Month: February 2012

  • “There’s A Department That Does That”

    Last night I had dinner with “MM,” the senior brand manager for a huge global product that most of us use every day.  In fact, the company MM works for manufactures more than a dozen products most of us use within the first few hours of the morning, every morning. His company’s mastered the the rhythms of our daily routines and programmed…

  • “We Worship At The Altar Of Our Audience”

    That’s something that MTV President Stephen Friedman (who brought me to MTV almost 8 years ago) always says.  It means this: If our audiences don’t love what we do, they’ll go away.  And if they go away, we’ll be gone too.  We all have the same boss.  In the case of MTV, that’s abuot 80 million…

  • Woof, Just Woof

  • Why Last Night’s Big Win For Chipotle — Featuring Willie Nelson & Cold Play — Didn’t Even Happen On TV

    UPDATE: Thanks to Chiptole for reaching out this morning after they read this post.  Turns out, McDonalds divested its share of Chipotle years ago, so Chipotle is not a “Golden Arches” company anymore.  Which might explain… The most important thing about last night’s Chipotle commercial PSA wasn’t even the spot itself.   It was something worth more than all the media McDonald’s Chipotle bought. …

  • Yale School of Management 2012 Conference: “People Are More Likely To Buy Cake On Rainy Days”

    This year’s annual Yale School of Management conference was entitled “The Higher Velocity Marketplace: Technology, Innovation and Engagement in the New Marketplace.”  A good topic for Scratch, since we live it.    Hosted by Professor Ravi Dahr, the Director of Yale’s Center for Customer Insights, the conference featured some awesome insights and approaches from fellow keynoters Jon Iwata (CMO, IBM),…

  • Thanks, Billy Boy

    One of the many disadvantages of too many meetings is that you tend to miss fun stuff when it happens. And, working at Scratch, fun stuff happens often. Thursday, I missed a surprise Valentine’s gift from UK condom company, Billy Boy. My assistant politely accepted the package, which was delivered by two blonde models. Here’s…

  • If Zuckerberg Gets Sick Of It All & Kills Facebook, One Day…

  • Are We Already Cyborgs?

    Professor Andy Clark thinks so.  And he makes a pretty fun case.  Here’s an excerpt: We are entering an age of widespread human enhancement. The technologies range from wearable, implantable, and pervasive computing, to new forms of onboard sensing, thought-controlled equipment, prosthetic legs able to win track races, and on to the humble but transformative…

  • KidScreen 2012: “The Creative Power Of The Audience”

    The KidScreen Summit is different and fun, and the panel Amy Friedman (President, RedHead Consulting) is hosting at this year’s conference should be a winner.  I’m psyched to join the inimitable Jonathan Mayers (co-founder of Bonnaroo and Superfly Presents), the legendary Fred Seibert, and inspiring sherpa Amy, as we explore the power of the people we program for (and answer to).…

  • Times Square Strangers Watching Boxing Instead Of Going Home

    What is it about grown men throwing punches in a ring that makes guys stop and stand and wait for one of them to fall? Tuesday, 7:08pm, the Times Square subway station.  When it’s likely someone’s waiting at home for them.  And each of these guys could view the same content (or better), anytime they want, on…