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Friday, September 24, 2010
Economy, Education and a Method to Marketing- All in One Post!
I am going to blatantly steal this post from Craigslist because it's funny, a little crass but mostly because it's SPOT ON! It covers two of the three passions of this blog, and another personal passion: Education, the Economy, and Marketing.
Economy:
Short version, this person from Seattle is telling her former university that they are wasting their money on glossy brochures asking her for money because their endowment is down to a meager $500 million... when she doesn't even have a job. Waste of time and money all around.
"You know, maybe if you wanted a little bit of money from me (and these days you'd get about $3) maybe you should send me a fancy color brochure admitting your role in the bubble economics that got us all in to this mess.
For example, since 1987, higher education expenses have gone up 450 percent, while personal income in this country has gone up 87 percent, making tuition IMPOSSIBLE to afford without special financing. But, during this time, you were thriving because people could come up with the cash in two ways:
1. Get a home equity loan and use the inflated value of their house to pay for their kid to get drunk at your school and then lose the house when the market crashed.
2. Get a federal loan.
HAD IT OCCURRED TO YOU THAT NEITHER OF THESE SOURCES OF MONEY ACTUALLY EXIST? THAT IT WAS BEING MANUFACTURED BECAUSE YOU MADE PEOPLE THINK THAT ONE OF YOUR DEGREES WAS NECESSARY TO CLIMB TO THE TOP OF THE BUBBLE?"
Education:
A few points here that I have to highlight. Education expenses are up 450% while income is only up 87%. And to think I used to dream of making sure my children didn't end up with north of $50k in debt after school. Pipedream realized. Great. Sad statement about the goals of our country. Almost as sad as the healthcare disaster.
Marketing:
Another point noted: educational institutions might want to consider a marketing automation tool or at least a theory. You signed their loans, you have to know they aren't paid off for a while. Don't put them on the mailing list for the glossy brochure for at least 10 years. If they didn't take a loan out at your institution, do a bit more profiling, find out if they are living at home, do it under the guise of a survey for goodness sake. Guess what? You are turning them off. BIG TIME! Speak to people like they are humans, not just numbers and all the same.
I am amazed at how behind our institutions are when it comes to marketing and revenue generation. Huge opportunity for marketing automation, lead generation and nurture campaigns all around. Hell, huge opportunity for me, since this is what I do...
Best of Craigslist was insipiring today. Awesome way to end a week. Have a good one!
Monday, September 13, 2010
Little Decisions Big Impact
I went to see 180 South at the local Patagonia store last week and was again blown away at just how unaware I find myself sometimes. I listen, I love to learn, I am constantly trying to be a better human, partner, employee, sister, daughter, etc. But, then I see things like this movie and am just shocked at how some of my little decisions make a big impact that I may never see.
In the movie Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia and Doug Tompkins, founder of The North Face and The Conservation Land Trust talk about what they are doing in South America to make a difference. Including purchasing millions of acres of land to keep in a preserve. They fight to prevent these countries from selling very rich and ecologically unique lands to various power and pulp companies, that essentially do to the Earth what 90 days of McDonald's does to your body- breaks you down physically and mentally.
Guess where these power and pulp companies are selling their products? The U.S. Why? Because I forgot to turn off the overhead fans before I left the house last week. Because I NEED the AC unit to run when it gets above 85 degrees outside. Because I still like to wrap presents instead of wrapping them in recycled newspaper or something similar.
Little things, easily fixed. The scientists have been saying it for years. If we all make LITTLE changes, it makes a BIG impact. But remember, that works in both directions.
In the movie Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia and Doug Tompkins, founder of The North Face and The Conservation Land Trust talk about what they are doing in South America to make a difference. Including purchasing millions of acres of land to keep in a preserve. They fight to prevent these countries from selling very rich and ecologically unique lands to various power and pulp companies, that essentially do to the Earth what 90 days of McDonald's does to your body- breaks you down physically and mentally.
Guess where these power and pulp companies are selling their products? The U.S. Why? Because I forgot to turn off the overhead fans before I left the house last week. Because I NEED the AC unit to run when it gets above 85 degrees outside. Because I still like to wrap presents instead of wrapping them in recycled newspaper or something similar.
Little things, easily fixed. The scientists have been saying it for years. If we all make LITTLE changes, it makes a BIG impact. But remember, that works in both directions.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Pay attention people!
