The lighter side of marketing • 4/365 •

After yesterday's emergency blog, I thought I would lighten things up a bit. It was fun coming up with these ... please share yours if you have some good ones!

How many graphic designers does it take to change a lightbulb?

White space signifies a working lightbulb best, so how about just the word "change" in 14 pt Helvetica Light Compressed, just right of center? 

How many social media experts does it take to change a lightbulb?

You can't expect the lightbulb to change just because you're there, you've got to have a conversation with it and develop a relationship. Then change can be allowed to happen organically.

How many Facebook users does it take to change a lightbulb?

That depends if you're talking about a lightbulb on the wall of a "fan" page, a "profile" page, or a "business" page, and you may or may not know it even needs changing, depending on your notification settings and number of friends.

How many creatives does it take to change a lightbulb?

Why does it have to be a lightbulb?

How many artists does it take to change a lightbulb?

Ooh, it's all smokey! Wait, don't change it, that's really cool. Let me photograph/paint/draw it first! 

How many art historians does it take to change a lightbulb?

Eleven: One to change the lightbulb,

five to show earlier versions that influenced it, 

and five to say the changing was actually done by the changers' apprentice.

How many SEO experts does it take to change a lightbulb?

First you have to fix the directions. They aren't labeled, tagged, coded and prioritized properly. A burned-out lightbulb in the dark will never be found otherwise.

How many PR reps does it take to change a lightbulb?

The "Sparkle in the Dark" event will be sponsored by a dozen businesses who donate their time and tools to the effort, and part of the proceeds from recycling the old bulb go to charity.

Emergencies are for the White House, not graphic design • 3/365 •

Blogging from the ER... what dedication, huh? As my son lies on a bed next to me, watching TV and having a breathing treatment, I am writing in my notebook. I will type it into my blog when I get home and settled tonight. I'm committed to 365 days of blogging this year, after all. No skimping.

It's been an emergency kind of day. 7:40 am: my boyfriends FedEx package from England containing his medication is held up in customs. 9:20 am: my studio partner quits with six days until rent is due. 10:30 am: pick up my son from school because he isn't breathing well. 4:00 pm: my Mom can't take the kids to dance after all because something came up. 8:30 pm: my son needs to go to the ER because his allergies are kicking his ass. In between all of those times: deal with those things and try to get anything done on today's to-do list.

Rough day. As bad as it sounds, though, things get handled and it's not much different than a lot of workdays can be. Graphic design emergencies happen all the time. Seriously. Many days there are "I-need-this-graphic-design-right-away-or-my-company-will-be-in-ruins" interruptions, along with unplanned revisions and a project I just can't say no to even if it means doing it in the middle of the night. There is a constant juggling, day after day, that never lets me finish my to-do list. Of course, I get more done than just what's on my list too, so maybe I'm getting ahead, maybe I'm right on track, or then again maybe I'm behind. 

It all averages out in the end. If everyone's real needs get met, if my commitments are honored, if quality work turns out, I'm happy. After all, it's not the White House or a hospital. It's just advertising. They really aren't "graphic design emergencies" because somehow even though there isn't enough time to do it the first time, there is always time to RE-do it if there's a mistake. Plan, be proactive, then handle the rest as it comes.

Besides, I'll make up for it at midnight. 

Mission statements: not just for business any more • 2/365 •

I'm on a mission. I'm saving the world. What's your mission? You don't have to be a corporation to have a mission statement, you have a brand of your very own and it deserves direction. In fact, you ARE your brand. 

We generally associate mission statements with business plans, they act as corporate compasses. My Mac dictionary defines a "mission statement" like this:

mis•sion state•ment  - noun

a formal summary of the aims and values of a company, organization, or individual.

Wikipedia says that a mission statement usually contains the following:

• Purpose and aim of the organization
• The organization's primary stakeholders: clients, stockholders, congregation, etc.
• Responsibilities of the organization toward these stakeholders
• Products and services offered

For example, Wal-Mart's mission statement is:  "Our mission is to enhance and integrate our supplier diversity programs into all of our procurement practices and to be an advocate for minority- and women-owned businesses."

Practical, but dry. I say we need to get more personal. I say that everyone should have their own personal mission statement to help guide them through their endeavors. Purpose in life. That might sound spiritual or lofty, but the origin of the term "mission statement" comes from Christian religious groups. Yes, missionaries. I offer this: we are all missionaries. Some of us haven't been given clear direction or we doubt our personal power, but we are each on a mission. If you look deep inside, it's there, you know what it is because it's been nagging at you for your entire life. So own it. Be it. Give yourself a mission statement and let it guide everything you do. It will help in business, too. Consider these successful corporations' mission statements:

Starbucks: to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time.

Nike: "To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete* in the world
* If you have a body, you are an athlete."

Google: Don't be evil.  To organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful.

Amazon:  Our vision is to be earth's most customer centric company; to build a place where people can come to find and discover anything they might want to buy online.

Coca Cola:  To refresh the world... To inspire moments of optimism and happiness... To create value and make a difference.

eBay:  "eBay's mission is to provide a global trading platform where practically anyone can trade practically anything."

Disney: "We create happiness by providing the finest in entertainment for people of all ages, everywhere."

What these have in common is a "higher purpose" that precedes the means of accomplishing it. So for a few moments, don't think about work. Don't think about what you do for a living or what you would like to do for a living. Just think about what your purpose in life is, even if you don't know how to accomplish it yet. Write yourself a mission statement. Then, you can apply it to whatever you do professionally.

My personal mission statement: "Saving the world, one _________ at a time."

My company, Little Black Mask Marketing's mission statement: To save the world by promoting entities and individuals who make a positive impact.

Write it. Live it. Don't judge yourself if you aren't living it 100%, just let it guide your choices. Live with passion. Or, as Joseph Campbell said:

Follow your bliss and doors will open for you where there were no doors before.