Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Fooled again

He wasn't the first one to fool me with his boyish charm and youthful good looks. When he smiles he lights up the room....the only difference between him and the others is that wagging tail that follows behind his  wiggling  body.  

Pawlie - Mr. Pawlie Paws, Paws or "that damn dog" entered our lives about 9 months ago. Just like giving birth - the good, the bad and the ugly - the integration of a second dog into our home has been a tad painful. Like the couple of hundred dollars that went to the emergency vet for a very sick pup last weekend.  Diagnosed with bacterial poisoning from supposedly devoured wild mushrooms in the back yard proved to be false when the real culprit passed through at 1 AM - a large piece of solid rubber that came from heavens knows where.  


Pillows are no longer safe and Marlon, our six year old Dal, heaves a sigh of relief when Pawlie goes off to obedience training. He gets to have the house back to himself, the way it used to be...if only for a little while.

One thing I know for sure this little boy takes a lot of time - training, walking, cleaning, cursing, cleaning, walking, cleaning, oh wait I said that already - all paid back by a single kiss or an enthusiastic greeting. This exuberant little fellow could have gone to another home and I never would have met him. But I believe puppies pick us, to grow to be our companions, our confidants, our support, our unconditional love.  

We have alot to learn from the humble canine.  Alot to learn indeed. 

If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man.
Pudd'nhead Wilson



Friday, May 13, 2011

I want my MAYPO!

In 1956 the most successful ad campaign was based on a cartoon kid named Marky. Bald, floppy eared and cowboy hat, his claim to fame was demanding his maple flavored oatmeal by vocalizing "I WANT MY MAYPO!"  Soon the likes of Mickey Mantle, Johnny Unitas and Wilt Chamberlain were clamoring for their Maypo too.

Advertising has become a bit more tedious. Magazines grow thinner and newspaper are disappearing. New media marketing has become all confusing.  Do I ping it or blog it?  How do you know where your advertising is best served?

The short answer - you don't.  Websites can validate your business, Facebook can enhance your popularity. email blitzes go to junk mail, as direct mail often gets pitched.  Slogans are few and far between, and the advent of advertising is in flux.

How can we be heard? Like Horton Hears a WHO - "We are here! We are here!" but WHO is listening?  I have seen companies that were rocking and rolling fall by the wayside because they can't find their message.  The smartest piece of advice I ever got was from a friend in the industry.  Her 2 cents worth?

Decide who you are and stick with it.  Simple huh?
Decide who you are and stick with it.

Are we still talking about advertising?