When the news is dominated by stories of volcanic eruptions, corporate bankruptcies and layoffs, or yet another example of Wall Street malfeasance, it’s easy to get depressed. Especially in this grey Seattle spring weather… So it was a wonderful contrast to enjoy some stimulating conversations over the past 24 hours with two vibrant and accomplished […]
Entries from March 27th, 2009
The Authentic Voice
March 26th, 2009 · 3 Comments · Creativity, Social Media for Business
Over the past week several people have asked me about the mix of topics in my blog – and my willingness (bravery? stupidity?) to write about yoga or leisure activities in the context of a business-oriented blog. Don’t get me wrong – they like the mix of topics, and feel it reveals interesting things about […]
Tags: learning to blog
The Purpose of a Business
March 20th, 2009 · 4 Comments · Back to Basics
I’ve been musing on the question of Purpose while reading the Wall Street Journal and online business press, trying to understand how so many bright people can have caused so much lasting damage. Why Do Companies Exist? There are those who think that businesses exist for solely utilitarian reasons: to satisfy customers, generate profits, create shareholder […]
Tags: corporate purpose·strategy
Signs of Spring
March 20th, 2009 · 1 Comment · Creativity, Yoga
Daffodils bloom outside my office window, gentle rain falls, and I’m reminded that spring is almost here. It’s been a long and unusually cold winter in Seattle. My yoga teacher has been inspired by these early signs of spring. She emailed her students her poem, Emergence, and the photograph that inspired her to write it. […]
Tags: inspiration
Social Media Marketing, Enterprise Style
March 18th, 2009 · 2 Comments · Marketing, Social Media for Business, Tools & Technology
After wrestling with taxes and Schedule C arcana, it’s a relief to blog. (I’m sure the IRS would prefer my creative energies go elsewhere…!) While working with a client on initial strategies for social media marketing, I keep being reminded of how much murkier the B2B social media landscape is. Almost all the pundits you […]
Should the Medium Be the Message?
March 16th, 2009 · Comments Off · Marketing, Social Media for Business
Some of my B2B clients are starting to encourage blogging by their employees. Corporate guidelines, such as do’s and don’ts, are amply provided. Ironically, corporate blogging guidelines are often provided via Word documents, instead of an internal blog that might be better at encouraging discussion or addressing employees’ questions. It seems to me that these […]
Tags: B2B marketing·blogging