Rachel Friedmann

As I was sitting at a coffee shop in Farragut North, I got a call from Bank of America that some irregular transactions had occurred. Since I never use my debit card except at the ATM, I knew something was up. Despite my always being careful and vigilant, it turns out my wallet had been stolen out of my purse. I thankfully had driven to where I was, still had my car keys, my blackberry, and laptop. I was able to quickly search all the phones numbers I needed to call and was able to get home without having to pay for metro or a cab. I was lucky.

At the time of the call I was working on another blog post, and since my blog is about whether or not we are too connected my mind started racing. I was lucky, my wallet had been stolen, but not my passwords!! I was able to quickly cancel everything in my wallet, make a police report (gotta love when they come to your apartment), and contact all credit reporting companies. If my laptop had been hacked into and monitored, I would have been screwed. Now, if the person who stole my wallet happens to find a business card and starts reading this post – my building is secure.

Sometimes it is good to be so connected. I was able to quickly contact everyone I needed to including my family, who was able to facilitate my making calls by finding numbers for me while I drove home (yes, without a license, but what chose did I have!). All calls, alerts, etc. have been made. I am off to the DMV in the morning and am looking forward to getting a better license photo. My advice, keep paper copies of everything in your wallet at home. I lived in New Orleans for 5 years, went to countless Mardi Gras parades, and my wallet pick-pocketed in a nicer part of DC, who would have guessed.

I worry about today’s younger generation and the generations to come. I can’t imagine being in middle school or high school and having a Facebook profile. Not only do kids these days have to worry about what they’re wearing, and the popular kids, but also promoting themselves online. I’ve heard that trying to put your emotions into words for a status update is not a healthy psychological activity. Trying to identify so concisely and then feel the need to share with the world is not how we naturally operate. The younger generation no longer gets a break from social pressure when they get home from school because they immediately go online and have a second environment in which to compete with each other.

As for adults, when we have a problem or issue, or even great news we no longer call our friends immediately, we post it on Facebook and wait for a response. I have heard arguments for and against posting sonogram pictures and post-birth images of the baby before they have been cleaned off. It’s great that we share but sometimes we go overboard. We are also in the same trap as the younger generations, always being on and feeling the need to share. I understand that it is great relief for some to share their news instantaneously online with everyone, but what happened to the good old fashioned phone call?

I was first introduced to this idea in Tim Ferriss’ book “Four-Hour Work Week,” but I’ve still not mastered it. We are all to tied to our e-mail, Facebook, and Twitter. It eats up most of our time and makes us less productive. I was talking to a friend recently who sets times each day to check her e-mail in an effort to become more productive at work. For those of you, you may be considering it, check out Tim Ferriss’ blog post “How to Check E-mail Twice a Day… or Once Every 10 Days” for tips on e-mails and autoresponders to start checking your e-mail less often during the day and having more time for more important things.

Now if only I could follow his advice.

In Robert Cialdini’s book “Yes! 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to be Persuasive,” I first learned about the concept of the labeling technique. This strategy involves assigning a trait, attitude, belief, or other labels for person, and making a request of that person consistent with that label. In a nutshell, it’s an easy way of creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. Recently, I saw some Green Peace workers on the street. One person’s technique was to call out to people “hey, you look like an environmentally-friendly person.” Of course, she was using the labeling technique in order to then ask for support for Green Peace. I liked her strategy, but unfortunately it didn’t work for her from what I saw.

After Seth Godin’s event yesterday, I got to thinking about this concept. I have worked in environments, where people subscribed to the belief that they are anti-lizard brain, to use a Seth Godin’s term. Basically, the lizard brain is our innate sense of resistance for self-preservation. What’s humorous to me, is that I have noticed a lot of people who label themselves are actually the opposite. In one work environment, where people were actively reading Seth Godin’s blog, I received the most resistance to small risk-taking and creativity; because they really wanted another cog in the factory to do as they were told.

Another area where I’ve seen self labeling hypocrisy is in the DC social scene. I was recently out with people who were self-described as “genuine.” The opposite was the case. These people were the first to question another person’s “worth” before continuing a conversation. This got me thinking, are people’s self-awareness completely off or do some people strive to be something they will never be?

“Instead of saying let’s get bigger by staying average, consider staying small by being exceptional.” -Seth Godin

When asked what my ideal job would be, I immediately think doing online marketing for something I believe in – non profit or otherwise. Why? I want to contribute, make an impact, and most importantly do something I believe in. Those all sound like nice ideals, but that is the type of environment where I am my best.

As I sit here, listening to Seth Godin going on about how there are too many painters, but not enough artists, I realize we each have our own creative genius waiting to be unleashed. I am waiting for that opportunity, but maybe I need to stop waiting and make that opportunity happen. Hmmm…Bigger can mean corporate or huge growth, I prefer to be my petite and smart self.

Keep coming back for my stream of consciousness while listening to Seth Godin all day.

How many of us turn on our GPS even though we know where we are going? As I was driving yesterday, I realized that deciding whether or not to use my GPS was almost a perfect analogy to the ongoing internal dilemma we all have – to do things the way we think others would or the way we think is best.

When it comes to GPS usage, sometimes we casually pay attention to, purposely ignore it and go our on way, or rely on it heavily to find our way when we are lost. I don’t know anyone today who does not have some type of GPS in their car or capability on their phone. I see this is an analogy for how we process and produce in our work and family lives. There is no clear answer for whether or not one should always use their GPS or always follow others methods.

My conclusion is that I should go in the direction I think is best, but always have the GPS on just in case I need more direction.

NOTE: I will be going to hear Seth Godin speak tomorrow. I am curious to see whether or not that changes my thoughts on this subject.

I learned this phrase at a young age. And have incorporated it in to how I make purchases. I am a Maximizer, a buying perfectionist. I need to assured that every purchase was the best I could make – I make a lot of returns. I know most stores return policies and have even returned pet food to Whole Foods. The other category of shoppers is a satisficer. The satisficer has criteria and standards, but they do not worry as much about the possibility that there might be a better option out there – I even these people.

I think this also says something about my overall personality. I have minimalist decor with Ikea furniture and art purchased from artist friends. I try to buy organic and local and don’t mind spending a little extra for the quality produce. My pantry and frig are not overflowing as I buy what I need when I need it. When traveling, I do everything I can to fit everything in a carry on, despite the length of the trip.

So why am I blogging about Minimalist Me? Marketers need to recognize that when they are marketing to demographics that the maximizers and satisficerx are found in all demographics and therefore need to be considered when being marketed to. Next time, you market something showing what a great value your product is for a discounted price keep in mind the types of buyers out there. In the mean time, I am happy to be the Return Queen – its genetic!