In the days of online marketing, social media, interactive games, personal brands and instant YouTube stars, there is more wild content than anyone can humanly consume. At the same time, we are barraged with the never ending professional do's and don'ts. Everyday I am faced with many decisions about how and what we will be using to market our products. A matrix so complicated to some, but beautiful music to me. Why? Because we have evolved beyond the traditional, we have confidence in our mistakes and we never stop learning. So whatever you choose and however you choose to express it, just remember this. Take risks, use common sense, but try something new. Not every idea will work, but creativity is a leap of faith, so just jump.

 

 

Last week, I spent some significant time in airports. And while admittedly, a lot of it was spent quickly moving from one place to another, I did get some time to just stop and observe. Without question, there is no greater gathering of human emotion than in an airport.

You see business travelers, wearily dragging their carry-on rollers bags and laptops as to not waste any time at the baggage claim when they land for that oh-so-important business meeting. Sometimes they travel in packs, but mostly you see them by themselves – eyes straight forward and moving with a self-appointed purpose.

You see parents, grandparents and kids going to visit extended families – sometimes for the first time. They move like a small unit, never letting the young go too far away, but ensuring they learn from the new experience. Each one carries something special from home – a teddy bear or blanket, reading glasses or that special pillow. The parents? entertaining and distracting old and young alike so none of them realize just how tired they really are.

You see young couples, hand-in-hand, embarking upon an adventure. At first glance, their shoes and handbags usually give away their origins, and when they open their mouths to speak, you can figure out just how far they have traveled. They look around and take in every moment as to promise themselves they will never forget their youth (but we all do)

You see sports teams going to their next gig. Matching sweats, iPods in abundance, laughter on their faces and dance moves in front of the McDonalds. Clearly they have not lost.

There are the thousands and thousands of people who work at the airport. Who go to their day or night job to ensure each and every one of us makes it to where we need to be...because we all have to travel.

And at its worst, the airport is a public forum for the most private of times. The loss of a loved-one is devastating. Traveling to reach “home” during that time is excruciating. You know who they are, but don't want to look. They are the ones wearing the sunglasses - with a tear streaming down their face. They have no desire to be there, yet they move through.

So the next time you are in an airport, take a look around. Each person is there for a different reason. There is no greater gathering of human emotion or a more beautiful diverse slice of humanity.  

A manifesto from an innovative, passionate and successful organization that sells more than just apparel – lululemon athletica.  Agree or disagree with the approach...its up to you, but it's refreshing to see a new and bold approach to company culture, marketing and product...and a brand that goes beyond itself. 

Happy New Year!  And as with all good New Years, we find ourselves reflecting back and looking forward.  I am going to spare you the reflective rhetoric but 2008 was an extraordinary year. A year of successes and challenges. A year of growth and yet at times, uncertainty.

I took more time than anticipated this holiday season to look back, take stock and set my sights on the year ahead.  I have been absent from the blogisphere for a while (no excuses…lets just chock it up to an introspective time) but plan to change that in the year ahead.

So to kick off the new year, here is a list of my pseudo resolutions

•    Blog more (because I love to write)
•    Read more (other than fashion magazines and technology websites)
•    Eliminate some of my less-likeable personalities (That’s for you AmyO)
•    Try one new marketing idea a month…even when no one wants “new”
•    Laugh more (and less loudly)
•    Grace
•    Care more…and in some cases…care less

Who really knows what the year holds, but I do know that it is a year that will be defined by character.

It is going to be a very good year

We all have them– no matter your gender. We have family obligations! Carpools, soccer games, (in my case - football games) first days of school, ballet recitals, holiday carnivals, sick children and even sick pets.  And while these events rarely fall outside of “normal” working hours, in today's 24-hour globally connected marketplace, 9-5 is an obsolete term.  Lets be honest - what is 9:00 am to me maybe 7:00 pm to my co-worker.  Yet, through the miracle of technology, we are connected.  We perform our jobs at all hours of the day and join in with exuberance as if the “life” part is not a distraction (and at times, does not exist).  But life does exist.

This blog is not meant to be a rant or series of complaints, but rather a tribute to the creativity, skills and talent we have developed over the years to multitask, do our jobs and keep our lives going – without the team of people on the other end of the phone knowing it.  

So here's to everyone of us who has taken a conference call during a child's sporting event, dressed and fed our children wearing a blue tooth headset, put a call on speaker phone while we changed our clothes in the other room, pulled the car over to look at a presentation and comment because you are stuck in traffic, or even crouched behind a car door in a parking lot to present an idea on the phone.  Congratulations. You were all great!

P.S.
Now lets hope video does not take off more

School starts in a week.  Football season is well underway.  It's still 100 degrees in Austin, but summer is essentially over...and I am finally going on vacation. Now I know many of you are saying “who cares – everyone goes on vacation” but this is a big deal for me. You see...letting go for a week is something I have yet to master.  It is certainly not because I think I am irreplaceable - the working world will go on just fine with out me.  But I believe working, checking email, clicking on that darn iPhone has become an addictive habit.  Can't let too many emails build up!  Seeing 350 unopened emails in my inbox sends me into hyper-ventilation! 

