I ran my first marathon in February. During the pandemic I started running just to get out of the house. Fast forward 10 months and I am on the starting line for the Florida Marathon.
At the starting line, I had in mind, the perfect plan to reach my racing goal. Over the next four hours, I was dealt some serious, unexpected roadblocks that jeopardized me reaching the finish line. The more I reflected on what happened, the more I related my experience to the day in and outs as a project manager at Yalo.
Before starting a project with a new or existing client, there is always a plan in place for resources, timelines, and smooth processes. However, obstacles and bumps in the road are commonplace, especially over a long-term project. Things happen and will.
I believe preparation is key in life. Not just in sports, but in all that we do personally or professionally. I certainly thought I was prepared for the race. I had a game plan from nutrition to run times per mile. I knew I was going to reach a certain time at the end of the race.
As with anything, the perfect plan does not exist. I started out the gates just great, thinking I am going to rock this thing! However, my plan was tossed…no, completely thrown out the window!
First came really bad thunderstorms. Then the physical pain hit hard. I started cramping for miles, which I had not experienced before. But, like the obstacles we face in life and work, finding a way to the end goal is non-negotiable. We have to think quickly, adapt, put a plan in place and set small goals to accomplish the end objective. Inch by inch and half mile by half mile I kept going. I was way past my goal time, but at this point I was driven to finish.
In the end, it’s about delivering a great product for our clients. This all depends on how quickly the team can pivot and work efficiently as a team to reach the goal. It’s critical to have an agile team that can be flexible enough to figure out a way to deliver on deadline.
When s**t hits the fan, how can you get back on the road to reach a successful completion:
Identify the problem: thunderstorms, timing, design disconnects (oh my!)
Re-group and re-align with your team
Keep the team positive, hydrated and focused
Keep the road to resolving an issue clear and simple
Over-communicate and move in unison towards the objective
Just like I’ve had time to reflect on the race, a post-mortem is also important. Identify the failures and successes to improve for the future. For running, I reflected on what caused my setbacks and asked myself some tough questions. With work projects, it’s important to reflect on how you can improve communication and planning to deliver a great product. In the end, be agile and always keep going…you will have great success!
Fool’s Gold: Our Favorite April Fool’s Brand Pranks
Taco Bell toilet Paper? Printing money from your phone? We love a great April Fool’s joke.
But we love April Fool’s Day even more when companies strike the right tone and execution in delivery of a hoax to put a smile on our faces, rather than making us look like a fool. When done right, April Fool’s Day is a perfect opportunity for brands to increase consumer engagement and deepen reach.
No fooling, here are five of our favorite, well-thought-out brand activations to celebrate the day created to add some levity into the world and poke-fun at ourselves.
Party In The Sky WestJet #FlyreFestival
Out of the ashes of Fyre Festival came WestJet’s Flyre Festival. Offering the world’s first premium in-flight music festival. The cheese sandwiches are on you though.
Out-Of-This-World Whiskey
Taking the trend of aged whiskey to new heights, Jameson introduced triple-distilled whiskey – matured in Ireland and finished in outer space. The brand was so dedicated to pulling-the-wool over our eyes, they actually sent a bottle 110,000 feet above earth.
Tinder Height Verification Badge
No one likes to get burned by misleading dating app profiles, so Tinder fooled us all in thinking it had created a solution to the biggest lie told on its app – height! Tinder trolled users by announcing plans to introduce a height verification badge. “Simply input your true, accurate height with a screenshot of you standing next to any commercial building. We’ll do some state-of-the-art verifying and you’ll receive your badge directly on your profile”.
The Rosetta Stone – Learn to Speak Klingon
Many a Star Trek fan has marveled at their friends who seem to speak Klingon as fluently as they speak English, German, Italian, or French. Now with this complete Klingon software package you will be able to express your thoughts safely and effectively in Klingon and master the conversational skills required to conduct negotiations, request medical assistance and partake in the rich Klingon culture.
Money on Your Phone
Who wouldn’t love to print money from your phone? In the UK, PayPal tricked us all by announcing a new feature to turn your phone into a mobile ATM. Got us? We were fooled.
Do you have any brand antics up your sleeve this year? Or perhaps you’d like to pull-off a similar stunt to one of these you’ve just read and you need assistance devising a concept? Making people laugh is one of our core competencies – let’s brainstorm some clever content and get your team laughing all the way to the bank! Contact us here to get started.
Being consistent for brands has never been more rewarded than in our current, challenging and changing world. But consistency doesn’t and shouldn’t equal boring.
Companies and brands have a significant opportunity to drive deeper consumer action, loyalty, and advocacy to create a foolproof brand to stay relevant and increase reach no matter what happens in the world.
Here are five tips to be consistent and create bolder, deeper and foolproof brand engagements:
Color Me Brand: Take the time for a mini brand visual and verbal refresh. Update your color palette for this Spring and Summer to use across social media and advertising. Feature bold, vibrant colors to welcome spring and wake up your feed. Bold colors visually announce a new beginning and are a subtle way to re-energize your visual assets to re-engage your customers.
Can We Talk? Spend some time asking your customers what’s on their mind. Listen. Respond with smart, deliberate content that lets them know you hear them. Foolproof brands realize it isn’t about them, but about their customers. Start including a quick survey in your social media strategy to direct your content. Don’t be afraid to address the issues that matter to you and your customers.
Entertain Me: A joke. A good playlist. A virtual cocktail party. Smart brands create a mix of ongoing engagement opportunities to bring their brand personality to life and entertain their customers.
Surprise Surprise! Nothing drives stronger engagement than an unexpected surprise. Make it a practice to surprise customers in big and small ways. Go beyond liking a post of user-generated-content and ask the creator to collaborate with your brand instead. Go old-school and send a snail mail, well thought-out, curated, box of branded goodness.
Socially Acceptable: Foolproof brands know that you must continuously evolve to engage with your customers. TikTok and Clubhouse are two social platforms bold brands need to be a part of and have an active presence. Partner with emerging artists and musicians to stay current and always evolve your brand engagements.
If you are ready to take bold action, our creative team is at the ready…no foolin’.
See examples of our bold branding finesse for clients on this page. Connect with us today and let’s get your brand boosted and blooming like nobody’s business.
March Madness Done Differently The Rules & Regs Breakdown
March Madness is making a return! According to the NCAA, fans will be present for every round of the men’s tournament. Though, only later rounds of the women’s tournament will have spectators, starting with the Sweet 16.
Teams and fans usually travel around the country. Yet, for the first time, all games will be held primarily in one city. The men’s tournament will take place in Indiana and the women will play in San Antonio. Arenas will be at as much as 25 percent capacity for the men’s games and 17 percent for the women’s, with masks, social distancing and testing in place for entry.
