Jack Welch Loves Us

by Jared on September 28th, 2007

Former GE chief-turned-management-guru Jack Welch loves you. He honestly loves you. Or so he says in a recent article in BusinessWeek about 20-somethings and why they are a benefit to the business community.

Between papers here at my MBA program at Vandy, its always cool to check my RSS feeds and see an article like his that says what we’ve been saying all along; 20-somethings are the next great business tool.

I’ll let you read the entire article (click here >>) but there was a snippet I wanted to point out:

“Of course, not every Gen Yer we’ve met is hankering to be an entrepreneur, but many still want to change the world through where and how they work, exuding an optimism more reminiscent of the 1950s than any other era in recent memory.”

It feels great to be an MBA student at this period of time and to anyone who is wondering if ambition is worth it, just ask Jack and he’ll tell you it absolutely is.

PS: In case you’re wondering; exams are next week - wish me luck!

Technorati Tags: Gen Y, Jack Welsh, MBA

Op Ed: Double Tall/Half-Caf Yellow Submarine, Anyone?

by Jared on March 22nd, 2007

Yes people, the downfall of music has begun. AdAge.com reports that Starbucks’ Hear Music Label has signed record producer Paul McCartney after 43 years at Capitol Records as its inaugural artist.

Despite Chairman Howard Schultz’s promises to keep it “about the coffee”, this move seems to confirm what most of us already know for some time now; Starbucks is trying to leverage its massive 9,400 store network into a media distribution network.

With McCartney on board, look for artists of all shapes and colors to undoubtedly sign on to this new venture, doing to decent music what Starbucks has previously done to decent coffee.

You’ll recall Starbucks’ success with that Ray Charles album emboldened them to tap into an apparently undersold adult yuppie music lover too lazy to go to a music store or download iTunes.

Now, I don’t fear this because McCartney’s music sub-par. In fact, I fear it for the exact opposite reason.

We’ve seen how a massive distribution network like Wal-Mart can force suppliers to tailor their products, including shaping media like CD’s & DVD’s. I fear that this new move by Starbucks will only further mar the cultural diversity in this country and zap its creative personality until we are all a bunch of mindless, caffeine-addicted, soft pop-listening sycophants!

That being said, watch this particular blog posting come back to bite me in the {explicative deleted} when I am just getting out of business school, attempting to get a job with them.

Why Viacom may be missing the point in its fight against Google

by Jared on March 14th, 2007

By now, most people are filled in on the billion dollar lawsuit Viacom has brought against Google/YouTube for copyright infringement. In case you haven’t - or are allergic to newsprint - here is a quick 20-Something Marketing Synopsis for those of you with a 20 second attention span:

The facts are this:

• Viacom is the owner of MTV, Comedy Central DreamWorks Entertainment and a whole host of other media outlets coveted by 20-something’s.
• Viacom is claiming that YouTube, the popular video sharing site owned by Google, is not doing enough to remove copyrighted content like whole episodes of South Park or The Daily Show.
• Google/YouTube says it is doing enough, citing that since it removes clips on demand, it is protected by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998.

The interesting part of this argument is that of course, this isn’t about copyrights as much as it is about revenue. More

20SMF Episode #40 - Tigers, Monkeys & Zen…Oh My!

by Jared on June 1st, 2006

Show Description:
Ambition and wisdom go hand-in-hand. Will we ever be that patient, though? If you’ve ever felt like your sitting at the kiddy table at the office, had a beef with the slow pace of your marketing progress, or needed to get away from that frustrating project – perhaps you need some Zen.

Show Notes:
I) Intro, Welcome to New Listeners From Talent Zoo
II) My Made Up Fable
III) Marketing News
IV) The Frustration of Services Marketing
V) Game Plan: Try Relaxing…I Hear Its Good For You

Referenced Links:
DCBuzz Kick Off Party Pictures – See What The Buzz Was About!
TalentZoo.com – Our New Career & Broadcast Partner
20SMF Listener Survey –Take Our Listener Survey

Podsafe Music:
Jody Byrd - In The Doing

Podcast:

Right Click And ‘Save As’ To Download Full Show

or…send to your mobile phone:

20SMF Episode #34 - Pokin’ The Cat

by Jared on April 13th, 2006

Show Description:
Wal-Mart, McDonald’s & 20-Somethings….Oh My!  Reactionary marketing anyone?  Go inside the spin-room for analysis on two of the hottest commercial controversy makers of our time.  When is enough spin and what tactics work?

Show Notes:
I) Too Much Work…Must Do Show…
II) Wal-Mart to Bankers: “S*** It”
III) McDonald’s to Eric Schlosser:  “Supersize My PR Dust”
IV) Game Plan: Life Sucks So Enjoy It!

Referenced Links:
Work-Life Survey: Take it Before April 15th!!!

Podcast:

Right Click And ‘Save As’ To Download Full Show

20SMF Episode #27 - The Hostile Takeover - or - Commemorating Black History Month

by Jared on February 22nd, 2006

Show Description:
In honor of black history month, Howard University business students take over the show to talk about black entrepreneurs, successes and making it in a big world. Jared participates, but has a “late arrival” – muh ha ha ha!

Show Notes:
I) What did you do to the host?
II) Entrepreneurs
III) The Spector of Real Life