A Year

The Archway to the West

It has been a year since my last post and a lot has happened. New job, two new places to live and of course, a new city.

Let me start with the positive. Hager Companies is a fantastic company to work for. I had a very good distributor / manufacturer relationship for many years but sometimes going to work for said manufacturer becomes a disappointment. So happy that the positive experience, being an employee with Hager, continues. My boss, his boss and the Hager family are truly fantastic. Reasons why will become apparent as I relay the less that positive experiences that have happened since I moved.  I am having fun educating my co-workers and especially our sales representatives on why social media matters and how it can help spread brand recognition.  More importantly how we can use Social Media to educate others out the life and fire safety aspects of our industry.  A few reps have even signed up with Twitter! My first year review is coming up next month so I hope Hager Co. experience with me has been equally affirmative.

When I was considering moving to St. Louis I wanted to try a more urban living experience.  I rented the 2nd floor of a duplex that had just been renovated. The house was over 100 years old. Unfortunately it was site unseen through Craig's List. That was my first mistake - not negotiating for temporary housing.

The landlord promised the key would be under the flower pot. It wasn't. Visions of a scam swam in my head but thankfully that was not the case. After a phone call the landlord delivered the key in about 20 mins. We were two very hot and exhausted adults along with the two stressed out dogs. We couldn't wait to get into a cool apartment, take a shower and eat. That didn't happen either. The landlord did not turn the a/c on ahead of time

After a two day drive with 2 dogs, a packed car and a very dear friend who volunteered to help me with the trip we arrived in STL around 3 pm.even though I had transferred the electricity to my name that day and asked him too.  After hauling everything that had been packed in the car upstairs and making a Target run my friend decided to take a shower. I had brought towels so all was good. Until I hear her yelling asking if the water heater was gas or electric. She wasn't getting any hot water. Another call to the landlord. He never had the gas turned on and he forgot to mention they never showed up for the appointment I had scheduled to have the gas transferred into my name. Ok so no hot water. Oh and no hot food either because the range was gas.  Hmmm this wasn't a good start.

We arrived in St. Louis on a Saturday and my friend stayed until Tuesday. We had no furniture, except for the two inflatable beds I had
packed in the car, as the

Our "TV"

moving company wasn't scheduled to arrive until later in the week. Another trip to Target to buy two lawn chairs, to be used temporarily inside. Two dogs, two adults and two non-folding lawn chairs in a Jeep Liberty. Have I mentioned my friend was (and is) such a trooper!

The gas company finally showed up late Monday evening, after tweeting them my situation. The gas company technician had a few issues so though he turned the gas on I wasn't left with a very secure feeling it wouldn't blow up.  I had never used gas before and I can say now, I am still not a fan. Hot showers was a yay! The burners on the range worked but the oven...not so much. It was an old range and I would have to light the pilot if I wanted to use the oven. That wasn't happening so no oven.

My friend left - and I was in St. Louis, by myself, with two very confused and freaked out dogs. I couldn't leave them in the apartment by themselves without them trying to tear down the door. I was scheduled to start work the following Monday, July 29th so I really needed my belongings to be delivered by the moving company to start getting settled. Unfortunately they were delayed and it was Saturday before I was able to start unpacking and getting a home organized.

Once I had "my stuff" and I started the new job life started to get settled. Sure it was annoying to have to walk down two flights of stairs to do laundry in the basement and find a place to park on the street, but that was all part of the urban experience. And so what if I could see the 1st floor apartment through some not great wood floor workmanship. After all the landlords were still working on the first floor and assured me once they put the insulation and ceiling in I wouldn't be feeling all that heat..and cold it turned out.

 Next up - Fall and Winter in St. Louis

Why Everyone Should be on Social Media

I was honored to be one of the speakers in the Social Media Lounge at Coverings 2012 this week.  I thought I would post the speech on my blog too.
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Per Wikipedia social is anything relating to human society and its members.

I have heard a lot of people ask - why should I care about Social Media, isn't just people posting what they had for breakfast?  It can be, but it can also be much more.  As a few former governments discovered when Social Media contributed to their regime being toppled by their citizens.

