Discovering Gifts
February 26, 2009 • No comments
This past weekend I was privileged to present a seminar titled “Helping Teens Discover Their Gifts & Passions” at the Today’s Teens Conference. I didn’t realize what a strong need this was until youth leaders started coming in to get seats half an hour before the seminar started. Ten minutes before we started the room was packed out, and we had to turn people away (I hate turning people away!). The seats were full, any open floor space was used as seating and the doorway was even filled with people. Why was this so popular?
I wonder if perhaps adult leaders also feel like they don’t have a firm handle on their own gifts and passions, and see the need for direction not only for their students but for themselves!
In the 75 minutes we were allotted, we covered a lot of ground. We talked about personality types, life experiences, gifts, strengths, weaknesses, core values, mission statements and vision statements. It was definitely not content-light!
Heritage of Marketing
February 23, 2009 • 2 comments
Seth Godin asserts that Josiah Wedgwood invented marketing. I was reminded of this today when I read Godin’s blog “Is marketing evil?”. He says ”Ever since Josiah Wedgwood invented marketing a few centuries ago, it has been used to increase productivity and wealth.”
Because my family tree apparently includes Josiah Wedgwood (through my maternal grandfather) I find it interesting that today I own a marketing & publicity company. Gives me a little to live up to, huh? However, Wedgwood and I have much more in common than a genealogy, entrepreneurial spirit and business path. We share a commitment to socially responsible marketing.