Let's Celebrate the National Day on Writing!

The National Council of Teachers of English established October 20th as the National Day on Writing to transform the public's understanding of writing and the role it plays in society.

I recently read a novel entitled, "Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie" by Jackie Lau, and found some inspiring and applicable quotes about writing fiction:

"Not everyone pictures what's happening in a book as they're reading."

"That's the beauty of a novel. What we see - or don't see - in our minds, our pasts...a single novel can be such a different experience for everyone who reads it."

"Books can help people forget but also help them cope at the same time...Even if you write something dark and twisted, it can help readers escape to another world. Or it can show them that other people are experiencing the same feelings that they are, maybe under different circumstances, but similar nonetheless. It can make you feel not alone when you're lonely, or it can simply entertain you when you're bored. There are so many things that fiction can do."

With gratitude and applause to the National Council of Teachers of English, here are some strategies for coming up with ideas for writing:

* Make lists of topics that you are interested in, this could include hobbies, issues, places, etc.

* Make a list of problems that you have seen characters face in movies, TV shows, or books, and use each as a basis for your own story

* Make a list of your most memorable experiences and determine which might be the basis for a piece of writing, perhaps, featuring lessons learned

* Maintain a journal and collect thoughts and descriptions that might be used as the basis for a piece of writing

* Similar to the above, keep a journal for remembering inspiring quotes from books you read - you never know when the quotes will serve as the basis for a piece of writing (or blog post, as the above quotes did)

* Think about "small moments" of life to expand and explore rather than creating large, involved stories

* Read and re-read your favorite authors and look for places where you can pick up where they left off or think how their story could be re-told from a different character's perspective

* Take elements from an existing storyline from a book, movie, or play, and work your own real-life or past experiences in to create an entirely new story

* Make a list of your favorite movies or books and look for patterns in the storylines or look for storylines that can be combined or changed

* Read, read, read - all great authors are READERS who constantly look for ideas from other authors

So, how do you decide what to write about? What are your inspirational secrets? Chime in and share!

Image Credit: National Council of Teachers of English.

Let’s Celebrate Boss’s Day!

Are you fortunate to have a good boss? Does your supervisor ask you for feedback and recognize your contributions in public? Well, today’s the day to celebrate awesome bosses!

First, a little history: National Boss’s Day was started by Patricia Bays Haroski, who was an employee at State Farm Insurance. Her boss was also her father, and to honor him, she registered the date of his birthday with the United States Chamber of Commerce in 1958 as a national holiday. By 1979, the holiday became popular across the United States and also spread internationally. Today, it’s celebrated in Australia, India, Ireland, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

Here are some ideas as to how to celebrate:

* Send your boss a card with a meaningful message, perhaps, sharing details about something you learned from him/her/they

* Post a note about your boss on social media

* Bring some doughnuts or other sweet treat into the office to share with your boss and colleagues

* Bring some flowers into the office

* Make a donation to your favorite charity in honor of your boss

Of course, if your boss is not the greatest boss in the world, you can stick with a simple “Happy Boss’s Day” greeting when you enter the office first thing in the morning. They’ll get the message!

Image Credit: Mountaineer eNews.

Let's Celebrate M&M Day!

M&M's have been around since 1941, but do you know how they started? As you think about which color - or plain or peanut on the inside - you favor, let's take a walk down memory lane.

According to company history, after seeing soldiers carrying Smarties, chocolate pellets protected by a shell from keeping them from melting, during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930's, Forrest Mars Senior, son of the Mars Company founder, pitched the idea of the candy we know today as M&M's. Manufacturing of the candy began at a factory in New Jersey in 1941. Mars sourced chocolate with the help of Bruce Murrie, the son of a Hershey executive, and as a result, the name of the candy came from both men's names: Mars and Murrie.

Initially, the candy was only sold to the U.S. Army, and after World War II ended and soldiers returned home, they were well acquainted with M&M's, which helped make the candy a popular snack in the post-war years. 

In 1949, the famous tagline, "Melts in your mouth, not in your hand" was released. In 1950, a black "M" was printed onto M&M's to give them a unique look, and this was changed to a white "M" in 1954. And during the 1980's, M&M's went on sale in Canada, Europe, Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom.

Here's an interesting fact: Since it's very easy to eat M&M's, the are the most consumed chocolate in outer space. Astronauts love M&M's!

And here's another interesting fact: M&M's were the official snack of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

M&M's may be such a popular sweet snack due to its marketing and advertising humor. Many of the colors have recognizable personalities, and some even appear during expensive Super Bowl ads.

And in 2023, the world seemed to go crazy with M&M news. Prior to the game, the brand announced that actress Maya Rudolph would take over for the colored spokescandies, who were taking a break from their duties, which included participating in an ad during the Super Bowl. In the days leading up to the Super Bowl, the name of the candy was changed, the inside of the candy was changed, and to be honest, it was hard to keep up with all the drama. But then, at the end of the Super Bowl, the spokescandies held a news conference, and all was right with the world: The candies/characters/brand ambassadors announced their return.

Image Credit: M&M's.

Let's Celebrate World Architecture Day!

Created in 1985 by the International Union of Architects (UIA), World Architecture Day is a day to show appreciation for the work that architects do and to celebrate the inspiring and memorable works of architecture around the world. This day coincides with the United Nations World Habitat Day, aligning the architectural community’s efforts with global urban development goals.

Famous works of architecture have become part of the natural landscape. Consider what the city of Paris would be without the Eiffel Tower, or what New York City would be without the Statue of Liberty, or what San Francisco would be without the Golden Gate Bridge. Without these amazing architectural structures, these cities would lack their artistic souls and brand identities.

 

Here are five quotes for World Architecture Day:

"Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness."
~Frank Gehry

"The best way to predict the future is to design it."
~Buckminster Fuller

"Good buildings come from good people, and all problems are solved by good design."
~Stephen Gardiner

"We shape our buildings; thereafter, they shape us."
~Winston Churchill

"Architecture is not just about designing buildings; it's about creating spaces that inspire and uplift."
~Unknown

Here are five messages to share on social media on World Architecture Day:

"Architecture is the art of creating spaces that inspire, uplift, and bring communities together. Happy World Architecture Day!"

"Let's celebrate the architects who envision and design spaces that reflect our values and aspirations. Happy World Architecture Day!"

"On this World Architecture Day, let's commit to creating spaces that nurture creativity, community, and sustainability!"

"Architecture is not just about buildings; it's about creating experiences and environments that enhance our lives!"

"On World Architecture Day, let's inspire future architects to dream big and create inclusive and participatory spaces!"

In addition, many famous works of architecture provide marketing opportunities. Again consider the examples provided above. Paris has become synonymous with the Eiffel Tower, and P-A-R-I-S is often written out with the Eiffel Tower taking the place of the "A."

What's your favorite architectural structure? Chime in and share.

Image Credits from Left to Right: Getty Images, One Life Tours, Britannica, Great Runs, Empire State Building, and Wikipedia.

Let's Celebrate World Teachers' Day!

Did you know that today is World Teachers' Day? Held annually on October 5th, World Teachers' Day is an international holiday to celebrate teachers. Established in 1994, it commemorates the signing of a recommendation by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) that outlines standards relating to education personnel policy, recruitment, and training as well as the continuing education of teachers, their employment, and working conditions. 

According to Wikipedia, "World Teachers' Day aims to focus on appreciating the educators of the world."

Do you remember your favorite teacher? Someone who sparked your imagination or introduced you to a subject that became your life's mission? My high school United States Government teacher was that person for me. She was an amazing teacher, and I was lucky to stay in touch with her throughout my life.

Each year, UNESCO mounts a campaign to help give the world a better understanding of teachers and the role that they play in the development of students. According to UNESCO, fewer young people aspire to become teachers, and UNESCO estimates that the world needs over 69 million new teachers by 2030.

So, use today to reach out to a former teacher to thank him or her for inspiring you or promote the field of teaching to a young person.

In the words of Nelson Mandela, "Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world."

SHARE THIS: World Teachers' Day aims to focus on appreciating the educators of the world. ~Wikipedia #WorldTeachersDay #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credit: Debbie Laskey.

Marketing News of the Month: Doughnuts, Shoes, and More

During the month of September, there were many news stories that reflected brand identity, brand naming, brand storytelling, brand strategy, co-branding, digital marketing, personal branding, product packaging, product pricing, social media usage, and more.

KRISPY KREME AND BARBIE DOUGHNUTS

To celebrate the 65th birthday of Barbie, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts partnered with Mattel and launched the limited-edition Barbie Collection featuring four doughnuts: the Barbie Pink Doughnut, the Barbie Berries ‘n Kreme Doughnut, the Malibu Dream Party Doughnut, and the Barbie Sweet 65th Doughnut.

