Dear Chrysler...Stop Thanking Me!

After the news that the Big 3 automakers will receive financial assistance from the federal government (meaning you and me), I was surprised to see Chrysler take out not one but two full page, color newspaper ads. The ads thanked America for its support. This isn't exactly a sign of thriftiness for a company that is teetering on the brink of extinction. Plus with newspaper readership falling, the message isn't seen by as many eyeballs as in the past.

The automaker could have used social media to more cheaply and effectively spread its message. It could have started up a blog detailing how it plans to reposition itself in the auto industry. Daily or weekly updates could do a lot of boost consumer confidence. It could have used YouTube to bring you the personal stories of the workers who have served the company for years. All of this could have been announced in a press release that could have been sent to the media and would have been reported on (free publicity). Chrysler could have even said that in the past we would have bought these expensive newspaper ads but it's a new time and we're using inexpensive ways to thank the American people.

This May Seem Silly, But....

Recently I had a chance to tour the Columbus Museum of Art. I give the facility high marks for a diverse collection, accessible parking, and amusing exhibits for children.

During my visit, I took some snapshots of some exhibits that impressed me. Later I stopped taking pictures when I was told by a docent that there was no photography allowed. As I view visiting a museum to visiting someone's home, I had no problem with following the "house rules."

Later I realized that no where in the museum did I see any signs or receive any instructions regarding photography. In my travels, I've become well accustomed to looking for a sign of a camera with the international "no" symbol. This got me to thinking that often we don't tell someone not to do something until after they've done it.

Let's take things a bit further because sometimes we tell people not to do something without telling them why they shouldn't. You see a sign that says, "Stay off the grass." While this may accomplish its purpose, it creates a bit of an adversarial situation. Suddenly, stepping on the grass is an act of defiance against rules or "the Man." However our attitudes and understanding of a sign will increase if we understand why we are asked to follow the directions. Instead of "Stay off the grass," perhaps we should say, "Stay off the grass so we all can enjoy this beautiful lawn." This way everyone has a share of ownership in the benefit of following the rules.

Rules + understanding = success.

Big vs. Little Changes & Steve's Law

As we near the end of 2008, it's very easy to start thinking of resolutions for the new year. Often these are focused on very big changes we can make in our lives. While this vision on a grand scale can be a very positive thing, the scale of our ambition may be larger than our ability to execute.

Instead you might want to focus on a small change that can make a big difference in your life. It could be something as simple as putting in half a spoon of sugar in your coffee as opposed to a full one. In itself, it's not a big change but over time it will add up.

The same can apply to business. Using both sides of a piece of paper won't save the rain forest but in theory, it should cut your paper use by 50%.

Still not convinced about the power of little things? Watch this video about how two office supplies combined to make a rather large mess for the army.

If you can't see the video, use this link to take you there:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETjh7OMJkWs

Slumdog Millionaire: Go See It!

It may be hard to believe but the best holiday film may be about a poor boy in India. The film is Slumdog Millionaire.

I know what you may be thinking: The film has no stars known in the USA and deals with a central character who is appearing on India's version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire. I know, it may sound like a stretch but the film is incredibly engaging.

Much of it could be right out of Charles Dickens. The device of the game show's questions allows the audience to follow the main character through various episodes of his life. At an early age, he and his brother must fend for themselves in a society that doesn't care about them. Along the way, he meets the love of his life but is soon separated. Despite having little education, the hero is shown to be very clever. We follow his journey from one challenging situation to another.

The direction, photography, and music are all top notch. Trust me, if you see the film, you'll leave feeling moved by the emotional journey you've been on.

An Attitude Lesson from Mulch

Recently, I was in a park and came across a huge pile of mulch. I briefly had a flashback to the family yard work projects of my youth. Then I realized that the mulch can give a great lesson in how we approach a project.

When you see the pile do you see a lot of work or do you focus on the end result of the work? It's a variation of the classic glass have full/empty question. Everyday we have tasks that we have to do that may not be very fun. But if you focus on the outcome, it can make the mundane a bit more enjoyable.

