jordanpfowler – Page 7 – What is clanging around in the head of Jordan Fowler

Where I Put the Google +1 Button

After much internal wrangling, I decided to put the Google +1 button for my blog at the end of each body of text. Why? I am not looking for easy +1’s but for people who have truly digested a post and think it contains content valuable enough to share. Placing the Google +1 script at the end of the text lends itself to being clicked after the full post has been read.

By the way if you need the script and are a non-programmer, simply post this into your WordPress or other content editor in html mode and the Google +1 button will automagically appear.

<!– Place this tag where you want the +1 button to render –>
<g:plusone size=”medium” annotation=”inline”></g:plusone>

<!– Place this render call where appropriate –>
<script type=”text/javascript”>
(function() {
var po = document.createElement(‘script’); po.type = ‘text/javascript’; po.async = true;
po.src = ‘https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js’;
var s = document.getElementsByTagName(‘script’)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(po, s);
})();
</script>

And without further adieu, here is…

Should I Say This? [Flowchart] Also Blog, Comment, Tweet, Email This?

For all you visual learners, a graphic follow up to one of the best pieces of communication wisdom I ever received .

Communicating according to the flow chart will reduce conflict, allow you to contribute value, and increase office decorum.

It will also make you more of a cool hang. You find yourself listening others more, asking them questions and avoiding the quick “Well I can top that” story. You’ll get more social calls and if you are single, dates. (Though I don’t give a guarantee on that last part as I haven’t seen your manners.)

(via Paul of Taursus)

Messaging Your Core Value or What Larry Merchant Should Have Said to Floyd Mayweather

In case you missed the Mayweather vs. Ortiz fight, here is a quick recap as HBO has shutdown any youtube recounts.

In round 4, Ortiz headbutts Mayweather. Looked highly intentional.
Referee stops fight and deducts point from Ortiz.
Ortiz tells Mayweather he is sorry and gives him a man hug.
The fighters separate and Ortiz unwisely looks to referee, dropping his gaurd while Mayweather is closing on him.
With eyes still poised on the Ref, Ortiz receives two crushing blows from Mayweather, knocking him out.
Immediately afterwards, veteran 80-year-old boxing commentator Larry Merchant interviews Mayweather.

Martin Rogers describes what happened next.

Merchant suggested that [Mayweather’s] tactics may have been either illegal or outside the spirit of the fight game, and then Mayweather vented his ire, referring to the 80-year-old broadcaster by an expletive and barking that he should be fired from his television position.

“You never give me a fair shake, all right, so I am going to do you a favor and let you talk to Victor Ortiz,” Mayweather said. “You never give me a fair shake. You are [expletive] and HBO should fire you. You don’t know [expletive] about boxing. You ain’t [expletive].”

Merchant, however, a veteran of more than 50 years in boxing, got the last laugh with a witty retort to Mayweather, whose victory earned him Ortiz’s World Boxing Council welterweight belt.

“I wish I was 50 years younger,” said Merchant. “I would have kicked your [expletive].”

Despite its initial punchiness (sorry about the pun), this was poor, reactionary messaging. If Merchant was going to make a retort at all–which I would have advised against letting Mayweather silently soak in the stew of his own making– he should have emphasized his core value. He has years of experience covering boxing, not actually fighting. A much better comeback would have been, “I know more about boxing than you do all of life, son.” That would have played into Merchant’s core value of having years of experienced knowledge and wisdom in the sport. It also would have exposed his ‘verbal competitor’s’ lack of wisdom and experience in dealing with life, as the boxer Mayweather has had recent run ins with the law.

This would have been more accurate messaging as any real fan knows that Merchant would have gotten battered by Mayweather even 50 years ago. However, Merchant at age 11 probably had more life wisdom than Mayweather will have at 80, a point he should have emphasized if he deemed it necessary to speak. Better yet, a silent, pausing look at ‘Money’ Mayweather, followed by the statement, ‘And still Floyd plays the coward, ducking the truly best pound-for-pound-fighter in the world, Manny Pacquiao.‘

How are you tempted to market yourself or your company in a reactionary rather than proactive way? What can you do to insure you amplify your core value?

How to Make People Happy, a Million Bucks, and The World a Better Place

Simple:

Find something people love (A) _________ and make it (B) ___________________.

Find something people hate (A) _________ and make it (B) ___________________.

(A) doing, having done to them, experiencing, being, etc.

(B) easier, cheaper, richer, more portable, faster, slower, more effective, more efficient, more fun, convenient, etc.

Take all the money you make and don’t spend it on yourself, give to others in need and solve global problems.

Share your ideas in a comment.

My Unorthodox, Creative Cover Letter

Job searching in the “new normal” is tough. You need a creative cover letter to set yourself apart in these post-recession times. Use your creativity to your advantage whenever appropriate.

jordan p fowler interest letter fb — Jordan P Fowler Cover Letter-FB Style | Click to open in your web browser. Magnify if necessary.

