The ultimate love child

Creativity is one thing. I can churn out marketing ideas, partnerships, campaigns and concepts in my sleep (and I've got a notebook by my bed at all time) to grab ideas by the tail (See Elizabeth Gilbert's TED talk about harnessing creativity)here.

But balancing analytical research (using analytics, case studies, reports and trend data) with creative drive is crucial to implement strategy confidently, and garner the support of co-workers. The beauty of executing a plan (only the juicy stuff) is when you have research to back it up. Left brain- meet Right Brain, and spawn a beautiful love child called Brilliant Marketing Strategy.

Linchpins and Passion

Everyone talks about passion, and how to inject it in their lives, wrap themselves in it, dip their toes in it, eat it and glow from the inside out.
No one embodies creative anarchy, encompasses passion, and how to live it (and work it!) like Seth Godin.
Who else has ignited inspired and fearless marketing and personal innovation concepts? Igniting passion is a human miracle.

Linchpin - his new book stopped me dead in my tracks. It is a call to action:

Change.
Don't believe tired, unoriginal and unquestioned thoughts.
Stop following rules that don't make sense.
Get rid of crappy thoughts that clutter your head with doubt.
Have an opinion.
Dare to be something other than a cog.
Be Indispensable

Start with this blog.

Blogging is , more than ever, about passion and exciting content. It should ignite audiences, but also make writing and exchanging ideas more exciting. Here's a quote from great article by Mary Jaksch:

Again, it’s not simply enough to be writing content for your niche anymore. Due to the sheer mass of competition online these days, whatever you put out to the world on your blog has to provide massive value to your readers.

Because of this, if you can get really into your articles and get excited about the process, that’s going to show in the final result. The bottom line is that if you’re feeling really passionate about what you’re saying, you’re going to produce the type of posts necessary to gain mindshare in your industry.

I've just spent hours cleaning my RSS feeds, and removing the trite, boring and obvious content; the stuff that doesn't perk my interest, ignites a new idea, or makes me want to shout (YES!!) at the computer screen and madly typing my response.

Read Seth's blog - it is full of mantras and ideas that embody passion, wisdom and marketing ideas that reaped years of success. Be the change.

Yogis and Lions

I want to be a yogi! Unfortunately I have a tendency to boredom, low-pain tolerance, and sudden food cravings that seem to rise simultaneously and faster than a twitter feed.

In fact when I'm being forced into an organ crushing, muscle contorting animal pose, my postures usually resemble something of a half- eaten carcass more than a proud lion. Usually I get this bootylicious -tune stuck in my head, which,as you can hear, really affects my concentration.

To all of you out there who can tolerate bending yourself into hideously kinky positions - I do salute you! Here is a little yoga humour for good luck!

One has to wonder...

Can VanCity can break through its spineless dread and just embrace it the inevitable? They're heeerrrreeee whether we like it or not! Embrace it, stay informed and accept the good with the bad. According to the Guardian, we have our knickers all in a knot in comparison to other Olympic cities, and our poor attitude isn't fixing our problems.

Whether you are 'pro' or 'anti' Olympics, one thing to look forward to is the diverse media coverage emerging from Vancouver.

Presenting the W2 Media & Culture House!

I will proudly be an Olympic blogger and communications coordinator at W2. This community media hub be a space for 'unnacredited media such as the reputatble Tyee, Vancouver Observer and numerous international bloggers. From its towering windows, W2 will be projecting the games onto the old Woodwards building at Hastings & Carrol.

From the W2 Vision Statement:

The W2 Community Media Arts Centre is a highly anticipated project opening in the Winter of 2009-2010 at the landmark Woodward’s redevelopment in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. In the leadup to opening, W2 is operating the 13,000 sq ft W2 Culture + Media House across the street at 112 W Hastings.

It is intended to provide a vibrant and complementary focal point in the redevelopment of Woodward’s and act as a catalyst in the revitalization of the Vancouver Downtown Eastside by emphasizing the development capacity by and for the DTES residents.

The Centre’s objectives are to produce and present new works of artistic significance and social benefit; to empower individuals and communities (young and old alike); and to engage with technology and interdisciplinary artists as producers rather than consumers. Emphasis will be placed on cross-cultural sharing, artistic and social outcomes, as well as the quality of process.

W2 will bring together hybrid art forms, community art practices, individual human development and community cultural development in a single environment. It will be home to a diverse grouping of Vancouver arts and community service organizations offering developmental programs in writing, radio and television production, painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, video and cross-media.

Cultural services delivery will include a broad range of daily public offerings, including walk-in activities, courses, workshops, symposia, and individual and group practice. In addition, the combination of administrative and production spaces will provide professional and supportive structures, in which people can make new work, extend and develop their practice, and establish new contexts for public presentation. A portal to the global community will also be realized through 24/7 webcasting and satellite distribution systems from the performance centre, digital media labs, and TV studio.

Read the mission statement and vision here: W2 Media & Culture House