Are you Inspired?

When was the last time you were inspired? For me, it was at the Call to Hope breakfast for Shepherd's Hope. This organization provides free medical care for the working poor in Central Florida. With so many people out of work, and without health insurance, the need is greater than ever.

Their annual fundraising breakfast was incredible. Nearly five hundred people gathered at Church Street Station in Orlando to hear testimonials from people who have been helped by the organization. My business partner and I had the pleasure of producing this year's video featuring patients who received care from the volunteer nurses and doctors. You can watch the video by clicking here.

After the video played, the three patients were called up on stage. One of them spoke, and she was amazing. Heloisa Martins moved here from Brazil sixteen years ago. She's been working in Florida the whole time, but can't affrord health insurance. She has breast cancer, and spends her days off in chemotherapy. Heloisa credits Shepherd's Hope with saving her life. She thanked the doctors who found her tumor, the surgeon who performed the biopsy, and the donors who made it possible. Heloisa said she hoped by telling her story, she was able to help just one more person get care at Shepherd's Hope.

I realized that I was surrounded by hundreds of people who volunteer their time to help people like Heloisa. They have helped tens of thousands of patients since Shepherd's Hope was founded more than a decade ago. It's incredibly rewarding, and incredibly inspiring.

The theme for the event was "The Power of One", and they quoted Lily Tomlin who said "I always wondered why somebody didn't do something about that, then I realized I was somebody".

Each ONE of us can make a difference.

I encourage you to watch the video, and get involved. If not with Shepherd's Hope, with any organization that reaches out to those who need it most. Isn't it time you were inspired?

Letter from Orlando CVB

April 19, 2010

We have been following the unprecedented events that have forced the closure of European Air space. In our community, we have stranded travelers that have been trying to return home since Wednesday, April 14.

The Orlando/Orange County CVB would like to ask for your cooperation in assisting European travelers, by offering discounts and free admission to any United Kingdom, Irish or Continental European tourists stranded in Florida due to the interruption in international air travel caused by Icelandic volcanic ash.

Please consider offering discounts to these stranded visitors. Your help will go a long way in showing our compassion and customer service.

As proof of travelers being affected, you can ask to see their return flight ticket from Wednesday, April 14, 2010, through Wednesday, April 21, 2010, or until normal flight schedules resume.

Please reply to this communication stating what your hotel / attraction / restaurant can offer. The Orlando/Orange County CVB will communicate the information you provide to European tour operators, airlines and provide a special section on our Web site with the information.

Please send your special offer to brian.martin@orlandocvb.com.

Thank you for your help and assistance.


Warm Regards,

Gary C. Sain
President & CEO
Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc.

Ratting Out Negative Co-Workers

A memo to employees at a local Orlando television station is creating quite a stir. The news director at WKMG is planning a seminar for all employees, and asked everyone to do three things.

1. Make a list of what makes BAD television news

2. Name three people who are a positive influence on the newsroom. (He called them "battery chargers")

3. Name three people who are a negative influence on the newsroom. (He called them "battery drainers")

What?!? How exactly is that going to improve morale, and perhaps more importantly, the product? While I'm trying to be slow to judge because the seminar hasn't happened yet, I'm very skeptical. So are other employees. The memo actually got the attention of The Orlando Sentinel, as well as many tv news bloggers.

As a former Executive Producer at the Orlando NBC affiliate, I truly understand the importance of knowing about the "battery drainers". They can suck the life out of a newsroom. The issue needed to be addressed, and the problem needed to be solved. That said, I can't imagine asking fellow colleagues to essentially "rat out" the bad seeds. As a manager, it's my opinion that you should know who the "battery drainers" are because you're listening, and paying attention to what's happening in the newsroom.

A MUCH better approach would be to reward the "battery chargers", and work to make sure their positive influence spreads. Our former news director, Ed Trauschke, used to award a "Win of the Day" in every morning meeting. It was a small acknowledgement, but it went a long way to encouraging positive behavior.

I also can't figure out what good it does to point out what makes BAD television news, without pointing out what makes GREAT television news. Again, by focusing on the positive, the entire feel of the newsroom changes.

