Posts tagged branding
facts and creation
Jan 23rd
“Without the hard little bits of marble which are called ‘facts’ or ‘data’ one cannot compose a mosaic; what matters, however, are not so much the individual bits, but the successive patterns into which you arrange them, then break them up and rearrange them.” - The Act of Creation
I find it tragic to watch bright, energetic youth become lethargic and uninspired in the workplace.
Yes. Tragic. Because it is such a waste of not only mindpower but, well, will power. And it is also tragic to the work company because lethargy does not lead to ideas/ideation/creative thinking.
To me? The real problem lies with the older folk (in manager positions) who seem to lack a comprehensive relevant view of learning. Or maybe better said … they have an archaic way of viewing the way it should be done.
There are a lot of leaders (management whatever you want to call them) who appear to be guilty of classifying learning as being a difficult and frustrating experience.
This is in combination with the fact they also tend to have odd views on ‘how to make it fun.’ Oh. And to complete that thought … they have a belief that they have to ‘make it fun’ because learning is difficult/frustrating. Therefore it is a flawed belief system.
Look.
Creative thinking and innovation does not arise out of a vacuum but must be supported by a culture that encourages people to experiment. To experiment with facts, with ideas and products. With the hard little bits of marble as it were.
Original thinking and new ideas has to be nurtured and rearranged in successive patterns … not destroyed and scattered.
We can all encourage creativity by helping young people learn to assess the bits of marble and take intellectual risks in their work & ideation. Does this have to be “made” fun? Nope. And it is, frankly, silly to think it has to be.
Instead this is like providing a spark to combustible matter. I am not suggesting it should be painful but rather fun is slightly less relevant than providing the inspiration to learn and become engaged.
Ultimately I don’t believe management should teach people how to create ideas.
The goal should be to prepare young people to be competent and original in their thinking.
Do that and they will create mosaics like you have never seen before.
Oh.
And in successive patterns.
(by the way … that is a good thing)
fearless work
Jan 19th
Creativity is a tricky thing.
Having been involved in the creativity business in some form for over 20 years I recognize that the best of the creative best are … well … part insecure … and part fearless.
And it’s the fearless part that I am going to write about because I saw this quote somewhere.
“I seek fearless work that challenges me”
- choreographer Martha Graham
This is good stuff.
This is the kind of stuff not for the faint of heart.
And, frankly, this is the kind of stuff for few people.
Because this quote is indicative of someone whose heart lies in doing fearless work.
Oh.
Fearless work means being fearless of failure.
Fearless work does NOT mean doing something wacky just for wacky sake.
Oh. But that is the first thing people who condone fearless work bring up.
You hear words like “stupid” or “what were they thinking” or “I could have told them it wouldn’t work <or be popular or be liked>.”
In my mind those are words of people who fear work that looks fearless. This fear can be disguised as a variety of things … discomfort in something new … misunderstanding … lack of ability to recognize something.
Whatever.
This is about people who actually DO the fearless work. Because people who seek to do fearless work recognize several things:
- how difficult it is (even though it may seem simple to the creators)
- how unpopular it may be
- when to stop being unpopular (the guard rails in fearless creativity)
in fact. I am going to use someone else who pursued fearless work to make the point. Kristen Hersh. The Rat Girl. One of the founding members of The Throwing Muses.
A teen I may add (just to make another point that teens can often be wiser beyond their years).
Here is what she said about the difficulty of pursuing fearless work:
“do you know how hard it is to not know how to sound like other bands? There aren’t any lessons to teach you how to do this and no one can help us figure out what <to play>. It’s hard to learn something that no one can teach you.” – Kristen Hersh
Actually.
I wish I could share this with anyone who is critical of any original idea so they could think about the fact someone is doing something that was self taught … because here was no one to teach).
Sometimes doing fearless work is difficult because you are forging your own path. There are no lessons. There are no rules. There are no guardrails. In fact. The real difficulty is knowing when to put up your own guard rails. Knowing when to stop innovating and just be … well .. creative with fearless work.
Kristen, as a 19 year old teen, pursued fearless work and did some amazing stuff (along with her fellow teen and musical genius in her own right … Tonya Donnelly).
Anyway. I think the fearless ones tend to hear and see things the rest of us don’t. In simplistic terms it is only popular in their own heads.
And unfortunately for the fearless there is only a minority who truly understands what they are doing:
(Kristen Hersh) … “but we play unpopular music.”
(producer) …
“that’s exactly what you play because you’re inventing something. You’re gonna be hugely influential.”
I do believe the best of the fearless best recognize that what they do is unpopular to the majority.
They may not like it. They may not embrace it. But they understand it. And fight their way through it.
Because it is a fact.
All the truly influential fearless creators didn’t have it easy early on. They were creating something … inventing something.
