As the first Australian winner of the revered Tour De France, Cadel Evans has become a true champion of the sporting world. With his persistence, endurance, self belief, determination and resolution to make the breakthrough he deserves (following years of heartache) he is an inspiration to all who have set out on their own journey. Entrepreneurs everywhere - please take note.
Read more:
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cycling/for-so-long-the-nearly-man-cadels-dream-finally-comes-true-20110725-1hvzr.html
Read more:
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cycling/joy-and-agony-of-a-champion-20110724-1hvgm.html#ixzz1T4ho15Q3
Monday, July 25, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
Arianna Huffington: business hero
Arianna Huffington identified she was a hero early on in her business, when she sought finance for the now hugely popular Huffington Post. For the owners of meaningful businesses out there - do you recognize your heroics and do people know about it?
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/executive-style/executive-women/arianna-huffington--does-anyone-say-no-to-her-20110713-1hdak.html#ixzz1SVilBUov
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/executive-style/executive-women/arianna-huffington--does-anyone-say-no-to-her-20110713-1hdak.html#ixzz1SVilBUov
Every business hero has a journey
The excellent new "The Dark Knight Rises" teaser trailer opens with "Every hero has a journey". Yes, every hero - including those from the business world - has a journey, which people can relate to and connect with. Do consumers and employees know about your journey as a business owner?
See: http://www.youtube.com/user/cowanandpartners?feature=mhee#p/f/0/apMXFloDH6M
See: http://www.youtube.com/user/cowanandpartners?feature=mhee#p/f/0/apMXFloDH6M
Monday, July 11, 2011
What can all businesses learn from Harry Potter and Lady Gaga?
What a week we've just had in the entertainment world!...
Last Friday thousands of Harry Potter fans from around the globe amassed in London's Trafalgar Square to say farewell to the boy wizard at the world premiere of the final movie in the record-breaking series. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 is the eighth installment of a franchise that has generated more public excitement and media hype than any other in living memory. The seven films released so far have grossed $US6.4 billion ($5.9 billion) in ticket sales and billions more from DVDs and merchandise - a pot of gold for Hollywood studio Warner Bros.
So what can the silver screen adventures of Harry, Ron and Hermione teach businesses? Firstly, the power of the narrative. And in Harry Potter's case telling multiple stories. There's the stories of the barnstorming bookselling, the billion dollar movie franchise, the tie-in merchandise, anti-witchcraft critics, over-enthusiastic consumers and what'll happen next now that the seven-book brand is reaching its climax. And let's not forget the story of the power of friendship to overcome a great evil. Businesses also have the opportunity to draw on the stories of their personal experiences and those of consumers who walk through their door to create a brand story which is likewise majestic and multi-faceted.
Secondly - the entertainment factor. The Harry Potter phenomenon is enormously entertaining - the reaction of the public is entertaining (see tribute websites, themed parties and lines outside bookstores) as are the marketing campaigns, particularly when new-release-date frenzy kicks in. Harry Potter serves as a reminder to businesses that we must - on some level - entertain consumers with our message and campaigns.
On Saturday the US pop star Lady Gaga, looking every inch the glamorous misfit, arrived in Sydney courtesy of her private jet. OK, there's her outrageous outfits and the now-inescapable four-on-the-floor dance beats that Gaga reintroduced to pop radio. But what else is there to her phenomenal popularity (in 3 years of fame, Gaga has amassed 34 million Facebook friends and 1 billion Youtube clicks) and what does this mean for businesses? Well, Gaga obviously stands for something very, very important to her fans - she tells kids it's cool to be gay or freaky or unpopular, that they're born that way. For those who feel like they don't somehow fit in, this is a powerful message which carries strong resonance. And Gaga wants her loyal fans to be a part of what she is doing - as an example, she's crowd-sourced her offstage wardrobe, mostly wearing clothes her fans give her, and decorates her dressing room with their art and gifts.
To take a leaf out of Lady Gaga's book - we as businesses must articulate what we stand for in the mind of the consumer, which resonates on an emotional level. And we must inspire consumers to want to be a part of what we're doing as businesses, providing the opportunity for them to participate as much as possible.
Last Friday thousands of Harry Potter fans from around the globe amassed in London's Trafalgar Square to say farewell to the boy wizard at the world premiere of the final movie in the record-breaking series. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 is the eighth installment of a franchise that has generated more public excitement and media hype than any other in living memory. The seven films released so far have grossed $US6.4 billion ($5.9 billion) in ticket sales and billions more from DVDs and merchandise - a pot of gold for Hollywood studio Warner Bros.
So what can the silver screen adventures of Harry, Ron and Hermione teach businesses? Firstly, the power of the narrative. And in Harry Potter's case telling multiple stories. There's the stories of the barnstorming bookselling, the billion dollar movie franchise, the tie-in merchandise, anti-witchcraft critics, over-enthusiastic consumers and what'll happen next now that the seven-book brand is reaching its climax. And let's not forget the story of the power of friendship to overcome a great evil. Businesses also have the opportunity to draw on the stories of their personal experiences and those of consumers who walk through their door to create a brand story which is likewise majestic and multi-faceted.
Secondly - the entertainment factor. The Harry Potter phenomenon is enormously entertaining - the reaction of the public is entertaining (see tribute websites, themed parties and lines outside bookstores) as are the marketing campaigns, particularly when new-release-date frenzy kicks in. Harry Potter serves as a reminder to businesses that we must - on some level - entertain consumers with our message and campaigns.
On Saturday the US pop star Lady Gaga, looking every inch the glamorous misfit, arrived in Sydney courtesy of her private jet. OK, there's her outrageous outfits and the now-inescapable four-on-the-floor dance beats that Gaga reintroduced to pop radio. But what else is there to her phenomenal popularity (in 3 years of fame, Gaga has amassed 34 million Facebook friends and 1 billion Youtube clicks) and what does this mean for businesses? Well, Gaga obviously stands for something very, very important to her fans - she tells kids it's cool to be gay or freaky or unpopular, that they're born that way. For those who feel like they don't somehow fit in, this is a powerful message which carries strong resonance. And Gaga wants her loyal fans to be a part of what she is doing - as an example, she's crowd-sourced her offstage wardrobe, mostly wearing clothes her fans give her, and decorates her dressing room with their art and gifts.
To take a leaf out of Lady Gaga's book - we as businesses must articulate what we stand for in the mind of the consumer, which resonates on an emotional level. And we must inspire consumers to want to be a part of what we're doing as businesses, providing the opportunity for them to participate as much as possible.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)