Hot Sweet Cup of Possibility

May 29, 2009

: Image by Creativity+ Timothy K Hamilton via Flickr

Written by Karen D. Swim

Possibilities, shades of maybe, bouncing prisms of what if. Nerve endings tingling as you wonder, could this be the one? Blank page breathlessly waiting for ideas to caress. Fragments gently spill to fill the space, heart beats faster, mind and fingers rhythmically strumming the chords, pieces moving, transforming blank to creation.

Alas, work is done, satiated, deep breaths, luxurious stretch, languishing in the moment. Next step, are we ready?

Query, viewing, sharing. Anticipation, hope, not breathing, waiting for yes, eyes closed, kaleidoscope of maybes, cautious optimism interrupted by blissful expectation.

Accepted, chosen, hope realized, heart leaps, elation, fruits of labor, then back again to the blank canvas. Pens up, fingers attentive, ready? New day, fueled by what can be.

It’s Friday people, time to play.

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Posted by Karen Swim | Filed Under Writing | 5 Comments

March of the Illiterati in E Flat

May 27, 2009

Written by Karen D. Swim

Two weeks ago, my Grandmother retired her old school TV Antenna for a digital converter box. If the FCC had not mandated that the US switch to digital on June 12th, my Gran would have kept using the rabbit ears.

In the world of early adopters one might say my Gran is a no bloomer. Yet, her diehard dedication to “rabbit ears” is not unlike those who hopelessly cling to the notion that social media is worthless and digital media is solely for the illiterati.

In a recent conversation with an erudite writer, I listened to what has become a familiar litany:

People who publish on the internet are not real writers. I am a noted journalist/writer/editor and accustomed to spending 6 weeks, writing 15 drafts before publishing.

My crowd is very literate and will not possibly be on Twitter. ( I pull up Twitter screen) Oh, look there’s Bill /Jane/ Buffy, they’re on Twiter?

I do not have time to waste engaging in urbane conversations with plebian strangers.

Internet publishing is for hacks.

Overlooking the fact that I had just been called a moronic hack who spends time on inane platforms talking to a motely bunch of idiots, I patiently explained this new world that has “killed newspapers” and made superstars out of the unknown. I politely declined to point out that a truly impressive insult would have described “my people” as having brains as dry as the remainder biscuit after a voyage.

Alas, we no longer use insults such as: “Away!, Thou art poison to my blood.” Yet, in spite of the evolution of the English language we have managed to make amazing discoveries, and advances. Who’da thunk it? (See what fun online writing can be?)

Those who view online writing as a dumbing down of provocative thoughts and ideas are missing the point entirely. It is an expansion of creative thought, discussion and collective collaboration. While other forms of publishing aim to “talk at” digital publishers “talk to.” It’s the sharing and exchange of ideas and information in real time.

Literature, and great writing are not dying, we are simply evolving in the way we communicate. Many will hold on until the bitter end, until change has steamrolled over them leaving no other choice but the truly erudite will not only embrace the change but lead the way.

What do you think? Are we diminishig the art of writing with online publishing?

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Posted by Karen Swim | Filed Under Social Media, Writing | 24 Comments

Authenticity, Transparency and Poetic Musings

May 26, 2009

Written by Karen D. Swim

The sky blushed with soft shades of rose, clouds softly rolling in darkening the sun
A heart that was heavy lifted as emotions floated on the wind, I exhaled and the sky blushed.
Soft droplets of rain falling gently from the folds of lavender robes as a clap of thunder trumpeted the arrival of a majestic display of power and humility
Branches bowed low in worship, leaves danced in delight

Emotion seeped from hidden spaces, riding waves of tears pushing past floodgates of fear
The sky blushed and I exhaled.

____________________________

Over the long weekend I began reading a fabulous book, Collapse of Distinction: Stand out and move up while your competition fails (NelsonFree). (Big fat huge hugs to Kelly Erickson for the book!) There are a wealth of lessons which I will share liberally in later posts, but the book got me to thinking about authenticity and transparency.

We all agree that transparency has its boundaries. We do not need nor want to know the intimate details of everyone’s life. We need not be privy to every dark thought or struggle. It is my belief that ultimately it is not transparency or authenticity we seek; we crave humanity.

We want to know that there are real live people who think, breathe, cry and don’t always have the answers behind the logos and branding messages. We want to know that you feel, and care about many of the same things we do.

Yet, we require that humanity in a silo. In my own life, it is time to bleed the lines. I have always been fairly “transparent” yet I realize that my self imposed limits may be stunting my own growth. I am a writer desiring to grow, stretch and learn yet until now have been fearful of sharing certain kinds of writing on this blog.

Yes, there is a fine line to walk here. You cannot do what you feel in spite of what your market wants BUT to innovate and grow you must be willing to test.

: Image by krandolph via Flickr

There are many things we use and like that we never could have predicted.

McKain’s book inspires the question of whether we want to be different or do we truly want to be distinct? I am not out for fame, fortune or even market share but I do want to be my own class. I want to be wanted for me and not as the writer or marketer that is like so and so.

