SOCIAL IMPRESSIONS

One of my favorite things to do is go to the movies. I’ve always wanted to spend the entire day at the movie theater watching films and eating unlimited amount of my special medley - popcorn and Whoppers. It is as though all the stars aligned when Lisa Young said, “Yo, AMC theater is conducting blogger outreach. I need someone to go with me to spend the entire day watching Ocscar-nominated movies. You want to come?”

Only a “special” type of person would absolutely love to do something like that, and I guess I am that person. I enthusiastically accepted Lisa’s offer and agreed to be her “date” for this event.

I am currently waiting in the lobby of Chesterfield’s  AMC Theater waiting for the first movie to begin. Although AMC did not provide food (other than unlimited refills of popcorn), the bloggers still have a positive attitude. Scott (aka moviegeeks) even said something to the effect of, “Hm, I dont know if popcorn is really a breakfast item.”

The Oscar-nominated movies that are on today’s schedule are:

10: 30 a.m.:  MILK

1:05 p.m: The Reader

3:45 p.m.: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

7:15 p.m.: Slumdog Millionaire

9:45 p.m.: Frost/Nixon

Every time I look at my news feed, I see another note from my friends that shares private aspects of their lives. It has been really interesting getting to know my friends in that personal way.

Since I am not facebook friends with many of you, I would love for you to get to know me personally. So, I’ve decided to share my “25 things about me” on my blog!

1- I love mixing popcorn and whoppers together. I only do it when I go to the movie theater. It just doesn’t taste the same anywhere else
2- I was born in Jerusalem, but I lived in UAE, Cyprus, Egypt and Morocco before coming to the US
3- My 2007 New Years goal was to remove all toxic and emotionally/mentally unhealthy people from my life. I have renewed that goal every year since because it has made me a happier person
4- All my life, people used to say that I’ll know when I meet “the one.” I always doubted it, until I met my fiance
5- I am more excited to be Howie’s wife than the actual wedding. I believe too many brides-to-be get caught up in the celebration and forget about the partnership
6- I LOVE vanilla ice cream with cinnamon sprinkled on top
7- I believe that one great friend is much better than 20 acquaintances
8- I recently lost 25 lbs. I also quit smoking 6 months ago!
9- When I make a mistake, I am harder on myself than anyone ever will be
10- I am a workaholic and don’t think there is anything wrong with it
11- The most beautiful country I ever visited was Malaysia. My mom and I had the best trip/adventure to date!
12- I become very irritable and bitchy when I am hungry and/or tired
13- When something really sad happens, my first reaction is to smile or laugh. It isn’t because I find it funny, it is just my way of protection
14- I am a perfectionist. I can’t settle for average
15- I truly believe things happen for a reason and is part of our journey through life
16- I have a major shoe addiction… like really, it’s serious!
17- I get upset when my dogs, Dakota and Amira, ignore me and run to their daddy
18- Last month, I discovered that red wine actually tastes a lot better than white wine
19- I know the lyrics to ONLY one song, “Fly me to the moon”
20- I played the piano for 10 years, until I came to the US 9 years ago. One of my biggest regrets is not pursuing it
21- I hate that I love watching “Housewives of Orange County/New York/Atlanta” Those ladies are ridiculous, but it is so addictive
22- When I go to NY, I bring with me the craziest clothes. NY allows… actually ENCOURAGES … you to be creative, adventurous and daring! I LOVE NYC!
23- I feel like there is a purpose for everyone on this earth
24- I get SO peeved with ignorant and racist people, especially those who share opinions and make blanket statements without knowing what they are talking about
25- My proudest moment to date is graduating with my master’s degree in media communications with a 3.95 GPA

Every time I attend a conference, I give myself a list of goals to meet. This ensures that I spend my time wisely and that my attendance isn’t in vain. If I meet these goals, I will be more likely to attend the conference the following year. Below are a list of my goals that I make sure to meet every time my company sends me to a conference.

