64 percent.

New Year's resolution's fail. We've already acknowledged and accepted that back in my Jan 1, 2011, 12 percent post.  HOWEVER, I already determined that I will be in the minority 12 percent of folks that achieve their goals.  So this post is definitely more for me than any readers.  It makes me accountable.  So here's where I stand after month one.

Fun Fact: I found that after one month 64 % of resolutions are still being kept.

My Resolutions:

1. Run a half-marathon.  By far this is the one I've put the most into.  I am actually working out regularly!  I have a friend turned into my trainer (shameless plug http://coachlevi.com/)  who has actually taken over my workouts. You would be surprised how much more I do than if I were still in charge of myself!  Only set-back has been "ouchy" knees (as I call it on my calendar), however they don't hurt when I run so I think they'll be overcome!  Oh, and all you looking for something to awesomely kick-your-butt I recommend Metabolic Condition and regular elbow touches!
2. Try new things. For my personal world aspect, as mentioned before, I want to try new foods.  While it was only two days ago, I bought some Smucker's Natural Crunchy Peanut Butter.  I was pleasantly surprised by how much I like it.... and it doesn't have any sugar added!  Crazy.  Professionally, I've tried things at work, which we will label pseudo-pro, as well as things to help me enter the professional world, they'll be real-pro.  As for pseudo-pro, I tried and helped with molding at work.  Some day I'll go into detail about my current job, but I'm on the administrative side of a small powdered metal factory... sometimes I cross sides to the production when help is needed.  Needless to say.  I molded.  Woof.  For real-pro, the other day I signed up and participated in a webinar on ways to better beat the competition in landing a job.  I was skeptical because realistically everything's on the internet, so what could this webinar offer I haven't already read!  But I got some good tips from real professionals.  All-in-all an hour well spent.
3. Be better at everything.  Patience.  That's the one I'm working on the most.  I think I'm doing a heck of a job.   I've also put a great focus on listening to people more.  I LOVE to talk and share stories.  Sometimes I get a little too excited and cut people off to tell them how I can relate to what they just said...  While my intentions aren't bad, it's not a good trait.  So I've actually worked on this a lot since prior to setting my NYR* and I think I've improved leaps and bounds.  I guess for this resolution I might need to have a guest blogger sometime really evaluate how much I've improved.
4. Find luck. ... umm.... this one is way harder than I hoped.  I look for pennies.  I find dimes.  The snow covering the ground won't let me look for clovers.  I don't much like rabbits, thus I don't like rabbit's feet.  And well, the couple of lottery tickets I've scratched to evaluate how far I've come... let's just say it would have been better not to scratch and get that stuff off the tickets on my clothes.

*NYR=New Year's Resolution but know I laugh because I read that sentence as "...prior to setting my New York Rangers..."

Public Speaking 101 - "I have a dream" that you will "ask what you can do for your country."

Lets be honest.  Not everyone has the talent, skill, or charisma of men like Martin Luther King, Jr. or John F. Kennedy.   The rhetorical skills they possessed make most public figures pale in comparison.  While I do not claim to be even comparable and worthy of mention in the same sentence as either of these men, I was taught an effective technique to prepare and present when speaking publicly.  In honor of these two men, who this week both have been honored (MLK's birthday 1/15 and the 50th Anniversary of  the JFK Inaugural Address 1/20), watch, listen or read some of their speeches, then come back here and finish reading my few tidbits of advice on how I have learned to speak effectively!

Martin Luther King, Jr. - I Have a Dream (For those of you who want to read or take a closer look, here you go!   http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm)

John F. Kennedy - Inaugural Address (Again for those who want to read or take a closer look, which I encourage, here it is.  http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jfkinaugural2.htm )


The Green Sheet:
To preface why you should take any of my advice, some background.  At dear ol' Penn State students are required to take a speech class (CAS100).  The various professors, as expected, teach the class differently.  I was lucky enough to take this class with a professor who I considered outstanding and who made public speaking a simple concept.  After successfully passing the class, I later returned to serve as the teacher's assistant for the class.  So in honor of Dr. Mary Mino, I present to you, what I determine to be the main points to public speaking... What I learned from The Green Sheet.

