Wreathian

Dreaming Of Electric Sheep In Eternal Sleep

2011-10-25T22:14:00.004-07:00

R.I.P. John McCarthy. Read his proposal, all the while considering it was written 55 years ago. Bravo to a mind ahead of its time for trying to create minds ahead of their time.

In Person Is Better

2011-09-17T14:14:00.000-07:00

Doing things face to face is better than doing things over a technological interface.

There is a distinct hierarchy that has been almost indisputable... until recently, according to a new British survey.

Before the internet...
1. Face to face
2. Telephone
3. Postal mail

Today...
1. Face to face
2. Telephone
3. E-mail
4. Social networking site
5. Postal mail
6. Video conference

Give it a few years and watch Apple bring video conferencing up the list with FaceTime. Poor U.S Postal Service....

Zap! Pow! Zing! You're Still Boring!

2008-01-30T10:44:00.003-07:00

Microsoft released Windows Vista yesterday. They played it like the next big record from a teenage rock band. Except there aren't any groupies.

Read about it in the New York Times.

Zen Garden Fertilizer

2007-09-04T08:27:00.001-07:00

No single raindrop believes it is responsible for the flood.

Overselling The Package

2007-02-15T09:09:00.000-07:00

You can't sell the value meal until you've sold the burger, and you can't sell the package of goods until you've sold the primary component.

Find the one thing that has the best shot at being bought by your potential clients. Sell it and then let it work. If it works for the client (and why would it not?), then you have already accomplished the majority of your marketing.

Rebel Without A Carpool Lane

2007-02-12T11:11:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been driving on a highway when a police officer works his way into your little pod of traffic? Everyone slows down, afraid that they will be nabbed for doing exactly what they were doing when the officer was out of their eye sight (but not radar range, mind you).

Does the same thing happen when your boss walks into a meeting?

Both the officer and your boss are omnipresent. They both know you are repressing your instincts because of their presence. And most importantly, they both have the ability to hand you a little pink slip of paper that could cost you a lot of money.

Civil disobedience is a right, so bend (or break) a law or two under the watchful eye of the man. James Dean would do it.

How Many Wireless Routers Do You Have?

2007-02-06T19:15:00.001-07:00

My dad loves the fact that he "borrows" the neighbor's wireless signal. He does not have a router at all.

Most people have one. It sits next to the cable modem and zings along with a high-speed internet connection.

I have three. One for the voice-over-IP phone system and one on each end of the house, linked together so I can wander around in my boxer shorts, laptop in tow, typing entries for this blog.

What does it all mean? Who knows, but there is probably some connection for your product or service in measuring things like this. Non-standard demographic, personality, or habitual data can mean a lot... if only you can find the right, strange, little niche and align it with your purpose.

"I'm A Bit Of A Whiz With These Things"

2007-02-05T14:56:00.000-07:00

From TalentZoo.com...

Is the world moving toward more half-assed technological dexterity or are professionals going to look that much better in the face of increasing amateur incompetence?

Aqua Teen Hunger Force Boston Guerrilla Marketing Thing

2007-02-02T09:00:00.001-07:00

Because it is ridiculous on so many levels and has to be mentioned, read about it here.

Did You Know That...

2007-02-02T01:39:00.001-07:00

... materials engineers design and fabricate different types of textiles and elastics for use in socks based on the friction coefficients of the usual amount of hair present on an average leg?

No, you had no idea. And your customers could not care less about why their socks stay up, either, as long as they do - especially if they are warm and comfortable while they are staying there.

Stones And A Butterfly

2007-02-01T09:15:00.000-07:00

Iron Butterfly released their first album in 1967. Not many people noticed. In 1968, however, their album In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida became the first platinum album in music history, in large part due to the unconventional and revolutionary format of its eponymous single. By the end of 1970, they had released two more albums, neither of which achieved any level of commercial or critical success. That was the end of Iron Butterfly.

The Rolling Stones released their first album in 1964. Over the course of several more albums spanning the next four decades, they became one of the seminal bands in music history. Their latest album was released in September, 2006 and inaugurated with a concert in Boston, attended by a sold out crowd of 44,000 enthusiastic fans.

Necessity may be the mother of invention, but reinvention is the mother of longevity.

Amen

2007-01-31T14:27:00.000-07:00

From AdRANTs...

"... go and rent a copy of 'The Hucksters' and check out the scene where Sydney Greenstreet as 'The Soap Baron' spits up a huge gob of phlegm on the boardroom table to show agency guy Clark Gable how you go about catching the consumers attention...." Read on...

What You See (Part 2)

2007-01-31T13:08:00.000-07:00

A Caribbean legend tells of the arrival of Christopher Columbus.

The legend says that the indians on the island where Columbus landed could not see his ships approaching. They saw the ripples in the sea, far away, and were struck with wonder at why such disturbances were occurring in the water. After two or three days of these disturbances moving closer to shore, a shaman was finally able to see the ships. The shaman then went back to his people, described what he saw, and from then on, all of the indians on the island could see the ships.

No one could see the enormous Spanish clippers at first, the legend continues, because they had never seen such things before. They recognized the ripples in the sea because they knew and understood the water, but they had no way to conceptualize what was creating the disturbances because they had no previous associations of such things in their minds.

Once the indians had been told about the approaching ships by their shaman, and had the idea set into their minds, they could finally see the ships and would always recognize them as such.

What You See (Part 1)

2007-01-30T12:51:00.000-07:00

When a camera takes in an image, it is objective and records what comes through its lens, without bias, not giving preference to one piece of information over another. The brown book sitting on the shelf is as important to the camera as the red fingernail raised toward the sky.

When the brain takes in an image, it receives 400,000,000,000 bits of information each second, but only processes 2,000 of those bits because the brain has a network of neurons that has been trained to use associations, both of objections and of familiarity, to sort information into quickly usable portions of fuel for decision making.

When watching a movie, is the focus on the streetlight in the background or the exploding truck in the foreground? The camera makes no separation between one bit of light and another, but the brain does.

Authentic Fake Picassos

2007-01-29T10:36:00.000-07:00

A friend of Pablo Picasso recounts this story...

I was staying with Picasso in his studio. Every day, dealers would come by to authenticate paintings they were trying to sell. They would ask Picasso if the painting was real or a fake.

A dealer came by one day with a painting, Picasso glanced at it, and without hesitating said, "fake." Later that day, two more were identified as fakes.

The next day, a different dealer came by. Picasso hardly looked up. "Fake!" he bellowed.

After the dealer left, I couldn't help myself. "Picasso, why did you say that painting was a fake? I was here, in this studio, last year when I saw you paint it."

Picasso didn't hesitate. He turned to me and said, "I often paint fakes."

Always A New Way

2006-12-14T22:54:00.000-07:00

A reader writes:

I signed up for the 14 day trial of rhapsody.com ... As I'm enjoying Roxanne by Sting I hear Feliz Navidad playing over the track. I instantly assume that something is wrong with the stream and try to replay the song. It happens again. I then go back to the song list page trying to figure out what the heck is doing that. Then I realize it. It's the Cingular Banner at the top of the page!!! How horrible. I was enjoying rhapsody.com. Now I'm done.Interrupt. Annoy. Lose.

Immediate Results Or Years Of Struggle?

2006-12-13T22:58:00.000-07:00

"Focus on that which is beyond what your eyes can see."
- Albrecht Durer

Visionaries are never right in the short term.

Tell Me What It Costs

2006-12-11T07:50:00.000-07:00

There are two ways to sell tickets. The first way is to set a price, charge that price to customers, and then pay all the interested parties (performer, venue, ticket seller, etc.) their share. The second way is to set a price for the performance and then tack on fees for the venue, ticket seller, etc.

