Clemens Rettich - Latest Comments

Re: The Ears Have It

Clemens Rettich — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:52:30 -0000

Thank you for your thoughts and questions Everett...

You are so right, that is one of the best descriptions of that charismatic/empathetic 'short hand' I have read. And you are right to point out that it can be a trap. We judge, we connect, we control.

I have two processes I have used over the years to control that impulse in myself:
1. I have relied on the feedback of others whom I trust. When they have given me feedback about a particular exchange or a particular behaviour while in conversation, I have listened. These 'coaches' in my life have been invaluable.
2. I have practiced for years developing better self-awareness so that I don't forget myself when speaking. I love stories and I love good tough dialogue so I can easily get lost in my subject and my point of view. I have learned to recognize when I am up on that soap box and to climb down again to re-enter the real dialogue.

Re: The Ears Have It

Everett — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:53:22 -0000

These are obviously the strongest bricks of a communicative base. What I want to ask if how do you remind yourself of these before you start writing or speaking? Even more so, how do you remind yourself to stay on track WHILE you write or speak. It's very easy for some who have great judgments of character to figure out a person before they communicate with them, but typically (and I am stereotyping here) those who can judge people accurately at the beginning tend to be more outgoing and energetic as the conversation continues and now they are in control instead of "Sharing the seat" as you put it. Any thoughts?

Re: My Favourite Social Tool: Xobni

Clemens Rettich — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 23:21:11 -0000

And even more... I'm looking forward to being able to use it on my Samsung Galaxy Tab!

Re: My Favourite Social Tool: Xobni

Clemens Rettich — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 23:20:25 -0000

My pleasure. It is a great piece of software, and actually makes my professional life easier. That separates it from so many others that try to do that, but fail.

I am very much looking forward to Smartr coming out of Beta!

Re: My Favourite Social Tool: Xobni

Terra Carmichael (Xobni) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:24:51 -0000

Thanks for the post, Clemens! Love hearing this kind of passion from our users.

Re: Give it a Rest. Downtime and Productivity

Clemens Rettich — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:25:39 -0000

Thank you Alicia!

I love the word 'default' in your response. You are right, ideas and resolutions are the 'default' product of a mind not overloaded with processing current emergencies or trivia. It is perfectly capable of working without being micromanaged!

I would be thrilled to hear how your conversation with your daughter progresses. This is a topic of interest to many people, not the least of whom are parents!

You got the "balance" part perfectly right. Like happiness, balance (however one defines that), is a by-product of doing other things right. Like creating physical and mental space around yourself.

Re: Give it a Rest. Downtime and Productivity

Aliciajohnson — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:34:38 -0000

Excellent article Clemens. Thanks for sharing this. Ideas and solutions have always come to me when I sit quietly and let my mind wander, and allow the random thought process to take over. My best ideas and problem solving, seem to happen by default when I am walking; or after meditation or a focused exercise,(for me Martial Arts).
I also use a "book" for writing down thoughts and ideas: I call it my Idea Journal. I have started using the Voice Recorder on my phone as well, which is still a work in progress. I have been coaching my daughter on the merits of turning off the digital systems for awhile; it is working for her.
The interesting thing about effecting these strategies, is that the "Balance" many yearn for is perceived to be there; whether it truly is or not.

Re: 2011 IBM Study: What Keeps Your CMO Awake At Night?

Clemens Rettich — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:39:10 -0000

Hello Brian,

You are so right, the challenges for any size of business are considerable, and the ROI still difficult to pin down.

I have addressed this issue to some extent, here: http://www.smbfundamentals.com...

The only way for any organization to manage this is to add it to existing schedules and budgets (not likely) or stop doing something else. The core of determining ROI is a complex equation no one has worked out acceptably yet, but must include factors like the true costs (and cost savings) on an operational level, and the benefits of customers acquired, and far more importantly, retained, through social means.

Re: 2011 IBM Study: What Keeps Your CMO Awake At Night?

Brian Pastore — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:18:21 -0000

I appreciate your analysis of the report. As a small business owner and marketer I understand the need for the one on one marketing, however if the big companies can't afford to hire enough people to manage all the listening and building the one on one relationship how do you suggest a small business afford to do it? The managing and interacting required of social media is a full time job with no clear path to ROI.

Re: 2011 IBM Study: What Keeps Your CMO Awake At Night?

Clemens Rettich — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:55:41 -0000

Hello Lynn,

Thank you for commenting! You are right, not only is 'nimble and responsive' doable by any size business with the right attitude, it is critical for their survival. The message is: "Get out of the boardroom and go connect with your customers."

Re: 2011 IBM Study: What Keeps Your CMO Awake At Night?

Lynn — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:59:55 -0000

I am a graphic designer and have been saying this for years . . . never has it been more important than it is now. Your summation of "small, nimble and responsive" should apply to large businesses as well. More of a challenge for the large businesses, granted, but still do-able if there is some thinking "out of the box."

Re: Facebook 3.0? New Feature Round-Up

Clemens Rettich — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:19:37 -0000

Thank you Valerie,

You are so right... finding that balance between managing your tools for security and still having the time and ability to use those tools to make a difference is a challenge!

Re: Facebook 3.0? New Feature Round-Up

Valerie — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 12:49:33 -0000

Thank you Clemens - for the big reminder to make sure the privacy settings are monitored during these changes..The idea is to listen and share - for a postive connection.

