Again, this could take awhile. The internet is a new, unlimited opportunity. Our children will have the opportunity to learn and do things with it that our parents could never have imagined. It is allowing smart, creative people new ways to do business, reach out, integrate their marketing, track their pizzas and meet other singles. It is making our big scary world smaller everyday. It keeps perverts out of the neighborhood parks. It saves paper. It saves time.  We can all share more ideas. Please share.

There is no way I will get this on in one shot, so this could turn into a series. Feel free to jump in and add to the dialog. Mostly, I hate that people win awards for doing advertising. Is advertising more important than teaching? Than saving lives, or bringing peace to the middle east? It bothers me when the creative misses the target (or doesn’t even understand who the target is).   I don’t like the Comcast ad where the cat has fleas, but the flea loves the FIOS. Good ad for a cat groomer, but not a cable service. I hate that anyone steps foot in a Bob’s Furniture because they spend so much money on bad advertising that people simply give up and go there. I never understand why Capital One shows us all these negative scenarios then proudly displays their logo. And by the way, are their fees so high because they spend a billion dollars to produce these ads? I really hate that political advertising is only about why I should NOT vote for the other candidate, and not why I should vote for the advertiser. OK, thats a start….   

Years ago, a client told me about a tailor who insulted him by charging an extra $5 for adding an inside pocket to a $1000 suit he had made. I thought he was over reacting. Call it youthful ignorance on my part. This past Christmas, My wife bought me a book of car wash certificates for my stocking. I used the last one this week. The attendant asked me for “50 cents” in addition to my coupon. The price of a car wash has gone up since she purchased the book. First of all, I am not even sure if it is legal to do that. The bigger picture is that my wife and I, as well as my parents use that car wash all the time. In addition, we had our vehicles detailed there at least twice a year. That’s a lot to lose for 50 cents. I can’t be the only one who feels that way. Ask yourself if there has ever been a time that you’ve tried to grab a short term profit at the risk of a long term loss. Sustained profitability is based on long term relationships.  Can anyone suggest a great car wash?