This past week, my students and I communicated with a few of our clients using Skype. It’s easy to see why Time.com named Skype.com one of the “50 Best Websites 2009.” (By the way, if you haven’t used Skype before, it’s really very easy to use — and video calls are free!)

I think we love Skype because we get to SEE the people we’re communicating with — we get a “visual” to go along with a voice or an email. One of my students said, “It’s great to see a face to put with a name!” She’s right.

With email and the telephone, a device seems to get in the way a bit — the computer, mobile device or phone delivers a message, but we don’t see the person behind the message. Through email, phones and devices, our one-to-one communication is facilitated by the media and its technology, but the “people connection” is impeded.

Skype facilitates our communication AND it lets us see and connect with a real person — a smiling face. We like that — and we love Skype.

Until next time,

Kathy Magrino

I shared these six brainstorming tips with my students last week. (They’re creating advertising campaigns for the Jersey Shore, but these tips can be helpful for anyone in business…)

“Brainstorming” encourages us to think creatively or “outside the box” — and in life, in general, it can help us tackle daily challenges. Whether you’re brainstorming alone or in a group, the same basic steps (outlined below) apply. And, remember: There are no restrictions! Brainstorming can be — and should be — FUN!

1. Review the facts, then consider the facts in new and varied combinations.
2. Make a list of random words, ideas, phrases — anything that comes to mind — as you’re reviewing the facts and considering the ideas. (Don’t rule anything out! List everything you think of, no matter how “crazy” it may seem.)
3. Think about your “audience” or the people involved in whatever you’re brainstorming about (for my students, the audience would be the people who are going to read the ad, or hear the radio advertisement or see the tv commercial, etc.). Think about how these people’s lifestyles can/do relate to your ideas — and don’t forget to write down everything that enters your mind… Keep telling yourself that anything is possible!
4. Find analogies and relationships — you can consider what you’re brainstorming about and think about how it might be used differently, or what it would be like if it were alive, or relate it to a completely different type of item/person/movie/song… whatever.
5. Continue to develop your ideas by asking key questions: Who?… What?… When?… How?… Where?… Why?…
6. Don’t be afraid to link together and connect ideas by following your intuition, gut feelings and hunches… and simply continue to be “free” as you brainstorm all the possibilities.

Brainstorming can be a good exercise to develop your problem-solving skills… and you might be surprised by the successful outcome of your brainstorming efforts! Have fun… and good luck!

Until next time,

Kathy Magrino