Using Verbs as Adjectives sends the wrong message

One evening, after work, I drove down the California coast to a fabled resort on the Monterey Peninsula.  I sat in the crowded lounge waiting for my husband to finish playing in a charity golf tournament, nursing my Diet Coke and reading a book.  Two men came over and asked if they could share my table.  They weren’t friends, but I knew who they were.  Happy to have some company and conversation, I agreed.

It turns out that they too had been playing in the tournament and they were recapping how it had gone.  One had had a difficult day. (To be fair, it is a difficult course.)  Soon his description of the play became peppered with  four-letter verbs. (You know the ones. Your Mother would threaten to get the soap out when you used them as a kid.)

This was not what I expected when I welcomed them to share my table.  Finally, I had had enough.

“So” I asked picking up my book again, “Didn’t your Mother ever teach you that it’s unwise to use verbs as adjectives?  It sends the wrong message.” 

His companion, a bit older and wiser, started to laugh. 

“So true, young lady” he said with a glance at his companion. 

“You look familiar, have we met before?”

“Not officially,” I replied.  “But you might remember me from your Stock Holders Meeting last week?  I was sitting front row center and taking notes.”

Twitter is a medium of Words and Ideas. Of Out-Takes and Experiences. What do yours say about YOU?

This story happened long ago, but it came to mind today when reading the #BeOriginal stream on Twitter.  It’s a great place to share ideas and have them remembered and re-tweeted.  I even go back through once each month and capture some of them on the #BeOriginal Blog to give extra recognition to people who share quality original ideas.  Soon you will see the recap from January 2010 of the top 10%of the #BeOriginal Tweets.  (That is over 300 quotes.) I do this every month.

In the stream there are others using the #hastag #BeOriginal.  (This happens. Hashtags are not exclusive by their nature.) And what they say about the sender may also send the wrong message. 

Social media tools from Twitter, to Facebook, to blogs, have a long tail on the Internet.  You don’t know who’s reading and you don’t know who is taking note. 

Whether you are having a conversation, sharing ideas, building a personal brand, or building a business, it’s worth taking a moment to think about how you use your words and images.

HOW you express your ideas reflects on WHO you are.

WHAT do you want people to think of WHEN they think of YOU?

Thanks for stopping by for a Little Life Story.  Stay tuned…

Joan Koerber-Walker

Technorati Tags: Joan Koerber-Walker,CorePurpose,Little Life Stories,Branding,Personal Branding,messaging,what your words say about you,language,Hashtag,#BeOriginal,BeOriginal

WHY GOD MADE MOMS

I can’t take credit for the list below.  It’s from one of those emails that people who care about you send to bring you a smile.

This one came from my Mother-in-Law, Sandy Walker, by way of my sister-in-law, Tracy Gorecki. 

When you first become a mother – it’s exciting and new – but the real impact is when you look at it years later as your children are growing and then are grown…when they marry and have their children of their own, and so on, and so on.

My Mom, Betsy,  and Chris’s Mom, Sandy, both got married in August of 1959 AND both of them went on to raise five kids.

This summer, both families had 50th  anniversary parties – just look at what these two Mom’s started…

Sandy Walker started this… with a bit of help from George.

Betsy Koerber started this …with a bit of help from Richard.

Now on to The List.  According to the email it came from the mouths of second grade school children.  Here’s what they had to say about their Moms…

Why did God make mothers?

1. She’s the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?

1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts

What ingredients are mothers made of?

1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men’s bones. Then they mostly use string, I think. 

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?

1. We’re related. 
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people’s moms like me.

What kind of little girl was your mom?

1. My Mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff. 
2. I don’t know because I wasn’t there, but my guess would be pretty bossy. 
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?

1. His last name. 
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer? 
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores. 

Why did your mom marry your dad?

1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot. 
2. She got too old to do anything else with him. 
3. My grandma says that Mom didn’t have her thinking cap on.

Who’s the boss at your house?

1. Mom doesn’t want to be boss, but she has to because dad’s such a goof ball. 
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed. 
3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What’s the difference between moms & dads?

1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work. 
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them. 
3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power ’cause that’s who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend’s. 
4. Moms have magic; they make you feel better without medicine. 

What does your mom do in her spare time? 

1. Mothers don’t do spare time. 
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long. 

What would it take to make your mom perfect?

1. On the inside she’s already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery. 
2. Diet. You know her hair. I’d diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be? 

1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I’d get rid of that. 
2. I’d make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me. 
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

So are you laughing?

To my Moms (Betsy and Sandy) and to Moms everywhere – thanks for what you do and for making the biggest impact of all.

Thanks for stopping by for a Little Life Story.  Stay tuned…

Joan Koerber-Walker

Technorati Tags: Moms,What Kids Say about Moms,Sandy Walker,Tracy Gorecki,Betsy Koerber,humorous quotes. Joan Koerber-Walker,Little Life Stories

If You Can’t Say Anything Nice…

I’ve been thinking a lot about about  the things I learned at Grandma’s knee these days.

Some of these thoughts apply to business, as you will  find  in my recent post on the CorePurpose  Business blog titled Free… Isn’t.  Some are about life.

Grandma was a big proponent of the maxim…

“If you can’t say anything nice – DON’T say anything at all.”

This came to mind today when Ruthie Appleby (@YoRuth) sent me a note asking for help on #StopTheHate Day on Twitter. 

I researched her request on her blog, the original post by @FilmLadd and @JayLink and read the companion post by @ChrisVoss.

