Jun 14, 2008

World Changers

Some have asked me what I mean by World Changer. I guess to some it may seem like an arrogant or self serving title for a Blog. Truth is, anyone can be a World Changer. All it takes is a commitment to lead a purpose driven life and a desire to change and affect people’s lives - for the better. I happen to believe that - we all have the capacity to change and affect the lives of others, simply by the way we lead our own lives.

Not all of us will have the same level of influence as a John F. Kennedy, Nelson Mandela, Indira Ghandi or Oprah, that's not what this is about though. You can inspire, encourage or motivate one person who then goes on to do the same for thousands, even millions of others. Individual opinions expressed in this blog may not be meaningful to all readers - that's okay. Some will find value in our subjective commentary, and if that inspires dialogue or a different way of thinking -that's a good thing. The flow of positive feedback from readers is so encouraging that I've decided to expand the scope and coverage of the Journal.

In the months ahead, I intend to expand this forum to accommodate a larger group of World Changers. Soon, this Journal will start accepting write-ups from a handful of International World Changers from all around the world. Ultimately our scope will expand - and that's probably a good thing.

So, the "WorldChanger" is a state of mind. We all have the capacity make a difference, if we choose to do so. Peace….

Jun 7, 2008

TV Advertising - Is Evolving

I recently blogged about the series of competitive - comparison TV ads which Apple has been running lately. After going back and reviewing some of those ads - I was struck by the innovative way in which Apple is able to get several key messages across to users - using a consistent theme. These days - various advertising mediums have to aggressively compete for "eyeballs". None more aggressively than TV, which has seen it's ratings and share of ad sales decline rapidly, in recent years.

I'm impressed with the way Apple constantly finds creative ways to communicate the core value proposition of it's products - directly to consumers. (see iphone, itunes, & my personal favourite).

UPS is another company that's actively trying to reach consumers & small business owners through it's UPS Whiteboard Campaign. After suffering through the stodgy old "Brown" Campaign - I find the whiteboard approach refreshing. If you haven't seen these ads - please click the play button below.

Not everyone likes these ads - however I think they're cleverly done. The UPS Brand Message is reinforced and I can clearly understand the value prop of the companies core service - in 35 Seconds. Interestingly, these whiteboard ads have sparked plenty of

Moreover, it has sparked an avalanche of video spoofs on You Tube, some of them are pretty unflattering. That said, I think the positives of this ad, far out weigh the negatives. The company has found a way to create a series of interactive "dialogue ads" - which speak directly to the needs of it's core customer base.

Not so sure about these SAP ads though, I haven't quite figured them out yet.

What would you do if you weren't afraid??

Lately, I've found myself dealing more and more with the concept of fear. Most of us experience fear of some sought on a regular basis. In fact - we can probably identify different types of fear with key stages of our lives. Fear of failure, rejection, missing opportunities, underachievement, new challenges or new environments. The Fear of Change is probably the Mother of all Fears - because often, we characterize change as a departure from our comfort zone - from what is familiar, safe and predictable.

Recently I read Who Moved My Cheese - and I was struck by the simple way in which Dr. Johnson delivered his change message. One may find the book useful, others may think it trivialises the serious impact which change can have on our lives.
Critics of the the book have claimed that it's far too simplistic and doesn't necessarily address the challenges of everyday life. I read this critical review by Ms Coffin - which appears to suggest that the actual content of the book hardly justifies all the attention it has received.
Interestingly - the Author actually commentate that both fans and critics are "right" in their own way.
Having read the book myself - I believe it teaches valuable lessons in a simple straightforward fashion. Certainly - some will find it more useful than others, like most self help material - it's all about the attitude with which one reads the book and Interprets the core message.
For me, the key learning is that when we face opportunities, challenges, periods of change - we should ask ourselves "what we would you do if we weren't afraid"? Perhaps some of us would seek new horizons, leave our comfort zones in search of new challenges - or maybe even commit ourselves to something or someone.
We all go through tough times - and often we feel that no one can fully appreciate the depth of the challenges we face. The appetite for new cheese tends to wane - as we get older and take on more responsibilities. At the very least, this book encourages the reader to anticipate and even embrace change. You may feel that the message is simplistic, but I don't think anyone would argue with it's verity. And in this world of instant gratification in which so many of us indulge ourselves in wants - disguised as needs, I'm okay with investing $20 in a quest to find some new cheese. If you feel the same way - here's some food for thought .......
  • Change Happens
  • Anticipate Change
  • Monitor Change
  • Adapt To Change Quickly
  • Enjoy Change