I shall remain a turd polisher forever. But my passion and belief of what we *could* have done with social media, marketing, and business marketing will last with me forever...
So
AMA on any subject. I may give you one of my multi million ideas. All I ask is that you give me 1%. That's a fair, small number for changing your life and it's a HUGE number for me to build my not-for-profit dream
You literally have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
I'm an open book. 😏
First off, so much for "Blog every week day month." Meh...
So, my Mom sends me this letter in the mail the other day.
Inside the letter is a note I wrote her when I was a little girl...
See, my brother and I were joined at the hip when we were little...
But we also could fight like cats and dogs and I guess that's where this note comes from...
Apparently, we must have pushed her to the brink one day and I'm guessing she went off on us so, in an effort to make amends, I wrote the following, in pencil on one o' those cheap paper pulp "Fun Books." The note (barely legible after 30 some-odd years) reads:
From my heart.After I picked myself up off the floor from laughing hysterically, I took a good look at this note and realized that I've pretty much been a Marketer my whole life!
Mom + Dad, this is from my heart.
John and I haven't been the best of help and so we will dedicate July 2, to you.
We will help with chores and earns (SIC "errands" maybe?) and best of all... John and I will try not to fight for the rest of the week!!!!!!!!
We hope you enjoy this.
My brother John took some time out of his super busy schedule to visit me for Thanksgiving. John is probably the MOST creative person I know. He lives in Las Vegas and works as a graphic designer (although he would be just as successful if he were an actor, singer or musician!)
When asked to describe my bruddah, I usually say, "Take me and multiply me by 1,000." John has as much talent in his little finger as I have in my entire body, which works fine for me cuz I seem to be doing pretty good in my own right. ;D
Anyway, in between stuffing ourselves with turkey goodness, John showed us the latest slew of commercials that he created for Sketchers. This includes a new animated commercial for "Cali Gear" (Sketchers' version of "Crocs" for kids). John created all the Sketchers characters, storyboards and works directly with the animators, and even provides the voices!
Anyway, John got the idea for this latest jingle while driving in his car. Lucky boy. I am a "shower idea person," which means that my range of motion is much more limited when I'm crafting an idea or message. ;D
John explained how the jingle came to him in a flash and he had to pull into a bank parking lot to scribble it down on a deposit envelope lest he forgot. The commercial hasn't aired yet but the first half of it goes like this...
They're Squishable and Squashable!How do I know this you ask?
They're Waterproof and Washable!
They're Cali Gear and I'm a Cali Bear!
He ha!
Sometimes, the hardest part about writing any form or style of copy is the first word...
Case in point: I'm working on my web copy and, ironically enough, I'm at the section about my copy services. I begin to write when it all freezes up and I start repeating my opening thoughts over and over in my head. Essentially, I am trying to convey how important clear, concise, compelling, brief, results oriented copy is (especially because so much importance is placed on graphics over copy.)
But I get stuck by starting my sentence with "In a world..."
Sometime, I will use "In a world..." sentences when I need to put something down in order to let my thoughts flow out. By the time I have 3 or 4 statements down, I usually find my leading line and then I delete the "In a world..." statement.
However, for some reason today, all I could write after my first "In a world..." sentence was an "In a time..." sentence.
This got me laughing because all I could think of after that is the movie trailer for Jerry Seinfeld's "Comedian."
...and that was the end of my concentration.
Enjoy! :D
I've been working on a BIG project so I haven't had much time to blog. However, a few days ago, I met yet another Turd Polisher! He's a news cameraman in Louisiana (see? Turd Polishers can be found in any profession!) Anyway, this blog has some great stories in it, so go check it out.
Which brings me to my next thought... Whilst browsing through my new friend's blog, I came across this lovely gem:
I am the least Machiavellian person I know...
I quit my job of three and a half years. Last Wednesday, I had the 1,001 meltdown stemming from total frustration and my lack of being able to get anywhere with my ideas... At this point, I feel it's important to clarify one really weird thing about myself, I've discovered that I ~like~ to work. I like creating Marketing Strategies, I like writing copy, I like planning ahead, I actually like rhetoric (well, I like recognizing it and/or creating it)... Regardless, I like my line of work!!!
Now, while I like being paid for my worth, I also like EARNING it. So it was always shocking to me that I never seemed to get anywhere. I don't want to be the boss. Bosses don't get to do the work. All I want to do is discover if the notions I have about my intended audiences are right. I want to know what makes someone click on a link, open a piece of mail or respond to one offer over another. I want to take a project that has a low response rate and see if my changes affect it...
Anyway, I finally had the last meltdown over my work. I did not go in on Thursday. Instead, I arranged an interview, got another job with more responsibility and more money (I'm not a masochist either). On Friday, I ended my love/hate relationship with the job that brought me here in the first place and I started fresh this Monday.
Everyone around me seemed impressed enough... They couldn't believe how fast I moved. But all I could think of is why did I put up with the bull for as long as I did? The answer: because I simply could not believe that my turn would not come. I "paid my dues" I polished alllll those turds and I did it with a smile! I shared my ideas. I wrote proposal after proposal. How could they not love me?!?!
