Creative is Subjective, Results are not!

"Creative is subjective, results are not!" That nugget comes from Chris Seguin, Creative Guy, associate and friend.

I've known Chris for over 15 years.  While I was Client at Diary Queen, he led the Agency Creative Team that developed a TV commercial to promote the Food side of the business.  It worked!  Burger sales increased and it's still one of my favourites:

Chris and I crossed paths again at Maclaren McCann a few years ago and although we didn't work together directly we talked about the advertising business.  I found I was still on the same page with him:  Advertising must deliver results.  I've felt that way since I was in Radio early in my career and love Digital Marketing capability of showing results. Personally as Social Media Guy for Reggae Marathon the result of engaging on Twitter and Facebook has been increased registrations for the race event.

Toward the end of our recent coffee catch-up when Chris casually threw out "Creative is subjective, results are not!", I got pretty excited.  "That's what Marketing is all about!"

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Chris M Morales
MarCommTO

chris.morales@bell.net

647 393 3855

Linkedin:  Chris M Morales 

The opinions expressed on this blog are my own and are not associated with any other group or organization

Stairs...this time no injuries

So...after multiple previous attempts of running stairs, I've finally found a way to do it without injuring myself.  And it was right in front of me all the time:  Walking up and down the stairs in our apartment building!

We live in a 10 story building and for the past couple of weeks I've been doing some early morning stair repeats.  Walking mind you...running up stairs caused my previous injuries. I'm up to 4 sets now and have been humbled by the experience.  Climbing stairs is hard! The first time I went out I was completely out of breath after the first set and my legs were rubber.  That was hard to take especially since I'm a long time runner.

I've been combining these stair climbing sessions with my ab workout and while I can barely see a two-pack developing (if I squint in low light), I'm going to stick with it. I have a wager on with Larry Savitch for Reggae Marathon this December and if this is the only time in my life I actually sport defined abs it will be worth it!

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

Changing the world one coffee bean at a time

Breanna Atkinson (right) and Naomi Harris
distribute literature the benefits of fair trade practices

While working on a coffee farm in Ecuador, Breanna Atkinson gained an appreciation for the benefits of fair trade. Now she is trying to instill that appreciation across the campus.

“If the Canadian climate allowed us to grow coffee here, we would make sure that our workers were treated right,” says Atkinson, a student of modern languages and an executive with the Windsor chapter of Engineers Without Borders, responsible for promoting fair trade. “If we could see what goes on, I think people would care more.”

Fair trade seeks to guarantee better compensation for producers, as well as standards on labour practices and environmental sustainability. Atkinson says the central concept is respect.  “It’s important to treat people respectfully,” she says. “We tend to forget the person behind the product, whether it’s coffee or bananas.”

She heads a team campaigning this week to promote fair trade products on campus. Volunteers have been selling handicrafts and staples like sugar, tea and coffee. Thursday they will distribute 200 fair trade bananas in the CAW Student Centre and Toldo Health Education Centre.

Food Services donated brewed carafes of Brown Gold coffee to encourage the student effort, says department head Dave McEwen.  “We have a long-term plan to earn fair trade designation for the campus,” he says. “The most important part of that is to engage the students, so we can build continuity and a succession plan.”

Atkinson agrees that partnership between students and the University administration is crucial to success.  “I am so happy that Dave is committed to this issue,” she says. “We can bring awareness to campus and that leads to working with other countries to make the world better.”

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Chris M Morales
MarCommTO

chris.morales@bell.net

647 393 3855

Linkedin:  Chris M Morales 

The opinions expressed on this blog are my own and are not associated with any other group or organization

Pictures from an early morning run

When I'm having a tough run, I rarely notice the scenery.  I'm too caught up with breathing and getting one foot in front of the other to get through the run.  That doesn't happen often thankfully. Most times I enjoy the views along the route and enjoy the glimpses inside the homes in the neighbourhoods I run through. No, I'm not a voyeur, I'm not crouching in the bushes...I'm running!

Every once in a while when I have my Cell phone with me something catches my eye and I stop to take a photo.  Here are a few of my favourites:

These power transmission lines run parallel to a main railway line.  Some Big $ homes back onto this stretch of 'green'...hey, this is the city!

Further along the same trail I love the mash up of buildings:  in the foreground, the peaked building is the local hockey rink;  the mid-ground are some high end condos;  the background office towers.  All this packed into the small area north east of the intersection of Islington Avenue and Bloor Street West.

Although we don't live near a major highway, we do have an overpass.  This one allows Dundas Street West to go over both the main railway line and Royal York Road.  

Until next time...

ThatRunninGuy