This weekend, we’ll all be attending fireworks and picnics to celebrate Independence Day. That’s fun (who doesn’t like fireworks, right?!), but there are lots of people who aren’t here to partake in the 4th of July festivities. Regardless of political your affiliation, we’re all indebted to our armed forces. Ever since my brother served in Iraq and Afghanistan, I have a much greater appreciation for patriotic holidays. Earlier this week, my husband (you may know him as @30Lines) and I got to thinking: What could we do to remind people to take a couple minutes to remember Independence Day and the military who fight for our country?

And, that’s when #WhyWeCelebrate was born. The goal is to use social media to keep the “why” of Independence Day in the forefront of our minds. But, we need your help.

#WhyWeCelebrate: Get Involved

• Join the Facebook page and post photos, stories and anecdotes to tell us what Independence Day means to you.
• Follow us on Twitter @whywecelebrate and share a memory or words of appreciation using the #WhyWeCelebrate hashtag
• Thank a veteran and/or current member of the military and share their story online.
• Blog about your relationship with a member of our armed services, or how someone you know has been impacted by war.
• Share links on Facebook, Twitter or your social network of choice from newspapers and blogs around the country that articulate the true meaning of Independence Day. Remember to use the #WhyWeCelebrate hashtag so we can all see!
• Post photos and videos from your community’s July 4th celebration.

If we can each recruit 10 people to participate in #WhyWeCelebrate, and get them to tell 10 of their friends, that’s a lot of people we can touch very quickly. It’ll be amazing to see how to builds over the weekend. And, for people with family in the armed services, I know this bit of appreciation will mean the world.

This is very much an evolving project. If you have ideas about how we can get more people involved or what we can do to make it bigger and better, I’m all ears. Send suggestions and recommendations to heather at gebencommunication.com. In the meantime, feel free to start tweeting, blogging and Facebooking about this. And, let’s see how many people we can get to join in!

I’m not one of those people who set out to “own stuff.” In fact, my husband — who has always had that entrepreneurial spirit — had been telling me to start my own company for a while, but I never listened. (I’m sure he’d tell you that’s not all that surprising.) But, finally, last year, I decided it made sense to start my own company. And now, I can’t imagine doing anything else. As I celebrate a birthday this week, I’ve spent some time reflecting on the past year. And with that, I give you 30 lessons from an “accidental entrepreneur:”

1. Just because you never thought about being an entrepreneur doesn’t mean you can’t be a successful business owner.
2. Get a really, really good accountant.
3. Treat your company like a client.
4. Assemble a talented team.
5. Understand your strengths and weaknesses.
6. It’s ok to say “no.”
7. The importance of networking can’t be overstated.
8. Self-promotion isn’t a bad thing. It’s part of the game — just don’t over do it.
9. Play nice.
10. There’s no such thing as a 9-5 entrepreneur, but the freedom and flexibility of entrepreneurship totally make up for it.
11. Be explicitly clear with customers about expectations and payment. Contracts are your friend.
12. Don’t hold grudges. It’s not worth it.
13. Sometimes picking up the phone is the best way to avoid or resolve conflict.
14. Say thank you. A lot.
15. Not every potential client is a good fit.
16. You’re not a good fit for every potential client.
17. Learn how to draw the line between the personal and professional.
18. Do well by doing good.
19. If you say you’re going to do something, do it.
20. Work with people, companies and causes you believe in.
21. Trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
22. Take calculated risks.
23. Try new things. Some will work, some won’t. But, it’s all part of the learning experience.
24. Outwork the competition.
25. Maintain a laser-like focus on your strategy and big-picture goals, but be flexible enough to improvise when necessary.
26. Plan, but don’t overplan.
27. Appreciate people who mentor and advise you. Return the favor. Pay it forward.
28. Money doesn’t have to be the end goal, but, remember that you are running a for-profit business.
29. Lots of smart people have good ideas, but not everyone can figure out how to make money. If you can, embrace it!
30. Be quick. Be smart. Be relevant.

What would you add?

