Successful Blog

SOB Business Cafe 05-04-07

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SB Cafe

Welcome to the SOB Cafe

We offer the best in thinking–articles on the business of blogging written by the Successful and Outstanding Bloggers of Successful Blog. Click on the titles to enjoy each selection.

The Specials this Week are

Lorelle on WordPress delineates the minefields of trying to market to bloggers as a class, a group, or a generic list.

thomas r. clifford has a beginner’s mind and I thank him for this blog post sharing it.

The Blog Studio has some advice on process.

Design Your Writing Life has a series we make need to make it a goal to read.

Passion Meets Purpose has a few re-minders.

Manage To Change answers a key question. Be sure to read the comments.

Related ala carte selections include

Black in Business explains the critical difference.

Sit back. Enjoy your read. Nachos and drinks will be right over. Stay as long as you like. No tips required. Comments appreciated.

Have a great weekend!

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Thomas R. Clifford Is B.A.D. Blogger!

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Blogger A Day Call: Hello is Tom there?

BAD Blogger Button

When I suggested to Director Tom that he be a B.A.D. Blogger, he was, as he is, the curious person who makes stories on film. He wondered about what we would do, and say. He suggested “Saturday morning with a cup of coffee sound.” 🙂

I thought here’s a guy who was going to be a perfect conversation partner for me — worth looking forward to the way children look foward to Saturday morning cartoons.

I tried to set his mind to ease a bit with “We’ll just talk like regular people. 🙂
It’s a phone call. I bet we’ll get it right. Probably have a whole lot more fun than Dinner with Andre.”

Tom set the tone for the call when he replied to my email with, “Regular people? Fooey! Aw, c’mon.” 🙂

What could I possibly answer to that, but “Okay then, like us.” 🙂 . . . ? And looking back I have to say that’s exactly who we were.

Tom answered the phone and immediately we were talking, and laughing. Laughter comes easily to both of us. We spent most of our time working on changing things on Tom’s blog, while we did so we talked about blogs and what he did. Boy that was fun!

Tom talked about his awards and his films, but I liked most the part when he talked about how he started blogging. He said that he went online looking for someone, anyone,who explained how to do what he does. “Everyone has a website,” Tom said. “I don’t want to attract other filmmakers. I want to tell folks who want to tell stories on film how to do that.”

Tom explained to me that there were three important questions I needed to answer to tell a good story on film — I should know

  • What do you want to say?
  • Who’s going to say it?
  • What pictures compliment the story?

Tom said that’s how to tell a smart story in a smart way.

Go read his blog I think he does great job of it and every time he leaves me wanting to say, “Hey Tom, would you do it again?”

B.A.D. Blogger Quote

I love all sorts of ideas and philosophies. . . . I need to play around in the sand boxes. . . . I have to at least look, with blogging, I wanted to participate. — Thomas R. Clifford

Stop by Tom’s Blog, Director Tom Blog, and say hi!

Thanks, Tom you B.A.D. Blogger!

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Want to be a B.A.D. Blogger see the. . . a B.A.D. Blogger? page in the sidebar

Introducing Thomas R. Clifford, the Blog

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SOB Hall of Famer: Thomas R. Clifford

Thomas R. Clifford is a award-winning documentary filmmaker. His Director Tom blog focuses on igniting conversations by helping people tell their story authentically and dynamically. His passion for the past 23 years has been filmming remarkable stories from remarkable organizations. Tom uses that passion that has produced films for a variety of organizations — including The NFL Hall of Fame, Deloitte, and more — to give readers a look into the “what and how” of corporate filmmaking.

Tom also co-produced a one hour worldwide documentary entitled, “The Men Who Brought the Dawn.” It featured the surviving airmen who flew both atomic missions to Japan. A shorter version was produced for the NASM at the Smithsonian Institution to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the atomic missions.That experience and expertise shines throughout his remarkable blog.

Notes from Liz: When I spoke with Tom on the phone, his enthusiasm for the blogosphere and for sharing what he does was wildly contagious. When he talks about making corporate films, he talks about diamonds . . . “the job is not done until they are cut perfectly.” It’s easy to see why he calls the folks he films at each organization heroes — he makes sure that he tells the story in a way that they truly are. Tom’s blog is energy, information, and techniques, made readable.

Thanks, Tom, for wanting to share what you’ve learned in your award-winning career.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Has your SOB Blog Been Introduced to US?
Blog Promotion: May I Introduce You?

Change the World: With Our Own Story

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Hey, Tom, How Can We Change the World?

I’ve had several conversations online and off with Tom Clifford about how he tells corporate stories on film. One thing, one thing we talked about, Tom talks a lot about, heroes — that the people in his stories are the heroes of the companies where they work.

When a guy looks at the subject of his corporate stories as heroes, he’s bound to know a thing or two about changing the world.

Is Your Story Changing the World?

Guest Writer: Thomas R. Clifford

Change the World!

Remember, stories change the world. Story. Story. Story. Stories matter.

This may come as a bit of a surprise to you, but I know my story has helped change the world…and I’m here to help your story change the world, too.

You probably don’t know me, but that’s alright.

My name is Thomas Clifford and I’m a filmmaker. Some folks call me “Director Tom.” That’s alright, too.

I wander around the country like a nomad filming remarkable stories for remarkable organizations. I tell their stories through film in a unique way.

So imagine in your mind’s eye this scene…

A short, emotional, thoughtful, eye-catching and dramatic documentary about what you do.

Film ignites conversations. People TALK. People ACT. People THINK.

Picture your film like it’s your own Dna…it is unique, personal and one-of-a-kind.

The story in your film is told by people who know you; they are the storytellers; they are your “heroes.”

Your film has a sense of continuous momentum…every minute…something changing…new dynamics…feet tapping to a music groove…new graphic designs…a new story…a quick transition…keep it flowing…a new idea…new music….new heroes…a new scene…another person’s point of view…what’s next?…how will it end?

Directing your film is like mining for diamonds — the job is not done until they are cut perfectly — I’m not content with your story until it flashes in the light.

So now, let me ask you this simple, yet incredibly important question:

Is your story changing the world?

If not…

Well maybe, just maybe, our two stories — a filmmaker and you with your “heroes,” — we can change the world together.

It’s worth a try!

Thomas R. Clifford

Thank you, Tom, for telling us about our story.

We can change the world — just like that.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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If you’re ready to change the world, send me your thoughts in a guest post. Feel free to take the gorgeous Change the World image up there that Sandy designed back to your blog. Or help yourself to this one.

Change the World!

Email me about what you’re doing or what we might do. Let’s change the world one bit at a time together. Together it can’t take forever.