Today’s senior population is exploding at historic levels. According to the U.S. Administration on Aging, the senior population numbered 37.3 million in 2006, or 12.4% of the U.S. population, and is expected to reach 20% of the population by 2030. With advances in modern science and medicine lowering mortality rates, the worldwide senior population is expected to grow to 2 billion by 2050.
So what does all that mean for social media? When it comes to the Web, many boomers and senior caretakers are just as tech-savvy as their younger counterparts–and senior-focused social media sites are quickly rising in response to the needs of this rapidly-growing segment of the population.
Seniors are faced with a number of unique challenges, including financial planning and retirement, health care, changing housing needs, grand-parenting, and more. Today there are a whole host of social community websites that focus on the specific needs and concerns of seniors, as well as present marketers an opportunity to reach them.
The above is an excerpt from the May 27th, 2009 article on Web Ad.Vantage titled “The Senior Side of Social Media.” As a Baby Boomer, reconciling the antithesis that is the passing of time with the all too familiar “but I don’t feel like I am 50″ is a strong indication that generational issues and musings are not confined to the traditional mediums of information gathering and exchange.
Yet even with recent studies which indicate that those of us who “mature” in years are with increasing frequency entering the social media realm, very few are creating “worldwide visibility, awareness, and credibility of an on-line brand and persona.”
Enter Joy Webber a.k.a. “The Twittering Granny,” who’s newly launched blog “Diary of a Social Media Virgin” has created the kind of celebrity that national radio show host, author and Public Relations genius Marsha Friedman would applaud.
Joy will be my guest on November 11th to talk about her experience in tackling the challenges of what many seniors consider to be the “new frontier” that is social media, and of course her blog “Diary of a Social Media Virgin.”
Joy Webber, The Twittering Granny
About Joy (Excerpt from the first Diary of a Social Media Virgin post):
I am one of a new breed of “bloggers”, namely those of a certain age and with practically zero skills on the computer. So this all represents a challenge to my practical and intellectual abilities but I’m being advised that this is the way forward for those of us who want to attempt to dominate our areas of expertise on the web.
All sounds pretty impressive, eh? And it certainly is to one of my generation to whom these things don’t necessarily come easily. Why you might be thinking? Well actually I’m setting myself the task of building a business and communicating to everyone I can find, the benefits of a healthy lifestyle that has revolutionised not only my own life but of many, many others since the time I was introduced to it, over ten years ago. A business that has been languishing for some time through not being able to get the word out to those who would like to listen.
“Be grateful if your traditional marketing methods are failing now – in the future they will fail for everyone and it gives you an advantage to get ahead” (Frank Kern)
This is the beginning of a year-long journey for me, starting today, working and liaising on a constant basis with a couple of friends/mentors, to develop my Portfolio of Find-ability and Content on the Web. Central to this process are my business coaches Vanessa Warwick and Nick Tadd who are giving me access to their wealth of business expertise and who over the next twelve months will be helping me devise and refine my online strategies and how to structure my online contribution. I have known Vanessa and Nick now for two years and they have helped me a lot on an informal basis with property and general business advice. So I am delighted and have every confidence in taking this on to the next level through their newly-launched business mentorship programme.
Use the following link to access Joy’s post in its entirety, as well as the subsequent posts in this fascinating series: Diary of a Social Media Virgin – Part 1
Remember to tune in to the live broadcast on November 11th at 12:30 PM EST (5:30 PM UK time) through the On-Demand Player below:
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The wonder of social media is that it creates the ideal environment for meaningful exchanges on timely and often thought-provoking subjects.
What makes these kinds of exchanges work (re useful and collectively beneficial) is the “recognition that the key therefore is not in the conclusion but in the dialogue and honest exchange of information.”
Against this backdrop I am pleased to share with you the following dialogue from the Ecademy Blog regarding onions, swine flu and journalistic accountability:
Ann G:
Seriously.
Just place an onion in a bowl in each rooms of your home, and it will soak up all the viruses in the atmosphere and you won’t get sick.
I know it’s true, I read it on the internet. Skepchick’s hairdresser told her all about it - here.
Actually, what I really wanted to talk about, is social media and how it is being used to promote medical products and advice – both mainstream and alternative.
The FDA in America is holding a public hearing on November 12th to 13th about the use of social media to promote what they describe as “regulated medical products” – and I look forward to reading about the conclusions they reach.
