The Not-So Perfect Storm

The brightest minds and pontificators these days are all focused on the economy. It was scary to watch the U.S. government opening up another $800 Billion for bailouts yesterday. Where will this come from? Who will pay for it eventually? How will the U.S. ever catch up? Why aren’t they letting some companies go out of business?

I am not a financial guy. I just ask those questions like most people.

Not to suggest we try the “la la la, I can’t hear you” approach, but it is time for us to re-focus on the fact that North America was built on ideas and creativity, freedom of speech and the ability to do and share what we want. And most importantly – with each other!

My government in Canada finally announced yesterday – after weeks of denial - that we too are suffering from downturns. The fact that the U.S. is our biggest trade partner, might be the first clue. The announcement was not a newsflash.

I have worked with marketing and advertising partners my entire career. In the last few months, the conversations have been nothing short of interesting.

Conventional "wisdom" may suggest that the time to stop spending is when we face an impending storm. Spending and spending unwisely are vastly different things. The better approach is to plan wisely verses hiding and hoping.

It’s difficult to concentrate when we see companies such at Citygroup getting a $306 Billion helping hand from the U.S. government.

We do need to be more prudent. But if we want to grow, sharpen our pencils, and ask each other a lot of questions. If you would rather batten down the hatches and hope the storm doesn’t hurt you too badly, turn the lights off and go home.

km

Managing Insanity and Expectations

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” - Benjamin Franklin

The man who invented bifocals, the odometer, the lightning rod, and hundreds of other items was the personification of doing things a different way every time and certainly never giving up.

If you switch the Franklin quote around slightly you can claim that another definition of insanity is doing different things expecting the same results.

It happens in business all the time. A company is formed and the founders want to revolutionize their industry by introducing new concepts and ideas without realizing - good or bad - that they won’t see the same results as those in their industry.

If it is your wish to thrive in a mainstream don’t take any chances watered down scenario, then put away the spice rack. If you want to shake things up and take chances, go for it! But you can’t have both.

I once worked for a guy who wanted us to constantly do different things but couldn’t understand why we weren’t instantly embraced by the masses. As I’ve said before – if you live on the edge, don’t expect a crowd.

It's interesting to discuss new ideas while embracing integrated media solutions with people. There is a certain point in the conversation when eyes begin to glaze over. Asimov said “the only constant is change” which most of us embrace – in theory. Few want to accept that the way it is won’t always be the way it is.

In the case of social media, online marketing, advertising, radio, television, content, entertainment, production, and ideas – nothing will ever be the same. And you can say that every single day.

But if you manage your expectations, integrate everything, and understand that the definition of sanity is to embrace different things in different ways, then you can have some fun.

And I hope you find other like minded people like you.

km