Even you Hipsters have to admit this is brilliant marketing...

The following is the original and the rewrite can be found by clicking here.

On the vacant storefront window, beside the "FOR LEASE" sign, it reads as follows:

You win, Hipsters.

After 55 years in the Junction WestEnd Offset is moving, and we're not telling you where.

But you can reach us at 416-767-9853.

My response -

1. I laughed and laughed, and laughed some more.
2. I took a picture with my phone.
3. I jumped on the Internet to check out two things.

This is simply brilliant marketing worthy of the admiration of laughter. I will admit I find the concept of blaming a business' relocation on "Hipsters" very funny, and once I got over that, "laughed with" how effective this vacant store front is with it's ability to engage, explain, develop interest, and stimulate subtle calls to action.

As I read the 25 words plus a phone number, I could not help but ask myself a number of things:

• Who are these Hipsters that drove this long time member of the community away? Am I one of them? What exactly is a "Hipster anyway? 
• What does WestEnd Offset do? Why do Hipsters impact them in such a negative way?
• What do you mean you aren't going to tell me where you are moving? What if I want to know, even if its just out of curiosity?
• Well at least you left a phone number... proof they are still in business and maybe still interested in dealing with me if I'm not a "hipster".

And as if on queue, the handoff from old world marketing to new world marketing occurred without missing a beat... I pulled out my smartphone. 

I took a picture, and will admit I have shared it a few times.

I had to Google a couple of things - The need for immediate satisfaction and all.

First I had to Google the definition of Hipster - I needed to know if I was party to any of this. The definition reads as follows: The hipster subculture is composed of affluent or middle class young Bohemians who reside in gentrifying neighbourhoods. It is broadly associated with indie and alternative music, a varied non-mainstream fashion sensibility, generally progressive political views, organic and artisanal foods, and alternative lifestyles.*

Well that's not me, and even if it was, I just moved into the neighbourhood.

Secondly, I Googled WestEnd Offset and their new location. It seems WestEnd Offset is a sign and design company that is now located at 125 Blake St. As an aside, when I looked at their website it struck me that it was rather "Hip". www.westendoffset.com 

Because someone had the imagination to put 25 innovative words and a phone number on a vacant retail window to promote long after they moved, I now know WestEnd Offset exists, what they do, where they are, and if the need arises I will give them a call.

Rather brilliant wouldn't you say?

gpe

* Definition from Wikipedia.

My opportunities + problems are very different things. Or are they?

The following is the original and the rewrite can be found by clicking here.

When you boil it down to the bare essentials, business (and possibly all aspects of life) is simply about dealing with opportunities and problems. Everything is either categorized as an opportunity or a problem... if it can't be, why are you dealing with it?

The way we address opportunities + problems is more or less the same:

• Understand the situation.
• Identify objective(s) to deal with the situation.
• Develop plans and initiate activities to meet the objective(s).
• Adjust according based on effectiveness of the activities and other feedback.
• Monitor the situation to ensure the objectives have been met, controlled and are sustainable.

It does seem we view opportunities + problems as opposites - Opportunities are considered beneficial and generally embraced, whereas problems are generally viewed negatively and to be avoided. Are they really opposites though? The most optimistic of us will say the difference is simply attitude... every problem can be looked at as an opportunity and it is just a mater of perspective.

Ponder this though, a person has 900 pounds of wood fall on them, turning their foot around 180 degrees and breaking their pelvis in three places. I think you would be hard pressed to find someone who would say, "Good for them, there is great opportunity in what has happened". No one is looking at this as an opportunity to take advantage of, but rather a problem to be solved. Although there is an ample amount of optimism, it is directed to a quick recovery not the philosophical perspective between opportunities + problems. 

Opportunities and problems should not be viewed as opposites but rather as a sliding spectrum from problem to opportunity and vice versa; constantly moving as problems are solved or situations change. What is a problem today, once solved, becomes an opportunity tomorrow... much like the problem with a broken leg and the possibility of never walking again. Four months after the fact, the problem becomes an opportunity to coach others how to fight through adversity and be better than ever (which includes walking, running and playing).*

The difference between Opportunities and Problems lie with the negative consequence of not solving them successfully. If you miss on an opportunity, there is opportunity cost to contend with to be sure, but most likely there are few negative changes with your current situation. With Problems however, if you are unable to solve for them, you are still dealing with the negative consequences of the situation - And more often than not, it leads to more problems. 

Consequence makes my opportunities + problems very different things, and although my approach to solving for opportunities + problems is more or less the same, I will always deal with my problems first.

If truth be told, it took me a while to figure this out.

gpe

PS: The blog title was influenced by the musical group July Talk and I have attached the link to their video with a similar title. Guns + Ammunition  

* This is one of Big Red's more colourful stories. 

Sometimes the only appropriate response is to laugh... a good reminder.

It all happened in a split second... like with many things it seems.

An incident happened about three hours into a short road trip with Syd and Big Red. As I was making a lane change, I had to veer back to the safety of my original lane as another car quickly sped by. Everyone was a little startled but there were no injuries or coffee split.

Seconds later there was an onslaught of comments, corrections and instructions regarding how I could improve my driving.

• "What are you doing, trying to get into an accident?"
• "Aren't you using your mirrors?"
• "You are supposed to look over your shoulder before you change lanes?"
• "We could have been in an accident... are you sure you can drive all the way?"
• "You aren't just supposed to use your mirror, but actually look over your shoulder." (There seemed to be some disagreement with this point among my critics)

As my tolerance started to wane and it became apparent neither of them where going to self correct, I just started to laugh, rather loudly I should add.

As they quieted I asked, " So you two are lecturing me because I did everything correctly?"

I went on to say, "There was a car in my blind spot; by using the mirrors and then looking over my shoulder I was able to see the car and turned away before I side swiped it". I ended with, "Didn't I do everything you two were saying I should be doing and avoided an accident?"

Almost in unison they said, "Yes". I laughed some more.

As I look back at this smiling, I am reminded of some lessons I've earned over the years.

1. People generally do not like surprises... constant and predictable is the way they want it. A General Manager once offered me sage insight telling me that leaders do not like surprises; bad news may be hard to deliver, but surprises are disastrous.  
2. There are many people who are waiting for the opportunity to tell you what you are doing wrong. Constructive criticism should be welcomed and encouraged; it serves everyone well - Simple criticism serves only the few.
3. When something happens, it is best to start with the question, "What just happened?" Or some derivative of this, depending on the situation and context.
4. Laughter is a natural "attention grabber". In one form or another, people will ask, "What's so funny?" - And then you can tell them. Granted, depending on the situation and who is asking, it may be a tense conversation.
5. Laughter and doing serious business are not mutually exclusive; in fact laughter may just be the only thing to get you through the difficult times.

As an aside, my ability to drive didn't come up the rest of the road trip.

Keep on laughin'.

gpe