Conversations with a Marketer - Part 2

Yesterday, all of us at DMN3 met for what we call a "Lunch & Learn." It's typically an informative-type of gathering, where an individual or department educates the entire team on a marketing-specific topic. So, for instance, Creative will talk to us about fonts and the color wheel for an hour while we eat sandwiches and eye the cookies. FUN. But yesterday it was MY turn and for kicks, I tacked on an assignment. The theme, of course, was "Profiles in Marketing Excellence." And the assignment was to read one Profile and to take note of three things they learned - I preassigned each Profile with an employee to make it interesting. We then met for lunch and talked about each Profile. It was a great Lunch & Learn, if I do say so myself, and it was inspiring to hear my colleagues talk about the project that I love so dear, instead of asking me if and when the thing will ever get done. But in the midst of my enjoyment, I made an observation: Is it just me, or is it a marketer's requirement to have an opinion about everything? Just kidding...

But among all the interesting stories and opinions - either shared from a Profile or by an employee's own career experience - one point stood out that really captured the theme of the book and the discussion at hand. Marketers L-O-V-E to share. Here I was thinking they're just opinions. Not true. The marketers in the book and the marketers I see everyday at the office have a selfless willingness to share real-life nuggets of personal wisdom and experience.

One such marketing philanthropist is DMN3's own Kent. He has worked at DMN3 and with Pam Lockard (Founder) for a while. The man is a character, no kidding. He is loud, even his walk is loud, and sometimes a bit volatile but totally great. Before DMN3, he worked at some of the largest agencies in the country and doing so since...well, I don't want to offend. Let's just say he is a veteran of the industry and one of the best at what he does. Meet Kent here.

At the Lunch & Learn, Kent began to share a story from his marketing career at Ogilvy. (Side note: You don't talk when Kent talks, not only is it impossible but it's like talking over your grandparents - it's disrespectful for goodness sake!) His story is about a lunch meeting with a colleague circa 1975 and to do it justice I must tell it like Kent tells it...

"IT WAS 1975 AND I WAS AT A LUNCH WITH MY CO-WORKER. WE WERE TALKIN' ABOUT THE AD BUSINESS, MARKETING BUSINESS OR WHATEVER THE NEW WAY TO CALL IT IS. AND WE WERE DISCUSSING SOMETHING CALLED VIDEO TEXT!!!!!! (he emphasizes this by yelling). THIS VIDEO TEXT (again, emphasis on VIDEO TEXT) WAS GONNA' CHANGE THINGS. IT WAS THE NEXT BIG THING. AND IT WAS. IT CAME TO BE SOMETHING WE NOW CALL THE INTERNET."

I then begin to think about the Profiles and their own stories. One common denominator that I found is that marketers will always face change and "next big things" in the marketing biz. It is something that top marketers embrace and not fear, or neglect. In 1975, that change was video text. Decades later, the change is Internet, social media, consumer takeover, mobile marketing and really stupid acronyms (LOL, seriously?). Yet, top marketers see this change as opportunity for reinvention and that's what makes this business really exciting - whether it is 1975 or 2020.

So, the bottom line is that Kent and our team of talented think tanks at DMN3 all share many of the same qualities by the 25 Profiles featured in the book. And at the top of the list is the willingness to share and not hoard experience and wisdom. After all, how could I possibly ever know that we wouldn't have Facebook if it wasn't for something called VIDEO TEXT.

You get what you give out...

"Profiles in Marketing Excellence" author, Pamela Lockard (my boss and DMN3 CEO) is quite the giver.... (And let the "butt-kissing" commence)...

Release date - January 2011

We pushed the release date to January. First it was October, than November and now it's after the holidays for a fresh 1st quarter launch date. Trust me, there is good reason for the change in plans. Not only did we score a stellar Foreword by Don Scultz, but Pam Lockard (the author and CEO of DMN3...and my boss) contributed some great, last minute additions to the book. You can see more about Pam on the updated site - www.ProfilesinMarketingExcellence.com

We also picked up some friends to help us with promotion. Meryl and team at Media Muscle are helping us get the word out and will be a great support to our 25 Profiles. Visit Media Muscle's website here.