In their fearless work they were paving the way for people to think differently, see differently … just experience something different. Yeah, I know, that is what being influential is all about. But that doesn’t make it any easier.
Fearless work is often unpopular initially.
But there is a difference between bad unpopular and influential unpopular.
Good fearless is about understanding the guardrails.
Oh. Yeah. Those guard rails.
So how do the fearless know when to stop innovating?
“when you start to suck, stop” – Kristen Hersh
Sounds simple … but I believe the best of the fearless best have an internal quality control. In the mind’s of the ‘less mature’ innovative thinking maybe the guard rails are less defined. But. In the best of the fearless best they have that inner barometer to recognize what sucks and what doesn’t suck.
Oh.
And before we start putting too much weight on ‘less mature’ and associating it with age I would like to remind you that Kristen said this last quote when she was 19 (oh, these smart teens as I like to remind those wise stodgy adults).
Like I just said.
The best of the fearless best have an inner barometer. They are born with it. They are born with the guardrails.
But this doesn’t mean there isn’t fear.
Even the fearless creative people have fear.
Everyone has fear (lest we forget).
“We fear the idea of something more than the thing itself.” Steve Chandler
Fearless work means loving the idea of something more than fearing the thing itself. I imagine that thought encapsulates most good things in life. But in this case those who pursue fearless work have overcome their fear in pursuit of what is good fearless work.
Martha Graham.
Kristen Hersh.
A number of other people whose quotes I just didn’t use.
All pursued fearless work.
And created beautiful things.
And influenced how the rest of us looked at things and listened to things.
As for you & i?
All we can do is …
Act.
Do.
Create.
And seek our own version of fearless work.
And in the end maybe we are lucky enough to positively influence people.
And, at its best, maybe we actually be influential.
2011 best tv ads
Jan 1st
So.
It is the end of the year … but .. at the end of November (I think) AdWeek magazine (the people magazine of the advertising industry) published their top 10 television ads of 2011.
As Adweek states … it doesn’t seem that long ago that we were watching the “super bowl ads” and assessing the good and the bad.
and, at the end of the year. we now we see that 2 of the ads, the Chrysler Eminem execution and the VW Darth Vader execution, made their top ten list (and, I guess, my top 10).
About their top 10. All of the spots in the top 10 are strategically sound, often insightful to the audience it was developed for and flawlessly executed. As usual the greatest of the great are defined by nuances (which I will attempt to identify) and interestingly some of the best advertising comes in commodity-like categories (milk, communication). Oh. And they are all very different – using different techniques (albeit ones we have seen before) but using them in ways that bring the story to life.
Their list celebrates work across a wide variety of products, themes, styles, and geographies. You’ve got candy bars and zombies, cats with thumbs, film-directing bears and proud fathers.
Here is the list (10 to 1) as decided on by AdWeek (and I agree with most).
http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/10-best-commercials-2011-136663?page=1
SNICKERS • Focus Group – this was 10th on the list … it may have been in my top 5. Finding different ways to showcase candy innovations is tough. They did it. It would be disturbing if it wasn’t so funny … and incredibly well executed (poorly executed and this would have made the worst 5 list).
NISSAN LEAF • Gas Powered Everything – This is vivid demonstration at its best. And using a dental drill to ease into the closing thought? Brilliant.
CRAVENDALE • Cats With Thumbs – there are so many charming & relevant aspects to this execution you almost have to watch it a couple of times to get it all (and it is worth every viewing). I am not sure milk advertising could ever be as creative as this ever again. Damn those Brits can do some funny good smart stuff.
DEEP SILVER • Dead Island Trailer – I am not a gamer but boy I would be tempted to become one. I personally would have chosen Gears of War/Into Dust with Hope Sandoval/Mazzy Star soundtrack (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5AVJXw–IQ) but this execution is an excellent use of reversing footage and music. Disturbing. But good.
CANAL+ • The Bear – The close with “why not me?” …. Brilliant. What an ending. French advertising at its best.
TALKTALK • Homes Within Homes – This probably wouldn’t have made my top 10 but it is beautifully done. And effectively communicates what it needs to communicate.
GOOGLE CHROME • Dear Sophie – Ok. This is proof that while you may use celebrities (Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber lent star power to the campaign in other executions) to build a business nothing works better than the simplest tugging of heart strings – a young father using Google tools to fill a digital scrapbook with notes, images, and videos of his young daughter … which he intends to share with her “someday.” For anyone who doesn’t think the web is personal you have no heart.
CHRYSLER • Born of Fire – It could have been called “Imported from Detroit” and that would have sealed the deal on this but they also took the in-your-face Eminem ‘lose yourself’ song and paraphrased the lyrics in a voice over and … well … this is car advertising at its best. I was not only proud to be an American but, dammit, I found something to like about Detroit.
