WEAPON OF MASS COMMUNICATION

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

WHERE IS THIS GOING?

In 2008, the TSX went from 15,000 points to lower than 12,000 points.
In 2009, the TSX dropped to 6,700 pts.

Where are we headed!?!?!? Is 3,000 points so far off?

No one knows, regardless of stress tests, technical support or any other financial terms I like to pretend to comprehend. I guess ambiguity and evolution are necessary evils that we better get used to living with.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Axe Hair Crisis Relief TVC

Has anyone else been bothered by this camapign? Axe has had it's ups and downs with their TVC campaigns of late. A while back their parent co, Unilever was criticized for talking out of both sides of its mouth with Dove and Axe brands having VERY conflicting markcom positions (Dove's real beauty vs. Axe's emphasis on t+a) .

But I gotta draw the line here >> I'm not cool with cruelty to animals and don't try to tell me that the pig falling from a shopping mall balcony is OK with this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBcToLwEpzM

.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

To read and to do in 2009...

In December, I wrapped up a one helluva year. I finished my MBA, worked full time and produced a 1,000 person sold out new years party on Dec 31 in Montreal (check out my post preceeding this one for an exciting cover story in the Montreal Gazette). As you can see, I didnt have much time to work on a blog which is why this page is pretty crappy thus far. But I'm working on it so stay tuned!

I'm feeling great about my decision to do an MBA. I have to admit this is not the ideal economy to have graduated in to but I have a challenging job and career in a field that I'm passionate about. For that, I am greatful.

As our economy starts to improve (and it will), I think it's critical for people to stay sharp and on point so here are a bunch of titles I took down over the course of my MBA program last year. It leads off with my newest addition and next to-read; from fellow Montrealer Andy Nulman of Airborne Entertainment.

Nulman - POW! Right Between the Eyes
http://powrightbetweentheeyes.typepad.com/

Jack Welch - Winning
http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780060753948/Winning/index.aspx

Sun Tzu - Art of War

http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/The-Art-of-War-Sun-Tzu/9780486425573-item.html?ref=Books%3a+Search+Top+Sellers

Machiavelli - The prince
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/The-Prince-Niccolo-Machiavelli/9780486272740-item.html?__lang=en-CA&ref=Browse+History%3a+CWBAB

The tipping point - gladwell
http://www.gladwell.com/tippingpoint/index.html

To read down the road...

Godin - Purple Cow

Collins - Good to Great

Weinberg / Pavlo Jr. - Stolen without a gun

Klein - No Logo

Lipkin - Keeper of the Flame

Clinton - Giving

Vollmer, Precourt - Always On

Petersen - Better Idea

Happy reading
BR