December13

This Little Light of Mine

By: Ashleigh

This past weekend my sister got married. It was a beautiful, emotional and God-centered event. Christ was at the middle of everything – from songs of worship, the words of the officiant, prayer before, after and during the ceremony, and toasts to the newlyweds. Christ was alive and well – and we let our lights shine ever so brightly.

So where does this light go, and why as Christians are we so private about a faith that is meant to be very, very public?

I have restored a personal commitment to shine a little brighter every day. My faith in God is everything to me; it’s the most important thing in life. Without Christ, I am nothing. But how many people actually know this about me? This realization hit me like a ton of bricks.

Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

Society seems to have shunned the notion that religion is a public affair. Prayer has faded from the public sector, and athletes who profess their love for Jesus Christ are torn apart by the media.

Tim Tebow ring a bell, anyone? He can’t throw a football according to the media, and he’s a terrible player – but he just keeps winning, doesn’t he? Clearly there is something at the core of these scathing reviews.

John 15:19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

As Christians, we are challenged to show our passion to the world – to let our light shine brightly. But with this passion comes the need to also bring compassion and love. Our good intentions often go misunderstood – and I believe this is because Christians often misunderstand that which Christ would have us do. After all, Christ’s greatest commandment to us is to:

Matthew 22:37-38 ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

To bring this full circle, where does Christianity fit into business? I daresay it exists everywhere – ethics, conflict resolution, problem solving, management and fellowship. Christianity needs to stop being an adjective – something that defines you on Sunday morning…if you decide to get out of bed to venture to church.

Christianity is a way of life – a verb. It’s living out loud and showing the compassion, love and commitment that Jesus showed to the lost, poor, lonely and weary. And it’s no stretch to say we all fall into that category at least once a week.

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December2

Don’t Let Your Business be like those Teenage Funk Years

By: Ashleigh

Ever notice that your brightest ideas seem to come to you when you’ve relaxed after a hard day of work, had a few glasses of your favorite adult beverage, and are ready to finally take a break from it all? Irony.

In one of those pondering dazes, I’ve realized that it’s not really irony at all. It’s in these moments that we can let go of all perceptions of who we are supposed to be and what is expected of us; we can finally let our individuality shine through with no false facade. And that’s why your best ideas come when you relax and let your inner talent shine true.

All too often, we get caught up in what others think and how others say we should run a business. I think this is why the word “corporate” has such a negative connotation; stereotypically, it’s dripping with the essence of no individuality. If we let others dictate who we are, we’ll never come to know our own true potential.

High school is over – don’t let insecurity drive you back into that funk.

I thrive on running against the grain. It’s just who I am. I tend to think outside the box – I believe this is the lifeblood of any entrepreneur. It makes us tick. Makes us bold. And makes us strike out on our own accord, ignoring the failure rate of so many businesses before us.

Social platforms have created a “shrinking” of geographic distance, putting incredible resources at your fingertips. Brilliant minds and communities of collaboration exist to make everyone better. But, this also comes with a tendency to fall in line with what everyone else is doing. After all, if the experts are doing it, how can it be wrong?

I believe a corporate mentality can begin to exist as we fall in step with trailblazers in the community and fail to follow our own instincts as entrepreneurs. As wonderful as each trailblazer’s mind is, they are meant to be unique. Not simply to be emulated. They are meant to offer suggestions and arouse ideas, not serve as a blueprint for your own situation.

The avid salmon in the stream must keep swimming upstream. If not, we as entrepreneurs fail as a species.

Your challenges are unique to you, but common in the business community

I used to step back and filter my blogs, filter my thoughts and believe that I was somehow “not accurate” in my challenges and successes. This simply isn’t true. As I’ve worked at Rackspace, I’ve come to gain confidence in my instincts and talents as a marketer…and most importantly, my unique voice. If we all sang in unison, it would sound nice. But just imagine how much more beautiful would be the sound of voices coming together, slightly off step with one another…each ringing out loud and true to their own journey.

So to everyone whose voice feels stifled, take a deep breath. Shed that skin of insecurity, and be strong in your own talents. Business can be tough, but it only beats you down when you aren’t being true to you.

High school is over, no one is judging you. In fact, they probably have a lot to learn from you.

So think outside the box and dare to do something bold. If you wholly commit yourself to this endeavor, you’ll be in line with the greatest thinkers, inventors, entrepreneurs and philosophers of all time.

 

 

Posted in: Entrepreneurship0 comments

November15

Since When is Mediocre Service Acceptable?

By: Ashleigh

As an employee of Rackspace (we refer to ourselves as Rackers), I have become very familiar with the term Fanatical Support®. It’s a way of doing business, a way of treating one another, and a way of living our lives – with extreme fanaticism. Mediocre is not okay. We go above and beyond the call of duty to make sure our customers’ needs are met.

In a way, Fanatical Support has ruined me. I guess I always appreciated receiving solid customer service, but I’ve now reached a point where I don’t put up with poor service. It amazes me how little some people care about the way they treat customers. And, more amazing, is what we’ve come to put up with as a society. We almost expect to receive bad service!