Just Give Me the Cash...

Today I visited an ATM to make a quick withdrawl. Before I could get my card back, I was surprised to see an advertisement on the screen. It was for an additional bank service. I had the option of pressing a button to say whether I wanted to be contacted with more information. I chose to proceed to the "get your card back" option as quickly as possible and ignored the ad.

There' s few problems I see with ATM advertisements:

1. People aren't in a browsing mood. I go to an ATM for fast service. I'm not looking to linger and think about new services and other ways I can spend my money.
2. ATMs aren't the safest places. Why would I want to hang out any longer at one?
3. By adding as step to the ATM process, the bank has slowed down the line. In today's speed obsessed culture, that's not a good thing.
4. While an on screen ad hardly costs anything I doubt it has a high rate of return. And does the bank gain more of a negative association with its customers by sneaking in a commercial?

Think About Ink

Do you put out pens for your customers to use? Do those pens tend to vanish over time? Whether intentionally or not, it's easy for people to use them and then leave with them.

If the pen is branded then you don't mind seeing it walk out the door as it's an advertisement. You could use those pens that are anchored to a desk with a cord. Yes, the pen doesn't go anywhere but the plastic chain seems to suggest that pen stealing is premeditated. If the loss of office supplies gives you angst, then try taking the cap off the pens. Suddenly it's less desirable to take because there's a chance you might get ink on yourself or your clothes if you put in in your pocket.

You're not changing the basic function of the pen but rather one detail that changes its perception. Think about how you can flip this to your advantage. What little thing can you change about your products and services that suddenly makes them more desirable. Keep in mind that from cars to iPods, people will buy a particular model because of its color, rather than what it does. A small change can have a big impact.

A Different Path...

Do you want to go up the elevator or use the stairs? It was a question I had to ask myself recently while standing at the base of the Eiffel Tower. In most instances I would pick the elevator but I decided to try the other way of climbing this landmark.

Why did I make this choice? I looked at the long line for the elevators and remembered them being quite claustrophobic. It would also cost less to clip up the leg of the tower. But the deciding factor was an itch to try something new. I had always seen people climbing up the Eiffel Tower but had never tried it. For me it was worth the risk of trying something new,

It turns out that it was a great choice. Yes, my legs were burning when I reached my destination but I got a whole new perspective by going up the stairs. I enjoyed a different view and could really appreciate how the tower is bolted together. This makes you wonder about the nature of our daily choices. Do we stick with the familiar because it's an easy choice or because it's the best way? And just because something may be the best way doesn't mean another way might not hold its own rewards. Taking a different path to the same destination, whether it is physical or mental, can be an enlightening experience.

For more on my climb watch this video:


If you can't see the video, click here.

Dept. of Sneaky Stuff

I was excited to learn that Good Morning America was bringing a special job fair to South Florida. The traveling event promises to help those out of work get back on a payroll. This sounded like good news as the Florida economy has been very troubled in recent months and many employers are laying off staff.

But to my surprise I learned about the hours of the event: 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Three hours hardly seems to be enough when you consider the amount of people who will likely attend. Also, many of them will have to fight heavy rush hour traffic to get there. Most other job fairs are for a good chunk of the day. You want people to have time to chat with perspective employers and not throw a resume at them in a rush to get to the next booth.

Then I realized there may be other motives for the short time frame. Good Morning America is on from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. By limiting the hours of the job fair, the program is assured of having big crowds in the background for its live reports. If I'm right, then this is a pity as it's more important to help people than it is to make it look like you're helping.

The Wall Street Journal has taken a much better approach to job fairs. It has held several that are totally virtual. To attend you log in through your computer. You have the ability to take part in a live chat session with employers, research open positions, and submit resumes. While this approach may not get the newspaper a ton of publicity, it's a much better model for the job seeker.

