I recently watched The Sex and The City Movie and in it a pregnant Charlotte confides to Carrie that she is afraid her life is too perfect.....that something is going to happen to ruin it. She is afraid she will lose her child because she finally has it all. She can't believe that she can be happy.....that everything is finally positive in her life. Those thoughts resonate with me because I also believe the same thing. When things are going really well in my life, I sometimes feel guilty about enjoying it to the fullest because I am too busy waiting for disaster to strike. Some might say I am jaded, but when it happens time and time again to you it becomes harder to enjoy the perfect times.....knowing that just around the corner you are going to get hit by a Mack Truck.
Here are my reasons:
Got married and then I lost my MomMom who lived with me growing up and was like a second Mom to me.
Had my first child and my husband's Father past away. He also almost lost his Mom three months later. He still says to this day he doesn't remember the first year of our son's life.
Had my daughter and a week later my Mom had a Grand Mal Seizure and almost died.
My list goes on and on.....but I am sure I made my point.
From the business side, marketers also love to pile on the guilt when it comes to selling products or lifestyles. They use guilt to sell you sunblock (skin cancer), diet products (you don't want to be fat) and even vacations(you are not spending enough time with your family). I can't remember the last time I got through a day where I wasn't made to feel guilty about something in my life. Perhaps it started with the religion I was raised with. I remember being guilty of committing a sin, guilty of not going to confession enough, or guilty because I didn't finish the rosary as penance. The guilt continued to grow as I entered adulthood. Now I think my guilt is so internalized that it becomes more difficult to figure out if I am living my life to make everyone else happy or if I should be following a different path.
There are companies that are using guilt to market in a different way. One example of a company using "Guilt Marketing for the Good of the Consumer" that I found on Dan's Bullets Blog (Dan Henderson) is Esser Vineyards.
"Manfred Esser launched his own wine label. Esser Vineyards is now one of California's newest hot contenders, despite competition with, as Esser puts it, "about 80,000 different competitors." How does he do it? Esser calls it "guilt marketing."
"You treat your customers soooo well, that you create a sense of obligation for them to come back for more. And, even more than that, to become ambassadors for your company. They actually feel guilty if they forget about you."
He's not recommending tricks or or cleverness or high-pressure selling and hard closing. He's recommending a quality product and treating your customers like Kings and Queens. Make them feel special. Let them know you really care about them for even the smallest purchase.
It's rapport building and relationship building. And it works".
I agree with essence of Esser's marketing philosophy because I can't even escape guilt when purchasing products or services. I have my favorite brands that I have developed an emotional attachment with whether Disney, Adidas, and Victoria Secret. If I just happen to purchase a competitor I feel a small tinge of guilt. I guess those companies have wooed me enough that I feel like I am "cheating" on them by purchasing elsewhere.
Esser's style of guilt marketing works well in personal relationships too. I feel that if you treat your friends and family the same way......with dedication, sincerity, and love they will never forget you too!! As for dealing with guilt.....I hope that with age comes less of it.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Friday, January 9, 2009
The Marketing of Social Norms/Rules
The Marketing of Social Norms/Rules
I have been fascinated with the idea of what people consider normal. What rules are we supposed to follow? Which ones can we break without much repercussion? The idea of linking norms to marketing has also occurred as a way of implementing change. This idea of social norms marketing became extremely popular in early 2000.
According to the New York Times, "Social-norms marketing is the science of persuading people to go along with the crowd. The technique works because people are allelomimetic -- that is, like cows and other herd animals, our behavior is influenced by the behavior of those around us. The technique stems from a watershed study conducted by H. Wesley Perkins, a professor of sociology at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, N.Y. Perkins found that students consistently overestimated how much alcohol their fellow students drank. In turn, these students drank more themselves, in an attempt to meet their misperceived standard of normalcy. Northern Illinois University began the first social-norms marketing campaign on a college campus in 1990, using newspaper ads, posters and handouts to deliver the message that, contrary to popular belief, most students had fewer than five drinks when they partied. By 1999, incidents of heavy drinking (five or more drinks) by Northern Illinois University students was down 44 percent. "So what is normal?
