I wrote last month about an impending birthday, and now it is REALLY impending...like four days away. And between the two of us, I am seriously hoping that my peeps have phoned 1800flowers. Having flowers on my desk the week of my birthday makes me feel pretty good about the dreaded birthday - so I've begun my annual dropping of the not-so-subtle hints.
For my bargain loving son, I've left his laptop open to the 1800 flowers discount code. And for my roses aficionado hubby I've emailed him Coupons for 1800flowers with a smiley face.
I know I know - nothing subtle about my approach at all, but a birthday girl's gotta do what a birthday girl's gotta do. Birthday flowers just seem to say, "she may be getting older but she just gets better with every birthday" Am I right or am I right?
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Younger May NOT be Better After All!
Funny thing. Years ago, sixteen years ago as a matter of fact, I was on the cover of a trade magazine. I was "leading edge" in all things online. And so my then-boss paid for a high end photog to shoot professional pics of me, complete with hairstylist and makeup artist. Pretty hot stuff. I have always been very proud of the photo, had it mounted and framed - the whole deal. I mean, a MAGAZINE COVER for gosh sakes!
Years passed, jobs changed, I changed. Ch-ch-changed!!! I remarried ten years ago, and for some inexplicable reason my beloved & charming hubby has never liked that picture. I packed it away and forgot about it. But last week in a fit of domestic-spring-cleaning frenzy I dug the picture out and decided to hang it in my current office. I was very proud that my hip, young employees would see how hip and young I used to be.
But one of my peeps peered up at it and replied,
After a deep breath, it's all good now...pic is down, eyeglasses are on, browser pointed at a cool, convenient site called www.eyeglasses.com - with a little help and a few more awesome pairs of specs I can keep this reverse aging/Dorian Gray thing up indefinitely!
Happily humming, "I can see clearly now... the 'years' are gone"
Years passed, jobs changed, I changed. Ch-ch-changed!!! I remarried ten years ago, and for some inexplicable reason my beloved & charming hubby has never liked that picture. I packed it away and forgot about it. But last week in a fit of domestic-spring-cleaning frenzy I dug the picture out and decided to hang it in my current office. I was very proud that my hip, young employees would see how hip and young I used to be.
But one of my peeps peered up at it and replied,
"OMIGOD, is that YOU?"
"Yup"I mumbled modestly.
"Look at you" she added "without the cool eyeglasses you wear these days - that picture makes you look 10 years older than you do now."
After a deep breath, it's all good now...pic is down, eyeglasses are on, browser pointed at a cool, convenient site called www.eyeglasses.com - with a little help and a few more awesome pairs of specs I can keep this reverse aging/Dorian Gray thing up indefinitely!
Happily humming, "I can see clearly now... the 'years' are gone"
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
1800flowers Makes Me a Cool Mom Again (okay, maybe for the first time)
My youngest child is a 17 year old high school junior who no longer comes to me for advice. I don’t understand football the way my husband does, I can’t understand the words to the music my son likes, and any suggestion from me is met with eye-rolling and big sighs.
So when my baby boy looked up over his frozen waffles this morning and said,
“Hey momma, I wanna get Lauren something for V-Day but I don’t want it to be stupid or lame. Any ideas?”
…the pressure was totally on! Since generally my ideas ARE stupid and lame I was both flattered and flummoxed.
Taking a deep (and stall-worthy) breath, I slurped down a little more caffeine and had the biggest V-8 moment of the week! While searching for flowers to send my daughters I had stumbled upon a pretty Twilight Flowers Poster Bundle that seemed actually “cool”. Of course I’d had to Google the Twilight Book Series before I remembered that the vampire-based fantasy romance novels are hugely popular with young women…but my son didn’t need to know that part!
And since I am the queen of a good-deal, I knew too that MSNBC’s crack consumer reporter just complimented that same company, 1800flowers for their pricing honesty. Okay, seemed like a good idea to me: A quick mental review over one more gulp of coffee “teenaged son wants to send something cool to a teenage girl for Valentines Day. Twilight Books are cool. A Twilight card & poster with a dozen roses are very cool. This should work.”
I casually said,
“You might want to check out 1800flowers.com I think I heard something about a special Twilight Valentines Day deal. Lauren might think that was sorta neat”
and I held my maternal breath.
