Thoughts

In advertising, there is something known as engagement planning. It’s sort of a nebulous concept, but it basically is the idea of trying to reach the right consumer (C) with the right message (M) at the right time (T) using the right medium (MM).

Hello from the Caribbean.

The thoughts page never really got off the ground this year like I hoped it would, but now I have an excuse. I'm on the USS Iwo Jima for the next few months during a humanitarian mission to Central America/Caribbean. When I'm off the ship, I'm working long days in the field. Once I'm back on, I'm writing about them and catching up on more mundane desk job responsibilities. This leaves me very little time to write as I'd like.

This isn't so much a thought as it is a statement.

For the next four months, I will be living and working aboard the USS Iwo Jima as the ship embarks on a humanitarian mission to Central/South America and the Caribbean.

The following originally appeared on LatAmThought

A friend recently drew my attention to a new advertising campaign from Quilmes, one of Argentina’s leading beer brands. The beer derives its name from the town where the beer was founded back in the 19^th century by a German immigrant named Otto Bemberg. As a result of this fortuitous decision, today the name Quilmes is synonymous throughout Argentina as being one of the nation’s most well-known beers, and not just another nondescript suburb that make up the megalopolis of Gran Buenos Aires.

"Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself"

So begins a Bo Diddley hit, popularized by Eric Clapton and CCR. The simple yet human lyrics tell the story of a man pleading with his lover to take him back after suspected infidelity. “Take a look at yourself”, he asks, implying that he is not the only guilty party, and that his lover is, in some way, responsible for the suspected cheating, an act that he committed.

A friend of mine asked me if I had any resolutions for 2010. I thought about it for a moment. I said I didn’t.

Reflecting on my response a few hours later, I realize that was not true.

My resolution in 2010 is to write more.