You are in charge of your own happiness. And sometimes things suck so bad that it's hard to stay happy. So here's what I suggest.
Build your own personal happy place. Fill it with all the memories that make you happy. And visit it as often as you need to.
My happy place includes:
People watching in Piazza San Marcos.
Driving golf carts around TCU.
Hanging on the stoop.
Club 2625.
The Infamous Apple Night.
Watching Marcus play.
The night Diana's ring went missing.
Climbing a glacier.
Antigua.
Hiking the Pasadena Dam.
Driving country roads with my best friend.
Theme parties.
The road trip to Shreveport.
The wavelength.
Walking home in a Chicago downpour.
The Paddy Wagon in San Antonio.
Canoeing on Lake Louise.
White water rafting.
Driving from Chicago to Boulder, in a blizzard, in a Geo Metro.
Chiefs games.
Playing car tag with Perry.
Long talks with Jordy.
Mardi Gras.
Christmastime at Krug Park.
My first concert.
The Six Fuzzies.
The Pub.
Air furniture.
My sisters.
This.
Homemade Halloween costumes.
Summer camp at Crowder State Park.
The night the door was kicked in.
DJ Copy.
Listening to ICP on the tour bus.
Sprite Night.
Playing Badminton.
Barbosas.
I love my happy place.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
On the Importance of Knowledge
The most solvable problems are those problems that are clearly understood by the people trying to solve them.
Solutions stem from a full understanding of the problem. Knowledge is key. Not merely knowledge of what the problem is either.
You need knowledge about how it became a problem. Is the economy suffering? Are customers becoming more health-conscious? Have you suffered from bad PR?
You need knowledge about what would be considered an acceptable resolution. An increase in sales? More twitter followers? More consumer trust?
You need knowledge about the people this problem affects. Are they risk-takers? Conservative? Desperate?
And you need knowledge about the people the solution will affect. Do they want convenience? Appreciate goodwill? Are they penny pinchers?
The next time you have a problem that needs solving, do your homework. Learn as much as you can about the situation. Ask questions. Turn to experts.
Knowledge is key. Without it, we'd have a whole bunch of problems and very few solutions.
Solutions stem from a full understanding of the problem. Knowledge is key. Not merely knowledge of what the problem is either.
You need knowledge about how it became a problem. Is the economy suffering? Are customers becoming more health-conscious? Have you suffered from bad PR?
You need knowledge about what would be considered an acceptable resolution. An increase in sales? More twitter followers? More consumer trust?
You need knowledge about the people this problem affects. Are they risk-takers? Conservative? Desperate?
And you need knowledge about the people the solution will affect. Do they want convenience? Appreciate goodwill? Are they penny pinchers?
The next time you have a problem that needs solving, do your homework. Learn as much as you can about the situation. Ask questions. Turn to experts.
Knowledge is key. Without it, we'd have a whole bunch of problems and very few solutions.
On Making Mistakes
I'm in an industry where you fail on a daily basis and if you aren't failing, you aren't pushing yourself enough.
I believe it's how you deal with that constant failure that separates the good from the great. If failing last time makes you skittish this time, then you'll most likely fail again. If failing last time makes you work harder and push further this time, then you might succeed. Failure is an integral part of our process. And how you deal with it will shape the kind of creative you become.
Failing in life follows this same principle. How you deal with your mistakes shapes who you are. Mistakes build character.
We as a society tend to label people by the mistakes they've made, not by the person they are. I've made my share of mistakes. Everyone has. Most of us grow past our mistakes. Most of us learn from them and move on. But your past is and always will be a part of you. It's how others see you, and how they may always see you. And it's frustrating.
Mistakes shouldn't define you. How you deal with them should.
One of my closest friends is an incredibly talented musician with a huge heart. Unfortunately, a lot of people can't see that because they're too hung up on his past. They're more hung up on his past than he is. He took a bad situation and found a way to rise above it. He didn't run from it. He didn't throw his life away because of it. Instead, he faced it. And he's a better person, and an amazing father, because of it.
I choose to see him for his success in handling it all. I choose to see him for the person he became through it all. I choose to focus on the outcome rather than the mistake.
Here's my point.
Don't be afraid of making mistakes. We will all fail at some point. It's inevitable. So don't be afraid of it. And when you do make a mistake, accept it. Face it. Learn from it. And then move on.
Don't let your mistake define you.
Let your triumph over it define you instead.
I believe it's how you deal with that constant failure that separates the good from the great. If failing last time makes you skittish this time, then you'll most likely fail again. If failing last time makes you work harder and push further this time, then you might succeed. Failure is an integral part of our process. And how you deal with it will shape the kind of creative you become.