My husband and I recently built a home. As first-time home buyers, there are a lot of things to manage – particularly new sod that was laid down the first week of August, in 100+ degree temperature during the worst drought we’ve experienced in decades. Not good timing. Needless to say, my yard is disgusting, and it’s finally cool enough to begin composting. I called ABC Home and Commercial Services to schedule an estimate. My mom suggested I also call her yard maintenance company because they are, “very nice.” So, I obliged. But they never called back.

My mother suggested I call again and that’s when I stopped her, “Absololutely not. I don’t have time to chase down people – I’m trying to give them business. If they don’t want it, fine. I don’t want their inattentive service.” And, that’s the way it should be. There are plenty of businesses out there, why settle for someone providing less than fanatical service?

I am very happy with my decision. ABC Home and Commercial Services came out, and their landscape manager was incredibly friendly. We sat and chatted for a while – he has an Agriculture degree, is very personable, hard-working and thoughtful. He was up-front about their services, recommended I call anytime I needed anything because if the treatments weren’t taking, they would add additional services at no charge. Now, that’s fanatical!

So why do we put up with sub-par service? Why don’t we demand more from businesses? In a world of bad customer service, I challenge you to shine above the competition. Win those customers, covert them to loyal patrons, and beat out the competition through powerful advocates who promote you through word-of-mouth.

It sure seems like a no-brainer, right? So what’s holding you back?

Posted in: Entrepreneurship0 comments

November10

A Long Overdue Update

By: Ashleigh

It goes without saying that this update is long overdue. It always seems when my plate gets full, my social ramblings completely drop off the map. And, sadly, I should be better than that.

So where have I been, and what have I been doing?

Almost a year ago I began contract work with the online marketing team at Rackspace Hosting. Shortly after that (February 2011), I was officially brought onto the team – an opportunity that was both unexpected and a blessing.

To say that I have learned a lot would not give justice to the tremendous team I joined. In a year, I have grown leaps and bounds as a marketer, strategizer (clearly I am not above making up words, though), and team member. Most importantly, it’s been wonderful to receive affirmation for my ideas and instincts as a marketer.

I have continued to run Ashford Davis – scaling back my client roster to a select few, and taking on occasional consulting and web design/development projects. I think the main reason my blogging activity dropped off was because I still am not sure how to transition my company…and more importantly, my company’s website.

Moving toward a new year, it’s time to begin sharing and collaborating more with the online community. I anticipate rolling back the website to a blog-focused format, with portfolio work as a sub-item. I’m exciting about the opportunity to flex my writing muscles again, and to more aggressively put my thoughts onto paper – an exercise that can be extremely rewarding (albeit challenging).

So to anyone out there, feel free to put my feet to the fire. Breaking bad habits can be tough. :)

Posted in: Online Marketing0 comments

February8

Content Management System Comparison: Hidden Costs

By: Ashleigh

I originally wrote this article for the Rackspace Hosting Email & Apps Blog. I thought it worth sharing here as well.

Functionality, ease-of-use and affordability are all factors contributing to the growing popularity of websites powered by Content Management Systems (CMS). The growth of social media and the need to share information quickly has also added to their attractiveness—CMS platforms with social plugin capabilities have become a must-have. Today’s robust community behind open source CMS projects has made building a website possible for those with limited technical know-how.

The published price tag of popular CMS platforms is extremely appealing – free downloads are available for popular platforms like Joomla, Drupal and WordPress. Business owners, however, should consider the hidden costs when deciding what CMS best suits their goals.

Maintenance, Backups & Optimization

A previous article in this series discussed performance optimization for CMS platforms. The required level of technical competency for this process varies for each individual platform. Drupal, for instance, would likely require someone on staff to manage the optimization process. Like optimization, an ongoing backup management plan and maintenance are highly recommended. If a system administrator is not on staff to handle these tasks, the project can be outsourced to a contractor or company who specializes in database maintenance. It’s worth investing in ongoing maintenance because should disaster strike, your recovery process will be much more smooth.

Training Staff

One of the advantages to a CMS is the ability for non-technical users to readily update content and write blog articles. Although the WordPress control panel is much more straightforward than Joomla or Drupal, training will still be necessary. Simple HTML tags and the process for uploading images, embedding video and creating links will all need to be taught to staff whose responsibility includes maintaining the website. Clearly, any time invested in training is time away for the day-to-day business operations. And, if no one in the office is an expert, the cost of classes or a consultant can add up quickly.

Hiring Designers/Programmers for Added Functionality

Websites like Template Monster and Theme Forest offer sleek, professional templates for individuals looking for out-of-the-box solutions. Since the CMS platforms are open source, the code can be edited and customized. The sky is the limit, but your proposed budget may not include the cost of graphic designers and programmers to take a generic template to a fully customized website that accurately represents your brand.

After reviewing the hidden costs, it’s worth preparing a budget that includes the line items outlined above. What is the skill set of your internal staff and what type of training will be necessary to maintain the website? Should you outsource customization to an agency that specializes in CMS templates? Who can best manage security and ongoing maintenance? Launching a website that is not well strategized, looks generic or doesn’t include the proper SEO for CMS will end up costing you more in the long run than it would to get it right the first time.

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