Here on Ecademy, the blogs are frequently used to discuss all kinds of issues around health and medicine. Some bloggers post news items for discussion about the latest research. Others talk about a variety of treatment approaches – from hypnosis to herbal cures, homeopathy to dietary advice.
Of course we are all adults, and we understand the pricinciple of caveat emptor – let the buyer beware.
However, I’ve seen marketplace listings promising “00 per cent guaranteed weight loss” which I suspect is certainly guaranteed to make your wallet weigh less, and I’ve seen an Ecademy blogger suggest that mental illness is caused by demons and can be cured by exorcism rather than psychiatric help, and I seem to recall a blog which claimed that reiki could heal a dead cat. I’ve even seen one idiot claim that onions can prevent swine flu 
The official line on Ecademy is that these are all matters of opinion, and that Ecademy management cannot be responsible for deciding which of these claims are true. Ecademy does have guideliens about blogging, listed here in Graham Jones’ very useful guide to blogging
What should you avoid in blogs?
Blogs should be acceptable to all readers. That doesn’t mean they can’t be controversial or
annoying, but they shouldn’t upset readers. All blog entries are monitored and Ecademy will
remove entries which
• are designed to cause distress to others, either explicitly or implied
• are sarcastic or cynical in nature or that are aggressive or disrespectful to others
• use swearwords
• attack a person, business, political or religious belief or a country
• infringe copyright
• are potentially libellous
• may break any other law, such as incitement to racial hatred, or sexual abuse
• are connected with promoting gambling
Complaints against your blog by other members of Ecademy may also result in your blog
entry being deleted
I would like to see an addition to this list, about the responsible blogging of health and medical issues. I don’t think anyone would seriously argue that anyone should be diagnosing or prescribing through an Ecademy blog, but perhaps it would be useful to ask that all health bloggers at least include a disclaimer, recommending that readers consult their medical practitioner before following any advice.
What do you think?
Disclaimer
I am not affiliated with the Onion Marketing Board, nor am I a Grand Master Onion Therapy Practitioner, although I am contemplating signing up for the weekend course
Jon H:
So that’s why there are bowls of cut up onions throughout the house?
The point you bring up is quite interesting Ann because you are getting to the heart of the questions the FTC is trying to address with tighter regulations of what bloggers write through increased accountability, and their upcoming roundtable discussions and workshops in early December to determine “How Will Journalism Survive in the Internet Age.” In short, they are trying to get a handle on what is called the Citizen Journalist.
Citizen Journalism, much like this blog you have posted has been facilitated by the advent of social networks. The problem of course is how do you control a medium where the entry points into the public is no longer narrowly confined to traditional media.
There are of course no easy answers as discovered in a series I am doing on my radio show (this week I will doing a special titled “How Will Journalism Survive the Internet Age” which is a guest panel discussion that includes UK-based expert David Cushman, and the champion of the new breed of journalism Cenk Uygur, host of the Young Turks).
That said the new FTC legislation in which Bloggers are accountable for fully disclosing endorsement or sponsorship deals relating to a product or company about which they talk was a long time coming. The hearings by the FDA are just another example of how the government is making earnest efforts to create a model of accountability for a medium that has and is growing faster than their ability to regulate.
As I had raised in an earlier post, the issue I have is not so much the intent but the model legislative action will utilize. Specifically, there is a vast difference in many key areas between traditional monitoring and holding accountable traditional media and social media.
In this regard I will close with an excerpt from the above referenced post:
“. . . I stand by my earlier statement that the true measure of a blog must always come down to the caliber or quality of its content – plain and simple. This is the only true way in which any blog content should be vetted.
In this way, I agree with Ecademy co-founder and author Penny Power who in the June 4th PI Window on Business Show indicated that the market re readers, listeners, social networking connections are the best ones to filter content. If the substance isn’t there, or the accuracy of reporting is left wanting or even for that matter the honest opinion of the writer fails to deliver meaningful and accurate insight, the community will ultimately tune them out.”
Ann G:
Some very interesting points, Jon, thank you.
The problem for me lies in your final sentence -
If the substance isn’t there, or the accuracy of reporting is left wanting or even for that matter the honest opinion of the writer fails to deliver meaningful and accurate insight, the community will ultimately tune them out.”
I consider myself to be a reasonably good judge of content, but I am not a scientist and my opinions on whether or not onions are good for you carry little weight.
There is lots of talk about the “wisdom of the crowd” – and on some issues the crowd may be right. But not on all of them.
