Posted by Victoria Trabosh on Sun, Aug 29, 2010 @ 01:17 PM
Lesson #2 (1 through 10) 2010
What good can come from McDonald's? Does anyone YOU KNOW ever win those contests?!
Not that I don't try, but I'm always skeptical. Recently, I went to McDonald's for a quick meal. And no one does it quicker than McDonald's. I know better than to eat those sandwiches but my judgment to get a salad was swayed by the TASTE THE GLORY contest going on this past June/July during the World Cup.
Bought the Big Mac - enjoyed it tremendously (read my previous Part 1 of this blog if you're horrified and repulsed). But truly bought it because of the contest. I've never won anything at McDonald's but my reasoning told me that it didn't mean I couldn't win in the future!
I peeled the little 'Taste the Glory' sticker off and texted the required information. And received the most amazing text back: YOU WON A 32 INCH FLAT SCREEN TV.
Wonderful - but then began the difficulty. I couldn't register on my Blackberry. And when I returned to my office, I again wasn't allowed to register.
I called McDonald's 3 times over 2 weeks - always receiving the promise the technical department would get back to me. It didn't happen. So I decided to test the power of social media.
As painful as it was to turn on a company that had given me one of the best business lessons I've ever received (see part 1) I was furious.
And so I tweeted: @McDonalds we do it all for you? (NOT) -nothing from your support team about my sony TV win.& I thought just the fat content was bad!
A few of those types of messages (find me on Twitter @vhtrabosh) and @ Kty_McD showed up offering to help. She was an intern at McDonald's and said she'd find me someone to solve my problem.
Janice from McDonald's marketing group called. And she walked me through the process. I was told the TV would be shipped in 4-6 weeks.
Two weeks ago, a 32" Sony Flat Screen TV showed up at our home.
So what are the TOP 10 pieces of wisdom from this story (by way of some of their slogans through the years)?
1. 1992: What you get is what you want: Social media can be a powerful tool which can get you results.
2. 1976: You, you're the one: @Kty_McD is a terrific addition to McDonald's.
3. 1990: Food, folks and fun: People do win these contests and you could be the one to win it.
4. 1984: It's a good time for the great taste of McDonald's: Eating at McDonald's is not a bad thing - in fact, it's quite tasty and beneficial.
5. 1990: McDonald's - It can happen: Don't give up if at first it appears you can't win - do everything in your power and then choose to walk away if you can’t succeed.
6. 2000: We love to make you smile: Great customer service always makes a difference.
7. 1975: We do it all for you: Interns sometimes have a greater passion than the suits - and we can all learn from dedicated employees, no matter their status in the company.
8. 2003: I'm lovin' it: If you succeed in a tough situation, make sure you share the good news as readily as you did the bad.
9. 1975: We do it all for you: McDonald's is a great company. They've survived through bad press, poor decisions, complicated contests and underlying it all, must have had strong leadership at the top. Every great company goes through tough times - but great companies never stop trying.
10. 2007: Things that make you go 'mmm': McDonald's is a company that I'd like to know more about. I would enjoy coaching leaders in this company.
Never give up on your dreams. Obstacles can be overcome. And be appropriately appreciative of the people that help you along the way.
Posted by Victoria Trabosh on Sun, Nov 22, 2009 @ 01:35 PM
Four
soldiers. Three I know well. One I haven’t met, yet. They cover WWII, end of the Korean War,
peacetime for the United States in 1987 and now, the Iraq war.
My father, my
husband, my son, a soldier in Iraq.
Yesterday,
November 21, 2009 would have been the 86th birthday of my father. Yesterday, my
husband went with me to buy items to put in a care box that we would send to
Iraq. Yesterday, I called my son and
apologized for not sending him more care boxes to remind him of how much we
loved and missed him during his three years of service away from home. Yesterday, I baked in earnest and worried
about the tastiest of the cookies I would be sending to a soldier serving in
Iraq that is a stranger to me.
Soldier #1
My father
gloried war. His time in the Army during
WWII was truly the highlight of his life.
He suffered from diabetes in his later years which blinded him. He did an oral history of his entire life
which became a family book. In it, he
devoted 25% of the book to his time growing up in New York, less than 1% to his
family, his children and his marriages of 45+ years, and about 74% to his time
in the service. When he proudly handed
me the book, I began to read it and exclaimed to him, “Are you kidding
me??? A few paragraphs to Mom and your
three children???” Slightly embarrassed
he took it back and added a few more lines.
His life history was more defined by his time in the service than
anything else that ever happened to him.
Soldier #2
In 1957, my
husband enlisted in the Marines. Meeting
him in 1980 gave me a totally different perspective on what it meant to serve
in the armed forces. The few. The proud.
The Marines. While my Dad loved
to talk about being a soldier and killing and patriotism, John’s ability to
serve and the way he discussed it have always been more about the duty and
respect he had for doing his job well, rather than glorifying himself or
war. His life is defined by a lifetime
of experiences, including his military service.
