the displaced texan

Places I’ve Been and Seen

July 26, 2010 · Leave a Comment

I’ve seen the mighty Mississippi River, the concrete majesty of New York, the bog’s in New England, the Great Lakes, the scenic Highway 1 and historic red woods of California, but nothing holds the simplistic beauty, comfortableness of home and sparks the imagination like the Texas Hill Country…

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The Orginial Social Network for Business – A Mentor

April 8, 2010 · 1 Comment

Last night I had a pretty special dinner with a pretty special person out here in California. This person isn’t just an acquaintance or a friend or a past colleague. This is a person I hadn’t talked to in over two years. But it’s someone I’ve known for 1o.

I met her in 2000 at one of my first PRSSA meetings at Southwest Texas State. She and her friend had taken the time out of their work and family schedules to come down south and talk to students interested in careers in PR. It was that night that I met my mentor, Christina Moore.

So why write about a dinner? Why bring up old memories? It’s simple. I’m appreciative. I’m appreciative of a person who has taken her time to attend many lunches to hear me ramble on about my job, my life decisions, my goals, my adversities.

At the end of each meal after listening and carefully nodding, she would summarize and synthesize my thoughts, provide an example or two of similar situations and then suggest and encourage what options could be next for me. Always spot on and I was always appreciative.

I wrote this post not to detail a dinner or to bring up old memories, but to acknowledge the importance of finding a mentor early in your career and how nurturing the relationship could pay off. Based on my experience, I’ve complied a list of traits to look for in a mentor and what structure has worked for me.

Choosing a Mentor

Seek a person that is at the level in the profession you aspire to achieve
Choose a mentor that shares the same profession, but maybe has a different expertise. If you want to gain perspective of your situation, look for someone who has a different viewpoint.
Communicate what you hope to achieve out of the mentor/mentee relationship and both agree on the desired goal.
Schedule meetings in advance to put them on the calendar, even if something comes up, it’s easier to reschedule than to try and get on someone’s schedule.
Prepare. Before meeting, do some homework and bring one or two issues that you’d like insight to. This helps guide the conversation and respects both of your times.
Always stay connected.

To be completely honest while at dinner I didn’t follow my rules and I rambled. I talked about everything I could think of to catch her up on my career. Why? I’ve worked hard for many reasons, one being because I had a great example to emulate.

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Tagged: mentor, mentoring

What I’ve Learned: Memphis

April 5, 2010 · Leave a Comment

I’m huge fan of the Esquire “What I’ve Learned” series, so as I board an empty United flight on Easter Sunday, I thought it would be fitting to explain what I learned from my years in the Bluff City.

The Mississippi River looks peaceful from one of the many rooftops of downtown, when in fact, there are many currents moving quickly and every which way underneath. I try hard to give off the same appearance

Water can be restorative, healing and destructive. It can divide people, damage things, but it always heals

No matter where you go or what environment you live in, your kids learn more from the environment inside the house. The talks at the dinner table, the morals values and role models should never change (I thank the Arenas family for that one)

A true friend is one that doesn’t ask you about all your deep dark secrets. A true friend shares his and expects nothing in return…and if you did confess everything, he’d love you just the same

When I finally saw God as the ultimate teacher, rather than the ultimate authority figure, I began to see His true glory. The 10 commandments aren’t rules, they are suggestions for a great life. Following them brings happiness and wholeness, not brings shame and sadness and destruction

The tears in my eyes aren’t from leaving, they are from being thankful for having the opportunity to know and work with such amazing people

It wasn’t hard leaving Austin because I loved so much about the city, it’s hard leaving Memphis because I love so many people

I leaned my physical limits in Memphis. The city, the time of my life, the people in it, I don’ know what it was, but I was told to slow down in not so fun ways

The more I matured the more I came to appreciate people and the love I had to give and the love I received

My wife is the strongest person I know. There is something quite humbling and rewarding to know that’s the person you get to wake up next to for the rest of your life

In the time spent in Memphis we lost some wonderful people from our families. 3 years ago today I lost my mother-in-law. Life isn’t very fun sometimes

Yes. It is cold South Carolina. In January and colder when you’re on the beach

Whether it’s a Texas or Tennessee birth certificate you can still be a Texan. I pray that every night for my baby girl

What made my kids have so many great friends were their great parents. I love my son for introducing me to so many wonderful, smart and fun people

It’s okay to ask for help

My sinuses hate me

Fishing isn’t about what you catch, but about who you catch with. And sometimes you don’t catch fish, but other more terrifying things….and that’s what makes a great memory.

