January 2010 Archives

Maybe it is the economy, stupid, but it seems like there is renewed interest in depicting 'business' in the motion picture industry. Very seldom is business portrayed in a positive light, in whatever medium. Business is at the very epicenter of what we do and who we are. Many people make the mistake of judging people based on what they do rather than who they are. Face it, business and business careers are a fabric of the American psyche.

Giving back has taken on new meaning over the past week. The outpouring of support from all segments of the corporate world for Haitian relief has been nothing short of incredible. The reach of the support for Haiti far outpaces the tsunami relief programs of six years ago.

It is fascinating to watch product/sales categories emerge and die, especially if you're a marketer. One story is playing out daily - the e-reader and eBook category. It dominated the book world over the holidays. It is redefining all the accepted norms of product life cycles. As a voracious reader, I find it compelling. I don't want hard cover books to die, but I might not have a choice!

There once was a time when Amway was a household name in product marketing and branding circles. It seems as if Amway disappeared from my brand consciousness over the past decade or so. That is why I was so curious about the multitude of Amway commercials that I saw over the holidays. They dominated sporting events from NCAA Bowls, the NBA, and ESPN's ubiquitous SportsCenter.