November 19th 2008
Like a bunch of eager bunnies, Internet advertising has split, combined, and multiplied into a bewildering array of approaches to advertising on the Web. Using abbreviations such as CPM, CPC, CPA, CPT, and CPS make the novice Net advertiser’s eyes glaze over when he sees this alphabet soup of Net advertising jargon. If this is you, don’t feel bad. You’re not alone. Continue Reading »
October 6th 2008
The problem does not have to be solved for the conflict to be resolved.
`Hogwash!’ you exclaim. ‘That doesn’t make sense!’ Let’s take a closer look.
Many people find it surprising that the path to harmony winds through a jungle where anger, resentment and similar ‘negative’ feelings flourish. You have noticed that this does not discourage the expression of these feelings — it permits their ventilation. This contradicts popular admonitions to ‘put on a happy face’ and ‘be logical’. Continue Reading »
September 29th 2008
Many managers make a distinction between talent and drive. They often find themselves counseling someone by saying: “Look, you are very talented. But you need to apply yourself or that talent will go to waste.”
This advice sounds helpful. More than likely it is well intended. But fundamentally it is flawed. A person’s drive is not changeable. What drives him is decided by his mental filter, by the relative strength or weakness of the highways in his mind. His drives are, in fact, his striving talents. Continue Reading »
September 29th 2008
MYTH #2: “SOME ROLES ARE SO EASY, THEY DON’T REQUIRE TALENT”
The famous management theorist Oscar Wilde once said:
“A truth ceases to be a truth as soon as two people perceive it.”
All right, so Mr. Wilde was better known for his wit than for his management advice; nonetheless, every manager should be required to remember this one remark. Although he phrased it in the extreme, Mr. Wilde simply meant that the only truth is your own. The world you see is seen by you alone. What entices you and what repels you, what strengthens you and what weakens you, is part of a pattern that no one else shares. Therefore, as Mr. Wilde said, no two people can perceive the same “truth,” because each person’s perspective is different. Continue Reading »
August 29th 2008
Why do I continue to assume that a person’s success on one rung will have any relevance to his or her likelihood to succeed on the rung above? More than likely I have been confused about what is trainable and what is not. I have made no distinction among skills, knowledge, and talents, and this clumsy language has made it easier for us to say, “If John has shown himself to be a good salesperson, then I am sure I can just train him to be a good manager.” Or, “Since Jan has proven herself a solid manager, I am confident that I can teach her the strategic thinking and the vision needed to be a great leader.” Continue Reading »
August 23rd 2008
Just over 40 percent of consumers (42 percent) in 2003 purchased baskets, boxes, vases, pots, and other decorative holders. With the definition of this category expanded from the last survey, the whole range of functional storage accessories are becoming more important in home decor, offering both decorative values as well as the functional benefit of holding flowers, plants, or other items. Continue Reading »
August 22nd 2008
Leadership first, perception second. To try to reverse this sequence is almost impossible.
What if you do everything right? What if you are the first in a new category and subsequently go on to dominate that category domestically? Then you should try to expand the market in the U.S. at the same time that you take your brand to the global market.
Coca-Cola did all of these things. But what’s next? Are there no second acts in branding history? Continue Reading »
August 3rd 2008
We’ve neglected consumer desire. That’s why consumers are taking an extended holiday in this recession. Why the Web was wiped out overnight. Why many Christmas retailers and resorts have gone into mourning.
Today’s advertising is so busy looking over its shoulder to see what analysts are saying about its company’s stock value, and what its competitors are saying in their ads, that the consumer has been left out of the loop. Continue Reading »
July 29th 2008
What is yet to be determined is how well the holding companies will grapple with the challenge of integration of their services. Over the years, they have bought up a wide variety of companies in different aspects of the marketing business, but there has not been a great deal of coordination among the various disciplines. Continue Reading »
July 28th 2008
Most of the suggestions offered to the manager/chairperson are aplicable to you as a group member. You just can’t be as directive.
