Swisscom - a high speed overview of their recent re-branding effort
via vimeo.com
Slick little video showing how one of Switzerland's leading brands re-branded themselves. No small feat...
From Seth Godin: Win, place or show?
Seth Godin's newest blog post offers some pretty sage advice. There are a million companies out there doing a million things that keep them in the game, but don’t do much more. We can see mediocrity pretty much everywhere we turn – unfortunately very few companies are being unquestionably remarkable. It certainly isn’t easy to be remarkable, but it’s something that everyone should strive for at work and in life.
The Think Big Manifesto by Michael Port is a good read that challenges you to aim for greatness.
15th Ave Coffee & Tea: the Starbucks Experiment
Dear Starbucks,
You grew too big and now you want to be small again, except this time you have investors, board members, and reams of corporate drivel telling you that you must also maintain your position as a stronghold of the coffee industry. You're closing stores because you grew too big for your britches. In the world of coffee, yes, you absolutely can be too big. You just can't have your cake and eat it too.
The idea of the true, authentic coffeehouse is diametrically opposed to the corporation. People don't want to drink coffee with Bill Lumberg, they want to drink coffee with a starving artist.
I appreciate the cheaply made website - although you haven't convinced me that the "sole proprietor" of this new coffeehouse slaved for months to simply get it the site functioning properly. I also appreciate you letting us know all about the brewing process and the different kinds of beans that will be used. It makes for good, informative reading.
In the end, many people looking to experience an authentic cup of joe will go elsewhere...to some guy named Joe who's live long dream was to own a place that slings cups of coffee.
Colgate Wisp: Slap Chop Spoof Infomercial
I'm not sure if this was created by the team at Colgate, but it's pretty funny. The transitions are sneakily my favorite part, and the Zelda-like flute is awesome.
David Ogilvy’s best advice for business (on a handwritten note - such a rarity these days)
1. Remember that Abraham Lincoln spoke of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. He left out the pursuit of profit.
2. Remember the old Scottish motto: “Be happy while you’re living, for you are a long time dead.”
3. If you have to reduce your company’s payroll, don’t fire your people until you have cut your compensation and the compensation of your big-shots.
4. Define your corporate culture and your principles of management in writing. Don’t delegate this to a committee. Search all the parks in all your cities. You’ll find no statues of committees.
5. Stop cutting the quality of your products in search of bigger margins. The consumer always notices — and punishes you.
6. Never spend money on advertising which does not sell.
7. Bear in mind that the consumer is not a moron. She is your wife. Do not insult her intelligence
15 Years of Yahoo Home Pages, 1994-2009
Its amazing to think back on how different the internet was 15 years ago. My family was a little late to the game (we never had Prodigy or whatever those early ISPs were called) - but I'll never forget booting up the Compaq Presario and logging into America Online.
The next 15 years will, without question, be equally as transformational.
Ted Barbeau
Oh...hi...I didn't see you come in.
Welcome to my blog. I'm going to use this space to keep you informed about what I'm up to, what I'm reading, and the things I'm passionate about. Inside you'll find some thoughts on cycling, photography that catches my eye, running or training updates, technology that I'm currently digging and anything else that piques my interest.
Sit down and stay for a while...
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