Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Advertising, Attitude & Aptitude, Brand Suicide, Brands, Business, Comment, Context, Corporate Evil, Creativity, Culture, Differentiation, Distinction, Honesty, Innovation, Management, Marketing, Marketing Fail
I saw these 2 brilliant cats starring each other down when I was in Utrecht a few months ago.
Look at them.
Focused. Determined. Pissed off.
Trying desperately to intimidate each other while obviously being scared of each other.
Maybe not in terms of size … or beauty … but in terms of one being able to pull off something better, quicker or smarter than the other.
Trapped in an endless cycle of statue paralysis or trying to micro ‘one up’ the other.
The cat cold-war so to speak.
And what is funny is this is often how many brands behave.
Looking sideways rather than ahead.
So lost in what one other brand is doing – or could be doing – they ignore what’s going on around them.
What others are achieving without them.
Sometimes this is not simply driven by a competition, but greed.
A desire to make sure nothing is left on the table.
Hoovering up every scrap.
Believing they are in control and in power so nothing can challenge or take them.
So lost in their self-belief that they fail to see they’re being left behind.
Blinkered by ego.
We saw it with Nokia when Apple launched the iPhone.
We saw it with Listerine when Wrigley’s positioned chewing gum as dental care.
We saw it with Kodak when they chose to protect their photo processing profits rather than launch their digital camera.
We have seen it over and over again.
And while sometimes, having a focused enemy can push you to greater heights than you would be able to achieve on your own … driving you to make things better, rather than to look for things never done before [because often, those things are stupid or self-indulgent] like most things in life, the key is knowing when this approach starts to be counter productive.
When the focus is pulling you back than pushing you forward.
Blinkering your view rather than opening your perspective.
Losing your edge rather than fuelling your ambition.
But sadly, too many brands act like those two cats in Utrecht.
Unable to look away but without the looks to make others still want to come to them.
Which is why as much as there’s a lot to be said for exploiting and optimising the failings and learnings of your numero uno foe, there’s also a lot to be said for remembering to keep looking up and out from your blinkered bubble.
Or said another way …
When you ensure you’re focused on where culture is heading, you don’t get lost following where your competition is staying.
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Advertising, Age, Brand, Brand Suicide, Comment, Content, Context, Crap Campaigns In History, Creativity, Empathy, Marketing, Marketing Fail, Mediocrity, Resonance
Growing old is a fascinating experience because of the multitude of ways it impacts you.
And while a lot of the narrative around it is negative, it’s not entirely the case.
You give less of a fuck about things that used to bother you because you realise they don’t really matter. And you feel more confident to speak up about issues that do bother you, because you are less nervous about expressing how you feel.
Sure, that can lead to all sorts of problematic behaviour and attitudes, but as long as you’re not a myopic, prejudiced dick … it’s generally good.
But without doubt there’s things that do mess with you.
Parts of you hurt you didn’t even know was a part that could hurt.
You are made very aware that your relevance to society is less important.
And when you look in the mirror, you don’t recognise the old bastard staring back at you.
There’s a lot of money in trying to delay the signs of ages.
Or should I say, the physical signs.
And while I could make this a post about the unfair, unjust and unrealistic expectations [and judgement] that society places on looks – and aging – especially towards women, that’s not the point of this post.
You see I recently passed a cosmetic beauty shop/spa/clinic whose promise to ‘help you counter the realities of growing old’ seemed to miss the point of what potential customers actually are looking for.
Or at least it did to me, because their ad said this …
Now maybe I’m wrong, but surely one of the main points in seeking anti-aging treatment is so you DON’T age your way.
That, if anything, you age someone else’s way.
Preferably someone much younger than you.
And hotter.
OK, with hindsight, I get that’s what they maybe meant.
That they were trying to say their treatment allows you to control how you age, as opposed to leaving it to nature. And if that’s the case, then it’s probably closer to being the right proposition [albeit flawed, generic and contrived as hell] with some of the worst writing.
