I realized the other day that it had been a while since I had talked to my dad. Mainly because he doesn't get text messages anymore, something about his cell phone being a government phone and they don't want to have to pay to keep the records anymore. (Full disclosure takes on a whole new meaning with these laws.)
I call my mom when I'm driving to or from work and catch up on life. My dad is always already at work or still at work by that time, so I don't want to bother him.
So last Tuesday I called him at night just to say hello.
He answered my phone call in the middle of his leadership meeting for church.
I asked him why he interrupted his meeting to take my call and said, "well, because my daughter is calling from Utah."
That was the only reason. Because I am his daughter.
I love my family and the lessons that they teach me about loving others.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Gypsy blood
My dad always talks about having gypsy blood. Not that we are actually descended from the Romanian people known for traveling around living off the land ( or the metro/subway, etc). But that he can't stay in one place for long.
I can't either.
Up until I came to Utah I had never lived anywhere longer than 6 years. It was something I'd become proud of, in an odd sort of way. I even wrote a paper about being the new kid for my high school english class. (I wonder if I could find that paper now...)
For the first few years that I lived in Provo, it wasn't like I really lived here. More like I stayed here until the summer came and I got to go home. That all changed in 2009. I graduated and got a great job. (You'll be reading more about my job as it comes, I have all sorts of thoughts about that. Prepare for geekdom!)
Now I've been in Provo for the last three years (I came back in August '08 and haven't really left since). I've changed apartments every year since then.
It's in my blood! How am I supposed to help it?
I need to go home and rearrange my room. Maybe that will help.
I can't either.
Up until I came to Utah I had never lived anywhere longer than 6 years. It was something I'd become proud of, in an odd sort of way. I even wrote a paper about being the new kid for my high school english class. (I wonder if I could find that paper now...)
For the first few years that I lived in Provo, it wasn't like I really lived here. More like I stayed here until the summer came and I got to go home. That all changed in 2009. I graduated and got a great job. (You'll be reading more about my job as it comes, I have all sorts of thoughts about that. Prepare for geekdom!)
Now I've been in Provo for the last three years (I came back in August '08 and haven't really left since). I've changed apartments every year since then.
 |
| The Submarine House 2008-2009 |
 |
| The house on the corner. 2009-2010 |
I'm feeling that itch again.
I need to go home and rearrange my room. Maybe that will help.
Falling
Daily I monitor the social media universe for my company. When I started, no one even cared that people might be talking about us. And truthfully, we are a small enough company that not that many people were talking about us. My initial research found only 10 or so mentions of us in more than two years. I’m sure there are some blogs that I missed (like I said, I was just an intern, figuring this all out). Even counting for that, it means there aren’t that many people out there talking about us.
One day, I found a blog that had reviewed a new competitor of ours, I sent it to my boss who immediately sent it to our entire sales/marketing department. This was a completely new competitor that we had never heard of, so we thought everyone should be aware of it. One of our well-meaning sales people commented on the post and seemed quite negative about the competitor, without doing his research before commenting. At first, when I found out he responded, I was excited that we were going to be joining a conversation that directly affects our industry. Then I read what he wrote.
The post was based on a good idea, basically encouraging people to make sure the product was capable of what it was promoting before getting too excited. However, the sarcasm this employee uses in every day life was included in his post, a place where people can’t hear inflection and no one knows the personality of the person commenting.
The School of Social Media makes it easy to learn a lesson, if you’re willing to be taught. What lessons did I learn? That we can’t wait any longer for a social media strategy; that if you interact with someone, they’ll respond; don’t let your competitor have a better response than you.
How can we prevent episodes like this from happening again? Other than making the intial email about the new competition a little clearer as to why we’re sending it out.
Peeking
Peeking over the edge before you jump can get you into trouble, at least if you’re afraid of heights like me. I hate seeing how far away ground is, my knees start shaking and I can’t even force myself to jump. I tried bungee jumping once, got all hooked up to the cord and stood on the edge of the platform counting to ten over and over again. I never jumped. My little brother, my mom and my dad all did. I chickened out. How does this all relate to social media?
Well, after I started this blog and posted my first post, I realized I didn’t really know what I was going to write about. In a sense, I was peeking over the edge, attempting to guide my free fall. Is that a bad thing? Only if it keeps me from actually learning and writing. I am JUMPING this time!
Jumping
I’ve taken to reading a lot of blogs about social media and the influence it is having on businesses daily. The discussion is never ending, appropriately so, because social media is constantly changing and updating. Some of the people writing about it seem to have absolutely no idea what they are saying and others have some experience and seem to have legitimate insights. Although, it seems like a good idea to rag on those that have no idea what they’re saying, the very nature of social media discourages me from being too harsh.
