A Thanksgiving Lesson From Lebanon

S

ince 1982 – I have reflected every November on an experience I had while in Beirut Lebanon.   An experience where an unknown Lebanese would forever change how I viewed America.  

During this time in my life, I had the opportunity to lead an outstanding USMC/Navy foodservice team.   Whose mission was to feed approximately 1800 Marines and Special Forces ashore in Beirut Lebanon.   

Since October, our joint foodservice team had prepared, airlifted and distributed by truck hot meals ashore to an Expeditionary peacekeeping force.   (From October 1982 until February 1983 - this team would prepare shipboard and serve over 285,000 meals ashore.)   In November, we were given the additional task of resurrecting the shuttered Beirut International Airport Dining facility.   Our mission was to rebuild and ready a place where those ashore could gather and celebrate the Marine Corps Birthday, Thanksgiving and Christmas.   A ship's company team and with the help of the USMC ashore resurrected the dining facility.  

It is the Thanksgiving dinner – which I especially remember.  It was during this meal I was approached by a Lebanese gentleman.   A lively group of joint forces was being rotated in throughout the day for a hot Thanksgiving meal with all of the traditional fixins.  

During the meal, a Lebanese dignitary approached me.   After pausing to look out over those gathered, he then turned to me and said with tears in his eyes, “…it must be wonderful to have a country where something like this could be celebrated…”  

Being from the Vietnam Era service generation, I hadn’t given it much thought up until this moment.   Up until this moment, my military career had been a job – not an adventure. 

For the very first time, his comments helped me to come to realize that freedoms we have, as Americans are special.   The freedom to gather and celebrate such occasions.   The freedom to even disagree and still be able to give thanks.   The freedom to come from different walks of life – from different parts of the country – to join in common cause to make a difference. 

While we may disagree from time to time and worry about the course of America - we still have the freedom to gather - to join together to make a difference.

Let us this season be thankful for the this freedom  - this American freedom that I have treasured each and every day since that Thanksgiving meal in Beirut, Lebanon.  

Bigger is Better, Right? (Steve’s quest begins)

Bigger is better right?  Growing up in the burbs of Detroit – bigger was always better.    Let’s face it in the 50’s and 60’s, size meant you had finally made it.   Bigger the house, with a big Caddy or the working man’s Lincoln in the driveway, and that big gold Bulova on your wrist – meant you had made it in the Motor City.  

So why I am standing here, listening to this salesperson’s pitch on the merits of the smallest Video Player I have ever seen in my life?   Ok what if the 7 inch screen, could give you the feeling of  “…almost being there..” with an added benefit of “..2 ½ hours of play back time.”  It was still, only 7 inches!

When I was a teenager (some four – five decades ago), a rectangular screen Color TV and Fisher Stereo Console in the family room – meant you were “living the dream.”  They were big massive “solid” things.   When set in place by the delivery guys, they stayed, rooted to the living room floor - until the house fell down around them.    

The sales pitch goes on “…and this version can play back DVD, CD, JPEG and MP3 formats for a variety of entertainment options and even features a headphone jack for private listening.”  

Yeaaaa!!!!….I think to myself.   If it weren’t for the fact that my wife and I were going on a trip and needed something small to lug through the Airport – I wouldn’t be here.    You may be asking what about my cell phone or Ipad?   Have you ever tried to get a signal in the Dallas Airport?   Enough said….. 

So here I am, headed out with a deal on the $79.99 model. Then all of a sudden, it happens!   On the way out of the store, I stumbled upon the forbidden “TV and Home Theater” room.   You know the one in the back, that the spouse never wants you to find. 

A darkened sanctuary with real imitation leather couches.   Moreover, in this Holy of Holies, in all of its brilliance, I gaze upon the “…Sharp - AQUOS - 90" Class (90" Diag.) - LED - 1080p - 120Hz - Smart - 3D – HDTV.”  Moreover, find that this beauty could be all mine, for just south of a reasonably priced $8,000.  

The sound, the color, the pigmentation, the facial pores of Johnny Depp in the Pirates of the Caribbean!   Now this is truly - in keeping with the tradition of my youth!!!!   This was my manifest destiny!!!

When did I first buy into the “smaller was better” mantra?   Ok, I will give you that some things should be smaller, such as a surgical incision, or my waist size.  And just maybe, just maybe my cell phone could be a little slimmer. 

I guess what really bothers me, is that nowadays everyone seems to accept that everything has to be smaller.  Even our dreams, when did this happen?   Whatever happened to manifest destiny!!  Dreaming “BIG” and taking risks!!!   Just for the chance now matter how remote, to “make it..”  

