This is amex
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Sunday, March 4, 2007
The Articulate Executive
Anytime I have to make a big presentation I typically spend some time working on my professional communication skills.
One of the most helpful books I've ever used to prepare and keep on my bookshelf as a constant reference is "The Articulate Executive," by Granville N. Toogood. In the book the author uses several formulas I've found extremely helpful. One of them I'd like to share with you is called....
The 4 A's to a Great Presentation:
1. Assemble--Bring All the Relevant Data Together
For your project gather all your facts. Tell us about your company, look at the competition, establish some goals. Begin with the end in mind...what do you hope to accomplish and how would this accomplishment or series of accomplishments ultimately serve the company.
2. Align--Make Sure All the Facts are Headed in the Right Direction
Since this is a pitch you don't have time for a long spill about the company. Gather facts that ultimately support your argument. Facts combined with effective story telling is a one--two punch for persuading your audience.
3. Apply--Explain How All these Facts Together Tell a Story
People generally respond better to stories. They capture the entertainment factor and they help your audience draw a visual in their minds. This can really persuade others to get behind you.
4. Assign--Take the Information and What it's Telling you then Project it Into a Highly Probable Future Reality.
Simply put how will your promotion change things. Why is it worth the expense or the effort? Will they experience an strong increase in sales, attract a new demographic, accelerate their conversion rate? People love a sneak peak into the future. Make the future appealing and exciting as a result of your promotional effort.
The most important thing I've learned about presenting is that confidence is key. When you're prepared you provide yourself the luxury of connecting with your audience on a conversational level.
Speak as if you are having a conversation with one person. The part of a presentation that makes us all nervous is the "public speaking," part of it. However, we all do public speaking everyday in our conversations with our friends, family and peers. Release the "crowd factor" from your mind and communicate with the same confidence you have on a personal level.
My expectations are great...and I can't wait to see what you come up with!!!
See each of you in the practice sessions. We'll knock out the kinks there, so you're fully prepared to give it all you've got....
R Harvey
One of the most helpful books I've ever used to prepare and keep on my bookshelf as a constant reference is "The Articulate Executive," by Granville N. Toogood. In the book the author uses several formulas I've found extremely helpful. One of them I'd like to share with you is called....
The 4 A's to a Great Presentation:
1. Assemble--Bring All the Relevant Data Together
For your project gather all your facts. Tell us about your company, look at the competition, establish some goals. Begin with the end in mind...what do you hope to accomplish and how would this accomplishment or series of accomplishments ultimately serve the company.
2. Align--Make Sure All the Facts are Headed in the Right Direction
Since this is a pitch you don't have time for a long spill about the company. Gather facts that ultimately support your argument. Facts combined with effective story telling is a one--two punch for persuading your audience.
3. Apply--Explain How All these Facts Together Tell a Story
People generally respond better to stories. They capture the entertainment factor and they help your audience draw a visual in their minds. This can really persuade others to get behind you.
4. Assign--Take the Information and What it's Telling you then Project it Into a Highly Probable Future Reality.
Simply put how will your promotion change things. Why is it worth the expense or the effort? Will they experience an strong increase in sales, attract a new demographic, accelerate their conversion rate? People love a sneak peak into the future. Make the future appealing and exciting as a result of your promotional effort.
The most important thing I've learned about presenting is that confidence is key. When you're prepared you provide yourself the luxury of connecting with your audience on a conversational level.
Speak as if you are having a conversation with one person. The part of a presentation that makes us all nervous is the "public speaking," part of it. However, we all do public speaking everyday in our conversations with our friends, family and peers. Release the "crowd factor" from your mind and communicate with the same confidence you have on a personal level.
My expectations are great...and I can't wait to see what you come up with!!!
See each of you in the practice sessions. We'll knock out the kinks there, so you're fully prepared to give it all you've got....
R Harvey
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Blog for Thought
Hi Guys...
Thanks to all who completed the midterm blog! I appreciate your critical thinking and participation.
Hopefully this exercise helps you to check the class blog more frequently. I'm going to post at least once a week until the end of the quarter.