Then I wrote this post to share it with you.

The message is pretty simple – nasty, derogatory, hateful messages fall into the category of things that need not be seen, stated, repeated or re-tweeted.  And for many of us – we’d be happy to leave them unheard.

For whatever reason, some people seem to see social media as a perfect platform to say things that few would have the guts to say when speaking face to face.  It is as if cloaking themselves behind the safety of their laptop gives them the right to be rude, nasty, insulting, or worse.    

It is not that we all have to agree or be chirpy little tweeps – but some messages are just going too far over the line on the hateful scale. 

If enough of us make the statement that we are not interested in being exposed to these hateful messages – perhaps we would see a little  less of them.  

So the choice is yours, send the message or don’t.  But if we all speak up and say ENOUGH – maybe we can start a conversation towards change.

Thanks for stopping by. Stay Tuned…

Joan Koerber-Walker

Technorati Tags: Joan Koerber-Walker,CorePurpose,#StopTheHate,Ruthie Appleby,@yoruth,Chris Voss,@ChrisVoss,@jaylink @filmladd,twitter,sociall media,Stop The Hate Day

A Tale for a Cold Winter’s Eve

What do you do when snow bound on the coast of Maine?  Sit by the fire? Break out the shovels? Call in the reserves? Settle down for a long Winter’s nap?

In the case of my friend Roy Atkinson, he was chatting with friends on Twitter.  And so the story unfolds…in a string of tweets.

RoyAtkinson  Look–there are 2 snow sculptures out in the driveway that are vaguely the shape of Saabs! Oh, wait…

Whoopie – my plow guy’s gigantic GMC dual-wheel 4WD truck is completely stuck in my driveway. #blizzard

JudiCogen (Cincinnati, Ohio) chimed in…

Hot chocolate w marshmallows cures just abt everything. For the rest, use chicken soup & wait for thaw #blizzard

 RoyAtkinson  Judi–funny you should say that–I’m enjoying a lovely hot chocolate!

 JudiCogen Great minds and all that!

Then it was my turn to join the conversation from Phoenix, AZ…

I have hot chocolate too – with whipped cream – but I’m sipping it by the pool – no snow here in Phoenix. ;0P

 

 

royatkinson - Joan’s not playing fair, Judi!

 

 JudiCogen  – Pool? POOL? Is it legal to have hot choc by the pool? (I am so jealous! About lost my toes 2 frostbite at hockey today)…

UR right. Not fair at all. But she’s too wonderful to wish her to gain weight from drinking hot choc in good weather!…

Perhaps we should send the hot choc police! Joan–are there marshmallows involved here?

I prefer beverages by the pool to come equipped with little paper umbrellas!

 

  royatkinson – So here’s my real POV: It’s January. I live in Maine.  It snows here. I have gr8 winter clothes & boots & shovels & gloves, and heat. I’m OK

On the other hand, a beverage by the pool sounds mighty good. …  I’d love to fly out, but there’s this GMC in the way. LOL!!

 

joankw- we’ll have to send you some Bailey’s for the hot chocolate via St. Bernard.

 

 JudiCogen – ROFL (Rolling on Floor Laughing) RT @royatkinson: @joankw I’d love to fly out, but there’s this GMC in the way. LOL!!

Trying to figure out which sounds better: being warm or teasing you…such a hard decision!

It was a COLD rink today followed by a frigid walk to the car. But the whole brandy thing never occurred to me……and all their warm beverages were highly caffeinated! I may never sleep again!

joankw- They say laughter warms the heart – not so sure about frozen toes.

Hockey Moms are tough – eyes in the back of their head and they never need sleep.  http://twitpic.com/wgejw

We’ve been watching the Jr Hockey World Championships – US is up 3 to 1 in the Quarter FInals against Finland

My guess is that it’s pretty cold at the Tourney in Saskatoon – I think I’ll stay here http://bit.ly/8fOzNo (Phoenix weather Report)

  royatkinson -  I’m betting they are not sitting outside by the pool in Helsinki. @JudiCogen We can check with @raesmaa and @mmstud

 

  JudiCogen  woo hoo for the USA! ….

(weather forecast) Ok –now you’re just rubbing it in! Meanwhile, how are we going to bust @royatkinson out of his snowed in abode?

And the story takes shape…

  JudiCogen  There’s a book in here somewhere:

How I Singlehandedly Rescued @royatkinson and His Hot Chocolate from the Blizzard –thoughts?  

 

From Across North America – Friends chime in…

 

RickRake:  Don’t forget about the part where you found him in a snowbank.

 

RobertMcTaggart (Dallas, Texas) The hero of the story, @royatkinson, has to rise above and somehow save himself from the Blizzard.

 

@RobertMcTaggart I can borrow a little something from Balloon Boy, maybe? 

 

 

joankw- How Joan and Judi Rescued @RoyAtkinson –

Chapter One – Snowmobiles or dog sleds and a thermos of Hot Cocoa and Bailey’s?

 

  JudiCogen – Rescue Chpt 2. In Which J&J Sample the Bailey’s 2 Be Sure It Isn’t Poisonous and Have To Start The Rescue Over Again

 

Sounds like the “rescue” has a hidden agenda. …

Can’t think of better way to be rescued! @JudiCogen

 

Nah, no hidden agenda. Won’t speak for@joankw , but on my end there’s just lots of bumbling when it comes to rescuing and snow.

