Sunday, March 15, 2009

Who Has Time For A Social Life?

Today I am avoiding my friends. I have too much to do. Blogging, treadmill, weights, online scrabble and solitare, Facebook, Twitter, iTunes, Audible, checking MeetUps, emails, web sites, 1010 WINS, reading online newspapers and blogs, ipod audiobooks, iphone apps, tv shows, play with Coco, and Sunday night "To Do" list to prepare for the week.

My life has gone totally digital. I sit behind a computer like I am the director of a movie putting all the pieces of a plot together. The plot is my life and I now map it on my Microsoft Outlook calendar, contacts and tasks so I can see it from every laptop I own. I can't be away from my electronics for a second. Never take a shower without putting my Treo and cell on the vanity. iPhone is recharging.

I wake up in the middle of the night and right from my bed talk online to pals and biz contacts in Asia, Israel and Europe. Now must write back old friends who find me on Facebook and want to be new friends.

Not enough hours in the day to live a digital life and a real one

See you on the net

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

The Orange Juice Indicator: Change May Be Uphill Battle For Obama




President Obama’s election was, among many things, a big resounding vote for change. But is change really what the American people want or are they going to be too afraid to embrace it when it arrives?

One major indicator may be Tropicana’s decision to ditch its revamped orange juice carton packaging after only a few weeks and go back to the old comfortable look consumers know. If people rise up over new packaging, how are they ever going to accept new policies, new standards, new ways of thinking?

We think Tropicana overreacted to consumer outcry and should have let people sit with the new look. After all, change doesn’t always feel immediately good. Sometimes it can leave us uncomfortable. But over time, what seems off can become beloved.

We liked the bold new packaging created by the Arnell Group. It focused on the delicious juice within in place of the venerable orange-with-a-straw image that has represented the brand for so long. Here is a link to to Advertising Age's interview with Peter Arnell on the decision by Tropicana to go back to the old packaging.



But whether you agree or not in this instance, we think it is really a sign that while people talk about wanting change, they are not always willing to take the deep breath and live with the sometimes disquieting transition that may accompany it.

What do you think?

Monday, March 09, 2009

Memo to Bill Gates

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090309/ap_on_bi_ge/buffett_economy_6


Maybe you should rethink how smart Warren Buffet is after his recent remarks on CNBC. I didn't see any gems coming from him about the state of the economy.

Now don't get me wrong. I am not using this space to be critical of one of this country's top business leaders. All I am saying is that in a time when we were looking for great insight, his recent remarks came up short.

I could have said the same thing and that is pretty scary.

Where is his genius? Bill Gates says Buffet is his mentor.

I hope Buffet doesn't turn out to be a major disappointment now that America is really examining his words.

Monday, March 02, 2009

It's Snowing Out And It's Cooking Inside

Don't get me wrong. I have never cooked a meal, never will. I just can't understand why someone would want to take hours to cook a meal, only to have people devour it in minutes.

Anway, my cooking involves working at HWH.

Most people took a snow day. Manhattan is a mess. We had three snowfalls so the streets haven't been totally cleared.

Meanwhile, without a lot of people calling and stopping by, I am getting work done fast and easier. A lot of people are online, working from home. They are lonely willing to talk to Internet contacts. That's me.

Cutting thru my "To Do" list.

See ya

Lois