Random Musings of a Former "Sports Guy"

Hornets Homecoming

2010-12-07T09:39:00.000-05:00

Being a resident of the Greater Charlotte Area for only the last 18 months, I don't really have much of a vested interest in the town's NBA franchise. Funny thing is that seems to be the same sentiment the long-time residents as well.

When you look at the 2010-11 attendance figures to date, you'll see that doesn't necessarily translate into empty seats at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Bobcats are averaging 15,334 fans per game-not bad, but those numbers place them 22nd out of 30 NBA teams.

Would the return of the Hornets nickname make a difference in those figures?

The reason I bring all this up is the Hornets are making news again in their current city of New Orleans. As a matter of fact, Monday it was announced that the NBA was buying back the Hornets from owner George Shinn.

A number of stories are now circulating that the NBA might consider moving the Hornets franchise to a better market, as the economic struggles in New Orleans have been well-documented.

So, is it too far-fetched an idea that Bobcats owner Michael Jordan approach the NBA about returning the Hornets nickname to it's rightful place in the city of Charlotte?

Back in the Game

2010-05-11T10:55:00.002-04:00

I've decided to get back in the game. What's the saying? Don't hate the player, hate the game? Well, I don't hate either, actually I'm excited about continuing my passion for sports television. Maybe I can just "do it" another way. We'll see what opportunities now present themselves.

Unverified

2010-03-23T09:57:00.000-04:00

Well, I guess I'm not cool because Twitter won't "verify" my account. I promise I am who I say I am, so maybe if I update my blog more they'll be more likely to give me the little blue verification sticker on my profile. Until then, I'm still the ONLY @coreyanderson.

Boom Goes the Dynamite

2010-02-28T08:41:00.000-05:00

When I was going over a local blogger's post this morning, I noticed at the bottom of the end page the "Boom Goes the Dynamite" kid.

Let me start by saying, if you've worked in television, you've probably had a moment like that. Which is why I can't make fun of this kid.

A little bit of back story, in case you haven't heard it...this young man was an intern at a college TV station in Indiana. The "regular" sports guy called in sick (or something to that effect) leaving this poor young man to fill-in.

It's something that NEVER should have happened. They should have had a news anchor do the sports that night, but somehow the intern got a tie and a jacket and ended up on the set (probably at the urging of some stressed-out producer).

Lucky for me, I don't have one of those moments saved in a digital version that I can readily share with you. But, Lubbock, TX was a great place to grow up on television (and have moments similar to this) because everyone shared pretty much the same talent level-so you didn't feel too bad if you had a screw-up. I usually made fun of myself anyways because if you can't make fun of yourself, you shouldn't make fun of anyone else.

"Boom Goes the Dynamite", keep that phrase in mind the next time you see someone struggling in front of the TV camera.

Notice the Name Change...the Blog, Not Mine.

2010-02-25T16:12:00.000-05:00

I have decided at last to change the name of my blog. "New Business Development" is what I do for a living, but that topic is not generally an entertaining read. Probably why my postings have gone silent. Now, sports on the other hand, THAT can elicit all sorts of responses. So can humor (or at least what I think is funny) or, really, any topic OTHER than New Business Development.

So, for my first post, uh...post-New Business exclusively will be about pranks. Who doesn't love a good prank (ok, wife not allowed to answer this).

Well, here's one of my all-time favorites...enjoy (as long as you have a sense of bathroom humor).

More Networking

2010-02-22T20:52:00.001-05:00

Another great networking event tonight held at Del Frisco's by a new group I just joined, the Charlotte Business Professionals. I'm looking forward to what this group has to offer in terms of business relationships. My first meeting was very successful on the business card exchange, and I think I found a few people I might be able to help in their career endeavors. Of course, you never know about someone until you...well, get to know them. I'm just hopeful I can help someone better their standing in life.

Lines in the Water

2010-02-17T13:13:00.000-05:00

So, maybe you've heard the phrase, "Lines in the Water." Well, I'm beginning to think that should be the "theme song" for building new business. It's like fishing, the more lines you have in the water, the more likely you are to catch something. We have plenty of people interested in our services, but still waiting for more signings on the dotted line.

This has been quite a departure from 15 years of "instant gratification" or at least by 6:30pm everyday I knew if I'd done a good job or a bad job. I believe what I've done here is a good job, and I hope the fruits of that labor will show up soon!

Long Time no Post

2010-02-02T11:13:00.000-05:00

A very sincere apology for anyone who has been reading, or "trying" to read, my blog with no new posts in the last few MONTHS. I've been trying to figure out (again) the best way to proceed with this measure and I certainly haven't been telling anyone lately to "follow my blog" for obvious reasons.

I need to clarify that I have been working hard at Mindstorm Communications here in Charlotte building new business. Just because there are no "tangible" announcements about new clientele, doesn't mean that people aren't interested in us.

Actually, I just returned from the PGA Tour Merchandise Show where I made plenty of new connections that could turn into business partners down the road!

I'm looking forward to seeing where these new leads...um, well, LEAD!

Joining Forces

2009-12-04T09:09:00.000-05:00

Sorry about the layoff there, but as you'll see in the following lines, I have some exciting new challenges ahead with a new position at Mindstorm Communications (www.gomindstorm.com). Friends of mine, from Twitter actually, have asked me to help them cultivate new business for their design firm. I'm happy to help!

Really, it's not much of a departure from what I was doing with my own venture, CAn-Do Media. Here I will be responsible for Social Media Marketing and New Business Development. I can offer a much wider range of services, including more traditional marketing services, than I ever could by myself.

