Social Marketing

What is social marketing?

The answer to this question could depend on who you ask. But in brief, the term was first coined in 1969 by researchers Gerald Zaltman and Philip Kotler who defined social marketing as a way to achieve social objectives by applying marketing practice (product, place, promotion and price). Social marketing is not merely communication or education, but is about creating positive behavior and attitude changes as a means to increasing social well-being and social responsibility.

Who is a social marketer?

My answer, anyone can be.

...Just a thought...

Ideas..

Ideas are born everyday–big ideas, little ideas, ideas born from one person and ideas born through thought and application. What makes one idea stand out from another and what makes the idea stick, gain traction and create a movement? Here are six words to help make ideas scale:

1. Fire: Someone recently offered me some good advice. The said the key to “success” was to always know your end goal. The more you fuel this goal, the more you’ll believe in it and the more you’ll believe in yourself. For me, it’s not just a case of knowing my end goal, but knowing why that’s my end goal. To me, the why over rides the what and is what will drive success. We all have goals–but why do you have them? That is the tougher question, and that is what will get you through the droughts.

2. Simplify: Life is complicated enough–people don’t need more complication. Identify ideas that simplify tasks (without the use of a 30-slide power point to explain it). Identify ideas that are focused.

3. Stop: We’ve heard of growing pains. There will come times that you may need to stop. This could mean that you need to simplify the juggling act. Or, it may mean that you stop a product line or stop the way you do something and find a new way. It could mean that you need to stop starting new ideas–and re-focus back on the original idea. As, if we keep starting new ideas all the time–then we aren’t committing to what our end goal is and are spreading the fire too thin.

4. Execution: My mom always told me, “Don’t try. Do.” Take two seconds and reflect on what you’ve been doing and what you want to be doing. Do you see how much “trying” sneaks up on us? Those that make ideas become realizations, just do it. There might be success and there may be failure. But they did it. They learned, and they keep on doing.

5. Build: There are an infinite number of ideas right? Well, there are perhaps just as many people coming up with those ideas. You see–lots of people are “ideas people.” Everyone seems to have the next big idea or the next big thing. Being an “ideas person” doesn’t mean you will be successful. If anything, this means you need to connect with more builders. Builders are people that have vision while also being able to plan and make it happen. Builders are the people that fill in the gaps, aren’t afraid of getting messy, and are resourceful.

6. Contagious: Be contagious–in your thinking, speaking, doing and giving. It’s important to note that being contagious happens naturally–it’s not forced. You and your idea can also be contagious without you knowing it–at any time of the day. So be on the lookout for opportunity, for fellow builders, and fuel for the fire, you never know what might happen.

Vote Melissa Fenerci for Associated Student Government president of Saddleback College

Vote for me on April 20th or 21st at saddleback.edu/asg

If you have any questions about my goals as president, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Human genes being patented????

I don't believe that any life form, "man-made" or not should be patentable. Monsanto vs Schmeiser in Canada comes to mind. Jurassic Park? This is an example of capitalism and intellectual property laws gone insane. Obligation to make monetary profit drives corporations to behave psychopathicaly as most would be diagnosed if they were treated as individuals, which is how they are classified by law. I don't agree with the idea of public bodies claiming ownership of life in this manner either. Are we forever going to live in the shadow of the kind of insanity that permits such gross miscarriages of justice? This is not even logical! No matter how you view it. This is only further evidence of a pervasive sickness in our society.

My grandmother...

Sophisticated, peaceful, proper, caring, and beautiful, these are all the words that come to mind when I think about my grandmother Oksan Alemdar. The first day I met my grandma was when I first opened my eyes. Even though I was a baby, I remember always feeling her presence. It feels like we have spent every waking moment together, even though sometimes we were apart for long periods of time. She wasn’t just like any grandmother. She was my friend. She always knew how to give the best advice-and let’s face it- even sometimes when I wasn’t old enough for the advice given. She taught me to make my own mistakes and realize things on my own pace. She taught me to realese my negative energy out on art(attached), among many other valuable life lessons. She told me her crazy life story and every single time I heard more details I couldn’t imagine myself doing the brave things that she had done at her age. (My mom is another person who I feel that with. She is so brave that I can’t image being that brave and overcoming the things she has overcome.) Whenever I looked at my grandmas’ face, I saw a map of the world… It seemed like she had been everywhere and done everything imaginable, yet she was a great grandmother, mother and a great wife. She was diagnosed with cancer (stage four) when I was a junior in high school. I remember a conversation we had sitting on my bed the day she told me and her refusing treatment. I’ve always thought I had been the one to convince her to get better and seek treatment. I’m not sure if that’s what really happened, but back then, it made me feel important to know that I had been a part of a decision like that. For a while, she was continuously getting worse, and it was like I was trying to block all the emotion that I was feeling. Those blocked emotions since been re-opened… and as soon as I could feel again, I wanted to make myself a better person. The inspiration that I got from her existence was important enough to change my life and it inspired me to be more like her. She gives me and my mother such strength to this day… When I first lost her, I thought about the all the graduations she'd miss, my wedding that she’d miss and me giving birth to my children…Now I know that she will be there in spirit and her life will continue to guide me in everything I do. Sometimes I have these moments where I’m celebrating an accomplishment, and in those moments I feel her presence as I felt it when I first opened my eyes…

PS: Don't forget to celebrate the imporant people who have changed your life.

PS (MOM): Please don't cry if you read this and remember the purpose is to celebrate a life well lived.

Cheers,

Mel

Body image...



“Mirror mirror on the wall who is the fairest one of all?” Body image involves our perception, imagination, emotions, and physical sensations about our bodies. It's not based on fact. It's psychological in nature, and more influenced by self-esteem than by actual physical attractiveness as judged by others. It is not inborn, but learned. This learning occurs in families and among peers, but these only reinforce what is learned and expected culturally. In this culture, women are starving themselves, alternating between starving and gorging, obsessing, pounding and wanting to remove what makes us female: our bodies, our curves, our pear-shaped bodies. Societies standards for body shape and various media promote the importance of beauty. The media links beauty to symbols of happiness, love and success for women. Media portrays these images as achievable and real. Until women accept their body image, they will continue to measure themselves against societies “perfect image.” Media representations of body image contribute to social trends of unhealthy lifestyles. 

Female children learn to worry about their appearance from an early age. Huge quantities of girls between the ages of three and ten have one or more Barbie dolls. On television children are bombarded with commercials showing tall and thin women promoting dieting products and leading a “dream” life. Being exposed to numerous 
“perfect” female images leads girls trying to defeat their imperfections into their adult life. Parental messages about appearance also have large impacts on young girls.

I, for one, am not the tallest or the thinnest girl in the world. Actually I am quiet short. I dealt with some body issues growing up and know how it feels. But at the end of the day, I am happy with myself and the way I look. I can honestly say that “I LOVE MYSELF and MY FLAWS are beautiful.” I hope more young girls and women will have confidence. WE ARE ALL BEAUTIFUL!!!! No matter what size, color or shape…etc It is time to love ourselves!