People who withhold information from you never have your best interest in mind. Oh, they’ll tell you that they’re trying to protect you – from anxiety, hurt feelings, worry or loss. But what they’re really saying is “You can’t handle the truth. I’m saving you from yourself. And, by the way, I’m afraid of how you’ll react to this information.” This is controlling, relationship-killing behavior. The same secrets that destroy marriages (I didn’t want to tell you that we have $10,000 in credit...

Everyone knows a fantastic blogger who hasn’t yet been discovered by the masses. Today, I’m inviting you to post a link to and short blurb about your favorite not-yet-discovered-but-awesome-just-the-same blog. Forget the rules usually observed for posting links in comments – just tell me about the best blog I’ve never read. Thanks to Jessica Gottlieb for the idea. Photo credit: McBeth via Flickr

Late one night last week a message appeared in my inbox from a local TV reporter. “Hi Lisa. I’m looking for a social networking expert to quote for a story. Are you game?” I called her the next morning to say that I’d be happy to talk to her about social networking but that I’m no expert. Social media are evolving so quickly that there are no experts, I explained. After the interview the reporter looked me in the eye and said, “You know more about this than 99 percent of the population. I’m calling you an expert...

OK, everybody. Steve Woodruff put me at the helm of Five in the Morning today (I know, what was he thinking?!) and I’m going to rouse you from your mental slumber with a few inspiring posts from some of my favorite bloggers. It’s time to stop talking about how awful everything is and open ourselves up to opportunities. What’s that? You have to get a few more things off your chest? Go right ahead. I’ll wait. Ready? I think I’ve got something for everyone here. Have at it! Get the job I never miss Penelope Trunk’s (Brazen...

When: Thursday, February 12 – doors open at 6 p.m. Where: CANS Bar & Canteen – 500 W. 5th St. What: Food, fun and prizes Free nibbles provided by Charlotte Nightlife and CANS Emcee: Nate from 106.5 The End Raffles for entertainment, gifts and a cruise for two Local media celebrity appearances Wii bowling competition The great feeling you get when you do something nice Buy tickets now. Prices start at $5. Special perks for VIPs! 100% of ticket price goes to Charity: Water Imagine you’re thirsting for your favorite soda –...

I’m no good with a torque wrench but it’s a powerful tool in the right hands. And when it comes to networking, twitter (used well) would give even Chuck Norris a run for his money. This struck me like a direct message from the great Chuck himself when I was at BarCamp Charlotte Saturday. I met so many interesting people that I can barely remember them all. I’ve never had so many people come up and introduce themselves to me at an event before. Many conversations began with “Hi Lisa, I follow you on twitter.” Instant ice breaker....

Last fall I read a WSJ article about “Mystery Worshippers.” These professionals are like mystery shoppers only instead of rating customer service and inventory they rate things like pew orderliness and the length and strength of the sermon. I can’t get this article off my mind because it means that people are shopping around for their churches. And if they’re shopping around for church – unimaginable when I was a kid – what does that mean for businesses? More than ever before, people are expecting and demanding exactly...

Every time I get involved in a discussion about social media and how they fit in the marketing/PR puzzle, talk turns to rules. “How many people should I follow on twitter?” “How much is too much self-promotion?” “How many times a week should I blog?” “What percent of my tweets can be personal/off topic?” My answer is always the same: I don’t know. Sure, I can make suggestions, but only after asking a lot more questions. If anyone tells you she has definitive answers, especially without spending some time...

The number on the bedside clock read 3:48 a.m. and I had spent an exhausting day driving from North Carolina to central Pennsylvania, but I just couldn’t sleep. My mother’s words kept running through my mind. First, on the phone: “They’re taking her off the respirator today. It won’t be long after that.” Dressing. Packing. “It’s horrible. They’re watching the monitors, waiting to see if she’s letting go.” Driving. “She’s gone.” My nieces’  mother died of lung cancer...

So the word on the street is that 2009 is the “year of small business.” And everyone’s looking for the marketing silver bullet. How to integrate old and new? How can I use Facebook? What role might twitter play in building my business? Where do I begin? What’s the ROI of all this friending, tweeting and linking? As David Meerman Scott is fond of asking, what’s the ROI of putting your pants on in the morning? There are no easy answers. Building a business is more about faith than fortune. It’s more about passion than profit....