Professional Development Archives - Shannan Seely Copywriting

Don’t Fear the Boogeyman of Marketing: Artificial Intelligence

Posted on by Shannan Seely

Artificial intelligence for Marketers sign

Develop your AI skills now to be impossibly good at your job

How do you feel about AI? Last year, I was intimidated. I experimented, but AI was still clunky to use. I’ve tried to learn through listening to podcasts and reading articles. Too passive. To truly grasp AI’s benefits, one needs to use it daily.

So I am.

I also believe writing about a topic helps me understand it better, so here’s my first post about AI. Happy reading!

If you’re in a regulated industry, you may be hesitant to jump into experimenting with artificial intelligence tools. Are you waiting until your company’s C-suite weighs in? Several hurdles exist. Obstacles like data privacy, ethics, and a lack of company-based training.

You may be in the C-suite. A lack of skilled employees who understand AI is also a key factor in postponement. Integrating AI into existing systems is not a simple rollout and move on.

As I talk with marketers, I sense that some are putting AI adoption in their “maybe next year pile.”

Can AI wait?

We’re more likely to act now if a party is in our future

Posted on by Shannan Seely

How about this news bit? Some of us are planning ahead. I listened to the news today and learned 76 trees are being planted in Philadelphia’s Independent National Historic Park to be mature by the nation’s sestercentennial. By the way, I had to look up what “sestercentennial” means. It’s the 250th year of United States of America’s independence.

The birthday date is July 4, 2026. Doesn’t that seem like a long time from now? But yet it’s less than nine years away.

The Daughters of the American Revolution have donated the cost of $380,000 to plant the trees over several years. Hooray to people thinking and taking action for the long term. I applaud you. Of course, the critics say the trees needed to be planted 20 years ago to make a significant presence. Oh, well, there will always be fault-finders among us.

Just wondering …

Could this be a nudge for us to invest in our professional development now so we can enjoy a celebration of opportunity later? And strengthen our independence?

Three Confidence-Boosting Ways to Prepare for Your Next Conference

Posted on by Shannan Seely

It’s coming! It’s coming! It’s coming!

As I’m looking ahead on my calendar, I see a big date approaching in September. I’m attending the Content World Conference and Expo in Cleveland, Ohio. It’ll be a first for me. If you’re into marketing, the annual event is considered the place “where you can learn and network with the best and the brightest in the content marketing industry.”

I’m a little excited.

Okay, I fibbed. I’m a lot excited.

Why? Because there will be plenty of good information shared, people to meet, knowledge to learn, potential clients to get to know, skills to develop … and I won’t be responsible for making dinner for a week. 🙂

Hey, this is a big deal. It’s the first professional multi-day convention I’ve attended in 13 years. What a tremendous opportunity!

“You’re going to sleep away conference-camp,” my youngest daughter said. (She experienced her first “sleep away” camp this summer.) It’s not exactly camp. I won’t be roughing it in a cabin, devoid of air-conditioning and electronics for a week. 🙂

But wait a minute. The events are similar.

I will be away from home. I’ll be outside of my comfort zone. Instead of nature, I will be immersed in marketing, writing and people – all topics I love. And with the money invested, I want to get the most out of it.

So I’ve taken logical steps: registered, arranged for hotel reservations and transportation, and signed up for the workshops. I’ve decided what to pack — I’m the queen of lists — and I started home preparations so my family survives 🙂 just fine while I’m gone.

Maybe you’re not as enthused about attending a conference as I am. But meetings and events are ubiquitous, aren’t they? Eventually, we are all bound to attend one.

Here are three ways to boost your confidence before you leave for your next conference: Continue reading Three Confidence-Boosting Ways to Prepare for Your Next Conference

Got a Problem? Schedule Quiet Time by Yourself Today

Posted on by Shannan Seely

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Is there an issue that’s really bugging you?

Are you trying to decide what type of car to buy?

Want to resolve a troublesome conflict with a co-worker?

Wondering what to do for Labor Day weekend?

Sounds like you’re trying to figure something out, also known as a problem. You probably have more than one problem you’re coping with right now. I do. Problems in our personal lives. Problems at work. It’s what we all share for being an adult, along with taxes and the nagging question, “What will we have for dinner?”

Interested in an idea to help you solve problems? It’s called managed solitude. Now, I’m not saying this approach will work for everyone, but it’s helped me. Here’s what I do. Continue reading Got a Problem? Schedule Quiet Time by Yourself Today

The Rewards of Earning a Participation Ribbon

Posted on by Shannan Seely

We miss learning experiences when we focus on winning

Whether it’s middle school, high school, or college, June is the season of graduations. I recently attended our daughter’s 8^th grade promotion ceremony. At these ceremonies, the main event is announcing the awards. Achieving something is what matters. The emphasis is on the winners.

The message: It’s not enough to participate — winning is what counts.

I’m wondering if this is true.

Let me ask you. If you received awards in school, do you still have them? If so, do you know where you keep the awards now? For me, they’re in a cardboard box labeled “Memories” that I only open when we pack to move (about every five years). I doubt I’ll be opening the box for next two decades, at least.

How many times do we avoid an activity or learn a new skill because we tell ourselves, “Oh, I’m not going to be good at it, so I’m not even going to sign up.”

“Not going to try.”

“If I’m not going to excel, why play at all?”

If we feel pressure to be good at something before we participate, then I think we limit our experiences in four big ways: Continue reading The Rewards of Earning a Participation Ribbon