Saturday, July 8, 2017

Street People, By Choice Or?

Street People, By Choice Or?
by Nicholas Ashton, CEO/CIO, CommSmart Global Group

Every city has street people or homeless.  They congregate downtown and cause issues and for political correctness, the issues are left to be a social blight by councils as they don't want to be seen opposing people's rights.

People's Rights!  

Someone who is shouting obscenities, smoking a joint, popping illegal drugs, using needles to get high, pissing against business doors/walls and throwing excrement filled socks at passers-by or the police is normal?

Downtown businesses and their employees have the right to conduct business and to be able to walk the streets to work without the need to be fumigated once they arrive at their office, don't you think?

I experienced this the beginning of the week as I took my twice daily walking sabbatical through the downtown streets of the city of Des Moines.  Right in the heart of the greatest insurance companies, banking giants, law offices, and other general business where this collection of miscreants that could kill a cockroach at twenty paces with their unkempt appearance and hygienic failings. 

I mean they stunk!

Now from some of the actions of individuals, you could tell without being a doctor or playing one on television, that at least half of them had mental issues. Not just mumbling to themselves, but shouting in plain English, but making no sense whatsoever.  Their attire was strange but then, what is normal fashion today? They stood out like a sore thumb and are being allowed too because of what?

Our society turns it's back on the downtrodden whose luck has run out for some reason or another.  They became societal outcasts and are driven further and further into the pit of despair.

Then there are those that want the lifestyle if you can call it that.  Many are Veterans who served their country who have true mental challenges and will not trust anyone at all.  

They say that 30% of all homeless are suffering from mental illness and are left to fester on the streets of any town, USA.  Ignoring them and allowing them to continue is a sickness in itself and within so many governments organizations and should be addressed forthwith, as it is only going to get worse.

Concerns for mental illness are being voiced about many individuals in our society, including all those under the daily pressure of doing their job.  Public safety departments, the police who are placed at the forefront have an immense strain on their lives, which not only affects them but their families also.

Just a thought as we all enjoy our weekend...




Telephone:
USA: (515) 200.7068
Europe: 072 4059420

copyright 2017


Thursday, July 6, 2017

Social Media Is Your Local Marketing Communications Friend


Social Media Is Your Local Marketing Communications Friend
by Nicholas Ashton, CEO/CIO, CommSmart Global Group

Advertising has always been the avenue to draw and attract business, costly too! A gamble if you wish, as you must have a direct message, an actionable message in attracting purchasers of wares or services.  

It is all about directness and nothing more stands out than the absolute growth of the 'Fingers & Thumbs' technology of Social Media Interactions.

If you, as the founders, leaders or CEOs of your business or corporation, YOU are not on board with dynamic social media marketing, you are failing your own mission, investors, shareholders, and clients!

Just like ignoring the cyber attacks and criminal Internet activities which the C-Board swept under the table.  Look where that got us!

Communications has always been at the forefront of the human race or animal kingdom.  From initial grunts of our cave dwellers to the sound of the wolf, communications have been the warning sign of impending doom or the broadcaster of news from the town crier.  Look at your own daily life and think of how much or how less you speak, gesture and command communicational skills.

Social Is Local Is Social...

You trust more information from a friend or co-worker, more than Google search engines.  That personal recommendation has far more weight than a typical search engine.  That is why your 'finger and thumb' activity plays such a major role in marketing when you understand it not all about 140 characters.

It is all about the # hashtag, graphics, photographs, and video.  

How do we know?  We practice what we preach!  It was our clients who told us they liked our direct social media style and wanted to understand how we were being so successful in reaching our audience and we should show others our so-called secrets.

So we are, with Digital Dialogue and our Digital Gathering Place information.  Communications have teachable moments within marketing and information dissemination.  Our symposiums have proved that!

Stop missing out on simple usable technology and please open your eyes and ears to the signs of the times.  As a business leader you may own an iPhone, Smart Watch, and Mac, but do you really know how the rest of the world is communicating?




Telephone:
USA: (515) 200.7068 - (330) 366.6860 - (515) 300.6130
Europe: 072 4059420






Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Were They There?


Were They There?
by Nicholas Ashton, CEO/CIO, CommSmart Global Group

Yesterday at the 'gatherings' of friends, neighbors, colleagues and many people you had no idea who they were, were they there?

You know that one person or family who absolutely you want to avoid at all cost. It is like you are the magnet that attracts them to you.  Once they engage with you, you cannot get rid of them.  It is not that you are anti-social, it is, well...  

Where you go, they go!

You know their pattern of conversation and the subject matters you dare not broach.  If you do, the rest of the event you are attending is most distasteful and being rescued is not an option.

That is the problem with gatherings!

Physically attending holiday or celebratory events, no matter if it is family, friends or a public event, there are those that you see the warnings about from afar and just hope they pass you by. You feel like scrunching your eyes shut and transport yourself to an island in Costa Rica.  You know that is not going to happen or is it?

