Shannon's thoughts on marketing, public relations, social technology, entrepreneurship and other things

Shannon Mouton
Shannon Mouton

the principal at Topaz Consulting, is a relationship marketing professional, with a passion for utilizing social technology for building B2B/B2C relationships, sharing information, networking and advancing the greater good. She has over 20 years of public relations, marketing and community building experience. Her combination of political, nonprofit, higher ed and corporate experience has afforded her opportunities to build communities where none existed, develop and launch innovative programming and bridge generational, economic and racial divides.

Shannon serves on the board of directors for the In Series, a Washington, DC performing arts organization. She is a regular contributor to Women Grow Business and Discover Exceptionalism, and her blog, Shannon Sez So, examines life's joys, pains and idiosyncrasies. Shannon is the founder of Topaz Consulting, a DC based marketing consultancy with a nationwide portfolio of clients. She graduated from Mount Vernon College (now part of The George Washington University) and is a proud native Washingtonian.

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2011 (31)
2010 (74)
 

Words, Words and more Words

Words have caused wars, swayed elections and destroyed families...why?
Words have brought about change, encouraged peace and lifted hearts...how?

When written, they are scribbles and doodles you put on a piece of paper and when spoken, they are modulations and intonations riding on your breath. Words are neither good or bad, right or wrong, supportive or destructive...they are simply words. According to Dictionary.com, a word is a "unit of language...that functions as the principal carrier of meaning."

And therein lies the crux of the matter, "meaning."

The meaning of a word, it's definition, along with, the context of its use and its etymology are part of what makes words so fascinating. There are some words in the American English language that can not be said on mainstream television because of their meaning and the context with which they are most often used. There are also words certain groups find offensive because the history of the word is so disturbing. There are words that fall out of use for various reasons, and there are new words that become part of the national vocabulary every year due to new technologies or the blending of cultures.

So what's the big deal with words, why are some people seemingly so obsessed with them? Why do writer's anguish for hours over just the right word in a sentence? Why do communication professionals go back-and-forth with colleagues over articles, conjunctions and prepositions in copy?

It all has to do with "meaning," not the word's definition. The word's ultimate meaning has more to do with the reader's and hearer's perceptions than you may think. Consider this example from a fundraising appeal.

We invite you to become a production underwriter...
We invite you to become a co-owner of a production...

Both sentences are clearly asking donors for money; however, the second one has a different meaning. When you own something, it is yours; you have a right to change or alter it, build it up or tear it down, keep it or sell it and so forth. For instance, stock owners have a say in how a company is run; car owners can determine its color and home owners can make decisions about the dwelling. Is this what the writer really wanted to convey? Did the writer really want contributors to have a say in the production?

Yes, words matter...choose wisely.

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What's in your wallet, purse, briefcase or backpack and how much is it costing you

The vast majority of small businesses require credit in the beginning, and a lot of them maintain some level of credit debt while in business. The debt is usually in the form of credit card(s) because they are easy to obtain, have low monthly payments and come with long term payoff plans. All to often the business's debt is tied to the entrepreneur's personal finances because the credit/charge cards are in their name, meaning the credit is backed by their personal assets. This is a necessary not-so-good (not quite at the level of evil), which many face when making their dreams come true. Using credit cards and getting into debt are not concerning in and of themselves; rather, it is the amount of indebtedness and length of time to pay off the debts that cause the problems.

Nugget of knowledge: Credit card debt may be a way to START your business, it isn't a way to STAY in business.


Additional resources:
The Credit Process: A Guide for Small Business Owners
Small Business Loans & Grants

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via creditcardprocessing.net

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What's Important to Americans

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via mashable.com

This comes under the "other things" portion of the blog.

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Under "Other Things": A Brief History of Ice Cream

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via lemondrop.com

Though July is National Ice Cream Month, is there ever really a time when we don't eat the cool, creamy confection?

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This Comes Under "Other Things"

Your throne

Weddings can go one of two ways.

Either you’re tight like twins with the bride or groom — a sibling maybe, college roommate, or grandmother. You’re on The Inside, recommending photographers, hosting showers, renting tuxes, giving toasts. For you, the wedding is a great day, a proud moment, a chance to recognize and celebrate someone you love dearly.

Or…you’re on The Outside. You’re the groom’s doctor, the bride’s new boss, or worst of all, the cousin-date. You’re only there because it would have been rude not to invite you, so you RSVP past the deadline, squeeze into dress clothes from prom, and drink before the reception. You sit at the back table with a lot of people you don’t know and introduce yourself to at least one half of the newly married couple late at night on the dance floor during Mambo #5. “You look really great,” you scream over Lou Bega’s thumping beats, a nearly full Corona swinging wildly in your hand. “I’m Cory, by the way. I work with Linda.”

If you’re on The Inside, the entire wedding is great for you. You tear up during speeches, take two hundred pictures, and dance until the lights come up, your hair sweat-glued to your forehead, big toes popping through fresh holes in your nylons at two in the morning.

If you’re on The Outside, you’re scoping out bridesmaids, eating other people’s wedding favor chocolates, and ordering off the menu at the bar.

Waiting for you

When you’re on The Outside there is no greater wedding high than being the first table to get called up to the dinner buffet. Suddenly you’re on The Inside, honorary winner of the prestigious Gets To Eat Before Everyone Else award, dipping your ladle into Alfredo sauce before it films over, toothpicking meatballs before they congeal into sugary meat pyramids, surgically removing the perfect first triangle of cheesecake before the serving dish gets all gummed up with clumpy graham cracker paste and marischino cherry glue.

Yes, you walk back to your table a newly crowned king, sitting down at your chair-facing-the-bathroom-at-Table-#31 throne, lord and ruler of your much-too-loaded plate buried in rolled up salami cold cuts, potato salad, and gherkins.

AWESOME!

via 1000awesomethings.com

As the blog name says, "Shannon’s blog about marketing, social media, public relations, entrepreneurship and other things," this post comes under the "other things" category...sorta.

The award-winning 1000awsomethings.com is an excellent blog. It is informative, fun and reaches a wide audience with its common sense approach and writing.

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