But then I hate that whole ‘YOUR RULES, YOUR WAY’ ad narrative that appears so often.
Communication that’s devoid of any sort of definitive or differentiated idea, other than utterly preposterous suggestion their product/service empowers you to conquer and counter all the rules, realities and science of the World that relates to your particular situation or need.
The imbecilic idea that people will believe this company/brand has the knowledge/technology/magic to achieve what no other organisation or individual can achieve.
ON THE PLANET.
Jesus Christ, it’s so lazy and unimaginative.
Sure, I get this approach works … but the whole business strategy appears to be ‘get a bit of the same pie everyone is eating’ rather than develop a point of view that will get you more of the pie.
But as bad as that is, I realise there’s something even worse than that
It’s all of the above generic shit … but with a headline that doesn’t even convey it with clarity.
Which is the real ugly side of beauty.
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Attitude & Aptitude, Confidence, Content, Context, Creativity, Effectiveness, Emotion, Empathy, Professionalism, Relevance, Reputation, Resonance, Respect
As if Monday wasn’t bad enough, this post features me.
Worse, a video of me.
Talking right at you.
I know … I know …
You can blame the lovely Franck Vinchon who is doing a project on what challenges enable.
Part of this is because he’s always been passionate about the power of challenger brands, the other part is that in a world where we seem to do everything we can to avoid the hard stuff, maybe we need to remember what that allows us to do and become.
Sometimes.
Anyway, he very kindly asked me to be a part of this project … and despite the fact he’d have got much better answers if he’d asked the people/clients who have to work with me … I have given it a go.
There’s two points I should mention.
One. I need to acknowledge that challenges don’t always end up with a happy ending and so it’s important not to forget, discount or dismiss anyone who has experienced and endured that. It’s dead easy to position people who overcome – and even succeed – against challenges as some sort of brilliant individual. But in the vast majority of cases, it tends to be either because of being born into some sort of privilege or just dumb luck. I definitely fall into both of those camps with my life. And occasionally – but only occasionally – it has a little to do with grit, determination and stubborn perseverance.
Two. I can’t believe how different I look since the last video I made with Franck. Sure that was 4 years ago. Sure I have spent the last 10 months on a big health kick. But Jesus Christ! Nothing highlights this more than the glasses … which are the same ones I’m wearing in both videos. I appreciate no one will care, but for me, it’s a huge thing which kind of reflects why the loss of weight has been more about the emotional impact it has had on me than the physical.
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Australia, Authenticity, Culture, Food, Friendship, Sydney
Last month I found myself in Sydney.
While I have spent a lot of time recently in Australia, it has been a while since I was in that city.
It felt a bit weird.
Part of that is because of the history I have with the place.
I lived there for almost 10 years.
My wife and her family are from there.
We still have a home there.
Overall, I enjoyed my time there – but I always felt I would have been happier in Melbourne.
I always found that city a bit more real. A bit less showy.
More NYC than LA.
But as I was walking to have dinner with a friend who has just moved to Australia from Amsterdam, I passed this place …
Harry’s is an institution in Sydney.
A food stall that is – or was – open 24/7.
A place that is covered in photos of all the World Famous people who have visited and eaten there.
Elton John. Pamela Anderson. Colonel bloody Saunders.
You name them, they’ve all gone on a trip to Wooloomooloo wharf at some ungodly time of the day or night to chomp down on one of their basic delicacies.
The entire menu of Harry’s consists of pies, mash, peas, gravy and hot dogs with many packaged up using different combinations of those ingredients and given ‘exotic’ names.
Not only that, they offered mint sauce as a condiment for people to use as much as they liked and they never, ever scrimped on the onions in a hot dog … which meant that for me, Harry’s was – or should I say ‘is’ – perfect in every way.
Cheap as chips. Tasty as fuck.
Anyway, when I lived in Sydney, there were 2 scenarios where I would find myself there.
1. When I had visitors in town.
2. New Years Day … around 4am.
For 10 years, I made those pilgrimages to gluttony and never once did I regret it.
