Silver Lining of the Pandemic

By Kat McDaniel, Principal at MEDiAHEAD

Zoom CallsThe pandemic created a silver lining for me and that was getting to know my clients in a different way.

During our zoom calls, the cameras provided a glimpse into our personal lives and made people more human after seeing where they live and work. I was able to meet their pets and sometimes their young children.

This happening before the pandemic might have felt like the end of the world if a child or husband walked into the room or interrupted my presentation.

A year later, we don’t even notice when their cat crawls up their back or a child interrupts because they are hungry or thirsty. I’m able to see into their homes and offices – what kind of sports they follow, what kind of art there is and it all just seems so much more personal.

Tech Support!

Soon, we will be able to get together again!It was also pretty hilarious as people were learning to use zoom. How many times have you yelled “turn on your microphone” or you can only see the top of their head.

My 26 year old daughter, who was quarantined with us, was constantly rolling her eyes bursting into the room yelling “TECH SUPPORT!”

Despite all this, most of us were able to find the beauty in continuing our relationships remotely. I think because of the pandemic we are more open and vulnerable and had to let go of the small stuff, like being perfect.

I’m ready for some serious outdoor time when it’s warm and of course less zooms, but I feel like I have grown closer to my clients and that I will always cherish.

Cheers to 2021 and and seeing you on a patio somewhere my friend!

Kat McDaniel

 

 

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Good riddance 2020… Bring on 2021!

Michele StillwellBy Michele Stillwell, Director of Marketing and Accounting at MEDiAHEAD

I am pretty sure we all feel the same about this… Good Riddance to 2020!!!

Never in all my years have I ever gone through anything like this. And I’m sure you haven’t either. But I would like to put a positive spin on this blog. Even if you don’t agree with me totally, I am going to put this out there for us to ponder.

Let’s think about 2021 and all the great things to look forward to.

I am going to try to think positively and hopefully everyone else will as well. We’ll have a vaccine for this horrible virus (fingers crossed) so let’s wipe this thing out. Let’s begin to eat out again and support all our small, local companies and restaurants that are still with us and help them out. Let’s travel. Take the vacations that were put off. Book them and get out and see this wonderful and beautiful world we live in.

Looking forward to 2021!How about all the relatives we need to go visit that have missed our faces/hugs that have been so needed for over a year? Book those trips, see those relatives and give those great big hugs. If you have the opportunity to get back into the office, you should do so. Being around people and your friends is a good thing.

Let’s all look forward to:

  • Going to a movie in a theater without a mask
  • Attending a concert in person (and also no mask)
  • Sitting with your best friends and go do whatever you want, go out to eat, shopping… just hang out and no masks.

Then think of all the events like the Olympics, football and baseball games you will be able to do once again. They may not look the same, but I truly believe we’ll get going once again.

I believe that as we look beyond 2020 and the coronavirus, there are things that will make 2021 a better year. A couple of things we know for sure going into the new year is that we know how to test for and treat the virus. Think of all the anti-viral remedies that are out there for other types of viruses that we’ve been successful with. I have complete confidence in this one.

So bring on 2021!

I am so ready, and I am sure you are too.

Looking forward to 2021!

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Our Naughty Elf on the Shelf

Kathryn McDanielBy Kat McDaniel, Principal at MEDiAHEAD

My children (and I) did not discover Elf on the Shelf until they were in their twenties. As adults, we would all take turns every night putting the poor elf in many hilarious positions to surprise each other in the morning.

According to the book, Elf on the Shelf by Carol Aebersold, Santa sends an elf to each house to be his eyes and ears to determine who is naughty and who is nice. Each night, the elf flies back to the North Pole to report back to Santa, and then returns back to the home they came from.

When Christmas time rolls around, honestly the only way to survive it at our house is to have fun with it. The McDaniel tradition is to think up a million ways to entertain ourselves by putting the elf in situations that are something less than PG.

Our little Elf can get himself into quite a few pickles.

From obnoxious pranks to inappropriate scenarios, that little elf has been put into many, many compromising positions.

My favorite time with Elf was when Amy and I lived in the Crossroads. Many times, we woke up to Elfie sprawled face down on the balcony wrapped around a bottle of J. Rieger Gin, with frost forming on his little body.