CHIPOTLE • Back to the Start – Communicating a environmental philosophy in a meaningful way is … well .. tough. Here? It’s the music. Using Coldplay’s “The Scientist” but sung by Willie Nelson. The song is lyrically perfect. Yeah. I am probably biased because it is music-driven … but Adweek chose it not me.
Their number one?
VOLKSWAGEN • The Force – nothing more to say about this one. I have written about it before. It’s brilliant. It’s the kind of ad I wish I had done.
Just wanted to share because its fun.
global latin American
Dec 29th
Every once in awhile you come across some magazine advertising that makes you actually stop and look (rare … I know). It isn’t annoying, smelly (those damn cosmetic ads), condescending, impossible to figure out what they were trying to say (or why they did it) or have some random half naked model in it.
I saw one. In the Economist. This is about Itaú, a Brazilian global bank, and its advertising campaign.
I would imagine that most North Americans have no idea who Itau is. In 2010 it was listed as Latin America’s largest bank and was, for the second year in a row, ranked as one of the world’s 10 largest financial institutions. The bank operates 5,000 branches and nearly 30,000 ATMs, with 108,000 employees throughout the Americas, Asia and Europe.
It is one of the region’s most international banks, with Itaú-Unibanco branches in New York, Tokyo and Grand Cayman; Banco Itaú Europa branches in Lisbon, Madeira and London; and Itaú BBA offices in Shanghai and Nassau. It also offers retail banking in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay.
But.
The advertising campaign.
It is a wonderful strategic decision to leverage its roots, its current customers, its growth focus and its global feel. All in one ad campaign.
“I am a Global Latin American” is a brilliant use of what Latin American professionals are doing outside the region.
And I love the tagline … “The Global Latin American Bank” (mostly because I sense the majority of people don’t necessarily think of Latin American as global … in any sense of a definition).
And it’s a pretty cool print campaign (well art directed and written).
The full-page ads feature some leading Latins declaring why they consider themselves a “Global Latin American”:
Argentine Polo star and Ralph Lauren model Nacho Figueras.
Brazilian actress Alice Braga (Alice is best known in US for her role in “I Am Legend”).
Brazilian Artist Vik Muniz (full name … Vicente José de Oliveira Muniz … makes me wish I had been born in Brazil or Spain ).
Argentine ballerina Paloma Herrera (one of the premier ballet dancers in the world – named as one of the 30 artists most likely to change the world of culture).
The copy is personal and, while humble, certainly ends with a sense of accomplishment. It is one of the best use of celebrities I have seen in awhile.
And the ads were created by one of the world’s hottest ad agencies – Africa (they do some nice stuff).
I also like the campaign because despite the fact Itaú has been listed as one of the 100 most valuable brands in the world (ranking first among Brazilian banks ) by Millward Brown BrandZ rankings, it is a nice natural evolution of a thoughtful multi-year brand management effort. This stage in the effort seems to focus on increasing the type of awareness they desire (strong local but strong global). It is nicer stuff than simply saying “I have a shitload of deposits and ATMs.”
I sometimes believe larger institutions waste advertising dollars talking about themselves and it all blends together.
This ad campaign certainly looks & feels different.
And it makes them look different.
Well done Itau (and africa).
the more things change the more they stay the same
Dec 27th
First.
Because of the business I am in (marketing advertising business consulting) I am constantly inundated with the buzzwords associated with the “new and unique” … and all the pontificators who spout them … and how people are constantly suggesting the world is changing – like it has never changed before.
Second.
Because of the age I am at …. I am constantly inundated with how people of my generation suggest <state> how today is more difficult for people than ever before.
I admit.
I kind of chuckle when I hear all this.
I often seem to create a maelstrom of conversational misery when I state things like “change is the constant companion of every generation” … or say something like “it isn’t any more difficult for this generation it is just different.”
Frankly. Most people my age think I am nuts when I say it. Shit. Most people any age.
Or think I am out of touch with what is happening around us.
Ok.
If I were sensitive, I would care.
Or more likely I would care if I didn’t find quotes like this.
“… my spirit is also cheered by the obvious tendencies of the age in which we live. No nation can now shut itself from the surrounding world and trot around the same old path of its fathers. A change has come over the affairs of mankind. … intelligence is penetrating the darkest corners of the globe.”
This sure sounds like something you may have heard on CNN or BBC from someone talking about what is happening in the Middle East or Russia.
Or maybe on CSPAN talking about the shifting global economy.
But.
Think 1850 (or abouts).
Think Frederick Douglas in a speech in NYC.
Think about the fact that each generation has faced some radical change and thought process and attitude.
Yup.
The more things change the more they stay the same.
what also stays the same?
Each generation gets “left behind” as another races toward what will be.
And there is friction between generations. It is friction created because the generation always being left behind is the older one.