1.  Structure speeches don't write them. - This, in it's entirety, is The Green Sheet.   The Green Sheet is just that, a green sheet of paper with the most important information you need to remember when speaking publicly.  It outlines how to structure a speech.  I know speech writers make a lot of money (Jan. 2011- starting around $41,000), however if you are going to speak on a topic, KNOW the topic.  If you know the topic you can actually discuss it with your audience and not be stiff, nervous, and imagining them all in their underwear.  By all means, have note cards with key points and facts to remember and sources, but don't write word for word what you want to say.  People can tell when you're reading.

2.  Have a residual message.  - A residual message is what you want your audience to know when you are done.  It's one phrase, one sentence.  Think back to MLK's I have a dream speech, what do people remember from that?  "I have a dream!"  Heck it's the title of the speech!  When you're done listening/reading you recall that MLK had a dream today that the world would become a better place.  Of course he had specifics to his dream, but at the end those are the words you remember.   Why?  Because he tell's you over and over again.  Dr. Mino always told us, when you're giving a speech you tell them what you're going to tell them, you tell them, and then you tell them what you told them.  That's how you get your RM through to your audience.


There is plenty more on the topic of speeches and public speaking.  This Green Sheet I speak of, I used it the rest of my way through college when writing papers.  It's a system that's easy to buy into and follow. And what makes it easier is, it's effective.




*Sidenote/disclaimer... I didn't come up with The Green Sheet.  Honestly I'm not sure who did, if it was Dr. Mino or someone else.  For that sheer fact I didn't upload and post the sheet.  BUT I'm not about keeping something good to myself.  So if anyone actually wants to see it, review it, tear it apart and tell me it is wrong, let me know, I'll pass it your way!

A Handle that's Credible?

After four years of college studying communication (Public Relations, Sports Journalism) I find myself asking a lot of questions when I read a newspaper article or watch the news.  I ask myself what makes this story true, credible, newsworthy.  None of these questions do I think are special to just me.  Realistically I think all consumers of the news (which should be everyone) should be asking these questions to keep a checks-and-balance system on our media, who in turn keep a checks-and-balance on the government, corporations, celebrities, and even simple small town affairs. One news source who I rarely question, as they leave no questions to ask, is The New York Times.

However, a new question arose in their January 14, 2010 article Did Your Horoscope Predict This? on Horoscopes and the changing of Zodiac signs...  which is a fun topic in itself.

My questions arose because of the sources for some of their quotes.  The article quotes some Twitter users.  

“My zodiac sign changed,” wrote one upset Twitter user on Friday morning. “Does that mean that I’m not anymore who I used to be?!?”

 “First we were told that Pluto is not a planet, now there’s a new zodiac sign, Ophiuchus,” read one tweet from someone with the handle HarryPotterish. “My childhood was a bloody lie.”

These quotes made the article more entertaining.  I laughed when I read them... but I also did a big rewind and re-read when I read the first reference to a Twitter account.  I use Twitter regularly.   But for those that actually know me outside of the World Wide Web know I like to joke around and can be sarcastic at times.  Judging by HarryPotterish's tweet, I'm guessing he does too.  But really, I would say the same for our upset Twitter user.  That tweet is something I might have said in a joking manner.  So can The New York Times accurately label and quote this unnamed Twitter user as "upset?"  Is Twitter a reliable source even if it's just for entertainment and extra content in a story?

I like Twitter, I like The New York Times, but do I like The New York Times quoting Twitter users that I don't know if they actually talked to? .... Right now, I don't think so.

"We Care"

Occasionally at work I get the mail.  When the weather is ideal, or I simply need to get away from my desk.  Yesterday I'm glad I did.  Upon bringing a giant stack of mail inside and sorting it into three logical piles - 1. things I'll open and put away, 2. things I'll open but let my boss actually take care of (I like to use the letter opener that's why I open his things!), and 3. junk.  Upon sorting I stumbled upon what I considered an amusing surprise...