Failing in life follows this same principle. How you deal with your mistakes shapes who you are. Mistakes build character.
We as a society tend to label people by the mistakes they've made, not by the person they are. I've made my share of mistakes. Everyone has. Most of us grow past our mistakes. Most of us learn from them and move on. But your past is and always will be a part of you. It's how others see you, and how they may always see you. And it's frustrating.
Mistakes shouldn't define you. How you deal with them should.
One of my closest friends is an incredibly talented musician with a huge heart. Unfortunately, a lot of people can't see that because they're too hung up on his past. They're more hung up on his past than he is. He took a bad situation and found a way to rise above it. He didn't run from it. He didn't throw his life away because of it. Instead, he faced it. And he's a better person, and an amazing father, because of it.
I choose to see him for his success in handling it all. I choose to see him for the person he became through it all. I choose to focus on the outcome rather than the mistake.
Here's my point.
Don't be afraid of making mistakes. We will all fail at some point. It's inevitable. So don't be afraid of it. And when you do make a mistake, accept it. Face it. Learn from it. And then move on.
Don't let your mistake define you.
Let your triumph over it define you instead.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
On Brand Pride
I just finished watching my Horned Frogs destroy their first opponent in the College World Series. Upon the win, I immediately went to TCU's online bookstore and bought a new shirt. I made my purchase out of pride. I cheer for them out of pride. I wear purple out of pride for my Horned Frogs. I am proud to be a part of the TCU brand.
Alumni from most colleges have pride for the schools they attended. Aside from colleges, brand pride at this level is rare. Professional sports teams have this kind of relationship with their fans. Which turns their fans into consumers, helping them profit off of ticket sales and merchandising.
Apple is the only major brand that has tapped into this kind of brand pride. They have their Apple fanboys, sure, but they also have a huge group of regular people who will never buy a PC. Mac users, like myself, happily share the Apple story with others. We try and convert others to the brand. And we do it willingly because we're proud to be Mac owners. We're proud to have the cool new technology that Apple churns out before anyone else. We're proud to be a part of the Apple story.
Brands need to tap into this feeling of customer pride. They need to give their customers a reason to share their love of the brand with others. They need to give their customers something to be proud of.
Easier said then done, I know. But as marketers we can help. What does the brand you're marketing do that would make people proud to be a part of it? What is it about the brand that would get people talking about it unprovoked? What can the brand do to instill a sense of pride in their customers?
Pride makes people loyal. It makes people ambassadors. It makes people customers for life. Brand pride is rare, but it isn't impossible to achieve. And here's the proof: GO FROGS!!!!
Alumni from most colleges have pride for the schools they attended. Aside from colleges, brand pride at this level is rare. Professional sports teams have this kind of relationship with their fans. Which turns their fans into consumers, helping them profit off of ticket sales and merchandising.
Apple is the only major brand that has tapped into this kind of brand pride. They have their Apple fanboys, sure, but they also have a huge group of regular people who will never buy a PC. Mac users, like myself, happily share the Apple story with others. We try and convert others to the brand. And we do it willingly because we're proud to be Mac owners. We're proud to have the cool new technology that Apple churns out before anyone else. We're proud to be a part of the Apple story.
Brands need to tap into this feeling of customer pride. They need to give their customers a reason to share their love of the brand with others. They need to give their customers something to be proud of.
Easier said then done, I know. But as marketers we can help. What does the brand you're marketing do that would make people proud to be a part of it? What is it about the brand that would get people talking about it unprovoked? What can the brand do to instill a sense of pride in their customers?
Pride makes people loyal. It makes people ambassadors. It makes people customers for life. Brand pride is rare, but it isn't impossible to achieve. And here's the proof: GO FROGS!!!!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
On Lots of Things, Part 2
On Common Sense
Common sense is extremely uncommon these days.
On Vacations
Plan them. Take them. Enjoy them. And recall them when you need a momentary retreat from life.
On Priorities
Always put the people you love ahead of the work you like.
On Pride
Work that lacks pride more than likely lacks power.
On Rules
Rules are written for those who can't figure things out on their own.
Common sense is extremely uncommon these days.
On Vacations
Plan them. Take them. Enjoy them. And recall them when you need a momentary retreat from life.
On Priorities
Always put the people you love ahead of the work you like.
On Pride
Work that lacks pride more than likely lacks power.
On Rules
Rules are written for those who can't figure things out on their own.
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