Astonish Your Customer(s)

Dream Bigger

"There’s one story that Carmine Gallo thinks will sum up Steve Jobs’ career at Apple. 

An executive who had the job of reinventing the Disney Store once called up Jobs and asked for advice.  Steve’s advice? 

Dream bigger. 

I think that’s the best advice he would give us today and the advice he will continue to offer to Apple as its Chairman.  See genius in your craziness, believe in yourself, believe in your vision, and be constantly prepared to defend those ideas."

TY: Carmine Gallo 

O.D.O.o.O.D.B.

Be a threat

I watched the local high school basketball team the other night with a friend. The big man on the team kept catching passes at the foul line and did very little with the ball, other than pass to a teammate - never turned to face the basket, nor looked to shoot, nor dribbled to the basket.

My friend started yelling at the big man when he caught the ball, "Be a Threat!" 

What a great mantra for marketers, "Be a threat".

Be a threat to your competitors, the status quo (in all its forms). 

How could you and our brand be a threat - follow one or more of the paths used by Apple. Apple didn't invent these methods, they just utilize them routinely and fearlessly. 

O.D.O.o.O.D.B.

Bigger dent in universe than Apple

Steve Jobs is quoted as saying that Apple wants to put a dent in the universe. Maybe Apple has and if they have not, well then they have certainly put a few major dings in it. 

The (tech) company that may be way ahead of Apple in dents delivered to the universe is Industrial Light & Magic -  yes, the George Lucas owned company. 

I recently watched a 2010 documentary on ILM. The sheer scope, complexity, originality, creativity, persistence and quantity of audacious work they have produced is jaw-dropping and inspiring.

It was broadcast on Starz but it can probably be ordered from Netflix. It is a must see. 

O.D.O.o.O.D.B. 

Value or Volume

Polly LaBarre, co-author of the fantastically insightful and educational book, "Mavericks At Work", asks this important question that should be constantly posed by any brand steward. 

How do you grow in ways that increases VALUE, not just volume?

O.D.O.o.O.D.B. 

 

Bill Parcels, noble statements

Blame nobody! 

Expect nothing! 

Do something!

O.D.O.o.O.D.B.