In her fascinating article in Wired, Amy Wallace talks about the Epidemic of Fear around the vaccine issue
And if you need a new factoid to support your belief system, it has never been easier to find one. The Internet offers a treasure trove of undifferentiated information, data, research, speculation, half-truths, anecdotes, and conjecture about health and medicine. It is also a democratizing force that tends to undermine authority, cut out the middleman, and empower individuals. In a world where anyone can attend what McCarthy calls the “University of Google,” boning up on immunology before getting your child vaccinated seems like good, responsible parenting. Thanks to the Internet, everyone can be their own medical investigator….
The bottom line: Pseudo-science preys on well-intentioned people who, motivated by love for their kids, become vulnerable to one of the world’s oldest professions. Enter the snake-oil salesman.
The internet may be a powerful democritising force for good, especially in matters of political freedom.
But as Ms Wallace says, rational is hard, emotional is easy. And these are difficult questions that require expertise, and are not solvable by the wisdom of the crowd, or what your gran used to do, or your hairdresser says.
Jon H:
Good points Ann, but it goes to accountability.
Turning 50 this year, I grew up in an era where you believed what you read in the papers, heard on the radio (with the exception of Osron Welles’ War of the Worlds), trusting that the reporting individuals went through the prerequisite schooling and filtering system to be considered reliable sources.
In the world of social media combined with the fact that for all intents and purposes daily newspapers will be gone within 5 years, we have a greater responsibility to act as our own filters of information.
This means that content is king, and that there is greater demand on each and everyone of us to take a more active role is ascertaining the veracity of what we ingest through the media.
Regarding the H1N1 and onion example here is a link to a recent article I wrote titled “Is There a Vaccine for Social Media?“
After reading it, and of course putting aside the fact that I wrote it, if you read it what would your think? Would you rely upon its findings re H1N1, the vaccine etc?
Ann G:
It seems like a reasonably balanced article, Jon, and you finish with your uncertainty. As a rule of thumb, I find that snake oil salesmen, or anti vaccine extremists, are more likely to be absolutely certain of the truths they proclaim.
But I don’t know what your background is, I don’t know why you chose the particular writers and scientists you quoted. The appeal to authority isn’t quite adequate- because of course Linus Pauling was a well respected Nobel Prize winning scientist, and yet his views on the curative powers of vast quantities of Vitamin C are highly suspect.
Of course we all have to learn to assess the quality of information for ourselves. I tend to doubt everything, but of course haven’t got time to check everything out in detail – which is where those rules of thumb come in handy.
We are clearly of the same generation, but I certainly don’t recall accepting everything in print was gospel. I recall reading an article in my Gran’s News of The World when I was very young, that said two out of every three households had been affected by serious violent crime in the previous year and things were getting worse. After a frisson of fear, I quickly reliased it must be nonsense, just by what I knew about my own street.
And I was only twelve or so when I read Ercih von Danikin, and chuckled at his argument that technologically advanced aliens must have visited Earth with their X Ray machines, as how else did the cave painters know that people had skeletons?
Of course we all have to take responsibility, but we simply aren’t all capable of it. We are not all experts in understanding scientific papers, and sadly, this often includes the scientists.
Jon H.
That of course is the starting point of and for true vigilance . . . asking questions. I am not talking about the Oliver Stone type of cynicism, but instead the balanced and sincere effort to understand.
From there you may not always make the right decision, but you will at least make an honest and informed decision.
What I liked most about your comment was the statement that “But I don’t know what your background is, I don’t know why you chose the particular writers and scientists you quoted.” As a writer, this is for me the best scenario in that by your thoughtful consideration you add both value and perspective that refines the communication and information sharing process.
My job is not to make you see the world my way, but is instead to alert you as a reader of other possibilities and in the process cause you to think outside of the framework within which you are most familiar and most comfortable. The conclusion still remains yours to reach.
I am not infallible. I can tell you that this was the basis for my research and for me and my family was the critical gap in information we needed to finally make the decision to have our children immunized. But that was the conclusion my wife and I reached.
Alternatively, you may decide that the information warrants a different decision.
What I am saying, and what you so adeptly pointed out regarding Linus Pauling is that absolutes are always suspect because of the natural presence of personal opinion, experience, self interest and prejudices. The key therefore is not in the conclusion but in the dialogue and honest exchange of information.
In short, honesty and accuracy is of greater importance than proving I am right, and trying to convince you of the same.
In the infamous words of Joe Friday . . . just the facts and I will leave it in your hands to interpret their real meaning as it relates to you.