The amusing surprise was a letter from the good old United States Postal Service. The USPS definitely caught my attention.

The USPS has seen their share of letters, and while I pulled the ripped, battled, and worn Purchase Order out of this little bag, I stopped to see what it was the USPS cared about...

My favorite lines, with commentary of course:  

"We hope this incident did not inconvenience you."  No of course not, I really didn't want that picture from my long lost cousin in Africa that is the last known artifact to exist for my family.

"Although every effort is made to prevent damage to the mail, occasionally this will occur because of the great volume handled and the rapid processing methods which must be employed to assure the most expeditious distribution possible." So we're shooting for efficiency and quantity, not quality?  OK, I mean that's acceptable in most professions right?  Here in America we just want to be fast!

"We hope you understand." That you're fast?  That you really do "care"... why of course I understand...  I just can't understand what my long-lost cousin is trying to tell me.  That part of the letter is well... you care that's all that matters.

Finally the letter was pleasantly closed with :

What really can you say?  They said please and they're sorry!



In all honesty though, the Purchase Order that was damaged was not too bad, (the fact that it was mailed out in mid-December made me give a second thought to their speediness), but all in all, no harm-no foul.  However, I did stop and think of these few key points displayed through the simple letter the USPS wrote:

1.) Why can't it always be this simple with work?  Ya boss I wasn't able to get that presentation done for the client, but I'm sorry, just tell them I am, I'm sure they'll accept!
2.)  Why is this somehow acceptable for the USPS when it's not in the real world!?  Only obvious answer I could come up with is what can they really do to fix it.  Offer you some free stamps?
3.)  Possibly the biggest issue here is why is "the most expeditious distribution possible" more important than good quality work?  And if this is acceptable within a government agency and they'll tell you flat out on their "opps" letter, why doesn't any one care!

I saw a mail room in the movie Elf.  I know they're crazy and hectic (movies don't lie)... Buddy didn't really think it was all it was cracked up to be, but good quality work is important no matter what.  Or at least that's what I believe.



Sidenote/Disclaimer:  I really do love getting mail.  It's like a mini-Christmas 6 days of the week! :)   Even when at work and it is never mine.  Getting the mail is so unpredictable and exciting.  Sometimes you are waiting for something to show up, and sometimes things come unexpected!  Maybe it's one of my kid-like characteristics, but getting the mail (even since I've grown and receive primarily bills and credit card applications) is still exciting to me!  I won't hold this one instance against my mail lady!

Endorsements

Endorsements have always been something of interest to me.  In the business world it can look encouraging to have a celebrity endorsement, or widespread support from a favorable organization, for your brand, product or organization.  Example, Brett Michaels and the American Diabetes Association.  While Michaels can be considered a controversial endorser, he has the name recognition and thus the ADA receives more attention from Michaels supporters. 

Endorsements are everywhere with athletes.  Tiger Woods in December 2009 was reported to earn more than $100 million annually in endorsements... even in the midst of his scandal. (1) But are we more likely to drink Gatorade because Tiger does?  Perhaps.

The most common endorsements, that arguably hold the most significant value, are political.  As election day rolls around every year, well-respected politicians and figureheads everywhere publicly announce who they support.

This entire endorsements topic is a complex. When did we lose the ability to decide for ourselves what and who we like?  Are we too lazy?  Are we trusting the right people?  I'll let you ponder those questions and delve into that on a rainy day!

There really is a reason for the endorsements issue coming up today!  It all stems from a Cory Giger post on the Altoona Mirror website today.  Being a Penn Stater forever, Tom Bradley being a top candidate to take over Pitt football is a topic of interest.  Giger writes:

If media and public opinion were the decisive factors, Bradley would seem to be a shoo-in. Both Ron Cook and Bob Smizik of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette have columns today endorsing Bradley for the job.

Both Neil Rudel and I already have given our endorsements to Bradley, who has done a wonderful job in his 30-plus years at Penn State and deserves a chance to run his own program.