“Oh okay, that sounds cool” my youngest progeny replied, “thanks”.
Yesssssssssss!!!!! Today 1800flowers made me cooler – life and Valentines Day is good!
So when my baby boy looked up over his frozen waffles this morning and said,
“Hey momma, I wanna get Lauren something for V-Day but I don’t want it to be stupid or lame. Any ideas?”
…the pressure was totally on! Since generally my ideas ARE stupid and lame I was both flattered and flummoxed.
Taking a deep (and stall-worthy) breath, I slurped down a little more caffeine and had the biggest V-8 moment of the week! While searching for flowers to send my daughters I had stumbled upon a pretty Twilight Flowers Poster Bundle that seemed actually “cool”. Of course I’d had to Google the Twilight Book Series before I remembered that the vampire-based fantasy romance novels are hugely popular with young women…but my son didn’t need to know that part!
And since I am the queen of a good-deal, I knew too that MSNBC’s crack consumer reporter just complimented that same company, 1800flowers for their pricing honesty. Okay, seemed like a good idea to me: A quick mental review over one more gulp of coffee “teenaged son wants to send something cool to a teenage girl for Valentines Day. Twilight Books are cool. A Twilight card & poster with a dozen roses are very cool. This should work.”
I casually said,
“You might want to check out 1800flowers.com I think I heard something about a special Twilight Valentines Day deal. Lauren might think that was sorta neat”
and I held my maternal breath.
“Oh okay, that sounds cool” my youngest progeny replied, “thanks”.
Yesssssssssss!!!!! Today 1800flowers made me cooler – life and Valentines Day is good!
Friday, December 11, 2009
5 Top Tips to Avoid Negative Publicity - Tiger is Doing it All Wrong!
Is the media hurting Tiger? Is a ten pound robin fat? Although the tone is joking, the question (at least the first one) is not. Complaints have made their way to newsrooms across the country about the media coverage of the Tiger Woods scandal. "Too much coverage" the readers say. "Leave the poor guy alone" viewers implore. "He and his wife deserve some privacy." The complaints beg the question about the quantity of coverage devoted to Mr. Woods. But the more important question is: Could this have been avoided? How can negative media exposure be kept to a minimum?
Obviously Tiger's reported unseemly behavior is the kind of story that media types salivate over. And the shenanigans of El Tigre have even propelled the celebrity news reporting at TMZ into the national spotlight. As the tales of his trysts seemed to grow exponentially, the media has had more fodder for every new news cycle and deadline. But is the story mostly media hype? Is it possible for anyone to be treated with respect and cautious reporting instead of with public skewering?
The original incident, the relatively minor Tiger Woods car crash played much higher than it would for most "regular" people. But little was known about the condition of sports most revered, respected, talented athlete and so heavy coverage was journalistically indicated. The tweets, news cut-ins and type scrolling across the TV were all scaled back when Tiger was released from the hospital same day. Again, no harm no foul on the part of the media.
But the story wouldn't die, and the media didn't fuel that fire. Tiger Woods fueled the fire. There is a Yiddish proverb that is apt here: "A half truth is a whole lie." When a story doesn't make any sense the media will continue to ask questions in order to clarify. This is a basic tenant of journalism. And when more details emerge slowly but regularly, the negative story is like a pendulum with nowhere to go but back and forth.
The official Tiger story was nearly nonsensical from the very beginning. The pretty petite blond wife wielding a golf club to rescue her semi-conscious husband from the bowels of his Escalade and conflicting reports from law enforcement, neighbors and hospital personnel just didn't add up. So:
Tip 1: Tell the truth
Do NOT lie. Do not misrepresent what happened, no matter how foolish you may feel or even if you believe you can get away with it. Do not lie. It will not work. The media is nothing if not tenacious. You will be caught in the lie eventually and the situation will then be even worse. Honesty in this situation also means: no half truths, no fact fudging, no attempt to misrepresent what has happened. Tell the truth and tell it quickly. If there is a possibility of laws broken consult legal counsel.
Tiger Woods did not respond appropriately. The statement about wife Elin's courage in rescuing him was disingenuous. The statement was not credible because it was completely illogical. The opportunity to correct the negative publicity and to reduce the barrage of questions could have been successful with honest revelations early on. Thomas Jefferson said it best: honesty is the first chapter of the book of wisdom. True then, true now, very true in mitigating negative press.
