Email Crimes

Email is dying a slow death in the private world; a fatality of texting, Facebook messaging, Twitter and such. However, it is still very alive in the corporate environment. As written interaction becomes increasingly casual and fragmented, the skills associated with more complex communication are breaking down. Are you a perpetrator or a victim of email crime?

COMPOSITION: Some subjects are complicated, and require careful documentation. Start with an outline of important points to be made, and make them clearly and succinctly. Your audience should not have to sift through paragraphs of circuitous text to figure out what you are trying to say/ask/tell. Neither should they have to backtrack through shotgunned individual messages to piece together the whole story.

SPELLING & GRAMMAR: You may LOL and WTF your way through your text messages, but email communication should be more formal and professional. Use full words and sentences, and double-check your writing with spelling and grammar checks. How you communicate in writing will influence your reputation. Make a positive impact.

PRIVACY: There are some subjects that should not be transmitted over a network via email. Anything you want to ensure is kept private should be handled in a secure manner. Some email files should be password protected. Face-to-face or telephone conversations are still very valuable – especially when subjects are sensitive, or when relationship-building is one of your goals.

RESPECT: Your co-workers and clients deserve respect, which can best be exhibited through personal communication. The very act of sending an email instead of visiting someone’s cubical for a few minutes is not only inefficient, but offensive. If you work in the same office, get off your butt and walk down the hall to talk with them.

Lazy electronic communication can easily become an email crime.  Stay away from the slippery slope.

Where is Smart Personalized Marketing?

When I lived in Las Vegas, I received an invitation in the mail for a day trip to San Diego to shop at Nordstrom. The very reasonably-priced package included round trip air fare on Southwest, ground transportation to/from Nordstrom, time to shop, lunch, and shipping of any purchases to my home. I presume that this was generated via some sort of partnership between Southwest, Nordstrom, and (possibly) American Express. They knew that I frequently flew Southwest, shopped at Nordstrom when in a Nordstrom city (which Las Vegas was not at that time), and liberally used my American Express card. I was delighted by this personalized offer – the smartest one-on-one marketing for which I have ever been a target.

Fast forward more than ten years – the era when we worry about how much Google and Facebook know about us and what they might do with that information. Where are my delightful personalized incentives to spend my dollars? I submit that one-on-one marketing is practically non-existent, in spite of the fact that we (willingly or unwittingly) share so darn much information about what we like, where we go, things we eat, who our friends are, and how we spend our time. Why is it that no one seems to know what to do with that information to really gain my loyalty and grab their share of my wallet?

A few choice words to marketers:

Don’t waste your money parroting back advertising for things for which I just shopped on the internet. Yes, I purchased a light fixture from Lamps Plus; but that doesn’t mean that you should then show me a banner for Lamps Plus. Honestly, that just feels a little creepy. What about a banner for Home Depot, Sherwin Williams, or Kohler to help me complete my bathroom remodel? Maybe I need a local electrician to help me install the light fixture. Think like me.

I’m pretty savvy about internet shopping and finding what I need on my own. You, however, can forge partnerships and offer me experiences I wouldn’t think of creating for myself (like the Southwest/Nordstrom package). Not only would I find that incredibly appealing, but I would tell all my friends about it for years and years.

Do a better job of recognizing and reaching out to your good customers. I know you know who we are! Now show us that you appreciate our business. It’s not enough to passively wait for me to Like your Facebook page and then post clever but unmemorable status updates. Be there for us, and really manage the interaction with your self-proclaimed fans.

An Honorable Mention:

Amazon.com’s recommendations and notifications about new books from my favorite authors. Keep enhancing your personalization, and I’ll keep shopping with you!

Our Sacred Honor

This morning I re-read the Declaration of Independence for the first time in many years.  It's available here: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html 

Within this historic document is a grim reminder of how the people of the thirteen colonies were failed by Great Britain's monarchy, and the courage our forefathers had to take the steps required to establish our independent, united states.  It is a brave indictment against King George III.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

It's difficult for Americans today to even imagine the conditions described within the Declaration of Independence, since there has been peace on our soil since the Civil War.  Today is a good day to remind ourselves that our safety and happiness was hard won.

