Front of Alignment post card for Evangelist Glenn Badonsky. I heard the event was rockin…

For Glenn Badonsky’s Alignment Conference. The is the back of the card.

Twas the Rowan Letter of Christmas, when all through Mark’s mind not an idea was stirring, not of any kind. The paper was blank as was Mark’s stare, in hopes that a decent idea soon would be there.

The children were jumping on their beds, while trying to punch each other in their heads. And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap … juuust kidding I’m not doing this. And what the what is a kerchief? Anybody .. anybody???

I hope you are ready to enjoy this holiday season, since the world ends next year. Thanks a lot, Mayans. Drink lots of eggnog and eat loads of figgy pudding (another Christmas mystery) because the aliens are going to horde it all.

Well, it’s no mystery that I have the best family in the world. I looked it up on Wikipedia to confirm and Jenny is the number one wife and mother of all time. Right on schedule she birthed our fourth child in seven years. Now that is production, folks, or REproduction. God’s says multiply and we say yes sir. Jenny has the most rewarding/difficult job known to mankind and she does it marvelously. Keep it up, all you moms. We wouldn’t be here without you, literally and figuratively.

Elena Kay has been sweeping in the awards in 1st grade. It took her about 3.8 seconds to win Citizen of the Month in September and in November she was the Holland Husky Hero. No, she hasn’t gained a lot of weight. Husky is the mascot. It does mean she was the best behaved. A trait she obviously inherited from her father. She is into reading books (I told her its overrated, but she continues to learn to read.) and her teacher Mrs. Dozier loves her the mostest. (She didn’t say that, but I could deduce as much from the parent/teacher conference. A parent knows these things.)

Cassia is busy learning the finer things of education in pre-school. Her teacher is sooooo hawt. One of the endearing aspects of Cassia is her love for ugly things. That’s why she likes me so much!!! I had to say it before you thought it. She will always pick out the strangest/weirdest toy. She has a heart for the downtrodden, meaning she is predestined to be a Redskins fan. Cassia is the most quotable of the bunch, i.e. a recent exchange between her and Elena Kay … EK: Get away! C: Never! I’m your sister!!!

Josiah. What can I say? He pees in the potty and poops in his pants. He makes us laugh constantly. Although, we’re usually not laughing after a pooping in the pants episode. Sounds funny, but it’s not. His Tai Kwan Do skills are quite impressive for an almost 3 year old. He has no formal training, but he has a God-given proclivity to kick and punch things (which may or may not be his sisters). Despite his fighting prowess, he is the quickest to give hugs and kisses to anyone within arms reach.

Adalyn arrived July 19th and our mantra has been “4, no more!” She rocks a fo-hawk like it ain’t no thang and likes to tell us all about her day in the middle of the night sometimes. She has no lack for attention, and it is plain to see where the term “babied” comes from. Sometimes the babying annoys the snot out of her when it is coming from her older siblings, though. She has dimples −− a Rowan kid first and she is my sweet Lil Pee Peeps.

I surely do love some Christmas. The whole season is good for the soul. Mostly because it’s a reminder of what is best for the soul. Giving, sharing, spending time with loved ones are all wonderful traditions of the season, but it is the recollection that Jesus was sent to the earth to redeem our souls that is a true wonder. I always like to end on a serious note, but in reality its the most joyful news I can share about our family. Jesus is the center of it all and without him Christmas would be a real drag. And it would just be called Mas

… not very catchy. We love you. Have the best 2012 ever!

Love … The Rowans

Some like it hot. I do not. (Rhyming is fun.) Warmth is good. Extreme heat, not so much. The kind of heat that much of the U.S. is experiencing now is debilitating. You can’t do much when it’s this hot. Like an elderly man in an Associated Press article today said, “I’m staying in my house. I’m going to watch TV and have a cold beer. You got a better idea than that, I’d love to hear it.”

I will now proceed to throw my colleague, Blair Maury, under the bus. Yesterday, after being in and out of the 95 degree weather all day Blair was at his desk trying to access the network and the internet. Unfortunately for him, it’s hard to connect when you haven’t plugged the network cable in. Blair blamed it on the heat. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include confusion, disorientation, agitation, strange behavior and hallucinations. He really thought he had plugged it in.