Naughty Elf on the Shelf Naughty Elf on the Shelf

We lowered him on fishing wire with a tiny set of toy binoculars to the floors below, so he could spy on the other loft dwellers.

He was roasted, microwaved and frozen in a block of ice.

Last year, Elf’s girlfriend Santa Baby came to live with John and I. Many hilarious scenes ensued – one night they even got Teddy lit on a bottle of wine.

My daughter alerted me that this year they are selling clothing for the Elves – when I Googled it, one of the questions was “Can Elf on the shelf wear Barbie clothes?” My thoughts are now rampant as to what we will do with the Elf this year.

Some 2020 themes I am thinking of – a mask of course, Elfie in a dumpster fire, evil Zoom elf and home school frazzled parent elf.

My first December elf today was bacon wrapped and in the cast iron skillet for John – just a little sizzle to get him moving on this cold morning.

Naughty Elf on the Shelf Naughty Elf on the Shelf

Tom Mentzer’s Version

This morning I laughed so hard I spit my coffee out when Tom Mentzer posted a picture of himself as the Elf on the shelf. You’re welcome at our house anytime!

Naughty Elf on the Shelf Naughty Elf on the Shelf

Have some fun with your Elf this year – we can all use a little more laughter right now.

 

Naughty Elf on the Shelf Naughty Elf on the Shelf

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Nature is Nurture

By Kat McDaniel, Principal at MEDiAHEAD

Nature is NurtureSo many of us have turned to nature to escape and to diminish the many negative emotions stemming from the current state of the country and the isolation we’re experiencing. We’re rediscovering parks and hiking with friends at a safe distance. Our back yards have become our sanctuaries where we enjoy time with family and friends. Even removing your shoes and standing on the grass can reinvigorate your connection to the earth.

Being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature, reduces anger, fear, and stress and increases pleasant feelings. Exposure to nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, it contributes to your physical wellbeing, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones.

My Octopus Teacher is my new favorite nature film on Netflix. The filmmaker forges an unusual friendship with an octopus living in a South African kelp forest learning about nature as the animal shares the mysteries of her world.

“What she taught me was to feel that you’re part of this place, not a visitor”
– Craig Foster

Nature is NurtureFoster, meeting the octopus every day for 250 days, learns about healing, caring and growing in a world filled with solace and newness. The eight armed animal touched his soul in a way nobody else did, he felt for her deeply as if it was someone he had to take care of.

We watch the octopus grow from a little animal till the day she gives birth, turns white, and dies. There is something so heart touching about this documentary that you feel some amount of the pain Foster did watching her every day. She has to dodge pajama sharks and other predators constantly. As she fights to survive in this wilderness, you grow so proud of her wit and skills – realizing how smart she is.

The documentary finds its core, in its earnestness – an affection that is beyond the boundaries of science and sea. A bond where their pain feels like a personal loss. At no point do you lose the ground reality where you feel that this is scripted – it all feels genuine and heartfelt.

Indeed, nature is a friend everyone seeks!

 

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It’s Okay Not to be Okay Right Now.

It's Okay to not be Okay Right NowBy Kat McDaniel, Principal at MEDiAHEAD

Data indicates that anxiety and depression, among other mental health problems, have surged to historic levels in recent months. Generally, our culture values positivity, and I’ve always been a very positive person. “It’s an attractive behavior in people that makes them seem more well adapted and more popular with their peers, so there are a lot of reasons people want to seem or be positive.”

But lately I’m telling myself it’s okay not to be okay.

A friend posted a sweet birthday message for me: “Happy Birthday to a woman who appears to be the essence of resiliency.” I don’t know about you, but I’m getting a little tired of being so resilient.

We all have so many negative emotions stemming from the current state of the country and the isolation we are experiencing. Denying or minimizing those feelings can be harmful with the dire situations we are dealing with: illness, homelessness, food insecurity, unemployment or racial injustice.

It is a privilege for us to “look on the bright side” when so many are suffering.

It is important for people to recognize how they are feeling and remove any expectations or goals that they should feel better than they do.

Disasters — personal, national, international — are horrible of course, but they also have value. They give you perspective amid all the chaos and pain.