It's not required reading but participating will definitely enhance your learning experience and give readers some ideas and support for the final project.
Check out the blog by Bill Marriott, chairman of the Marriott Hotels. http://www.blogs.marriott.com/
Do you think this helps connect customers to the company or is it just gibberish?
If not how could it be improved to make more of an impact?
Is anyone considering creating a blog for their company for the final project....if so give us a preview on how and why a blog may be effective for your project company. Remember for the final project it is all about being creative; using all the tools and lessons you've learned to really make a difference in these companies.
Please take it very seriously...it's a big part of your grade and also a big opportunity for some professional exposure. Very exciting!!
Happy Blogging...
R Harvey
Thanks to all who completed the midterm blog! I appreciate your critical thinking and participation.
Hopefully this exercise helps you to check the class blog more frequently. I'm going to post at least once a week until the end of the quarter.
It's not required reading but participating will definitely enhance your learning experience and give readers some ideas and support for the final project.
Check out the blog by Bill Marriott, chairman of the Marriott Hotels. http://www.blogs.marriott.com/
Do you think this helps connect customers to the company or is it just gibberish?
If not how could it be improved to make more of an impact?
Is anyone considering creating a blog for their company for the final project....if so give us a preview on how and why a blog may be effective for your project company. Remember for the final project it is all about being creative; using all the tools and lessons you've learned to really make a difference in these companies.
Please take it very seriously...it's a big part of your grade and also a big opportunity for some professional exposure. Very exciting!!
Happy Blogging...
R Harvey
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Grey's Anatomy Anyone?
I missed Grey's Anatomy. I had a hair appointment...it was the only one I could get. And when my hair is not right....it's a problem. Like it was last week, I'm sure you remember. At any rate I had to get it taken care of...immediately. I had no choice.
Knowing I'd missed Grey's Anatomy and I don't have tivo or dvr or anything that will complicate my cable bill any more than it already is....I was totally annoyed. I went to abc.com to see if a rerun was coming up that I could catch. How else was I supposed to find out how George was dealing with his father's death and if Christina and Burke made up...so frustrating!
So I checked out abc.com and I don't know who is the genius behind this but they had the whole episode available on the website. Fabulous! I didn't even have to pay, or register or anything. It started off..."This episode of Grey's Anatomy is sponsored with limited commercial interruption by Disney" So, with the Disney logo perched across the top of the frame I watched the first couple of segments right on my laptop. Then a brief 30 second Disney commercial interrupted a couple times...not enough to disrupt the flow of the show like a normal slew of commercials, but just short enough that I didn't mind waiting through it.
I thought about how normally when commercials come on my regular television I'll run around the house doing other things until I hear the show I'm watching is back. However on the web...the ads were just short and sweet enough to keep me watching.
I know a few of you mentioned you watched tv online...do you notice the advertising any more than you would on a regular television? What do you think are the benefits of online television advertising...is it more or less effective than traditional TV? If you haven't seen anything check out www.abc.com or www.mtv.com they operate off of a similar model.
Bill Gates was quoted recently saying that the web was going to revolutionize television. I'm prone to agree. I never would have thought of watching TV on my laptop but now because of the way it's set up, I prefer it.
I've since watched an episode of the Hills on mtv.com and watched a few episodes of Ugly Betty a show I never even thought of watching, one night when I was bored. What do you all think about this experience? Does it pose any advantages for the networks and/or the advertisers? How can this form of online advertising translate into online commerce? Let's Discuss. One paragraph of your thoughts should be enough to keep the discussion moving....Looking forward to it!
Knowing I'd missed Grey's Anatomy and I don't have tivo or dvr or anything that will complicate my cable bill any more than it already is....I was totally annoyed. I went to abc.com to see if a rerun was coming up that I could catch. How else was I supposed to find out how George was dealing with his father's death and if Christina and Burke made up...so frustrating!
