Monthly Archives: November 2011

November 14, 2011 · 11:17 am

Moby Dick

I was going to write about analytics this morning but I think we’ll save that for later this week (I can hear you all marking your calendars…). Instead, I see that today is the anniversary of the US release of Moby Dick 160 years ago. I’m sure some of you think it’s been making students miserable ever since.

Illustration from an early edition of Moby-Dick

Image via Wikipedia

I have two thoughts – the first is that I find it odd that one of the great American novels was released in London a month before it came out in the US and the bad English reviews drove a harsh reception at home; the second is that it really is a business book in so many ways. Why? Continue reading →

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November 11, 2011 · 9:59 am

The Mother Sauces You Need For Business

Friday again, so let’s talk about food.  I was doing just that with a friend if mine the other day about Mother Sauces.  In classical French cooking, these are the basic sauces upon which all other sauces are built.

Velouté sauce with Calocybe gambosa (mushroom)

Image via Wikipedia

Yes, he’s a trained chef and we were discussing the menu for the restaurant he is opening.  I was telling him the acronym I use to remember them – it’s “Bring Elvis His TV” – Bechamel, Espagnole, Hollandaise, Tomato, and Veloute.   Interesting, I know, but why is this appropriate in a space where we talk about business?  Because it got me thinking about what the Mother “sauces” are for business folks – what are the basic  traits one needs to posses and upon which all other skills are built?

Continue reading →

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November 9, 2011 · 9:56 am

A Little Something For The Effort

I came across a report of a study the other day which falls into the “someone spent money on that??” category.  No, it’s not some misuse of our tax dollars or a replication of Newton’s Laws.  It’s a study by Maritz Research concerning marketers’ use of Twitter.  Or maybe it’s lack of use.  In any event, eMarketer reported on this  and I thought you might enjoy a giggle.  We’re going to be dealing with Twitter but I’m pretty sure you’d get similar results studying Facebook or any other place where brands and consumers connect. Continue reading →

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