To achieve that end, I have to find my own voice and be willing to make mistakes along the way. I must break down silos and share the other pieces of me – yes the bad poetic musings, the half baked fiction and the often really good ideas that emerge from the schizophrenic process.

How can I be authentic in the market if I am not first true to myself? While I will not use this space as a laboratory, I will blur the lines as I create that crayon in the box that is clearly marked “Karen.”

What about you? Do you want to be different or do you want to be distinct?

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Posted by Karen Swim | Filed Under Business and Career | 18 Comments

Memorial Day

May 25, 2009

: Image by Old Shoe Woman via Flickr

Written by Karen D. Swim

Today, in the U.S. we are celebrating Memorial Day. I am taking advantage of the long holiday weekend to regroup and relax. Regularly scheduled posts will resume on Tuesday, May 26th. Stay tuned it’s going to be fun!

Happy Monday and Happy Memorial Day!

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Posted by Karen Swim | Filed Under Insights | Leave a Comment

Wednesday Links, Laughs and Loves

May 20, 2009

Written by Karen D. Swim

It has been quite a week! I don’t know about you but I’m all for celebrating the half-way mark. For me it has been a week of being sifted and shaken from every direction. I wish I knew a great joke to share with all of you (come to think of it I could use a good joke in which er you know I’m not the butt of it, got any?), but instead let’s check in with the web happenings of the week.

Stacy Lukasavitz shared a great link this week on rap artist Eminem’s integrated marketing campaign. Like Stacy, I’m not a fan but read with interest how his marketing team is using traditional, social media and multimedia to promote his latest album. Give it a read and let me know your thoughts – weird or brilliant?

Kelly Erickson snags an interview with the author of When Growth Stalls, Steve McKee. Learn how Steve failed his way to success. Great insight and takeaways that we can all use.

Joanna Young returned from her spectacular writing retreat in Sardinia and pondered how to hold on to that balance. It is a timely, thought provoking piece as many of us attempt to pursue writing dreams, while funding our lives.

…and if you’re up for some great e-book reads, head over to Smashwords and pick up Flashy Fiction by George Angus and Poke it with a Sharp Stick by the man with the big hat and even bigger heart, Robert Hruzek.

How about you? Did you read, hear, see anything interesting, inspiring or just plain wild?

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Posted by Karen Swim | Filed Under Business and Career, Ideas | 8 Comments

Are You a Business Bridezilla?

May 18, 2009

Written by Karen D. Swim

There is a television show that follows around cake throwing, profanity spouting, possessed by Satan would be brides and films the train wreck for American audiences to watch on television. It is appropriately titled Bridezillas.

I have watched only bits and pieces, two minutes in and I am so appalled that I cannot bear to watch any longer. However, I have seen enough to know that it’s not entirely unlike some of the experiences of modern work life.

Bridezillas are out of control would be brides who work themselves into a frenzy over wedding veils and cake toppers. Their cellphones become megaphones of hatred where they routinely dial up their wedding party to spew venom on their day.

These bridezillas micro manage everyone associated with the wedding except of course themselves. They frequently go over budget, isolate friends and family and are never on time to events they organized in great detail. They go to great lengths for the perfect wedding day but never spend a single moment planning for the actual marriage.

Like their wedding counterparts, business bride (or groom) zillas micromanage the tiniest details while failing to prepare for the big picture. They spend numerous hours having the copywriter reorganize periods and commas, and months choosing the background color for their website. No department or vendor is spared their oversight but they never seem to spend time working on their own expertise.

They can plan a perfect launch but are unprepared to actually serve customers. They can crack the whip and get things done but lack the ability to motivate and inspire teams. The wedding bridezilla’s staff is temporary and they gladly wrap up and move on to the next project. The buiness bridezilla’s staff wishes that were true.

The moral of this un-fairy tale? Beware of monsters in frily costumes.

Have you ever met a business bridezilla? How did you manage the bad behavior while still getting your job done?

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Posted by Karen Swim | Filed Under Business and Career, Insights | 11 Comments

Writing 911

May 15, 2009

Written by Karen D. Swim

Writing can be a fickle craft. Some days it feels magical with words coming easily and others it feels flat and lifeless. Today, I have a guest post at Confident Writing which provides a few tips that will help you breathe new life into your writing. Please drop by and share in the discussion. I’d love to hear your tips for rescuing your writing.

See you there!

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Posted by Karen Swim | Filed Under Insights | Leave a Comment

Down the Rabbit Hole and into the Archives

May 13, 2009

Written by Karen D. Swim

Yesterday, I went digging through my writing file. Not the nicely polished, edited pieces file, nope. The file. The electronic brain dump with snippets of poorly written dialogue and half baked story ideas. Some were so awful that I blushed with embarrassment as I quickly closed the file. Others were like freshly turned planting soil, ready for seeds to take root with just the right amount of careful nurturing. A few were so good that I had to check to make sure I hadn’t swiped it from someone else.

