Maybe its true that you can really know all about a person by looking in their medicine cabinet, or kitchen junk drawer. The inside of a pocketbook. The basement.
I am much more interested in what people choose to take with them as they venture into the world every day. For me, a lot of thought goes into what goes into my toolkit.
Tools I will need to make every part of my day work are different depending on the day. Some things are always with me – phone, wallet, keys – and I wonder if one day they will be all one neat, elegant package. That would save me from my daily ritual of tearing through the house looking for all of them.
Here are a few things I always have:
Business cards at the ready – often interspersed with other people’s cards that I simply do not have the time to take out, enter into my contact list, blah blah, blah so I eventually forget who the person was to begin with.
Pandora on my Blackberry and earplugs in ears to tune in and to tune out.
Make up bag. Big time warpaint with impressive names like “Power Lash” and “Lip Plumper”. We women need to check in with the pit crew periodically.
A bill to mail, a telephone number with no name.
But wait, there’s more
I also carry:
a Flip camera to capture sounds and music of the city for this blog.
a slim sketchbook for sudden inspirations of shoe designs
a Ziploc bag with something to knit
All these things make my day realizable. They also give me the ability to reinvent my experiences creatively.
Success is a science; if you have the conditions, you get the result. Oscar Wilde
I think science is for the smart kids.
I got through school by figuring out who I needed to listen to so I could do what I needed to do. Like pass science.
Today I was given an intriguing request for information by a funder. A list of dance artists, a few questions about Queens. I could have beamed up a list from our artist database at the speed of light and dashed off some answers.
But no!
Remembering how effortlessly I delivered wrong answers in class has now taken form as a reflex that stops me every time I am put to task. It actually looks like I am twitching or doing a disco imitation of a robot – damn high school science!
OK, back to my tried and true scientific methodology: Who do I need to know to do what I need to do?
I needed to know ten dance artists who would be inspired, eager and ready to build a dance community in Queens. I needed to take more time in responding and give myself more time to listen to the artists one at a time. Of course, what usually happens is that everyone has great ideas and the eventually the common vision of this community and the conditions for its success became a vivid reality with each conversation, each artist.
I have no doubt this project will be an inspired success. It will be the inevitable result of a science that I call knowing who to listen to.
How do you make things happen?
I am listening.
Get more Wow!
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All politics is local politics.
Legislators want to know how your work benefits their districts. Just as smart job seekers will craft a well written cover letter that demonstrates an understanding of the company, a nonprofit will immediately improve their funding appeal by citing how many people they serve in a politician’s voter base. How can you be helpful to them?
Presenting yourself as a valuable partner in doing good work increases your chances of consideration.
Give before you get
I know this sounds counterintuitive when you are asking for money. Some people call this focused generosity. You can also look at this as creating a web of indebtedness. The best relationships are those grounded in a culture of inspired giving. Be the first giver, generous of spirit and sincere in being helpful to others. The return to you will be all that a growing and giving relationship can bestow.
When I pitch, Katherine will watch, listen and wait for them to tell us what they need. Without missing a beat, this she wolf will pick up my lead and speak to how we, project aside, can be a resource, a helpful partner to them.
Rinse and repeat.
Managing expectations is good practice. Managing perceptions is a great skill.
Never underestimate good karma.
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These are taglines from three instantly recognizable big businesses. Complex businesses with many products and services and are able to impress us with a distinct image of what they do in seven words or less. Why are these taglines so powerful?
1. It’s all about you
Don’t you want to be taken care of? You buy insurance so that you, your family, your life will be safe and secure in unexpected situations. Someone will make sure you are OK. You will be in good hands. What a powerful and comforting image Allstate that is.
2. It’s an experience you want
You want your music whenever you want it and where ever you want it. Here you go! 1,000 songs in your pocket. Apple is offering you the experience of immediacy, flexibility and access to anything you want to hear in a sleekly designed, must-have, cool gadget.
3. It’s a relationship
Who would not want to make the child in their life happy? Disney wants to be part of your desire to do so by creating an empire of movies and themeparks for you to choose from.
Your tagline
Think of everything you are and everything you do. I have no doubt you are as complex and multifaceted as these businesses. Is there one thing you can extract, one thing you are especially good at that you can build an image around? What is your favorite version of yourself? And most importantly, what can you for others? In a recent post on Copyblogger, Lisa Barone writes,
Think niche. You can’t be known for everything. Pick what’s most important to what you do, break it down to its simplest core, and be it.
While Copyblogger has established itself as one of the Web’s top resources on content, Brian Clark has branded himself the master of headlines. It’s a tiny microcosm of the whole content creation space that he owns. It’s where he’s untouchable.
These are a few examples of taglines I have been working on for myself. They are intended to be used at cocktail parties, in elevators, to open budget testimonies, and to help me think harder about what I should be doing.
Be alive and kicking, mostly kicking
Live life @ the speed of art
How to change the world in style
Stylenotes for people who change the world
Who are you?
Can you tell me in seven words or less?
Get more Wow!
If you want style notes and more for people who change the world, please check out:
Think niche. You can’t be known for everything. Pick what’s most important to what you do, break it down to its simplest core, and be it.
While Copyblogger has established itself as one of the Web’s top resources on content, Brian Clark has branded himself the master of headlines. It’s a tiny microcosm of the whole content creation space that he owns. It’s where he’s untouchable.
What is the hottest thing to do on a chilly Saturday in February?
Seth and I trekked into Jackson Heights to spend some time with friends over samosas from the Jackson Diner. At the end of a long snowy week it was a bright fiery highlight on my calendar.
Good company, good conversation, good times – I highly recommend this as a great way to warm up for spring.
Have you gathered with your friends lately?
Get ready for spring
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I am a momspy, artspy and nonprofit knitter. Hi! Welcome to hoongyee.com, my blog where you will find style notes for people who change the world. read more>
