Bah! Humbug!

Minions, do you think I am a Scrooge? Am I a grumpy person during the holidays? If you ask my wife her response is a resounding "YES!"

I suppose I can't blame her, I do have a number of qualities that stack against me.

1. I am generally a very temperate person, staying pretty even keel regardless of the season. Juxtaposed my wife, I can see her point. She lights up during the holidays. She can't stop thinking of how wonderful our apartment will look with all the new Christmas decorations or what deliciously amazing holiday foods she could make. Don't get me wrong, I love how creative my wife is and I love to see her excited - just don't expect me to be bouncing off the walls.
2. As a general rule, I do not like Christmas music. Every year some one-hit wonder says "You know what? White Christmas is in need of my voice." No, no it is not. Not only is your imitation regurgitated and unoriginal crap but it has forever sullied the original. There are few exceptions to this rule.
3. I really do hate Christmas music. Perhaps I am just restating #2, but does it really need to be played for over a month? Really? Why would I want to dedicate 1/12th of my yearly music listening time to "artists" who I wouldn't have listened to during the other 11 months?

When pressed, my wife confesses that it is my disdain towards the music of the season. In my defense I do enjoy a few Christmas songs. The problem: If I took the time to categorize and determine my ultimate Christmas playlist it wouldn't be much of a playlist - and referring back to #3, I would grow tired of it by the end of the day (let alone a full month).

Postscript: I do appreciate the reason for the season and am thankful for the true gift we commemorate every year. Merry Christmas!

"The Pepé"

Hello, Minions. Earlier this week my wife Karen and I were hard at work on a fun little short film project. It is titled The Adventures of "The Pepé". It is actually stop-motion movie we pieced together for kicks and giggles. I hope you check it out. (more below the video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N00pBOTCh_o

This project got me thinking about the brave new world of consumer engagement in advertising. Most forms of advertising is one sided (the TV yelling at you to buy their products). More and more companies encouraging their customers to be engaged and to spread their message for them. I believe what my friends tell me far more than a clever commercial (as witty as it may be).

How easily would it have been if Charmin (the maker of the best toilet paper known to man: Charmin Ultra with Aloe) posted a competition for the highest voted video that focuses on one of their products? The winner would win X (perhaps money, camera equipment, free TP, whatever).
At the very least it would have had the following characteristics:
- Cheap: Charmin doesn't have to do spend millions of dollars. And the prize can be relatively modest.
- Spreadable: People are going to be so proud of the work they did that they will post it everywhere to get votes.
- Increases the bottom line: They'll make money. People will need to buy the product to film it - consider it paid sampling.

What I am saying is this: Charmin, you can make your check payable to: Jason Marrott.

Commitment

Today a section from Advanced Riskology stuck out:

What is commitment?

Merriam-Webster defines it as “the state of being obligated or emotionally compelled.”

Commitment, in my mind, is the resolution to succeed. It’s the burning desire that absolutely has to be present in order to do your impossible [objective]. It’s the drive that keeps you moving forward when defeat looks certain. It’s your obligation to risk everything for success because living without it seems pointless.

This applies to a lot in my life, but it especially reminds me of the advice I gave a loved one recently. If you really do believe in something (or love someone, or need something) nothing should deter you from it. If it is a worthy enough to believe (or love, or need) then it is worthy enough to commit to (or stand behind, or submit yourself to, or care about). It is not impossible, only hard.

Sorry for the ambiguous nature of this post.