The one that is supposed to be smarter.
The one that is supposed to know the best.
Well. Is this a generalization? Sure. But the truth? Mostly.
Pieces or parts smarter and know the best? Yes. Sure.
On the whole? Nope.
Ok.
To be fair. A minority of those being left behind actually enjoy the ride. They empower the youth. Fuel it. Guide it. Not restrict it. Those few get to enjoy a longer thrill ride.
But they are few.
On the whole the majority of the older generation holds on for dear life to what they know and makes them comfortable. And it would possibly be okay of they did that and remained silent … but instead they complain about what is lost within the following generations and try and slow change.
It is too bad.
For by focusing on what is lost they neglect to have the amazing opportunity to see what is gained.
But.
Regardless.
In the end.
Change comes upon us whether we want it or not. As Frederick Douglas said in 1850 … ‘you cannot ignore the intellect of the world.’
True in 1850.
True in 2011.
True in 2172.
Ok. Moving on to business.
Yup. A comment on the business aspect of this thought (older generations holding on to older thoughts).
This is the craziest aspect.
Big business is always (ALWAYS) slow to change. It is part of their personal survival-thinking DNA.
But its actually death-thinking DNA.
Creative Destruction is all about the small (entrepreneurs) disrupting and destroying the status quo and that of ‘the big’ and through the destruction they begin recreating what is right and good for the economy.
So.
After reading that you may think “old” entrepreneurs would be part of the minority “happy few change agents.” (the few who recognize that the more things change the more they stay the same)
Well. Nope.
Most typically they are actually the worst ‘non-change’ offenders.
Yes. All generations exhibit more conservative less risky behavior as they age.
But. Successful entrepreneurs, turned successful independent business owners, seem to most often exhibit this conservative (on steroids) behavior. My guess it is driven mostly by fear of losing what they gained (by the way … thinking this way isn’t exactly a stupendous growth strategy nor a healthy business environment if you want to have millennials as employees). But I also believe there is an aspect of refusal to let go of things that brought them that success.
That which made them successful they now disregard, and have discarded, under the guise of “maturity” or ‘mature businesses need to be managed differently than growth businesses’.
Oh.
And it is all compounded by their belief that past failed attempts should be avoided (even if someone has a thought on how that “failed” scenario could be viewed differently and therefore maybe the learning from that experience may have been flawed).
Now. I am not suggesting all past experience should be ignored. Or that successful entrepreneurs need to completely relive their aggressive risk (but smart) behavior that carved out their success.
But older business owners need to let go of some ‘beliefs.’ Not because they are wrong but rather because they are wrong ‘now.’
In addition sometimes new people provide new perspective on their growth (success & failures) experience. The new people possibly have just seen “from the other side” and discern different learnings.
It is fresh perspective.
And most independent business people lose perspective as time goes on …. because they have cocooned themselves within their successful behavior.
Regardless. This rant post all comes down to several overarching thoughts.
Each generation faces radical adversity.
Each generation facilitates extraordinary change (beneficial as a whole).
Each older generation is extraordinarily reluctant to release that which is comfortable to them (and what they “know” … or believe to know).
And, lastly.
We older folk, manager types, should reflect upon this.
Why?
Because we are managers. And we are managers of those who will beget what will be better than what we have done or created. That doesn’t diminish what we have done. And we should embrace the fact we have created an environment for others to go farther than we were able to go.
We wonder why managing young people (call them millennials if you would like) is so difficult?
Well. It is because we are holding them back (in general). It’s like trying to tame mustangs in the Wild West. Except we, unlike the savvy old cowboys, don’t reflect on the beauty of the wildness of the mustang as we try and tame them. We simply see the wild untamedness and believe it is a shame they are so wild.
Older managers, to be successful, need to admire the beauty of the untamed. And not seek to break the mustangs but rather guide their energy to enable them to take the herd to the heights it deserves.
A poetic metaphor (bad one)? Maybe.
But certainly something worth thinking about.
The more things change the more they stay the same.
if your reason for being is big enough
Dec 14th
Ok. This is a simple idea in concept but fraught with peril in implementation.
The concept.
If your reason for being is big enough you will get noticed.
I will state the obvious behind this thought just to get it out of the way.
If your reason for being is big enough there is …
- no need to stand in the middle of a room and shout for attention.
- no need to do cartwheels in the middle of a mall.
- no need to run naked in the middle of a soccer match (thank god).
- no need to wear a clown suit (unless you are a clown for a living).
And best of all …
- no need for a dozen jelly donuts (or bagels) or any food bribery when you go to meetings.
If all that interests you then keep reading.
Let me begin by defining ‘reason for being.’
I mean what you stand for and what you say and what you do day in and day out. What you want to be seen as and ultimately known for (not something tangible … something intangible).
