Looking for Some Entertainment

Last week my colleague sent me a link to an article with the email subject line, “looking for some entertainment?” And, boy oh boy, was it something to read.

It was the saga of PR gone bad by Ocean Marketing. Or, is it …

On the surface this train wreck of a story looks like a PR nightmare, but upon closer examination, it turns out that it’s a customer service disaster that happened to have been handled by a marketing firm.

It’s one of those stories that you know if going to be bad from the start, but there is no way imaginable that you can foresee a PR/marketing guy tell a customer that he is wrong and then move on to name drop to the editor of his primary target publication and tell him that his publication sucks – all before he even realizes who he is talking to.

The first thing you learn in any PR or marketing class is to know your audience. Clearly, this gentleman (and that’s being nice) forgot that first rule. My advice, read through the news about Ocean Marketing and then watch this spoof on the whole thing.

Happy laughing! What do you think of the situation?

Common Courtesy Still Is Part of Business

I was reminded twice today that business is more about common courtesy and building relationships than anything else.

First, I read a blog post titled “10 Things Your Grandmother Can Teach You About Social Media” on Social Media Today. It struck me that this post is not about the technicalities, such as which network to use or what information to post/share, of social media. It is about the common courtesy that people should extend to one another as human beings. It’s small but important things, including minding your manners, dressing appropriately, and doing what you say you’re going to do, when you say you’re going to do it, that make all the difference. Doing these small things will get you the job, story, etc. when all else fails.

Second, I had the privilege of hearing Tim Mead, vice president of communications for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim speak to a small group (no more than 12) of IABC students at Cal State Fullerton this evening. He has been working for the Angels organization for 32 years in some capacity, including intern, secretary, assistant, director of public relations and more. His greatest takeaways from his years of experience working for several club owners and managers are this:

  1. Be polite and courteous to everyone, no matter who they are – media, players, fans, agents, children, etc.
  2. Always reply to every phone message, fax, email, Tweet etc. You never know where it will lead you.
  3. Listen. Often times his job is about fixing problems, and the only way to do that is to have all the information. Become the confidant and you’ll always have what you need.
  4. Nothing can replace please, thank you, yes please, no thank you, I don’t know and I’ll find out. These phrases can help get you out of almost every jam you can think of.

So few people take the time to say please and thank you these days, that when you hear it, you’re almost surprised. And it shouldn’t be that way. When was the last time you held the door open for someone and they just walked through without saying a word? How did that make you feel?

Social Media Tools

I’m testing out TwtPoll today with a simple question. Thank you!


Lifes Moments Captured

I paused for a moment on the fourth floor of the parking structure at Cal state Fullerton. The colors really made me take a moment and marvel at the world.

Stop and Explore Your Neighborhood

Today, I stopped near the Long Beach, Calif. airport at one of the many Boeing buildings. I paused, because on the corner of Lakewood Blvd. and Carson there is a Veteran Memorial dedicated by the employees of McDonnel Douglas Corporation. This circular memorial of black rock, surrounded by tall palm trees does a beautiful job of blending the work done in Long Beach on war planes with the history of each war fought from World War II through the first Gulf War.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve driven past this corner in the last three years or so, but today I took a moment to observe and remember.

Inside the Veterans Memorial.

Outside the Veterans Memorial.

What did you learn the last time you stopped to explore in your own neighborhood?

One Last Museum and Home

I’m writing today from the comfort of my own home. I didn’t realize how much I missed my own pillow, bed and even my spot on the couch. Oh, by the way, the DVR still is the most amazing invention EVER. I missed so much television while I was gone, and now I can sit down and catch up. I think it might take me three days.

OK, back to the vacation. Yesterday was our last day in Washington, DC. We flew home via Washington’s Dulles airport, and that meant a trip out to the National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. I have never seen so many airplanes in one place before. There were airplanes hanging from the ceiling and on the floor. There were large ones like the Concorde on the floor of the hangar with smaller planes underneath the wings.

Planes, planes and more planes.

The Air France Concorde with a FedEx plane underneath it. And another in the foreground.

We even had the opportunity to view the Space Shuttle Enterprise. All I can say is that it is HUGE! It seems small when you see it on TV, but it’s ginormous. It was definitely the highlight of my visit to the museum.

Space Shuttle Enterprise with some satellites above it.

Another angle on the Space Shuttle Enterprise.