Oprah's Weighty Admission

I'm sure you've heard Oprah Winfrey's recent announcement regarding her weight gain. Apparently the daytime talk show icon has put on 40 pounds during the past two years. This may come as a surprise to many as she has often promoted a healthy lifestyle both on her show and throughout her media empire.

While I wish Oprah the best, I think there are some good tips we can take from her predicament that can apply to your New Year's Resolutions.

1. It's good to announce goals for things like losing weight and living a healthy lifestyle. But if you fall off the wagon, it can hurt your credibility. There's a difference between telling a friend and telling everyone you know. A lot of people live to say, "I told you so!" when you come up short.

2. Get people to support you not only with your goal but with helping you after you've achieved your objective. Without that goal in your mind, it's easy to slip into old habits.

3. Resources don't guarantee success. Oprah has all the money in the world, access to experts, but still gained weight. She could literally pay a team to follow her around and keep the wrong foods from entering her mouth (Oprah: Call me if you're hiring). Having access to resources, financial and otherwise does not guarantee change. That motivation, which comes from inside you, is priceless.

Sore Muscles But a Happy Mind

Today one of my fitness buddies invited me to check out her new gym. Our plan was to do a two hour workout. The first class we took was spinning. I'm used to this cycle workout and enjoyed being on a newer model of stationary bike.

Then we did an hour long boot camp. This is a mixture of cardiovascular work and weight lifting. This was something new for me and I'm sure I'll be sore tomorrow. The workout is pretty much nonstop. The challenge was adjusting to different range of motion while exercising. Muscles I'd forgotten about, reintroduced themselves.

The class was a great reminder of the importance of having variety in our lives. While I'm in good shape, the boot camp showed me that there are still aspects of fitness where I can improve. This lesson can also apply to our professional lives. Learning a new skill is a great way to exercise your mental muscles. Often you can find yourself in a bit of a rut. Challenging yourself with something new stimulates your mind and keeps you sharp.

Excessive Overkill

I enjoy going to my gym for a workout and taking the stationary bike classes known as spinning. They are held in a separate workout room. The room has a glass wall and can be looked into from the rest of the facility.

Spinning is a challenging workout and many people like to spin with the lights out. Light still shines in from outside but the darker conditions inside help you focus more on the exercise. Sometimes this meant that the room would have its lights off after the class.

Apparently this was a big concern for club management. The fear was that it would make it harder for them to show the spinning room to perspective members. Never mind the fact that the light switch is in the doorway.

So an electrician was hired to rewire the light switch. Now it is on a 60 minute timer, which is the maximum amount of time the lights can be out. The rest of the time, the lights are on.

To me, this is a classic example of over thinking a problem. A lot of money was spent to rewire a switch that could easily be turned on in about a second. I doubt that delay will keep people from joining the gym. Plus, at a time when energy conservation is popular, leaving the lights on in an room, that's empty for a good bit of the day, seems like a waste.

Techno Lost & Found

In the past, if you found something that someone had dropped, you'd look for a lost and found or some other place to turn it in. You could only hope that the person would think to look there and ask if someone had turned in their item. And usually, you'd never find out if the property was ever reunited with it's owner.

Today I realized how much things have changed when I found a cell phone in a parking lot. The phone was fully charged, so I figured that it had been lost that morning. First I used it to call my cell phone. With it's number now in my phone's memory, I called back and explained that the phone was lost and how I could be contacted. Unsure if the owner would think to check the phone's messages, I then looked in the phone's address book and found a phone number listed as, "home." Guessing that it was a land line, I dialed it.

I reached the owner of the cell phone, who had no idea he had lost it. We set up a nearby place to meet and I returned his property. He was very grateful. I was glad to help.

Here's a free tip if you should ever lose your cell phone and it's found by a dishonest person: Mine is set up so that when it's turned on, you have to enter an unlock code. That way if I ever lost mine, the person who found it could only make calls on it until the battery died. After that, they'd be locked out of it. Sure, they might have the exact charger and be able to keep it going forever, but with so many different types of chargers that's become less likely.