When the announcement was made that the men’s tournament would take place in Indiana, a poll was done by a local Indiana outlet, IndyStar. IndyStar sports ran a 24-hour Twitter poll asking: “If the NCAA were to allow fans for the tournament, would you feel comfortable — COVID-19-wise — going?”
Nearly half of more than 500 respondents, 48%, answered “absolutely.” Another 29% said it “depends on the rules/capacity.” And 23% replied “no way.” In a similar Facebook poll, 54.3% said “absolutely,” 38.2% answered “no way,” and 7.5% said it depends on rules and capacity.
Capacity will include all participants, essential staff, up to six family members of each participating team’s athletes and coaches. The number of fans will also be reduced. All fans must wear face coverings and physically distance during the event. Thorough cleaning, disinfecting and safety measures will be a priority in all venues.
For players, before arriving in Indianapolis, everyone must have seven consecutive negative COVID-19 tests. If any of the tests yield a positive result, the person will not be allowed to attend the tournament until he has completed a period of self-isolation.
Although the setup and precautions look promising, only time will tell if this ends up being a successful strategy. This is a good but bold move by the NCAA. Coming off the cancellation of the tournament in 2020, the NCAA had to adjust their approach to regain the excitement for its biggest event. With the tournament rapidly approaching, we recently completed a website to help a client drive brand awareness during the tournament. Need help with your brand awareness? Pass us the ball and we’ll take a shot!
“Got a Rizla?” You might not have heard of it. I had not until I came across the company in a recent edition of the Economist. What really grabbed my attention was how the article compared Rizla to enduring brands like Coca-Cola, Google, Jacuzzi, or Tupperware, whose name defines the product.
History, design, values, consistent quality – characteristics marketers look at that make brands truly unique. Let’s explore how a cigarette rolling paper company exploits these characteristics to dominate their industry and maintain a tribe-like loyalty in a business that comes with certain baggage.
Don’t have an illustrious origin story? Make one up! “The original…since 1796”. You can find that on the underside of their packaging still. Folklore and generational history have tied the Napoleon era forever to the Rizla history. They remind you of it every time you see the product and the brand. These origin stories: real, imagined—or a bit of both—are powerful plays to help establish and make your brand stand out.
Give people a sneak peek of your secret sauce. Another example is the heavily guarded and super-secret formula of Coca-Cola for over 125 years. They have taken this origin story to another level letting you get as close as you can to the formula in the vault at the World of Coca-Cola experience.
Create unique connections with your brand. The Rizla design is iconic and mysterious. With nods back to original material used to make the rolling papers – rice, and the ode to the founder Peter LaCroix. The logo has been used in a variety of creative formats at the various music festivals and racing events they sponsor. If you want an iconic brand, have a great story and make sure your brand emotes a certain set of values that your customers and fans connect with on a deeper level.
Get to know your customer’s likes and obsessions. Rizla’s customer base is obsessed over attention to detail and a certain sense of irreverence. Their base also shares similar language, looks, and taste that make it a great way to reach them. Really understanding your customer base, why they choose you, and what makes them tick are distinct and personal sets of information that are critical to building the brand and ultimately turning your customer base into ambassadors of your brand. Maybe that software company with the fruit logo or the coffee company near them come to mind. Yes they are juggernauts but they have applied these principles almost religiously to get where they are.
Ultimately what you sell or provide has to be good. “Keep rolling with the World’s #1” has to have some merit or your brand will be a “paper tiger.” (Pun intended)
A crafty story. An authentic design. Customer intimacy. A good product. Nice little checklist to make your brand standout. Give us a shout! We would love to Rock-n-ROLL with your brand!
We are always thinking about your customer journey. Creating the marketing plays to gain brand awareness yards with your customers and the ones you are trying to reach. Using a football field as a tangible visual, we tie each customer journey to the downs we complete as we move towards the end zone. The “touchdown” becomes increased awareness and engagement of your brand, your products and your people.
Outlining the journey visually is critical. It helps keep your team focused on goals. It can be created for personas, campaigns and channels to track impact and reach of each marketing tactic. I personally like to map the journey to find inspiration in testing new tactics or reaching a new segment.
Think of your journey map as an exercise to document the various ways your customers find you—high engagement, targeted, digital, segment or persona-based. Follow along as we outline the field zones and what to consider in building your customer journey.
Coming Out: Traffic
Generating traffic is the first step in the customer journey. Attracting your target customers—or fans—to your brand. These tactics can start simple and build over time to foster awareness. The first zone should focus on market targets, geographies and demographics to reach customers who are ready to start the journey with you.
Recommended Plays: Display Ads, Value Add Content, Press, Social
Open Field: Interest
Generating interest as a marketer is the best place on the field to learn from your potential customers. As your customers make the journey down the field, you execute tactics to reach them at the right time and place. The marketplace is noisy but placing the right content at the right time is fun. There are multiple touchpoints happening through the open field zone. Make sure your analytics are in place to measure and report what plays are working, and which ones might be out of practice.
At this point on the field, your customer is aware, interested and taking action. You will have an idea of the customer type and now it’s time to switch from marketing to a sales conversion focus. Your messaging and content should be specific to the persona highlighting the benefits and solutions you offer.
You’ve made it to the red zone, arguably the most exciting zone of the game! Now is the chance to shine and focus on converting to a touchdown. All tactics at this point should be focused on personalization and user experience. Whether you’re B2B or B2C, your customer journey should map the lead experience, your MVP, to point of sale.
Recommended Plays: Great Product, Customer Service, Easy User Experience
If your customer journeys have grown weary in a more traditional format, test out our football field for mapping your next customer journey! It’s a strategic, yet simple document for current state–tying activities together for visibility and inspiration for future goal state. Drop our team a line if you want to chat further on mapping your customer journey, but we’re also open to have a few beers and chat football too.
This is a winter when we need warmth more than ever and we’ll likely be cooking for ourselves. As a fun activity, our Tribe decided to share some of our favorite recipes to start a Yalo cookbook! Hearty soups, cheesy plates of pasta, and even some Super Bowl snacks. Each season, we plan to add more scrumptious dishes and yummy snacks, so at the end of a year, we have a collection of tasty foods. (And, when we can finally be all together again, bring some of these to a company outing!)
Now that we’re out of 2020 … a year that has tested our souls … here are some foods that are good for the soul:
1 lb. ground spicy Italian sausage – (mild can be substituted)
8 slices bacon, diced – (divided)
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and diced
2 cloves garlic – minced
2 Tbsp flour
32 oz chicken stock
4 large russet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1/2 inch pieces
1 cup canned coconut milk
1/2 bunch kale (a couple of handfuls) – de-stemmed and torn into bite sized pieces
Salt and pepper, – to taste
Pinch of red pepper flakes
Dash of cayenne
Instructions
In a frying pan: drizzle oil and add the minced onion and garlic. Sauté until fragrant. Sprinkle flour over onion and garlic, then stir to combine. Remove the contents and put into a slow cooker. Pour in chicken stock, stirring as you pour. Add in potatoes.