 

joankw-  Chapter 3 - 

Beau the wonder dog

brings more Baileys for Roy. http://twitpic.com/wgl3v

 

Bravo Beau the Wonder Dog! meet Mr Dusty  http://twitpic.com/myojr

 

 

 

RickRake – Nice wonder dog!

 

Yes: You think Dusty has a brain, but then you just wonder.

(He’s a great dog.)

 

 

So luving Beau!  @JKWleadership But what are we going to do about @royatkinson ’s blocked driveway?

 

 

We simply load @RoyAtkinson & the Bailey’s in the Beau Dog Sled and bring him out across the lawn – Quick Start problem solving.

 

 

Think we can build a rescue sleigh out of empty Bailey’s bottles and downed tree limbs? McGyver here we come!

I like it. And the sled of Bailey’s will magically become lighter as it goes. Somehow. @JudiCogen

Roy, Mr Dusty is soooo adorable! How old?

Can’t really offer Puppy for this excursion. He’d just get buried in the snow (short legs) & run around looking for luv.

 

Who needs McGyver – we have @RobertMcTaggart plus Beau the wonder dog of course.

 

 

Love it! Don’t forget 2 bring bin so we can recycle the bottles (although in Maine we might be able 2 get deposit back)

 

 

$.15 deposit each! And I suspect they’ll be -ahem- empty.

 

Beau’s girlfriend Cleo can carry Puppy. Beau walks under her. http://twitpic.com/wgoha

 

Hilarious! Puppy is in and promises to eat anything not scientifically proven inedible!

I’m thinking Beau the W D needs his own spin off show…

I’m thinking my friend Kenny is across the water watching the whole thing and laughing. I’ll hear about it Monday when I get my java.

 

 

Across the water? Which water? Do we have to do this with accents? Not sure how to type in British…

 

The small neck of bay upon which I dwell. And the accent is “unique” heah dahlin. Poah plow stuck in the doahyahd.

In print, Maine accents look remarkably like southern accents!

But they don’t sound like ‘em: Here’s me doing one for you: http://bit.ly/4sZw9D (Roy Atkinson speaks!)

 

Sounds almost like the Car Talk Guys!

 

I’m Back – had 2 take time out to see the end of the Game – US over Finland 6-2. Next-US v Sweden in semis.

 

 

The driveway is plowed, the snow has let up a bit, everyone is safe, and we had fun. All’s well that ends well.

My heroes! @joankw @JudiCogen @mousleyki @RobertMcTaggart @taragotwalt @RickRake (and Jerry Mathers, as The Beaver)

 

Moral of the story: When in Maine, it pays 2 have good friends, BIG snowplows + lots of Bailey’s

 

 

Moral of the story: not to mention a couple of wonder pups

 

 

Well said. Accent on the *good friends* part. (and dogs)

@JudiCogen @RobertMcTaggart @mousleyki @eschreyer @RickRake @taragotwalt

 

 

Who knew four people in four states could write entire book in 1 hr. World record maybe?

 

 

Epilogue – Beau the Wonder Dog and the Great Bailey’s Adventure

Do we get to vacation in someplace warm during the epilogue?

 

 

 

@Epilogue: They all go back to Joan’s house,drink cocoa w/ Bailey’s in the hot tub under the stars.

 

 Epilogue–don’t forget the doggy treats–carrots all around!

Who’s in charge of contacting Bailey’s for our advertising fee?

 

 

Epilogue Rewrite – I think Beau the Wonder Dog and his Human Team deserve Maine Lobsters for treats

 

 

I like the Maine Lobsters for treats idea! 

How does Bailey’s go with lobster?

 

@joankw I’ll buzz over to Kenny’s and get some lobsters that were caught right there <points out back door>.

Bailey’s after the lobster, I think. No dipping.

 

P.S. New gourmet faire – Maine Lobster in Bailey’s cream sauce.

Hmmm have to try that.

 

 

YUM! Now I am six kinds of happy!

 

 

Far in the Future – April 2011 —

And the 2010 Pulitzer goes to….@JudiCogen @royatkinson @RobertMcTaggart @joankw for

Beau the Wonder Dog and the Great Bailey’s Adventure

 

Standing O

 

 

 

Thanks for allowing us so much fun with a less than wonderful event.

 

 

As the conversation drifts… into reality…

 

RoyAtkinson  Look–there are 2 snow sculptures out in the driveway that are vaguely the shape of Saabs! Oh, wait…

Whoopie – my plow guy’s gigantic GMC dual-wheel 4WD truck is completely stuck in my driveway. #blizzard

mousleyki – (outside Philly)

Are you getting the drift?

 

@mousleyki  – Exactly a whole lot of inches. Depends on which side of the drift you’re on! 

Oh, yeah. I got the drift! Ha!

Kirk, you know me–I’m always on “the deep side of the drift.”

 

eschreyer:  Does the drift look like Marshmallow Fluff?!!! LOL!!

 

 

Exactly like it http://bit.ly/8TmiBC >>

Thank you, Erin!!!

@Kate_Saunders Yup. Still stuck. Has son bring Trailblazer to pull. So far, no go.

Victory! A very very large plow/sand truck came to the rescue! Dragged the poor GMC like a toy up the drive.

@mousleyki As the big plow pulled the GMC out, I thought in that low-key movie voice “Oo. That’ll leave a mark.”

Yeah it was a BIG truck. My driveway is ummmm wider now. :-\

mousleyki

They missed the telephone pole. The rest is “landscaping” for spring. :-}

 

@RickRake Neat! I was a gearhead (was?) so I’ll bet I gauged the tire for accuracy. Neat stuff!

