How to calm the mind and attempt to get it all done, while staying relatively sane? Here are some tips to help juggle the daily load:

1. Wake up a little early – No, I am not encouraging you to get less sleep. However, many of us are going full speed from the second we wake up until the second we go to sleep. By waking up even just 15 minutes before the household, you’ll be assured a little peace, perspective and a little quiet time before kicking off the day.

2. Take advantage of your commute – Are you stuck in traffic for 30 minutes every day on the way to work? Take advantage of this time. You can use a voice recorder and make your to-do list or record an audio journal. If you never have time to read, get audio books. You can listen for pleasure, learn a foreign language, listen to motivational speakers or take a class through audio books.

3. Buy a slow cooker - Using a slow cooker will  not only save you time, but will also bring you peace of mind to know that dinner is taken care of. Just throw in the ingredients in the morning and your dinner will be done when you get home from work.

10. Live, laugh, love -  Spouses and friendships  are your support system so don’t push them to the backburner to be forgotten or taken for granted.  Schedule “date” nights and “friend” nights; regular outings to catch up, get away  and renew. If it is on your calendar, you are more likely to make it happen.

Again, there is no “right” way or magical formula to manage life.  so, give yourself a break from the perfection carousel. Try to priortize and attack your to do list, but also give yourself breathing room and time to exhale.  Find peace in the freedom to be the best YOU that you can be in any given moment. If a ball drops, let it bounce!

addONE Marketing Solutions delivers experienced, marketing staffing solutions to fit any size project or budget.  Filling marketing staffing gaps or providing affordable marketing solutions makes addONE marketing “the smartest addition you will ever make.” Atlanta-based and woman owned since 1998. Visit add1marketing.com for more information.

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While mentors in the workplace certainly have their merit and place, strong support systems outside of the workplace are just as beneficial.  To find women who share interests, passions, careers, humor, wisdom, independence or any other quality that is important to you, creates a circle of trusted and enjoyable confidants.  We all go through seasons — with our kids, caring for aging parents, big projects at work, with different stressors and moods — it is good that we have several people in our lives we can draw from, rather than expect it from one person all the time.  According to happiness and health research, we are happier with several close friends as opposed to one and only. You don’t need 600 Facebook friends or a jam-packed social calendar to reap these impressive perks (in fact, both can backfire).

According to a UCLA study, there are strong health benefits to women friendships as well:

1. Friends reduce stress. The fact that women respond to stress differently than men has significant implications for our health. During stressful times, when a woman engages in her natural tendencies of “tending” to her flock or “befriending” those around her while men tend to retreat into solitude. Studies also suggest that women release more oxytocin during stressful times, which further counters stress and produces a calming effect. This calming response does not occur in men because testosterone—which men produce in high levels when they’re under stress—seems to reduce the effects of oxytocin. Estrogen seems to enhance it.
2. Friends help us live longer. The “tend and befriend” notion developed by doctors may explain why women consistently outlive men. Study after study has found that social ties reduce our risk of disease by lowering blood pressure, heart rate, and cholesterol.
3.  Friends are also helping us live better. The famed Nurses’ Health Study from Harvard Medical School found that the more friends women have, the less likely they were to develop physical impairments as they aged, and the more likely they were to be leading a joyful life. In fact, the results were so significant, the researchers concluded, that not having close friends or confidants was as detrimental to your health as smoking or carrying extra weight.

Been a little stressed out lately? Well, call your girlfriends and catch up. It is just what the doctor ordered!

addONE Marketing Solutions delivers experienced,  marketing staffing solutions to fit any size project or budget.  Filling marketing staffing gaps or providing affordable marketing solutions makes addONE marketing “the smartest addition you will ever make.” Atlanta-based and woman owned since 1998. Visit add1marketing.com for more information.

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There are many books written about high performance and achievement (you know the one about the magical 10,000 hours of committment to a skill to truly achieve accomplishment? See below for reading list.)  There is a tremendous amount of focus, time dedication, repetition and frustration that is necessary if you want to be exellent at something. The reward is that being really good at something you’ve earned through your own hard work can be immensely satisfying and gratifying and perhaps even profitable.

It is possible to build any given skill or capacity in the same systematic way we build a muscle: push past your comfort zone then rest.  It is not innate talent which determines how good we become at something,  but rather how hard we are willing to work at something.

