Why does Taos Writer Ask so Darn Many Questions?

by Sandy Penny
Why do so many people use a question as a headline?
It starts the reader thinking about the subject of the article. It speaks directly to the reader and immediately engages them. It’s a popular marketing strategy because it works.
It actually sounds like you care about the opinion of your reader, and most authors do care. So what if it’s a marketing ploy? If it engages you in an internal dialogue and you learn something about yourself in the process, isn’t that a productive exercise? Who doesn’t want to think our opinion is important to others?
Asking questions is a valuable social tool for creating dialogue. Many people lack the questioning skill. They just want to tell you what they think and move on to the next subject. Caring about what other people say creates a bond between you. It can create more loyal customers who feel that you’re listening and responding to their needs. After all, they’re buying the product, shouldn’t you care what they think?
Back in 1978, when I got the idea to start a newspaper in Houston, Texas, on the heels of another failed newspaper, it didn’t seem like a great business idea. If my predecessor went out of business, perhaps the market for that type of newspaper was lacking. I really didn’t know why they went out of business, so I hit on a strategy that worked for me, and I’ve since successfully used it to start other businesses.
I picked up a copy of the defunct newspaper, called all the advertisers and invited them to a party. I was up front that the party was about discussing a newspaper idea. I didn’t try to trick them into coming to a party and then spring the newspaper idea on them. I let them know I was interested in creating a newspaper that would meet their needs and the needs of their customers. I passed out a mock-up of my newspaper idea to everyone at the party. Then I did something unusual, I asked them how I could best serve them and their customer base. They had lots of great ideas.
Next I asked them to support me in meeting their needs, and I sold enough advertising that day, on a newspaper that had never been produced, to pay for the first printing. After that, I had a party every month when the paper was printed so advertisers could take bundles of newspapers to their businesses. I thereby eliminated about half my distribution costs (mostly efforts on my part). Each month, I would chat up my advertisers for new ideas for future issues and get their feedback on how I was doing with meeting their needs.
The biggest benefit that came out of the experience was the sense of community that was created around the newspaper. It became the hub for dialogue among community members, and the monthly meeting became the venue for that dialogue. I sold more advertising and collected checks in a timely fashion at those parties. About a year later, a larger newspaper came into my community and tried to start a competitive publication. It was better funded and slicker, but it could not get a foothold. My community was really loyal because I had created a personal bond with them by asking for their feedback – and of course, using it. You can shoot yourself in the foot if you go to the trouble of getting input, and then don’t use any of it. People tend to feel disregarded and badly used.
So, why am I writing about this in a healing arts section? The same technique works in personal relationships. It’s all well and good to say that we should not care what other people think. Independence and autonomy are great, and we should not let our lives be run by other people, but sometimes friends and customers have really excellent ideas that can benefit us personally and in business. Asking questions and really listening and using the answers makes our friends and customers feel valued. It develops interactive relationships. We all know those who pontificate from on high and never let others talk.
Dialogue creates community and cooperation and strong friendships that sustain themselves during challenging times. We are living in challenging times right now. Maybe it’s time to ask a few more questions of those you care about and really listen to what they have to say. What do you think?

Taos Writer Gets Involved

by Sandy Penny, Taos Writer/WritingMuse
This is the Summer of Love in Taos, celebrating 40 years since Easy Rider was filmed here and launched into the world to illustrate the magnitude of prejudice and fear of the unknown in the human psyche. We also landed on the Moon that summer of 69, and found ourselves in a new world.
The ButterFly section of the Horse Fly continues its spiraling flight around Taos, and I’m writing and editing more for the Horse Fly now, including some of the web posts.
But, my biggest project so far has been the Hippie Homecoming event sponsored by the Horse Fly Institute, happening tomorrow, Sunday, June 21, 2009. I really like the whole Hippie Homecoming idea, even though I was not a Hippie, I recognize the contributions the Hippies made to our modern culture.
Women hardly ever wore jeans before the Hippies made them popular. Unless you lived on a farm or rode horses, jeans just weren’t in your wardrobe. Now, they’re high-fashion and everyday fare. Most women have at least three or four pairs in their current size at all times. Add a tie-dyed t-shirt (which we didn’t wear except underneath our clothes), and you were right in fashion. To this day, tie-dye makes the rounds in fashion with different forms.
And, the music, oh the music. “Let the Sun Shine.” The musical Hair showed us all what was going on in the world, peace, war, protests, hair-growing, hair cutting for the soldiers. What a year it was for music, what a decade it was for music. We still listen to so many of those great oldies – always fresh for those of us who were there. Elvis gave way to the Beatles etc. Rock N Roll became hard rock. I had a hard time with that one, being an avid Elvis fan.
But, back from the flashback, to 2009, I got involved in all this with my Horse Fly association. I went out and got sponsorships for painted bodies from local businesses. I recruited popular local painters who usually use canvas to paint the human form. I even recruited people to be painted and brokered the relationships with the painters. I got into it. It was more fun than selling advertising, and so much easier.
Then I jumped into the publicity. I talked it up all over town. I tweeted on Twitter and blabbed on Facebook. I set up a website for the Hippie Homecoming. I blogged.  I sent out PR to all the media. I searched the web for anyone publishing events info for Taos and submitted our events (including the Bluestreak Boogie coming up on Wednesday, June 24).
I got so involved that today, one day before the event, I’m exhausted. I’m trying to recuperate a little so I’ll be ready for tomorrow. I know all the other people participating are exhausted too, even though we’re very excited. Deb Villalobos, who headed this up, has been tirelessly working, arranging, managing, coordinating, cajoling, bribing and generally wearing me out just watching her.
It’s great, though being involved in a community event. One feels very much a part of the town. I highly recommend volunteering for one of the great Summer of Love events. Peace out or rev it up. Embrace the music. Follow your bliss. Get involved.