 

 

 

Oh, yes! The Famous Plow Rescue of 2010!

 

 

TaraGotwalt: (Oklahoma, USA)

@royatkinson I’m sure it will be on YouTube soon!!! Lol!!

 

 

Who says twitter is just about a bunch of one way conversations.  It does not have to be,  See….

This entire story came from the Saturday Evening Tweets.

Thanks for stopping by for a SNOWY Little Life Story.

Stay Tuned…

Joan Koerber-Walker

Technorati Tags: Joan Koerber-Walker,Little Life Stories,Roy Atkinson,Judi Cogen,Rick Rake,Robert McTaggart,Erin Schreyer,Mousleyki,Tara Gotwalt,Twitter,Comunications,Social Media

The Healing Power of Unconditional Love – People and ‘Anipals’ Making a Difference

Sometimes we make a difference alone, sometimes by reaching out to the people we know for a helping hand.  In the case of Pam Gaber, some of the key players on her team are always ready to lend their paws! 

“Instead of being overwhelmed by problems, overwhelm yourself with solutions.”  Pam Gaber

Pam lives life passionately and sees her work as founder and CEO of Gabriel’s Angels as more of a  privilege than a job.  I first met Pam and her dog Gabriel a decade ago when they came to visit my sons’ Cub Scout Troop.  For the past ten years she has devoted her life to healing abused, neglected and at-risk children through pet therapy intervention. 

She loves her desert home and you can find her  hiking on Phoenix’s South Mountain at 5:30am most weekday mornings before she starts her day.  After hikes, Pam spends the rest of her day with her team helping to grow Gabriel’s Angels as an agency, nurturing her “anipals”, spending time with her husband and as she will tell you “living my BEST life!” 

 

 

“The journey is the reward.” Pam Gaber

JKW: Tell me about your favorite project and why it makes a difference. 

PG:  My passion is a charitable organization I started called Gabriel’s Angels.  We know that children who are victims of violence lack empathy, compassion and the ability to trust.   We teach these children critical life skills through the interaction with a loving therapy dog. 

But why a therapy dog you may say? Why not just a trained therapist?

Abused and neglected children internalize their pain primarily because they haven’t been on the planet long enough to understand what happened to them; why it happened and they don’t have the words or sophistication or anyone in their life to express how they feel.  Therapy dogs offer unconditional love…therapy dogs eyes are a limited pool of understanding.  I am so very committed to reaching every child in crisis in our state and provide them with pet therapy intervention.

JKW:  Pam, you and Gabe have been an inspiration to thousands of kids – not to mention adults.  Who inspires you?

PG: My friend Deborah Bateman inspires me because she is a powerful leader who encourages dialog that results in solutions.  I love her upbeat attitude  She genuinely cares about helping others, especially those in need. 

If she sees a situation that needs to be addressed, she does not sit back.  She gets involved and gives it everything she’s got. 

Passionately Proactive is how I describe Deborah.

JKW:  WHY do you do what you do?

PG:  To be able to spend my time making this world a better place is the “WHY” in my life.  I wake up each and every day with a high level of expectation that this day is going to be a great day!  From the look on a child’s face when they see the therapy dog to sitting with a donor who supports our organization I have been blessed to be able to spend my days growing Gabriel’s Angels.

JKW:  If you had 3 wishes what would they be?

First wish is my vision of a more compassionate planet.   My second wish would be that there is no need for Gabriel’s Angels because child abuse does not exist. Children feel safe and are living in a non violent world. 

Since that is not a very realistic or possible outcome my third wish would be that Gabriel’s Angels receives a six figure donation that would serve as the foundation for our endowment program.  This would put our agency in a sound financial position for many years to come…the legacy lives on! 

JKW:  Pam I hope all your wishes come true.  You an Gabe have made such a difference in the lives of children and are helping to break the circle of violence.  If someone wanted to reach out to you – how can they get in touch?

PG: We are  always happy to share are story and to work with others who share our passion for making a difference in the lives of children. 

www.gabrielsangels.org

Our Story Video on YouTube | A Day in The Life of a Therapy Dog Video on YouTube

Follow Gabriel’s Angels on Twitter | Follow Gabriel on Twitter

Gabriel’s Angels YouTube Site | Gabriel’s Angels Facebook | Gabriel’s Angels Dogster 

JKW:  I hope you enjoyed Pam and Gabe’s Story.  They are both pretty special as are all of the volunteers, staff, and of course their ‘anipals’.

Stay tuned this December. I’ll be bringing you more interviews with People Making a Difference.  If YOU know someone who is making a difference, send me a note about them. They might just pop up here.

Joan Koerber-Walker

Technorati Tags: Little Life Stories,Pam Gaber,TherapyDogGabe,Gabriel’s Angels,Joan Koerber-Walker,People Making a Difference,YouTube,Twitter

From Laid Off to Reaching Millions – an interview with Kevin DeSoto

Like too many Americans, for Kevin DeSoto, 2009 was the year he got laid off.  Using social media was a tool for his job search but soon it began to evolve in to something else – a way to reach out and make a difference  for others who were facing much more challenging circumstances.  By doing so, and with a little help from some friends, he reached millions.

Kevin likes to say that …

“Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% our attitude”

JKW: So Kevin – if life is mostly about attitude – tell me a little bit about yours.  Who are you?

