What's in a Brand?

“A brand is not a logo. A brand is not a product or a visual identity system. A brand is a person’s gut feeling about a product, service or organization.”—Marty Neumeier

The above quote expresses to me the essence of what a brand truly is. Peoples experiences with an organization are the building blocks that establish their feeling toward your organization.  It takes numerous positive experience to entrench a good image but only one bad experience to tear all of the block down. It is for this reason that consistency of action, attitude, and performance is crucial for constancy of feeling.

I think the importance of being consistent is further driven home by this quote:

"Organizations can give life to brands, nurture and influence them, but they cannot control how people perceive them. Ultimately, it is the people who come in contact with or consume a brand’s services who determine that brand’s meaning and value."

After reading the Marketing and Style guide, the two things I learned that stuck out to me most were:

1. The numerous places methods that are available to us to advertise such as the TVs by Jamba Juice, advertising through the service squad, and WSC table tents.
2. That working with an advertising consultant must begin more than 5 weeks before an event. I just never realized that the timeline for advertising was so long. It is something that is very important to keep in mind.

Group Development

Courtesy of aspireforsuccess.com

Forming, storming, norming, and performing... I really like this model on group development. But like most models, I think it is a useful way of thinking about something and not necessarily a realistic representation of group development. In my opinion, the model captures the reality of group development if it is thought of more of a cyclical, simultaneous process, rather than linear. With this in mind, I think that, to a certain degree, our area time is simultaneously going through each of these stages. Let me illustrate:

• Forming: Our group is still working out more of the fine details of who is responsible for what and how each person will "fit" into the whole.
• Storming: There has actually been very little outward storming--everyone in our group is quite tactful--put I do think that some internal storming has been occurring.
• Norming: Groups patterns, culture, and protocol is currently being established e.g. Fiesta Friday, "irregardless," and how to best correct others.
• Performing: I do feel that our groups is being productive and performing to a certain degree.

As I said, I am not sure that a group can ever completely be entirely in the performing stage but I will do my best to help my team stay primarily in the performing stage by working hard, being respectful of others, following group norms and protocol, and by seeking to compromise and avoid contention whenever possible.

Similarly, I will do my part to help BYUSA as a whole stay in the performing stage by doing these same things but by also working diligently in my defined role, encouraging others to do the same, and by seeking to always help newcomers assimilate by befriending, welcoming, and including them. 

It Aint About the Money...Well Sort Of.

In what ways can BYUSA's financial processes help me in managing my own finances?

Most sound advice on personal finances is that the most thing about personal finance is not--contrary what most people would think--how much you make but what and how much you spend. If someone can master the way they spend, they will be able to be successful in their personal finances.

I am sure that there are others but I am sure that it is in this way that BYUSA's financial process can help me in my personal financial endeavors. in the following three ways:

• All expenses in BYUSA fit within a larger budget:
• All expenses are deliberate:
• All expenses are recorded:

How will you makes sure each new person in your area is trained and held accountable for our financial processes?

I will make sure that each person in my area is trained and held accountable for finances by:

1. Giving clear, concise training--in addition to the certification process--on how BYUSA's financial processes are to work. 
2. I will review and references these principles in regular meetings and interactions.
3. I will follow up and  require reports on finances during my personal stewardships with my PDs 

Volunteering to Help Create a Zion Community

Courtesy of  http://www.volunteerscreening.org

Why do I volunteer?
I volunteer for so many reasons. I volunteer...

• to gain experience
• to feel as if I'm a part of something greater
• to give back in anyway I can for all that I have been given
• because I feel good when I do
• as a way to get to know other people
• it is a commandment to serve
• because I know it is the right thing to do.

In what ways do you contribute to the culture of the office?

I personally contribute to the office culture through my Tweets, being friends with others, saying hi, trying to be friendly and positive, attempting to work hard and stay of task....Actually, as I think about it. A better question is: In what ways do myself and others not contribute to the office culture? I can't see any.

In other words, every action--in some way--contributes to the culture that we are creating in the BYUSA office this year. Thinking about it this way makes me feel a lot more responsibility towards the way I uphold myself while in the BYUSA office.