Tip 2: Make a Comment
Do NOT refuse to comment and do not ignore the publicity and the media. In our multimedia, multiplatform world the negative publicity will not just go away. Questions will continue and will linger in the minds of the public. Avoidance is a flawed strategy. Additionally a comment offered long-after-the-fact is not going to be helpful in offsetting negative perception. Commenting also means "speaking" as opposed to posting a comment online or issuing a statement through a spokesperson. The failure to comment personally can be perceived as either cowardly or as a smokescreen - which will compound the negativity you are trying to offset.
When Tiger failed to respond to growing speculation, tabloid or otherwise the story practically fed on itself. Press coverage abhors an info vacuum and the media will actually interview each other if they aren't getting good info from the source.
Tip 3: Take your lumps
Own up to your piece of the problem including that of your company or your family or your own behavior. An explanation is acceptable and desirable but reacting defensively is not acceptable. You should not take the blame for things that were genuinely caused elsewhere BUT your failure to see something as a problem does not excuse you from responsibility.
In light of Tiger's eleven reported adulterous sexual encounters it was ludicrous to say, "I am not without faults." These were very serious mistakes in judgment that were unfair to many people. Egregious behavior must be acknowledged if negative press is to be reduced.
Tip 4: Apologize Sincerely
Assuming that you are actually sorry for the mistake, you should offer the same heartfelt apology that you would offer a good friend. Phony or non-apology apologies will not cut it when trying to avoid negative publicity. A non-apology apology is "if you were offended by my actions then I'm sorry that you felt that way." A sincere apology is, "I know that my actions were offensive and I'm very sorry I behaved that way."
You are not the victim here, and no one will feel any sympathy for you regardless of the media scrutiny. Don't even attempt to play the victim card, regardless of how much you feel like one.
The following statement demonstrated a certain naivete about the current insatiable desire for details. In his on-line statement Tiger wrote: "Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn't have to mean public confessions." The reality for Mr. Woods is that he cannot have it both ways. He earned millions of dollars in endorsements and was offered big bucks to play in certain golf tournaments precisely because he had a big, loyal fan base. Fans or customers often feel they are owed an apology when their belief system has been undermined.
Tip 5: Be proactive and go on the offensive
Now is the time when you can control the information that the media will cover. You can call the shots with your own press conference, press release, on-line statement, etc. And your ability to respond with sincerity, confidence and even humor is critical. If you have made a mistake, explain what are going to do to correct it. If you have made an error in judgment or a poor decision, explain the steps you are taking to insure that won't happen in the future. You will have to be honest with yourself and with the media about next steps. But when you do so, the wind is effectively taken out of the media sails...it's over.
Clearly Tiger has not been proactive as of this writing. But other celebs, utilizing some or all of these tips have managed to deflect some of the criticism.
• In June South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford capped a three day media frenzy by announcing that he had been unfaithful, had lied to his staff and had left the country to meet his paramour. Sanford acted relatively quickly, was honest in his admissions and so sincere that he was tearful at his own press conference. He took responsibility for his actions and apologized.
• In September Late Night Host David Letterman told his audience that he had sex with female members of his staff, and was on the receiving end of an extortion plot. Letterman told the truth, told it in a typically self-deprecating fashion and vowed proactively to protect his family and his staff.
Bad things will happen, and they will happen to everyone. The media will grab onto a story for all it's worth. Best advice though? Common people make mistakes. Uncommon people react pragmatically with courage and intelligence.
-0-
Obviously Tiger's reported unseemly behavior is the kind of story that media types salivate over. And the shenanigans of El Tigre have even propelled the celebrity news reporting at TMZ into the national spotlight. As the tales of his trysts seemed to grow exponentially, the media has had more fodder for every new news cycle and deadline. But is the story mostly media hype? Is it possible for anyone to be treated with respect and cautious reporting instead of with public skewering?
The original incident, the relatively minor Tiger Woods car crash played much higher than it would for most "regular" people. But little was known about the condition of sports most revered, respected, talented athlete and so heavy coverage was journalistically indicated. The tweets, news cut-ins and type scrolling across the TV were all scaled back when Tiger was released from the hospital same day. Again, no harm no foul on the part of the media.