How hard it is too change the idea of normal? Is it normal to cheat, lie and steal your way through life? What is considered thin? Is it normal for most marriages to fail? How normal is it for someone to be successful...strike it rich? Everytime see a social commentary on some everyday life fact.....more teenagers are having sex, most college students have drinking problems, etc...I find the need to dig deeper. What are the actual facts and real data? Is everyone really doing it?
I find so many ads targeting young people and pushing some made up ideal of what is normal. This leads me to one of the most promoted social norm in society. The idea of instant gratification. I have observed that more and more young people are pursuing the idea of instant gratification as a religion. They look at life as with the same though on material items of "well if my friends own or buy it then I must also do they same". This has lead to dramatic increase in debt to young people. Why must your first car be a Lexus or BMW? Why can't your first home be a starter home and not a McMansion? I am curious where this mentality comes from. How did you learn about financial planning and monetary ideas? Did your parents stress the importance of savings or did you learn on your own through making mistakes?
I was fortunate enough to spend an entire day with a classroom of nine year olds. I was there as part of a Junior Achievement program that looks to teach young kids business ideas and principles. My last lesson of the day consisted of teaching the children all about credit cards, ATM cards and balancing a checkbook. We also discussed the idea of saving money. I was totally astounded by how many of the students accurately answered my questions. They knew that if you bounced a check you could get in trouble (it ranged from a monetary penalty to significant jail time in their words). The students also mentioned how you need to work hard and save money if you want to have really nice, large things (again..their words). What shocked me most of all was that 90% of them had a negative view on credit cards. The students said that if you use a credit card it is not really your money and so you should watch using them.
It seemed to that these young people had a very educated view on financial matters and that somewhere between nine and perhaps 18 years of age major changes occur. Is it perhaps they lose the idea of the value of money? Is it the current peer pressure the causes them to embrace credit cards? I am hoping that perhaps this new generation won't fall into the same traps that I have seen happen to cohorts and the younger generation. I hope the new norm will be saving versus spending on plastic.
I would love to see more social norm marketing experiments implemented to see if we can change the current norms. What if all magazines or top retail stores started using "normal" sized models? Skinny is out. Having some curves is in. Would it affect the general population's thinking? I recently saw a study of 9-12 year olds that asked them who the coolest kid was in school. Their view of cool was the computer geek....most responded that the student who had the most knowledge of computers and the Internet was the coolest kid in school. Perhaps things are changing.....
I have been fascinated with the idea of what people consider normal. What rules are we supposed to follow? Which ones can we break without much repercussion? The idea of linking norms to marketing has also occurred as a way of implementing change. This idea of social norms marketing became extremely popular in early 2000.
According to the New York Times, "Social-norms marketing is the science of persuading people to go along with the crowd. The technique works because people are allelomimetic -- that is, like cows and other herd animals, our behavior is influenced by the behavior of those around us. The technique stems from a watershed study conducted by H. Wesley Perkins, a professor of sociology at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, N.Y. Perkins found that students consistently overestimated how much alcohol their fellow students drank. In turn, these students drank more themselves, in an attempt to meet their misperceived standard of normalcy. Northern Illinois University began the first social-norms marketing campaign on a college campus in 1990, using newspaper ads, posters and handouts to deliver the message that, contrary to popular belief, most students had fewer than five drinks when they partied. By 1999, incidents of heavy drinking (five or more drinks) by Northern Illinois University students was down 44 percent. "So what is normal?
How hard it is too change the idea of normal? Is it normal to cheat, lie and steal your way through life? What is considered thin? Is it normal for most marriages to fail? How normal is it for someone to be successful...strike it rich? Everytime see a social commentary on some everyday life fact.....more teenagers are having sex, most college students have drinking problems, etc...I find the need to dig deeper. What are the actual facts and real data? Is everyone really doing it?
I find so many ads targeting young people and pushing some made up ideal of what is normal. This leads me to one of the most promoted social norm in society. The idea of instant gratification. I have observed that more and more young people are pursuing the idea of instant gratification as a religion. They look at life as with the same though on material items of "well if my friends own or buy it then I must also do they same". This has lead to dramatic increase in debt to young people. Why must your first car be a Lexus or BMW? Why can't your first home be a starter home and not a McMansion? I am curious where this mentality comes from. How did you learn about financial planning and monetary ideas? Did your parents stress the importance of savings or did you learn on your own through making mistakes?
