The Greatest Brand EVER!
By | June 27, 2009
Last Thursday night just before I went to bed I checked my Facebook Profile and there was a message from Joel Comm mentioning that Michael Jackson was rushed to the hospital after having a cardiac arrest. 10 Minutes before that I also read another post from Joel also mentioning that Farrah Fawcett died.
What a weird thing… two icons from our generation on one single day?
The next Morning I woke up to the sad news that Michael Jackson passed away and the entire day, television, radio, newspapers and obviously the Internet were remembering the ‘undisputed King of Pop’. However I only saw a note or two about Farrah Fawcett!
This actually got me thinking…
Who hasn’t seen this Picture before?
I had this poster in my room when I was 10 years old! As I am sure a lot of other teens and pree-teens on the late 70’s
Farrah was an Icon from the 1970’s and 1980’s!
Or Was she?
After she left Charlie’s Angels and Divorced Lee Majors, I’ve hardly heard from her!
Sure, I know that she married Ryan O’neal and she posed nude thrice for Playboy…
But besides that, it’s very little what Iremember about her life or career!
In the other hand, Michael Jackson was not only an Icon from the 7o’s 80’s and 90’s but he was a BRAND!
I strongly believe that he was one of the most recognized persons in the world topped only by possibly Princess Diana and a couple of other people.
In fact it is quite possible that his ‘Brand’ was the greatest ‘Brand’ EVER!
His Glasses, red jacket, white glove, moon walk and weird excentricity made him one of the most recognized persons EVER.
Now, when we think of a brand we think of a product, right?
Remember the days that possibly Coca Cola was the most recognized brand in the World?
Those days are FAR gone, these days Google, Starbucks, Apple and Skype top the charts!
Now, think in terms of a person as a brand… (Fill in the Blanks)
Eccentric, Adventurous Billionaire with long hair and a goatee beard _________________________
White glittery suits, black greased hair and amazing dance moves _____________________________
Controversial African American Boxer who claimed: HE was “the greatest” ______________________
I’ve got no doubt you guessed that I was talking about Richard Branson, Elvis Presley and Muhhamad Ali!
My point is: Michael Jackson was a MUCH biger brand than Farrah Fawcett and that’s the reason why the media did not pay as much attention to her death as they did to Michael’s.
June the 25th 2009 will go into history as a very bizarre day! Two icons passed away in one single day. As far as I can remember this has never happened before. So, for me to see the huge difference in media covering each of the deaths attracted was a learning experience.
What is what I learned?
Being Beautiful or doing a ‘one time off” outrageous stunt (posing for Playboy) will not create a long lasting impact. However being unique and using your talent and imagiation to it’s full potential WILL indeed create a long lasting impact in whatever you do, no matter how weird or controversial your world can seem to others.
No matter what you do make sure to work on your ‘BRAND’. Make sure your uniqueness shines!
Michael & Farrah, thanks for having existed and for being part of my life in many ways. May you rest in peace.
Ernesto
Please let me know what you think and tell me about your own personal ‘brand’ on the comment box below!
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Topics: Marketing, Thinking | 22 Comments »
Everything is about Design!
By | May 20, 2009
A few months ago, during a business trip to Istanbul, I stayed in a 5 star airport hotel (will not say the name to protect the innocent) that offered everything that 5 star airport hotels offer.
I arrived late at night from Dubai and the following morning I was flying back to Amsterdam. I was quite tired so I went straight to bed. The following morning I woke up early and took a shower and something strange happened to me…
I took one of those beautiful amenity bottles from a very nice basket in the bathroom thinking that what I was grabing was hair conditioner but in reality it was body lotion!!!
Honestly you could not tell the difference between one and the other!
Now, normally I would have thought to myself “What and idiot I am” but in reality the idiots are those that use the exact bottle and very small letter font (I assume it was size 4) to write what the little bottles contain!
No matter how beautiful it looks, you have to make sure it is clear for whoever uses it don’t you think?
So, my point is the following:
Not because it is beautiful it is well designed!
I find it always amusing to have conversations with web designers that always try to sell you into “how beautiful” a site looks, what they ignore is how practical they need to be!
I’ve seen beautiful looking websites that do not make a penny and ugly looking ones that make a lot of money.
As in everything you need to find the balance I suppose.
The question is how do you now what is beautiful and what is practical?
Ok let me share with you a couple of sites i use for Inspiration on the “beautiful side”
1) Fubiz
These sites are full of amazing videos, pictures, examples of what designers are doing. They are simply worth having a look!
In fact let me share with you one of the latest videos I’ve seen there:
Now on the practical side:
These are the sites I use to make sure that I have great looking websites that are also very easy to do and very practical.
1) Usexsitepro
This software is great to create nice looking and practical websites on the go
This site is amazing to create very nice looking digital designs like Book covers, Software boxes etc
And recently I got Launch Tree also a GREAT tool explaining step by step how to set up websites that will sell and make you money.
Anyway I hope these quick Design and practicality tips were useful
Enjoy and remember to leave your comments
Ernesto
Topics: Great Websites, Internet Marketing, Thinking | 3 Comments »
The Next “The Secret” Movie
By | April 27, 2009
About 4 years ago I got an email from Jack Canfield the co-author of Chicken Soup for the Soul. The subject line of the email was: Do you want to know The Secret?
Intriguing subject line isn’t it?
I opened the email, read it and clicked on the link it contained. The link took me to watch a short clip of an upcoming movie called “The Secret”
In fact you can still find this trailer in YouTube:
I was literally hooked from the first very moment! I signed up to their mailing list and as soon as the Movie was available I ordered the DVD 
Yesterday I received a very similar email. This time from Mark Victor Hansen the other co-author of Chicken Soup for the Soul.
I opened it and similar to “The Secret” email I received 4 years ago, there was a link to a trailer of a movie Called: “The YES Movie”
I watched the trailer and saw “The Cast” and I was amazed!
I honestly believe this is going to be the next “The Secret” Movie!
I’ve followed Mark and Jack for over 15 years and I know that in EVERY project they get involved they turn it into a MEGA success!
Here I am With Mark and Jack just after they released Chicken Soup for the Soul about 15 Years Ago :-)
Click here to watch the Trailer of The Yes Movie and why not do the same thing I did pre-order your own copy of the movie. Honestly Can’t wait to watch it!
Enjoy
Ernesto
Topics: Economy, Great Websites, Inspirational Stuff, Thinking | 2 Comments »