The frustrating thing about the weather is how we can’t change it. That being said, try to pour your energy today into something you can.

As a “Glass half full” (with a seat near the bar) kind of person, I am always looking for any positive story about the economy. I actually heard on the radio that the world’s top banks are saying that we are starting to come out of the recession. Granted, I was listening to “Beatles Radio” on the web, but I’ll take it! I also checked the stocks of Walmart, Starbucks and FedEx, and while I’ll admit that I could look at an x-ray or a stock report and not know the difference, they all seemed to be moving in the right direction with respect to a recovery. (Walmart flat, the others up a bit). So, the only thing left to do is buy underwear and we’re done! Alan Greenspan himself claims that you can predict which way the economy is heading by how much men spend on underwear. Here is what he told NPR about it a few years ago.

I don’t know about the rest of you guys, but I’m willing to do my part by continuing to work hard, blowing all my money at Starbucks, and going out today to re-stock my top drawer! (And not at Walmart).

I sense a new cultural shift about to happen. I think that we are about to see messaging, PR and ad campaigns targeted toward people who use electronic devices while driving. This is actually a good thing. Like drinking and driving, or smoking, marketing helped change people’s perception about these once accepted behaviors. Unfortunately, it always takes a break-in before someone installs an alarm. The recent MBTA accident in Boston (the driver was texting his girlfriend while operating the subway) has our legislators drafting all kinds of bills to regulate our use of devices in public. I for one have no idea how we have come this far without a simple, common sense “hands free” rule while driving. A cell phone earpiece is just safer that holding a phone while driving. Texting, checking e-mail, etc while driving? I wish I could say I’ve never done it, because it is outright stupid. Operating a vehicle is challenging enough without any more distractions. It’s actually a shame that it will take a fine or public ridicule to get us to change this behavior. I just came back from a meeting and witnessed a man at a red light so engaged in his phone conversation, that he gabbed through an entire green light. 6 cars behind him all blasted the horns. There’s a time and place for everything folks. While we are at it, can we ban cell phone use while in line at Starbucks/bank/post office, etc? Again, we don’t need to multi-task 24/7. 

It occurs to me that this sounds like a Boston Globe columnist “mailing it in”. But I am not about to start “Twittering”, so this is a good way to subject you to the dust that has settled in my ceribellum. - Enough with the term “Home Run” in every radio ad aired during a baseball game. - The GM situation stinks, but at least it is being addressed. Chances are that if they get lean and mean, they could actually end up a better company. (I’ve mentioned that I’m a glass half full person, right?) - I don’t think anyone reads my blog, but I’ll keep writing it anyway. - Do we really have time to follow each other around online? Why not make plans and actually get together? I like the idea of LinkedIn and Facebook for staying in touch, but Twitter seems like it’s for stalkers. Maybe it’s fun to follow famous people. I doubt anyone cares that I just fed the dog. - Times are tough. This climate has not been for the faint of heart. Let’s all try and be a bit more patient and compassionate toward each other. - The new Green Day (recording/album/cd/download/product/whatever we call it now) is great. Tori Amos? Not so much. - I hope people are willing to work a little harder this summer. This is no time to slack off!

Coke vs Pepsi and Burger King vs McDonald’s seem to be getting a run for their money lately. Verizon vs Comcast is playing out as the ad turf war of 2009. Verizon’s twist on the Mac vs PC guys seems to resonate with the public. I personally like these ads because as a consumer, I see a very clear value proposition. FIOS is even a fun word! Comcast seems to have been sold a bill of goods by a big agency and is running a very expensive creative spot that tells me nothing as a consumer. There are fancy graphics and effects and people using web terms such as “ROFL”, but there is no payoff at all. The best news in all of this is that as consumers, we have a choice. Both of these companies are motivated by competition to try and do their best for us, or they will lose!

Please join me in turning a deaf ear to the increasingly negative media. At what point will advertisers stop sponsoring these broadcasts that tell Americans to put their heads in the sand and give up? I can only judge by my own experiences and yes, it’s been the most challenging year for our business since 2001. But guess what? We are really good at what we do. We help business grow and have been doing so for nearly 24 years. Not all 24 have been a cakewalk. That’s sort of what makes getting out of bed in the morning fun. Not knowing what is going to happen. Accepting challenges and feeling the satisfaction of meeting them. Since I stopped listening to bad news, Open Skye has begun work for 3 brand new clients. Clients who know that the only way to succeed is to continue to market themselves and outwork and outsmart their competitors. I’m not suggesting that ignorance is bliss. But I would suggest choosing a sitcom at 11PM, going to bed in a good mood, and waking up ready to take on whatever is in your path. Who’s in?

Wow, when you spend a little time and really dig into this, there really is a difference in thinking. God help us if Obama is just doing the empty promises campaign speak, because he actually sounds like he gets it on this one. McCain seems to be looking to stay with big oil as long as possible, while keeping an open mind, but not really a focus, on renewables. Don’t take my word for it, read up and see what you think!

McCain:

http://johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/17671aa4-2fe8-4008-859f-0ef1468e96f4.htm#3

Obama:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/newenergy_more#relief

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….   

My daughter and I just went out for breakfast. The waitress commented on my 6 year old’s book-and said she noticed that she is an advanced reader because she is a first grade teacher. Teachers work hard enough all week without having to serve pancakes on weekends. I always feel sad when I am reminded as to how much teachers, nurses, social workers, etc. are undervalued in our country. Now if only I could run into a politician working a drive thru window.