According to Dave Skena, Global Chief Brand Officer for Krispy Kreme, “We’re excited to celebrate the Barbie brand’s 65th birthday with a collaboration that’s full of fun and flavor. We’re bringing Barbie’s iconic fashions to life through delicious doughnuts that are sure to thrill Barbie and Krispy Kreme fans alike.”

According to Meredith Norrie, Mattel’s Vice President of Global Licensing and Consumer Products, “Barbie and Krispy Kreme are two brands that immediately spark joy and elicit sweet memories. As we continue to celebrate Barbie's 65th anniversary this year, Krispy Kreme is the perfect partner to join us, inviting fans across generations to enjoy the perfect blend of flavor and style with nods to Barbie sprinkled into every bite.”

ADIDAS AND SWAROVSKI

Adidas sneakers brand has partnered with jewelry brand Swarovski and is launching a Swarovski-crystal covered edition of its Impact baseball cleat with a retail price of $440. The shoe comes in two choices, either Light Purple or Ice Lavender. Despite the crystals, the shoe features cushioning and support for on-field performance. But who would wear these shoes anywhere other than on a red carpet?

COSTCO MEMBERSHIP DUES

For the first time in seven years, Costco members will see a $5-$10 increase in their membership dues depending on their membership plan. According to Costco, “The price change will help to offset operational costs to keep prices low.” But the fee increase comes after the company announced it would crack down on card sharing by requiring shoppers to scan their membership cards to enter stores.

VOLKSWAGEN PLANT CLOSURES

To cut costs amid rising competition from China’s electric vehicle makers, Volkswagen announced that it might close factories in Germany. The company employs almost 683,000 workers worldwide including 295,000 in Germany. According to Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume, “The European automotive industry is in a very demanding and serious situation. Germany in particular as a manufacturing location is falling further behind, in terms of competitiveness.”

CHIPOTLE AND SPIRIT HALLOWEEN

Chipotle and Spirit Halloween announced that the two brands will launch a Halloween collection. According to CNN, “The fast-casual chain announced a costume collection with Spirit Halloween, the seasonal Halloween costume store that pops up every year in abandoned storefronts. The collection is made up of bodysuits that are meant to resemble a Chipotle napkin, fork, water cup, burrito, and to-go bag...[It’s] a clever marketing ploy mean to garner social media attention.”

WHEEL OF FORTUNE

Ryan Seacrest ushered in a new chapter for the TV game show “Wheel of Fortune” when he joined Vanna White to start the new season in early September. Gone was host Pat Sajak, who retired after 41 seasons and more than 8,000 episodes. According to Seacrest, who’s known White (the lady who wears fancy dresses and taps the letters) for twenty years, “The show’s fun. It’s about giving cash and prizes to people every single night.”

WASHINGTON POST WEBSITE

The Washington Post launched an updated homepage for its website in early September. According to newly-installed executive editor, Matt Murray, who wrote to the newsroom, “The new iteration is the beginning of several planned enhancements.”

DEATH OF JAMES EARL JONES

The award-winning actor passed away at his New York home at age 93. His lengthy career led him to create two larger-than-life roles that cemented his Hollywood legacy: Darth Vader in the “Star Wars” franchise and Mufasa in “The Lion King.” He received an Honorary Academy Award, a tribute for lifetime achievement and exceptional contributions to film, as well as a Golden Globe, two Tony’s, and two Primetime Emmys. He said that he was often quiet as a child because of a stutter, but in high school, he discovered that he did not stutter when reading aloud. We can all be grateful for that discovery, because it led to his interest in performing and his study of drama at the University of Michigan followed by a stint in the Army and then auditioning for parts in New York City.

HOME DEPOT NEWS

While Home Depot did not admit wrongdoing and has since taken steps to correct violations, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon announced that Home Depot will pay nearly $2 million to settle a civil law enforcement complaint alleging that the company engaged in false advertising and unfair competition. The civil complaint alleged that Home Depot charged customers prices higher than their lowest advertised or posted price. Often called a “scanner violation,” the problem occurs when the price on an item, or on an item’s shelf tag, is not the same as the UPC code that is scanned at the point-of-sale register.

KEURIG AND RECYCLING

Keurig has agreed to pay $1.5 million in penalties after the Securities and Exchange Commission charged the company with making misleading statements as to how recyclable its popular K-Cup single-use coffee pods are. The Keurig website said that since the end of 2020, 100 percent of its K-Cup pods were recyclable, but that statement, according to the SEC was misleading. How can a brand mislead its customer and fans? In this case, the SEC stepped in. Time will tell if future sales are impacted.

HERSHEY’S FORAY INTO FITNESS MARKET

While everyone associates the Hershey brand with chocolate and its own town in Pennsylvania, the company is now expanding into the fitness market with a new product line of energy drinks and protein powders. Will the flavors be chocolate? Time will tell if this will be a successful line extension or a bad idea.

VISA LAWSUIT

The United States Justice Department filed a lawsuit accusing Visa of illegally monopolizing the debit card market. According to CNN, “For more than a decade, the US Justice Department alleges that Visa has abused its dominant position in the debit card market to force businesses to use Visa’s network instead of competitors’ and to stop new alternatives from entering the market.” Will this lawsuit damage the brand?

KAMALA HARRIS'S SHOES

Vice President AND Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris often wears a pair of Converse All-Stars tennis shoes with her power suits. Her Chuck Taylor All-Star Sneakers can be found at Norstrom for less than $100.

STARBUCKS NEWS

With Starbucks revenues on the decline, the new CEO has a plan – and it starts with comfortable chairs. Brian Niccol, on his second day at head of Starbucks, said in a letter to employees and customers that he wants the company to return to its roots as a “community coffeehouse” with comfortable seats, design, and a clear distinction between “to-go” and “for here” service. However, something to consider, the original concept for Starbucks was to copy European coffeehouses where people ordered their coffee and stood to drink it at tall tables. That is different than this idea. And secondly, how comfortable have the chairs ever been at Starbucks? Sounds like a very different brand refresh versus a return to the brand’s core.

AUSTRALIA AND SOCIAL MEDIA

According to CNN, Australia intends to “set a minimum age limit for children to use social media, citing concerns about mental and physical health. The plan has sparked backlash from digital rights advocates who warn that the measure could drive dangerous activity underground.” It will be interesting to see how this plan moves forward and the impact on social media platforms in Australia.

CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY NAMECHANGE

Remember when Dunkin’ Doughnuts dropped the word “doughnuts” from its name? Or when Kentucky Fried Chicken became KFC to move away from the “fried chicken” emphasis in its name? Well, the 155-year-old Campbell Soup Company has announced that it will drop the word “Soup” from its name and will rebrand as The Campbell’s Company. The company owns snack brands including Goldfish, Snyder’s of Hanover, Cape Cod, Pepperidge Farm, and others. Therefore, the brand wishes to move away from the idea that it is only soup.

MOVIE THEATER UPGRADES

According to USA Today, “The eight largest movie theater chains in the United States and Canada announced plans to invest more than $2.2 billion in the next three years in an effort to upgrade entertainment experiences at their facilities. The announcement came in a news release from the National Association of Theatre Owners, an organization that represents theater owners from around the world. Eight chains involved in the commitment represent over 21,000 screens across 1,600 locations in all 50 states and Canada. The eight companies include AMC, Regal Cinemas, Cinemark, Cineplex, Marcus Theatres Corp., B&B Theatres, Harkins Theatres and Santikos Entertainment. The investment comes as the movie theater industry has been hampered by the boom of streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic that prompted theaters to shut down for months during 2020.”

According to the association, the funds will be used on an "array of projects to modernize and improve theaters of all sizes including adding the latest laser projection technology and immersive sound systems, installing more comfortable seats, and creating family entertainment options, such as, arcades and bowling.”

WARNING LABEL FOR GAS STOVES

In California, gas stoves may soon come with a health warning similar to the warning label found on cigarette packages. Since a stove’s blue flame releases air pollution into kitchens, California lawmakers have passed a bill that would require warning labels on stoves, and Governor Gavin Newsom has until the end of September to sign the bill into law. 

The American Public Health Association has labeled gas stoves as “a public health concern,” since they can increase the risk of asthma, can leak methane even when they’re off, and emit benzene which is linked to cancer. Similar bills have been introduced in Illinois and New York, but unlike California’s version, lawmakers did not send them to their Governors.

According to Politico, “California Governor Newsom vetoed a bill (on September 27th) that would have made California the first state in the country to mandate labels on gas stoves warning of health risks.”

