I have been quiet over here on this blog lately, candidly, because I was planning to make Project Authenticity my home base online. I even went so far as to move all of my posts from this blog over there, in an effort to have everything in one place. And then, after meeting with my business coach, to get some solid advice about building Project Authenticity, he advised me that I really need to keep things separate for….well it’s a lot of reasons that I won’t bore you with now.

So today’s the day, that I will slowly start to make this my home base, if you will. I’ll continue to write about the stories and mission of Project Authenticity and you will be able to closely follow our journey over there. And over here, I’m going to write about….well that is still a work in progress.

Today, I want to write about goodness. The tiny moments of goodness we experience every day, and how that plays into our story. You see, on this day 14 years ago, what I thought was a tiny moment of goodness, has turned into 14 years of joy beyond belief, love I didn’t know I had in me, and so much more. On this day 14 years ago, I became an Aunt for the very first time. I remember it like it was yesterday. The first time I saw my nephew Avery, and the emotions that overcame me like a tsunami the first time I held him. I was completely clueless on that day of the significance of that tiny moment of goodness. You see in those first few moments with Avery, it sparked something deep inside me that to this day I am unable to truly define. It was almost like a piece of me was born in that moment as well. And while we have had 14 of the very best years of my life….that tiny moment is where it all began a defining moment.

So here we are 14 years later, and who knew that tiny space in time would be such a powerful moment? I was only able to hold him for an instant, because his mother, grandmother and other family wanted to hold him and meet him as well. Over the years I have affectionately referred to that brief space in time, as a moment of goodness and the start of an important chapter in my story.

Every day is not filled with magnanimous moments of goodness, but it is filled with tiny moments of goodness, and they may take various forms. They could be as tiny as a stranger letting you cut into traffic, a kind word from a friend or your boss, or something as simple as seeing your garden bloom. Our days are full of tiny moments of goodness, can you see them?  Even better, why don’t you make it your goal today to be a part of bringing a little goodness to someone you know?  And if you are really brave….think about a random act of goodness for a stranger. How ’bout it? Are you up for it? Let’s do this!

“Furious activity is no substitute for understanding.” H.H. Williams

All successful marketing efforts, (whether they are online, word of mouth, direct mail, you name it) have one thing in common. It’s so simple and yet so often overlooked and as hard as it is to believe intentionally ignored. And yet it’s the one ingredient that can set you a part. So what is this simple ingredient you ask?

That simple ingredient is understanding. It’s understanding the market conditions, who you are trying to reach, is there a competitive offer/product already on the market, how your brand is perceived, how your offer is perceived. And I’m just getting started. Simply put the more you know about the market, your target and your product or solution then the better armed you will be to craft a message and offer that will resonate in the marketplace.

At one point in my career I was charged the daunting task of stopping the attrition on a legacy product. The customer base was a significant part of the entire customer base and while we weren’t planning any more upgrades to the product the revenue was important to our shareholders.  When I was briefed about the project, I noticed that we didn’t have any hard data about the demographics of this base of customers. In short, we had lots of opinion about the base but no hard facts.  After a little bit of research we were able to gain valuable understanding into the base. Using the new insight into the base we crafted a loyalty program that not only stopped the attrition but actually grew the base and in record time.

As marketers, it critical that in spite of the demands put on us that we seek to understand first. Today it’s easier than ever to gain understanding, and in record time with the use of social media. Gone are the days of “if you build it they will come. The brands who are going to their customers rather than waiting for them to come to them are the ones with the edge.

I’m curious, how are you seeking to understand your customers? What tools do you find most valuable?

Maasai men gathering to start the greeting dance

As many of you know, I had the opportunity to visit Kenya last summer. I was there to work on a water project and in the preschools. It was an intense experience yet somehow I long to return early next year.

I opened up my google reader this morning and here’s the first article that literally mooed at me (yes I did say moo). I just wrote about Maasai last week and I did not know about this moving story about how a tribe in Mara Mara, where I met the Maasiai, helped us after 9/11. They reached across the world to help us, by donating their most sacred possession, a cow. I’m practically speechless.

Did I say cow? Yes…so I did a little digging and came across the original story in the NY Times. I think it’s an example of someone with little means, but a big heart and a sincere desire to what he could to help. Kimeli Nalyomah was in NYC on 9/11 and was so moved by the attacks, that when he returned to his tribe some months later he was determined to do something. So he asked for the blessing of his tribe to give away his only calf, (cows are very sacred and the Maasai would never give one away) and 13 other tribesmen followed suit. While I’m moved by the gift, I’m in awe of how Nalyomah’s community joined in to help. His sincere desire to help us after experiencing that horror inspired an entire tribe to respond as well.