What can you do individually to help make our BYU a Zion community?

Courtesy of http://www.mindtools.com

I hope this counts as answering the question but there I want to answer this question in a slightly different direction. There are a lot of things that I can do, but there is one thing that I want to set a strong goal to work towards and that is consistently greeting--at minimal smiling at--people as I walk by them. The people of Sierra Leone taught me an amazing lesson: To greet people, even complete strangers, as you pass. In fact, if you pass someone there without greeting them, they will get offended and feel that you are rude. Everyday, we pass numerous people. Imagine how much more friendly the world would be if we just took half a second's thought to smile and wave...

Getting to Know Someone's Heart

I really appreciated Brittanie Steele's invitation to get to know the heart of a fellow member of BYUSA. It is my opinion that, to often, our relationships hover around the superficial and mundane. As a result, we frequently "get to know people" without even coming close to scratching the surface about who these people are--their hopes, fears, attributes, and opinions that make them a special, unique individual. It is for this reason that I was grateful for such an assignment. I am goign to take some liberty here and write about two special people that I feel that I have gotten to know their heart, at least to a small degree.

Brittanie Steele:

Brittanie is a very interesting person. She is one who cannot easily be put into any single personality category. She is organized, with strong will and determination, yet extremely kind and sensitive towards others. She has lofty goals and aspirations but she serves because she truly wants to help and make a difference. She is very friendly and social but refuses to get on Twitter. But most importantly of all, I know that Brittanie loves others because she loves the Savior and tries to be like him.

Andrew Grisson:

Is likely one of the most genuinely kind people that I have ever met. His smile and excitement at meeting others radiates his love and concern for them. Andrew is one of those people being around them just makes you feel better. 

I am excited for the opportunity to get to know Andrew and Brittanie better as well as the rest of the BYUSA gang!

Professionalism and Protocol

Professionalism implies a level of skill and competence in order exceed in a professional setting and to contribute to the values and aims of an organization. Professionalism is both a code of conduct and an overall approach to being productive and creating value. Credibility implies trust and trust is built through a consistent pattern of behavior. When professionalism  permeates an organization, that organization acts in a consistent manner in which all can rely. It is in this way, among other, that professionalism builds trust.

Organizations use protocol because they function best when organizational friction is the least. Organizational friction occurs when there is a lack of understanding or absence of confidence in systematized processes. By establishing concrete, tested, and sustained protocol, business can avoid many of the inefficiencies that result form a lack of these crucial characteristics. Protocal creates an environment where all people within an organization know and understand what route to follow when there is something to be done. But the need for protocol is even deeper. Protocol permeates interpersonal relationships, technology, cultures, etc. It is an enabler of connections. For example, language, one of the most essential mediums of communication is, in essence, protocol. Another example is computers. Protocol is what enables computers to communicate, connect, and share effectively. It is clear then.

Divine Centered Leadership

I both love and wholly endorse what President Spencer W. Kiball taught when he taught "we will find it very difficult to be significant leaders unless we recognize the reality of the perfect leader, Jesus Christ, and let him be the light by which we see the way!"

So how can I better bring my leadership in line with Christ's great example? As instructed on Wednesday, a lot of it has to do with two things: our motives and who we are-- the core of our person, character, and being.

So what is my motive for service?

I serve for many reasons and some are certainly better than others. It's certainly not admirable but I wouldn't be being completely candid if I didn't admit that a small portion of my motive for service is worldly accolades and recognition. Another motive is duty because I believe that I am obligated to serve others by the commandments that I believe and have committed to live. Another motive that impels my service towards others is the feeling of satisfaction I get, the "warm fuzzies" that come from lifting a heard that hangs down or brightening someone's day. Finally, the best and most pure motivation for serving others is the love that I have for them and for God. Unfortunately, this motive is not always at the front of my mind and I certainly would benefit from kindling the fire of this motive. I pray that I serve this year, this will become the most prominent of my motives for service.