And while this could be about companies and business (and I may try a word replace just to see if that is true) I am gonna keep this one focused on you and I and us (as individuals).
Ok.
Whether we admit it or not we all want to be noticed.
We don’t want to be overlooked or underappreciated (for either a talent or just as a person).
That is normal. And has nothing to do with ego or ‘humbleness’ or any of that type of stuff.
This is just good ole self esteem and such. This is just about receiving some confirmation that your existence matters (in normal words … ‘you matter’) and some positive reinforcement for self being.
And I decided to write about this not only because I hate (abhor) the things on the ‘no need’ list I typed but I also believe getting noticed is one of the biggest challenges people face.
It is a fact that Not being noticed is an obstacle to a lot of things that truly matter.
It makes it harder to communicate what you want to say.
It makes it more difficult to make an impact.
And it makes it nearly impossible to change the world (change meaning small, medium, large or extra large in impact).
I say this to make the point that getting noticed does matter. It matters a shitload.
And, once again, getting noticed (in the right way) has never been about being outrageous.
Getting noticed, like any other incredibly difficult challenge, is all about who you are.
It’s about your attitude.
It’s about becoming some color when everything else is black & white.
Its about finding your own way of being distinct.
And mostly it is about finding out what you are good at and being comfortable with who you are as a person.
And if you do all of that … people will naturally gravitate to you (the corollary to that is if people do not gravitate to you then rather than bitch about why they don’t maybe you should begin to reflect upon yourself first).
So.
Some thoughts about being comfortable with who you are (the core to being distinct individually and ultimately noticed the ‘right way’):
- Be comfortable doing what everyone else thinks is wrong.
Now. I don’t mean all of the time. I simply mean on things that matter. Why? Because accomplishing anything that truly matters starts with the belief that you may have to be different … and its okay to be different. Oh. And not just “shades of gray” different. You have to be completely different.
Yup. Sometimes for people to know that something new is occurring (and want to be involved) you have to commit as a person to capture the essence of the ‘difference’ in what you say and how you present yourself. Oh. And “new” most often comes to life by having the ability to point out things that make people feel uncomfortable (because you are debating the status quo).
In the business world this is called ‘disruption.’ BUT. At its core disruption only is effective if it is relevant.
Being different for different sake is wrong. That is making an empty statement. Be comfortable in insightful relevant disruption.
Next.
- Be candid. Be truthful.
There are ridiculous things happening everywhere. People’s behavior, attitudes and perceptions.
And it is easy to overlook these things because … well … it is easier (and it is ridiculous).
If you want to change the conversation and get people talking with you (as well as about you), start talking about all this ridiculous stuff. Spend the time to create intellectual arguments that get people thinking.
Next.
- Understand effort matters.
Oh. And, in particular, effort for the moments that really matter … well … really matter.
Get it in your head now (no ifs, and or buts) that there are truly no easy get rich schemes. Believe it deep in your soul. Etch it somewhere on your body if you have to. One of the most debilitating things that can happen is a choice to make personal investments in shortcuts.
No shortcut can replace effort. The same thing applies to vision and how you manage details. There is nothing to do but “DO”. That’s the attitude that you need to have. And if by expending massive amounts of effort on things that matter you happen to gain success, then absolutely enjoy it. You will get noticed for the effort on what matters.
Is this true all the time? Nope. But consistency wins this particular game. You will be tempted by the short cuts (we all are) but deliver the effort on the things that truly matter on a consistent basis and you will get noticed. I guarantee it. And you will be noticed for the right reasons.
Next (and last).
- embrace (some) vulnerability.
This is the last one and the most difficult one.
Maybe I could have just written, “be human” but vulnerability is a much more powerful concept. And it takes some real kahones to embrace this one.
Why is this important to getting noticed? Well. People are flawed. And people like people who are flawed. Perfection scares people. And, honestly, no one is perfect.
We all have things that impact us so emotionally they, well, bring us to tears. And those are things that you need to be talking about. You need to be passionate. You need to show you actually care about something. Care so much that you are open to getting hurt. Care so much you become vulnerable in some way. It shows that you live your life, willing to get hurt on things that matter, and are honest about what matters most to you.
So. In the end?
It all starts with you.
If your reason is big enough, your cause worth it enough, being noticed will be the least of your worries.
your soul’s value
Nov 21st
ok.
This isn’t a religious post.
Nor is this about selling your soul to the devil.
Its nothing really that deep.
Ok.
Maybe its deep just not that kind of deep.
This is simply about how far someone is willing to go to sell. Or maybe better said how far someone will go to get money, or fame or power or something they desire.
What got me thinking about this?
if you ever want to learn what your soul is worth go work at a smaller to mid sized advertising agency (although I envision a lot of people in sales also face the question at some point or another).
Oh.
