December 2, 2010
Chandra Clark
Guest Post by Chandra Clark
I have chosen to pursue a career in the nonprofit world because I am passionate about transforming lives. It’s my heart’s desire to lead a successful faith-based nonprofit organization specifically designed for children and young women. My passion is best described in poetic form:
ALIVE
I am from brokenness, rejection and fear
I am from slander, gossip and malice
I am from broken virginity, broken vows and a broken heart
I am from “I love you” only to find that it wasn’t love at all
I am from a tarnished body image and a façade to protect the wounds
I am from vanity used as a replacement for a lost identity
I am from father wounds that run deep to the core of the soul
Read the rest of this entry »
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Life in General | Tagged: Chandra Clark, nonprofit, nonprofit careers, Rockhurst | 
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Posted by Duane Hallock
December 1, 2010
Last month I was honored to speak before a class of university students preparing for careers in the nonprofit sector. Our topic of conversation was social media.
We talked about the trends in social media, ways to use social media in a nonprofit organization and the blurring of our personal and professional lives.
We even discussed using social media tools for personal branding. I shared my thoughts on using Facebook to differentiate oneself when launching a career. I challenged the students to use social media to “brand” themselves in an open, transparent and authentic manner. Then, to encourage them to develop their own online presence, I did something I’ve never done.
As an experiment, I invited each student to become a guest blogger here on my personal site. I offered this space to anyone in the class who wanted to share why he or she had chosen to pursue a career in the nonprofit world. A couple of students accepted the invitation. Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | Life in General | Tagged: Chandra Clark, Facebook, guest bloggers, nonprofit, nonprofit careers, Taylor Saalfeld | Permalink
Posted by Duane Hallock
November 22, 2010
I‘m thankful for clichés. They save me time because I can “copy and paste” them into any daily situation. They keep me from having to think deeply. They conserve creativity for some future time when I might need to be more creative.
Clichés are like an old pair of shoes. They’re comfortable, despite the obvious holes. They get me where I’m going, assuming I have a destination. They appear stylish, or at least they did years ago when they were new.
I like the way clichés cleverly coagulate the flow of communication. My favorite clichés fall into these three categories:
- Verbal clichés. People who speak in clichés think they are thinking outside the box. In business, clichés are like the leaves of autumn—everywhere. Even in church I’ll hear someone with the voice of angel offering up a trite prayer that sounds pious and impressive. I pray that God will find sincerity in the hearts of those who find comfort in worn-out phrases.
- Photo clichés. If I’ve seen it once, I’ve seen it a thousand times. A nonprofit newsletter publishes a photo of a check presentation. A website shows photos of formally-dressed people who paused long enough at a charity event to “say cheese” in front of a camera. Facebook photo albums show groups of friends scrunched around restaurant tables, flashing plastic smiles and clutching their beverages of choice.
- Resume clichés. I’m beginning to think that 100% of resumes and LinkedIn profiles say exactly the same thing. If you’re planning to update yours, let me save you some time. Copy and paste this: I am a highly motivated, dynamic self-starter, results-oriented, hard-working, dedicated, team-player with excellent multi-tasking and communications skills. I have ___+ years experience in fast-paced environments. (You’re welcome.)
At the end of the day, when you boil it all down, I have never met a cliché I didn’t like. Never being content to let sleeping dogs lie, I won’t beat around the bush. Clichés sell like hotcakes. You may try to avoid them like the plague, but I think using them makes a person sound as cool as a cucumber. I get up each morning on the right side of the bed with a commitment to seize the day. Because today is the first day of the rest of my life, I will give 110%.
Have a nice day!
Leave a Comment » | Life in General, Marketing & Strategy, Marketing Oneself | Tagged: cliches, communication, resumes, thanksgiving, writing | Permalink
Posted by Duane Hallock
November 17, 2010
Earlier this month, something happened that increased my respect for the city newspaper. Actually, the paper itself did nothing unusual. Rather, one of its loyal employees did something worthy of commendation.
