I have been reading a lot lately, so here is another book review for you! “Blink – The Power of Thinking without Thinking” by Malcolm Gladwell focuses on the first 2 seconds of thinking about a topic. Using research studies and a wide variety of stories and examples, he explains why thinking long and hard about a problem isn’t always the right approach.
While the first half of the book is mainly dedicated to proving his thoughts on the topic, using examples from everyday life, he does address marketing applications of this phenomenon in later chapters. The New Coke debacle, why ice cream comes in round containers, and why customer surveys aren’t always a good indication of product success are just a few of the issues he suggests a solution to.
When I picked up the book for the first time, I didn’t expect it to be such an entertaining read. Gladwell manages to convey his ideas in such a diverse fashion that you can’t wait for the next example he conjures up.
Now go buy this book!
Friday, July 27, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
MBA By Blog
Robert May at the Business Pundit just launched a very interesting project that I absolutely would love to see succeed. It is called MBA by Blog and its goal is to collect the best blogpost of all time, dealing with business related issues. Topics from Accounting to Economics or Marketing are being covered and visitors always have the option of suggesting another category if they feel their educational post doesn’t fit in any of the existing ones.
So far the site is still fairly empty, so if you have an educational, in-depth, business related post, head on over there and submit it!
So far the site is still fairly empty, so if you have an educational, in-depth, business related post, head on over there and submit it!
Monday, July 23, 2007
Reviewing The Age of Conversation
I just finished reading the Age of Conversation, a collaborative work by 103 authors, dispersed around the globe. Each author was given one page to write about the very broad topic. As far as I know, it is the first of its kind. Anyways, the unusual and remarkable back story aside, here is my review of the book:
My first thought after finishing the text was that it seemed like all the blogs in my reader had conspired to all cover the same topic. The easiest way to grasp the book would be to think of a collection of the best blog post on the topic of conversation.
My favorite part about the whole concept was that the final product turned out so diverse. The spectrum ranged from specific guidelines on how to make your corporate video more engaging to more philosophical thoughts on the nature of conversation itself. It was quite an experience. Since each “chapter” is only one page, it was a very quick read. I actually plan on reading the book again, just to make sure I’m not missing out on anything.
As a last thought, the existence of the book itself proves in a way the validity of its content. In this Age of Conversation, it is possible for more than 100 authors to work on one project, without coming face to face.
I recommend this book to anyone, looking for some insightful thoughts on this very relevant topic.
My first thought after finishing the text was that it seemed like all the blogs in my reader had conspired to all cover the same topic. The easiest way to grasp the book would be to think of a collection of the best blog post on the topic of conversation.
My favorite part about the whole concept was that the final product turned out so diverse. The spectrum ranged from specific guidelines on how to make your corporate video more engaging to more philosophical thoughts on the nature of conversation itself. It was quite an experience. Since each “chapter” is only one page, it was a very quick read. I actually plan on reading the book again, just to make sure I’m not missing out on anything.
As a last thought, the existence of the book itself proves in a way the validity of its content. In this Age of Conversation, it is possible for more than 100 authors to work on one project, without coming face to face.
I recommend this book to anyone, looking for some insightful thoughts on this very relevant topic.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Mad Men: A review
I just finished watching the first episode of Mad Men, AMC's new series about the 1960s advertising industry. Since I live in Europe, I had to download it, which means I missed out and the factoids strewn into commercial breaks :-(
Overall I was fairly happy with the show. It was entertaining enough for me to look forward to the next episode. Of course I wasn't even born in the 1960s, much less working on Madison Avenue, so I can't form any judgment about the accuracy of the show.
I do however have a few things to criticize: Sometimes it felt like the creators were forcibly pushing stereotypical culture into the scenes. Especially the excessive, constant alcohol consumption did not seem natural at all. I felt the same way about the sexist attitudes the Mad Men foster. I am fully aware that this was part of the time's culture, but in the show it constantly seemed to be put on display, as if to remind the viewer every scene, what the times were like.
Since this was the pilot, it should be interesting to see, how the characters and plot lines develop over time. I for one, know that I'll be following the show closely.
Overall I was fairly happy with the show. It was entertaining enough for me to look forward to the next episode. Of course I wasn't even born in the 1960s, much less working on Madison Avenue, so I can't form any judgment about the accuracy of the show.
I do however have a few things to criticize: Sometimes it felt like the creators were forcibly pushing stereotypical culture into the scenes. Especially the excessive, constant alcohol consumption did not seem natural at all. I felt the same way about the sexist attitudes the Mad Men foster. I am fully aware that this was part of the time's culture, but in the show it constantly seemed to be put on display, as if to remind the viewer every scene, what the times were like.
Since this was the pilot, it should be interesting to see, how the characters and plot lines develop over time. I for one, know that I'll be following the show closely.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Racing is a State of Mind
yet another Mercedes Commercial that I loved so much, I just had to share it! Those guys are on fire
Low Cost Airlines?
The EU is aiming at low-cost airlines, with its newest proposal, which would force carriers to disclose the full price of a ticket. Air travel providers, such as Ryan Air, traditionally left out airport or security taxes from its advertised prices.
This would be a marketing disaster for many cheap carriers. Their transport is usually considered to be a hassle, with low service. Often times they don’t operate from major commercial airports, resulting in additional transportation charges for consumers. Their main selling point being the low advertised prices, customers might turn to more mainstream airlines, now that the actual travel costs have to be made public. No doubt the prices will still be very competitive and much cheaper than say, Lufthansa, but some might not agree that the price difference is worth the large gap in value.
This would be a marketing disaster for many cheap carriers. Their transport is usually considered to be a hassle, with low service. Often times they don’t operate from major commercial airports, resulting in additional transportation charges for consumers. Their main selling point being the low advertised prices, customers might turn to more mainstream airlines, now that the actual travel costs have to be made public. No doubt the prices will still be very competitive and much cheaper than say, Lufthansa, but some might not agree that the price difference is worth the large gap in value.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
The Age of Conversation
If you follow any marketing blog on a regular basis, you have undoubtedly heard/read about the Age of Conversation. It’s a collective effort by 103 authors, most of which never met face to face. I just downloaded my ebook version of it and can’t wait to start reading. You can look forward to (or dread) a review as soon as I am done with it.
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