Tim DeTellis

Considering all the speed and efficiency technology offers, the problem I face are with all the new channels. Between Twitter, Facebook, voice mail, text messaging, and email, what do you check when and how? After I have reviewed what demands more time, surprisingly, I’m cutting back on voice mail.

For the past six months I have monitored my communication flow and so far, this is the model that I have implemented.

• I only have two email accounts: personal and work.
• I removed my voice mail at the office. All my calls go to my assistant. I actually began this 6 months ago.
• My cell phone voice mail messages are seldom returned. I typically send a response by text message or email.
• I only answer my cell phone for actual staff, family calls and my close friends.
• At work, 80% of my phone calls are scheduled. I prefer establishing a phone meeting with an agenda.

Why have I made a drastic change in voice mail and phone calls? They can drain the most time during the day. Email is easy; just don’t check it. With phone calls, have you tried hanging up on someone recently?

Regarding email management, I practice the system designed and perfected by Michael Hyatt, CEO for Thomas Nelson. I highly recommend you read his complete blog post on the matter.

When it comes to Facebook and Twitter, I consider those out-bound channels of communication. The interesting fact is I have done tried several week breaks and even 80-day breaks from Facebook and Twitter and what suffers is my out-bound messaging. The best rule I have for Facebook and Twitter is having a one day off each week. Typically for me it is either Saturday or Sunday. I never check the email that is published under my Facebook account. If someone does direct message me on Twitter, I will reply, however, I seldom send out a direct message to people on Twitter. If I have, you were a very close friend and I wanted to pass a greeting along. I would typically use text messaging for that.

Where am I going with my communication flow? Hopefully I’m advancing to a higher level of productivity. My goal is to downsize the distractions and increase my focused time.

What’s working for you when it comes to managing your communication flow?

Continue on!

Tim

“Yes, I want to make a difference, but how?” Most people start with good intentions in their pursuit of making a difference. Then the reality of how big the problem looks can slow them down.

“I really care about others!” Yes, most people do care, but the how to care part is what they are confused about.

“I promise I’ll do something today.” What can I do now, what could make that big difference? That’s the start of the problem, stop aiming for big and begin with the small.

You can already guess the problem with making a difference. Too many times we just try too hard. I want to change the world! That’s not possible. We set the expectation too high and then give up too soon. What if we said, I want to just do something better for one person today.

People that refuse to accept the opportunity to do something small miss out on the path to making a better difference. If we keep making small differences, over and over again, guess what happens? Big stuff.

Given that expectation and trust in ourselves is the foundation to making a difference, let’s make a promise. I will not overlook the little chance I find to make a difference. I will then act in the moment and go for it, without hesitation.

It all depends if you want to a difference now, or wait.

Continue on!

Tim

“I want my life to count for something!”

The problem with life on earth is that the attempt for fulfillment in material possessions leads to a fading experience. This is why marketing experts succeed at selling consumers more and more stuff. What we obtain is old, after we take it out of the box. We crave for something new. We want something greater than what we already know.

How does this relate to having our life count for something? The more I meet successful people, and I ask them what matters most to them, their response is not stuff, money or fame, it’s what difference will they make? It could be in their employees, customers, and in their legacy. Wow! Does this mean making a difference is the highest level of success on earth?

I believe for me personally, I’m fulfilled when I make a difference. During this pursuit, I find happiness.

Will you join me in this journey? Let’s pursue making a difference. Along the way, I bet we will experience happiness because of the impact we make in the lives of those around us and around the world.

My name is Tim DeTellis and I’m on the pursuit of making a difference.

Will you join me?

Continue on!

Tim

Name the top five brands that come to mind. For me, they are Nike, Apple, McDonald’s, Starbucks and Walmart. What is fascinating to me is how visual these brands are. If I can sneak in another brand, it would be Coke.

In this post, I want to answer three foundational questions about branding.

1. What is a brand?

2. Why do we remember a brand?

3. Who makes a brand?

My questions are the result of a four-year journey I have been on with the organization where I serve as President. Four years ago this September, I accepted the role as President of New Missions and made two commitments to myself. One was a “do not” and the other was a “must do.” The first commitment was “do not” lead the organization from a personality position. My driving mission to fulfill this commitment was to focus on setting people up to win. By investing in others, I would not be the sole individual representing the organization. The second commitment was to retain communication as my top priority. Staying in front of people is important, however, communication is a privilege. In other words, to not communicate is often more powerful than always sending out messages. Plus, the communication needed to begin with a branding process to unify our communication efforts with a common identity. I then began my journey working through the above questions to help me navigate a then-23-year-old organization through a process of what I called “brand succession.” I’ll discuss this more in a later post; today, let’s focus on these three questions.

1. What is a brand?

A brand is a promise. I did not make this up; it comes from Stan Richards, founder of The Richards Group based in Dallas, Texas. I have toured their corporate headquarters and have great respect for Richards’ wisdom and experience when it comes to branding. In his book, The Peaceable Kingdom, Richards reveals the answer to the big question, “So what is a brand, really?” A brand is a promise, and it stays a promise based on the power of consistency.

2. Why do we remember a brand?

We remember a brand from an experience, either good or bad. The question is, if a brand is a promise based on consistency, then why do we remember anything about the brand? The experience, the interaction and the connection with the brand gives us a context, a memory that delivers the brand-awareness factor.

3. Who makes a brand?

The people, products  and service make the brand. These three groups make the brand live out its personality. The people working and serving within the organization, the products they deliver and the services they give all go in to creating an impactful brand. At New Missions, I do not make the brand, I contribute to the brand. I can also help or hurt it. The graphic designer does not make a brand, he contributes to it. A brand is not a logo, but something more tangible. It is an emotion, personality and, in a unique way, we — the people, products and services — are the channels through which the brand comes to life. This is why hiring people that fit the culture matters. They represent the brand that lives out of a core group of values reflected by the people.

The journey continues and I still ask myself these three questions. My common practice is to sit down quarterly and review whether or not I’m on track with my objectives. During that review time, I look at the two commitments I started with. I may not have all the answers, but I will certainly keep asking myself and others challenging questions. Creativity with consistency is what sets people apart. I want to be on the track of consistency with creativity while making a positive impact on the lives of others.

Today, ask these three branding 101 questions in relation to your organization. For example: What is the promise of (fill in your organization’s name)?  Why do others remember (fill in your organization’s name)? Who makes (fill in your organization’s name) come to life? How are you doing in positively contributing to your brand?

Continue on!

Tim