Add the sausage to the frying pan crumbling as it cooks until it just begins to brown. Then add to the slow cooker.
Let cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours.
While it cooks fry bacon is residual sausage grease until crisp, then remove to plate with the sausage. Crumble the bacon. Leave to the side until done.
When potatoes are fork-tender it is ready. Add in most of the crumbled bacon, coconut milk and kale. Stir and cook 5-10 minutes until kale is wilted.
Taste and season with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes and cayenne if desired. Top with remaining bacon and enjoy!
Layer 4: 1/3 cup Parmesan; 1/3 cup mozzarella; 1 can Skyline chili
Layer 5: Cooked lasagna noodles
Top layer: 1/2 cup cheddar and 1 can Skyline chili
Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes
Top with hot sauce!
Proper Bacon
By Jon Bishop, Design Systems Architect
This recipe creates perfectly textured bacon. Bacon your family and friends will dream about. It is both crispy and chewy. Every slice is cooked evenly and to perfection. It retains its tenderness in the fridge for up to a week. And, the best part, the cleanup is insanely easy with no scrubbing necessary.
Ingredients
1lb of thick-cut bacon (10-12 strips)
*Note: Ask for a “pack from the back” at your local grocer’s butcher
Instructions
Step 1 – The Secret is in the Name
It’s weirdly obvious, but the big trick is to pull your bacon out of the frying pan and bake it in the oven.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
Line a large baking tray with tinfoil. Make sure to cover the bottom and sides! Use heavy-duty grill foil for maximum coverage.
Lay 10-12 strips of thick cut bacon into the pan. Try to keep the strips from touching or overlapping.
Cook for 28-32 minutes. Go do something else until your timer goes off.
Step 2 – Let It Sit
Once you’ve pulled your tray of bacon from the oven, set the tray on a counter.
Use tongs to transfer the hot bacon from the tray onto a paper-towel lined plate.
Place 4-6 strips of bacon onto the paper towel, place a new paper towel over top, press gently to pick up any extra grease, and repeat.
Let the bacon sit for a minimum of 10 minutes to ensure tenderness and texture.
Step 3 – Clean Your Tray
Place one or two paper towels onto the tinfoil to absorb excess grease
Fold the tinfoil inward from each edge, careful to keep the grease from spilling out at creases.
Tighten the folded tinfoil into a ball and throw away
Pro Tips
When you bake in bulk use the paper towels from the previous batch of bacon to absorb your tray grease. It’s just economical.
Store your bacon in the fridge in a storage quart Ziplock container. It’ll keep up to 7 days, if it lasts that long.
Ways to eat your bacon
Cold: Seriously, this bacon is amazing right out of the fridge on its own, popped into a sandwich, or crumbled and added to salads.
Reheat: Take your already crisp, tender, chewy bacon and pop it into a frying pan on medium heat for a couple minutes. It’ll heat it nicely, add a little more texture, and you can wipe up the pan grease with half a paper towel
Dice onions and peppers into small evenly sizes 1/4″ square pieces.
Trim most of the fat from tri-tip and rough cut/ shave the steak into small bite sized pieces.
In a seasoned iron skillet, add some olive oil and butter and salt over medium high.
Add peppers and onions. Cook 3-5 min or until onion turns translucent and slightly brown around the edges.
Drain into colander in sink and stash in bowl/plate.
Clean colander for next step.
Wipe skillet from previous step, add some more olive oil, butter, and salt.
Add the shredded tri tip and cook until the pink color just disappears.
Drain excess fat in colander.
Wipe iron skillet clean and then add the onions/peppers and steak back together in the skillet and cook for 1-2 min.
Open rolls and place 2x at a time inverted on top of skillet so the inside of the roll heats up from the steam coming off the steak and pepper and onion mix.
Once the roll is hot, add 2 slices of provolone to the bottom of the (helps keep it from breaking apart).
Add enough steak/onion/pepper mix to fill the roll up and season with salt and pepper to taste.
In a 6-quart Dutch oven, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned on both sides. Remove from the pot and set aside.
Add carrot and onion and cook until just tender, about 3 minutes.
Add the garlic and stir for another minute, until fragrant.
Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the butter and flour, stirring constantly for 3 minutes to prevent lumps from forming.
Add the chicken and any accumulated juices back to the pot and stir to coat in the roux.
Add the chicken broth, cream, thyme, and bay leaves and bring to a simmer. Once soup is at a simmer, add the frozen peas, cover, and cook for 15 minutes.
Make the dumplings: In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, pepper, and cream. Stir until mixture comes together into single mass of dough.
Using a large spoon or ice cream scoop, form the dough into small round balls about 1 inch (2 ½ cm) in diameter (the dough should yield 14-16 dumplings).
Place the dough balls in the simmering soup (making sure they don’t touch), add the parsley, and cover. Let the soup simmer for 15 minutes, or until the dumplings are cooked through.
Ladle into bowls, giving 1-2 dumplings per serving.
1⁄2 cup fresh parsley or 8 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
1⁄4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 1⁄2 teaspoons olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
Directions
Fry beef and pork in 1/4 cup of olive oil in a large saucepot.
Remove meats as they brown and add another 1/4 cup oil to the juices in the pan.
Saute the onion, garlic, and 2 pinches each of the seasonings until the onion is transparent.
Stir in the tomato paste and cook, stirring, until the paste melts into the oil. This is called “Italian roux”.
Stir in an extra couple of pinches of the seasonings. Add the tomatoes and blend.
Fill the two tomato cans with water and add water until the sauce is as thick as you like it. Remember the sauce is going to cook down.
Let the sauce come to a boil and add salt and pepper and an additional 2 pinches of seasonings.
Return the meat to the pan and simmer, uncovered, for 2 hours. Stir every 15 minutes or so using a wooden spoon.
Brown the sausages in some olive oil and add to sauce with sugar to taste. Simmer another hour.
Make meatballs and either fry in oil or bake in oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Add to sauce.
Cook for an additional hour. Add water as it cooks if you think it needs it, but you should have a sauce that doesn’t separate on the plate.
Remove meats and let sauce settle for a few minutes until fat rises to the top. Skim as much fat as possible from the sauce. The less fat it contains, the better the sauce.
Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Sauté the onions and peppers in the melted butter until soft, about 5 to 7 minutes.
Stir in the steak strips to mingle with the onions and peppers then remove from heat, drain any excess liquid.
Unwrap the crescent rolls and separate into 8 small rectangles. Arrange on a non-greased 12 inch pizza pan or a parchment lined baking sheet in the shape of a sun, leaving a small circle (about 2 1/2 inches wide) in the center. Half of each crescent dough rectangle should hang over the edge of the pizza pan.