Here are six steps to help you improve your (insert your game/skill/work here):

1. Persue your passion – Passion is an incredible motivator. It fuels focus, resilience, and perseverance.
2. Do the hardest work first – Most great performers take on the difficult work of practice in the mornings, before they do anything else. That’s when most of us have the most energy, focus,  and the fewest distractions.
3. Practice intensely – Focus, without interruption, for periods of no longer than 90 minutes and then take a break.  Ninety minutes appears  to be the maximum amount of time that we can bring the highest level of  focus to any given activity. If you can’t dedicate this amount of time every day to the skill you are trying to master, make the time you can put forth really count. Focus and dedication will pay off.
4. Seek expert advice and feedback, in intermittent dose – The  simpler and more precise the feedback, the more equipped you are to make adjustments.  Too much feedback, too continuously, however, can create thought overload, increase anxiety, and interfere with learning. (I am hearing my tennis coach in my head right now!)
5. Take regular renewal breaks – Relaxing after intense effort not only provides an opportunity to rejuvenate, but it also assists in embedding learning.
6. Ritualize practice -  Strong will and discipline are overrated – most of us don’t have exercise them very well (dessert anyone?)  The best way to insure you will take on difficult tasks is to ritualize them — build specific times at which you do them, so that over time you  do them without having to waste energy thinking about them. Whether eating the same healthy breakfast every morning or sitting down to write your blog post the same time everyday, the ritual practice can be put to use in most areas of our lives.

Obviously tennis is just a part-time, recreational area for me. I have other demanding areas of my life and have to prioritize where my time goes.  However, I do know that the same steps to improving my tennis game can improve the any areas in my life. Whether you are looking to master blogging, exercising, dieting, photography, guitar or running, these steps can help you achieve. Now back to the courts for me…

For your reading pleasure on skill excellence:

• Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
• Talent  is Overrated by Geoffrey Colvin
• The  Talent Code by Daniel Coyle

addONE Marketing Solutions delivers experienced,  marketing staffing solutions to fit any size project or budget.  Filling marketing staffing gaps or providing affordable marketing solutions makes addONE marketing “the smartest addition you will ever make.” Atlanta-based and woman owned since 1998.Visit add1marketing.com for more information.

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Sheryl Sandberg’s book has generated a multitude of responses — some positive, some mixed and some outright hostile. The most common complaint theme seems to center on the onus that Sandberg puts the burden on women to change, rather than challenging extra factors that present to most women.

But another common refrain is that Sandberg fails to represent all women. As one of the richest and most powerful women in America, she has quite a few resources that most women lack — whether it’s financial, household/childcare help, or another parent who can provide support. Not everyone has those advantages.

But, my question is, does every woman want to conquer the world? Right every wrong? Score the corner office? And do we have to feel guilty if we don’t?  As a mom, I really enjoy the fact that I can work in an enviroment where I provide value, network with other smart people, and contribute to the household budget. I also truly treasure the flexiblity that my job allows to attend afternoon sporting events, drive carpool, and spend precious moments with my kids. I have two teenagers and they will only be under my roof a few more years. I don’t want to feel guilty that I don’t strive to be CEO or Chairman.

In Monique Ruffin’s blog post this week, Moms Change the World, she said this: “Every mother I’ve spoken with has related that she wanted work that added meaning and purpose to her life. Most women have been transformed by the experience of becoming parents — having a child has led them to see their connection with the world differently, and has instilled in them a determination to make it better, however they may. No longer are they simply seeking a paycheck, a title or an office with a view. These women are determined to create purpose through their work, by any means necessary.”

Well said! What are your thoughts?

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1. Study a skill set that, based on your passions and talents, you can earn a living as well as enjoy your life. With a skill degree versus a generic degree, you can leave and return into the work place based on your life needs. Examples of skill set degrees include accounting, nursing, graphic artist, web designer, architect, engineer, to name a few. A specific skill set versus a very generic degree such as marketing, history, or general business, will allow more flexibility in a career path as well as hopefully ease the task of getting a job right out of school.

2. A career choice is not a straight line. We used to think a career was 40 years at the same job with pension, retirement and a gold watch. But the workplace has changed and that has freed workers to change as well. Some believe you should change careers every seven years so you don’t get bored and you can stay fresh.  That’s not practical for all of us, but odds are you will change your feelings about work at least that often. Be open to opportunities and adapt to change.  Your first job out of school will not be your last.