Being hot can definitely downgrade your effectiveness literally and figuratively. Heated situations can arise in the workplace and it is just as important to keep your cool at these times. Not every day on the job is going to be sweet bliss and perfect harmony. Sometimes the source of our consternation can be co-worker or believe it or not, a customer. In both cases it is of extreme importance to turn the emotional AC down. (Turn up the AC can also be used. Although, this is counter intuitive, I still say it.) When we are upset it usually does not result in our best reactions. Being “hot under the collar” can also bring about confusion, disorientation, agitation, strange behavior and hallucinations. These traits are not ones to aspire to.

1. Confusion: If we are angry with someone it is very easy to misunderstand. That is why we call arguments misunderstandings — the nice way of putting it. Usually we are too concerned with our point of view instead of hearing where the other person is coming from.
Solution: Put ourselves in the other person’s shoes. In order to put an end to the misunderstanding or confusion there has to be an effort to understand. This cannot be done if we are shouting over them or ignoring them. If we can truly have empathy for the offending or offended party it will cut down on the confusion considerably.

2. Disorientation: I know from camping that orientation means finding your way. Letting our emotions run wild leads to losing our way. We’ve all heard about the feuding couple that forget what they’re even fighting about. Anger can be a major distraction and end up in lost productivity.
Solution: Go back to the starting point. We can all hear our mom telling us to go back to the last place we had our favorite G.I. Joe or Barbie doll when it had gone missing. (I had a Ken doll thanks to my sister, Meredith.) Whatever the issue might be we have to realize that it is not the end. Better days are coming.

3. Agitation: This is not just something your washing machine does. It’s restlessness or anxiety.  This is usually the aftermath of the heated discussion or misunderstanding. If we are worried or have no peace of mind we will be fixated on that instead of what is important.

Solution: Make peace. End the war. Don’t wait for the other person. The power is our hands to make amends and build a better future. (I should run for president.) We need to put the past behind us because it already is. We have no power to change what has happened. We can extend the olive leaf and do our best to live a peacefully.

4. Strange Behavior: People act weird when they are mad. We do stuff we normally would not … silent treatment, throwing things, making up stuff that’s not true, pouting … how old are we? I just described my 2-year-old son’s temper tantrum. But that is where we easily end up if our emotions go unchecked.
Solution: Grow up. That person may have done something terrible, but we are adults. Responsibility for our actions and reactions is a must. This means biting the bullet and letting our pride suffer. It’s good for us. Being a grown up and humility should go hand in had. We should know by now that we do not have all the answers and mistakes will be made.

5. Hallucinations: This could be a subcategory of the last point. Seeing red is a term that is used for being angry. It also suggests that we are not seeing clearly. When our vision is clouded by emotional turmoil is hard to see the task at hand. We may even see things that are not really there. “That person is out to get me…” or “Nobody respects me.” The list can go on and on.
Solution: Get perspective. Changing your view can help you see better. Climbing to the top of the mountain allows you to see the valley for what it is – a dip between two highs. The difficulty we may be facing now will not always endure. Let it be a catalyst to start your journey to the next mountain top.

Inevitably we will encounter a situation that will test our emotional strength. It may be today, tomorrow or the next day, but it will happen. It’s okay to get upset, but don’t let it ruin your day. We have a choice on how we respond to a snub from a co-worker or a misunderstanding with a client. Choose to stay cool. And drink plenty of water.

Yeah, I’m writing about Justin Bieber. Apparently, he is a marketing genius. I have been told to watch Never Say Never by my wife and by marketing guru Guy Kawasaki. Inevitably it will happen, and I will watch it for educational purposes only. There will be no enjoyment whatsoever. I kid. I know the Biebs is a good guy and it’s a rite of passage for tweens to go crazy about some pop star. I’m not too proud to take lessons from a 17 year old internet craze.

Not only has YouTube been a boon for his success, but Twitter and Facebook have been instrumental to building his following. Lady Gaga and Bieber are number one and two respectively in the number of Twitter followers. He also has nearly 30 million fans on Facebook. It’s not enough to be uber-famous to tally that many social media followers. Interaction and content are key.

Here’s where we can take from the Biebs. We may not have the amazing dance moves or smooth vocals but we can engage and communicate. Have something to say and make it interesting. And say it to someone when you have an opportunity.