I was fortunate enough to spend an entire day with a classroom of nine year olds. I was there as part of a Junior Achievement program that looks to teach young kids business ideas and principles. My last lesson of the day consisted of teaching the children all about credit cards, ATM cards and balancing a checkbook. We also discussed the idea of saving money. I was totally astounded by how many of the students accurately answered my questions. They knew that if you bounced a check you could get in trouble (it ranged from a monetary penalty to significant jail time in their words). The students also mentioned how you need to work hard and save money if you want to have really nice, large things (again..their words). What shocked me most of all was that 90% of them had a negative view on credit cards. The students said that if you use a credit card it is not really your money and so you should watch using them.
It seemed to that these young people had a very educated view on financial matters and that somewhere between nine and perhaps 18 years of age major changes occur. Is it perhaps they lose the idea of the value of money? Is it the current peer pressure the causes them to embrace credit cards? I am hoping that perhaps this new generation won't fall into the same traps that I have seen happen to cohorts and the younger generation. I hope the new norm will be saving versus spending on plastic.
I would love to see more social norm marketing experiments implemented to see if we can change the current norms. What if all magazines or top retail stores started using "normal" sized models? Skinny is out. Having some curves is in. Would it affect the general population's thinking? I recently saw a study of 9-12 year olds that asked them who the coolest kid was in school. Their view of cool was the computer geek....most responded that the student who had the most knowledge of computers and the Internet was the coolest kid in school. Perhaps things are changing.....
Friday, January 2, 2009
A Call for Effective Mentoring in College and Teaching Personal Branding
I apologize if the title of my latest blog entry is a bit ambitious but I am very passionate about these two subject matters. As the new year begins I have sworn to pursue both mentoring and personal branding. I have been teaching at local colleges for the past eight years, and feel that many do not offer a strategic plan regarding mentoring and networking for college students. There should be a class on Personal Branding and how to differentiate yourself in the marketplace. Semester after semester I have students approach me and ask how they can get a job in a specific industry. Students seem at a loss as to how to marketing themselves, which is ironic since most of my students are pursuing a degree in marketing. Here are some of my suggestions that I offer to each student:
1) You must have an idea of what interests you. What are you good at? What hobbies or talents do you have? Those are the industries you should target.
2) Update your resume to include not just where you worked, but what did you do for the company. Don't just say you are managed people for a retail store. Give specific quantitative facts that showed you increased productivity 20% or increased sales 10% versus last year. Students should also have multiple resumes that showcase specific skills. When you are applying for a sales job the resume should be focused on sales skills. Have a few ready to utilize based on the job you are pursuing. This is where personal branding is important. You must differentiate yourself from every other college student.
3)Personal Branding: Don't be afraid to network and advertise - YOURSELF. Join linkedin, Twitter and Facebook. Please clean up your Facebook account so that pictures of you drinking and passed out on the floor don't show when a potential business connection checks you out. Twitter is an amazing resource for networking. Search out people who are in the industry you want to join. Follow them and engage them with questions. You will be amazed at how willing they are to share ideas and information.
I am also constantly bothered by the fact that large companies offering lucrative jobs bypass my local university. There is a need to have companies such as Hershey, Frito Lay and Coke visit and recruit during on campus job fairs. I also wish that there was a better resource to utilize or match students with mentors during their college career. There are many companies that are looking for ambitious, intelligent students to work for their company. Somewhere though there is a disconnect.
An example occurred during my last semester. One of my students was desperately trying to find an internship for the Spring and wasn't sure what she wanted to do. I had her make a list of her skills and the type of responsibilities she would want in a job. Would she want to work in an office? Does she like to meet new people? Would she want the job to be writing intensive? She presented me the list and I gave her a few job industry selections. She thought about the industries and decided that based on our research she thought the Convention industry would be perfect for her. I contacted a friend of mine who worked as a manager for a Visitors and Convention Bureau and hoped that the two could meet. I was hoping that my student would perhaps find a mentor. The end result was even better than I hoped, as she was offered an internship for the Spring and was so excited for the opportunity. I believe that this should be happening in a more structured manner in the University setting.
Every semester I try and take a few minutes during a class and cover how to network and utilize social media for personal branding. I wish somehow I was able to spend more time on this subject matter so that students are prepared and self assured entering this difficult job market. Lastly if anyone reading this blog is interested in being a mentor...well ..you know where to find me.
1) You must have an idea of what interests you. What are you good at? What hobbies or talents do you have? Those are the industries you should target.
2) Update your resume to include not just where you worked, but what did you do for the company. Don't just say you are managed people for a retail store. Give specific quantitative facts that showed you increased productivity 20% or increased sales 10% versus last year. Students should also have multiple resumes that showcase specific skills. When you are applying for a sales job the resume should be focused on sales skills. Have a few ready to utilize based on the job you are pursuing. This is where personal branding is important. You must differentiate yourself from every other college student.
3)Personal Branding: Don't be afraid to network and advertise - YOURSELF. Join linkedin, Twitter and Facebook. Please clean up your Facebook account so that pictures of you drinking and passed out on the floor don't show when a potential business connection checks you out. Twitter is an amazing resource for networking. Search out people who are in the industry you want to join. Follow them and engage them with questions. You will be amazed at how willing they are to share ideas and information.
I am also constantly bothered by the fact that large companies offering lucrative jobs bypass my local university. There is a need to have companies such as Hershey, Frito Lay and Coke visit and recruit during on campus job fairs. I also wish that there was a better resource to utilize or match students with mentors during their college career. There are many companies that are looking for ambitious, intelligent students to work for their company. Somewhere though there is a disconnect.
An example occurred during my last semester. One of my students was desperately trying to find an internship for the Spring and wasn't sure what she wanted to do. I had her make a list of her skills and the type of responsibilities she would want in a job. Would she want to work in an office? Does she like to meet new people? Would she want the job to be writing intensive? She presented me the list and I gave her a few job industry selections. She thought about the industries and decided that based on our research she thought the Convention industry would be perfect for her. I contacted a friend of mine who worked as a manager for a Visitors and Convention Bureau and hoped that the two could meet. I was hoping that my student would perhaps find a mentor. The end result was even better than I hoped, as she was offered an internship for the Spring and was so excited for the opportunity. I believe that this should be happening in a more structured manner in the University setting.
Every semester I try and take a few minutes during a class and cover how to network and utilize social media for personal branding. I wish somehow I was able to spend more time on this subject matter so that students are prepared and self assured entering this difficult job market. Lastly if anyone reading this blog is interested in being a mentor...well ..you know where to find me.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Marketing Adaptation During a Recession
Companies need to adapt their marketing strategies during a recession to keep consumers' interest. Having an efficient and productive marketing plan is essential to all businesses, but during a recession the need becomes even more important if companies are planning on surviving. Before you adjust your marketing plan it is important to look at the type of product you are trying to market. Is the product a shopping, specialty or luxury good? As a marketer you also might need to change the focus of your product’s attributes in order to keep the consumer’s attention.
Marketers need to look at companies that are surviving successfully during an economic downturn. What ways have they adapted to keep their customers happy? One example is McDonalds. Instead of advertising their specialty burgers, they are promoting their value menu and are still getting people to “eat out”. Companies also need to consider offering free shipping or other discounts to attract consumers. Consumer good products such as grocery or health and beauty aids also need to adapt how they utilize sales promotions. Redemption of coupons is usually around 2 percent, so in recent years companies have moved away from issuing coupons. The latest numbers though show an increase in consumer interest. In a recent Brand week article, “72% of consumers are using more coupons than they did six months ago. Three-quarters of those respondents claimed the economy made them do it”. Smart companies are now offering online or traditional coupons with a shorter expiration date, which causes the consumer to make a purchase in the short term.