3. Be your own thinker and advocate.  My daughter is playing on a club volleyball team and with 12 teenage girls and two female coaches, well,  that is a lot of  hormones and personalities! What better place to learn life lessons such as self advocacy skills, positive confrontational skills as well as interpersonal skills. I have explained to her that in life, there will always be the challenging teacher or boss, th back stabbing student, or manipulative co-worker who steals your project. The opportunity is in how you handle the situation and stand up for yourself.

4.  Read, read, read. Read for enjoyment, personal growth, news, and knowledge. Reading will help you learn, see what your competition is doing, know what your customers want, discover what opportunities may exist for you, and what are the developing tends are. Reading journals, blogs, books, newspapers and links are a valuable source of daily news, research, entertainment and growth. Reading for pleasure will instill inspiration, imagination, and empathy. Read, read, read…

5. Breathe – without guilt. Taking a few minutes out of your day will provide respite and perspective.  Sometimes the best place to find inspiration, perspective, enthusiasm or direction in your life is outside of the hectic pace.  A new Stanford University study says that contemplating a breathtaking image can make it seem like you have more time on your hands. Life may seem a little longer, slower and fuller by taking a few minutes to admire the view.

These are just starting points of converstation for us. What other advice would you offer to your daughter?

addONE Marketing Solutions delivers experienced,  marketing staffing solutions to fit any size project or budget.  Filling marketing staffing gaps or providing affordable marketing solutions makes addONE marketing “the smartest addition you will ever make.” Atlanta-based and woman owned since 1998.Visit add1marketing.com for more information.

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YES

• Invite those who you know or who you have met personally
• Personalize your invitation, including how you know them
• Like and/or comment on status updates from your contacts

NO

• Offer an invite to someone you have never met
• Use text or Twitter abbreviations in your invite
• Spam your network with constant email updates

Who do I ask to dance?

1. Expand  your network to colleagues, alumni, address book contacts, and everyone you meet at networking events.
2. Join groups – both professional and social.
3. Find old colleagues, coworkers and school mates.
4. Connect to open networkers – people who are open to invitations to connect without already meeting them. Examples are LION andToplinked.

Know your guests list

Divide your network into three groups for easier management and relationship building. Then decide on a level of communication for each level. For instance, maybe the “A” list gets a quarterly email with a note, link or article. The “B” list may get just a quick hello or touch – base note twice a year, with the “C” list getting just an annual holiday hello. It doesn’t have to be overly complicated or involved.

A – People who are influencers in your industry or a field that interests you, such as former colleagues who have moved on or mentors current and past. If you left your job tomorrow, these are the first line folks to whom you would want to reach out to

B – Coworkers whom you see regularly and acquaintances with whom you stay in touch

C- People you meet and they want to link to you. You don’t really have a relationship with them but want to keep them part of your network.

Jump into the party scene today. Or need professional help to guide the way? Call us today for a free party planning session.

addONE Marketing Solutions delivers experienced,  marketing staffing solutions to fit any size project or budget.  Filling marketing staffing gaps or providing affordable marketing solutions makes addONE marketing “the smartest addition you will ever make.” Atlanta-based and woman owned since 1998.Visit add1marketing.com for more information.

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Another major player, McDonald’s, has voluntarily posted calorie count information on its menus nationwide.  Federal regulation has already been passed that would require 20+ location chains to post calorie counting information, but implementation hasn’t been worked out. Rather than wait, the world’s largest hamburger purveyor decided to turn posting the calories before everyone else into a competitive advantage. Bet other chains are not far behind but good for the golden arches to blaze the trail.

While a healthy lifestyle is ultimately up to each individual, it does help when big companies make food choices and calorie information easier to obtain. Coke’s new “obesity” ad campaign is yet another example of their marketing brilliance and ability to market current messages to the public. Marketing can and should be informative, as well as raising brand awareness and increasing the bottom line. Connecting with your customer on a deeper and more meaningful level will always benefit your business.

Good luck staying on track with any and all of your new year’s resolutions and connecting with your customers.

addONE Marketing Solutions delivers experienced,  marketing staffing solutions to fit any size project or budget.  Filling marketing staffing gaps or providing affordable marketing solutions makes addONE marketing “the smartest addition you will ever make.” Atlanta-based and woman owned since 1998.Visit add1marketing.com for more information.

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1)     To get something, give something. Something good. For free.  People will connect with companies they trust, and nothing spurs the growth of a relationship quite like the act of giving. In this case, creating social media accounts, blogs, podcasts, and delivering content of real value – i.e. stuff users actually want and need – helps establish you as the place to go for solutions. Your well-written post might fix a problem now, and your positive reputation can easily lead to a business opportunity in the future.

