Trey Ratcliff - www.stuckincustoms.com

When is the last time you went with your gut?  You know…that strong knowing in the center of yourself crying out “Do It – SAY Something” while the account team drones on with empty noise.  Or worse there’s the fear that Negative Nora who always “poo-poos” your idea,  will somehow [...]]]>

Trey Ratcliff - www.stuckincustoms.com

When is the last time you went with your gut?  You know…that strong knowing in the center of yourself crying out “Do It – SAY Something” while the account team drones on with empty noise.  Or worse there’s the fear that Negative Nora who always “poo-poos” your idea,  will somehow present it as her own.  It’s just better to keep that spark hidden.  Just be quiet so the aggravation won’t rear it’s ugly head from another hi-jacked great idea.

It’s hard to believe that there are folks in our world who would actually be comfortable with snagging ideas and claiming them as their own.  I’ve found that when you hear a someone in your org say, “this is about team think” beware.  For me I’ve found that means you’re about to regret sharing your epiphany with that trusted colleague.  And it’s not because I’ve ever required recognition and a strong pat on the back.  It’s because somehow I feel an injustice being done to the concept or the idea as a whole.

And you’re wondering what in the world am I alluding to?  Well I’m not alluding to anything, I’ll be very plain.  That spark that comes from within you, was meant for you.  It’s like that cold day where you’re just waking up from a deep delicious sleep to see the light coming up over the horizon.  This moment was meant for you.  It’s meant to be plotted out and a course charted by the bearer of the message.  When someone else takes the very tip of the idea iceberg and tries to run with it, it’s usually nowhere near the brilliance it was meant for.

Letting your intuition come into the light and out of the darkness – removing the fear and embracing courageously the whole inspired moment requires hard work.  It’s so easy to run down the hall and blurt out something with passion.  I know because I get so excited by the clear vision of one thing or another.  I feel as though I will burst and must tell someone.  The challenge is to take that excitement, the energy that’s gifted with the light bulb and put it down on paper.  Or put it into a mind map, but get the whole thing put somewhere with your name on it.  

There is nothing wrong with being proud of your work or taking credit for the gift of illuminated intuitive thinking, especially in marketing and brand strategy.  In fact as I’ve already stated, we have a responsibility to get the idea right.  Others will certainly contribute their perception and bring opinions that have value.  If the team is brining great insight to the idea – HELLO collaboration. Now we’re talking about “team think”.

Trust that strong knowing…don’t ignore it.  Embrace, nurture and encourage your spark.

When I interviewed Kevin Wheeler last month he talked about top talent taking their “A” game and charting their own course.  That really got me thinking. Who are the “A Players” today and where are they?

Are they sitting in cubicles in major corporations?  I’m thinking maybe not…since we’ve seen so many jobs eliminated [...]]]>

When I interviewed Kevin Wheeler last month he talked about top talent taking their “A” game and charting their own course.  That really got me thinking. Who are the “A Players” today and where are they?

Are they sitting in cubicles in major corporations?  I’m thinking maybe not…since we’ve seen so many jobs eliminated over the last year.

I then thought of one person in particular…Craig Agranoff AKA @lapp.  He’s most known in my community as the www.WorstPizza.com guy.  I originally met him at a Pizza Tweet-up where I won a gift certificate to The Sicilian Oven, in Lighthouse Point, FL.  Which by the way…EXCELLENT pizza…totally check them out.

But what I didn’t realize was while Pizza is his TRUE passion…he does have a day job. Craig is the Co-Founder of www.VOIS.com, a “social sourcing” site dedicated to connecting superior local talent to legitimate projects.   Craig  shares his journey out of the traditional 9 -5 Corporate America job to pursue his entrepreneurial dreams.

Thanks Craig for your time and support of my budding video career   Here’s wishing you all the success you can take.

Real Quick…just arrived at the Westin Diplomat in Hollywood, FL for the ERE Fall Expo and Conference. I shared a quick video…cause guess what…building on the series from last month’s HR Florida 2009.

HR Florida “Rap” Up video. Looking forward to next year!

What a great conference…HR Florida 2009 was outstanding.  Even with the economy the turn-out was phenomenal.  I soaked up all the opps I could to discuss the Social Web and our challenges for HR going into the remainder of 2009 into 2010.

I was also able to meet “in-person” a fellow Tweep, Michael VanDervort, [...]]]>

Video Log

What a great conference…HR Florida 2009 was outstanding.  Even with the economy the turn-out was phenomenal.  I soaked up all the opps I could to discuss the Social Web and our challenges for HR going into the remainder of 2009 into 2010.

I was also able to meet “in-person” a fellow Tweep, Michael VanDervort, of Human Race Horses.  He’s a prolific blogger focused on leveraging social mediums as 21st century business tools.  We talked a great deal about how we use Personal Blogging, Twitter and various other platforms to stay engaged in our careers.  His quick insight into the value this brings him personally is just great!  I think this is my best video entry to date.

Be sure to stop by his site and/or connect with him on Twitter @MikeVanDervort.  He’s currently live blogging/tweeting from behind the scenes at The Disney Learning Center.

Thanks so much for sharing with me Mike, and really looking forward to connecting again soon.