Marketing – Art or Science or both?

Seth Godin has come out with a really beautiful “Art vs. Science” argument for marketing.

Its good to speak numbers and analytics in marketing. Very vital to measure your progress at each and every step. However, the target of all marketing is human attention. Numbers could not always speak for human attention. Art could though.

The solution lies in switching art and science thinking hats depending on various parameters. I second this idea

Your day with brands

Happened to stumble on this post on your typical day and your typical brands

Very neat!

Twitter Conversations

Just uploaded something about Twitter on slideshare. Least tech max humour attempt

Alternative productivity

I have been tripping recently on productivity, efficiency, improvements and such things. Got some friends who are heavily into it.

Zen Habits is a rather non technical approach to this issue. Its a recommended read.

Productivity is not just work related. Plus it is not used only get things done fast. Productivity dates back several centuries when we had just figured out spears and fire.

Human bodies have been designed to throw things around – spears, sticks, stones etc. Hence, the most “productive” human being is one who can throw things better than others. Re-Start with soft squeeze balls and throw it around – do remember wrist action, aim, trajectory, bouncing off a wall, catching the ball and such. Do try making your other hand (left hand in my case) as good as your good hand (right hand for me).

You might end up more productive at the end of this exercise – increased alertness, entertainment, eye to hand co-ordination and focus are by products

Spending time offline – case study

Spoiler: This is a very ‘Me Me ME’ post (the capital ‘E’ on the third me is intended).

I have spent one complete month without access to internet. Looks like I would be “unaccessed” for a bit more.

However, I do realise a sense of zen around me. Got out of home and reached Bombay a month ago. No job, no scenes still. But sure I am seeing things in a light.

1. Today I happened to release a genie from a bottle (literally – the bottle cap was jumping up and down for two days and never understood why. I opened the bottle and then the cap never jumped only). This is a plastic bottle kept for water and when the incident happened there was no water in the bottle! Aladdin Power!

2. Too much of web comics consumption during my highly online days has given me a huge sense of art. Making it a point to sketch or paint shit that appears in my head. People say I suck at it though. That makes it extra cool!

3. Gave an interview at a company – a real company with a receptionist, designer coffee cup, red and black seats, LCD TV, glass boards, permanent markers etc.. They even asked me about my ‘family background’ on a questionnaire before the interview. Very “ambitious”. I thought I cracked the interview – very punk rock ‘give it to the man’ types. As expected, they never called only!

4. I am right now designing something very interesting – it is quite interesting and I am still figuring out a lot of angles to this really cool thing. Will let people know once the deal strikes high. Would be cool if it clicks and would be much cooler if it doesn’t. Nothing dies really – things evolve!

5. I went to two shopping malls and spent time this time I was in Bombay. The crowd is thinning out and I like the look and feel. Remember Happy days with Fonzie? It feels really cool to be in an empty mall.

6. People who suck at painting – take that pencil and sketch things. You would soon learn to make neat cuts and transfer home delivered food without spilling! Art that suck has such possibilities.

7. Exercise and moving your body is very important. Keep things far away and fetch them often. Try this with water bottles (which may have genies), ciggie packets, keys, headphones, plates, spoons, ketchup etc..

8. Listen to people when they have something to say. They may not speak later!