Brandon Coppernoll Web content management, internet marketing and social media in Indiana

24Feb/090

Build for a strong future, not just a good “for now”

When are analysts and so-called "experts" in their fields going to realize you can't really predict what's going to happen in this economy? I can't tell you the number of different point of views I've heard in the past week arguing back and forth about the economy plan that Barack and his staff are putting together. It's frankly tiring, and I've ultimately decided that no one really knows what's going to happen.

I hear people arguing the new plan doesn't jolt the economy now. I hear that sure it will reduce our national deficit, but the "now" portion of the plan lacks and will be very slow in turning things around for our economy. Then I hear people completely for it, and how this plan builds a stronger nation in the long run.

I feel that none of these people can possibly know if they're right. I'd be even more surprised if anyone was absolutely right in the end. I think we're going to see several levels of successes and failures in this plan. In my opinion, I don't really want a great "right now" if that means in the near future we're going to be back in another recession with an equal or greater national deficit.

I am a firm believer in "delayed gratification" and "planning ahead." If the current plan is slow to bring us around to be out of the recession, but it firmly reduces the national deficit and giving our children a good chance to be successful then I'm all for it. I don't know what's going to happen, but I do think that the time spent arguing about if this happens or that happens can be spent on more useful things.

If you get the time to listen to analysts and experts on the economy and their views on the plan, please remember they really don't know the answers. If they knew the answers, then they'd be in a position to make those changes. Also remember our economy is very diverse and tricky with many moving parts so even the people in position are playing a chess match trying to get the best out of it. Be patient and position yourself to be successful in a down and up economy. I'm going to be striving to hit that goal. How will you proceed?

Filed under: Politics No Comments
12Feb/090

Still learning social media marketing

I'll admit that working for a creative agency such as Fusework Studios definitely has its perks, and one of them is to be able to learn more about the way the world uses technology today at much quicker rates than many individuals or businesses get the opportunity to learn.

One of our clients recently created a Twitter account, and he is trying to use it for his business. He is in the auto industry, and it's no secret that the auto industry is facing some very tough times. He created the Twitter account after changing his Facebook status and selling two cars based on that one simple change.

How did this happen? Here's my theory:

  1. Our client sells not only new cars, but he also sells classic cars at his dealership.
  2. He received new stock.
  3. He changed his status (paraphrasing), "Got some great cars to sell and wondering how to get them sold." Of course that was not exactly what it is, but in the name of anonymity I will move on.
  4. Shortly after, he was contacted a variety of ways, but was able to sell two vehicles based on one innocent thought on his Facebook status.

I'm a developer by nature, but I like to think that I can adapt and "get" new ways of thinking and doing things. One of the most interesting and compelling seeds of knowledge I'm trying to gain is the knowledge of how social media really can work. This is a great example of how it does work though. He didn't have to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to sell those two cars. He took a few moments of his time. Now he's even more driven to try new things, but I think a well-thought out plan for him will help the most.

So how am I using social networking or social media?

All of my accounts link to each other in some fashion, and some update each other in another so I can limit time spent on updating. I may not know everything about what I'm discussing here, but I'm learning from others' successes and failures.

Filed under: Career, Internet Marketing, Social Networking No Comments
6Feb/091

How should we teach our kids about finances?

This is a hot button of mine because I think we really need to include more financial education to our children, but unfortunately I don't know if I trust those that would teach it.

I recently read an article by Wish TV, and at first I was on board with what they wanted to do. The goal is simple. Educate our children about finances so that maybe they will be able to live financially successful lives. That sounds good on paper, but here's my dilemma.

The majority of adults are complete idiots when it comes to finances. I'm willing to bet that most teachers in middle and high schools would not be in the position to teach sound financial topics to give our kids the best possible shot.

Here's one of the many reasons we are in a recession. It's also one of the contributing factors to rampant debt to credit card companies and many foreclosures across the nation.

"Mr. Jones runs up $20,000 in credit card debt. He can't make all the payments. He has $20,000 in equity in his home. He consolidates all the debt using the equity in his home to be able to make payments,  but within the next year he has run up another $5,000 in credit card debt."

What's wrong with this picture? Sure he consolidated so he could have more money at the end of the month to make payments on that debt, but he goes right back to the reason he needed to consolidate in the first place by spending money he doesn't have via credit cards! This happens far too often. I have seen friends and family do this, and it really does cause a lot of issues.

I'm all for consolidating your bills if that's what you need to do to make payments, but if you're going to do it then you must change your spending habits. If credit cards got you into the mess you're in then you may want to change how you use them.

I am no financial expert, but I've learned through some mistakes of my own to not spend money I don't have. I only recently paid off my credit cards. My wife and I are doing everything we can to not spend any more money using those cards. If we can't pay off what we put on the card by the end of the month then we don't use the card.

If we institute financial education in our schools, I propose we "hire" wealthy individuals that can teach the subject. I do mean wealthy, not rich. I believe there's a difference. A lottery winner can become rich, but she can still blow all the winnings away. A wealthy person may or may not be rich, but if they lost a source of income they would be okay because they can last a long time due to the wealth they've built.

I hope if we do institute a program we find the qualified individuals. In the meantime, I'm going to keep learning, growing and working to better my financial plan and do the best I can to teach my children what I've learned. At times - the hard way.

Filed under: Family and Life, Parenthood 1 Comment
3Feb/090

Future Generations have nothing to gain

A good friend of mine recently made an excellent post on his blog title, "Are we crippling our children?" I am sad to say that I think we are. It's amazing what the world is like today - everyone's views on things. It seems in this world today you are one extreme or the other. This seems to ring true especially when it comes to children.

Let me explain.

First, I hate sports that have no winner or loser. Why even play the game? Just to have fun could be an explanation, but imagine how boring the NFL or MLB would be if there was no winner or loser. There's nothing to play for. Joe is right in his blog when he says the following:

"I see more and more children sport’s leagues going away from winning and losing. They keep no score and just play to play the game. Now like that quote on the surface it sounds great, but seriously since when is losing such a bad thing? I’m sure there still are lessons to be learned and sports is definitely more than winning and losing but I bet you if you asked professional athletes about when they’ve grown the most, almost all of them would give you an anecdote about a time when things were the most difficult, but they still we are able to overcome the obstacle and as a result were a better person for it."

This goes to just about anything in life and isn't limited only to sports. When you first started to ride a bike I'm sure you didn't just hop on and Presto! you're riding all around town. You fall. You fail. Each time you failed to ride your bike you picked up hints and clues as to what you did wrong and what you did right and eventually were able to stay upright.

Second, if you never lose then what do you have to gain, or what do you have to work for or look forward to? Had I never made any mistakes and had everything I wanted, I'm sure I'd be a completely different person than I am today, but I'm not sure that I would be a better person. I would probably be complacent thinking that everything I would ever want will eventually come.  This is only a theory, but I think I know human nature pretty well to guess that would happen.

Finally, I really hope my son (and daughter that's on her way) fails. I hope they fail a lot. That is the only way they will be able to learn how to cope and deal with disappointment and grow as an individual. There will be times when no matter how angry my children will get with me I will have to say the dreaded word, "No." I don't relish those times, but I accept them that as the parent and as the guide to their adult lives that sometimes sacrifices must be made. I will be there when they fail to help them learn, cope and grow. Eventually with whatever they are struggling with they will win or succeed, but with the failures that precede them I will rest easy knowing they have something to gain.

Filed under: Family and Life No Comments
   

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