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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

WHO WILL RULE THE NEW INTERNET?

“The winners of the platform wars stand to make billions selling devices, selling eyeballs to advertisers, selling services such as music, movies, even computer power on demand. Yet the outcome here is far more important than who makes the most money. The future of the Internet—how we get information, how we communicate with one another and, most important, who controls it—is at stake.” Josh Quittner/San Francisco.

From here.

“The underlying question is: Are the users of the Internet actually in the driver’s seat or are the 800-pound gorilla businesses jockeying behind the scenes the one’s truly controlling the outcome?”

by Sam Knoll Brand Futurist The Republik Commander Analytic Ops

Photo Credit: via Time Inc.

ANDROID SCANNERS

Introducing a new use for your camera phone: scan anything with a barcode with instant results. Just point your camera at the image and click. The program works to decode the barcode and then searches about a dozen places online for metadata and prices.You can then click on a link to visit the product’s website where you can buy the product. Local stores in your area carrying your product are highlighted with contact numbers and links to their web sites. For music, you can even play a sample clip right on your phone. Visit the project website for details on how to download to your phone.

Read more here.

“This was my idea… those bastards.”

by Gerard Blanton Brand Futurist The Republik Corporal Creative Ops