Reading Before Sleep

My cousin Cam recommended Edmund Wilson to relax. Wilson was a problematic person and an absurdly prolific writer. He found reading before sleep calmed his mind. Europe Without Baedeker, is an account of his visits to Europe shortly after the devastation of World War Two. On one trip Wilson visited a former professor of his.

“One day I remarked that the immediate future seemed to me extremely depressing, and he vigorously took me up, declaring that he thought it looked hopeful.

When I asked him how he could possibly think so, he replied: ‘People’s complacency shaken.’ A lot of ground had been cleared, he felt; we knew what elements we had to deal with and we should have to come to grips with our problems. A constructive age might well ensue.”

This perfectly reflects how many of us are feeling at the end of 2020 – the sadness and struggle, mixed with hope and resilience.

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Did you know that MEDiAHEAD is a Woman Owned Business?

Michele Stillwell

By Michele Stillwell, Director of Marketing and Accounting at MEDiAHEAD

In case you didn’t know this, MEDiAHEAD is a Woman Owned Business. Yes, 100%. Our fearless leader is Kat McDaniel-Ditch.

There are several steps to take to get certified as a minority owned business. If you’re looking into doing this type of structure at your business, I recommend doing the research first. It’s an extremely daunting task! It ends up being well worth it, but it does take a considerable amount of time to earn this designation.

We are certified in Missouri, Kansas, the City of Kansas City and Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). There are several advantages of being a minority-owned business. One advantage is that many organizations want to do business with minority-owned businesses and prefer to do so.

Making Companies Stronger

MEDiAHEAD is a Minority Owned BusinessBusiness leaders are aware that supporting minority-owned businesses isn’t just good for public relations, it can also make their companies stronger. Adding more diversity to a company’s supplier base allows a business to better survive an economic downturn, deal with labor strikes or shortages and bring new products to market more quickly.

When you are a minority owned business, you can participate in special government programs, including government contracting opportunities. Federal government agencies are mandated to reward a substantial number of contracts to certified minority-owned businesses. Anywhere from five to twenty-five percent of the money spent on contracts for certain projects must go to minority-owned businesses.

Large companies benefit from working with minority-owned businesses and some have set goals around expanding their partnerships with them. Also, many corporations have a supplier diversity program in place. For most companies, the commitment to minority and women-owned business purchasing is goal-focuses and measured. The pressure for more supplier diversity initially was created by affirmative action; however, most companies now see many benefits when working with smaller, minority owned businesses. Small businesses, women, and minorities make up their customer base. Government contractors understand the importance of supplier diversity for winning contracts.

Supplier Diversity

Most large corporations have sizable staff, large budgets, and large dollar amounts devoted to supplier diversity. For example, roughly 97% of the Fortune 500 companies set percentages or dollar goals on supplier diversity. In those Fortune 500 companies, the staff to support supplier diversity is growing as well, with an average of two to three individuals assigned to this function. As budgets have increased, so have the requirements for personnel, programs, advertising, marketing, training, conferences and seminars.

Secondary programs, such as mentor-protégé and training, are growing as more companies seek to help minority suppliers gain more training and access to contracts.

Purchasing-based association advocates are also gaining clout. The Minority Supplier Development Council, the Women Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), and Women Business Development Council, the National Association of Women Business Owners’ Women Business Owners Corporation, the Minority Business Round Table and the Latin American Management Association are gaining influence with corporations.

As more money is spent with suppliers, pressure will increase as interest groups send report cards to corporate CEO’s diversity councils, and Boards. The government and media pay attention to supplier diversity programs, and awards and recognition in this area are on the rise. They actually have a checklist; they have to report on.

Supplier Diversity Program Checklist:

  • Total dollars per year
  • Dollars spent last year
  • Percentage of total procurement
  • Executive Support
  • CEO
  • Executive Diversity Council
  • Board of Directors
  • Structure and Staffing
  • Provide staff leadership
  • Provide structural support
  • Communicate goals and results
  • Publish goals and results
  • Use internal and external publications as well as the Internet
  • Highlight some of their suppliers
  • Ensure accountability for meeting or exceeding the Supplier Diversity Goals
  • Measure results
  • Award performance
  • Penalize deficiencies and goals not reached
  • Link to performance evaluations
  • Provide periodic reports
  • Encourage Special Programs
  • Matchmaking
  • Mentoring

Best-practice companies should always evaluate vendors to find the ones with the most experience, knowledge, and capability needed to provide products and services that reflect the diversity of their company. A huge factor of these efforts involves nurturing relationships with typically underutilized businesses and working to incorporate these companies into their network of vendors whenever possible.

