Jeff Pedone

What have you promised?

What was the last promise you made? Did you promise someone you would love them forever? Did you promise yourself you would go on a diet, be a better parent, give more to charity, watch less tv? Perhaps you promised to be more tolerant of others, call that friend you have been meaning to, or perhaps you just promised to enjoy life more and worry less.

Making Promises

We make promises all the time, to ourselves, to the ones we love, to others at work or school, even to our pets and through our spirituality. We fulfill these promises to a greater or lesser degree throughout our lives. Some require hard work, others are easy to fulfill, but we back out at the last moment driven by fear or the unknown.

Keep Your Promises

My view, don’t make a promise you won’t make every effort to fulfill. Be honest with yourself about your capabilities and measure if you have the bandwidth and potential to make it become a reality.

Promise Me…

Do you have the passion, desire, resilience, and guts to fulfill the promise you made, or are about to make?

Millennium Development Goals

In September of 2000, nine years ago, the nations of the world met at the UN Millennium Summit and declared in partnership to establish what was to become The Millennium Development Goals. In 2004, the first Millennium Village is launched in Sauri, Kenya by The Earth Institute to aide the poorest and most remote villages in meeting the MDG’s. In September 2005, four years ago, Millennium Promise, the only US-based international non-profit organization with a specific mandate to help meet the MDG’s is launched. In September 2008, one year ago, a high level event on the MDG’s is held in NY. Bill Gates remarks that the MDG’s are the best idea for focusing the world on fighting global poverty. In January 2009, this year, the Obama administration plan for foreign policy states they will embrace the MDG’s.

Our Collective Promise

You can help fulfill the world’s promise – a promise we all make to each other to take care of one another, to help those in need, to embrace that better part of ourselves and share our wealth, talents, strength, and hope.

Millennium Promise

Join me in supporting Millennium Promise.

http://www.millenniumpromise.org/site/PageServer?pagename=home

http://twitter.com/EndOfPoverty

http://www.standagainstpoverty.org/

Out of Touch, Me?

Most of us would tend to believe that we do not live sheltered or detached lives. We work, raise our families, travel, access the media, and continually interact with other people. So, the thought that we are somehow out of touch with reality is not only an insult, but beyond the pale of reason.

The Issues

This question, however is the most important one you should be asking yourself if you do not know enough about critical world issues such as: extreme poverty, the necessity of clean water, the scourge of malaria worldwide, patient capital, empowering women across the globe, bottom of the pyramid, social entrepreneurship, humanitarian workers at risk, The Millennium Development Goals, and more.

Time…To Act

If there were perhaps two, three, or more of the issues listed above that you might not be familiar with, or only have a passing idea of, then it’s time. Time to get more educated, time to take part, time to become a part of our common humanity and act.

The Real Deal

I am not here to diminish any other causes that you may be a part of or I may be ignorant of. I’m not trying to make you feel guilty or take praise away from the constant struggles many of us face daily, involved in the important work of our daily lives, far from it. These are not easy times for many of us who may have recently suffered a lay-off, medical emergency without adequate health insurance, or are living in situations or circumstances that are not of our choosing.

Join Together…Find Hope

What I am proposing is that alone, you are like that person living under the rock – scared, confused, disheartened, limited. However, if you band together, join with others who can share with you, educate you and you them, trade resources and support each other; it is there that we all find hope and a way out.

We Can Change The World

We are all citizens of the world, living here at the same time – some better off, some much better off, some on the edge, not really living, just existing. Yet, this movement, the availability of information and others to empower and connect with you can truly change and save the world.

Follow Me, Follow Us

If you’ve read this far, I ask you to please take the next step. On my Twitter account,http://twitter.com/JeffPed, I tweet regularly concerning many of these issues. Follow me and and begin to discover the true heroes behind this social media movement that will eradicate the worst of humanities social ills. Explore, challenge, dismiss, reflect – but, do yourself a favor and begin to crawl out from under that rock. I’ve begun to dig out myself and the feeling is life affirming!

Dear Mr. Kaye:

I recently found out that you joined Millennium Promise as their CMO. For those reading this post, other then Mr. Kaye, the Millennium Promise vision is to end extreme poverty worldwide in our lifetime. The mission of Millennium Promise is to support the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals to halve extreme poverty in Africa by 2015. Millennium Promise works with impoverished communities, national and local governments, and partner organizations to implement high-impact programs aimed at transforming lives on the continent and engaging donor nations, corporations, and the general public in the effort. Their work is premised on the belief that, for the first time in history, our generation has the opportunity to end extreme poverty, hunger, and disease. Their website can be found here: http://www.millenniumpromise.org/site/PageServer?pagename=home

Most of us who have worked in marketing for an extended period of time know your work and achievements. They are stellar and your work building brands with Time Warner, Diageo, Vivaldi, Coca-Cola, & Nestle sets the standard for innovation, strategy, and digital media we all follow.

