Matt's Bloghouse

A Tagline is Worth 1000 Words

2012-01-23T14:54:00.000-08:00

As a kid my camera toting parents were heard often spouting the phrase, "Now that's a Kodak Moment!" There was a time in my childhood when this tagline was uttered in rapid fire fashion. During Easter biting the ears of my chocolate bunny, my little sister's dance receital, action shots on the soccer field or even a moment I'm still very fond of ... a self taken photo of my 1st pair of canvas nike tennis shoes. This picture was worth 1000 words; exciting newness, classic design, beautiful laces untouched by a spec of dirt and kenetic potential to dominate any playground activity. I couldn't resist! This was a Kodak Moment indeed.

Kodak recently filed Chapter 11 which could mark the end of the Kodak Moment. This was a troubling bit of news because like my parents I find myself saying the familiar tagline when I snap a photo. I said it just today when my dog "Doug" began playing with a soccer ball. Luckily I had my iPhone at the ready when he placed his front paws atop of the ball and yawned. I like to believe he belted out a mighty roar! As you can see from the photo it was an incredibly cute shot. After giving the photo a few special Instagram touches I said to myself, "Now that's a Kodak Moment."

Intimidated?

Many articles that I have read regarding Kodak's bankruptcy filing indicated that the company failed to keep up with the fast-paced, ever changing times. If you visit Kodak.com you will think otherwise. You will be impressed, as I have been, at how well Kodak is positioned to manage modern day demands. There are mobile apps, photo sharing, tips from the Pros, market segmentation and many other bells-n-whistles designed to maintain Kodak's relevance. Obvious signs that they are not going away without industrious effort. Not exactly the beaten-down titan riding solemnly into extinction. Far from it. Kodak should be applauded for continuing efforts to effectively evolve their brand of products and services. Along the way they have had to make several extremely difficult sacrifices.

Could it be they find themselves hanging by the thin thread of bancruptcy because they failed to evolve the one thing that helped their brand establish past dominance? Clearly the tagline Kodak Moment did not wash away from our minds when we started using digital cameras and smartphones to take our pictures. What did go away was Kodak's use of a highly effective tagline and definining what a Kodak Moment looks like in 2012. Maybe it's a soccer playing Shih Tzu, who knows?

Power in a Title

2012-01-16T08:41:00.000-08:00

What if Martin Luther King Jr's speech was titled "I woke up and Voilà!?" Would the power and significance of his mighty "I Have a Dream" speech been lessened with a lackluster title? Probably not. The strength and efficacious words contained within this speech changed the course of history because America, no the world, desperately needed a new, more humane direction.

I was not around on that amazing summer afternoon on August 28th 1963. Born the following decade I often find myself thankful for Martin Luther King Jr's dream. Thankful that my classrooms and playgrounds were filled will friends with a wide range of skin colors. Never a thought entered my mind that we were different when we sat together at the lunch table trading desserts or took turns sharing our Coleco handheld games.

Now that I think about it, maybe I should be thanking all the adults that helped raise me. Thanks Mom and Dad, Teachers, Coaches for allowing Dr. King's speech to permeate your lives. You allowed my generation to be the 1st to effectively benefit from from the seismic change in race relations lead by Dr. King. Thank you for providing me a world where I drank from the same waterfountains, shared the same seats on the schoolbus and wore the same uniforms while enjoying the sports we loved. I honestly can't imagine the divisive world you had to endure when you were kids. Your courage, strength of character and moral correctness enriched my childhood immensely.

Mahalia Jackson 1911 - 1972

When MLK Jr. stepped up to the podium to deliver his 17 minute speeach before a crowd of over 200,000 the tile on his speech read "Normalcy, Never Again." Perhaps we should all be thanking the great Mahalia Jackson for shouting from the crowd ... "tell them about the dream, Martin."

Does Your Packaging Enhance Brand Loyalty or Kick it in the Nuts?

2012-01-11T09:23:00.000-08:00

When the courier rang the door bell my new puppy and I raced to the door with our tongues out and tails wagging. Opening the door I acknowledged the kind delivery guy and scribbled my signature on his digital clipboard. He handed me a plain brown box with a lonely packaging label then wish me a good day. Squinting my eyes I could see that it was sent from the manufacture of "MY NEW LAPTOP! HECK YEAH!"

Oooo! What's inside?