Sally C. then joined in on the discussion offering the following opinion:
“I would like to see an addition to this list, about the responsible blogging of health and medical issues.”
Hear, hear, Ann.
I also agree with Jon that people should disclose any financial relationships that are relevant to any topic they are blogging about, not just health or medicine related issues.
In this day and age authenticity, openness and transparency should be a given, but frequently are not.
If someone is flogging mobile phones or some product and service in their blog, but does not disclose they are a paid consultant to the company, it certainly muddies the waters somewhat and the FTC guidelines are a welcome starting point in this respect. Self regulation is all very well, but it seems that many do not manage such a simple task.
The FDA hearing in 2 weeks is a welcome and much needed event in response to Pharma companies continually asking for guidance and direction. The FDA clearly believes that current (print) guidelines are more than adequate in a ‘it’s the message not the medium’ approach but clearly you can’t put fair balance and the abbreviated PI in 140 character tweet, for example! If anyone is interested in following the proceedings, you can find it all on Fabio Gratton’s excellent resource here.
One thing I would add to the debate is to remind people that in Europe, DTC ie direct to consuming advertising of medicinal products is illegal, so anyone flogging vitamin or herb pills or other health related pills and potions for financial gain, whether by direct ads or indirectly via blogs to members of the general public is actually breaking the law and could be sued for doing so. This applies in the UK and EC but not the USA, where DTC is legal as long as fair balance (ie mentioning the side effects) is provided.
If you wouldn’t expect an ad for onions protecting you from swine flu in the BMJ you wouldn’t expect to see it on a blog platform either.
Commentary:
Since this article was originally posted, the discussion has gained considerable momentum, with new trains of thought and opinions being introduced into the exchange. Do you have an opinion or insights on this interesting topic that you would like to share? Click on the Ecademy icon below and be heard.
Click on the Ecademy Link to join this discussion
The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC” or “Commission”) announced that it will hold two days of public workshops on December 1 and 2, 2009, to examine the Internet’s impact on journalism in newspapers, magazines, broadcast television and radio, and cable television.
The Internet has changed how many consumers receive news and altered the advertising landscape. Low entry barriers on the Internet have allowed new voices of journalism to emerge; the Internet- enabled links from one web site to another have given consumers easy access to all types of news; efficiencies available through the Internet have substantially reduced advertising costs. These and other changes related to the Internet have benefited consumers greatly.
On October 7th, 2009 the Federal Trade Commission announced that they would be hosting Workshops and Roundtables asking the all important question, “How Will Journalism Survive the Internet Age?”
Our June 11th segment titled “Has Blogging Crossed The Threshold of Legitimacy,” and most recently last week’s segment with Dr. John Tantillo focused on asking the tough questions surrounding this very issue.
Based on the realization that the ever increasing influence of the new social media especially through blogging had not gone unnoticed, the FTCs recent decision to institute standards holding bloggers accountable for what they write, now appears to be just the beginning of a sweeping examination of the influence and responsibilities of social media as a whole.
But what are the consequences of the emerging social media both in the immediate future and long term? In today’s show I welcome an international guest panel to expand on the discussion from our previous shows, specifically looking at the continuing sustainability of traditional models in the areas of “journalism in newspapers, magazines, broadcast television and radio.”
Meet our esteemed panel of experts:
David Cushman
David Cushman
David Cushman is a world-class thought leader and strategist in social media, the power of the network, and how its impact changes everything.
He is Director of Social Media at full service social media agency BrandoSocial.com, independant consultant at FasterFutureConsulting.com and author of The Power of the Network.
His blog, fasterfuture.blogspot.com is ranked among the UK’s Top 20 Marketing Blogs by Adage.com and No7 in the global publishing category by BlogRank.
He has a deep understanding of the emerging dominance of communities and how brands, companies and messages can adapt to prosper in a rapidly changing world.
He works with a wide range of major media companies, advertising agencies, retailers, brands and Government agencies to devise and deliver effective social media strategies and change in businesses.
He also sits on a number of advisory boards and is a member of the board of Trustees of national charity Citizens Online.
Cenk Uygur, The Young Turks
Cenk Uygur, Esq., J.D. is a Turkish-American who is the main host of the liberal talk radio show The Young Turks. He was also the host of the internet interview show Meet The Bloggers throughout its run.
The show currently airs in a number of places, including the 8pm slot on XM Satellite Radio’s America Left, channel 167. Aside from airing on the radio, TYT has also made several online partnerships with media groups such as AOL News, TidalTV, and YouTube. The show’s YouTube channel gets an average of 3 million hits per month.
