Monday, April 26, 2010

Hurts so good



The best advice in the world is often the most obvious. This is another reason why Steve Jobs is one of my business-world heroes.

Sometimes thinking differently simply involves good old fashioned editing. Stripping it down and leaving what’s best. It can feel painful, but just wait til you see how great the stuff is that’s left.

Monday, April 19, 2010

I love this woman

And not just because she almost runs the Darma Initiative.

Actually, Dr. Regina Dugan runs Darpa, which, of course, stands for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, a terrible name for a cool agency. Hence, the intriguing acronym, from which I’m sure the Lost guys took inspiration (or stole) for their little TV show.

You can read about what she’s done; it’s nothing short of incredible. My greatest respect for her comes from the ways she’s inspired the big manly men who work for her. Dr. Dugan demands creativity and innovation and she gets it. She’s living proof that it truly is all about ideas, whether you’re working for the Transformational Convergence Technology Office or selling tacos.

The world of marketing should take notice of the way one of her projects was affected by the real-world power of Social Media, leaving no doubt as to its tremendous potential when she offered a $40,000 prize for finding some balloons and 500 teams from around the world joined in the hunt (yes, that’s a tease).

Dr. Dugan, you’re our kind of person, and you have a job at Twist waiting for you as soon as you get bored in Washington.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Embrace the bacruncheeesiness™

One of the best things I ever put into my mouth was a “sandwich” of some nice marbled kosher corned beef between two crispy fried potato pancakes. I made sure there was a defibrillator standing by and enjoyed every bite.

One of Colonel Sanders’ offspring must have been standing by (although I can’t picture a Sanders at Manny’s Deli), or at least one of the marketing minions from Yum brands, because KFC has created their own version of the Jewish heart attack on a plate: The Double Down.

Check out that picture. I don’t even eat half the stuff on that sandwich and I want one, just to experience the bacruncheesiness.

Ever since that guy fell down the stairs holding the chocolate bar and the other guy was at the bottom of the stairs holding a jar of peanut better—and you Reese’s fans know what happened next--food manufacturers have realized the potentially new business opportunities in new food and flavor combinations.

The best of them are great examples of the best of Twisted Thinking. My next idea: The Tornado. Chocolate, bananas, and whipped cream between two funnel cakes.

I’m surprised they haven’t had that at the Wisconsin State Fair yet. A man can dream...