Imagine you’re at a friend’s backyard get-together. The sun is shining, and the BBQ sizzles with burgers and dogs. You’ve said hello and chatted with several of the guests you know. You turn around and bump into someone new. “Hi, I’m Mike.” Hi, I’m Peter, nice to meet you.”

The conversation takes the familiar path. How do you know the hosts? What do you do? Where do you live? Peter seems nice. Has a sense of humour. The conversation continues and you ask Peter does he play golf, tennis, pickleball?

Peter tells you he plays some golf, but his passion is flying. He goes on to tell you that he has a share in a small private plane with some friends. In fact, he’s got

time booked for a flight tomorrow morning at 11. Peter says “Hey Mike, why don’t you come? My buddy who was coming had to back out.”

Your mind races with questions. “How long has Peter been flying? Where did he learn to fly? How come his buddy backed out?”

You respond “Well thanks Peter but I’m tied up tomorrow.” You in fact, have absolutely nothing planned and are looking for something to do!

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE vs AUTHENTIC INDIVIDUALITY

I’m not here to debate whether AI is a fad like radio and television (said with tongue firmly planted in cheek).

Using artificial intelligence to identify patterns and trends and process large volumes of data to learn, streamline processes, save time, eliminate biases, and automate repetitive tasks is a fascinating and potentially useful development.

AI is neither inherently good nor bad; it is a tool that can be used for beneficial or harmful purposes, depending on its development and usage.

I confess I’ve used a few prompts to overcome blank page syndrome to get started. But you still need authentic individuality to create the prompts.

I’m here to ponder whether “AI” can replicate “AI”. 

My stance is not yet… and probably never. 

The ability to take a fuzzy, almost forgotten dream tidbit and create a heart-tugging song, a mesmerizing TV script, a novel from a childhood experience a commercial tagline or an earworm of a jingle is, in my opinion, an authentic individualistic ability that cannot be duplicated with a prompt.

Here’s how AI sees itself.

The prompt I gave AI..” Define Artificial Intelligence “.

“Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the simulation of human intelligence by machines, particularly computer systems. It encompasses various techniques and technologies that enable machines to perform tasks typically requiring human intelligence. These tasks include:

1.**Learning**:

2. Reasoning: 

3. Perception

4. Natural Language Processing (NLP)  

5. Problem Solving:

AI is categorized into two types:

- Narrow AI (Weak AI): AI systems designed to perform a specific task (e.g., virtual assistants, recommendation algorithms).**General AI (Strong AI)**: 

A theoretical form of AI that would have the ability to perform any intellectual task a human can do, with true cognitive abilities.”

Then I prompted “Define Authentic Individuality”

“Authentic individuality refers to the unique and genuine expression of a person's true self, values, beliefs, and personality. It involves embracing one's distinct identity without being overly influenced by societal pressures, external expectations, or the desire to conform to others. Authentic individuality is characterized by:

1. Self-awareness:.

2. Honesty:

3. Integrity:

4. Courage:

5. Creativity:

In short, authentic individuality is about being true to yourself, embracing your uniqueness, and living in alignment with your core values and beliefs. It's a celebration of one's distinctiveness in a world that often encourages conformity.”

The two summaries do appear to be somewhat incongruent, but that’s why we’re here.  

Okay. Let’s have a little fun. And now for the…

People buy on emotion. And the most powerful of those emotions is trust.

Imagine you’re at a friend’s backyard get-together. The sun is shining, and the BBQ sizzles with burgers and dogs. You’ve said hello and chatted with several of the guests you know. You turn around and bump into someone new. “Hi, I’m Mike.” Hi, I’m Peter, nice to meet you.”

The conversation takes the familiar path. How do you know the hosts? What do you do? Where do you live? Peter seems nice. Has a sense of humour. The conversation continues and you ask Peter does he play golf, tennis, pickleball?

Peter tells you he plays some golf, but his passion is flying. He goes on to tell you that he has a share in a small private plane with some friends. In fact, he’s got time booked for a flight tomorrow morning at 11. Peter says “Hey Mike, why don’t you come? My buddy who was coming had to back out.”

Your mind races with questions. “How long has Peter been flying? Where did he learn to fly? How come his buddy backed out?”

You respond “Well thanks Peter but I’m tied up tomorrow.” You in fact have absolutely nothing planned and are looking for something to do!