The first way is clean, fully operational, and easy to understand. Tickets are $40. OK. Here is $40. Thank you for the ticket. Tickets show up or are printed out and you stick them up on the refrigerator or bulletin board, eying them in anticipation for weeks. See you at the show. Everyone understands what the ticket is worth. Everyone understands that all the details are included.

The second way is overtly capitalistic. Tickets are $23. Facility fee is $6.75. Ticket seller "convenience" fee is $5.25. Shipping is $3.00. Printing the tickets directly, right now, is $5.00. Greed, confusion, and miscommunication are included - free. What other charges are going to come up by the time the show starts?

Selling tickets the first way shows thought and foresight. The second tactic demonstrates that a line has been drawn between creating a customer-centered experience and creating an easy to manage ledger for the promoter.

When in doubt, easier is easier.

You Have Two Choices Every Day

2006-12-07T22:49:00.000-07:00

1. Invent the future, be remarkable, and change the world.

2. Be a used tire in the landfill of history, wasting away over a century, eventually becoming an unrecognizable part of the landscape.

Keeping Track

2006-12-05T08:36:00.001-07:00

While no one will argue that measuring your efforts or maintaining a diary are good ideas, the story of Robert Shields from Dayton, Washington is truly remarkable.

For the last twenty years of his life, he meticulously chronicled every single thing he did and thought. He recounts everything he ate, every piece of junk mail he received, the weather, including temperature and humidity, inside and out, medications, prayers, bodily functions, and even the time spent typing his diary.

Believed to be the world's longest diary, it also includes such curiosities as samples of nose hair taped to the pages, as well as price stickers from meat purchased at the supermarket, and accounts of how he never slept more than two hours at a time so he would be able to remember, and thus record, his dreams.

A transcript of a radio interview and a sample page from his diary are both fascinating.

The Great Firewall Of China

2006-12-04T19:32:00.000-07:00

When considering how important it is to preserve the neutrality of the internet, chew on these observations about what China and Iran are already doing. Communism and capitalism are coming increasingly close together when it comes to regulating content that should otherwise be free and freely accessible. What would it have been like if you had to pay for certain, designated books at the library when you were growing up? Try to imagine Ted Turner in one of Kim Jong-Il's jumpsuits....

Personal Branding

2006-11-29T08:44:00.000-07:00

You (hopefully) are memorable. Keep in mind that you are always in the process of creating a brand image of yourself. People are always forming or reinforcing opinions of who you are to them. Did you catch that... "to them"?

Cornelius Huxtabull vs. Mark Jones. How many Cornelius's have you met in your lifetime?

Mohawk vs. Shaved Head. Not always appropriate, but memorable, none the less.

Voluptuous vs. Matronly or Patronly vs. Brotherly. This one goes frequently unspoken.

Evil Prick vs. Passive-Aggressive Doormat. Nice does not equal successful. Then again, memorable does not always equal positive.

tony@megacorp.com vs. tjohnson@megacorp.com. Most people have no idea what your last name is but are happy to know you by your first.

Every interaction builds on a relationship - with coworkers, clients, baristas, doormen.... It is perfectly acceptable to bring yourself to your work. Take every opportunity to set yourself apart with your personality.

There's Something Funny About Zombies

2006-11-28T11:38:00.000-07:00

They are even funnier when they are arrested for being terrorists. Try not to think too loudly when in Minneapolis.

Value Creation In A Startup

2006-11-27T11:11:00.000-07:00

You Ain't Gonna Learn What You Don't Want To Know offers up some great insights on the differences between corporate and start-up thinking.

"I Just Don't Know What's Good Anymore"

2006-11-21T23:23:00.000-07:00

Commerce whacks art in the back of the kneecaps, once again...

Barneys Obsessions - Warhol Soup Cans.

Out Of Rehab And In Denial

2006-11-17T11:07:00.000-07:00

George Carlin's great (and funny) example of why 85% of the words that come out of a person's mouth, especially at a meeting where someone is trying to sell something, mean nothing at all. You have no idea what he is talking about or what it means, but it sounds really impressive, even though it is completely contradictory and meaningless.

People are always trying to use more words, probably because they want to be sure they never miss any topics - like a shotgun wounding innocent bystanders. If someone is uninterested in the main thrust of what you came to say, what does it matter if they miss some of the side notes?

Looks Like A Drug Rep

2006-11-15T08:52:00.001-07:00

Doctors and their staffs can see (maybe even smell) pharmaceutical sales people from several hundred yards away. Drug reps look the same. Women wear tailored, black, wool business suits with white blouses. Men show up in black gabardine slacks and blue shirts, usually with apathetically chosen neckties.

Receptionists apply their prejudices as soon as a drug rep walks through the door he or she just held open for woman pushing a stroller. And those prejudices, good or bad, control the drug rep's upcoming experience. Perhaps there is a set of office rules governing which ones or how many the doctor will bear to see in any given day, but mostly, it is the first impression of the person guarding the door that will determine the success or failure of the predestined sales rep.

So why do they all look the same? Because same is comfortable and familiar. If they do things the same as all the others they will be accepted into offices, they will deliver predictable results, and they will keep their job. When they look like everyone else, they know there are no mistakes being made. Except, of course, the most gigantic mistake of all - the absence of an original idea.

Would a woman in a red suit or a man in carefully selected tie really shake up the status quo? No. But someone dressed up like an average patient or another medical professional might. At least it would provide a fighting chance to overcome the prejudices leveraged against them, forged by the uninventive masses which came before.

Looking and sounding like your competitors has been proven to fail. Being original, on the other hand, only fails some of the time.

The Truth Hurts, But Keep It To Yourself

2006-11-14T08:41:00.000-07:00

The folks at Four Paws Design sound like they are constantly annoyed and wrote their company policies late at night after a long day of tolerating customers. They sound like life would be easier for them without the constant pestering of having to deal with orders. Eventually, it will be.

Contention and righteousness are no way to solve a problem. Everyone involved becomes indignant and upset and nothing is resolved, especially in the long term. In contrast, the folks at Woot! actually use sarcasm, apathy, and indignation to their advantage.

Do Something Fun As A Professional

2006-11-10T16:00:00.000-07:00

Two robbers disguised in president masks hold up an adult video store in Austin, Texas. They back a pick-up truck through the front door. They tie up the three employees with fur-lined handcuffs and latex stockings. They steal $230 in cash, some body piercing jewelry, and an employee's car.

Not a huge loot, but what a great caper. It made the national news and will be talked about for a while because it is a ridiculous and unique story. Even though it was described by the police as "well executed", not many self-respecting criminals would have ever tried to pull it off.

While adult video store robbery may not be the best way to go, why not do something wacky or unpredictable in your professional career? Something unproductive and ridiculous, but well-executed and memorable. It never hurt to leave a legacy.

Check out the example being set by Simply Usability as they work for free for one year.

How To Destroy The World With A Smile

2006-11-03T09:41:00.000-07:00

"Unfortunately, I find that I am taken less seriously when I wear happiness on my face."
- Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso

"There are only three occasions on which you should ever smile - those involving marriage, the birth of your child, or when you are being honored. But never in business."
- Donald Trump

"The man who can smile when things go wrong has thought of someone else he can blame it on."
- Robert Bloch

Despite the cynicism, smile like you mean it.

Ban E-Mail

2006-11-02T11:31:00.000-07:00

What would happen if you stopped using e-mail as a method of interpersonal communication? What if you called everyone or wrote them a note? Would it build better relationships? Try it for a week and see how it goes.

Note To Self

2006-11-01T11:51:00.000-07:00

Books are much less effective than experiences at imparting learning through osmosis.

The Stupidity Of Recycling Plastic Bags

2006-10-30T08:20:00.000-07:00

Recycling facilities hate plastic grocery bags. They clog up the machines, interfere with sorting, and are ultimately thrown out, not recycled. Waste Management estimates plastic grocery bag related issues costs each of their recycling facilities at least one hour of productivity and thousands of dollars in maintenance every day! Like most people when faced with a problem, they looked for a solution.

They decided to launch a public information campaign. There was a well massaged newspaper article, flyers attached to the inside of recycling bins, and materials were distributed to elementary school students. A commercial even ran on a couple of cable channels. Waste Management was dedicated to stopping people from trying to recycle plastic grocery bags.

The irony here is that plastic grocery bags are completely recyclable. Waste Management simply has no desire to do it. Instead of trying to solve their plastic grocery bag problem by educating an otherwise apathetic and confused public who believes the bags should be recycled, Waste Management needs to create a mechanism by which to recycle the bags. In place of expensive public relations campaigns, they have an opportunity to build the infrastructure to make themselves more money, create a convenience for their customers, and be environmentally responsible all at the same time.

Alas, yelling at the guy who is doing something (perceived as) wrong is easier (but not necessarily cheaper) than envisioning a creative solution.

Shadows And Light

2006-10-27T13:21:00.000-07:00

Telling people everything about a product or service, how it is made, what it does, where it comes from, is not marketing, it is education. Unfortunately, many marketers frequently confuse the two ideas. Marketing is telling people about the parts of the story they want to hear.

Apply this logic to sausage factories and you will quickly understand.

Creating shadows is just as important as shedding light, but one is for you and one is for them.

Because Life Is Serious

2006-10-25T13:11:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while, you need to blow 20 minutes of valuable time doing nothing in particular (and be able to forward such preoccupying activities to your friends and colleagues).

Here are three favorites...

Fuel Efficiency

2006-10-24T09:43:00.000-07:00

An advertisement arrived today from Staples, the office supply place. They were trying to sell their delivery services by listing features and benefits which included ease of ordering, huge selection, and fuel efficiency. Hmmm... fuel efficiency.

They looked outside of the office, where the ad is probably being read and where the order would be placed, for a trigger to catch a potential customer's attention. They found a rally point for almost everyone, some common ground in the real world. Their suggestion of fuel efficiency is a sign that they understand there is more to making a decision about office supply products than simply saving the boss some money.

See the space, know the people, and make an offer that helps solve a real problem. Not many people believe that a paper clip sale will change their lives or earn them a promotion, but if they can keep a couple bucks in their own pocket or have a few extra minutes so they can be on time to pick their kid up from school, that is a valuable offer.

Rock 'N Roll Marketing

2006-10-23T09:45:00.000-07:00

Popular music is the ultimate venue for creating a worldview and marketing it. Musicians do their best to come up with an original sound, perspective, or innovation (in most instances - see Spears, Britney for exceptions). They carve out a unique position, voice, and culture then hope people buy into it. Let us repeat that... they carve out a unique position, voice, and culture then hope people buy into it. Not making stuff for their audience, but finding an audience for their stuff.

Those silly artists are crazy and egotistical enough to believe they have something to say and that the world needs to hear it. As an entrepreneur, that same attitude works, too.

Record labels push, but worldview, taste, and consumer preference make the ultimate decisions (believe it or not). Of course, that assumes musicians can find a record label to begin with, but that is another story about perseverance and talent.

Most worldviews will never flood the market, but they can make a big splash. They can influence the industry, and every once in a while, they are sold to Google for $1.6 billion.

Take a side - preferably your own.

Even Shrines Go Bankrupt

2006-10-18T10:05:00.000-07:00

Legendary New York venue CBGB is forced to close its doors because of escalating rent due to gentrification. Once located in the slums of the Bowry shipyards full of homeless, the club spent its last few years engulfed by trendy bars and upscale apartments.

No matter how the public feels, no entity is an institution in America. The only institution here is capitalism.

Marketing Is Too Easy... To Screw Up

2006-10-17T12:57:00.000-07:00

And the wise Mr. Godin says...

Marketing and design seem simple and uncomplicated to many because it is easy to tell yourself your own story. You know all the characters, complications, and twists. You have heard all the objections and eliminate them before they arise. You know the ending before you begin. Telling your story with passion and expertise is easy. Telling your story effectively and persuasively, on the other hand, can be tricky.

Smart and successful businesses realize the importance and necessity of having a professional help them tell their story (but not tell it for them). Having another perspective interpret your story and translate it to the masses, or at least the interested few, can drastically increase its absorption.

It is the same reason you hire a plumber. You could fix the garbage disposal yourself, but it will work better and the job will be done faster when a professional is involved.

It Hurts To Watch

2006-10-16T07:55:00.000-07:00

Watch this video done for the Dove Self Esteem Fund, then go hug your kids and stop paying attention to advertising.

When reality is distorted this much, when advertising moves away from the product and creates a fictional world, how is it possible to be honest with customers? They will find out and they will despise the lying. Even worse, they will stop buying the product.

Plaudits to Dove for their expression and support of healthful honesty.

Do Something (Epilogue)

2006-10-13T12:20:00.000-07:00

Doing something socially conscious is not about activism, liberalism, jerking knees, or bleeding hearts. Doing something is about being responsible for a small part of the world - your part.

There are opportunities - small, accessible, and possible ones - each day in every corner of the world, from villages in Ghana to the table in your kitchen. Simply giving money lacks any investment of your person. Extend and open up more than your wallet.

Hopefully, this week has incited you to find a way to make a difference. Hopefully, this week has illustrated that the only way to make a change is to act. Hopefully, this week has inspired you to... do something.

Do Something (Day 5)

2006-10-13T11:17:00.000-07:00

"My family history begins with me, but yours ends with you."
- Iphicrates

No supporting facts or dramatic statistics here - family conversations are simply important, necessary to support the unit, and commonly taken for granted.

Do something.

Do Something (Day 4)

2006-10-12T11:15:00.000-07:00

"A man's work is nothing but this slow trek to rediscover, through the detours of art, those two or three great and simple images in whose presence his heart first opened."
- Albert Camus

The largest urban farm in the United States was closed down to make room for warehouses to be built. The area has less than a 70% occupancy rate for similar spaces. Over 300 families had their farms taken from them. It is estimated that the 14 acre community helped to feed about 2000 people while simultaneously having a substantial impact on local air quality.

Do something.

Do Something (Day 3)

2006-10-11T11:46:00.000-07:00

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."
- Thomas Edison

One half of the world's population live on less than $2.00 per person, per day. One out of seven people subsist on less than $1.00 per day.

Do something.

Do Something (Day 2)

2006-10-10T01:24:00.000-07:00

"We must plant the sea and herd its animals using the sea as farmers instead of hunters. That is what civilization is all about - farming replacing hunting."
- Jacques Cousteau

In the last 50 years carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by 30% while 80% of the world's kelp forests and 90% of the world's large pelagic fish have been eradicated.

Do something.

Do Something (Day 1)

2006-10-09T11:57:00.000-07:00

"It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
- Mother Teresa

Every three seconds a child dies of malnutrition somewhere in the world.

Do something.

Do Something (Prologue)

2006-10-09T10:52:00.000-07:00

This week is about doing something with all that accumulated wealth and squandered free time of yours. Looking outside daily culture for perspectives, experiences, and opportunities, this week you will be supplied with enough thoughts, facts, and options for action that you had better go do something. Yes, it is a challenge.