Those who know me best know that I am fiercely loyal to those who give me a chance when I need it the most. It's a great challenge and I'm looking forward to it!

Where the Heck?

2009-11-05T21:49:00.000-05:00

Yes, I admit it's been a few days since my last post but there's been so much happening that it's hard to put all my thoughts to paper (or the internet in this case). I've had a number of VERY GOOD meetings this week with a number of well connected people. Was it luck? In many cases, yes...but I'd like to think it was also through sheer will and dedication that I was able to make these contacts.

One of them gave me a GREAT quote, "The harder you work the luckier you get!" Words to live by.

I've also had some help from some REALLY GOOD friends that I would stand in front of a speeding bullet for, if it came to that. They mean that much to me. They gave me the gift of education in a venture outside of television. They've been there, done that. It means a lot to me that they would trust me with their information and knowledge to make a better life for myself.

So I can't discuss all the particulars just yet, but I would like to say that networking pays off and it's something that I really thrive on. God willing, I'll be able to make a living building relationships.

Chad Ochocinco's Marketing

2009-10-28T10:57:00.000-04:00

Yesterday's post was about pro athletes and my thoughts on interacting with them. Well, you probably figured that would lead me into today's topic.

Chad Ochocinco. No matter what you may think about the guy, you kinda have to hand it to him for being a great marketer. Now, I'm not saying I'd coach guys to "be like Chad" because no one can be like Chad but Chad.

I've seen him hold court with reporters and no matter the question asked, he still finds a way to answer in "Chad's Way". He is marketing his own brand every time he's in front of the camera. Call it "selfish" or whatever you want, he's promoting a brand. (He IS capable of answering in cliches as well-sort of...)

However, we can also learn lessons from Chad Ochocinco's Twitter page. It's not necessarily in what he says in his Twitter stream, but WHO he follows.

You won't catch many "dudes" in there unless they are fellow athletes, like Takeo Spikes of the San Francisco 49ers. Oh no, from the looks of it, Chad likes to follow "the ladies". And what an interesting bunch they are, just check them out. So remember, some people may be watching who you follow not what you say.

Again though, that's Chad's "brand" and his team is doing a great job of marketing it.

Pro Athletes

2009-10-27T16:53:00.001-04:00

Over my 15 years in local television news, I had the privilege (or in some cases-was NOT so privileged) to rub elbows with a bunch of professional athletes. I respected all of them, liked about half of them and associated with none of them.

Then again, I was trying to keep the lines VERY clear because as a reporter, you're eventually going to have to write or report something REALLY bad. Covering the Michael Vick case was a perfect example.

I can't say I ever disliked Michael Vick, I never knew him personally and didn't try to "get to know" him. Each time I spoke to him "off-camera" he was cordial, but clearly he wasn't going to trust tall skinny dude with a microphone in his hand (yes, I AM taller than Mike Vick-but who isn't?).

The point of this story? I would take the challenge of helping a guy like Michael Vick reshape his image. I would prefer to help them shape their image on their way up because most of these guys are talented, educated and completely self-sustaining. It's just the way they interact with the public that might need some tweaking.

Mike still has work to do. But, send me a challenge-I'll take it.

"The Power of Who"

2009-10-26T13:49:00.000-04:00

I don't do many recommendations through my blog (at least not to this point) because my opinion is many times different than the readers' opinion. HOWEVER, I will say that I read an amazing book over the weekend called, "The Power of Who" written by executive search firm owner, Bob Beaudine. You can follow Mr. Beaudine on Twitter as well and so, I recommend doing both.

Let me explain something about my reading habits: I don't have any outside of ESPN.com and a few other various sports websites. And that's one of the tasks in "The Power of Who", to unleash your "inner reader". Good advice b/c I was only 3 chapters into the other book I've been reading when I picked up this one. Now I can go finish it too.

The book isn't about reading books or how to read books, it's more about networking and a new way of thinking about networking. I'll let you read it first because I don't want to spoil all the fun in the pages. But leave this blog thinking Mr. Beaudine's very impressive point: you already know everyone you need to. What to do next, then? Read his book to find out.

Down in Tampa

2009-10-23T17:32:00.001-04:00

My brother Justin and I have made it down to Tampa safely and it's great to check in on the family. The agenda for my time in Tampa is as such; there is no agenda.

Actually, I'm really looking forward to making it up to Orlando to catch up with @CatrionaHarris and her husband, Mike. Yeah, he's fallen to "her husband" status. That's just a joke.

Mike and I first met at the University of South Florida and he was gracious enough to help me get my start in television as an intern at WFTS in Tampa. Now, that could be the reason he's fallen to "her husband" status, but hey...everyone's vision is 20/20 after the fact. (Another lame joke).

Seriously though, I owe my entire television career to Mike Harris and I'm glad he got out of TV before me so he could give me all the details about what it's like to venture into a new career.

Social Media Breakfast

2009-10-22T11:57:00.000-04:00

I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Charlotte Social Media Breakfast this morning and it was nice to see such a big turnout. We had the opportunity to listen to @BrandonUttley talk about Public Relations and how companies are currently using technology to get the word out instead of the antiquated fax machine.

Every time I got a fax, it went into the circular filing cabinet and most of the time when I received an email from "certain" people, I knew I could just go ahead and delete it. Phones? I never answered my desk phone.

Of course all the above was behavior exhibited as a reporter because I was always chasing stories that were popping up in Social Media (well, for the last 2 years anyways).

Now, according to Brandon there is technology available that allows public relations firms to make press releases more interactive. A brief search revealed a number of companies trying to develop this technology but he told us about one company doing it right, Pitchengine.com.

I'll let you research the site and decide for yourself, but my opinion is that it's a very interactive way of providing information and increasing the chances of getting your message in front of as many eyeballs as possible.

Enlightment

2009-10-21T10:45:00.000-04:00

You know when the light goes off in your head and you say, "Ah ha!"? Well, I had my "ah ha" moment this morning at a monthly networking session hosted by GMR Marketing in Uptown Charlotte.

Speaking today was long-time Branding Expert Greg Economou, most recently of the Charlotte Bobcats. Economou spoke about the importance of values and highlighted many ideas about business you might not expect to come from a former 2-sport athlete at the University of Connecticut.

Economou admittedly doesn't have an MBA for many of the same reasons I chose not to pursue one, mainly the time factor. He's got what he describes as a self-taught MBA, which I find to be just as valuable as what many would consider a "real one". What Economou brings to the table is a wealth of experience, having owned 2 businesses in sports logo and brand development, the first of which he sold and eventually bought back. Imagine the experiences and lessons that are learned in those 2 transactions.

So here are some of the notes he provided us with and they are GREAT speaking points, so write them down!

On the subject of "brands" and "branding" I thought that he brought up 3 very good points. However, I want to drop in his last speaking subject prior to those bullet points. In today's environment with the addition of Social Media, EVERYONE is a brand.

How you look and present yourself is part of YOUR brand. If I started posting only the type of material you'll find in my last blog entry, you might say, "What is this guy trying to get across?" Well, that's part of my personal brand. I find laughter and humor in almost everything, but I can take things quite seriously as well. I have to constantly be aware of my own personal branding on a daily basis. Which leads me into his first point...

1. There has to be brand definition. That's everything you build the brand with. The architecture of your brand is part of your brand. He gave the example of Dallas Maverick's owner Mark Cuban. People may not really like or appreciate Cuban's "antics" on the court or in front of the cameras, but he has built the Mavericks with his brand of being a well, Maverick!

2. Economou's next point was "Know Your Core Values". This applies to everything. Getting a job, a client, whatever the case may be, you'll want to highlight at least 4 of your core values. Here's the trick though, you've got to believe them yourself or no one else will. You've got to sell yourself and present what you bring to the table. In case you're wondering, Economou listed his as:

Passion
Integrity
Work Ethic
Teamwork

What are your core values?

3. Finally, Mr. Economou talked about "Brand Identity". In other words, do your pictures equal your words? What are you doing to protect and promote your personal brand? Sage advice for those interviewing for new careers.

BONUS NOTE: You have to master your subject matter. What ever it is your selling, pitching, marketing, talking about, interested in...know it forwards and backwards. Why would anyone interested in Karate owning nothing more than a white belt get into the ring with a black belt? Master your kicks for them to be most effective (he didn't provide that quote-I made that one up myself).

Those were just 3 of his points, but in 2 hours, there were plenty of details I have to leave out of this blog post because I don't want to ramble on for ever. I do think it's important though, that we all take something out of those three points the next time we walk into a client or an interview. Actually, think about them everyday and how you might apply what Mr. Economou spoke about in your daily life. Maybe after reading these notes you will have that "ah ha" moment as well!

Also, in case you're wondering about my core values, don't hesitate to ask, I'll be happy to share them with you.

Never Say Never

2009-10-20T09:41:00.000-04:00

OK, so we've all heard the old saying, "Never say never". Yeah? Well, you can rest assured that in this particular blog you'll "probably not" see anything about politics.

Sharing what you had for breakfast in a social media setting is one thing, but when politics start creeping in, you have a REAL opportunity. A LOSING opportunity.

As soon as you start talking about your political point of view, you are likely to infuriate, anger, tick off (or worse LOSE) one of your closest social media friends.

You may not mean to. Maybe it's a innocent link to a Conan O'Brien sketch of a Sarah Palin impostor shooting the "Masturbating Bear". (Seriously, what's NOT funny about a "Masturbating Bear"?)

The above is proof there's always a chance you can lose half your audience. When thinking about talking politics in a social media setting, just remember the "Masturbating Bear". You still there?

Fixing a Flat...

2009-10-19T23:12:00.000-04:00

You may be surprised to know that this is about the 3rd incarnation of this blog. I've messed with different colors, logos, schemes, fixes, additions, subtractions and played around with about every option "Blogger" has to offer.

I'm not hating on the look because I do work hard at keeping up with it, but the most annoying thing to me right now is that those words in the title bar run over my logo! I'm sure it's an easy fix that's right under my nose, but I've kinda given up on it because I plan to be moving this very important information to WordPress in the near future.

Speaking of which, I've had some issues with hosting and blogging and WordPressing and a bunch of other "ings" today (is there a money-ing?) and the greatest time wasted was on my "smart" phone. Dumb phone quit receiving email about 2 days ago and boy is it tough doing business with NO EMAIL!

A number of people from Sprint were nice enough to help me out today and I'm just hoping it doesn't take another 6 hours to go through and delete all these duplicate contacts and calendar events. Ah, technology. Always so much to keep up with, especially in your blog.

Which incarnation is this now?

My Previous Career

2009-10-19T11:57:00.000-04:00

So a few people may be curious about my previous career since the Charlotte Observer article was posted and I wanted to provide a little more detail.

For the last 15 years, I've been involved in different aspects of "traditional" local media from internship to running satellite feeds at WFTS in Tampa to my last position of Sports Producer at WGCL in Atlanta, GA. From the age of nine, I wanted to be a sportscaster and I was able to live that dream out in the nation's 8th largest television market-exceeding my wildest expectations.

Here's proof:

Not that I need to prove myself, I just wanted to share what I did previously as a way to lend more credibility to my new business venture, since the "new media" is still foreign to a number of folks. And that's OK!

I don't go out in the Charlotte community pitching myself as an "expert" in the social media field because I don't believe anyone can be an expert in an emerging field and it just rankles me to hear some people position themselves as such.

Where I can benefit clients is as a "life raft" from traditional forms of marketing and advertising over to the new variety of social media platforms that are available! I know because I've been involved in BOTH! Please let me know how I can help you!

I Just Made the Paper?

2009-10-19T10:37:00.000-04:00

When you know you've got work to do: Here's a story posted by our friend and Charlotte Observer writer Jeff Elder (you can follow @JeffElder on Twitter). Jeff writes about the 2nd edition of BarCampCLT from his perspective. And I like it.

I like his article, not because he mentions me or my former career, I like it because he makes note of the fact that the city of Charlotte has such potential if only people knew where to look. The attendees at BarCampCLT were some of the smartest people I've ever met. Some had college degrees, but I bet a few did not. Remember when a college degree was all that "mattered?"

Well, if you are a business owner or an individual in Charlotte, there are people surrounding you that can help you in ways you probably never thought possible. They have different backgrounds and interests, but they're all pretty good at getting you where you need to go. Don't be afraid to get on the ride because the people you meet through conferences like BarCampCLT are tommorow's Bill Gates. Even Jared.

So, I've got work to do now that Jeff has been kind enough to link my social media consulting business in his article!

More Coming Soon...

2009-10-18T21:09:00.000-04:00

Looking back on this past weekend was like looking back in time where I actually paid attention in college (yeah, first two years at South Florida didn't account for much). The education I received at #BarCampCLT (the CLT stands for Charlotte in case you're reading this 'out of area'). Just imagine 2 years of grad school crammed into 8 hours of ONE DAY!

Not just any 8 hour day though, it was an 8 hour day that included learning whatever it is you wanted to learn from people who already knew what they were talking about. A real challenge as well for them to throw as much information at us in a 45 minute window they possibly could. Technology, concepts, comedy and more were all included in this adventure put on at Area Fifteen in the NODA area of Charlotte.

I personally learned how to make webcasts that DON'T SUCK from @techherding, SEO and online marketing from @CoreyCreed, more about managing my social networks from @dizzySEO, and discussed the future of journalism with a panel hosted by @underoak. The good news is that I wasn't TOTALLY clueless about any of the topics-the bad news is that I still have a lot of work to do to catch up!

This blog post is the first of many more changes you'll see...

The Week Ahead

2009-10-12T09:38:00.000-04:00

I really am looking forward to more blogging this week. There will be plenty of events and meetings to talk about. I don't know how you guys feel but sometimes I get an idea and I don't neccessarily want to share it with everyone right away. Maybe I can just copyright my brain?

Seriously though, I had a couple of good thoughts come up last week and I feel if I put it out there for everyone to see and consider it will be such a good idea I won't be able to make it work for myself. Not that I'm against sharing in the blogosphere, quite the contrary. I enjoy brainstorming with my local crew because I can see them face to face. I also enjoy the "national" crew, but as with all things social media, there's an intense desire to share but also to "get ahead".

So what's the perfect balance between "sharing" and "keeping it close"?

Good Monday Morning

2009-10-05T10:20:00.000-04:00

Gotta hop on the phones it looks like because the email in box is on "E", which in car terms means EMPTY.

There are many challenges ahead, but as I mentioned on Twitter this morning, one may receive MANY rejection letters in a lifetime but it's what he does with them that matters.

Lucky for me, rejections over the phone don't stick around as long as paper!

The Basics

2009-10-04T21:17:00.001-04:00

One of the most annoying parts of my previous career in "traditional" media is that I became a hawk for spelling and grammatical errors. When newspapers had a misspelling, I'd gasp. When websites posted with a grammatical error, I would cringe. And now when blogs have BOTH-I want to...well, lets just say I want to hit the "stumble" button on my browser.

Now, you may ask, "Why is that annoying?" Well, having to catch grammatical and spelling errors every day of your life can get to be pretty insane, since those two things say so much about you the person-and my aim was always perfection. Attention to detail is so important and I was never satisfied with those type of errors from anyone else, much less myself!

Of course, not everyone cares, but they should. If I see a misspelling or grammatical error, I am less likely to find your information credible. Now, if it's a one-time error, I get that...but if I visit your site more than three times and the same error exists, I'll probably move on.

Just one recommendation: do a proof-read of your own work before you hit "publish post". It's a good carry-over from "traditional" media to the "new media" landscape.

The Future

2009-10-02T20:07:00.000-04:00

An excellent Tweeter and former journalist himself, @ScottHepburn recently posted on his blog about Duke Energy hiring another Charlotte-based Twitter professional, @LisaHoffman.

Is her hiring the start of the future for local Fortune 500 companies, or those companies in general? That's the question we're all asking.

In the meantime, the rest of us will go on trying to bring attention to good people like Scott and Lisa.

"What is Social Media?"

2009-09-30T10:47:00.000-04:00

I had the opportunity to speak at a BNI Networking event this morning and was excited to tell everyone in attendance about @CAnDoMedia. Funny thing happened along the way though and one gentleman came up to me afterwords and said, "What exactly is Social Media, can you give me more details?"

This may be an obstacle you face in your daily dealings with others who have shied away from Social Media outlets to this point, they may feel like they are in the dark. That's why I am here-to guide them into the light. I think I did a pretty good job explaining the basics, but I tend to keep it simple because I'll fully admit to still being in "learning mode" myself.