Oh yeah, now I remember, it came with retirement.   As my wallet  grew smaller, so have my dreams.    As I head out of the store with that $79.99 deal, I realize that I can still dream.  While I maybe retired, it doesn’t mean that I am dead, (or at least yet, that’s up to the spouse).  As a marshal my will, knowing - I’ve lived just long enough to realize that dreaming by itself will not do it.  I’ve got get moving, find another job or even start another project!  

I can dream can’t I?  It’s on to the want ads and networking groups.  Let’s see what a 60ish retired veteran can find.   

Giving Us Hope - By Trying

From July 2011 until August 2012, On the Road in Hampton Roads interviewed entrepreneurs and leaders from across the southeastern Virginia. Of the entrepreneurs interviewed, some failed and some succeeded – while others went on to try other things.

Common to all, was that they kept on trying to make their dream a reality.  Time and time again, when they seemed to come upon that proverbial brick wall, each had the courage to either push through or create something different from the experience. 

 

Since the founding of the Jamestown settlement in 1607, the region now known as Hampton Roads has played a significant role in the economic well-being of the Commonwealth of Virginia. In Virginia, nearly 98% of the jobs are located in companies with less than 200 employees. An estimated 80% of the non-government, economy in Hampton Roads is generated by businesses with less than 100 employees. Many of these businesses where created by entrepreneurs who had nothing more than an idea when they first started.

 

After over 77 interviews – what did Andy and Steve find on the road in Hampton Roads? They found that at least here in Hampton Roads the American entrepreneur still exists.

In a time where everyone in Washington seems to be taking refuge behind self-made walls - more than ever before, we need that entrepreneurial spirit. The ability to do something with what now seems to most in Washington- towering obstacles.

Benjamin Franklin once said, "God helps those who help themselves”. From what we hear coming out of Washington lately, it seems like that only way we are going push through this economic brick wall – is to follow Ben’s advice.
 

So, entrepreneur – share your story no matter if you succeed, fail or go on to do other things – just keep trying. For by doing so, you give us hope....

Confessions of an App User



Funny Mouth App - Photo edited using Photomania App



About a week or so ago – The Virginian-Pilot ran a couple articles written by Philip Walzer on local App Developers.   Walzer’s articles provided a glimpse into the newest revolution and local business opportunity of app development.   Hundreds of thousands of apps are developed each year…Apple alone reported that in 2012 over 700 new apps were submitted each day. 

I need to confess, I do not like apps.   Don’t get me wrong, I do like applications; matter of fact I am using one right now to create this musing.  What I do not like is the seemly thousands upon thousands of  “Mobile Apps”.  Those small apps with their invasive “free offer”.  Whereupon once downloaded you are immediately flooded with those “how about this…” ads. 

While I admit that, from time to time I have chucked some irritated foul at some bovine squatters. Moreover, maybe just maybe, on occasion, have taken some pleasure on completing a well-placed triple banked shot into a living dead or two.    What bothers me is that, the creators of these apps seemly have an incessant desire to create mobile apps that do everything, anywhere – It simply drives me crazy!!!  

Frankly, do we need that many apps?    I remember back in the day, when we were happy just to be able to use “point and click” without having to type C> cd backslash, backslash……I remember my giddiness when I first “hyperlink” my way through a graphic world of endless information.   And how I fondly look forward and dare say, even embraced the latest version of office applications.  At least until Version 7, from that point on, I have tried, to make every application look and behave like pre-7 versions.

Do we need apps like Cow Toss, Sexy Girl Talk--Sexy Alphabet Deluxe or Pet Baby just to name a few?   OK someone might while tossing cows want to listening to a very sexy alphabet - but come on, who in the right mind wants to know what their pet would look like as a human baby?   That is just plain creepy.

So you can imagine my surprise when I finally got around to helping my wife with her online store “Handy Clay Creations”  That I, the app hater - would come across an app that I truly found fascinating.   Photomania, a Facebook image-processing app that provides easy to use photo editing effects.   Once you get past those, “try this” adds - I found this app easy and really fun to use.  Most of all you don’t even have to understand “layering” to create an effect.  Created by three young Israeli, this app is considered one of the most popular entertainment apps on the Facebook platform.   To date Photomania has been reported as being downloaded over by over 35 million users.  What these young (20ish) entrepreneurs have proven is that there is still opportunity to take an idea and turn it into a worldwide success. 

