Independent Thinking » Odds & Ends

What Andy Warhol and Joe Paterno Have in Common

Daria Steigman — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:01:37 +0000

Have you ever listened to Songs from Drella?

The album is Lou Reed and John Cale‘s brilliant tribute to Andy Warhol‘s life and art. It’s fascinating, personal, and emotionally raw.

The penultimate verse:

They really hated you, now all that’s changed
But I have some resentments that can never be unmade
You hit me where it hurts I didn’t laugh
Your Diaries are not a worthy epitaph

Your legacy is all your atoms and bytes.

When Joe Paterno died on Sunday, I wasn’t so much surprised as saddened by all the glowing words being said about him. Calling him a “flawed hero,” or talking about how he handled the Penn State scandal “with grace” (seriously?). Somehow I don’t think this is what my high school English teacher had in mind when she was teaching us about Shakespeare and Aristotelian tragedy.

You can be really great at something (for Warhol, art; for Paterno, winning football games), but you don’t get to write your epitaph. And the consequences of your words and your actions all become a part of your legacy.

Your brand, at the end of the day, is what other people decide it is.

Here’s the question: What would you like your epitaph to be? Will it?

Photo by Podknox (Flickr).

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Welcome MMXII

Daria Steigman — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 06:01:00 +0000

Happy New Year!

Twenty Twelve. 2000 + 12. The end of the Mayan calendar. A big new art calendar on my wall.

It’s the day after 2000 + 11 and 365 days. The daylight is sticking around longer again, which makes me happy.

May your 2012 be filled with simple pleasures, business successes, and lots of fun.

Photo by Alaskan Dude (Flickr).

“To Infinity and Beyond”

Daria Steigman — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 12:47:27 +0000

I didn’t realize until last night how much Steve Jobs changed my world:

He added color (orange desktop computer, red netbook).
He added usability (point-and-click operating system versus the old DOS).
He made music truly portable (mp3 player, streaming capabilities).
He changed the way we connect (smartphone).

My only Apple product is an iPod nano, and yet Steve Jobs’ impact is everywhere. Oh, and his tenure at Pixar produced the little movie clip above.

The world needs more disruptive innovators.

To infinity and beyond, Steve Jobs.

Tact and Bluntness

Daria Steigman — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 10:05:40 +0000

A colleague complimented me on my tact, saying I “have a wonderful way with words… poise and grace.” Another likes my bluntness, saying that “real friends tell it straight, compliments AND criticisms.”

Tact and bluntness.

My mom once said she was glad that I had acquired some of my dad’s diplomacy to go along with her outspokenness.

Tact and bluntness. In business (and in life) I think you’re best served when you use both.

Photo by Chris P. (Flickr).

Going Fireworks

Daria Steigman — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 10:21:49 +0000

Some people go fishing–I’m going fireworks.

I’m off for a few days of much-needed downtime. I’ll be back with new posts right after the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Meanwhile, in celebration of three years of blogging (The Independent Thinking Blog turned 3 this month), here are three posts from the early archives you might want to check out:

See you back here on Tuesday.

Photo by therealbrute (Flickr).

Opening Day 2011

Daria Steigman — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:05:01 +0000

It’s Opening Day!

Pardon the interruption as I take a much-needed day off to bow at the altar of the baseball gods.

Photo by Lauren Nelson (Flickr).

Happy Presidents’ Day

Daria Steigman — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 10:23:08 +0000

Wishing everyone (who has the day off) a great holiday. And everyone who’s working a productive Monday. You’ll be a day ahead of me this week.

Photo by Marc Gallant (Flickr).

Don’t Be Random

Daria Steigman — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 22:01:27 +0000

I received a random phone call from a recent college graduate the other day inquiring whether my company was hiring.

Although I don’t have any job openings, I tried to be helpful:

Suggesting she look at the local IABC, PRSA, and AMA chapters–and gave her the URLs.
Suggesting she consider attending some of their lower-cost events (i.e., those more likely to be affordable to an out-of-work newbie).
Pointing her to Job of the Week.
Recommending that, as she finds people to talk to, she ask them for an informational interview as a way to get in the door (rather than asking for a job–which tends to elicit a yes/no response).

I even gave her my e-mail address (no, she didn’t have it–which suggested she hadn’t looked at my Web site before calling), and told her I’d be happy to look at her resume.

She sent her resume a little while later–but my address wasn’t on it (assume it was blind copied), the note was addressed to someone else, and it was a generic letter. No mention that she’d talked to me. And, of course, no thank you.

You can guess what happened next.

Make sure you’re making the most of your opportunities. Don’t be random.

Photo by Nicolas Nova (Flickr).

What Profession Should Marketers Never Try? Plus 9 Other Burning Questions.

Daria Steigman — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 08:14:34 +0000

Over at the BrandBuilder blog, Olivier Blanchard issued a “getting to know you better” call to action premised on the 10 questions asked of interviewees on Inside the Actor’s Studio. It’s a fun way to get to people’s personalities (be sure to check out the comments section of Blanchard’s blog for more answers), so I thought I’d give it a go.

1. What is your favorite marketing/business word?
Innovation.

2. What is your least favorite marketing/business word?
Silo.

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally about marketing/business?
Continual learning. Creativity. The opportunity to work with smart people.

4. What turns you off about marketing/business?
People who are only interested in people they think are useful to them.

5. What’s your favorite curse word when you see really bad marketing?
Crap.

6. What sound or noise do marketers/business people make that you love?
There is one?

7. What sound or noise do marketers/business people make that you hate?
Speaking in acronyms.

8. What profession other than marketing should marketers attempt to become better at marketing?
Operations. Customer service. And architecture.

9. What profession should marketers never try?
Good question. Dentistry?

10. If marketing heaven exists, what would God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
What have you done for me lately?

Now, what say you?

Photo by Owen Geronimo (Flickr).

Welcome MMXI

Daria Steigman — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 05:21:02 +0000

And a new year begins… Is your business ready?

Photo MM by dickuhne (Flickr).
Photo XI by Justin Henry (Flickr).