Photo credit: clevercupcakes

Last year, in the worst of the recession, I decided to quit my safe, steady agency job to start my own company. There were lots of driving forces behind this decision — not least of which was the opportunity to move back to Ohio and live near my family. I know some people thought I was slightly crazy. I mean, really — who voluntarily forgoes job security to move back to Ohio, one of the states most impacted by the recession, to begin a new company?

Apparently, I do. And, I’m so glad I did.

I love what I’m doing. I’m so thankful to the incredible people who have gone out of their way to refer clients my way. Referrals are the best compliment someone in this line of work can receive. I’m especially thankful for my clients — people who want me to be part of their team. It’s hard to believe that in this short time, I’ve had the chance to work such a diverse group of organizations — among them, a NY Times best-selling author … a mompreneur … a FORTUNE 500 company … a UK-based start-up … a Columbus, OH start-up … nonprofits … other communication agencies.

Starting Geben Communication was one of the smartest decisions I’ve ever made. Like every entrepreneur, once in a blue moon, I wonder if I made the right decision. But, more often, I have an “a-ha” moment, validating that yes, in fact, I absolutely made the right decision. Without getting into details, I recently had one of those moments. I wouldn’t trade the freedom and flexibility — and the ability to create a solid company culture that values relationships — for anything.

Enough of my rambling. I just wanted to say thank you for your support, advice, business, ideas, feedback and faith. I’m so grateful.

This is mostly a reminder for myself, but I figured someone else might find my random thought helpful.

Sometimes, we get so bogged down in tackling the big tasks, we forget that it’s often the smallest gestures that make the biggest difference. As co-moderator of the #pr20chat, I (along with my partner in crime Justin Goldsborough) am always looking for new opportunities to bring additional voices into in the conversation. A couple weeks ago, we decided to send personal invites (via direct message) to some chat participants. We reached out to some regulars, as well as some people who hadn’t joined us in a while. I was amazed by the feedback I received from that simple act. Two takeaways:

1. Sometimes people just need an invitation. There’s something to be said for receiving an actual personal invitation to participate in an event — as opposed to an all-encompassing invite broadcast to the masses. We received many replies to our DMs from people thanking me for reaching out and personally inviting them to the conversation.
2. People are busy. Reminders work. We’re all busy, and sometimes life just gets in the way. With so many events to attend, blog posts to read and work to be done, it’s impossible to do everything all the time. Sometimes you just forget. Plain and simple. And that’s why a quick, non-spammy reminder works.

Whether it’s hand-written thank-you notes, personalized DMs or a phone call just to check in, those little things matter — in our personal and professional lives.

What are some of your favorite high-value, low-cost gestures?

It’s been quite a few weeks for social networks. First, the uproar over Ning’s decision to eliminate free accounts. The ongoing Facebook-privacy controversy. Then, the Twitter “glitch” that saw everyone’s followers disappear … and then reappear.

Taking your network beyond 140 characters — or one social platform — makes sense. But, are we practicing what we preach? For many of us, we’ve invested a lot of time connecting with new people, building meaningful personal and professional relationships. What would happen if [insert your favorite social network here] disappeared? Or, if there really was a bug that wiped out all our connections? Are you prepared to rebuild your network, or pick up where you left off on another site? If not, what steps do you need to take to right that wrong?

With that in mind, if we’re connected in some shape or another — which I assume we are if you’re reading my blog — let’s make sure those connections are built to last. You can find me on Facebook, Skype (I’m prTini there, too) or LinkedIn.  And, don’t forget about good, old-fashioned email. I’d love to hear from you — especially if you’re working on interesting projects, using social media for good, a new PR person, a fellow entrepreneur, etc. And, I always love connecting with sports fans! Drop me a note — my email address is heather[at]gebencommunication.com. What’s yours?

Ever been in a meeting with someone who is constantly checking his/her phone, email, Facebook or Twitter? Doesn’t it drive you crazy? (It’s actually one of my pet peeves.)

I had a client once who was ALWAYS on his phone. During meetings, he’d answer his cell phone when it rang — never thinking twice about the fact that he was disrupting the meeting and wasting the time of everyone else in the room. Annoying.