But the story wouldn't die, and the media didn't fuel that fire. Tiger Woods fueled the fire. There is a Yiddish proverb that is apt here: "A half truth is a whole lie." When a story doesn't make any sense the media will continue to ask questions in order to clarify. This is a basic tenant of journalism. And when more details emerge slowly but regularly, the negative story is like a pendulum with nowhere to go but back and forth.
The official Tiger story was nearly nonsensical from the very beginning. The pretty petite blond wife wielding a golf club to rescue her semi-conscious husband from the bowels of his Escalade and conflicting reports from law enforcement, neighbors and hospital personnel just didn't add up. So:
Tip 1: Tell the truth
Do NOT lie. Do not misrepresent what happened, no matter how foolish you may feel or even if you believe you can get away with it. Do not lie. It will not work. The media is nothing if not tenacious. You will be caught in the lie eventually and the situation will then be even worse. Honesty in this situation also means: no half truths, no fact fudging, no attempt to misrepresent what has happened. Tell the truth and tell it quickly. If there is a possibility of laws broken consult legal counsel.
Tiger Woods did not respond appropriately. The statement about wife Elin's courage in rescuing him was disingenuous. The statement was not credible because it was completely illogical. The opportunity to correct the negative publicity and to reduce the barrage of questions could have been successful with honest revelations early on. Thomas Jefferson said it best: honesty is the first chapter of the book of wisdom. True then, true now, very true in mitigating negative press.
Tip 2: Make a Comment
Do NOT refuse to comment and do not ignore the publicity and the media. In our multimedia, multiplatform world the negative publicity will not just go away. Questions will continue and will linger in the minds of the public. Avoidance is a flawed strategy. Additionally a comment offered long-after-the-fact is not going to be helpful in offsetting negative perception. Commenting also means "speaking" as opposed to posting a comment online or issuing a statement through a spokesperson. The failure to comment personally can be perceived as either cowardly or as a smokescreen - which will compound the negativity you are trying to offset.
When Tiger failed to respond to growing speculation, tabloid or otherwise the story practically fed on itself. Press coverage abhors an info vacuum and the media will actually interview each other if they aren't getting good info from the source.
Tip 3: Take your lumps
Own up to your piece of the problem including that of your company or your family or your own behavior. An explanation is acceptable and desirable but reacting defensively is not acceptable. You should not take the blame for things that were genuinely caused elsewhere BUT your failure to see something as a problem does not excuse you from responsibility.
In light of Tiger's eleven reported adulterous sexual encounters it was ludicrous to say, "I am not without faults." These were very serious mistakes in judgment that were unfair to many people. Egregious behavior must be acknowledged if negative press is to be reduced.
Tip 4: Apologize Sincerely
Assuming that you are actually sorry for the mistake, you should offer the same heartfelt apology that you would offer a good friend. Phony or non-apology apologies will not cut it when trying to avoid negative publicity. A non-apology apology is "if you were offended by my actions then I'm sorry that you felt that way." A sincere apology is, "I know that my actions were offensive and I'm very sorry I behaved that way."
You are not the victim here, and no one will feel any sympathy for you regardless of the media scrutiny. Don't even attempt to play the victim card, regardless of how much you feel like one.
The following statement demonstrated a certain naivete about the current insatiable desire for details. In his on-line statement Tiger wrote: "Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn't have to mean public confessions." The reality for Mr. Woods is that he cannot have it both ways. He earned millions of dollars in endorsements and was offered big bucks to play in certain golf tournaments precisely because he had a big, loyal fan base. Fans or customers often feel they are owed an apology when their belief system has been undermined.
Tip 5: Be proactive and go on the offensive
Now is the time when you can control the information that the media will cover. You can call the shots with your own press conference, press release, on-line statement, etc. And your ability to respond with sincerity, confidence and even humor is critical. If you have made a mistake, explain what are going to do to correct it. If you have made an error in judgment or a poor decision, explain the steps you are taking to insure that won't happen in the future. You will have to be honest with yourself and with the media about next steps. But when you do so, the wind is effectively taken out of the media sails...it's over.
Clearly Tiger has not been proactive as of this writing. But other celebs, utilizing some or all of these tips have managed to deflect some of the criticism.