We are the only obstacle in our way. No divine hand is going to intervene. Technology will not create an answer. It would be nice for our progeny to inherit something besides the mistakes of our consumption. Covering your ears will not make any difference because the volume is going to be turned way up this week. It is up to you to do something.

Be Determined And Advance

2006-10-06T18:19:00.000-07:00

Life is about moving forward from where you are. About stopping yourself in times of hardship from slipping backward too far. About recognizing the line between opportunity and disappointment is a fine, and sometimes perforated, one.

Life is about your will to live it. Be determined and advance.

Fast Food ATMs

2006-10-03T19:32:00.000-07:00

Arby's has created self-serve kiosks inside their restaurants. You walk up, use a touch screen to order from an attractive, picture-laden menu, swipe your credit card, and pick up your food at the counter. The kiosks themselves are an ingenious addition, but Arby's uses an even better idea to entice you to use the things.

The brilliance is in the thinking behind it all (hopefully). For each order you place using one of the machines, you receive a free size upgrade to your meal or a free dessert. You immediately think they are being cheap, cutting costs of labor by automating the order process. Then you see the offer, and suddenly, your thoughts of corporate frugality transform into a feeling of delight from the graciousness of their newly offered efficiency.

They want you to move in and out of the restaurant faster. They are sending the right message. After months of use, the offer will probably go away. People will have become accustomed to the kiosks and then Arby's will be using them as a cost cutting measure. But by then you will have forgotten about how cheap corporations are and remember only how you were trained to order your roast beast sandwich - from a robot.

As A Marketer, Remarried Women Bother Me

2006-10-02T10:49:00.000-07:00

Because hyphenated last names (much like conglomerated brand names and professional firms piled high with partners) are imprecise and dilute the ability to be approachable.

World's Highest Paid Professional Athlete Retires

2006-09-29T01:04:00.000-07:00

His salary approaches $50 million. With endorsements, he will make over $100 million this year. He is the first professional athlete to become a billionaire.

He is watched by almost 400 million people each time he performs with a cumulative annual audience of over 60 billion!

He has won 7 world championships during 15 seasons of competition (including 5 in the last 6 years) and is in position to win another one before he retires.

Now at 37 years old, ostensibly at the peak of his prowess and abilities, he is stepping down.

Did you even notice?

You Look Pretty Good In That Dress

2006-09-28T10:58:00.001-07:00

It used to be the case that marketers would exhaust every effort to make you feel better about yourself in order to push a product. Stretching the truth (lying), overstating benefits (lying), or even stooping to the use of eye-fooling photography (lying) ~~were~~ are common techniques.

Perhaps the marketers took over product development or perhaps the product developers had their marketing caps on, but there is a new feature available on some HP digital cameras that allows you to make yourself feel better without a single lie being told by a single marketer. The technology actually slims down the subject of the photo. You heard it right - the camera makes you skinnier! HP claims the camera "can instantly trim off pounds", so maybe the marketers are still up to their their old tricks, after all.

Most interesting side effect: You end up lying to yourself and everyone who sees your photos while the marketers go to sleep with a (mostly) clear conscious.

Environmentally Conscious Graffiti

2006-09-27T08:06:00.001-07:00

What are all the hip kids doing these days? Marketing their products on the streets, generating word of mouth, of course!

Using pressure washers and urban soot, there has been a trend to "clean up" dirty city walls and sidewalks by adding advertising artwork. The most infamous are Vision Media's campaign (top right) for the 2006 Lotus Awards and O&M/London's Ultimate Fuel promotion (bottom right) for BP.

As with most art, even etching commercial messages into dirt had its origins somewhere. This trend is usually linked with British graffiti artist Moose and his chemically etched Smirnoff reverse stencils (for which he was promptly disparaged and fined, mind you).

It is brilliant that people are finding ways to gain attention while still bringing to light an issue of social consciousness. Those city bits are pretty filthy. Hopefully, local governments and homeowners associations will find cleanliness to be a higher virtue than homogenicity.

Hogwash!

2006-09-25T14:00:00.001-07:00

Customer surveys are great ways to figure out what your customers like or would change about your products, services, and people. Lots of companies use them to show off inflated statistics, but do they ever accomplish their ultimate goal - change? A new survey says no.

Do you use surveys to allow your customers to tell you what they never will face to face? Do you use the surveys to identify areas of improvement or to pat yourself on the back?

Lying to yourself only results in lying to everyone else.

Congress Bans Horse Meat

2006-09-21T09:41:00.000-07:00

... and calls the process of the "proud animals" being slaughtered "barbaric". Is Congress making subjective, ethical judgments on the value of a species? Have they considered what goes on in any abattoir?

Actually, it overturns a bill put into law by President Bush two years ago enabling horses meeting certain criteria to be exported to Europe as food animals. The law allowed government-held, wild horses (about 20,000 of them) to be purchased, or as lawmakers called it "adopted", by the public. This was designed as a business opportunity, giving ranchers the ability to buy low from the government and sell high to Europe.

After their session, all the legislators retired to the Congressional cafeteria for a hearty luncheon where a mixed grill of beef, chicken, and lamb was served.

The Star-Telegram details it further with some interesting, and possibly out of context, quotations.

The Onion brings their perspective by saying, "I support this ruling. We shouldn't be allowed to eat horses, dogs, or anything else we can race for sport".

A prime example of why it is not always the action but, instead, the perception that matters.

I Used To Feel Guilty, But Now I Realize Microsoft Isn't An Easy Target Because Of Their Size, They Are An Easy Target Because Of Their Incompetence

2006-09-20T09:31:00.000-07:00

Microsoft released their new, iTunes-assassinating, world-dominating, vertically-integrated, proprietary-file-selling, line of mobile media players and software, called Zune. They blew their horns and released doves into the air. Then it broke.

Zune is being rolled out to replace the ubiquitous Windows Media Player and to take on the formidable iTunes and iPod. Of course, Microsoft built in the most obvious feature to ensure an easy transition from the old player to the new one, right? Almost. They did manage to make the product and the packaging both look like bad, design-school, Apple knockoffs, though. Remember, Microsoft is involved.

The old files from Windows Media Player are locked up by security devices inside the program to accomplish digital rights management (DRM). DRM is the effort to control distribution and piracy of copyrighted materials which became popular after websites such as Napster, Limewire, and Kazaa had teenagers sharing their entire music and movie libraries over the internet. In typical, pathetic, Microsoft fashion, Zune is unable to play any of the protected files from Windows Media Player (i.e. all the media files a person has on their computer and would want to transfer to the new player).

Let us recapitulate. Microsoft invented Windows Media Player. Everyone used it and amassed huge libraries of music and movies. Microsoft was being left behind in the market by Apple. In order to compete, Microsoft invented Zune, the replacement and upgrade to Windows Media Player. Zune is unable to play Windows Media Player files because of Microsoft's own overreaching DRM program and their inability to compete in the lifestyle market (iTunes was released in January, 2001, by the way).

Now for the ironic part. Microsoft's J. Allard dismissed the incompatibility consequences, noting there are several third party programs available to work around the DRM problem. Was that not the big issue! First they try to control distribution and use and now they are advocating working around those controls? Poor, confused, badly handled Microsoft marketing - again.

You can tell yourself several stories about today's tale, but there are really only two conclusions to be drawn about the process of creating a remarkable product your customers will love.

1. "See, even a global megacorporation like Microsoft can make mistakes. This is complicated stuff. If we know about the problems and offer some solutions, everyone will still love us."

