by Kirby Hasseman
With the hysteria surrounding the Coronavirus, it is hard not to be a bit scared and even frustrated. On the one hand, I want to be cautious, informed and smart about the choices I make. I don’t want to be infected, obviously. And I don’t want to be the reason the disease spreads unnecessarily, either! On the other hand, the speed of the virus and the reporting around the disease has caused many to panic and many people are starting to blame the media for blowing this out of proportion.
I, for one, have certainly been frustrated with some of the sensationalistic nature of the journalism. Dr. Drew has made his opinion known on the subject. The challenge though, is over the past few years, it has become the norm to blame the media for nearly everything. But when we talk about “the media,” what do we really mean? Who are we really talking about. The challenge here is that the definition of the media has changed. So we need to know what “media” we are blaming in the first place. So here are a few distinctions that I think are worth understanding.
National News Media
When people blame “the media” for all of the frustration around the coronavirus, or the latest overhyped story, I think we often lay the blame at the feet of the national news media. My sense is, we feel these are large organizations that are not personal to us, so it’s easy to blame them for pumping up all “negative news stories.” Some of this blame is fair. The reality of it is, if a news show wants to be watched, it is forced to run stories that draw eyeballs. While we as people SAY we want positive, heartwarming stories about triumph and inspiration, the numbers tell a different story. We tune in for the hurricanes, the wars and the virus outbreaks. So while the National News Media can certainly be a part of the problem, I think most of the news media (and that is an important distinction, as I will explain) work hard to just report the news.
Local News Media
Most of the people I know who work in local news media are professional and hard working. They sincerely want to represent their local area to the best of their ability. But local news media runs into the same problem that the national news has…the people. What we say we want to watch, and what we tune in for are two different things. Each local station needs to perform and is in competition with not only local competitors, but also every other form of entertainment. That is why I struggle to watch most local news television programming. I am not interested in seeing a fire, followed by a shooting, followed by a stabbing, etc. These are news stories for sure. But I don’t feel they end up being an accurate representation of the area.
Opinion Media
To me, this is where the real confusion, and challenge begins. Opinion Media are those shows on all “news” channels that talk about the news, but absolutely DO have an opinion and a bias. Regardless of your politics, Opinion Media is on both sides. This is where the line really starts to blur between what is fact and opinion.
Fake News Media
Despite the fact that I hate it when leaders shout “Fake News” when someone reports something they don’t like, Fake News is an actual thing. Many of us know, there are many websites that have been created by both sides of the political spectrum designed to look like real media, but are not. These are the lowest form of any media because they are designed to manipulate and lie. These websites create narratives that some people from both sides of the political spectrum want to believe. So, armed with an article that says what they way, they share away without fact checking or common sense.
Social Media
Which leads nicely to Social Media. We have all become a member of “the Media” we say we are frustrated with. So much of what is sensationalistic or untrue is actually being shared, or even reported, by our friends. Social media is wonderful when it is used to share insight into our own lives. But more and more people are getting a large chunk of their “news” from their feed on Facebook. If that’s the case, then each of us needs to take responsibility for what we are sharing. The great thing is that now, everyone has a voice. The bad new is, not everyone deserves it.
So while there is plenty of blame to go around about the “media” overblowing the latest crisis (whatever that is), just make sure we all look in the mirror. They are the media. But so are we.
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by Kirby Hasseman
As the news about the Coronavirus has changed, developed and exploded over the last week in the U.S., it has been hard to escape. There has been panic buying, mixed information, quarantines and lots of shouting! And while there have been some nice gestures from individuals, for the most part it feels like this virus is making us drown in negativity (especially online).
That’s why now is really good time to consider creating a policy of “Giving Out Joy.” Whether as an individual, or an organization, we have the opportunity to stand out in a very crowded landscape. This is not to say that we do not educate ourselves on the very real threats in the world. It’s about understanding them, and being an island of inspiration anyway.
Here is an excerpt from my recent book “The Give First Economy,” that feels even more true now than when I wrote it.
Give Out Joy
Some days it feels like the world is drowning in negativity. Studies will tell you that 89% of what you see every day is negative. Whether it is through the media, social media or even in the 3D world, everyone seems to be frustrated or complaining.
