source: wikipedia
I used to be afraid of needles.Years ago there was a blood drive at Prudential Relocation , where I worked. So I signed up. It wasn’t so bad! In time, I had a baby, two back surgeries, foot tendon injections and a foot surgery.
Desensitizing complete.
Today I received a lower back epidural spinal injection for sciatic pain. I went in to the operating room with no I.V.. No drugs. Just a local injection and alot of trust.
So I am laying there in my stomach and thinking how technically I could tweet during this, but then I realized I do have to stay REALLY still. No tweeting. I had to lay there,Blackberry free, and use my own mind to entertain myself!
Anyway, during the procedure I thought of 3 things.
- How I got over this fear of needles.
- How social media is such a part of every minute of my life in some way. (such a great outlet) I got over fear of letting business people into my social media world. (Believe it or not, I used to keep it COMPLETELY seperate! Losing my corporate job certainly made me realize I needed to use my network better)
Similar to signing up to donate blood to get over the fear, I suggest everyone do the same with social media. Just sign up and get going. If you are being yourself, then you will be just fine! (unless you are a total dweeb, but thats for another post)
And like I do with needles, get a professional to help. 
Oh wait, I said three things? Yah.
#3 was McDonalds. I was STARVING.
What are you afraid of ? What was the exact moment you decided to start being yourself online? If you haven’t jumped in completely, whats holding you back?
Tags: bon secours, Cara Mandart's Blog, epidural, prudential, virginia beach
What to know what Social Media professionals REALLY do for a living?
The answer: Justify.
- Justify that time spent posting and measuring social conversation DOES lead to sales.
- Justify dollars spent to pay a consultant like me.
- Justify that social media is not a race, and that the slow lane is better.
- Justify that there IS an authentic way to do it, that there is a subtle finesse thats needed.
- Are you worn out reading this yet?
I said I want Tuna! Is anyone listening?
I am frustrated as I know first hand that there are valuable connections made from social media. “Just Do It,” won’t sell here. Social media connections have literally changed my life, professional and personal. So how do you explain to someone how strong YOUR faith is? They have to see and feel it for themselves. And have patience. There’s this quote about virtues I can add here but lets get back to my point.
I guess I am writing this after getting a sore throat from screaming from the roof tops. But then the sun came out. Great things have just bloomed. I am so blessed! I have been given opportunities to work with amazing people, who give me chances of a lifetime. Friends found in unforeseen places, who are always there, online and off.
I have helped saved businesses from closing shop. I have empowered others to just be themselves online. I have garnered trust that I never take lightly. Also, and more importantly, I have had others save MY business and empower ME to be my best. (even if its not perfect, but its MY best)
I love this two way street.
What are the stories of people that you met on your two way street?
Tags: blog, Cara Mandart's Blog, marketing trenches, ROI, virginia beach, will davis
Does it bother you when you see too much detailed personal banter between friends on Facebook? I’ve seen people post pics of their scars, surgery stitches, details about illnesses, declarations of undying love, even passive aggressive hatred.
There is a point when it’s just too much- but then I think, if I was with the friend in person we would talk about these things, so it’s the same. Some people whom I love don’t live nearby, so when I see their personal posts I don’t feel as if I am missing out on moments in time. We allow people who aren’t extremely close to us on Facebook, so those people are invited into some things they normally would not be privvy to. What we share openly is changing due to the tech world, which is a good thing. Real people. Real love. Real problems.
.
Do you hate it when people openly gush about love and corny personal stuff on Facebook even though they are in the same house and can just say it there? LOL – Happy Fathers Day to my amazing husband & father Chris Mandart
Tags: #recruitcamp, anjanette121, blog, Cara Mandart's Blog, Facebook, fathers day, TMI, virginia beach
My son is saving my life. Needing his mom at home is the best thing to happen to my near social media burnout. So let’s take a break from my commentary on the world of posers vs authenticity and make spaghetti sauce!
Recently my family watched Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution together. It was so powerful a show that my 9 year old doesn’t want chicken nuggets anymore. (For now anyway!) Jaimie Oliver does a great job using social media to promote the show and the ongoing message, BTW…but I digress. This show is also a great way to promote a cookbook!
I am reading “Jamie’s Dinners” where he talks about simple tomato sauce. I love his recipes as they aren’t a list of ingredients and instructions. He tells a story whilst (thats English for ya) telling us how much and what to do with it. He uses a whole red chili pepper and whole, not crushed tomatoes. He says the seeds can be bitter , that to crush it up straight away (more UK lingo!) the sauce won’t be as sweet as it should be.
So I am about to try this recipe. Then I’ll put it in the crockpot so its ready to eat later.
(Now time elapses 30 minutes. Yes , I am blogging from my kitchen. God, I thank thee for WIFI)
So far so good, now I gotta go, as I have to head to the Friends of Virginia Beach Animal Control celebration for the new city shelter. I voluntarily run their Twitter & Facebook accounts, its the most uplifting thing I have done in social media. The city has Twitter & Facebook pages that I help run too, so its double exposure. This will keep me from ever deleting my Facebook account, for sure. Its too important.
