Content Marketing: The New Norm

A few years ago Social Media was all the rage.  Big, faceless institutions rushed to get into Social Media. Some spent time developing 'Roadmaps';  most set up Facebook Pages, Twitter accounts and even Blogs; a few actually thought about the Content.  Fast forward a few years and we have the new norm, Content Marketing.

Content Marketing is Marketing:  Working strategically to get someone to prefer and hopefully buy your product or service.  We've seen an increase in demand for people who understand this and more importantly know how to do it. This particular position for a Toronto-based Client is typical of the jobs we are working on now:  Demand Generation/Inside Sales.

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Chris Morales

chris.morales@bell.net

647 393 3855

Linkedin:  Chris M Morales 

My Running Neighbourhood

I get to run in the Kingsway.  For those of you in the know, this is a nice neighbourhood...a very nice neighbourhood.  I know people who live 'near the Kingsway' who lie and say they do.  It's a heavily treed area of mostly single family homes on large lots.  The meandering roads make for some very enjoyable running.

Homes in the Kingsway can be broken down into three general categories. First there are the Ultra large Real Mansions.  Most back onto ravine lots and a few even but up to the exclusive St. George Golf Club.  These are at the top of the food chain and are either on the actual Kingsway road itself or nearby.  I swear nobody lives in these places...the same couple of nice vehicles are always in the same places on the driveways (don't these people like parking in their heated, underground 6 car plus garages??).  Daydream: "That's the kind of house I'll buy when I win the Lotto Max".

The next level down are the 'Regular Mansions'.  These are still way bigger than the homes most people live in but the lots are smaller and the 'Big' houses take up much more of the lot.  These are the homes that the 'Middle Class' live in.  That'd be true if the average income in Canada was $1,000,000 per year.  Nice houses, nice cars...really nice roads with sidewalks cleared soon after snowfalls.  Great for winter running.

Finally are the 'Regular Homes'.  Smaller on smaller lots but still over $1 Million.  Whew...not much in the way of Starter Homes in and around the Kingsway. These homes have immaculately maintained front yards with owners who do the work themselves.  On even my early morning runs I often see the home owners and they often take note and wave a friendly greeting.  Nice.  The photo above is of one of the streets of Regular Homes.

I've lived and run in some nice places...the Beach at Wasaga Beach is a high light...but the meandering roads in my current running neighbourhood are some of the nicest roads I've run on.

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

The Verdict is in on Ugly Running Shoes

Facebook has spoken and the the verdict is in:  Ugly Running Shoes are slow running shoes!

After last week's blog post, 'Do you run slower in Ugly Running Shoes', my Facebook Page lit up with helpful responses.  Looking good is important to feeling good...of all people I should have remembered that when I fell under the Discount Store merchandising spell and mistakenly purchased these runners.  I am lothe to discard them so soon so Jetola's advice to 'run faster so I can get out of them more quickly' hit the right note.  Thanks for your comments guys...I know I can always depend on you:

Thankfully I haven't put enough miles on these Running Shoes (Raced last in Negril at Reggae Marathon 2013).  I'll save them for my speed and track workouts...they look great and feel fabulous.

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

Do you run slower in Ugly Running Shoes?

I know for a fact that I run faster in good looking running shoes.  My friend Larry would disagree of course when he caught up with me slogging it at the 4 mile mark of last December's Reggae Marathon.  I cost him a PB in his Half Marathon that day.  And I was running in a pair of fancy day-glo Orange Racing Flats!

I fun faster in my mind when I'm wearing good looking running shoes.  That's it!

The opposite is also true. I run more slowly in ugly running shoes both in reality and in my mind.  And to add to the insult, I feel old!  Take look at this monstrosity:

I needed a pair of new running shoes.  So instead of doing the smart thing and shopping at my favorite local running shoe store, I pickup up this pair from the discount rack at the Marshall's near my office.  It's the correct size and the fit is pretty good (wide toe box, fairly good arch support). And the price was only $40! In the interest of saving a few $'s, I made the impulse purchase.  Regret!

On my first run I glanced down to check them out and almost stopped running right there. These things were ugly!  They made my feet look clunky.  And I don't need any extra help in that area.

On my subsequent runs things haven't improved. In fact I've gone out earlier and earlier in order to complete my run under cover of darkness.  I'm so embarrassed.

And I'm running slower!  I know I am.  And it's these ugly running shoes.

I'm planning to really abuse them so I can be rid of them as quickly as possible.

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy