CASUDI about me.
Due to popular demand, I have designed this “about me” page.
Who and What is CASUDI? First of all, it has nothing to do with my love affair with the AUDI brand. It is however, the first 2 letters of CAroline SUsan DI Diego, my legal name for over 30 years. I’ve had CASUDI on my car license plates in the 3 states I have lived in, for just as long. Basically, CASUDI started as my ‘nom d’art’ (as separate from my legal ‘nom d’biz’), and I’ve used it for all artistic endeavors, including designing and producing film and video documentaries. Logical, to me anyway, that I use it as my social media name; short, memorable, and after all, isn’t social media an Art?
I am a Communicator and a Collaborator. Collaboration is one of my most favorite things; yet anyone who has collaborated with me on a start-up or a design project knows I don’t collaborate just for the sake of collaboration; I always have a defined end goal in mind, and even when brainstorming, where everything is perhaps “loosey-goosey”, we do end up with tangible results.
As communication technologies change: radio to TV, film to video, fax to email to IM, blogging and twitter, everything to the mobile device; I have had a great deal of fun honing my skills to adapt and communicate effectively in each new medium. One on one, board room meetings and public speaking each have very specific communication scenarios, and with the advent of social media I have not delegated these people skills to back seat status.
I strive to be Articulate. I make a great point of expressing myself clearly and simply so I can be easily understood. Even to the the extent that from time to time, I am labeled as an over-simplifier ☺
Artistic is an opinion others have about me. I began creating quite good (they said) drawings and paintings in my teens, and won a prestigious painting competition. However I never got excited about being an artist, or thought much of what I painted. A good thing too, as my life would have turned out quite differently.
I hope that my current circles of influence appreciate my Artistic endeavors; documentary film production, photography, culinary skills and Architectural design too…..
Doesn’t S have to be for Social Media? Or maybe, for Social Consciousness?
My journey into social media continues to fascinate and excite me. I am fast becoming a Social Media Whisperer, helping companies find their social voice.The incredible people I have met, the opportunities that are just now opening up, and most importantly how it can be used as a tool to further social projects like Bank On Rain The environmental documentaries I produced were designed to bring about social awareness of water as a diminishing resource, and Bank On rain focuses on establish ecosystems in developing countries that not only provide communities with clean, safe water for consumption and agriculture, but also gives them a framework for an improved and continuing quality of life.
Some of the first social media connections I made are covered in my TWITTER ~ BUILDING BRIDGES TO REAL LIFE post ~ stay tuned for an updated ‘consist’ soon…..
Ubiquitous – referring to something that is, or appears to be everywhere at the same time. Yes, I have been accused of this, but for this “about me” post, I’d like to call it ‘mUlti-faceted’ rather than Ubiquitous. My explanation for appearing multi-faceted is that I learn new things quickly, and move on to something new; this has resulted in being considered ‘accomplished’ (sometimes even ‘expert’) at several disciplines simultaneously. Here is a sample of things I’ve achieved during an eclectic career:
….studied the harpsichord…..appraised & marketed residential & commercial real estate….designed, produced, filmed, edited, and scripted environmental documentaries & TV commercials….co-founded an angel investing group…..marketed hi-tech start-ups……designed online corporate identities (90’s)….designed online learning (2000)…..designed residential interiors and landscapes.…..designed art and antiquities collections for investment……mentored entrepreneurs & start ups……
For those that know me, have I missed anything significant in my list?
Of course the D is for the designer in me. Some people call me a design snob, ☺ though I pale in comparison to my design partner James. I appreciate being surrounded by simple, timeless, quality design. I’ve designed houses, interiors, landscapes, handwriting, clothing, food, films and TV commercials, start-up companies, business strategies, marketing plans, budgets, logos, training videos, websites and lifestyles.
Have I missed anything? Ah yes, I design success as in my six word bio ~ Building Bridges Between People ~ Designing Success.
In no particular order, some designers and architects I admire: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Philip Johnson, Tadeo Ando, Dieter Rams, Zaha Hadid, Philippe Starck, Arne Jacobson, Herb Lubalin, Tom Kundig, Gary Chang and Jiang Qoing Er.
