When was the last time you "cried out?" Indignez-Vous

Stephane Hessel’s “Indignez vous!”, has already become an editorial phenomenon in France selling more than 600,000 copies in the first three months.  He is disgusted by complacency and is calling for people to "Cry Out" and get outraged again!


Hessel argues that French people (and I'd argue all people) should re-embrace the values of the French resistance, which have been lost, driven by indignation and the French people need to get outraged again.


"Indifference, the worst attitude" was the chapter that resonated the most with me. As we live in a complex world where "Who controls, and who decides" is not always clear.  We live with inter connectivity and interdependence and there are still somethings that are unbearable. The worst attitude is INDIFFERENCE, saying "I cannot do anything, I'm doing my job."  We already see this playing out with the ever widening gap between the rich and the poor.  The lack of universal rights for all people.  What are we doing?  How are we crying out? Are we making a difference? Or being complacent?


To quote his last sentence and within that coupled with my own desire, we say "CREATE is to resist. RESIST IS TO CREATE."

Iphone, LTE, Tablets. Are We Really Connected?

The first 15 days of 2011 have already been very intense.  The recently concluded Consumer Electronics Show (CES) showcased a multitude of new networked/convergence devices which promise to connect us and other gadgets in an easier and faster fashion. Nigeria, a third world country is also rumored to be launching their Long Term Evolution (LTE) network which is said to deliver internet connection at 4G speeds.  Just as I was reeling from this, Apple and Verizon announced the availability of the iphone on Verizon's network.
At the same time, we've seen senseless shootings in Arizona.  Southern Sudan is fighting for their independence, Tunisia's president of 23 years steps down and flees the country, and the Catholic Church is accelerating the beautification of the late Pope John Paul the second.  All these in the pursuit of unity and bringing people together.
But, are we really connected? On one hand we have technology and increasingly sophisticated gadgets that deliver connectivity.  On the other hand, we have worldly events that are reaching for unity, but in reality have been tragic.
So, as we set out into 2011, what is the meaning of "connected" to us as individuals, to the brands we support and to the world that we live in.  Merriam-Webster.com defines "connected as joined or linked together."  How can we and how should we deliver "connectivity" in 2011. What will it mean to us and to our brands.  How should we deliver promises that enhance this connectivity? WHAT ROLE WILL YOU PLAY?

What is the value of your smart phone?

Bonne Annee et Bon Sante!

I just got back from a wonderful holiday vacation in France and although it was a vacation, I could not help but put on my account planner/ work hat.

All over the newstands in Paris were mobile/ smart phone magazines...yes, glossy, well designed, beautiful magazines - "think GQ like" for quality and content.  The particular one that caught my eye was titled "Your Phone, Your Magazine."  So, this got me thinking just how important our mobile devices have become to us, so much so that they command their own high quality magazine.  If you think about it, we are talking about phones - devices that allow us to connect and communicate and yet we are celebrating the hardware and technology within these devices.  It is amazing how far we have come with technology.  In just a few short years, a whole new publishing genre is emerging.  I don't know how successful the sales of the magazines are, but they are clearly addressing a consumer need.  I don't know about you, but I can certainly imagine kicking back with my copy of "Your Phone, Your Magazine"...on a subscription basis of course:)

Are women the new men? OR is it just simply a return to the past?

Euro RSCG just launched our latest Prosumer Report: Gender Shift: Are Women the New Men (www.prosumer-report.com).  This report is particularly interesting to me on several levels. The report finds that: the role of women has evolved and they have managed to break through gender barriers. Numerous statistics have shown how women are powering ahead in education often outnumbering and outperforming men. Women are also increasingly becoming the primary or co-bread winner for about two-thirds of American families.

Women are growing into new roles and men are growing out of traditional roles – they are no longer automatically, the head of household, the protector, provider or the sole decision maker.

The interesting thing to me is that this is all being discussed as if it is brand new. As if women are finally taking lead. It is as if women have finally found their voice.  If we go back into history and particularly the mother-centered religions, we find that women in many religions were revered.  Women were regarded as the authority, the goddess and the unconditional.  As we moved into a patriarchal society, woman was dethroned and father became the supreme.  We saw the rise of the male gods and society at large shifted to a father-centric structure.

As we reflect on the findings from the Prosumer Report - is this really anything new, or is the pendulum simply shifting back?  

EURO RSCG PLUG (my company): Propelling businesses and brands to the future first is the focal point of our work at Euro RSCG Worldwide – and the promise we make to our clients. To that end, we have made Prosumers an ongoing focus over the past decade. Who are Prosumers? They are the men and women who are influencing markets all over the globe. Empowered by new technologies and improved access to information, Prosumers are highly knowledgeable and demanding consumers. What they are doing today, mainstream consumers are likely to be doing six to eighteen months from now.