Advertising, Bikes, and Conflicting Attitudes

Just saw a Bank of America commercial talking, I think, about how banking with them leads to rewards that follow you or something like that. And, the reward that was chosen to follow the guy/customer was a very nice red compact road bike. If you think about it, bikes and cyclists of all sorts, from casual riders to serious bike weenies are depicted in commercials for all kinds of products from banks to insurance and investments to drugs to treat ED. It's so ironic, isn't it, that these images are used to depict a healthy and wholesome lifestyle, but the general public, the government, nearly everyone it seems are always so ready to marginalize, condemn, discriminate against cyclists on the roadways and streets all over this country.

Motorists can hit, maim, or even kill cyclists due to carelessness or sometimes, with genuine intent and get away with it. Like the drunk guy driving a van who hit, from behind, my cousin's brilliant son, a Purdue graduate with an engineering degree who scored perfect SAT math scores twice and fled the scene of the accident. He came within minutes of bleeding to death, every rib on one side broken, a lung pierced and collapsed.

But, when we need a symbol of something wholesome, healthy, simple, we use the bicycle and its riders as the penultimate symbol.

I can tell you one big reason why bicycles and their riders are depicted in ads and commercials. Did you know that of all individual sports in America, cycling has the highest median household income, beating out skiing and golf? In 2000, that meant a median household income of about $74,000. On the flip side, bike shopowners average about $40,000. Serious cyclists, you know, the ones you see on titanium or carbon fiber bikes that can exceed $10,000 and wearing spandex tend to hold at least undergraduate college degrees, in engineering, computer science, finance, etc.

I'm just curious. Why do so many people react in such a strong and negative way toward people on bikes? Is it because they're envious of everything they represent in terms of freedom, healthy, and just pure fun? Because, after all, we ride bikes because, besides getting us from point a to point b and sometimes, back to point a, it lets us be 12 years old again and again.

What do you have to say about this oxymoronic attitude toward bikes and cyclists? You do not get to say cyclists slow down traffic. I know for a fact, as I am a cyclist, that is not true. You do not get to say cyclists don't pay attention to what's going on around them, because we *have* to be so aware since no one else takes responsibility or gives consideration.

So, what's the problem anyway?

The 13 Scariest Things in IT in 2007

There are far too many people who can relate all too well to this list of The 13 Scariest Things in IT in 2007 that landed in my inbox this morning.

Companies of all sizes are being charged with bringing in the technology that will allow them to operate more efficiently, more knowledgeably to realize a greater percentage of profits at the end of the fiscal year.

Scary, huh?

So, where do you begin? How big a commitment do you have to make to see results? What is your company doing? And, why?

The reason I'm asking is that this is what I'll be speaking about in San Jose in February, 2008. I have my own ideas about business sequencing as it applies to marketing communications, lead generation, and profits for organizations at every stage. But, I really want to hear from you and what you believe is the best strategy or "best practices", in this case. (I use quotes because I *really* dislike that phrase. WTH does it mean anyway? And, whose "best practices" are we talking about? Yours probably are not going to be mine unless everything is identical. No? But, that 's a whole 'nother topic that I'd love for you to weigh in on, too

What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?

If I accept you as you are, I will make you worse;
however, if I treat you as though you are what you
are capable of becoming, I help you become that.
--Goethe

It's still a good idea to dress the part, too!

A Beautiful Diversion

Onedayitwillmake - these things work is a site that has all kinds of beautiful effects that are just wonderful to watch and marvel at the creativity and talent that created them.

Sometimes we need to take a break from the "business at hand" to refresh our souls and imagination to break through to that concept that will make for an even better customer experience.

Life Is Now

"Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets.
So love the people who treat you right, forget about the ones who don’t.
Believe that everything happens for a reason.
If you get a chance, take it.
If it changes your life, then let it.
Nobody said it’d be easy, they just promised it’d be worth it."

This quote is all over the place and there doesn't seem to be any site that can offer an attribution. A Facebook friend whom I really don't know well at all recently posted this to my Wall. The timing was perfect. The instructions are perfect. But then again, the Universe has a way with that sort of thing.

It's a gorgeous autumn Saturday. Put away any work and go out to play! Save the review of last week and the planning of the new week for tomorrow.