We are down at the Manzanita, OR this week with my wife's family for their annual beach trip. It is beautiful down here and a great way to beat the heat from Portland.

Part of my routine is to wake up early and go down the the local store and get the paper. I am always amazed at the size of the paper (and for only $1.25 - what a deal!) I walked into the store to see a retired gentleman who introduced himself as Carl "the Candy Man". They call him that becauses he always hands out salt water taffy to all the patrons. Carl said, "Can I buy you a cup of coffee?" I was the only one in there and said, "Sure, that sounds great!"

He gave me a synopsis of his life story in the matter of 15 minutes. Carl was born in Vermont, a World War Two vet and made another two tours of action in SE Asia (his primary job was as weatherman for the armed services). He settled down and raised a family in Hermiston, OR (home of the watermelon in Eastern OR) where he retired in 1972. They moved to Manzanita where they purchased the only grocery store in town. He now just works on the weekend and putters around the rest of the week.

Sometimes, it is great to just slow down and take in what the situation offers you. I have always appreciated hearing stories from the aged wisdom in my community. And can you imagine walking into a Safeway or Albertson's store and having the manager offer you a cup of coffee and reminisce stories of your past?

© 2010 Michael Johnson - Inkspot Graphics. All rights reserved.

I'm Famous!

A friend of mine (an art director for an ad agency in Portland, OR) used my likeness (cartoon) in an Adidas "We Are The Champions" ad that was used in a New York subway station.

You know sometimes it is just good to not take it all too seriously. Life is short and we need to enjoy the small moments. What tiny events have made your day?

© 2010 Michael Johnson - Inkspot Graphics. All rights reserved.

No, this doesn't have anything to do with Sarah Palin, even though she has used this in her campaign speech.

But I do love psychology! Remember that when you want to emblazon an image with someone…it maybe your company name, web site, or your brand.

© 2010 Michael Johnson - Inkspot Graphics. All rights reserved.

Unfortunately, the Seattle Mariner's baseball team is not doing so well as told by the Seattle Business Journal.

Here were my suggestions:

1. They could create a package deal with AmTrak train, a couple local Seattle restaurants and a hotel with close accomodations to the ballpark. Make the package plan customizable so that the clients could choose their personal preference. Let them get a chance to talk about the experience to friends & family. What a great marketing idea when your club is not having a great year! I am sure that the other businesses would like the opportunity to collectively advertise with other established businesses. The other option is that they could cater it toward different groups. Can you imagine a whole train full of crazy Mariner rooters from Southwest Washington and Oregon (Nike, Adidas, Fred Meyers, etc). Then when they get to the park they are treated like royalty. Signs, ballcaps, jerseys & momentos.

2. Have a marketing contest with your Mariner fans. On their blog have them decide what would be the greatest marketing idea ever. The winner would get season tickets and bragging rights about how they helped the Mariner's bring in a bigger audience.

3. Think Guerilla Marketing!

© 2010 Michael Johnson - Inkspot Graphics. All rights reserved.

I just watched this great TED presentation by Sir Ken Robinson. I have never heard him before but found out about him through Mitch Joel (another great inspirational marketing guy). If anything else, please watch the video for our children's sake!

Sir Ken quotes Picasso of saying, "Children are all born as Artists!" Our educational system focuses more on the three "R's" than it does on the arts. Our culture does not endorse being an artist as a career. It is when the child paints a purple cow, that the teacher or parent says, "Johnny, cows are not purple, lets look at some real cows". Some kids will notice the painting of the purple cow and laugh. Unfortunately, they have set a trigger in Johnny's head and the seed will remain planted.

When teaching in various institutions I have heard the same comment, "I can't draw, I am not an artist." I always went out of my way to explain we all have the creative talents it has just been suppressed. To get good at anything in life, you need to practice every day! I can't think of any athlete that took a year off and could at the top of his/her game when they returned to competition.

In my own business, I talk to people that have grand visions or dreams and I have to find subtle ways to get these to fruition. Trying to reverse the process of negative reinforcement takes twice as much work. So you have to work in baby steps to see small successes.

In marketing, the big keyword is ROI (return on investment) that businesses have learned. If I spend $5000.00 on the postcard campaign promoting our Winter Special can I make that $5000.00 back in 1 or 2 months. As I am learning now, is that with Social Media and branding your company (blogging, networking, etc) it may be a slow process but it is what our new generation of kids will understand. You can't fight the process, take a chance.

© 2010 Michael Johnson - Inkspot Graphics. All rights reserved.