I was glad to find that The Tipping Point was really a concept that was carried out and not a faux title like The Red Pony that I read in seventh grade in which the pony died in the first chapter. This book has things to look forward to and concepts to learn and consider. The tipping point, Malcom Gladwell describes, is the stage at which an idea becomes an “epidemic” and people are “swept up” moving from “hostility to acceptance” (p.166). What makes the AIDS virus envelop countries in the blink of an eye? Why does Generation Y remember rockin’ our Airwalks with pride and now we laugh at them? Both are concepts that tipped and accelerated without warning.
Gladwell discusses three concepts that are similar to the big kid on the teeter-totter: the Law of the Few, the Stickiness Factor, and the Power of Context. I think we need to target the few and get like glue to ensure the success of “One Team, One Spirit” and create a [bob]cat scratch fever across Georgia College & State University.
The Law of the Few is what makes movies like Mean Girls so funny and could also help our campaign. Why can Regina George and her Plastics say something is cool (but not “fetch”, Gretchen) and the whole junior class obeys without thought? The Law is based on the idea that not a lot of people have to accept an idea, but the right people have to accept it. Like with Hush Puppies, it only took one community in Manhattan to start wearing them to send the shoe onto the award stand the next year. If we can find the movers and shakers on our campus, in the RSOs, and in other sports around campus we can attract a bigger, more loyal, crowd.
Stickiness is like “Just Do It” for Nike that has not been there campaign in years but is still what people think when they think of Nike. We are hoping that our idea of Blue Thunder will catch on and become a tradition at basketball games. Stickiness does not exactly correlate with creativity as much as repetition and therefore ease of recall. If we can get the GCSU Bobcats thinking like the Cameron Crazies of Duke University sticky we will become.
Mavens, Connectors, and Salesmen are the three types of people that Gladwell describes; where do I fit? I actually decided when I was fourteen that I wanted to pursue public relations because as long as I could remember my softball coach called me his PR representative and I finally found out what it meant. I think what he saw and what I now see is that I have qualities that are both Maven and Saleswoman-ish, but I’m not sure that I am one or the other.
A Maven, the coolest of the names in my opinion, is someone who knows a lot about a lot. I take pride in knowing that I have knowledge in not always everything, but things that most people do not know. For instance when I travel I like to do what the locals do, I like to eat at the dirty hole-in-the-wall restaurants, find the little sights you should be but are not what is recommended, and find the cheapest, easiest ways around the city. In this sense I am a Maven, constantly taking in information and making myself an expert on various subjects so I can share with others.
Salespeople, those who can sell you on almost anything and you really do not always know why. When I talk about things I know, like or dislike, I am passionate. I believe the Ultimate Stuffed Sticks at the Brick are the most delicious item on their menu and I have spread the craze through all my friends and family since freshman year. I think Wal-Mart is the worst place to shop for groceries and push Kroger for their savings and fresh produce. I do have grey areas, however, where I often say things like, “the movie was OK. If you go in with low hopes it will be good,” but even then most people will heed my warning and not see it. It is the mix of Maven and Saleswoman that I feel are my strong points in PR and will help push my career.
Oh social media, the new catalyst in the PR world and one of our favorite assignments. I think for me Twitter, PROpenMic, and probably the least important to me right now LinkedIN are all in the tipping process. Obviously, being assigned to sign up for these was the first step in the tip, and boredom has helped it’s process, but I still have not found the passion for it that I do Facebook. I got the Twitter and PROpenMic bug a couple weekends ago when I found I could personalize them and began connecting. However, for me I think the biggest tip will be when I have a broader pool of colleagues and more experience in the field. Tippers topple but they don’t fall down!
10 comments:
First of all, can I just say that I love the title of your post? How funny!
You have a fun writing style. I enjoyed reading this. And I loved your reference to Mean Girls. Ok, on to PR-related stuff.
So far every post I have read has bet big on the RSOs. I think this is a really good idea and hope that it's going to have a big impact. And I really do hope that Blue Thunder will stick. I think it's an awesome idea.