In order to interact, we must be active on these platforms. Getting a reply or a message and not acknowledging is a no go.  Take this example from Bieber’s Twitter feed as an example of connecting:

BiebsBella Isabella
@justinbieber people continue to say that you will never notice me,they’re wrong,i won’t surrender. i’m a BELIEBER #dreambig

justinbieber Justin Bieber
@BiebsBella i notice

Bang. Fan for life. BiebsBella was obviously a fan, but his interaction will further solidify her devotion to him. And she’ll keep buying his stuff. And he will be even more rich. Take the time to reach out to those that have expressed interest in your business. You don’t know the long lasting effect it may have.

We all have something to offer. The challenge is to rise above the din of noise that constantly vies for our customer’s attention. Doing something different. Be personal. Be consistent.

Now to rent Never Say Never and become a true Belieber.

Plax is back. Or at least he is on his way. For those unfamiliar with the story of the Virginia Beach native here’s a recap. (FYI: Our own Service Tech Shalon Haith went to school with Burress and used to drive him around and let Plax borrow his track shoes.)

Firstly, if you’re are unfamiliar watch some football. Burress is a former Super Bowl champion NFL wide receiver. He was actually one of the top players at his position. At 6′ 5″ 230 lbs he was difficult for any defensive back to cover. Thus ends the Mel Kiper portion of the post.

Within a year of his victory in the Super Bowl, Burress accidentally shot himself at a New York City nightclub. Shooting yourself while it is dumb is not illegal. Also, being at a nightclub is not a illegal. But criminal possession of a weapon and reckless endangerment are illegal … off to jail for Plax.

At the height of his career, he was sentenced to two years in prison. Not an ideal situation for someone that relies on the body to make their living. Everyone is subject to what time does to the body and doing time does not help. While in the Heartbreak Hotel, he’s been staying in shape, catching balls from his inmates and doing what he can to get back to his former glory.

Sometimes we have to go Plaxico Burress and get back in the game ourselves. Hopefully you haven’t shot yourself literally but we’ve all shot ourselves in the foot at one time or another. The point is to not let it take you down for good. Maybe you’ve let a dream or idea go to the wayside because circumstances have not been favorable. It’s time to catch some balls from your inmates.

What does that look like? It’s simply doing whatever is in front of you. One step at time on your bullet riddled foot. Burress obviously could not show up at the Giants practices to get ready for the next NFL season. He could ask his cellmate to throw him some quick hitches, though. What is in your hands right now that can help you get back in the game? It may be a small step, but it must be taken to revive your dream.

Burress is basically the same age as I am. Upon hearing about his desire to get back in the game I was somewhat cynical. Hey, I’m NFL old. The more I thought about it the more I realized that he should go for the glory. Don’t let people like me tear down your dream. Not everyone will have the same passion about your dreams as you. That is to be expected because they are yours. Own it and don’t let the naysayers or haters, in today’s hip vernacular, pull you down. Guard who you share your dreams with. Make sure they are individuals that are for your success.

Your dream is as unique as you are. While we can be inspired by the lives of others, there is no need to copy them verbatim. Mimicking someone else will only bring frustration because you cannot do them as well as they can. In turn they could never do you nearly as well as you. Being successful at who you are will bring you satisfaction.

A wise man in the Bible said, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” It will kill you not to dream big dreams and have a great vision for your career, your family and your life. It may not be a physical death (at least not immediately) but it can mean a walking dead life. Don’t be a zombie. I heard zombies don’t dream. I think mostly because they’re too busy not sleeping and eating brains.

Just like Plax, we’ve all made mistakes we wished we had not, but let’s face it, we’re humans. Mistakes are a given. Getting back into the game is not a given, but it is a necessity.

Isaiah 64:8
But now, O LORD, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.

Undoubtedly we are all a creation of the Master Potter. Just as God formed Adam from the dust of the ground we too are formed by Him. In order to be a vessel that is useful for the Kingdom of God we need to be shaped by the Potter’s hands.

We are plopped on the Potter’s wheel when we’re miraculously born on to this earth. Until we accept His love and forgivness we are spinning wildly out of control on the wheel. Even as Christians if we decide we’re the ones in control, God will take His hands off of the clay until we realize that we cannot shape ourselves into someone that has great purpose.

