It’s always nice when the home state gets a little positive play from the mainstream media. Now, thanks to mainstreet.com and ABC news, we’re getting the credit we deserve for being absolutely positive!

Check out the link below. This just makes me even happier!

http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=7266970

Today, representatives from Omaha’s Business Ethics Alliance chose Redstone’s Email Campaign System (ECS) to help them keep in touch with their members and business leaders. You can bet they’ll be using an opt-in list! (It’s kind of an ethics-irony joke).

Today Redstone welcomed the Advanced Creative Advertising class from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Their professor, Hugh Reilly, is a good friend of the agency and has referred some of Redstone’s most (in)famous interns. After a brief tour of the agency, the class settled down to get a crash course in media secrets from one the industry’s best, our own president, Claudia Martin.

OK, as a once and future writer, I probably tend to enjoy words a little more than most people. But even if your most aspirational prose is restricted to the occasional email, there are words that, simply by their inclusion, can liven up the proceedings.

Here, in no particular order, are my nominees for the most enjoyable and fun words in the English language. (Feel free to comment and add your own faves to the list!)

Shenanigans! – What a great word! Not only does the meaning connote fun, but it’s just a blast to say! Go ahead, I dare you to say it five times fast without smiling!

Tomfoolery! – Ok, it’s no “shenanigans” but it plays in the farm league.

Cahoots! – As in “in cahoots”. In this day and age of nefarious conspiracy and boring collaboration … being “in cahoots” brings a bit of levity to any cooperative project. (BTW, “nefarious” is a good word, too, but it doesn’t have the positive spin that this blog really goes for).

Skedaddle! – Want someone to leave you alone? Telling them to “skedaddle” instead of “get lost” just may save the relationship. You’re welcome.

Scamp! – Another great word to preserve a relationship! Don’t call friends’ kids “brats”, call ‘em “scamps.” Suddenly, their annoying behavior at the restaurant is endearing Americana!

I have more, but I’ll save them for future blog entries when I can’t think of anything else. In the mean time, does anyone else have suggestions for the list?

Welcome to the genesis of the “Absolutely Positive” blog. It’s not a binding contract, but here’s the “deal sheet” I’m proposing for the contract between the writer of this blog, hereafter referred to as “Me” or “Jim”, and the readers of this blog, hereafter referred to as “You Jokers” or “Honored Guests.”

Whereas: The media seems to be increasingly dominated by bad news and depressing facts.

Whereas: I, Jim Svoboda, partner at Redstone, am tired of being blue.

Whereas: I believe there is real power in optimism and focusing on the positive.

Whereas: People get really tired of listening to other people whine and complain … especially if that whining and complaining doesn’t match their own.

Resolved: This blog will be dedicated to all things positive and happy-making as judged by Me. Everyone is invited to participate with comments, tell me what a Pollyanna I am, or add their own recipes for attaining Nirvana (the state of mind, not the 90’s grunge group – unless for you it’s the same thing).

C’mon, let’s get happy.

Since 2003, Hanser & Associates has been Redstone’s go-to strategic partner for public relations. Hanser is truly world-class PR firm based in Des Moines, Iowa and the two firms share office space both there and in Omaha. Today, Hanser launched a web site redesign that delivers everything you need to know about the firm, along with some great PR insights in one simple, intuitive package. Check ‘em out at http://www.hanser.com.

Redstone welcomes Randa Zalman as our latest addition to staff. Randa is a Sr. Account Supervisor and comes to us after gaining extensive client-side experience as the Advertising Manager for a well-known national insurer. Add that to her past advertising agency and non-profit experience and all-around great attitude and you have a recipe for big success at Redstone.

Randa is a motion picture aficionado, loves Skittles, has extensive experience with social media and co-op advertising programs and occasionally dreams of being a tour guide. Stop by the office sometime and we’ll let her show you around the place!