Governor Newsom wrote, “I am returning Assembly Bill 2513 without my signature. This bill would prohibit a person from selling or offering for sale a gas stove that is manufactured or sold online on or after January 1, 2025, or sold in a store on or after January 1, 2026, unless that gas stove contains a specified warning label. While I appreciate the author's intent to provide consumers with information about the products they purchase, I am concerned that this bill codifies highly prescriptive labeling content that could only be changed by a future statutory amendment. This static approach falls short in enabling timely updates to the labeling content that should align with the latest scientific knowledge so that consumers are accurately informed about their purchases. For these reasons, I cannot sign this bill.”

PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

When Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump met for their first and only Presidential debate of the 2024 Presidential campaign – following President Joe Biden’s surprising withdrawal from the race – many observers called Trump’s performance as dismal as Biden’s in the June Biden-Trump debate. Some stand-out comments include: Harris’s handshake and introduction at the outset of the debate, the concise responses provided by Harris, the fact that Trump never looked at Harris, and the fact that – despite the promise from the moderators that the microphones would be turned off when one candidate was speaking – Trump ignored the microphone rule and kept talking.

TAYLOR SWIFT

Within minutes of the first and only Presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump on September 10th, singer-songwriter-businesswoman Taylor Swift endorsed Kamala Harris. Due to her enormous following, it will be interesting to see how the support of this “childless cat lady” will impact the election.

19TH AMENDMENT GOES ON DISPLAY

The National Archives will soon add the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote, to its permanent display of the Charters of Freedom in the Rotunda of the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C., in March 2026. The addition to the Rotunda will be part of the nation’s 250th celebration on July 4, 2026.

According to the National Archives, “Passed by Congress on June 4, 1919; ratified on August 18, 1920; and certified on August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment is celebrated as the culmination of over eight decades of advocacy by the women suffrage movement.”

PANDA DIPLOMACY AND FINLAND

Finland announced that it will return two pandas to China in November, more than eight years ahead of time, since the Finnish zoo where they live can no longer afford their upkeep. According to NPR, "The panda pair was China's gift to mark Finland's 100 years of independence in 2017, and they were supposed to be on loan until 2033. But the zoo has experienced a number of challenges, including a decline in visitors due to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as well as an increase in inflation and interest rates. The upkeep of Lumi and Pyry, including a preservation fee to China, cost the zoo 1.5 million euros (approximately $1,675,658) annually. And the bamboo that giant pandas eat was flown in from the Netherlands."

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CHANGES BUSINESS MODEL

Known as the airline that offered open seating and no frills, Southwest Airlines announced substantial changes to its business and boarding process. Open seating will be going away but not until early 2026. The delay is due to the fact that premium seating (with more legroom) will take time to reconfigure on the airplanes. According to Southwest, “80 percent of its customers and 86 percent of its passengers who choose other airlines want assigned seats.” In addition, Southwest will start partnerships with foreign airlines to offer passengers the chance to book overseas flights. Its first partnership will be with Icelandair in 2025, connecting with it at its Baltimore-Washington International Airport hub. And lastly, the airline confirmed that it will continue to allow passengers to check up to two bags for no fee. According to Southwest CEO Robert Jordan, “The fact that (and brand tagline) “Bags Fly Free” is cited as the number one reason why customers choose to fly Southwest.”

SHAKE UP AT NBC’S TODAY SHOW

Broadcaster Hoda Kotb announced that she will leave the morning show in early 2025 to spend more time with her two daughters. This departure leaves a hole at the morning show. Kotb has worked at NBC for 26 years and joined the Today show in 2007. Who do you think will take her place and re-create the TV show brand? Will a new celebrity host improve or damage the TV brand? Time will tell.

JORDAN CHILES OLYMPICS CONTROVERSY – THE SAGA CONTINUES 

While the Olympic bronze medal that was originally awarded to American gymnast Jordan Chiles was re-allocated to a Romanian gymnast, the controversy continues, adding a sad asterisk to the very successful Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.

NATIONAL COFFEE DAY

Did you know that September 29th was the date to celebrate coffee? All you had to do was consider all the brands that have appeared since the re-invention of the beverage as a brand? There’s Starbucks, Coffee Bean, Dunkin', and that list doesn’t even include all the local and small town specialty coffee cafes! Chimney Coffee House is a downtown Los Angeles coffee house with a very cute logo.

What other recent marketing buzz caught your attention? There's always something happening that impacts marketing, so tune in to #DebbieLaskeysBlog for the scoop!

Image Credits: Chimney Coffee House, Krispy Kreme, and Fashion News.

Let's Celebrate International SEO Day!

Do you know what today is? If you answered International SEO Day, then you're correct! On this day, digital marketers, web developers, and businesses worldwide recognize the power of SEO and its impact on the digital age. And on September 27, 1998, the Google search engine was launched.

According to Wikipedia, "Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the quality and quantity of website traffic to a website or web page from search engines. SEO targets unpaid traffic (known as natural or organic results) rather than direct traffic or paid traffic. Unpaid traffic may originate from different kinds of searches, including image search, video search, academic search, news search, and industry-specific vertical search engines. As an Internet marketing strategy, SEO considers how search engines work, the computer-programmed algorithms that dictate search engine behavior, what people search for, the actual search terms or keywords typed into search engines, and which search engines are preferred by their targeted audience. SEO is performed because a website will receive more visitors from a search engine when websites rank higher on the search engine results page (SERP). These visitors can then potentially be converted into customers."

To recognize the importance of SEO, I recently had a discussion with Lisa Sicard who's based in Maine, who I met on Twitter/X. Highlights follow a brief introduction. Lisa has over 25 years of experience and loves helping others with social media, blogging, and content marketing. She specializes in helping small businesses and bloggers to thrive and succeed online. She wrote a book, How to Tweet and Thrive on Twitter in 2020; and her blog was nominated as One of the Best Internet Marketing Blogs by Infinity Blog Awards in 2019, and also one of the Best Top Marketing Blogs in 2015 and 2016 by Fit Small Business. 

QUESTION: Since you've been blogging for over a decade, what are your three best blogging tips?

LISA SICARD: Here are my three tips:

(1) Mastering SEO can make or break your blog. Start with thorough keyword and topic research before you write. This ensures that you're creating content people actually search for.

(2) Many bloggers miss out on the power of internal linking. Make sure to link your posts to each other. This not only helps with SEO, but it also keeps readers on your site longer.

(3) Lastly, your blog isn't a "set it and forget it" project. Update your posts every six months with fresh stats and new info. This keeps your content relevant and boosts your SEO rankings. Keep these tips in mind, and your blog will thrive.

SHARE THIS: Your blog isn't a "set it and forget it" project. ~@lisapatb #SEOtip #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: In the words of Brian Clark, CEO of Copyblogger Media and founder of Copyblogger.com, “Don’t focus on having a great blog. Focus on producing a blog that's great for your readers.” What does this quote mean to you?

LISA SICARD: Based on my blogging experience, the key to a successful blog is simple: put your readers first. Instead of aiming to create content that just looks or sounds great, focus on solving your readers' problems. Understand what they need and tailor your posts to address those needs.

For instance, if your readers struggle with gaining followers on Twitter/X, provide them with practical, step-by-step guides that help them. If your audience seeks career advice, offer actionable tips that they can apply right away. The goal is to make your blog a "go-to" resource for them.

In my years of blogging, I've learned that when you prioritize your readers' needs, they keep coming back. They share your content, they engage more, and they trust you. This trust turns into a loyal following, which is far more valuable than just having a "great" blog.

Keep it simple, keep it relevant, and always think about how you can make your readers' lives easier or better. That's the real secret to a great blog.

QUESTION: What’s your favorite social media platform, and why?

LISA SICARD: Twitter/X is, and always has been, my favorite social media platform. I love the brevity of it, though longer tweets are more engaging today and help the algorithm. I've met more people on Twitter/X than on any other platform, and Twitter/X has generated more traffic to Inspire To Thrive (my website) than any other platform. With 12 years of blogging experience and 15 years on Twitter/X, I find it indispensable for connecting with others and driving traffic.

QUESTION: As a social media strategist, how do you convince senior leaders to integrate social media into an overall marketing plan to create consistent messaging?

LISA SICARD: To convince senior leaders to integrate social media into an overall marketing plan, start by showing them concrete examples and stats. Numbers don't lie, and seeing real-world success can be a game-changer. Know your company's audience before recommending a specific platform because each platform has a different user base. It's crucial to align the choice with where the target audience hangs out.

Once you've chosen the right platform, run tests and closely monitor the results. Use data to show what's working and what isn't. Always be ready to make adjustments based on these insights. Social media trends change fast, and your strategy should be flexible. You will need to keep up with the latest network changes. 

Lastly, it's all about repetition. Test, monitor results, pivot, and repeat. This cycle will maximize your reach and engagement. I've seen firsthand how powerful this approach can be. Consistent messaging across social platforms isn't just possible; it’s essential for modern marketing success.

