Bobby Macey

Origami and 2 other last minute Valentine’s Day ideas

There you are, yes, right now, wondering if you did enough for your significant other on Valentine’s Day. Sure you got him or her a gift (well, maybe you did), but how can you go above and beyond in a thoughtful, very quick way?

Here are a few ideas that will either enhance your existing gift or save your behind if you didn’t get anything for your loved one. Note: These can also be used for your mom or mother-in-law.

1. An origami heart

You can use it for decorating (it’s all about presentation) or the heart itself can be the gift.

Write a nice letter expressing your feeling for that person and fold it into a heart.
Make several hearts and use them as a coupon system. For example: Turn in one heart to redeem a 10 minute foot rub, etc.
Make tons of hearts and write something you love about your significant other on each one.

The video below is the best I’ve found to make an easy, yet aesthetically pleasing heart. Oh, and you’ll need to make the paper square beforehand. You can do that by folding the top left corner of the paper down to align with the right edge. Tear off the excess portion (about two inches) and you’ve got a square.

2. Write your feelings

This is just as simple as it sounds. Write down your feelings so your loved one can read them anytime. Take it a step further by buying a picture from and printing your letter and cutting it to size to fit the frame. It’s a great gift for an office desk or something that will go nicely on a night stand near their side of the bed.

Other options include:

Presenting a letter or poem to your loved one as an accompanying gift.
Making this activity a part of your date night. Have both parties write a letter.

Valentine's Day letter

credit: valentines-2015.com

3. Do the video thing

Maybe you have a great singing voice, maybe you don’t. Either way, make a video where your loved one can see your personality and a bit of emotion expressed. It doesn’t need to be insanely good quality (smart phone should suffice), it just needs to be you doing your thing. For me, I would probably take a more humorous route and cover an existing love song changing the words to fit our relationship. It’d probably be more humorous than anything, but I’d still get my point across about how much I love my wife.

Valentine's Day video credit: sheknows.com

There you have it folks, good luck today and just remember…

You can't have no in your heart - Joe Dirt

3 super simple ways to exercise your creativity everyday

Ideas. The world is full of them yet when you want a good one it seems they’re nowhere to be found. Perhaps you’ve felt that way, but here’s the good news. When you’re trained to recognize ideas you’ll come to realize they’re actually everywhere… and you’ve probably been having them all along.

In my college days — I say that like they were so long ago (2 years and a bit) — I read a book titled, “How to Get Ideas.” I highly recommend it to anyone.

The author, Jack Foster, essentially claims that an idea is nothing more than the new combination of two or more existing elements. It’s taking existing things and putting them together in a new way.

He then makes the argument that the more you see in a day (read, watch, converse with people, etc.), the better your chances will be at catching something from the pond you fish from for new ideas. More you learn/see = more fish in pond.

Now that I’ve covered that and hopefully convinced you that you’re just as creative as the next guy, here are three super simple ways to exercise your creativity everyday.

1. Take a picture everyday

This used to be somewhat of a daunting — and expensive — task. You remember, back in the days of camera film? Yeah, those days. Well, thanks to the wonderful world of smart phones, you’re an armed photographer. After all, the best camera is the one you have on you, my friend Ken Ahlstrom says that and I completely agree.

There you have it, whether it’s a selfie, felfie (family selfie) or something completely different, you should set a goal to take at least one new picture daily. You’ll be surprised how the creative juices will flow day after day.

Parker Macey crawls

My boy, Parker, planning his next move.

2. Reach out to someone different everyday

You’ve probably been the recipient of a random phone call, text message, tweet or Facebook message when an old friend is reaching out to keep in touch. It’s a great feeling when you know people care about you. So, how does this help your creativity?

The very process of selecting a different person everyday to contact requires a slice of creativity. Couple that with the personal, well-crafted message and voila! Each day you’ll make someone happy while becoming more creative.

contacting someone

Although the meme is extremely relatable, never underestimate the value of a phone call.

3. The daily doodle

If you keep a journal this is a great opportunity to doodle. Each day consider writing the date in a different format or trying to write something in a newly invented and personalized font. Create breakout boxes in your journal that are meant solely for doodling.

Even if you think your doodles are ridiculous, you’ll be surprised how creative this process makes you feel. For those who don’t journal, well… grab a piece of paper and pen. Even if you throw your designs away, just the action of doodling on something will spur creativity.

doodles

Now go try these three suggestions for a week and see if you feel more creative!

Social Media: Living in a digital world

In case you didn’t know already, I work in the wonderful world of marketing and in today’s world, that means social media! Even if I’m not logged in my own Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Google+ account, I’m posting and checking posts for several other fan pages I manage for work.

I’m expected to know the latest Facebook algorithms and whether or not my posts will reach my brand’s fan base. I read articles daily on the latest trends of different social networks and I monitor Twitter regularly to tweet, retweet and see what’s trending. I speak the #hashtag language fluently and actually know why it exists.

I suppose I’m telling you all of this so you know I’m not a rookie when it comes to social media. The entire point of this post comes from questions I am constantly asking myself… “How connected do I want to be?” “What is the right balance?”

I have to ask myself those questions to keep myself in check. After all, I’m just like many of you who pull out your phone anytime you take a break from anything or when there is a lull in conversation. Need to fill up my water cup? My phone is coming with me.

Short restroom break? My phone is out on the walk there. Sitting in a waiting room? I’m not going to be the guy who looks at all the other people on their phones, I’m going to be the guy who is on the phone.

Where do you fit in? Do you feel like you have to post every picture you take to Instagram or Facebook? Do you have to live tweet every time your favorite TV show is on?

The reason I give these examples and ask such candid questions is because as a society we are becoming so connected that often times I think we become uncomfortable when we aren’t connected. I know I’ve felt that way, and I consider myself well versed in interpersonal communication. After all, when was the last time you intentionally left home without your phone? Or didn’t get uncomfortable when your phone died and you didn’t have a charger? My point exactly.

I found this video online which I think is brilliant in every sense of the word. It depicts so vividly the need to be connected.

SOCIAL NETWORK from Beomseok Yang on Vimeo.

Interestingly enough, it makes me actually want to be less connected. I don’t want to be that reliant on social media and technology to feel good about myself. What does the video do for you?

Ultimately, it makes me want to put down my phone a bit more and enjoy the details that make up everyday life. It’s like that moment in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty when Walter has a conversation with the photographer who is about to capture a picture of an extremely rare animal… What happens in the scene is amazing.

Context: Sean O’Connell has just spotted the animal and tells Walter Mitty to look through the lens. Walter sees it and the following conversation transpires:

Walter Mitty: When are you going to take it?

Sean O’Connell: Sometimes I don’t. If I like a moment, for me, personally, I don’t like to have the distraction of the camera. I just want to stay in it.

Walter Mitty: Stay in it?

Sean O’Connell: Yeah. Right there. Right here.

Overall, I hope I’ve inspired someone with this post, even if it’s just myself, to take advantage of the moments that make up each day and to live a bit more in actual reality than in our virtual reality… even if it’s more comfortable there.

Bobby Macey – A Person and A Brand

I had the opportunity to speak at luncheon for scholarship recipients from the Deseret Management Corporation companies today. What a remarkable experience to reminisce considering I was one of these lucky recipients a mere two years ago. As you consider course work for college, applications for scholarships, jobs, graduate schools, etc. It’s easy to forget what we are really focused on. When it comes down to it, any time we put together an application what we are really doing is marketing ourselves and as our brand. You have yours and I have mine.

Developing a personal brand… It’s what led me to becoming a recipient of the Deseret Book scholarship in 2011 and now to being a full-time employee at Deseret Digital Media working with a variety of products.

From scholarship to job offer. I received the Deseret Book Scholarship during my junior year at BYU – Idaho. For me, it wasn’t just about the money for tuition, although that was an excellent perk (smiles), but furthermore, it was an opportunity to organize my achievements and market myself a personal brand. That brand, Bobby Macey.

What do I do for Deseret Digital Media (DDM)?

Manage 10+ social media pages with approximately 200k followers.
Create content for marketing/PR efforts involving several products including ok.com, Deseret Connect, Deseret News Service and more.
Plan and execute ad campaigns and promotions for ok.com and other products.
Write for the Deseretnews.com as a contributor (non-paid).
Manage and cultivate relationships on business to business and business to consumer levels.
Connect our products with the people using them.

Now that I’ve told you what I do for DDM. Allow me to shed some light on the fundamental practices I’ve used to get where I am.

YOU ARE A BRAND! I’ve said that about three times already, but as the saying goes, the third time is a charm. I just really want you to remember that everything you do ties back to your personal brand and the other brands you affiliate with yourself. Start now to make your brand as powerful as possible! Here’s my simplified breakdown:

Network to create real relationships. In order to establish yourself as a successful brand, you must make friends! Use LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, Twitter, etc. to connect with people you meet and give them a reason to stay updated on your hobbies, talents, work life, etc. According to the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University (A top five communication school), over 70% of jobs for their graduates in the field of communication and digital media today come from networking. That’s an incredible number coming from a top program. I suspect that number stays relatively consistent throughout the communication job market in the US.

Always have your brand in mind and don’t be afraid to market it (yourself). Part of my brand is photography. I connect with people through photography by sharing the pictures I take with my iPhone on Instagram, Facebook, and other social networks. Slowly but surely as people see my pictures and like them, I’m adding validity to my personal brand. I also use DSLR camera when appropriate.

The best camera is the one you have on you at the moment you need it. Take advantage of the technology around you and build your brand. My advice – for what it’s worth: The better personal brand you have, the better catch you are for an employer. Work hard, be honest, and land the job you want by developing the skill sets you need and integrating them into your personal brand.