24/06 2008

A Message. NOT from George Carlin

I have killed the person who sent me the George Carlin misinterpretation. Now we are are good to go.

This was no George Carlin.

I received this in an email.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete…

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent.

Remember, to say, “I love you” to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

-George Carlin Actually written by Dr. Bob Morehead

 
Posted in Uncategorized
23/06 2008

Is Mindless Marketing Ruining True* Blogging?


I have always been under the assumption that “blogging” is a personal hobby. The technology allows you to post your thoughts, opinions, and views on everything in life from business to the new Prius. Recently I have been aware of a new form of blogging entering the mind share market of the Internet. This phenomenon I have aptly named “the marketing bloggers.” 

The Marketing Blogger: an individual that writes a blog that focuses only on business information pertaining to their area of expertise but doesn’t put much original thought into the posts. Basically, I feel like I am reading a direct mail piece or a e-newsletter. Thank you but no thank you, Dan Kennedy .

On top of that, the marketing blogger has links everywhere which tout their business as well as their services. Shameless Self Promotion.

Not to mention, their blog posts could be printed as a small book.

Give me a break. (of that Kit Kat bar)

 

In my humble opinion, business/professional blogging should be used for original thought as well as industry updates and new ideas.

 

Authenticity is not an option any more. You are either authentic when you communicate or you are extinct.  Talk about business. Talk about your life. Be a person and not a mindless marketing vehicle.

 

If I wanted to read your mindless jargon I would sign up for an e-newsletter or request a direct mail piece.

 

I still love all of you. Just be authentic. J

Some Authentic Blogs:
Douglas Karr
Pat Coyle
Erik Deckers

 
Posted in Uncategorized
19/06 2008

Another Cool Collaboration Tool!

I just had this sent to me by a friend and I think it is pretty cool!

http://fontstruct.fontshop.com/

It is an online application that let’s you build fonts and share them with people.

COOL!

 
Posted in Uncategorized
18/06 2008

Support Tiffany Mullen! Local Florist!

 

TheIndyChannel.com is giving you the opportunity to vote for Indiana’s Best Businesses again this year, and we’d like to ask for your support!  In 2007, we were named Indiana’s Best Florist on the A-List, and for 2008 we’re kicking it up a notch.  This year, instead of just going for Indiana’s Best Florist, we’re looking to be named Indiana’s Best Wedding Florist!

 

Please take the time this summer to cast your vote for Eventful Florals as Indiana’s Best Wedding Florist.  Simply go to http://wrtv.cityvoter.com/alist between June 23rd and August 18th and click on Eventful Florals under the category “Weddings > Flowers.”  Thank you for your support!

 
Posted in Uncategorized
17/06 2008

Sliderocket CEO says, “Powerpoint Sucks!”

Click here for Video

Thank God. Thank God. Thank God.

First off, thank you to Douglas Karr for keeping me aware of emerging technologies in the new media environment.
I have been waiting patiently for an open application that rivals Powerpoint and adds in the tool of collaborating between friends, clients, and co-workers.
Enter: Sliderocket

Check out the video.
This application is amazing and it is just another small step to ridding the world of the Microsoft.

The coolest feature, in my humble opinion, of Sliderocket is the amount of typography manipulation you can accomplish! What a great tool! I dare any of you to fight over the fact that Powerpoint is an awesome type manipulator. If we bring up the point of bubble letters… I would concede. They are really good at bubble letters.

 
Posted in Uncategorized
16/06 2008

GoDaddy a No-Go. Screw them.

I have always enjoyed using GoDaddy here and there because of their hosting connection and plug-ins for sites like WordPress and other apps. It was easy for me to navigate. Recently I have run into some problems with searching for domains and a couple of days later finding them bought up from sites like About Domain and Domain by Proxy. I have also found multiple accounts where friends have searched for 10-20 domain names and then finding them all purchased by the end of the day.

I am officially done with GoDaddy and I encourage everyone who uses them to pull out of the site as well. Screw GoDaddy.

 
Posted in Uncategorized
16/06 2008

Great New Ad. Maybe Misinterpreted?

Photobucket

I had received an email recently with the image above pasted three deep in the content of the message. It was a forward from my father, Dan Lacy(http://www.danlacy.com). I thought to myself. Wow! This is a great advertisement for Pioneer Suspension! And that is where it hit me.

The forwarded email read: Great Way to Reduce Speeding Cars.

It had NOTHING in the message about Pioneer Suspension. The person who forwarded the email to my father was under the assumption that the picture of the vinyl speed bump was meant as speeding restraint. He completely missed the fact that it was actually an advertisement.