We all have to admit that the answer to "What is Social Media" can change on a daily basis and I really hate giving the "Twitter" or "Facebook" canned response. Are you surprised when someone doesn't know what Social Media is? How do you go about explaining it to them? I'm guessing everyone's answer is different, making this a pretty cool discussion.

Logo Delay/Client List

2009-09-28T09:15:00.000-04:00

Our sweet, loving cousin Emily has been nice enough to make up our company logo which I'm excited to show you guys. The only problem is that Emily is always busy with a "real" job, plus she was traveling all day yesterday. So, we didn't get it in last night for the production of our business cards to begin but I'm hoping that by Wednesday we'll have 'em ready to pass out.

In other news, (haha, I stole that line from my last career) we're excited about building our client list this week. We've got a number of prospective clients that we're going to be following up with and my lovely wife Sara may have scored us a future client last night. It all comes with asking questions of people and with that in mind, we should be able to help a lot of customers!

Off to the Monday races!

Admitting Your Weakness

2009-09-26T11:21:00.000-04:00

Many men don't like to admit to being weak in any area. I have NO problem with that because I am admittedly weak at art and design. I never took a single art class-but do consider myself quite creative. However, it's much easier for me to come up with an idea and explain the concept to someone else.

99.9% of the time, the artists come back with something better than what I had imagined. One of the things television taught me is that you can assemble the best people, but if you don't step out of their way and let them do their job to the best of their ability-your production will be the one to suffer first. Then, ultimately, your income will suffer as well.

You should never be afraid to ask for help. And don't be afraid to hire someone that might be better at your job than you are. You just have to find the balance and stick to what you're good at!

Web Analytics

2009-09-25T20:34:00.000-04:00

Recently, a friend of mine recommended a book to me. This was no "Oprah's Book Club" kind of book. It was the kind of book even a year ago I would have RUN away from. Luckily, she has great perspective as her husband is a small business owner as well. And, since I'm starting one of my own, I figured I'd give the book a shot (even though it took me 4 years to pass College Algebra).

OK, so the name of the book is "Web Analytics Demystified", written by Eric T. Peterson. Outside of adding "Sitemeter" to Coen's Blog, I've never really had the need to dive into analytics since college. I was somewhat scared to dive into it, but seeing as they didn't have the book at the local Books-a-Million I was spared from having to read it for now.

Until my friend refers me to the first few pages on a Google search of the book. So, like Michael Phelps into water, I dove right into the first few pages-forcing my brain to actually "WORK". So far, so good...I'll let you know how the rest turns out. At least I don't have to take another College Algebra class.

Daily Blogging

2009-09-25T20:12:00.000-04:00

Yeah, I uh...um...haven't been good about blogging daily. (English teachers would LIGHT ME UP over that first sentence, but...)

Look, I am doing my best to keep up with all the changes and pressures that come along with being a stay-at-home dad who is looking for full-time work, while at the same time trying to line up the launch of my new business, CAn-Do Media.

Speaking of which, I don't really know where to put all this blog "stuff". I mean, I have Coen's Blog that has not been updated lately, my business blog (which I won't even bother to link at this time) and the "personal" blog you're currently reading. Really, too many blogs to keep up with-I need to narrow it down to just two.

First, I think it's time this blog gets a new name because I believe I have found my career calling. It's just totally not anything close to what I thought I would be doing. The good news is that I achieved all the success in sportscasting I could possibly have hoped for when I was a 9-year-old and came up with the crazy idea to be on TV in the first place.

I actually feel like I've turned into somewhat of a "nerd" with all I've been learning about the web and Social Media-the basis for my new venture. But being a "non-nerd" didn't earn me any more money or make me any happier. So, I'll give the "nerd" thing a go. Plus, I've met a lot of other "non-nerds" now trying their hands at "nerdom" so off into the wild digital wonder we go...(The English teachers also probably hated the way I wrapped this entry up, but again...)

So Much Work

2009-09-18T08:08:00.000-04:00

One thing I like about hunting for a new career is that I can use this time between careers to really work on my creativity. I have finally had the time to pick up Photoshop and start missing with that and have been inspired to work on my Twitter background. I have not provided the link because quite frankly, it ain't done yet!

So I've had a few people interested in my business idea, just a matter now of lining up "pitches". I always thought I'd be pitching a TV show before a business idea, but the world of social media pretty much eliminated the television work. I will say though that 15 years in television is going to be good for a lot in the social media world when it comes to posting video on customers blogs!

The other difficult issue I'm facing right now is settling on a name for my business. Bottom line is, I've got plenty of work to do, but at least I'm allowed to be creative and no longer feel like a caged animal in Corporate America.

Opportunity?

2009-09-16T08:30:00.000-04:00

With the explosion of social media like my Twitter feed, which you see on the right column, businesses will soon get the message that this is something they should take advantage of. It's basically free advertising at this point, so you might want to utilize it!

In that regard, there will be people that have the acumen to operate the businesses' social media platforms and quite frankly, many business owners just don't have the time!

So, as I sat in the chiropractor's office yesterday, I saw a local business woman that I've met before. We had talked about the cool atmosphere they have to offer and so I was following up with her, asking about Twitter and how's she's using it. Well, not to my surprise, but she was NOT using it at all. If only she knew how many local people were on Twitter and might take advantages of offers she made through the site.

I told her to let me teach her some of the ins and outs and see if we can make them some more money along the way. It's all about opportunities and where you find them. Just by doing a little research and asking a few questions, I might stumble upon what I really want to do!

Networking Breakfast

2009-09-15T12:42:00.000-04:00

Decisions, decisions. For example, do I keep posting to this blog about my frustrating career hunt? Well, logic creeps in and at first, it doesn't seem like anyone really cares about what's going on except me--then you run into a situation like this morning and it "clicks".