So I checked out abc.com and I don't know who is the genius behind this but they had the whole episode available on the website. Fabulous! I didn't even have to pay, or register or anything. It started off..."This episode of Grey's Anatomy is sponsored with limited commercial interruption by Disney" So, with the Disney logo perched across the top of the frame I watched the first couple of segments right on my laptop. Then a brief 30 second Disney commercial interrupted a couple times...not enough to disrupt the flow of the show like a normal slew of commercials, but just short enough that I didn't mind waiting through it.
I thought about how normally when commercials come on my regular television I'll run around the house doing other things until I hear the show I'm watching is back. However on the web...the ads were just short and sweet enough to keep me watching.
I know a few of you mentioned you watched tv online...do you notice the advertising any more than you would on a regular television? What do you think are the benefits of online television advertising...is it more or less effective than traditional TV? If you haven't seen anything check out www.abc.com or www.mtv.com they operate off of a similar model.
Bill Gates was quoted recently saying that the web was going to revolutionize television. I'm prone to agree. I never would have thought of watching TV on my laptop but now because of the way it's set up, I prefer it.
I've since watched an episode of the Hills on mtv.com and watched a few episodes of Ugly Betty a show I never even thought of watching, one night when I was bored. What do you all think about this experience? Does it pose any advantages for the networks and/or the advertisers? How can this form of online advertising translate into online commerce? Let's Discuss. One paragraph of your thoughts should be enough to keep the discussion moving....Looking forward to it!
EZ E-Zines
Hi Everyone...
How's it going? I'm really curious to hear your thoughts on our e-zine guest speaker. I thought she was really great and her business model is just a part of the brilliance the web is bringing out of the media. The fact that she's alumni should also be really encouraging.
At any rate, my ears perked up when she mentioned one of her competitors charges up to 150K for an online ad run of a dedicated email........ I thought that was completely bananas! How amazing is that to get paid so much for a few taps on the keyboard.
Earlier this week I had a meeting with an editor from NY based lifestyle e-zine (electronic magazine). We've been corresponding via email and they've asked me to submit some pitches to them for LA stories.
The meeting did not go at all as I expected...at least on the surface. I thought she'd be staying with some friends in LA and we'd meet up at starbucks....where we'd each buy our own coffee and she'd tell me about the 200 people that read her site and explain how she wouldn't be able to pay me at first..yada...yada..yada..
Quite contrary, we met poolside a luxurious hollywood hotel...where she and her staff were staying (all in separate rooms.) She couldn't say enough about their growing subscriber base, currently about five HUNDRED thousand worldwide ....and how well they are able to pay their writers for quality stories. She even asked me if I wanted to stick around for a massage. I had to take a raincheck on that....but needless to say I was impressed.
I'm thinking...first of all; since when do online magazines PAY their writers? You would think most of the new online magazines were working out of a garage somewhere...and encouraging people to write for "exposure." It's a cute site... but I had no idea it was a full out full time career for the editor and her 4 person staff. Obviously the online world is changing(for the better). Apparently these sites are becoming more and more mainstream and with their low overhead it appears they're growing more profitably than ever.
The popularity of e magazines are bound to have some effect mainstream media and traditional advertising. Instead of a multi channel sales models like stores and ecommerce counterparts, magazines are now becoming multi channel media models. Every major magazine has a website...everything from luckymag.com, to style.com (the home of vogue and w). Then there's the pure play models like thetipjar.com, dailycandy.com and julib.com who are working on almost a pure profit platform compared to the cost of printing and distribution. p.s. do you all remember what "pure play is?" it will be on the final...but I digress...
Ok, so I'll get to the point....I need your opinions. Do you all think that an online magazine website supports the physical magazine in the same way an ecommerce website would support its brick and mortar counterpart? The major reasons that we've learned that people don't shop online is because of shipping charges and the inability to see and touch/try on the product. Also, we've learned commodities with standard specifications like (cd's and electronics) and digitized content (such as itunes and e books) are the web's top sellers. All things considered what are your thoughts?
In a multi channel media model ex. lucky and luckymag.com do they still work together to support each other? Or, would one be satisfied with reading luckymag.com and forgoing the subscription...since you really don't need to touch/feel a magazine...or do you? Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free, right?