As long as they are not purporting themselves as experts, why can’t anyone say what they think? Isn’t that the premise behind social media? I guess, maybe, I’m hoping that’s how you will all treat my ramblings. That’s also the idea behind these types of posts on my blog. I sort of feel like I’m jumping off a cliff simply because everybody’s doing it. But, at least this is a cliff I’ve been approaching for a while and I hope to find some great insights during the free fall.
Epiphany
I just realized why I have trouble going to work some times.
It's not because I don't like my job. I actually have a fabulous job.
It's not because I don't like the people I work with. I really like my coworkers. (I even went on a cruise with my boss.)
It's not because I don't like Utah.
It's because this is where I am now. I'm not working for some future goal anymore. I went to elementary school so I could go to middle school. I went to middle school so I could go to high school. I went to college so I could a good job. I got a good job so I could" ____."
See the problem? I need to redefine my purpose and sense of self. I did so many random jobs in college because they were short term, or just a stepping stone on my way to somewhere else. Now I'm here. Right?
Monday, April 7, 2008
Oral History Interview
Clifford Snyder Oral History Project
Interview with Cliff Snyder
Date of Interview: April 3, 2008; Salt Lake City, Utah
Interviewer: Kyna Taylor
Transcriber: Kyna Taylor
Taylor: This is the interview with Cliff Snyder for the Oral History Project. We are in Salt Lake City and the interviewer is Kyna Taylor.
Taylor: You were involved with the media for a long portion of your life.
Snyder: Yes, I am the former Vice-President of Sales KSL-TV and Radio, I’m also the former Owner and Chairman of Bajamar Broadcasting (Radio Stations including KOSI S.L.C./ Spanish Fork) that were purchased in 1999 by Clear Channel Media. I am also the former Chairman of 'In-Store Broadcast Network', you can google it if you want to find more information.
Taylor: What are your first memories of the media?
Snyder: My first memories of media is viewing sports and watching various programs with my mother and father on black and white TV in the early 1950's in Coral Gables Florida.
Taylor: Did you listen to the radio with your family when you were young?
Snyder: I listened to the Dodgers play baseball on radio regularly when I was a little boy. I loved Duke Snider. He was one of my boyhood heros.
Taylor: What is your favorite type of media and why?
Snyder: Now, I would say the internet is my favorite media. It has brought the business world together.
Taylor: What advice would you give to someone just becoming a media practitioner?
Snyder: What is my advice to a college student contemplating entering the media? Get a job in the media... as soon as possible. Get an entry level position with a reputable company. Tell them you'll do anything. Deliver mail, whatever. Then the networking starts!
Taylor: How important is networking?
Snyder: Networking is a dynamic that serves the user forever. Media is a small, close-knit society. And once you're on the inside, great things happen. You start to formulate ideas on what area of the media you really want to pursue. And you begin to meet people who can help you achieve your dreams.
Taylor: Do you need a degree or can you just have the skills to be a media practitioner and why?
Snyder: In this day and age I believe a degree is important not only in the interviewing process, but in attaining promotions. Upper management promotes employees for many reasons, but having a degree often helps and breaks ties. Having an advanced degree is now often required for management progression.
Taylor: Why did you get into the media field?
Snyder: I got into communications when I made a decision not to pursue pre-med my sophomore year at the U. of Utah. I transferred to Cal. St. Northridge because they had a great broadcast curriculum.
Taylor: What was your first experience on the job like?
Snyder: My first job during my senior year in college was selling broadcast time for a Spanish Radio Station in L.A. (KALI Radio). I was the only anglo at the station. What an experience. I called on clients in East L.A. But this job created my first big break! I signed a credit dentist to an annual contract. That signing led me to work at KGIL Radio in the San Fernando Valley where I really started to learn the business.
Taylor: Who were your co-workers?
Snyder: My co-workers were all Hispanic. This was an era (1975-76) where ethnic media had not yet taken off. The agencies didn't have ethnic media departments or specialists.
Taylor: How did promotions work?
Snyder: I promoted myself at KALI by finding a much better job by signing a big contract where a quality station would hire me. But my experience at KALI gave me belief in myself, and proved to me that I could succeed in a difficult environment. That first job was a great opportunity, even though it paid very little.
Taylor: Tell me about the changes over the years in the technology you work with.
Snyder: Changes in TV are widely documented i.e. cable, HDTV, etc. etc. My dealings with networks as a broadcaster for Bonneville Int'l in the 70's thru the 90's were totally different than they are today. There is so much competition now that we didn't have. In those days in S.L.C. you basically had four stations competing for viewers and ad dollars. KSL (we were the big guys) then KUTV, KTVX, and KSTU. Now the pie is divided 100's of ways. And there are so many more media. Not just radio, TV and Newspaper. But internet and in-store and so much more.
Taylor: How are you still involved in the media today?
