The BIG Kahuna

I’m sure you’ve all seen this cheeseball commercial:

Do you believe this brand called “Lend America”? Do you find it insulting how they pretend to be a newscast? In this day of mortgage crisis do you believe a bad credit score is okay?  Have you done a Google search for the phrase “Lend America Scam”? Would you be surprised to learn there are over 51,000 results? http://www.google.com/search?q=lend+america+scam&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GGLG_en

Your brand identity is everything, don’t blow it.

As I walk the mall shopping and making buying decisions I always question why I buy one product over another. The other day I had a new home alarm installed. I shopped around and know for certain I could have saved a few bucks with a lot of other people. Who did I go with?

Brinks. Sorry, Broadview. Why? I know if there’s ever a problem they’ll take care of me. I’m safe.

Same thinking applies to all my shopping. Whenever I’m faced with a decision between two brands I’ll always choose the one that makes me feel the most comfortable. I’ll pay extra for that feeling. A lot of people today say feelings don’t matter. I say that’s a bunch of hogwash. They matter. They matter in each and every purchase.

If you’re not making your customer feel safe with your brand you’ll most likely be second best or at best a commodity. Who wants that? That’s not branding to me.

Ah, no you’re not, and I watch you all the time. Let’s face it, you’re a conservative, Republican promoting TV News outlet. Get rid of this ridiculous tagline “Fair and Balanced”. It only makes you look weak.  Embrace your brand identity of representing the right. No one else is. You’ll automatically stand for much, much more by embracing the brand.

We all know CNN and MSNBC go way left. Liberals love those stations. They don’t have the guts to come out and say they are liberals either. You do Fox. Just proclaim your rightness and be done with it. You’ll be stronger and more focused.

Brand Identity is everything, don’t run from it. Love it. Be the ball…nah, nah, nah…nah.

If you are stop it. Now. Really, cut the crap! This sort of practice just gets morale down and makes your company an undesirable place to work at.

Go ahead, tell me your employees will be less productive. Hogwash. They’re doing it anyway from their SmartPhones, iPhones and whoziedoozzies. Soon we will all have chips surgically implanted in our heads and we won’t need a device.

Here’s a great article on the issues, read it:

Access to social media improves productivity. According to Dave Willmer, executive director of Robert Half Technology, “Using social networking sites may divert employees’ attention away from more pressing priorities, so it’s understandable that some companies limit access.” But multiple studies prove exactly the opposite.

Read more here.

Get with the times folks or they will pass you by.

Today I have lost all respect from the brand Nobel. Today they awarded President Obama the Nobel Peace Prize. A fine prize to win based on one’s dedication and hard-work to peace. None of which President Obama has accomplished or worked hard at (he’s only been in office for 9 months).

President Obama says: 

“I am both surprised and deeply humbled,” Obama said at the White House. “I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments. But rather as an affirmation of American leadership. … I will accept this award as a call to action.”

I’m sure he is surprised because he in-fact has only made campaign promises. Last time I checked we are still in Iraq (promise of peace not yet kept), Gitmo is still open for business (promise of peace not yet kept) and he’s actually sent more troops to Afghanistan. That is far from peace last time I checked.

The Nobel Committee said it decided to honor Obama for his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” What exactly has he done? What peace treaties has he signed? What cooperation between conflicting countries has he repaired? What summits has he been part of that resulted in peace? Does Iran, Iraq, Russia or anyone really think differently of the USA now?  Do they mean just because he won the election? I’m confused?

I’m disappointed that the Nobel Peace Prize is now a political tool rather than an objective achievement of someones life and dedication. To me this is now a big joke, a scam.

Shouldn’t this award gone to someone who has made a real difference and not a smoke and mirrors wish? Wasn’t there someone much more deserving of this award?

The Nobel Peace Prize means nothing. They’ve sold out. Their brand is dead to me.

What do you think? Can someone, anyone win a prize like this based on promises or should actual achievment be the driver?