Jayme Soulati, Author at soulati.com

The Happy Friday Series: Alternately Abled, Passionately Happy

07/26/2013 By Jayme Soulati

Alternately abled and passionately happy…all words of description. Let me explain a bit.

I consider myself alternately abled instead of disabled.

I contracted a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy after undergoing chemotherapy for cancer years ago which left me wheelchair bound.

I am also sight impaired due to Retinitis Pigmentosa.

I am blind in my left eye and have less than 5 degrees of vision in my right eye.

I am alternately abled because I can do most of what other people can do with the help of technology.
I admit I am limited in some things like climbing stairs, painting ceilings, or changing light bulbs in the ceiling fixtures.

But, most activities I need to accomplish on a daily basis I can handle by myself.

I am passionate

I consider myself a master at crochet.

I even teach the art to students locally.

I make everything from dishcloths to bedspreads.

I do seed bead weaving. I make jewelry pieces out of beads the size of mustard seeds which are laced on threads that are hand woven or loom woven into original designs.

I use a camera positioned over my work that projects an image onto a monitor to see what I am doing.

And I do paintings in ballpoint pen and colored pencil. Subjects for my paintings are most often flowers, birds and animals. I am fascinated at how I can take a common ballpoint pen and cause it to render beautiful flower petals or bird feathers.

And so you see, had it not been for me becoming “disabled,” I would probably have never taken the time to realize my passion. And now, everyday, I am able to find tremendous joy, happiness and gratitude for the usual and common things in my life. Today, I am still able to do the work I am so passionate about that brings me so much happiness.

About The Author

Brenda Dennis owns with a. She is wheelchair bound and legally blind. She crafts unique handmade jewelry by weaving original seed bead designs. She also stitches crochet pieces from dishcloths to bedspreads and doilies. She has recently begun to “paint” with ballpoint pens and colored pencils. Her artworks are displayed in various venues locally. Connect with her on and on Twitter @SuzyQue19605.

Does Your Marketing Pay It Forward?

07/22/2013 By Jayme Soulati

Trust is the foundation stone of any successful relationship. If two people don’t trust each other, they constantly second guess the other’s motive and integrity. There is no opportunity for growth.

The relationship between a business and its customers is no exception to this rule. Customers can become intensely loyal to a particular brand, but only if they feel they can place their trust in that company. So the real question is, how can you make potential customers view your business as trustworthy?

The answer lies in social media marketing.

Why Is Social Media Such a Big Deal?

Social media has completely altered the face of Internet marketing. Previously, companies had to rely on emails, 1-800 numbers, and promotional events to connect with their customer base. But now, with the help of social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, literally millions of customers are just a tweet or status update away. Twitter alone has around 500 million users.

Social media is different from most other marketing techniques because it is both simple and timely. Tweets are limited to a mere 140 characters, which means your message must be concise and relevant. People are constantly logging onto social media accounts to give and receive information, ideas, and opinions. For some, tweeting or updating their status comes before brushing their teeth or eating breakfast. In short, social media offers an immediate, dynamic, and personal way to connect with potential customers.

But How Can You Build Trust?

Many businesses grumble about the fact that they have tried this “social media thing” and not seen tangible benefit. It’s possible they have done everything right and somehow the gods of social media have simply deemed them unworthy. It is much more likely they are approaching social media marketing the wrong way.

We’ve already established social media is a completely different animal from conventional marketing strategies. It makes sense that businesses must approach it differently, as well. Traditional marketing is all about the business and the brand. It focuses on what the company has to offer and concerns itself with presenting an idea in the most appealing manner possible. To be successful in social media, the focus needs to shift to customers. People love social media because it provides a forum for sharing ideas and information. People want to be inspired, intrigued, and moved. If your company doesn’t offer content that is deemed valuable by social media users, you won’t gain a single customer.

So What Strategies Are Effective?

Being successful on Twitter is about the simple concept of paying it forward. If your company provides exceptional content, information, and insight without any brand or product flaunting, people will be drawn to it. It all goes back to that central idea of trust. When customers know they will receive interesting and relevant content from your company they are more likely to place their trust in your brand. They will want to talk about your company to their friends, family, and social media networks. Because social media is an opt-out society, users are completely in control of what brand messages reach them. Remember the core of social media is exactly that…being social. Once you establish trust, social media will become a huge boon for your brand.

