GenXYZ

Generation whYne?

It has come to my attention that GenXYZ might be a little whine-y.  And why wouldn't we be?  Sure, everyone else is stuck in this massive recession right along with us, but we're supposed to be in our prime.  Instead, we're stuck with a massive amount of college debt and no hope of upward mobility (if we even kept our job in the last round of layoffs). Wah. Wah. Wah. 

And it's not just that, companies are trying to wrong us every time we turn around.  Overdraw your checking account?  "Stupid Bank of America."  Miss the train?  "Ugh, why is Caltrain never late when I am?"  Flight delayed?  "United is killing me!"  Couldn't possibly be that you're an irresponsible money manager, who left the house late and booked a flight during a nor'easter.  At least that's how it would seem if you were tracking Facebook status updates, Twitter streams and email subject lines.  Which leads me to believe, we're not more bitter than any other generation, we just have more ways to broadcast our woes.  Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of technology (I'm sure there's a Facebook page for that, too) - it's how accurately (or inaccurately in some cases) it represents you that I'm perplexed by.

Some GenXYZers use Facebook as a medium for only positive updates - pics of the new baby, new dog or last weekend's party.  Others broadcast every annoyance from the everyday, "my milk went sour this morning!"  Sure, we all get the urge to complain... do you get the urge to do it online?  I can't tell you how many times I've sat on hold with a company and desperately wanted to tweet about how much I hated them at that very moment... and in my weaker moments, I probably did. 

Here's the thing, not only are we a bunch of whiners, we're also about to become the generation that cried www.wolf.com.  (Bad joke?  Maybe.)  So, I'm calling my own amnesty day.  I'm giving all the companies I've complained about a clean slate... and vowing to only voice my complaints or annoyances when there's something they can do to fix it.  Saying "Comcast sux" in 140 character or less does not make them suck less, but alerting their team to an outage so they can dispatch a truck to your neighborhood on the other hand, might be helpful.

So, when you see my always-smiling face in Facebook photos and wonder, does this girl ever get annoyed?  The answer is yes - but she's no longer going to tell you about it.  Give it a shot.

A Thriller to the End

Awaiting confirmation of Michael Jackson's life or death (wondering if TMZ is trustworthy or not) has trumped everything else I had planned for the afternoon and displaced the blog post I originally wrote for today.

No eulogy I could write would do the man justice, so let's just say MJ had a tremendous impact on my life.  His early solo videos are etched in my mind as my first exposure to dancing, music and MTV.  My mom tells me that when I was very small, I'd wake up in the middle of the night yelling "Thriller!"  She thought I was having nightmares.  Quite the contrary, mom... I just wanted you to play that video for me again.  (Apparently they sorted that out when the babysitter introduced my mom to the then-new MTV and Mr. Jackson himself).

Gone are the days of videos on MTV and the all important VJ that introduced them.  Gone are the days of dancing in the living room (oh wait, not true).  Gone are the days of Michael Jackson.  It's truly sad to think about all the gossip and rumors Michael Jackson endured as one of the first mega celebrities.  I hope in the end, we'll all remember how 'thrilled' we were when we first saw him dance.

An inspiration to many...

Hooked On a Feeling

Let me start by saying, I live in San Francisco and it's true what they say about leaving your heart here.  What "they" never tell you is you just might also leave a piece of it in Chicago should you choose to visit in the summertime.  I spent the past weekend in the windy city (named for the hot air blowing from politicians, rather than the weather) and there's something intoxicating about the energy exuding from the streets, the beaches, the tourists and the residents. 

A friend of mine will tell you it's because, much like those subjected to frigid winter climates in Boston or upstate NY, Chicagoans pay their dues in the winter and have a lot to celebrate when spring finally comes to visit.  This reminds me of growing up in Colorado, a state where any sign of sun spawns short-wearing locals even in the dead of winter (and yes, it is sunny there 300 days a year).  By contrast, here in San Francisco, you just don't get that overwhelming joy at the sign of a day full of sunshine.  That's not to say we don't take advantage of our good fortune, but as summer tourists and Mark Twain will tell you, "the coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco."

