"Claim Your Slice"

Drop whatever you are doing and sprint to your nearest Pizza Schmizza. Light, perfectly crispy crust and flavorful toppings and the right amount of cheese. We are talking delightful to the tenth power.

Today was my second time at this lovely establishment, both of which I enjoyed a vegetarian slice to go. Checking for consistency, I chose a different location and they have me; hook, line and sinker.

There is a print add and its shot birds eye view of the top of a guys bald head with a piece of pizza. Seen it? I'm not getting the marketing angle.

Whatever. I just know I'm going to need a twelve step program.

Search Optimization

From the beginning my heels have been dug in about this "necessary function" that I'm now sure is hog wash for OUR particular org.

The idea behind search opting helps one appear on top of the heap on search engine lists. However, the person searching has to have key words, which logicially the end user would be entering words like or around "donate". Our name is all one word and always used that way.

I'm going for it as it happens by mass media, marketing to those that have access to large groups and relationship building which inevitably embeds our name.

For all of you companies and orgs that have, for example, "cellphone, shoes, greeting cards" in your name, search opting is for you.

Duct Tape

I can't stand it. I'm bursting at the seams to blog about politics. Its everywhere and blaring with controversy for so many different reasons.

The opposing views of both parties have never been so incredibly clear and I've never been so ingrossed. Even the folks on Kink radio have been talking politics against a specific party.

I'm feeling bad for a few of my peeps who have had to listen to me recount, rehash and trash the other party.

In the last few days my work has been constantly interrupted with reading and forwarding emails. I have to wonder though, if forwarding emails to people with opposing views might be more productive?

This is an interesting time in history and in a few short weeks the people of this great nation will choose change or the same.

Its all in a Name

Flourish was created as a way for women to connect, inspire, and empower through events.

Stop right there. The name alone "Flourish" makes me want hang with this group regardless of what they are doing. Flourish is multi-purpose, yet conquers all with one word.

I invite you to the website. (http://www.flourish-pdx.com/) It is all decked out with warm welcoming colors and pictures of beautiful women that look inspired and empowered. The logo appears like a flower, but if you look closer its a circle of women.

Think about all of the company names that you've heard that have nothing to do with anything and its not clear if the intent is to market tofu or rock quaries.

Here's to Nancy Thompson, the founder of this amazing name. Job well done.

Consistently Clear

Its hard to know how communication goes sideways or if it was ever there.

I delivered a 13 piece project to a vendor and we talked in detail about the expectation. Four weeks later I returned to pick up the finished project. Once back in my office, it became clear that only two of the pieces were completed as we had discussed.

After giving great consideration I called the vendor, approaching very "gingerly, with great respect for the work done..." The vendor explained that the new direction was a result of becoming "inspired by..."

The vendor and I agreed that if another "inspiration" hits while working on my projects, the flavor will be savored until getting the go ahead.

No stress here

My desk is a dissaster. It is covered with files turned every which way complemented by piles of papers, some stapled, some with dog ears and some with action words on them like "today" and "by the end of the week". There are enough sticky notes to wallpaper my bathroom. The thought of lighting a match and running keeps crossing my mind.

Over the next two months we are throwing our first virtual event, bringing on a new board president, hosting our second happy hour event for our registered nonprofits which, by the way, needs to blow the doors off and are admist direct marketing strategies. Where are those matches?

Tough Transition

Something happened on the road to our virtual warehouse. It had to be somewhere between closing our physical warehouse and going online.

Next month it will be a year since we made this transition, yet people are still asking about, referring to and are under the impression that we still have a physical warehouse. I'm ready to scream.

Consistent communication was sent to our supporters and nonprofits before, during and after. We even scored coverage in the Portland Business Journal. The entire message on the homepage of our parent org (http://www.sistersofthecommunity.org) clearly reflects this change. Or does it?

Maybe we should rent a warehouse and hang a sign on the door that says "Thank you for stopping by. We are online."

Blogging: 101

I've posted, what, ten times now? On to the next level. I want to rock this blog thing, find other blogs of interest and leave comments all over the place. I already know what you're thinking, enough already! But I'm all about what my girlfriend Diane says "I'm a go big or go home kinda girl".

Enter stage left, Bob Uva (aka PDX Bob). We met at this cool, hip, relevant wi-fi coffee spot in NW called BackSpace.

Bob was so patient walking me through steps of this and that, explaining the most rudimentary functions, met with my blank stares as I was stuffing my face with a warm muffin dressed with a fresh piece of ginger and crunchy sugar.

I would be so excited if I new anything at all. At one point Bob was working away and I just layed my head down on the counter.

As our meeting came to a close I announced that I should really take a class to become more familiar with my computer. I just know Bob wanted to scream "go right now".

Time on Steroids

Rose festival queens were being crowned at Portland-area high schools just yesterday, weren't they? I just woke up, what feels like yesterday thinking of the promise of what summer is going to bring. What happened? How can it be September already?

As if time was not flying by fast enough, stores have already broke out the halloween stuff and are all pumped up and ready to start stressing us out and cramming Christmas down our throats.

I'm trying to think of the last time that I've referred to a day as being too long. Instead, I find myself starting my day to only to turn the lights out a few minutes later.

This is more of an awareness blog than it is about complaining that life is moving on with or without us. Its one of those "cease the moment" posts which feels....timely.