On Thursday October 15th, Hasseman Marketing is hosting our first ever online marketing conference (register here). We are super excited about the event. We even wrote about 5 reasons you (and your team) should attend. But I think people are struggling to picture what the event will look like. Let me assure you, the MasterClass is not just another Zoom meeting.
In order to explain, I created this short video to go over what to expect.
The event starts at 2pm, but we are recommending everyone start to log in around 1:45.
We are asking this for a few reasons. First, we have all had that experience of trying to log into a new software for the first time. It can be confusing, and waiting until the last minute causes stress. We will also use that time to make announcements, talk about the flow of the day, and give attendees the chance to introduce themselves via the chat!
The program will begin at 2pm and we will welcome Bill Petrie to the stage. Bill is a great speaker and we are blessed to have him join us. He will be talking about how to make real connections in a virtual world. Bill (and his partner Kelsey) just launched a new company called brandivate during this pandemic…and they did it right. (I even wrote about it here). Bill will talk about that experience…and more.
At 2:30 we head into Breakout sessions.
During the breakout sessions, you will have several different topics to choose from. You will click on the sessions button on the left and see the options…and then enter the room. These will be quick topics with people living in that space designed to bring you real value. Oh…and at 2:50 we built in a 10 minute break!
At 3pm we are back on the Main Stage
Bobby Lehew is one of the most thoughtful content creators in the marketing industry and an amazing storyteller. Bobby has graciously agreed to join us to talk about how to tell your story more effectively. This will be a session you do not want to miss.
What About The Trade Show Floor?
One thing we heard from our customers when we started to plan this event was “we want to see suppliers.” Our Customer Appreciation event features some of our favorite supplier partners each year. And our customers have learned to use that as a tool for planning for next year. Don’t worry. We listened. We have an “Expo Area” built into the platform so you can go into vendor booths just like an in person trade show.
As you can see, we have a lot planned for this day and we are fired up to share it with you. Please join us. If you have not yet registered, there is still time. Please head here to get signed up for a great day. Oh…and if you have to plan any virtual meetings then you should check out the platform we are using. It’s called Hopin and I think you will enjoy it.
So as I hope you can see, this is not just another Zoom meeting. We want this to be a fast paced, full day that will help springboard you into a strong finish to 2020 (and beyond).
Is it just me, or do people just seem so angry right now?
In nearly every interaction, about every topic, someone seems to have a Ford 150 size chip on their shoulder. No matter what we are discussing, we seem ready to argue. This is particularly true, it seems, online. Everyone seems to be looking for reasons to be cheesed off!
This is one thing the pandemic has created that we can all see…and most of us can easily diagnose. It has created anxiety and fear. And when you combine that with the fact that most of us can’t do what we normally might to blow off steam, have fun, travel, see loved ones, play sports, etc. it gives us time and unused energy. So we are more confined and cooped up, and more reliant on media and social media. While I am a fan of social media for many purposes, I find myself getting overwhelmed by the amount of hate and vitriol you can find there right now.
So what do we do about it?
In times of crisis, I find that the best tactics (for me) is to go back to basics. One of my favorite books of all time is 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. And while I should probably just read the whole book again, I was recently reminded of a powerful lesson from the first habit…focus on your circle of influence. The concept is simple. The most highly effective people spend time focusing on the things they have control over. They do not worry about things that are clearly outside of their control. And, when you continually take care of the things inside your circle of influence, your circle often gets bigger.
To me, that is the clear reason for so much anger right now. We are simply focusing most of our time and attention on things we cannot control. It’s maddening and it’s not helpful. How will the stock market fair? I have no idea. Will there be a football season? Got me. Did Carol Baskin kill her husband? Yes, of course she did. But I can’t do anything about that either!
Lately, when I have been feeling overwhelmed, I try to center myself over the things I can impact. I spend time in my Circle of Influence. When I do that, I find that I not only feel better, but I get a lot more done too.
Make sure you never miss a post. You have some control over that. You can head to our blog page here to catch up. Or you can always sign up for our VIP newsletter here. We send one email per week with all of the blogs, videos and more.
It’s time for Episode 41 of the He Said She Said Podcast with Hasseman Marketing! This podcast is designed to give an inside look at being married and being entrepreneurs and the projects we are working on and the challenges we are facing! We talk about business, family, community and more. So listen in and let us know what you think!
This week Kirby and Amy talk about the importance of getting away. During this different time, Kirby and Amy discuss their struggle with the idea of needing some time away to recharge…and how to do it.
Weekly Whirlwind
This week in the Weekly Whirlwind we talk more updates on the building at 539. Progress is really happening as the 2nd floor nears completion and destruction on the 3rd floor starts. Kirby talks about an uptick in print business during this time and the new Hasseman U. You can learn more about that here.