Uygur is also a regular blogger on The Huffington Post and an attorney. He grew up in East Brunswick Township, New Jersey, where he attended East Brunswick High School. Cenk admits to being a Republican in his youth. He is a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia Law School, and a former associate at the law firms of Drinker Biddle & Reath in Washington, D.C. and Parcher, Hayes & Liebman in New York City. He first became a talk show host at a Washington, D.C. radio station on the weekends while working at Drinker, before eventually shifting to full-time radio work. He is an avid fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Dr. Ellen Brandt, PhD
Dr. Ellen Brandt PhD
After a decade away doing something else, Dr. Ellen Brandt has returned to heavy-duty journalism just when the entire media sector is undergoing nothing short of Revolution. She loves it, and is launching a new Group at Linked In called Media Revolution, as well as a new blog site of her own called Baby Boomers-The Angriest Generation.
Ellen thinks these changing times will reward journalists and publishers who are flexible, creative, and experienced, able to embrace new technological protocols, while drawing on their experience at creating compelling content.
And she believes it is high time her fellow Baby Boomers – in the US, Canada, and the rest of the Western World – stopped accepting the attempts to marginalize them and regained center stage in their countries’ economic, political, and cultural life.
Sherrie Wilkolaski, Author & Publisher
Sherrie Wilkolaski
Sherrie related that it’s funny how her career started out in journalism, and then went in the advertising and marketing direction and then back again to writing. An experience which Sherrie feels “blends together nicely.”
Sherrie was the best selling author at Lulu in 2003 and that is how she got into publishing. Her new blog at Lulu is about to be launched, where Sherrie will cover both interesting and thought-provoking topics.
Remember to use the On-Demand Player below to access the November 10th live broadcast of “How Will Journalism Survive the Internet” at the special time of 3:00 PM EST
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This morning at 11:00 AM EST I had the great pleasure to be a guest on Tim Davis’ The Originators Guide.
It was a great opportunity to experience Blog Talk Radio from the other side so to speak as a guest, as we discussed “Building Your Credibility and Influence by podcasting.”
To access this interesting and informative segment use the On-Demand Player below:
Tim Davis
Tim Davis is host of the popular “The Originators Guide” on Blog Talk Radio
New Book Now Available
My new book “Your Show Will Go Live in 5 Seconds” is now available as an eBook. The hard copy version will be released at the end of November.
Click on the Book Cover above to access an excerpt as well as purchase Your Show Will Go Live in 5 Seconds (Confession of a Blog Talk Radio Host).
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It was interesting in that as I was reading the story about Intel in which it is alleged that the company “Used bribery and coercion to maintain its dominance in the microprocessor market,” I could not help but think that this was not the first time that the proverbial shoe was on the other foot in terms of the sometimes strained relationship between buyer and supplier.
I remember in 2004 the head of procurement for the University of North Carolina bemoaning the fact that due to the paucity of options for transporting the coal that kept the institution’s “lights on” he was forced to make a deal with a supplier who held all the cards.
I can also recall the story of Abbott Laboratories’ challenges when, after being informed by their supplier that prices would be going up for a particular bottle (re container) the pharmaceutical giant used, they attempted to stock-up on the said product at the current day price.
The supplier “diplomatically” told them that they no longer had supplies available for shipment under the old price.
In each of these instances, the individuals involved on the buyer side felt that they were being unfairly treated. A refrain that is often made by the suppliers.
This of course leads to an interesting question . . .being painted into the corner due to a lack of supplier choice, why are vendor rationalization strategies pursued so vigorously by the buyer?
Why is the illusion of transactional reductions and the mirage of lower administrative costs combined with volume discounts so enticing as the flame is to the moth?
This past summer’s decision by P&G to reduce the number of production companies with whom their brand agencies could deal from 125 to 30 through what they referred to as a “preferred vendor status” program made very little sense. It actually reminds me of the commercial for Angus Beef, where only 1 in 10 cows “qualifies” for the certification.
The cow upon hearing the news that he has made the grade stands up on his two hind hooves and begins to do a celebration dance taunting the other cows saying, “that’s right I’m the best.” He then pauses for a second and then asks” what do I win? We all know what happens to Angus beef.
The point here is simply this, there are going to be circumstances in which a reduced supply base is warranted or unavoidable, especially as it relates to the procurement of certain goods and services. However, the continuing persistence on pursuing the strategy as a means of reducing costs across an enterprise’s entire spend has never made sense in the real-world.
