Thoughts – Simren Deogun

I care because…

March 21, 2010 By Simren Deogun Leave a Comment

…I believe that by doing so I make myself better and those around me better.

How would you complete that statement?

When you wake up in the morning. When you make the choice (and it is a choice) to get out of bed, get ready and go. When you walk into work or school or play. Why do you care, if you care at all?

Caring doesn’t have to be about sympathy. But it does have to be about you and your passion. It is about every choice you make. From the words you utter to the connections you make to the things you change.

At some point, somewhere, you decided to care. Remembering, and constantly reinvigorating, why will differentiate you from the successful and the unsuccessful.

Oh, and in a nutshell, good marketing is about finding a way to make your customers care. Impossibly difficult, but unimaginably rewarding.

Filed Under: Thoughts

When Is Someone Going To Call Me A Genius?

March 14, 2010 By Simren Deogun 2 Comments

Have you ever asked yourself that? Are you still waiting for that recognition? It’s probably not going to happen. That is, until you call yourself a genius first.

The word itself has lost a bit of its clout. When we say genius, we automatically (as though hardwired at birth) think Albert Einstein. But the term manifests itself in so many ways nowadays. You’re a genius if you come up with an innovative Twitter name. A genius if you can spin on your head. A genius if you know the right people, if you’re willing to take the right chances. It doesn’t mean the “genius” in any of these acts is any less than Einstein, it’s just a different perspective. Because they dared to be different.

If you haven’t called yourself a genius yet, maybe it’s time to take another perspective. Earn that title, not because you want or need others to justify it for you because you know it, without doubt.

I’m a genius. Now, where’s that quantum physics paper I was working on…

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: Genius, Thinking Differently, thought provoking

Seth Godin: Geniuses, Leaders & Lizards at TAOM

March 9, 2010 By Simren Deogun Leave a Comment

“The market for something to believe in is infinite,” Seth exclaimed as he concluded his retrospective trip down Highway 11 and his visit to Rita’s infamous Candy Shoppe. At The Art of Marketing, Seth begins with a story. And to every good story, there is inevitably some lesson to be learned, some mantra to be imparted. And, so, if you create something to believe in, if you tell a compelling story, if you lead, then, you too can win.

Geniuses: those who solve an interesting problem in a unique way.

Leadership: what marketing has become.

Fear: what resides at the core of the lizard brain (inside our own amygdala) that prevents us from being the two things listed above.

So how do we overcome the lizard brain (or the resistance)? Be an artist. Or a leader. Or a genius. Just deciding to be different may be enough.

For me, it’s thinking like the un-corporation. Deciding that mediocrity and bureaucracy just aren’t going to cut it because creativity, inspiration and leadership are worth so much more.

What does it mean to you?

Image Credit: The Biz Media >> http://blog.thebizmedia.com/2010/03/sneak-peak-at-the-official-photos-for-the-art-of-marketing/

Filed Under: Digital, Events, Thoughts Tagged With: Fear, Genius, Leadership, Linchpin, Lizard Brain, Seth Godin, TAOM, The Art of Marketing

Best Picture Oscar Noms With A Side Of Marketing

February 3, 2010 By Simren Deogun Leave a Comment

2010 Oscar nominations were recently announced, and this year’s Best Picture category includes an unprecedented 10 movies:

“Avatar” James Cameron and Jon Landau, Producers
“The Blind Side” Nominees to be determined
“District 9” Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham, Producers
“An Education” Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey, Producers
“The Hurt Locker” Nominees to be determined
“Inglourious Basterds” Lawrence Bender, Producer
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Lee Daniels, Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness, Producers
“A Serious Man” Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, Producers
“Up” Jonas Rivera, Producer
“Up in the Air” Daniel Dubiecki, Ivan Reitman and Jason Reitman, Producers

So, what’s the deal? When was the last time you can remember a diverse selection of films (like the above) being nominated in this prestigious category? Alternate planet civilizations. Aliens. War. Thriller War. Animation. And Drama. It’s quite the impressive melting pot.