Like boarding a plane, getting comfortable as others filter congestedly down the aisle, with one character standing out.  

You know the one with the fidget personality or coughing and sneezing, rubbing their nose and mouth as they scan the seat allocation numbers.  

You are thinking, please do not sit next to me, or behind me and spread whatever pox you have. 

They pass and what you thought was some normal person sits next to you, the next three hours is hell and you have your ear bombard with questions, opinions and a diatribe of wasted words.  

The pleasures of flying and attending events are as eye-opening as ever.  Yes, a gathering can be annoying, informative and fun, if you gather in your own way, remotely.  

Meaning that the ability to be part of something but not physically there is more achievable than ever.

Social Media, the Smartphone in your hand is a fantastic escape route and more are talking on it than ever.  Oh, it is a social transportation system of the possibilities of portable reality.  Dreaming with your eyes wide open and connecting with a global gathering like never before.  Learning, conversing and all within your own 'finger and thumb' space.

Oh, back to reality, it is, let me look at my clock, 3:15 a.m. and the workday has begun, the muse of the day is minutes from being spread to billions of people who have nothing better to than surf the social media interactions of the moment.  Starting their Wednesday, which to us in America, is a Monday, after the fourth of July celebratory day off, with the overstuffed bellies and additional gas from the extra portions you thought you had to have.

Oh, my gathering, relaxed, no hotdogs or burgers, just unpacking from the move into a new realm of social and business excitement.  Thinking, planning and knowing life is good in the metropolis if you let it be.

So as you gather this morning, look around and see the social change that is occurring each and every moment.  How connected or disconnected you really are.  Knowing that out there in the social finger and thumbs world there are those that cannot put down their connectivity and insatiable appetite for information, data, and gossip.  A marketing opportunity second to none, when you know how to utilize correctly.  It is not just a social tool, it is the vast collective pot of opportunity.

You are as close to everyone with this sociable device in the palm of your hand, which when used by corporations, businesses, friends, and family are connectivity of the Art of the Possible.  

Believe it or not, 'Social Is Local Is Social'

Welcome to the Gathering World of Fingers & Thumbs...




Telephone: 
USA: (515) 300.613 or (330) 366.6860
Europe: 072 4059420

copyright 2017









Monday, July 3, 2017

Forgetfulness is Costing You In The Back Pocket!

Forgetfulness is Costing You
In The Back Pocket!
by Nicholas Ashton, CEO/CIO, CommSmart Global Group

Money, it is costing you buckets of money, not just a penny here or dollar there, real money!

It is hard enough to earn, why are you wasting so much, from leaving lights on, dripping water faucets, taps to us British, drafty windows in winter for heat loss, etc. The list goes on and on, it all adds up or does it?

Take light bulbs, boy have those changed!  Gone is the time and money spent by Edison and Telsa in developing the light bulb which we now take totally for granted. The filament is gone, all that time that Edison grew bamboo and other plants trying to work out what strand could conductive electricity. 

Now a wacky shaped light bulb that certain costs more because of the European Union.  Yes, a political lighting change demanded by a bunch of people sitting in Belgium with nothing better to do that try and rule the world. Good choice Great Britain, on your exit from power hungry political has-beens. 

Yes, people leave the lights on and not just at Motel 6. if you are using the newer bulbs it is peanuts to use some say, but a sackful of peanuts takes up space. 

A friend was curious if there was a lightbulb or a way that he could get a lightbulb/light to shut off within a certain amount of time. Not too short, not too long. Maybe a good hour or so would be ideal. It was his roommates that continually left the lights I told him there is so many Internet of Things (IoT) switches and gizmos which would cost more than the savings.  

Why not teach frugalness?

The new fangled bulbs are best, a 13w (cfl) or compact fluorescent lamp left on for 300 hours in a month will cost somewhere between 25 and 40 cents. Split that three ways with the roommates, you're fighting over a dime.

Although come to think of it, the price of using electricity has skyrocketed from my days as a child. My mother installed an electric coin box which took British florins, two bob back in the day.  

The meter was in the cellar, down a rickety staircase, so when the lights went out due to lack of coinage, you had to take your life in your hands into a dark adventure into the darkness.  Placing the money, which she left on top of the meter in the slots. That is if she had remembered to leave money there!  If not darkness until she got home!

So is forgetfulness dangerous?  Sure it is all of us brothers certainly slipped and fell into the then coal cellar of iniquity or the pit as we called it!

Just a penny-pinching thought whilst watching the downtown lights of Des Monies, Iowa and thinking what is the city paying for lighting up the streets. While security is one important factor, it does have an air about a lite street with shadows of trees move in the wind. 

But Des Moines has nothing on Sin City, I mean from an electric usage point of view!

Just a Monday morning thought.  Excuse me while continuing on a power guzzling computer, listening to all electric/digital news and weather.

Just another Monday...




Telephone:
US: (515) 300.6130 or (330) 366.6860
Europe: 072 4059420

copyright 2017