ONEmore Thought – Totally agree, as more and more consumers turn to social media conversation with a company. The customer wants to see and hear the companies with whom they are doing business.  Companies that provide this platform show commitment to the consumer that they are willing to participate in conversation and create a relationship.

2)     Marketing strategies resemble a marathon, not a race. With the value placed on relationships today, it’s important to avoid the hard sell, hammering users with calls to action, obnoxious social content, or any other tactic one might compare to the practice of coming on too strong. You’ve got to trust that your strategies will bear fruit given time.  Create and build your presence online, maintain and monitor it, and the demand will find you.

ONEmore Thought – love this point because with so much hype on  social media and experts telling you where to be and how often, it is overwhelming and confusing. The notation that slow and steady stays the race, but of course with authenticity at all times.

3) Marketing requires constant attention, but more work means more opportunity.  You wouldn’t drive around in your car and only check the gas tank once a month. So, why would you check your analytics data just as infrequently? Likewise, you don’t set aside one hour each week to listen to your significant other, so don’t think that level of attention will work for your followers on Twitter and Facebook either. Refined and constant attention will garner better results.

ONEmore Thought – general maintenance keeps you on course (just like weighing every week – yes, back to the new year’s resolutions!)

4)   Social good is inspiring more companies daily, and you should get involved.  Real people are the heart of our companies and our customers, so look beyond the numbers and see the value that doing good can have on people both outside and within your company. Each company is different, but you must find a way to give back that aligns with your personal ideals and pursue it. The TOMS “One for One” initiative as inspiration to donate education resources. We must recognize that the smallest of gestures can mean the biggest difference for others in need.

ONEmore Thought – love this thought as it differentiates you and allows your customer to see behind the curtain to the authentic “you”.  Another way to genuinely personalize and be authentic.

5)  Podcasting is not dead; it’s an opportunity.  So it’s not the game changer some believed it to be … so what. Minus the hype from years past, podcasting has emerged as a medium similar to audio books: it appeals to a certain user base, but can work for almost any kind of content. In business terms, there is a real opportunity there for the taking, if you have the vision to follow through.

ONEmore Thought – this outlet is not for everyone or every customer. Take it as you will.

6)  Marketers must be teachers.  Marketers already embrace many roles on behalf of their companies: the help desk, the promoter, the mechanic, the ambassador, the diplomat. Students learn when teachers create an environment where students can discover the answer on their own.  Marketers must follow this example, creating environments where customers, clients, and followers can discover the answers on their own through the content and features – that is, the value – we provide.

ONEmore Thought – This may be the last point but is the most important point in our mind. As marketers, we must be vigilant in our pursuit of what is best for the customer. We need to lead the charge on this and create the company culture where the customer is always at the front of conversation. Marketers can be a trusted source for the future for the company and customers alike. 

For the full original blog, click here http://www.businessesgrow.com/2013/01/11/6-marketing-lessons-learned-at-the-2013-new-media-expo/#disqus_thread

addONE Marketing Solutions delivers experienced,  marketing staffing solutions to fit any size project or budget.  Filling marketing staffing gaps or providing affordable marketing solutions makes addONE marketing “the smartest addition you will ever make.” Atlanta-based and woman owned since 1998.Visit add1marketing.com for more information.

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Tenth Grade Tech Trends by Josh Miller 

https://medium.com/product-design/d8d4f2300cf3

“A few months ago, my fifteen-year-old sister told me that Snapchat was going to be the next Instagram. Many months before that she told me that Instagram was being used by her peers as much as Facebook. Both times I snickered. Learning from past mistakes, I took some time over the holiday break to ask my sister many, many questions about how she and her friends are using technology.”

Instagram 

“Looking at her Instagram feed, I noticed that the vast majority of photos were of people – not beautiful views, objects, or experiences as mine tends to be. Facebook was smart to buy Instagram.”

addONE Thought: Our GA teens are using it the same as the California sister. This software is hugely popular with the teens to post pics with short comments. My teens spend far more time on Instagram than the Facebook platform.