My point is that a large number of the nominees — unlike most years — come with a high probability of having been viewed by a larger proportion of the general public. And with that comes the wonderment of marketing.

This is not to undermine the Academy or any of the movies being honoured but there is more than enough skepticism in me to wonder, just wonder, if the godly Academy may be employing a little bit of strategic marketing. Perhaps reaching out to the otherwise oft-abandoned viewing audience.

Suddenly, there is much more than just one movie on the list that you and I have seen. Suddenly, I’m much more interested in the Oscars. Why? Because now there is this attempt to relate to me and relate to the films that touch the general public as opposed to those from which we are secluded.

10 movies! How many have you seen? And how much more do you care about the Oscars because those movies are nominated?

Filed Under: News, Thoughts Tagged With: 2010 Oscars, Best Picture Nominees

Give A Lot Before You Ask For Anything In Return

January 28, 2010 By Simren Deogun Leave a Comment

It’s Seth Godin.

Or Chris Brogan.

Or the smarties at Copyblogger.

Or David Siteman Garland.

Or any of the other fantastically talented and open bloggers that share and give their ideas and expertise away everyday.

As a blogger, a marketer, a person, this is the resonating mantra. You must give and give and then give some more.

And, in turn, you build relationships and trust and value and from that you will also earn the chance to ask for something in return.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: Giving

I Am Not A Fan of eReaders

January 17, 2010 By Simren Deogun 5 Comments

I’ve never used an eReader. Never even seen one in person. So this post is already beyond judgmental.

But, I am the target market for the eReader. I love to read. Visit Amazon (and Chapters.ca!) regularly. And I appreciate all literature.

From Kindle to the new Skiff, I’m not ready to trade in my book for the electronic reading device. I’m also not ready to add another portable device to my current setup, which includes an iPhone and MacBook.

iPhone has multiple electronic reading applications available for download, a couple of which I have tested out, and the only perceived advantage that I can extract from an eReader would be screen real estate and screen resolution.

Within time, all such devices will be equipped with over-the-air book download capabilities and perhaps this is why I fail to see a lasting competitive advantage with these products. The feature set is far too niche to offer long-lasting usability (in comparison to smartphones) and once these readers begin diversifyng their offerings they will fall too close to being a portable computer / mp3 player / book reader etc. And the problem here is that these already exist — enter the laptop or the smartphone.

With tablet computers on the horizon as the next electronic craze and netbooks creating a notable frenzy, the eReader is not sustainable for me because there just isn’t a strong enough differentiator especially when everyone is looking for the all-in-one device — not the all-in-one device plus an eReader.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: eReader, Kindle, Skiff

When Was The Last Time You Thought Like Your Customer?

January 12, 2010 By Simren Deogun Leave a Comment

Today. Yesterday. 2 weeks ago. Never.

Pick the most accurate response for you and if it isn’t 5 minutes ago then you’ve failed.

Whether you’re selling a product, communicating a message, designing an ad or just lounging on your rooftop patio, you shouldn’t just be thinking about them but thinking like them.

1. What do they care about?
2. What do they want to know?
3. How will they react?
4. And Why to all the above?

Ask yourself these 4 questions any time you do anything that will touch your target, and you will intrinsically learn more than ever anticipated.

Filed Under: Business, Thoughts Tagged With: Communication, customer

The Power of Trust

December 16, 2009 By Simren Deogun Leave a Comment

Trust is one of the key factors for a successful customer-brand relationship.

Trust enables influence.

Trust builds reputability.

Trust fosters growth.

Trust will allow you to take measured risks.

And trust will turn your customers into your best marketers.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: customer-brand, trust

Marketing with Barcodes

November 16, 2009 By Simren Deogun Leave a Comment

Recently wandered onto the following blog post concerning none other than “creative barcodes”: In Japan, Even the Barcodes Are Well Designed.

Here’s a sample:
barcodes

I realized while reading this post, and while being thoroughly intrigued by the ingenuity of the idea, that there is certainly something very innate in the western culture that lends itself to conservatism — even within marketing.