It's interesting to see how we can both be a Maven, but I'm blended with Connector and you're blended with Saleswoman. I am so not a Saleswoman! Persuading people is really not my thing. I like informing and letting them make a decision. (Though somehow a lot of people pick up on my word-twists, which my friends called Manderisms!) I agree with you though on both points. I've enjoyed your random bits of knowledge in the times I've been around you.
Great job!
Your posts always entertain me, you have that gift for writing! I really like your "Mean Girls" reference in terms of the Law of the Few. It is so true and an excellent example that most of us are familiar with! You are completely right in saying that we need to come across the right crowd at GCSU to make going to basketball games the "thing to do".
I was not really familiar with Duke's Cameron Crazies. I remember your group refering to this during your athletics pitch and now after your reference here I decided to look it up. I have to say, if an epidemic like this could start at GCSU because of our campaign it would be pretty amazing and we could definitely be proud.
P.S.~ Ultimate Stuffed Sticks=marvelous
There is one thing for sure and that is I love reading your witty and comedic blog! I mean you mix references into describing this book that make me understand it in a whole differnt way. Take for example your citing of the Law of the Few from Mean girls- great reference!
You are dead on when you saw we need to find the movers and shakers of this campus- who are these people, where are they, and how can we get them to adopt our campaign and make it the "thing to do"?
I disagree, well not completely, but I think you are a TOTAL connector:) If I needed to find someone or something from someone in our class I would honestly probably turn to you or either amandas! You have the connector vibe... I am positive you would be an excellent Maven/ Salewoman as well.
Congrats and Go Bobcats!
Chelsea you bring up a good point in your post that it is not necessarily about how many random people we can attract to come to the games it matters who. I did not understand the influence of the power of the law of few before I read the Tipping Point. Maybe if we can get some dang people at these games the more influential people we can attract the better. "If you build it, they will come," with this idea if we build a decent crowd the overall atmosphere will improve and in turn attract more.
oh chelsea! so you make me laugh so hard. i LOOOVEED the relation to Mean Girls that you used. so fetch! you have made so many good points in your blog that kept me laughing. i see how you are a maven. you do know a lot about a lot. and i also see you as a salesman. you have a way of broadcasting your feelings to appeal to others and its admiring! P.S. i LOVE stuffed sticks too. pepperoni ones actually... with a little ranch on the side... :)
Chelsea I already liked your post just because you referred to Mean Girls : ) It is true though that our campaign can be a success by getting the right people to accept our message. I mean if Regina George can have all the girls on campus walking around with holes cut on in their shirts then we have the power to spread the idea of "One Team, One Spirit."
I can definitely see you as a Saleswoman in the field of PR. It is great too that you have the quality of being passionate when you talk about things whether you like or dislike them. (Take for instance, our SoBe drink you made...natural saleswoman) This will get you very far when do PR in the sports area of your career.
Enjoyed reading your post--Good job, Chelsea.
You did a great job using examples in your post that weren't in the book. They all seemed very logical and on point as well.
I was in complete agreement with how you described yourself as well. You are definitely correct on your assessment of being Maven. Though I have to disagree with Maven being the coolest word ever. I hate it.
And one thing that i enjoy about your writing st;ye is how friendly it is. I don't believe that's a characteristic that most people posses.
I love that you mixed in examples from current pop culture. It makes it easier to relate to. Also, I think most of us are in agreement that the law of the few and the stickiness factor are the elements we need to use to make our campaign a success. Great post Chelsea!
Good post Chelsea! I like the connection that you brought using Nike, everyone in the world could prob establish a relationship with that phrase to Nike, and I like your explanation of what you wanted to get out of the campaign with the concept of Blue Thunder, finally the bigger picture makes sense to me.
Loved reading this. Your writing style is personal on a professional level. I felt like I was being talked TO instead of being talked AT and still learn something.
I think I'll have to agree with Blaire on her thoughts concerning you being a Connector. I definitely think you are a good mix of all three types. You have a good base knowledge covering a variety of things, you know how to talk to people, and you certainly know a good deal of people as well.
Great post. I could tell it was something you were interested in writing about.
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