Snyder: I am still involved in the media as an investor and former chairman of a major in store media company, IBN or 'In Store Broadcast Network’. We display flat-screen TV's in major grocery and drug stores including Kroger and Walgreens which is driven through the internet. We reach million of customers every day that are in the process of making buying decisions.
Taylor: How did your job affect your relationship with your family?
Snyder: My wife and kids have totally supported me during my broadcast career. My oldest daughter is now a planner for Saachi and Saachi in L.A. where she plans all of Toyota's internet advertising.
Interview with Cliff Snyder
Date of Interview: April 3, 2008; Salt Lake City, Utah
Interviewer: Kyna Taylor
Transcriber: Kyna Taylor
Taylor: This is the interview with Cliff Snyder for the Oral History Project. We are in Salt Lake City and the interviewer is Kyna Taylor.
Taylor: You were involved with the media for a long portion of your life.
Snyder: Yes, I am the former Vice-President of Sales KSL-TV and Radio, I’m also the former Owner and Chairman of Bajamar Broadcasting (Radio Stations including KOSI S.L.C./ Spanish Fork) that were purchased in 1999 by Clear Channel Media. I am also the former Chairman of 'In-Store Broadcast Network', you can google it if you want to find more information.
Taylor: What are your first memories of the media?
Snyder: My first memories of media is viewing sports and watching various programs with my mother and father on black and white TV in the early 1950's in Coral Gables Florida.
Taylor: Did you listen to the radio with your family when you were young?
Snyder: I listened to the Dodgers play baseball on radio regularly when I was a little boy. I loved Duke Snider. He was one of my boyhood heros.
Taylor: What is your favorite type of media and why?
Snyder: Now, I would say the internet is my favorite media. It has brought the business world together.
Taylor: What advice would you give to someone just becoming a media practitioner?
Snyder: What is my advice to a college student contemplating entering the media? Get a job in the media... as soon as possible. Get an entry level position with a reputable company. Tell them you'll do anything. Deliver mail, whatever. Then the networking starts!
Taylor: How important is networking?
Snyder: Networking is a dynamic that serves the user forever. Media is a small, close-knit society. And once you're on the inside, great things happen. You start to formulate ideas on what area of the media you really want to pursue. And you begin to meet people who can help you achieve your dreams.
Taylor: Do you need a degree or can you just have the skills to be a media practitioner and why?
Snyder: In this day and age I believe a degree is important not only in the interviewing process, but in attaining promotions. Upper management promotes employees for many reasons, but having a degree often helps and breaks ties. Having an advanced degree is now often required for management progression.
Taylor: Why did you get into the media field?
Snyder: I got into communications when I made a decision not to pursue pre-med my sophomore year at the U. of Utah. I transferred to Cal. St. Northridge because they had a great broadcast curriculum.
Taylor: What was your first experience on the job like?
Snyder: My first job during my senior year in college was selling broadcast time for a Spanish Radio Station in L.A. (KALI Radio). I was the only anglo at the station. What an experience. I called on clients in East L.A. But this job created my first big break! I signed a credit dentist to an annual contract. That signing led me to work at KGIL Radio in the San Fernando Valley where I really started to learn the business.
Taylor: Who were your co-workers?
Snyder: My co-workers were all Hispanic. This was an era (1975-76) where ethnic media had not yet taken off. The agencies didn't have ethnic media departments or specialists.
Taylor: How did promotions work?
Snyder: I promoted myself at KALI by finding a much better job by signing a big contract where a quality station would hire me. But my experience at KALI gave me belief in myself, and proved to me that I could succeed in a difficult environment. That first job was a great opportunity, even though it paid very little.
Taylor: Tell me about the changes over the years in the technology you work with.
Snyder: Changes in TV are widely documented i.e. cable, HDTV, etc. etc. My dealings with networks as a broadcaster for Bonneville Int'l in the 70's thru the 90's were totally different than they are today. There is so much competition now that we didn't have. In those days in S.L.C. you basically had four stations competing for viewers and ad dollars. KSL (we were the big guys) then KUTV, KTVX, and KSTU. Now the pie is divided 100's of ways. And there are so many more media. Not just radio, TV and Newspaper. But internet and in-store and so much more.
Taylor: How are you still involved in the media today?
Snyder: I am still involved in the media as an investor and former chairman of a major in store media company, IBN or 'In Store Broadcast Network’. We display flat-screen TV's in major grocery and drug stores including Kroger and Walgreens which is driven through the internet. We reach million of customers every day that are in the process of making buying decisions.
Taylor: How did your job affect your relationship with your family?
Snyder: My wife and kids have totally supported me during my broadcast career. My oldest daughter is now a planner for Saachi and Saachi in L.A. where she plans all of Toyota's internet advertising.
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