Maasai Homes, Amboseli

I’m speechless, because I have seen first hand how the Maasai in Mara Mara live. I’ve walked among their cattle and listened intently as the shepherds described how important their cattle are to them and their survival.  Their homes are made of cow dung and built by hand by the women. They have no electricity or running water and their life is very primitive. I have experienced their hospitality and generosity first hand by being invited inside the home of the Chief’s son Wilson for a tour of his home. He and his wife and four children living in a space half the size of my garage. The Maasai are a tribe of little means yet they wanted to do their part to help us – a nation of plenty and excess.

Is there some issue or cause tugging at your heart these days? Have you shared that with your communities? You might be surprised to find that others are feeling the same tug. What’s so poweful in the Web2.0 age is, that you could share that tug on your Facebook, Twitter or other online community and I am sure you would be surprised at the response, as well as the new relationships that might form.

Community is no longer defined by your zip code, and relationships can reach across oceans, continents and language barriers. My encouragement today is act on that tug and see what develops you might be surprised.

The rest of the story: The US embassy accepted the cows but asked the Maasai tribesmen to keep the cows and tend to them on behalf of the American people. Today the herd of cows is 35 strong and they are marked on their ear with a symbol of the twin towers. You see not only will we as a nation not forget what happened on 9/11, neither will the Maasai.

New friend, Wilson and Me July 2008, good times

Today’s a big day for me… (drumroll please) I have officially moved my wordpress blog to my own domain. I’ve been theatening to go live for about a week now. Everytime I am about to pull the trigger, something happens. One of the things that’s been keeping me from going live is figuring out how to get the picture of the elephants in my header in my wordpress blog, in the header over here. I know it sounds like a small thing to you but it’s huge to me. (And I’m sure you’ve noticed I’m still working on that). So, I’m inserting them here.

Those elephants mean a lot to me because they remind me of my trip to Kenya last summer and my desire to return. I learned many lessons in my short time in Kenya related to community. I often say it’s the trip that keeps on giving.

What you are about to watch is video I was able to capture as we were stopped for lunch. You see, we are stopped by the side of the road taking a break, on the road from Amboseli National Park to Nairobi and its treacherous road. While stopped for lunch, up over the hill coming towards us are some Masaii shepherds  moving their cattle.  The Maasai live a very primitive life and it centers around their cattle. Cattle are a primary source of food and a symbol of wealth for them.

The video doesn’t do this moment justice. So what’s my point? For a very brief moment we took our eye off the shepherd, and missed that he needed assistance. We took for granted that he knew that a bottle of water has a plastic wrap and it has to be removed before he could open it. We were caught up in the moment not noticing that someone in arms length needed just a little assistance. The good news is that we looked back, and saw he needed assistance and were able to help.

So my question to you today is have you taken your eye off your community? Is there someone in arms length that you could help?

I’m interrupting my regularly scheduled topic to share an experience I think you’ll enjoy. So without any further ado…

Saturday, I had the privilege of attending the Pam Slim Workshop and it was incredible.  For me, just  getting there was quite a challenge as I had to fight unbelievable traffic and road construction, making my commute well over an hour! (and that was well before 9am)  By the time I arrived, I was a little cranky, but after checking in and running into some friendly faces, I found myself ready to see how the day would unfold.

From the minute I entered the auditorium, I found Pam to be warm, energetic and engaging. Her transparent, I’m here to help you style was refreshing and energizing.  She took the time to get to know each one of us in the room and what we were working on and to provide constructive feedback.  The day was packed full of conversations, real-life examples of success, and interactive sessions where the attendees would come forward and discuss challenges – then, we’d work together through suggestions/solutions.

However, as I think back on the day, there were a couple of things that really stood out for me in relation to some of the conversations we’ve been having here:

- Learn to authentically communicate – this is the touchstone to the success of all your online activities,whether you are posting in a forum, blogging, updating your Facebook or representing your brand. People want to know the real you and that’s what makes them want to connect.  One thing Pam said that I just loved was “your personal brand should amplify who you really are.”

Pam is a great example of this, as she’s just who you would expect her to be in person.  She’s sincere, genuine and most importantly real – the kind of person I would want to just hang out with anytime.

- Find your people – while she was referring to this in the context of your support network, it’s still great advice, even as you are trying to determine what social networks to join.  She said it best: “When you find your people, you can relax and enjoy yourself.”  Can I get an amen?

Believe me, I could go on and on about my day but I will spare you…for now.  However, if any of this resonates with you, or you find yourself feeling like a “corporate prisoner” –  or you are just thinking about what the next step in your career should be – pick up a copy of Escape from Cubicle Nation or subscribe to Pam’s blog or follow her Twitter.  I can assure you, you will be glad you did!