Evangelize: Conferences are a good place to share information about your company and to brand yourself. They allow you to share your expertise with fellow industry colleagues and potential customers. As an employee, you represent your company and what it represents. If you effectively demonstrate your capabilities, your company will benefit by 1- recruiting talent, 2- marketing its services, and 3- generating new business leads.

Bonding with Colleagues: Often times, you have the opportunity to attend a conference with colleagues from work. Although you should venture out of your group to do a little networking, it is also important to develop a rapport with them. This will enhance your work-related experience when you are back in the office. Try to meet at least once for dinner or drinks and have non-office related conversations.

Networking: One of the key aspects of any conference is meeting people who are normally inaccessible to you. The social media world, in particular, revolves around relationships. Conferences allow you to meet new people and maintain old friendships. If you are as goal-oriented as me, create a list of people you really want to meet at the conference and make sure you either introduce yourself or ask a mutual friend to make the introduction. Chris Brogan offers great tips on how to meet new people at conferences using social media.

Education: The conferences are increasingly gaining reputations for not offering new knowledge for those who have been in the industry more than a year. However, I am seeing a shift where organizers are pushing for new topics and recruiting a more diverse group speakers. You can also gain valuable insight just by having conversations with various attendees. I really enjoy standing in the hallway of the venue and having random discussions with fellow colleagues about industry-related topics.

Vendors: One of the best parts of conferences is meeting potential vendors face-to-face and learning about what they offer. This allows you to immediately determine if their product/service is applicable to your needs. It helps save time and allows you to go back to your office with some key recommendations of possible partners.

Do you set goals before attending a conference? If so, what are they?

Thanks to Brad Crooks for the image.

Kami Hyuse initiated a great meme thanking the influencers in her life. She asked several fellow bloggers the following questions: “Who had a big influence on you and how did that affect the direction of your life or career?” To my surprise, I was tagged by Derek Edmond to answer the same queries.

Having come from the world of public relations, social media wasn’t foreign to me. However, it was absolutely clear that I had much to learn if I wanted to excel in the space. My list of people I am thankful for immediately came to mind. Although it is after Thanksgiving Day, I feel it is still very important to show and express my appreciation to those who have been instrumental in my career.

Friends and Family: My parents, Terah Davis (best friend) and Howard McAuliffe (boyfriend) have been my inspiration, strength and support. They have been my biggest fans and were the main ones who read and provided extensive feedback to my blog when I first launched it in June ‘06.

Tanner Hobin and Lisa Young: I am thankful to my fellow work colleagues who have taught me a lot about SEO. I really appreciate all of Tanner’s help in implementing my new blog platform and Lisa for providing me with the support I need to spread my wings.

Marty Weintraub: I briefly met Marty at the SMX Social Media networking party when he offered to hold my plate as I juggled my wine glass and a big purse. Not only is Marty a gentleman, he is an expert in social media. His posts have ignited significant conversations online due to his extensive knowledge and appreciation for the virtual world. Marty has counseled me in navigating the social space and I am extremely grateful for all his help.

Derek Edmond: Derek’s natural inclination to dig deeper and absorb as much knowledge as he can has earned him the respect that he deserves in the online world. He has been a great bouncing board for ideas and has offered me incredible feedback. Thank you for the pearls of wisdom, Derek!

Sepultura (Erik Bashatly) and Zaibatsu (Reg): These top diggers have offered me so much advice relating to digg. They did not turn their noses up at me, but embraced me as a fellow digger who is yearning to learn the space and implement their recommendations.

Rob Amberg: Rob hired me just as I graduated from my master’s program in 2006. He took a big risk on someone so green, and I really appreciate it. In his effort to launch an online offering at Cushman/Amberg Communications, he encouraged me to start a blog, create a profile on social networks, and experiment online. Needless to say, that began my passion… nay, addiction… for social media marketing.

I am also thankful to those who take a few minutes out of their day to read my blog and provide me with amazing insight. I have met incredible people in my lifetime who have made me into the person I am today. I can never express how grateful I am for the way they impacted my life.

I would love to hear from Brian Wallace, Chris Winfield, and Tamar Wienberg.