After a high-stress period of time, it is healthy to have a cooling-down period.  What I have learned this past week is that it’s not good to stop suddenly, you have keep walking to avoid a muscle cramp. (read emotional breakdown)

Have you come off a project lately that you needed to process before you moved on?  Do you do that with every project or just “the big ones”?

I tend to keep the heart rate (read schedule of activities) up too long and can crash into a burn out mode if not careful. This last big project of mine, the campaign that took 52 weeks, is over.  To avoid burn out or emotional muscle burn I decided to issue a cooling down period for myself.

It seems to have worked, in the last couple of weeks I’ve been able to rest on what I’ve learned but move forward with new plans and vision without a sudden stop and crash.

What do you do to cool down?

Bravery comes when you act on your intention. You can think about and plan for only so long before you simply have to flip the coin and take the bet.  Whether you have a new business to start, a project to develop, or a political campaign to run, sooner better than later, you must choose and flip.

Stopping short of beginning is the only failure.

What will you start today?  You can’t loose – flip it!

Sometimes I run across a blog post that rings so true to the Cool People Care and Carpe Diem Management social media philosophy I just have to share it with you.  This time, it comes from a source close to home.  Please take the time to read the new Proof Branding blog post from Matt Cheuvront and chime in on the discussion …I’ll join you!

Social Media:

Changing Things or Making Change?

It’s Social Good Day

It’s time to get some fresh thinking on how social media can raise awareness and create action on social issues.

Social Activism using music was a topic of discussion at the Mashable Social Good Summit UN Week Digital Lounge.  The challenges and successes involved to create awareness using social media platforms are the same for individual activists as it is for organizations.  Or is it?

Finding celebrity endorsement  may need to be as much a part of your strategy as board development. If you are fortunate, a celebrity, or their agent, may approach you to see how they may help.  A concert as a fundraiser, a lecture or a dinner in a home for donors, are all successful models.  You may choose to seek out celebrity endorsement, it is worth a discussion as part of your development and marketing strategy.

Judy McGrath, CEO of MTV Networks  believes in the activation of the Millennial Generation “You can absolutely move people into action … I believe in the authenticity of the caring audience.”

CNN posted a story in 2006 that seems relevant today.  “Star power helps some causes, hurts others”

The American Marketing Association and its Foundation conducted a survey of donors in the Spring of 2005.  It found that trust in the organization was far-and-away the most important consideration.  At the same time, 58% of the respondents said that celebrity endorsements were “not at all important” in their decisions to give – Idealist.org

Great Links From the Summit To Visit

• Musicians and Social Media
• Musicians and Social Good
• Recap of All Videos At the Summit

Are you using the “Network Effect” to show the value of your services and mission?  Are you using celebrity to expand that network?  In what way are you measuring your results?

*this blog post is can also be found on the Cool People Care Nonprofit Resource Blog

photo by Zarko Drincic

A lot of things are happening that I am very proud of.   We will share the news as soon as possible.

Meanwhile – tell me what you have going on!