I grew up golfing. I played Jr. Golf starting at age 7 and went into retirement at 17. At 21 I realized that if I was going to work in technology sales in the bay area, I was probably going to have to play again. So, now, 9 years later, I play 1-2 times a year, max. Golfing or anything about golfing should matter a LOT less than Healthcare.
But all the sudden our country cares more about a golfers extracurricular activities than they do about the way that we receive health care in this country. Tiger isn't going to affect the doctors you can see for the rest of your life. His sluts aren't going to be the nurses that care for you as you recover from your heart attack, at least you better hope not. Elin doesn't care if you have to pay 50% of your income to pay off hospital bills, she's going back to Sweden, which has government funded healtcare if you care.
We all need a little gut check on our priorities. We need to quit clicking on the tiger stories and instead tune into CSPAN to see what's going to make a difference in our lives.
COME ON PEOPLE!!!!
But all the sudden our country cares more about a golfers extracurricular activities than they do about the way that we receive health care in this country. Tiger isn't going to affect the doctors you can see for the rest of your life. His sluts aren't going to be the nurses that care for you as you recover from your heart attack, at least you better hope not. Elin doesn't care if you have to pay 50% of your income to pay off hospital bills, she's going back to Sweden, which has government funded healtcare if you care.
We all need a little gut check on our priorities. We need to quit clicking on the tiger stories and instead tune into CSPAN to see what's going to make a difference in our lives.
COME ON PEOPLE!!!!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Being really good at what you do...
I was always taught to be proud of whatever you produce. This requires work. It means that you work hard to put something together that you are actually proud of. I know when I don't do things 100%. I can feel it. I try to make excuses, but deep down I know.
side note: it's why this wedding thing and lack of control over production quality (multiple vendors that I don't have experience with) is kinda freaking me out!
And the people close to me are the first to say "I know you can do better than that." But keeping people like that near you makes you better. They force you to give 100% all the time.
Based on where things are with the economy I would bet that only the 100% companies and people will end up on top...
PUSH it Folks! It's the only way you will make it!
side note: it's why this wedding thing and lack of control over production quality (multiple vendors that I don't have experience with) is kinda freaking me out!
And the people close to me are the first to say "I know you can do better than that." But keeping people like that near you makes you better. They force you to give 100% all the time.
Based on where things are with the economy I would bet that only the 100% companies and people will end up on top...
PUSH it Folks! It's the only way you will make it!
Friday, October 2, 2009
Unemployment rises again
I just read on NPR that unemployment is up to 9.8% nationally. It's the highest in 26 years... I am surprised by this because people have been whispering for the past month or so about how we might be coming out of this. I guess that's not quite the case.
NPR also put together a great map of foreclosure rates, unemployment rates and median household income across the US.
I really think that it's going to take a new year to turn this around. It's not just about people feeling better, but about a new beginning.
My gut says: Q1 2010
NPR also put together a great map of foreclosure rates, unemployment rates and median household income across the US.
I really think that it's going to take a new year to turn this around. It's not just about people feeling better, but about a new beginning.
My gut says: Q1 2010
Friday, August 21, 2009
Passion makes an influencer
I have heard it from @aaronstrout @garyvee, @gwenbell, @chrisbrogan, @danschawbel etc. The list of social influencers goes on and on. "It's all about you providing meaningful value to the world."
M-E-A-N-I-N-G-F-U-L V-A-L-U-E
It means different things to everyone. But I would suggest that meaningful value means at least:
1. you care about others
2. you want to make something better (the world, a user experience, your kids' lives)
When blogging first started people didn't understand others' need to get on their soap box and shout at the world, and then people started taking an interest because people started commenting and conversing about issues. Great, now we are talking... phew!
And then came twitter, it became a shorter way to converse about things that matter to you. And all of the above mentioned social influencers preach about the importance of conversing, and not shouting. And this is the MEANINGFUL VALUE I was talking about.
So the value is YOU, but a thoughtful one, not a soap-box one. Your brand, your recommendations, your opinions, your passion. It's like everyone is a celebrity, and if you have done the conversing right, you probably have an entourage of people who care about what you care about. And you listen to what they say, and they listen to what you say.
And I get it. I am on board people! But the biggest hole for me is- what is my passion? I am passionate about my three things: education, the economy and the environment, but that's a lot to be passionate about. And should I focus on something that I can change? I can't change the countries public education system, I wouldn't know where to start, I just know when something clearly doesn't work, but that's not rocket science, that's common sense. Same thing goes for the environment and the economy.
