5 Ways to be SMART and Set Annual Goals!

It’s that wonderful time of the year right?  A new year means new beginnings, and new adventures, right?  2014 is our chance to press reset, reinvent ourselves, get healthy, lose weight and take on new challenges.  Well not so fast!  Can we take a moment to be honest; most of us have already broken a few New Year resolutions, LOL.  We stifle ourselves or fail to set goals because we can’t decide on what we want to achieve. Most of us fall victim to setting goals we lose sight of as the velocity of life starts to pull one-way or the other, we abandon our path and our goals become after thoughts.

15 Things Successful Brand Managers Should Master

Recently, I spoke on a marketing panel at a Young Entrepreneur’s Conference at the University of Texas, at Dallas.  In my conversations with these bright young dreamers, one reoccurring theme was a constant question….How do you build a successful brand?

Now, I love opportunities like this because it allows me to share a few brand management insights I learned from working with several successful brand managers throughout my career. I wanted to share with you a few of the insights I’ve learned.  I collaborated with my good friend Sheldon Boyea, Senior Brand Manager at Kimberly Clark Corporation to share a list of 15 jewels and insights with you. It is important to understand the consumer is boss and should drive everything you do.  Enjoy!

How the “Connected Car” took a wrong turn!

Ok, you must admit the notion of having a “Dashboard of the Future” is kinda cool, Wifi connected, with streaming audio features, voice commands and social integration screams fun!  I wonder though, face booking, tweeting, texting and driving is a scary notion no matter how cool, sleek and well designed the Dashboard of the future may look.  Automakers are in a rush to design the future automobile that could change the way we drive forever.  Actually it could revolutionize the way we drive forever.  Just think of the amazing things you could do with a smart Dashboard.

Five Reasons Leaders Should Set Annual Reading Goals

Aside from the fact that reading is my guilty pleasure, I thought I’d share a few insights on why I now set annual reading goals and you should too!  Let me set the stage, I developed my passion for reading as a kid obsessing over comic books.  My family will tell you, growing up I was a comic book fanatic or geek.  I once even got into a school yard fight with a friend that stole one of my favorite titles The Death of Captain Marvel  glad we can all laugh about that now, sheesh!

I obsessed over the intricate details of each book; truth is every word seemed to jump off each page granting me the ability to tap a great certain creative energy that only increased as I got older.  Although, my reading tastes have changed over the years it’s still a passion.

3 Ways to Save $4 Million in Super Bowl Advertising

Advertising during the Big Game is every marketers dream opportunity, all the pressure to pull off something brilliant…great way to make your career, right?  Now, let me welcome you to the 21^st century the Age of Technology. These days there are really clever ways to get your message to consumers without spending $4 million in advertising on a Super Bowl Commercial.  I know we all love those witty and sometimes hilarious commercials advertisers push during the Big Game. It makes you wonder if the message really gets through to the consumers.