Place 6 slices of provolone cheese around the half of the crescent dough rectangle that is on the pizza pan. Top with the well drained steak, onions and peppers, making sure to keep the filling in a circular tube around the crescent dough. Top with the remaining cheese.
Carefully pick up the overhanging crescent dough and enclose the filling, tucking the dough underneath in the center of the ring, so all the filling is enclosed. (some might peek out, and that’s ok).
Bake for 20 to 23 minutes until dough is cooked through and is a deep golden brown. Let cool slightly before slicing.
Meanwhile combine the ingredients for the sauce and whisk together. Serve the sauce with the cheesesteak sandwiches. Enjoy!
Notes
*this is a great way to use up leftover steak. If you do not have leftover steak, you can grill 1 lb of fresh ribeye steaks and then slice into thin strips when cooked.
We hope these foods bring you warmth and comfort this winter and throughout the year!
A popular host has created some calm, and some serious hope, in this crazy economic climate. Dave Portnoy, founder of the media company Barstool Sports, launched a fundraising effort for small businesses affected by COVID-19. See the quick hits of his approach that raised over $16M.
The Yalo team salutes Mr. Portnoy for his humanitarian business efforts!
As a branding agency in Cleveland, we know that it’s been a long wait. Some of the fans and players have graduated, had their own kids, and even become grandparents during the 18-year lull. But the wait is over. The Cleveland Browns will head to the playoffs for the first time since 2002. How they ran their way into victory is almost as surprising as the unexpected win. Yalo’s Cleveland team members are already prepping for the playoffs. Read exciting coverage from ESPN on what’s ahead for the Browns.
While you’re here and musing on the Browns and their brand, is there some way that Yalo might help your business brand? It’s one of the things we do! Reach out to us – after the playoffs of course – and let’s have a conversation about brand strategy and your future success. Yalo has helped many clients to shine and thrive through creative, out-of-the-ordinary branding campaigns and strategies.
I grew up loving Van Halen. When they released their debut album in 1978, I was four years old. “Runnin’ with the Devil” was playing on the radio in 1978, and fifteen years later it was on the warmup playlist for my high school hockey team.
I was too young to see Van Halen live with David Lee Roth his first time around. But I did get to see DLR live when he toured with Van Halen in 2007. The on-stage theatrics were a little too much to ask from a 54-year old, but he sounded okay.
Van Halen and MTV have a shared history, and each is very important to the other. It started rough in 1982 when MTV banned the video for Van Halen’s remake of Roy Orbison’s “(Oh) Pretty Woman.” David Lee Roth directed the video that included enough inappropriate scenes to not get played on MTV—the ONLY place where music videos were being played. I’m sure Eddie and Alex were thrilled.
But the relationship between MTV and Van Halen soon blossomed. MTV was a really big deal, and Van Halen embraced the music video genre with “Jump,” “Panama” and “Hot for Teacher”—the one with child lookalikes for each of the band members. “Sit down, Waldo.”
During my middle school and high school years, MTV had Van Halen on “Heavy Rotation.” More great videos followed, and I watched them all way too many times when I wasn’t binging Saved By The Bell re-runs and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoons. (Note: This is a big reason why I don’t judge what my kids watch on YouTube.)
When they released 1984 (aka MCMLXXXIV) and toured to promote it, I was only 10. Sammy Hagar took over in 1986 with the release of the album 5150, and a North American tour followed. This album was a big part of my middle school playlist, but I wasn’t going to concerts without my parents yet. Most of my friends liked Van Halen, although I do remember getting mocked a little bit for being a Van Halen fan. Especially by the Bruce Springsteen fans.
I finally saw Van Halen in concert on August 21, 1991. It was the “For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge Tour,” and I saw them at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. To get tickets, I waited in line with a couple friends at The May Co. (gone) in The Euclid Square Mall (now an Amazon distribution center). Starting around 6:00 a.m. for a Ticketmaster (yep) sale that started at 10:00 a.m. We wanted tickets under the pavilion at Blossom, so we needed to be near the front of the line. I went to the show with a big group of high school friends. I remember being completely blown away seeing Eddie play live.
The last time I saw Van Halen was October 10, 2007 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. Eddie was as amazing as ever, and I was really only there to see him.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced that the 2020 Induction Ceremony will include a tribute to Eddie Van Halen. The Rock Hall said that the tribute will feature “multiple rock gods paying homage.” It will be fun to see who steps up to that challenge.
You can find a bunch of Foo Fighters live covers of Van Halen songs (usually with three guitarists playing Eddie’s part). If you like tributes, you will probably enjoy Robb Flynn from Machine Head playing “Eruption.”
Though, very few famous musicians cover Eddie publicly on guitar, and for good reason. No one ever sounds as good as him.
As sports fans, we couldn’t be more excited that our favorite teams and athletes are getting back into the game. As it turns out though we aren’t the only ones excited. In a recent article published by AdAge, a new kind of sports fan is emerging on Twitter and starting to embrace the return of sports like never before.
Yes, there will be a baseball Opening Day, we just do not know when it will be! But when it happens it will be like any other Opening Day; the Braves will have new life and hope springs eternal for post season play.
With a full season, Fangraphs.com projects the Braves will win 87 games, with the Nationals, Mets, Phillies and Marlins projected to win: 88, 88, 81, and 69, respectively. How did we get to this point that we dare to predict something that will happen 7-8 months in the future?
First off, you can dispute the numbers using other sources, such as: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Baseball Prospectus and Yahoo! Sports.
How this is determined starts with collecting key data for each player and applying proven tools to project individual player performance. Using those player performance projections and combining them into an Opening Day roster, the team’s schedule is simulated enough times to achieve projected season performance with the desired level of confidence.
Building a team based on statistical analysis was introduced to the public in Michael Lewis’ book, Money Ball and reached a far wider audience via the movie of the same name. It was about using a large sample of data to take advantage of a systemic flaw in player valuation in the game.
Considering the projected runs identified above, it looks like it is “too close to call.” That happened because other teams starting using the same data analytics and the flaw in evaluation disappeared. Makes one wonder how effectively your competition is using data analytics. Compared to your competition, does your data analytics make you look like the Braves or the Marlins?
These analytics give a view on potential full season performance. Adjustments will be necessary through the season as injuries, trades and other factors change the original assumptions. In the post season, the sample size becomes too small. Hot pitching, hot hitting, untimely errors, and managerial decision making are why we watch the post season.
And as a result, in the post season, all bets are off. Just ask the Dodgers!
We typically share Summer Beach Reads right around August. Our tribe quickly throws together simple, sometimes salacious reads they are diving into during vacation. But, not this year.
No need to state what so many of us already know: this year has changed…everything.
