WordsFresh

WHO ELSE IS WORKING? We love seeing y’all in your pastel suits and fab fascinators. But are we the only ones juggling deadlines during Derby week? 😅 🏇 For anyone else who’s too busy (or too far away) to make it to Churchill Downs this week, here’s what we’re whistling to while we work (along with a vintage treasure unearthed from 1918): 🎵“Eight More Miles to Louisville” by Sam Bush It’s a sweet little bluegrass tune performed by Kentucky’s Sam Bush and written by Kentucky’s Grandpa Jones (yes, Grandpa Jones from “Hee-Haw”). 🎵“Louisville, K-Y” by Ella Fitzgerald Like Ella’s voice, this elegant song is simply perfect. It’s how we want the rest of the world to see our city. 🎵“New Cut Road” by Bobby Bare How could anybody think about leaving Louisville when they're drinking sour mash and racing mares? 🎵"The Distance" by Cake OK, so there’s “No trophy, no flowers, no flashbulbs,” but you can’t hear this without typing a little faster. 🎵“A Little Party Never Killed Nobody” by Fergie, etc. This gem is from The Great Gatsby soundtrack, and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel is steeped in Louisville lore. 🎵“My Old Kentucky Home” by Villebillies and Nappy Roots There are so many reasons to prefer this to that other song with the same name. 🎵“Dead Flowers” by the Rolling Stones Sure, it’s dark. But it mentions "Kentucky Derby day," and you can’t go anywhere in Louisville this week without hearing it.   Finally, as promised, a 1918 Edison recording of "Derby Day in Dixie"...which is apparently not about the Kentucky Derby, but does feature the fabulous sound of hoofbeats. https://lnkd.in/g5KwcA8h What else is on your Derby-fied playlist? #wordsfresh #playlist #derby

We assume you're really good at a lot of tough things. But what about those routine, seemingly mindless tasks that every job requires? If you’re like a lot of creative people, the easy things can quickly become the tough things.  That’s why our creative people got excited about the idea of “75 Fresh” … our team’s voluntary challenge inspired by the 75-day mental toughness program “75 Hard.” But we wanted this to be fun, not hard. So we each set a goal for a daily task we want to do, we should do, but we don’t do as consistently as we’d like.  Each day, we take a photo when the task is complete and share it with the group. After 75 successful days (not necessarily 75 days in a row), we win. We’re still deciding on possible rewards. (Lunch in the park? A crafty day out?) But one thing we’re sure about already… From timesheets to routine reports to social posts, it’s amazing to watch how many “easy” tasks are finally getting done consistently.   #wordsfresh #communications #challenge

It's not unusual for one of our writers to create a new word that catches on.  So lately, we’ve been hearing our WordsFresh coworkers talk about projects using this lovely new term:  “We need to *funify* their intranet.” “How can we *funify* this dull business document?” “If we don’t *funify* the mailing, no one will open it.”  If you haven't come across *funify* yet, here's what it means to us: fun·i·fy /ˈfənɪˌfaɪ/ verb  "To transform an ordinary or dull situation, task or object into something engaging, enjoyable or interesting, thereby inducing joy, enthusiasm or a sense of light-heartedness." Yes, it's all about making the work we create more fun for our clients - and their clients - to experience. This single word clearly communicates *what* needs to happen, but doesn’t dictate *how* it happens. When you 'funify' a project, you quickly raise the level of creativity and engagement. So go ahead and add ‘funify’ to your work lexicon ... and see how much more fun work can be.   #wordsfresh #communications #fun

HOW USEFUL IS YOUR 1:1? Your one-on-one meetings with team members can be much more than checking in on projects and performance. If you approach your 1:1s like a marketer would – AKA with the goal of truly knowing your audience – you’ll be building a better team culture. That starts with better questions. So, don’t just ask for a status report. Instead, do marketing research for team dynamics. Encourage team members to share what they’re really thinking – not just about work but also their personal wellbeing. This can unearth valuable insights about team morale, similar to how market research informs campaign strategies. Bonus: It can also help you spot early signs of team burnout. #wordsfresh #marketing #meetings

