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#FollowFriday: Lisa Gerber
This is not my typical #FollowFriday. Typically, as many of you know, I recommend only bloggers and authors, with the intent of introducing you to new voices and helping them increase their networks.
But today, though most of you likely already know her, I want to delve further into our chief content officer, Lisa Gerber (aka the face behind Spin Sucks on Twitter).
Lisa and I met at Counselor’s Academy in Palm Springs two years ago. In fact, we met two years ago today (I know this because we’re at the same conference in Vegas right now). We instantly became friends/bosom buddies/soulmates and wondered aloud, many times, how we could create a way to work together.
But Lisa lives in Idaho and I live in Chicago and, while technology makes the divide not so great, I knew how important it is to have a start-up team in one spot while we launch, and get through the first year of, Spin Sucks Pro.
And she works with local companies who don’t care to have a presence in Chicago or New York, so it didn’t make sense for her to form a partnership with us.
And then, last summer, I heard Tony Hsieh speak. He talked about how he and his executive team went to college together and how they’ve been friends for a very long time. He talked about how important it is to have people you trust around you as you launch and build a business. He talked about the misnomer of working with your friends, as long as you know you can trust them to do their jobs and have the business’s best interests at heart.
It went against everything I’d heard before about business growth, but I’d hired strangers (some who, later, became friends) throughout the growth of Arment Dietrich and, because I was giving up some equity in Spin Sucks Pro, I thought, “Why not?”
I was lamenting to Lisa that I wish she lived closer or that we could find a way to work together. I said I really needed someone on the executive team who could be in Chicago for a year after we launched.
She said, “I’ll do it.”
I’m sorry. WHAT?!
And she did. In January. She left her husband and her dogs and her skis and her mountain bike in Sandpoint, Idaho, and she moved to Chicago in the worst month of the year. She left stability and control in exchange for working in the gray and the hopes of being part of something that will change the perception of the PR and marketing industries for good.
She is a calming force in our office. She understands the need for balance and, in her quiet way, she’s a huge influence on me. She helps us all understand the need to rest, relax, and recharge (which you all know is VERY hard for me). She is a balance to my ultra-competitive, super-charged drive because, while she’s as driven as me, she has a more encouraging way about her.
What started out as friends has become a peer, a trusted advisor, and partner in the truest sense of the word.
If this doesn’t convince you to love her immediately, then find her on Twitter (both as Lisa and Spin Sucks), see her blogging here every other Wednesday, or find her in the comments. Oh! And wish her a happy birthday!
My usual bratty kidding aside, @GiniDietrich and @LisaGerber: bring out the best in one another. It reinforces my belief that if you find the talent who'll make your firm even better, and if you find the organization where you're destined to succeed, you must at least TRY to figure out how to make it work, the roadblocks of distance etc. be damned!.
KensViews I personally love how you answer the phone! And your advice that I should go with my initial gut.
So glad we all finally met. You both rock.
The Franchise King®
FranchiseKing We were just talking about how much we both loved hanging out with you!
ginidietrich FranchiseKing What Gini said - lots of fun. I hope we can do it again sometime soon.
What an awesome shout out! Lisa Gerber is obviously a star! Love the work you guys do.
jonbuscall She IS a star! And tons of fun to be around, too!
ginidietrich jonbuscall You are right, Jon, it is an AWESOME shout out. I'm saving this to my gold star file. I loved it. and thank you! I look forward to getting to know you better!
Heck, I was already sold on Lisa when she stopped by my blog one day and compared one of my posts to the "seinfeld" of blogging ;). But now after reading this - I'm kinda hesitant and I'm not really convinced by what you said. It seems like you don't trust her. Muwahhahahahahahaha! ;)
Lisa rocks!!! No two ways about it!
And I look forward to getting to know her more and more. After all, she met my clone Mel ;).
I think it's wonderful that you two found each other and are compatible both in the work place and as friends. It's not often that two people click that way and are on the same wavelengths - so I guess you were meant to be hehe.
Awesome write-up Gin. And happy belated bday to ya Lisa. Hope you gals are rockin' Vegas!
Talk soon
Ciao
Griddy wait there is a Vegas trip I was not made aware of nor invited too? Sigh
HowieSPM You can go with us next year. You just need to be a leader of a PR firm.
Griddy She totally has met Mel. HAHAHAHAHA!!!
ginidietrich Griddy I started to type "i met mel?" and then I remembered!!!!!!! OMG, Mel seriously ROCKS!
Lisa Gerber ginidietrich Griddy No worries I will change the sign on my door next year to Sky Pulse PR. Which I think would be a great addition to the family of companies. Sky Pulse Vodka, Sky Pulse Potato Chips, Sky Pulse Uuber Investment Bank for Rich People, Sky Pulse Grill. So what hotel and what dates? Normally I stay at Hojo.
