Category Archives: Living in the World Today

First sleep and second sleep – the good old days?

Posted on November 10, 2009 by markkolier

I got 7 ½ hours last night and almost always get from 7-8 hours of sleep nightly. I have been thinking about how people sleep today versus throughout human history. Full disclosure – one of our clients Tempur-Pedic is a … Continue reading →

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Catalog hunter – Shopping for the holidays will be different this year

Posted on November 7, 2009 by markkolier

Noticed the traffic in your postal mailbox (isn’t it ironic it needs to be designated that way now?) lately? Or better, the lack of traffic? It’s no secret that mailers have cut back dramatically on promotional mailings. According to Mintel … Continue reading →

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A value proposition – the big supermarket vs. your local grocery

Posted on November 3, 2009 by markkolier

In my small town we have two food/multi-purpose markets in the town center. One is a nationally recognized chain owned by a large public company. The other is a local grocery called the Village market that has been in existence … Continue reading →

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The fire went out on my Amazon Kindle – and I’m NOT happy!

Posted on October 30, 2009 by markkolier

As an early adopter (November 2007) of the Kindle I have been a rather ardent fan of what could now be considered the forerunner of e-readers. I recently downloaded several titles that I wanted to read. I opened my Kindle … Continue reading →

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Direct marketing shouting should end with the passing of Billy Mays

Posted on October 27, 2009 by markkolier

Yell loud enough and people will hear you. That premise has enveloped television direct response ads for many years. Billy Mays was a prime example of an affable yeller. At the recent Direct Marketing Association conference I came away with … Continue reading →

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Celebrities and hollow apologies

Posted on September 25, 2009 by markkolier

What do Serena Williams, Manny Ramirez, Mark Sanford, and Kanye West have in common? Unless you have been living under a rock you probably guessed (correctly) that all have I one way or the other embarrassed themselves and their fans. … Continue reading →

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The Marketing of the United States Marine Corps

Posted on September 21, 2009 by markkolier

It’s often said that it ‘takes one to know one’. As a dedicated marketer I appreciate a good marketing effort as much if not more than the next guy. This past Thursday and Friday I had the experience and honor … Continue reading →

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From the Halls of Montezuma

Posted on September 17, 2009 by markkolier

Through an Executive Group called Vistage we have been invited to take part in a one day MCBEF (Marine Corps Business Executive Forum) program. I leave today. My feeling is that most if not all of us, are quite eager … Continue reading →

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Listen until it hurts

Posted on August 25, 2009 by markkolier

I noted in a previous post that I went to Gettysburg, PA for a Lincoln Leadership conference. The talk began by asking all of us if we thought Americans were good listeners. Most of us said no. Then when asked … Continue reading →

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Being there makes all the difference

Posted on August 21, 2009 by markkolier

It’s easy to send an email to a friend, client or prospect. Your interrupted train of thought is transmitted with only the touch of a button. Instant Messaging is a real time communication tool that has been around for quite … Continue reading →

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