Though, when we starting going through the same exercise of collecting current reads, the list became its own living beast. A beast that is searching for something deeper, more meaningful and—in some cases—a way to better themselves.
Check out our list of beach or homebound reads below:
“I chose this book because I really loved his earlier book called The Sports Gene and this book focused on how in a world of specialization today, people that can flex and learn/do different things are often more successful.” – Lance Shoulders
“A big part of Design System Management, well, management. I can sit down and bang out work all day, but team communication isn’t my strongest attribute. I want to establish a strong, assertive, and caring voice so that I can provide better feedback and direction. I hope it’ll help the teamwork better together and grow into our expanding DSM offering.” – Jon Bishop
“It explores the uncertainty and fear inherent in facing down any ambitious challenge, from starting a new business to completing a work of art. The risks involved can never be eliminated, but they can be understood, anticipated, and mitigated.” – Denise Cowden
“The last 6 months have been filled with lots of negative energy. It just feels like the perfect time to revisit this guide for bringing positive vibes to your life and those around you.” – Scott Efferson
“This book has long been recommended to me by my old economics professors, and I am excited to dive into the intersection of our minds and how we process thoughts and information, with our interactions in the external world through the lens of business in our society. It can help us better understand our perceptions of ourselves, as well as the potential biases we all encounter.” – Marisa Katz
“I’m always on the hunt for new books and even better if it’s an author I know and like. I use goodreads and bookbub to read reviews and find deals for Apple Books. Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek popped up for a steal a few weeks ago and is a great read!” – Annie Dawson
“The Untethered Soul discusses our relationship with our thoughts and emotions. It jumps into what we can do to eliminate unnecessary thoughts that limit us from our unconsciousness. It assists in learning to let go, becoming more centered, staying open to the world, and living a full life.” – Max Mitchell
“The environmentalists vs. the technologists in shaping the future. Should we be cutting back to conserve or innovate for prosperity? Does a good job of presenting both points of view and leaves you to decide.” – Rich Krahn
“Looking to put more sustainable practices in place for everything from my garden to landscaping and forest management. Relevant and applicable for the work I’ve been doing on my 40 acres off grid homestead in North Central WA State” – Brian Eisenberg
“My rescue dog is my respite. She is my early morning walk. The foot warmer under my desk. My fearless protector against all groundhogs and rabbits hopping outside my window. As life continues to be uncertain, she is my constant comfort. This book helps me understand what’s going on inside her head.” – Rachel Stallard
Super excited to share this book for a couple reasons! 1.) My husband wrote it and it’s his first book! 2.) It’s funny and easy to understand. 3.) I love baseball and had no idea what any of these newer stats meant!” – Kate Castrovince
“Some really great motivational, internal strength messaging in there. “Anything can happen if you are willing to put in the work and remain open to the possibility.” “I focus on the little things. Little things add up to big things.”” – Arnold Huffman
“A friend got me this book for my birthday. Read it in one day. As Atticus Finch only exists in fiction, Bryan Stevenson is very much alive and fighting for the poor, oppressed, voiceless, and vulnerable. Inspiring and powerful story.” – Maggie Tyma
“Chose this as I was interested to learn more about this renowned individual of the fashion world – spent much of his tenure at Vogue, was a close friend of Karl Lagerfeld, Andy Warhol, etc. I have always admired his personal style- as well as his commentary on fashion. If you don’t know the name you will recognize him as Anna Wintour’s right-hand man…the one in an impeccably tailored suit paired with a daring cape and killer accessories. Incidentally, the book also details his perspective on being a minority in the fashion world; a topic that is obviously top of mind right now.” – Rachel Gehrs
“I am reading this one because I was interested to hear him speak about turning his tragic losses coming up into great success as an artist and businessman. He also focuses on how he had to embrace change both personally and professionally. ” – Brandon Bradford
“With all of the recent events, I’d love to read an unvarnished look at Washington to get more of the real story of his life. The author (the first non-white male biographer in 40 years to tell his story) has been attacked by conservatives for this book – one going so far as to call her an LGTBQ-loving, Jewish lesbian.” – Chris Moe
“I believe too many times, we as a people, choose to keep quiet on issues when speaking up could jeopardize our way of life. When the moment is bigger than you, we should take a step forward instead of a step back. The main character in this book, Starr Carter, helped me understand how important this really is. Initially, she struggles with the idea of voicing what’s on her mind as we all do, but eventually finds the strength to stand up for what she believes in.” – Cline Bates
“I chose this book because during quarantine my family watched the movie altogether and I loved the movie right away. That night I ordered the book and began reading as soon as it came. ” – Bob Faller
“I am super excited about the sequel to Ready Player One, which is called Ready Player Two and will be released just before Thanksgiving. It chronicles the adventures of a group of friends that takes place in and out of virtual reality. A scavenger hunt for a hidden Easter Egg and ownership of the largest virtual world was at stake in book one, so we will now learn how the new group runs things. It shows both the good and bad sides of emerging tech, and is a lot of fun.” – Drew Pearson
“I can argue that this is the best crime novel ever. It is for sure the best I have read (and I have read a ton). I love everything about this: amazing plot twists that hooks you from the first chapter. I wasn’t able to stop reading once I started. I finished it in one sitting and without a doubt one of the best two hours of my life.” – Mohamed Mahmoud
“This book is a powerful and enthralling historical fiction novel set in the aftermath of World War II. It follows a battle-haunted English journalist and a Russian female bomber pilot who joins forces to track the Huntress, a Nazi war criminal gone to ground in America. Facing sometimes insurmountable odds they are forced to face the consequences of war and determine the price they will pay to seek truth and justice for the ones they love.” Filled with grace, grit, love, and tenacity, this the perfect book for fans of historical fiction.”- Sarah Scheider
This summer we took on four interns from Case Western Reserve University, the alma mater of Yalo’s CEO Arnold Huffman. As they took part in their Remote Entrepreneurship Program, they were able to work within the different teams of Yalo’s tribe on projects ranging from internal communications, to client work, to tech development assistance. Hear from them below to see their perspectives on getting a taste of the agency and entrepreneurial lifestyle as they grow into up and coming professionals.
Marisa Katz
I am an incoming senior at CWRU, where I study economics and finance, along with a music minor (which helps fit right in with the Yalo tribe!). I have spent this summer working mainly with the internal communications and social team, as well as completing projects related to market, business development, and client industry research. Working with an already primarily-remote team allowed the adjustment to this new environment to be smoother, though I still had to take extra time to create a new “workspace” in my home, get to know the team on a deeper level for comfort and productivity, as well as understanding the agency landscape in a short period of time. I was excited to work in a small collaborative and entrepreneurial team environment for my own skills growth and professional perspective, and being in marketing I was able to expand my ideas of how much the industry consists to connect both my academic and consumer-side backgrounds into creating tangible content. I took part in important discussions of social content and the brand, learning about b2b versus b2c approaches, as well as the balance of focusing on internal growth with client content and building their images. I am so grateful for this opportunity to experience a new field, the welcoming nature of the Yalo team, and to take on responsibilities that create real value moving forward.