So, if there was one feeling I could bottle to open at the end of a miserable day... or at the beginning of every day, it would be the feeling of summer in Chicago and I'd be hooked.

 

They Call Me Quitter

I think it's finally safe to say that I'm a quitter - after more than a year ciggie-free.  These days, I'm happy to report that (just as predicted) lung function is greatly improved and my risk of dying from inhaling cancer-causing gunk has gone way down.  But that's not really the point here.  To be honest, I barely think of smoking anymore except when I smell it, or see someone smoking or go for a run (guess I do think about it). 

However, this week my new non-smoker status comes to my attention for a very special reason - I can taste things again (insert gasp/shock/awe)!  I was a foodie even when I was a smoker, but I'm not sure why.  Sure, I thought things tasted good, but there are no words for the amazing flavors I experience now.  Maybe it's just that it's heirloom tomoto and peach season in California... but I really do attribute this realization to regaining taste buds previously reserved for nicotine.

My point is, if they really want you to quit, they should tell you this.  A quick search for "stop smoking ads" reveals instantly that the most common tactic is fear.  Ok, my lungs are turning black, but I can't see that... it's abstract.  And sure, maybe my skin will be wrinkly, but plastic surgery is probably on the horizon anyway... it is 2009 and there are many creative ways to fix that.

So, free idea for you anti-smoking marketers.  Take a cue from the ad below (the only really great one my search revealed).  They've heard the horror stories, seen the pictures, and they're still smoking.  As marketers, you're fighting a losing battle, and if that's the case a new tactic can't hurt.

What I Learned on My Summer Vacation

The reason for my silence last week was a whirlwind trip through Boston and DC - a great summer vacation.  Inspired by the mandatory post-summer elementary school essay, I thought I'd share a little about what I learned on my trip. 

Maybe I should start by saying: I went to the museum for fun last week (something the kiddos are usually forced into).  Despite three years living in Boston, I'd never been to the JFK Library and Museum, so I was excited to have some time to spare this time around.  Putting the content of the museum aside for a moment (more on that below), the most striking realization was the museum's ability to spark a curiosity and desire to learn that's so often fleeting as we stroll through our online existence.

This has me thinking about how GenXYZ learns and the opportunities Web X.0 provides.  I'm sure you've heard that there are auditory learners, people who see things visually, those who need to touch to learn and others that digest the same amount of content simply by reading.  The new generation of Web technologies caters to every preference - you can find videos, virtual tours, plenty of text-based commentary and links galore (for the intensely curious).  All that said, there was something about being physically surrounded by history that I can't seem to match online.  Does this just mean I'm a touch/experience learner while you might be satisfied with the JFK Wikipedia page?

Sure, one of the great things about learning online is the opportunity to dig as much as deep as you want into any particular aspect of the topic.  And if it's the inside track on the less savory side of JFK's personal affairs - you won't find that in the museum funded by his foundations. 

Even with the glaring omissions, I hope the children of our country experience "forced fun" at museums for years to come.  With that in mind, as I trudge through the daily online information overload, I'll remember the summer vacation experience that made me feel like a kid again.

 

Never Met a Book I didn't Like...

... until I did.  I recently picked up "The Paradox of Choice" by Barry Schwartz.  I love behavioral economics books and anything that uses cocktail-party-ready examples to teach me about why we are the way we are.  In fact, I was so excited to dig into this particular gem, that I talked about the concept of the book leading up to the actual purchase so much that I could basically skip the first 5 chapters.  As I was reading those first 5 - just to be sure I got the picture - I had the uneasy feeling of deja vu.  Had I read this book before, or were these the same examples that have been used in so many other similar books?  I need a new genre.  