GUESS WHO’S COMING TO TOWN? …IT AIN’T SANTA

You live in a small town and have a business that you or your family opened and built from the ground up. You’ve survived recessions, pandemics and ever-increasing costs to provide you and your team a livelihood.

Life is good. You have wonderful regular clients who love that they can get the products and services they need right there in your small town. You know many of your regulars by name, and their kids play on the same sports teams as yours (which you probably sponsor).

Yes, life certainly is good. Your hard work, determination and giving back have paid off.

Then one day the rumours started. “Psst, did you hear National Brand X is going to be opening here in town next fall? You know their prices are 20% less than what Joe charges. I’ll buy what I can from Joe but…”

The speculation and buzz of the big city coming to town have people talking. “I saw that they started clearing the space for Brand X.” “ I heard it was going to be Brand Y, but whatever, it will just be great to have some competition in town.”

You listen quietly, continuing to provide your products and services as you have for the last 15 years.

“Hey, Joe how are you going to compete with Brand X?” your customer of 10 years asks.

You mutter under your, breath “Hey Bob, remember all the times I came back to the store after dinner, or on a Sunday because you just had to get that medicine for Sally, or Johnny really needed that piece to finish his science project for Monday?”

DON’T GET MAD. GET TO WORK

Once it’s been confirmed that Goliath is coming, don’t sit back and wait like a deer in the headlights. Get your ‘David’ on and figure out the plan to go into battle.

I thought it might be fun to take the concept of brand development and sustainability and look at it from a more relatable and concrete perspective.

A brand that works so hard and is so powerful it has steam rising off it when it’s out amongst its customers. A brand that has not only remained relevant for almost 50 years but has been embraced by hundreds of millions of “customers” who come back again and again!

Bruce Springsteen, "The Boss…

I have been working with several clients recently advising on the differences and benefits of ‘promotions’ and ‘activations’ for their marketing strategies.

The confusion among them leads me to think this a topic worth discussing, particularly for small businesses. 

This is only a top-level overview of each to get small businesses spitballing about how they can determine what mix is the best to achieve their short and long-term marketing goals.

f you would like to discuss your specific situations, reach out and we can have a chat.

‘THE SHORT & LONG OF IT’

In the world of marketing, the terms 'promotions' and 'activations' are often used interchangeably, but they carry distinct meanings and purposes. For businesses looking to enhance their marketing strategies, it is crucial to grasp this difference…

I want to share some thoughts on a topic that although not new, I’ve heard expressed more frequently of late…” Should we lower our prices to compete”.

Many service-based professionals, including real estate agents, architects, restaurants, and fitness providers, are feeling the pressure to lower their fees or prices to attract more business. Despite having years of training and experience, the fear of losing clients to competitors who offer lower prices creates doubt in their minds.

Marketing can be compared to a complex puzzle, and like any puzzle, it's best to start with the big picture - Strategy.

When strategy doesn’t lead, businesses don’t know which pieces (tactics) to place where. If you have developed a clear and well-defined strategy, the puzzle comes together faster, wasting less time and fewer attempts to complete and see the full picture.

Creativity and innovation play a crucial role for businesses looking to stay ahead of their competitors with their brand and marketing strategies. In this context, I would like to introduce you to a lesser-known approach called "vuja de". While you may be familiar with the more common phrase "thinking outside the box", "vuja de" represents a different perspective and approach to generating creative solutions. Let's explore the differences between these two concepts with some examples.

Branding and Marketing in Small Towns

Hello, small-town business owners! Today, I want to discuss the significance of branding and marketing for the growth of your business. You might be wondering why it is necessary to focus on these aspects in a small town. But let me tell you, it's not limited to your local customers. It also helps you reach out to potential customers from outside your town.

Maximizing Opportunities During Street Festivals

Street festivals are a vibrant and exciting part of urban culture, attracting crowds of people looking to enjoy music, food, art, and entertainment. While these festivals can be a source of inconvenience for businesses with storefronts along the festival route, they also present unique opportunities for increased visibility and sales.

Let’s explore how businesses can take advantage of street festivals that block their storefronts and not count the hours until it’s over!

Let’s take a look at a topic that might sound a bit peculiar at first: "The Last Three Feet in Marketing." It's that magical space where real-world interaction meets the digital realm, and where personal connections have the potential to make all the difference in your marketing efforts.

Silence Speaks Louder | The Perils of over communication in Digital Marketing

In the age of digital marketing, companies have an unprecedented ability to connect with their customers.