And don’t just blame the media. That’s lazy. The fact is, most days CNN is not who is filling up my Facebook feed with bitching. It’s us. It’s you. Don’t get me wrong, the media helps fuel this fire, but they are not the only ones throwing logs on it. We all have a share of the blame.
The great thing about social media is that everyone has a voice. The bad thing is…everyone has a voice. As you turn on your device, it seems half the people posting are snarky trolls and the other half create a new reason to play the victim every day. Negativity is all around us.
Once we understand that, the question is obvious. What do we do about it?
The answer is simple (but not always easy) …Give Out Joy.
In a world where nearly 90% of what we see is negative, most people are hungering for something different. We are looking for someone to shine a light on good things. We are looking for inspiration. And the reality is, when you push out good and joy into the world, we stand out in a crowded marketing place.
When we are creating a business, an organization or a personal brand, we are always trying to prove to the market place we are better. But as Mike Michaelowicz says (author of Profit First, Pumpkin Plan and many other great business books),
“In the minds of our customers, better is not better. Different is better.”
The fact is, when seemingly everything we see in the world is negative, a positive person (or brand) can be a shining light. It stands out. So by giving out joy, creating joy and spreading joy, you start to stand out in the marketplace.
Now you might be thinking, “Great. But I am already a positive person!” My guess is, you are not as positive as you think. (Sorry to be negative). The fact is, as humans, we are not great at self-auditing. That’s why surveys will tell you that MOST people think they are an above average driver. The math tells you that’s not true.
So how do we know if we are positive or negative?
Let’s start with a simple exercise.
This is something I have done is sessions I give all over the U.S. I start with a simple question.
How many of you know someone that is constantly negative on social media? They are always complaining. As I say “They are pissed off if they can’t find something to be mad about?” This always elicits some chuckles as everyone in the raises their hands. Everyone knows this guy or gal.
Then I follow up with another simple question.
“How many of you ARE that person?”
Silence. No hands. People start to look around the room and small uncomfortable laughs start as they realize the joke.
Then the punchline comes as I say, “I have given this talk all over the country and I have never met the one jerk that is filling up all of our Facebook feeds!”
No one thinks it’s them. As I said, we are not great at self-auditing. We don’t think we are being negative. We think we “are just venting.” We might even think we are being funny. But we, generally, don’t think we could possibly perceived as a negative person.
Let’s go to the tape!
Go to your Facebook feed (or your social media outlet of choice) and look at the last 10 posts. Be introspective. Think about how they might be looked at from the outside world. Now, if 4 or more of those posts could be perceived as negative (and that’s not up to you, right?), you are likely thought of as a negative person by many of the people that follow you.
Oh…and here’s the caveat. Political posts and religious posts can be viewed as negative.
We all have that “crazy uncle” that posts on their favorite social media platform about 9 times a day outlining why the current U.S. President is a criminal. Sure…those people are easy to spot. But what about you? What do your posts look like?
The push back I sometimes get when I am speaking has to do with “religious” posts. What do I mean by that? I am not suggesting you should not celebrate your faith. I am suggesting that tone matters. Consider it.
On the other hand, you really should be authentic. You should not just change your personality to fit what people want. I don’t think you should and I am not suggesting that. If you WANT to post political rants, that’s your call. What I AM saying is you should be intentional. Most people just sort of randomly post and share without any real thought as to how they are perceived by the outside world.
I do think you should be intentional about it. And, if you want to stand out and make a difference, and create a personal brand that people want to follow in the Give First Economy, I think you should consider intentionally being joyful.
Where to Start
If you like the idea of pushing out more joy but are wondering where to start, here are a few ideas. Use these as a jumping off point and run with it!
Share Joyful News: This doesn’t have to just be about the highlight reel of your life. Seek out good things in your community and share them! Look for good things in your organization or relationships and give them a shout out! It will not only be a great and joyful noise coming from you, but it will make them feel good too!
Create Uplifting Content: If you are so inclined, write blogs that help to uplift. Create Instagram posts designed to admire. Edit a video together where you interview people doing good in your industry. Shining a light on the good in the world can always be a great place to start.
Give Compliments: We will talk more about this in the next chapter, but make it a point to give people praise.