While there are plenty of simply stupid apps – there are just as many more that have a use by someone – somewhere.     The “app” frontier provides an opportunity for anyone who has an idea.  If that idea is interesting enough - someone will download it.   While it is not easy to do, it can be done.   App development is truly a brave new frontier for business and marketing.

Locally in Hampton Roads there are not as many as we would like to see engaged in this frontier.  There are those who are trying to create culture of app entrepreneurs.   We should encourage these efforts, and maybe just maybe one or two ideas will become the next big success. 

So next time, I fumble in a dark movie theater wishing that I had a flashlight.   I will remember that there is a flashlight app for this.   FXGURU - now that is a useful app - rock on “App Developer” rock on…….

Social Media And The Sweet Potato

The Carver Way - Looking at Social Media Differently

PhotoMania - Sweet Potato

At a recent Toastmasters Club Meeting – club member Eric Spence began his speech by holding up the biggest sweet potato that I had ever seen, and asking “..what do you see”?   As a southerner my initial thought was  - “..a pad of butter”.  Eric followed up by asking …”do you see synthetic rubber”.  Still wandering in thought - I said to myself “..and some brown sugar…”.  Eric once again asked our group – “…do you see postage stamp glue, dye, paste or even ink?”  Still lost in my own thoughts  I internally responded “…Nope – I see an oven set at 375 degrees for about 40 minutes -which should just about do it... .Wait a minute….glue?”  Seeming to read my mind Eric proclaimed to all “Yes, …glue”.  

He went on to explain how Dr. George Washington Carver, born a slave would overcome this lowly status to become a world renowned Research Scientist.  He had achieved in life by hardwork and by applying his unique way of viewing the natural world.   A view of not what was, but how nature could be used to create something that could be.  Seeing the world this way, Dr. Carver’s lifetime work would eventually include over 117 applications for sweet potatoes, 300 applications for peanuts, along with several other inventions.

Dr. Carver - using PhotoMania

Eric suggested that what made Dr. Carver successful was what Eric called “The Carver Way”.   For you see Dr. Carver possessed the ability to see how nature could be applied differently.   He viewed without having his perception bound by how tradition dictated that an item had to be used.    Unlike traditional scientists of his day – Dr. Carver would make intuitive application leaps.  Scientists are supposed to use research methods based upon empirical and measurable evidence.   Using the Scientific Method – cause and effect are carefully tested and thereby hopefully resulting in incremental application progress.   On the other hand, Dr. Carver’s approach to research was much more intuitive.    While Dr. Carver would use observation, his unique ability to visualize new applications would result in intuitive jumps in creativity.   An accomplished painter as well, Dr. Carver’s perception of the world was unique.   Decades before the artist Andy Warhol’s “32 Campbell Soup Cans”, challenged our sense of perception of everyday items, Dr. Carver encouraged us to perceive new applications for the common sweet potato. I took away from this excellent presentation not only a newfound appreciation for Dr. Carver’s work, but, also for those who have the ability to see the world differently.  An appreciation for those who could envision not only new social applications; but also new ways that they could be used to connect users.  

Back in the beginning of the Web, who would have thought that a student peer grading system could eventually become Social network with millions of Fans?  Alternatively, that a very character limited texting method – could become a tweeting rage?   Back then, how many could have imagined a digital network that eventually would socially link professionals on a global scale?  That a business would embrace any application or technique with a Social in its title.

Social Media applications were created by those who could see things differently and imagine what could be, not by what was.  This is why I become concerned when I see traditional approaches being presented as “new” Social Media strategies.   

Techniques such as banner or sponsored ads are just a few examples of traditional push marketing.   No different from the billboard along side of the road, they assume that the user will drop what they are doing, link and coming running.      I wonder if some applications are chosen because it is what marketers are a more traditionally familiar.   I am also concerned that the Social Media is becoming limited by what people think it should and not what it could be.  

What if we were to view Social Media in “The Carver Way”?   Maybe it is time we look at Social Media differently.   To come up with ways that truly engage instead of simply push and pulls users.  Let us not get our perceptions locked into “375 degrees at 40 minutes…” …let us embrace a “Carver Way”.  To again envision what could and not what it traditonally should be.

I invite you to share with us what you feel are innovative ways of using Social Media in business.   Moreover, thanks to Eric, I hope you will never look at a sweet potato the same way again….

What Digital Divide?