Growing a diverse supplier base only makes sense. We see increasingly diverse markets that companies serve in this global age. Companies that combine outstanding supplier diversity initiatives and outcomes with other best-in-class diversity and inclusion programs will maintain a competitive advantage, win new business, support local businesses, retain customers, and reinforce their brands.

Support Minority Owned Businesses!

MEDiAHEAD supports diversity in the workplace. What is diversity? It means that a company employs a wide range of diverse individuals. People with different characteristics. Diversity in the workplace includes individuals of varying gender, age, religion, race, ethnicity, cultural background, sexual orientation, languages, education and other attributes.

Some of the benefits of diversity:

  • Variety of different perspectives
  • Increased creativity
  • Higher innovation
  • Faster problem solving
  • Better decision making
  • Higher employee engagement
  • Reduced employee turnover
  • Better company reputation
  • Improved hiring results

Please take a moment to learn more about our story and our team. We would enjoy working with you on your next project!

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Shy people need to be rescued. Will you help?

By Kat McDaniel, Principal at MEDiAHEAD

Does the idea of mingling at a party send cold fingers of dread creeping up your spine? Or the thought of giving a presentation in front of a room full of people make you feel physically sick? If so, then you’re not alone.

People laugh when I tell them I was that shy person growing up.

Overcoming shyness at a young ageMy mother always said people who knew me when I was young would be astounded that I am in sales. I could barely speak to people until I was a Junior in High School. I was that kid who worked in the library because I took my solace in books. The thought of speaking to more than one person, or a group made my hands sweat and it was almost an out of body experience for me.

Over time, I was able to overcome my shyness… because I had to. I had a mentor who pushed me to open my own graphic design company at 24 and I was forced to call on clients and look for new business. When you’re faced with starvation or talking to people, you will choose survival every time. And later, when I was in print sales, it was the same thing – sell or be fired.

When I used to attend events in person (looking forward to when we can all do that together again), I always look for the shy person in the room. They are the one standing in the corner, looking stricken or fidgeting with their phone. Boy, do I know that feeling. It brings back a lot of memories.

I always walk over to that person and introduce myself because I know how they feel.

Talking to a shy person at an event can be difficult.

Help the shy guy join the group!Approach them with a smile and ask them a question about themselves to break the ice and get the conversation flowing. You may have to carry on the conversation in the beginning until they feel more comfortable. Choose topics you know they can contribute to – this ensures that they have something to talk about. Ask where they are from. What company do they work for? What do they like to do outside of work? Why did they come to the event in the first place?

Shy folks tend to dislike small talk, so ask them questions that will help you get to know them better. Use their name throughout the conversation to establish comfort and closeness. And, MOST OF ALL, do not comment about how shy or quiet they are.

The result? Wonderful friendships and business relationships.

I can’t begin to talk about all the wonderful friendships and business acquaintances that I’ve made in Kansas City by approaching shy people at meetings and events.

One young man, who I reached out to and introduced to others at a breakfast, ended up being one of the editors for the newspaper. He ended up writing many stories about us. Another is a current client, who was hiding in the kitchen during an event.

Tulsa Remote LogoI was chatting with my daughter last night about Tulsa Remote, an organization that she has been accepted into. She told me there was a man from San Francisco, who works in the Artificial Intelligence industry, and he was literally shaking in the corner at the inaugural event. She went over and introduced herself and then brought him into the group. By the end of the night, a new friendship had begun.

There are some simple life lessons in this story:

There’s always someone struggling at an event or meeting… please include them.

Be kind. And teach your children to be kind.

Reach out… because everyone needs a little help once in a while, especially now.

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Shipping during the pandemic – Where are the 20,000 bottles we ordered???