I am an Investigator, I like to research and to process Information. I am interested in a great number of things and above all I am curious …… some call it nosey…. ☺ If things and times had been different I might have selected a career in Intelligence. What’s wrong with that idea is that I don’t function at my best (& sometimes at considerably diminished levels) in ‘group-think’ corporate & government environments, or groups where decision making is a “concensus-driven” process; instead I am more suited to entrepreneurial speed & intellect. In other words I like to move (and drive) fast. And take responsibility for my decisions.
There is more about my “Personal Branding” and what interests me here on DESIGNING SUCCESS and also in my IMAGES OF LIFE stream. More recently I started ENTREPRENEURS QUESTIONS. What do you think, is this enough…. would you like to know more? Just ask me..
CASUDI is my name, and you can call me just @CASUDI, on Twitter, as it’s shorter and saves letters ☺
CASUDI
Building Bridges Between People ~ Designing Success
NOTE: this post was updated slightly on 10.10.2013
February 8th, 2010 at 3:39 pm
I would like to add one thing that I think you have missed…you are an educator at heart and enjoy not just teaching but also watching people learn and discover, both on their own and along with you since, as part of your “collaboration”, you are teaching and learning simultaneously.
Having worked with you, and with INCLINEDESIGN and your entrepreneur clients for over six years, I have found that you enjoy learning just as much as teaching and are always eager and enthusiastic about listening to new ideas and learning something new, especially high-tech new. You are always looking for a better, shorter, newer, more cost-effective, more leading-edge, more elegant (yet simple) way of doing things and that is why working with you is always so much fun!
I always look forward to hearing your latest idea and love the fact that you challenge others around you to look for ways to implement your ideas and to make them work.
February 9th, 2010 at 5:54 am
I really like the way you did this. Our “About” pages are typically written as short biographies that focus on our history or the specifics of what we do. The way you’ve focused on the qualities and characteristics of being Casudi gives us a new perspective. It let’s us see the “how” and “why”, so that we can go beyond the “what” and get a better sense of your philosophy. Well done!
February 9th, 2010 at 9:33 pm
Ariba ~ Yes, I have pushed the envelope from time to time, yet it is always very satisfying when we succeed. I really find it most rewarding when the people I collaborate with or mentor exceed their own expectations, as well as mine. Thanks so much for commenting.
Heidi ~ @hacooL~I guess I did this sort of …… backwards intentionally. When I review a resume, CV or career history for a prospective start up team member or even a project, I am usually looking at what the person has accomplished and extrapolating from that, what I really want to know about them. The way I have written my CASUDI about me, I wanted you to get what you really want to know first, and when the narrative “about me” is written, it will make a lot more sense to you. I really enjoyed reading your ” about me” page focusing on your history with Social media, a great model for when I do mine. Thanks for commenting here and on twitter.
February 9th, 2010 at 9:37 pm
TWITTER FEEDBACK:
@hacooL @CASUDI Well done. Yes, I think the graphics set the tone for the way you’ve broken out the info. I like it.
@chrisbaskind @CASUDI Good job on the About page. I hate writing those things. Yours is fun!
@SparrowJacobs @CASUDI I like it – actually explains who (and why) you are! Good job.
@darnoc @CASUDI nicely done! inspires me to reflect on how I would write such an ‘about’ piece.
@ConversationAge @CASUDI love it! That is a great about me profile – http://bit.ly/9GmHUV
February 9th, 2010 at 11:22 pm
Thanks! I’m glad you liked the social media history bio. Really what I think you’ve demonstrated here is that there are many ways to tell our stories. Sometimes we’re chronological, sometimes we’re skill focused, but this way of looking at it by attitude/interest/mindset tells another tale, one that digs a bit deeper into personality. I think it helps us get a better sense of you. And thus I might have to pilfer the concept at some point! 😉
February 10th, 2010 at 9:25 pm
Some years ago, I read the autobiography of one of my mentors. I mentioned to him, when he asked what I thought, that he had allowed the world a peek at some aspects of him not usually shared. You have done the same, and for the intuitive reader, there is even more between the lines. You are CASUDI – thanks for sharing.