2024 IS MORE THAN 100 DAYS OLD. (Yikes.) Does it feel like the year is slipping away too quickly? Have you made the progress you wanted on your goals? If you work in marketing or internal comms, here’s how to refocus in Q2: 🎯Pause to refresh. Review your campaign data and be flexible if you need to adjust your strategy accordingly. Set up status updates or checkpoints to make sure you stay on track. 🎯Focus on consistency over intensity. Motivation is powerful when you’re setting goals … but steady progress is where the magic happens. Consistent, small efforts in marketing (like regular social media posts) often yield better long-term results than sporadic campaigns. 🎯Leverage technology and tools. We’re fans of good old-fashioned brainpower when it comes to creative, but a great communicator uses all the tools in their toolbox. There are more marketing and AI tools for analytics, automation and project management than you could imagine. Play around to see if any help you systematize your goals. The path to achieving long-term goals is rarely linear. There will be setbacks and challenges, but persistence and adaptability are key. Now … anybody know how many days are left till Christmas? #wordsfresh #marketing #goals

WHAT’S MORE STRESSFUL THAN PUBLIC SPEAKING? Try writing a speech for your boss, or your boss’s boss. It’s not just that speeches have a time limit (even if your boss isn’t in danger of being played offstage by an orchestra). It’s that the stakes are high, for both of you. Here are 4 tips for ghost-writing a speech that's effective, interesting and authentic-sounding … even if your boss didn’t contribute a single word. 📣 1. Quote someone special. Adding relevant quotes or short testimonials from well-respected people can lend credibility and interest to your examples. Real-world endorsements add depth and a human element. Example: “I’d like to begin by reading a letter from a client whose life will never be the same.” 📣 2. Include suitable examples from your boss’s hobbies or interests. Great speeches demand personal stories. We can’t tell you how many times we’ve (respectfully) “stalked” our speech-giver on social media for this reason. Example: “I’ve learned three important things on the pickleball court ….” 📣 3. Evoke emotion. Emotional connections make content memorable and impactful. Share a pertinent story of overcoming adversity to add humanity and make the message stick. Example: “Facing the challenge of our company’s first major downturn, I was reminded of my first marathon ….” 📣 4; Draw from diverse sources. Don’t limit yourself to industry-specific instances. Look for analogies from technology, nature, popular culture or history. Just be sure it’s completely relevant. Example: “As the Wright brothers relied on their understanding of bicycles to become pioneers in aviation, we’ll use our current expertise as a foundation for innovation.” These are a few of the ideas we've used for writing speeches for Fortune 500 executives and others. If you’d like more help with your executive storytelling, please email us at WordsFresh. #wordsfresh #speechwriting #communications

It's National Unicorn Day. (Don't ask why, just run with it.) Today, find a way to bring magic to the mundane. And if you're the boss, here are some tips for managing your own team of unicorns: https://lnkd.in/dEHD7-2 #wordsfresh #unicorns #communications

Clients who send friendship bracelets!!!

THE MEETING WE LOOK FORWARD TO When your calendar is wall-to-wall work meetings, one rarely stands out as “fun.”  (Yes, even at WordsFresh.) But we do look forward to our regular 1:1s. Maybe because it’s the one hour we get to talk about ourselves. And meeting one-on-one with a manager feels like you really do have somebody rooting for your success. If you’re the manager? Treat your 1:1 like a successful marketing or comms campaign. Start with a clear agenda. Outline key points to discuss – or a list of questions you ask each time to help set expectations. Some of our favorites: -What are some recent wins you’re proud of? -What are your priorities this week/month? -How can I support you this month? And don’t forget to make your meetings as engaging as they are informative by adding a creative icebreaker question. How else will you know what your team members would choose as their baseball walk-up songs? #wordsfresh #meetings #communications

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