As we fully surrender to God’s guidance, He will take the clay and start over. In order for Him to make us into what He wants, He must reshape us. This will cause real pain. It could be in the form of leaving unhealthy relationships or getting rid of harmful habits. He opens our eyes to sin that has kept us from the blessing that God desires for us. But this is temporary discomfort as it is the Potter’s hands that are shaping us, and this means He is always close.

Now that we have taken our shape, it is time for the fire which removes impurities and hardens the clay so it won’t go back to mud form. Going through the fire is never the most pleasant experience but God wants us refined and ready to use. The hardships of life builds our character in such a way to prevent us from returning to our old form.

After the fire comes the glory. The Potter decorates us with his glory and goodness so that we attract others. In His creativity the Potter has made uniquely able to reach out to different people through the gifts and talents He’s put in us.

Now the Holy Spirit can be poured in and out of us to bring refreshing and life to those that need it. God has called us to be His vessels of glory to touch other lives. We are to be used.  We are not made to simply sit on the shelf for decoration.

This process can happen multiple times in our lives as we go through different seasons. God opens new doors of opportunity throughout life. He always wants to shape us in to the form He desires.

The Potter is waiting to put us to use. Our job is to take our hands off and be the work of His hand.

See what I did there? Content (kuhn-tent) and content (kon-tent) are spelled the same way, but they sound different. It looks like I just repeated myself. In reality I made an awesome headline which is good content and now I’m content. You figure that last usage out on your own.

Have you ever heard someone say I’m content but not satisfied? Our friendly dictionary defines the word content this way though: satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else. For some reason, content has come to mean “good with what one is or has but wanting more.” At least that is the way we use it in many instances. And it works for this post. Because you are what you thought you were. (Thank you Dennis Green.) No matter what stage you are at in your content creation, there’s no reason to fret over what you are not. The only thing to do is to continue moving forward and creating content. Be content, but don’t stay in the same place.

Here at Hackworth we are actively trying to improve our content by educating, informing and occasionally entertaining our audience/customers. Have we reached the apex of our content dreams? Not in the least. We can only do what’s possible in the time allotted to everyone in a day. By the way, we are not open 24 hours. So, for us it’s more like 9 hours. If you work 24 hours a day creating content a.) good for you and b.) nice knowing you, you’ll be dead soon.

The fact is that content is needed to separate yourself from everyone else. Each person and/or company has their own flavor and that will create original content that reaches people. You just have to write it, work on it and refine it.

Now for some unoriginal content … B to B’s 2011 Lead Generation Guide has an article that speaks to the content need, Lead-generation Demands Grow by Christoper Hosford. In the article VP of Marketing at Neolane Inc. Kristen Hambleton had this to say,

The tipping point between executing timely, smart, targeted campaigns and what could be considers spam is influenced in large part by one thing: content. Creating good content is dependent upon collaborative processes and best practices across departments for incorporating targeted messaging, information and offers that resonate with key audiences.

Everyone in your company has different experiences, skill sets and stories to tell. Use as much of it as possible to add to the company’s ongoing storyline. Meanwhile you are creating teamwork and cohesiveness by getting others involved. Bonus points!

We all have room for improvement in every part of business and life. The key is not to be bent out of shape about not being all that you thought you would be. Be content. And then blog about it

Make sure your staff is in the loop during an emergency

Recently we had quite the harrowing thunderstorm that reeked havoc on not only our business operation but many others in the area. Subsequently, we were without power for several hours. This brought to the forefront the need for our company to refine our emergency contact procedures. As the outage spanned two work days, many people within our company were not aware that we could not open for business. Although we had a plan to contact everyone, it did not work out quite like we had envisioned.

What to do? Make changes, of course. We are an uber-connected society and have many avenues that people can reach us. When then need arises and employees must be contacted it is pertinent that companies have multiple ways of reaching them. It is easy enough to e-blast the entire staff via mass email programs that many companies use for external marketing. Gather personal cell phone numbers and home numbers and set up a call chain. For those with a mind for social media, Facebook post it. Heck, try smoke signals.

How does this correlate to marketing? In order to have effective, across-the-board external marketing there first has to be internal marketing within a company that works. If your staff is well informed, educated and perhaps entertained it makes for a better workplace which results in happier customers.

And now for some rock and roll…

This is my favorite Hackworth video.

A.) It’s cute B.) It’s funny C.) They are my kids so I have to like it.