Good question- who am I.  (laughing) Just a regular guy who is married to an amazing person who puts up with me and all my dreams.  Helping others is something I truly believe in.  Originally from California, I now live in Rhode Island.  I’m 40 years old and come from the school of hard knocks and street smarts.  Having been laid off for the first time in my life almost 7 months ago, nothing has really ever come easy for me and I have worked hard my entire life- as many have.  My parents and grandparents tried to instill qualities in me while growing up.  They believed if you work hard & are kind to others & give more than expected it will pay off.  Work ethic, morals & deep rooted values are what I strive to display to others be it face to face or on the social web. 

JKW:  Your biggest outreach projects have been on behalf of others – tell me about them and WHY you did it.

Helping drive attention to the situation that happened to Laura Ling & Euna Lee hit my heart.  Using the social web to help  keep the story in the forefront just seemed natural and the right thing to do.  I would want someone to do that for me if I was in a similar situation.  Since their release from North Korea, I was interviewed by our local ABC6 News team.  During that time and since then, I have found myself reaching out to others to help entrepreneurs who just need that extra marketing push, branding help or marketing suggestion.

The complex situation with the 3 hikers being detained in Iran with Sarah, Shane & Josh has also pulled at my heart strings.  I have been volunteering my time helping keep the message out and about on the social web via Twitter, Facebook & YouTube. 

 

Working closely with Alex Fattal & the Free The Hikers Team has been very touching and am thankful I can assist and was asked.  This is not about me- but trying to help others. Twitter and Facebook can reach millions.  I wrote an article in the examiner entitled, “Reaching Millions”   You can sign petitions and read updates at www.freethehikers.org

“Someday all of this will be a long time ago”

One can only hope that what you do everyday helps make a difference in someone’s life.  You never know who you can help during the day by even just one act of kindness.

Kevin’s newest project is focused on children. Love Without Boundaries began in 2003, after a group of adoptive parents came together to help save the life of one tiny boy in China.  Today the Love Without Boundaries Foundation (based on Oklahoma) is a worldwide group of volunteers dedicated to improving the lives of orphaned and impoverished children in China by providing humanitarian aid in five key areas – Education, Foster Care, Healing Homes, Medical, and Orphanage Assistance – enabling children to receive families through adoption or to become self-sustaining members of their communities.

 

JKW:  Who Inspires you? 

I do not have just “one” person who inspires me.  I get inspiration from many things.  People in my life, the hard working entrepreneur, a person who has dealt with overwhelming circumstances and has endured it, a beautiful sunrise, bright stars at night and of course my wife who has stuck by me during good times and bad.  When you stop and think about it – sometimes the simplest things during the day can inspire you.  A kind act from someone, an encouraging word all goes a long way during these difficult times we face.

 

JKW:  WHY do you do what you do.

My belief system.  Believing that if you do good to others, maintain your honesty, morals, dignity and self-respect that it pays off.  Maybe not financially, but at the end of the day you have a clean heart knowing you tried your best in being a good, upright person.  I think that loving kindness is lacking in today’s world.  Wanting to be treated similarly also motivates me to do what I do.

“Dream it into reality”

JKW:   If you had 3 wishes – what would they be?

A righteous government, no more sickness, no more greed, no more suffering.

JKW:  If someone wanted to contact you – how can they reach you?

They can email me at kevindesoto@verizon.net or chat with me on Twitter @Kevin_DeSoto.

JKW:  Thanks Kevin for being a great example of how doing something to help others makes a difference.

Readers, I hope you enjoyed Kevin’s story. 

Stay tuned this December. I’ll be bringing you more interviews with People Making a Difference.  If YOU know someone who is making a difference, send me a note about them. They might just pop up here.

Joan Koerber-Walker

Technorati Tags: Little Life Stories,Kevin DeSoto,Reaching Millions,Joan Koerber-Walker,People Making a Difference,Alex fattal,Free the hikers,Free the hikers.org,TouTube,Twitter,Laura Ling & Euna Lee,Love Witout Boundaries Foundation

Making a Difference by Mentoring Others – an interview with Marty Zwilling

Mentoring others has always been a passion of mine.  So when I come across others who share my passion – I want to get to know them better. In the case of Martin Zwilling (@StartupPro), I am certainly glad I did.

We first crossed paths on Twitter and started to exchange tweets.  When I learned that he was just a few towns over, in Fountain Hills, Arizona, we set a date to get together for lunch and share ideas.   Over lunch, I asked Marty  how long he had been active in social media and if he had any tips for a neophyte like me.  Much to my surprise, we had started at the very same time, January of 2009!

One of the tips Marty shared with me was that he blogs EVERY DAY!  Doing this allows him to share ideas on start ups and entrepreneurship with other and also allows the opportunity to interact with people from many different places to share ideas.

His blog – Startup Professionals Musings -  has been read by thousands and he’s religious about responding back to people who share comments or ask questions.  That was another tip he shared.   “Always answer back – it’s just good manners.”   He must be doing things right, the blog is one of the top rated blogs on the web.  He’s approaching 150,000 followers on Twitter and has been listed by others over 1,100 times!

Since then, we have had a chance to collaborate a bit and 2010 will bring still more opportunities to collaborate as we serve together as Executives in Residence at Callaman Ventures. 

So now – a bit of a Q&A with the The StartUp Pro.

JKW:  Many liken entrepreneurship to a journey. Where are you on the journey and how did you come to be here?

