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Effectiveness Archives

December 10, 2010

The Beginning of the End of 2010

It's Thursday night during a tough week in early December. The rainy winter has begun, but it's nowhere near as cold as it's been in Brooklyn or London. I haven't sat and written much since March, but it's been an amazing 2010.

Beginning the year with our time in India, and then moving our life to the Bay Area was a huge step. I have struggled with choosing the morning or doing improv Sunday Sessions as much as I committed to back in February, but the big victory in my life is that 2010 was the year that I actually chose a project.

Thanks to the ever lovely and powerful Christie George, a summer MBA intern and his amazing cousin, we finally moved LoudSauce from an idea that I talk about to an actual crowdfunded ad platform that funded a national TV ad and real posters on real bus shelters in San Francisco.

I've been told great advice for years about what it takes to actual create what you envision. But 2010 was the year that I finally chose to follow the advice of people like my friend Huned and the wise young startup leader Eric Ries: just build the closest thing to what you envision. Even fake parts of it if you have to. Go through the full cycle. Then listen, learn, adapt and repeat.

So as I look forward to the holidays, in a time where there is a lot of depression and transition in the air and in the weather, I feel privileged to be able to slow down with my parents, my brother and sister, and our broader family. I'm particularly looking forward to remembering the spirit of Christmas Eve and Jeko, and reconnecting with the 2009 Club to look forward into the always evolving next chapter.

Now off to sleep and back to work.

Posted by Colin | Permalink | Comments ()

November 13, 2008

Social Marketing Examples on Mashable

Mashable has an interesting summary of social media marketing examples. I find it helpful for talking about some of the kinds of marketing that is worthwhile in the digital marketing space beyond traditional banner advertising (which is annoying).

Posted by Colin | Permalink | Comments ()

October 5, 2008

Skoll Scholar wins Said Prize at Oxford

Proud to share the great news. My very own Christie George, a Skoll Scholar and member of the Oxford MBA class of 2007-08, was awarded the Saïd Prize by Dean Colin Mayer on 13 September. The £10,000 prize is awarded annually to the best MBA student. Read the full article and the background on her accomplishment.

Oxford Saïd Business School: Skoll Scholar wins Saïd Prize

Posted by Colin | Permalink | Comments ()

August 15, 2008

Twitter Spam - Why do you have to ruin every medium?

Seriously, why do people try to abuse every interesting and useful new medium for the love of making money? For all the talk of useful + creative replacing interruptive advertising, obviously interruption is still effective at getting our attention. =(

Posted by Colin | Permalink | Comments ()

August 13, 2008

Home Grown Food for hire - I want this

From Springwise:

Your Backyard Farmer requires just a plot of land big enough to feed the mouths involved—10 by 10 square feet is about the minimum for an individual or a family of two—along with six hours of direct sunlight a day and an outdoor water source. In exchange, the farming team will provide clients with an organic vegetable farm right outside their door, customized to their family's size and dining choices.

Posted by Colin | Permalink | Comments ()