The Digital Divide, popularize in 1990’s to describe the gap between those who did or did not have access to information technology.  First used for the ability to access Personal Computers (PC’s), in less than a decade gave way to Internet and more recently Broadband Internet access.    

There are many reasons to close this technology gap, economic, social morally and to simply, not leave anyone behind.  In an attempt to close this divide, billions have been spent over the years.   “The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the U.S.Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) with $7.2 billion to expand access to broadband services in the United States..”  alone.   This effort does not include the additional billions spent by other agencies and commercial entities.

Today only one out of five Americans (20%) do not have access to the Internet – quite a change from where we started in 90’s.   The Pew Internet Organization reports that one of the most common reasons given by these not using the Internet is that, they feel that it is not relevant to them. 

Responding this apparent need for relevance, droves of government and non-government groups continue to spend time and money in efforts to convince these holdouts of the importance of having Internet access to the home.   Maybe, just maybe, this worthy endeavor may not be as relevant as we thought.   While we have been pushing the paradigm of Internet to each home – something else has been emerging. 

The same Pew Report notes that 88% of Americans have access to a cell phone.   That the  …rise of mobile is changing the story. Groups that have traditionally been on the other side of the digital divide in basic internet access are using wireless connections to go online…”   The report goes on to state that among  “….smartphone owners, young adults, minorities, those with no college experience, and those with lower household income levels are more likely than other groups to say that their phone is their main source of internet access…”     

It appears that about 8% more Americans have access to cell phones then Broadband Internet to the home. In addition, what we considered as “Internet” may not be as relevant to them as let’s say “texting” or other similar applications. This wireless shift is changing how Americans - are and will connect in the future. Apps, which maybe not viewed as “Internet” by these users, are definitely changing how a new generation communicates and “connects”

It is time for us to re-evaluate what is the Digital Divide and what truly are the tools and skills that our children will need to connect to the world.  Maybe it is time for a change in our thinking.

Steve Goad
Media Goal Solutions
http://mediagoalsolutions.com

 

So You Want To Run For Office?

Steve Goad Media Goal Solutions and Candidate Chuck Smith

For a few years now, I have worked with Candidates running for local office.   For those thinking about public office, here are some simple steps to take that do not require a second mortgage.

First off - does Social Media help a candidate win?  Let’s face it since the 2008 Presidential Campaign Social Media hasn’t been the same.   Once the realm of the lonely geek that you thought was weird in school, Social Media has hit mainstream.   A 2012 Pew Research Survey found that

“….39% of all American adults—have done at least one of eight civic or political activities with social media…”  http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2012/Political-engagement.aspx

While not 100% participation – it still is quick a jump in a very few years.  So what does this mean for those thinking about running for office?  Simply you can’t ignore some sort of Social Media in your campaign strategy.   Look at it like that Civic League or PTA meeting you could; but shouldn’t miss.   
 
Social Media such as Facebook provides an opportunity to share views, pictures of you being engaged in the community.  Not of your supporters will be using Social Media – there will be key community influencers who are.   From experience, I know that these influencers will be using Social Media to support or to attack your campaign.   So here, are some steps you should take: 

·     Collect material - videos and especially pictures of you at that PTA, School Board, City Council, picnic, and/or event.   Make sure you are with someone in the picture; standing alone doesn’t help to convince anyone that you are a leader that listens.  Once you announce your candidacy this material can be used for a variety of Media.  

 

·     Get Social – don’t wait until your campaign starts to setup a Social Media account.   This is the biggest mistake I have seen over the years.   Social Media can help a potential Candidate build a following.   Yes, you can create a page dedicated to your campaign page once you have announced, until then show the community who you are.  Be a leader - get engaged!!!!

·     Don’t be fooled by “experts” who promise hundreds of “Likes” and “Followers” that require costly cash outlays.   Find someone who can help you to understand what’s available and how it can be used to reach your “local” community.  It doesn’t help your campaign if you spend money building “followers” in Eureka, California when you are running for City Council in Caribou, Maine.  Make sure you have an easy and cost effectively means to track and measure how effective is your Social Media strategy.   Facebook is especially good at tracking and is “free” for the moment.   

·     Don’t wait to the last moment to think about how you will use Social Media.  Whether it is print, television, or radio – your Social Media should be integrated into an integrated Public Relations strategy.   

Unlike the national Candidates, most of the local Candidates I have known over the years have had little or no funding.  Where agonizing decisions will need to be made over how many yard signs or handouts to print, you can get started now on building community followers with Social Media with little if any cost.

Steve Goad

President
http://mediagoalsolutions.com/