 MZ:  I’m a problem solver who loves to learn new things, and loves to help others.  I’ve had the good fortune to have several successful career adventures, starting with IBM in multiple roles from sales to software development, followed by working as a business consultant in Silicon Valley, then working in various executive roles for business startups, and how advising startups. My broad range of experience has given me some good insights and perspectives on all aspects of business, from starting one, to funding, to operational and organizational issues.  Right now, I am in the “give back” stage of my life, where I get the most satisfaction from seeing others grow from my mentoring.

JKW:  Tell me about your favorite project and why it makes a difference.

MZ:  My favorite project these days is working with young people in the MBA programs at both ASU and Thunderbird. I enjoy mentoring people who can really benefit from my practical experience. I’ve done guest lectures at these schools, even though I don’t have an MBA, and I’ve been part of their business plan judging for a couple of years.  I think it really makes a difference in helping them to succeed in big companies after graduation, or in starting their own business.  So much of what you need to succeed in business isn’t taught in the academic environment.

JKW:  You mentor many people… who mentors you?

One of my good friends, Scott Loftesness, in Silicon Valley, has been an inspiration to me for several years. He has started several companies and been an investor and mentor to several others.  He has always been on the forefront of new technologies, and has been an avid blogger for years.  He challenged me to start my own blog, and do it every day for impact, which is the main reason I do what I do.  Thus I attribute much of my success in this business to his example and leadership.

JKW:  WHY do you do what you do?

MZ:  I do what I do because I love it.  I have always been self motivated, and able to find a way to enjoy the work I do.  As I mentioned earlier, I’m now highly motivated to pass along to the next generation what I have learned, and what I think they need to know to have as much fun and success in life as I have.  Also I do what I do because it allows me to learn new things, and keep up with all the changes.  I love the learning process.

JKW:  Do you have a favorite personal saying?

MZ:  “Real change doesn’t happen until the pain level is high enough.”  

JKW:  You  did a great blog post with this title in November applying it to entrepreneurs.    How can it be it applied to other areas of our lives?

MZ:  This applies to personal issues, as well as societal issues.  I enjoy change, but it seems that change causes most people pain, with the result that they won’t change until they are already in more pain.  They don’t change their bad habits, like overeating, and they don’t really want to tackle global issues, like global warming, until they feel real pain.

JKW:  If you had 3 wishes – what would they be?

1. I wish people didn’t have to spend most of their life re-learning all that is already known, and making the same mistakes all over again.  If I could do a quick “mind-dump” to my kids, they could use their productive years pushing to new heights rather than mostly catching up.

2. I wish there was a way to easily communicate with people around the world, and understand their cultures.  The thousands of different languages are a great heritage, but a great barrier to effective and efficient communication. I’m waiting for technology to overcome this barrier.

3. I wish I could stick around this world long enough to help make my first two wishes come true.

JKW:  If someone wanted to connect with you – how can they do it?

MZ:  One way is to talk to me via Twitter at @StartupPro, or they can share a comment on the blog or send me an email.  I answer back.

JKW:  Thanks Marty for always making the time to share ideas with others and for setting a great example of how mentoring online and on the ground makes a difference.

Readers, I hope you enjoyed this little life story.  Stay tuned this December. I’ll be bring you more interviews with People Making a Difference.  If YOU know someone who is making a difference, send me a note about them. They might just pop up here.

Joan Koerber-Walker

Technorati Tags: People Making a Difference,StartupPro,@StartupPro,Martin Zwilling,Matry Zwilling,StartUp Professionals Musings,Scott Lotesness,Callaman Ventures,Joan Koerber-Walker,CorePurpose

Kids are the Future and The Future is NOW – An interview with John R. Shultz

For over 25 years, John R. Shultz has been a man on a mission to create a world of opportunity for kids.  Through his The Future is NOW Foundation, John raises the money to fund and deliver programs that  provide education, scholarships, and inspiration to under privileged kids. 

He’s not a multi-millionaire or an arm chair philanthropist out writing checks.  He’s a doer – pounding the streets, leveraging a lifetime on personal contacts in industry, entertainment and sports, and recruiting all his friends to pitch in and lend a hand.  Often John can be found at local schools with celebrity friends or holding fundraising events with Dare Devil Stunt Man ,“Spanky” Spangler,  with one goal in mind – to give our students a vision of what can be accomplished through hard work and a desire to succeed.

“Today is the best day of my Life”

- John R. Shultz

JKW:  John, how would you describe yourself?

I was so blessed with great and loving parents who taught me to respect, to love, and to understand what life is all about.  Through them I learned to always remember where you came from, to share with others in this world, and to help those who just need a hand-up!

JKW:  Tell me about your favorite project and why it makes a difference.

JRS:  I love to work with kids and to  share all the wisdom and love my parents gave me.  Its important to let them know that they have a purpose and to believe in themselves.  Sometimes it takes a special experience to open their eyes and show them how by working together others can not bring us down.  You just have to learn to have respect for yourself and others.  Never look back.  Just be proud of who you are!

Since our inception 25 years ago, we have been dedicated to the sole purpose of providing a better tomorrow by helping our children today!
Formerly known as the Children’s Wellness Foundation, our goal is to continue working with inner city youth and schools in the Metropolitan Phoenix area.

The Future is Now Outreach Program concentrates on the young people as well as their families. We focus on the fact that today the entire nation’s youth , no matter where they reside, are confronted with a set of negative challenges never before seen in our country’s history.
Our professional staff and longtime affiliation with several support organizations enables us to present positive solutions and guidance presented by daily problems. Our organization consists of a select group of world-class athletes and business people who share our desire to change our world for the better.