Michele StillwellBy Michele Stillwell, Director of Marketing and Accounting at MEDiAHEAD

Oh My GOSH. I’m not sure if you have experienced shipping problems recently, but we sure have.

We needed to do something fast. We saw COVID-19 hitting and knew that the industry was going to suffer. Kat had a great idea to sell branded hand sanitizer, face masks and COVID-19 safety kits. Great idea, right? Have you ever tried to get plastic 2-ounce, 6-ounce, or any ounce bottles during a Pandemic? I can tell you… it’s literally impossible!

We finally found a vendor who could get us 20,000 of the 2-ounce bottles with lids. Happy day for us! But it was going to take 4-6 weeks to get them. In the meantime, we had a supplier for some small amounts of bottles here and there, coming in from anywhere we could get them, to fulfill our orders.

MEDiAHEAD Branded COVID-19 Hand Sanitizer Bottles

So back to the 20,000 and tracking every day….

Where are the bottles?

They got held up in you guessed it… US Customs! Meanwhile, orders are coming in and we are really needing to get these bottles. I’m tracking the shipment every day, still sitting in customs. We’re getting nervous waiting on the big order of 20,000 bottles to come in.  I could tell they were finally moving.  The truck was in transit, thank the Lord above!

We received our bottles about 8 weeks after we placed the order. When the boxes came in, Kat, Bill and I rushed to the loading dock and started opening the boxes to look at all the bottles. YAY!!! But where are the lids? Oh no… did they forget to send the lids for crying out loud?

MEDiAHEAD Branded COVID-19 Hand Sanitizer BottlesWe were frantic at this point. The very last box was still on the dock and guess what, it was filled with nothing but the missing lids. WHEW!

So, we have lots of hand sanitizer and lots of 2-ounce bottles. If you are needing some for your office we can even get your logo placed on the bottles. Go to www.mymediahead.com for more information and you can place an order here!

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Happy 4th of July from your friends at MEDiaHEAD!

We hope that you and your family enjoy a safe and happy 4th of July this year!

MEDiAHEAD will be closed on Friday, July 3rd to start the celebration early!

Happy 4th of July

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I’m sorry! (Wait, was that really necessary?)

Michele StillwellBy Michele Stillwell, Director of Marketing and Accounting at MEDiAHEAD

Why do women always say they’re sorry? It seems like we apologize for everything, even when we didn’t do anything wrong. It’s the weirdest thing, and I am so guilty of it. So, I made a deal with myself. I am going to do my best to STOP saying it.

Why? Because I usually haven’t done anything wrong and it’s ridiculous how many times I’ve caught myself saying it. Once it was on my radar, I started realizing just how often I apologize unnecessarily.

A University of Waterloo, Canada study found that women tend to apologize more often because they have a lower threshold than men for what they consider offensive.

I found this awesome poem, and really wanted to share it with you.

Stop apologizing.

You don’t have to say sorry for how you laugh, how you dress, how you speak. You don’t have to be sorry for being yourself. Do it fearlessly. It’s time to accept, this is you and you have to spend the rest of your life with you. So, start loving your sarcasm, your awkwardness, your weirdness, your unique sense of humor, your everything. It will make your life so much easier to simply be yourself.

– Author Unknown

I'm Sorry! (Women may apologize too often.)Practice Self-Awareness

Realizing that you are apologizing all the time is the first step. A good way to figure out if this is an issue is to keep track of how many times throughout your day you apologize. Over the next few days, write down each time you say the word, “sorry.” You might be surprised how many times you apologize without even realizing it.

Change Your Vocabulary

Do you have a project at work that is weeks overdue? Apologizing for missing a deadline is reasonable. But there are plenty of situations where using the words “I’m sorry” aren’t necessary.

  • “Sorry, could you send me that report?” could be changed to, “Please send me that report.”
  • “Sorry, I won’t be able to make it on Wednesday.” could be, “I wish I could make it on Wednesday. Keep me on the list for next time!”
  • “Sorry, could you repeat that?” might be, “Excuse me, could you repeat that?”

As you become more self-aware, replace the word “sorry” with more appropriate words and phrases. You may be surprised how much confidence this gives you once you figure it out. Good luck!

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