Daniel Warner
I just finished my sophomore year at Case as a computer science major. The internship I had previously lined up for this summer was cancelled due to COVID-19. Luckily, I was able to find this opportunity at Yalo through Case’s Remote Entrepreneurship Program. This summer has been a terrific learning experience for me. This has been my first job involving technology, so the biggest thing I learned was simply how to work with other people in a professional setting. Working remotely was also a new experience, but I ended up feeling comfortable with it. Over the course of the summer, I have worked on the new website for Yalo itself, Yalo’s virtual events platform, and I did some marketing research for a client. With Yalo’s website and the virtual events platform, I learned about web development which was entirely new to me. I’m glad I did because the web is such a big part of software. With the marketing research, I learned about something I never thought I would do. I am always interested in broadening my skills and my Yalo internship gave me the opportunity to do that in marketing as well as in software. I have had a great experience at Yalo this summer, and I am glad I have gotten my first working experience here.
Bob Faller
The time I spent at Yalo flew by but my experience was extremely insightful, from the people I met to all of the projects that I got a chance to work on. As a smaller company, I got to learn most of the people in the company. This then gave me a chance to work under many different project managers on varying assignments. Some of the assignments I learned the most from included two projects that gave me the opportunity to look at ways to help clients with social media content and then I was given a chance to present my findings to each of the companies. Another project I worked on, I gave a high level analysis of how a client approached their response messaging surrounding COVID compared to their competitors. I learned from these presentations about how important it was to practice beforehand and anticipate questions from the clients. I felt more prepared and confident after each of the presentations because of the help from project managers and self reflection after each presentation. Overall, this summer gave me my first real world work experience and I would not have traded it for anything else.
Mohamed Mahmoud
My name is Mohamed Salah, a Case Western Reserve rising junior majoring in computer science from Egypt. I spent this summer working with Digital Yalo on the development of their brand new virtual events system. Every task I have worked on over these past two months was an opportunity for me to learn and grow more. During my time with Yalo, I have worked on developing and testing various features for the virtual events website. I have added a system to schedule individual meetings between event hosts and participants, I have worked on adding a few arcade games to the website for event participants to enjoy while on break. My final task was to add a polling system for event participants to rate each session they have attended. I enjoyed every aspect of this experience from the technical knowledge I have gained, the hands-on work experience I have acquired or the valuable opportunity to learn more about the business side of startups. I want to thank Digital Yalo for this amazing opportunity and enjoyable time I have spent with them.
There is a lot going on in the world today. I see a lot of activity and action, busy busy busy, move move move. But I wonder…with all of this action, are we listening before acting or is it just rushed reaction without knowledge? In times of stress, discord, and opposition, we should be listening to our internal compass, our human nature. This is a classic nature vs nurture battle and unfortunately, nurture is winning (what we have been taught, fed, or surrounded by). Now more than ever, we could and should be listening with intent which will open our eyes.
We should be listening with our heart. So we make good moral and ethical decisions, and are seeking to understand all points of view before we rush into action.
We should be listening with our head. So we make thoughtful and constructive decisions that will lead to impactful actions that make a difference, while staying safe and healthy.
Just acting (or reacting) without understanding and knowledge is not really action at all. Uneducated, rushed actions (or reactions) certainly don’t yield results, impact or change. Listening is the true weapon required right now to out think, out smart, and out navigate the problem in front of us… racism, injustice, and inequality. But this is also true for and applies to any challenge in our path, whether it be covid-19, unemployment, or education.
Today’s world is a rapid and fluid situation. Things are constantly changing and quickly. If we are acting or reacting without assessing the situation, we will just be caught up in the riptide, being whipped around in whichever direction the tide wants to take us. However, our ability to process and respond decisively and effectively is driven by our ability to assess the situation. Assessing means first understanding the situation from multiple angles or viewpoints. We cannot solve what we do not know or understand. Otherwise, we are just guessing. The most successful way to assess and respond is—quite simply—to listen.
How can we all listen to each other better?
Hearing is NOT listening. If we are truly listening, we are paying attention, we are focused, and we are processing the information.
Ask great questions (not just good ones). Based on what we are listening to, we should probe, get deeper, and get more details to truly understand the problem or situation.
Understand the context behind what others are saying. Are they speaking from pain, past experience, thinking ahead, or something else? This helps us align our thinking and ability to process the information.
Discuss and debate. Expressing our thoughts and perspectives will lead to healthy discussion and debate. No answer, no solution, no result can come without objective challenges and conversations to evolve our thinking.
Review, reflect, repeat. After each conversation, we should reflect, synthesize and incorporate what we have learned from listening to others’ input. This will hone our thinking, giving it a sharp edge and making it a powerful weapon.
In summary, the quote “slow waters run deep” is very relevant. Power comes from having the depth obtained through listening. And this is how change will truly happen.
Brands that Get It, COVID Commercials You Won’t Fast Forward
From hilarious to heartfelt, to a brand thanking customers for not using their services, COVID commercials have hit home. Literally.
Like most people, we stream our shows. To be honest, it’s been a while since anyone has seen an actual commercial. But watching live news updates during quarantine has created a captive audience for ads. Many not only hold our attention, but make us (ugly) cry.
So the tribe gathered their favorites and shared why these spots resonated with them.
Walmart: Lean on Me
In the agency world so often what we see is staged, overproduced, edited and–bottom line–not real. This piece, however, delivers Walmart’s message of positivity and support so authentically with real people and employees contributing content. –Rachel S.
Dove | Courage is Beautiful
Very raw and real, it shows nurses and doctors working on the front lines and how courageous they truly are. The visuals really make me grateful for those men and women fighting this disease. –Maggie
A St. Patrick’s Day Message From Guinness
I’m not Irish, but something about the Irish culture of music and sentiments always touches me. I hear bagpipes and instant tears. This piece acknowledges that time is different with smart, yet subtle nods to their brand like “raise a glass of Guinness on St. Patty’s day.” But Guinness reinforces that what matters most is being with people you care about at home. –Rachel G.
Music is what grabs me right out of the gate. Their music choice for this spot is powerful. It’s one of those commercials you hear before you see. –Lance
Smirnoff: Hang out from Home
Simple, to the point with a twist of patriotism. –Eric
https://youtu.be/jOhhsN_Le3E
Netflix’s Spoiler Billboard
A funny approach to punishing those who decide to ignore the potential damage they can cause by continuing to gather in groups. – Max
Uber: Thank You For Not Riding
They do an excellent job of capturing the new normal while capturing our hearts. Their commercial also thanks us for not using them which is a selfless act for a brand to do in these times. – Denise
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN6T6XePyJw
Popeyes: We are NOLA Strong
Being from Louisiana, this one put a smile on my face. Eating a bunch of fried chicken to help support a wonderful cause seems like a win-win to me. Well done, Popeyes! –Scott
Coor’s Light: Sports Re-runs
This is a great use of an existing commercial and introduces some levity about watching sports re-runs. – Jon
https://youtu.be/nmVRFui61U4
Jack Daniels – With Love, Jack
The Jack Daniels commercial really strikes at the heart of the world situation right now. It shows how people are all coping with social distancing and making due in their own ways to stay connected with family, friends and humanity. Delivering the point of view from within these individuals’ daily lives and homes makes it very real. Lastly, having the commercial wrapped in a classic 80’s song done on piano by just a regular guy connecting with someone he loves, that really is excellent packaging. – Arnold
Dunkin Heroes – We’ve Got Your Back
Dunkin. Quick, easy to understand message while keeping brand in focus. – Kevin
Tylenol Stay Home
This commercial is touching, hopeful and shows gratitude for healthcare workers. I also like that it’s not the same “we’re in this together” message that is being overly used and sometimes seems insincere. – Kate
https://youtu.be/IsQ7Wto0FJg
Burger King Stay Home of the Whopper
I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for the touching commercials of late always featuring somber piano music and heartfelt images of all of us staying connected through this time. This commercial is not that. It’s just Burger King being Burger King – purposely silly and a little bit dumb – which is great for a couple of reasons. For one, it feels way more authentic and beyond that – what’s more comforting than a little return to normalcy right now? I’m ready to live in a world with ridiculous commercials that make me laugh again. – Tim
Ohio Department of Health Mouse Traps
Reason: Because Science. I like how this commercial attempts to explain the biology of how fast viruses like SARS-COV-2 can spread in a simple, yet powerful analogy. – Brian
The NFL encourages their fans to stay strong and remain home until we overcome this pandemic as they emphasize the importance of spending time with family. – Cline
This is the best one I’ve seen. I don’t watch much tv but this pops up on YouTube all the time and with a newborn, we definitely appreciate restaurants right now. – Brandon
Instead of just surviving the pandemic, Apple hits home with this spot and inspires us to not just live but thrive through this time with the help of creativity, human connection, and, of course, their products. – Drew
Moving the Olympics was a huge change and the announcement of the change kept the athletes in focus, with a message of hope and a really smart use of font to change 2020 to 202ONE. – Annie
Fun and creative ad with a catchy beat playing; Being able to see faces in everyday objects shows that a kids imagination never leaves you. – Chris D
If you like how we think collectively as a branding agency in Atlanta & Cleveland, why not give us a chance to show you the kinds of branding strategies we can create for your company’s needs? Conversation is free – let’s have a chat!
In most places, there are still at least a few more chilly evenings and grey weekends perfect for curling up with a good book. Here are some titles we’ve loved lately or are planning on diving into while we ride out the last few weeks of winter. Enjoy!
So Much Things to Say: The Oral History of Bob Marley by Roger Steffens
Renowned reggae historian Roger Steffens’s riveting oral history of Bob Marley’s life draws on four decades of intimate interviews with band members, family, lovers, and confidants—many speaking publicly for the first time. More . . .
The Fifth Risk by Michael Lewis
What are the consequences if the people given control over our government have no idea how it works? Michael Lewis’s brilliant narrative takes us into the engine rooms of a government under attack by its own leaders. More . . .
Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport
In this timely and enlightening book, the bestselling author of Deep Work introduces a philosophy for technology use that has already improved countless lives. More . . .
From Poop to Gold: The Marketing Magic of Harmon Brothers by Chris Jones
You’ve seen the ads: Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, Purple, Poo~Pourri (and more). You’ve laughed along with millions of others. And you’ve learned new euphemisms for poop, which can come in handy if you’re ever apparated back to junior high. But who creates all these ads? Glad you asked. More . . .
The Birth of Loud: Leo Fender, Les Paul, and the Guitar-Pioneering Rivalry That Shaped Rock ‘n’ Roll by Ian S. Port
A riveting saga in the history of rock ‘n’ roll: the decades-long rivalry between the two men who innovated the electric guitar’s amplified sound—Leo Fender and Les Paul—and their intense competition to convince rock stars like the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Eric Clapton to play the instruments they built. More . . .
The Reckoning by John Grisham
Pete Banning was Clanton, Mississippi’s favorite son–a decorated World War II hero, the patriarch of a prominent family, a farmer, father, neighbor, and a faithful member of the Methodist church. Then one cool October morning he rose early, drove into town, walked into the church, and calmly shot and killed his pastor and friend. More . . .
Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
Could ten days at a health resort really change you forever? In Liane Moriarty’s latest page-turner, nine perfect strangers are about to find out. More . . .
This Will Only Hurt A Little by Busy Philipps
Busy Philipps’s autobiographical book offers the same unfiltered and candid storytelling that her Instagram followers have come to know and love, from growing up in Scottsdale, Arizona and her painful and painfully funny teen years, to her life as a working actress, mother, and famous best friend. More . . .
The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle
An essential book that unlocks the secrets of highly successful groups and provides readers with a toolkit for building a cohesive, innovative culture, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Talent Code. More . . .
Multipliers by Liz Wiseman
In this engaging and highly practical book, leadership expert Liz Wiseman and management consultant Greg McKeown explore these two leadership styles, persuasively showing how Multipliers can have a resoundingly positive and profitable effect on organizations getting more done with fewer resources, developing and attracting talent, and cultivating new ideas and energy to drive organizational change and innovation. More . . .
Film, art, music and sports (FAMS) are the realms of pop culture that fuel our fire as a creative branding agency in Atlanta & Cleveland. FAMS act as the inspirational ingredients in Yalo’s own unique marketing mixture, as well as in the brand experiences we cook up for our clients. Our recipe produces work that is not only engaging to your audiences, but also gives your brand that memorable, entertaining flavor that lingers long after being consumed. Good brand strategy “tastes” great!
Here are some fresh FAMS, curated by Our Tribe, to inspire YOU to discover new marketing flavors for your brand.
Bringing Back a Hit
While you don’t want your marketing to fall into that boring, rinse-and-repeat pattern, sometimes a perfectly timed throwback is exactly what you need to bubble up some instant buzz for your brand. El Camino was the perfect way to revive an all-time great series and give Breaking Bad fans the epilogue they were craving. Watch it on Netflix and then listen to this *SPOILER ALERT* segment of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour to dig into the breakdown of the movie.
