Wouldn’t it be great, you ask, if one could go to one place and see all of the Party Aficionado’s bookmarks, reviews, favorite things, and more from one central location?!
You asked for it, now you’ve got it. Simply visit www.partyaficionado.com .
The site now is live.
Tell me what you think.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Consider me Twittered! The Party Aficionado Weighs in.
I’ve been called many things due to my love of technology and new gadgets. Most of which I will not utter here. But I think I’ve found a great way to share all those marketing emails I receive daily, and my new favorite online sites and gadgets.
I will Twitter them!
For those of you who know me, and for those of you just getting to know me, you’ll soon learn that I like all things gadget and tech. While I’m not a tech person by trade, I am fascinated by anything that makes my life/job easier or just more fun.
Years ago, it was gadgets. I had to have the first palm device. I had a bluetooth phone back when there was really no point. (Only my expensive Palm device and my expensive phone could talk to each other) and that blue light stemming from my ear just didn’t go over well in the airports. After jumping on the Ipod craze a few years ago, I took a step back from the ever changing and updating gadgets and switched my focus to online technology as gadgetry.
As an event leader, I of course early adopted to online registration sites, (taking my clients kicking and screaming along the way). I started Myspace and Facebook accounts for one of my event clients in 2005/2007 respectively, and of course I blog, tried my hand at podcasting, I post my bookmarks with Delicous, I Yelp my favorite places to eat and stay, and now…. I twitter!
Like many of you, I receive hundreds of emails offering me specials on hotel stays, incentive gifts, event services, and more. Most of the time those emails get tossed with the hopes that if I’m ever called on to produce a meeting in a 4 star German hotel in April 2011, that I’ll be able to somehow retrace my deleted emails. And what if that request never happens, couldn’t there possibly be someone out there who is interested in that same offer right now?! As an event leader and habitual educator, I love to share information so Twitter it is.
I know I’m supposed to use Twitter to tell my friends and family what I’m doing every second of the day, but I thought. Why not share with my readers, friends and clients. The deals that I think are worth taking a second look at. To be fair to the Twitter purists, I am posting them as I receive them via email.
So… You really are getting a glimpse of what I’m ‘doing right now”.
I will Twitter them!
For those of you who know me, and for those of you just getting to know me, you’ll soon learn that I like all things gadget and tech. While I’m not a tech person by trade, I am fascinated by anything that makes my life/job easier or just more fun.
Years ago, it was gadgets. I had to have the first palm device. I had a bluetooth phone back when there was really no point. (Only my expensive Palm device and my expensive phone could talk to each other) and that blue light stemming from my ear just didn’t go over well in the airports. After jumping on the Ipod craze a few years ago, I took a step back from the ever changing and updating gadgets and switched my focus to online technology as gadgetry.
As an event leader, I of course early adopted to online registration sites, (taking my clients kicking and screaming along the way). I started Myspace and Facebook accounts for one of my event clients in 2005/2007 respectively, and of course I blog, tried my hand at podcasting, I post my bookmarks with Delicous, I Yelp my favorite places to eat and stay, and now…. I twitter!
Like many of you, I receive hundreds of emails offering me specials on hotel stays, incentive gifts, event services, and more. Most of the time those emails get tossed with the hopes that if I’m ever called on to produce a meeting in a 4 star German hotel in April 2011, that I’ll be able to somehow retrace my deleted emails. And what if that request never happens, couldn’t there possibly be someone out there who is interested in that same offer right now?! As an event leader and habitual educator, I love to share information so Twitter it is.
I know I’m supposed to use Twitter to tell my friends and family what I’m doing every second of the day, but I thought. Why not share with my readers, friends and clients. The deals that I think are worth taking a second look at. To be fair to the Twitter purists, I am posting them as I receive them via email.
So… You really are getting a glimpse of what I’m ‘doing right now”.
Monday, November 3, 2008
If you knew what I know, you’d have more meetings! The Party Aficionado weighs in on communicating during the financial crisis
If you knew what I know, you’d have more meetings! The Party Aficionado weighs in on communicating during the financial crisis.
As an independent meetings and event planner, I can’t help but notice the slowing down of firms both large and small as it relates to their company meetings and event marketing initiatives. As a former corporate employee, I can only say that this is the wrong direction.
I remember years ago when I was working for GM, each time there was a financial crisis, an inner company merger, or the latest leadership shuffle, there was more gossip and talk among employees than between leadership and staff. By the time the "big reveal" occurred, the rumor mill was full of speculation and downright fear.
