Category NOW

WHERE DOES STRATEGY COME FROM?

Screen Shot 2013-04-23 at 4.21.10 PMNot too long ago I spoke with a group of UNC Ad Club students who were interested in pursuing planning as a career. Many had been through internships in larger agencies where planner roles and related job titles varied widely. My take was that titles don’t really matter. They should find out what titles or group of people within the agency are responsible for strategy, and that’s where they should try to find a job. Strategists have a a keen perspective on the marketplace, the competition and the client’s business that are at the heart of effective planning.

That was all well and good, until someone asked, “Where does strategy come from?” At the time, I gave what I thought was a good answer about the process that leads to a good strategy. Looking back, this is what I should have said:

Developing a strategy is just like playing chess, driving home during rush hour or even coaching a football team. In theory anyone can do it, but early success is rare. Over time it becomes easier. Patterns emerge. Opportunities reveal themselves. Outcomes become more predictable.

In the end, Strategy comes from experience. It comes from the ability to process lots of seemingly unrelated information and identify a better solution, knowing there is always room to adapt and improve. Strategy comes from a mindset to outthink others. Bobby Fischer did it with chess. Bill Belichick does it on a football sideline. Where will you shine? What is your strategy?

by Dwayne Fry Brand Futurist/Minister of Strategy/Department of Idealists

SPREAD SOME HOLIDAY CHEER! TAKE A MINUTE TO THANK A HERO!

a message from the Executive Director of The Army’s Army, Janine West:

Dear Army’s Army Partners and Members,

Last week The Army’s Army paired with Cumberland County Schools to say “Thank You” to our heroes this holiday season. Elementary, middle, and high school students from 15 different schools across Cumberland County made more than 5,000 handmade cards that were delivered by The Army’s Army to veterans and service members. From heartwarming messages of appreciation to special tributes of admiration, students were passionate about saying thank you to our military.

To showcase the these wonderful holiday cards, The Army’s Army has created a website, HeroesThankYou.org in which users can view each card and share them with friends and family they’d like to say thank you to. All it takes is one simple moment to share a message that could change someone’s life forever.

Please join The Army’s Army in our effort and send a card to show your thanks to our heroes.

To see and share the cards visit www.heroesthankyou.org

Thank you for your continued support!

reposted from www.armysarmy.org by Robert Shaw West, Brand Futurist, Commander in Chief, The Republik Companies

SEEING IS BELIEVING

This week we embraced another opportunity to implement our philosophy – change or die – in a very deep sense.

We met with members of a very small Southern town to discuss the dynamics of their community. Upon arriving, it was evident that the majority of property/roads were run-down and unkempt – a sight for sore eyes. The community members voiced not only their resentment for the poor physical conditions, but an overall mindset held within the community barring proactive measures to do something about it – ‘don’t rock the boat’.

At an all day session, in the morning we heard mostly disheartening stories of discontentment in quality of life. When we reconvened in the afternoon, however, we shared our experience with changing perceptions and that critical catalyst of a vision. The group began envisioning how their community could actually develop positively. And what it really comes down to – mindset. The ability to change others’ perceptions begins with first changing your own.

While they can’t immediately change the reality of their town’s conditions, the group realized that if they were going to change anyone’s perception of reality, it was going to have to come from them first. To me, the whole experience was truly gratifying. Being able to inspire these weary, skeptical community members to envision a better life reminded me why I love my job and living our philosophy of change.

by Marisa LaVallee Brand Futurist The Republik Corporal Strategic Ops

Photo Credit: Laitr Keiows and NASA via Wikimedia Commons – Licensed CC-BY-NC-SA

MURDOCH: “EMBRACE TECHNOLOGIES”

New Technology Allow Little Guys To Compete With Giants

In his second of five Boyer Lectures, The Challenge of Technology, Mr. Murdoch says people should stop whining about the challenge of new technology and “get out in front of it”. He says new technology, such as the internet, is destroying business models that have been used for decades, particularly those with a “one size fits all” approach to their customers. People can do more of what they want at a cheaper cost and the disadvantaged now have greater access to information than at any time in history, Mr. Murdoch says.

The result is technology is “allowing the little guy to do what once required a huge corporation”. How are you using new technologies to beat bigger competitors?

Read More Here

by Mike Randall Brand Futurist The Republik Captain Strategic Ops

Photo Credit: Unknown – Licensed CC-BY-NC-SA

GOOGLE ME $10 MILLION!

Google is offering $10 million to the person with the best idea for change. Named Project 10 to the 100th, Google is calling upon its users for ideas to change the world by helping as many people as possible. The winner with the best idea for change will receive $10 million to implement their project.

Ideas must be received by October 20, 2008.

What are you waiting for? Enter today at http://www.project10tothe100.com/index.html

“Stop the contest – they just need to give the money to Ms. Teen South Carolina – she influenced many people.”

by Brady Bone Brand Futurist The Republik Captain Creative Ops

Photo Credit: © Google

IT’S STILL ROCK ‘N ROLL TO ME

Record labels sign on to sell albums on memory cards. Called “slotMusic,”  some record labels say this memory card will replace CDs because it’s more versatile than CDs and offers more connectivity options for consumers.

Follow it further:
About the Memory Cards
And… Read about slotMusic

“Given the fact that many multimedia players already support this technology and several record companies are on board, CD’s days seem numbered.”

by Jacqueline Stevenson Brand Futurist The Republik Corporal Strategic Ops

Photo Credit: © slotMusic | SanDisk Corporation