Re: As Good As it Gets?

Valerie Childs — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 17:39:34 -0000

Absolutely on the mark Clemens ! A balanced life IS putting priorities first...Cheers Valerie at New Way Coaching

Re: If You Must Tweet, Choose Your Tweeter Wisely

Clemens Rettich — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 18:25:44 -0000

Thank you Duncan. I'm looking forward to more from Maeve in the future!

Re: If You Must Tweet, Choose Your Tweeter Wisely

Duncan Wilcock — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 17:49:34 -0000

Great post, as was the article you linked to. Thanks.

Re: How to Give a Great Print Media Interview: Five Tips You Don’t Want to Miss

Clemens Rettich — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:56:17 -0000

Thank you for commenting Barbra.

Coming from you, that is a great recommendation! I can tell you that the bio was crafted by pr professionals, and it shows it. As an authority in the field, I'm not surprised you spotted that.

Re: How to Give a Great Print Media Interview: Five Tips You Don’t Want to Miss

Barbra @ Write A Bio — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:05:06 -0000

"Marsha Friedman is a 21-year veteran of the public relations industry
and a sought after national public speaker on the power of publicity... a national firm that provides PR strategy, promotion and publicity
services to corporations, entertainers, authors and professional firms"

That's a particularly well-crafted bio. It tells the reader who she is (PR expert with 21 years experience), what she does (speaks and provides PR strategy, promotion and publicity
service) and who she does it for (corporations, entertainers, authors and professional firms).

Re: Will You Be Mine? The Employer As Covenant Partner

Bret L Simmons — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 12:12:54 -0000

Thanks, Clement! Bret

Re: Vancouver: Riot or Reset?

Clemens Rettich — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 17:19:07 -0000

Thank you for your thoughtful response Wendy.

You are so right that the risk of the wrong energy spiraling out of control when you hand things over to an angry community is very serious. People react without taking that moment to breathe.

I do agree, that as adults we have to take responsibility for our actions. The thing I see every day is that we are as a community parenting a generation that has virtually no understanding of boundaries and consequences. We have failed them more than they are failing.

The point of my article was to raise questions and start a conversation. I am so happy you honoured that!

Re: Vancouver: Riot or Reset?

Wendy Bowen — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 23:53:31 -0000

Clemens, I enjoyed your article. The question I would like to put out to people is "Do you want to contribute positive or negative energy to this world?" If we have a linch mob mentality towards those involved or their families, we are contributing to the negative energy. We are all responsible for our own actions, not our parents. Are we to only do the "right" thing because we might get caught? Or do we do what is in the best interest of others, society just because it is the right thing. It is imporant to consider our intention behind our actions. Do they come from a place of love or hate and revenge? And where does learning to forgive come in to the picture? "Forgive them Father for they know not what they do?"

Re: Vancouver: Riot or Reset?

Clemens Rettich — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 00:25:17 -0000

An excellent response Duncan. I agree totally, the riot was one thing, but the response is what will set Vancouver apart in future history books. Something tipped here. All of your points are worth considering!

Re: Vancouver: Riot or Reset?

Duncan Wilcock — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 18:34:01 -0000

Great post Clemens. I
agree that the Vancouver
riot may be seen as a tipping point. Like you, I’m not sure exactly what has
tipped, but I’m quite certain something has. I know something has for me.

One thing that has tipped for me is how the power of social
media and Alexandra Samuel’s notion of crowd-sourced “citizen surveillance” has
now become truly apparent to me. I’d
considered using the phone on my camera to catch someone in the act of minor
crimes before, but the scale and intensity of the facebook posts was truly
astonishing.

I haven’t yet made up my mind on whether I think this new
era of citizen surveillance, is a good thing or bad thing. Like many things,
the answer is probably complicated.

Here are a few things that struck me about the riot and it’s
online aftermath:

Due to the pictures & video widely available:

How easy it was to effectively be
there – video and photos are so immersive to our “wetware” (our brains
& eyes), that I had a much more visceral sense of being there than has
ever been possible before. In that
sense, I feel like I almost experienced parts of the riot – certainly much
more than I ever could have before.

In a
sense, by looking at the images, I
was myself an audience – complicit with the audience members on the scene
at the time – for giving the rioters someone for whom to perform.

For the
first time that I have observed – an
offline mob (the riots) spawned an online mob of equal if not greater voracity. To me, it felt like a full-on witch-hunt
at times. (Of course I was appalled by the damage done, and would like to
see justice brought to the perpetrators – but appropriate justice, nothing
further.)

How easy it was to find information on
perfect strangers. I didn’t email any of them, or know any to report to
the police, but I did look up a few of the names, and found linkages to
high-schools and “friend lists” that I imagine would help track a person
down pretty quickly.

Re: Do Real Men Tweet? Twitter Deciphered

Clemens Rettich — Thu, 19 May 2011 16:25:08 -0000

Sometimes it's just fun to poke a stick into the works! Everybody is so used to the constant changing of language. I just don't want it to be so invisible or so hard for people!

Re: Do Real Men Tweet? Twitter Deciphered

Ursula — Thu, 19 May 2011 11:36:35 -0000

Thanks Clemens to stick up for good language