It is with great excitement that I read you joined Millennium Promise as their new CMO. Finally, an organization that is committed to instituting the vision of Ray Chambers and Jeffrey D. Sachs, among many committed others, has the leadership in the marketing realm to make it come true.

I speculated upon the process you undertook to come to your decision. You, like me, must share that common goal of thinking of what you want your legacy to be. I look at my family, into the eyes of my kids, and find no greater purpose or mission then to be an advocate and supporter of the vital work of Millennium Promise and other organizations that, “get it!”

Over the past year I have been deeply immersed, through social media and private outreach, in helping The World Food Program, http://www.wfp.org/, social entrepreneurship, micro-financing, and bottom of the pyramid ventures. I’ve had the great and recent pleasure of meeting Jacquelyn Novogratz, leader of The Acumen Fund, http://www.acumenfund.org/ and Tweet daily to help new ventures such as Melissa Richer’s Ayllu Initiative, http://aylluinitiative.org/ , transform lives in Brazil.

There is truly a transformation taking place in our global society, one that allows us to touch our deeper humanity and utilize our skills and passion to change the world. This is our time, with leadership such as yours in critical organizations, to make possible worldwide goals to end poverty. Naysayers be damned, our collective will cannot be defeated!

Thank you, again Mr. Kaye. I am on board in any way I can help.

Most sincerely,

Jeffrey Pedone

Awakening

In the past six months an awakening of sorts has occurred within me. Issues that merely occupied a small segment of my heart and life mission suddenly took on a renewed importance and catalyzed into a lasting commitment.

How To Get Involved

When I mentioned in an email to my last CEO that I wanted to find a way for the company to end world hunger he was all for it; It was me that failed to take it to the next step. Two years ago, while thinking of new entrepreneurial ventures with purpose I could start, I thought of matching donors with great causes on the net, other organizations have now taken this idea and happily run with it. And last year, while reading Jeffrey Sach’s The End of Povery commuting on the train to NYC, I kept ruminating on how to get involved, how to move my passion to the next level.

Emblem of a Generation

This transformation is not unique, I am joining a generation of Millennial’s and Y’s (although I precede them) who have made a commitment to helping others the emblem of their generation. It is so refreshing to see and witness their altruism and selflessness, as they put their brains and energy behind social entrepreneurial ventures.

The New Heroes

Say what you want about the efficacy and utility of Twitter, but in these past six months I have discovered some of the most remarkable people I have ever met. In their tweets and on their blogs, Flickr pages, Facebook, Linkedin etc…they are raising issues, taking on the established ways of thinking, and building true communities of believers. This says nothing of their work and the great strides they are making. They are raising money, changing attitudes and transforming people’s lives. These people are the new heroes, plain and simple.

Why Should I Care?

It is my hope, and if my words do not fail me, the contribution I hope to make at this point, to get the word out to others. I’m hoping to target those who are not in the movement, those of us who, like myself up until a few months back, thought about these issues but had many other things on their radar screens. The many millions who are hard workers and great providers for their families, those who may be involved in philanthropy or giving and consider the efforts of these groups important, but supplant it with other causes.
My hope is to reach out, as well, to those who do not know the first thing about social entrepreneurs and why they want to change the world. Those who have other goals, other motivations, and are content to proceed along without hearing about these matters.

Get to Know Some Remarkable People

Initially, I only ask that you click on the links to the three people and organizations below. It will only take you a few moments and hopefully you will discover why I am so captured, why I have bought in, why I am devoting this blog to helping them and other social entrepreneurs. Please let me know your thoughts.

Jacqueline Novogratz

Jacqueline Novogratz – The Acumen Fund: http://www.acumenfund.org
http://twitter.com/acumenfund
http://twitter.com/jnovogratz
http://www.thebluesweater.com

Melissa Richer

Melissa Richer – The Ayllu Initiative: http://www.aylluinitiative.org
http://twitter.com/ayllu
http://melissaricher.wordpress.com/
http://aylluinitiative.org/blog

Scott Harrison

Scott Harrison – Charity: Water: http://www.charitywater.org
http://twitter.com/charitywater
http://twitter.com/scottharrison
http://charitywater.tumblr.com/

Rylant & McClure’s Important Work

Cynthia Rylant just published a wonderful book titled, All In A Day. The illustrations by Nikki McClure couldn’t be finer, cut-paper art.