Running back inside with the box I couldn't wait to open it! Packaging bubbles flew over my shoulders until I found styrofoam molds that smartly held my laptop and charging cord. Below that was was a zip-lock envelope that held instructions and warranty documents which will never be read. Wanting to be sure I uncovered all contents I threw the remaining packaging over my shoulders until I hit the bottom of the plain brown box.

I give this manufacture top marks for shipping their product efficiently and safely. I understand for security reasons that the outside of the box should not draw attention of unwanted eyes. However, I was dumbfounded not to find a packing slip, thank you letter or even a catalog. No sign that this company was appreciative of my business. More importantly, no sign of their effort to secure my loyalty to their brand. It was almost like they were saying to me, "Oh yeah, here's your laptop."

Alright, if it sounds like I'm a spoiled online consumer then you have me pegged. You see, for years I have been a loyal buyer of T-shirts from Noisebot.com. In short, they have mastered the art of securing (my) brand loyalty. I know for a fact that Noisebot LOVES my business and wants me to make return purchases. They indicate this by carefully executing one highly effective touch. On every packaging slip I find a small handwritten note.. Simply saying "thank you from Noisebot" or "You ROCK!" A perfect warm-n-fuzzy jesture that makes me feel appreciated and compeled to open their online catalog that lands in my inbox 2 - 3x's a year.

So what do you think? Should I get it?

Are your walls killing your business?

2012-01-04T10:47:00.000-08:00

I n the mix of "to-dos" for the new year I wanted to get my financial ducks in a row. Maybe it was the weight of blowing out 40 candles that motivated me but I knew I couldn't continue the strategy of "feed it and ignore it." For too many years my retirement plan has moved like frozen molasses.

I did my homework, followed a recommendation and was confident I found the perfect financial services firm to manage my little nest egg. Driving there I was beaming with optimism.

As I approached the door of the business I noticed there was a paper sign taped to the door that listed office hours and a note that indicated brokers meet by appointment only. I shrugged it off and continued inside.  Another red flag was raised when I was greeted by a lonely reception area equipped with a few boring chairs, and coffee table void of reading material. Oh, and sitting on an empty reception desk I found a silver bell to ring for assistance

I broke the dead-quiet air with a loud ring of the bell.  A few seconds later I heard a creaky chair moan, roll back and a tall, casually dressed older gentlemen breached the closest office. He looked me in the eye, said he was glad to meet me and we exchanged a firm handshake. I thanked him for taking my appointment and he politely showed me to his office. A textbook professional greeting that began to lift my confidence that this guy was capable of managing my hard earned money.

Well, that didn't last long. Before I even sat down I began shutting off my ears to his thoughtful pitch that I would retire early and start my vintage car collection before my hair I turned [completely] gray. The walls in his office were bare of any artwork, bowling trophies, pictures of family, crayon drawings from grandchildren or academic achievements. The dust collecting on the faux tree in the corner and the 1990's computer monitor were the final signs that helped me make my decision. I'll be taking my business elsewhere.

After the meeting I drove home heart broken that my trust in this kind, grandfatherly gentlemen was not where I hoped. The online feedback was quite positive, his website was informative and my research found that he possessed impressive academic credentials. However, I could not get past that his office conveyed a lack of pride, permanence, identity and warmth.

Are your walls killing your business? Well, you might answer I don't have client walk-ins. My next question would be do you have vendors visit from time to time? Does your accountant drop by occasionally? Maybe you plan to conduct interviews to find a hot new hire that will help you take your business to the next level. This doesn't happen much anymore but maybe your bank partner will pay you a courtesy visit to thank you for your business.

Nah, that would never happen ... or would it?  Quick, you better go dust off your faux tree!

Is your brand "sticky?"

2011-12-29T07:39:00.000-08:00

It happens to all of us. A "sticky" song gets locked in our head and it takes a mental circus act to remove it. For me it's usually a Journey song. I would not call myself a fan but for some reason their lyrics haunt my subconscious.  Every now and then, completely out of the blue, I'm suddenly humming or belting out, "DON'T STOP BELIEVING! HOLD ON TO TO THAT FEELING!!" Now, that's a "sticky" song!

Is your brand "sticky?" What brand recall strategies are you employing to ensure that your brand message is lingering in the minds of your target demographic like the lyrics of Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline? My vote for "stickiest" song of all time!

Before you answer the above question and pat yourself on the back for creating a well-oiled ROI machine take a walk. Walk the halls and visit your co-workers and conduct several one question interviews. You will want to visit all departments and don't forget the interns. You remember being an intern don't you? Remember the morale boost you received when someone actually valued your opinion?