Lisa Gerber ginidietrich Hahaha! I would have been a bit worried about how much "work" you're doing out there had you so soon forgotten about Mel ;). I mean her and her boyfriend think so highly of you and Spin Sucks. Lol
HowieSPM Lisa Gerber ginidietrich The Hojo huh....Hahaha
Haven't heard that chain name in a while haha.
ginidietrich LMAO! ;)
Gini - What a nice way to show your deepest appreciation for a kindred spirit and savvy business partner. When you really connect, you know that things will work out. Sounds like you're a great team. Happy Birthday Lisa!
adventuresinexpatland My iPad won't let me like this so LIKE!
That is very poignant and touching ginidietrich grats Lisa Gerber and make sure you remind Gini every day about leaving the hubby behind for a bit (probably funner that way anyway! lol)
HowieSPM I'm pretty sure funner isn't a word.
ginidietrich HowieSPM you're wrong, Gini. As evidenced in this 5 second video clip from Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN9KIRnICCI
KenMueller HowieSPM Because a Phillies pitcher is a great resource for the English language.
ginidietrich HowieSPM I can't think of a better source...
HowieSPM ginidietrich Lisa Gerber I like "funner"...but then, I'm no English major....thank gawd. :=)
JoyFull_deb ginidietrich Lisa Gerber KenMueller in 9th grade Spanish I decided if I did not know a word I would use the English Verision plus and O at the end. I had lots of Funo. A lot. But seriously funner? I will look it up. Yep it means 'More fun than basic fun'
HowieSPM ginidietrich Lisa Gerber KenMueller RightO....I knewO that yeauxO were coolO...:=)
Idaho, now that is a state you don't hear mentioned much but I do hear it is very pretty.
Willing to pull up roots and leave for a year; that's commitment and there's something to be said for that. It's because she believes in you and your model and to touch on your response on Erica's guest post that should be worth something when you are talking to these AI's.
We don't get to see Lisa as much but she pops her head up every once in awhile so it was good to see you shine the light on her. I think I got a nasty e-mail from her once saying something about my check didn't clear when I signed up for your webinar but she was very professional about and I only counted two F bombs, but other than that, pretty non-confrontational.
Thanks for sharing and hope you all (y'all) have a great weekend.
bdorman264 Only two F bombs? You're fine. It's when there are four or more that you need to start worrying.
lisa Gerber bdorman264 I agree. As long as it was only two, we're still within our policy.
You guys are too cute! I LOVE your yellow jacket, Gini. And Lisa... the earrings! ;)
CristerDelaCruz I knew you'd like that jacket!
ginidietrich CristerDelaCruz Is the weather different where you guys are each standing in that picture? Hihi ;)
Griddy We're in Vegas. I took it last night!
What a great story! What a testament to making yourself uncomfortable on someone else's behalf--Lisa exemplifies the trust and dedication everyone needs to give that little bit of wind to the sails of our dreams. I'm happy for both of you; grateful you shared the story of how your perspective expanded; and SO glad to be in Las Vegas with both you and Lisa!
MimiMeredith And I am looking forward to hearing you speak this afternoon!
MimiMeredith Sounds like I'm missing out on some fun........
Happy Birthday Lisa!!! Gini how you describe Lisa as being calm and "She helps us all understand the need to rest, relax, and recharge." I've felt that in the little communication I've had with her. She always makes me laugh with her emails, even those about Spin Sucks PRO and the email chat we had about Seattle was very uplifting. I think you've found yourself one great partner, congrats to you both! p.s. Lisa I'm not sure how you gave up the mountains for Chicago : )
jennimacdonald Jen, shhhh! We try not to talk about the no mountain thing!
jennimacdonald thank you soooooo much, Jen. I'm not going to lie. I am eating up this Lisa Love Fest. :) and I miss the mountains. Bad.
jennimacdonald Jen, shhhh! We try not to talk about the no mountain thing!
I'm convinced :)
Lisa you've got a brand new follower !
Yael Rozencwajg YAY!
@Yaelginidietrich Rozencwajg yay from me too! :)
Yay, yay, yay! This was the best FF ever, much better than that goofy thesaleslion ;-) ... I loved the heartfelt nature of this Gini and how you've partnered with someone that seems to perfectly balance you and also bring the best out of you. Hooray for Lisa Gerber being freaking awesome! :)
Marcus_Sheridan I don't know. I'm kind of partial to thesaleslion !!
Marcus_Sheridan thesaleslion Lisa Gerber No kidding and have you seen the size of the sales lion's noggin? How in the world does he get that silly ass halloween lion's head on anyway? It's a good thing we love that cat and everybody seems to play nice in here. I concur Howie, hooray for Lisa.
Delighted to have had the pleasure of meeting both ginidietrich and Lisa Gerber at #CAPRSA this weekend. Great to see this kind of relationship between colleagues - it makes "work" much more pleasurable doesn't it?
Lindsay Chisholm When I got here yesterday and looked at the pool, I said, "WOW! I can pretend I'm on vacation." Not too shabby at all!
So cool to have friends that you can work with, trust, and be on the same page with in the direction in which the business is heading. I have enjoyed a similar opportunity/experience in one of my past adventures.
P.S. Happy Birthday, Lisa!
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