Bookish

It gives me a great deal of pleasure to stroll the isles of the Barnes & Noble children’s section looking for wonderful gifts of language and life to bring home to my children. We are a bookish family, since the kids watch virtually no television, aside from a tennis Grand Slam every now and again, and we spend quite a bit of time reading to them.

From Cynthia Rylant to Me to You

Rylant’s new work did strike a powerful chord recently with me and I wanted to share a few lines and my take on them:

Hope & Kindness

“A day brings hope and kindness, too…a day is all its own.” – No matter what, there is hope and renewal and second chances and the opportunity to share kindness with others. Get involved in something other then your own world, reach out to others.

Start Again

“You can make a wish, and start again, you can find your way back home.” – Superb! You can pick up and begin again, renew yourself and your life. You can return to the source of your passions, dreams, and teachings.

Chances

“A day can change just everything, given half a chance.” – Every day gives us the opportunity to grow, to change our lives, to correct errors, to right wrongs, to breath fresh, again.

The Power of Now

“The past is sailing off to sea, the future’s fast asleep. A day is all you have to be, it’s all you get to keep.” – Live in the present. The power of the moment, Now. Focus on those things you love, those things you can change for the better, those people in your life who mean everything. Embrace life!

The Day’s All Yours,

“So live it well, make it count, fill it up with you. The day’s all yours, it’s waiting now…See what you can do.” – These words need no commentary.

What Will You Do With The Gift of Today?

We all have the power to make a day something remarkable. We can take this gift and help others, teach, create, grow, and prosper. If we begin this moment and not waste it.

What will you do with this day?

First Date

Throughout my life, I have always been the person who could be described as passionate, driven, entrepreneurial, idealistic and optimistic. In fact, when my wife and I first met one of the first date conversations we had was our views on realism versus optimism and whether we each were more aligned with the glass being half full or half empty.

Opportunity Knocks

In the intervening months since the downsizing I was a part of, so many new avenues of opportunity and learning have opened up for me. Although I worked in the marketing industry for many years and began my foray into social marketing years previous to my downsizing, the most recent months have elevated my connections, expertise, and thinking well beyond the level I would have been able to had I not been given this time.

Teachers

My teachers in this new field of endeavor, Brian Solis, Chris Brogan, Jason Baer and the inspirational Eric Harr to name a few, are raising the bar every day on Twitter and in their blog posts. It is an evolving area of marketing and so much like the early days of my entrepreneurial adventures that it is exciting where it may lead.

The Deep Dive

If you are a research and deep dive hound like myself, you uncover layers upon layers of bloggers, organizations, and people doing great work out there, I often find myself making so many new contacts that are aligned with my interests, it is full-time work.

Join…but prepare for change

Since the world is truly flat, you can be sure to find others who share your beliefs. We can join each other on our missions to do good work through new social media endeavors. My advice; give it some time, be proactive and not annoying, and realize that as soon as you learn the ins and outs of this new form of communicating, it will change again.

Inspiration?

When was the last time you were inspired? I mean, truly inspired, so much so that you changed some aspect of your day, character, thought pattern, life and didn’t know where it would lead?

The Unknown

These days, between blog posts, tweeting, and interviewing, I find myself searching for that type of inspiration. Perhaps it is my desire to reach back to my purer and more idealistic self, but wherever it emanates from it is propelling, no hurling me, this blog, and my future into unexplored territory.

Authenticity and Authority

You see, I value the written word, the act of creating story from blank sheet of paper, up there with the highest manifestations of life. I’ve studied the great authors, dabbled in poetry and realistic fiction, and have always kept some sort of journal or chronicle of my days. It was great to see that social media has allowed all of us to capture our lives and share them with others. The debate now in most social media circles seems to be authenticity and authority.

Penelope

One of the people I follow is Penelope Trunk, not her real name, aka the Brazen Careerist. Her blog is here, and Twitter is here. Whether you agree with her or not, she does seem authentic. Her posts are sometimes raw and revealing, sad and silly, insightful and timely.

What’s to Come

I had a few issues I wanted to write about over the past few days, and will eventually ( Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s speech on world hunger, why we are not all great writers and social media content creators, and the recent report by Forrester regarding the increase in email spend by 2014, and the clutter it will create). However, this idea of inspiration has been hard to shake and therefore I took it on.