QUESTION: Many people remember the famous OREO Tweet during the 2013 Super Bowl. With that in mind, what's your favorite social media marketing campaign?

LISA SICARD: The Dove Soap Beauty Campaign for Real Beauty is a worldwide marketing campaign launched by Unilever in 2004 aiming to build self confidence in women and young children. It made everyone seem so real.

My gratitude to Lisa for appearing on my blog, and for sharing her digital marketing insights.

Image Credit: WordSwag.

Learn more about International SEO Day:

https://www.thereisadayforthat.com/holidays/various/international-sEO-day

Connect with Lisa at these links:

Website: https://inspiretothrive.com

Blog: https://inspiretothrive.com/blog

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisasicard

Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/Lisapatb

Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/InspireToThrive

Five #ReadingTips to Fall Back to Reading

Since today is the first day of fall, in typical "Debbie Laskey's Blog" fashion, my theme is "Fall Back to Reading." However, this year, there's a twist.

Instead of providing Q&A's with inspiring experts in the leadership, marketing, and customer experience arenas, this year, with the goal of promoting reading, I will share some reading TIPS.

Without further ado, here we go...

[1] JOIN A BOOK CLUB

There are so many options when it comes to book clubs, and you can even participate from the comfort of your favorite armchair or couch while at home. Digital book clubs have grown in popularity as a result of the Covid pandemic, so pick a topic, genre, or author. Join and share your love for reading!

[2] CHOOSE FIVE NEW AUTHORS

Step outside your comfort zone and choose five new authors. Research their books and read them. If you always read mystery, try science fiction. If you always read thrillers, try mystery. There are too many options once you open your mind to new possibilities.

[3] KEEP A JOURNAL FOR INSPIRING QUOTES

Remember some classic lines from literature? Here are three:
*"Call me Ishmael." (Moby Dick by Herman Melville)
*"These are the best of times, these are the worst of times." (A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens)
*"All children, except one, grow up." (Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie)

In addition to thought-provoking first lines, sometimes, and hopefully often, you will encounter interesting and memorable lines or paragraphs as you read. So, keep a journal to remember them and re-visit the thoughts as you consider reading more books by the same authors or books focusing on similar topics or genres.

[4] LEARN HOW YOU READ BEST

Determine how you read best, whether using a device or by holding a hard copy. Do you read while traveling to work in public transit? Do you read while family members watch television or content on their devices? Or do you prefer books in audio format? Once you know your preferences, reading (and finishing) books will be easier.

[5] SET AN ANNUAL GOAL FOR THE NUMBER OF BOOKS TO READ

How many books did you read last year? How many do you want to read this year? Last year, I read 50, and this year, I hope to read 60 fiction with some non-fiction marketing and leadership books thrown into the mix. A goal makes the hobby of reading even more fun - at least, for me.

Check out my blog in January to read about my favorite book of 2024.

And lastly, what are your fave reading tips? Chime in and share - and happy reading!

SHARE THIS: If you can, always be yourself, unless you can be Batman, then always be Batman. ~Jenn McKinlay from Paris Is Always a Good Idea #ReadingTips #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credit: Michael Keaton in "Batman" (1989) - Warner Bros/Everett Collection.

Some reading tips from NPR:
https://www.npr.org/2019/11/21/781673493/how-to-read-more-books

If you'd like to join the next Leaders Who Fiction virtual book club meeting, check out @LeadersWhoFiction on Instagram for details.

Looking for a book club? Explore dozens of online book clubs or find a book club near you. Bookclubs.com's mission is to inspire meaningful connections through reading and discussion. We believe in the power of book club to enhance the reading experience, support lifelong learning, and build community.
https://bookclubs.com/join-a-book-club

If you’d like to read some previous FALL BACK TO READING posts, check out the following:

Highlights of My Fall Back to Reading Series Featuring 30 Experts (January 2024)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2024/01/highlights-of-my-fallbacktoreadingseries.html

Introducing the 2023 Fall Back to Reading Series Featuring 30 Experts (September 2023)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2023/09/introducing-2023-fall-back-to-reading.html

The Best Book I Read in 2023 (February 2024)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2024/02/the-best-book-i-read-in-2023.html

Fall Back to Reading with 9 Thought-Provoking Books (September 2022)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/09/fall-back-to-reading-with-these-9.html

Fall Back to Reading with 12 Thought-Provoking Business Books (October 2019)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2019/10/fall-back-to-reading-with-12-thought.html

Fall Reading: Leadership, Branding, and Voice of the Customer Marketing (October 2018)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2018/10/fall-reading-recap-leadership-branding.html

Serving in a New Role Today on Global Company Culture Day

What would you do if your title were "Director of People and Culture?" While that may sound like a bunch of words, what would you do in that role?

Since today is Global Company Culture Day, I thought it might be fun to try out the title and pretend I served in that capacity, if only for one day.

But first, a little about Global Culture Day. Created by the Global Company Culture Association in 2019 and observed every year on September 18th, it's a day for companies and leaders to focus on ensuring that their corporate culture functions in a way that, above all, maximizes the happiness of employees.

According to Tercon Partners, "Culture is a company's personality. Culture defines the environment in which people work – the values, beliefs, behaviors, and underlying assumptions that drive every aspect of the organization's activities. Culture exists in all organizations, whether it is created through careful design or it evolves organically over time."

According to Wharton management professor Sigal Barsade, "Culture, within a company or organization, is like an iceberg. Just as we can see only the tip of the iceberg, most of what constitutes a company's culture is below the surface. The part that's visible includes things like physical office space, ways the employees dress, and behavioral norms. But they are not the whole picture...you need to understand what's below the surface. The values and assumptions that rarely get questioned are the ones that most organizations take for granted."

And now, if I served as "Director of People and Culture" for an organization, I would focus on the following five areas:

[1] Employee Experience: Employee Engagement and Culture Development

Employees must be happy and productive to create positive customer experiences, which leads to repeat business and increased profits. So, organizations must focus on engaging their employees and developing amazing cultures. Department supervisors must understand the benefits of collaboration and learn how to be culture carriers. And the org's employee manual must be regularly reviewed and updated. The concept of "Management by Walking Around" should be the mantra of this role so that employees see the person in charge and can talk to that person on a regular basis - the key HR person should never be seen as always sitting in an office with a closed door.

[2] DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion)

This initiative would be more than just words. There should be a mosaic of people at every level from the C-Suite on down through all management levels. If someone within the organization wants to climb the corporate ladder, it is the org's responsibility to mentor and educate the person, rather than stop him/her/they due to gender, background, etc. All opportunities are open to all. Period. 

[3] Leadership Development

It's important for members of the C-Suite and department supervisors to keep abreast of leadership trends and attend leadership workshops and conferences in their specialty areas. It's also important to develop leaders from within the organization, and also promote from within.

[4] Continuing Education

Continuing education should not be for members of the C-Suite or top managers only. Courses should be available and offered for all members of an organization to help them learn on an on-going basis. Training sessions can be on-site, off-site, or online.

[5] Talent Acquisition: Onboarding and Offboarding

It's important to understand that the concept of employer branding is a real thing, and as a result, job applicants begin their relationship with an organization from the moment they read a job description. The relationship with the employer brand continues through a first conversation, a virtual or in-person interview (or more than one), and doesn't end there. The relationship continues through the job offer or SHOULD continue with a "no thank you letter or email" (which, too often, doesn't happen). In any event, the onboarding process should be courteous and professional and once a job offer is accepted, the new employee should receive a detailed employee manual (that reflects the org's policies and expectations of staff) and job-related materials to be successful at his/her/their job as well as a mentor within the organization. Lastly, it/when the time comes, the offboarding process should also be courteous and professional, and an exit interview should be handled in the same manner as the pre-employment process. Always remember, in today's social media era, everyone is a brand ambassador, and that also includes former employees. 

According to Wharton management professor Sigal Barsade, "Your culture can help you execute your strategy, but your structures need to support it. And if your strategy doesn't take into account your structures and culture, the execution will run into problems. For results, make sure all three complement and support one another."

What about you? Do you ever dream of working in the human resources or personnel area of your organization? If yes, what would you do to improve your corporate culture, especially today on Global Company Culture Day?

Image Credit: Tercon Partners.

My 2023 post: Let's Celebrate Global Company Culture Day:

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2023/09/lets-celebrate-global-company-culture.html

Culture Matters: Shaping a Culture That Works (Wharton @ Work - July 2015):

https://executiveeducation.wharton.upenn.edu/thought-leadership/wharton-at-work/2015/07/culture-matters/

Information, Disinformation, and Leadership - Oh My!