2. "Wow, Microsoft really screwed up. I'm glad our global microbrand (pronounced: small business) thought about how our product would affect our customers before we built it."

Buy an iPod.

Lest We Forget

2006-09-19T02:16:00.000-07:00

"Reverence for Life does not allow the scholar to live for his science alone, even if he is very useful to the community in so doing. It does not permit the artist to exist only for his art, even if he gives inspiration to many by its means. It refuses to let the business man imagine that he fulfils all legitimate demands in the course of his business activities. It demands from all that they should sacrifice a portion of their own lives for others."

- Dr. Albert Schweitzer, from Civilization and Ethics

Fairly Odd Parents

2006-09-18T22:19:00.000-07:00

The "cool" parent is rarely the "cool" parent because he or she is any more hip, trendy, permissive, or liberal than the "uncool" parent. The "cool" parent is the "cool" parent because he or she interacts with the kids - with frequency, with understanding, with perspective, and without bias.

I'm Not Stupid, It's Still Broken

2006-09-17T01:06:00.000-07:00

That phrase may also be the best insight into the customer experience we have heard in a while. Customers are never wrong, not because they hold onto the money end of the transaction, but because, if they are unable to use your product, what good is it? If your customers believe your website, design, interaction, or people are malfunctioning, then they are.

Yes, always.

Land Ho!

2006-09-16T13:34:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered what the ultimate in products that solved none of your problems and fulfilled desires you had no idea existed in your head could be?

It is the inflatable, climbing iceberg, of course.

I'm Not Stupid, It's Broken

2006-09-14T19:11:00.000-07:00

That may be the best blog headline ever. It comes from the teenage blog In a perfect world Lepregnomes roam freely.

The site has no lifestyle advice, nor will you find any quirky tidbits of news. It does represent the true spirit of what web logs are all about, though. It can be a little sugary, but read it and think about it conceptually before you judge it. She writes what is on her mind, tells a good story or two, and has a good time letting the world know what she is thinking and why.

Unabashedly.

Everyone should communicate so openly and honestly.

Meticulous Adjustment

2006-09-13T22:46:00.000-07:00

There is a young man standing outside the automatic doors of a market, hands on his waist, leaning forward ever so slightly, examining with utmost concentration, peering with intense focus. He is an employee. Walking back and forth in a triangle, looking like Groucho Marx without a cigar, he triggers the mechanism that opens the doors. Then he reaches up with some eccentric-looking tool, inserts it in the mechanism, and twists the tool a few times.

Triangle, twist. Triangle, twist. Triangle, twist. There are at least three people watching him, curiosity plastered across their faces. He is utterly indifferent. Triangle, twist. Triangle, nod. He disappears inside.

When is the last time anyone at your organization took the time to adjust the automatic doors? That young man took a considerate, prideless action in order to ensure a flawless customer experience. Do you think his manager asked him to do it? Doubtful. It was, most likely, a function of his personality fundamentals. The market benefited from having him as a part of their culture because their culture supported his unique, ingenious effort.

Precisely adjusted doors may not be as remarkable as the $18.69 jar of Himalayan banguberry jam on the top shelf in aisle nine that has a viral internet marketing campaign behind it, but every small detail considered reduces frustration by at least twelve times the effort required to address it in the first place. Does your culture support the creation of a better experience? The better question is, "How does your culture support the creation of a better experience?".

Advertising Doesn't Work, But If You Do It This Way...

2006-09-12T11:10:00.000-07:00

... it still doesn't work.

"People have learned to distrust advertising. But, if you use [insert foolproof technique being sold here], you will set your advertising apart from the thousands of ads we all see."

That quote is from an article on advertising effectiveness published in a pharmaceutical industry journal (the name of which is left intentionally unmentioned as a sign of blatant disrespect). It went on to detail several advertising and copywriting methods that "work every time".

Here is a tip they left out: If you decide to tell a story about how horrible and broken something is (like advertising), at least give your readers the intellectual respect to wait one issue before contradicting yourself and trying to sell them your services. Interestingly enough, the company that contributed the article was absent from the journal's advertisements. Of course, their phone number, website, e-mail address, and a brief description of their business were right there at the end - just in case someone wanted to discuss the article, surely.

Famous Social Ideologues: Joan Of Arc, Che Guevara, Paris Hilton

2006-09-11T12:52:00.000-07:00

“I’ve always wanted to be a separatist. You know, a revolutionary, living on some secret edge of society, passionately giving all my thoughts and efforts to a cause I’m convinced will free the minds and bodies of thousands of innocents. I’d love it if I could walk into a repressed village, my tight band of trusted, fellow fighters behind me, and then bite the head off of a snake, chug down the local beverage, and yell, “Follow me!”. Whew... that would be awesome.

The problem is that I have no talent for things like that. I wouldn’t even know where to begin. And as for the level of risk involved, well, I’m completely averse and have too many responsibilities. Then I look at Paris Hilton and think, hell, she wanted to be famous and didn’t have any talent, either.”.

The point is there is no reason reality should interfere with your dreams. Your reality, on the other hand, may not support your dreams, so it might need to be adjusted slightly or recreated altogether. Keeping the crease in your Seville Row slacks is pretty tough on the secret edge of society.

List Of Convenient Excuses To Avoid Change

2006-09-08T09:32:00.000-07:00

1. "That will never work."
2. "That said, the labor laws make it difficult for us to do a lot of the suggestions you put out. And we do live in a lawsuit oriented society."
3. "Can you show me some research that demonstrates that this will work?"
4. "Well, if you had some real-world experience, then you would understand."
5. "I don't think our customers will go for that, and without them we'd never be able to afford to try this."
6. "It's fantastic, but the salesforce won't like it."
7. "The salesforce is willing to give it a try, but [insert major retailer/corporation/partner here] won't stock it."
8. "There are government regulations and this won't be permitted."
9. "Well, this might work for other people, but I think we'll stick with what we've got."
10. "Our team doesn't have the technical chops to do this."
11. "Maybe in the next budget cycle."
12. "We need to finish this initiative first."
13. "It's been done before."
14. "It's never been done before."
15. "We'll get back to you on this."
16. "We're already doing it."

And the all-time favorite...

17. "We'll let someone else prove it works. It won't take long to catch up."

All of these were actually overheard in discussions about (what I think were) pretty good ideas.

Thanks to Seth for the conversation.

Best Search Engine Optimization Advice Ever

2006-09-08T01:02:00.000-07:00

If you have a hard time finding you, so does everyone else.

Mold For Your Fruit

2006-09-07T10:46:00.000-07:00

Every so often, a trend pops out at you. It may even seem downright unavoidable. The train of thought runs you over before you have a chance to think about it. This week has revealed such a happening.

Here are three slightly scary examples of the progressing passion for premier produce!

Vegiforms are plastic molds inside of which fruits or vegetables are grown. As they grow, the fruits or vegetables are pressed against the mold and when they are removed, out comes an eggplant elf, or perhaps a cucumber clown.

Disney, through its Imagination Farms division, is launching the Disney Garden brand of produce. More or less like any other fresh, Florida-grown consumables but with stickers of beloved Disney characters plastered all over. They quote a grandmother who believes that she will be able to have her granddaughter shiver with the same level of enthusiasm over the Disney-laced produce as the young girl does over hot chocolate and candy.

Finally, there is the CBS partnership with EggFusion to laser engrave 35 million eggs with the broadcast company's eye insignia and catchy phrases to promote their television programming. Examples of the taglines include, but unfortunately are not limited to, "Crack the case", "Hard boiled drama", and "Shelling out laughs".

