Who’s Idea Was It to Tweet Famous People’s Quotes, Anyway?

By BudgetCoach on June 17, 2010

I’ll admit it; I’m in a cranky mood right now.  What’s with all of these famous people quotes?  The more followers you have the more famous people quotes.

Every time I read something about how to be a good and generous Tweeter, gurus will tell you to add value to folk’s timeline.  They say: be yourself, don’t try to sell all of the time and Tweet interesting quotes.  Really?

Let’s say you are using Twitter to make valuable connections and hope to market your product or service to folks who will benefit.  Think of Twitter as a great big cocktail party.  Here is what a famous people Tweeter would sound like at a party:

@You: Hi @FamousPeopleQuotes! It’s nice to meet you.  Tell me something about yourself.

@ FamousPeopleQuotes!: “Till I was 13, I thought my name was “”Shut Up.”"”"” Joe Namath

@You: Wow, Shut UP? That must have been rough!

@FPQ: “You can do one of two things; just shut up, which is something I don’t find easy, or learn an awful lot very fast which is what I tried to do.” Jane Fonda

@You: Well, shutting up is helpful sometimes but I am glad to hear you learned a lot fast. Good for you!

@FPQ: Friends are the sunshine of life. John Hay

@You: Friends are great! So, what brings you to this party? Are you friends of the host?

@FPQ: “Only enemies speak the truth; friends and lovers lie endlessly, caught in the web of duty.” Stephen King

@You: Wow – I can really see why they invited you!

@FPQ: Let me tell you how to increase your friends by a million in 15 minutes without ever even meeting them, OK?

@You, talking to yourself – I just wasted two minutes of my life I can never get back.

Don’t be @FamousPeopleQuotes!

Until next time!

Jude Russo Caserta

AthleticBudgetCoach.com/blog

Twitter: JudeCaserta Linkedin: Jude Russo Caserta

E-mail: judi_caserta@athleticbudgetcoach.com

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Higher Education from my Car Dealer Dad

By BudgetCoach on June 13, 2010

I am posting my Father’s Day tribute to my Dad one week early.  I will be out of town next weekend and wanted to be sure I got this on paper (screen actually!) before the hustle and bustle of travel preparations overwhelmed me.

When anyone asked Dad where he went to school he would say “Marquette…City MarKET!”  This learning on the “streets” education served him well.  Dad couldn’t have been more proud of his three children, all college graduates. The eldest a business degree from the University of Notre Dame, the middle (me) a degree in accounting from Canisius College and the youngest a degree in graphic design from Rochester Institute of Technology.

Dad quit Niagara Falls High School back in the 40’s, three weeks before graduation, to join the U.S. Navy with his buddies.  We were “between wars” at that time and Dad’s big job was in the canteen where he apparently figured how to make a profit selling supplies to hungry and nicotine deprived GI’s.  He was honorably discharged only a few months later when they decided his flat feet should excuse him from continued service.

When he returned from the service he worked at a local car dealership a few blocks from home working his way up from washing and jockeying cars to managing the sales force.  In 1958 (happy birthday me!) he and my uncle set up a used car lot on the future site of Russo Oldsmobile (1963).  In 1976 he moved to Chevrolet and sold the business in 1988 when he was too ill to work.  Dad died in 1993, just 65 years into an incredible life.

This life educated man knew an enormous amount about world and shared his tidbits with me and my two siblings.

On family:  friends come and go but family is always there for you.  He was an only child and married into my mother’s family where she is the eldest of seven children.

On card games: if you smile and joke all of the time, people don’t know when you are serious or when you really don’t have crap!

On time management:  make lists – you can never remember all you have to do.  Napkins, coasters and pink message sheets are particularly handy for this purpose.

On human resources:  give anyone enough rope and they’ll eventually hand themselves.  I have learned the similarity between a transient car sales force and college coaches.

On billiards:  keep your left pinky on the slate for stability

On work/life balance: work hard, play hard.  And, boy did he ever! He and my mother traveled around the world!

