A Few Words On Social Media...

My "day job" these days is as a Social Media Manager for two real estate publications.  I won't even pretend that I know everything there is to know about social media. 

I do need to say a few things based on recent scenes that have played out on my Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn feeds.

Do yourself a favor and don't complain about social media ON SOCIAL MEDIA!  There are caveats to this...  Tweeting that Blogger is down (again) is totally acceptable; ditto for putting up a Facebook status that you don't understand how your Klout score is calculated.  However, tweeting that your feed is full of stupid people makes me laugh...and not in a good way.  YOU'RE the dipstick following them; if you don't like what they say - UNFOLLOW!

This week I was also party to an individual asking people NOT to follow her on LinkedIn.  Way to build your professional network, buttercup!  I'd bet that you look back and regret it when it's time to find a new job...

I'd also ask people to stop putting pictures online that they'd be embarrassed for their boss or their grandma to see.  Or, at least, don't act so surprised when your boss and grandma make a snarky comment on the picture of you doing body shots in Cabo. (Yes, this is a real life example!)

People need to understand that social media has the power to help or hurt you.  Your image (literally and figuratively) is in your hands.  Be as careful with your online reputation as you would with your IRL reputation...

Am I missing any big social media landmines?  Any pet peeves that you'd like to share?

Accidentally "Unplugged"

Sorry there have been fewer than normal blog posts lately.  It's not my fault.  I swear!

I blame Verizon Wireless and Comcast!  I don't know what in the world is going on...but everyone in my neighborhood and some others in nearby towns (who I've talked to & happens to have Comcast) has been having the same problem I am.  Comcast simultaneously drops phone, internet and cable coverage for hours at a time.  They better fix it...or at least credit my bill.  That sucker isn't cheap, ya know.  :-)  How about you?  Problems with Comcast lately?

Then there's Verizon Wireless. Really, I try not to complain about them.  I've had the same cell phone number and provider for over a decade...and I've NEVER had a problem that they couldn't help me solve.  However, over the past week, my Droid has died a slow, painful death.  First the system upgrade wouldn't load.  Then the poor thing got stuck for three days of just chanting "droid, droid, droid" over and over again on the start screen.  Today, she compltely fried.  Thank goodness for the extended warrantee!  My new (aka refurbished) phone arrives via FedEx tomorrow...and while I'm a little grumpy that I'll have to reload all my apps, I can. not. wait. to be able to read my email and text again!

Now that I've whined at you.... stay tuned.  One of my favorite dog blogs and I have something fun in the works!

Rain, Rain Go Away...

...and don't come back. Ya hear?!

I usually like the rain during the summer... the sweet earthy smell right before it starts coming down. And THUNDER STORMS?! LOVE 'em!!

Unfortunately, we've only had three days in the month of June where it didn't rain. It is spoiling my enjoyment of summer rain.

Our forecast looks like this for the next seven days:

Not cool Mother Nature! We played nice; we shoveled all winter; we were patient in waiting for summer. You are going to give us sun and warmth eventually, right???? If I wanted fog and rain all the time - I'd move to Seattle!! :-)

OK, ladies. Make me jealous; tell me exactly how nice it is where you live!

It's Kinda Like a Treasure Hunt

Oh, I just love the end of our fiscal year. All the deadlines and chaos make us all so... cheerful and energetic. *POOF* There goes today's delusion bubble - and we're back to reality!

I apologize in advance for the rant in which I am about to deliver.

Ok, senior leadership team... did you REALLY think I was kidding you when I said something is wrong with our revenue recognition process 9 months ago?!?! Did ya??? Were the numerous emails I sent you asking for help funny?

I implore you; PLEASE explain to me why on God's green earth you decide NOW that I'm actually FREAKING RIGHT!!! Further more, explain to me what the hell you're smoking... To think that I can now find almost a million dollars BY.MY.SELF!!!! Oh, and while were at it - give me a detailed description of how I'm supposed to lead my team, do my actual job and still find all this money with 3 days left in the fiscal year. Ugh...

Someone hand me coffee, chocolate and a margarita - I don't care in what order. :-)

I'm the "Calendar Queen"

I have an long list of "job functions", but one of the biggest things is running our training calendar. Essentially, I take the list of customers that want training - match it with our group of 21 trainers and determine where our trainers go each week. It sounds easy, but both our customers and staff are scattered across the country. Take into account travel time, expertise level of each trainer, personality types (Seriously!!! You don't want to send a fast talking NY trainer to a laid-back So.Cal facility... it's just asking for trouble!), vacation schedules and the like...and it's an adventure EVERY day.

I've been doing this for quite some time, so most of the time it runs like a well oiled machine. However... lately, I've gotten some really demanding customers who ONLY will work with certain trainers & trainers who decide they don't like certain cities and would "prefer" not to go there. I'm sorry kids - but if you live in Los Angeles, it doesn't make sense to send you to Washington DC to do training. It's just not time and cost efficient... even if it is a good way to get the company to pay for you to see your grown children/sorority sister/long lost cousin every so often!

There's a method to my madness, and I'm willing to listen to reason. But, DARN IT, if you don't quit whining... I'm gonna send you to do training in a bowling alley on the MEXICAN border!!! (Seriously, the training session had to happen anyway & the customer held the session in a bowling alley!! But an un-named trainer made me grumpy, so he got sent.)

Ok, off to polish my tiara. :-) Thanks for listening to my little rant!