Feel free to shake your head in disbelief on behalf of everyone who has yet to hear of these.

In Case You Went To Bed Early And Forgot That There Is At Least A Little Truth In All Humor

2006-09-06T22:49:00.000-07:00

"Anybody here from Wisconsin? All right, put down the cheese for a second. I got to talk to you. Listen to this: A guy in Wisconsin, he created a ball of twine that weighs 19,000 pounds. Nineteen thousand pounds, a ball of twine - and guess what, girls? He's single."

- David Letterman

"There's a watch for Tropical Storm Ernesto. That's the name: Ernesto. See, even the hurricanes are getting smarter. They know a Hispanic hurricane has a better chance of getting into the country."

- Jay Leno

"Apple has launched a recall on several models of Mac laptops because the battery can overheat and catch fire. Experts say a Mac fire is just like a PC fire, except it's more hip and condescending."

- Conan O'Brien

The Elite Take On The Effete

2006-09-05T21:17:00.000-07:00

Geoffrey Nunberg, a linguistics professor and lexicographer, has written a new book titled Talking Right in which he puts forth an interesting theory about political power. He espouses that whichever party controls the language of an issue will inevitably hold power over that issue. This is because the opposition is unable to speak except in terms already created by the party in power.

While politicking has commonly become known as a marketing exercise, Dr. Nunberg's theory is impressive because he brings to attention the fact that language is the singularly most powerful resource we have as human beings. It is a tool of influence and a weapon of insight. Used well, your loves swoon and your enemies cower.

Phrases such as the inflammatory "death tax" offered in place of its more modest cousin the "estate tax" leave permanent images in the minds of decision making voters. Do you want to be the one who supports the "death tax" in an election year?

In this age of technology and instant information (which is frequently incorrect, or worse, half correct, because it is compiled for expediency instead of accuracy), words are still used to persuade and discuss. They will be for a long time.

Until all the bugs are worked out of that telepathy thing, you should consider what your words are telling people - on your website, in your correspondence, coming out of your mouth, or better yet, coming out of the mouths of others for which you are responsible.

Words are the currency of the persuasion economy, so you had better manage your money well and especially watch that exchange rate when you cross over the border.

Chalk One Up For Corporate Advertising

2006-08-31T21:31:00.000-07:00

If you are going to mount a traditional advertising campaign, follow the rules completely.

1. Have panache. Assert some personality. Your company has one (hopefully), so what better way to show it than cleverly crafted advertising art?

2. Deliver your message. Enforce the brand image. Show the product. Make them want you.

3. Connect with the audience. Show it at the right time, in the right place. Make sure it is seen by the right people and that it is designed to impact them. No denture ads with buxom young models during Saturday morning cartoons.

4. Follow up. Have a plan to involve your new, interested, taking-time-out-of-my-day-to-wander-around-your-website prospect. Really good offers, thoughtful partnerships, or a payoff are particularly effective here.

All that being said, congratulations to J. C. Penney for their campaign during the MTV Video Music Awards. It exuded persona, showed they can be hip, had interesting and alluring commercials, and was well integrated with the broadcast, both on and off the air.

If you are trying to start a relationship by using the media, take some notes from J. C. Penney's performance, because they nailed it.

Dry Sex

2006-08-30T19:26:00.000-07:00

Check out this great article about why manuals should be more like the brochures that have the customers reading the instructions in the first place.

You're Out, But It's Safe

2006-08-29T14:33:00.001-07:00

The Sports Authority, nationwide retailer of everything athletic, has horrible artistic and symbolic judgment.

On the doors when exiting their stores are photos of a catcher tagging a runner at home plate. Over the photo is a balloon with the words "Thank You!". Directly above the photos are those generic "Out" signs with the green circle and the arrow. Get it? "You're out!". Thank you for being out? Goodbye! Leave! Could you hurry, there is a line!

Surely, most people would prefer to be "Safe!". At the least, they want nothing to do with being congratulated for being out.

Some smarmy retail environment genius probably had a great idea on the drawing board but it lacks thoughfulness and consideration for the customers' frame of mind - not to mention that the marketer was probably clueless about the out sign above his clever graphic. All the positive merchandising and astute customer service so well crafted and trained into every last linoleum tile of their superstore will never obscure that last image visitors take in as they walk away to tell everyone they know about their experience.

Is the last image you want your customers to see that of the winning run being sent to the bench, the fans filing back to the parking garage in depression, Casey standing in the rain, mouth agape, staring at the scoreboard?

In Someone Else's Shoes, Er, Claws

2006-08-25T08:43:00.001-07:00

Richard Feynman, populist physicist, Nobel Prize winner, and contributor to the atomic bomb, used to be fond of telling a story about helping out a friend in the psychology department at the Massachusetts Institute Of Technology. His friend was conducting behavioral experiments with rats. She had set up a corridor with several doors on each side. On one side, the rats would be let into the corridor. On the other side, there would be food behind one of the doors. She wished to see if the rats could be trained to go in the third door to the right every time, with or without the reward of food and regardless of the door at which they began.

The rats would immediately go to the door where they had found food the time before. Which door they had started from or how many doors away it was appeared to be meaningless.

Making the realization that there had to be some clue instructing the rats toward the door concealing the food, she decided to meticulously paint each of the doors to be exactly alike so there would be no visual cues. Still the rats found the food immediately.

Assuming they could smell the food, she used chemicals to disguise the food's odor. It made no difference. The rats continued to go directly to the door with the food.

She covered the ceiling with sheets in an effort to eliminate the lights as what she believed to be obvious navigational markers. Yet the rats promptly honed in on the food once again.

While his friend was confoundedly wringing her mind, Feynman began to crawl around the hallway trying to emulate the rats' experiences. What he found was that the floor made different sounds in different places. Each door had unique hollow or hard or noisy spots around it. He suggested to his friend that the rats were relying on sound to seek out the food.

The two covered the corridor with sand and then released the rats again. Sure enough, the rats were confused and could not find the food. Eventually, the rats were able to be trained to go toward the third door on the right every time.

As soon as the young scientists stopped making assumptions of what the rats were experiencing and began looking at the problem from the rats' point of view, everything was illuminated.

Leadership With A Singular Vision

2006-08-24T10:35:00.001-07:00

You need to be a leader. You need to rise up and assert your vision of yourself, your world, and those around you. And if it is a good enough assertion, people will follow you toward your vision. Along the way, those who are uncomfortable or incapable will fall away and other passionate and adept people will materialize to fill in the voids. You will become the head of a momentum that moves your vision into the white hot spotlight of realization. It is your determination which will propel you into success.

Popularity Barometer

2006-08-23T21:07:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder what the rest of the world (or at least the internet) finds interesting, relevant, or topical? Now you can find out in real time.

(Suggestion: Bookmark the site and look at it for a few days in a row.)

Breaking Out Of Prison

2006-08-22T09:23:00.000-07:00

When you come into (or more accurately, are brought into) the booking room at the Orange County Sheriff's Department, there is a prominent sign in front of the administrative officer's desk. It reads...

"THIS IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE."

Sometimes it takes a big, shocking event to catalyze positive change. It is usually uncomfortable and almost always full of unknown outcomes. Fear and uncertainty will abound. All that apprehension does not mean change should be avoided, because until change comes, the problem will still exist - whether it is locked securely in the closet or is traipsing unyieldingly around the office.

Of course, winding up in the Orange County Sheriff's Department may be too big of a change....

