The Annual Macy’s 4th of July FireWorks is an awesome event! People come from all over to witness it in person. I’ve, in fact, ALWAYS thought of it as something you HAD to witness to fully enjoy and appreciate. Today, I’m quite pleased to say, a videographer has made me re-think this in-person-only-value-proposition. This is his video of last Saturday’s extraordinary fireworks display:
Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks in New York City: Canon 5D mark II from Mike Kobal on Vimeo.
This year the fireworks moved crosstown to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the exploration of the Hudson River by Henry Hudson. Shot from Hoboken, NJ, it was spectacular. Canon 5Dmk2 and 24-70mm at 2.8 at ISO 2000.Music: Mozart, Turkish March, you can buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Mozart-Rondo-Turca-Turkish-March/dp/B000JIDN5W
I’ve deliberately chosen to leave Mike’s promotional plugs in place. I believe his work earns him the right AND I also believe such a talent NEEDS to be known. Kudos to you, Mike Kobal! Did you notice how the fireworks are sync’d to the music? Stellar!
In choosing to highlight Kobal’s work, I’m passing the magnificence of his accomplishment on so that you, too, can enjoy this wonderful capture. It’s that ages old phenomena: You tell someone, who tells someone, who tells someone else. The benefit isn’t in receiving payment (because cash isn’t involved!), but in that great feeling you get when you tell someone something is sweet; something you just KNOW they’re going to enjoy! It’s a priceless feeling. Some, like Mark Joyner and a few others, call this word-of-mouth marketing. Others call it Social Traffic. In the end, though, it just boils down to people being people, lovingly, eagerly passing on the good they’ve discovered in the world. The more consistently a single individual is able to do this, the more attention is paid to what they say; the more that person’s influence grows. And, THAT is the entire basis of the Social Media Phenomena.
As Simon has said, the technology has finally caught up to enabling humans to do and be as we’ve always been, but now we’re totally free of time and space barriers!
Because of this, more and more of today’s commerce workers are being forced to drink from the Social Networking fount or die of thirst! Providers of goods and services who do not interact and otherwise respond to their markets soon find themselves without one–purely and simply.
This video says it ALL so eloquently. Small wonder it’s been viewed over 76,000 times! Actually, I’m surprised it hasn’t been viewed even MORE often considering how critical it’s message is! Yes, I know, practically anyone, over the age of 40 — especially in the West — has been taught to hunker down, follow the rules (always someone else’s), don’t rock the boat, and you’ll get your reward by-and-by. Sorry, the factories have closed and that stuff only works there. Check out Seth Godin’s Tribes. He lays it all out, again, clearly and simply. When you finish reading — or listening because its out as an audiobook, too — do yourself a favor and just start observing how people are interacting these days; listen to what they’re saying and how they’re expressing themselves. The meek don’t even get to surface for air!
Today you have to Bring It, and make sure that what you bring has value to the people you’re bringing it to! Some mistake the thrust as a popularity contest. They focus on having a ga-zillion Twitter followers; 50 thousand Facebook friends, but as Simon has said; has asked again and again. Who’s getting what out of such numbers. Are relationships being built? Are REAL friendships being forged? Are useful exchanges taking place? Or is that all just a big party?
Don’t get me wrong. Don’t get Social Traffic wrong. We’re as much for a great time as the next person or group, but we’ve been thoroughly trained to put first things first. In this case: Quality before Quantity. Why? Because this is the only thing that works LONG TERM. And THAT’s what we’ve all sworn allegiance to: The Long Term View. We are all about building businesses robust enough to be sold one day if we want to move on to something else. To do this, our foundations MUST be strong; our infrastructures fundamental, forward-looking and correct; our vital numbers growing; our integrity and transparency as apparent as a sunny day.
And it’s all based on one thing: Adding Value to Our Audience with passion, regularity, precision, depth, a cool drink and a few hearty laughs. That’s the kernel of Simon’s teachings. It is why we ARE growing and becoming stronger every day. Our culture adds value. THAT is just simply What We Do.
Interested? Join us! We’re eager to share with like-minded people anywhere.
Peace and Love,
DeeJay