A Blog by Adrienne Wallace

Should a company build it's own social network or should it just join the ones out there that already exist? I think many companies will want to build their own social networks in order to moderate, control, dictate , and ultimately impact the branding message in favor of the organization. When you decide to host a dinner party, your guests are typically going to eat some of what you have decided to serve. It's like that when a company builds their own social network. PR and Marketing end up being in full play. Should they doe this? Absolutely. NING, Linkedin, and even A SMALL WORLD allow for this type of action. However, as much as a company may try ..it is truly difficult to exist in a bubble and the newer platforms ,i.e. Twitter seem to make it less likely as people choose to lend their ears or not. Who doesn't want the data and qualitative feedback of the consumers that manifest the cult at their disposal?. Companies dependent on wide scale and diverse consumer demog...

The Plight of The American Non-Profit Response to http://ow.ly/1rGc The Steve Case Foundation by Adrienne Wallace-Hayward All industries are suffering and we should absolutely expect non-profits that have been well funded by corporate enterprises (that are now failing) and their related endowments (many of which have imploded with the failure in the investment markets) to see reductions as a direct result. Yes, indeed non-profits employ more Americans than both the auto and financial industry combined. The question is who are they and the point to be established is what are the talents of those employed in the non-profit space. Are those talents appropriate for our times? Non-profits have been too comfortable with endowments and legacy donors for far too long. I believe that they can survive the downturn only with for profit -minded leadership and operations teams. I implore non-profits to get on the direct selling band wagon, embrace WOM, and SOCIAL MEDIA. It needs to be done not sea...

Early last week I got to thinking about how egotistical we all are and how the dominance by the ego drives us straight to hell or rather hellish experiences. The downfall of personal relationships, the global economy, spiritual failures, professional and even physical failings are all the result of ego being in full play. Every bad thing that is happening in the world now can be attributed to horrific egos and disregard . Suffering in all of its proportions are a result of the ego on over drive. I am convinced of this because of things I have learned through my own life experience, quiet observation of others, and also from practicing and following A Course In Miracles over the years. I had someone tell me last week that he was 'looking for clarity in (his) life.' It is such a common thing to hear. People are often seeking either clarity or closure. In this case lack of clarity seems to be a reason to stay in a personal situation that is not exactly the best thing for this ...

This is for the many multifaceted women of the world...Is there a better creation than us really? I often wonder, but I also wonder about what some of us lack. No better time to talk about us women than this March (2009) and onward when we observe, Women's History Month. So I decided to talk about a really big thing. Self-esteem, it is something that I have wondered if we are born with. Webster's dictionary defines it as — n. proper esteem or regard for the dignity of one's character. I believe that some of us just intuitively have a sense of high worth and dare I say, our divinity. This thing, self -esteem and respect is more likely a result of nurture than nature though. However, when I see the dainty ways, confidence and energy of some baby girls that I know ..I do have to wonder if it is actually inborn. My feelings are mixed on that. The idea that being influenced, taught, loved, and collaborating with people who have a strong sense of self respect themsel...

Find love within yourself before expecting to find it in others. It is easier to connect the dots that way. -Adrienne Wallace Hayward

Looking for advice on how to champion an innovative idea such as a fully integrated Multi Channel Suite, in a culture that tends to work in silos & doesn't easily embrace such innovation? I am looking for advice from anyone who has tried to (successfully) incorporate innovative change, in a culture that doesn't usually react or adopt such change? Specifically, if the culture has been for each department to work in their own silo or a culture that is not tech savvy and resists embracing technology, especially if they feel it puts "all the eggs in one basket?" Your advice or shared experiences are most welcome & much appreciated! Thank you! Jim Derochea Jim Derochea Multi Channel Publishing Manager RESPONSE FROM: ADRIENNE WALLACE HAYWARD Marketing & Brand Development Leader Jim, I have done this successfully a few times in my career. Doing this requires strategy that calls up psychology, meeting and relationship tactics. It also requires communicating with f...

Current mood: breezy Category: Life February 21, 2009 - Connecticut The beginning is now ....and it always will be folks. This week more than any other, I found myself having conversations of both business and personal nature which reaffirms one thing. People can't get up and get going because they are mired in their past. They are living in their days gone by and they are not able to move on. They have a hard time forgiving that some things just don't last forever and that some things simply end and don't work out as they would have planned or because they didn't plan {ahem! and amen!}. With the number of job losses being incomprehensible at best and companies basically playing games and being squeamish when it comes to new hires and interviews, I think their is a psychological premise for hanging on to what has been. Memory of regimen can be a bitch even if that regimen did not serve us in getting to our personal best. We likely felt most normal because for good or...