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GHS Children’s #VirtualToyDrive – Make A Difference

I wanted to reach out to you. I serve on the GHS Children’s Hospital Development Council and we are hosting a Virtual Toy Drive. Below is a link to a website where you can purchase items for children who are patients at Children’s Hospital. From electronics, books, movies, even stuff for parents of children…there is something in everyone’s budget.

All items have been identified by Children’s Hospital staff as needed to help us in our efforts to go beyond providing traditional medical care. As a donor, you select and pay for an item and we take care of securing and distributing the item. Any items you select are needed and very much appreciated.

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR TOY DRIVE

Thank you for taking the time to participate in the Virtual Toy Drive and for helping make a difference!

I hope you check it out! My goal is to raise $2000.00 this year for Children’s Hospital at Greenville Health System.

Thanks,
Bobby

Having the strength and vision to pivot

A Little Coffee at Figs in Anderson, SC

I was sitting in Figs Coffee Shop downtown Anderson and met someone that knew my grandfather. Well…I guess many people in Anderson knew my grandfather. I knew him as Pop.

He was a real estate man and probably sold almost every house in this city. He spent majority of his life serving this town.

Our conversation this morning made me think about my Pop, especially when he pivoted his business. Some may ask…how do you pivot your business in residential real estate. Well…he did and I think it paid off.

In the 1980’s…there was a huge slump in real estate. Similar to what we have experienced these last few years. No one was buying and for businessmen like my Pop…you had to work *hard* for every dollar…harder and harder.

My Pop found himself in the corporate relocation business. He would help large companies like Michelin, Fugi, and other large companies buy and sell homes when they moved talent in and out of the Anderson area.

He had to innovate…he had to pivot…he had to find new ways to generate revenue while doing the thing he loved the most. He loved selling homes, but most of all…he loved helping people.

Pivoting is an interesting topic. One that I found myself teaching last year in the Clemson MBAe program. I was really teaching digital communications and marketing. But what I was really teaching…how to communicate your brand message.

Those MBAe students were creating their businesses and some where writing plans; many learning that the plans they were writing were not feasible business ideas. They had to pivot, alter their course but learn to stay true to their underlying goals and vision.

How do we pivot. Well…I do not think I have the best answer. But what I know…if you have a business that is successful yet beginning to realize the feasibility of the business model is altering…you have to be prepared to do a few things.

1) Either jump out like Seth Godin says in his book called The Dip. Execute the exit strategy.
2) Pivot – alter your course. But, you have to know your vision and be willing to alter the course in-order to stay true to your vision.

My Pop had to pivot. He did and it paid off.

I still think about him almost everyday. I would love to sit with him downtown Anderson and talk business. I would love to talk about his vision and where he sees business is growing here in Anderson, SC.

Vote for Rose

Friends,

Rose needs your help. You are a part of the honorary Rose fan club and so it is the purpose of this blog post to solicit your help.

Rose is part of a portrait contest and she needs your vote. If you go to www.RescuedByLovePortaits.com and follow the directions to vote for Rose (Contestant #22), she could possibly win but your vote could help save lives. Each vote costs one dollar and all the proceeds from the voting contest go the Bryan NICU at the GHS Children’s Hospital. The goal this year is to raise $20,000…so we need 20,000 votes.

Imagine…if each one of you voted one time! Imagine if 500 of you that read this blog post would cast one vaote…that would total $500 dollars donated. Imagine if those 500 voted twice, that would be 1000 votes for Rose amounting to $1000. Imagine if those 500 voted twice and then shared this twice blog post twice…imagine.

Imagine…Rose winning this photo contest and all the money you donate through your votes goes directly to the Bryan NICU at GHS Children’s Hospital. And even if she does not win, you have helped save lives, children’s lives.

Each of you has told me how much you have enjoyed all of Rose pictures and portraits. Tiffiney Addis has been capturing Rose from the moment she was born, literally.

Tiffiney Addis of Tiffiney Photography is hosting this photo contest in an effort to give back. If it was not for the Bryan NICU of GHS Children’s Hospital, her daughter Sadie Mae would not be here today. Last year she raised $15000 with this photo contest, and we hope that with your help we can exceed this year’s goal of $20000.

We need you to vote for Rose, contestant #22. Very simple, CLICK HERE or go to www.RescuedByLovePortraits.com and vote. Remember, Rose is contestant #22. The deadline is Friday, March 15th at 5pm. Happy Voting!

Thanks for your help!

Bobby

Reminders from those who inspired us! #Passion

So it was the other day I was cleaning out my old office and moving everything to the new location. I was looking through some old boxes, pulling out old memorabilia…and look what I found.

One of my favorite people…one of the few that I truly admired in the broadcast television business gave me this card. While working for WCNC-TV in Charlotte, NC…I had the pleasure to work on a yearly project called Road Show. We would take the news to a different city each day for a whole month…putting our main anchors and brand right in the middle of the public.