Until I figure it out, I am going to keep watching and reading things like this to keep me motivated to find my passion!
I would like to thank Aaron Strout for pushing me off the ledge so long ago when I was scared to say anything at all...
M-E-A-N-I-N-G-F-U-L V-A-L-U-E
It means different things to everyone. But I would suggest that meaningful value means at least:
1. you care about others
2. you want to make something better (the world, a user experience, your kids' lives)
When blogging first started people didn't understand others' need to get on their soap box and shout at the world, and then people started taking an interest because people started commenting and conversing about issues. Great, now we are talking... phew!
And then came twitter, it became a shorter way to converse about things that matter to you. And all of the above mentioned social influencers preach about the importance of conversing, and not shouting. And this is the MEANINGFUL VALUE I was talking about.
So the value is YOU, but a thoughtful one, not a soap-box one. Your brand, your recommendations, your opinions, your passion. It's like everyone is a celebrity, and if you have done the conversing right, you probably have an entourage of people who care about what you care about. And you listen to what they say, and they listen to what you say.
And I get it. I am on board people! But the biggest hole for me is- what is my passion? I am passionate about my three things: education, the economy and the environment, but that's a lot to be passionate about. And should I focus on something that I can change? I can't change the countries public education system, I wouldn't know where to start, I just know when something clearly doesn't work, but that's not rocket science, that's common sense. Same thing goes for the environment and the economy.
Until I figure it out, I am going to keep watching and reading things like this to keep me motivated to find my passion!
- Gary Vaynerchuck Mediabistro Keynote
- Gwen Bell's Blog
- White Hot Truth: because self-realization rocks
- Chris Brogan
- Social Web Guide
I would like to thank Aaron Strout for pushing me off the ledge so long ago when I was scared to say anything at all...
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
The business of higher education
It's been quite a few years, 13 to be exact, since I seriously looked at undergraduate programs. This week my cousin came to visit Boston with my aunt and it all came flooding back- the test scores, the pressure of writing the perfect essay, the lists of pros and cons, etc. And as I was sitting there discussing everything with them I realized how much work has to be put in not only from the student but the parents.
My cousin is responsible for figuring out what she wants to study, researching schools, ranking schools based on compatibility and then requesting visits for her top places. But someone needs to put up the airline miles, arrange the hotel stays, get the car rental figured out, and be realistic about matching her expectations with her desires when it comes to financing an education.
My Aunt and Uncle run Best Crystal, a online store for fine crystal. So, they aren't slackers. And as we were eating dinner I realized that this is essentially a part time job for her and her husband. I joked with her that she can excuse the decrease in profits over the next 6 months to "Daughter 1 was looking at colleges." Probably not the best business model, but life happens and this is an important decision, not only for the student but parents as well.
According to the NYTimes, "published college tuition and fees increased 439 percent from 1982 to 2007, adjusted for inflation, while median family income rose 147 percent. Student borrowing has more than doubled in the last decade, and students from lower-income families, on average, get smaller grants from the colleges they attend than students from more affluent families."
I don't envy any student or parent looking at funding or attending college anytime in the next 10 years. I can only hope that we as a country figure out a way to make higher education a priority and therefore a reasonable expense.
My cousin is responsible for figuring out what she wants to study, researching schools, ranking schools based on compatibility and then requesting visits for her top places. But someone needs to put up the airline miles, arrange the hotel stays, get the car rental figured out, and be realistic about matching her expectations with her desires when it comes to financing an education.
My Aunt and Uncle run Best Crystal, a online store for fine crystal. So, they aren't slackers. And as we were eating dinner I realized that this is essentially a part time job for her and her husband. I joked with her that she can excuse the decrease in profits over the next 6 months to "Daughter 1 was looking at colleges." Probably not the best business model, but life happens and this is an important decision, not only for the student but parents as well.
According to the NYTimes, "published college tuition and fees increased 439 percent from 1982 to 2007, adjusted for inflation, while median family income rose 147 percent. Student borrowing has more than doubled in the last decade, and students from lower-income families, on average, get smaller grants from the colleges they attend than students from more affluent families."
I don't envy any student or parent looking at funding or attending college anytime in the next 10 years. I can only hope that we as a country figure out a way to make higher education a priority and therefore a reasonable expense.
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