• In June South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford capped a three day media frenzy by announcing that he had been unfaithful, had lied to his staff and had left the country to meet his paramour. Sanford acted relatively quickly, was honest in his admissions and so sincere that he was tearful at his own press conference. He took responsibility for his actions and apologized.
• In September Late Night Host David Letterman told his audience that he had sex with female members of his staff, and was on the receiving end of an extortion plot. Letterman told the truth, told it in a typically self-deprecating fashion and vowed proactively to protect his family and his staff.
Bad things will happen, and they will happen to everyone. The media will grab onto a story for all it's worth. Best advice though? Common people make mistakes. Uncommon people react pragmatically with courage and intelligence.
-0-
Sunday, November 29, 2009
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AN AFFRONT TO WORKERS and WORKFORCE
This afternoon I'm writing another "blog on demand". I asked my peeps on Facebook what really get's em hot under the collar right now - and several of them responded quickly about both unemployment AND employment.
When I think about unemployment, I think that working today leaves employees both insulated and exposed. Sometimes a nasty cocktail of naivete and negativity too.
Consider the current unemployment rate - and cynic that I am, I'm talking about the REAL unemployment rate. According to the fed website, the big bad Bureau of Labor & Statistics defines the current 10.2% unemployment figure as "the people in the work force who are looking for a job but cannot find one". Gulp, that's 1 out of every 10 workers. But wait...
As Mark Twain so aptly put, "Facts are stubborn, but statistics are more pliable." You, my valued and insightful reader must see the conundrum - what about the under-employed? What about the scores of unemployed who are now so disillusioned and disheartened that they have stopped looking? Many estimates including the vaulted WSJ put the REAL number at 17.5%. Good god!
And even though 17.5% unemployment is damn bad, that number doesn't include the self-employed like so many of my consultant, freelance and independent friends.
And the news just gets better and better. NOT. The Bureau of Labor and Stats says that the number of 'discouraged workers' rose to 2.4 million in September. I wonder how they count that? I don't disagree with the finding, but do they really survey unemployed people about this?
I have visions of a "friendly" federal employee who calls right at dinner time (naturally) to query: "say Mr. Jones, we were just wondering if you've had so many doors slammed in your face, had so many job app emails disappear into the ether, and seen so many jobs eliminated that you've just freakin' given up?" Not a pretty picture.
My friend Maddy in Omaha wonders if some of those discouraged non-workers are being way too picky...refusing to apply because the salary is too low or it isn't the dream job. Must be nice.
But the whole discouraged worker label is also where we find that insulated naivete. Probably true in all biz, and certainly the one in which I labor away all day long. My old buddy Dave from a tv station in Detroit mentioned this yesterday, "I get annoyed by people who are gainfully employed in this economy and still whine about their jobs."
Sure we are working harder for less, all of us. We have less employees than we used to, and our salary is lower than it was a year ago. In my shop, the only thing we are buying is duct tape,and that's just to hold the old stuff together. That's the reality. That's November 2009.
But I'm amazed at the questions I OFTEN get about "staffing up again" and "raises soon?" Seriously? Have you heard a newscast, seen a headline lately? Of course I'm even more chagrined because we are in the news business. It is our job to know what's going on and even (dare I say it) understand the current realities of unemployment. And so to those bastions of negativity, the low morale morass of the gainfully employed, I'd suggest O. Wilde's words, "The best way to appreciate your job is to imagine yourself without one."
So for now, I'm not going to delve into why we are in this mess because you already have your own ideas. And lord knows the answers are complex and long-term. But in the meantime, let's try this:
-0-
When I think about unemployment, I think that working today leaves employees both insulated and exposed. Sometimes a nasty cocktail of naivete and negativity too.
Consider the current unemployment rate - and cynic that I am, I'm talking about the REAL unemployment rate. According to the fed website, the big bad Bureau of Labor & Statistics defines the current 10.2% unemployment figure as "the people in the work force who are looking for a job but cannot find one". Gulp, that's 1 out of every 10 workers. But wait...
As Mark Twain so aptly put, "Facts are stubborn, but statistics are more pliable." You, my valued and insightful reader must see the conundrum - what about the under-employed? What about the scores of unemployed who are now so disillusioned and disheartened that they have stopped looking? Many estimates including the vaulted WSJ put the REAL number at 17.5%. Good god!
