By Gini Dietrich
When I began my speaking career in 2008, we were still doing a lot of franchise PR.
I had a monthly column in Franchise Times and in Hotel Executive and people really looked to us as the experts.
(This was before the economy tanked and all of that business dried up.)
Through that work, I met a woman who worked at WIN Home Inspection. She was putting together their annual sales conference and she invited me to speak.
That is when I met Jennifer MacDonald.
I already knew her through Twitter and she was one of my first online friends I got to meet IRL (in real life). It was super exciting!
She probably doesn’t remember this, but I do because it was traumatic for me: I was so excited when she came into the ballroom, I tripped down the stairs from the stage.
Oh yes. Skirt and high heels and all.
That was in 2010 and we’ve been friends since.
What is the Biggest Mistake You’ve Made in Your Career?
Delaying the online journey.
I was a procrastinator when it came to jumping into social media channels.
I did not start using social media until 2008. I refrained from joining Facebook when I was in college, even though all of my friends were using the college kids only version at the time. That was a mistake as a graphic design/marketing professional.
What is One Thing about Yourself that Would Surprise Most People?
Hmmm, I think most people who know me here and online don’t know much about my past (before the Internet) except that I grew up in Maine.
I guess I would say that I was a white water rafting guide for four years on a Class V river.
Or maybe that I used to ride a snowmobile to school in the winter? (Gini, no comment!)
(Editor’s Note: What? I think that’s AWESOME!)
On a professional note, it has been one of my biggest career goals to be featured here on Spin Sucks.
When I first met Gini, and started reading Spin Sucks, I thought it would be amazing to be featured in one of their posts.
It seems hard work does pay off.
(Editor’s Note: Shame on us for not inviting you sooner!)
If You Could Achieve Everything You Ever Wanted in Life, but Had to Die 10 Years Sooner, Would You Make that Trade?
Absolutely not.
I am grateful every day for being able to experience the amazing life that I live.
Honestly, if someone ever said yes to this question I would immediately consider them ungrateful.
(Sorry to anyone who has said yes.)
There are many people who are no longer with us who never had that choice.
What Industry Advice or Practice Would You Most Like to Cry Foul On?
That social media marketing is easy.
It’s not, not if you do it correctly.
If you’re a successful social media marketer, heck nowadays it should be any marketer, then you know how to tie all of your efforts back to business goals. It takes time and effort.
What is the Best Book You’ve Read in the Past Six Months?
I read a lot of fiction. I spend my work day reading blogs, industry news, creative briefs, and RFPs so I don’t have much energy in my personal time for non-fiction.
Little Earthquakes looks at the lives of four women who lead similar lives, but how they’re all very different.
I love this book because it reminded me to never judge anyone by how they look or appear.
I try to remind myself of that daily, and I feel I do a pretty good job at not judging people, but I always like being reminded of important lessons.
Why Does Spin Suck?
It devalues everything you and I have worked so hard for in our careers.
It takes authenticity and throws it right out the window.
Enough said.
Where You Can Find Jennifer MacDonald
You can find her on:
Great inquisition! 🙂
biggreenpen <3
JonMikelBailey Thanks for the tweet, what did you think of my responses?
biggreenpen Thank you, I really appreciate you taking the time to read this post.
jennimacdonald And sometimes the employer holds on to an employee far longer than they should for the same reasons. It’s REALLY hard to draw a line between business and personal when, in most cases, you spend more time with one another than your family.
I have a question…are New Englanders known for being blunt?
ginidietrich yes. That was the #1 thing I was always called out for when I lived in Seattle.
jennimacdonald Ha! I had no idea.
ginidietrich jennimacdonald That’s part of what I LOVE about it here. After spending so much time in the south it’s nice to know exactly what people think.
Awesome another white water lover! Great to meet you and learn about you Jennifer.
Digital_DRK Thank you, it’s great to meet you as well. Do you also have white water blood in your veins?
I appreciate you taking the time to stop by today!
LauraPetrolino ginidietrich jennimacdonald bless your heart …
Nice to meet you. Funny to see a picture for something called Camp Sunshine when everyone is dressed for cold weather, but I am a native Californian so I am biased about sunshine. 🙂
I’m sorry Jennifer, I’m having trouble concentrating on this post, because I keep seeing Gini falling down the stairs in her skirt and heels!
KensViews I didn’t FALL. I tripped.
Hi Jennifer, it’s great to meet you!
“That social media marketing is easy. It’s not, not if you do it correctly…You can’t build a community overnight.” Amen to that.
Enjoy your day on the hot seat!
ginidietrich KensViews Fall / trip – same end result.
Corina Manea Thank you. It’s really nice to hear that you agree. Sometimes I think that Social Media Marketers should form a support group online. : )
jennimacdonald I teach kayaking during the summer and have been on class V’s on the Ottawa river. As for stopping by, I was in the neighbourhood. Have a great Thanks Giving! 🙂
KensViews I don’t remember her falling, I think she’s confusing me with another Jen. It happens, I have a common name.
jennimacdonald That’s not a bad idea at all! 🙂
Pleasure meeting you Jennifer! I love how you say Social Media marketing if done properly is never easy, you’re right on that. I’m from Canada and I never rode a snowmobile to school ;).
ginidietrich KensViews WAS Tripped? Because I was nowhere near there. But fall, tripped, the visual in my head, and Digital_DRK ‘s apparently, is the same!
jennimacdonald , ginidietrich makes up stories about first meetings. You should see the doozy she made up about meeting me for the first time!
Joshua Wilner/A Writer Writes Great point, and yes that is funny. That picture was taken at L.L. Bean in the fall, they host an annual fundraising event for Camp Sunshine. Camp Sunshine is a retreat in Maine for children with life-threatening illnesses. (sorry to get serious on that one)
biggreenpen Easy, I’ve been to the south. I’m in on the secret!
Digital_DRK Very impressive, I’ve only guided the Kennebec and Dead rivers in Maine. I never had a chance to try kayaking but I have several guide friends who now travel the world testing kayaks for brands.
Happy Holidays!!!
Corina Manea Make sure to send me an invite when you’re ready!
BillSmith3 I grew up an hour from the Canadian border, I love that country. Well, we can’t all be cool kids. : )
Have a great weekend!
jennimacdonald BillSmith3 You would have been closer to Lindsay Bell Wheeler, I grew up in Montreal and later Toronto, the winters aren’t quite as harsh where I’m at.
jennimacdonald I envy your friends who are testing kayaks. If you visit Toronto let me know, more than happy to take you on a guided tour of the Toronto harbour and Toronto Islands. [Image from the bow of my kayak]
Thank you, I’ve never been to Toronto.
Well, i’m a full week behind on my Inquisition reading, but I think, since there is now post-Thanksgiving Inquisition, that we can still count this week yours. Agree? 🙂
And we have something in common. I didn’t use facebook in college either! (We’ll just be quiet about the fact that it didn’t exist then…)
Congrats on achieving SS “Inquisitee” status!
KateNolan Thank you, and I’m glad to hear that I wasn’t the only college student who didn’t use Facebook.