December 29, 2009 · 1 Comment
Earlier this month, I was fortunate to be apart of a consortium of communicators from world-class corporate communications departments including GE, 3M, GM, IBM, J&J and P&G. Truly an amazing experience and met some really smart, interesting and fantastic people. During a Q&A someone asked the chief communicators of these companies about the needed skill set in the ever-changing corporate environment. The answer was not surprising, but it was interesting.
They all agreed that while strategic thinking should be a prerequisite in communications leadership, the emergence of the critical thinker was becoming more and more in demand. Critical thinking being the ability to connect multiple concepts and ideas to form a position or strategy. In other words, they’re looking for the mashup.
The mashup will move from the online experience to the boardroom. Being a critical thinker is an interesting concept. Can you train to become one? If so, how do you do it?
Categories: public relations · repuatation management
Tagged: critical thinking, mashup, strategic thinking
If a tree falls in the woods and no one is around to hear it, does it really make a sound? That’s a hypothetical question my father used to say to me both tongue-and-cheek, and as a masked brain-teaser. I went back to my childhood for a bit recently in a nostalgic way, but also in practice.
I stopped blogging. Stopped tweeting. Stopped writing. Stopped broadcasting. My Facebook friends I’m sure were happy I did—those who hadn’t already turned off my “noise.” The quietness taught me several things. I learned the following things:
1. Noise corrupts thought.
2. Noise is a distraction.
3. The more noise you’re around, the more you can tolerate.
Twitter actually helped me to turn the volume down. It limited me from letting the noise get louder. Its insane ratio of followers to those you’re allowed to follow stopped me. Much like the dial on a radio—it just wouldn’t go any further. Everything happens for a reason.
I found myself in a world wrapped in noise. The links I saw come through on Seesmic twitter app were the same that I read on Facebook. The same on Friendfeed. And, some even on LinkedIn. Distributed redundancy rules. It’s what makes social media great. It’s what makes it bad.
So, I stopped listening. Stopped clicking on links. Paid more attention to photos of celebration and new experiences from my friends on my Facebook. And more importantly, I turned the computer off in the mornings and enjoy coffee with my wife. I turned off my computer at night and enjoy a disconnected, non-electronic snuggle with my family. Now that’s social!
With so many smart people talking about a topic they’re smart about, what it can do is make you question what ideas are yours. What ideas are theirs. No one owns an idea. I imagine every idea has been thought off at least by someone else before. I’m not MTV or Eric Clapton, but what I learned about my Unplugged experience is that reinvention occurs when you change your frequency.
The fourth thing I learned. You connect better when you’re not always connected. Take a break from the noise. Change your frequency. You’ll find you’re even more connected.
Categories: public relations · repuatation management · social media
Google celebrates NASA’s find that there’s water in them there craters…
Categories: google art
Tagged: google art, google moon, water on the moon
Google Art honors America’s veterans.
Categories: google art
Tagged: google art, veterans day art
3! 3! Google Art pictures with Sesame Street in it!
Categories: google art
Tagged: google art, sesame street
November 4, 2009 · 1 Comment
On the same day Google U.S. gave us the Sesame Street reference, Google U.K. pays homage to the 20th anniversary of Wallace & Gromit.
Categories: google art
Tagged: google art, google gromit, wallace and gromit
40 years ago the world learned the letter G.
Categories: google art
Tagged: big bird, big bird google, google art
Last week I had the opportunity to visit Walt DisneyWorld and was reminded at how fast and fun the fascination of a mouse and his friends comes back. The main street and rides were the same as I remembered them. There were new rides and new characters, but for the most part the breathtaking castle, the always present upbeat music was there and the magic was everywhere.
Eventually, I was able to go on a ride or two. And, I shouldn’t say this, but the best time to go to Disney is in October, because there were no lines. So, the rides.
In the lines leading to the ride, the ride’s theme is overwhelming. Images, sounds of the main characters are everywhere. In line, you see the same 7-8 people a couple of times as they weave through the bars in parallel. Captivated, like-minded audiences of people all about to undergo the same character or “brand” experience.
The ride is quick and it’s usually fun. Although, Snow White was not a family favorite. And, when the ride is over. Before the laughs stop. Before the stories and memories fade to the next ride, you’re immediately thrown into a gift shop full of clothing, toys, trinkets, costumes, etc.
The smart folks at Disney are smart. They don’t let you forget about the wonderful experience you just had. They don’t want to let you get away until you have something to hold you over until the next 20 or so years when you come back.
So, what opportunity are you providing for people who enjoy your brand to never forget. When they leave the ride what will they hold on to?
Categories: public relations · repuatation management
Tagged: brand engagement, brand experience, brand fans, reputation
Seriously. I have ideas, just haven’t had time, motivation to sit down and write. I’ll do it sometime, but just not now.
Categories: Random