Here is a question for you - What is the first thing you do when you meet a perspective client?   (I threw out some peppermint patties to anyone that answered)

In my opinion Social Media is the handshake of 2012.

It is the way to introduce yourself, your product and your services. Business owners, sales staff, and really every single employee can incorporate Social Media into their business life.  Joining Social Media provides you the ability to be included in the global conversation.

Before the internet finding customers was a bit of a challenge and it was limited to the community where businesses were located.  I wonder how much time was consumed attending the Moose Lodge or Rotary Club meetings on a weekly or monthly basis.  A lot of bad dinners were eaten for the opportunity of establishing just one or two new accounts. Once the business relationship was cemented communication was sustained by letter, telephone or on the road driving for the face to face meetings.  Being on the road meant a lot of wasteful in-between time and more bad dinners.

Who here remembers handwriting an order? (more peppermint patties tossed out.)  How many of us groan when there was a backorder because it meant more writing.  Thank goodness word processors were invented to make our business world easier.

On March 4, 1955 the first radio fax transmission was sent across the continent and yet it wasn't until the 1980's that the fax machine revolutionized the office.  We were able to receive a customer's purchase order and ship out the material the very same day!

By 1999 computers and the internet became part of the mainstream world and we were promoting our business online and reaching more than just our local network.  Business became global.

We incorporated email as another form of communication.  Another way to ask questions; finalize information quickly and concisely.  A way to reach out to our customer with a hello, how are you today, is there anything I can help you with?  Another way to shake hands.

Fast forward to 2012 and 50% of the world is 30 years of age or younger.  That age group communicates, both personally and professionally, differently than the way I learned.  Many consider email passe'.  My job as a salesperson is to establish relationships with my customers and if I don't speak their language how can it?  If I moved to Italy I would certainly need to learn to speak Italian in order to conduct business.  Every single employee is a salesperson so all of us need to learn how to communicate with our customers.

I don't know about anyone else here but these past few years have changed how I conduct business and also how many more years I will be in the business world, certainly long past 65.  I will need to stay sharp.  Stay engaged.  Stay relevant to the times and be able to communicate with the up and coming generations.

Like all tools Social Media as positive and negatives.  The positive: Social Media is instantaneous and forever.  The negative: Social Media is instantaneous and forever.  Do not write anything you may regret in your lifetime or after.  Common sense applies and the choice of taking a breath before replying is an option.

For me, Social Media is an extension of going to those monthly Chamber of Commerce meetings, an extension of driving door to door.  I read about Twitter in an article on the internet.  At the time my business was in sharp decline and most of my customers had had their budgets slashed.  I needed to reach further than  my local customer base.  So on September 2, 2008 I joined Twitter.  To be honest I lurked for a while to see what was what.  I learned how to search on Twitter for other people in my industry and potential customers.

Through one of those searches I found Paul Anater and he was the first "tweep" I met in real life.  Since then I have joined LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest and become more active on my Facebook page.  Twitter is my personal favorite and I recommend you find the medium that works best for you, connects you with your customers, and be the best at it.  A tweet is limited to 140 characters and many people think what the heck can I do with that?

It isn't just 140 characters, it is the first 140 characters of a conversation!

Yes you can have a conversation on Twitter!  I have had many great conversations.  From a talented hardware designer in Lithuania @DoorHardwareLux to learning about the latest code changes from a fellow door and hardware professional @LoriGreeneAHC in New England.  Every day I learn something new.

With several Twitter friends encouragement I started this blog a year ago and it has provided another platform in which to connect and engage in conversations.  Surprisingly the blog has helped me become more creative both in writing and how I look at things.  Now it's -- what can this situation teach me and how can I convey this experience to others?

I found an amazing support network with other building industry professionals on Social Media - several which also spoke at Coverings2012.  As the economic bottom fell out we supported, suggested, created and are surviving with each others help.  Sharing ideas on a daily basis is what makes the social media relationships so much stronger than those monthly or weekly meetings.

So strong are these relationships in fact that when I attended the Door and Hardware Institute Convention in New York City last October I connected with a person whom I knew from Twitter.  Saxon Henry is a journalist, writer, author and consultant.  We had a fabulous dinner and the conversation was so inspiring.  I would have never met her without Social Media and I wouldn't be here now either.  Through Social Media I, as an individual, became global.