Really, it's not about "me" and "my" career. It's about everyone else. How can I help THEM?

I met some AMAZINGLY talented young individuals, some still in school working on their MBA's, some already in the business world looking for their next career assignment. I was blown away because when I was growing up it was, "Corey you have to have a college education to compete with job-seekers." Now, it's more like, "Corey, you SHOULD have KEPT GOING to school to compete against tomorrow's job applicants."

The only advantage that I have is a full 15 years of career experience and contacts that have developed, and now I'm willing to share with them. Because it's not about what you "get" in the career search, it's about what you "give". It ain't the life you chose, it's the life you live....

Are those lyrics copyrighted?

Resume Update

2009-07-20T13:36:00.000-04:00

Well, it's quite humbling when people really go out of their way to help you while you're in the unemployment line. For example, a Twitter friend, @juliaerickson went out of her way to touch up my somewhat dated resume recently.

It's just one act of kindness, but a big act. The response to what she did was immediately rewarding (just ask the first viewer, my wife @tarheelsara). Calls have been coming in left and right with suggestions on openings I should pursue.

@cloudspark actually told me about another exciting opportunity which I started exploring first thing this morning.

So, to have these type of people in your corner is quite overwhelming. Here's a look at what Julia did to my resume (you can see original in previous posts). Keep in mind that the layout looks much different outside of Blogger format. Just email me if you want the "official" version.

COREY ANDERSON
3394 Pendley Rd. (678) 656-3318
Austell, GA 30106
coreyanderson11@gmail.com

LinkedIn Profile
Blog
Twitter Feed

PROFILE: Dynamic, collaborative broadcast producer and leader focused on bottom line finances and audience development. Relationship-builder who thrives on multiple challenges. Creative thinker and engaging presenter who reports national and local stories with compelling, original angles. Experience in multiple markets; willing and able to relocate.

CORE CAPABILITIES

Producing Brand stewardship
On-air presence Digital and Social Media
Strategic planning Video editing: AVID, Final Cut Pro
Internet solutions Website content development
Blogging Digital pictures/video

EXPERIENCE

WGCL, Atlanta, GA 2005-Present
Producer/Reporter/Anchor
Produce and anchor national sports shows and report local sports stories in the 8th largest US television market, reaching over 5 million viewers. Coordinate efforts for department of 5. Work closely with 12 production staff and 5 engineers. Collaborate with sales staff to deliver high-quality sponsorship placement.
• Produced specials for top-tier sporting events including the Masters, the Super Bowl, Bowl Games, NCAA Final Four, South East Conference (SEC) Championships, and Georgia/South Eastern Conference football.
• Expedited production of in-studio and on-location programs and created powerful local SEC coverage through strong working relationships with production team.
• Planned and implemented new hour-long weekly sports special with hyper-local format.

WBTW, Myrtle Beach, SC 2002-2004
Sports Director
Anchored daily sports broadcasts that reached over 100,000 viewers. Supervised staff of twenty.
• Successful managed coordinating video feeds from multiple remote locations.
• Delivered original, diverse story concepts in short and long-format broadcasts.

KAMC/KLBK, Lubbock, TX 1999-2002
Weekend Sports Anchor
Anchored weekend sports broadcasts attracting more than 260,000 viewers. Coordinated with production staff. Prioritized daily taping, editing and interviewing processes under strict deadlines. Conducted multi-media research to identify current topics for broadcast.
• Produced in-studio and on-location programming for local Big XII Conference coverage.
• Awarded 2nd Place by the Associated Press in Best Sports Story category in 1999.

WFTS, Tampa, FL 1997-1999
Feed Coordinator
Maintained daily feeds through multiple sources. Developed rapport with talent and photographers to expedite remote broadcasts.

EDUCATION

University of South Florida. BA, 1998.
Communications Major; focus on Interpersonal and Organizational Communication.

AFFILIATIONS

National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Member Southeast Chapter
Atlanta Press Club, Member
Sigma Chi Fraternity, Alumnus

Big-Time Update

2009-07-20T10:00:00.000-04:00

OK, so it's been a while since I updated my "personalized" blog, and it's been a while since I updated Coen's Blog but now I'm back to work on both, PLUS Marcy's "Think Pink" Blog so, as you can see I'm keeping myself busy.

Here's a question you might be asking: How do you do all this with a full-time job? The answer is easy: I no longer HAVE a full-time job. As is the case with many people around the country, "traditional" sports staffs are the first to be cut from news organizations and my position was eliminated.

So, I'm here to get EVEN MORE familiar with the changing media landscape. I know and understand that my next full-time position should and WILL include a social media component. How this will all fold in to my nearly 15 years of "traditional" media experience is the question that has yet to be answered.

In the meantime, I'm working on all these blogs, using my twitter account, @coreyanderson and my LinkedIn profile to connect with others and get opinions and share experiences to find the right opportunity!

Networking Success

2009-06-02T10:38:00.000-04:00

How do you define networking success? 5 new business cards? 20 new business cards? Or do you measure by way of a LinkedIn profile addition? How about a Twitter follow? I judge my networking success on a simple "Hello". Did I say "hello" to someone today? How many people did I connect with? Can I tell right away if they will be a long-term connection or short-term to connect to another contact?

Well, the answer to the last question, at least for me, is yes. However, I'm very careful to remember that just because someone connects you to another contact, it doesn't mean you can all together forget who got you there.

I remember one case of a person calling my sports office, only to talk to the news director. So, they know me through someone else, but their "destination" is the news director because that's the person with the hiring authority. Then, a few months later, this particular person calls again to see if I've talked to the news director about them. Really?