What are your thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages of having a magazine website and a physical magazine? Do they compete too heavily or cannibalize each other? Also do these or how can these magazines use their sites to support the physical counterpart and total business?
Thanks for posting your thoughts....very curious to hear what you think.... One paragraph on any of the above points is fine...I'm sure this will be a fruitful discussion.
R Harvey
How's it going? I'm really curious to hear your thoughts on our e-zine guest speaker. I thought she was really great and her business model is just a part of the brilliance the web is bringing out of the media. The fact that she's alumni should also be really encouraging.
At any rate, my ears perked up when she mentioned one of her competitors charges up to 150K for an online ad run of a dedicated email........ I thought that was completely bananas! How amazing is that to get paid so much for a few taps on the keyboard.
Earlier this week I had a meeting with an editor from NY based lifestyle e-zine (electronic magazine). We've been corresponding via email and they've asked me to submit some pitches to them for LA stories.
The meeting did not go at all as I expected...at least on the surface. I thought she'd be staying with some friends in LA and we'd meet up at starbucks....where we'd each buy our own coffee and she'd tell me about the 200 people that read her site and explain how she wouldn't be able to pay me at first..yada...yada..yada..
Quite contrary, we met poolside a luxurious hollywood hotel...where she and her staff were staying (all in separate rooms.) She couldn't say enough about their growing subscriber base, currently about five HUNDRED thousand worldwide ....and how well they are able to pay their writers for quality stories. She even asked me if I wanted to stick around for a massage. I had to take a raincheck on that....but needless to say I was impressed.
I'm thinking...first of all; since when do online magazines PAY their writers? You would think most of the new online magazines were working out of a garage somewhere...and encouraging people to write for "exposure." It's a cute site... but I had no idea it was a full out full time career for the editor and her 4 person staff. Obviously the online world is changing(for the better). Apparently these sites are becoming more and more mainstream and with their low overhead it appears they're growing more profitably than ever.
The popularity of e magazines are bound to have some effect mainstream media and traditional advertising. Instead of a multi channel sales models like stores and ecommerce counterparts, magazines are now becoming multi channel media models. Every major magazine has a website...everything from luckymag.com, to style.com (the home of vogue and w). Then there's the pure play models like thetipjar.com, dailycandy.com and julib.com who are working on almost a pure profit platform compared to the cost of printing and distribution. p.s. do you all remember what "pure play is?" it will be on the final...but I digress...
Ok, so I'll get to the point....I need your opinions. Do you all think that an online magazine website supports the physical magazine in the same way an ecommerce website would support its brick and mortar counterpart? The major reasons that we've learned that people don't shop online is because of shipping charges and the inability to see and touch/try on the product. Also, we've learned commodities with standard specifications like (cd's and electronics) and digitized content (such as itunes and e books) are the web's top sellers. All things considered what are your thoughts?
In a multi channel media model ex. lucky and luckymag.com do they still work together to support each other? Or, would one be satisfied with reading luckymag.com and forgoing the subscription...since you really don't need to touch/feel a magazine...or do you? Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free, right?
What are your thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages of having a magazine website and a physical magazine? Do they compete too heavily or cannibalize each other? Also do these or how can these magazines use their sites to support the physical counterpart and total business?
Thanks for posting your thoughts....very curious to hear what you think.... One paragraph on any of the above points is fine...I'm sure this will be a fruitful discussion.
R Harvey
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Guest Speaker Hysteria
I'm starting to wonder if anyone reads my blogs...come on people post me! Anywhoo, I consider myself a networker so I've been out scouting for guest speakers for this class based on the interests you all expressed in the introductions last week.
Through a little harassment and phone stalking I've found more great people that relate to your interests and future goals. This is tough because hate it or love it we still have a lot to cover in the book...and of course I have to do some speaking/teaching myself. But I know other people in the industry can be very interesting..and from your blogs I see a lot of you agree with me...so I'm going to try to figure this out so we still have a balance.