My goal, as a salesperson and person, is to meet people, online and off, who become collaborators in my life and I in theirs.  Social Media has brought me that and more.

Social Media has taught me that this world is a community with interesting people willing to share their knowledge, experiences and support.    That sentence was exactly 140 characters, an example of the sentiment that can be found on Twitter and all Social Media.

As much as I love Twitter I know something new is on the horizon.  A new way to  communicate and interact with the world.  I am ready to greet it with a handshake, are you?

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I want to thank Paul Anater for inviting me to speak.  It was my first time and though it had some rough spots overall it went well.  The Coverings 2012 show was amazing and I will be writing additional posts on the fabulous tile I saw and the wonderful "tweeps" I met face to face.

Social Media Relationships

I am asked all the time from my friends why I tweet.  In my local sphere of friends only my BFF uses social media.  My yoga chickees nor my co-workers or anyone else that I hang with uses social media.  They can't imagine any real relationships being formed without the face to face time put in.

This week, more than ever before, has shown how important social relationships are. Two people, both very important in the social media world, passed away.  The shock and sadness is very real.

I didn't know Trey Pennington but from all the tributes he was a kind and generous soul.  He embraced social media to the fullest.  Trey's website is full of tips and suggestions on how to get the most out of your social relationships. Shock and sadness filled the Twitter stream on Sunday and Monday as word of his passing spread.  Hopefully some important dialogue will follow.

Imad Naffa was part of my world, the AEC world: Architects, Engineer and Construction.  Imad was an engineer who's specialty was building codes and breaking down the lingo so a person could actually understand it.  He was available and generous with his time and knowledge.  The man rocked all of social media and on his website he used the word Twitterologist.  You know what?  Imad was just that.  He mentored so many.  Again the Twitter stream filled with shock and sadness as news of his death spread on Wednesday and Thursday.  I didn't interact with him a lot but my heart was heavy...for his family, for his friends and yes for the social media world.

I consider my tweeps my friends.  They cheer me on when I tweet something good and cheer me up when I tweet something not so good.  Friday mornings I know the first tweet with a mention will be from Sean with SLS Construction.  It always makes me smile.

It isn't just 140 characters.  It is the first 140 characters of a conversation.

The Chihuly Part II

Twitter and Social Media rocks, in my opinion.  I started tweeting in September of 2008 and the first local tweeter I met was Paul Anater.  Paul is the king of connections and it has been a joy to watch his life evolve as he embraced social media.  Paul is a designer and has met many other designer tweeps both locally and throughout the world through some pretty cool trips.  It was one such trip that brought a group of local tweeters together.  Luckily they decided to get together again and that is how this tweet up was born.   My name was suggested (thank you thank you thank you) and I was game.   During the on-line discussion JoAnn Locktov (see Part I) asked if we would be interested in touring The Chihuly.  Everyone jumped at the chance!  

I was excited because my industry had been buzzing with the fact the space was designed by local architect Albert Alfonso and by all accounts it was stunning.  There was also a door I was very interested in seeing but that is Part III.

We were met at the Morean Arts Center by the Director of Marketing and Communications Wayne David Atherholt.  All I could think of is how the heck was I lucky enough to get to do this!  The tour was phenomenal.  Wood, metal, light and glass brought together to create dazzle.  Again pictures are going to say so much more than I could possibly.  A cool effect was that each room had a glimpse into the next, a tease if you will.

After the tour we walked down Beach Drive to Ceviche Tapas Bar and Restaurant where we enjoyed many delicious dishes, laughed and got to know each other a bit better.  I really had a wonderful time and want to say thanks to  Eric Miller, Carmen Christensen, Tom Wiebe, Michelle Wiebe, Jeremy Parcels, and Paul Anater .  Please check out what they had to say about the evening.  A very big thank you to Wayne for taking the time to conduct such a wonderful and informative tour.

 

I highly recommend touring The Chihuly and if you can take a stroll and have some gelato afterwards, all the better!!