The subtle beauty of purple

Sometimes you need more than one type of saw to get the job done. And even if it doesn’t look pretty, the hands that made it know every inch, foot and ounce of beauty it holds

Don’t judge the broll!

I’m a better person for my time in Memphis

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It’s The End of SXSW As We Know It…And I Feel Fine

March 21, 2010 · 1 Comment

Last week I attended the SXSW interactive (#sxswi) festival in beautiful Austin, TEXAS. I’ve been trying to write this blog post for some time, but couldn’t find the right train of thought to express my viewpoint. Then last night over Twitter I saw a conversation between David Armano and Virginia Suliman and she suggested he include the following in a deck: “U should just have social media is dead on there to keep em guessing”

Social Media is not dead. But social media as a “movement” is. I’ll explain.

Since the dawn of the “blog age” the talk about user-generated content, the uprising of the consumer, the voice of crowds has created a revival to the marketing, PR and web industries. SXSW has long been the festival that celebrates this movement and propels it forward among professionals and enthusiasts. Many would even say it’s the birthplace of Twitter – Happy Birthday Twitter, btw.

But SXSW in 2010 was a different animal. Maybe it was the $400 a night hotel rooms, or the empty, long walks to sessions in the bowels of the Austin Convention Center. In any case, at the conference, there was lots of talk about engagement, trust, transparency influence, yet the buzz was around GoWalla and Foursquare: a disconnect.

The sessions were boring at best; even Twitter founder Evan Williams was hard pressed to keep a crowd. The fact that better presentations and discussions were happening at the Social Media Clubhouse, the Salt Lick and other private parties held offsite is not a good sign for SXSW. I remember a conference that was overpriced, over-hyped, indulgence at its finest and attendees spread throughout a city: it was called Comdex. It’s dead now.

The days of the Zuckerberg-Lacy controversies are gone, because people aren’t as passionate and that’s a good thing. Passion happens when you believe in something more than anyone else. Passion is what keeps people up at night, keeps people united for a general cause and helps people find new ways to solve old problems.

The problem at SXSW was not passion. It was discipline. In only one presentation did I hear about metrics, real-life examples of business case studies or frustration. At the clubhouse, the Salt Lick and other random places I found myself, it’s all I heard: a disconnect.

There was a notable hunger for business examples, case studies, anything. In fact, the sarcasm was loud by Sunday because of the lack of real-world examples and the thick pie-in-the-sky, the social media world is full of bunnies, rainbows and lollipops.

I understand that SXSW is a collegial experience of broadening the mind. Ze Frank’s presentation was a great example of this. However, this was an investment of time and money (company money, which isn’t easy to find these days) and I left thinking I wanted more.

I met some great people, learned some amazing things and some great times, but not at the show. For me, it is the end of sxsw as I know it, and I do feel fine.

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I Walked in Memphis

March 5, 2010 · 2 Comments

The following post is an open letter I sent to my FedEx colleagues this afternoon. MC

It’s hard to believe that after four years at FedEx, the next couple of hours will be my last. Even though I’m leaving FedEx, I’m finding that FedEx will never leave me. It’s been an honor to serve with you all.

When I look back on my career at FedEx I’ll think of cold tarmacs, the screaming engines of an MD-11 and the smell of Jet-A at 2 am during Peak. I’ll think of sort facilities, writing and rewriting web content, selling the blogosphere and mornings at Starbucks and lunches at Blue Coast Burrito. I’ll think of conducting media interviews and getting so excited about what is being discussed I paid more attention to the FedEx executive rather than properly staffing the call—as long as everything being discussed was legally approved. J

The time spent with each of you is something that I will remember and value throughout my professional career. I’ve had the luxury of not only working with great colleagues, but with friends. I hope I don’t lose those friendships as I move on, but with Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, my blog and email (mattceni@gmail.com) I’m sure I won’t. Thank you for making mine and my family’s time here in Memphis and with FedEx enjoyable and so productive.

