, Social Marketing, Social Media, Social Networking, Strategic Business, Strategic Marketing, success, Twitter, Viral Marketing, Word of Mouth Marketing
Posted in #followfriday, B2B, B2C, Blogging, Blogs, Branding, Brands, Business, Business Communications, Business to Business, Business to Consumer, Business Writing, Cincinnati Area Internet News, Cincinnati Blogger, Cincinnati Bloggers, Cincinnati Blogs, Cincinnati Marketing, Cincinnati Marketing Consultant, Cincinnati Marketing Firm, Cincinnati Media Relations, Cincinnati New Media, Cincinnati PR, Cincinnati PR Firm, Cincinnati Social Media, Communications Plan, Corporate Communications, Corporate Newsletters, Creative Marketing Ideas, Creativity, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurs, Excellence, Excellence in Business, Face Book, Freelance, Freelancer, Ideas, Innovation, Innovative Ideas, Interactive Marketing, Leadership, Linked In, Marketing, Marketing Communications, Marketing Consultant, Marketing Industry Trends, Marketing Plan, Media Relations, Motivating, Motivation, New Media, Performance, PR, PR Firms Cincinnati, PR Firms in Cincinnati, Public Relations, Small Business, Social Marketing, Social Media, Social Network, Social Networking, Trends, Twitter, Uncategorized, Viral Marketing, Word of Mouth Marketing, Writer | 4 Comments »
By Joanne Maly
July 8, 2009
In America, at 12:34:56 a.m. today, July 8, 2009, the full numerical sequence was… 12345678909.
That daggoned ‘0’ before the ’9′ messes things up a bit… but nevertheless…..
Being a historical moment and all, perhaps it would be good to make a list of new intentions for the rest of your life (a little like a New Year’s list, but on a full-life-scope.) After all, it won’t be 07/08/09 again for another 100 years.
Short of that same ‘ol take-stock-of-your-life activity though, why not seize the moment – or at least the 07/08/09 day – to reflect on other out-of-the-ordinary natural occurrences that happen regularly, and think, now, how you and your business can capitalize on the opportunities that such events bring along with them.
By the way, if you missed celebrating the 12:34:56 a.m. time on Wednesday, you can always shoot for 12:34:56 p.m. time, when the phenomenon occurs again just after noon. And, if you are in the eastern time zone at that moment, you could perhaps board a jet flying west and then celebrate this numerical experience twice in your life.
How could a business have creatively capitalized on the 07/08/09 occasion?
Here are just a few thoughts:
1. Local TV Station or Local Online News Site: Viewer or reader voting poll for the favorite charity out of a selected organization list, with a donation of $7,809 going to the top three winning charities. Prizes would be awarded at 7 p.m., at 8 p.m.; and again, at 9 p.m. on 07/08/09.
2. Gas Station: $.07 cents lower than the competition on regular-grade gas; $.08 lower on super-grade gas; $.09 lower on premium-grade gas on 07/08/09.
3. Clothing Retail Store: Brightly-printed t-shirts commemorating the day; only available with a purchase on that day; at a cost of only $.07 for a small; $08 for a medium; and $09 for a large. (e.g., “I bought my shirt on 07/08/09 at Macy’s.”)
4. Mega Stores like Target, Meijer, Wal-Mart, K-mart: Specific and different, super customer specials at each of these times: 7 a.m., 8 a.m., and 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. on 07/08/09.
5. Online Merchandise Sites like ebay.com and amazon.com: Special discounts on 07/08/09 only, on items won or purchased or that have a 7, 8 or 9 as the first number in the product’s SKU.
6. Online Shoe Sales Sites like zappos.com: Special discounts for customers who order shoes in size 7, 8 or 9 on 07/08/09.
Through quick, free-flowing, idea-charged brainstorming, the sky is the limit on inspiration. Whether the day is 07/08/09 or 10/15/09, encouraging good ideas, fertilizing those ideas, looking for opportunities, and seizing special moments… are some of the surest ways to achieve extra company and product exposure, create higher customer awareness, and build consumer and community loyalty.
Is it too early then to post an entry in our Covey Planners and Outlook Calendars for six months before 10/10/10?
And hopefully, we won’t wait that long for some blockbuster brainstorming sessions.
Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comment box below.
If you liked this post, please share it on Twitter, Digg, Delicious, StumbleUpon, LinkedIn, or Facebook. And, I’d be honored if you would like to follow me on Twitter @JoanneMaly or visit the Lincoln Maly Marketing fan page.
