Over at his blog, Seth Godin asks that those of us who have a copy of his book, The Dip, to share it with a friend.
I loved it so much, it's already making the rounds with my mates.
Read it, it's worth it.
During my recent hiatus, I've been reconsidering this blog and what I want to do with it.
I don't really like the fact that people who aren't members of Vox can't post comments. Correct me if I'm wrong, I assume this is the case as I occasionally get comments from people with no posts and no profile so I assume they just signed up to comment, then they left. I've been thinking about the redesign of my business website, a change of name, solid personal branding with the main content coming from the blog which will be on home page. I know you with blogger and others you can have your account directed to a different URL, I don't think I can do this with Vox so will probably settle on an RSS feed... or something... but then I need to run PHP so it returns search results to my site, not vox... and my host wants me to pay more for that. Rah! In short, I've been thinking of leaving.
I've also been reconsidering the focus of my blog. Increasingly I want to write more about marketing communications, social media etc as my work and moves away from graphic design (not that it was ever 'fully' about this) towards marketing. Having said that, I'll soon be blogging on my university staff blog, templatedata. I'm just waiting for IT to finalise access... I've been waiting since December so it should only take another 6 months!! I'm exaggerating... Anyhoo, I'll be doing that a bit over there but it will be focused on using these technologies within higher education. Here I want it to be more focused on the shiny shiny.
Talking about the ladies will remain as I don't think I could help myself whatever my focus is supposed to be ;-)
I'm aware too that having too many topics on my blog I could lose focus... in fact, all this thinking about it over the last few months just led me to write about nothing at all.
Ah dunno, I guess at the end of the day, I'm doing this for me and it shouldn't really matter all that much but still... any suggestions are welcome!
]]>Eek! Back on the pointy end of the upper echelons of higher education for the first time in almost 10 years and hey, it feels OK so far. The only thing I think that may put me off is most of the students in my classes will be doing a Master of Commerce and the Marketing subjects are just a means to an end and not where their main focus is. I guess I kinda knew that would be the case anyways. Perhaps I should have gone for the evening class? More likelihood of Graduate Certificate in Marketing type peeps? Ah well, it's done now.
]]>I was at a Marketing conference in Sydney last week when someone asked the 'woman' question; in this case, "why are there so few female creative directors?" All the men on stage (and they were all men) laughed it off, shuffled their feet, offered up India as an example* of equality in the workplace and we moved on to the next question. The following panel of 'experts' were so chauvinistic and condescending (to the 'young' men as well) that I'm supposing they would have answered the question with, "what are you doin' out of the kitchen honey?" I'm talking to you Harold Mitchell. Thank goodness for Amy Smith, Chief Executive of JWT - you rock and I'll be coming to work for you when I get my Masters.
A similar question was raised in NY, read about it here at Design Observer.
I ask myself, do I WANT to try and get ahead in this competitive dog eat dog homo erotic pseudo mateship bully boy playground environment? What is 'ahead'? Can you ever get to 'the top' and is 'the top' necessarily a good place to be? Perhaps if more men asked themselves these questions and developed their own definition of success rather than compare the size of their wallets/cars/penises we could begin to build a more equal environment.
* would YOU be happy climbing the corporate ladder knowing it was because of the women in your servitude who had no shot at the opportunities you do because of the caste they were born into? Equality for you is not gained at the expense of others.
]]>Apparently 'my people' are now a demographic all our own. I look upon this with some amusement as those that congregate under the rainbow coloured GLBTIQ banner of increasing acronyms are about a diverse a bunch as you can get really. I mean, can somebody please tell me what on earth I am supposed to have in common with a gay man? Peenies, hairy bottoms, handbags and fag hags on one hand vs pussy, smooth round curves, wouldn't be caught dead with one and... nope, there is no dyke equivalent. Yes, I generalise.
Markets Focus: Is the Word Getting Out?
Larry Dobrow
Quick word to those who are marketing to 'The Gay Community' TM - Put your money where your mouth is. An add in the local gay press saying "we support... blady blah blah" does not cut it. We're not stupid. If you really want to show your support, make sure you have a non discriminatory workplace policy, donate to charities and community groups who DO provide us with support and please, do more than just ask you brothers, wife's cousin who 'has gay friends' for advice on marketing strategy. Gratuitous advertising in the form of putting a float in the Sydney Mardi Gras does NOT count; I will not name names but we all know who they are.
]]>... I will not be sorry to see you go.
This last year or so have been a very trying and growing pained and all together a roller-coaster ride of emotion and life changing ups and downs. So, roller-coaster by the sea, thank you for helping me but I am very very much looking to jumping off this ride. For those of you who have lived through the age of 29 you will probably know what I am talking about; for those of you who have yet to experience your Saturn return, I wish you luck! Basically, it's the time in your life when the planet Saturn returns to the spot in your birth chart that it occupied when you were born. It's a time of intense reflection; a time to reassess your life and where you're headed with it and also for most, a new direction or specialisation in your chosen field.
I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up, not for 100% certain, but I do have a much better idea these days. As I mentioned earlier, I have myself a proper grown up job, I'm studying Graphic Design part time and after assessing my options, I have decided to apply to study a Graduate Certificate in Marketing at Sydney Uni with a view to trying my hand at a Masters once I've completed that. It's all coming together nicely, I work at Sydney Uni, in the Marketing and External Relations department of the Faculty of Economics and Business, where Marketing is taught... a pretty strong sign no?! I was looking at AWARD School and I may still apply for 2008 but I can't ignore the signs that Sydney Uni seems to be the place I should be. I had a chat with one of the Professors today and discovered that the electives within the Certificate I was looking at: Marketing Communications, Creative Communications in Marketing and Brand Management are all taken by Adjunct Lecturers who are all well respected Creative Directors at the top of their field out in 'The Real World' TM. An important consideration when undertaking University study.
So, I have 'til the end of the month to get in my application, I've been told that not having an Undergraduate Degree should not be a hindrance especially as I have some industry experience, am undertaking my Diploma and have volunteered my time to do PR and Marketing for my Soccer Club over the last 2 years.
Cross your fingers for me!