child on a swing looking at starry night

Why You Should Always Aim for the Stars

Posted on April 14, 2018June 5, 2024 by John Gilson

A few weeks ago, I asked my 5-year-old son what he wanted to be when he grew up. “I want to be an astronaut,” he replied. “I want to visit the moon, planets and stars in my spaceship.” Like many children, my son lives in an exciting world full of potential. He isn’t afraid to dream big. Unfortunately, many of us lose this trait as we get older, squashed by those who deem such thinking as unrealistic. We are told to “settle down” or to get a “real job”, that chasing a dream will only lead to disappointment and financial ruin.

“Orange Is the New Black” and the Disruptive Force of Digital Communications

Posted on July 31, 2017June 5, 2024 by John Gilson

Image source Digital communications has had a profound effect on society. The combined trio of the Internet, social media and mobile technologies has been a democratizing force. These technologies give a megaphone to the masses and provide a formidable counterweight to the media and corporate public relations. The disruptive force of digital communications played an important role in Orange Is the New Black. In season 5 of the popular Netflix series, the female inmates riot and takeover Litchfield Penitentiary, which leads to a drawn out hostage crisis. Though the prison’s dehumanizing conditions were a precursor to the crisis, what’s noticeable to me is how the women successfully used digital communications to change the narrative. Below are a few examples of how digital communications shaped the plot of season 5 of Orange Is the New Black. Justice for Poussey Following the women’s takeover of Litchfield, the prison’s corporate owners (MCC) tried to downplay the […]

5 Ideas You Should Consider Before Launching Your Website

Posted on February 20, 2017February 20, 2017 by John Gilson

Launching a new website can be a Herculean task that requires a lot of time, commitment and some cash. You need to purchase a domain name and hosting service. You also need to create a brand and plan your website’s design/layout. And this is before you get to creating your content and value proposition. What’s most problematic, however, is that many people are not yet sure if they’re even committed to running a website or online business. Sure, the idea sounds great but actually launching a website is a whole different matter. As a result, many people will procrastinate, psychologically preventing themselves from achieving their website dream. Luckily, there are many ways you can test the waters before launching a new website. The following ideas are not only free, they will also help you overcome your procrastination and gauge the market to see if there’s an appetite for what you […]

7 Marketing Rules That Will Help You Win “The Bachelor”

Posted on January 7, 2017January 25, 2017 by John Gilson

Believe it or not, dating has a lot in common with marketing. Though different on the surface, both operate in a competitive environment and seek to attract a target audience using a variety of tactics or “rules”. We see this marketing-dating connection firsthand in The Bachelor, a reality TV show where the contestants are all striving for the affection of a lone suitor. As what often happens, the most successful bachelorettes are also the best marketers. Check out the 7 winning marketing rules used in The Bachelor below! 1. Know your target audience The more you know about your audience, the easier it is to convey a message or sell a product. In The Bachelor season opener, many of the bachelorettes who won roses admitted to knowing a lot about Nick (above pic) by extensively “researching” his performance in previous seasons. 2. Separate yourself from the competition Failing to separate yourself […]

How Black Lives Matter’s Disruptive Tactics Are Forcing Us to Have a Conversation About Race

Posted on July 6, 2016July 7, 2016 by John Gilson

When the Toronto chapter of Black Lives Matter staged a 30-minute sit-in during Toronto’s Pride Parade, many people were upset to say the least. The group’s co-founder was subjected to racist emails immediately following the demonstration. To someone unfamiliar with civil disobedience, the aftermath of the sit-in would have resembled a public relations failure. You may wonder why Black Lives Matter (also known as BLM) resorts to using controversial tactics to get their message out. Don’t they want popular support? But unlike a corporate public relations campaign, BLM activists are not trying to win a popularity contest. They are trying to start a tough conversation that they believe can only be achieved through disruption. Classic civil disobedience. Whether you agree with them or not, BLM’s actions appear to be working. Just check out the few examples below. Toronto Pride Parade sit-in BLM activists staged a 30-minute sit-in during the Toronto Pride […]