Since today is an important date in American politics: the second Presidential Debate will take place later today, I thought it would be appropriate to feature Barbara McQuade, the author of the new book, ATTACK FROM WITHIN, HOW DISINFORMATION IS SABOTAGING AMERICA. Barbara and I had a discussion about leadership and her book, a must-read for our current political climate, and highlights follow a brief introduction.

Barbara McQuade is a professor at the University of Michigan Law School, where she teaches criminal law and national security law. She is also a legal analyst for NBC News and MSNBC. From 2010 to 2017, she served as the U.S Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. She was appointed by President Barack Obama, and was the first woman to serve in her position. She also served as vice chair of the Attorney General's Advisory Committee and co-chaired its Terrorism and National Security Subcommittee. Before her appointment as U.S. Attorney, McQuade served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Detroit for 12 years, including service as Deputy Chief of the National Security Unit. In that role, she prosecuted cases involving terrorism financing, foreign agents, threats, and export violations. She serves on a number of non-profit boards and served on the Biden-Harris Transition Team in 2020-2021. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and its law school and calls Ann Arbor, Michigan home.

QUESTION: Since your background is in law, politics, and education, how have you seen the role of leadership change (evolve/devolve) in those fields over the last 20 years?

BARBARA McQUADE: We still have many wonderful leaders in all fields, but it is disappointing to see some people in politics use fear to stoke division in society. By promoting an us-versus-them mentality, we find ourselves unable to address real problems, such as, climate change and immigration. We need compromise to achieve policymaking, and it seems that some leaders would rather resort to simple soundbites than nuanced thinking. 

QUESTION: In your new book, “Attack from Within, How Disinformation is Sabotaging America,” what are three important takeaways you hope readers will have?

BARBARA McQUADE: Here are my three:

First, I hope to raise awareness that certain tactics have been used throughout history to manipulate the public: blaming scapegoats, undermining critics, using fear, and more. Once we can recognize these tactics, we are less likely to be manipulated by them. 

Second, I hope that readers will see the real harms caused to American society by disinformation. Lies and misleading claims are eroding democracy, public safety, and the rule of law. For example, false claims of a stolen election have led to laws in many states making it more difficult to vote. I expect we will see false content generated by AI in the upcoming election. I worry that claims that prosecutors are "weaponizing" the criminal justice system will lead to a loss of confidence in the legitimacy of law enforcement and the courts, leading to vigilante violence, just as we saw on January 6th.

Third, I hope that readers will choose to put truth over tribe. Today, it seems that some people don't care about the facts. They care only about winning. But blind allegiance to a political party is not democracy. We need to encourage independent thinking over the idea that our political system is us-versus-them. As Americans, parties are rivals, but not enemies. We are all in this together. 

QUESTION: At the end of your book, Attack from Within, you wrote, "An informed electorate has always been necessary for democracy." However, with so much polarization, apathy, disrespect, ignorance, inequality, and disinformation, how can we as Americans transform into an informed electorate?

BARBARA McQUADE: It is somewhat ironic that we have never had as much access to information as we do today, and yet, it seems that we are more disinformed than ever. Part of that is due to feeling overwhelmed with information, and so we rely on proxies to tell us what to think. That is a very dangerous place to be, because we cede power to party leaders or media mouthpieces. 

Instead, we need to embrace our duties as citizens to obtain accurate information about issues and candidates so that we can use the power of the people. Great sources for accurate information are your Secretary of State's website and the non-partisan League of Women Voters. 

QUESTION: Which three leaders from business or history inspire you, and why?

BARBARA McQUADE: Here are my three:

[1] Frank Murphy, former justice of the Supreme Court, former governor of Michigan, and other public leadership positions - because he said that he wanted his legacy to be simply that he made government work for the people. 

[2] Liz Cheney - because she put country over party by vice chairing the House Committee investigating the January 6th attacks and publicly stated that we cannot abandon truth and remain a free country. She lost her House race over her commitment to the truth. She is a profile in courage. 

[3] Barack Obama - because he appealed to hope over fear, and unity over division. 

QUESTION: One of my favorite leadership quotes is from author and consultant Mark Herbert (@NewParadigmer on Twitter/X): "Leadership doesn't require you to be the smartest person in the room. It requires you to block and tackle for others." What does this quote mean to you?

BARBARA McQUADE: Too often, people think of leadership as rock star adulation. Instead, leadership means doing the quiet little things necessary to empower others. Obtaining resources, removing bureaucratic obstacles, seeking input in decisions, allowing autonomy and discretion, and creating an environment where it is safe to fail or admit mistakes are the things that effective leaders do to enable others to achieve more than they could on their own.

My gratitude and applause to Barbara for appearing on my blog and sharing her leadership insights.

SHARE THIS: Too often, people think of leadership as rock star adulation. Instead, leadership means doing the quiet little things necessary to empower others. ~@BarbMcQuade #DebbieLaskeysBlog #LeadershipTip

SHARE THIS: Blind allegiance to a political party is not democracy. ~@BarbMcQuade #DebbieLaskeysBlog #PresidentialDebates

Image Credit: Sam Moghadam Khamseh via Unsplash via Wordswag.

Learn more about the 2024 Presidential Debates at:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_United_States_presidential_debates

Learn more about the League of Women Voters at:

https://www.lwv.org

Connect with Barbara at these links:

Michigan Law: https://michigan.law.umich.edu/faculty-and-scholarship/our-faculty/barbara-l-mcquade

Website/Book: https://www.barbaramcquade.com

Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/BarbMcQuade

What are Some Memorable #BackToSchool Brands?

While many students have already returned to school, I recall always starting the new school year the day after Labor Day in my youth. So, to pay tribute to the first day of school, always a fun day to get new books, classes, and teachers, let's consider some memorable back to school brands.

But first, did you know that Americans are set to spend a total of $39 billion on back to school shopping this year? According to the National Retail Federation, last year, American consumers spent a record $41.5 billion on back to school shopping, which amounted to more than $890 per household. According to Mark Matthews, NRF's Executive Director of Research, "Any other time of year, items like stationery, apparel, and electronics would fall under the discretionary spending umbrella. [But] back to school is not a discretionary event; it's really essential spending. If you're sending your kid off to college, you've got to buy furniture. You've got to buy shoes, because kids continue to grow."

TARGET AND BEST BUY

Some retail stores have lots of ads for the Back to School season, and rightly so since their products are season-appropriate. Target advertises its clothing, and Best Buy advertises its technology products including computers, tablets, and smartphones.

TICONDEROGA

With the digital age, it may not be too common to always have a pencil nearby, but the most famous pencil will always be Ticonderoga. We've all used them, but do you know the writing implement's history?

According to the company's website, "As one of America's oldest corporations, the Dixon Ticonderoga Company traces its heritage to the proponents of the American Revolution and the very foundations of the United States. Dixon Ticonderoga is rooted in innovation and continues to embody the inventive spirit of American visionary Joseph Dixon. In 1812, the son of a ship captain, Joseph Dixon had a curious mind and an entrepreneurial spirit. He enjoyed experimenting with various uses for graphite found on his father's sailing vessels. He mixed the mineral with clay and water, rolled it into strips, and baked it in his mother's oven. He then pressed the mixture into grooved cedar wood, and the first Dixon pencil was created."

Despite being introduced in 1829, it wasn't until the Civil War (1866) – when soldiers were seeking a more practical alternative to the quill pen for writing home – that the pencil became widely adopted. Rising demand forced Dixon to invent a machine capable of producing 132 pencils per minute. At the time of his death in 1869, the Joseph Dixon Crucible Company was the largest manufacturer of graphite products in the world; and by 1872, the company made 86,000 pencils a day.

In 1913, the yellow No. 2 Ticonderoga pencil was introduced. It was originally manufactured with brass ferrule but was temporarily changed to green plastic due to a metal shortage during World War II. The now-iconic color scheme continued after the war. And lastly, according to the company, a single Ticonderoga pencil can write up to 45,000 words!

SHARE THIS: A single Ticonderoga pencil can write up to 45,000 words! ~@WeRTiconderoga #FunFact #BacktoSchoolBrands #DebbieLaskeysBlog 

And of course, for the recent Players Weekend sponsored by Major League Baseball, several players chose to customize their weekend experience by using bats that honored the Ticonderoga pencil!

CRAYOLA

Who can forget the box of multi-color crayons? It was always fun to choose a crayon out of the box when all were new. My favorite colors were aquamarine and turquoise blue! And did you notice that the logo has a colorful smile in it?!

According to the website, "Crayola has inspired creativity since the first box of Crayola crayons rolled off the assembly line in 1903; and the brand has grown into a portfolio of innovative art tools, crafting activities, and creative toys that inspire kids to explore, discover, play, pretend, and dream.