What did he do? Well, he talked to me. He engaged me in a conversation. That’s it. Simple, yet profound.
Let me explain why I found that to be so significant.
Two days after the World Series ended, I noticed that the newspaper including Game 6 in its TV listings. On my Facebook status I wrote, “If anyone at the paper watched TV, they’d know the series ended a couple days ago.” I also made a snide remark about the “dead tree” medium, using a broad brush to make a fine point. That elicited a few comments, including two from Facebook friends who are former newspaper journalists.
That night, long after I’d gone to bed, another Facebook friend wrote something I found quite profound. He said, “The section where TV listings are located prints early, but point taken. As someone who still loves to read the ‘dead tree’ and who also is marketing the media company that makes it, what advice would you share?”
Why was his two-sentence comment commendable? Here are six reasons I valued his response:
- He did not ignore my negative comment. Instead, he talked to me. He listened and responded.
- He communicated with me on the same social media platform I originally used. He did not redirect me, suggesting that I call customer service or write a letter to the editor.
- He did not take my negative comment personally. He responded in a sincere, professional manner. Read the rest of this entry »
4 Comments | Life in General, Marketing & Strategy | Tagged: Facebook, social media | Permalink
Posted by Duane Hallock
September 29, 2010
Leave a Comment » | Life in General, Life's Transitions, Marketing & Strategy, Marketing Oneself | Tagged: adversity, advertising, communication, creativity, education, goals, leadership, learning, marketing, planning, quotations, quotes, strategy, success, teaching, transitions, vision, wisdom | Permalink
Posted by Duane Hallock
September 15, 2010
Whenever I hear Louis Armstrong sing What a Wonderful World I feel warm all over. I am reminded that I live in a full, abundant world.
Together we all share the joys and sorrows of life’s journey, though we we may be at different places along the path. In the distance I’ve traveled, I’ve learned a few things along the way. I share the following observations for the benefit of my fellow travelers:
With a commitment to living my life according to God’s plan, I believe that:
- Everything happens for a reason.
- Meaning and purpose can always be found in the midst of chaos.
- Knowing some of the questions is better than having all of the answers.
- Every thought, every choice and every action has consequences.
- What one focuses upon in life expands.
- We live in a world of abundance where there is enough for everyone.
- In a win-lose situation, there are usually no winners.
- Diversity divides when we focus only on our differences, but it enriches when we build on things we share in common.
- Life only makes sense when viewed from an eternal perspective.
- No matter how good the “good old days” may seem, our best days are yet to come.
Leave a Comment » | Life in General | Tagged: abundance, diversity, manifesto, success, win-win | Permalink
Posted by Duane Hallock
September 8, 2010
To achieve success, members of any marketing team must be united by a compelling vision and a shared set of beliefs.
With a commitment to teamwork, I invite you to join me in believing and internalizing the following affirmations:
- We are inspired by the mission of our team.
- As we visualize the role of marketing within the organization, we are proud to be a part of an exceptional consulting team working on projects that really matter.
- We value diversity within our group, knowing that each of us makes a unique contribution.
- We build synergy whereby the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. In so doing, we recognize the interdependence of every member of the team.
- When the spotlight is on one of us individually, we appreciate and acknowledge the contributions made by our teammates, knowing that success is usually a team effort.
- We celebrate when another member of the team excels. After all, we know that one teammate’s success reflects positively on the entire group.
- When something goes wrong, we avoid pointing fingers and assigning blame. Instead, we join hands to seek solutions and to look for the learning embedded within the situation.
- We assume positive intentions on the part of others. In circumstances where there is a potential for misunderstanding, we proactively seek clarification.
- We are loyal to other members of the team, especially in their absence. We focus on the positive, affirming attributes of co-workers and teammates.
- We always operate from an abundance mentality that seeks win-win solutions. We refuse to believe that our win implies a loss for someone else, knowing that a scarcity mentality spawns fear, competitiveness and retaliation.
