Caine's Arcade

Dedication, imagination and

 entrepreneurial spirit knows no age.  

Nine-year old, Caine from East LA showed the world, with a little help, how his passion has become a reality.  

Caine loves arcades, but most of his time is spent at his Dad's auto part shop surrounded by empty boxes.  So one day took Caine took his resources and create a cardboard box arcade. He waited patiently until his first customer arrived.  Coincidentally, his first customer, a film producer, was inspired by Caine and wanted to spread the word about Caine's Arcade.

The film highlights the power of social media and how it can strengthen any movement 

AND

 creativity, dedication and customer service are still the driving forces behind a good business. 

Getting it done

Recently, I was told the purpose of our 20 page paper was to teach the class to get the job done.  It does not matter how you get it done, but get it done.  Well this lesson has been taught a little to well this week...


Monday, May 7
5:30 a.m.- Ring Ring
   Nicki it is raining.  We can not set up the Picnic today.  what do you want to do? 
5:45 a.m.- Room Room
   Boss, we the picnic has to be moved.  When you wake up give me clearance to cancel and reschedule. 
6:30 a.m.- Wait Wait Wait
   Well, I am waiting for the president to tell me which day he would like the new picnic date. 
7 a.m.- Eeny Meeny Minny Moe
   Alright either date is let's role with this Thursday.  It may rain on our original rain date. 
7:10 a.m.- Demolition
   Due to the rain this morning, we will be canceling the picnic and rescheduling on Thursday, May 10. 
7:40-10 a.m.- Rebuilding
   Great News!  I am so glad you can still participate in the picnic.  Here is my cell call if anything comes up. 
11 a.m.- The Message

This will be short and sweet.

Short … The Appreciation Picnic is rescheduled for this Thursday, May 10. We know we originally said the rain date would be next Tuesday but we just can’t wait until then (and we’re supposed to get more rain next week).

Sweet … Good news is that the next three days are supposed to be sunny and mild (not the 90-degree temperatures we had this past weekend).  And…

Previously ordered "To Go" meals can still be picked-up at your scheduled time and location on Thursday, May 10. 

If you have any urgent questions, please email EmployeeActivites@bjc.org

See you there!

Noon- Copies, Permits, Contracts and Food 

   Everyone knows there portion of the event.  Let's go! 

12:01 p.m., May 7- 12:28 p.m., May 9

   Sleep?  Who has time to sleep I have an event to run! 

On top of destroying and rebuilding an event, I also finished the 20 page research paper.  It may not be pretty, it may not be perfect, BUT the job is done! 

 

Positive or Negative...I am all +

 Since everyone has had a no good horrible rotten week, I thought I would try to share the positive of my week.  A friend recently shared an article from Career Cast that stated being an Event Coordinator on a scale stressful to one is ranked number six.  According to this scale, my job is just a hare less stressful than a police officer who risks his or her life for a living.  I have a hard time believing my stress level is comparable to police officers, but feel free to check out the  methodology  for yourself.
 
For me, being an event planner is frankly just a passion.  It takes a certain person who is kind hearted, but authoritative, goes with the flow, but is organized, loves the fast pace, but has attention to detail.  You need to the right mix of this and that to truly be an outstanding event planner.

 To better understand why I punish myself to enormous amount of stress, painstaking details and a hint of insanity, watch the Free Hug Campaign. 

This campaign centers on one person with one idea that becomes contagious.  This is how I view my events as a hug that embraces each person who walks in.  My hope is that my event will impact my attendees for the positive and they pay it forward. Maybe I give myself too much credit in regards to impacting others, but all of the stress, pain and insanity is worth it when…

The lights dim and the room glows with flickering candles 

When old friends laugh and new friends are made

When a problem arises and you are so in tuned to the event that fixing the crisis is as easy as wiggling your finger.

When you lie in bed and can not stop smiling because of the high on life 

That is why I am event planner…because I see the big picture, but bask in the small joys.  For me it is more than a job, but a way of life.

Fact or Fiction?

Close your eyes and tap your heels together three times. And think to yourself, there's no place like home.” Do you know where that quote is from?  

Exactly…The Wizard of Oz! 

 For those of you have not seen the Wizard of Oz, here is the quick version.  Dorothy and her dog Toto gets caught in a tornado and transported to Munchkinland where her house kills a wicked witch.  Another wicked witch and the good witch, Glinda flock to this incident and the war over the shoes begins because Glinda gave away the deceased witches shoes without permission.   

Dorothy meets a cowardly lion, a scare crow and a heartless tin man who all are off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of oz by using the yellow brick road.  The yellow brick road takes our characters through some mystical towns with wonderful singing and dance numbers until we eventually meet the wizard. The wizard tends to be a little upsetting as he is all smoke and no magic. Dorothy is obviously upset because now how will she get home to Kansas?  Glinda comes to the rescue and makes the plot come together by tying in the stolen shoes.

