Hokey Smoke! My Business is 25 Years Old!
2013 is a special year in that it marks Quality Service Marketing’s 25th year in business! I’m amazed that it’s been that long, as it certainly doesn’t feel that way – mostly because I’ve been...
View ArticlePaper is Not Obsolete Because …
I appreciate the immediacy and accessibility of digital media, especially for sharing content. Being visually-oriented, however, I prefer to read and work with paper. I can better develop content and...
View ArticleEveryone Should Have This Type of File
It’s a “Smile File” — a place to save favorite cartoons, emailed jokes and funny quotes/bumper stickers/signs, special notes from colleagues and friends, photos of fun times, etc. In stressful times,...
View ArticleWhat NOT to Say in Staff Meetings
As a follow up to Staff Meetings 101: A Guide for Younger Employees, here are several basic tips to help you keep your sanity … and possibly your job. Do NOT ask and/or whine: “Why am I here? What am I...
View ArticleIt Happens: Reality-Based Career Advice
It’s that time of year when college seniors find themselves getting close to graduation and (hopefully) either gainful employment or grad school. It also reminds me of the many times I shared my...
View ArticleMy Social Media Lament
There’s a wonderful scene in the 1963 classic film, Charade, when the characters portrayed by Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn meet for the first time. Grant: “Do we know each other?” Hepburn: “Why? Do...
View ArticleSigns of Engagement
As an observer of workplace culture, I’m fascinated with company-posted signs, especially those displayed in public or semi-public areas of the organization. Other than themed motivational posters that...
View ArticleMother Knows Marketing Best
[Note: I'm proud to feature this special guest post by Jason Stershic, interactive marketing specialist. What a wonderful Mother's Day gift!] Sybil Stershic is my mother and, for most of my conscious...
View ArticleNonprofit Start Ups: Why Passion for the Mission Isn’t Enough
A corporate community relations professional lamented about a recent request she received from someone who wants to start a nonprofit. The passion is there, she told me, but little consideration for...
View ArticleSummer Blog Break 2013
School’s out for summer, and the same goes for this blogger. With lighter blog traffic this time of year, I’m going to take a breather from content marketing and allow myself to relax a bit. I’m still...
View ArticleGoodbye Wonderful Summer, Hello Exciting Fall
This was definitely an A+ summer … my best ever because I: spent quality time with family & friends celebrated a milestone birthday experienced a magical first visit to Ireland enjoyed cheering on...
View ArticleA Tribute to a Man I Never Met
Amazing how you can grieve the loss of someone you’ve never met in person. But I’m mourning the loss of a friend that I had the privilege of getting to know and work with through social media. I was...
View ArticleMovies and Marketing Lessons
Movies are not my first source to learn about marketing, but they are great for reinforcing marketing concepts. They’re also a fun conversation starter as in “What’s your favorite marketing-related...
View ArticleMarketing Advice for First-Time Business Book Authors
Here’s the smartest advice I received when working on my first book, although I didn’t believe it at first: no matter how good your writing is, make sure you hire a professional editor. Some of the...
View ArticleClose Encounters of the Thanksgiving Kind
It’s common practice for people to take time this holiday to give thanks for all they have … and for all that they don’t have (such as challenging circumstances in health and well-being). I’m all for...
View ArticleA Wish for Peace by Dr. Seuss
[Note: I posted this poem this several years ago and wanted to share it again in the spirit of the season ... and for each day.] With best wishes for a happy, peaceful holiday and New Year! A Prayer...
View ArticleBusiness Blogs Continue More and Less: One Blogger’s Perspective
I was an early adopter of business blogging, despite my usual hesitation to embrace new media. After much trepidation, I launched this blog in 2005 to help managers engage employees and customers with...
View ArticleFrom Slip-Up to Shared Learning
“I’m never wrong. I thought I was once, but I was mistaken.” – Lucy Van Pelt We all make mistakes and, hopefully, we all learn from them. Here are some non-threatening and productive ways to...
View ArticleI Love Libraries!
Happy National Library Week! April 13-19, 2014, is a time to honor libraries and librarians for all they do to encourage reading and learning for enlightenment and enjoyment. I extend my deep gratitude...
View Article“Fast food will never make it!”
Legend has it that a commercial lender at one of the banks I once worked for said those words when rejecting a loan application by a business customer who wanted to purchase a MacDonald’s franchise....
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