What do you think? Is there a time and place to ask employees to name those around them who are a negative influence on your organization? If not... how do you weed out the "battery drainers", and make sure you surround yourself with "battery chargers"? Would love to hear your opinions.

Using Video to Increase Attendance

If you’re a show organizer, it’s possible your entire annual budget is determined by the attendance at your annual event. That’s why it is so important to “fill the seats”, and video can help you do that.

Think about it. Imagine logging onto a website about a beach. You see paragraph after paragraph describing the sand, water and sun. There are even a few great still pictures. You might wish for a day off on the coast, but you aren’t rushing to Expedia to book your tickets.

Now imagine video of that beach scene. You’re blinded by the bright sun, you hear waves crashing on the shore, and you can almost smell the sunscreen. Jimmy Buffett music is playing in the background, and you can hear the voices of people who are having the time of their lives. Suddenly, you’re ready to book the next flight to the Caribbean.

You can put the same convincing power of video to work for you. Promotional videos encourage people to attend your annual event. When other people hear their peers talking about how the event boosted their business, and they see results, they are more likely to attend.

Here are a few tips:

-- Be Specific

Be specific, tell the viewers how this year’s event is different. Let them know what’s available, and how they will personally benefit. In fact, be VERY specific. Who is speaking? What are their topics? What current issues will be discussed? What tactical lessons will an attendee learn? Perhaps most importantly—what makes this year’s meeting different from last year’s. Many potential attendees will have to justify the cost to their managers, so you need to explain exactly what they'll be getting for the money they'll spend.

-- Use Your Assets

If you have video of past events-- excellent. If you don't, a good producer can work with still pictures and graphics. You can click here to see an example for the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) that incorporates graphics and testimonials from PCMA members and leaders. You can see an example here from the American Culinary Federation (ACF) that uses graphics, video and voice track. Click here for an example for the National Council of Research Administrators (NCURA) that incorporates a television professional on camera. This association only had still photos of past events, but the music, voice track and graphics bring it to life.

-- Distribution is Key

Once the video is created, distribution is key. It should be on your home page, but take the extra step. Email it to your database. Reach out to them, don’t just expect them to come to you. Also, make sure to include a link to the registration page embedded in the video, so it’s easy for viewers to sign up. Consider posting the attendance-building promotional videos to social media networks. If your members are on Facebook, post it to your page. If they are twitter fans, tweet a link.

Well-produced videos can generate a buzz, and in turn, generate people at your next event. Put the power of video to work for your organization.

Lessons From Bop

My grandfather was an incredible man. His name was Bob Hayes, but we all called him “Bop”. He was a business owner, worked undercover on the Manhatten Project, and was married to the same woman for 62 years. He died last week just the way he lived… peacefully, mentally sharp as a tack, and without being an imposition on anyone. He was 96 years old. Time and time again, we heard the same words used to describe him: Kind, Honest, Stable, Respectful and Faithful.

It occurred to me that the lessons I have learned from him over the years not only apply to family and friends, but to business too.

Be Kind. Bob Hayes was a soft-spoken, caring man. He was gentle, and rarely raised his voice. It seems we should all work a little harder to be that way in business. There is no need for yelling, rudeness, or cut-throat attitudes. The more we help others, the more help will come back to us in return. We’re all in this together, aren’t we?

Be Honest. If you told my grandfather a secret, he took it to his grave. He was trustworthy. He believed in the “gentlemen’s handshake”, and if he said he was going to do something—you could consider it done. I believe that colleagues and customers deserve the same honesty. If a company makes a commitment… the goal should be to overdeliver, not look for ways to cut corners. Being honest in business means being transparent, and being up front about prices, deliverables, and deadlines.

Be Stable. My grandfather’s emotional range wasn’t exactly huge… he never got really excited, and never got really depressed. He was stable. You always knew what you were going to get. Perhaps stability is more important now than ever. Do you customers always get the same service? Does your service always meet the same standard? Companies need to be stable, especially during these uncertain economic times.

