Posts Tagged ‘Communications’
Dearest Manymoon…
I love FUN people. Folks who believe in the value they create tend toward an easy-to-be-around attitude that often involves a bit of relaxed humor. I started writing a letter to Manymoon, an online project management service. They have a free service and a fee-based level of service, and I (currently) had the need to go back to free. As I started typing, it occurred to me that this sounded much like a "Dear John" letter, so I went with it. What's really great about this isn't my letter, nor the response I got back - tho those are funny - but that the company representative (owner?) responded to me in like-kind. Not with a form-letter, but with a letter that not only addressed my concerns, but addressed them in a "language" he knew I would understand. (BTW, form-letters are fine, but I try to add a bit of personality to any form letters I send out). On Thu, Apr 1, 2010 at 9:12 PM, Dave Charbonneau <appliedprosperity@gmail.com> wrote: Dearest Manymoon: Hi, it's me. After singing your praises to thousands, I'm afraid I need to downgrade my service to a level of FREE. No, no... it's not you, it's me. I just need some time for myself. Actually, yes. It IS because of my wife. We won't be taking on the number of clients we were at one time planning. Please don't make this harder than it already is. Wha... no, I.... Look, you KNEW I was married when we started this together; and I think you also knew I wasn't ever going to leave her. That said, I need us to end our service agreement. Oh, Manymoon. I will always have a special place in my heart for you. Of course we can still be friends. Maybe in the future... I know. I love you too. "Have A Nice Dave." :) --Dave Charbonneau, Funny Head www.FunnySaysWhat.com The Response: Dear Dave:We were hoping, planning, dreaming, of a long future together. We knew you were married, and.. well, we knew that it wouldn't be a problem. In fact, we designed Manymoon to be able to work around these relationship issues... but apparently, there are other forces that have, sadly, but some distance between us. Well, since we still love you, we will tell you that can downgrade your account in Paypal by using the following this procedure: Let us know if you have any other questions... and we will take you back anytime. Thanks - Michael Manoochehri Manymoon Customer Service Photo Credits: http://www.flickr.com/photos/elward-photography/ / CC BY 2.0 http://manymoon.com
Take A Picture – It’ll Last Longer
I find most of the pictures I use at my blog from Flickr.com. I enjoy the feeling of community I get in searching for and finding the "just right" picture from individuals who intentionally share their own creativity or moments of their lives (I do a search from those who associate their images with a CreativeCommons license ). While there are other resources for CreativeCommons images, another reason I use Flickr is that I can leave a comment associated with the picture I select. By doing this, and including a link back to the article where I used the link, I can tell them I'm a fan of their work and who knows? Perhaps they'll become a fan of mine, too. --DC P.S. A really fun Flickr photo-set: CLICK: SIGNS +++++++++
2010 called; it asked for Relatability.
Found an article on adding your personal "voice" to one's website. I thought it a great lesson on communications in general. Here is part of what I read: ++++ (For the full article and other Stoney deGeyter articles, go HERE.) Developing your voice Before you start developing your web content you first need to determine what kind of voice you want your site to have and how you'll ultimately deploy it. A voice can really be anything: Humorous Serious Whimsical Snarky Flowery Thoughtful Brutally honest Down to earth Chances are good that your mind started speaking to you in each voice as you read the bullet point above. If not, read through it again and let your mind convert the words into examples in your mind. Just by reading the words you can really see how these voices can really come through with well-written content. You just need to decide what voice it is that will fit best with your company and your audience. You may think that your industry is limited to just one voice, but it all really depends on how well you sell it. Let's create some quick examples: Humorous: Our car batteries are durable, long-lasting and deliver enough power to start any vehicle in the harshest winter environment. Your escape from the in-law's is guaranteed every season of year. Serious: Our car batteries are durable, long-lasting and deliver enough power to start any vehicle in the harshest winter environment. You're guaranteed to get power to your vehicle when you need it most. Whimsical: You want a durable, long-lasting battery? Yeah, we got that. There is no natural force in the world that'll keep our batteries from doing their job. When you need power, we deliver. Snarky: When headed to the in-law's you want to be equipped with one of the most powerful car batteries money can buy. Come hell or high water, you're getting out of there alive! Flowery: Our car batteries are designed to withstand whatever forces of nature that heaven above (or you know who below) can throw at it. When you turn that key, you're vehicle will roar to life without so much as a cough or sputter. Thoughtful: Let's face it, batteries only fail at the worst possible time, in the worst possible location. We've built reliability into all of our car batteries so they deliver the power you need when you need it to get you to where you would rather be. Brutally honest: Your boss is a jerk, your wife can be a nag and your friends act like idiots. Everybody needs an escape. Where you escape to is up to you, but how is up to us. Our car batteries are durable, long-lasting and deliver enough power to start any vehicle any time any where. We're ready to go when you are. Down to earth: We know that you can find cheaper car batteries from those other guys. We're not competing on price, we're competing on quality. Our batteries are durable, long-lasting and deliver enough power to start any vehicle in the harshest winter environment. Can you really put a [...]
