Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. I sincerely hope every reader has a delightful evening planned, whether that be a night on the town, or a night spent at home with treasured friends and relatives. As this year draws to a close, I need to thank the women who help me... Read more →
The title of the book is buy-Ology - Truth and Lies About Why We Buy by Martin Lindstrom (foreword by Paco Underhill). This is one of the best books of 2008. You've probably noticed that my book reviews reflect good books, books that I highly recommend. This does not mean... Read more →
In Rochester, NY we are celebrating Christmas, today. The sun is out. The day is at morn. All's right with our world. Yes, life has become harder...folks are struggling to get home, after being stuck at airports around the country. There are less gifts beneath the tree. We all wonder... Read more →
The net is abuzz with talk from a CNN article stating "Many would take Internet over sex." Isn't that interesting? As far as I can tell, these kinds of survey's are totally unreliable. Like focus groups, the participants are just as likely to reply with answers they think you want,... Read more →
This morning I was speaking with someone who, after many, many years of being good friends, has become a client. At the top of the call, I explained that I was spending the holiday at my family's compound and that he might overhear my parents bickering about coffee, the workmen setting up the tent for our annual Noche Buena celebration, the family dog and/or any combination there of. As predicted, when I went to the kitchen to grab breakfast, I remarked that there was no Apple Cinnamon oatmeal. As my mother walked past, I asked her about this egregious oatmeal oversight (!) - especially since my arrival was announced last month (yes, I'm a bit of a brat, did you expect anything else?). To which my mother replied... Read more →
The fast-paced world of technology is spinning out of control, these days. Yep. We have super-high-speed business connections to the Internet (according to commercials on TV), we have citizens of a certain age preferring text-messaging to voice, because voice means you actually have to have a conversation, and fast-food has... Read more →
By Guest Blogger, Mary Schmidt, Marketing Troubleshooter Maureen Rogers, of The Opinionated Marketers, recently did a riff on the Cap One credit card tag line. She begins by saying, "Well, there’s no getting around the fact that for most of us, in our extended, metaphorical, 401-K-ish wallet, there’s less than... Read more →
I've written about this before, but it seems so appropriate now, that I decided to repeat it. This poem comes from an Ann Landers column that I have saved for probably 30 years. I guess that dates me, but everyone already knows I'm 50+ going on 40. As you read,... Read more →
There is nothing better on the net than being recognized by your peers for what you do. It's the equivalent of winning an Oscar, IMHO. Today, I learned that my BBFF Jody Devere, of the outstandingly popular Ask Patty! website and blog - which will be featured in Oprah's Magazine... Read more →
...customers/users/clients are dispensable. Or, at least, that's how it would appear. I'm always amazed when companies treat customers - and potential customers - like total crap. Read more →