About The Author

Randy Bowden

Randy Bowden is a principal partner along with his wife, Shalah, of bowden2bowden llc, a marketing and branding consultancy firm. Specializing in developing targeted marketing solutions, exceptional creative executions and solid branding strategies that give clients a real competitive advantage. Our core team has the ability to scale quickly and effectively with trusted partners as needed. We consider them an integral part of our team and process. Our ability to approach challenging projects in an atmosphere of spirited cooperation leads to engaging, compelling solutions and successful work that yields desired results. Randy writes three posts weekly for their bowden2bowden blog.”

The Happy Friday Series: Running To Happiness

07/19/2013 By Jayme Soulati

For most of my life, I hated running.

Although I played sports growing up, running more than one lap around the track was pure torture to me.

I played volleyball and softball, which only required running in short spurts. And in track, I only sprinted a short distance before leaping into the sandpit for long jump or triple jump or running three-quarters of the way around the track peppered with hurdles.

Running was never my thing. It was purely a means to an end.

But, three years ago, that changed.

In 2010, I realized my metabolism wasn’t what it used to be and I needed to do something drastic to get my body back in shape.

So, I signed up for a half marathon.

A pretty crazy notion for someone who hated running and had never ran more than three miles. But, I joined a training program and was determined to reach this goal and prove to myself I could do it.

But, something happened along the way that I didn’t expect.

I actually started to enjoy running.

Running Improved Business, Health, Happiness

After finishing that first race, I was hooked. So far, I have run five half marathons and one full marathon.

So, why do I like running so much? Here are a few reasons:

It gives me much-needed time to think and de-stress. Spending time away from work, technology and other distractions is so rewarding. Sometimes, I just let my mind wander. And other times, I come up with blog post ideas or solve business issues while on a run. Either way, I enjoy the escape.

It forces me to get outside. As someone who sits in front of a computer all day, I often lament that I don’t get as much time outdoors as I would like. Running gives me the chance to see the beautiful world around me. I’ve witnessed spectacular sunrises, explored new places and have experienced the magic of running in the snow. Being in nature is good for my soul.

I’ve made new friends. I love the camaraderie of training with a running group. During the long runs, you have nothing to do but to talk and get to know the people around you. We talk about books, relationships and business. And, it’s incredibly rewarding to get to know people from different walks of life and work toward a goal together.

Running is Hard, But Rewarding

Before you think that running is all rainbows and unicorns, I’ll be honest. Long-distance running is tough.

Running my fist full marathon last fall was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. There are days I don’t want to get out the door. And, sometimes, there is pain, soreness and injury.

But, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Running has made me a stronger person – both mentally and physically. It’s given me mental toughness and has made me more confident in myself.

Running has also made me a better business owner. It’s no coincidence that I started running the same year I started my marketing company.

But, ultimately, running has made me a happier, healthier person.

Before you think I’m going to tell you to lace up your shoes and start running, I’m not.

But, I encourage you to look for a physical activity to try – not just because it’s good for your health, but also because it’s good for your spirit.

Are you a runner? If not, do you engage in some sort of physical activity or exercise? How does that contribute to your happiness?

About The Author

Laura Click is founder & CEO of Blue Kite Marketing, a Nashville-based digital marketing firm that builds and implements marketing strategies to help businesses reach new heights. You can connect with Laura on Twitter (@lauraclick) or by checking out her blog.

Rolling Stone PR Faux Pas

07/18/2013 By Jayme Soulati

Today, the sentiment by many an American is to Boycott Rolling Stone. Is that the same reaction by its 20-something readership?

That publication put the Boston Bomber on its cover looking sultry and sexy. Why?

It’s said the editors/publishers put that teenager in the demographic of its readership and thus the publication owed it to (whom?) to cover the topic. In its defense, the magazine did say the kid became a monster on its cover albeit in small print.

The Rolling Stone PR Faux Pas

What exactly is the faux pas of Rolling Stone? It’s abiding by rights granted by the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights; freedom of speech in this regard.

What then did Rolling Stone do to piss of America?

It took an emotional issue oriented to terrorism against this country and portrayed it unerringly on the cover of its well- read and highly subscribed to-popular magazine.

Sure enough, Rolling Stone created a global PR crisis for itself. Prior to Rolling Stone publishing its cover, editors and publishers had weeks to prepare for the backlash that would and did inevitably result.

They developed messaging; they consulted lawyers; they trained; they wrote statements for public consumption; they readied the flood gates. They knew it; they ignored it; they welcomed it.

Now, media the likes of Dayton Daily News, a small community paper catering to less than 1 million, are running the story and cover to capitalize on the debacle. Of course, that’s how the gravy train works. Blood sells, after all.

How many Facebook posts did you read yesterday that are anti-Rolling Stone? Did traffic increase exponentially to its website to the point of busting the server?