Now, I preach a different story.  I lecture my team (and my bosses) on the importance of taking a vacation and the value it brings to your sanity, mental health and creative juices.

So this year, it is going to be different.  I am going to set an example of how to detach and unwind.  I am disconnecting email from my iPhone so I will only be able to play those useless games I have downloaded for free from the App store.  And while I have no intention of doing any fishing, I will be listening to my own advice and taking time off.

P.S.  My email will be back up by Wednesday...ok...so I am taking baby steps

If anyone lives in Austin, you are keenly aware of  its awesome running community.  Its one of the most prolific in the nation.  And whether you are part of it or have seen a pack of runners at some insane hour – you can't help but admire its strength and volume.  

Everyone who is a part of that community is there for a reason.  Health, weight-loss, competition or fun.  They come in all shapes and sizes.  Some run alone.  Some run with hundreds.  Some bring their dog, others bring their kids.  Some people join training groups.  There is Rogue, Austin Fit, Pure Austin, CrossFit and Gilbert's Gazelles just to name a few (I encourage you to read about Gilbert.  His story is amazing and inspiring.  Austin is honored to have him as a resident.)  

Me? Well I have my own group...which actually leads me to the point of this blog.  My group is called the L.A.R.C.s.  Its stands for Ladies Auxiliary Running Club.  We were named by a husband as a joke and it stuck ever since.  We even have our own logo (I am in marketing...did you expect anything less?)
We have been running together for a few years now.  And while we all started running for health, weight-loss, competition and fun, we have stuck together because of friendship.  We come in all shapes and sizes and span a few decades in age.  We have run so many races together – I cannot count.  We have seen each other through births, graduations, proms, promotions, marriages, break-ups, and even deaths.  

This year has brought some change to the L.A.R.C.s.  Some are injured. Some are training for marathons. Some are just busy.  We no longer have every L.A.R.C in attendance for Saturday morning runs.  That's OK - each and every one of us knows that we are part of something special.  And while we started out supporting each other during races – we now cheer each other on in life.

Go L.A.R.C.s

During times of stress, I – like many – look for a distraction of hope.  Something that provides a smile, a feeling of purpose and a path to get there.  

The Girl Effect is just that.  A result of the collaboration between the NoVo Foundation and The Nike Foundation, the Girl Effect is dedicated to building a better present and future for girls and their families in emerging nations.  Its about supporting, education and empowering young girls...and while many will have opinions...in my opinion, there is nothing that provides more hope.

After a long tiring day last week, I stopped by a local Austin haunt called Zen to grab food for my family.  I decided to treat myself to a decaf mocha while I waited – I had earned it that day.  As I walked toward the Starbucks located on the corner, I saw some blue tents in the parking lot.  Oohhhh....maybe a sale?  But it what was under those tents that really caught my eye – rescue dogs.

It was a local organization called PawMatch who takes dogs from the shelters who are on the verge of euthanasia and finds them homes.  This alone tugged at my heart strings...but nothing prepared me for the feeling that came over me when I saw him.  In the middle of the chaos sat the most beautiful creature I had ever seen.  His name was Little Stomp.  He had big brown eyes, a beautiful tan coat, a HUGE head and some of the shortest and most muscular legs you had ever seen on a dog.  He was a mutt and I was in love.

I immediately called my husband declaring I found another dog and we had to have him!  A second dog was nothing we had discussed...you see...I only became a dog person about a year ago.  I fought it for many years and when I finally took the plunge, I never looked back.  My husband is a wonderful man so he and my son humored me as they drove to the Starbucks on the corner.  But like the rush of a warm Austin night breeze, they too were taken with Little Stomp.

To make a very long story short, the next day we adopted Little Stomp – fleas and all.  He is clean, happy, playful and the most loving dog I have ever met.  We renamed him Jack Kerouac Matthews.  We felt like Little Stomp only highlighted his vertical challenge and did not want the other dogs to make fun of him (but..there is nothing wrong with being short!) and well...we did find him “On the Road”.  I guess we never really know where that road leads, but this time - it lead straight to my heart.

Welcome home Jack

 

I read a great article in the NY Times this past Sunday that inspired me...as a marketeer and a leader.  It's about James D. Farley, the former Golden Boy of Toyota Marketing who was recruited away to be the CMO of Ford.  He was responsible for the innovative Scion campaign which literally changed the way car companies market today.  He left the comforts of Toyota to pursue something greater – to help turn around Ford...and he is taking it very seriously.

For some, this article may just be about car companies and the challenges they face in the industry.  For me...this article spoke volumes about people and leadership. For one, I admire his creativity and courage – both at Toyota and Ford.  He is humble.   He is not resting on the laurels of past wins.  Just because he was successful at one place does not mean he will be successful at another – and he knows it.  He is confident, not arrogant.  He also understands that without the people around him, he will not succeed. But most importantly, he went to Ford because he believed.

