“George Michael believed he subconsciously created his arrest. Yes, there comes a time when some of us can no longer hide.”
Last weekend I saw the Sydney Symphony Orchestra perform in the Concert Hall of Sydney Opera House. Any remnant these musicians and this venue were classical or establishment were blown right out the doors of our sailing icon.
It was a tribute to the late George Michael, on the thirtieth anniversary of his first solo album, Faith. I confess knowing little about the man and not a lot of his music. This show filled me in.
"I don't want my word choices determined by an algorithm or FOMO."
Now we're slaves to keywords.
Experts tell me if someone will type it into a search engine, it's a word I need to be using. Or else. But I'm a writer. I'm kinda creative. I might like to alert you to the nature of my services with unusual words, like dangerous. But you and nobody else will type that word to search for a writing mentor.
What happens to language and creativity when the search vacuum only picks up detritus? When we get excited just because there are keywords nobody is using yet. Woohoo.
My Facebook page is part class reunion, part family get-together. Some days it’s a therapy couch, others it’s a podium. I’ve found friends I thought would forget me and befriended strangers. My clients mix it with my mum and mum mixes it with everyone.”
Facebook just sent me a private post. You’ve made 900 friends on Facebook! Thank you for bringing the world closer together. We think that is something to celebrate.”
Recently Adam Goodes shared a story about finding his voice.
I was all ears last night at an event featuring eminent Australian, indigenous footballer Adam Goodes as the keynote speaker. It was an intimate setting on the sixth floor of Sydney’s MCA at Circular Quay. An empty white banquette sat a few feet from the low stage so I headed over with my glass of champagne, soon joined by three other women.
There is a problem with women living and speaking from outside the box.
Growing up in Brisbane in the 1970′s, very few roles were modeled for girls. Our river-bound suburb filled with brand new blonde brick homes, and the homes filled with babies. Apart from school teachers, check-out ladies and the woman next door who ran a ballet school, women didn’t work.
The Dangerous Blogger Workshop for Business Owners
Are you afraid of staying invisible forever?
You’ve poured your blood, sweat and tears into your business, but your competitors are better known than you are.
You can build the reputation you deserve. How? By discovering your “Dangerous Voice”.
What is your ‘Dangerous Voice’?
I often accompany clients through a terrifying moment. No, it’s not life or death, but I know it feels as serious in that moment. I know the symptoms, I get them too. I start rubbing my face and arms when I feel this fear. I perspire too much. Some clients report they are literally shaking.
I’d never considered myself to be a writer.
In primary school my teacher sent a note home to my mother, telling her I had obviously copied a poem. It really was my own work. I felt confused.
I was invited to a themed 40th birthday party. The theme was Hollywood Glamour.
That day, I visited the local op shop and found a fabulous dress. It was red velvet with a fur trim across the front. It was floor length, with shoe string straps. I bought a cheap blonde wig at the $2 shop and
went very high.
I looked over my shoulder at the mirror. Did I dare? I did.
When I started my business in 1998, I arranged to have myself listed in the local telephone books, Sydney White Pages and the Yellow Pages. Wherever you live, there will be a local version of the same. There was KatieMac Publicity, proudly in bold (purchased at an extra cost) on the greying ‘white’ page.
Fear is a powerful guidance system isn’t it?
When we feel it, we use it to guide ourselves away from danger.
In our business and personal lives, fear keeps us inside the lines. It keeps us on the paths we perceive as safe and we aim to not upset anyone along our way.
I find myself in conversation with highly qualified consultants and business owners. They have MBAs and other exciting qualifications.
Conversations can go along these lines: “I’m finding it hard to define myself and articulate who I am. I think I need a (insert name of degree) Degree so the industry recognises me better.”
One said “I’m looking for the me that shines.” Then she suggested solving this by getting a brand new qualification.
Will another qualification help these people evolve into ME.3?
I took four weeks holiday over Christmas and New Year. After four weeks of disallowing anything business-related, it took time to get out of first gear. And sometimes I felt like I was in reverse.
Whilst getting back into it, my mind frequently led me astray. I’m usually a disciplined at-home worker, but not in January. Instead of working I was clicking through on websites, checking Facebook, daydreaming or just picking a book up, opening any page and reading.
Coke’s Cute Cans Revive and Excite the Brand Without Changing the Essentials
I love the Coke mini-cans and I’m not even a Coke drinker. I love the colours. I love the size. I love how collectable they look. I love the cost is a small gold coin. I’m sure one of my kids will have a holiday project of collecting one of each colour.
I also love what they say about doing small business well.
Writing a business book is on your to-do list, keep these points in mind to ensure you get the most out of it.
The other day an old friend messaged me on Facebook. They were looking for 150 presentation boxes (bear with me). The boxes had to be this wide, this deep and this high. And white. And preferably glossy.
Um…I thought. Why is this old friend asking me about presentation boxes?
I just replied, “Nice to hear from you, I have no idea. Won’t Google tell you everything you need to know about presentation box suppliers?”
Yes, Google will
I spent a hell of a lot of time on the phone. I was publicising major events, calling journalists all day and pitching stories about my clients. I could make 30 calls in a day if I was working on a large scale publicity campaign.
But I began to lose my voice and was worried I’d lose my livelihood with it.
I’m always looking for the break-through commentary my clients can use to become voices of authority. I was talking to a client I am mentoring this week, who made a surprising comment about their market.
Surprising opinions require further investigation!
Limelight Moments are exceptional events or activities that can be leveraged to help you stand out from the crowd.
As a publicist, I’m always looking for the Limelight Moments in a business. Not sure what a Limelight Moment is?
Yesterday I met a small business owner in the health industry who spoke about her father’s business style. Then today an executive talked to me over coffee about their dad, who owned businesses in the UK. I started thinking about the limitations or standards we give ourselves because of how we saw dad or mum doing business.
