Time for old habits to die: paper diary versus electronic

People are surprised when I pull out my Moleskin paper diary. “Don’t you use electronic diary?” they ask in wonderment. Yes, I do for calendar invites and meetings and reminders I need to pop up in front of me. But for organising my task list for the day, and jotting down thoughts, I like paper.

Call me old fashioned (!) but I just like it. And it’s what I am used to. I can allocate time for different pieces of work and map out my day. Although this is rarely stuck to…

However, having been hit with a cold and working from home so as not to infect the office, relying on an e-diary for everything would have come in handy.

I’ve observed others use of both mediums to work out what is best for me.

And I think I may have arrived at a new approach: use e-diary + notebook for jotting down reminders and tasks.

Time to try a new approach on for size and see how it fits.

How do you organise your day?

 

Goodbye to day per page and hello notebook

Things I’ve Learned About PR from Mixed Martial Arts

This is the post I wrote for the Edelman Australia Blog (where I work!):

 

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is considered a complete system, combining the most effective elements of grappling and striking arts to create a seamless system that covers all bases. – Dominance MMA

There are many similarities between MMA and PR, aside from lending their names to acronyms. I’d like to start by looking at pitching for business, as an Edelman firm. With outstanding competencies in PR, communications, marketing, traditional media, social media and digital, our range of skills affords us the privilege of thinking and working broader than traditional PR.

And, as the global Edelman brand expands, we now find ourselves up against advertising, branding, digital and creative agencies. Having developed our mix of skills we are no longer restricted to a single discipline. It’s game on for competitive pitches and we’re surpassing the beginner stage … no headgear!

Check out the Edelman Australia Blog for the full post

Kenzan for the Best Shabu Shabu

Both times I’ve been to Kenzan for Shabu Shabu have been amazing. This meal is healthy and delicious and best shared with someone you love…ok, a little over the top but it’s ideal for sharing; if you like the person you’re sharing with then all the better.

The description of Shabu Shabu on their menu is:

Shabu Shabu – Ever Finer sliced beef and vegetables, lightly cooked in a clear broth, served with ponzu & sesame dipping sauces

Having the pot of broth lightly bubbling away at the table as you select your slices of meat and vegetables you would like was almost therapeutic. The idea is that you lightly boil the meat then dip it in the sesame and ponzu (a soy vinegar mix) and eat with vegetables cooked the same way and some boiled rice.

The staff at Kenzan are lovely and the service efficient.

I would recommend Kenzan – it’s a little hidden in the Collins Place complex underneath the Sofitel at 45 Collins St in Melbourne CBD but well worth the visit.

 

Cook Shabu Shabu at your table or try the sushi bar

 

Kenzan Japanese Restaurant

Collins Place, 45 Collins Street (56 Flinders Lane), Melbourne 3000
Ph: 03 9654 8933

Because I Said So

Last weekend I had an amusing discussion about parenting with some lovely friends who are four weeks away from welcoming a new baby girl into the world. We were talking about discipline and setting boundaries for children; something we’ve all been through and probably witnessed and perhaps even imparted.

The expectant couple are wonderful people who are kind, loving, fair, intelligent, warm, friendly, fun, full of delight – all the things you hope your parents are and then some!

The Mum comes from a Chinese family with an upbringing that sounds as though it was fairly traditional but not in a feet binding way. Dad is Aussie from a larger family who grew up climbing trees and getting into boy mischief.

We were talking about the different ways to teach a child why they should listen to their parents and do what they’re told…no mean feat but one that can be mastered. My parents surely won the battle in a way where I have more respect and love for them than they will ever know.

Two main approaches came up for discussion:

1. ‘Because I said so’ / ‘Because I’m your mother/father and I said so’
2. the 5 minute explanation and then subsequent answering of ‘why?’

There are times when a simple explanation of consequences can be painstaking but set the child up to make decisions late in life based on their learnings through childhood.

But, there is also the argument that kids should listen to their elders and do what they say as a matter of respect.  And sometimes a situation warrants a stressed, overwhelmed parent to just want their child to do something because they’ve been asked to and it would make life easier at that moment. Both situations, I feel, have weight.

I feel I had a balanced approach from my parents. They are very fair people who explain why so we have an understanding of a situation.

We (me and the company I was in) tended to agree that a blended approach seemed a good way to do things. There are times when an explanation will help the child’s development and decision making. And there are times when “because I said so” should be enough.

Thinking back to my childhood, if it ever got to a ‘because I said so’ status I know I’d probably pushed the boundaries a little further than I should have!

 

 

You Can Take Your Reputation With You

I only rarely re-post from other blogs I write but wanted to share this one with you because, well, it’s a bit of a thought piece about online reputation that I’m a bit proud of. So yes, I’m using my blog as a scrapbook of stuff I like to keep but thought you might find it interesting.

Below is the first part of my post. The really good stuff comes after. For the full thing, click here.

You Can Take Your Reputation With You (from The Social Marketplace blog)

Question: “If you have invested time building your reputation on eBay, why would you want to start from scratch on a new platform?” (Rachel Botsman, AFR BOSS)

Answer: “Because users deserve a higher level of trust and interaction in the community.” (Dave Kasriel, Shoplist)

This question is rhetorically posed at the end of an article in the November issue of BOSS magazine (Australian Financial Review publication) titled ‘The Reputation Economy’ by Rachel Botsman (page 54-56).

It is about reputation and trust online and what this means for transactional activity where decisions are influenced by peer review, in this article the example is buying and selling on eBay.

I asked Dave to comment. He is building a new platform – Shoplist – from scratch. He says, “eBay is becoming less transparent, particularly with the feedback options. Ratings don’t mean the same as they used to. Sellers can’t even leave negative feedback anymore. They can choose between a rating of ‘Positive’ and ‘I’ll leave Feedback later’.”

Social networking is part of the Shoplist experience, opening up the channels of transparency where “users will be able to trust that there is someone at the other end” (Dave). Members will be encouraged to bring across their online reputations from eBay and other sites in their profiles.

Social activity will be as much a key component of Shoplist as the actual buying and selling. Community members can connect with one another. Some may like to find people and form groups based around similar interests, and others may like to keep in touch with those they sell to or buy from.

 

Discolure: Shoplist is a client.