Smile: Want a funny exercise? The next time you drop your kid off at school (or drive to any public place), take the time to look at the faces of the other drivers. Wow. You will see a LOT of grumpy faces! Take the time to give people your smile. It’s funny…you will see people give it back.
There are plenty of ways to give out joy…and it’s more important than ever. Please consider spreading that joy today. Oh, and if you want more content like this, please check out our blog page here. And you can find my book “The Give First Economy” here on Amazon.
by Kirby Hasseman
It’s hard to believe now, but there was a time not that long ago, when people questioned the power of social media when building a brand or an organization. Most of us now understand and acknowledge, that when done right, social media can be an extremely valuable tool in marketing and sales. There are just too many success stories to argue. But some companies still struggle to get their arms around how to make it work for them. So while they see that Social Media can be powerful, they have not learned to harness it for themselves.
Sometimes it’s not just about what to do…it’s about what NOT to do. So here are 3 mistakes I see organizations make on social media.
Always Be Closing
In this iconic clip from the movie Glengary Glenn Ross, Alec Baldwin gives a struggling sales team a speech that is for the ages. He says that those of us in sales (and we are all in sales) should “Always Be Closing.” While I think the cast is incredible and the scene is powerful, I don’t think that’s a great way to build a brand…especially on social media. So many organizations treat their social media platforms as another place to put up commercials. It’s not. You can’t always be selling or your prospects and customers will turn you off. They have that power now. If you want to create real business relationships, you need to provide value before you sell. You need to “give first.” Don’t “always be closing.” Always be giving value…or you won’t get the chance to sell.
I Wanna Talk About Me
Sure, it’s hard to get this Toby Keith song out of your head. But when it comes to social media (and marketing in general) when all you do is “talk about me” it can be a turn off for prospects and customers. Sure, you need to tell your story. But how you tell it matters. It’s important to consider why this matters to your customer. How does this help them? When you create social media and content marketing, make sure you do so with your customers in mind.
Ghosting
If you have not heard of it, one of the ways to define “ghosting” is to just leave a gathering or party without any communication. Sometimes that’s a great way to get through a business trip without a hangover. But it’s not a great way to treat your “audience” on social media. We have all seen that business that decided they were going to “be great at social media” and then go hog wild posting to Facebook. Then after a few weeks, the whirlwind gets in the way, and they “ghost.” No announcement. No explanation. They just stop posting anything for months. As you might expect, this is not a great way to build an audience or add value. Consistency is a powerful tool. Organizations that create a consistent plan, and execute on it, have the best results.
In many ways, it’s about treating your audience like you would want to be treated. You don’t want to be sold to all of the time. Most of us don’t want someone to only talk about them. And we certainly don’t like it when we are ignored. So consider that, as you look at your social strategy moving forward!
Thanks for reading! Want more content like this? Check out our blog page here. And if you just can’t wait another day without checking out my new book, you can find that here.
by Kirby Hasseman
I have been talking about the idea of “giving first” in your sales and marketing strategy on this blog for a while. It’s a concept I am passionate about. I believe in it. I have written blog posts about it and I have spoken about it.
As of today, I have written a book about it too! The Give First Economy (and how to succeed in it) is officially available for sale and I would love it if you would check it out. The simple concept behind the book is this, in today’s world I believe the entrepreneurs, sales professionals, companies and organizations that provide value upfront will win. Why? It’s simple. In this “give first economy” we have the ability to build relationships with our prospects and customers. When we do that, we create the chance for long-term success.
And…as a side note…the Audiobook is now available too!
But make no mistake, this path is not easy.
Creating a business that “gives first” will take time and hard work. That is why the 2nd half of the book focuses on the art of getting more done. This part of the book is based on the science of the brain and studies that back it up.
So if you are interested in creating a business or organization that grows by doing business (and life) “the right way,” the first part of the book is for you. If you want to have science based principles that will help you get more accomplished, part two of the book should help you!
Want to get your own copy of the new book? You can get it here!
Are you a person that would rather listen than read? We have you covered. The audiobook is HERE!