The company began when cousins Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith took over Edwin's father's pigment business in 1885. Early products included red oxide pigment used as barn paint and carbon black used in car tires. After noticing a need for safe, high quality, affordable wax crayons, in 1903, Crayola produced the first box of eight crayons and sold them for 5 cents...Crayola has been a business of Hallmark Cards since 1984 and has offices in Canada, Mexico, Italy, Australia, Asia, and the United Kingdom...The Company carried the name of its founders, Binney & Smith, until 2007 when it changed its name to Crayola to reflect its number one brand."

And did you know that in July 2024, the US Patent and Trademark Office issued a patent to the arts and crafts giant for the smell of its crayons? The smell was described in the trademark application as "a slightly earthy soap with pungent, leather-like clay undertones." According to Crayola CEO Pete Ruggiero, "That Crayola smell, there's a connection between the smell and childhood memories that is very powerful. We imagine one day pumping [the smell] through the aisles of retailers, triggering nostalgia while shoppers are browsing and hopefully buying more crayons." According to the company, it sells 30 percent of its products online on websites like Amazon.com with the other 70 percent from brick-and-mortar retailers including Walmart, Target, and Staples.

Lastly, the iconic art supplies are made at a factory in Easton, Pennsylvania, with a total production of up to 13 million crayons per day in 400 different colors.

SHARE THIS: When we nurture creativity in our kids, it shapes who they become. ~@Crayola #BacktoSchoolBrands #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARPIE

Sharpie highlighters and markers are another memorable Back to School brand. The highlighters are a study companion for marking information on notes, texts, and papers. They are quick-drying and odorless, and are dependable for school projects, flip charts in the classroom, and much more. And, did you know that there are over 40 colors of Sharpies?

Here's a brief history, "In 1857, Frederick W. Redington and William H. Sanford, Jr. founded Sanford Manufacturing Company in Worcester, Massachusetts. The company focused on producing and selling ink and glue. In 1866, the company expanded and moved to Chicago. In 1927, in celebration of Sanford’s 70th birthday, the company commissioned Norman Rockwell to create a painting for advertising use. The ad appeared in several magazines with the caption, “It's lucky for you, child, your Gran'dad wrote this will with Sanford's Ink!"

"From 1930-1964, Sanford continued to grow. Quality products and strong distribution helped the company prosper, even through the Great Depression. In 1940, the company changed its name to Sanford Ink Company. In 1964, Sanford turned the company's focus to the emerging marker business and introduced the Sharpie marker. The Sharpie Fine Point black marker became the first pen-style permanent marker. It wrote on almost any surface from glass, wood, and stone, to plastic, metal, and, of course, paper. NBC talk show hosts Johnny Carson and Jack Parr were some of the first celebrity endorsers. By the end of 2002, over 200 million Sharpie markers were produced, enough for approximately two Sharpie markers for every household in America!"

SHARE THIS: The world is your canvas. Sharpie takes you from idea to impact. ~Sharpie #BacktoSchoolBrands #DebbieLaskeysBlog

What Back to School brands do you remember from your youth or college days? Chime in and share.

Image Credit: Major League Baseball featuring Salvador Perez from the Kansas City Royals.

Watch the journey of making a pencil:

https://weareticonderoga.com/journey-of-a-pencil/

Catch the Sharpie Bus for exciting interactive experiences with Sharpie Creative Markers!

https://www.sharpie.com/livetour.html

Five #LeadershipTips for Labor Day

How are you celebrating Labor Day today? A parade, a barbecue, or possibly a day at the beach? In the spirit of America’s workers, I’d like to share five leadership tips, but first, a little history.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s website, “The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union…By 1894, 23 more states had adopted the holiday, and on June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed a law making the first Monday in September of each year a national holiday…American labor has raised the nation’s standard of living and contributed to the greatest production the world has ever known and the labor movement has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pays tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership – the American worker.”

With a shout-out and gratitude to Ben Meer (@SystemSunday), who I met on Twitter/X, here are my five favorite leadership tips (from Ben’s list of 20) that stand the test of time.

[1] LEADERSHIP POSITIONS ARE RENTED, NOT OWNED. LEAVE THE ROLE BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT.

[2] TO SOLVE AN ISSUE QUICKLY, BE SOFT ON THE PERSON AND HARD ON THE PROBLEM.

[3] YOUR CUSTOMER STRATEGY WILL ONLY BE AS GOOD AS YOUR PEOPLE STRATEGY.

[4] TO DISCOVER BLINDSPOTS, BUILD AN INNER CIRCLE THAT WILL GIVE YOU HONEST FEEDBACK.

[5] FOCUS ON YOUR CIRCLE OF COMPETENCE AND SEEK HELP IN AREAS YOU’RE NOT AN EXPERT.

To quote John-Michael Melendez of Excel2Win, “As you celebrate Labor Day, let it be a reminder [that the] path to leadership is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires learning, growth, and teamwork.”

What are some of your fave leadership tips? Chime in and share – and have a relaxing Labor Day!

SHARE THIS: The path to leadership is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires learning, growth, and teamwork. ~John-Michael Melendez #LaborDay #LeadershipTips #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credit: Chris Robert via Unsplash.

Marketing News of the Month: Pumpkin Spice, Personal Branding and More

During the month of August, there were many news stories that reflected brand identity, brand promotion, brand storytelling, brand strategy, personal branding, product packaging, and more.

NO MORE MRS. AFFLECK

The marriage that everyone wanted to last dissolved with a public announcement in August. Singer and actress Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce from actor and director husband Ben Affleck after a brief two-year marriage. While the couple nearly wed two decades ago and called off the wedding at the last moment, everyone was rooting for them this second time around. In addition to the end of the marriage, Lopez legally dropped the surname "Affleck" to return to her professional (stage) name. How will this turn of events affect both careers and personal brands?

AMAZON RETURNS

Amazon has launched a new program called "Fulfillment by Amazon Returnless Resolutions," which will allow sellers using its fulfillment services to issue product refunds without items being returned. Amazon's aim is to increase customer convenience by rolling out this "keep it" return option. Competitor Walmart's e-commerce platform, Walmart Marketplace, also gives sellers the ability to allow customers to keep their items and receive a full refund. Will this new Amazon program increase sales?

BAN OF WOMEN'S VOICES

According to CNN, Afghanistan's Taliban has banned the sound of women's voices in public. Apparently, "Since a woman's voice is considered intimate, it should not be heard singing, reciting, or reading aloud in public."

LOCAL NEWS AND RADIO

Once upon a time, local news was a mainstay on the radio. But no more due to shrinking ad revenues and how people consume news. New York City's biggest news radio outlet, WCBS 880 AM, announced that it would sign off the air this month, which ended a nearly six-decade run as a local news source for the nation's largest city. The news format will be replaced by sports talk programming.

SPACE TRAVEL

We learned that two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, currently residing at the International Space Station - who had initially planned on being there for 8 days - will have to remain there until February 2025. According to NBC News, "NASA will free up two seats on an upcoming SpaceX launch, that will be taking a new rotation of space station crew members to the orbiting outpost. By transporting two astronauts instead of the planned four, Wilmore and Williams will be able to fly back in the open seats in February." How does this impact NASA's brand?

STARBUCKS NEWS

While Starbucks announced that its Pumpkin Spice Latte would return to stores on August 22nd - earlier than ever - there was other Starbucks-related news. Current Chairman and CEO of Chipotle, Brian Niccol was appointed chairman and CEO of Starbucks and will begin in those roles in early September. The big news, however, is that he will get a private jet to commute from his Southern California home to his Seattle office. According to CNN Business, "Niccol's private jet perk has brought some attention to the climate change implications of those flights and Starbucks' projection as an environmentally friendly business, which recently rolled out new cups that use less plastic and eliminated plastic straws...Niccol is expected to travel often, visiting stores and workers since he's running a global operation of 39,000 stores and 450,000 employees."

On a related note, IHOP and Krispy Kreme also launched pumpkin spice items. According to Nielsen, "Pumpkin space has cemented itself as a fall staple, with Americans spending more than $500 million on pumpkin spice products each year."

DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

The 2024 Democratic National Convention will go down in history (or should I say HERstory?) for the nomination of VP Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. Even Meghan McCain, daughter of John McCain, former Senator from Arizona (and prisoner of war hero), wrote, "Maybe Republicans just shouldn't have conventions...just forfeit because I DO NOT KNOW HOW YOU CAN COMPETE WITH THIS! #DNC2024 (August 22, 2024 on Twitter/X) We'll see if the Democrats' ticket and message resonate in November.