On love:  don’t say it unless you mean it and when you mean it, say it with all your heart

On any type of negotiation: make your ask then SHUT UP

Here’s to you, Dad!

Until next time!

Jude Russo Caserta

AthleticBudgetCoach.com/blog

Twitter: JudeCaserta Linkedin: Jude Russo Caserta

E-mail: judi_caserta@athleticbudgetcoach.com

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Do I Over Think Twitter? Youbetcha!

By BudgetCoach on May 31, 2010

Do I over think Twitter? Youbetcha!

And, I have a reason.  I was sick of not being able to enjoy my timeline.

First off, I’m no Twitter guru – fewer than 400 followers does not make me an expert but I’ll bet I am more the norm than the big guys who have a gazillion followers.  

You open an account and are ready to Tweet.  First you realize you are Tweeting to no one because while you are following 201 accounts only your two best friends follow you.  It seems easier to just text them, doesn’t it?

Next, folks start to follow you and you are so happy you follow them back.  A new Tweeter does not realize that they may be following bots that will fill your timeline with Tweet-spam and drown out any chance you have of reading relevant and interesting Tweets.

If Twitter is about relationships then perhaps the term should be defined:

  1. A connection, association or involvement

A connection implies being between at least two things, same with association or involvement. 

If you and I do not know each other and you follow me I have an obligation to determine if I want a connection, association or involvement with you.  I ask folks who follow me and who are not from college athletics how they found me and why they followed me.  I have had some very interesting answers and have enjoyed their exchange.  Because of this obligation, I do not automatically follow everyone who follows me.  You may seem interesting to me but Tweet so frequently each day, and worse, repeat the frequent Tweets that I may list you without following you.

Here is a pet peeve: if you follow me, I follow you back then you unfollow me.   What’s that about?  Remember that relationship thing?   I liken it to a cold call in business.  It would be like making a cold call to a blue chip prospect and leaving a message.  When the prospect actually calls you back, you don’t answer and don’t return the call.  That’s rude and very bad for the business relationship you had hoped to develop when you made the initial call.

I use care and reason when I follow someone that does not know me. 

Sometimes I follow an entity like the NCAA.  I am interested in what they have to say with no illusions they will follow me back.

Sometimes I follow a person who is in the media or an expert in things I am interested in, again with no illusions they will follow me back.  I simply am interested in what they Tweet and enjoy reading their Tweets in my timeline.

Sometimes I follow someone who was recommended to me by a fellow follower.  If I read and like their bio and a few pages of their Tweets I will follow them.  If, eventually they do not follow me back I will unfollow them.  My thought is, they made a reasoned decision not to follow me and if we don’t have a relationship and they are not interested in my contribution to Twitter then unfollowing is a good way to clean my timeline.

Unlike in The Godfather (perhaps the greatest movie of all time…just sayin’) when Michael says, “It’s not personal, it’s strictly business,” once you realize Twitter is personal, you will think more about relationships and make more reasoned decisions of who is in your timeline, too!

Until next time!

Jude Russo Caserta

AthleticBudgetCoach.com/blog

Twitter: JudeCaserta Linkedin: Jude Russo Caserta

E-mail: judi_caserta@athleticbudgetcoach.com

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Cancer Sucks!

By BudgetCoach on May 30, 2010

Please forgive my blog interuption for a message I posted on my Ride For Roswell home page.  Once again this year I am riding 30 miles in and around Buffalo to raise money for cancer research at one of the premier cancer institutions, Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

Greetings Family and Friends!

A few days ago a few I was chatting with some friends and one person asked us to recall the first person our age we knew that passed away.  I have experienced a lot of death in my lifetime but needed to take a minute to recall this momentous event.  It was in 1981 and his name was Bradley Shelp, an accounting classmate at Canisius College.  We tried our best to visit him during his treatments our senior year and he seemed to do well with them.  The following year I received a phone call telling of his death.  Sobering, sad and useless. 

