Reflection Improves Critical Judgment
Recently I heard a discussion about the Cannes Film Festival on NPR. In his overview, critic John Powers mentioned that he had revised some of his original judgments later on. He was interviewed by...
View ArticleWhy Marketing Fails
As commentators note, when the promotion of a product or service fails to translate into sales, the marketing department is easy to blame. It is just as likely that other factors are equally or more...
View ArticleIt’s My Mistake
Last week I forgot to do something that was very important to me. I can’t explain my memory lapse except that I had many distractions, but the situation reminded me of a book that I read recently. It...
View ArticleGetting Back Into It after a Disruption
It isn’t easy to get back to your preferred lifestyle after an extended break. I know; I have been away from my regular life since December 2013. During the holidays, I always go out to California to...
View ArticleThe Passion Trap: It’s Not Enough to Find Your Passion
I recently heard newscaster Jane Pauley interviewed. She remarked that she had always been a bit embarrassed that she could never answer the standard question, “What’s your passion?” She said that she...
View ArticleQuitting Time
In our culture, as Vince Lombardi said, “Winners never quit and quitters never win.” The idea is that the only way to flourish in any endeavor is to find a direction and then pursue it until you are...
View ArticleCreating Valuable Content
Creating content is tricky because it needs to be engaging and persuasive. To attract attention and be consumed it must be surprising, entertaining, or informative. To be persuasive and inspire...
View ArticleMarketing Commandments for 2014
It has become a tradition that I publish these ten commandments at the beginning of every year. I admit that there is a bit of laziness in this because I don’t have to create something new at a busy...
View ArticleProject Management: Build Creative Teams in Business
I read a lot of job descriptions. They all stress that they seek people who will be creative. I contend that creative groups are less about the inherent creativity of the members than it is about the...
View ArticleThe Biggest Content Mistake Ever
Yes, for great content you do need to know how to write or speak fluently. And yes, you also need to know what you want to say, but the biggest content mistake you can make is to lack knowledge your...
View ArticleMarketing using Native Advertising
This last week the FTC held an informational workshop in Washington DC concerning the use of native advertising. Advertisers are clearly in defense-mode. The government is trying to investigate whether...
View ArticleMarketing to Get What You Want
It is vital to all of us to get our needs met. If you are searching for a job or running a business, you need to find people who will want what you have to offer and persuade them to buy. The crucial...
View ArticleMotivate Colleagues by Showing Appreciation
It’s Thanksgiving. I really like this holiday because it reminds us to look at all of our accomplishments and the benefits we enjoy rather than focusing on our disappointments. I try to do that every...
View ArticleSuccessfully Managing Content Projects
Last week I finished up a short-term intensive project creating revisions and new content for the launch of three new websites for a mid-sized financial company. In order to reinforce their reputation...
View ArticleCommunication is About People: Employee Selection
Finding the right people for an organization is tricky because selections involve processes that are created by people. People have personalities, histories, and idiosyncrasies that can be...
View ArticleBullying is Bad for Business
The story about the bullying of Jonathan Martin of the Miami Dolphins by teammate Ricky Incognito is all over the news. When Martin walked out on the team, there were many varied reactions but then...
View ArticleAdding Zing to Old Spice with Viral Video and Social Media
I attended the Social Media Club of Dallas meeting on October 24th to hear Dean McBeth, one of the architects of the hit “Manliest Man” campaign for Old Spice described this best-in-class example of a...
View ArticleResumes are Marketing Documents
As a marketer, I have always found that it is more difficult to market myself than it is to market a business or someone else. I don’t like describing who I am because it feels like bragging and I...
View ArticleThe Content Conundrum: How to Evaluate Content Quality
Once upon a time, not so long ago, there were clear markers that helped readers and viewers to judge reliability. In those days, the context provided the audience with an easy way to evaluate the...
View ArticleOvercoming Workplace Bias: Sexism, Ageism, Racism and Other Stereotyping in...
Here is a still from the discussion about Wall Street. Notice that as Jones was speaking, Robertson and Griffin were visibly distancing themselves from him with their body language. Vascular surgeries...
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