SECOND LIFE FOR PARIS OLYMPICS EQUIPMENT AND ATHLETES' VILLAGE

While the event seats and Athletes' Village are now empty, what happens to all the equipment from the 2024 Paris Olympics? According to France 24, "Over decades, the Olympics have forged a reputation for monumental waste, with whole stadiums sometimes left to rot once the two-week sporting extravaganza moves on. But Paris promised to do things differently, using temporary venues to cut construction work but also forcing suppliers to think about a "second life" for the equipment they supplied, from tennis balls to the sand for the beach volleyball.

"Before we ordered anything, we thought about what this thing is going to become afterwards," Paris 2024 sustainability director Georgina Grenon explained. "At the start of the procurement process, every time Paris 2024 issued a tender, they included a clause asking the supplier to propose a second life for their products. Many of the facilities and much of the equipment used for the Olympics will be immediately redeployed for the Paralympics, which run from August 28 to September 8.

But after that, they will head to new homes. For example, the extra-fine sand used for the beach volleyball court in front of the Eiffel Tower, one of the Games' iconic venues, has been promised to a club in the Paris region. In addition, "Paris 2024" logos will be scrubbed off podiums so that they can be used elsewhere. The 600,000 items of office furniture leased from French company Lyreco will be taken back and used by the firm to launch a new second-hand furniture business. The more than 14,000 mattresses made from recycled plastic used in the Olympic Village will be given to the French army, while their cardboard bases will be recycled. The tennis balls used at Roland-Garros Stadium, including those hit by teary gold medal-winner Novak Djokovic, will be donated to French sports clubs, as will much of the other sports equipment from javelins to shot puts. Two swimming pools, the climbing wall, and the skateboarding parks are also set to be dug out and moved – most of them to the deprived Seine-Saint-Denis suburb northeast of Paris. The rented scaffolding from the temporary stands will be dismantled and re-used."

And according to Dwell.com, "Officials plan to retrofit athlete apartments from the Olympics Athletes' Village into housing for local residents. The area will contain schools, shops, gardens, parks, 2,500 homes, a hotel, offices, and city services."

JORDAN CHILES CONTROVERSY

While the Olympic bronze medal that was originally awarded to American gymnast Jordan Chiles was re-allocated to Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu in Bucharest, the controversy continues, adding a sad asterisk to the very successful Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.

CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA

After more than 100 years of address-free living, this California seaside town where actor and director Clint Eastwood once served as mayor is moving forward with a plan to assign street numbers to homes and businesses but many long-time residents are unhappy about the change. According to ABC News, "When asked for their address, residents describe their homes' color or style, nearby landmarks like cypress trees and fire hydrants, or their location relative to the nearest cross street. Many houses have signs with whimsical names like Neverland, Dreamcatcher, and Pinch Me or descriptors such as "San Antonio 3 SE of 9th...In 1953, Carmel threatened to secede from California over proposed state legislation requiring house numbers. The bill didn't pass."

And of course, without street numbers, there's no mail delivery service. Everyone picks up their mail at the U.S. Post Office, the only building with an official address in town.

DEATH OF WALLY AMOS - HE CHANGED CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

According to Biography, "Wallace WALLY Amos Jr., the man behind the Famous Amos cookies brand, has died. The 88-year-old was surrounded by family, who said the cause of death was complications from dementia. Amos was best known for the cookie brand he started in 1975 and sold in 1988. But before his entrepreneurial days, he was the first Black talent agent for William Morris Agency. While there, he discovered Simon & Garfunkel. Amos spent his later years developing additional cookie companies, a muffin brand, and promoting children's literacy.

In 1967, Amos moved to Los Angeles, where he struggled to set up his own personal management company. Burdened with the debt of his failing business, Amos began to take comfort in baking chocolate chip cookies. He started bringing cookies along to business meetings. With financial backing from singers like Marvin Gaye and Helen Reddy as well as an innovative marketing initiative that included an extensive advertising campaign and a gala grand opening, the first Famous Amos cookie store opened on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles in March 1975. (I vividly recall visiting that location often in my youth!) Within months, 38-year-old Amos had opened two more West Coast locations, and the New York–based Bloomingdale's department store had begun selling the cookies.

Outside of his entrepreneurial work, Amos traveled as a motivational speaker and dedicated himself to ending illiteracy in the United States. He worked with organizations such as Read to Me International, the YMCA, and Literacy Volunteers of America, serving as the group's national spokesperson from 1979 until 2002. President George H.W. Bush presented him with the Literacy Award in 1991. He even had a reading room at his cookie shop in Hawaii, where he relocated in 1977. Wearing a watermelon hat, he read to children at his shop on Saturdays."

DEATH OF PHIL DONAHUE - HE CHANGED TV TALK SHOWS

Sad news was reported by The Hollywood Reporter.  "Phil Donahue, the talk show innovator who changed the conversation and the course of daytime television with the weekday program he hosted for nearly three decades, has died. He was 88. According to his family, he died at his New York City home following a long illness. Survivors include his wife of 44 years, "That Girl" star Marlo Thomas. They met when she was a guest on his show — he was a divorced single father living with and raising his four sons at the time — before marrying in May 1980.

The Cleveland, Ohio-native hosted more than 6,000 iterations of "The Phil Donahue Show," from the first, broadcast from a Dayton, Ohio station on November 7, 1967, through the last, seen nationwide on syndication via Multimedia Entertainment, on September 13, 1996.

Donahue addressed contemporary and controversial topics and invited his studio audience to participate, carrying his microphone into the crowd. He became adept at interweaving their questions and remarks with his own commentary.

The issue-oriented approach was novel, and his topics — abortion, incest, artificial insemination, alcoholism, penile implants, homosexuality, same-sex couples raising children and priests' pedophilia, to name just a few — proved cutting-edge, making his show notorious and popular.

Donahue had things pretty much all to himself until 1985, when Oprah Winfrey launched her own talk show. He said, "It's just not possible to overstate the enormousness of her impact on the daytime television game. It was staggering." (She would dethrone him atop the ratings in 1987.)

After he had turned 60 and received 11 Daytime Emmy's, Donahue called it quits in 1996, and Winfrey presented him with a Lifetime Achievement honor. She said, "I want to thank you for opening the door so wide, wide enough for me to walk through. Had there not been a Phil Donahue, I don't believe there could have been an Oprah." In May 2024, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden."

What other recent marketing buzz caught your attention? There's always something happening that impacts marketing, so tune in to #DebbieLaskeysBlog for the scoop!


Image Credits: Starbucks, Amazon, and Harris/Walz Presidential Campaign.

Let's Celebrate #WomensEqualityDay with Erika Andersen!

Today is Women's Equality Day and marks the 104th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. This important day celebrates the achievements of women's rights activists (including my great-grandmother who marched for women's suffrage in New York in the early 1900's) and reminds us of the struggles that women still face including equal pay for equal work and top leadership roles - which is especially apropos due to the current American Presidential race.

According to the National Women's History Alliance, "At the behest of Representative Bella Abzug (D-NY), in 1971, the United States Congress designated August 26th as "Women's Equality Day." The date was selected to commemorate the 1920 certification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. This was the culmination of a massive, peaceful civil rights movement by women that had its formal beginnings in 1848 at the world's first women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York. The observance of Women's Equality Day not only commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, but also calls attention to women's continuing efforts toward full equality."

Today, to celebrate this important day, I have invited Erika Andersen to return to my blog. I've had the incredible pleasure of knowing Erika Andersen for many years, and she first appeared in a Q&A on my blog back in 2011. She is the founding partner of Proteus, where she and her colleagues support leaders at all levels to get ready and stay ready to meet the future. Erika advises senior executives and also shares her insights through her books, speaking engagements, and social media. In addition to her latest book, Change from the Inside Out, she is the author of four previous best-selling books: Be Bad First, Leading So People Will Follow, Being Strategic, and Growing Great Employees. Erika is also a popular leadership blogger at Forbes.com, and the creator and host of the Proteus Leader Show podcast.

QUESTION: Today, I celebrate my great-grandmother, who was a suffragist who marched for women's rights in New York in the years leading up to the passage of the 19th Amendment. What does this day mean to you, and what do you hope girls and young women learn about August 26th?

ERIKA ANDERSEN: I'm right there with you – both my grandmothers were suffragists, as well, and they demonstrated for women's rights as young women. In fact, I'd like to share a photo of me as a young teenager trying on my grandma Lote's "March Uniform."

My mom and dad were also feminists, and my brothers and sister and I were all raised to believe that we could build good full lives for ourselves that included whatever kind of work and family we wanted. That's what Women's Equality Day means to me: an affirmation that we will continue to move toward a world where girls and women, no matter their circumstances, their ethnicity or religion, have the freedom to pursue and attain the professional and personal goals they desire.