Two hundred and thirty-five years ago our independence was sealed with a promise to "mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor".  We should do no less today.  Happy Independence Day! 

Practical Austerity

Global economic conditions have forced the widespread adoption of austerity programs – not just within governments, but also corporations, small businesses, and individual households. Greece’s complex financial issues are constant fodder for world news, and our U.S. government is knotted up in bi-partisan debate over a stunning spend rate that continues to increase the national debt. Most financial struggles have a lower news profile than these stories, but they all have a few things in common from which we can learn.

Managing financials requires a great deal of practicality and discipline. Budgets must be well-conceived and realistic. Actual spending should be governed by the budget, and not obscured via accounting smoke and mirrors. When revenue is down, expenses must be cut. Difficult decisions have to be made by leaders that carefully consider the short and long term impact of available options for action.

Few are fond of operating in an austere environment. Merriam-Webster defines “austere” with words like “cold”, “somber”, “grave”, and “unadorned”. It sounds like there should be little room for fancy expense account meals in an austere budget, doesn’t it?

When money is tight in our own households, we eat ground chuck instead of choice steak, vacation at home instead of flying abroad, combine errands to conserve fuel, use coupons to stretch a dollar, do our own mani/pedis, postpone large purchases, repair electronics instead of replacing them, and mend clothing to avoid buying new. Credit cards are cut up or put away to avoid undue temptation.

Small businesses modify their business plans to stay afloat. They postpone growth, operate with a skeletal staff, renegotiate rents, forge cooperative partnerships, and get creative with marketing. They make the changes necessary to stay in business, even if they are painful.

We hope that big business and government leaders have the courage to apply the practical austerity we employ in our smaller-scale finances. Instead of tolerating posturing to protect executive positions and privilege, let’s hold leaders accountable for making the difficult decisions for the good of employees, stakeholders, and citizens.

Why Non-IT-Centric Corporations Need IT MarCom

I spent the last five years of my career in Hospitality Technology in IT Marketing and Communications. Not long into that newly-created position, I discovered that an IT MarCom department was an unusual beast within a corporation whose primary business is not technology. This was made obvious to me when I spoke as part of a panel at a conference hosted by Forrester Research, where the concept was clearly foreign to many of the IT executives who attended.

How can an IT Marketing/Communications department benefit a non-IT corporation?

1. INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS: Large corporations often have large IT departments, with their own complex internal organizational structures. The team may be geographically dispersed. An internal communication strategy enhances employee engagement, promotes visibility and understanding of strategic goals, illustrates the beneficial impact of IT work on the core business, and improves team member loyalty and retention.

2. POSITIONING IT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AS A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE: Although technology is not the core business, it assuredly supports the strategic and operational efforts of the core business. If IT products and services are innovative and robust, they are providing a competitive advantage. IT MarCom is responsible for creating a compelling message to make that clear.

3. PACKAGING IT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FOR IMPLEMENTATION: IT software engineers design and develop technology solutions. They are not well-equipped to brand products, or to articulate benefits or market technology in a way that will encourage acceptance by the target audience. Expert assistance in this effort can make all the difference in the successful adoption of new technology.

4. EDUCATING CORPORATE EXECUTIVES: IT makes a big contribution to the success of the business, and needs organizational and financial support from the executives who control funding. The more they know about what IT has done, is doing, and can do for them, the less IT will be vilified as a necessary evil. IT should be welcomed into the inner sanctum of strategic planning.

5. GATHERING ACCOLADES: An IT MarCom group can pursue recognition for technology products and services. Imagine winning a high rank in Computerworld’s “Best Places to Work in IT”, being among the top of the “InformationWeek 500”, achieving CXO Media’s “Enterprise Value Award”, or even bringing home a MarCom or Telly Award for your IT department. Along with a morale boost to IT, the entire corporation gains prestige and credibility with these awards.