"How Much Does It Cost?" Is The Worst Question You Can Ask

2006-08-21T19:23:00.000-07:00

Have you ever bought a three-handled credenza? Me either. But when most people walk into the three-handled credenza store, after browsing around for a while, what is the most likely first question they will ask the salesperson?

"How much does it cost?"

This is no place to start a conversation. There are no details, no needs being filled, no comparisons for value, no sparks of desire. But none the less, the question has already been asked, so the game has begun.

Let us back up. Why was that particular question asked in the first place? Because every consumer knows the value of their money but most have not considered the value of the product before they go to shop for it, especially in terms of comparison to similar items or long-term gains or losses. When consumers have no idea what questions to ask, they go with what they know - price. They know it costs money. They want to sound intelligent. So they ask the question, "How much does it cost?".

And it gets them nowhere. An eager salesperson picks up on the cues then sells them twice the three-handled credenza they needed for four times the price. But this is not about consumer intelligence.

This is about consumer needs and wants. The deep down ones. Needs that they may lie about or avoid discussing. Wants they may feel embarrassed about having. The next time someone asks you, "How much does it cost?", keep in mind that they probably need some coaching. Start at the beginning and ask some basic questions. In your particular field, you know what those questions are, and you know which answers lead to which products and services. Continually fit the right product to the right consumer and you will be selling a lot more three-handled credenzas.

You Lying Son Of A...

2006-08-18T15:03:00.000-07:00

Consumers and salespeople lie to each other all the time.

Traditionally the consumer and the salesperson have a classic love/hate relationship. Struggle, tug, prod, and play games - then in an instant, someone wins. The consumer feels he negotiated down to the "best deal ever" while the salesperson tells his buddies about this guy who was nailed by "the oldest pitch". It all happened on the same transaction. Next time, maybe the consumer will return for another fight. Maybe not. Even though he was comfortable with the outcome, the consumer experienced a lot of conflict, tension, and stress over the deal. Those will come back to haunt him when he goes shopping next time.

The consumer hides his intentions. The consumer feels the salesperson has no interest or place knowing his life, his goals, or his interests.

The salesperson hides his profitability. The salesperson believes the consumer will hold the profit against him.

What if both sides were open with each other? What if the consumer said, "This is what I am trying to accomplish and here are the criteria. Here is what I would really like and this is why. By the way, my wife would kill me if I spent more than...." What if the salesperson said, "How much time do you have to spend with me? Why do you want this? Does anyone else have a say in this? Will your wife kill you if you spend more than....?"

Consumers and salespeople both want to make friends. A friend will give you a good deal and a friend will trust your suggestions. Alas, since most people on both sides of the capitalist equation lie to each other, those friendships rarely develop.

Be sincere, be honest, and be genuinely curious. Whether you are a consumer or salesperson, be the first one to start the friendship. You can always walk away should you become uncomfortable with the relationship. When you hit your stride and that first person opens up because of your sincerity, you will know it by the truly satisfied smiles on both of your faces.

Wackos Everywhere, Plague Of Madness

2006-08-17T23:19:00.000-07:00

The next time you think your technology is taking too long, having too many problems, or is too expensive, just reread this article about connecting exiled Buddhists in India to the rest of the world and to themselves (especially in Tibet) so they can tell their story and continue their valiant efforts to fight for justice and freedom.

There are even subplots about secretive pornography and rampaging monkeys!

If for any instant you have trouble believing this issue could affect your life or that it lacks importance to the overall environment of the world order, join in on the discussion.

New Storytelling

2006-08-16T23:38:00.000-07:00

The filmmakers of The Men Who Fell are taking the engineered reality of their tale to the fullest, logical level of immersion. Besides being visually absorbing, they have created an entire backstory and corporate website for the company at the center of their movie.

When you have an audience interested in a story leading up to the primary story you are trying to tell... good work.

How To Live Happily With A Great Designer

2006-08-15T23:28:00.000-07:00

Good ol' reliable Seth Godin applies his purple thinking and tells us how to live happily with a great designer. Mind you, he says a "great" designer, not a "mediocre" or "inexpensive" one. You should take notes or just print the thing outright.

Now You Care

2006-08-11T22:58:00.000-07:00

Regardless of the outcome, the historical significance, or the longevity of the story, Floyd Landis deserved to be on the front pages of American newspapers long ago. Landis' life story of rivalry, victory, and tragedy have been told but are listened to by few. Only when the perspective is culturally or socially familiar, as with sports related controversy, do stories rise to the top of the editor's desk.

Paying attention to the point of view from an insider with one eye on the outside can provide a tremendous spark. Find one and never forget that the page thirteen story is a page one story to someone, maybe even you or your customers.

Real Serifs

2006-08-10T22:16:00.000-07:00

Typefaces are the handwriting of an organization. So, to add to the psychoanalytical complexity of your organization, here are some places where you can download gadzillions of quality fonts for free.

Thank you to dafont.com and urbanfonts.com. Be sure to check out the Top 100 sections of each site.

Gary Hall Swims With Sharks

2006-07-24T04:37:00.000-07:00

Two articles about a controversial, but always interesting, individual...

On spearfishing and boxing

On spearfishing and shark attacks

Thanks to Wally

Le Tour De France

2006-07-21T03:45:00.000-07:00

In one of the single, greatest, individual efforts in all of sports, Floyd Landis overcame what should have been an insurmountable deficit to pull himself into third place in this year's Tour de France. He failed miserably the day before and then made up for it through willpower and determination. He will probably win. But that is not the story.

The story is that Americans had no idea. While it made front page headlines across Europe, Australia, and Africa, it was on page thirteen of the sports section in the local, metropolitan newspaper.

While bicycle racing is one of the less popular sports here in the States, the Tour de France is consistently one of the top two sporting events in the world each year. This year, its attendance and viewership were eclipsed only by the dramatic World Cup.

Take a chance to recognize greatness, even if it is outside the boundaries of daily life. Floyd Landis' legendary effort has already been forgotten by the mainstream, even though it will be remembered for decades by the spectators, commentators, and pundits.

There is someone out there, right now, inventing the next big thing, something that will change everything without an obvious connection to the big thing it will completely revolutionize. Remember that Henry Ford fellow?

Keep an eye on interests outside your industry, your world view, and your comfort zone. Perspective is always a good investment.

Painful, Costly Trends

2006-07-20T08:24:00.000-07:00

According to the American Society Of Plastic Surgeons, the number of elective cosmetic surgery procedures has increased 700% in the last decade, with minimally invasive procedures (like Botox) increasing an incredible 2800%!

They also note that Americans spent $16.7 billion on elective cosmetic surgery procedures last year - almost double the year before!

Wait, it gets better. It is estimated that 60% of last year's spending on elective cosmetic surgery procedures was financed!

Wondering where to spend those marketing dollars? Looking for a new market? The reality of unreality is waiting for you to introduce yourself.

All Of Them, Right Now

2006-07-19T04:21:00.000-07:00

A hotel I stayed at recently had a switch by the bed that turned off all the lights in the room at the same time. You could crawl into bed, hit the switch, and presto - instant and convenient darkness. It was a little idea that solved a little issue. Mostly, though, it showed someone thought about what I might like to have as a guest.

I probably told more people about that switch than I did about the service, hammocks, or location - all of which were wonderful. Then again, lots of hotels have wonderful service, hammocks, and locations, but only one has that switch....

Young Blogging Punk

2006-07-14T16:32:00.000-07:00

"Pretty cool. I am way too old to understand all of it."

That comment was recently made about this blog by a reader. Unfortunately, I think he is now an ex-reader. It opened my eyes, though. I have to wonder what he meant. Does he think this blog is really progressive and cutting edge, the newest of the new thinking? Or does he think it is unsophisticated and incompletely developed, unsuitable for matured minds?