My Reflection on the BYUSA Mission

What the BYUSA Mission means to me:

A Sense of Belonging: belonging to me, is one the things that can completely determine how one feels about their college experience. If one can--their through their own engagement or the fellowship others--feel that they belong to a campus community, their college

       Refined Skills and Talents: College is all about this. it is a time to better prepare yourself intellectually, emotionally, and physically to prepare you for a fulfilling and meaningful life.

       Divine-Centered Leadership: One of the best things about serving is BYUSA is that we truly can recognize Jesus Christ as the great example of leadership and collectively work towards following Him.   

       Meaningful Contributions: Success in any organization doesn't come from the one but from many. I think believe that it is very important for all BYU students contribute to the larger campus community in their own unique way.

       Commitment to Future Service: Enter to Learn Go Forth to Serve. I love this BYU motto and I wholly endorse it and believe that it is because of the principle of this model that BYU exists today.

       A Spirit of Honor: This is probably one of the single biggest reasons that I came to BYU. I love the honor code and the honor that it represents in all other aspects of our lives.

My To-be List

Lynn G. Robbins remarked that "many of us create to do lists to remind us of things we want to accomplish. But people rarely have to be lists." In response to this counsel, here is my "to-be list" in progress:

1. Be Humble
2. Be easy to be entreated
3. Be Patient
4. Be diligent
5. Be knowledgeable 
6. Be a better friend
7. Be good listener
8. Be a man of integrity
9. Be reliable
10. Be committed
11. Be disciplined
12. Be sincere

RACE: A Tool for Success

RACE is a systematized process for conceiving, planning, implementing, and evaluating events. Race prepares us as individuals to become a more successful leaders by helping us be more organized and effective in our event and logistics carry out. As we learn and familiarize ourselves with the RACE program, through implementation, our overall organizational effectiveness will improve.

I plan to use the RACE process on a larger scale as an undergirding foundation for the design and implementation of the Bright Ideas program. I also intend to use it on a smaller scale for each individual focus group. It also may be a useful tool for surveys but I believe that I must better familiarize myself with both the RACE method and the Surveys program before I know how to do so. Obviously right now, this response is a bit nebulous. However, I believe that these ideas will crystallize as I move forward and gain a better understanding. When this happens, I will update this post.

Implementing the Vision

The BYUSA vision reads:

"As a part of a BYU education, the Student Service Association's vision is to be leaders centered on Jesus Christ, who contribute to the building of Zion communities which are united in heart and mind that there be no intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, or physically poor among us."

This vision surely captures the high reaching goals, aims, and objectives of the Brigham Young University Student Service Association and seeks to define the ideal of what we are working to help BYUSA become. The vision simultaneously inspires in the abstract while conveying fundamental, solid principles and values by which we can obtain this vision. 

This year, I have committed to serving as an executive director in BYUSA, in making such a commitment, integrity requires that I not only commit to the mundane, more superficial "requirements" of the position but that I also dedicate myself to helping accomplish the more lofty aims of the organization. As such, it becomes important to answer the questions: How will I implement the BYUSA vision in my role as an Executive Director for the Student Advisory Council?   

I will not pretend that I truly know the full extent of the answer at this point; experience will undoubtedly give much needed insight. However, I know that it will in involve at least three commitments:

1. I will first seek to learn, understand, and subscribe to the vision: How can I implement a vision as a leader if I, personally, do not understand it and have not bought into its ideals? The truth is: you can't.
2. I will seek bring personal life in agreement  with the principles laid out in the BYUSA Vision: I know that as I seek to center my personal life on Jesus Christ and work towards building Zion-like communities in my apartment, family, social circles etc., these efforts will manifest themselves in my leadership. 
3. I will commit to amenably support and sustain my leaders in both their own efforts and guidance: Sam Rayburn, the longest serving Speaker of the U.S. House of Representative, declared "you cannot be a leader, and ask other people to follow you, unless you know how to follow, too." 

I look forward to an exciting and engaging year of service as I work to contribute, in my own small way, to seeing the BYUSA vision come to fruition.