Lesson In Life
This week in the “lesson in life” Kirby and Amy talk about the importance of showing up and doing a little each and every day. You can read a short blog about that here. So many people succeed because they just don’t stop!
Shout Outs
Each week we want to give a shout out to an organization or an individual doing good work. This week we talk about two couples in Coshocton County that drove around Coshocton in an RV, playing patriotic music on the 4th of July and handing out hot dogs and popsicles. So cool. Learn more!
So that’s a wrap! Thanks for listening to Episode 41 of the He Said She Said Podcast! Any feedback will be welcome as we try to provide you value! If you want to subscribe you can do that where you normally get podcasts…or you can head here to follow on Soundcloud.
It’s time for Episode 40 of the He Said She Said Podcast with Hasseman Marketing! This podcast is designed to give an inside look at being married and being entrepreneurs and the projects we are working on and the challenges we are facing! We talk about business, family, community and more. So listen in and let us know what you think!
This week Kirby and Amy talk about working from home. Most people were forced into working from home during the quarantine. Some people say it’s here to stay. Kirby and Amy discuss their thoughts on what is next on “working from home.”.
Weekly Whirlwind
This week in the Weekly Whirlwind we talk more updates on the building at 539. The 2nd floor is really coming together and Amy talks about that. If you are interested in being on the waiting list you can find that here. Oh…and we are trying to think of a name, feel free to weigh in with your ideas.
Lesson In Life
This week in the “lesson in life” Kirby and Amy talk about the difference between being “interested” versus being “committed.” What is the difference? They talk about it here!
Shout Outs
Each week we want to give a shout out to an organization or an individual doing good work. This week Amy shines a light on the group of people that organized the Black Lives Matter rally in Coshocton County. Well done! Kirby talks about the OPPA group that is working to keep some events going on during 2020 to help keep the wheels of the economy moving.
So that’s a wrap! Thanks for listening to Episode 40 of the He Said She Said Podcast! Any feedback will be welcome as we try to provide you value! If you want to subscribe you can do that where you normally get podcasts…or you can head here to follow on Soundcloud.
Like many Americans, I am struggling right now. I don’t know what to say. The words don’t seem to match my feelings. I am frustrated, and scared, and sickened. And when these feelings bubble up, my initial reaction is to find someone to blame. That might be natural, but I don’t know that I can sit here and tell anyone else what they should do, say or feel. So I will focus on me. Let me start with an acknowledgement.
I am a part of the problem.
Like nearly every person, I have my own biases. I have opinions about people based on my past experiences. I judge people based on their appearances. I make snap judgements based on my feelings rather than logic. My decisions are often motivated by my own insecurities, fears and ignorance. I want to be better than that. But I am human.
I am a part of the problem…but acknowledging it is the first step.
The video of the George Floyd incident is one of the more disturbing things I have seen in quite some time. It sickened my soul. And while every person I know said it was terrible, I struggled with the idea of commenting on it. My silence was certainly not intended to condone anything. I was just hesitant of what I could possibly say to add to the discussion in a meaningful way. Let’s face it, as a white male in a predominantly white region, how could I possibly understand?
I can’t.. But I can understand right and wrong. And if that happened to a person I cared about, I too would be hungry for justice.
As I mentioned, I have my own personal biases. To be candid, I think we all do. These biases are natural. But they do not help with the current dialogue if they are left alone. If left unchecked and unchallenged, these biases become stronger.
I can certainly tell you I am not a racist. But I don’t know anyone that would say they are (at least out loud) so what good does that do?
What I do think is important for me to do is to take out these biases and talk about them. I need to inspect them. By authentically, honestly and openly discussing these opinions and fears (and make no mistake, many of them are based in fear) we take away some of their power. In between sensational video clips of riots, we are seeing some of that dialogue now, and it provides me hope.
So what can I do? I think acknowledging my bias is an important first step. Then I need to enter the conversation with an open mind and an open heart.
How can we make this better? I am not sure…but I want to help find an answer because I think our children (and their children) deserve better than this.
I am a part of the problem…but I am committed to making it better.
We are all struggling in some way during this pandemic. Some more than others. As my buddy Bill Petrie said in a great blog he wrote “We are all in the same storm. But we are not in the same boat.” Some of us are honestly sick. Many are working on the front lines, tired and stressed. But many more Americans are fine…and just bored.
And so, it’s been a little troubling to me that many of us have responded like we are teenagers who have been grounded. But not like teenagers who are REALLY being punished. We still have our phones, our television and our password to Netflix!
