In conversation with...Smartphone Challenges in Canada

Superphones have replaced Smartphones.  That's what it says on the web site of my Mobile phone Service Provider.  And even though I'm not a Digital Native, I find myself doing more and more with my Smartphone...er, Superphone...through the convenience of Apps.  This single fact has changed everything in the marketing world.  As my Client's continue to build their digital expertise, 'Mobile' seems to be at the bulls eye of their needs.  I screen for Analysts, eCRM, Social Media and Digital Campaign jobs with an eye on the Candidate's experience in Mobile.

I had the opportunity recently to speak with a senior Sales Executive major Smartphone manufacturer.  In particular, the insights he shared helped frame the talent gap in both sales and marketing.

What Business challenge is your highest priority?

I have two.  First, convincing our internal leadership team that B2B vs B2C should be our focus for growth.  Until we are all aligned, we will continue to waste cycles on the internal struggle between the B2B and B2C go to market channels.  Second, convincing customers that my products and services are secure and manageable, as opposed to the platform that we base our business products on.

What is your #1 Marketing Challenge?

Awareness of our enterprise offerings!  Establishing creditability and a unique identity for our product in a market that is perceived to be unsecure, unmanageable and fraught with malware.  

What Canadian companies are doing 'Innovative' Marketing?
Telus, Samsung (to some degree) and Banks to some degree with mobile banking, partnering with mobile carriers on initiatives.

We've heard about the 'Talent Gap'.  What are the talent gaps in your business?

Experienced and qualified internal support personnel who understand the Enterprise and SMB channel, its needs and its differences to that of the consumer channel.  Sales reps with experience in mobility enterprise sales.

What keeps you up at night?

What doesn’t!  :)  Three things.  First, simply trying to manage the workload driven by national responsibilities in both direct sales, carrier channel enablement and regional and national marketing programs. Second, fear of biting off more than I/we can chew due to the current attention we are receiving from customers and end-users, which in my opinion is a limited window of opportunity.  And finally, lack of resources to firstly secure and secondly support the business that is ours to lose

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Chris Morales

chris.morales@bell.net

647 393 3855

Linkedin:  Chris M Morales 

Cucurri ergo sum

"Cucurri ergo sum":  "I run therefore I am".  A bastardization of "Cogito ergo sum":  "I think therefore I am".  As a runner "Cucurri ergo sum" is totally reasonable. How would that look as a Tat?  In my case I hate needles so a temporary Tattoo will have to do.  Enjoy this video; It's the essence of "Cucurri ergo sum":

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

Digital Marketing in 2014

No wonder CMO's have short tenures.  Marketing strategies and tactics that are 'Hot' today will likely be obselete within 18 months or at the very least will need a complete overhaul.  The biggest challenge...beside justifying the budgets...is trying to forecast what talent will be needed to keep up with and hopefully get ahead of the marketing curve.  As we enter the Second Quarter of 2014, here are Digital Marketing trends that keep Marketers up at night:

As a recruiter finding talent in marketing and advertising, people with skills in digital marketing and social selling are the highest in demand.  Give me a call if you need help filling an open position.

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Chris Morales

chris.morales@bell.net

647 393 3855

Linkedin:  Chris M Morales 

Overthinking my Running

I'm the poster boy for how to screw up the simple activity of running!  Three years of foot injuries beginning with Plantar Fasciitis leading to two rounds of broken foot bones is the result.

A few years ago I decided to change my running style.  I was caught up in the barefoot/minimalist running craze.  I wanted to be one of the cool kids.  Ignoring the fact that I had been running relatively injury-free for over 25 years, I totally absorbed myself in making the transition.  Never mind that there was really nothing wrong with my running style.

It began with 'Born to Run'.  This is the story of Caballo Blanco and his experience with the Tarahumara Indians of the Copper Canyon region of Mexico.  These guys run basically barefoot up and down treacherous mountains.  They've been doing it for eons!  Great book...I took it too seriously to heart.

Next up was the theory that the crucial advantage humans have over every other mammal is that we can out run them.  We're not the fastest but we have the most endurance.  Again without any shoes to speak of humans can 'run all day' tracking animals and basically wearing them out.  Lots of Googling, documentaries and books on the subject.

With that spinning around in my head I began the transition from heel strike to forefoot running.  And the trouble began almost immediately.  I was ignorant to it, or too stubborn to stop.

At the time we were living in Wasaga Beach and had the benefit of miles of hard-packed sandy beach to run on.  I figured that running barefoot on the hard-but-soft surface would be a good way to speed the transition to forefoot running.  With my existing running shoes at that time, I made the abrupt transition to forefoot running.  I figured that the combination of beach and road running would get me through the transition. Unfortunately I went too fast.

Running is inherently a high-impact activity.  Bones, joints, muscles and tendons all take a beating. After 25 years of training my body to run a certain way, the transition to the forefoot style was simply too fast.  The basic difference between forefoot running and heel strike running are the muscles and tendons that are affected.  They are different.  Landing on the forefoot stretches the calf, Achilles and Plantar muscles and tendons differently than in the heel strike style.  Plus landing on the forefoot puts increased pressure on the much smaller bones in the forefoot area of the foot.  The injury to the Plantar in my right foot combined with my move to running shoes with less and less support contributed to the foot injuries I experienced next. The injuries affected the right side of my body:  all the injuries have been to my right foot...I've had no similar problems with my left foot.

Plain and simple, I've been overthinking my running.  Enough already!

Shortly after I published this blog post I received a really good article from my good friend Dan Cumming (he of Running In the Zone and Reggae Marathon).  In the article was a really, really good video on running technique for distance runners.  I watched it immediately and will be practicing this once I get back to running.  Injury Free!

I love running.  I want to keep running for a few more years. Yes I want to be that old running guy shuffling along with a grin on my face. Once these broken bones heal again I'll be back to the running style I started with all those years ago.

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy