Rothacker Reviews

That's Different: Bench Barrow

From Core77 Design Blog ---

 

Bench to go - pure ingenuity!  From Rogier Martens.

Consumer Trends

Consumer Trend - "A manifestation of something that has unlocked or newly serviced an existing (and hardly ever changing) consumer need, desire, want, or value” 

Who and what makes consumers do what they do?  It was the quest to answer this question that caused me to read The Tipping Point, one of my all time favorite books, in just two sittings.

How do I spot and apply trends?
When is the right time to act on a trend?
What are good trend resources?
Who sets trends?
What's going to be big in 2009?

If you would like answers to these questions along with some more most excellent information on trends, and don't have time to read a book, please visit Trendwatching's Top 15 Trend Questions. 

Trendwatching does a masterful job of capturing clear and concise information on trends and delivers it in an extremely appealing format.  It just flat out looks good!

Jack's Notebook

Jack's Notebook by Gregg Fraley

Do you remember when the World Series games were played in the afternoon?  Do you know what a young teenage boy did with a hollowed out book......on one of those October afternoons......while at school?  Why listened to the ballgame of course.  I, errrrr he had to trick the teachers into thinking he was studying.

Do you know what Gregg Fraley does by writing Jack's Notebook?  He spins a tale about Jack, a young man who is tired of the daily grind.  He wants a job that has meaning, that makes him jump out of bed and look forward to the day ahead.  Jack joins forces with Dreadlocks girl - Molly, and together they set forth upon a page-turning adventure in search of a new job for Jack.  One key to Jack's success is that he carries a notebook around and journals the journey.  Mr. Fraley however, does something else.  He tricks us. Just when we think we're being held spellbound by an interesting story, we're really being taught how to creatively solve problems.

CPS (Creative Problem Solving) was developed by master creative guru Alex Osborn and now retired professor, Dr. Sidney J. Parnes.  Gregg weaves his own version of CPS throughout Jack's adventure.  He also provides a reference guide to the process in the back of the book.

Gregg says to not get too up tight about processes and methods.  He breaks it down into basics.  Make a list and then make a choice.  One part about this I really, really like.  Do not judge your ideas while making your list.  This will stifle creativity and imagination.  Instead just get the ideas out of your head. I have found that once you've created your list, it's best to let it simmer and brew for a day before beginning to make choices.

This book was Smoked-n-Signed!

Pick up a copy of Jack's Notebook, pick up a notebook for yourself --- and let the journey begin!

Tampa Romance Authors / Writing

Do you have a soft and warm spot in your heart for Romance?  Can you, dear Tampa Bay neighbor, envision cuddling up with a good Romance novel in front of the fireplace...even though you only get to actually use that fireplace once a year?  Sure you can!  Can you envision yourself as the leading female character in that book?  You can do that too!  And why not?  Fantasy is therapy for the challenges we face in everyday life.

Girl yearns for guy.  But girl plays hard to get.  Guy starts suddenly slipping away.  Girl concocts mad scheme to win guy.  Girl gets taste of guy.  Sex involved.  Exquisite amenities cloak every scene. Guy begins to really dig girl.  More sex.  Guy suddenly kidnapped by bad guys.  Conflict sets in.  Girl saves Guy.  Mad, passionate sex involved.  Guy and Girl marry.  Happy ending. (my wife tells me in the real world of romance writing there is probably a little more sex involved :)

Did you ever wonder who writes these heart-throbbing, page-turning tales of love?  How would you like to meet Virginia, C.L., Elissa, Ann and LInnea?...a few accomplished and very successful authors.  You can.  And they'll even autograph one of their books for you!  Stop out Saturday, November 8th between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m., to the Barnes & Noble located in the Carrollwood neighborhood.

But that's not all!

If you buy a book at Barnes and Noble that day, you'll help the folks who help our sick children.  You'll be helping All Children's Hospital - Tampa Guild.  All that you have to do is mention this number to the cashier when you buy your books that day:  376236

Why not nurture that warm spot in your heart and help kids in need at the same time!!  See you there!