All things considered I've almost secured someone from the online PR world to give you the scoop on online public relations and editorial. And possibly a ecommerce web designer that can loop you all in on some other tricks of the trade regarding the components of successful Ecommerce sites. He's very lively and fun so I'm sure you guys will love him...and this PR site is so interesting I'm excited to hear more about it myself. I'm crossing my fingers that they both confirm soon....so I will keep you guys updated.
Last thing is that I may not be able to get all of my speakers to do double duty...meaning speak to both classes but you are welcome to sit in on another class to hear the speakers of your choice. The speakers noted on the syllabus have already agreed to talk to both classes...so they are good to go.
At any rate...I hope you guys are having a relaxing time off. I'm sure we'll all be bright eyed and bushy tailed come Monday!
Through a little harassment and phone stalking I've found more great people that relate to your interests and future goals. This is tough because hate it or love it we still have a lot to cover in the book...and of course I have to do some speaking/teaching myself. But I know other people in the industry can be very interesting..and from your blogs I see a lot of you agree with me...so I'm going to try to figure this out so we still have a balance.
All things considered I've almost secured someone from the online PR world to give you the scoop on online public relations and editorial. And possibly a ecommerce web designer that can loop you all in on some other tricks of the trade regarding the components of successful Ecommerce sites. He's very lively and fun so I'm sure you guys will love him...and this PR site is so interesting I'm excited to hear more about it myself. I'm crossing my fingers that they both confirm soon....so I will keep you guys updated.
Last thing is that I may not be able to get all of my speakers to do double duty...meaning speak to both classes but you are welcome to sit in on another class to hear the speakers of your choice. The speakers noted on the syllabus have already agreed to talk to both classes...so they are good to go.
At any rate...I hope you guys are having a relaxing time off. I'm sure we'll all be bright eyed and bushy tailed come Monday!
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
Great Expectations
Hi All!
I welcome you to our classroom blog. This forum is for extended learning, constructive feedback...and of course to get us accustomed to communicating and sharing ideas via blogs which are quickly becoming a huge part of web marketing.
Teaching is challenging. Trust me if I could go back in time I would kiss all of my teachers…….pick them up and twirl them around to thank them for sticking it out. However, although it is challenging it is one of the best challenges one could ever have. It’s a lesson in transferring knowledge, inspiring others and leadership….. all in a day’s work. On top off all that when you have the good fortune of teaching at a place that’s so dynamic band interesting you feel especially honored to be a part of the process. You also get the awesome opportunity to learn so much from the creative business minded students in this program.
I received a lot of feedback at the end of last quarter…some good…some not so good. To make a long story short, I realized no one was jumping up and down about this course I didn’t get it…. we’re a society that have a 100 “friends” on myspace that we’ve never met, haven’t used a stamp to pay a bill in years and when people ask us if they can fax something instead of emailing it we get annoyed. Seriously, the internet defines our lives. So I decided I needed to take aggressive action so our students could understand the role of E commerce in their daily lives…and the amazing possibilities associated with the field. After finishing my last class on December 13th I realized I had some work to do.
Thankfully the semester ended right at the holiday. Just to give you some background… Every Christmas I go home for about two weeks…. (My family lives in the suburbs of Chicago..A small town Gary, Indiana. Michael Jackson is from there also..But don’t hold it against me.) During the holidays, I normally, sleep until noon, get dressed around 3 pm and rent every movie under the sun…and watch them twice. After hitting the mall and entertaining some old friends…I’ll go to dinner take another nap then wake up again just soon enough for the Jay Leno monologue…then I go to sleep AGAIN…wake up and do it all over again. About two weeks and five holiday pounds later I return to L.A. It’s a real blast;)
This break after my fall quarter that all changed. Every day with the exception of Christmas and New Years eve I was brainstorming, researching and planning how I could make this Ecommerce class better than ever…better yet how I could make this class PHENOMENAL. Was it possible for an Ecommerce class to be Phenomenal? After I really put it all in perspective I discovered I am in fact teaching one of the most interesting things on the world radar. This class is about the INTERNET for crying out loud….of course its phenomenal. It’s not only phenomenal it’s a worldwide phenomenon.