Last week, I would have felt sorry for myself. Today, I just feel stupid. I mean, what kind of a Marketer am I?
Now... I'm in a position where I have the opportunity to do everything I've ever wanted to do work-wise... except it was all due last week. ;D
Hahahaha! I seriously need to be very careful what I wish for! =)
At the same time, I don't think I have ever felt so damn determined in my whole life! I will grab this damn job by the flippin' balls and make it understand so help me!!!!
Feh... I'm going nowhere with this blog. I just had to get that out of me and into the aether so I can concentrate or something.
I was surfing the Q & A section at Linked In today when I came across the following...
If brands were people, who would you spend time with?This was my contribution:
Be creative, be descriptive!
If brands were people, who would you wish to spend time with and why? Who would you avoid? What would you do and where would you go?
For example:
Would you invite Harley-Davidson to a dinner party or a cook-out? Would you take Harley to work? How would you like Harley-Davidson as a neighbor?
Would you introduce Sony to your friends and family or just your friends? Would you drive the same car as Sony or join the same country club?
Would you see live music with Coca-Cola? Would it be a rock concert, a jazz club or the symphony? Would you send Coca-Cola a mixed tape or some mp3s?
Name a brand and what you would do with the brand if it was a person.
I ~love~ this question! I had way too much fun with this!!! =)
If Glaceau (Makers of Vitamin Water) was a person, she’d be a “Tweener” girl!
Dear Diary: I met this totally cool person today named Glaceau. We met at this little health food store and we like totally hit it off!!! She’s like super cool but no one seems to know much about her. I’m having her over for lunch today.
PS – I’m glad I met Glaceau cuz yesterday my BFF Snapple was like soooo busy hanging all over Coca-cola that she like TOTALLY ignored me! Gah! Doesn’t she know that Coke is just using her for her tea?! Jeez!
Dear Diary: OMG! Like, Glaceau is totally my new super awesome BFF! We have like, the exact same sense of humor!! When we hang I’m like, “Whoa! What would it be like if yer Mom was just like a Mom in an orange juice commercial?!” and Glaceau is all like, “Whoa! No WAY would that ever happen! That’s why I’m infused with Vitamin C and Calcium!”
Dear Diary: ROTFLMAO!!! Glaceau and I had sooooooooo much fun today!!! It all started in the lunchroom. That bitch Snapple came up to us and was like being all superior and whatever and like saying that she was “#3” in the market and we were all like “Whatever! Step off Snapple!” I mean like Glaceau is sooooo much more colorful! I mean, she’s not like all full of sugar and stuff, ya know? And when I’m around her, I just like ~feel better~ about myself or something…
Dear Diary: OMG! You should have seen Glaceau today!! She was like being all super funny and ~everyone~ was paying attention to her but it was totally awesome cuz like she’s still totally ~my~ BFF since like, I met her first and she hangs with me so like now I’m like kinda cool too ya’ know cuz like I met her first so like when people are like “Hey! Did you see Glaceau with 50 Cent yesterday?” I’m like, “Yeah! I was totally hanging with them first! Didn’t you see me?” and they’re like, “Yeah! You are soooo cool because you introduced us to Glaceau!” and I’m like “Whatever!”
PS – I LOVE all of Glaceau’s new colors… She’s like, so fruity ya know? But like good too!
Dear Diary: WTF?!?!? I saw that big shot jerk Coca-cola talking to Glaceau this morning!!! I couldn’t believe it!!! I asked Glaceau what was going on and she was like, “I dunno. I think he asked me to the prom but I was all like, I dunno.”
Grrrrr! I wish Coke would just stay away from her! I mean, I saw Snapple yesterday and OMG she looked just so TIRED and OLD! I can’t believe I ever thought she was cool!
Dear Diary: I COULD TOTALLY SCREAM!!! I think Glaceau is dating Coke!!!!! I asked her about it and suddenly she was like all sugary sweet with me… OMG! I think I’m gonna cry!
Dear Diary: Saw Glaceau in the hall… She totally ignored me. Plus, I hear that she changed her story about being all geeky like a Dungeon Master and now she’s telling everyone that she’s into Kelly Clarkson! WTF! We used to make fun of people like that!!! I HATE Glaceau! She totally sold out and is no longer cool! I mean, sure…. Everyone LOVES her now that she’s with Coke but I MET HER FIRST!
I hate everything! :(
Dear Diary: WOW! Like, I met this totally cool person today named MonaVie Acai Juice. We met at this little health food store and we like totally hit it off!!! She’s like super cool but no one seems to know much about her. I’m having her over for lunch today.
PS – I’m glad I met Acai cuz yesterday my BFF Glaceau was like soooo busy hanging all over Coca-cola that she like TOTALLY ignored me! Gah! Doesn’t she know that Coke is just using her for her Vitamin Water?! Jeez!