In today's marketplace, it is easy to forget why we are doing what we are doing, but I have learned you can't go wrong if it is from the heart. 

Link to the Article: A Star at Toyota, A Believer at Ford 

Blog Warning: Nothing about technology or fashion today – just life

My son came to visit the other day and he brought his dog. You see, we both adopted Basenji's.  Ours was first - a 7 year old brown and white named Kelso.  And his followed – a 1 year old black and tan named Bevo (UT fans unite.)  Turned out that Basenjis are somewhat of a rare breed (we had no idea.)  They are an African hunting dog so they don't bark and are lightning fast.  They are a pack animal so when the two of them get together – they move as a team.  They also make really weird noises because they never learned to bark (Kelso especially.)  Took us a while to get used to it, but today we can read his noises like a separate language.

It was a BEAUTIFUL Sunday morning – the kind that usually only grace the coast of California.  We get about 10 of those a year in Austin (but I am not complaining.)  The dogs were hunting squirrels in the back yard.  We have two huge Oak trees and the squirrels - there were 4 of them - taunted and teased those poor dogs for hours.  The squirrels ran back and forth on the limbs of the trees – moving half way down the trunks sometimes, just to wiggle their tails.  The dogs were swift.  They ran silently and with precision after each one of those squirrels...but they never caught a one.  It actually is a beautiful sight to behold.

My husband commented...”Do you think they realize they will never catch one?”  “NAH,” I quickly answered.  Yet, they continued to run and they continued to work together with one simple goal in mind – to catch a squirrel.  I realized at that moment that Kelso and Bevo possessed a quality that is rare these days and if exists, often diminishes with age: eternal optimism.  They did not give up.  They did not let others tell them they won't catch that squirrel.  They continued to work as a team even though they my never achieve their goal.  But most of all – they had hope.  Now some of you might be saying “Come on Liz...they are dogs!  They don't know any better.”  And while that may be very true, that morning they reminded me of life.  You may never achieve what you set out to do.  That's OK.  The joy comes in the journey, the hope and the people you team with along the way.  

I hope one day Bevo and Kelso will catch those squirrels.  But then again...I am an eternal optimist :)

Sometimes not saying anything at all says the most



I am still learning :)

As I blogged about before – my life has a little Friday Night Lights in it.  From the sidelines of Texas football (BTW...my son's high school ended up winning the division 4A state championship last year) to one of my favorite TV shows, I gave up the California lifestyle to be  apart of Austin.  

Well, I am very excited to say that it looks like one of my favorite TV shows will be coming back for a third season. No only do I love the show for its production value, multi-camera angles and highly-embellished human story lines, the show is shot entirely in Austin!  It brings us jobs, actors and a little bit of Hollywood to our every day lives.  I love seeing the local haunts and people in the shows.  And if you are really lucky, you may even get a small part like my husband did before the strike (Check out the recruiter from Georgia)

So while I will look forward to another great season of Riggins and Panther football, I know it will only pale in comparison to my real-life adventures on the football fields of Texas.

Stay tuned....

I know we all have those days (I may have had a few lately.)  Now there is a lovable character with a backstory all his own.  While he is not new to many - he is my new favorite guy (even though he seems to be missing some pants.)  Enjoy!

For the iPhone wallpaper lovers

Happy Friday...Oh and for those who celebrate it...Happy Easter

      

I had a few of my team members in Austin last week during SXSW (have I said lately how much I LOVE my team!  I have the best team in the world...but I digress.)  

The topic came up about blogging.  And naturally I was asked...”Why don't you blog more Liz?  Do you think it has to be perfect?  I mean...you just need to put something out there. ” 

“Well”, I responded, “I like to be inspired about my blog topics” 

It really is kinda true.  I am usually in the shower or doing dishes or even in a meeting when a topic will jump in my head and I run to the nearest computer to jot down notes.  This has posed a problem when being in the shower.  But seriously, my response was calculated spin on the fact that Yes, in fact, I like my blogs to be perfect...and when I say perfect...I mean perfect to me.  I always like to have a graphic and I like the graphics to be the same size.  I always post them in buckets of 3s because somewhere in my life I learned that 3 was a good design technique and I always check the preview at least 20 times before I click “post”.  

This morning I read an article in the NYTimes (not trying to show off...I usually read InStyle or Vogue but my husband gets the paper) about becoming a blogging superstar and while I have no intention of doing that (I use my blog as creative relief) I was reminded to write about what you love, write often and don't worry - blogs are a work-in-progress (just like people.)

So even after writing this down, I realized that maybe I am spending too much time trying to be perfect.  From writing blogs to making dinner to leading a team to changing the way software is seen in this world - at the end of the day, we are all just human and every one of us has a few typos.

<post to weblog>