Inspiration incarnate

Scott with #clarkclass

Scott Williams talking to #clarkclass

"@ScottWilliams spoke to #clarkclass today and it was just what my soul needed!!," tweeted Madison Sturgill, one of my students in my twitter for media class this week.
often interrupt speakers to #clarkclass, yelling at the students to "Get that quote."
That pretty well captures the spirit of why the class  at UCO has been a favorite, enough to bring me back out of retirement to teach it this fall--The students and the speakers from many different professions.
And having Scott Williams as first guest sets the tone--he is inspiration incarnate, and, as a UCO grad,  a terrific role model.
"This isn't about twitter, it's about life," he said, and held the class pretty well spell bound with stories and insights for an hour and a half.
For the record, he owns NxtLevel Solutions, a strategy company, http://www.nxtlevelsolutions.com/ and you can find him on Instagram as @ScottOKC and twitter @ScottWilliams He's been a warden, a pastor at LifeChurch and so much more, advising Fortune 500 companies and others across America. 
He began as a student entrepreneur at UCO  organizing parties and passing out flyers to attract crowds.  Students relate. He invigorates my teaching and outlook on life. 
I'm indebted to him for finding time to speak to my students, about the third time now, and proud that I was the first one to invite him back to UCO to speak to this unique in Oklahoma class. 
The new photo at the top of the blog is from his visit. 
After he left, we debriefed, and each student comments. What follows are those comments, with a few of mine mixed in. Dutifully recorded by @MadisonSturgill

• Look at what’s next, not just what’s currently happening
• Be a leader
• If you’re not failing you’re not trying
• Three trophies – MVP, Most improved, best sportsmanship
• We see the shine but we don’t see the grind
• Participation generation – we feel entitled to win and it has encouraged our generation not to try
• There’s no such thing as writers’ block
• Practicing things you enjoy doing, even if you’re not being paid for it.
• The effort and confidence of knowing what you’ve done and being able to tell people about what you have accomplished
• Consistent content wins and great content always wins
• If you’re not aware, you’re losing
• Don’t be afraid to believe in yourself and be the next big thing
• If you’re not trying here in OKC,  don’t think you can make it anywhere else
• There’s a market for everything
• There are no excuses, no matter your circumstances, to achieve your dream
• In order to get to something, you’ve got to get through something
• College levels the playing field for everyone – it’s about what you’re doing to set yourself apart in your field
• People are not moved by the stuff were selling; they’re moved by the stories we’re telling
• Write every day
• Our Motto: HOW--Helping Others Win
• Facebook could be the next Myspace. Remember the blackberry? From 50 percent of phone market  to less than 1 percent in a few years

Student "takeaways" so far

Here's what #clarkclass 7.0 students responded as their top takeaways from the class speakers so far. Three group discussions and summaries:

• Experience is worth more than  anything.
• Networking is so important, don't be afraid to take risks
• Work Ethic
• You can get a job sitting on the couch scrolling through Twitter
• Risk it
• Don't be afraid to ask for help
• Being able to write is crucial but being multifaceted will put you ahead
• Social Media will be woven into whatever profession you go in to
• Work ethic is the most important. As long as you show you have the drive, you can learn the skills.
• Taking risks is important because you will never know what you can do unless you try.
• Social Media is the key to reaching an audience
• You won't have a successful business without social media
• Your brand needs a personality
• Work ethic and accountability
• Content 

Stunning stories of leadership and twitter

 By @okieprof

Stunning. I've run out of adjectives and superlatives to tell the stories @JillCastilla, president and CEO of @CitizensEdmond in Edmond, and other speakers in #clarkclass, but that word comes close, especially for her.
She brings a refreshing can-do attitude based on hard work, honesty and humility, "owning her own story," as she puts it. 
Right before Christmas break was the third time she's spoken to my unique Twitter for Media class at UCO, #clarkclass, and every session she brings something new and inspiring. In the intense eight-day winter intersession class of 27 mostly graduating seniors, she becomes a vibrant and positive role model for success, especially to my 22 female students. 

