Boomer Exercise

For those of you looking for a new career look no furthur than sports medicine. It seems that the boomer generation has started to wear their own bodies down through exercise. Although exercise has become popularized and even touted for disease prevention a lot of people are now going in for all kinds of replacements. From the NYT: As McGowan said, “I might be pushing it, but if I’m going to have a health issue, I’d rather it be orthopedic in nature than cardiac.”

QOTD

Quote of the Day:

“I was on the sixth floor of a hotel in New Delhi,” he recalled, “and when I looked out the window I could see for miles. How come? Because you do not have assured power in Delhi for elevators, so there are not many tall buildings.” No sensible investor would want to build a tall building in a city where the power could go out at any moment and you might have to walk up twenty flights of stairs. The result is more urban sprawl and an inefficient use of space.

From The World is Flat, referring to why India’s economy, as a whole, has not taken off as much as it should (infastructure).

Carnival of Marketing #23

This week I’m hosting the Carnival of Marketing and I’ve got 7 great articles to share with you. Enjoy!

Seth Godin – Marketing in the Car Business

“We should not try to educate or teach the customer about what he or she wants.” Oh.

The Fast Growth Blog – Are Your Employees “Raving Fans?”

“Think about all of the money spent on marketing and sales — all of the ?customer outreach? initiatives, loyalty programs, special offers, etc. How much money is spent to support making employees ?raving fans? of the employer?”

Jim Logan – Stop Playing It Safe, you’re Boring Us To Death!

Odds favor that whatever your competition is doing to build their business is exactly what you shouldn?t be doing.

Career Intensity Blog – Get A New Job Offer Every Month

Creating opportunity is not just a good idea ? it is your responsibility. How many job offers (or new pieces of business for you entrepreneurs) have you received this year?

Fire Someone Today – Authentic advertising, cyborg style

A pretty girl wearing a video screen is as blatant a ?look at me!? advertisement as there is. But it is also a chance to tell a story, because unlike a poster or billboard, your live saleslady can actually talk to your customers. Maybe she should get to try the product.

7CM Marketing Blog – The Importance of Using Keywords In Blogs

Choose a few keywords or short phrases, and work them into your blog entry. Don’t over do it! Nobody wants to read a blog that’s just an obvious set of keywords.

…and to finish off the day with a post with some Easter Sunday relevance:

Church Relevance – How to Find a Church for Easter

?If I never went to church, how would I know when to show up on time??

…and there you have it. I hope you enjoy these posts as much as I did. Next week be sure to stop by firesomeonetoday.com.
[tags]carnival of marketing, business, marketing, advertising[/tags]

Google Calendar, Act I of I

I wrote a play to spite Mr. Veloso (“…Then you come up with a play.”), I hope he hates it. That jerk.

Scene: It’s a dark cloudy morning. The sun is trying to get up but can barely poke through the clouds. Devin rolls over and looks out the window and takes a long look…

Devin: Good morning, World- oh, no I guess it?s not all that good. Today looks like hell.
World: Yup, decided to take the day off. Is that a problem? I?ll crush you if it is?
Devin: Well, no, I was just wondering why today has to be so sucky?

[A tall, happy figure enters the room with a big smile.]

Google: Hey guys, mind if I interrupt?
Devin: Google! Man I haven?t seen you in, like, forevers.
Google: I know, I know. I got busy. I was even thinking of doing some cool stuff for Gmail?s birthday but I got lazy.
Devin: Whatever dude, you made a doodle, you?re still the bestest!
Google: Thanks man, I try. Oh and thanks for re-installing Google Desktop. I really value your data-err, support.

[World checks his watch and decides to check out]

World: Well, I?d love to sit here and watch the lovefest, guys, but I?ve got a flight to catch?
Devin: Ya, whatever, World?.

[Exit World, stage left]

Google: Anyway, I heard you guys talking. You really think today?s a crummy day?
Devin: Ya, basically. The World isn?t giving me much reason to even get up today.
Google: Oh seriously? Well here, I?ve got something you can play with then: Google Calendar.

[Devin opens up a blank page with 7 columns and some tabs]

Devin: Oh snap! This is so .. white, and, box-filled! The rumors nailed this one on the head!

[The sky clears, birds chirp and flowers begin to bloom.]

Google: Dude, I know, right? I thought you?d like it. It was really hard to get the ?boxy? feel, but then, hey, I made it work.
Devin: That you did, dude! I love it. I hope it?s not a beta, though.
Google: Uh, ya, about that?

[Google starts shuffling his feet and looks down at the ground]

Devin: Google! Come on, man? how long for this one?
Google: Well, it might be a while?
Devin: Why?s that?
Google: Well, for starters, when you go to add a new ?Calendar? to your ?Calendar? it won?t show that ?Calendar? unless you sign out and sign back in to ?Calendar?.
Devin: o_O;
Google: Exactly! No biggie though right? Plus it doesn?t yet work in Gmail like I said. Anyway, I?d better run. Make sure you tell your friends it uses AJAX!
Devin: Oh sure thing, buddy! I LOVE AJAX! I LOVE WEB2.0!
Google: Um. Yeah you do. Later?

[A goofy asian slides into the room like Kramer from Sienfield.]

Bryan: Did someone say Web2.0?
Google: No, Bryan, nobody likes you. Go code a ?blog? or whatever it is you do all day?
Bryan: Jerk.
Devin: I still like you Bryan!

[Bryan goes out the door where he proceeds down to Devin?s kitchen. Presumably to make Devin some eggrolls.]

Devin: Weird.
Google: Indeed.
Devin: Well, whatever, Google. See ya later man, I?ll be sure to forget about this in a few weeks just like blog search, catalogs, finance and all the other great products you?ll throw at me!
Google: Attaboy! Don?t forget to buy stock!

[End Scene]

[tags]google, calendar, cl2, review, play[/tags]