I hope that girls and young women today learn about the history of the fight for women's rights, so they understand how we got where we are today, don't take what we have now for granted, and commit to keep moving forward. For instance, I recently had a conversation with my oldest granddaughters, who are 11 and almost 14, where I shared with them the fact that only 50 years ago, unmarried women couldn't get credit cards in their own names. They were, I'm happy to report, shocked, and it led to a marvelous conversation about the inequalities that still exist and how to change them.

SHARE THIS: What does #WomensEqualityDay mean to me? An affirmation that we will continue to move toward a world where girls and women, no matter their circumstances, their ethnicity or religion, have the freedom to pursue and attain the professional and personal goals they desire. ~@ErikaAndersen #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: Marilyn Loden coined the term "glass ceiling" when speaking on a panel at the 1978 Women's Exposition in New York City. According to the Washington Post, "When her turn came to speak, she thought about how she had been tasked at her company to explore why more women weren't entering management positions. She had gathered enough data that she felt confident that the problem extended beyond what her colleagues were wearing or saying. Loden explained, 'It seemed to me there was an invisible barrier to advancement that people didn't recognize, a glass ceiling.'" While it's been more than 40 years, the problem persists. Many well-known women have used the term including Hillary Clinton, Madeleine Albright, Aretha Franklin, and Oprah Winfrey. How do you think women can shatter the "glass ceiling" - perhaps, some ideas that would be applicable in any industry?

ERIKA ANDERSEN: So much good and thoughtful content has been written about this. Before I weigh in, I want to highlight a recent book on this topic, written by a friend and client of mine, Bonnie Hammer, one of the most celebrated executives in media for the past 40 years. It's called "15 Lies Women Are Told at Work...and the Truth We Need to Succeed." Bonnie systematically dismantles the key limiting and untrue things women are told about how they need to behave, to help us break that glass ceiling. It's refreshingly blunt and funny – and so true. I recommend it highly.

Her book aligns with my own premise that a lot of what holds us back as women at work is our own self-doubt, second-guessing, and concern about "the rules." A friend of mine, a skilled coach, used to say that the most effective approach to work was to be "confident but not cocky." And I believe this applies especially to women. Women who believe in themselves, their capabilities, and their ideas without being cocky (i.e., dismissive of others, unrealistically positive without having the facts, etc.) tend, in my experience to have the most success in corporate environments.

At the same time, it must be said that even the most confident, least cocky women will have a hard time succeeding in environments where the deck is stacked against them: where those in power refuse to open their ranks and share authority and responsibility with their female colleagues. So, it's also important for women who do have power, and powerful men who are their allies, to work to make sure their organizations are as fair and open as possible in their policies and culture. 

QUESTION: According to an article published by the BBC entitled, "Why We Use Women's Professional Titles Less Than Men's," "Across many fields, women who have earned formal titles report that others neglect or dismiss these titles, or even condemn women's claims to them." To see proof, we can look to the American First Lady to see how many people dismiss Dr. Jill Biden's title. So, how can we get gender parity when it comes to professional titles?

(Read the full article here: https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210216-why-do-professional-titles-actually-matter)

ERIKA ANDERSEN: This is a great article, Debbie – thanks for sharing it. I’ve noticed this "untitling" or "uncredentialing" of women for many years. Another version of it is using women's first names in situations where a man with an equal level of power or achievement would be called by his last name. (I noticed it recently when the two teachers of one of my grandkids were referred to as "Mr. Hutton and Joan.") 

I think we can move the ball on this one by consistently requesting, as women, that we be accorded our proper titles. And if people tell us that we're being "too sensitive," or that "they're just trying to make things less formal and more friendly" (two common defensive responses), we can keep the temperature from escalating while continuing to make our request by saying something like, "From your point of view, this isn't very important. However, it is meaningful to me, so I'd like you to refer to me as X.  Thank you." 

QUESTION: During my career, I've had more male bosses than female bosses, and without a doubt, the men were more supportive. The women were less likely to recognize my accomplishments in group settings and sometimes took ownership of my successes. Were these women leaders what has been referred to as QUEEN BEE LEADERS? And what would you have done in these situations?

(Here's a good post about this topic: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-41165076)

ERIKA ANDERSEN: Because I’ve worked with so many women executives over the years, I've observed most every level of supportiveness: from women bosses who were the kind of "queen bee" described in the article, to women who were extraordinarily supportive of other women's success, who actively mentored and coached their younger colleagues and formed strong bonds with their peers.

In situations where I was coaching women who had less supportive women bosses, I encouraged them to get very clear about the specifics of how they wanted their boss to treat them differently, and to ask for it respectfully. I always suggested that they not make gender an aspect of their request – in other words, that they not include any version of "we as women should support each other," but simply ask to be supported as an employee and a colleague. It seemed to me, if their boss had a psychological issue about supporting other women, that leaning into that aspect of the relationship was only likely to backfire!

QUESTION: Earlier this year, you wrote an inspiring post for Forbes entitled, "My Personal Heroines on International Women's Day." Can you please share a brief recap?

(Here’s the link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikaandersen/2024/03/04/my-personal-heroines-on-international-womens-daywho-are-yours/)

ERIKA ANDERSEN: Thank you! The core point of that post was an encouragement for readers to reflect on the "heroines" in their own life and family, and I offered the examples of my paternal great-grandmother, my two grandmothers (the suffragists I mentioned above) and my mom, a powerful and committed feminist.

I love the idea of honoring those who came before us in this personal way. I think most of us have wonderful women in our lives – relatives, teachers, friends – to whom we can give thanks and to whom we can look for inspiration.

QUESTION: And lastly, you penned one of my fave quotes: "Great leaders don't do it alone...they get help." Can you please share a few examples as to how.

ERIKA ANDERSEN: Let's connect this back to the theme of Women's Equality Day. I’ve noticed that when women leaders are in their power – that is, when they're feeling confident and not cocky, and are relying on some of the things that research shows women tend to be better at than men – they automatically include more voices in decision-making, and they are much more likely than men to acknowledge when they don't have experience in a particular domain and to invite the input of others who do have that experience.

In other words, I've found (and again, research confirms this) that women have a more collaborative approach to leadership – which is the definition of "getting help." And the research also shows that this kind of approach increases productivity and feels more fair to those involved. In other words, you go, girl.

As always, my sincere gratitude to Erika for sharing her insights about issues that impact us all. For a special treat, check out Erika's next appearance on my blog on November 4th, when she participates in my #HolidayLeadershipSeries.

Image Credits: Debbie Laskey and Erika Andersen.

Link to book referenced in second question's response:

15 Lies Women Are Told at Work...and the Truth We Need to Succeed by Bonnie Hammer:

https://www.amazon.com/Lies-Women-Are-Told-Work/dp/1797176420

Link to "Research" referenced in final question's response:

https://www.apa.org/topics/women-girls/female-leaders-make-work-better#:~:text=Decades%20of%20studies%20show%20women,organizational%20dedication%2C%20and%20improve%20fairness

Read previous posts on #WomensEqualityDay here on my blog:

Gender Bias and Women's Equality Day (with Amy Diehl) (August 2023)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2023/08/gender-bias-and-womens-equality-day.html

Let’s Celebrate Women’s Equality Day! (with Kim Elsesser) (August 2022)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/08/lets-celebrate-womens-equality-day.html

As We Celebrate 1920, Work Remains to See More Women in Top Leadership Roles (with Susan Colantuono) (August 2021)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2021/08/as-we-celebrate-1920-work-remains-to.html

Quotes from Inspiring Women During 2020 (December 2020)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2020/12/2020-was-year-of-women.html

Connect with Erika at these links:

Website: https://erikaandersen.com

Website: https://www.proteus-international.com

Books: https://erikaandersen.com/books

Check out Erika’s previous appearances here on my blog:

FALL BACK TO READING SERIES – Featuring Erika Andersen (October 2023)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2023/10/fall-back-to-reading-series-featuring_01710409622.html

How Magic and Happiness Impact Leadership (April 2023)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2023/04/how-magic-and-happiness-impact.html

Tips to Become “Change-Capable (May 2022)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/05/tips-to-become-change-capable.html

Three Leadership Secrets: Build Consensus, Be Open to Challengers, and Delegate (May 2021)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2021/05/3-leadership-secrets-build-consensus-be.html

Review of: Leading So People Will Follow by Erika Andersen (October 2019)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2019/10/fall-back-to-reading-with-12-thought.html

Leadership + Strategy = Amazing Employee Experience (November 2018)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2018/11/leadership-strategy-amazing-employee.html

Review of: Be Bad First by Erika Andersen (October 2018)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2018/10/fall-reading-recap-leadership-branding.html

Are You the Type of Manager or Leader YOU Would Follow? (January 2014)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2014/01/are-you-type-of-manager-or-leader-you.html

Want to be Nicknamed Strategy Guru? (July 2011)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2011/07/want-to-be-nicknamed-strategy-guru.html