Citizens just opened its tradition-breaking "You've-never-seen-a-bank-lobby-like-this" downtown that exemplifies what she and her team have accomplished in turning a back around in just seven short years, much of which was accomplished through social media. She's built a national reputation and garnered national awards and honors for her work in community banking--and advises others on the use of social media in business.

You can read about previous visits at these two links: Vibrant Influence  ;  Creativity from adversity
Her  marketing director, Ann Chen, @AnnJ_Chen accompanies her, running the visual and live tweeting during our class. 
@okieprof's comment: I can't type fast enough on my little phone to keep up with Jill's constant stream of advice and wisdom. Then it takes this old journalist time to decipher notes and process. I just know our students, our program, our university is blessed to have her as a friend. 
Oh, the group shot at the top of my page, and below, was Jill's idea two times ago. It's become a tradition, as this class explodes in possibilities, thanks to her, our other speakers, and our great students.
What follows are some of our students debriefing comments after Jill left,  recorded by @johngardener358.

• Creativity can’t happen in a no fail environment
• When you shine the light on others it will come back to you.
• Doesn’t matter where you get your degree from as long as you apply it.
• Find out what your weaknesses are, own those weaknesses and learn how to make them your strengths
• If you handle convicts with machetes and chainsaws, you can handle the Fed.(Her personal experience)
• If you do good, you’ll do well as a result
• CEO should be accessible and accountable
• Cherish the times that you struggle in darkness that’s where the greatest light comes from
• I’m not going to die if I fail
• I am a pro at feeling insecure
• Being in the Army was almost shameful time in my life , but ultimately what landed me my dream job
• Start owning your story ; there’s a lot of strength there
• Shows CEO is involved when response personally
• #clarkclass is one of the most relevant classes that you can take in college
• Your changes in life can often can be your incentive to change
• Started from the bottom to the top
• Moving to a small town she didn’t know anyone and social media created that intimacy with people you just met.

The esteem of my students showed in their own hashtag, #chillwithjill. Here are a few of the students' live tweets during class:

• @JillCastilla can take 33 credit hours in a semester, and I can barley manage 12 credit hours in semester. #Goals #ClarkClass @UCO_MCOM
• "Your challenges in life can often be your incentive to change." -@JillCastilla @UCO_MCOM #clarkclass
• "Character is built in the valley" -@JillCastilla #clarkclass @UCO_MCOM
• Cherish the times that you struggle in darkness, because that's where the greatest light comes from. @JillCastilla @UCO_MCOM #clarkclass
• As a leader in your community, your community is your product. @JillCastilla #clarkclass @UCO_MCOM
• If I had to describe @JillCastilla in one word it would be RESILIENT. #clarkclass @UCO_MCOM
• "It doesn't matter where you get your degree from; it's about the hard work and dedication you put in" -@JillCastilla #girlboss #clarkclass
• If I worked hard and paid attention I could do just as well or better than they did." -@JillCastillia #clarkclass
• Social media can help individuals make connections in new environments and with new people. -@JillCastilla #clarkclass
• If I worked hard and paid attention I could do just as well or better than they did.-@JillCastillia #clarkclass
• "My community is my product in many ways ... you are able to showcase it." -@JillCastilla @UCO_MCOM #clarkclass
• “Social media is going to be woven into any pursuit that you have.” - @JillCastilla #clarkclass @UCO_MCOM

#clarkclass 7.0--Twitter for Media, UCO Mass Comm, & @JillCastilla, center, & @Okieprof, far left

Avoiding "ghost town" in media, views from the edge

 

@rcrissinger of @bumbershootPR "dropped in" Friday

@Okieprof

"Welcome to ghost town," said Rob Crissinger, UCO alum and vice president of BumbershootPR.
He was speaking to my Twitter for Media class on a return engagement, about what happens to your image and contacts if you don't tweet valuable content consistently.
I think he was talking to me, because I tweet seldom, usually when I'm teaching this class twice a year.
But the class, #clarkclass, has taken on a life of its own, and now in its eighth session, attracts alums using it consistently.
Crissinger was a non-traditional student, to say the least, but he's taken his varied interests, humor,  and found his perfect job, doing public relations and more for entertainment types in Oklahoma City for @BumbershootPR, an edgy, energetic "boutique" agency that breaks rules and builds success, not ghost towns.
And he seems to know everybody. @rcrissinger can rattle off 50 names, all with @ in front of them who you should follow if you want to stay in contact with as you move into communications positions after graduation.