Since then we have had to say goodbye to more family and friends to cancer.  Cancer Sucks!  That was on the t-shirt of our friend James Fiore who left us even before graduating from Canisius High School.

One out of two men and one in three women in America will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Most of us know someone that has successfully battled cancer. We also know someone who has had their life taken by it.

Once again this year on June 26th, I will be cycling in The Ride For Roswell, an outdoor cycling event, to raise funds for critical research and patient care programs at one of the nation’s top comprehensive cancer centers – Roswell Park Cancer Institute.  The Ride For Roswell is an annual celebration of community support for Roswell Park Cancer Institute, and a safe and healthy day of cycling fun for riders, teams, cancer survivors, and supporters.  I am woefully out of shape and am working hard to do 30 miles again this year.

Last year our team raised over $6,000.  We have dedicated these funds to the James Desiderio Esophageial Cancer Research at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.  My late brother Joe married into Jimmy’s family in 1979 and, in typical Italian style, they became our family, too!  To honor Jim and all those who have fought cancer I dedicate my ride and my resources.

In addition to Jim, although they did not pass away from cancer, I dedicate my ride to my son Tommy, my father Sam and my brother Joe.

I would be honored if you can give to My Ride Effort:
Please support me as generously as possible as I cycle on behalf of cancer patients.
     1) Online: You can make an online donation by clicking on the “Donate to My Ride” button to the right. http://bit.ly/cFz0aU
     2) By Mail: If you prefer to donate by check, cash or money order, mail to The Ride For Roswell, PO Box 644, Buffalo, NY 14240-0644. (Remember to include my name in the memo field).
     3) By Phone: Call 716-THE-RIDE (843-7433) and ask a Ride Coordinator to assist you with a donation to our team members.

Thank you again for considering a donation and helping me to support Roswell Park’s mission to understand, prevent and cure cancer.

Much love,

Jude

Until next time!

Jude Russo Caserta

AthleticBudgetCoach.com/blog

Twitter: JudeCaserta Linkedin: Jude Russo Caserta

E-mail: judi_caserta@athleticbudgetcoach.com

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I Learned a Lot about Life Singing the National Anthem

By BudgetCoach on May 23, 2010

I have sung the United States and Canadian national anthems in three states and two countries.  If ever there was a cool hobby, this is it.  Here are a few things I learned:

1.      When you take no for an answer you forever lose your chance for a yes.

Years ago my husband and I were at a Buffalo Bills game on a cold December Sunday.  A woman walked out on the field wearing a full length fur and I told my husband how lovely I thought she looked.  He said, casually, “Someday when you sing the national anthem at Rich Stadium (it was a long time ago!) I’ll buy you a fur coat.” 

When the word “no” is spoken to me I actually hear the word “maybe.”  Believe me, that can be exceedingly irritating to most people but I don’t care.  I auditioned several times for the Bills and was rejected each time.  Meanwhile, I auditioned for the Buffalo Bison’s (AAA Baseball) and got the gig.  I made an audition tape (like I said, it was a long time ago) and sent it to several major league teams.  I followed up and took “maybe” for an answer.   Eventually I landed the Toronto Blue Jays, the Cleveland Indians (sang at opening day!) and the New York Mets.

It took me seven years from that “challenge” to sing at a Bills game.  My husband took me shopping for a fur but I didn’t actually want one.  I wanted to prove I could do something so crazy and off my radar.  And, I did.

2.      When you start something you have to finish it.

Start the song and stop – um, no! I have blanked out a few times but somehow have gotten through each song.  I was so nervous in Cleveland that I have no memory of actually singing.  None.

In life, once you jump inside the rope you have to keep jumping until the twirlers stop.  I try to finish everything I start.

3.      Don’t just say words, feel them and mean them.

When I sing the national anthem I think of each word as I sing them.  I picture the people waiting for defeat by the bay during the Battle of Baltimore and yet seeing the flag at dawn still waving proudly in the wind.

