Get to the Next Level through the Art of Networking

On Saturday, I spoke to the Act One Executive Program here in Hollywood, and the topic was networking. Very few people really understand the power of personal networks, but if you're in a highly competitive industry like entertainment or media, it can make the difference in your survival and your success. At the class on Saturday, here are some of the keys I mentioned: ... read more

The Real Meaning of "Branding"

I looked at the business book section yesterday and here's a partial list of the books on branding: Be Your Own Brand, Primal Branding, A Brand New World, Managing Brand Equity, Brand Leadership, Building Strong Brands, Emotional Branding, Strategic Brand Management, Brand Asset Management, The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding, and more. But even though books on branding flood the market, I find remarkably few professionals who actually understand what branding means.

Simply put, branding is the story that surrounds your product, your company, or you. Yes - you don't just brand products, but you can brand people as well. Look at Oprah's brand management for instance. It's all about the story that every customer, viewer, supporter, or member of your organization experiences when they encounter your product. And you need to tell the same story across every "touch point" that those customers encounter - retail, TV, radio, Internet, print, etc... ... read more

Why I Am Here - by Brian Sheehan
(Excerpted from the wonderful book "Truths in Advertising" by Team One Advertising

I am here to chase excellence, not just billings.
I am here to do work that is exceptional, not "almost right."
I am here because creative isn't confined to a department, but rather found in every person, in every department.
I am here because I believe in breaking rules, yet maintaining unwavering standards.
I am here because I believe in the infinite potential of ambitious clients.
I am here because I can help develop truly great ideas from insights and strategies that honor the soul of a brand as well as the unbreakable truth about a consumer's life.
I am here to champion the best work - no matter how hard it is to sell.
I am here because I believe in the power of teamwork - because to create great advertising you need two authors: the agency and the client. And I'm here because this paradigm is upheld - every day, on every assignment, with everyone of our clients.
I am here because I have the persistence to never leave well enough alone.
All of which means I am here for the very same reasons you are. ... read more

The Dark Side of the Digital Revolution

The Los Angeles Times recently reported on cell phone use in Korea that revealed some remarkable information about where our digital culture may be heading. In the report, they discovered Korean teenagers are making up to 90 cell phone calls a day, and social scientists are beginning to correlate high cell use with rising rates of depression. I've reported on my blog that many teens and twenty-something's value their digital life as much (if not more) that their real life, and we're starting to see evidence that it's happening before our eyes. A friend of my daughter sent 2,500 text messages last month, (that's more than 84 per day), and we're seeing more and more examples of people preferring text messaging, even when the recipient is just a few feet away. ... read more

Phil Cooke Can Speak for Your Organization or Event

philcooke.com/schedule

Phil Cooke can speak at your organization or event on subjects ranging from personal, organizational, creative, media, and cultural change. As an international speaker and lecturer at colleges and universities, major conferences, and related events, he can affect your audience through an array of personal stories, insightful information and research, and most of all, encouragement and inspiration.

Contact us at 818-303-2424 today! ... read more