Folks, it's important to remember that it's not about the destination, but WHO got you there. Now, when this person calls, I allow my voicemail to pick it up. Maybe that's rude, but I know that in the end, if that person got a job at my office, I'd be the LAST person they talked to.

Can't we just start with a simple "Hello"?

Social Networks and The Resume

2009-05-21T11:02:00.000-04:00

Corey's Social Networking Links and another post of the resume:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdFwCHYnjj4

http://twitter.com/coreyanderson

http://profile.to/coreyanderson11/

COREY ANDERSON
3394 Pendley Rd.
Austell, GA 30106
(678) 656-3318
coreyanderson11@gmail.com

OBJECTIVE:
To secure a challenge that will take advantage of my leadership, relationship-building and creative thinking skills.

WORK EXPERIENCE:
WGCL, Atlanta, GA
Producer/Reporter/Anchor 2005-Current
· Produce in Nation’s 8th largest television market, reaching over 5,000,000 viewers.
· Coordinate efforts for department of 5 to produce specials for 2005-08 SEC Championships, 2005-08 Bowl Games, 2007 Super Bowl XLI, 2007 NCAA Final Four, 2005-08 Masters, 2005-08 Georgia/South Eastern Conference football.
· Build relationships with production staff of 12 and 5 engineers to expedite production of in-studio and on-location programs for powerful local S.E.C. coverage.
· Plan and implement new hour-long weekly sports special with hyper-local format.
· Maintain department scheduling, coordinating days off and vacations for staff of 5.
· Report local sports stories with compelling, original angles.
· Collaborate with sales staff to satisfy sponsorship placement.

WBTW, Myrtle Beach, SC 2002-2004
Sports Director
· Anchored daily sports broadcasts for station, reaching over 100,000 viewers.
· Supervised staff of twenty while coordinating video feeds from remote locations.
· Delivered multiple story concepts in short and long-format broadcasts.

KAMC/KLBK, Lubbock, TX 1999-2002
Weekend Sports Anchor
· Anchored weekend sports broadcasts for station reaching 260,000 viewers.
· Coordinated with production staff to produce in-studio and on-location programming
for local Big XII Conference coverage.
· Prioritized daily taping, editing and interviewing processes under strict deadlines.
· Utilized multi-media research skills to identify current topics for broadcast.
✓ Best Sports Story, Associated Press, 2nd Place 1999.

WFTS, Tampa, FL 1997-1999
Feed Coordinator
· Maintained daily feeds through multiple sources.
· Developed rapport with talent and photographers to expedite remote broadcasts.

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS:
· Social Media interaction including Twitter and Facebook.
· Website content organizational skills including blogs and digital pictures/video.
· Strong knowledge of video editing via AVID and Final Cut Pro.
· Able to handle multiple tasks and perform well under deadline pressure.
· Creative ideas.
· Presentation skills.
· Brand stewardship.
· Strategic planning.
· Competitive intelligence.
· Internet solutions.

EDUCATION AND ORGANIZATIONS:
University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 1998
· Bachelor of Arts in Communication with emphasis on Interpersonal and
Organizational Communication.
· National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences-Southeast Chapter
· Member, Atlanta Press Club
· Alumnus, Sigma Chi Fraternity

In Charlotte

2009-05-21T10:36:00.000-04:00

I'm happy to be networking tonight at the Whitewater Center here in Charlotte, NC. My wife, Sara is from Fort Mill, SC which is just outside of the Charlotte city limits. It seems as if Charlotte has a wealth of opportunities, despite the near 11% unemployment rate in the surrounding areas.

A Job-Hunt Solution?

2009-03-07T01:04:00.000-05:00

I must have cranked out 25-30 resumes this week.

Truth be told, It would have been, more except everyone asks you to stop and "fill out an on-line application". Which, would be fine except, all the values are different! So, I have to make a spread sheet with names, addresses, numbers of previous employers and e-mail it to myself so I have it at EVERY computer I'm on during the day. However, not all of the values are the same on each of the websites, so I end up just typing over and over the same thing instead of copying and pasting, which would be less time consuming.

That may sound like a little bit of whining, but it's really motivating me on a great idea. How about we centralize the U.S. application system? I mean, you could have ONE web page with all your information, and just upload or provide a link as needed. Companies could instantly download your information. Employers would already have you "in their system" and could sign you up for further job alerts, etc. all through one point. It could be like a "dating service" for professionals!

Companies might look at my resume or YOUR resume and go, "Eh, next!" That short response all because you had a "systems" job previous to the "communication" job you are currently applying for. But, they can't tell a THING about you from looking at a single piece of paper! Get to KNOW me, it's all about WHO you know, right? Well, how do you get THERE?

I'm working so hard at my current job, I don't have time to get out to the local pub and go, "Hey, I'm Corey, nice to meet you, sorry gotta move on to the next potential contact." A centralized system with a videotaped message might at LEAST get you a call back. But then again if you're ugly...uh...see this is opening a can of worms.

I don't know, it's late so it was sounding like a good idea in the beginning, but I'm just waiting for a representative from HR to put bullet holes in my theory.

What do you think?

Job Hunt

2009-03-04T22:34:00.000-05:00

I've taken a few months off this blog while I work on my son's and try to crank out as many resumes and network with as many people as possible. Now, I'll bring you up to date.

I have been applying for Communications jobs, keeping it really broad in the beginning. I have 13 years of television experience that has brought many different skills, including-but not limited to-public speaking. I like and enjoy speaking in front of groups and feel I can connect with any audience.