In the Bible, water is a symbol of healing, renewal and strength. For a Texan moving out of the Lone Star State to Memphis, this was a daunting adventure. But the muddy waters of the Mississippi and the community we found on the other side of the river provided my family with healing, renewal and strength—and for those reasons I thank you and will miss you.

Best,
MC

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Tagged: goodbye

How to Pitch the AP

February 28, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Some interesting insights from the two AP editors on how they prefer to be pitched. Not too surprising, it starts with plenty of leg work, an interesting story and even more interesting characters. I’ll let the AP editors tell you the rest.

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Tagged: AP, Associated Press, media relations, pitch, PR pitch

Ad Lingo Bingo

February 18, 2010 · 3 Comments

It was a Tuesday night. I engaged in a fierce battle to the death…of blackberry battery and my materialistic memory.

I entered this battle knowing that I was up against a true titan. The battle? Quote advertising tag lines that use only 3 words. Not 2. Not 4. THREE!!!

My competition? Steve Pacheco. Maybe you know him as the FedEx director of advertising. The guy behind some of the most famous Super Bowl advertisements in the history of the event. You can see what kind of superior match I was up against.

The battle waged for hours. I firmly believe he was using Google to help him, although he probably wasn’t. What he didn’t know was I used the brains of my Global Communications teammates.

And the winner was? Ad agencies. The very ad agencies who seared these unforgettable three word tag lines in the collective memory. How many can you add to the list?

MC Fly the dog
SP Be the ball.
M Taste the rainbow
C Feel the heat.
M Ride the wave
C Just do it.
M This is like ad lingo bingo
S I can do this all night. You will lose.
M Does a body good
S You broke the 3 word rule. – Quicker picker upper
M Quench your thirst
S Finger lickin good
M Takes a lickin’
S Breakfast of Champions!
M Like a Rock
S Obey your thirst.
M Snap Crackle Pop
S I’m lovin’ it.
M We try harder
S M’m! M’m! Good!
M Eat fresh
S Diamonds are forever.
M Built Ford tough
S Pause that refreshes.
M Imagination at work
S I’m a Pepper!
M Mikey likes it
S Bayer works wonders
M The real thing
S Take Me Away
M Feel the burn
S Image is everything
M Army of one
S Eat More Chicken.
M Spirit of Australia
S Citi Never Sleeps.
M Do no evil
S Look, no cavities!
M Coke is it!
S “Where’s The Beef?”
M Share the moment
S Army of One
M Already used! You lose…Philly is Phun
S The Un Cola.
M I <3 NY
S His Masters Voice
M Be a champion
S The Friendly Skies.
S 4 words…fly the friendly skies THREE WORDS ONLY
M Leggo my eggo
S Make it Mike’s.
M Good stuff inside
S A Breed Apart
M Champagne of beers
S It’s The Cheesiest!
M King of beers
S No More Tears.
M The right stuff
S Absolutely, positively overnight! GOOD NIGHT !!
M Relax its fedex. Well played
S Be Absolutely Sure!

→ 3 CommentsCategories: Random · public relations
Tagged: ad slogans, ad taglines, advertising, brand

Connecting the Dots – A Move to Critical Thinking

December 29, 2009 · 1 Comment

Earlier this month, I was fortunate to be apart of a consortium of communicators from world-class corporate communications departments including GE, 3M, GM, IBM, J&J and P&G. Truly an amazing experience and met some really smart, interesting and fantastic people. During a Q&A someone asked the chief communicators of these companies about the needed skill set in the ever-changing corporate environment. The answer was not surprising, but it was interesting.

They all agreed that while strategic thinking should be a prerequisite in communications leadership, the emergence of the critical thinker was becoming more and more in demand. Critical thinking being the ability to connect multiple concepts and ideas to form a position or strategy. In other words, they’re looking for the mashup.

The mashup will move from the online experience to the boardroom. Being a critical thinker is an interesting concept. Can you train to become one? If so, how do you do it?

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Tagged: critical thinking, mashup, strategic thinking