Memorial Day May 24, 2012
Posted by robewanow in Family, General, Uncategorized.add a comment
I am going to depart from my normal theme this week. I received an email this morning from one of my vendor/partners wishing me a happy Memorial Day. It’s not everyday you get a message specifically targeted to Memorial Day. Most of the time we hear about it on the news as “The official start of summer” along with coverage of parades, interviews with veterans and reminders of what they have sacrificed for us. All good stuff.
What struck me about this email wish was how it completely wrapped both the idea of the start of summer and the gratitude we owe our veterans into a single powerful message. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. (Thanks to the folks at RES Exhibits for sending this to me) If the text is difficult to read click on the image.
Until next week….Enjoy and remember this Memorial Day weekend.
NRM April 28, 2009
Posted by robewanow in General, Job Search.Tags: Managing Your Network Contacts, Networking Strategies
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YUP, I made up a new acronym.
NRM = Network Relationship Management. Ok its not really original all I did was take an existing acronym CRM = Customer Relationship Management and replace a word.
So what is CRM?
Companies large and small actively communicate with their customer base in an effort to solicit feedback for product development, sell additional products and services and remain “top-of-mind” with their customer base. These activities help solidify the Customer Relationship.
Why should your job search be any different?
Enter Network Relationship Management which seeks to achieve the same goals mentioned above with those in your personal network.
Consider the following comparisons.
- Solicit feedback for product development - when you keep in touch with your network you gather intelligence on improving your #1 product – YOU. What can you do better? More of? Less of? How can you differentiate yourself?
- Sell additional products and services – through your regular communications you may uncover the opportunity to volunteer to serve on a board, chair a committee or share your talents in another way with an organization.
- Remain top of mind - this goes without saying. Regular contact with your network keeps your name fresh in their mind so when an opportunity arises they will think of you first. I have had first hand success with this as a result of my regular communications.
Next week I will discuss some tools and techniques to help you manage your network relationships.
Until next week….
Andy Warhol Said…. January 26, 2009
Posted by robewanow in General, Job Search.add a comment
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“In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.”
I got mine last week check this out
Summertime Blues August 13, 2008
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Well here we are in mid August, I am on vacation staying at home with the kids shuttling Matthew to hockey camp this week while trying to keep Caleigh occupied. It is a nice break even though I check work email once a day just to keep ahead of the avalanche of items in my in box. So far so good.
This has got to be one of the most bizzare summers we have had around here in a number of years. I have seen more hail this summer than I have the last 20 summers combined. Add a number of nasty thunder storms to the mix and it really gets weird. Last year we were looking at drought conditions this year we are looking at regular flash flood warnings and all the other fun stuff to go along with this weather. I should not complain though as before you know it we will be looking at multiple inches of the white stuff and battling temperatures in the high teens or low twenties so for now I will be happy with 75 degrees even if it is 7 degrees below normal and comes with rain 3 days a week. With my pre-occupation with the weather you would think I should have been a meteorologist, too bad my math skills are so poor or it may have worked out.
I’m hoping this weather funk turns around so we can enjoy our quickly fading days of summer. With a two more weeks of Summer Hours at work I want to be able to take full advantage of it. Only time will tell and as the famous song by The Who says “their aint no cure for the summertime blues”
Finished Tweak July 11, 2008
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Just finished Tweak the companion book to Beautiful Boy over the weekend. It took me a while longer than Beautiful Boy but none-the-less I still go through it relatively quickly.
Tweak represents the memoirs of Nic Sheff, the addict son in Beautiful Boy. The book covers two of his big relapses back to using and he spares no details. This story is brutally graphic in its descriptions of drug use, sex, dealing and all the other sordid activities Nic gets involved with. This covers everything from becoming a dealer to working in the sex trade, to becoming involved with an older woman who is a quasi movie star.
While my reaction to this book was not as visceral as Beautiful Boy , mainly because I myself am a father and could easily relate to what David Sheff was going through it still resonated with me very deeply. While I did not cry as often, I did find myself constantly shocked and with a feeling of “OMG, I cannot believe what I just read, how could he do that?” Finally over the last 2-3 pages of the book I was reduced to tears. This was one of the same parts I cried when I read BB. It was amazing to see the similarities in the descriptions of a therapy session between Nic, David and his mother. Both David and Nic saw it very similar ways and felt much the same thing. I won’t go into much detail with this book other than what I have already as any more info can easily spoil it.
It is hard to believe this book represents Nic’s first. He has an uncanny ability to describe a place, an action, a scene or a person in a way which enables you to vividly picture it, just like you were there. While not an avid reader I look forward to additional book by him and hope he continues to pen books which are just as good if not better. At the young age of 25 he has seen and done a lot but still has a lot to offer and teach.
If you are curious to learn more about him or his father or about either book visit their websites nicsheff.com or davidsheff.com, both are inspirational and eyeopening. Nic also has a my space page where you can leave him notes, some of which are inspirational in themselves.
