Tuesday, September 7, 2010

LjjSpeaks Blog Post: Crossing The Line On Facebook. Where Work and Life Collide.

My husband just joined Facebook.  The man who didn’t own a computer 5 years ago - who didn’t know how to turn on a smart phone now is online, connected, armed and dangerous.

The first thing he did as he accepted “friends” was ask “Do I know this person? Do I want this person to know what I’m doing? How do people already know to ask me attorney questions?” 

Facebook knows all, and it’s not afraid to expose your deepest, darkest secrets to the world with a little help from you and your connections.

The power of Facebook and other social networking sights is real. How we each communicate with the tool that is connecting and watching our every move is important.  The number one lesson I try to share about Facebook is that it is a very personal communication tool.   The minute you post anything about your work, colleagues or “day at the office” you have crossed the line where work and life collide.  This collision can be uplifting or it can be very damaging.  

I just learned that in some schools they now have a “no Solo cup policy.”  If you are pictured with Solo Cup in your hand posted on a friend’s wall you can face consequences. It doesn’t matter that you may be drinking a non-alcoholic drink, it’s a no-tolerance policy that is strictly enforced.  (I know one person who has a Minor In Possession on his record due to this new “rule” handed out by a law enforcement officer at a campus party)   Let’s count the number of Solo cups from labor day parties that were posted on Facebook.  Has the Solo cup  become a symbol of punishment? Is it something “funny” to post at the time - yet could become a potential career buster? 

Staying connected is part of what makes us all enjoy our days and continue to strive for success.  As we move toward a more connected world, let’s also move toward a “think before you post” mentality.  

Be nice to people.
Ask before posting photos.
Remember that your “friends” can also be your colleagues - 
    be respectful of your work and theirs.
If you need to vent - scream in the shower - not over the internet.

Let’s keep connecting - and communicating.
Let's B-Postive! (It’s not a blood type!)

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Monday, September 6, 2010

Great Quote! Still Holds True Today: Be a Leader in the introduction of change!

As Machiavelli wrote 500 years ago in The Prince, "there is no more delicate matter to take in hand, nor more dangerous to conduct, nor more doubtful in its success, than to be a leader in the introduction of changes. For he who innovates will have for enemies all those who are well off under the old order of things, and only lukewarm supporters in those who might be better off under the new."

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Friday, September 3, 2010

Marketing Charts | Pew Internet Research | Who is texting more? Teens or Adults? Who is using cell phones more? Men or Women?

Original Post:

Teens Text 5x More than Adults

Teens ages 12-17 send and receive a median of five times more texts per day than adult texters,according to new data from the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

Most Adults Send 1-10 Texts Per Day
Slightly more than half (51%) of adults who text send one to 10 texts per day, compared to 22% of teens. The percentages of texting adults and teens who send 11-20 and 21-50 average daily texts are fairly similar. Where teens begin to outpace adults is in the percentage who send 51-100 average texts daily (18% to 7%), and more notably in the percentage who send 101-plus average texts daily (29% to 8%).

Ultimately, adults who text typically send and receive a median of 10 texts a day; teens who text send and receive a median of 50 texts per day.

Men Make More Cell Calls than Women
Women tend to make slightly fewer calls with their cell phones than men, despite stereotypes of women enjoying talking on the phone more. While 53% of women make and receive five calls or fewer per day, 43% of men say the same.

Men are a bit more likely to make slightly more phone calls in a day; 26% of men send and receive six to 10 calls a day, while 20% of women exchange that many calls. Men and women are equally likely to be represented at the extreme high end of callers, however, with 8% of men and 6% of women making and taking more than 30 calls a day.

The average adult cell phone owner (across genders) makes and receives around five voice calls a day.

Cell Phones Provide Security, Annoyance
Americans especially appreciate that their cell phones make them feel safer (91% of cell owners say this) and help them connect to friends and family to arrange plans (88% agree). Still, some users express irritation with their phone for the disruptions it creates, though the heaviest users of the phone are no more likely to express irritation with their phone than lower level users. Two-in-five (42%) cell phone owners say they feel irritated when a call or text message interrupts them.

In a further sign of cell phone-related annoyance, 57% of adults with cell phones have received unwanted or spam text messages on their phone.

Minorities Use Cell Phones More than Whites
African-American and Hispanic cell phone users are more intense and frequent users of all cell phone capabilities than whites. Minorities send more text messages and make more calls on average than their white counterparts. For example:

  • African-American and English-speaking Hispanic adults are slightly more likely than whites to own a cell phone, with 87% of African-Americans and English-speaking Hispanics owning a phone, compared with 80% of whites.
  • African-American and English-speaking Hispanic cell phone owners are more likely than whites to initiate and receive large numbers of calls each day. One-in-eight (12%) African- American phone owners and 14% of Hispanic cell phone users make and receive more than 30 calls on a typical day, while just 4% of white cell phone users make and receive the same number of calls.
  • African-American and Hispanic texters typically text more on average than white texters, with a median of 10 texts a day for African Americans and Hispanics and 5 texts a day for whites. White adults are a bit more likely than English-speaking Hispanic adults to say they do not send or receive any texts on a typical day (10% vs. 4%).

