Performance Zen

Author: spierzchala

  • Brand Management: Apple?

    SeattleDuck is up again today with this post on brand management [here]

    This goes directly to the heart of the somewhat loosely constructed (ok, when I read it this morning, it had the logical consistency of a drunken llama) rant on Apple and brand management.

    I agree with Kevin:

    The emotional power of your brand CANNOT be decided in a meeting or a planning doc. Those are wasted words. They may provide a goal and guidance how to get there, but true brand power has always resided with two parties: your customers and your employees that interact with them.

    Apple, turn your employees and the fanatics loose! They kept you alive in the times of darkness; let them lead herald your brand from the ramparts.
    Let them develop BRAND LUST for you.

  • The Horror! The Horror!


    My mind…melting it is…
    More here, here and here.
    This is hideous…the drugs aren’t working..I can see the world as it really is…must flee!

  • Hey! A cool new book on a rocking new Programming Language!


    Going off to order this now!

  • This Year’s Poisson d’Avril RFC!

    RFC 4042.
    MMMM…gimme some of that UTF-9/UTF-18 goodness!
    Courtesy of Tim Bray.

  • How did I miss this?

    Akamai bought Speedera in March. Damn! I must have been asleep!
    Guess that’s one way to settle your lawsuit. [here]

  • April Fool’s/Poisson d’Avril From Google!

    http://www.google.com/googlegulp/
    All of that Google goodness, now with a refreshing citrus flavour!

    How to get Gulped?
    You can pick up your own supply of this “limited release” product simply by turning in a used Gulp Cap at your local grocery store. How to get a Gulp Cap? Well, if you know someone who’s already been “gulped,” they can give you one. And if you don’t know anyone who can give you one, don’t worry – that just means you aren’t cool. But very, very (very!) soon, you will be.

    Wait, this BETA Program sounds familiar! Wonder where they got it from!

    Sero-Tonic Water – Just try to stay down once your synapses get a blast of this bubbly concoction whose refreshing blend of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors is perfect for those moments when all your other beverage options just seem soooo depressing.

    Sounds far better than my morning Wellbutrin/Paxil Grande Latte!
    Ben Ramsey has 50 Google Gulp Caps to give away! [here]
    Scoble may have the inside track to the Microsoft response…ask him; I dare you!
    John Battelle critiques this year’s Google Poisson d’Avril. [here]
    More here and here.

  • Cool! The Latest Windows Patch Worked!

    Care of the Frog Blog.

  • Apple Bloggers Sent Underground By Overzealous Legal Department?

    The title should give you some idea about what the post is about. And before you flame me, realize that I know there are a great number of dedicated Apple Bloggers out there. The concept driving this post is something that has been tickling the back of my brain for a week now: the lack of and silence from bloggers who work directly for Apple.

    John Moore of Brand Autopsy comments on Guy Kawasaki, the Evangelists’ Evangelist, stating that he is tired of defending Apple. [here]

    Apple has micromanged their branding and corporate message to such a degree that they cannot, will not, tolerate ANY deviation from the company line. By anyone. Including the hordes of excited, motivated, and deicated Apple Fanatics.
    Apple, currently you have the cool factor on your side. I have become a victim of your message: I LUST for (not want, not desire, but LUST for) a Powerbook.

    However, as lust is want to do, it may cool when the sun rises and all is exposed in the true light.

    So Apple, how do you want your fanatics to speak of you? As the company with the cool tech who puts the chill into even the most firebrand brand evangelist? Or the company that encourages, motivates and invigorates the discussion and dissemination by their brand evangelists, no matter who they are?

    If you work at Apple and you are reading this, which answer do you see coming out of the Marketing Department?

  • How close to the edge do you live?

    This morning, on my way to work, I heard on NPR Michelle Kennedy describe how she spent a summer homeless after leaving her husband. [here]
    The story reminded me just how close so many of us live to that edge. The edge I am talking about is the one that separates you from the street. I live far too close to that edge for my liking, and the exposure is doubled when you factor in that I am a stranger in a strange land.
    To think that I could expose my family to the trauma of homelessness weighs on me everyday. And why do I have to worry about it.
    Because it’s the American Way.

  • SMART on Target

    Peter Davidson and I should form the SMART Car Club of America. [here]
    Look at this groovy pic on Flickr!