Leave a Comment » | Life in General, Marketing & Strategy | Tagged: abundance, diversity, manifesto, marketing, teamwork, vision | Permalink
Posted by Duane Hallock
September 1, 2010
Every member of a team must make a unique, individual contribution to the team’s success. I want to be surrounded by people who don’t make excuses, assume individual responsibility and work towards the greater good of the team.
With a commitment to individual responsibility, empowerment and performance, I invite you to join me in believing and internalizing the following affirmations:
- I see the big picture.
- I see how the individual pieces fit together, and I understand the importance of my unique role.
- I prioritize my work and spend considerable time working on projects that are important but not urgent. Because of this, I am proactive and in control of my projects, my career and my life.
- I think strategically before acting tactically.
- Functioning as a marketing consultant, I ask affirming, empowering questions of myself and others.
- I approach consulting projects in a collaborative manner, finding ways to say “yes” and thereby facilitating the success of others.
- I own and manage important projects where I assume the entire responsibility for the planning, production and evaluation of my projects.
- I am a collaborative team player, contributing my energy and expertise to those projects managed by others.
- Knowing that the status quo often leads to obsolescence, I have a deep desire to learn, to create and to explore. I seek innovation and welcome change.
- I do work that really matters. I make a difference.
Leave a Comment » | Life in General, Marketing & Strategy | Tagged: manifesto, strategy, teamwork | Permalink
Posted by Duane Hallock
August 25, 2010
Helen Keller was right when she said, “The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight, but has no vision.”
Everyone, it seems, talks about the importance of having a vision, but very few people have a vivid picture of what they hope their future will look like.
With a commitment to being visionary and strategic, I invite you to join me in believing that:
- The effectiveness of a vision statement can be measured by its ability to inspire us to rally around a shared picture of what can be—and must be—our new reality.
- A compelling vision is future-focused and usually threatens those deeply vested in the status quo.
- Progress always requires change, but not all change is progress.
- Where there is no vision, people perish.
- In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
- Tactics not tied to strategy are nothing more than busywork.
- When you and I are not pursuing the same goal, then we are not on the same team.
- When you and I focus on the same goal from different vantage points, we have stereoscopic vision that gives us better depth perception.
- Every project can be improved by periodically asking, “Why are we doing this?”
- We must, as Stephen Covey says, begin with the end in mind.
Leave a Comment » | Life in General, Marketing & Strategy | Tagged: manifesto, marketing, strategy, vision | Permalink
Posted by Duane Hallock
August 18, 2010
Marketing is not as complicated as some want you to think. Good marketing is based upon common sense, though such sense is uncommon.
With a commitment to successful marketing, I invite you to join me in believing that:
- Marketing will flounder when not in pursuit of a measurable goal.
- If a product, service or even a person cannot be differentiated, it cannot be marketed.
- Marketing will fail unless strategy drives tactics, not vice versa.
- Marketing must be based upon the concept of exchanges. Without a quid-pro-quo exchange, we will never have a solid marketing program.
- Value can be defined only by the customer, not by the company producing the product or service. (Nonprofit organizations especially have trouble with this.)
- The social media revolution is the best thing to happen to marketing in a long, long time, even though the tools for achieving marketing success have forever changed.
- Old-school marketers who try to control the message will become increasingly frustrated, disoriented and ultimately obsolete.
- You are still functioning in a 1.0 world—even if you’re using 2.0 tools—when you are not creating community and engaging people in conversations.
- If we aim our message at no one in particular, we shouldn’t be surprised if no one in particular responds.
- Communications comes at the end of the marketing process, not at the beginning.
Leave a Comment » | Life in General, Marketing & Strategy | Tagged: 2.0, communication, differentiation, manifesto, marketing, nonprofit, social media, strategy | Permalink
Posted by Duane Hallock
I communicate with passion and purpose to inspire those searching for beauty and truth.
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