Unique & Unexpected
If you’re not defying the status quo and trying new things then you won’t fly very high. Mixing in some unique and unexpected content will keep your audience locked in with your brand. An unknown artist went viral after giving LeBron James’ Insta account the giraffe-filter treatment. Check out LeBron’s actual Insta, @kingjames before visiting @leraffeejames. You can learn more about the artist’s inspiration here.
Influencer Appreciation
Giving props to those that helped pave the way for your success is never a bad look. Take some time to learn about the original influencers in your life and show them some love. Rolling Stone magazine ranked Robert Johnson fifth on their list of “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.” Some say he sold his soul to the devil for his mastery of the guitar. Artists like Eric Clapton, Robert Plant and Bob Dylan have all considered him a major influence in their own musical styles. Robert Johnson’s short – murdered at the age of 27- life wasn’t very well documented…until now. Check out the newly released, Up Jumped The Devil to read about this original rock and roll influencer’s life and death.
Analog Isn’t Dead
We tell our clients and prospects this all the time – analog formats aren’t dead! These analog (or offline) executions can sometimes offer that extra bit of personal touch that is needed to truly convey your message. MLB’s Baltimore Orioles penned handwritten thank you cards to fans after racking up 108 losses this season. Read more about how the O’s took their PR director’s idea and ran with it.
Respect the Drip . . . Your Drip
You put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into your work, so don’t forget to take the time to celebrate your achievements and use the victories (both big and small) as motivation to keep winning! Simone Biles now holds the record for the most World Championship medals (25), as well as the most gold medals (19) in World Championship history for an athlete of any gender. And she’s not even done! Biles now turns her attention towards the 2020 Olympics in Tokyonext summer, where she will look to amp up her Olympic medal count.
So, if you ever find that your brand’s marketing favor leans towards the cardboard-y side, then consider the inspirational ingredients being used in your marketing mixture. Maybe you just need an extra pinch of pop culture. Or help from some full-time Yalo brand strategists – we’re cooking with gas and we’ve got flavor to burn. Give us a call analog or digital-style and we can share some of our favorite branding recipes with you.
As we get ready to kick off the NBA season on October 22, there is an ongoing controversy, drawing attention away from the actual game and its great players: a social media post. A since-deleted tweet by Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey read “Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong.” This tweet in support of the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong has caused China to lash out at the NBA.
The Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers are currently in China to face off against one another in the NBA China Games. China cancelled several of the NBA community events and removed the marketing signage promoting the game. China also canceled the broadcast of the two preseason games in China and it was uncertain if the games would happen at all.
Several companies have stopped partnerships with the NBA, and at least two major Chinese retailers have removed all Houston Rockets merchandise from their websites.
The NBA’s presence in China is estimated to be worth $4 billion — so that is what is ultimately at stake. The Houston Rockets’ General Manager has since apologized for the controversial tweet but it seems the damage has already been done. Prior to this post, the Houston Rockets were the most popular NBA team in China due to former player Yao Ming — the most famous Chinese-born NBA player in history.
The brand of the Houston Rockets and of the NBA itself have clearly taken a costly hit due to one social media post. A prime example of how social media can impact your revenue. It will be interesting to see how it continues to unfold as we approach the start of the regular season.
The kids may be the ones headed back to class, but it doesn’t mean they’re the only ones who could benefit from logging a little more reading time now that summer’s coming to an end. Check out some of our favorite recent reads to help you get pumped for a productive and inspired fall.
The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance – David Epstein
The debate is as old as physical competition. Are stars like Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps, and Serena Williams genetic freaks put on Earth to dominate their respective sports? Or are they simply normal people who overcame their biological limits through sheer force of will and obsessive training? The truth is far messier than a simple dichotomy between nature and nurture. Read more
From Cradle to Stage: Stories From the Mothers Who Rocked and Raised Rock Stars – Virginia Hanlon Grohl & Dave Grohl
The debate is as old as physical competition. While the Grohl family had always been musical-the family sang together on long car trips, harmonizing to Motown and David Bowie-Virginia never expected her son to become a musician, let alone a rock star. But when she saw him perform in front of thousands of screaming fans for the first time, she knew that rock stardom was meant to be for her son. Read more
Serving the Servant: Remembering Kurt Cobain – Danny Goldberg
In early 1991, top music manager Danny Goldberg agreed to take on Nirvana, a critically acclaimed new band from the underground music scene in Seattle. He had no idea that the band’s leader, Kurt Cobain, would become a pop-culture icon with a legacy arguably at the level of that of John Lennon, Michael Jackson, or Elvis Presley. Read more
Can’t Stop Won’t Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation – Jeff Chang & DJ Cool Herc
Based on original interviews with DJs, b-boys, rappers, graffiti writers, activists, and gang members, with unforgettable portraits of many of hip-hop’s forebears, founders, and mavericks, including DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Chuck D, and Ice Cube, Can’t Stop Won’t Stop chronicles the events, the ideas, the music, and the art that marked the hip-hop generation’s rise from the ashes of the 60’s into the new millennium. Read more
I would Die 4 U: Why Prince Became An Icon – Touré
Celebrated journalist, TV personality, and award-winning author Touré investigates one of the most enigmatic and fascinating figures in contemporary American culture: PRINCE. Read more
Smash!: Green Day, the Offspring, Rancid, Nofx, and the ’90s Punk Explosion – Ian Winwood
Two decades after the Sex Pistols and the Ramones birthed punk music into the world, their artistic heirs burst onto the scene and changed the genre forever. Read more
The Hippest Trip in America: Soul Train and The Evolution of Culture and Style – Nelson George
An authoritative history of the groundbreaking syndicated television show that has become an icon of American pop culture, from acclaimed author and filmmaker Nelson George, “the most accomplished black music critic of his generation” (Washington Post Book World). Read more
The Weight Of This World – David Joy
Critically acclaimed author David Joy, whose debut, Where All Light Tends to Go, was hailed as “a savagely moving novel that will likely become an important addition to the great body of Southern literature” (The Huffington Post), returns to the mountains of North Carolina with a powerful story about the inescapable weight of the past. Read more
The 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure – Grant Cardone
This book unveils the principle of “Massive Action,” allowing you to blast through business clichés and risk-aversion while taking concrete steps to reach your dreams. Read more
Catch Fire: How to Ignite Your Own Economy – Douglas Scott Nelson
Nelson provides the simple tools and the knowledge to teach you how to achieve financial freedom. Doug reveals how money works for and against you, while debunking numerous financial myths. Read more
The Compound Effect: Jumpstart Your Income, Your Life, Your Success – Darren Hardy
The Compound Effect is based on the principle that decisions shape your destiny. Little, everyday decisions will either take you to the life you desire or to disaster by default. Read more
The Latte Factor: Why You Don’t Have to Be Rich to Live Rich – David Bach & John David Mann
The Latte Factordemystifies the secrets to achieving financial freedom, inspiring readers to realize that it’s never too late to reach for your dreams. Read more