To paraphrase greatly, our society presents too many choices, which is not really that shocking.  We've all been to the grocery store for cereal and tried to select a cable plan.  The author goes on to illustrate his point in 100s of different ways before making any real conclusions about (1) how these choices make us feel and (2) how we should respond.  Essentially, having too many choices means you'll likely be eternally unhappy with whatever it is you select.  You've probably experienced this yourself.  Have you been to a restaurant where you have trouble choosing which dish would be best only to inevitably wind up with food envy of your date?

Fast forward to the conclusion, appropriately titled "what to do about choice" (aka precisely where the author and I began to disagree).  Schwartz recommends limiting your choices substantially - only considering a limited amount of alternatives and not weighing the opportunity costs of the other choices you could make.  He suggests you let the "new and improved" come to you via your friends, and that you stop comparing yourself to those same friends.  Sure, some limits are necessary.  You can't possibly consider every vacation destination on the planet, but most of us can probably handle choosing between 5 or 6 without sacrificing sanity or unhappiness. 

Therefore, to Schwartz's "choose when to choose" conclusion, I would add: sometimes choosing is part of the fun.  If you're like me, discussing which movie to see, which restaurant to dine in, or where to take that much-needed vacation gives you time to fantasize about all the alternatives.  Rather than limiting yourself, it lets you use your imagination (something that just doesn't happen enough in our over-stimulated world). 

I'm not saying you need to use your imagination to choose Cheerios vs. Raisin Bran (small decisions = even smaller unhappiness factor if you make the wrong choice).  But in choosing life experiences, certainly consider the both (very different options) scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef or climbing mountains in Colorado.

And if you're still unhappy at the top of that mountain, come on back down.  I have a book you might like.    

Spring Cleaning 2.0

Around this time of year, I start itching to throw open all the windows and conduct a little spring cleaning at my apartment.  That has yet to happen, but at some point the dust will be shuttered out and the summer ushered in.

This year, that got me thinking. What about my online life?  I think there are some cobwebs in there, too.  Just to illustrate, you can find me here if you're looking: Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Yelp, Tumblr, FriendFeed, Snooth, LinkedIn, Plaxo, Flickr, Picassa, Strands, and on this blog or that of my PR agency.  There are also a million other places where my profile includes a name and photo and nothing more because I got ambitious and didn't stay that way.  In fact, if you're curious, you can also share my Pandora station and subscribe to my Amazon wish list.  This isn't unique.  I'd guess most GenXYZers share my dilemma.

But, if you put all those sites into a hat and pulled one at random, would it show you the full picture of who I am?  We've been talking a lot with clients about how Facebook might be good for one piece of content while they should use MySpace for another.  Does that approach have personal applications as well?  Or, would you like to see all my blog posts and Yelp reviews filtered to Facebook?  Maybe I'm over-analyzing given my crazy-PR-girl tendencies, but I'm not so sure. 

I'd like to take the time to clean up my life.  Post the photos I'm proud of to Flickr, review some old favorites on Yelp and finally delete all those old profiles I'm not using.  Where did I put that password, anyway?  Just like the apartment cleanse, this could take some time, but for future googlers to get a better picture of the real me, maybe it's worth it.

How do I even find time for a life outside this computer?

But I just want tea

Earlier this week, I went to Starbucks.  (Some of you will say that my first mistake was patronizing the evil corporate empire, but stay with me.  I'd actually argue that Starbucks does a lot of good in this world - their contributions to fair trade and part-time employee benefits, for example.  So, although I'm not a huge fan of the locations that have rude baristas, that's not what this post is about.) 

Starbucks recently updated their menu.  I had gotten into their London Fog, which consisted of an earl gray tea and some steamed milk.  Well, that's no longer available, but on their menu, under a heading that reads "tea and milk" there are a few choices.  The rude baristas mentioned above don't exactly like to be questioned, but I like to know what I'm putting in my body, so I needed to clarify before I placed my order.  It seems logical to be sure that you're getting "tea and milk" rather than some weird powder or syrup, right?

I'm no expert on how these powders and syrups are made, but it seems like they're misrepresenting them on the menu given the heading.  Yes, you can order a tea bag and milk (with a little attitude for your "special request").  But it seems to me that if you're advertising tea, I just want tea and not unidentifiable syrupy weirdness. 

