Well, I’ll first make my little plug for the upcoming planningness conference in Boulder and NYC Sept 30-Oct 1. It’s a can’t miss. I won’t get into everyone who is speaking, but it’s all the awesome folks. Will be amazing. Hard part will be to decide where to go.

So the premise of planningness is to focus us on MAKING stuff and DOING. These are two massively important things to those who work in the strategy/planning arena. We don’t typically “make” stuff that lives in the world. We make (important) documents that build, support and tell you how it will live in the world however, but not necessarily contributing to the tangible endgame in every situation. While this is groovy and a very important step to grounding and reasoning “the work”, it’s critical to be a part (or even BE) the work. Thereby rises the importance of making.

For me, the great example of a shop that’s “doing” is BBH. They’ve taken the “do stuff” model to a new level. They’ve had ZAG for awhile (with awesome by-products like the wildly successful Mrs.O.org blog/book/phenomenon). Planning is still taking on the same strategic problem solving tasks, but additionally are playing in the world of creation. Anomoly has done this as well as many others, experimenting with new models and things within the agency walls. Brilliant! You have smart, creative entities, DO something with them!

Heidi Hackemer over at BBH is a dynamo–the six items or less project was featured in the NYTimes today. Super amazing. Super inspiring. So fabulous. And finds time to speak at Hyper Island. If that doesn’t inspire you to DO something, I don’t know what will. For me, she’s become one of the people to really look up to and learn from in this industry.

OK love fest aside. This social world connects us. We know each other (loosely) enough. If you have a great idea, you have a community who is ready and willing to help/support you. I even saw it in my own little creation this week with my 3six5 post. Now I don’t claim to be a professional writer. I kept a diary as a kid, I blog casually, I write decently well for my job, but not a”writer” by any means. Nor do I have the most expansive “number” of followers. However, I am lucky enough to have a wonderfully supportive, generous and influential group of friends in the space (thank you friends!). It’s hard to believe that little ol’ me got well over 3000 views of that little post as a part of an amazing project with over a million views. The gracious support of people I truly call my friends, anything can happen. An even better example is Bud Caddell who has raised over $14K for his book project from his network of supporters/backers. It’s amazing.

My challenge (to myself and you!) is to DO something in the next couple weeks. Get that personal project/life project started. It’s not just painting the fence or finishing the “honey do” list. It’s making something tangible and throwing it out in the world. If it sticks, great (you may just be a millionaire). If it doesn’t, learn from it and try again in a couple weeks. The important thing is what you’re doing is something that makes your heart a little happier. Having these awesome outlets of creativity can spawn great work/career things as well, but don’t go into it with that intent. Make something that you love just because you love it.

Image via: http://nemoorange.com/newmoon/

Cakeshop a pastry shop/bar on the Lower East Side…Alphabet City. A guy read my tea habits. It was pretty epic. Super fun night. Music, booze and cupcakes. Mi alma.

Central Park. The lush greenscape and man-made lakes in the middle of the concrete jungle. Something about that is so surreal…

Harvard. Need I say more? It just feels smart. I loved sitting at the cafe and listening in on intense conversations on theories of kinetic force. I didn’t understand a word, but the passion that they brought to the conversation was intense. Awesome.

Grand Central Station. Every movie cliche is totally on. Whether you’re new to the city, or run through it everyday to get to work, it just feels like home. There’s an amazing energy about it.
Times Square. Advertising clusterf–. Thank goodness this is contained to a few city blocks of one city. It is a little funny though, we talk about communication clutter so much in our industry. And yet, this is still one of the most prized pieces of advertising spaces in the world. The most cluttered space in the world…

Facebook. The Barbie app found me. Or I found it. Whichever the way the causal arrow points, I loved it: Barbie blogs on NY fashion week. Awesome. Designer Co-brands with Diane von Furstenberg, Norma Kamali, and Alexander Wang. How did they know?My favorite stars tell me their fondest Barbie memories. Once again, I feel validated for my fan status. And now they open a REAL Malibu Barbie House? Are my dreams coming true? A Technicolor fantasy world.

This isn’t a coincidence and I’m not the only one effected by the media blitz. Rediscovering your youth and doing it a cool, hip and relevant way. One could argue in a time of economic unrest, it’s no time for extravagance, but they can get away with it.

Why? Because they are Barbie. It’s not about over-the-top luxe-it’s about the fantasy we clung to as 7 year olds playing with our favorite toys. It’s an escape to a time that things were much easier, carefree. Where layoffs weren’t ruling your life, and clawing your way up the corporate ladder wasn’t the main objective of the day. Playing for playings sake. Even the idea of bringing back that time is indescribably appealing.

And I might just buy another Barbie because of it.

Image Source:

http://stylemom.onsugar.com/2794895

AP Images: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jTdZEqls-RVEvOjgdWxcCN34_ogwD96ON3EG4

First, they were smart with advertising, buying on mass-purchasing “cheap” TV spots, and any spare banner space they could get their paws on. Was it highly strategic? Not so much. But with 4 million in sales and counting, I would say-not too shabby!

And then there’s the pure awesomeness of the product itself. Or lack thereof. In a time of such economic distress and uncertainty, there’s something oddly…comforting about this blanket with arms. It’s insane. Probably not worth the $19.95+S+H, but yet it gives us hope. Hope that we WILL smile again. Don one as you go on a Snuggie pub crawl, forgetting the trials and tribulations of your everyday realities. An easy, frivolous thing. For a second, let’s just NOT be serious. It’s okay. Let your hair down and throw on your snuggie.

Lastly: imitation is the greatest form of flattery? If so then as CNN recently reported in a segment on the Snuggie — “has spawned all sorts of online imitators” and later mentioned the Slanket as one “of the other versions of the Snuggie out there.” A slanket? Really?