I got Re-Energized… Inspired…Psyched……. and couldn’t wait to walk back into the school gates again and share my knowledge and experiences with all of you.
During my “vacation” I also took a closer look at of the things that are changing the world via the web such as virtual networks like second life, the concept of business blogging and the never ending mystery behind getting “Googled.” There’s so much to explore! I also have some great networking experiences planned for you that we will go over in the syllabus.
Let’s commit to make this a community learning experience…each of us sharing ideas and bringing new concepts to the table. I’m very happy and excited about this quarter. I hope you that each of you take this opportunity to learn all you can…and that we all have fun in the process. Did I mention I was excited?
Cheers to a Fantastic Quarter! I’m looking forward to working with each and every one of you. Check back with me next week for the next episode of the “Young and the Internet”
R Harvey
I welcome you to our classroom blog. This forum is for extended learning, constructive feedback...and of course to get us accustomed to communicating and sharing ideas via blogs which are quickly becoming a huge part of web marketing.
Teaching is challenging. Trust me if I could go back in time I would kiss all of my teachers…….pick them up and twirl them around to thank them for sticking it out. However, although it is challenging it is one of the best challenges one could ever have. It’s a lesson in transferring knowledge, inspiring others and leadership….. all in a day’s work. On top off all that when you have the good fortune of teaching at a place that’s so dynamic band interesting you feel especially honored to be a part of the process. You also get the awesome opportunity to learn so much from the creative business minded students in this program.
I received a lot of feedback at the end of last quarter…some good…some not so good. To make a long story short, I realized no one was jumping up and down about this course I didn’t get it…. we’re a society that have a 100 “friends” on myspace that we’ve never met, haven’t used a stamp to pay a bill in years and when people ask us if they can fax something instead of emailing it we get annoyed. Seriously, the internet defines our lives. So I decided I needed to take aggressive action so our students could understand the role of E commerce in their daily lives…and the amazing possibilities associated with the field. After finishing my last class on December 13th I realized I had some work to do.
Thankfully the semester ended right at the holiday. Just to give you some background… Every Christmas I go home for about two weeks…. (My family lives in the suburbs of Chicago..A small town Gary, Indiana. Michael Jackson is from there also..But don’t hold it against me.) During the holidays, I normally, sleep until noon, get dressed around 3 pm and rent every movie under the sun…and watch them twice. After hitting the mall and entertaining some old friends…I’ll go to dinner take another nap then wake up again just soon enough for the Jay Leno monologue…then I go to sleep AGAIN…wake up and do it all over again. About two weeks and five holiday pounds later I return to L.A. It’s a real blast;)
This break after my fall quarter that all changed. Every day with the exception of Christmas and New Years eve I was brainstorming, researching and planning how I could make this Ecommerce class better than ever…better yet how I could make this class PHENOMENAL. Was it possible for an Ecommerce class to be Phenomenal? After I really put it all in perspective I discovered I am in fact teaching one of the most interesting things on the world radar. This class is about the INTERNET for crying out loud….of course its phenomenal. It’s not only phenomenal it’s a worldwide phenomenon.
I got Re-Energized… Inspired…Psyched……. and couldn’t wait to walk back into the school gates again and share my knowledge and experiences with all of you.
During my “vacation” I also took a closer look at of the things that are changing the world via the web such as virtual networks like second life, the concept of business blogging and the never ending mystery behind getting “Googled.” There’s so much to explore! I also have some great networking experiences planned for you that we will go over in the syllabus.
Let’s commit to make this a community learning experience…each of us sharing ideas and bringing new concepts to the table. I’m very happy and excited about this quarter. I hope you that each of you take this opportunity to learn all you can…and that we all have fun in the process. Did I mention I was excited?
Cheers to a Fantastic Quarter! I’m looking forward to working with each and every one of you. Check back with me next week for the next episode of the “Young and the Internet”
R Harvey
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