So, see. All in good reason for our new release date. And besides, doesn't January 1st sound better than November 1st?

Conversations with a Marketer - Part 1

The other day, I was talking to a friend of mine about the book. My friend is a marketer, too. But he works in a fancy, large corporate office settled in the medical district here in Houston, TX. I was explaining to said friend that at the end of the day, we are both doing the same job. Maybe not in the same office, or even in the same industry, but our goal is the same. As marketers, our goal is to create winning ideas and make them happen. Sure, there are more pieces to that. But, really, isn't that the marketing nutshell? Allow me to diverge...

I referenced Profiles in Marketing Excellence. Explaining to him that the book features diverse insight and can be applied to pretty much every category of business. Just look at our interview with the global marketing exec from Shell Oil who understands the importance of timing and why his campaigns are always a success; or the woman who put a small, community bank on the map by creating a thriving work environment; the entrepreneur who set out in the luxury cosmetics industry and created a global, billion dollar brand; and the young marketer who creates solutions and communities for companies who are tackling search marketing. This book really says it all. And the backgrounds and successes and ideas by the 25 Marketers/Profiles are all doing what great marketers do. Creating winning ideas and making them happen.

Foreword/Forward

An excerpt from the Foreword in "Profiles in Marketing Excellence."

"All those [profiled] are tempered by a basic, underlying love of what they do and why they do it. All think they are doing things that are important. And, they are. In short, this text is like personal conversations with each of the marketing experts"...by Don Schultz, Author and Professor at Northwestern University

Don Schultz writes a great Foreword for readers, in which he so graciously contributed to "Profiles in Marketing Excellence." He writes with character and whit. And in the full text, he shares how the paged conversations give readers insight into what makes these marketers so successful. His Foreword ushers readers to move forward as they embark on the changing marketing industry, as well as when they dive in on page one of the book. Don't move too fast - you may miss the value that is sure to be learned in the end.

Thank you Mr. Schultz.

Profiles in Marketing Excellence. A book. A blog?

I'm surprised we didn't start this blog sooner! A Blog written about a book? Genius!

Although a late-bloomer of an idea, it spawned (nevertheless) while in a four hour "Profiles in Marketing Excellence" production meeting. It was the last of many meetings now that we are done with interviews, interview edits, re-edits, outsource edits, re-writes, approvals, legals, Pam approvals (I'll introduce you to the Boss Lady, later) and a layout re-design and eye refresher. Hey! Books are hard to put together when you have a little thing called "clients" and "billable work" to keep in check. Otherwise, there would be no book. And, ultimately, I'd be out of a job!

My name is Lindsay. Over a year ago, I started at DMN3 as an intern. Throughout my internship, I like to think I grew as the book grew. We both required a lot of edits and a lot of critiques, but it only made us stronger. Thanks to the 25 featured marketing masterminds who contributed to the book, I learned more from reading, studying and editing each Profile's interview than in a semester's worth of coursework. I also want to say this book helped me pass every marketing final of my final college semester. thank you.

Back to the DMN3 meeting table at hand. I got to thinking about this year-long project and how it brought a lot of newness, exciting opportunities, learning experiences and headaches to my plate as a mere pup. But even though production is over, I know it is the start to a whole other sha-bang. In my opinion, it is the most fun part of any project launch - the promotion! (Side Note: I should add I started my collegiate career as a PR major because event planning was the only degree cohesive with my "busy" freshman year.)

Here are my ideas for promotion that did not make the cut or the patent office:

1. a Kanye West-style party, and guests are required to wear the color orange - gotta get that DMN3 brand in there somewhere.

2. a book appearance on Oprah. Sponsored by Kleenex?

A blog for our Facebook Fans was one that did, however, make it to the drawing board. Written and updated without any jargon or nonsense. but providing news and announcements about the book and our wonderful Profiles. And all by yours truly. Maybe I'll even get a guest blogger...what's Kanye's number?