And even though 17.5% unemployment is damn bad, that number doesn't include the self-employed like so many of my consultant, freelance and independent friends.
And the news just gets better and better. NOT. The Bureau of Labor and Stats says that the number of 'discouraged workers' rose to 2.4 million in September. I wonder how they count that? I don't disagree with the finding, but do they really survey unemployed people about this?
I have visions of a "friendly" federal employee who calls right at dinner time (naturally) to query: "say Mr. Jones, we were just wondering if you've had so many doors slammed in your face, had so many job app emails disappear into the ether, and seen so many jobs eliminated that you've just freakin' given up?" Not a pretty picture.
My friend Maddy in Omaha wonders if some of those discouraged non-workers are being way too picky...refusing to apply because the salary is too low or it isn't the dream job. Must be nice.
But the whole discouraged worker label is also where we find that insulated naivete. Probably true in all biz, and certainly the one in which I labor away all day long. My old buddy Dave from a tv station in Detroit mentioned this yesterday, "I get annoyed by people who are gainfully employed in this economy and still whine about their jobs."
Sure we are working harder for less, all of us. We have less employees than we used to, and our salary is lower than it was a year ago. In my shop, the only thing we are buying is duct tape,and that's just to hold the old stuff together. That's the reality. That's November 2009.
But I'm amazed at the questions I OFTEN get about "staffing up again" and "raises soon?" Seriously? Have you heard a newscast, seen a headline lately? Of course I'm even more chagrined because we are in the news business. It is our job to know what's going on and even (dare I say it) understand the current realities of unemployment. And so to those bastions of negativity, the low morale morass of the gainfully employed, I'd suggest O. Wilde's words, "The best way to appreciate your job is to imagine yourself without one."
So for now, I'm not going to delve into why we are in this mess because you already have your own ideas. And lord knows the answers are complex and long-term. But in the meantime, let's try this:
- if you have a job you don't like, remember that there are at least 10 people who would happily take it off your hands
- if you think an available job is beneath you, see the above
- if you need a job then commit right now that you won't be among those 2.4 million discouraged workers. Keep trying. Yes, it IS difficult and frustrating, but you are 100% guaranteed not to find employment if you stop looking
-0-
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
10 DAYS OF GRATITUDE AND ATTITUDE
Some people online are using the month of November to post 30 things they are thankful for. In my usual fashion I over thought the concept until November 17th and then boldly decided to weigh in with 10 things that I personally am thankful for. Pretty damn bold, dontcha think? Kidding, but even 10 days have proven a little more challenging than it sounds.
I have a ton of things that I truly am thankful for but articulation of those things on Facebook and Twitter begs a reaction from others, so I think carefully before I write. I'm 9 days in, and here is my attitude of gratitude so far:
1. I'm grateful to have a job I love that makes me laugh out loud nearly every day.
2. I'm grateful for Facebook, seriously! Scoff if you must, but FB has spanned the limitations of time, space and age to reconnect with friends lost long ago. I truly enjoy every one of you and am thankful not to have missed this part of the ride. Okay I do enjoy some of you more than others, it is me after all:-)
3. I am thankful that I am the age I am. This feels like the perfect age... I'm old enough for "been there, done that, got the t-shirt" but young enough to have a helluva good time every day! In the words of Johnny Nash, "I can see clearly now" and I'm lovin' what I see.
4. I am thankful for high school football. There's nothing better than sitting in the stands on Fri. night, watching young men hit the gridiron with all of their heart. An all-American lesson in teamwork, leadership and passion. It took six kids but we finally have one who loves it, excels at it and is playing in his first ever championship game tonight. Go Hornets, Go Trev. T-G-I-F-Football
5. 6. & 7: (skipped the weekend!) I'm thankful for 3 amazing children: Hilary, Megan and Trevor. All interesting, beautiful, talented and hugely unique people that I'm very proud of. Each one has made my life much more full. It's not always been easy, but rewarding and joyful nonetheless. To my peeps: Hili, Meg & T - I love you guys
8. I'm thankful that my life has not turned out like I planned. Often wonderful, occasionally horrendous but never, ever boring. If it had turned out like I planned I would surely be missing a helluva ride!
