In a social media savvy world, pretty – and crude – words, pictures and videos have become common fare.
Millions are numbed or jaded by efforts to manipulate them. Millions sort past marketing messages by seeking references from third parties, which are often more trusted.
So one of the qualities sought by thinking consumers, readers and viewers is authenticity. What’s believable. What is real and true.
On this Columbus Day, we commemorate his ‘discovery’ of America, which Lief Erickson and the native Americans clearly found before Christopher did.
I’ve stood in Lief Erickson Park in Duluth, MN, and looked at the small boat that brave souls mounted to cross an imposing and often stormy ocean. They had to be courageous, and fortunate.
Cool Heads, Brave Hearts
To be credible, our stories have to be as grounded in the truth-well-told as our homes have to be properly anchored to withstand the windstorms millions fear.
This battle for the minds and hearts of millions is not a forty yard dash. It’s a marathon.
America’s affordable housing crisis awaits our – your – personal, professional, location’s, business’ and hopefully collective efforts.
Thanks to the support and work of others, we advance this cause day-by-day.
Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance
To change minds and win hearts, there is a need
to enter into a profound kind of professional devotion to this chosen career in factory-crafted home building.
We must first be personally well-informed, in order to better inform others.
When one has chosen the easy path, and leaves the work of formation solely to others, what is obtained? Those will get the low hanging fruit or the fruit already on the ground.
While the easily picked, low hanging fruit ought to be gathered, that should parallel efforts to get richer fruits too.
To get the best fruits – the richest results – requires each of us to mount a ladder, and reach higher. This is true personally and professionally.
That front line struggle is what Obstacles and Opportunities in Affordable Housing is about.
Here is a partial list of the media and special interest sites that have picked up the story.
- AdventuresInDevelopment
- Alamogordo Daily News
- American Public Media
- AmericanBankingNews
- Arizona Republic
- Ashland Times Gazette
- Ask.com Markets
- BioSpace
- Birdherd
- Blapper
- Blogroll Center
- Boston Globe
- CBS 47
- CollegeEducationCost
- DamselsInSuccess
- Deseret News
- Digital Media Wire
- DiscoverDebtFreedom
- eMoney Daily
- eZanga
- FamilyFunIdeaCenter
- Familyroutes.com
- FinancialAdviceZone
- Fox 16
- Fox 23
- GlenwoodHouse
- HomeAndParenting
- Hope4HomeBuyers
- HousingWire
- HPC Wire
- Industrial Info
- KaplanAttorneys
- LegaLadder
- LeowellsBlog
- LivingJoy
- Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel
- Minyanville
- Money Show
- MyMotherLode
- NanotechNews
- NewsChannel 9/ WSYR
- Newsline365
- OnlineContinuingEducationCourses
- PeertoPeerLending
- PersonalFinanceBrief
- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
- Reesespiecesofrealestate.com
- Renewable Energy World
- Salt Lake City Tribune
- SanAnselmo
- SavingsToolBox
- Securities Technology Monitor
- Sidez
- SIFMA
- SmartStocks
- Stock Nod
- The Buffalo News
- The Cincinnati Enquirer
- The Daily Herald
- The Network Journal
- The Press Enterprise
- TheCareFreeTraveller
- TransWorldNews
- Travel Weekly
- Wall Street Select
- Weddingdresscity
- Wiinnebago
- Wire Service.Co
- WIVT/WBGH NewsChannel 34
- WND
- WooEB
While its nice to be able to say that all of the websites and media publications listed above picked up the story, doing this once is not enough. We’ve already done dozens of media releases, and that periodic drip, drip, drip of accurate news helps balance all those problematic stories that sadly reinforce the old stigmas.
So this campaign isn’t a sprint. It’s a marathon.
To change perceptions, as professionals, one must hammer away steadily at the facts vs. the myths or outdate realities.
Columbus didn’t sail for a day, turned around and then went home. Erickson bravely set out toward the unknown, and found Minnesota, whose franchise still bears that strong name, Vikings!
We too as pros must be just as resolute to achieve our potential.
Be informed. Then share that with others. For those who see the value to sharing their insights, talents, resources and expertise in this quest to spread the solution to the affordable housing crisis, please do reach out and touch base here. Thanks, and tallyho! ##
(Image credits are as shown above.)