Rather than saving money, it has led to an erosion of supply bases that leaves the buyer with only a handful of vendors with whom to deal. Those remaining suppliers are often times the least desirable or, can deliver to the requirements yet extract a high price in the process.
The Intel situation clearly demonstrates the old adage that “absolute power, corrupts absolutely.” While options are naturally limited in some areas of spend leaving companies vulnerable to the vagaries of a narrowed playing field, self-inflicted actions such as the ones by P&G or Kraft Foods makes one wonder why any company would be so eager to replicate the Intel-type scenario through an expanded rationalization strategy.
Barack Obama, who is following 751,249 people on Twitter and is followed by 2,584,039 twitter user is the most connected man, not President, on earth!
If Barack Obama is N°5 on twitter regarding the number of followers who follow him, he is the N°1 follower as nobody else besides him follows more than 750,000 people.
This indicates that Barack Obama, who understands the importance of connections, has introduced a bottom-up and democratic, open, random and supportive administration that uses social networks like no administration in no other country has ever used before is shifting away from the old Taylorian mass production philosophy to a Demingian philosophy of KAIZEN, of GOOD CHANGE!
Comments from a forum exchange on Ecademy regarding the blog post “One Year Later: Is the Obama Presidency a Bust?“
President Barack Obama
As is the case with any leader there will always be detractors and of course individual shortcomings to which pundits can and will point out – none of us are infallible. Certainly the polarizing response to the original blog post proved this point with a hard exclamation point!
But there was something that stood out with regard to the above comment in terms of the reference to Obama’s Twitter rank and the 1960 Kennedy – Nixon televised debate (which was the first time a presidential debate had been on television). Like Churchill, I have a voracious appetite regarding the Kennedy political machine and in particular JFK.
If I am correct in my recollection, Nixon was under the weather going into the debate and with a bit of a five o’clock shadow looked pasty on camera. Conversely, the charismatic Kennedy appeared to be the picture of good health portraying an image of youthful energy. Ironically, and due in large part to a back injury and frequent hospital stays for a variety of maladies that began when he was a student at Choate, the reality of Kennedy’s poor health did not match the image.
The point here is that TV was a new medium, and many believed that it was ultimately Kennedy’s performance during the televised debate that pushed him over the top. In fact, many pundits expressed the opinion that Kennedy was made for television.
Can parallels be drawn between Kennedy’s “new” medium advantage in the 1960 election, and President Obama’s advantage in 2008 relative to his early mastery of the Internet and in particular social media networks such as Twitter? How much of an advantage did he gain through his ability to reach out and mobilize so many through the Internet?
As the only candidate to proficiently leverage a Twitter he was after all the dominant voice being heard. How would he have fared in the election if there wasn’t a Twitter or an Internet? How will he fare when he seeks a second term and the political brain trust of the opposition has by that time mastered the use of social media?
This is not an unreasonable question to pose, especially when one considers FDR’s years in the White House.
In my research, I had found references in which some were of the opinion that had FDR run for president in a era in which there was television he would not likely have been elected due to being confined to a wheel chair. However, and without the visual distraction, his oratory over the air waves became the primary focus transcending his physical limitations.
Roosevelt in a wheelchair
Is Obama’s reach with Twitter as suggested by the above referenced comment a sign of a true and overwhelming support at the grass roots level, or does this merely reflect a considerably greater level of mobilization?
We may have to wait until the next election to find out the answer to this question.
Be sure to take our PI Window on Business/Ecademy Poll which asks “Is Social Media to Obama What Television Was to Kennedy?“
New Book Now Available
My new book “Your Show Will Go Live in 5 Seconds” is now available as an eBook. The hard copy version will be released at the end of November.
Click on the Book Cover above to access an excerpt as well as purchase Your Show Will Go Live in 5 Seconds (Confession of a Blog Talk Radio Host).
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Once again, my good friend Dr. John Tantillo of Fox New’s The Strategy Room has written a piece for Fox News that inspires discussion and serious contemplation relative to whether the Obama Presidency is in fact a bust.
Titled “Will Obama Ever Become President,” he asks the all important question “when will candidate Obama show up, and replace President Obama?”
As always, I could not help but throw my hat into the ring so to speak and provide my own take on the effectiveness of the Obama Administration one year later. Borrowing the title from the old Buffalo Springfield classic, here it is “For what its worth:
Once again John you ignite the issues that need to be heard through a clear-eyed perspective that challenges versus criticizes, motivates action versus self-pitying discontent, and asks the tough questions which unites versus divides.
