My New Favorite Social Ad of All-Time

Happy Saturday ‘No Fluff’ readers! I have to warn you, there is a high amount of ‘Fluff’ in this week’s post. In fact you might even need a tissue there is so much ‘Fluff’.

I was reading a daddy blog and came across a social ad on YouTube for a juice company in the UK called Robinson’s. It’s only 60 seconds long but literally had me in puddles. There is a huge surprise at the end that will likely catch you off guard as it did me. I tell you this because the ad is so much better the second time you watch it once you know how it ends. Trust me, watch it twice. And have tissues on hand.

So what does this ad have to do with social media?

First, in the 2 weeks since its launch it has been viewed almost 700k times.

Second, Robinson’s has been posting the video on their Facebook page and it has driven a significant increase in engagement with their customers compared to their typical posts.

Third, they say the best marketing and advertising content has to either make you ‘laugh’ or ‘cry’, big check mark on the latter. Fortunately in social when you do one of those two things your customers love to share that content with all their friends and family because we all love to make the people we care about laugh and/or cry.

Fourth, it proves once again the value of a story. Social media has changed us as human beings. We love to connect, we love to share, we love to buy products from companies that stand for something that matches our personal values. In this case, I’m a dad, I love my 2 little boys (and my daughter) and I strive to be not just a dad but a friend to my sons. Compare this to a stereotypical juice drink ad, “We have 10% more real fruit juice than our leading competitor, check your local Sunday paper for a $.50 cent off coupon.” Which juice are you buying?

By the way, in case you were wondering. Here was the reigning champ on my all time favorite social ad’s of all time list. Yes, it’s another tear jerker, what can I say, I can try to act tough with a blog called “No Fluff Social Media” but at the end of the day I’m a big softie!

So with that intro, bet you’ll never guess what it’s about. A daddy and his little girl (happens to even have the same name as my daughter). Please enjoy, and as always thanks for tuning in to my weekly blog. Make a dad’s day and share these two videos with a virtual box of tissues.

Knocked Off Work/Life Balance…..

Wow! Over 100 of you read my blog last week, thank you so much for making me a part of your week. I really appreciate all the interesting comments. I can tell you are passionate about customer service and promise to blog more about it in the future.

As an active father in my three children’s lives I knew starting a new job at Salesforce.com was going to require some sacrifice.  I am eager to learn and work hard and prove Salesforce.com made the right decision in hiring me.

So when I had the opportunity to spend a week in Fredericton, Canada at Radian6 headquarters, meet my new teammates and get some product training it was a no brainer (even if the #nemo blizzard trapped me there for 2 extra days).

The day after I returned Staci and I headed to the Dominican Republic for a vacation planned months in advance. Our return flight landed around midnight, well after the kids were in bed.

The alarm went off at 5.45am the very next morning, before the kids woke up, and I was headed to NYC for training on Buddy Media. I was fortunate to return last Friday night at 8pm just before bedtime. Finally spending time with the kids, I swear it was the fastest weekend in history.

This past Sunday night I boarded a plane for San Francisco.  This time it will be 12 days before I see the kids. The longest I have ever gone without giving them a hug, feeling those little hands in mine or kissing them on the forehead good night.

In total I will have seen Drew, Sophia Rose and Isaac 3 out of 31 days.  For some dads that may not be that big a deal but I feel like I’m trading in my heart and soul. Not overshadowed is the amazing patience, understanding and sacrifice my wife Staci also has to make when I’m out of town.

Since the day my first child Drew was born more than 7 years ago, the single biggest challenge in my life has been balancing work and fatherhood.  In talking with a lot of other professional mom’s and dad’s I know I’m not alone.

The challenge is simple to describe, but not easy to solve. I want to make enough money that I can provide them with opportunities to travel, play sports and other freedoms that come with financial security.  More importantly, I want them to see thru my actions that to be successful in life, not just work, it takes a strong work ethic, ambition and sacrifice.

Easy right? But my kids have no idea what I do and they don’t care how much money I make. They do know when I take the time to read to their class, coach their soccer teams or have breakfast with them before school.