And if you want to get your digital copy, the ebook is here (and for this week you can get it for free)
Thanks so much for continually reading this blog and supporting us as we try to spread #MarketingJoy! We really do try to “give first” and hope to help you do the same.
Want to learn more about Hasseman Marketing? Great! Head over to our About us page here!
by Kirby Hasseman
I am often fascinated how two people can view the same thing and have two (often viscerally) different reactions to it.
For example, the book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a classic personal development book. It’s well respected, and selfishly, it made a huge difference in my life. So when I went to find the reviews on Audible for this classic, it was amazing to me that it had 599 1 star reviews! These people not only did not love the book (as I did) but went out of their way to tell everyone that they should not read (or listen to) it.
You see the same thing in the development of communities. As I talk about in this video, people can look at the same exact project and view it totally differently. Is it progress? Is it a mess? Is it investment or is it another step back? What you see is often entirely up to your perspective.
That brings us to Election Day.
Today is Election Day across the country, and millions of people that view the world differently will head to the polls to vote. We have people from different religions, ethnicity, genders, and political affiliations heading to make their voices heard. And while we often focus on the frustration and vitriol of the whole process, I do love that we each get the right to make our voice heard. It’s a true blessing.
So here are two quick thoughts as we head to vote…
Action > Keyboard Activism
The lead up to any Election cycle can be tough. We have voices from both sides shouting as loudly as they can to get their voices heard. It’s annoying, for sure, but it’s their right. But all of that huffing and puffing mean very little if you don’t put that voice into action. If you want to have a “real voice,” you need to vote. Put down your phone and go do that.
Be Respectful
We all have our windows that we view the world from. Our reality is not the only reality (as hard as that is to comprehend). Some people love the movie “The Princess Bride” and some people don’t. So if we can agree on something as simple as that (you are wrong if you don’t like it), then of course we might have differing views on the greater world around us. Just remember that every debate should not create a new enemy. Oh, and no one has ever changed their mind after being insulted.
It Will All Be Okay
Finally, just know that tomorrow this will be over and it will all be okay. So much of the messaging is created around telling you the worst case scenario of every outcome. But tomorrow, the sun will come up and it will be up to the rest of us to get to work…and make the world better.
Let’s start that work today.
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by Kirby Hasseman
I really enjoy creating. It most often takes the form of some kind of content. We do video, podcasts and blogs that we hope will provide value, and then promote what we are trying to do. It’s my version of art. It’s what I create.
Recently, however, I took a short break. I spent September traveling a lot, and I decided to “give myself” a break from this blog. I still created videos (you can find those here on my Youtube channel) but I decided to take a breath on writing. I even took a break from the He Said She Said podcast (we came back yesterday). The idea was to refresh, re-energize and re-focus. This was my mental vacation…and that makes sense, right?
This break was good…for a short time. After that, I noticed a few things I did not expect.
Creating Is a Muscle
When you set out to write a blog nearly every day, a huge concern is that you are going to run out of ideas. I was certainly concerned with that. That is why, when I start on a goal like this, I like to have a few topics or blogs done. It gives me a “head start.” But what I found was almost the opposite. The more you create, the more your brain sees ideas for content all around you. You see a lesson in your interaction with your kids, or your team, or the cable company. Ideas for content are suddenly everywhere. Creating becomes a muscle that you can strengthen. Rather than running out of energy or ideas, you suddenly find yourself with more.
And just like a muscle, when you take TOO long of a break, the muscle gets weaker. Your brain gets a bit lazier. It misses those signals. Sure, you pick up on the big moments, but you miss the day to day. The fallacy is that you will run out of ideas. The truth is, the more you create, the stronger you get.
Where Do I Put That Energy?
The other thing I found out about myself is the act of creating is actually cathartic for me. This is where I take the time to push out value and good in the world (often first thing in the morning). The activity of writing (or editing or whatever) helps to frame my mind in a positive and productive way for the rest of my day. When I don’t do that, I have this pent of energy that needs released. And recently, I feel like I am releasing it in the form of complaining. I am still editorializing on projects, activities, elections and more. I am just doing it in a more negative and less productive way. I talk about why we all need to STOP complaining immediately here.
It’s time to be more intentional of where I put that energy. Without that, the energy will come out in other ways that might not serve me as well.
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