As part of the "What Do You Want To Do & Be?" (WDYWTD&B) series, CP students have been visited by lawyers, doctors, entrepreneurs, and, in the field, CP students have visited marine biologists, filmmakers, investment firms, medical clinics and political events. My goal is to expose students to a variety of professions hoping to raise their level of knowledge, compassion, and appreciation for varied life and career paths. I also hope to spark students' passions and to remind them they can be anything!
This month, Jim Cahill, Chief Blogger at Emerson visited CP to tell students about his personal and professional story.
Opening the presentation with his personal history, Mr. Cahill spoke of his fascination with electronics and of the science fair electronics kit that is parents gave him when he was 11 years old. He loved to take things apart and build and rebuild them. This was the beginning of an idea that led him to pursue a degree in Electrical Engineering and fortify him with the abilities to create on an even a greater scale. There were people - teachers and mentors - and experiences - jobs, travel - all along the way that continued to add to his knowledge base. He was inspired to learn more and pursued a business degree where he met 'his lovely wife, Mrs. Cahill".
Mr. Cahill used the analogy of a bird's nest. As if each piece of your education and your life experiences are like twigs in the nest that creates your world. With one twig at a time, the nest takes form, grows bigger and contains a place for something new. Because no nest is exactly the same, it is unique and personal to each individual.
Mr Cahill describes his current position as 'Marketer', which inspired the second part of his presentation - the history and "DNA" of marketing. Picture nucleic strands of the double helix twisting together images of the guy standing on a chair yelling loudly and throwing money, to the mass mailing of slick printed brochures, to a dynamic profile on the world wide web. This image represents marketing as an ever-changing and expanding world that now relies on not just being big and loud, but developing and presenting an ever-expanding expertise with a reputation for service.
Today, as Chief Blogger for Emerson, Jim creates personal profiles of his company through highlighting experts that serve the electronics industries around the globe. He makes connections with people through electronic social media. So instead of reaching a few - as did the radio commercials in the early strands of DNA marketing - he can reach and impact millions around the globe with the push of a button. This immediately and greatly affects and enlarges the Emerson brand.
The third part of Mr. Cahill's presentation discussed the vast ramifications of communication and the number of twigs it represented in the nest that each of us creates through community - whether through personal or electronic contacts. In addition to the brand of Emerson, we discussed the example of the ATA brand - the pursuit of excellence, leveraging college choice, learning life lessons through the sport of tennis, giving back and being part of something greater than yourself. Discussion continued on how the ATA brand serves (and creates) the students and how the students serve (and create) the brand. For instance: How do you carry yourself on the court and in the classroom? Are you an ambassador? Are you laying the foundation of excellence for those that come after you as the graduates that came before you have done for you?
At the end of Mr. Cahill's presentation, I asked him to highlight the similarities between a business brand created by social media and a personal brand created by social media.
A lively Q&A presented itself as students were asked to reflect on the twigs that they are placing in and around their nests. How do you speak to one another? How do you communicate on FaceBook, FaceTime, Twitter, SnapChat, Instagram, Pinterest, etc. They were also asked to reflect upon: "Is this the personal brand you are intending to create?" And more importantly, what can you do to continue to add to your personal nest so that it provides a space for future growth in the direction you wish to continue?
Personal accountability is the number one lesson we all took away from the thoughtful discussion that followed. Each of us creates our own personal brand by the things we think and act upon.
So... in the words of Mr. Cahill: IT'S YOUR BRAND... LIVE IT!
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Carol's Note: Although no WDYWTD&B presentation is typical - since it is about a personal journey that led the speaker to where he is today and the inspiration that continues to guide him to the next goals - most presentations cover this suggested outline:
the Sparks: your childhood passions, desires and interests, what you love
the FireStarters: people, role models, teachers, mentors that inspired you along the way
the Flames: experiences, education track, lessons learned, mistakes, failures, successes
the Fuel: what kept (keeps) you going, persevering? what books inspire you? (I always like to include a plug for reading, because I feel that they cannot hear it enough!)
the Reflection: things you might have done differently in hindsight, advice for the next generation
If you are interested in sharing your story and wisdom with the students of ATA CP, please contact us.
Looking Forward!
~Carol