Yet another example that gaining and maintaining an audience of any sort is all about appealing, but not pandering, to a particular view of the world.

Geek Death Match

2006-07-13T20:05:00.000-07:00

Once you move past the overwrought Steve Jobs versus Bill Gates argument (and it is easy to do), AdverGirl brings up an interesting argument for thinking about how consumers use the things they buy and what happens when companies think their strategies and tactics for profitability are more savvy than their consumers are interested.

Lest we forget people use our products and services outside of our little proprietary universe (gasp!).

Exactly The Point

2006-07-13T00:05:00.000-07:00

Jeff Jarvis's BuzzMachine contributes to the conversation with a great story about Dell and big business customer service. It is like I have said again and again, everyone in an organization has to convey the same story, because when any employee speaks, there is a customer listening.

Sincerity Is Overrated

2006-07-12T08:48:00.000-07:00

Andy Monfried says...

"I've been blessed, and had the good fortune to work alongside some VERY passionate, smart, caring, and most of all --- sincere people. I write about that fact--- it is included in my profile to the right of this post....it's a big part of who I am."
Good for him. As for me, I have definitely seen my share of talent, passion, and ambition, but I have also been witness to just as much debauchery, apathy, and opportunism. Those dark attributes have greatly influenced how I process the world.

The world is filled with awe-inspiring, captivating, and marvelous people, places, things, and ideas. They deserve attention - to have people wrap their hands, eyes, and minds around them. My experience, however, teaches me that there is an unfortunately substantial amount of people and organizations out there ready and willing to exploit those wonders and use them for purposes misaligned with the general good of human kind - using them only for their selfish gratification.

Be careful what you put into the world and how you do it. Ideas, like children, will represent you long after you have stopped involving yourself in their upbringing.

"Happiness - We're All In It Together!" (Billboard displayed in the movie Brazil.)

Creative Ego Question

2006-07-11T09:35:00.000-07:00

Is it OK to say, "This is one of my best works!"?

In the world of Small Is The New Big, that statement seems perfectly polarizing. If you see your view of the world in the work, you instantly understand and become a fan. If not, goodbye - probably forever.

What are the risks of ascertaining your own abilities?

The... OUCH... Hard... YIKES... Way...

2006-07-10T22:47:00.000-07:00

I learned an important lesson today. Starting in the middle of a concept and talking about it to the end makes you sound really smart, if not so smart that the concept can zoom right over your audience's head. That can be a good thing... or a bad thing.

When starting from an assumed position, whether it be philosophy or knowledge, you are going to come across as thoughtful or knowledgeable to your audience. This mostly happens because they are starting from a position of less experience.

If you want to bowl someone over, start in the middle. Being overwhelmed by information and trying to fit pieces of it together to make sense of the last half of a story is tiring and confusing. Of course, this has its place. It is like walking into a primitive village with a lighter.... By the time you bite off the head of a snake and chug down the local beverage, everyone will be ready to listen when you shout, "Follow me!". Both religion and Ron Popeil have recruited millions this way.

If you want to convert someone into a way of thinking or into an idea, start at the beginning. Fully grasping an idea makes people feel smart, empowered. They caught on - how agile! Successful long-term relationships usually happen when people have been convinced, not trampled.

As different as they are, both methods work. It all revolves back to the basic premise of knowing your audience and being in control of your rhetoric. Practice what you preach, but practice preaching it, too.

Two Is A Crowd

2006-07-06T14:13:00.000-07:00

Were you ever the new kid in school? Do you remember how it felt the first day at lunch with all those groups of strangers sitting around, comfortable with themselves, not needing to pay you any attention?

That is exactly what having a gaggle of employees standing around feels like to customers, especially new ones. Employees will never be 100% productive and busy with work, and that is to be expected. They can, however, be 100% aware that there are customers waiting for service. Customers believe they are more important than your employees - and should be treated as such.

Learn it. Live it. Teach it.

Must... Have... Better... Gas!

2006-07-05T19:10:00.000-07:00

I stopped in to fill up with gas today. For the first time, I noticed the instructions on the pump...

"1. Remove Nozzle."

"2. Select Grade Above."

While the nozzle was to the right of the instructions, they certainly did not tell you to "Remove Nozzle To Right". However, they did mention that you needed to "Select Grade Above" in order to choose a quality of fuel from the buttons above the instructions.

Breaking down the language, is choosing to use the word "Above" an upselling technique? Is the gas station making a clever attempt to influence the selection of a more profitable product? Are unsuspecting consumers having their minds tinkered with by psycho-semantic subterfuge?

Is it a real technique? Is it effective?

History Will Glorify All Those Who Stood To Create Freedom, Whatever The Consequences Of Their Actions

2006-07-04T22:27:00.000-07:00

"Chaotic action is preferable to orderly inaction."

- Will Rogers

Worst Branding Idea Ever

2006-07-03T13:42:00.000-07:00

In what is possibly the worst branding make-over in modern retail history, Cost Plus has begun to focus on itself as World Market. And to top it all off, the stores look, feel, and smell a lot like their primary competitor, Pier 1. If you think long and hard about it, you probably can not come up with a more generic, replaceable, and ineffective name.

Your name is... well, your name! It is the thing the world uses to talk about who you are and what you do. The more memorable and unique, the better. Would you remember Target, if it were called Slightly Better Than Other Mega-Stores Mega-Store? Or would your friends remember to look up the Old Fashioned Pharmacy you recommended to them?

Consider Ritz Carlton or Wild Oats. Their names alone convey their place in the world and begin to tell their stories. Before you choose a name, think about your story, your values, what you want to accomplish, and who you want to attract. If you have yet to set those outlines, you may have even more work to do.

Malpractice Is The Only Way To Practice

2006-06-30T13:39:00.000-07:00

Have you ever tried to choose a doctor? Research all you can. The only information you can find, besides self-congratulatory advertorials in local magazines, is negative. How many times has he been sued? How many actions has the state board taken against him? No reviews. No buzz. No comprehensive community of honest patrons.

That is, unless you consider your insurance company list of approved providers good enough.

Doctors are not the only ones. There are myriads of industries that affect you, your family, your home, your business where there is no information to precede your decision.

Correction - there is word of mouth. The next time you belly up to a customer, ask yourself, "How am I being reviewed in the world?" If the answer is, "By this guy standing across from me," you had better deliver. Of course, you had better deliver each and every time as a matter of pride and professionalism, but the stakes are raised when the only way to spread a positive message is from person to person and the rest of the world is a web of cynicism and paltry, half-compiled information.

Phillipe Destouches said, "Criticism is easy. Art is difficult." Ego and apathy can allow the easy to seep out in spite of your efforts to achieve the difficult.

My Enigma Problem

2006-06-26T22:08:00.000-07:00

While my blogging experience is limited, my creative writing experience is much more vast. That is the issue (or what I perceive as one, at least).

I am comfortable with ending a post enigmatically - trusting the reader to figure out the point on his or her own. Use a potent enough metaphor and it is inevitable that the right audience will come to the proper, profound conclusion... right?

Well, I have rethought that point of view and have found myself contradicting myself. The metaphors stay, but they are going to be fleshed out much more in the future.

Just because I understand my position in the world does not mean I should have any expectations that anyone else does. I try to stir in a little passion, a pinch of controversy, and equal parts weirdness and quirkiness to finish off my recipe for catalyzing thought. My goal is to teach everyone how I cook, not to teach them to cook like me.

Seth has a take on the issue, too.