Sunday, September 4, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Insights
Be as curious and respectful of other people as you can. Be inventive about how to bring more excitement into your interactions. Be out there. (Susan Samuels-Drake)
They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself. (Andy Warhol)
If anyone hates it, do more. (Andy Warhol)
They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself. (Andy Warhol)
If anyone hates it, do more. (Andy Warhol)
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Creativity
I recently began reading Twyla Tharp's New York Times bestseller The Creative Habit to learn how to be more creative every day.
Tharp says that before you can be creative, you have to know how to prepare to be creative (Tharp 9). This preparation involves selecting an environment that works for you, developing a start-up ritual, facing down your fears and temporarily cutting out distractions.
I work well in public libraries and Starbucks. Selecting an environment? Check.
My new weekday start-up ritual will be to wake up before 8am, put on my gym shoes and go outside for roughly 20 minutes. Whether I use that time to take a brisk walk, chase a squirrel up a tree or repeatedly roll down a hill is irrelevant. My goal is to get my body up and moving and to force myself to begin thinking creatively early in the day. Developing a ritual? Check.
I'm often reluctant to speak up in class or at work out of fear that people will think less of me. Similarly, I'm reluctant to take on new projects or try new activities out of fear that I won't be good enough. According to Tharp, "Doing is better than not doing, and if you do something badly you'll learn to do it better" (32).
Wow. Write that down. Singing Karaoke is better than not singing Karaoke. Dancing is better than not dancing. Taking a class is better than not taking a class. Doing something badly is better than not doing it at all. I like that. Facing down my fears? Check.
Facebook is my biggest distraction. PerezHilton comes in at a close second. According to Tharp, cutting out distractions allows you to become more focused. Well, I'm not about to give up Facebook or Perez for a whole week, but I will compromise by attempting to live without Reality TV this week. Temporarily cutting out (some) distractions? Check.
Creativity, I'm ready for you to happen.
Tharp says that before you can be creative, you have to know how to prepare to be creative (Tharp 9). This preparation involves selecting an environment that works for you, developing a start-up ritual, facing down your fears and temporarily cutting out distractions.
I work well in public libraries and Starbucks. Selecting an environment? Check.
My new weekday start-up ritual will be to wake up before 8am, put on my gym shoes and go outside for roughly 20 minutes. Whether I use that time to take a brisk walk, chase a squirrel up a tree or repeatedly roll down a hill is irrelevant. My goal is to get my body up and moving and to force myself to begin thinking creatively early in the day. Developing a ritual? Check.
I'm often reluctant to speak up in class or at work out of fear that people will think less of me. Similarly, I'm reluctant to take on new projects or try new activities out of fear that I won't be good enough. According to Tharp, "Doing is better than not doing, and if you do something badly you'll learn to do it better" (32).
Wow. Write that down. Singing Karaoke is better than not singing Karaoke. Dancing is better than not dancing. Taking a class is better than not taking a class. Doing something badly is better than not doing it at all. I like that. Facing down my fears? Check.
Facebook is my biggest distraction. PerezHilton comes in at a close second. According to Tharp, cutting out distractions allows you to become more focused. Well, I'm not about to give up Facebook or Perez for a whole week, but I will compromise by attempting to live without Reality TV this week. Temporarily cutting out (some) distractions? Check.
Creativity, I'm ready for you to happen.
Monday, March 15, 2010
the future of PR
We talked about the future of Public Relations as a profession in class this week. Our discussion got me excited about my place in this profession. Here is my list of 3 traits that every future PR professional should possess:
1. A proactive approach to technology:
Future PR pros should anticipate new technologies while becoming experts on those that already exist.
2. Curiosity:
The best public relations professionals are insatiably curious. They ask a lot of questions and do a lot of research to formulate campaigns that are both creative and effective. They are constantly seeking out new ways to discover how the public is reacting to their efforts and what they can potentially change to better their efforts.
3. Outstanding people skills:
It's true that new technologies, specifically surrounding the Social Media revolution, are changing the way that brands and organizations market to consumers; however, Public Relations will continue to come down to developing and maintaining quality relationships both internally and externally. PR professionals should aim to create a dialogue between the company and investors, employees, the media and the public.
1. A proactive approach to technology:
Future PR pros should anticipate new technologies while becoming experts on those that already exist.
2. Curiosity:
The best public relations professionals are insatiably curious. They ask a lot of questions and do a lot of research to formulate campaigns that are both creative and effective. They are constantly seeking out new ways to discover how the public is reacting to their efforts and what they can potentially change to better their efforts.
3. Outstanding people skills:
It's true that new technologies, specifically surrounding the Social Media revolution, are changing the way that brands and organizations market to consumers; however, Public Relations will continue to come down to developing and maintaining quality relationships both internally and externally. PR professionals should aim to create a dialogue between the company and investors, employees, the media and the public.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
What Women Want
According to this website, only 3% of Advertising Agency Creative Directors are women, but women make 85% of all brand purchases. When men are from Mars and women are from Venus, it's easy to see why 91% of women in one study said that they feel misunderstood by advertisers.
Sarah Haskins narrates several videos broadcast on Current TV that point out poor marketing campaigns targeted to women. This video pokes fun at 6 advertisements for yogurt:
The first ad Haskins shows in Target Women: Yogurt shows women comparing yogurt to things often associated with women, like shoe shopping. My favorite line from this video is when Haskins says, "Come on guys, name some more stuff I generically relate to." Clearly, these yogurt commercials were developed by men. Although women do tend to be more health concious than men, not every woman is looking to lose weight and I doubt that any woman enjoys being reminded that she should.
Here is another Sarah Haskins video for your enjoyment
Target Women: Doofy Husbands
Haskings hilarious videos make dead-on observations about marketing to women. Women crave developing emotional connections with brands, but feel misunderstood by advertisements. According to she-conomy.com, 92% of women share information about good brand experiences with others. Just as many women most likely share information about bad brand experiences with others. When targeting women, advertisers should be careful not to make assumptions and not to belittle women. We're more than designer shoes, fad diets and fairy-tale endings.
Sarah Haskins narrates several videos broadcast on Current TV that point out poor marketing campaigns targeted to women. This video pokes fun at 6 advertisements for yogurt:
The first ad Haskins shows in Target Women: Yogurt shows women comparing yogurt to things often associated with women, like shoe shopping. My favorite line from this video is when Haskins says, "Come on guys, name some more stuff I generically relate to." Clearly, these yogurt commercials were developed by men. Although women do tend to be more health concious than men, not every woman is looking to lose weight and I doubt that any woman enjoys being reminded that she should.
Here is another Sarah Haskins video for your enjoyment
Target Women: Doofy Husbands
Haskings hilarious videos make dead-on observations about marketing to women. Women crave developing emotional connections with brands, but feel misunderstood by advertisements. According to she-conomy.com, 92% of women share information about good brand experiences with others. Just as many women most likely share information about bad brand experiences with others. When targeting women, advertisers should be careful not to make assumptions and not to belittle women. We're more than designer shoes, fad diets and fairy-tale endings.
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