If you don't know the answer, don't know what something means or aren't sure, don't be afraid to say you 'don't know.'

No one will think any less of you. What they do expect is that you'll go find the answer - and share it.

1030 @markus64

- Learn by doing
- What works in one organization is unique to that organization
- Cargo Cult mentality
- Case Study: Fiskars
- Social Media plugs into your organization
- Who you see in the real world is who you will be online
- We get so caught up in the cutting edge stuff that we lose sense of reality / the basics
- Governance - make it an organization wide project
- You cannot ignore mobile no longer
- Bare minimum - skin for mobile
- easy to use, easy to access
- Hallway testing - ask another group to test for you, even if its your colleagues in your organization
- A social media policy is meant to be encouraging to your employees and how to use

1130 @markevans - Why Core Messaging Matters

Core messaging - it's what you sell or your expertise
Whats in in for me?
Why I should care?

145 @cugelman

- The play of reciprocation techniques
- Your memory and attention will affect your behavior
- mediated experience = real life experience
- social actor - ppl interface with technology like people
- web sites can be influential if they mimic influential people
- source interpreter -must have credibility, attractiveness
- if you don't have feedback, you cant tailor the message
- just telling ppl what to do
- ppl are very susceptible to peer pressure
- motivation and goals help influence change

Tools for understanding behavior:
- Fogg behavior model - when someone motivation is high and their ability is high, they need a trigger = change behavior
- Cialdini persuasion - reciprocity, consistency and commitment, social proof, liking, authority, scarcity

Great examples - groupon, avaaz.org, Old Spice FB, Rainbow Warrior

245 @orangesynapse

- wait and watch - don't panic that your competitors have released before you. Just make sure what you do it right for the market and your customers
- understand your industry and the way they play
- build relationships and get influencers on your side before you approach the c-suite
- get people involved early
- use marketing campaigns dollars to help fund a pilot tactic
- build a grassroots innovation team
- socialize your strategy with decision makers and why it would be important to them. What they get in return, help them with their agenda
- get upper middle management excited before you get to the c-suite

A good friend of mine told me that she is not Wonder Woman. She simply cannot do everything. I thought that was very bold of her to say - after all, she is a successful businesswoman, has a wonderful relationship with eve member of her family and was clearly very happy.

She continued to tell me that by understanding her strengths and weaknesses, she was better prepared to take on the world.

She knows when to turn down work because she is just too busy. She knows when to get or ask for help and above all, she knows when to say, 'I don't know how to do that, but, I will learn or find someone to teach me.'

It takes a strong person to do that. With competition amongst companies, colleagues and peers, it may seem too difficult to turn work and people down. But if you try to take on more than you can, you may not be giving your best in return. And if there is one thing my dear friend stands by, it's living up to any promise, deal or agreement she has made.

I couldn't agree with her more. I too will admit, I am not Wonder Woman.

If you work in a large organization like I do, it is easy to get caught up in your own work. After all, timelines are usually tight, you manage more than a handful of projects and of course, there are always emergencies that need to be dealt with right away.

What usually happens is that you lose track of the bigger picture and by the time you realize it, it's too late.

If you are contributing to a larger strategy by planning and executing a particular tactic, it is important to make sure your work is always in line with the end goal - something that may (although shouldn't) change even up to launch. If you don't, this may result in a bad execution, or even worse...a failed tactic.

So, how do you plan for the worse?

1. Have a weekly status with the team to make sure you are still on target with the larger strategy and goal.
2. Make sure your plan or tactic is well rounded. For example, if you are building a website, does the advertising team know it should mention it in their ads. Does your email program direct people to the site. Does the site use the same imagery as the print ads.
3. Make predictions. Based on the larger strategy and other tactics, predict the success or failure of your work. My making a sound prediction, you can raise a red flag if you know your work may result in failure and be able to change the larger strategy to make sure the worse doesn't happen.

My last post was seven months ago.
I have been back to work for eight months now.
Since being back, I have worked on three mobile projects, two social projects and over a handful of web projects.

It has and still is crazy busy. But, you gotta move just as fast as digital does.

The only difference now is that I feel somewhat organized.

So with this newfound sense of time management and inspiration to get back to blogging - here I go again.