Large IT departments need their own MarCom group to give technology and IT team members the focused attention and the identity they need to be successful.

If your company needs IT MarCom assistance, Haropulos Bailey Consulting can help. Contact us via email at habaconsulting@comcast.net.

Weiner's No Leader - and No Boy Scout

I can’t let the subject of Rep. Anthony Weiner’s indiscretions pass without commentary. As disgusting as I find his sexually-charged internet photos and texting to be, the bigger issue is his stupidity and cowardly lies. Weiner is a U.S. Congressman! He was elected to be a leader and a champion of the people he represents. He is also a husband and, unfortunately, reportedly soon to be a father. I am very sad for his wife, who must not have known the darker side of Weiner’s character when she married him just 11 months ago.

Democratic leadership will most likely find a way to force Weiner to resign. If they don’t, however, and the people of New York choose to allow Weiner to continue as their representative in the House of Representatives, then their Congressman is a man who takes semi-nude, narcissistic photos of himself with his cell phone, holding his business with just a towel obscuring the details. Make no mistake – Weiner will be forced to resign. He will have to tuck his wiener between his legs and join the ranks of former politicians disgraced by sexual misconduct. Maybe his wife will keep him, but the House shouldn’t.

Some hold the opinion that “private” behavior is unrelated to Weiner’s political suitability. To that I say:

(1) Representative Weiner lied about his sexting activity, therefore
(2) He is a Liar, and

(3) He will lie about other things.

(4) He cannot be trusted.

Since 1789, the U.S. House of Representatives requires a swearing in oath. The oath was updated in 1884: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”

Maybe it’s time we enacted an enhanced oath with elements from the Boy Scout Oath: “On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law*; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.”

Anthony Weiner, we shouldn’t allow anyone to follow you. You do not deserve to be a Congressman, or a Boy Scout.

*Scout Law: http://usscouts.org/usscouts/advance/boyscout/bslaw.asp

How Much is Too Much?

There were stretches in my career when I gave almost more than I had to my employer. I traveled constantly, pulled all-nighters, worked seven days a week, and worked around chemotherapy treatments when I had cancer. I always felt like it was worth it. However, I married at thirty-five, never had children, and retired from corporate life at fifty-two. My situation is not the norm.

In this era of high-unemployment and high expectations for productivity, how do you decide whether your professional efforts are worth the personal cost? There is no definitive answer, but I can spotlight some warning signs that fall into two major categories:

YOUR HEALTH IS SUFFERING

• You don’t get enough sleep, because you have some degree of insomnia. Your work responsibilities intrude into your “offline” thoughts and don’t allow you to relax.

• Weight gain is an issue, for a number of reasons. For example, you eat out too much because of travel, or you get home too late to make a decent meal, or you are seriously hating life and feel like you deserve to eat what makes you happy.

• You “don’t have time” to work out.

• Digestion issues plague you. Indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, and/or ulcers.

• Self-Medication issues, including over-consumption of alcohol or painkillers, which you “need” to relax.

• You ignore worrying symptoms, because you would rather not know if you have a serious health issue.

YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOVED ONES ARE AFFECTED

• Your most important relations are jeopardized. Specifically, you don’t have enough quality time to spend with your significant other – intimately, socially, or at leisure.

• Family events just cannot get purchase on your calendar, because of work commitments.

• You rarely get to see your children play, perform, or achieve, although they are rapidly growing up.

• Birthday, Anniversary, Graduation, and Confirmation wishes are missed or belated, because you just can’t keep up.

• Vacations are paid time off that is sacrificed. There is no time.

• You are ALWAYS “connected” to work, via email or text messages. Your boss expects an immediate answer.

There should be boundaries to employment’s intrusion on your personal life. There may be an exception if you are a CEO or an Executive Vice President (in which case you ARE your job). How much of your life blood do you plan to sacrifice for a paycheck? Sometimes, there is a point where too much is asked. That is the time to explore alternatives for your life and your loved ones.