The leader of the Road Show is a very talented producer, writer, wordsmith, and cat header. Yes…she crafted the show daily with special stories pre-produced showcasing the area we were visiting. It was lots of fun, we met lots of great people…but most importantly…we really grew together like a family.

I ended up working for Allison in Special Projects after a few years of the Road Show. During my time in Special Projects, I truly grew a tremendous respect for Allison not only as creative but as a person.

I remember I had only been working directly for Allison for a few months, and a great opportunity emerged to transition to the business side of the television industry. I will never forget that night I had to tell her. I shed tears and was worried I had damaged both our personal and professional relationship.

To this day…she has been one of my strongest advocates. Why? I am not sure…but she knew I had a passion for something bigger. She gave me this card shown above during Road Show. I have kept it ever since as a reminder.

“Only passions, great passions, can elevate the soul to great things.”– Denis Diderot

I have to agree and thank you to Allison for pushing to chase my passions.

#FireSessions – The 1% is in the Chocolate Chip Gooey Center

I am such a rookie…such a rookie. I had no idea what I was getting into when I accepted an invitation from Brains on Fire to attend their 6th Annual FireSessions. An what a treat…what a treat literally. All the way down to the chocolate chip cookies.

What did I walk away with, a new found passion for Little Monsters, Social Triggers, the 1%, 146‘s of the world, and my path to purchase another Mini Cooper. Ok…you might ask what this has to do with Brains on Fire. Well, truth be told…they are just the inspiration connectors…the Fire Starters.

Who walks into a full day session with the best in the brightest in the business and walk away wanting to download every Lady Gaga album and sign up for the elite fan club know as Little Monsters?

Who walks away looking at fitness in a new way, then thinking about going to an Anytime Fitness and check out how they are empower individuals to get excited about fitness?

Who walks away searching for the worst music video ever made by Rebecca Black and understand why it has close to 50 million views?

Then who walks away inspired to look in the mirror and wonder where I stand to advocate for change? Why, because one guy recognized a need for change and all it took was the gross injustice of a small girl. His passion was representative throughout the day as it hit it’s climax when he (Rob Morris) hit the stage. I know this much…I walked away with full armor, ready to tackle the world.

The day was filled with laughter, inspiration, tears, anxiety, smiles, angst, and most importantly…unified conversation of passion. Passion to ignite our own fires. And what is so smart…so smart…Brains on Fire continues to build their tribe.

I wondered, what am I doing in the room? Why was this self-employed storyteller and university lecturer doing in the room? What did I bring to the table for this all day session filled full of keynote speakers. I walked away more educated, more inspired, more rejuvenated than any 3 day, 4 day, or week conference I have attended. It was food for the soul.

I think back to Geno Church’s session as he opened up saying, “Building Community is like gooey chocolate chip cookies, you can shape them how you want.” And I connected this to what Jackie Huba said, “We must focus on the 1% like Lady Gaga and her Little Monsters.” You know why…because a really good chocolate chip cookie is one with the gooey little center. The gooey little center is like that 1%…the part that you can shape and mold…and is worth the wait.

This day…Brains on Fire made me feel like the 1% and the gooey little center tastes so good. Thanks for the inspiration.

Happy Holidays

Hello Friends,

It is that time of the year and I hope you are doing well. Just the other day, I had someone ask me if I was sending out another Christmas card with a picture of Rose. I even still see last year’s card still hanging in some of your offices. This thought just makes me thankful for so many things.

I normally write something individualized to each of you, but I felt each you should read the same little message.

I just finished my third year of business and it is because of you, your friendship, your kindness, and commitment to our relationship that I am still able to work side by side with you. I think about three years ago and the journey I embarked upon and here we are doing some fun projects and sharing some great times. Each year we have grown together as my business has grown.

Thank you so much for being you. Thank you for everything you have done to help me become successful. And finally, thank you for supporting this business, my family, and our friendship.

Merry Christmas!

PS…if you would like to see the holiday video many people still remember from 2010…here ya go! http://youtu.be/4PpDFnxfNw0

50 States 50 Stories

I am so excited to announce that I am launching my 50 States 50 Stories initiative today. I have been working on this concept for close to a year. As a storyteller, I like to capture and share people’s stories. This initiative will give me the opportunity capture stories, interviews from people I have never met and may never get a chance to meet.

I am dropping this box in the mail today. It is off to Arizona to the first entrepreneur. Hopefully during this year long initiative, we will be sharing 50 entrepreneur’s stories on a website to be launched soon. It is up to these people to share their story and send the package to another entrepreneur who they think has a great story to share.

Soon…I will be launching the website where we will share these stories as I receive them. You never know…you might receive this box in the mail.

Happy New Year from the Cabin!

Rose is helping me with a little work, but the family is enjoying a wonderful vacation in the mountains of Georgia. We are looking forward to catching up with everyone once we return from our vacation on January 9th. Happy New Year!!!