When corporate tightens marketing’s budget, the need to look elsewhere to advertise and promote your product or service becomes even more critical. Many companies such as Dunkin Donuts have embraced social media websites such as Twitter.com. Twitter.com is a social media website which allows individuals or even companies to follow or be followed by individuals. In short “Tweets” companies can update loyal customers about new promotions, new products and even ask for feedback. Most of the individuals on Twitter.com are innovators or the opinion leaders that companies long to reach anyway. The best is that the entire idea doesn’t cost Dunkin Donuts much except for the time of an employee to handle the media sites. Dunkin Donuts recent "Tweets" have consisted of free coffee giveaways near local colleges, and also reminding customers about D&D holiday gift ideas.
Is it possible to still sell a luxury item during a time when consumers are cutting back on their purchases? One way marketers can try to promote their more expensive products is to move away from focusing on status or image benefits and instead focus on quality or safety. An example would be to try and convince a consumer to pay more for a luxury vehicle by showing them that in the long run the repair bills will be less. Promote the idea of safety so that the consumer will feel that spending more brings them some type of cognitive reward and not just a feeling of status.
Understanding consumer demand and being able to rapidly adapt to changes is another important criteria. The American car manufacturers ignored the consumer trend of small and more fuel efficient cars. Missed opportunities are even more financially damaging during a recession. Marketers need to constantly reevaluate their marketing strategies and adapt wherever possible to the challenge of the financial landscape. By not keeping track of their consumer’s financial struggles will lead to a company facing a huge drop in demand and eventually obsolescence.
Marketers need to look at companies that are surviving successfully during an economic downturn. What ways have they adapted to keep their customers happy? One example is McDonalds. Instead of advertising their specialty burgers, they are promoting their value menu and are still getting people to “eat out”. Companies also need to consider offering free shipping or other discounts to attract consumers. Consumer good products such as grocery or health and beauty aids also need to adapt how they utilize sales promotions. Redemption of coupons is usually around 2 percent, so in recent years companies have moved away from issuing coupons. The latest numbers though show an increase in consumer interest. In a recent Brand week article, “72% of consumers are using more coupons than they did six months ago. Three-quarters of those respondents claimed the economy made them do it”. Smart companies are now offering online or traditional coupons with a shorter expiration date, which causes the consumer to make a purchase in the short term.
When corporate tightens marketing’s budget, the need to look elsewhere to advertise and promote your product or service becomes even more critical. Many companies such as Dunkin Donuts have embraced social media websites such as Twitter.com. Twitter.com is a social media website which allows individuals or even companies to follow or be followed by individuals. In short “Tweets” companies can update loyal customers about new promotions, new products and even ask for feedback. Most of the individuals on Twitter.com are innovators or the opinion leaders that companies long to reach anyway. The best is that the entire idea doesn’t cost Dunkin Donuts much except for the time of an employee to handle the media sites. Dunkin Donuts recent "Tweets" have consisted of free coffee giveaways near local colleges, and also reminding customers about D&D holiday gift ideas.
Is it possible to still sell a luxury item during a time when consumers are cutting back on their purchases? One way marketers can try to promote their more expensive products is to move away from focusing on status or image benefits and instead focus on quality or safety. An example would be to try and convince a consumer to pay more for a luxury vehicle by showing them that in the long run the repair bills will be less. Promote the idea of safety so that the consumer will feel that spending more brings them some type of cognitive reward and not just a feeling of status.
Understanding consumer demand and being able to rapidly adapt to changes is another important criteria. The American car manufacturers ignored the consumer trend of small and more fuel efficient cars. Missed opportunities are even more financially damaging during a recession. Marketers need to constantly reevaluate their marketing strategies and adapt wherever possible to the challenge of the financial landscape. By not keeping track of their consumer’s financial struggles will lead to a company facing a huge drop in demand and eventually obsolescence.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Do things happen for a reason?
I have been in a very philosophical mood lately. My entire life I have been a classic "Type A" personality. I find it very hard to just live in the moment and enjoy life. Constantly planning, organizing and learning are the epitome of my life's journey. I wish that I had the personality of my brother who can just deflect problems and live life with a much laid back attitude. There has been one philosophical approach that has helped me learn to take a bigger picture of life. The saying of "All things happen for a reason". I especially feel this occurs with friendships.