Soldier #3
In 1986 my
son (step) fulfilled his dream to join the Army with the intention of joining
the military police and eventually becoming a police officer. He was at Ft. Benning in Georgia. We missed him like crazy and I had every
intention of sending him boxes and boxes of cookies, favorite foods, silly
remembrances and lots of letters to remind him of how he was loved. And though he was deeply missed and loved by
us, you wouldn’t have known it by my expressions through the U.S. Mail
Service. Some letters, a couple of
boxes, but pathetically less than my most noble of intentions. His military experience shaped his life as
well and began his journey to work in law enforcement.
He called me
once from basic training to talk about a man who came to talk with them. This man wrote a book called “What a Soldier
Gives”. Tim insisted I read this book
and he sent it to me. The story was of
this man’s journey in the army during the height of the Vietnam War. What a soldier gave during the conflict. It was unflinching in its honesty and did not
glorify war. But the dignity of what
this man had given, at great personal cost, was evident. I was so moved, I wrote to the author, told
him the impression he’d made on my son.
And thanked him for his service.
His story and his wisdom stayed with me.
Soldier #4
And so
yesterday I baked cookies for a young man or woman who may not have anyone
sending them anything through the holidays.
My investment club of 20+ years has decided to support some soldiers
through one of the member’s connections.
Her nephew’s company in Iraq has soldiers in it that for whatever
reason, receive very little from family back home. So we’re “adopting” some of them for the
holidays.
We received a
list of items they need – from beef jerky to Tylenol, from socks to Q-tips. And of course goodies. Nothing says home like home baked
goodies!
John and I
were shopping yesterday, and while I was baking I remembered it was my Dad’s
birthday. I called Tim to tell him what
we were doing. And to apologize for not
being there for him in a way that would leave me with no regretful thoughts. He was gracious and happy we were doing
something for another soldier. But I did
tell him he was one of the reasons I felt compelled to help. That he deserved more then when he as a
soldier, and that if I could pay it forward, I needed to.
What a
soldier gives. None of this has to do
with my personal feelings about the conflicts our country is currently involved
in. It’s about remembering someone far
far from home that needs to know they are not alone. That what a soldier gives, is not wasted or
forgotten. And we need to bring them
home alive and well.
If you have
the opportunity, give back. Support
someone you love. Support a stranger in
honor of those you love. And know that what a solider gives can be honored by
what you do – even if their individual service is long past.
With luck and
good packing, our Christmas boxes will arrive intact. The cookies will not have crumbled. And a soldier will feel a little closer to
home.
Posted by Victoria Trabosh on Sun, Oct 18, 2009 @ 02:11 PM
Finding hope and inspiration
on a daily basis can be difficult even for the most optimistic of
entrepreneurs. We will be told no more often than yes in an environment when
it appears easier to focus on the negative rather than the positive in our
economy and society. I recently had an experience that renewed my faith
in my journey – my vision. And it took place in a positive and productive
environment in Henderson NV.
I had the great fortune of
attending CEO Space a week ago. You’re not alone if you’ve never heard of
it. CEO Space is an organization focused
on bringing together individuals who choose to cooperate rather than
compete. Who choose to learn rather than denounce. Who choose to
make a difference in the world through collaboration rather than go it alone.
I went to CEO Space for a
number of reasons: ◊ recharge my battery, i.e., get inspired; ◊ learn new
business ideas and techniques in a supercharged learning environment; ◊ raise
awareness and get financial and intellectual support for the Itafari
Foundation; ◊ expand my network both nationally and internationally; ◊
acquire more speaking engagements; ◊ help others become their best; ◊ recharge
my battery, i.e., get inspired (yes, I mention it twice because I really needed
it!)
I now know my goals were
limited. I did not see the bigger picture of what was possible. Now
I’m seeing that CEO Space provided me with practical tools and contacts that
increased my horizon of what I can accomplish. (While accomplishing all
of the initial goals I identified above).
CEO Space is a supercharged
learning environment – a CEO level educational retreat; a CEO-to-CEO trade
show; a university affiliated program, a place to connect with investors who
will invest in your business or dream. Endorsed by Jack Canfield, Bob
Proctor, Lisa Nichols, Mark Victor Hanson, Les Brown, and over 350 corporate
trainers and major law firms on faculty. And now endorsed by me.
I’m not a big conference
fan. Too many people, too many hidden agendas, too much
competition. But CEO Space did not have this theme. There will
always be people with hidden agendas, but CEO Space does not attract or endorse
such behavior.
The week is comprised of
training described as “super
teaching” which delivers teaching from the best and brightest of
teachers and trainers. It is networking that accomplishes more in an hour
than you’ve accomplished before in a day. It is friendships, business
relationships and partnerships that develop quickly and easily as you learn to
ask for what you really need and are offered tangible ways to get those needs
met.
Once you’re a member of CEO
Space you are a member for life. I can attend any and all of the five
meetings held every year for the rest of my life. And I’ll return for the
inspiration, training, collaboration, partnerships, business and investment
opportunities and renewal for my spirit.
I’ve learned to always begin
a conversation with, “how can I help you today?” And by giving my best, I
receive the same from others. Contact me for more information about how I
can help you. I'd also love to talk with you about CEO Space and your
ability to be more effective, productive and successful.