Facebook

“She mentioned that she tries to visit Facebook as infrequently as possible. Related, she mentioned that she only visits Facebook after her Instagram Feed updates have been exhausted.”

addONE Thought: My own teens tell me that Facebook is for grandparents and not “cool” for teens. They really hate it when a grown up comments and posts pictures of them. I personally had to “train” their grandmother as to the acceptable teen rules of tagging and commenting on her grandchildren or else they will de-friend her. Teens are not the only ones taking a break from Facebook. According to CNN, 27% of Americans plan to spend less time on Facebook in 2013 vs 2012.  Fading out or not?http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/05/tech/social-media/facebook-breaks-pew/index.html

Snapchat

“My sister maintains that Snapchat is up there with Instagram, in terms of usage amongst her peers. Her exemplary use case was a moment that she captured in the airport of a funny looking man who was snoozing in an awkward position. It’s the type of thing that you want to share with somebody, but it’s insignificance would make it awkward in a text or status update.”

addONE Thought: First impressions are not always the case, as our first impression of Snapchat was for ill intended use (see below for more cautions and insights.) Kids love the silly, randomness of Snapchat, which is exactly why adults question its worthiness. A true time waster -  why the teens love it!

Twitter

“She had almost nothing to say about Twitter because she didn’t know anyone in high school that used it.  I followed-up on her Twitter comments by asking where she discovers links: “I don’t read links. I don’t read blogs.

addONE Thought: My college age niece says that Twitter is her favorite form of social media. She shares pictures and updates. Think a mass text list for real time messages and information. iPhones are limited to 10 in a group text and Twitter can be used as the ultimate group text! My teens are starting to use Twitter this same way – for messaging and updates but not for access to blogs and links.

Tumblr

She said most of her friends stopped using the service once they reached high school: “Tumblr is mostly middle schoolers. Especially hipsters. They just reblog stuff.” (Note: we’re from Santa Monica and my sister would be considered “hipster” by Northeast standards.) I can’t get over the “middle schoolers use it” comment, especially since they use Tumblr as an identity tool. That’s exactly how my friends and I used Myspace in middle school, and we too abandoned it (for Facebook) once we reached high school.

addONE Thought: The teens in our homes are not really active on Tumblr, so this is not a hot trend right now in our area. The above mentioned teen is in CA, so perhaps by the time Tumblr reaches the South, our teens may be past the usefulness as she points it to a middle school usage.

Our biggest thought our takeaway is that no one really quite knows what the “next big thing” is just yet. The teens are searching and exploring many different platforms (You Tube, Pinterest, to name a few) and something will emerge as the hot place to see and be seen. As they explore these waters, below are a few hazards to navigate regarding teens. 

1. Texting on the Go: Typing on a smartphone can cause people to veer off course by 61% – and we are talking walkers, not drivers! Texting and walking at the same time may require a serious amount of brain power finds a new study, reducing the ability to cross intersections safely and avoid hazards right in front of them.  Get your teen off the gadget fixation and focused on the path ahead.
2. Earphones and walking: More than 33% of pedestrians who are struck by a car while listening with headphones are under the age of 18. When plugged up, you can’t hear a warning horn or brakes screeching until too late.
3. Speaking of earphones: One in five teens has some form of hearing loss – a rate about 30% higher than it was in the 1980s and 1990s – which many experts believe is due, in part, to the increased use of headphones. Are you constantly asking your teen to turn it down or remove the headphones so they can hear what you are saying? As a rule of thumb, you should only use MP3 devices at levels up to 60% of maximum volume for a total of 60 minutes a day. The louder the volume, the shorter your duration should be.
4. Snapchat – Know it? Chances are if you are over the age of 25, you do not know what this app does. Snapchat is a mobile app which lets users share images or videos that disappear after a few seconds. That’s right — they vanish forever in the time it takes you to read a tweet. To be fair, most kids use it to send funny, cute pics of themselves but the app just lends itself to misuse – thanks in part to US Rep Anthony Weiner. Most adults assume the worst with this app. In January Snapchat was the sixth-most popular free app for Apple’s mobile devices. The kids are using this precisely because it is not Facebook and it is a chance for them to share unguarded silly moment with their friends. We are not judging, just reminding you to know what your teen is up to!

Good luck navigating the teenage course! If you need help navigating any of marketing or social media courses, give us a call. If you need additional help navigating the teen course, we recommend wine and chocolate…

addONE Marketing Solutions delivers experienced,  marketing staffing solutions to fit any size project or budget.  Filling marketing staffing gaps or providing affordable marketing solutions makes addONE marketing “the smartest addition you will ever make.” Atlanta-based and woman owned since 1998.Visit add1marketing.com for more information

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