Hence, I was intrigued by a recent PGI survey, which asked IT directors and small business owners about meeting manners. Some highlights of the top frustrations (read: bad manners):

• Engaging in side conversations: 72 percent (IT), 69 percent (SMB)
• Checking personal e-mail: 58 percent (IT), 64 percent (SMB)
• Zoning out: 49 percent (IT), 54 percent (SMB)
• Checking sports scores: 43 percent (IT), 51 percent (SMB)
• Leaving the room: 38 percent (IT), 41 percent (SMB)

Clearly, many of us are focused on something other than the task at hand. Is this because we’ve forgotten how to concentrate?

Continuous partial attention (CPA) describes this behaviour. “We are always on high alert, scanning the periphery for other opportunities,” [Linda Stone] says. CPA, and the concomitant state of the do-it-now mentality, make us multitask, and speedily, so concentration is poor and mistakes are made. We all know that reading emails while on the phone to a client or when out with friends doesn’t work.

We’re all so used to being “always on, always connected,” that we don’t necessarily realize how technology distracts us. In addition to slowing us down, multitasking can send a negative message. Thinking back to that client of mine, I always got the vibe that he thought he time was far more important than anyone else in the room. It came off as arrogant.

When you’re multitasking during a meeting, you risk unintentionally sending the message that you don’t care if you’re wasting someone’s time. The next time you’re checking emails, responding to tweets in a meeting, or answering your cell phone (during a non-emergency), think about whether focusing on one item at a time could improve your effectiveness and efficiency … while also conveying to those in the room that you understand that they’re busy too, and that their time is just as valuable.

Need a little mid-week humor? Check this out …

I have a confession: I wasn’t the cool kid in high school. Now, don’t get me wrong: I wasn’t a complete nerd … but I was in the orchestra and I did go to yearbook camp.

I’m only telling you that now to explain that I know what it’s like to go somewhere and feel like you don’t totally fit in. Or, to show up at an event and pretend to look busy … when in reality you just don’t know who to talk to or where to stand.

***

Chris Brogan wrote a post the other day that really touched a nerve. In “We Could Do So Much More,” Chris shared something he noticed at South by Southwest:

Know what I saw more than anything else when I really took a moment to look around? Lonely people. I saw people not connecting. I saw lots of people who could’ve used a little attention. And I saw many people with lots of energy looking for a place to put it. And that means we have opportunities.

That really bothers me. I hate when things are clique-ish. I’m fortunate that I met a great group of people online. People like Danny Brown, Arik Hanson and Lauren Fernandez were among the first that I really connected with — and who helped me connect with others. As much as I want to believe I don’t have a social media clique, I think we all have a “home base” of people we feel comfortable with. (In fact, that’s part of what led Justin Goldsborough, Valerie Simon and me to host #chatmixer last week — we wanted to help people expand their networks.) Every day, there are new people signing up for Twitter — just trying to find their way. But, if we’re all so busy talking to our existing group of friends, how are these new people supposed to fit in?

I’m a big believer in the fact that sometimes people just need a little bit of help. And, it’s up to each of us to do our part.

So, here’s what I’m going to do: I want to meet you. If we’ve just tweeted — and even more so, if we’ve never tweeted or emailed … or if we’ve lost touch … or if you just want to catch up — I am setting aside some time every weekday from March 22 – April 2 to get to know you. From 8-9 a.m. EDT Monday through Friday, I’m available via Skype to talk to you. I’ll commit to one 20-minute call per time slot. We can chat about whatever you want (no sales calls!): PR, social media, nonprofits and social good, sports (especially March Madness or the Yankees), current events, your job, my job, your goals, people you’d like to meet — you pick the topic (within reason!). I realize that’s early for some of you, especially those of you out west, so I’m also setting aside 7-8 pm on Tuesday March 23 and March 30 to accommodate people who can’t make mornings work. My goal is not only to meet you, but to help you find people to connect with. If I can help facilitate introductions, even better.