9. I am thankful to be younger than Oprah, there I said it! I don't even like nor watch Oprah and have always found her to be self indulgent. But for some reason I was honestly just thrilled last week to learn that she is older than I am. I may win the award for "shallow" today, but a girl has gotta do what a girl has gotta do...
As a personal and self-indulgent aside I'm also thankful to have the time, energy and ostensibly talent to pursue my passion for writing. This blog, Elance, Technorati: ZRNQWEBMPP7M, the press releases, the ad copy, the first 10,000 words of a novel, the grant writing, the local magazine...writing, writers, the written word is THE BEST.
I have a ton of things that I truly am thankful for but articulation of those things on Facebook and Twitter begs a reaction from others, so I think carefully before I write. I'm 9 days in, and here is my attitude of gratitude so far:
1. I'm grateful to have a job I love that makes me laugh out loud nearly every day.
2. I'm grateful for Facebook, seriously! Scoff if you must, but FB has spanned the limitations of time, space and age to reconnect with friends lost long ago. I truly enjoy every one of you and am thankful not to have missed this part of the ride. Okay I do enjoy some of you more than others, it is me after all:-)
3. I am thankful that I am the age I am. This feels like the perfect age... I'm old enough for "been there, done that, got the t-shirt" but young enough to have a helluva good time every day! In the words of Johnny Nash, "I can see clearly now" and I'm lovin' what I see.
4. I am thankful for high school football. There's nothing better than sitting in the stands on Fri. night, watching young men hit the gridiron with all of their heart. An all-American lesson in teamwork, leadership and passion. It took six kids but we finally have one who loves it, excels at it and is playing in his first ever championship game tonight. Go Hornets, Go Trev. T-G-I-F-Football
5. 6. & 7: (skipped the weekend!) I'm thankful for 3 amazing children: Hilary, Megan and Trevor. All interesting, beautiful, talented and hugely unique people that I'm very proud of. Each one has made my life much more full. It's not always been easy, but rewarding and joyful nonetheless. To my peeps: Hili, Meg & T - I love you guys
8. I'm thankful that my life has not turned out like I planned. Often wonderful, occasionally horrendous but never, ever boring. If it had turned out like I planned I would surely be missing a helluva ride!
9. I am thankful to be younger than Oprah, there I said it! I don't even like nor watch Oprah and have always found her to be self indulgent. But for some reason I was honestly just thrilled last week to learn that she is older than I am. I may win the award for "shallow" today, but a girl has gotta do what a girl has gotta do...
As a personal and self-indulgent aside I'm also thankful to have the time, energy and ostensibly talent to pursue my passion for writing. This blog, Elance, Technorati: ZRNQWEBMPP7M, the press releases, the ad copy, the first 10,000 words of a novel, the grant writing, the local magazine...writing, writers, the written word is THE BEST.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
URBAN OUTFITTERS SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES
Oh come on Urban Outfitters, are you serious? Really? Your newest holiday "limited edition" sweater for young women proudly features a red mitten strategically placed over each breast...as though Santa himself is molesting my teenage daughter. What's wrong with this picture?
My good friend Maryann emailed me the pic last night and told me how lucky I am that my daughters aren't teenagers anymore. I am not normally the grinch who stole Christmas, but this is just wrong.
Urban Outfitters is a well-known and successful retailer that markets itself to "young women and men" and there's the rub as far as I'm concerned. Anyone who has ever had the unmitigated joy of parenting a teenage girl knows that if it lives in Urban Outfitters, teens WILL find it hip, clever and fun.
On the Urban Outfitters website right now, nearly 100 customers find this trashy cardigan "adorable". Oh please, there is nothing adorable about this. I think the customer who described it as "mitten-tits" is closer to the truth and that this particular customer is of the male persuasion. Ya think? That my friends, really makes my point.
I'm not a side-splitting yuckster but I like to think that I have a decent sense of humor. And the concept for the sweater could be mildly amusing, in the right place. But what contemporary and reasonable adult women do NOT find funny or adorable is that this is being showcased in stores that specifically target young women. YOUNG women. Extremely impressionable 10 - 14 year olds who already think that their parents are incredibly uncool will clamor for this sweater, put it on their girlish Christmas lists, or god-forbid ask their pubescent boyfriends to purchase it. Ugh.