Tags: #followfriday, Amazon.com, B2B, B2C, Blogging, Blogs, Business, Business Communications, Business Excellence, Business to Business, Business to Consumer, Cincinnati, Cincinnati PR, Communication, Communications, Corporate Communications, Creative Business Ideas, Creative Marketing Ideas, Creativity, ebay.com, Entrepreneur, Excellence, Excellence in Business, Franklin Covey, Good PR, Integrated Marketing, Joanne Lincoln Maly, Joanne Maly, Lincoln Maly Marketing, Macy's, management, managing, Marketing, Marketing Communications, Marketing Plan, Media Relations, Motivating, Motivation, Performance, PR, Public Relations, Social Marketing, Social Media, Social Networking, Strategic Business, Strategic Marketing, success, Twitter, zappos.com
Posted in #followfriday, B2B, B2C, Blogging, Blogs, Branding, Brands, Business, Business Communications, Business to Business, Business to Consumer, Business Writing, Cincinnati Area Internet News, Cincinnati Blogs, Cincinnati Marketing, Cincinnati Marketing Consultant, Cincinnati Marketing Firm, Cincinnati Media Relations, Cincinnati New Media, Cincinnati PR, Cincinnati PR Firm, Cincinnati Social Media, Communications Plan, Consumer-Generated Media, Corporate Communications, Corporate Newsletters, Creative Marketing Ideas, Creativity, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurs, Excellence, Excellence in Business, Face Book, Freelance, Freelancer, Ideas, Innovation, Innovative Ideas, Interactive Marketing, Leadership, Linked In, Marketing, Marketing Communications, Marketing Consultant, Marketing Industry Trends, Marketing Plan, Media Relations, Motivating, Motivation, New Media, Performance, PR, PR Firms Cincinnati, PR Firms in Cincinnati, Public Relations, Small Business, Social Marketing, Social Media, Social Network, Social Networking, Trends, Twitter, Uncategorized, Viral Marketing, Writer | No Comments »
By Joanne Maly
June 23, 2009
This is the first blog post for a new blog – ‘Simply Said.’
Hmmm. Is this a historic moment? Nah.
Significant for you? I absolutely hope so. Over time, my hope is that this blog inspires readers to become all we can be; to think creatively; to go the next mile; to add personal passion to our business lives — and to our ‘real’ lives; to demand excellence from ourselves and our colleagues; to be risk-takers; and to be positive leaders among our business peers and life circles.
Significant for me? Well, yes, this blog is important for this company — and not just because of search engine optimization for the Lincoln Maly marketing website — and not just because I want to hear — or naively think you want to hear — what Joanne Maly has to say. But, this blog will be one way that I can share experience, learning, and insight with you, the reader.
These ‘Simply Said’ blog columns will most often be centered on themes relating to business, marketing, corporate communications, and PR. After years of ‘working at’ perfecting skills in those specific areas, I suppose you could say that much of my own brain’s grey matter has some good stories to tell and lessons to share.
The perspective in these columns is not going to be “How-to-create-your-fantastically-fine-Facebook-page-in-five-free-steps” or “How-to-be-the #1-Twitter-tweeter-in-your-city-in-10-easy-‘twi’-steps.”
The perspective will instead be an exchange of creative thoughts and inspiring anecdotes, as well as ideas that have worked for others. The posts will be written from a viewpoint of someone who has a thirst for the ‘just-awesome’, for the ‘high-five’ moments in business and in life, and for the ‘I-think-we-can’ mentality. The tone will be conversational and I will always welcome your own thoughts, ideas, and stories.
Welcome to ‘Simply Said.’ I look forward to our journey together and to your comments.
Please feel free to leave your comments in the space below. I look forward to reading your thoughts.
If you liked this post, please share it on Twitter, Digg, Delicious, StumbleUpon, LinkedIn, or Facebook. And, I’d be honored if you would like to follow me on Twitter @JoanneMaly or visit the Lincoln Maly Marketing fan page.
Tags: #followfriday, Blogging, Blogs, Business, Business Communications, Business Excellence, Business to Business, Business to Consumer, Cincinnati, Cincinnati Marketing, Cincinnati PR, Communication, Communications, Corporate Communications, Creative Business Ideas, Creative Marketing Ideas, Creativity, Entrepreneur, Excellence, Excellence in Business, Facebook, Freelancer, Good PR, Integrated Marketing, Joanne Lincoln Maly, Joanne Maly, Lincoln Maly Marketing, LinkedIn, managing, Marketing, Marketing Communications, Marketing Consultant, Media Pitch, Media Relations, Motivating, Motivation, New Media, Performance, PR, PR Consultant, Public Relations, Social Marketing, Social Media, Social Networking, Strategic Business, Strategic Marketing, success, Twitter
Posted in #followfriday, B2B, B2C, Blogging, Blogs, Branding, Brands, Business, Business Communications, Business to Business, Business to Consumer, Business Writing, Cincinnati Area Internet News, Cincinnati Blogs, Cincinnati Marketing, Cincinnati Marketing Consultant, Cincinnati Marketing Firm, Cincinnati Media Relations, Cincinnati New Media, Cincinnati PR, Cincinnati PR Firm, Cincinnati Social Media, Communications Plan, Corporate Communications, Corporate Newsletters, Creative Marketing Ideas, Creativity, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurs, Excellence, Excellence in Business, Face Book, Freelance, Freelancer, Ideas, Innovation, Innovative Ideas, Interactive Marketing, Leadership, Linked In, Marketing, Marketing Communications, Marketing Consultant, Marketing Industry Trends, Marketing Plan, Media, Media Relations, Motivating, Motivation, New Media, Performance, PR, PR Firms Cincinnati, PR Firms in Cincinnati, Public Relations, Small Business, Social Marketing, Social Media, Social Network, Trends, Twitter, Writer | 2 Comments »