Dorothy wakes up from her dream never truly leaving Kansas.  The iconic red glittered heels on the other hand were transported throughout the ages being embodied from high fashion to social movements. 


Bloomingburg Business Week recently published an article entitled "Fictional Brands That Crossed Over to Reality". This article had many examples, but here are my top two. Can you guess where these fictional brands were first introduced? 

 To find the answer click here!  

Normally, the selling of product looks like this…

Product + Marketing = Sales

But for a few creative personalities, the selling of product looks like this…
                   free fictional product marketing =                                               
   creation of product =easy brand recognition sales

Now if you had the choice, which equation would you chose? The hardest part of communication is getting past your listener’s barriers which can be caused from biases to just plain physical noise.  Imagine, you were already being heard by the listeners maybe from their favorite television show such as the Simpsons which always refers to Duff Beer.  Then when you go to the store, you see Duff Beer; would you honestly not buy it at least once?  I know I would take the Duff Beer home and try it.

This idea of fictional band can even transcend into product placement as well.  Product placement is meant to be under the radar marketing.  For instance, what is Dorothy wore red sparkle Toms instead of slippers? You then would connect Dorothy to Toms shoes. In equation form, product placement would look something like this.

Tom Shoes +

“Dorothy wore red Toms that contrasted with the yellow bricks”

= You buy red Toms

I know you heads are spinning with the possibilities of creative marketing, but let’s hear the downside. Remember the implications that are attached to fictional items and location where product placement began.  If you are trying to sell a kid’s toy, you would not place it in X rated show.  In addition, the novelty of the item will quickly wear off and then your item will be judged based on how it compares in the market.

Make sure your product, like Dorothy’s shoes are in for the long walk to success.

The Doppler Effect

 Good morning everyone!

Disclaimer Gulping The Wild Air’s sunshine filled cloud background is NOT in real time.  I repeat, this background does not reflect the rainy day that majority of Missourians will be experiencing today. Due to this overwhelming news at 9:30 a.m., I suggest making coffee, staying in your pajamas and read my blog.

Thank you to The Weather Channel for creating such a fine visual aid.

Now imagine you are the state of Missouri and the green blob surrounding you is your daily communication.  For those of you who are not familiar with Doppler Radar in connection with the communication analogy, just follow this logic.  The majority of our communication is unintentional without practice and for the most part easy.    We talk to people every day without truly thinking of the beauty it takes for two people to have a conversation with all of the complexities of not only forming the message, but understanding the message while eliminating distractions.  Now the yellow specs are those moments where we as communicator really need to focus on the production, the lightning, the thunder and excitement.  This could be a public speech, a mass email, a blog or even premeditating a conversation.

 As the Employee Activities Coordinator for Barnes-Jewish Hospital (BJH), I strive for the lightning when communicating to my 10,000 team members.  You want the dazzle, hit the mark and wow the audience just like a lightning bolt. Unfortunately, after every flash of lightning comes the thunder.  The thunder can be small and only a thought by you as improvements for the next message. Or the thunder can be loud and heard by all. 

On Thursday, I created a thunderous thunder experience.  After sending a standard All BJH email about our Celebration Picnic, I noticed something was missing…

"Just fill out the attached order form and email it..." Scramble set in with our team members.  Attached, what is attached?  How can I complete an invisible form?  The thunder could be heard resonating throughout the hospital as realized I forgot the attachment.  

Instead of panicking and sending a retraction notice immediately, I evaluated the situation through our previous email’s tone, medium and number of people who had read the message to create with our communication team the following email entitled, Picnic: Oops or Intentional:

“Barnes-Jewish team members:

We could say that forgetting to attach the picnic flyer and to-go order form was an "oops" but here's what we're going with ...

• We wanted the opportunity to remind you one more time not to forget to mark May 8 on your calendar. Yes, that's the day of the BJH picnic!
• We are so excited about the picnic, we keep wanting to share our enthusiasm!
• Better yet, we REALLY hope to see you there!

If you just can't make it, feel free to order a pre-packaged “to-go” meal. Fill out the attached order form and email it to PRIVACY@bjc.org or fax to 747-SECRET by Monday, April 30. To-go meals can be picked up between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. at Hudlin Park or in the north cafeteria but are not available in the evening. No "to-go" entree requests will be accepted the day of the event.

That's all for this week ...”

Immediately, positive responses flooded into our mailbox. 

“Thanks for brightening my day.”

“I sent in my “to-go” order form.”

“I can’t wait to participate in the dunking booth.”

                                                                               

Whooo the storm has passed and we are left with is a rainbow.  In this analogy, a rainbow means a successful messaging.  Rainbows are the reflection of light through water vapors, symbolizing communication, to create an array of beautiful colors which is the individual understanding of the message based on personal experiences.

Now this rainy day doesn’t seem so bad with your new found education on communication.  Go expand your mind through this stormy day.