Social Capital Archives - Three Over Four

23Dec 2021 by Aaron Templer No Comments

Another Marketing Profs Published Piece

Social Capital, Three Over Four Approach

I was fortunate to be published again in Marketing Profs. This time, I co-authored with the brilliant Nicole Gravagna, a neuroscientist and behavioral design sage. What a thrill to reconnect with Nicole. I always learn so much from her mind. The piece excerpts some concepts from my book, Leading in a Social World. Social media marketers are in (literally) a different head space when engaging in social media, and this biases them to how social constructs actually generate value. It also contributes to strong biases when evaluating the data related to social media marketing's effectiveness, which when you really dig into it (which I have, in my book, the relevant chapter of which is also excerpted in this blog post), isn't much. It sometimes can even damaged brand value. Thanks to…

01Nov 2015 by Aaron Templer

A Social Contract For The Holidays

Social Capital

A social contract is, by definition, up to all of us. Those of you with kids you know the situation. The daycare is closing, you white knuckle it during rush hour to pick them up (Why does my boss insist on dropping stuff on me late in the day! A 3:00 email about that—really?). You’re not the only working professional struggling to get there on time. You arrive to a line of idling cars, tensions can be high. Think about it from the daycare side for a moment. Late pickups have costs. Overtime for the staff, delayed hours for the janitorial crew, tired staff need to manage hungry, tired kids… it’s an issue. So what would you do if a daycare center came to you and asked to solve the problem of late…

18Apr 2013 by Aaron Templer

Getting over ourselves

Branding, Reputation Management, Social Capital, Three Over Four Approach

Thinking beyond yourself when you're a teenager is as difficult as understanding #talklikeyourbestfriend as an adult. Relationships were limited because we weren't chemically capable of thinking beyond ourselves. There comes a time, of course, when it becomes clear that relationships are more meaningful over the long haul when we put someone else's needs on par or ahead of our own. There are more returns and deeper significance. But it requires us to think beyond ourselves and care for the other person in the relationship in ways that we were (or at least I was) incapable of as a teenager. (And yes, for me now. This is something I don't have to tell most of you—mainly just myself. But it's a working simile, and I'm going with it.) Social capital, by…

12Apr 2013 by Aaron Templer

Not the viral you were hoping for

Social Capital, Social web, Three Over Four Approach

Don't you love the surveys like this one that pit congress approval ratings against things like lice and (worse) replacement refs? (Congress looses in a landslide in case you were wondering. You may now thank me for not using the phrase "Spoiler alert.") They're funny because they use the device of surprise. When you say something unexpected or place an element outside its usual context it makes us uncomfortable or jarred, and we laugh. The other response to an unexpected element is revulsion. Like the way a body works to expel a virus. It’s working against the system. It doesn’t fit. Kick up the heat to try to kill it, ‘cause it’s gotta go. This is what's happening to marketing across the social web. So-called social marketing doesn't work. Marketing…

27Apr 2010 by Aaron Templer 2 Comments

Dude, where’s my job? Part 2: Networking is about relationships

Social Capital

This is a three-part series written with Dr. Paul Kosempel, leadership faculty member, Assistant Director of the Pioneer Leadership program at the University of Denver. Paul also wrote his dissertation on the topic of mentoring. Read Part One: Get your act together, here. ----- [caption id="attachment_1941" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Your network is made of people. People who are not sitting around waiting to show you unconditional love."][/caption] Now that your act is together, it's time to get thoughtful about networking. We shouldn't have to tell you this, but you won't find a job without help, and you won't get help without a network of supportive people. If you think landing a job happens with resumes and cover letters, check out this study. Or this one (PDF). Remember this: rare is the…

13Apr 2010 by Aaron Templer 3 Comments

Dude, where’s my job? Real life job hunting tips.

Social Capital

This is a three-part series written with Dr. Paul Kosempel, leadership faculty member, Assistant Director of the Pioneer Leadership program at the University of Denver. Paul also wrote his dissertation on the topic of mentoring. Please join the discussion. (Jill Montera, we're talking to you.) ------------ Spring in Colorado is a reminder of an important life dictum. Just when you think you're finished, ya ain't. Life and work is a process. A few weeks ago we had a 70 degree day on Thursday, and six inches of snow and a 60 degree temperature drop by Friday night. The parks were packed with energetic runners and smiling dogs on Thursday. Friday afternoon was a commute from hell. Wake up call. Spring is also the time when undergrad and grad college students…

09Mar 2010 by Aaron Templer No Comments

The beginning of the new bottom line

Marketing, Social Capital, Strategy

[caption id="attachment_1823" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="There is no bottom line anymore. It zigs, zags, and blurs."][/caption] Can we agree that there’s a category of enterprises that needs more concise branding? Call it social entrepreneurship, call it social impact, call it sustainable development. That yet-to-be defined category (even beyond L3C) of enterprises that care less about its status as Profit or Non-Profit and more about the contribution it makes to our world. (more…)

19Feb 2010 by Aaron Templer No Comments

How to quit

Leadership, Social Capital

I know someone with volunteerism in her blood. She’s sat on just about every board in her profession – sequentially, that is. She doesn’t board-bag. She ads value. She’s starting her own organization now. The natural progression from member to leader to creator. It isn’t easy. She’ll be the first to tell you. To make room for her new pursuits she had to quit a board with a cause she believes in and a president she admires. It was going to be hard, something she wasn’t looking forward to. So how does someone so involved, so committed, quit? She committed – gave her word - to the president that she would start the organization she’s working on. And that by so doing actually be able to help his organization more…