So yes it’s a big sacrifice to attend almost 2 straight weeks of new hire boot camp.  Fortunately there are 250 new family members here in San Francisco.  In just 3 days I’ve already volunteered at the Boys & Girls Club, done the Harlem Shake, shot a 5 minute video on how to sell Salesforce.com all with a team made up of Californians, Australians, Europeans, New Yorker and someone all the way from Singapore. I’m keeping a daily diary of my new hire boot camp experience and I can’t wait to share it with you next week.

So Drew, Sophia Rose and Isaac….Daddy misses you very much. I look at your pictures on my phone all the time and everyone here at boot camp wonders where you get that beautiful blond hair.

Staci I love you, thanks for sacrificing for me so I can thrive in my new career adventure, Salesforce.com is so worth it! I appreciate you sneaking these cards into my suitcase, your stud muffin will be home soon!

My Promise To My Kids Drew, Sophia Rose and Isaac

I have three beautiful children, Drew almost 7, Sophia Rose 4 and Isaac almost 2.  I hope they know how much I like being their daddy!  Thank you for a special Father’s Day.

1. I’m going to stop paying so much attention to my phone when you are talking to me.

2. I won’t just read books before bed because that’s what good dad’s do.  I will really take the time to enjoy it.  I will read in different voices, ask questions about the stories and pictures and try to make you laugh.

3. I will coach sports I know nothing about because I enjoy being with you and it makes me feel special when you tell everyone your dad is your coach.

4. The best parenting advice I’ve ever received is “be a good husband and your kids will learn what they need to know about life”.  I will spend more time thinking about what type of husband I want Drew and Isaac to be and the type of man Sophia Rose will marry.

5. There are a lot of areas I fall short as a dad, but I will always give each of you hugs/kisses and tell you I love you at every opportunity.

6. I leave for work before you get up and often come home when you are in bed.  I’m going to try to do that less.

7. When I can’t make it home before bed time I’m going to leverage technology like FaceTime to make sure you know dad is still thinking about you.

8. I wish I could remember what it was like to be 6. I bet it wasn’t as hard as it is today even if the toys are way cooler.

9. If anyone has any advice on how to control the violent thoughts that go through your mind when someone is mean to your kid I’m all ears.  Yes, occasionally I seriously want a cage match with another 6-year-old.

10. Please don’t tell Sophia Rose but I can’t say no to her.

11. I fear for the safety of the other children when Isaac starts pre-school.  You are half linebacker, half stuntman.

12. I will start living a healthier lifestyle with my diet and exercise.  I don’t set a very good example, sorry but no more McDonald’s happy meals. (Unless Sophia is really hungry for chicken nuggets….see above)

13. We listen to a lot of music, but I think we should have more dance parties.  Especially because we are all better dancers then mom!

14. Staci and I have an agreement, absolutely NO! “World’s Greatest Mom/Dad T-Shirts”.  I kinda wish I didn’t make that rule.

15. I often wonder if you think I’m a good dad.

16. You wont have anymore brothers or sisters but I can’t help wanting to adopt every child I come across that has a less fortunate situation.

17. Your mom and Uncle Neil are best friends.  Drew and Sophia are best buddies.  I’m thankful for my mother in law Janette.

18. Why am I always in such a hurry when going somewhere with you? It certainly doesn’t speed you up.

19. I’m proud to say I can handle a 6, 4 and 2-year-old at the grocery store every Sunday without breaking a sweat or drinking a fifth of vodka.

20. It’s a tough balance when work ethic is an important value to me, but I don’t want you to think work is the most important thing in life.  Just please be ambitious.

21. My favorite sound in the world is my boys Drew and Isaac laughing.  They have the heartiest laugh and its infectious.

22. I don’t know what it means, but Sophia Rose you have the ‘it’ factor.  Everywhere I go people want to meet me because I’m your dad.

23. I feel sorry for any dad that doesn’t have a daughter.  Nothing is better than throwing the football with your boy…until your little girl says she wants to marry you.

24. I hope you own your own business one day.

25. I wonder how many times I should be yelled at for not saying please and thank you at 36?

26. If I spent just 15 of the 30 minutes a day I spend on social media reading about fatherhood I’d be a better dad.

27. I’m going to say ‘no’ less often.

28. I’m going to let you solve more of your own problems and make more of your own decisions.

29. Come to think of it I wish there were more social media resources for dads, maybe one day one of my children will take care of that.  In the meantime if you are a dad and you enjoyed this blog, please leave your thoughts for your child.