Journal Category
Did the “Participation Trophy” Really Ruin the World? Did it? Really?
I reject the notion that the rise of “participation” trophy directly contributed to the demise of the millennial generation. Sure, they have their issues, which is topic for another day, but I don’t believe it’s because they were coddled by way of all receiving trophies while growing up. Simon Sinek did a talk about millennials […]
Is this the greatest copy ever written?
I stumbled on this ad circa 1925 for Listerine Mouthwash. The tagline is “Often a bridesmaid but never a bride.” Perhaps you’ve heard that one before? It got me thinking how timeless and impactful a really really REALLY good snippet of copy can be. While Listerine perhaps took inspiration from the 1917 song “Why Am […]
An M.B.A in N.W.A….
Ever read an article equating N.W.A. to the perfect business model? Well, read on. I’m about to go there… The movie Straight Outta Compton chronicles the story of the late 80s hip hop group N.W.A. It’s a fascinating story, and while perhaps not a hard core fan, I appreciate the trailblazing the group did for their genre. And […]
The List
Throughout my lifetime, I’ve had the good fortune to participate in a lot of different sports and activities. So as recent brain fuel while running, reflecting on all those great experiences has led me to create a list. Yes, a list! A list ranking what are the best* things** in the world of sports/physical leisure […]
Death of The Great American Mall?
I contest the notion that the great American mall is on its death bed. Under the right circumstances, I have – as recently as yesterday – experienced the great American mall in action, and its thriving. When properly located, and other large retail space is less readily available, the mall is the center of many communities and […]
Why is the weather like your NCAA bracket?
In their book Freakonomics, author Stephen Dubner & economist Steven Levitt build on a central belief that “economics is a science with excellent tools for gaining answers, but a serious shortage of interesting questions… All it takes is a new way of looking.” That’s been resonating with me since I read the foreword a couple weeks […]
Perceptions create realities.
Recently took my car into a dealership for service. I recall seeing an ad for this particular dealership boasting above par guest accommodations, and specifically really great coffee. Upon checking in I happened to look down the row of C.S. rep kiosks and noticed that 3 out of the 4 of them had a cup […]
‘O Say Can You See’…. (Two more min of profitable commercials.)
The base inspiration behind this post is a bit dated, but the pieced-together idea just recently popped into my head, so what can you do. In many U.S. towns where there is maybe one or two ice skating rinks serving several communities, ice time is a precious commodity. At prices often topping $300/hour, rink organizers […]
Bad Policy = Bad Marketing
As this forum is specifically for examining the art of marketing, I’m purposefully leaving individual company names out. My goal is not seeking public vengeance for a bad experience; I can do that on my own time. That said, I recently had a bad experience… In a nut shell, I ordered something that I later […]
The Elements of Engagement
Over the years I have developed and fine-tuned a core integrated approach to marketing consumer goods. It may seem obvious to many, but all too often companies miss steps along the way and opportunities are lost. My engagement approach consists of four elements: Static / Interactive / Dynamic / Synergic (yes, it’s a word). Static […]
Chris Mesigian 
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