That reminds me of a Mark Twain quote:
“Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company.”- Mark Twain
While I chuckled when I read this it was admittedly a painful chuckle.
Painful because I cannot tell you how many times (suffice it to say … too many for fingers and toes) I have been in new business meetings when it was painfully obvious that whatever new business we were discussing was so wrong for us as a client. And yet the conversation kept rolling around and rolling around under the guise of “they would be a good client” (because they have money).
Don’t get me wrong.
I like money.
But not all money is the same.
Some money fills your soul and some empties your soul.
And by soul I mean your inner value compass.
People who are defined solely by money can argue this until they are blue in the face. In fact there is even a selling “event” called selling your soul.
“The live Selling Your Soul event in NYC is over, and we’re all rolling on a wave of vivid business-building bliss. It was a high-gloss experience, where we intimately unpacked Burning Questions on messaging, marketing + online money-making, the myth of work-life “balance,” fearless price-raising, prosperous collaborating, and getting Witnessed for what you’re worth.”
Attitudinally one of the owners summarizes it by “I make my own economy.” (I actually kind of like that thought … philosophically)
And (to be fair).
That same owner uses money to balance her moral compass: “I kicked off GirlUp with their first substantial donation, proving once again that lots of cash can = lots of impact. Philanthropy is the bottom line.”
Yet. Here is my struggle with her philanthropic angle.
I would argue with the owner in that philanthropy is not her bottom line. Her bottom line is money. And she uses her money to create her balance (note: although … their website is strewn with words & thoughts that their soul is defined by a combination of fame & fortune).
Regardless. I wish it were that easy for me. Because it is not.
Look … I recognize the issue … who wouldn’t want to be recognized or have a generous income or a dream vacation home?
Face it. We all do.
But at what price? And does the end justify the means? And, obviously, WHICH end justifies the means?
And that is what I mean by emptying your soul or filling your soul. Because in the end (whether that be mid life or at ‘the big finish’) you are judging your actions not by tangible things but the intangible balance of self worth (I purposefully chose ‘worth’ because it is some combination of fruits of labor and self esteem).
It is interesting because I have seen a variety of ways people justify how they sell their soul:
winning
To these people its all about winning. Winning at any cost. Or just being able to say “I won.”
But (here is the news). winning is not always good. There IS such a thing as a bad win. But people who define their soul by winning don’t see that (or they may but justify their actions based on “we won”). Am I suggesting this aspect should be about fair play? No. not really. This is about playing by your moral compass.
money
The thought that everything leads to some magical pot of money that will erase all of their problems. These people believe that fancy cars, designer clothes and big houses will make life better. This person may try to balance it with some philanthropic aspect (typically toward the end of their lives – see Andrew Carnegie as prime example) but they are consistently willing to ignore any moral compass within their pursuit for money.
fame
Yes. The spotlight is a dazzling temptation. And that same spotlight can blind you as to the wreckage around you. But to the one seeking fame maybe that is the beauty of being in the spotlight – the only thing you can see under that glaring light is yourself. What can I say more than that? I guess if you really want someone to worship you maybe consider becoming a benevolent dictator instead.
Oh.
And the worst of all?
being liked
This is a sneaky one. Maybe its you want people to like you … so you sell your soul to the highest bidder. (again, especially IF they are someone who holds a prominent position, this is an action leading to personal moral decay … if not total destruction). This one is insidious in that it creates self definition by having NO self definition. You may as well have sold your soul to the highest bidder … just make sure it isn’t the devil.
Anyway.
In the end I know the decision I have made. And that is always to be true to myself. Tell the truth. And seek good wins (not any win).
And I have found I cannot work places that don’t feel the same way. Not really just because of me … but because I find that companies that sell their soul doesn’t create a corporate culture which I like nor a culture which I ultimately believe is healthy.
And lastly. And maybe most importantly to me. I don’t believe it teaches young people growing up in business the right thing. The senior ‘leaders’ (and I use that term loosely in this situation) simply do not recognize the repercussions of their decision to ‘sell out.’ And that is a shame.
The hell to be endured hereafter, of which theology tells, is no worse than the hell we make for ourselves in this world by habitually fashioned our characters in the wrong way.” -William James
“Habitually fashioned our characters in the wrong way” as the hell we make for ourselves.
Whew.
That is good. Really good words to think about.
I do not believe ‘what is the value of our soul’ or describing being directed by your inner values compass could ever be articulated better.
Selling your soul, even in business, just to get something to have it (regardless of the practical or unpractical reason) is making your own hell you will have to live in. And when you get to that hell maybe you can convince yourself you are a warm weather person and enjoy living where it is always hot … but … you are in your own personal hell.
I know I cannot convince all leaders of organizations to recognize this (because when a leader is in a personal hell it reaches out and encompasses his/her organization and poisons it … either slowly or quickly).