What if media and public opinion were the decisive factors?   While I would argue that a handful of journalists endorsing a football coach candidate isn't going to be the deciding factor, I'd also argue it isn't going unnoticed.  Joe Pa is a great example of why it shouldn't go unnoticed.  He's a figure head and a great coach.  He alone can draw a crowd to any event.  Bradley, if the public likes and respects him as much as it appears, can serve in a similar role.  (disclaimer:  I don't know that anyone will ever reach the caliber of Joe but the concept still applies.)  Coaches have to be good at what they do... coaching and winning.  But they also need to be good with the public, with the media.  They need to be likable, or at the very least entertaining to follow.

Endorsements are interesting.  To really evaluate what influence they have on peoples decisions to use a product, vote for a person, hire someone, is surely a phenom being studied somewhere.  (Or at least I hope so) So for now, make your own decisions, or don't.  It doesn't always matter, someone is probably endorsing it anyway... leave the decision making up to them, they know what they're talking about... right?




1. http://abcnews.go.com/Business/tiger-woods-make-millions-big-endorsement-deals-nike/story?id=9228758

12 percent

I'm oddly superstitious in certain instances.  I don't carry a rabbits foot, or own a lucky penny, but come to hockey playoffs I wear the same jersey or t-shirt until the PENS lose, and on New Year's day I always have my bite of sauerkraut.  Along with superstitions or common reoccurring things we do on New Year's, comes New Year's resolutions.  According to infoplease.com "It is believed that the Babylonians were the first to make New Year's resolutions, and people all over the world have been breaking them ever since. (1) "  Not that I'm claiming this is where they originated, but my brief research found that New Year's resolutions have been around for a long time.  
 
A study discussed on Quirkology.com tracked people who set New Year's resolutions in 2007.  They found that "52% of participants were confident of success. One year later, only 12% actually achieved their goal. (2)"  Not the greatest statistic.  The study found that men actually achieved their goals more often then women.  It also reveals reasons why some are more successful then others.  I encourage you to check out the article if you're a New Year's Resolution setter, but here's the basic points they make:
 
1.Make Only One Resolution 
2. Plan ahead 
3. Avoid previous resolutions 
4. Be specific

For Men: Set S.M.A.R.T goals and Carrot not stick
For Women: Go public and Be persistent
 
In the past I've set some New Year's resolutions and I can't even recall what they were.  I was of the greater majority that didn't achieve my goal of working out more last year!  I lasted about a month or so at going to the gym!  This year though, I plan to be in that 12%.  I'm confident I will be for a few reasons.  First and foremost I don't consider my resolutions to be that, instead I'm calling them goals.  Goals to me sound more definite and concrete.  So without further delay, I'll take the recommended point of going public with your resolutions and reveal what I WILL accomplish in 2011.
 
1.  Run a half-marathon.  This is a big one since I've only ever run 5k's.  I'm thinking this topic will be something that comes up in the coming year in this blog!
2.  Try new things. While this is very broad, I've already identified specifics, but am keeping it broad to encompass both professional and personal me.  One example is I intend to try new foods.  I'm a VERY picky eater... the problem with that statement is I haven't tried a lot of foods, I just don't like the thought of trying them!  This will change in 2011.
3. Be better at everything.  Again, very broad, but I have the specifics!  Personally I intend to work on my patiences.  I've already got a jump start on this since my niece received Lego's from Santa!  I never had Lego's as a kid... there was a reason why!  Professionally one thing I plan to work on is being concise.  
4. Find luck. ... no comments really necessary right?!
 
I wish everyone a happy and successful 2011, and may the year be always improving and better than 2010!
 
*Random hockey side note: I tried to abbreviate New Year's resolution as NYR so I wouldn't have to write it out so many times and all I could think when I read each sentence was New York Rangers.


1. http://www.infoplease.com/spot/newyearcelebrations.html#ixzz19p07Y4bt
2. http://www.quirkology.com/UK/Experiment_resolution.shtml