The first thing that came to my mind was the hype and promise of a top draft pick in pro sports who fails to deliver. There are of course multiple reasons for this ranging from the fact that at the pro (or White House) level the game is faster and tougher than in the college ranks (re campaign trail) thus the adjustment can prove challenging.
There are also questions surrounding the top draft pick’s actual abilities, and the belief that the hype and hope for a true star somehow clouded the reality of the player’s real capabilities.
Finally, there is the ever-present, incredibly ominous level of our expectations setting both an unrealistic and unattainable level of performance that would cause even the most capable athlete (or President-elect) to falter. In this latter instance in particular, the people and the President must bear equal responsibility for any shortcomings.
Why the people? Perhaps our eagerness to escape the challenges that we face in the world have led us to collectively abandon both common sense and responsibility by abdicating our own need to take action and instead pin our hopes on a single, fallible man with a vision. Why Barrack Obama? Quite simply, his willingness to accept the job and responsibility of the Presidency under such unrealistic expectations in the first place!
True leaders are inherently flawed, and the call to leadership is not one that is necessarily pursued but one that is acted upon out of a deeper need to serve the greater good.
I just wrote a piece about Winston Churchill that after considering President Obama’s actual performance versus our expectations provides an interesting lens through which the current administration might be better viewed. (By the way, here is the link to the Churchill Blog post)
In the end, a true leader motivates others to take action versus carrying the burden alone. In this light I am reminded of another great, but flawed leader’s words. In his Inaugural address on January 20th, 1961 President-elect John F. Kennedy challenged the American people with this memorable call to personal action, “ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”
Along these lines, and in tandem with the questions we ask of the Obama Administration, we must also ask of ourselves.
Remember to tune into Thursday’s PI Window on Business Show at 12: 30 PM EST through the On-Demand Player below, when I welcome none other than Dr. John Tantillo to talk about Social Media’s impact on Journalism.
New Book Now Available
My new book “Your Show Will Go Live in 5 Seconds” is now available as an eBook. The hard copy version will be released at the end of November.
Click on the Book Cover above to access an excerpt as well as purchase Your Show Will Go Live in 5 Seconds (Confession of a Blog Talk Radio Host).
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Nature’s Tit-for-Tat, Keeping Score and the Importance of Creating Frequent Foreplay Miles
What would happen if every couple accumulated Frequent Foreplay Miles™ with the same enthusiasm as travelers collect frequent flier miles?
It is an interesting question in that we all at some level, perhaps even sub-consciously keep score in our relationships. A kind of “Let’s Make a Deal” Russian roulette in which the odds are ultimately stacked in the divorce lawyers favor.
Given the fact that 50% of all marriages end in divorce, Shela Dean’s bestselling book “Frequent Foreplay Miles: Your Ticket to Total Intimacy” channels what she refers to as “the human proclivity to keep score” in a “positive direction,” by providing couples with a “common language with which to communicate.”
Joining me on our November 25th show to discuss her book, and delve a little deeper into the key principles upon which the Frequent Foreplay Miles concept has been based is Shela Dean.
The Video:
About Shela:
Shela Dean is a Relationship Happiness Coach and speaker. She has counseled more than 2,000 couples since 1983 and is the author of the upcoming book Frequent Foreplay Miles, Your Ticket to Total Intimacy! – a guide to improving intimacy for couples. You can read an excerpt from the book and even pre-order a copy. Shela began studying the dynamics of personal relationships during her two-decade career as an estate and family attorney before retiring from law to begin coaching in 2004. Her unique blend of humor, insight, and practical meat-and-potatoes approach, helps couples find a better way to navigate the friendly, and sometimes not-so-friendly, skies of life while having a darned good time doing it. In her words . . .
Shela and Dale Dean On-Track & On-Time
Remember to use the following On-Demand Player to access the November 25th live broadcast of “Nature’s Tit-for-Tat, Keeping Score and the Importance of Creating Frequent Foreplay Miles.”
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Winston Churchill is someone for whom I had and have a great deal of admiration.
From the determined “Never give in, never give in, never; never; never; never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense,” to “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts,” I am to this day moved by the heart and drive of a person who like all of us, is a fallible human being.
Yet it is in this very fallibility, and the challenges of his “black dog” that author and psychiatrist Anthony Storr wrote of Churchill:
“Had he been a stable and equable man, he could never have inspired the nation. In 1940, when all the odds were against Britain, a leader of sober judgment might well have concluded that we were finished.”