Here is my cover “letter” I am using for my current job search. It is a jpeg link that opens in a prospective employer’s browser. The jpeg has the look of a facebook page complete with humorous status updates that all contain a subtle ‘value add’ I bring.

(Disclosure: The text you read above has an embedded subconscious message telling you to ‘call jordan now at 817/889.1487 to schedule his interview .’ If you know someone who needs a marketing/business development person or strategic processes and leadership, send them my resume and a link to the FB cover letter or my more serious, professional cover letter if they are a bit more dour).

Grading Obama’s Job Speech on Communcation Clarity….What?

The content of your message is crucial. Equally important is its timing.

Yesterday, I was going to follow up on my grading of the GOP Debate candidates with an oh-so-insightful critique of how well President Obama’s speech communicated. So at 6:45 CST, I thought to myself, ‘I’d better turn on the TV to make sure I set the DVR to grab it.’ To my chagrin, I realized that the speech began at 6 pm CST.

What? Maybe The Message Was Great But I Missed It.

That means that the speech ran at 5 pm MST and 4 pm PST (Surely that one was tape delayed). If Obama was primarily delivering his proposal to the unemployed or solely the East Coast, then it was great timing. If he was trying to communicate to the American people, this was hardly the most effective time. I know that prime time TV costs more and the networks complain, but this is a pivotal time for our nation and Obama was declaring he a had plan for a way forward. Surely this warranted prime time as most people still view a Presidential speech on television.

You can have a great message but if you deliver it at a time your audience isn’t listening, it definitely loses much of its punch?

What are the times when people you need to reach are most available? Does the time you are messaging correlate with the medium on which they will be receiving the message (TV, Twitter, Facebook, Blog, radio)? Who else do you need to get on board (in Obama’s case, business owners, by creating a sense of confidence that things will be okay so they will go ahead and hire rather than delaying)? When are they most available?

What other insights or stories do you have communication timing?

Grading the GOP Presidential Debate On Communication Ability September 7, 2011

Grading the GOP candidates’ performance not in regard to policy, but as to how well they communicated their message and how they might have clarity going forward. (Reagan Library, September 7, 2011, msnbc) (going stage left to right).

Huntsman D- Polished to the point of coming across as a bit cheesy. Seemed like a plastic person, which he is not. No real clarity of plan given, and seemed to never drop below 100,000 feet

Way forward: Communicate clear middle of the road plans (3 or less) that sets yourself as more the moderate of choice than Romney who is leaning right for primary votes. Dangerous, but makes you more general election and moderate=independent friendly. This positioning clearly sets you apart.

Cain A Best communicator of the night. His clear plan statements are pointed, sharp, and memorable (ex 9-9-9 plan).

Way forward: Get more message time and communicate how you have real world executive experience, just not in the bog of government. Build off his “How’s that working for you?” line from the last debate. Continue to eschew typical political language and keep driving to solution based answers.

Paul C- Too philosophical for his own good. Suffers from being offered minimal time in debates, thus, he tries to squeeze too much into each answer. Bumbles. Needs to move philosophy (as important as it is) to the background and present the solutions which lie on top of his libertarian philosophy more clearly.

Way forward: More pointed answers with less philosophy unless you wants to become a Presidential advisor instead of President. Those long answers might have worked in decades past, but not in a Twitter world. Only one message per answer.

Perry B++ (Almost A-) Loves the role of being the contrarian. Stood by some bold statements such as Social Security being a ponzi scheme . Took some right crosses from others without totally evading them. Lots of Texas colloquialisms. Communication that had hard right draw.

Way forward: Continue to be the contrarian and yet the front runner (a difficult tightrope to walk). Make sure you continue to communicate that you are the more conservative and practical of the bunch. As you bring up your record in Texas (and you should), figure out how to block and not become a punching bag regarding the under-insured, low graduate rate, and other Texas statistics that his ‘opponents’ are using. Shore up your answers to the the latter questions as you were not nearly as pointed then.)

Romney A- Polished, poised and stately. His answers are controlled but passionate. Stayed on message and appeared Presidential in tone.

Way forward: You are seen as the most Presidential. Throw enough ammunition at Perry to stay even, but present how you are the most viable candidate to beat Obama in the general election. Though people vote on more conservative and liberal ends of the spectrum in primaries, no one wants to throw their vote away. Emphasize how you have the ability to beat the incumbent, work with both sides of the aisle in congress, and how Perry will have more difficulty with this with his ‘divisive’ Ponzi scheme language.

Bachmann B- Generally well spoken. Didn’t get nearly the time she thought, nothing that set herself apart but did no self-harm either. Unfortunately for her, Perry seems to have stolen her Tea Party wind, dropping her into the background.