This is either going to be really cool, and we’ll make lots of new connections, or it’s going to be a total flop. Either way, I like knowing that I’m trying to do my part to meet people outside my “home base” … and hopefully to make some people feel more welcome.

When Will We Meet?

The calendar is below. Click on “Tungle Me” and sign up for a 20-minute slot from 8-9 am EDT Monday – Friday or from 7-8 pm on Tuesdays. March 22 – April 16. Then, connect with me on Skype (I’m prTini), and we’ll go from there. I’m honestly looking forward to meeting you. Hope you’ll take me up on my offer! (Note: If you’re not comfortable/familiar with Tungle, that’s ok. I still want to meet you! Drop me an email at blog [at] gebencommunication.com with the day/time you’re free.)

UPDATE: It appears some people are having problems accessing Tungle (especially from their phones.) If the link below isn’t working, just shoot me an email to blog [at] gebencommunication.com and we’ll coordinate schedules like in the “olden” days!  Include which day/time you prefer, as well as a back-up option in case your first choice is already taken. Please try to stick to the times I’ve outlined above.

This week was full of lists … predictions … end-of-the-year specials. I love a good list, so it’s made for some fun reading, but I promise, I won’t bore you with another one! Instead, I want to share an excerpt from an email I received earlier this week:

Although the [company deleted] facebook and twitter pages are updated only a few times per week at best, the simple fact that we HAVE social media pages seems progressive to many in our field. And while the person responsible for our social media has established our online presence, what does our presence say when it is so lackadaisical? At the end of the day, I’m left wondering: what good are these tools doing for us? Does having them and using them so sporadically and inefficiently do any good at all? Or is it ultimately detrimental to our purpose?

Those words stuck with me all week. As we wind down 2009 and gear up for 2010, it’s time to figure out what’s next. Simply put: 2010 isn’t the year to simply create a Facebook page or a Twitter account and call it social media. While that’s a good start, it’s not enough. Instead, it’s time to implement integrated communication strategies — online AND offline — to achieve goals, move the needle and strengthen the bottom line. As Chris Brogan wrote,

Hard work is the badge for 2010. We’re not getting a free pass to flit around the country shooting Flip videos this coming year. It’s about the work we put into it. The SMART work, not just hard work.

Enjoy the weekend with your friends and family. Celebrate the end of the Aughts, and be thankful for the beginning of this new decade. And, when we all get back to work on Monday, it’s game on (one of my favorite West Wing phrases … couldn’t resist throwing it in on more time this year!).  Until then, Happy Near Year!

Photo credit: Optical Illusion

As I’m writing this, it’s a little after 10 p.m. Monday evening. I’ve been searching for an email address for a while now — and I can’t find it. I’m no super-sleuth spy, but I know how to find information on the Internet and I can’t find this person’s contact information anywhere. Not on a LinkedIn profile, not on the organization’s website. Not on some random web page somewhere. Nada.

In theory, I understand why people don’t want their email addresses plastered all over the Internet. Just think of all the spam. But, do you ever stop to think about what you might also be missing by not sharing your contact info?

I am passionate about nonprofits. Having recently moved to Columbus, there’s a specific organization I’d like to reach out to. I used to volunteer with a similar group in Florida. Perhaps I’d even be willing to donate some of my time to help this group improve it’s PR and social media activities. (That’s how much I believe in this cause.) I don’t want to fill our a templated form on a website or send an email to some “info@” email address. But, it’s almost impossible to easily get a hold of a specific person. And, this organization isn’t the only game in town. So, I’m going to move on and find a similar organization to contact. Maybe we’ll work together … maybe we won’t.

Here’s my point: In this day and age, when people so readily expect access to contact information, do you gain that much by hiding your email address? Or, do you risk losing more? Sure, this organization probably doesn’t get as much spam in its inbox as others, but they’re also missing out on at least one person being willing to help them. (And, I bet I’m not the only one!)

What do you think? Is this just me being impatient, or should people be more accessible? Taking it one step further, if someone protects thier tweets, hides their email address or refuses to be “found,” are they missing more than they’re gaining? How do YOU draw the line?