I know this may seem like an offbeat observation given the West’s promotion of free speech, freedom of expression, religion etc. But not very often do we see the large corporations that fuel the West’s capitalism take risks. When they do — nowadays through viral videos or through the unpredictable Facebook page — it is promoted under the radar. The simple logic of appealing to the 2-parent-2-child masses means adopting a conservative and simple approach.

I get it, they’re just barcodes. But even when it comes down to what might seem like the most inconsequential bits of a package, Japan has not held back. The designs are cheeky and, if you wish to go even deeper into symbolism, poke fun at how seriously we regiment consumerism and the ruling concepts of Buy and Sell.

But these kitschy barcodes still carry a message for whichever company that decides to use them — they are willing to be a little different (at least while the idea remains novel). It’s a small gesture, a tiny risk in hindsight, but I like to believe that Marketing is made in the details. Not to say that the ‘bigger picture’ should be cast aside to attract dust, but that many small differentiating details may just transform you into a market leader — and isn’t that what everyone wants to be?

(P.S. Apologies for the fewer posts but I’ve been working furiously on a new design for the blog!)

Filed Under: Business, Thoughts Tagged With: Barcodes, Packaging

Why Staying Hungry Is a Good Thing

September 20, 2009 By Simren Deogun Leave a Comment

Ever had one of those moments when your stomach’s growling with hunger but you have neither the will nor the resources to go get some food?

This is a seemingly random thought, I know, but it’s simultaneously packed with business theory.

To be hungry and yet to do nothing about it. To have a problem with any number of viable solutions available to you and yet to do nothing.

I think it’s fair to say that the longer you’re hungry, the more desperate you become. Maybe you’ll even reach the point when you’ll “eat anything.” So, you wait too long and ultimately you end up settling. The same can be said for eating too soon — the first option is the most appetizing in both instances.

But what happens when you let that hunger linger for just the right amount of time. That is, just the right amount of time to survey your options, develop alternatives, and make a sound decision.

It’s true that the hunger will become more and more uncomfortable the longer you wait AND that the longer you wait the more likely you are to cave. But with the correct balance of willpower and clarity of mind, you’ll allow yourself the chance to not only see more than just the food in front of you but also the food past your front door, down the street, in a restaurant, half-way around the world.

The point is looking beyond what you have right now and thinking about what you could have if you waited. Everyone seems to want results now; they want to satisfy their hunger now. Waiting — staying hungry — doesn’t equate to holding out until the very last moment, waiting means enduring a little pain and a little risk for that perfect bowl of porridge.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: hunger, thinking outside of the box

Attention to Detail

August 23, 2009 By Simren Deogun 2 Comments

Taking the time to be detail-oriented encompasses the difference between acting quickly and acting intelligently.

How you can be more detail-oriented:

   — Listen before you respond — Equivalent to “think before you act.” Listen to your peers, colleagues, superiors AND competition in order to better understand a situation.
   — Review, and then review again — Time consuming but valuable. Each time work is completed force yourself to review it from a different perspective. Textually. Graphically. As a customer. As a competitor. Etc.
   — Take notice of insignificant details — Whatever it is that you deem insignificant now — from word choice to colour to tone — inflate it with importance and take notice.
   — Understand that you can be your own worst enemy — Trying too hard, overanalyzing, and not understanding your own strengths and weaknesses will lead to your demise. Therefore, paying attention to yourself is equally as important as paying attention to what surrounds you and the work you produce.
   — Criticize — Consciously criticize your work. Push yourself to improve (even when you think it’s perfect), understand your capabilities, and incite growth. The ultimate result is you’ll have taught yourself how to pay attention to details by breaking down your work into its many multi-faceted pieces and reassembling it leaving no area unscathed to harsh criticism.

Great marketing is in the details. It is those details that make gargantuan, flashy campaigns industry successes. It is those same details that can render size and resources insignificant. It’s simply your job as a marketer to pay attention.

Filed Under: Best Practices, Thoughts Tagged With: detail-oriented, Marketing, skills