Category Archives: Helpful Hints

July 29, 2008 · 12:12 pm

Playing In The Band

I took my daughter to see Bruce Springsteen at Giants Stadium last night – great show, lots of rare material, a good time had by all.  I’ve seen Bruce and the E Street Band many times over the last 35 or so years but each time I do, I’m reminded of the special bond that they have with each other as they perform.

I played in a number of bands throughout junior high, high school, and college.  OK, so we weren’t quite ready for prime time but we were good enough to get paying gigs – quite a few of them, actually.  The way I knew we were ready for them was if any of us could nod or gesture or use a facial expression to get other members of the band to do something as we were playing.  That’s the sign of an organization that’s on the same page and whether you like the Boss’ music or not, you have to acknowledge that the band is TIGHT!  Same thing with the Grateful Dead or the Allman Brothers Band – when you’re jamming and playing a song in a new way every night, the band has to listen to one another, anticipate where everyone wants to go, and keep up.  When it works, it’s magic.  When it doesn’t – well, no one goes home happy (except the promoter).

How tight is your band?  We used to practice almost daily – the general rule was 4 hours of practice for every hour of performance (yes, we still found time to go to classes!).  What are you doing to tighten up your organizaiton?  How can you “practice” so you’re all on the same page when it’s performance time?

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July 28, 2008 · 9:35 am

Where to?

Verizon Wireless announced their earnings this morning and I found something of interest in the announcement.

Data revenues grew 45.3 percent over the prior year, contributing nearly $2.6 billion. The company had 49.6 million retail data customers in June (approximately three-quarters of its retail customer base), a 25.6 percent increase over the prior year.

The above without the benefit of the iPhone on their network.  As you may know, all the evidence is that iPhone users, while a small installed base, account for a disproportionately high percentage of data usage and it’s reasonable to assume that as other advanced devices like the iPhone come to market in the next year or so, demand for data will soar, as will networks’ revenues from them.

So the question really becomes what are you, as someone who is paying an awful lot of attention to yourself on the web, doing about it?  I know – you’ve barely figured out social media for the web – how can you worry about mobile and the integration of content, ads, and community?  How can you not?

I got up to play golf yesterday and it was pouring.  Lightning everywhere, ponding in the back yard.  I did what I always do – go look at the radar, figure out how long it will take to pass, and proceed accordingly, especially since my course has no tee times and if you show up late, you wait.  I figured it would all be gone in an hour so I dressed and drove up there.  Got right out, played in 3 hours, no rain (OK, one tiny shower on 12 but it was gone in 5 minutes).

My point is that as marketers and content providers we need to look at the radar.  A lot.  Verizon’s announcement tells us something and if we don’t act accordingly, we going to have to get in line on the tee.

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July 18, 2008 · 10:20 am

Another for the Old Guys

This is NOT going to become a golf blog, I promise.  I can hear the coughing and snickering from those of you who know of my love for …OK, obsession with…the game, but this is actually going to be about the value of experience.

My friend Joe in England wrote that “the fairest way to describe the English Summer is it sucks!”  If you’ve read yesterday’s piece, you’ll know that the weather has replaced Tiger as the factor to beat this weekend.

And who is atop the Open leader-board at this writing?  A guy six months older than I am.  Greg Norman, course designer, wine maker, etc. reverted to Greg Norman, Champion Golfer for at least two days.  While the young guys are having trouble with the English Summer, Norman, and a couple of old guys about whom you may have read, Rocco Mediate and Tom Watson, are doing quite nicely, thank you.  Sure, young stud Villegas finished with 5 straight birdies, but let’s see where he is tomorrow.

Of course, I have a business thought.  Often a young person has a great idea and, coupled with their almost boundless energy, brings it to fruition in a flash.  Just as often, we older guys get overlooked because in general we’re not about flash any more – it’s about substance, experience, and knowing how to play in the wind and rain.  No one puts your name on the Trophy if you’re leading after the third round.  The trick is to endure and persist through the changing conditions, the bad shots, and the lousy breaks.  Many young people aren’t there yet (the notable golf exception being the Woods kid, who is as mentally tough as a 50 year old).

Hopefully in your business there is enough respect for the people who can’t hit it 325 anymore.  We know how to avoid the trouble and what to do if we get into it, and that’s something only experience brings.  In the words of Toby Keith, “I ain’t as good as I once was, but I’m as good once as I ever was.”  You go, Greg.

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