But I do know we can make personal decisions about this.
Be yourself.
Say no and mean it.
Subdue that which tries to destroy you.
Avoid the temptation to do what you know is wrong.
Face the truth that you are doing nothing but being untrue to yourself if you get blinded by money or fame.
In the end … in every decision … each person has to hold on to the core value of what defines themselves at their soul.
Because every decision either diminishes or grows your personal purpose.
And, yes, these decisions in organizations also unify or separate a group of people … even more strongly than a similar language or history (at least in my eyes).
When people live by their core values and convictions the “center” is stronger.
And.
If you don’t have a center, don’t you just fall apart as being just parts?
So.
I am not a big self reflection guy … but I do believe it is worth a minute or two to identify what is your soul, or your core if you don’t want to get hung up on the word soul.
Because if you don’t you may end up selling something you don’t want to. Oh. Like your soul.
VW
Nov 16th
Ok.
VW has always done some really nice advertising. They remain one of the few companies who really has understood that what differentiates them is their product’s brand character and not really their features (or the lack thereof).
What I mean by that is while they will talk about a sometimes quirky appearance or how much gas mileage a VW owner can get from their product (a feature) … a feature, by the way, that everyone is talking about so it is all kind of a blur to everyone watching … they decide to talk about their features within what seems to be a very well defined brand character.
In other words they highlight a feature but do it in such a charming brand personality driven way that it becomes distinct.
And entertaining.
And fun to watch.
And, frankly, just makes you feel darn good about a VW.
If you own a VW you end up saying “hey, did you see that VW tv commercial?” (and feel great that it is your ‘brand’).
And if you don’t own a VW you actually chuckle and get what they were really trying to say (and maybe the next time you are in the market for a car you may take a look at a VW for no other particular reason then you feel good when you think VW).
The most recent example of what I have seen that speaks to gas mileage but does it in a very VW way. In fact it was this tv commercial that made me decide to write this post. Very well done. Clever. And VW to its core.
Vamanos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsTqGa2gd0E
And, of course, the VW Darth Vader tv commercial is spectacularly charming.
And it is the penultimate example of how do differentiate based on brand character.
I struggle to envision how some agencies would even present an idea so brand character driven … let alone the fact that most of car manufacturers wouldn’t even produce it.
The advertising, even more than selling a car, is a reflection of the company and brand itself. Envision the fact that almost 50 seconds of the entire 1 minute commercial has nothing to do with the car itself. And, yet, the advertising is unequivocally associated with VW.
Darth VW: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R55e-uHQna0
And then a commercial that involves a slice of ordinary life which everyone can relate to.
Somehow in this commercial they covered pretty much any and every one who could possibly be considered in their potential demographic profile by finding something similar within everyone’s life … that moment when we sing to ourselves.
Rocket Man: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWy-LCGDsd8&NR=1
So.
Ever since Bill Bernbach infamously touted a VW Beetle in a print advertisement as a “Lemon” VW has maintained a sense of believability and charm and understanding that communicating product ‘truths’ within an honest brand character can create value in people’s minds.
Are VW’s REALLY better than other cars? Nope.
Is there another car brand that REALLY makes the same kind of self-image statement about its owner? Nope.
Others may make different statements (Jaguar, Porsche, Ford trucks, etc.) about their owners but not the same as a VW.
Good stuff.
Oh.
And you know how I know they understand their brand so well?
Doesn’t matter who their advertising agency is (DDB, Crispin, Deutsch) the advertising remains good.
That is a sign of a company that understands what is important.
Orange
Oct 21st
So.
Orange mobile is the biggest European cellular company (maybe largest globally but I am too lazy to research).
And they have inspired me to write about something I actually know something about (advertising in case you were guessing).
They have developed a brilliantly well written funny campaign to talk about themselves through borrowed interest (Darth Vader, Lord of the Rings, Snoop Dog, Wicked Witch).
Now.
I am not a big borrowed interest campaign fan but this is good stuff. It is actually category leader type stuff. Slight arrogance but tongue in cheek.
And what makes it really good stuff is the well known fact to us in the advertising industry – a company always wants to talk about itself in its advertising (and it is almost always boring & never the right thing to do).
Well.
Orange has figured out a way to talk about themselves and what is important to them.
And humorously all they want to do is say “it’s all about me.” But. If you are the category leader you want to show you are a leader (and not just through fancy innovations). You want to do it on occasion through attitude and brand character and tone.
And Orange does.
And it works.
Similar to the Dos Equis campaign the writing for these ads is brilliant. Any time you play back a commercial to hear one line you know it is well written.
- Darth Vader
The opening …
“darth, I thought you were dead.”
In the dialogue …
“the force is strong here … no .. the phone is strong here.”