Other Findings

  • 5% of all adult texters send more than 200 text messages a day or more than 6,000 texts a month. Fully 15% of teens ages 12-17, and 18% of adults ages 18 to 24 text message more than 200 messages a day, while just 3% of adults ages 25 to 29 do the same.
  • Heavy adult texters, those who send and receive more than 50 texts a day, also tend to be heavy users of voice calling. Light texters, who exchange one to 10 texts a day, do not make up for less texting by calling more. Instead, they are light users of both calling and texting.
  • Parents (90%) are more likely to have a cell phone than adults without children under 18 at home (78%).

Minors Text 90x as Much as Seniors
The number of messages juveniles younger than 18 text in an average month is about 90 times the total of seniors 65 and up, according to new data from The Nielsen Company. In an average month, an under-18 American will send 2,779 text messages. This dwarfs even the average total of those 18-24 (1,299). It is also 86.7 times the monthly total of 32 text messages the average American 65 and older sends in the same period. The number of text messages sent in an average month steadily declines with each successive age bracket.

About the Data: The re¬sults in this report are based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International between April 29 and May 30, 2010, among a sample of 2,252 adults, age 18 and older.

Text AdsTelecomResearchWomenYouth,Mobile Content UsuageMobileOnlineOnline NetworksNew TechDemographicsBehavioral MarketingInteractiveE-CommerceIntegrated/Cross-Media/ConvergenceMenMedia DepartmentMeasurement/AnalyticsDirect,

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Thursday, September 2, 2010

Little Things Matter: If your words are a mirror - do you need some Windex® ??

Little Things Matter \ Todd SmithOriginal Post:  littlethingsmatter.com


Your Words Reflect Your Character

If you are old enough to read this post, I am sure you have experienced what it feels like to have people talk behind your back. When this happens to you, how does it make you feel towards the person who spoke poorly of you?

Your Words Are a Mirror

What we say about others reflects on our own character. Specifically, when we speak unfavorably of others, it not only hurts the person our words are aimed at, but it also damages our credibility and reputation in the process.

Richard Carlson put it this way: “ When we judge or criticize another person, it says nothing about that person; it merely says something about our own need to be critical.”

When we speak negatively about someone else, others often perceive it as a ploy for our own personal gain.

When our words persuade others to our point of view as to the faults and shortcomings of someone who is not present, we are taking unfair advantage of that person. This holds true whether we’re talking about an individual, a group, or a business.

The Critical Cashier

For example, last week, I was in my local supermarket picking up a bag of ice. I took a shortcut through one of the empty lanes to get to the service desk since I was only purchasing one item.

A cashier happened to be in that lane and said he could help me. I told him I didn’t realize his lane was open because he was standing off to the side. He proceeded to tell me about the “stupid policies” of the store. He ranted about various things during my purchase and spoke nothing but ill of his employer.

All the time he was unloading his personal dissatisfaction, I was questioning his motives and forming my impression of him—and it wasn’t a good one!  I immediately summed him up as an inconsiderate employee who failed to see himself as a store representative with an obligation to act and speak accordingly.

Positivity Is Good for Your Reputation

It is also important to keep in mind that where your attention goes, so goes you’re your emotional energy. Focus on positive things and your life will be positive; focus on negative things and your life will be negative. When you say destructive things about others, your emotional energy is also negatively affected.

On the other hand, when you brand yourself as someone who refrains from speaking disapprovingly of others, not only will people’s respect for you grow, but you will also be happier. When you hold back saying something negative about someone else—especially when given the opportunity—you exemplify self-control and concern for others.

“Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain but it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving.” Dale Carnegie

Do not, however, confuse speaking of someone in a derogatory way with participating in a formal critique, such as job performance reviews or when you are asked to point out deficiencies for the purpose of helping someone improve in certain areas. In these instances, use tact and diplomacy to focus on performance issues and always avoid personal attacks.

Tips for Avoiding Negative Conversations

  • Refuse to engage in negative conversations about others.
  • Refuse to be part of groups who speak poorly of others. Remember that if you are surrounded by people who thrive on cutting others down, it may be time for you to reconsider with whom you spend your time.
  • Avoid making negative or unflattering comments about other people by remembering that your comments influence people’s views of you.

Sometimes figuratively (and sometimes literally) I bite my tongue when I am on the verge of saying something negative. I do so knowing that quelling the urge to speak my mind on impulse helps me show consideration for others, uphold my values, and maintain my reputation.

You can build a reputation that commands respect by refusing to speak negatively of others in all circumstances—regardless of who is or isn’t present.


About the Author: Todd Smith is a successful entrepreneur of 29 years and founder of Little Things Matter. To receive Todd’s lessons, subscribe here. All Todd’s lessons are also available on iTunes as downloadable podcasts. (Todd’s podcasts are listed #42 in America’s top 100 podcasts.)

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Wednesday, September 1, 2010

LjjSpeaks: Only you can prevent "Bore-est" Fires.

(The kind of "fires" that are boring but need to be put out every day to succeed!)

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