Time to crush the tomatoes. Let’s see what this Brit’s recipe is made of…
PS, Don’t just keep it in the family! Share with us here your own tomato sauce tips?
Tags: animal care and adoption center, animal control, animal rescue, animal shelter, beachpetpals, Cara Mandart's Blog, Facebook, food revolution, friends of virginia beach animal control, jamie oliver, non-profit groups, pets, tomato saucse, Twitter, virginia beach, wordpress
Danger! Social Media will make you hearing impaired. Parents, you will no longer be able to register the words “Mom, Mom, Mom!” or “Dad, Dad, Dad!” in your hearing range.
Before I explain how, let me ask you a question. Does your family feel in competition with your other friends Jon Blackberry, Sally IPhone, Mac IPad and Dr. Droid? Mine does. I started Social Media Club Virginia Beach,a small social media company and do non profit social media for free. My husband is going for an online MBA through UMass Amherst. There are five screens going at the same time in one room (TV, two laptops, and two Blackberries. ) It doesn’t matter how much non-laptop time my son does get, the damage is done. My 9 year old is now having serious feelings of jealousy and competition. He says he wants his old mom and dad back.
We’re at Red Alert. I’m past doing little things to balance tech and family time. This is why I am reducing my Black Dog Social Media hours this summer. For the family. What a wake up call. I am not rich at all, and I hate to give up business leads that I worked hard to get. But its money now or LOTS of therapy later.
I just read an article in the New York Times “The Risks of Parenting While Plugged In”. A mom wont look up from her Blackberry so her 2 year old bit her! Ok, my son never bit me but his words are just as painful, and I don’t blame him. The post says that parents’ use of technology — and its effect on their offspring — is now becoming an equal source of concern to some child-development researchers.
Just think of the things I will improve upon this summer by dedicating my time to family.
More sincere face to face conversations.
More trust.
More Monopoly (the City version rocks!) on rainy days.
More swimming, bike rides, cookouts, books, art projects: just like my childhood, the way it should be. I’ll still blog and keep a client or two. But I wont do it when my son is around. (He’s at Water Country with my husband as I write this!) I will fit the time in when he is at a friends or asleep.
What do you do to keep balance in your technology & family life? Be honest, people. Fess up your issues and lets figure this out together.
Running a monthly social media club without being paid, and starting my own social media company is time consuming, but has its benefits. Just when I thought I might run out of steam, I received a call from RecruitCamp saying they were coming to Virginia Beach and asking if I was interested in interviewing for a speaker/session leader role. The event coordinator told me that this event is un-conference style, informal and focused on helping each other get better at recruiting, understand social media and new technologies.
Hmm. I think to myself, I’m a bit gun shy to get involved, as I’ve been a part of some events that were full of people who “talk-talk” but don’t do the “walk-walk”. (Did I just say that? At least I think it was to myself, but knowing me I said it outloud.)
She continued to say that #RecruitCamp wants session leaders who actually teach information the audience can use, not just the high level, “here’s why you should use social media” banter. They don’t need fancy Power Points, just real information.
Refreshing! I’m sold! I love #RecruitCamp already!
Then I was asked about what I could talk about. I used to work with Human Resources execs in my last job, and am familiar with their vital role, finding the right person. So, I said I could teach people how to find people using crazy cool social media tools, and how to connect with them without looking like a stalker.
Oops, there I go again. I think I just spoke to casually and surely they’ll think I’m not professional enough.
Well, she responded positively and said, yes, and thats a great title, too! (whew)
And so the title of my speech was born.
I’m excited & humbled to be a part of something so valuable and fun. Job Seekers, HR professionals , recruiters, social media enthusiasts register here (spammers and bait & switchers need not apply)
Don’t miss: 
Tags: #recruitcamp, Cara Mandart's Blog, human resources, linked in, recruiter
6:00pm: I put dinner in the oven.
6:05: Sit at kitchen island with laptop, Logged into Facebook. Hear that sucking sound?
9:00pm: Jolted by smoke alarm blaring. I hear, “Mommy! Mommy!” My dirty faced kid is starving, homework still not done, husband threatening to pack his bags. Promise to try harder tomorrow. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Blackberry, blog, Cara Mandart's Blog, Career, chicken legs, community, diary of a wimpy kid, dog, engage, Facebook, Facebook Rage, followers, Friend Request, laptop, lasagna, notebook, personal branding, rachel ray, word of mouth marketing, wordpress
Crash The Original Black Dog
Yes, my company “Black Dog Social Media” was named after a Dave Mathews Band Song. My first love was a black lab , I named him after DMB’s “Crash Into Me.”
Crash was from a great breeder: honest, smart, loyal, fun and strong. All the things that are important in social media. Corny, but true.
Black Dogs are also the ones not as readily adopted from Shelters. How do I know this? Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: animal rescue, animal shelter, Black Dog, blog, Cancer, Cara Mandart's Blog, community, Concert Tour, Crash, Dave Mathews, Dave Mathews Band, DMB, engage, non-profit groups, social networking, trust agent, virginia, virginia beach, word of mouth marketing, wordpress