The Future Is Now school assemblies and our one on one program have met with great success and proven results.

The educational assistance arm of The Future Is Now has been highly successful through scholarships awarded to the less fortunate student. These students are recommended by teachers, community leaders, or by our Board of Directors. This program allows students to continue in their educational career and achieve their goals for their future.
Fun is also a major part of The Future Is Now experience. Children have the opportunity to participate or be spectators at sporting events, major attractions, concerts, swimming, and other foundation events.

Our track record speaks for itself.  Now is the time to make the difference in one child’s life and give them hope for a better tomorrow!

JKW:  Your mission over the years has been to inspire children to go after their dreams.  Who inspired you?

JRS:  My Dad was my biggest inspiration.  He lived his life with honor and showed me how to stand up and to be a man.  He taught me that I was to share my gifts no matter how small or great.  He emphasized that we are all in this world together.  Through his example I learned that anybody can be a Father, but  it takes more to be a  Dad, just like anybody can get a house but but you must do more to make it a home!, I loved him so much and it was very hard when we lost him last year, but his spirit is with me always!

He was one of the greatest men to ever walk this planet earth!

JKW:  WHY do you do what you do?

JRS: Because I can!

JKW:  John, If you had 3 wishes – what would they be?

JRS:  I wish…

1. That everybody could have great parents like I did.
2. To be able to touch more lives and to inspire people to not to give up and to be strong in their faith and to stand tall and to be proud of who they are to know that that are loved!
3. More love and peace in the world, to stand as one under one nation under God and to  the first two come together with this and wrap it up all up with World Peace and love and sharing what we have Thanking God for what we have not what we had!

 

Thanks for stopping by for a little life story.  Stay tuned this December. I’ll be bring you more interviews with People Making a Difference.

Joan Koerber-Walker

p.s. Do you know someone who is making a difference?  Send me a note about them.

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Technorati Tags: People Making a Difference,Little Life Stories,Kids,Future is NOW Foundation,John R. Shultz,CorePurpose,Joan Koerber-Walker

Bringing back jobs to a challenged region – Randy P. Seitz

Did you know that the first commercial oil well was drilled in PENNSYLVANIA? 

I didn’t  – until I got to know Randy P. Seitz, President/COO of the Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism in Northwest PA.  Through him I learned that it was within the Oil Region that, in 1859, Colonel Edwin Drake drilled the world’s first commercial oil well, initiating a chain of events that literally changed the world.

I didn’t meet Randy in Washington D.C. or at one of the many economic development conferences I have attended over the years.  We found each other on Twitter!  You can find him too @rpseitz on Twitter , on Linked In, or via his blog at http://ceostruggles.blogspot.com.

The Oil Region Alliance of Business Industry & Tourism is the lead economic  development agency and the official tourist promotion agency serving the Oil Heritage Region, as well as the administrator for the Oil Region National Heritage Area. These multiple designations enable the Alliance to tap multiple public and private resources to achieve its mission.

Our mission is to increase the prosperity and population of the Oil Region, through the preservation, promotion, development and support of destinations within the Oil Region. Whether they are historical, educational, natural, recreational, residential, commercial or industrial destinations, we must entice people to live, work, learn and play in “the valley that changed the world.”

In today’s economy, economic development and a focus on business growth and through them jobs growth is critically important and that is what Randy and his team focus on every day.  That’s what it takes to make a difference. 

An Interview with Randy P. Seitz, President and COO of ORA.

JKW:  So, Randy – how would you describe yourself?

RPS:  An innovative thinker with a broad-based expertise in new industry  attraction, local industry development, workforce development, international trade, downtown revitalization, housing, industrial park development, and operations & finance.  

I am experienced in strategic planning and execution with a working knowledge of contracting, negotiating, and change management.  Examining and re-engineering operations and procedures are skills I bring to my team as well as experience in formulating policy, and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures.  And, I have a working knowledge of public relations principles and practices.   

I am a husband to my beautiful wife Guadalupe and a father of 2 absolutely gorgeous kids, Anthony (10) and Deborah (7). I have earned a BA from D’Youville College in Buffalo, NY and an MBA from Clarion University in PA.

“If you advance confidently in the direction of your dreams, and endeavor to live the life that you have imagined, you will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” Henry David Thoreau

JKW:  Tell me about your favorite project and why it makes a difference.

RPS: Our nonprofit agency is responsible for helping new and local industries to expand into the Oil Region. This is a region that has experienced severe job loss over the past 25 years. There are many people that are under-employed, or even worse, unemployed and our agency works to create more family wage sustaining jobs for the people of this community. This makes a difference because the families of the Oil Region rely on these jobs to meet the needs of their families.

JKW:  WHY do you do what you do?

RPS: I believe that everyone has a special calling from GOD. Some people have been called to teach. Others have been called to heal, coach, defend, or serve. I have been called to find unique ways to attract new industries or help local industries grow to create better jobs for the people of the communities that I serve.

JKW:  You and your team have a big responsibility.  It’s hard to tackle something like  that alone – Tell me about someone you know personally who inspires you.

The person who inspires me the most is Mark Oakes. He is the CEO of Concentric Security and he has taken the time to mentor and coach me through my strategic planning process for my agency.

