One of the many problems with "research, statistics and big data" is the concept that whoever has the information has the knowledge and therefore has all the power. Unfortunately most people have no experience, no training and no idea how to gather, analyze and/or use that information.

The most common publicity and media relations question we receive from prospects and clients is: What media contacts do you know? But media relations is not about how large your media Rolodex is; it’s about the media relations process.

So the final season of Mad Men appeared in early April with a new Accutron spot as its focal point.  Don Draper is on the outs with SC&P (though he is still a partner).  Meanwhile, business has never been better for Freddy Rumsen, who is sitting before Peggy Olsen and making his pitch for the new Accutron campaign.

When did everyone turn into an authority about everything? Once upon a time, the world relied on experts to illuminate the masses.  People of proven experience would share their lessons and help us all become better human beings – faster runners, deeper thinkers, better drivers, higher jumpers, smarter workers.

[Ordinarily I try not to cross the streams of my markeTING and Road to 90 blogs, but I felt this particular baseball post has some relevance to marketing.] Despite the final score (15-4) I watched the entire Tribe game last night full of anxiety, which is just the way I like it.

Last week we headed to Raleigh for NCPRSA’s InSpire Awards, where Sweeney was not only honored with an Award of Excellence for our Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores Magic with Fabric and Trim campaign, but also an overall win for the Bronze Social Media category.

Like the final season of Mad Men, sometimes – as marketers – all you can do is watch from the sidelines as the game gets played out in front of you. Of course most of the time we cling to the illusion that we are in control – the sense that we are running the agency or executing the campaign or making the pitch.