As the years pass and challenges are met, I am able to look back and clearly see a path that wasn't always obvious when I was careening down it. Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do certain people come into your life....while you lose touch with others? Sometimes a person will just take over my life in this blaze and it is clear that we have a friendship due to a specific reason. Other times I am lost as to why I am engaging in certain relationships.....especially if it feels very one-sided. Sometimes the picture becomes clearer many years later when certain friendships become my anchor in times of stress. The times that I have been faced with the hardest challenges, the most difficult decisions, and the most traumatic events have all lead me down a path that has resulted with life-altering changes. Fortunately most have worked out in my favor.....so does that mean that I made the "right" choices? I love the 1998 movie "Sliding Doors" because its story is based on a story of Gwyneth Paltrow's Helen. "Helen is fired from her job at a PR company, and when the sliding doors of the tube car close on her, we start to see what would have happened if she'd made the train, and if she hadn't." The movie shows not only that things happen for a reason but the impact of fate.
Although I was brought up in a strict Catholic household, I haven't embraced any type of organized religion in years. I find philosophical discussions much more enticing and engaging. During the craziness of this holiday season I like to take the time to reach out to each of my friends and let them know how I value their friendship and support.......because without them I would be even more lost. I would love to hear any of your thoughts about whether you believe things happen for a reason?
As the years pass and challenges are met, I am able to look back and clearly see a path that wasn't always obvious when I was careening down it. Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do certain people come into your life....while you lose touch with others? Sometimes a person will just take over my life in this blaze and it is clear that we have a friendship due to a specific reason. Other times I am lost as to why I am engaging in certain relationships.....especially if it feels very one-sided. Sometimes the picture becomes clearer many years later when certain friendships become my anchor in times of stress. The times that I have been faced with the hardest challenges, the most difficult decisions, and the most traumatic events have all lead me down a path that has resulted with life-altering changes. Fortunately most have worked out in my favor.....so does that mean that I made the "right" choices? I love the 1998 movie "Sliding Doors" because its story is based on a story of Gwyneth Paltrow's Helen. "Helen is fired from her job at a PR company, and when the sliding doors of the tube car close on her, we start to see what would have happened if she'd made the train, and if she hadn't." The movie shows not only that things happen for a reason but the impact of fate.
Although I was brought up in a strict Catholic household, I haven't embraced any type of organized religion in years. I find philosophical discussions much more enticing and engaging. During the craziness of this holiday season I like to take the time to reach out to each of my friends and let them know how I value their friendship and support.......because without them I would be even more lost. I would love to hear any of your thoughts about whether you believe things happen for a reason?
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Santa's Elves are Coming (AKA Mattel, Hasbro, Nintendo...well you get the picture).
According to a recent study by the NPD Group, last year 100% of U.S. households that have children under age 6 bought at least one toy and spent $485. This doesn’t get Grandma and Aunt Susan off the hook though -- according to the report, 88% of households with no kids present under the age of 18 still purchased at least one toy last year and spent an average of $113.
I have such great childhood memories of playing with Matchbox cars, Lincoln Logs, puzzles and even Intellivision. All of these toys brought my brother and I great joy and we spent hours playing with them. Today's kids are an entirely different breed. The toys that they play with need to be more complicated and challenging.
I spent a few years working in marketing for Mattel Toys. I had trouble finding most of the toys different from what was already on the market. Many of the toy ideas came straight from a 40 year old designer's minds. This did not help gain the attention of a five year old boy. One of the most stressful factors about working in the toy industry is that an entire new product line had to be developed every six months. Easter and Christmas were the two seasons we had to plan for every year. The product life cycle of a toy was so quick.....and fad based on many occasions.
My frustration with the toy industry continued once I did have children. As a naive parent I would succumb to their requests and buy toys that they had requested based on catalog ads or television commercials. The problem would be that the toy would be played with for about one week and then my kids would quickly lose interest. I found a perfect solution to this dilemma about three years ago.
There is a company called MindWare (brainy toys for kids of all ages). Their website is www.mindware.com. The toys are amazing products that challenge, educate and just are plain fun. Every single toy I have purchased from this company has remained interesting to both of my children. Some of my favorites are: Snap Circuits 300, Science Grade microscopes, Gears, Gears, Gears and the Rush Hour Game. All of these toys have won numerous Awards from Dr. Toy of the Year to Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Award.
Now I don't want you to think that I am a scrooge....of course I still buy one or two of the traditional toys such as baby dolls for my daughter or Lego Kits / Wii games for my son.....but the majority of their toys come from catalogs such as Mindware. I do have a special point to make concerning video games. I have no problem with my children playing video games and think there is a lot of great skills and fun that can be had. When my father was operated on for prostate cancer, his surgeon performed the surgery with a DaVinci Robotic Arm. His surgeon ( who by the way looked to be 25 years of age) told me that most of the top surgeons who utilize the last robotic instruments developed their talents and excellent hand -eye coordination by playing video games :)
In the coming weeks, you will be smothered with numerous advertising and promotion toy campaigns. Try and be an educated consumer and not buy a pile of plastic that won't hold your child's interest. Check out Mindware.com instead!
I have such great childhood memories of playing with Matchbox cars, Lincoln Logs, puzzles and even Intellivision. All of these toys brought my brother and I great joy and we spent hours playing with them. Today's kids are an entirely different breed. The toys that they play with need to be more complicated and challenging.
I spent a few years working in marketing for Mattel Toys. I had trouble finding most of the toys different from what was already on the market. Many of the toy ideas came straight from a 40 year old designer's minds. This did not help gain the attention of a five year old boy. One of the most stressful factors about working in the toy industry is that an entire new product line had to be developed every six months. Easter and Christmas were the two seasons we had to plan for every year. The product life cycle of a toy was so quick.....and fad based on many occasions.
My frustration with the toy industry continued once I did have children. As a naive parent I would succumb to their requests and buy toys that they had requested based on catalog ads or television commercials. The problem would be that the toy would be played with for about one week and then my kids would quickly lose interest. I found a perfect solution to this dilemma about three years ago.
There is a company called MindWare (brainy toys for kids of all ages). Their website is www.mindware.com. The toys are amazing products that challenge, educate and just are plain fun. Every single toy I have purchased from this company has remained interesting to both of my children. Some of my favorites are: Snap Circuits 300, Science Grade microscopes, Gears, Gears, Gears and the Rush Hour Game. All of these toys have won numerous Awards from Dr. Toy of the Year to Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Award.
Now I don't want you to think that I am a scrooge....of course I still buy one or two of the traditional toys such as baby dolls for my daughter or Lego Kits / Wii games for my son.....but the majority of their toys come from catalogs such as Mindware. I do have a special point to make concerning video games. I have no problem with my children playing video games and think there is a lot of great skills and fun that can be had. When my father was operated on for prostate cancer, his surgeon performed the surgery with a DaVinci Robotic Arm. His surgeon ( who by the way looked to be 25 years of age) told me that most of the top surgeons who utilize the last robotic instruments developed their talents and excellent hand -eye coordination by playing video games :)
In the coming weeks, you will be smothered with numerous advertising and promotion toy campaigns. Try and be an educated consumer and not buy a pile of plastic that won't hold your child's interest. Check out Mindware.com instead!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
When It Rains...It Pours
I have to begin this blog entry by warning you that it has nothing to do with marketing. This time of year brings such mixed emotions for me. I met and then married my husband during the Fall and both of my children were born during this time of year. But I also have had some brutal times during one Oct/Nov time period two years ago. My Mom started having concerns that this black cloud that had settled overhead would never move away.
First my father was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. His day of surgery his heart went into A-Fib and the surgery was cancelled. He needed to have extensive testing completed to make sure he would be fit for surgery.
In the meantime.....one of my dear friend's father died after a long battle with a botched surgery. I planned to attend his service the following day when I received a phone call from my father that his father (my PopPop) was found unresponsive at his home. I rushed to the hospital to find out that he was found dead by the medics but was brought back to life and then rushed to the hospital. I was able to get pertinent information from the doctors to relay back to my father concerning my PopPop's diagnosis: Vegetative state. By this time my father's heart condition was regulated and his planned surgery was delayed again so we could concentrate on my grandfather.