When I say something to someone, compliment them; tell them I love them I mean it with all my being.  I will never say something I do not mean.

 4.      Being treated like a star doesn’t mean you don’t still have to clean your toilets.

Once, in Toronto singing for the Blue Jays, a woman wanted to know if I was famous.  I am not.  She didn’t buy it and told me she thought my life must be so glamorous.  I have had many wonderful opportunities to see and do things that many only dream of.  I’ve been to Super Bowls, Final Fours and the World Series.  I have eaten in five star restaurants and relaxed in exclusive spas.  Nothing gets me back to center more, however, than cleaning my own house.

Each time I clean my bathroom I think of this woman and of how glamorous my life is.  I always remember that life is fragile and the trappings are just that. Trappings! 

Until next time!

Jude Russo Caserta

AthleticBudgetCoach.com/blog

Twitter: JudeCaserta Linkedin: Jude Russo Caserta

E-mail: judi_caserta@athleticbudgetcoach.com

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How to Play Nice In the Twitter Sandbox

By BudgetCoach on May 21, 2010

As told in a post earlier in the week “How my Twitter Account Got the Social Media Equivalent of VD http://bit.ly/9agTW9” I blew up a Twitter account last year.  Since then I went back to my original one – my name (I know, I’m really creative, too) @JudeCaserta.

I’m a geek. I will admit that without any shame.  Call me a bean counter, numbers nerd or anything else analytical and I will not be the least bit offended.  Since March when I had 60 followers (don’t get the impression I am one of those Twitter gurus who will tell you how to get a million followers even if you don’t have a computer) I have been keeping track of who follows me.  I know when you follow me and I know when you drop me.  I have graphs and everything! A serious geek…

I started out with three followers who I followed back.  A busy timeline is hard to read without practice.  When I did the rapid follow, I knew nothing about the folks who were spitting out stuff by the second.  This time I only follow people who were interesting to me and do not have a habit of Tweeting 100’s of times a day.

How did I do that?  I read 2-3 pages of their Tweets.  This way I could see if their Twitter account was just a cover for a spam account.  This took time but has proven to be well worth it.  Most of the people I follow are respectful of how often they Tweet and don’t put out constant selling opportunities.

I do not use computerized Tweets.  I am sure those folks who have 1,000’s of followers need to use them but I don’t think it is a great way to get to actually know people.  A little at a time I am getting to know people from all over the world (who speak English!) and it is wonderful.

I do not always follow someone just because they follow me.  That goes against Twitter conventional wisdom but there is a method to my madness.  You really do not know if it is a computer deciding you are follow-worthy.  Usually if it is a person they will immediately begin a dialogue with you.  Start a dialogue (@mention a how are you – you look interesting to me) when you follow someone to let them know why you chose them.  Hey @verycoolperson follows you and when I looked at your bio I saw you were into hot air balloon racing!  Me, too!

Personally thank, through direct message, all people who follow you.  Simple enough.

If you follow someone first and they follow you back, don’t unfollow them just to make your numbers look good.  I just think that’s smarmy.  I have occasionally done #drop Tweets the same way you do #FollowFriday ones to call those people out.  Oh no…my bad…maybe I’m not playing well in the Twitter sandbox after all!

 Until next time!

Jude Russo Caserta

AthleticBudgetCoach.com/blog

Twitter: JudeCaserta Linkedin: Jude Russo Caserta

E-mail: judi_caserta@athleticbudgetcoach.com

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Being a Mom Act I (Act II was Mother’s Day)

By BudgetCoach on May 14, 2010

I know this seems backwards and it’s true, it is.  Act II was written and posted first http://athleticbudgetcoach.com/blog/?p=248 and there is a huge reason for that.  My son Anthony, writing his last finals on May 13, 2010, is my second child.  For me, Mother’s Day is about the living.  It is how I have been able to deal with not having both my sons with me.  Just like the Christmas picture that never was, if I dwell on what I have lost then there is no joy in the day.

