Not Quite Like Meeting Roberto Clemente

When I was still too short to ride the "big kid" rides at Kennywood amusement park, my Pop took my brother, my sister and me to a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game at Forbes Field.  Terrific seats (which I didn't fully appreciate at the time) on U.S. Steel Day. 

With clarity, I remember meeting Roberto Clemente...... which was really cool.  Shook The Great One's hand, chatted with him briefly and got his autograph on the scorecard in my hand (which I later traced over and over with a pen when I became bored in the later innings - much to my Pop's dismay!).  A wonderful memory from my boyhood days.

Another Cool Thing

Recently, I immediately downloaded on my Kindle the book Anything You Want by Derek Sivers, when Mitch Joel recommended it on his blog.  I trust Mitch's judgement, and enjoyed this book by the guy who built the company CD Baby from nothing into the largest seller of music by independent artists.  Derek Sivers has some very intriguing ideas about how to succeed in today's economy, and I encourage you to read his book.  It only takes about 60-90 minutes to read, and Sivers knows a thing or two after building CD Baby over less than 10 years and selling it for $22 Million.
 
After reading Anything You Want, I then decided to try something silly.  I emailed Mitch Joel, thanking him for the encouragement over the last half year.  It was about six months ago that I first listened to Mitch Joel speak on TED.com.  I was struck by his intellect and insight, as well as his humility.  Since that time, I've followed him regularly on Mitch Joel's blog, and listen to his podcasts.   He's someone this Old Dog looks up to in the world of social media marketing, and I figured it was time that I thanked Mitch (realizing he wouldn't respond to my email).

I was surprised, and a bit excited, when Mitch Joel personally answered my email.  Hey, it's not quite like meeting Roberto Clemente, but it was pretty cool when Mitch even responded a second time, to my follow up on his original email.  (If you don't understand why I'm excited about communicating directly with Mitch Joel, check out his Google+ profile - - a resume that includes being listed on Canada's top 40 under 40, etc.)  Mitch explained that he reads and responds personally to all the emails that he receives.

The Point?

If Roberto Clemente can take the time to kindly engage a kid in a crew cut who isn't old enough to sign his own name and Mitch Joel can take the time to kindly respond to an Old Dog who may be old enough to be his father, shouldn't you be taking the time  to kindly appreciate your customers through social media?

As I've explained in this blog before, I see the global impact of social media forcing businesses to be Retro.  The ability to spread Word of Mouth information about a company like a cyber wildfire through social media causes businesses to return to their roots. 

When Roberto regularly played right field for the Pittsburgh Pirates, a small business owner inherently knew that his success depended upon his treating the Customer as King.  The transparency that social media creates requires business owners to believe that "the customer is always right".  As a business owner who takes to heart a Retro mindset, a mindset that believes the customer is always right because the customer ultimately really is king, you and your business can thrive using social media. 

Take the time to learn the New Tricks of social media, before the Pittsburgh Pirates win another pennant.  (Yes, this Old Dog remembers those days, too!)   

Thank you for sharing 166 seconds of your day,
Smitty