As far as I can tell, many Americans, (who have clearly never REALLY had to struggle) are reverting to their spoiled teenage years. You can tell by what they say. See if you can recognize a few things you are seeing on social media.
“I don’t care what you say. I do what I want!”
When leaders in the government came out and alerted the public that this virus was a real threat, the message was pretty clear (at least from states). This virus can be deadly. In order to slow the spread, we need to stay at least 6 feet apart from one another. We also needed to stay at home so we could “flatten the curve.”
Everyone was frustrated by this. I know I was. It affected our social lives, our plans and even the economy. So naturally, a percentage of people gathered in a large group, closely together, in a public place (with rifles). Awesome.
When you understand how the spread of any virus works, most reasonable people can agree this is not the best strategy. But as spoiled teenagers would do, we snuck out our bedroom window to do it anyway. Well done.
“I don’t believe what my teachers and parents…no matter what they say!”
I remember this clearly in high school. No matter what the Vice Principal said, it was dumb. My parents did not know what they were talking about. And because I was SO unique, no adults seemed to understand me! I see this clearly on social media right now. Every day, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine comes out to address the public with new updates and mandates. DeWine has widely been regarded as a leader in handling the crisis, and is respected nationwide. But that does not stop armchair quarterbacks from questioning his every move.
In addition to this lack of faith in leadership, we seem to want to argue with everything. (Do you have a natural reaction to say “No we don’t?”)
A friend of mine recently posted an article where he said that it “changed his thinking on masks.” I know he was reticent about sharing it for fear it would cause an argument, but he thought it would be informative for those willing to read it. But one commenter said “I did not read the article, but I don’t agree.” Oh, for crying out loud! That leads nicely to…
“I don’t want to do my homework!”
In the interest of self-disclosure, I struggled with this as a student. I did not always want to do the work. A lot of teenagers were like that. But I hope that I have evolved as an adult. That does not seem to be the case with many Americans. We freely share and post memes and vides that we have done nothing to verify.
Then we get all bent out of shape when they are removed. I see people all over social media complaining that their posts have been taken down and claiming that Facebook, or the Government (or the Man) is violating Free Speech. Jeesh.
First, if you have ever posted something and it has been taken down because it has been determined as “completely false,” please take a moment and pause. This is not “the man” bringing you down. If anything, they are doing you a favor. You not only look silly, but you are, quite literally, spreading lies. Simple as that.
You do have the right to Free Speech in this country. But as you may recall, you do not have the right to yell “Fire!” in a crowded movie theater. That is a crime. You might remember that from your civics lesson. Or maybe you don’t…if you did not do your homework.
You know what I heard?
This is closely related to the gossip and conspiracy theories that we are seeing all over social media. Like needy teenagers that want the approval of their peers, we are very willing to share any crazy theory that comes our way. Back to the last point, it would be great if we would all push “pause” and do some research.
But if you don’t have time to research every theory (and you don’t) then just refrain from sharing! I think Facebook should have one more step that you need to complete when you hit the share button that says “Really? Are you sure you want to leverage your reputation on this?”
If you don’t have time to research, or like me, you are just not an expert in the area of healthcare, viruses, pandemics, and the like, you could say “I don’t know.” You could rely on the expertise of those that have dedicated their lives to studying these things.
Admitting that you don’t know is not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of strength and maturity.
So, before you spread gossip, you might consider asking an expert in the field. But that might be a challenge if you struggle with Number 2.
I don’t really care about anyone else.
Sorry to offend any teenagers reading this, but most of us were more selfish back in our teens. I know I was. But I would like to think that I have grown a bit since then. I have more life experience and understand better that my actions have consequences outside of my own life. So, it troubles me that I see what appears to be a real lack of consideration for anyone else from a percentage of the population. Have we really gone this far backwards?
I am not a scientist or a doctor. But science suggests that wearing a mask can help you from spreading your germs to others. This article says that though masks might not help you protect yourself as much, doing so would help others.
It begs the question, if you can do something that is a minor annoyance to you but can help the rest of the country, would you do it?
Please understand that I say this with love. Just like a proud parent, I see our potential. During this pandemic, I have struggled with most of these as well…that is probably why I see them.
One final note of clarification: I know I said we need to listen to our leaders. I believe we do. But that does not mean blind following of orders. We still do need to maintain critical thinking. I have never agreed with everything from any leader. If you agree with EVERYTHING a leader says, you might not have a leader. You might be in a cult. But despite that healthy skepticism, I often understand that they have more information than me at the time.
Regardless of your stance on masks, or leadership, or health experts, I would love to see us all get back to the basics. Let’s work to help one another. Let’s make others safety a priority. And let’s fight off the urge to be angry all of the time…and be kind.