Hugging Mother’s Day is the anniversary of my son Tommy’s passing.  May 14th 1988.  Adding insult to considerable injury, May 14, 1989 (his first anniversary) was on Mother’s Day.  See what I mean…can’t dwell…

On July 2, 1984 our first son was born by c-section.  Ouch.  After only a few hours his color did not improve to a vibrant pink and was whisked off to Children’s Hospital in Buffalo after a quick baptismal ceremony held in recovery.

He was diagnosed with Transposition of the Great Arteries (http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-transposition-of-the-great-arteries.htm) and a VSD.  VERY long story short, we took him to Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia for a successful surgery.

Just a few months after visiting Philadelphia for the year post operative exam (where he looked great) he began having regular seizures.  He didn’t physically develop at age level and was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.  We never went more than two months without an in-patient stay at Children’s.  This abnormal experience became part of our normal life. 

 What I describe here is a very sickly child.  He was anything but!  He had an outgoing personality and quick smile.  He had a sense of humor and a twinkle in his eye.  He once negotiated with Santa when he was given a toy at the Christmas party at his school, Niagara Children’s ETC.  It was a yellow plastic school bus.  He told Santa he already had a bus, he wanted a book.

In January 1988 he had a seizure and was in a coma for 3 ½ months. The phone call just before dawn on May 14th is like a distant dream to me today and the years of grief replaced by a life of gratefulness.  I survived what I hope is the very worst period of my life. 

Funny thing is, I am a very happy person and I really appreciate my life.  My husband and I beat the odds and are going to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary this fall.  He is a past president of the board of directors of Niagara Cerebral Palsy and is also an active member of the Cerebral Palsy of New York State board.  Our second son, Anthony, is a really nice kid.  He works hard and seems to love life like his two parents.  Best of all, he is sensitive to folks with disabilities and carries the essence of his brother in his perfectly healthy heart.

Until next time!

Jude Russo Caserta

AthleticBudgetCoach.com/blog

Twitter: JudeCaserta Linkedin: Jude Russo Caserta

E-mail: judi_caserta@athleticbudgetcoach.com

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Hello-ing and Goodbye-ing

By BudgetCoach on May 11, 2010

I know this is very random but this is the kind of thing I think of when I am putting off thinking or doing something I should be doing.

When you are at work and you see someone for the first time that day I assume (and hope) you say hello.  That’s not so tricky – hey, how’s it going? Did jya see that game last night? How was the traffic for you? If you are not in hearing distance but you see someone through a window or door do you give the little hey wave?  You know, not that full blown hailing a cab wave but that queen wave…enough to acknowledge the other person but not too much to make the other person feel the need to get out of their chair.

Simple stuff!  My question is, though, what do you do the next time you see each other?  Non-verbal acknowledgement, that nod of the head or silly salute that says “I see you there but we have already gone through the hello.”  Do you keep waving like Miss America each time you head to the rest room by the unfortunate person whose office is beside that busy room?

Substitute the grocery store for your office and you also have a conundrum.  You greet your acquaintance in produce but keep seeing them every other aisle.  Do you continue the greeting or do you to the tilty head smile and move on?  See what I mean?  These pithy questions are just screaming out for an answer!

I work in one of those fish bowl offices.  My office has several panels of glass and I have mini-blinds to make it more private.   When I moved into my office five years ago I was so excited to have windows that I kept the blinds open all of the time.  One day a colleague came to my office and asked me to get out of my chair.  She sat down and suggested I walk down the hallway to end, turn around and walk back.  Holy Cow!  I could see what she was wearing.  I was not only spending my day doing my best queen wave, everyone could see what I was eating for lunch at my desk.

The blinds are now closed and I leave the queen wave to real royalty!

Until next time!

Jude Russo Caserta

AthleticBudgetCoach.com/blog

Twitter: JudeCaserta Linkedin: Jude Russo Caserta

E-mail: judi_caserta@athleticbudgetcoach.com

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