The magazine didn’t care; it wanted this attention knowing full well the emotional upheaval would come and pass. Knowing full well the teens and 20-something readers and potential subscribers would devour the coverage and buzz about it on their social channels, too.

The outcry against the choice Rolling Stone made to exonerate a soon-to-be-convicted terrorist against the United States of America is just.

What’s unjust are the lives and limbs lost and horrific emotional upheaval as a result of the crimes perpetuated against the Boston marathoners, spectators and this country’s citizens.

In this case, Rolling Stone went too damn far. No act of terrorism should be regarded as opportunistic by media pushing the envelope of public dissent to see just how far it can go.

I customarily applaud corporations for testing waters and planning a publicity stunt for 10 minutes of fame. In this case, that magazine disgusts me for its obvious lack of sensitivity. Please, corporate America, withdraw your advertising spend and put it toward funds for victims of the Boston Marathon. They need help to regain a semblance of normalcy in a life disrupted. Please, corporate America, your customers will thank you.

(Jayme Note: This piece is not for me to capitalize; I rarely write about such things when they occur, e.g. Paula Deen. In this situation, I couldn’t rest.)

Social Media, Girls And Corporate America

07/17/2013 By Jayme Soulati

Look out corporate America, the girls are coming to a social media channel near you. Little girls, some as young as 9-years-old, have taken to activism with online petitions by Change.org against multi-national corporations the likes of McDonalds, PepsiCo, Coca Cola, Hasbro, Jamba Juice, and other unsuspecting entities.

This Crain’s Chicago Business story June 17, 2013, Girl Power; Big Business Faces A Formidable New Force: They’re under 18 and All Over Social Media, provides the scoop:

Pre-teens and teens with evolving female emotions (high-touch/high-care) about right and wrong, healthy eating, food toxicity, the Earth, animals, and more are taking issues to heart and attacking corporations via social media channels, online petitions, at corporate events, and in tandem with activist groups.

And, the floodgates are nearly breached. This generation (what label does it have as they are younger than Millennials?), was born with social media engagement. They watch their parents take snapshots on Instagram, tweet, Facebook, and basically live and breathe every social media channel.

When something goes awry in customer service, what’s the first thing an adult does? Complains on social media and takes images of the entire experience. Where are the kiddies? Watching, clicking buttons, hitting send, and reacting to their parents’ social media zeal.

Look at some of these young people and what they’ve done under 10 and 20 years of age:

Hannah, 9, of British Columbia attacked McDonalds in Oak Brook, Ill. In May 2013 at its annual meeting. She accused CEO in person of “trying to trick kids into wanting to eat your food all the time.” Hannah was backed by Boston activists Corporate Accountability International.
Sarah Kavanagh, 16, Hattiesburg, Miss. used Facebook and Twitter to get brominated vegetable oil out of Gatorade and Powerade sports beverages. (Hey, Pepsi and Coca Cola, she’s now of age; hire her!)
McKenna Pope, 13, Garfield, NJ lobbied Hasbro to make a gender neutral Easy-Bake Oven.

Yesterday’s Kids v. Today’s Kids

As said, the floodgates are nearly breached. How many pre-teens and teens are there watching people use social media to get what they want? Back in the day, my brother and his friends used to hit McDonalds, order cheeseburgers, eat half, take it the counter and tell them they found a hair or it was overcooked. They’d get another one and then turn around and ask for fresh fries because the ones they bought were dried out.

No more.

Teens are smarter than adults in the online world, and schools are teaching students to think differently, use online tools and take action sooner.

Corporate America is what the kids target; it is ripe for the pickins’.

What’s A Company To Do

Corporations need to listen!
Never attack a kid anywhere – in writing, in person, or via a third party.
Don’t use corporate speak, but don’t treat these kids as if they were adolescent.
Make the girls into ambassadors; invite them to company functions, ask opinions, hire them, give then a scholarship, recognize their maturity – especially the kids acting alone without help from the activist organizations.
Respond on social channels…graciously.
Social media teams who answer posts must be trained to be fully aware that children may be responding. There’s no way to determine age of a consumer especially if the avatar is an animal or shape.

No one said it was easy being on the frontline as a multi-national corporation. Smaller companies need to sit up and take notice from example, too.

One Chicago girl took on the municipality of Grayslake to ban single-use plastic bags. She is 13-years-old.

When any company believes they can ignore social media; think again. When you don’t engage, you cannot respond. When a pre-teen girl gets a brick wall in answer to a smart social media attack, look out…you’ll be on the defensive for years from not just one girl but all her friends across every single social channel.

That train? It left four years ago. If you are not taking social media seriously by now, then hop into your horse and cart and enjoy the ride.