@rcrissinger in #clarkclass

If you want more of his comments, tweeted by my students during his session, go to twitter and #clarkclass, and scroll down till you see them.
Yet for all the emphasis on digital media from Crissinger, he sees it as a tool for making connections as humans. His advice is always practical.
His advice on getting a job: "Go to things, take your phone and photos and hashtag it, so they get to know you."
I especially liked his comments on news releases: "News releases are not dead. Done  right, they're magic." "Learn to write." He relies on traditional media empowered by social media. 
Here are the student debriefing comments, recorded by @AshleyNapier21.

@rcrissinger debrief

• Don’t follow everyone who follows you, especially if you don’t care for them
• The easiest way to get a job is to go to things, it helps get your name out there
• Bring yourself out in your tweets, make them personal
• If someone gives you a shout-out, recognize that
• Don’t show your strategy
• If you are not constantly active on social media, you’ll lose your recognition
• Tweet a lot, but don’t tweet the same thing over and over
• Consistency is important
• Be subtle, especially if you are trying to network
• Reading is very important
• To tweet a lot or not to tweet a lot? People from different fields view it differently
• People can get recognized just by showing up
• Know something about the person who you are wanting to network with
• 80% personal tweets/20% business tweets- important rule to remember
• Even if you don’t want a job in PR, show up to PR events, you’ll get noticed
• He uses his social media to build people up
• He doesn’t appear to be an introvert
• Be interested and love what you are doing
• Keep people guessing
• He loves his job so much and is very passionate about it
• Bio’s start conversations
• He puts a lot of emphasis on writing news releases
• He uses traditional media and empowers it with social media to spread it around

A dynamo in media and more with a national reputation

@okieprof

Here's what Huffington Post says about Jessica Miller- Merrill, who spoke to #clarkclass Monday: "Jessica Miller-Merrell is a technologist who focuses her efforts in human resources, healthcare and the workplace. She's been recognized by Forbes as a top 50 social media power user and is the founder of Blogging4Jobs.com a leading HR and business blog. "

I met this dynamo a few years ago at a blog happy hour and she's graciously spoken to my classes ever since.
This is a woman who lost a job, and became a master of all kinds of digital technology to make a living and a national reputation. 
Her book, "Tweet This--Twitter for Business," became my guide for starting this class.

Blogging4Jobs' twitter page

She now operates five blogs, uses twitter, speaks at conferences, and does much more. We were pleased to have her first grade daughter Riley in class with her this time.
Her team is about 25 freelancers around the world, and her blog editor lives in Canada. She's produced more than 8,000 blog posts.
Here are some of her comments, advice on the social media world, and student debriefing notes, with the help of @cassjack12 

• "The fastest way to make an impact or make a name for yourself is do something different"
• If you do everything like everybody else, you're never going to be interesting or unusual.
• "HR people are closet awesome and throw the craziest parties I've been to"
• Twitter is about research and relationships"
• "Focus your time when you're on Twitter" -
• She is truly an "out of the box" thinker. Talk about creative...very impressive!
• twitter is for breaking news"
• Look at your competition!!
• "Push the boundaries and get attention, yet stay professional."
•  Push the boundaries, you'll get noticed
• "Everybody's doing it, you have to figure out a way to do it different"
• "I don't crush peoples dreams...but I scare the hell out of them.
• you need to find a need and you need to find a purpose
• Twitter is the third largest global search engine
• Fake it till you make it--press release writing
• It's not about the number of followers--1,500 is enough to be noticed 
• Never stop learning, even when you have a job
• Reuse your material, putting it in many places
• Find niche communities
• Advice--read
• Twitter for networking--met French entrepreneur on twitter
• Make a disruption- don’t be afraid to make a big noise