I remember thinking to myself: "Company leaders have to know that saying nothing for months, then calling a meeting on a Sunday -- Mother's Day to be exact, would only incite more panic among the ranks", but alas this was the norm.
So when I came across the results from a recent survey by the research firm Weber Shandwick, I was not at all surprised with what they found.
The survey of 514 employed Americans shows that 70% expect the current economic and financial problems in the U.S. will have a negative impact on the company they work for over the course of the next year. Of those, 26% believe their company will have to lay off employees and 62% said their company would have trouble meeting its goals.
The research highlights a clear deficit in the workplace between employee appetite for more communication on the impact of the economic crisis and the levels at which company leadership is providing information. The research shows that 71% of people felt that their company's leadership should be communicating more about current economic problems, and 54% have not heard from company leaders at all on the impact of the financial crisis on their company. By comparison, 74% said that they had heard colleagues and co-workers talking about the issue.
And my overall favorite statistic from the study: Of those companies who had discussed the financial crisis at work, 86% say that senior executives or management were seen as “believable” and “trustworthy” sources on the topic.
"At a time when working Americans are concerned about their personal finances, their jobs and the overall economy, employees are looking for credible, candid information, and right now too few business leaders are filling the information void that exists,” said Harris Diamond, CEO of Weber Shandwick. “Employers have a great opportunity to communicate with their workforce about the impact of the economic situation on their companies as well as on employees."
"By stepping up and communicating more with their employees, company leaders will enhance their company's standing, consolidate their position of trust in challenging times and head off any inaccurate rumors or fears that are all too common in fast-moving crises such as these," added Diamond.
It is imperative that we as event professionals get this message across to all of our clients and colleagues. Now is not the time to cut back on meetings and other forms of communication. Sure, there is certainly a balance companies must maintain to avoid the appearance frivolity in this time of economic crisis (e.g. AIG event nightmare), but curtailing all meeting activities is not the answer.
Be honest, keep the communication coming, and by all means, don’t stop meeting!
Cheryl Lawson, MBA
As an independent meetings and event planner, I can’t help but notice the slowing down of firms both large and small as it relates to their company meetings and event marketing initiatives. As a former corporate employee, I can only say that this is the wrong direction.
I remember years ago when I was working for GM, each time there was a financial crisis, an inner company merger, or the latest leadership shuffle, there was more gossip and talk among employees than between leadership and staff. By the time the "big reveal" occurred, the rumor mill was full of speculation and downright fear.
I remember thinking to myself: "Company leaders have to know that saying nothing for months, then calling a meeting on a Sunday -- Mother's Day to be exact, would only incite more panic among the ranks", but alas this was the norm.
So when I came across the results from a recent survey by the research firm Weber Shandwick, I was not at all surprised with what they found.
The survey of 514 employed Americans shows that 70% expect the current economic and financial problems in the U.S. will have a negative impact on the company they work for over the course of the next year. Of those, 26% believe their company will have to lay off employees and 62% said their company would have trouble meeting its goals.
The research highlights a clear deficit in the workplace between employee appetite for more communication on the impact of the economic crisis and the levels at which company leadership is providing information. The research shows that 71% of people felt that their company's leadership should be communicating more about current economic problems, and 54% have not heard from company leaders at all on the impact of the financial crisis on their company. By comparison, 74% said that they had heard colleagues and co-workers talking about the issue.
And my overall favorite statistic from the study: Of those companies who had discussed the financial crisis at work, 86% say that senior executives or management were seen as “believable” and “trustworthy” sources on the topic.
"At a time when working Americans are concerned about their personal finances, their jobs and the overall economy, employees are looking for credible, candid information, and right now too few business leaders are filling the information void that exists,” said Harris Diamond, CEO of Weber Shandwick. “Employers have a great opportunity to communicate with their workforce about the impact of the economic situation on their companies as well as on employees."
"By stepping up and communicating more with their employees, company leaders will enhance their company's standing, consolidate their position of trust in challenging times and head off any inaccurate rumors or fears that are all too common in fast-moving crises such as these," added Diamond.
It is imperative that we as event professionals get this message across to all of our clients and colleagues. Now is not the time to cut back on meetings and other forms of communication. Sure, there is certainly a balance companies must maintain to avoid the appearance frivolity in this time of economic crisis (e.g. AIG event nightmare), but curtailing all meeting activities is not the answer.
Be honest, keep the communication coming, and by all means, don’t stop meeting!
Cheryl Lawson, MBA
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