(Maybe this is too much of a personal rant.)  The more I think about people trying to eat right and take care of their bodies, the more fired up I get about companies that don't accurately represent what you're consuming.  Yes, the responsibility is partially held by consumers, but most consumers won't ask the right questions and when we're the most unhealthy nation on the planet (just guessing), it feels like we should all be trying to help each other a little more.  That's why I'm a big fan of those nutrition facts signs that are now mandatory in Manhattan.  Yes, you have to own up to the fact that you're eating 500 calories of ice cream, but at least you know it's made of cream and ice.

Am I being irrational?

0 to 13.1 in 365

I didn't start counting on the first day, but somewhere over the past 365 of them, I went from never running a day in my life to completing my first half marathon.  I didn't use any fancy training program (unless you call my running friend, K "fancy"), and my friends and M.I.A. on my iPod were my only motivators.  I learned along the way that it is possible.

That's why I think the "Run at the Speed of Chat" ads from Reebok are great.  Not all of us are into the "Just Do It," push yourself to the edge mentality.  In fact, I didn't consider myself a "real" runner until I crossed the finish line at 13.1 miles.  But, running at chat-speed is something I understand.  At first, it was more about the playlist than the gossip, but over time, as the running became easier... it was just like this.  Talking about dinner, about friends, about feelings and about ideas, but mostly gossip. 

In my world, it's running at the "speed of gossip," but he premise is the same.  Here's what Reebok got right and what they could do better in my opinion:

• The characters: Running on your cell phone?  Still not cool if you're asking me, but it fits the theme and it's an unfortunate reality, so that girl can stay.
• The community: The Reebok community leaves a lot to be desired.  It's confusing and there are inappropriate forum comments.  The average runner, if they manage to stumble across the site, will probably immediately log off and never return.  They haven't clearly demonstrated the value, so I hope Reebok is working out the kinks before making a big marketing push.  Brooks recently did something similar that I think is totally cool and well-executed: Running Superfans.
• The message: It's not for everyone.  There are passionate runners that wouldn't dream of running and chatting simultaneously.  But if Reebok was looking to reach me?  Mission accomplished.

    

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Forced Fun

Did your family vacations consist of "mandatory fun"?  I very vividly remember my mom saying on long road trips, "this is a family outing and you will have fun!"  Not that we weren't already, but just when we were about to start screaming and hitting each other, she'd break out that saying, trying to force us back into behaving like humans. 

Doesn't sound too far from what marketers are doing when it comes to social media.  Remember I'm a news junkie, so this wasn't unexpected... but still made me think about things a little differently.  The other day I had a conversation with a 25 year old TIME employee.  She was shocked that her company sends around "forced fun" emails asking employees to update their Facebook statuses with TIME story links. 

What TIME doesn't understand is that it's not her 25 year old friends they should be trying to reach.  On the other hand, my friends in the 30+ range (those that the youngsters say are killing Facebook) share links to interesting news stories all day long.  TIME should probably focus on driving that group to their site, placing easily-sharable links at the end of stories and creating a cool interactive Facebook page (take a lesson from NPR).  Or, if they want the 25 year old crowd to get involved, write stories that speak to their audience and sharing will happen naturally.

As a counterpoint, here's an example of a company that let fun happen naturally and is reaping the rewards.  In this case, the praise doesn't go to the company, but rather to the entertaining Southwest employee that created this rap for his pre-flight announcements:

Just goes to show that the best things in social media happen naturally.  That video never would've worked if it had been dreamed up in some Southwest board room and sterilized by corporate messaging.  If Southwest employees had been "forced" to update their FB status with "check this out" it would've felt fake... and consumers would've been mad that the company spent all their time dreaming up marketing campaigns instead of improving customer service, on-time flights and offering snacks.

It might be a fine one, but the bottom line is that companies need to be authentic.  Forced fun didn't work with my brother in the back seat on road trips and it certainly won't work in corporate America.