Way forward: If you want to climb back up the mountain, you must throw caution to the wind regarding the general election and show why she is way more Tea Party than Perry. You are running out of time and beginning to fade, otherwise. Do this by showing where Perry’s policies are incongruent with Tea Party values, but do not forget to clearly present your future policies that identify you most with the GOP conservative base.

Newt B Newt is Newt. This night he was the oil in the Republican cogs stating that the media isn’t going to breed GOP infighting. He applauded many of his fellow candidates efforts and views. It was almost as if the Republican party paid him to be there to keep the message clear that the opponent is Obama, not other GOP members.

Way forward: You are currently perceived as brilliantly smart and more of an author and wise news pundit than Presidential material. Narrow your message points and though you have one million ideas running through your brain at all times, pick three and stick with them. Set yourself as the elder political statesman of the bunch who has been through the most storms and brought solutions that can actually work in a bi-partisan America.

Santorum B Consistent answers, but like Bachman did nothing that set himself apart. His best moment might have been when he spoke of welfare reform being about helping the poor versus saving money.

Way forward: You best communicate your social conservatism and compassion for people. Punch these up much higher on the frequency meter.

Thoughts or disagreements?

Before You Speak, Comment, Post, Or Tweet.

Just read the article by Mitch Joel called Draft and Burn recommended on Twitter by John Jantsch.

This reminded me that before I open my mouth or type a comment, post, or tweet, I need to ask myself (and you might, too):

1. Is it true? Am I completely certain that what I am about to say is 100% true? If not, return to quiet.

2. Is it beneficial? How do I offer a redemptive solution? (a) If what I am about to say has no ability to be reconciling or redemptive with the person I am about to say it to, be silent until I can share it with the party who can either provide redemption to the situation or who needs to hear that there is a need for something to be redeemed. To tell someone that a process, system or relationship is broken who has no power to bring any change is futile. (b) When I do share it with the appropriate party, do I show them a light at the end of the tunnel, or just throw blame and shame on them like a wet blanket?

3. Is it necessary? How important is this to speak out on? What is the ramification if I stay silent? Not every hill is worth dying on and sometimes things can just be released with no harm. Some things must be dealt with. I must ask myself, “What is the short and long-term situation if I don’t say anything?”

Live by these three rules and you’ll find you are a lot quieter and more at peace. When you do speak (or type), people will listen because you’ll be perceived as a wise person. Our small group at church once said everytime they broke one of these rules we’d throw a dollar into a pot for one month. At the end of the month, we bought a housewarming gift for our Habitat for Humanity family. I believe they got a large plasma TV with the huge amount we “raised.”

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

Dealing With Wounded Clients & Friends (How To Apologize Well)

A strong analysis of the strength of Bezos’ apology for how Amazon wrongly deleted books off of peoples’ Kindles. Everyone in leadership will have to apologize from time to time. This gives great insight on how to do it well.

Another great principle was taught to me by a mentor Dave Guion.

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Rom 12:15

If someone is wounded or defensive, don’t make all your counter arguments for how you were right and be highly defensive. They will have stopped listening to you at that point. A perfect example was modeled by Dave:

We were doing an huge student ministry event in the Alamodome featuring headline artist and communicators. Dave and I were charged with running a portion of the event before the show where youth bands got to play on two side stages before the main part of the event started. Friday night went off almost hitch free and we even image magnified the bands onto the jumbotrons. Saturday morning the second group of bands were supposed to play but the major network video switcher guys had been given the main event start and not the youth band start times. So though the bands played, they were not image magnified onto the giant screens. A student’s dad, perhaps not a Christ follower, approached the leadership of the event irrate who passed it onto us and asked us to meet with him. We had never legally promised to video or image magnify any of this and I knew it and Dave knew it.

When we met the dad in the corridor steam was coming out of his ears and his face reddened as he threatened suit. David lived out the mourn with those who mourn principal. He didn’t say, “Sir, those kids last night got lucky that the camera guys happened to be here and were willing to do pre-roll work. Your kid was fortunate enough to get selected so you should be grateful.” Instead, I watched David say, “_____, there is nothing more that I would have liked than for you to have the experience of watching your son on the large screen. I realize you were looking forward to that and we were looking forward to it, too. We tried our hardest to make it happen up to the very last minute, but unfortunately we couldn’t. I want you to know if somehow they were rolling tape, we will do our best to get you a copy of your son’s performance. I don’t know if they were, but I will do everything in my power to make it happen.” The situation was instantly diffused and the guy was saying, “Listen guys, I am sorry I came on so strong. It’s just that I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time and we had friends and relatives come……I appreciate all that you were doing.”

When we try to not be defensive and mourn with those who mourn, the walls come down. The principle works equally well if something was totally your fault. A short-lesson that David Guion modeled for me so well that I have never forgotten. In fact, God has given the opportunity to practice it several times in the last few weeks….usually because of something that was my fault…ha!

You can follow Dave Guion on Twitter at one24worship.