We had a wonderful cross-country road trip extravaganza vacation. It was like nothing either of us has ever done before. And we can’t believe that we covered so much ground and saw so many things. We had the amazing opportunity to see the following:

  • Seattle, WA
  • Missoula, MT
  • Yellowstone National Park
  • Jackson, WY
  • Cody, WY
  • Rapid City, SD
  • Mount Rushmore
  • Des Moines, IA
  • Chicago, IL
  • Cleveland, OH
  • Washington, DC

Family and Friends

The perfect end to our 13 day road trip extravaganza was a visit with David’s Aunt and Uncle and my bestest friend Crystal.

We started the day of sight seeing with a tour of the Capital Building. Did you know that each state has two statues inside the Capital Building? California has a statue of Ronald Reagan and Junipero Serra. Oh and in the old House of Representatives chambers, there is a “whisper” spot. John Quincy Adams had the desk in the whisper spot. From this place, he could hear, clear as a bell, the conversations taking place across the hall.

The Capital Building from the front.

A plaque marking the spot where John Quincy Adam's desk stood.

Our last tourist activity today was to walk by The White House. It’s hard to have a trip to Washington, DC without walking by The White House. Unfortunately, we didn’t have an appointment or invitation to enter the building. This is as close as we could get.

The White House through the gate that surrounds it.

The day ended with a fantastic Trinidadian meal at a restaurant chosen by Crystal. If you ever get the chance, the Brown Stew Chicken from the Islander Carribean Restaurant and Lounge. Tomorrow we head home via the National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.

Monuments and Memorials

Today, we drove from Cleveland, OH to Washington, DC. We arrived at the National Mall area about 3:30 p.m. with just enough daylight left to see the new Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial and walk all the way around the Tidal Basin. Here’s the list of monuments and memorials we saw today:

  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
  • Korean War Memorial
  • Lincoln Monument
  • Vietnam Veterans Memorial
  • World War II Memorial
  • Washington Monument
  • Thomas Jefferson Memorial
  • Theodore Delano Roosevelt Memorial

The newest of the memorials on the National Mall (MLK, Jr.) was certainly a sight to see. However, I’m just not sure it has the right feel to it. It’s very stark and unfeeling for such a passionate man. My favorite remains the Theodore Delano Roosevelt Memorial. None of the other monuments and memorials have the same immersive yet comfortable experience as the Roosevelt walk.

While wandering around the Tidal Basin, I was able to capture some amazing photos using my BlackBerry Tour. It does pretty well for a phone camera.

A view of the Jefferson Monument from across the Tidal Basin.

Washington Monument from across the TIdal Basin.

One of my favorite images of the Roosevelt Memorial.

More from the other memorials on Flickr. Tomorrow, more from Washington DC. On the tentative list: Library of Congress, Supreme Court, the Capital Building and one of the National Galleries.

Cleveland “Rocks”

It was with a heavy heart that we left Chicago this morning. We were treated to some amazing sights during the two days we spent there. But, when we got to Cleveland, we were treated to a comfortable downtown area and a wonderful view of it from the Pier W restaurant across Lake Erie.

Unfortunately, the restaurant was too nice to be snapping photos from the table, so here’s a link to a photo search for “Cleveland Downtown” on Google. We had a fantastic bottle of wine with dinner, that I am finishing while I write.

On a side note, I met David’s, Aunt Inecita. He hadn’t seen her since law school, when she welcomed him into her home for every major holiday. It was his home away from home.

Tomorrow we drive to Washington, DC, where I’ll have so many photos you’ll have to scroll through Flickr to see them all.

An Artistic Day

The Art Institute of Chicago is a truly wondrous experience. Every time you turn around a corner a new wonder from the art world accosts the senses. We saw everything from Monet’s famous Water Lilies to Marc Chagall’s America Windows. Did you know that the Art Institute of Chicago installed the trading room of the Chicago Stock Exchange INSIDE the museum?

Water Lilies - Claude Monet

 

The third of Marc Chagall's America Windows.

 

A little of Pablo Picasso's cubism.

After the museum, we walked in the rain to the Hancock Building and took the ride to the top to see the city. And, we ended the day with a beer at Murphy’s Bleachers across from Wrigley Field.

A view from the Hancock Building Sky Walk.

Wrigley Field - home of the Chicago Cubs.

There really aren’t words for how beautiful today was. Tomorrow, we drive to Cleveland.