How to Conduct a Poll Using Gmail
Found (and used this tidbit from labnol.org Yes, No, Maybe? Conduct Opinion Polls Over Email using Gmail In some situations, a poll conducted over email may be more practical than running a web based poll because readers can vote through their email clients without requiring a browser. It’s as simple as replying to any other email and can be done even from mobile phones. Turn Gmail into a Poll Software Let’s see how you can quickly setup an opinion poll over email using only your existing Gmail account. The suggested approach will work best for polls that have a single question as in the following examples: a. Will you buy a Macbook Tablet ? (Yes | No | Maybe). b. Which is your favorite search engine? (Google | Yahoo | Ask | Cuil | Other). ++++ DCsays: I used this just today. If you want to know how to conduct polls or surveys, or simply get Yes, No, or Maybe answers via email, check out the rest of labnol.org's article, here. --Dave C. Image Credits
Improvement thru Improv
I've wanted to take a course on improvisation (improv) for a long time. Finally took that opportunity by registering with The Upfront Theatre in Bellingham, Washington. One of the things that stands out to me is the "philosophy" I was introduced to (that's sorta my thing, I suppose: looking beyond the surface of things into the meta). Some of the basics: Everything you are given is an offering to you. Your role is to accept all offering with gratitude, to make the giver of the offering look good, and to improve upon that offering. There are many other elements of improv that can be studied and argued as a philosophical premise. Clearing one's head, trusting one's creativity, etc. There are courses offered in many cities across America; and typically at a relatively low cost. I'm on the lookout for joining or creating some online improv games. If you know of any, or are interested in joining such a group, please email me at Dave@SelfEnterpriser.com. "Have A Nice Dave." :) --Dave Charbonneau
Stack It!
I'm a big fan of STACKING. Stacking is whenever you're accomplishing multiple objectives thru one task. It's not multi-tasking; that would be trying to accomplish multiple objectives by taking on multiple tasks at one time. Some examples of Stacking: Objectives: Exercise and Time with Family Playing tag or touch-football. Objectives: Reading, Relaxing, Hygene Taking a bath with book in hand. Objectives: Learning, Pooping. Hopefully, this one is obvious. (Yes, take your math tutor to the crapper with you). Some other examples of Stacking that I'm currently practicing: I want to find programs for communicating with my current and future project teams as well as with our company's clients. So, I'm using Google Wave to keep track of my weekly and daily objectives (while branching off with others who use Wave now and then). I'm using ManyMoon.com to schedule the items from my Wave with my calendar. I'm using Tumblr.com to create a group-site for the members of the improv course I attend. Just some simple tips for being more efficient. Okay, gotta wrap this up. My math tutor just arrived. "Have A Nice Dave." :) --Dave Charbonneau Photo Credits: http://www.flickr.com/photos/potaufeu/ / CC BY 2.0