A talented CEO whose knowledge of systems planning and business design is incredible, Mark is willing to share his wisdom, knowledge, experience and time freely and I have learned the value of systems planning and how to run the agency instead of the agency running me.

JKW:   If you had 3 wishes – what would they be?

RPS:  If I had 3 wishes they would be the following:

1. I wish that I could create a systematic business that would provide me with a lifetime of wealth and resources to care for my family and my community.

2. I wish that I had the ability to heal those around me.

3. I wish that I had unlimited wishes.

JKW:  Thanks for making the time to share with us today Randy.  If I could grant ‘unlimited wishes’ they would be my gift to you. I’m sure you’d use them well!

And to you, our readers -

Thanks for stopping by for a little life story about People Making a Difference.  Stay tuned – you’ll get a chance to meet more great people this month!

Joan Koerber-Walker

p.s. Do you know someone who is making a difference?  Send me a note about them.  You might just see them here!

Technorati Tags: Little Life Stories,Joan Koerber-Walker,Randy Seitz,Randy P. Seitz,ORA,Oil Region Alliance,Mark O Oakes,economic development,jobs,People Making a Difference

Being a little bit different MAKES a DIFFERENCE – Francine Hardaway

Part 1 of the People Making a Difference Series

running between now and the end of 2009.

In 2002, I left the corporate world to start my own business.  I knew a lot about running BIG businesses, but like many before me, I found I had a lot to learn about running a small one. As I made my way around the Phoenix community, one name kept popping up. 

People kept telling me to call Francine Hardaway.  Eventually, I listened.

We met on a summer’s day at a local restaurant, me in a ‘corporate suit’ and high heels, Francine in a peasant skirt and sandals.  We may have looked like an unlikely pair, but when it came time to talk about what we thought was important, the differences fell away quickly.  Now, years later, she remains one of my dearest friends.  Over the years, I have watched her bring hundreds of entrepreneurs together to share contacts and ideas through her company – Stealthmode Partners.  On the education front, she traveled to Kansas City to meet with the Kauffman Foundation – got certified on FastTrac^® and brought the programs to Phoenix for the very first time.  She’s a blogger of note, a maven on Twitter (@hardaway), and one of the first to experiment with the latest new social media platform.  She even got ME to doing it.  It only took about three years of gentle prodding.  When she decided to launch her own entrepreneurial foundation and asked me to be Chairman of the Board …well it’s hard to say no to Hardaway…

So, what better person to interview for my People Making a Difference Series.

A Conversation with Francine Hardaway

“It’s not what happens to you; it’s how you come to it.”

–Carl Hammerschlag, MD and spiritual healer

Who are You?

F.H.~ I’m a wacko, who was bred to be one.  My father told me when I was little that in order to succeed in life you  had to be a little different. To demonstrate that, he wore white ties, pale blue Italian shirts and cuff links specially made with the image of Billy Daniels, his client, singing “Old Black Magic” on them. I still have one of them.  He had a carefully constructed image.

My father also educated me far beyond the norm for women: I got a PhD, and he paid for the entire thing, not worrying about whether I’d get married. When my mother said I wasn’t helpful around the house, he told her I “was not born to change diapers.”

I got my Ph.D., taught English in college for ten years, and left to start a business, almost unheard of for women back then. For years I was the only woman in the room in business discussions.  At the same time, I was never one to position myself as a feminist — more as one of the boys.

I adopted technology early and often. I got pregnant inadvertently and it transformed my life into a symphony of children, stepchildren, foster children and grandchildren.

What are you up to?  What’s your favorite Project?

F.H.~ My favorite project, OTEF, grew out of my child raising and foster parenting experience.  My own children grew up and left Phoenix, correctly assuming there were no high-powered jobs for them in town. My foster children, at the other end of the spectrum, are stuck in low wage jobs because they’re not educated and one is a former felon. Although he’s been out of prison for four years, he’s last in any competition for jobs because he was in prison as a teen. Because of all of them, I believe strongly in opportunity through entrepreneurship, and in the need all people have to create the tools for their own survival. OTEF teaches entrepreneurship skills, which more and more have become survival skills and hosts the Arizona Entrepreneurship Conferences each year as our major fundraiser.

Who Inspires you?

F.H. ~ Ed Robson and Mike Lacey. Both of them have been my business mentors.  Lacey told me to start my public relations business after he started New Times (now Village Voice Media) and Ed started Robson Communities. Ed grew up an orphan, was an Olympic hockey player, and built every one of his active adult communities by doing something we now call “engaging with the customer.” He played  tennis and ate meals with all of his early buyers.

WHY do you do what you do.

F.H. ~ Because I love it. Period.

If you had 3 wishes – what would they be?

F.H. ~ To see my grandchildren grow up and my foster children succeed
To remain healthy for the rest of my life
To live long enough to see all the technologies I know are coming arrive. 

JKW ~ She may call herself a ‘wacko’ while I’m a bit buttoned down but she’s an awesome person to have in your corner, as part of a team, and in our community.  Take it from me – I KNOW.  When it comes to inspiring people to get involved and start making a difference, few do it as well as Francine.

Thanks for stopping by for a little life story.  Stay tuned this December. I’ll be bring you more interviews with People Making a Difference.

Joan Koerber-Walker

p.s. Do you know someone who is making a difference?  Send me a note about them.

Technorati Tags: Francine Hardaway,People Making a Difference,Joan Koerber-Walker,Little Life Stories,OTEF,Entrepreneurs,AZ Entrepreneurship Conference,Az Entrepreneurship