This is an important walk so in order to get open and honest answers you must put everyone at ease. Let them them know that you value their time, it's only one question, and you are merely collecting internal input for a marketing project. Ask them this all important question, "What is our brand message?" Everyone should be singing from the same song sheet, right? Well, if you receive a wide range of answers you have a serious problem. It is time to roll-up the sleeves and initiate an ambitious B2E campaign.

Why is it so important to have a "sticky" brand message amongst your co-workers? Too many Brand Managers take B2E brand communication for granted. You have to realize that important interactions happen within your walls every single day. Human resources are training new hires, your warehouse talks to the carrier drivers, accounting is communicating with customers about their accounts, product managers are discussing specifications with vendors and the list goes on.

It's real simple. If your brand is not "sticky" on the inside you're missing valuable opportunities to enhance brand recall on the outside. Execute your B2E campaign properly and your brand message might get locked in the heads of your targets like the Beach Boy's Kokomo ... Aruba, Jamaica, DANG IT! Now it's stuck!

Maybe you've learned from this dynamic public speaker too

2011-12-23T09:52:00.000-08:00

Linus Van Pelt

During this time of year I am reminded of when I heard one of my favorite speeches delivered by one of my favorite public speakers. I heard this speech at a very early age while toting my favorite blaket, wearing footie pjs and lying down in front of the electric glow of a manual dial television. Little did I know that I was watching a master public speaker. To this day I utilized the same techniques when I speak publicly (favorite blanket excluded).

After hearing from the great public speaker Linus

It was my 1st time watching A Charlie Brown Christmas. Midway through the program the consummate blockhead Charlie Brown was struggling to figure-out the fuss about Christmas. His blanket toating pal Linus spoke up . In a very humble manner he delivered his knowledge of the meaning of Christmas. Not before he requested the appropriate lighting and receiving the full attention of the cast and crew assembled for the Christmas play. He displayed perfect delivery. It was straight to the point, small impactful pauses and without one "umm" or "like."

During Linus's speach I really focused my limited attention span and sat up to listen. I strongly identified with Linus because I too could not part with my favorite blanket. Suddenly my understaning of Christmas turned from being all about family visiting me, giving me gifts, and a rotund, red-suited man with a white beard leaving me more gifts! An important lesson because I quickly learned why I would find serious trouble everytime I played with my Mother's hand-made Nativity scene.

After that night I heard the same lesson 100 times from Sunday school teachers, and preachers from the pulpit. Never as beautifully or as effectively as Linus. Credit to Charles Schultz for creating a character that truly knew his audience. Especially when delivering a message as important as the meaning of Christmas.

Hey Reality, I'm back from vacation. Let's GO!

2011-12-13T15:27:00.000-08:00

I feel your pain Ralphie!

Coming home from vacation is always exhausting. We have all been there and it's never easy to jump into the cold waters of reality. Personally, I drag myself back to reality kicking and screaming. Sort of like Ralphie resisting to put on his new fuzzy bunny pajamas. The Christmas Story is my favorite holiday movie next to Emit Otter's Jugband Christmas. Jim Henson was a genius. The bloopers from the DVD will make you pee your pants but I digress ...
A mentor of mine advised me that the best way to attack reality is to stare it in the face and say, "let's go!" Well, much easier said than done. Reality does not fight fair! Those of us that have returned from an relaxing vacation are all too familiar with this fact. Reality will zap your motivation with a grey sky and a chill in the air. Making the 1st night back your own bed extra special cozy and almost impossible to leave. Reality will continue to slap you around as your mind races while thinking about your long list of to-dos ... unpack an overstuffed suitcase, do laundry, walk the dog, pay bills, Christmas shopping, opening snail mail, answering email and the list goes on and on. No, I think a better idea is pulling the covers over my head and dream of the waves of Cancun which I was just swimming in yesterday. Here, I brought back a short video for daydreaming purposes. Enjoy!

Wait just a minute! Coffee! Yes! YES! I then force myself to haul my tail out of bed and drink the 1st cup of home brewed coffee!! Oh, and just think of the 1st shower at home with all your own shampoo, soap and the perfect amount of water pressure. Oh yeah! Reality you have been beat and now I am laughing at you over a fresh, hot cup of Hazelnut flavored coffee.

Like most of you, opening my inbox is the reality check I most dred. Especially after being fortunate enough to completely ignore email during my vacation. If you haven't done this yourself I highly recommend trying it. You will be glad you did.

