Month: January 2011

Rebranding Starbucks

Starbucks is rebranding.

And not everyone is happy. I just spent several minutes reading more than 100 comments on the Starbucks website about the new brand and logo. Only a few comments were favorable.

But that’s not necessarily a problem. I went through a rebranding with my organization more than a year ago. Mainly we heard from those who weren’t happy. If you’re disgruntled, you want to let people know. If you’re happy, you don’t have anything to really say.

What is good about what Starbucks is doing is that Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman, president and chief executive officer, has provided customers with information about the new look. He’s blogged about it, sent an email to customers and created a video.

Schultz is making sure that customers aren’t surprised when they get a cup of coffee with the new logo.

As part of its celebration of the 40th anniversary of the company, it has evolved the design of the siren, the image seen on the cups.

Schultz says the logo “embraces and respects our heritage,” and also is more suited to the future. “The world has changed, and Starbucks has changed.”

What do you think of the new look?

National Letter Writing Week

6,761 – that is the average number of mail pieces to Justin Bieber processed each second by the USPS (Source: Real Simple, January 2011).

Why am I telling you this? I’m curious to know when the last time was that you wrote a fan letter. Perhaps it’s time, especially because Jan. 9-16 is National Letter Writing Week.

I’m not expecting you to write to Justin Bieber or even Justin Timberlake or any other celebrity for that matter. But why not write a note to a staff member acknowledging a good piece of work that they’ve done? You could send a note thanking someone for an act of kindness or for organizing the last conference you went to.  You could send a letter encouraging someone to join or get involved with your affiliate or NFPW.

In this fast-paced, high-tech world in which we live, sometimes old-fashioned notes or letters convey so much more. I’ve received a few in the past month, and they’ve greatly brightened my day.

So why not brighten someone’s day during National Letter Writing Week?

New Year, New Approach to Organization

“Time is really the only capital any human being has, and the one thing he can’t afford to waste.”
– American inventor Thomas Edison

Do you spend five minutes searching for a file folder? Or 10 minutes trying to reign in emails? Those minutes add up and can quickly erode your day.

Overall, I consider myself an organized person but several projects and additional responsibilities have led to a bit of clutter in my office so I’ve spent the past month diligently working to respond to (and delete) emails. I completed small tasks that needed to get done, but never rose to the priority list. I checked off items on the various lists I keep.

But with everyone returning to the office, how am I going to stay ahead (or at least not get behind)?

My VP and I were talking about this, and we’ve both committed to trying to send fewer emails. Our thought is that if we don’t send as many emails, we’ll receive fewer replies. Instead, we’ll hold more face to face conversations and touch base on several issues at one time.  

She also suggested using the task list in Outlook. I had never done that because I always liked having my lists. And yet, I would end up with multiple lists and sometimes would lose track of a due date, especially when I also was tracking assignments for team members.

So I’ve been trying the task list. One thing that helps is that when something is late, the font color changes to red – not something I like to see.

Now I start my day, not by reading emails, but by checking my calendar and my task list. Doing that allows me to get the critical items completed first. Once they are handled, I can move on to other items, including emails.

I’ve also placed items in labeled folder files. Those that I am currently working on are stacked neatly on the desk. Those that aren’t needed at the moment are placed in file drawers. My desk is neater, which allows me to find what I need more quickly. More importantly it sends a message to my brain that I’m in control.

In fact, according to Feng Shui (in its most simplistic terms it is the ancient Chinese art of placement and the flow of energy), clutter stimulates negative energy and should be kept to a minimum. By confronting clutter, you free up your mental energy and reinvigorate your work space.

With all the decluttering I’ve done, I’m definitely reinvigorated and have the energy for 2011.

What have you done to get organized?

Living Playfully and On the Edge in 2011

It’s that time of year for resolutions. I don’t usually make resolutions but I thought this year I might take a focused approach, concentrating on my work/life balance so here goes:

1)      Own E-mail; Don’t Let It Own Me: My inboxes – both at work and at home – remain perpetually full. And yes, I do delete all the junk email, but it’s difficult to get to all the email I receive in a day. At work, I can be in six hours of meetings. After that I do have items I must complete, and emails often are at the bottom of my list. At home, it’s usually late when I am reading them, and I don’t want to make mistakes or be snippy because I’m tired. So what to do? I’ve now blocked Friday afternoons for email at work. I’m also working harder to send less email. If I send less, my theory is that I should receive less. I’ll let you know how this goes.

2)      Network Face to Face: Social media is wonderful. I’ve reconnected with friends from high school, colleagues from former jobs and relatives across the country. I’m also keeping in touch with NFPW friends. But nothing beats a lunch or a cup of coffee with a colleague or friend. You learn so much more that way and the connection is more real. So I resolve to have one face to face get-together each month. More are always welcome, but at least one. I’ll never be able to see if everyone, but I can make a real start.

3)      Be Selfish: Another way to look at this is to do one thing every day for me. The other month I wrote about how I was improving my fitness and working to increase how often and how far I walk. The amazing thing is that I am no longer alone on this journey. Iris June Vinegar of the North Carolina Press Club shared with me the health benefits of running and told me that she did not start running until she was 54 and did not do marathons until she was 74. She has since completed 9! I am truly inspired. Just in case inspiration isn’t enough, though, Louise Seals, who provided my initial inspiration, has offered to walk with me on the weekends. Fellow VPW member Bonnie Atwood said it would be great to get a group together to walk. I’m working on that!

4)      Stretch: I have a plaque on my desk that asks, “What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?” It forces me to consider whether I am pushing myself past my comfort zone or if I’m more worried about making mistakes. I’ve been working with a business coach for the past year. It’s been a remarkable journey. I’ve been forced to stretch, and I’ll keep stretching. Thanks coach!

5)      Live in Flip-Flops: This is my calendar for the year and it was created by Sandy Gingras. The philosophy is straightforward: “It’s not a faraway exotic locale (although that would be nice, too…). It’s just a moment we inhabit in an exotic way – a choice we make to live more playfully, to live more alive…” The calendar is my daily reminder, as are the flip-flops I’m keeping out. I’m going to worry less about lists and more about playing. See you at the beach!

Did you make resolutions? If so, what are they?