As this week comes to a close I realize I am embarking on a new exciting journey. I started a new gig at Cliqset and there will be lots more to come about that in the upcoming days and weeks. Stay tuned because there are some very exciting things in store on the Cliqset front.

Another high point of my week was the Atlanta Chicks Tweet Up or as we refer to it on Twitter #AtlChix. This was the inaugural tweet up of this group held at the St Regis in Buckhead and quite an evening. It was really nice to meet so many of the great women I follow on twitter in person. From the minute I arrived to the minute I departed, I felt welcomed and engaged. Although many of us had never met, there was a tie that binds that is critical to building and maintaining community.  And while Twitter is what brings us together, it is authenticity and a real motivation to connect deeper that holds things together.  I enjoyed every minute of it – as a matter of fact I cannot wait for the next one.  So for all of my non Twitter friends reason # …hmm oh wait I have lost count now – let’s just say yet another good reason to be on Twitter.

Now that brings me to my final point. I am asked constantly about why I tweet, what is the value, do you really care that someone you know is about to get a pizza? Over the last weeks and months I have responded in various ways:

1. You can’t deny the power of Twitter – the US government intervened and asked them to hold off on maintenance during the Iran elections.
2. China, acknowledging the power of such a vehicle, shut down Twitter as the anniversary of Tiananmen approached.
3. More often than not, the community on Twitter scoops the media with breaking news.

These are just a few tangible examples not only of the power of such a vehicle, but the power of community as well. You see without a tie that binds, engagement dissipates as well as the power.  Twitter is a communication vehicle that many choose to deploy in a variety of ways – just like the telephone or email. At the end of the day, it’s all pretty straightforward – Twitter is what you make it. Now that may sound cliché, but that’s the simple truth. It’s only a vehicle; the people, message, engagement and authenticity make the community. So next time your inclination it to question or knock it, take a minute and engage – you might be pleasantly surprised.

Over the last several weeks I have closely followed the election process in Iran as I am sure many of you have. On any given day I have been concerned, mesmerized and even in shock. It’s been incredibly difficult to watch the violence and the protests. However, I have been encouraged by the community and support that has been consistently rallying on the social networks. I have even decided to show my support for the people fighting for democracy in Iran and change my twitter avatar to green along with 160,000 other concerned people.

I am amazed and excited about the community of support building globally. As a social media evangelist (my friends say twitter addict) daily I come into contact with someone who has nothing but negative things to say about Twitter, Facebook or the social web. Many times these are people who are not engaged in the social community at all and they have gathered their information from some naysayer.

The facts are that the US government recognizes the power of the social web -they reached out and asked twitter to hold off on maintenance. And I was thrilled to see Twitter agree to wait on their maintenance. The Iranian Regime sees the power of the social web or they wouldn’t have fought so hard to suppress and censor it.

But at the end of the day it’s not Twitter, or Facebook, or even MySpace that’s so powerful. It’s really community! It’s the masses that are willing to stand in support and willing to put the word out. It’s the message and there’s a large audience that not only hears and identifies with the message but is also willing to act. All in all, I think it’s the 1,2,3 punch that makes the social web so powerful: 1)community, 2)the message, and 3)the medium. In just a matter of seconds, you can mobilize a community or a country for support.

Can you imagine how much swifter things might have moved if our forefathers had such a powerful communication tool? They had the community, the message, and the medium. However, it took years to get the message out and rally the support.

It’s a few minutes before 7am at my house and my two dogs Keely and Rainier are barreling through the back door and making a beeline to the front window. You see every morning about 7 a family of bunnies usually make an appearance in my front yard. And every morning Keely and Rainier are there to greet them. They bark, they scratch at the window, they race into the kitchen to make sure I know the bunnies are here. This is a very exciting time at my house as they are sure that today is the day they will connect with those bunnies. They bark and bark and bark and when that doesn’t work they bark a little louder. I am amazed at their determination and excitement day after day.

It dawned on me yesterday that Keely and Rainier are a great example of how so many companies are marketing their products and services today. They don’t have any idea of the best way to reach their “bunnies” and so they do the best they can every day. Their message is consistent but it doesn’t resonate with their target audience.

I know in times like this that budgets are tight but knowing your audience is priceless.  Additionally social media outlets help brands move from broadcast to 1:1. But Social Media is more than a messaging tool – it’s also a powerful listening tool. So as you think about creative ways to reach your target audience these days have you considered listening? If not give it a try, you might be surprised at the results.