I was tempted to share the “so bad, it’s funny” bits here but decided to spare you. Tripping the light fantastic through my own archives however was less painful than I imagined. It allowed me to step back in time and visit with my history. Buried in the fiction were nuggets of truth pulled from my life – Death of a Fairytale, Confessions of a Schitzophrenic Serial Optimist (sigh, my title struggle remains consistent) – all revealed a little bit of me layered with big fat swaths of imagination.

I love writing. A peek into my files validated what I have always known. The end result is not always lovely but the process is delicious. Even the really awful writing is fun to write and allows me to shake off the dross to get to the gold. I don’t spend much time looking back but on occasion it is good therapy. The look back can remind you why you keep moving forward, especially when new challenges are on the horizon. My dive into the archives was like flipping through my running journal. As I logged the miles I only thought of one step at a time, one run at a time. Somehow they added up over time.

I did not delete the bad or mediocre writing pieces. All had contributed to the total miles I have run thus far. The good, the bad and the truly awful after all have gotten me right here today.

If you’re in the mood for some great writing on this hump day, I highly recommend:

Ladders on the Right Wall – a straight from the heart, thought provoking piece by Janice Cartier. The post and comments are brilliant and provide such great insight into moving forward towards the “scary ” thing.

Turning Point – Brett Legree is back with a two hanky post that will tug your heart and stir your soul. While the post itself is filled with raw emotion, it also delves into our corporate work culture and why it is imploding around us.

And don’t miss Kelly’s book review and cool giveaway, plus a chance to give a shout out to a deserving business.

What’s in your archives? Any surprises?

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Posted by Karen Swim | Filed Under Inspiration, Writing | 10 Comments

Breath of Life

May 12, 2009

Written by Karen D. Swim

Questions, doubts, more questions. Fragments of ideas that seemed just out of reach.

Growing tired from the introspection, I stepped out into the nighttime air and breathed deeply of the cool air. I felt my flesh respond to the chill. Instead of grabbing a jacket, I gulped the air deeper allowing myself to feel the full force of cold on my skin, and the light wind lifting my air. It was comforting in its discomfort shaking me from my fog making me thankful that I could feel at all.

I stood in the air and an old song from church played in my head, “breathe on me.” I heard the gentle voices of the choir in my head and closed my eyes transporting my heart to the source of the song. Breathe on me. Transitions, questions, decisions. Breathe on me. Fear, uncertainty, excitement. Breathe on me.

I opened my eyes upon the inky night sky, renewed by breath. The stars twinkled faintly behind the clouds. The dark clouds hung over them like a drape, shielding the brilliance of their light. Yet, they were no less there and no less powerful.

One last, long inhale and I turned to go in, choosing to leave my own clouds under the darkness of the sky.

How do you recharge your own batteries when you’re feeling run down?

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Posted by Karen Swim | Filed Under Inspiration | 12 Comments

Let’s Connect – Maybe

May 11, 2009

: Image by simonech via Flickr

Written by Karen D. Swim

The invitation arrived in a velvet box tied with silk ribbon. Inside the box atop dupont silk was the quirky greeting inviting me to join the party.

Excited to meet new friends, I dressed in my best party clothes and showed up on time. I tapped on the door holding my invitation in one hand. No one answered so I gently pushed the door and it swung open. “Hello” I called out softly. I stepped in and as my eyes adjusted to the light I saw that I was in a narrow waiting room of sorts. There was a gated door and a small table to the right.

I walked toward the table and picked up a plain white sheet of paper that read, “Please fill out this form to be invited to the party.” I dropped the paper on the table. Was this a joke? I was invited to apply for entrance to the party.

Inviting someone to connect with you on a social media platform and then blocking entrance is no different from this party scenario. Choosing to have your Twitter or FriendFeed stream protected from the public is a legitimate choice. Social media platforms are an excellent way to connect with work teams, friends and family. You can share real time updates, photos, links and files on an easy to use platform that allows group and one-on-one discussion without the hassle of email.

: Image by BGLincoln via Flickr

A private stream for private purposes is a smart use of technology. However, many are inviting strangers to participate in their private stream. Well, sort of. The internet is wonderful but privacy concerns are real and everyone should exercise caution in the amount of information that is revealed. However, if you are going to network, it is difficult to open the door and then slam it shut when someone attempts to reciprocate.

I have worked with many clients who have had to overcome their concerns about privacy and transparency in order to participate in social media. Some joined and lurked a bit before fully participating; others jumped right in and over time grew comfortable with the “personal” conversations. Still others network as they do in real life, all business with nothing more personal than an occasional comment about traffic or a lukewarm latte.

I am not a fan of issuing rules around social networking. It is not one size fits all. You will use the tools to fit your purpose and personality. However, if you are considering the “kind-of, sort-of” model I have described here then be prepared for others to refuse to play. If you really want to connect and you’re a little shy, just stand next to me, I’ll hold your hand and introduce you to my friends.

How do you balance networking with privacy? Any tips to share with new networkers?