Well, the time has come to open the ol' inbox. Sitting in front of my laptop I let out a sigh and open my email account like Will Farrell testing Jack in the Boxes in the movie ELF (also a hilarious Christmas movie). My stomach tightened as I watched hundred of emails fill my inbox like an avalanche.  Suddenly I felt overwhelmed. Tackling this task will take all day and possibly tomorrow if I don't handle this systematically.

First, I had to promise myself not open anything! It's time to GET ORGANIZED!  I created 3 temporary files for business, family and friends. Now, shove your emails in the appropriate files. I kept reminding myself to resist the temptation of opening mail because I can easily get bogged down and lose focus.

Next, dump the junk! Now is a perfect time time to delete, unsubscribe and/or post spam notices for all the sources that pollute my inbox. Good riddance! Especially you AARP. I keep asking you to refine your target. I'm far from retirement age, dang!

All right, I'm getting closer to crack open the 1st email. Before that I will create 2 sub folders inside my business folder; important and not so important. Depending on who sent the mail and the subject line it's easy to determine which ones will be viewed first. As a job seeker this is particularly important to me. Timing is crucial when finding my next dream job. I know full well it's not going to fall into my lap.

Here I go clicking away at a feverish pace. Thirty minutes fly by and I've made a huge dent. I keep my responses succint and take breaks only to fill my coffee cup, return important phone calls and visit the bathroom. My eye is on the prize and the prize is to addressed all professional and personal emails that surfaced while on my vacation.

Before long I find myself opening the contents of my last folder, "friends."  There are a few jokes clean and otherwise. Also, I was please to open updates on my beloved GSU Eagles winning a spot in FCS semi-finals.

What's this? Could it be? YES! I AM FINISHED! Wooohooo! Two short hours and 428 emails later and I'm patting myself on the back.  A huge victory after tasting sour medicine feed to me by the harsh reality of returning from vacation.  I rewarded myself with the sweet taste of success by picking up lunch from my favorite neighborhood restaurant Hankook Taqueira. Home Sweet Home!

Dusting-off the old blog ... Relaunch!

2011-11-30T11:06:00.000-08:00

Wow! I mean HOLY CRAP! I was completely surprised to see that Google maintained my blogspot since my last post in 2008! I thought it was scrapped long ago. It was nice to read the few posts I did make way back when. A nice time capsule of sorts. Thanks Google!

Well, I suppose this is my official "relaunch" post. The digital landscape has changed quite a bit since '08. I have much to learn and there are mountains of bells-n-whistles that I can now utilize to enrich my bloggin' experience. My goal is to put all these fancy schmancy tools to use and hopefully inform and occasionally entertain the valiant few that decide to stop by.

Allow me to do a quick update by giving my LinkedIn profile (I'm in pursuit of my next career move) and the pictures should give you an idea what has transpired in my life recently.

Matt's Bloghouse launch sequence to start in 3,2,1 ... it's a go!

Best Friends Cabin Trip

2008-01-27T09:50:00.000-08:00

We missed Ken on this trip. He had pappa duty that kept him in Dallas. Gary had us all excited when he brought his turkey fryer. Unfortunately, grease spilled and the fryer failed. That didn't matter because Kevin slipped on grease and accidently kicked the turkey into the woods. We all had a big laugh and enjoyed the best mac-n-cheese dinner of our lives.

Yep ... Fall's Here

2007-11-20T17:17:00.001-08:00

Pictures from my camera phone are usually grainy and blurred. Typically that can be explained by a late night of drinking. Thankfully, this mid-afternoon Fall photo was taken with a sober mind. Otherwise it would have turned out looking like a Dali painting, circa 1972. As you can see, my camera phone did the best it could. Cameras of the finest quality would have had trouble capturing these colors fully.

Why do Fall colors remind me of a full bowl of Fruity Pebbles?

Change is good!

2007-11-19T13:17:00.000-08:00

I handed in my letter of resignation today. It is difficult to leave a company that has been so good to me over the past five years. My blessings have been many. I've worked hard to make my employer proud of me. I know that I'm leaving behind a positive legacy.

It is exciting to think of what's ahead. With my new job, the responsibilities will be greater and I'll be on the road much more. New product to represent, new role, new clients and new places to experience. Ready for the change!

Bailey's 13 (91)!

2007-10-04T12:10:00.000-07:00

He made it! Can you tell he hates baths?