The problems I'm encountering in trying to enter the corporate/PR world are numberous. Let's begin with the people that have been in those occupations for 13 years and are out of work. They are beating me with their resumes. I have to get some good fortune and get in front of people to prove my skills are transferable, which they are.

If you have suggestions, please don't hesitate to contact me via e-mail at coreyanderson11@yahoo.com or you can follow me on Twitter @coreyanderson

I really look forward to your responses!

Corey

Everyone Has a Nose...

2009-02-03T11:02:00.000-05:00

Recently I heard from one of my Twitter contacts @GayleHoward that my fun little video with my 3-month-old son, Coen did not correctly speak to my "brand". I agree with her to some extent, but the idea of that video http://tinyurl.com/ajv8kc was to get you to visit this site. I also heard from @buckeyeresumes on Twitter, that he also believed that the video was not of a very high quality and might negatively impact people's opinion of my work.

Let me just assure the general public (like the above contacts) that the quality of the video is NOT a reflection of my work or work ethic. I simply wanted to catch your attention with a little humor, and if you scroll down on my blog you can see more broadcast-quality work that I'm very proud of.

The title of today's entry indicates exactly what @GayleHoward said, "Opinions are like noses, everybody has one". I just want your opinion of my to be accurately reflected professionally, however when you do meet or call on me, you'll meet a guy with a sense of humor!

Gaining Momentum

2009-01-31T10:32:00.000-05:00

Coen has now been embedded in other websites and is getting good responses, at least on the humor. We're up to almost 500 views in just 2 days! Sully is doing his part too, as you can see...but he mostly just lays around wondering when the next time to play outside is going to be.

We do want to remind everyone that this IS a serious career search. It's just that dad has a sense of humor, and that's the approach we're taking to set ourselves apart from the competition. As any good career professional should do, he's listed on LinkedIn and his public profile can be found here: http://www.linkedin.com/in/coreyanderson11

Everyone is welcome to leave comments and suggestions, we just made our video as a way of gaining attention because we're determined to put Corey's resume in front of as many people as possible. Again, we hope this approach sets us apart from other potential employees. A little creativity never hurts, right?

Building a Following

2009-01-30T23:56:00.001-05:00

We just want to thank everyone for taking the time to view Coen's very supportive video for his dad's new career search. In just about 2 days, Coen's all-star appearance has generated almost 400 views (as of Friday night).

Again, we invite you to scroll down to see his original video in support of his dad, or all the way to the bottom to review his dad's resume. Keep the hits coming and before long, dad should have a new career!

The Andersons

New Career Search Day 1

2009-01-30T18:27:00.001-05:00

In case this is your first stop on your web journey, take a look at how our son is helping his dad find a new career. Thanks for all the amazing feedback!

Corey's Anchoring Skils

2009-01-30T08:47:00.000-05:00

Corey has great communication skills, he's appeared on television in the Nation's 8th largest market. So, delivering a presentation or speaking in front of cameras comes naturally to him.

Corey's Resume

2009-01-29T11:06:00.000-05:00

COREY ANDERSON
xxx
xxx
xxx
coreyanderson11@yahoo.com

OBJECTIVE:
To secure a challenge that will take advantage of my leadership, relationship-building and creative thinking skills.

WORK EXPERIENCE:
WGCL, Atlanta, GA
Producer/Reporter/Anchor 2005-Current

* Produce in Nation’s 8th largest television market, reaching over 5,000,000 viewers.
* Coordinate efforts for department of 5 to produce specials for 2005-08 SEC Championships, 2005-08 Bowl Games, 2007 Super Bowl XLI, 2007 NCAA Final Four, 2005-08 Masters, 2005-08 Georgia/South Eastern Conference football.
* Build relationships with production staff of 12 and 5 engineers to expedite production of in-studio and on-location programs for powerful local S.E.C. coverage.
* Plan and implement new hour-long weekly sports special with hyper-local format.
* Maintain department scheduling, coordinating days off and vacations for staff of 5.
* Report local sports stories with compelling, original angles.
* Collaborate with sales staff to satisfy sponsorship placement.

WBTW, Myrtle Beach, SC 2002-2004
Sports Director

* Anchored daily sports broadcasts for station, reaching over 100,000 viewers.
* Supervised staff of twenty while coordinating video feeds from remote locations.
* Delivered multiple story concepts in short and long-format broadcasts.

KAMC/KLBK
Lubbock,TX 1999-2002
Weekend Sports Anchor

* Anchored weekend sports broadcasts for station reaching 260,000 viewers.
* Coordinated with production staff to produce in-studio and on-location programming for local Big XII Conference coverage.
* Prioritized daily taping, editing and interviewing processes under strict deadlines.
* Utilized multi-media research skills to identify current topics for broadcast.
✓ Best Sports Story, Associated Press, 2nd Place 1999.

WFTS, Tampa, FL 1997-1999
Feed Coordinator

* Maintained daily feeds through multiple sources.
* Developed rapport with talent and photographers to expedite remote broadcasts.

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS:
• Strong knowledge of local and national news.
• Strong knowledge of video editing.
• Experience organizing website content including blogs and digital pictures/video.
• Able to handle multiple tasks and perform well under deadline pressure.
• Creative ideas.
• Presentation skills.
• Brand stewardship.
• Strategic planning.
• Competitive intelligence.
• Internet solutions.

EDUCATION AND ORGANIZATIONS:
University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 1998

* Bachelor of Arts in Communication with emphasis on Interpersonal and Organizational Communication.

* National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences-Southeast Chapter
* Member, Atlanta Press Club
* Alumni, Sigma Chi Fraternity