I don't normally use the word objectify, although it might be perfectly suited for this bit of Christmas finery. The message is wrong for this audience. Young women ought to be delighting in themselves and developing a sense of respect for their own bodies. And young men should be learning what respect means when it is applied to girls. Mittens on breasts is not any of these things.
Funny thing, Urban Outfitters is smarter than this. Ten days ago CEO Glen Senk reported record earnings for the third quarter and a solid 19% operating margin. (http:money.cnn.com/news/newfeeds/articles/globenewswire/178234.htm) and they can't be running such a successful company by making many amatuerish mistakes. But this $78 "Grey Antics Mrs.Claus Sweater" limited edition cardigan is exactly that. Oh sure the sweaters may sell, they may even sell out, but that doesn't change the fact that this design should be outlawed in my house and yours.
The solution of course is crystal clear: vote with your pocketbook, because that's where the rubber meets the road. Let's just say no to such a poorly conceived piece of clothing. Don't buy it, don't laugh at it, and don't let your daughters wear it. We don't have to go nuts and picket Urban Outfitters - because between crazy jobs, prepping the Thanksgiving bird and readying for Black Friday battle, who has the time or the energy? Just say no, as simple as that.
Although now I have a picture in my head of middle-aged moms with real mittens pinned to their matronly bossoms, proudly marching on malls across America holding signs that read:
MOTHERS AGAINST MITTENS and DOES YOUR MOTHER KNOW WHERE YOU PUT THOSE HANDS?
Lemme know if you and your sign decide to take a stand.
My good friend Maryann emailed me the pic last night and told me how lucky I am that my daughters aren't teenagers anymore. I am not normally the grinch who stole Christmas, but this is just wrong.
Urban Outfitters is a well-known and successful retailer that markets itself to "young women and men" and there's the rub as far as I'm concerned. Anyone who has ever had the unmitigated joy of parenting a teenage girl knows that if it lives in Urban Outfitters, teens WILL find it hip, clever and fun.
On the Urban Outfitters website right now, nearly 100 customers find this trashy cardigan "adorable". Oh please, there is nothing adorable about this. I think the customer who described it as "mitten-tits" is closer to the truth and that this particular customer is of the male persuasion. Ya think? That my friends, really makes my point.
I'm not a side-splitting yuckster but I like to think that I have a decent sense of humor. And the concept for the sweater could be mildly amusing, in the right place. But what contemporary and reasonable adult women do NOT find funny or adorable is that this is being showcased in stores that specifically target young women. YOUNG women. Extremely impressionable 10 - 14 year olds who already think that their parents are incredibly uncool will clamor for this sweater, put it on their girlish Christmas lists, or god-forbid ask their pubescent boyfriends to purchase it. Ugh.
I don't normally use the word objectify, although it might be perfectly suited for this bit of Christmas finery. The message is wrong for this audience. Young women ought to be delighting in themselves and developing a sense of respect for their own bodies. And young men should be learning what respect means when it is applied to girls. Mittens on breasts is not any of these things.
Funny thing, Urban Outfitters is smarter than this. Ten days ago CEO Glen Senk reported record earnings for the third quarter and a solid 19% operating margin. (http:money.cnn.com/news/newfeeds/articles/globenewswire/178234.htm) and they can't be running such a successful company by making many amatuerish mistakes. But this $78 "Grey Antics Mrs.Claus Sweater" limited edition cardigan is exactly that. Oh sure the sweaters may sell, they may even sell out, but that doesn't change the fact that this design should be outlawed in my house and yours.
The solution of course is crystal clear: vote with your pocketbook, because that's where the rubber meets the road. Let's just say no to such a poorly conceived piece of clothing. Don't buy it, don't laugh at it, and don't let your daughters wear it. We don't have to go nuts and picket Urban Outfitters - because between crazy jobs, prepping the Thanksgiving bird and readying for Black Friday battle, who has the time or the energy? Just say no, as simple as that.
Although now I have a picture in my head of middle-aged moms with real mittens pinned to their matronly bossoms, proudly marching on malls across America holding signs that read:
MOTHERS AGAINST MITTENS and DOES YOUR MOTHER KNOW WHERE YOU PUT THOSE HANDS?
Lemme know if you and your sign decide to take a stand.
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