Of course, Pioneer would never have been able to use a government roadway as a advertising medium unless something had been fully worked out pertaining to SPEED regulation.

Is the ad worth it?

Is it dangerous? I would more than likely SWERVE IF I WAS DRIVING TOWARD A MASSIVE POTHOLE and completely miss the ad. With my luck, I would probably drive straight into a tree or the man on the bicycle. I might even hit a hot dog cart vendor and be covered with beautiful yellow mustard. Who knows?  

The point is, I love the piece because of it’s creativity but did it work? In the advertising world creativity is KING and the increase of sales is secondary. Keep winning those awards Bass & Yager, because in the end, it may be all you have.

 
Posted in Uncategorized
3/01 2008

It doesn’t matter who you know

Seth Godin has an interesting post titles, Who You Know the extent of the message is this:

” One of the mantras of networking (and the many social networking sites that people are flocking to) is that it matters who you know. The goal of having a thousand or more friends online is that you’re well known. Connected. A click away.

I wonder if there’s a more useful measure: who trusts you?”

This is starting to become the trend in socially networking after the myspace phenomenom of “friend bots” (basically bots that added friends for your myspace page) and add trains, where you picked friends at random and added them.

When I first joined the myspace crowd, about 4 years ago, this is what mattered. If you have 20 friends you were the bottom of the barrel. With the introduction of Facebook and the multitude of other social networking sites the view changed from knowing people to only careing about the people who trust you and vice versa.

It is my opinion that this is where social networking should be and needs to evolve from. We are trying to make that happen at Smaller Indiana, with networking online and offline.

In this world trust is really all you have, shouldn’t it be true on the internet too?

 
Posted in Uncategorized
3/01 2008

The warmth of Indianapolis. Even at 4 degrees.

From my post at I Choose Indy.

I ended up in Indianapolis after finishing up college in Anderson, IN. It was a pretty logical choice geographically at the beginning of the decision making process of where to go from here. We have all been in that situation.  After moving to Indianapolis, I found that it was the people that captured my love for this city not necessarily the economic environment. I have met mentors here that I will have for many years to come.

I have made it a priority to meet and surround myself with professional and successful business owners I can learn from and, let me tell you, there is no shortage of them here in Indianapolis.

Through Smaller Indiana, Rainmakers Marketing Group, IndyMojo, and other networking establishments and social gatherings in Indianapolis, I have met hundreds of WONDERFUL people. Thank you Indianapolis for opening your arms to my generation and nurturing us into the business owners of tomorrow.

A special thanks to Lorraine Ball and Tony Scelzo for mentoring me and helping me with my startup. Also, special thanks to Douglas Karr for the I Choose Indy and blogging help and Pat Coyle for starting Smaller Indiana!

 
Posted in Uncategorized
2/01 2008

Start-Up Firm Brings New Level of Expertise to Business Branding

(INDIANAPOLIS, IN January 2, 2008) – Young entrepreneur Kyle Lacy, announced today the launch of his new business Brandswag, a firm focusing on design, branding and new media marketing. With offices in Indianapolis and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Brandswag helps business owners connect with their customers, creating and sustaining profitability, by presenting consistent images and messages in the marketplace.

Brandswag already has an impressive list of clients including Roundpeg, Rainmakers, Donate Life Indiana, Water Solutions Unlimited, Standard Die & Supply and Palm Beach Atlantic University.

“Brandswag, led by Kyle Lacy, is one of the most innovative, up and coming design and branding firms in the city,” said Rainmakers Founder, Tony Scelzo.

Brandswag services include traditional branding and marketing such as Web and graphic design, electronic and printed newsletters and marketing collateral, and consulting and plan development. In addition, Brandswag is testing leading edge technology with their Myspace social marketing tool.  

For more information visit www.getbrandswag.com. Kyle Lacy can be reached via telephone 765-610-5965 or email kyle@getbrandswag.com

About Kyle Lacy: Kyle brings five years of experience in branding and marketing to his role at Brandswag, most recently with Roundpeg.  

An experienced entrepreneur, Kyle’s first business Transit Medium, LLC was an innovative, social on-line medium for musicians, which won the prestigious InVision AU Business Competition in 2004.

Kyle has also held positions at Anderson Media Group, Coon Engineering in Okalahoma City, Oklahoma, Intelligent Solutions & Technologies, Orangehaus Records and INO Records in Nashville, TN. For more information visit www.getbrandswag.com