To the rest of my friends throughout the United States: Shop at ANY Barnes and Noble Nov.5 - Nov. 10 and a portion of your sale will be donated to All Children's Hospital Tampa Branch!  Just mention this number to the cashier that day:  376236 and you will be helping kids in need!

Rabbit Holes to Wonderland

How would you like to accompany me on a little magical learning adventure?  You would?  Most Excellent!  Let's go!

More Than Words

Why do you write?  What is inside that must come forward?  Is it to make a connection?  A connection to help?  And really, how do you know when you've made that connection?  The connection that stirs your soul.  You listen to feedback...

How did you feel after listening to and watching Judy Collins here?  What is your opinion of this performance?  Of course if we could write in a way similar to the way Judy and the Choir sing, we'd be pretty clear about that connection.

How do we do that?  How do we make that connection?  How, by pouring forth words, do we elicit that type of response? 

The fact is, we never know beforehand just what type of reactions our work will produce.  And really we shouldn't try to produce reactions.  We ought to just tell our story and allow our authenticity a chance to come out and play.

Don't become discouraged if people are not connecting with your stuff.  Look at it as if you were mining rocks - to get to gold.  You might not see gold, but if you don't move the rocks you never will.

Google 411

Information directory ------ on steroids.

David Ogilvy on Advertising

Do you own a small business?  Have you figured out how to make it successful?  Did a person, Web site, seminar, book or course help you?  Did your brother-in-law help you?  Chances are you didn't have the luxury of striking it rich in one brilliant move.  You had to build your business through hard work, grit, determination and the ability to filter every Tom, Dick and Harry's opinion as to how you should run your business.  You did say your brother-in-law's name is Dick, didn't you?

Perhaps today you might consider the opinion of David, an advertising man.  He helped a few companies sell their products and become successful.  You might be familiar with some of them; Campbell Soup Company, Rolls Royce, General Foods, Shell, IBM, Merrill Lynch, etc.  In the world of advertising, David Ogilvy was an icon.  David passed away in 1999, but his legend lives on along with his words.  You need to pick up his book Ogilvy on Advertising. It isn't a textbook, it is a conversation.  I've read the book twice now and I feel as if David and I are sitting in a cherry wood paneled library in two big plush leather chairs looking out over a snow-filled meadow while a fire roars in the fireplace.  He talks to me about advertising and selling products while knocking the residual tobacco from his pipe.

"Wait a minute Dave, the companies that David worked with are all really big companies.  Mine isn't."

Ok, let me guess.  Your brother-in-law knows a printer.  He got you a good deal on printing out a flier.  You mailed a few out.  Or you recently bought Advertising for Dummies.  You are trying to follow it step by step.  Or you know that you should be advertising, so you ask Joe who owns the pool cleaning company.  Joe tells you.  But you're not sure if he understands the difference between pool filters and pepperoni pizza.  Or you listen blindly to the girl who sells ad space for the Neighborhood Newspaper cause you'd like to date her.  By the way, just how much business are you getting out of that ad?

The point is your advertising isn't working.  You either have to do it yourself or hire a company that works with small businesses. Ultimately you should hire the company.  Either way, David will guide you through the process.  But there is a catch.  This book isn't for every small business owner.  It is only for those with an open enough mind to carry on a conversation with a dead ad guy...albeit a charming and wise dead ad guy.  You see, David isn't only going to enlighten you about advertising, if you're open enough, he'll help you build the very core of your business.

"Dave, I ran over to Amazon and ordered up a copy.  It came yesterday.  Dude, this book is written for advertising people."

Well, yes it is.  Here, take this can of WD-40 and shoot a couple drops on the hinges of your mind.  Now, shake each leg a bit and straighten out your underwear.  Good.  Listen up.  Yes David's book was targeted for the field of advertising.  Published in 1983, he writes about getting a job in the business, running an agency, how to advertise for foreign travel and how to make TV commercials.  He also writes about how to produce advertising that sells, direct mail, how to get clients, research, competing with Proctor and Gamble, and six legends who went before him in the industry.  It is mostly in the last group where the treasure for small business owners can be found.  But you will only hear David's sage bits of wisdom if you pretend he is trying to help you run your business.