Not The Trip I Expected May 28, 2008
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Last post I mentioned I would be traveling to San Antonio for a trade show and that I figured I would have some good material to post as I figured I would have flight delays and other assorted travel woes. Well it did not happen. All my flights were essentially on time give or take a few minutes. About the only excitement was having to run from gate c2 to c32 to make my connection which I did with about 5 minutes to spare.
Instead what has inspired me to post is the book I read entitled Beautiful Boy a fathers journey through his sons addiction by David Sheff.
I’ve been fortunate in that no one in my family has ever had to wrestle with any type of substance abuse. So why did I read this book? Its quite simple. While standing in line one day at Starbucks I noticed this book in a display next to the cash register. I picked it up and read the inside flap which briefly described the book. Now I am not a big reader, most of what I read is related to my job as Marketing Communications Manager. Magazines, newsletters, blogs are my usual read. For some unknown reason I felt compelled to read this book. My wife Nanette found it at the local library and checked it out for me.
I started reading it on the flight to San Antonio on Monday, May 19 and had it finished by the time I arrived back in Rochester on Friday, May 23. For me this is a fast read – super fast.
Once I started this book I could not put it down, each time a chapter ended I had to read the next in order to see what would happen. I am not afraid to admit each time I read a chapter I cried, one time openly sobbing in my hotel room as I completed a chapter. It was not until this past Sunday that I was able to even talk about the book without choking up – it had that much of an impact on me.
The story details how a father copes with his sons addiction to crystal meth. The ups and downs the highs and lows of addiction, recovery, relapse and then recovery. This story is an intense roller coaster of emotion which vividly illustrates not only the struggles David faces with his son but also the struggles of his wife their two young children and Nic, his addict son.
The story brilliantly documents the lengths we as parents will go to to protect our children and how when we think we can bear no more we find a way to persevere especially when it means helping or in this case trying to save our children.
I do not want to go into great detail about the story as I highly recommend this book. I learned more about addiction, addicts, the chemical effects and mental effects of meth and the sad state of drug rehab programs in the US then I ever thought possible. Even if like me, you have never had to deal with addiction in your family this is a book you must read, you will learn something, you will be affected.
Nic Sheff penned his memoirs entitled Tweak, Growing up on Methamphetimine. I went to the library and put my name on a waiting list to get a copy as soon as possible. I cannot wait to read it and learn what he experienced first hand through his eyes.
Red Tape, a Blog and Humor May 16, 2008
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I am the Marketing Communications Manager at Garlock Sealing Technologies in Palmyra, New York. As such I am involved in a variety of projects both for our US and international operations. As with any company we have red tape, rules and regulations to follow. Most of the time these are good and help guide proper business decisions but sometimes they get in the way. This can be true for process and people.
I deal with this using humor. I am always ready with a “one liner” or some other quip to help break the tension and just have fun. If we can’t have fun at work why bother, right? I find great humor in cartoons like Dilbert as many times Scott Adams is spot on when he pokes fun at various “corporate” issues, including marketing.
One other cartoonist I’ve found to be on point more often than not is Tom Fishburne. He is out of the UK and publishes a weekly blog. Typically the blog starts with a one panel cartoon followed by a short description of what inspired it. He has held various marketing positions so he speaks from direct experience which shows in each of his creations. I always get a chuckle out of it and regurlary share it with others in my department, no matter who or what he is making fun of. You can check it out at http://tomfishburne.typepad.com/. Let me know what you think.
Adverntures abound next week as I am traveling. I am sure my travels will provide me with some good topics for upcoming posts.
Stay tuned.
Hockey Tryouts and HDTV, the Saga Continues April 28, 2008
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Matthew has found a new home for the 2008-2009 youth hockey season. He earned a roster spot on the Perinton Youth Hockey AA Bantam Major team playing for a former coach from two years ago. He knows 5 kids on the team and is looking forward to the year ahead. Everyone involved is glad this sometimes trying experience is completed.
I can now say HDTV Rocks!! Upgraded both my tv and the satellite service last week and the difference is amazing, more than I ever thought it would be.
One unknown side effect of having HDTV is that you watch more of the Discovery Channel than you ever thought possible. While there are other stations which broadcast in HD, shows on the Discovery Channel lend themselves to taking full advantage of the benefits of HD; many outdoor shows like Survivor Man, The Deadliest Catch or Some Assembly Required. Truly a dfferent experience and if having HD gets the kids (and me) to watch more diverse and educational programming then so be it.
I’m Now Online April 11, 2008
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First post with the new blog. I’ve made the leap into the blogsphere and will enjoy swimming around in this new sea of discovery for a while. Please bear with me as I get comfortable with this new technology.
In the past I relied on email to keep people updated on whatever was happening in my life. I look forward to using this medium as a new way to communicate. What you can expect from me is nothing flashy, just updates on whats new and exciting. Everything from work to family life and anything in between.