My Work in Progress

I’ve changed the thrust of my blog toward the intersection of social media marketing and generosity. Call it philanthropy, cause marketing, corporate social responsibility, social cause marketing – pick your term. I plan on using my marketing and life talents to inspire others to utilize marketing for the betterment of society. How I will accomplish this task is a work in progress.

Begin Now

Let us start first with inspiration. Today, this moment, find some inspiration in your life. Be it another person, something you read or observe, a cause you truly believe in and will fight for, an issue that disturbs you, a wrong you can begin to make right, a relationship in need of repair, something inside of you that needs to change. Then go about dealing with it, now, in this moment. Don’t worry about the past, don’t concern yourself with the future, begin in the now and make an effort.

Venture Forth, Safely

Let me know what you picked, how it is going, if you need a hand in some way, perhaps I can help, maybe not, but reach out. Then reach out to others and connect in an authentic way. My bet is that these relationships will lead to inspiration as well. Remember, be safe, take care out there in the varied and unpredictable world, but venture forth.

A Great Journey Begins…

I wish you a great journey.

You are the Future

Today, I read a fantastic, albeit lengthy, post by Brian Solis titled, The State of PR, Marketing, and Communications:You are the Future. Solis can be found at www.briansolis.com and @briansolis.

Read the Piece

Few written commentaries in my career have impacted me the way Solis’ treatise did. I will pull out a few quotes from the piece that resonated deeply with me, but I urge you to read the piece in its entirety and follow Solis on his blog and Tweets.

The Quotes

“In the era of Social Web, a few key posts and articles in the right places, supported by an impassioned community bound by evangelism, success is significantly more profound, and immediately measurable.”

“The new world of influence demands customer empathy, evangelism, passion, expertise, and knowledge – everything else is disposable and takes away from your focus and potential.”

“Listening is the fundamental characteristic that separates the experts from the theorists.”

“Essentially you have to become the people you wish to reach.”

“It’s the poetry and power of brevity – the art of persuasion through sincerity and relevance.”

“We ARE becoming the new influencers and therefore we must redesign the communications ecosystem in which we operate and our roles within it in order to change, grow and thrive.”

Bravo, Brian!

Wonderful words that blaze a new path for all of us in marketing. Bravo, Brian!

Tough!

Seth Godin has a great post today titled, Tough! What he has termed being Tough! can also be termed, resilience. Merriam-Webster defines resilience as, “an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change.”

Change is Good

When I taught 6th graders I would often put the phrase, “Change is Good,” on the front board. I would switch-up situations and variables in the lessons to teach them how to adapt to change. The book by Spencer Johnson, M.D., Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing way to Deal with Change in your Work & in Your Life is the seminal work on the topic. I still carry the card from my version of the book with me titled, “The Handwriting on the Wall.” I’ve kept it with me since 1998, when the book was published. If you have yet to read this work, go out and get it now!

Adversity

I also used to keep this John Wooden, (American basketball coach) quote above my desk, “Adversity is the state in which man most easily becomes acquainted with himself.” I believe that during this downturn many of us are facing adversity and trying to survive and even thrive. Check this link out for entrepreneurs starting in the down economy.

The Times They Are a Changin

As Godin mentions, “This is your moment, but I’m afraid it won’t be easy.” The most important thing is to get on with it. My advice, keep your network close and help each other. The times they are a changin!

Writing

Having always had a passion for writing, I was very pleased to find myself so motivated to add to my blog each day since its inception. My training as an English major at University, teacher of English, and eventually marketer dealing with RFP’s and marketing copy seems to have all coalesced in this blog.

Does Your Career Passion Scare You?

I read an interesting take on this phenomena titled, Does Your Career Passion Scare You? Chris Makell, a career coach, makes some good points regarding the process to follow when uncovering your career passion. By identifying the elements of your career that bring you true passion, it will allow you to move into new opportunities when they present themselves.

Career Affinity

My own personal story is a study of this effect in the making. As mentioned, I have always had a passion and ease with writing and the written word. The discipline of composing this blog on a consistent basis, coupled with my belief in spreading the word regarding world poverty and social ills and issues, have formed the core of my blog entries. Social networking has allowed me through Twitter, and other sources, to find those with like minds and the affinity for these causes.

Contact Me

I invite all those who share in these issues of critical importance to reach out to me, thus we can form a lasting coalition and place our talents to work. At the same time we can release the energy of our career passions!

Jeffrey Pedone
Email: jpedone@consultsilverlining.com
Linkedin profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypedone
Blog: www.jeffpedone.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JeffPed