I know, I know, you're too busy trying to run your business to play pretend.  But if you made it this far here today, try this out...

You hire someone local to do your advertising.  It could be the girl who sells ad space for the neighborhood paper or someone who will design your ad or an agency geared for small business.  Now, listen to what David has to say about his internal operation:

"I never assign a product to a writer unless I know that he is personally interested in it."

As an Advertising Director, he never assigns a product to a writer unless he knows that the writer is personally interested in the product.  Now here's where you have to pretend.  David to you:

"Carol, does Bob the guy who is writing copy for your print advertisement, know anything about you or your products?  Matter of fact, does he use your products?"

See what I mean?

Ok, click on the link here, buy a copy of Ogilvy on Advertising and get ready to help market your business!

Top Ten Dream Jobs

Check out Curt Rosengren's post on the Top Ten Dream Jobs.  Here is Curt's post minus his own commentary at the end.  (Click on Top Ten Dream Jobs for entire post)

Top 10 dream jobs

Kevin Kelly over in Ireland points to a survey of 2000 people done in the UK for  Creative and Cultural Skills that asked people about their dream jobs, both when they were kids and today. Here are the top ten dream jobs.

TOP 10 DREAM JOBS FOR KIDS

1) Doctor/Nurse
2) Vet
3) Footballer
4) Teacher
5) Actor/Movie Star
6) Writer
7) Dancer/Ballerina
8) Pilot
9) Pop Star
10) Astronaut

TOP 10 DREAM JOBS FOR ADULTS

1) Writer
2) Teacher
3) Landscape Gardener
4) Paramedic
5) Photographer
6) Police Officer
7) Physiotherapist
8) Movie Director
9) Restaurant Owner
10) Musician

But what if you don't know?!  What if you don't know what you want to be??  You search for your red rubber ball.  That's what you do. 

Kevin Carroll helps folks find their red rubber balls.  As a matter of fact he's written a book called What's Your Red Rubber Ball?! Subtitled discover your inspiration and chase it for a lifetime, a stroll through Kevin's book takes one on a Seuss-like, "Oh, the Places You'll Go! type journey...with one exception.  You get to create, make and do stuff!  Kevin's book gently tugs at your spirit.  It will invoke your hands and mind to join along with your heart and soul.  Together you will pursue your life's dream.  You will.  Except if you don't.  Because if you don't pick up a copy of Kevin's book, you won't.  So...get on your way friends.  Click on the icon for a copy today!

Trends: Trendwatching

Do you have unopened e-mail newsletters in your inbox?

"Well, errrr, yeah dave, I do."

And those are the ones that you allow into your inbox, aren't they?

"Yeah man, I just don't have time to read them.  But you know, I do pick one or two off every so often."

Do you use Google's GMail?

"daaaaave, I see where you're going with this...."

I let approximately ten e-mail newsletters through my front gate each week and a half dozen more per month.  I read one.  I need to prune two or three from this list. For the balance though, I lean on Google's search capability in my GMail account. 

"dave, that sounds good on paper dude, but how often do you really bring up old e-mail newsletters?"

Not often.  But let me tell you about how a person at a company that sends these newsletters broke through the din of white noise marketing and helped me out.  Michell Zappa, a trend analyst at Trendwatching.com, sent me an e-mail.  Her company noticed that I hadn't opened up their Trend Briefing monthly newsletter for quite a while.  Her concern was two-fold.  One, perhaps my junk mail folder was scarfing up the briefings and I wasn't getting any, and two, perhaps I really didn't want to receive them anymore.  In that case I could opt out and they wouldn't bother me anymore.

Now, of course Michell didn't personally send me this e-mail.  But the thought and gesture pegged out the dave "that's different" meter.  It was so Amazonian.  It meant enough for me to reply back and thank them for their concern.  Janna van Hasselt, from client services did personally reply back to me and thanked me for my note.

Guess what.  A few days later I opened the latest briefing and read it.  Man am I  glad that I did!  If you appreciate knowing what makes consumers do what they do, the pulse of business today, the various economy-related cultures and design (because their briefing is of most excellent design), then sign up for a Trend Briefing of your own today!