Be Respectful. There were a lot of people who disagreed with Bob Hayes, but many of them were his friends for more than five decades. If he had a contrarian point of view, he wasn’t afraid to share it… but he always respected the other person’s opinion. He never tried to convince someone they were wrong, or raised his voice to prove his point. He just respectfully agreed to disagree. Wouldn’t it be a better world if that were the case more often than not?

Be Faithful. In my grandfather’s world, having faith meant having faith in God. He believed in the Lord, and read the Bible often. His faith meant the world to him. But in addition to that, people had faith in him. He sold Penn Real parts for decades, and his customers rarely went anywhere else. They knew he was dependable, and they knew they were getting a fair deal. He was faithful to his wife, to his friends, to his colleagues, and to his customers.

The lessons I learned from Bop were important when I was young, and they are important now. I hope his qualities live on through those of us knew him, and those of you who know us.

Let Go of Control

My husband took me to see Blue Man Group at Universal Studios this weekend. Have you seen it? The best word I can come up with describe the show is: bizarre. I'm really glad we went, and it's like nothing I'd ever seen before.

Something struck me before the show began, however.

There were messages running across a digital sign at the front of the stage that continually reminded the audience not to take pictures. "Repeat after me", the sign said, "I will not take video, I will not take pictures, I will not upload to Facebook". At first I thought it was a joke. Then I realized they were delivering a serious message in a clever way. They truly do not allow any photography during Blue Man Group performances.

At that point, I couldn't get David Meerman Scott out of my mind. See, Meerman-Scott is an online marketing expert, and the author of the best-selling book, "The New Rules of Marketing and PR". He says one of the most important things you can do to market your products and services is to "let go of control".

He uses the Grateful Dead as an example. When the Dead allowed their fans to tape concerts, their popularity soared. More people gained an interest, and more people paid to see the group in concert. Instead of protecting their music... they shared it and it worked. Meerman Scott also points to Radiohead. When the band decided not to have a record label, and instead put everything online, and just ask people to donate what they thought the songs were worth: they made millions. These groups understood the concept of letting go of control.

We can all learn from these lessons. Some organizations are afraid to create Facebook pages or Twitter accounts because "someone might write something negative". Well, sure they might! But isn't is better for organization leaders to hear the negative input, respond, and solve the problem?? Living in the dark isn't going to get us anywhere.

Some organizations are also afraid to give away "company secrets" online. Heaven forbid we tell people how we do our jobs, and offer free advice. What if someone takes our ideas?? Frankly... good for them. In this age of social networking, sharing information is a must. The people who openly offer advice, tips, and inside knowledge are the ones who will succeed.

While I admit the "Blue Men" aren't having a hard time selling tickets... it seems like they could do a better job of letting go of control. I, for one, would have posted the video on this blog, on my Facebook page, and tweeted about it. If each person in the audience did that-- it's the best free advertising a company can buy.

Instant Gratification

Talk about instant gratification.

My business partner and I had a major paradigm shift one time while we were producing video coverage of the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) for Aviation International News. The editor-in-chief showed us an email from a pilot that read, “I’m flying a client from Australia to Geneva for EBACE, and I just watched the AINtv headlines. Can’t wait to get there. Keep up the good work”.

He had seen video headlines just hours after we shot them… from the cockpit! Was that really possible? Sure it was. In fact, he could have watched the event live from 30,000 feet.

It's just more evidence of the NEW information age. We can get information from hundreds of sources, at any time, in any form we choose.

It’s an important reminder for all of us when we have a message to deliver. If your message isn’t being distributed instantly, it’s old news. If it’s not available in multiple forms, on multiple platforms, it’s not really available. We have to make speed and distribution a priority to make sure the content reaches the target audience.

Depending on your audience, that could mean creating a written version, a podcast, and a video. It might mean posting the content on your website, Facebook and Twitter. It could mean communicating with your customer with emails, phone calls, and handwritten letters.

The changes in technology are fast and furious, and we have to work to keep up. If you like instant gratification, make sure that's exactly what you're giving your audience.