In his new book “Against Happiness,” Wake Forest University professor Eric Wilson asks whether we are trying too hard to be happy, and whether over medication is draining our culture of the melancholy that historically gave rise to many great artists and writers.
Does the the quest to numb ourselves to the point of blissful ambivalence and avoid the reality of the full range of our emotions somehow deprive us of the very drive that propels us to overcome and ultimately attain real happiness?
I can only shudder to think where we would be if Winston Churchill had made the decision to mute his “divine discontent.”
To explore this controversial and thought-provoking subject, I am pleased to welcome Eric Wilson to the November 24th PI Window on Business Show.
Video from NBC’s Today Show (Are We Trying To Hard To Be Happy?)
Professor Eric Wilson
About Eric:
Eric Wilson has published books on several subjects, including androids, ice, Gnostic cinema, and David Lynch. My most recent book, which came out with Farrar, Straus, and Giroux in January, is called AGAINST HAPPINESS: IN PRAISE OF MELANCHOLY. The book challenges America’s addiction to superficial happiness and explores the revelatory powers of melancholy.
Eric G. Wilson is a Thomas H. Pritchard Professor of English at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Against Happiness: In Praise of Melancholy
Remember to use the following On-Demand Player to access the live broadcast at 12:30 PM EST on November 24th.
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You place your bets, spin the wheel, and take your chances.
What if this was true, but with one important twist? The wheel was rigged in such a way it was skewed towards the benefit of a few insiders – the Players. And then they were able to conceal this game in such a way that everybody thought they had an even chance in the Game.
In life there is a game, however, it is not the one we all think we’re playing. Beneath the surface there lies a secret, Hidden Game.
Those people you read about in society columns, the movers and shakers of our world, all know this game; and they go to great lengths to prevent you from catching on.
If you take a moment and allow yourself to imagine that this game exists, you can take one of two positions: You can do everything in your power to get as far away from this Game as you possibly can, or you would do whatever it takes to win this Game. Either way, learning about the Game – how it is setup, who the players are, and how they play – is your best bet to getting what you want out of life.
The only other option is to hope and pray that what I’m saying is nonsense – that there is no Game, that all this is just another conspiracy theory. But what if you are wrong?
By putting your head in the sand you may feel that all is well for a time. But sooner or later, the spin of the wheel will go against you, and when it does you will have no idea of what hit you, how, and why it happened.
Recent events have shown how dangerous taking that stance can be. Is that a chance you are prepared to take? Isn’t it time you took hold of the reigns in your life, took positive action to decide your own destiny, became a co-creator in your life, and found out about the Hidden Game?
The ominous sounding words from John Berling Hardy’s book “Have We Been Played” conjures up images of director Stanley Kubrick’s last film “Eyes Wide Shut.”
Joining me on November 6th to talk about The Secrets of “The Hidden Game” is author John Berling Hardy.
John Berling Hardy
About John:
After many years working in the financial industry, in the early 1990’s, John Berling Hardy was chosen by a major financial institution to come to the aid of a struggling food processing company, Szeged Paprika and Meat Processing Plant, based in Hungary.
When John arrived, he was assured that the problems were directly related to the liberalization of Hungary’s centrally controlled economy to a market based economy.
Although these challenges were real enough, the company concealed another, much darker, reality. John felt that something just wasn’t quite right, and he was correct. The true catalyst of the company’s difficulties was completely concealed from the workers, from the community and even from John.
What had caused the company’s difficulties was not the economic shift in Hungary as presented, but rather fraud which enlisted the participation of the senior management of the plant, including the local bank’s management (John’s employer).
This was when John began formulating the elements of The Game.
Upon returning to Toronto and to his business in carriage trade custom construction, John began to notice the same patterns he experienced in Hungary repeating themselves again and again. This wasn’t an isolated incident – this was a worldwide phenomena. The same inconsistencies, the same shifts in power, the same manipulations.
Gradually he began to see this pattern in all aspects of his life – business and personal. He spent much time thinking about what it was that he sensed but could not put his finger on.
Finally he figured it out! He developed the algorithm behind the seemingly chaotic array of events which he had experienced over the years. John found the master key to the players and the hidden game, a key that he wants to share with the world in order to help people from all nations to take control of their lives and to no longer be manipulated by “the players” of the world.
Remember to use the On-Demand Player below to access the live broadcast of “Revealing The Secrets of “The Hidden Game” on November 6th at 12:30 PM EDT.
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