New learning isn’t always safe learning (at least for me!) – SCN Encourager

The reflective “mulling over” stage isn’t a good one to skip.

It’s dangerous to over-reach the limits of newly acquired knowledge.

But I couldn’t help it yesterday.

Jen Harris and two of her team members from Arlington Public Schools (Virginia) offered one “value bomb” after another during Wednesday’s 45 minute Lunchinar.

It was an insightful and fun conversation and I’ll post links to the recording and the Lunchinar’s resource links for you right here tomorrow.

You’ll want to have them.

I was impressed by how Jen and her team strategize and organize their district’s extensive social media calendar and tactics.

Their enthusiasm and professionalism also reminded me of the structured process John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing promotes.

He says effective marketing has the orderly flow of an hourglass.

Other experts highlight a more traditional “relationship nurturing” funnel.

At any rate, I could tell the that Arlington Public Schools team took steps to attach their efforts to every stage:
– identify,
– expand,
– engage,
and advocate. 

Like I said, I was impressed.

And I proudly took my higher ordered thinking home with me later.

Big mistake.

As you might be aware, my home is now wedding bells central.

I don’t mind (all that much, really) as long as I have the Super Bowl to look forward to in a few weeks.

In fact, I thought I could help Cindy and Kate immensely (with wedding #1 in April) by blessing them with my brand new 10 Stage Wedding Planning Funnel.®

And why not?

I’m a trained professional communicator, too.

Everyone school PR pro knows that every campaign – whether it’s for Twitter or for an upcoming nuptial – is lifted up ten-fold when a written plan supports it.

Arlington Public Schools have a process and plan.

John Jantsch has a process and plan.

So I thought Kate’s wedding needed a process and plan as well.

I was super-excited when I presented my one page wedding planning pyramid to Cindy and Kate.

There was no doubt in my mind that my 10 Stage Wedding Planning Funnel ® could guide us all to a wedding for the ages with minimal stress and anxiety if they’d only be willing to give it a try.

Dang it.

Was a fair review for my “wedding plan accelerator” too much for the father-of-the-bride to ask?

Apparently so.

Now I can only hope that Jen Harris and her talented APS team will agree to another Lunchinar soon and cover the topic of effective “salesmanship.”

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