So...instead of having his cancer removed my father had to deal losing his father. I have to say that I was the emotional strong one when dealing with the complicated task of helping someone off the last remnants of life support. We had multiple neurosurgeons consult with us and confirm our worst fears. My PopPop would never be coming back. He was barely hanging on and his tests showed no brain activity. We then as a family had to follow his living will by removing all life support.
Somewhere during the three days of living at the hospital we all tried our best to be strong and deal with the emotional task at hand. We not only had to remove his feeding tube, breathing support but also bring in a medical tech to turn off his defibrillator/pacemaker. Even after observing all of his wishes it took another day for him to pass.
One week after my grandfather's funeral I was back in the hospital supporting my mom and then help care for my father after his prostate surgery. I am happy to report that for now my father has remained in remission regarding his prostate surgery.
As I grow older and I have more life to reflect upon I notice that times of crisis seem to rear their ugly head during extremely positive moments. I almost fear success or happiness because I have always been rewarded with something so ugly.. so sad that it is hard to recover from. For example: When my son was born my husband and I joyfully celebrated this beautiful little boy. By the time my son was six months old, my husband's father had died unexpectedly and his mother would be rushed into emergency bypass surgery after being brought back from the dead twice. Flash forward four years. My daughter is born and within one month my son is misdiagnosed with a fatal kidney disease and my mom has a grand Mal seizure caused by dehydration brought on by a severe flu. She is left in paralyzed state for a week and doctors are unsure if she will ever be the same again.
I wish that I could enjoy the good in life more and not worry so much about what is around the corner. The one thing that keeps me going is to know that the result of these traumatic events don't always end in negatives. My son was able to pull out of his health problem and my mom recovered completely from her illness. The lesson I keep learning from the visits from the dark cloud is that there is hope and the possibility of a positive outcome.... and I guess that is a good lesson to be learning!
First my father was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. His day of surgery his heart went into A-Fib and the surgery was cancelled. He needed to have extensive testing completed to make sure he would be fit for surgery.
In the meantime.....one of my dear friend's father died after a long battle with a botched surgery. I planned to attend his service the following day when I received a phone call from my father that his father (my PopPop) was found unresponsive at his home. I rushed to the hospital to find out that he was found dead by the medics but was brought back to life and then rushed to the hospital. I was able to get pertinent information from the doctors to relay back to my father concerning my PopPop's diagnosis: Vegetative state. By this time my father's heart condition was regulated and his planned surgery was delayed again so we could concentrate on my grandfather.
So...instead of having his cancer removed my father had to deal losing his father. I have to say that I was the emotional strong one when dealing with the complicated task of helping someone off the last remnants of life support. We had multiple neurosurgeons consult with us and confirm our worst fears. My PopPop would never be coming back. He was barely hanging on and his tests showed no brain activity. We then as a family had to follow his living will by removing all life support.
Somewhere during the three days of living at the hospital we all tried our best to be strong and deal with the emotional task at hand. We not only had to remove his feeding tube, breathing support but also bring in a medical tech to turn off his defibrillator/pacemaker. Even after observing all of his wishes it took another day for him to pass.
One week after my grandfather's funeral I was back in the hospital supporting my mom and then help care for my father after his prostate surgery. I am happy to report that for now my father has remained in remission regarding his prostate surgery.
As I grow older and I have more life to reflect upon I notice that times of crisis seem to rear their ugly head during extremely positive moments. I almost fear success or happiness because I have always been rewarded with something so ugly.. so sad that it is hard to recover from. For example: When my son was born my husband and I joyfully celebrated this beautiful little boy. By the time my son was six months old, my husband's father had died unexpectedly and his mother would be rushed into emergency bypass surgery after being brought back from the dead twice. Flash forward four years. My daughter is born and within one month my son is misdiagnosed with a fatal kidney disease and my mom has a grand Mal seizure caused by dehydration brought on by a severe flu. She is left in paralyzed state for a week and doctors are unsure if she will ever be the same again.
I wish that I could enjoy the good in life more and not worry so much about what is around the corner. The one thing that keeps me going is to know that the result of these traumatic events don't always end in negatives. My son was able to pull out of his health problem and my mom recovered completely from her illness. The lesson I keep learning from the visits from the dark cloud is that there is hope and the possibility of a positive outcome.... and I guess that is a good lesson to be learning!
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