February 13th, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Thanks for three more great comments:
@Hacool ~Heidi, I would love you to imitate! It wouldn’t really be an imitation, as it would come out quite individually you. I am visualizing your spectacular wildlife images, each one representing a letter in your name. Socool, no Hacool ~ Go for it 🙂
@GetResults ~ John, I was really moved by your comment as I realized you had understood exactly how very difficult this was for me. In writing a post like this, I absolutely didn’t want to go on an ego trip, hard not to when it is About me. I was motivated to give more than just a superficial view and to give real insight into what makes me tick!
ON #brandchat @Brad42Fish (commented) “Overall, I like. But one thing stuck out to me: you have two taglines. They’re both good. Pick one.”
I’ll answer Brad’s comment here (I need more then 140)
You are so right ~ point well taken. Well, just like I instruct clients not to do, I have fallen in love with both of them and though I am usually decisive to a fault, I really am in a state of ‘analysis paralysis’ about this 🙂 Both good you say, but which one is better? I had it well justified until now (I’m good at marketing to myself as well;-) justified that I should keep both, as I convince myself INCLINED TO DESIGN is like COKE and BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN PEOPLE is the tag line … THINGS GO BETTER WITH COKE.
INCLINED TO DESIGN is a shorter better headline, as far as headlines go and came first. BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN PEOPLE ~ DESIGNING SUCCESS, came second and is perhaps more all-encompassing and descriptive of my role in life, especially my careers life.
Should it be FORM or FUNCTION? Or should it just be DESIGNING SUCCESS?
February 20th, 2010 at 8:36 pm
Twitter comment by @amyafrica I LOVE it (very creative!) but where exactly is the CALL TO ACTION, you Bad Dog? Subliminal message?
Well Amy on the subject of being a bad dog 🙂 ~ I wouldn’t quite say subliminal, however both my blog and our company website are for reinforcement rather then initial attraction. Maybe you can call it subliminal, as there IS a very “designed” focus and “method to my madness” which embellishes much of my Personal Branding through the years and my current positioning.
Our design clients are ALL referral or have seen something we have designed/built. Maybe I should change this and be more aggressive with a “buy now” yet this is not really in character (my Design partner even less then I). I have been pleased with our modus operandi; because when potential clients contact us for our design services they are in essence already sold on us (INCLINEDESIGN). So our sales and marketing efforts become focused on selling a specific design to a client after we have collaborated extensively and already been retained.
Our corporate consulting opportunities happen (and have happened for 15+ years) much the same way. Current situation is an example; I raised funds & mentored the CEO over 10 years ago. I get lured into the corporate space on account of long standing relationships.
I know you and I do things very differently, yet the absence of an “OVERT” call to action was intentional. That said you may approve of my 15 second pitch (handwritten) which I posted on “dedicated to the elevator pitch” ~ Thanks for your on going comments and conversation on twitter, all greatly appreciated.
February 21st, 2010 at 4:35 am
Hi Caroline,
I understand your position all to well because it is my natural inclination too. It’s so much easier to promote others than it is to promote yourself. Amy has prodded me about my call to action and I’ve followed her recommendations in a way that fits me. The results are amazing. I wouldn’t expect you to have a “buy now” CTA, but you are doing your visitors a disservice by not having a “subscribe to my blog” one. Your posts are always educational and insightful. But, if someone lands on your “About Me” page, they may not realize that they will miss something special if they don’t subscribe.
February 21st, 2010 at 11:48 am
Thanks for the comment Caroline. Yes, I am an OVERT type of girl, especially with call-to-actions because I know they work. Plus, I truly believe (from statistically significant research, not anecdotes) that even if you are very design/aesthetics sensitive, it’s important to give people the opportunity to connect with you, by phone/fax/email/web form/etc. and more important, to make it easy. Granted, you don’t want big, smacky, IN-YOUR-FACE, blinking orange buttons on your site but there is a balance. In any case, keep up the good work! You are definitely lightyears ahead of a lot of folks in your space.
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May 6th, 2013 at 6:21 am
Hi Cusudi! I love your six word bio: Building Bridges Between People ~ Designing Success…Awesome!
Ang 🙂
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