Oh the people I saw there.
The sights I witnessed.
The stories I heard and wrote.
I was early for meeting my friend so I just stared at the place. Relived the memories. And I have to tell you, I literally had to fight with myself not to buy ‘a Tiger’ pie.
I really wanted to … but the impending dinner with my friend, my new-found healthiness and their ‘pay by phone’ feature being down conspired to stop me.
OK, it was the pay by phone feature being down that was the real issue.
And while I am sure some stuff has changed – it wasn’t open 24/7 for a start [though now I’m thinking that may never have been the case except maybe weekends] it was lovely to see the old place. Hell, it even made me feel good about the city again.
You see while people love to talk about Sydney for its beauty – which is fair, as it is gorgeous – I always loved it for its quirky character.
The corners.
The places hidden in the shadows.
The slightly questionable rather than glam.
And while so much of it all has now become gentrified, I do love it when I find places that are proud about not changing. Seems crazy, but in a world that always wants to run ahead, there’s something comforting about a pie shop who is stubbornly staying true to who they are.
Almost as comforting as the pies they feed you.
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Asia, Attitude & Aptitude, China, Comment, Context, Culture
A few weeks ago, I had the most bonkers week of my life.
MY. ENTIRE. LIFE.
Of course, it involved China – where bonkers is a beautiful way of life – but it was at a level I could never imagine, let alone imagine I’d ever get to experience.
But it happened and it is something I will treasure and remember for the rest of my days.
But this post is not actually about any of that, it’s about this …
And this ….
I know … I know … it’s a photo of a man cutting a hedge and an empty road which sounds especially boring given this post started with ‘the most bonkers week of my life’.
But the thing is, of all the bonkers stuff that happened [taster: dinner-for-2 with a global superstar in LA, dinner with editors of GQ and Vogue China, asked to bring another global superstar to China, conversations with the head designers of some of the hottest street culture and luxury brands on the planet] those were 2 of the moments that made the biggest impression on me.
It was on my first morning in Beijing.
I woke up very early because of the time zone change.
And because I’m on a health kick, I got up to go out for a walk.
It was light as it’s summer there and as I left the hotel, I saw the guy cutting the hedge and it kind of stopped me in my tracks.
I know that sounds dramatic and over-the-top but it is true …
Part of it was because it triggered Sunday morning memories, where I would hear Dad – or one of the neighbours – cutting the grass. A sonic symbol of family, safety and happiness. A guarantee that whatever happened later in the day, it was starting in a good way.
But it was more than that …
It was the joy of seeing a city literally prepare itself for the day ahead.
And not just any city, but one that is crazy in terms of scale and volume.
Bustling with kinetic energy and possibility.
There was something exciting and reassuring seeing the city actively create the conditions for people to experience and live up to.
All bathed in the warm golden glow of a summer sun, rising to bake us all in its intense heat within an hour or two.
And yet it would be so easy to do none of it.
Let’s be honest, each day tens – if not hundreds – of thousands of people pass through this area and I’m pretty sure few ever notice it.
And yet they do it.
Every day.
OK, so the area I was in was ‘posh’ – full of luxury brands and retailers – so there is an ‘image’ to maintain, but it felt a real gift to be there at that moment.
To experience pride in a job well done and calm before the story.
To welcome the day rather than fear it.
To see the people who make it possible rather than the people who take it for granted.
And while I appreciate you may be fearing for my sanity at this point … the thing is, for a country that cops so much shit for what it ‘does wrong’ from people/media/politicians who often have never even been to the country, they understand the importance of the environment we live and work in far more than many of the places that like to present themselves as having all their shit together.
I know China has a lot wrong with it.
So does every other nation.
But while there’s a lot they can – and need – to do a lot better in, there’s some things, they do miles better than the so called ‘first world nations’.
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Tomorrow we have the day off to celebrate Matariki.
It’s a very important day in New Zealand and if you want to know why, click here.
See you Monday.