Darth: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbtlv2cImxM
- Snoop Dog
Any time you have white guy executives trying to be cool black rappers it is funny … especially if it is well done. The nuances in this television spot are frickin’ brilliant. It shows that attention to detail … the little things … make a good funny tv spot into a great interesting tv spot you want to see again.
Snoop: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNUrkG-H6z0
- Lord of the Rings
C’mon.
First. Who thought of Lord of the Ringtones as the tie in? the creative person should get a raise.
Second. the dialogue in this one is frickin’ brilliant.
“how about we make the 4th in the trilogy? …
- it’s a trilogy, that’s 3 …
“free your mind .. get out of the shire …”
Lord of the Rings(tone): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYcXHp5MtpM&feature=related
- Wicked Witch of the West
It’s worth it just to hear the Wicked Witch laugh in a common every day setting with her best friend.
Wicked: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU8D9QugbiM&NR=1
Its advertising like this that reminds us in the industry you can do good stuff (entertaining) that works (generates results).
one hundred monkeys
Oct 3rd
Ok. Everyone knows I love trying to understand why people do the things that they do (attitudes, behaviors, etc.). therefore I am hoping no one is surprised that I find the 100 monkey theory fascinating.
It is almost like a different version of crowd clout. But with a twist.
As some of you may be scratching your head at the moment – here is the 100 monkey theory:
In 1952, on the Japanese island of Koshima, a monkey named Imo washed a sweet potato before she ate it. She and her fellow, Macaca Fuscata monkeys were given sweet potatoes by the scientists who studied them. The monkeys like the taste of the potatoes, yet did not like the dirt. Imo taught her mother and the other monkeys she came into contact with and over time more and more monkeys were washing their potatoes.
Imo’s practice catches on.
Well, the interesting observation is that after a significant minority (let’s say 100 monkeys to use a number) of the monkeys were washing their potatoes, the scientists observed that very quickly after this, all the monkeys were washing their potatoes. Like a critical mass had been reached and now all the monkeys were able to access this knowledge somehow even if they did not come into contact with Imo and her friends. More interesting is that scientists observed that at the same time, on other islands monkeys were also washing their potatoes.
It appears that when 99 monkeys were washing potatoes and one more joined, a critical mass was achieved and this awareness was now available to everyone (please don’t get hung up on the exact 99 or 100 numbers).
This is known as the 100 Monkey Theory.
So. The foundation of the theory is when a certain critical number achieves an awareness of “something” (an attitude or behavior) that this new awareness may be communicated from mind to mind. Yup… mind to mind.
I believe the truly stunning aspect of this theory is the ‘island to island’ aspect.
And these monkeys didn’t have internet.
Nor a classroom.
Nor any physical content.
This theory suggests that, although the exact number may vary, that the 100 Monkey Phenomenon suggests when only a limited number of people know a new behavior it may subconsciously reside as the conscious property of the collective people.
And while I really do not want to get hung up on the actual numbers it is fascinating to think that there is a point at which if only one more person absorbs the new attitude and changes its behavior that somehow this awareness is picked up by almost everyone. The implications to this is interesting particularly in a business sense (not just culturally).
This suggests finding a group of influencers, or early adopters if that makes it easier for you to get a handle on, is more important to future success than simply grinding out success building “awareness.”
Anyway. There is a book on this theory, “The Hundredth Monkey,” by Ken Keyes, Jr. I don’t suggest reading it because, well, the concept is pretty simple and you don’t need a book to explain it nor do I believe a lot of ages with graphs and explanations will convince you.
Let me explain why I like it as well as how I rationalize it.
First. Trying to explain behavioral transition from specific tactics is very difficult – and it aggravates me when people try to associate specific expenditures or activity to create behavioral activity. This whole idea with 100 monkeys is about doing things, real behavior, creating enough critical mass so that it gets recognized and absorbed in some subconscious way which inevitably creates the behavioral change desired.
Oh. By the way. The fashion industry should take note of this one.
Anyway. I believe any one even remotely interested in creating cultural change should invest some time thinking about this theory. Instead of needing dollars to create change or wacky ideas to affect attitudes or investing energy trying to create “a wave of change” someone can focus on “the 100.” Creating change by focusing the few. Gosh. Sure would make life a little simpler huh? (some people, like me for an example, call this creating an influencer base to influence mass behavior).
Second.
100 monkeys (or any individuals with brains) is enough critical mass to ensure either extensive collaborative thinking or the presence of a superior individual innovative mind. Either way the group attains the same objective – an innovative idea. Combine this with my overall belief that great minds puzzling over similar situations are quite likely to have the same idea & thought (and inevitably the same innovation) then the 100 monkey theory is not as wacky or cerebral as it may seem at first blush.
You may not buy it.
You may not think people are related to monkeys.
You may think 100 isn’t enough.
But you should think about this (while eating a banana of course).
