For many of us in marketing, it is sometimes a challenge to work with very technically oriented people. They seem to see everything in terms of spec-points and checklists.

Imagine this story. Three guys running an engineering company wanted to hire a secretary. They agreed that they needed someone who could use Microsoft Excel, Word and the occasional PowerPoint. They also agreed that she had to be good with arranging schedules and handling clients who call. So, after interviewing 20 candidates, our three guys decided that Ms Scarlet would be the best - she had cute long legs.

How many times have we thought about buying something, listing out all the “features” that we want, calculating our budgets and so on… then throwing it all away when we walk into the store and see this latest and greatest gizmo that you would just die if you did not own?

Marketing is an art. Sure, there is a science to it. But there is no way that anyone is going to convince me that the pure mechanics of marketing can beat the power of a creative streak that is unsupported by any statistics or history.

Ask the market, “Do you need a Spreadsheet?” In fact, think about it, before they came out with it, how many of us ever imagined that the “presentation software” would be so important to our daily, working lives?

If it were up to the “bosses”, no on would have launched anything new.

Here is a quick thought and a quiet moment for those who have fought and died.

But also, let us spare a moment for those who survived and passed on their legacy of valor to make the next generation stronger.
We remember those who passed on, but we should also remember those who survived. Sometimes, it is easier not to have made it. When you die, you are a hero. But when you survive, you might suffer for many years, un-noticed.

So, while Memorial Day Weekend is a time to remember the valiant, look around and also remember those who have been blessed and who have blessed us by surviving.

Go check out what others are saying over at Angela Stevens site!

For my mom:

For every cup of hot chocolate
For every inoculation that I never wanted
For every scolding before exams
For every birthday cake
For every hot meal even
For every tear
For every nagging streak
For every irritation
For every iota of love

For those who love their mom, celebrate this. For those who don’t, it may be time for forgiveness. Whatever it may be, let us at least hold some tender thoughts during this Mother’s Day week.

This is off-topic, but when I saw this video over at Doris: A life-changing video, I just had to visit Nick’s site.

What I found was an upbeat, positive and professional site created by a man who has been blessed by God. Considering his affliction, this is indeed awe inspiring. Head on over to Nick Vujicic’s LifeWithoutLimbs.org and be inspired.

If you are any kind of writer at all, you must have dreamed this dream. At some point in your life, you must surely have wanted to write your own novel.

Frankly, I have never met any one who loves writing but never dreamed of writing fiction. It is a rare breed that is so focused on writing press releases, great headlines and killer ad copy that they do not even think about penning a story or two. If I had a dollar for every story that I started but never finished, I could afford that Wii.

So, head on over to Men with Pens - they are going to do a series on how you can write better fiction. I’ll be there.

Here’s wishing all our Chinese Readers a very happy and prosperous Chinese Lunar New Year!

May the Year of the Rat bring prosperity, wealth and health.

This might be silly, but this video really strikes a chord…

Sorry, but I really love this!

It is not often that you read about a customer being served. Well, I mean, legally served. Actually, the customer was arrested.

Our friend Kailani had this terrible experience which she talked about in her blog: Some People Just Shouldn’t Drink on Flights.

Certainly, the customer is always right. However, once you violate the “higher laws”, you are no longer considered a customer, but a criminal. The most common of course, is the shoplifter. He is certainly not a customer, though he started as one when he first walked in. Another very interesting customer is the one who pays his bills with a bounced check.

In many countries, willfully issuing a bounced check is actually an offence. Many people are not even aware of this. To them, it is just a “clever” way to stall the payments a little while more.

In the world of sales and marketing, customers are our life blood. But as small business owners, we also have to realize that sometimes, that person might not be a customer. It would serve us better not to have anything to do with them.

Robbery is a crime, but most people don’t even blink an eye when they refuse to pay their advertising agency their fees. Think about that.

Well, I wish I had read Glenda’s post Getting Smart About Setting Goals earlier. Then maybe, I would have set better goals for 2008. But well, it’s too late. The year has already started. I can’t set goals anymore. I am set on a path to an aimless year. Really.

It’s that time of the year, when old resolutions get dusted off and taken for a whole new spin as the beers go around. But this time, really, you are going to keep them. Right.

Many companies seem to have the same problem with their marketing objectives. They have brainstorming sessions, workshops, hire consultants, they do everything to get a set of nice, coherent marketing objectives for the coming year. Then, at the first move by the competitors, somehow, those objectives are forgotten.

“We must respond to this new threat”

“This new promotion must be countered immediately”

So, Mr Marketing Manager, why aren’t you doing something about it?

Well, you see, our “Marketing Objective” was to establish a strong brand name with a clear association with quality and consistency. So, responding to a “Buy 2 Get 1 Free” campaign with a “Buy 1 Get 1 Free” campaign is not in line with our objectives.

Yes. Of course, you are right, Mr Marketing Manager. But you see, you have been derelict in your duty as you allowed yourself to be complacent, acting only on your own agenda and ignoring market forces. Now, get off your high horse and get that new promotion out of the door.

And there goes another “New Year’s Resolution” out the door.

This year, I was thinking, to combat this, the ideal solution was to make a resolution that I would absolutely be able to keep. My resolution for 2008 was: “I will not make any resolutions this year.”

It was going pretty good. Until this evening. I made a resolution that I would need to commit to blog regularly with good quality posts…

I would like to wish all readers and visitors to this blog a very Merry Christmas and a FABULOUS New Year ahead!