This is fancy. I like it a lot.
I was named after Rebecca West, although I was always a bit disappointed I didn't like her writing more. This quote of hers ia goody though.

All goodies (although "planners sell, creatives multiply" isn't strictly speaking out of the "how to make friends and influence people" play book. So to avoid getting a D&AD fatwa served on me i will remain neutral on that one)

Really like the one about social media and conversations(given I "work" in PR these days). I thinks it's less about brands steering clear of social media and more, as you put it, adding something to the conversation when they do join in.

Its good manners at the very least. Being part of the community at best.

This reminds me of an old BMP (a great 70's and 80's agency, kids) philosophy about TV advertising : if you are going to appear in people's living room the least you can do is entertain them while they are there.

Perhaps the same goes for peoples blogs etc.

Strong opinions, lightly held

Hey how come no one has admired my mastery of slideshare? - sheer planner heaven

Gotta love the slideshare Richard!

I remember so many BMP ads from when I was little, they have stuck in my head more than ads from any other agency, followed probably by HHCL.

The consistency and coherance one is spot on.

Along the same lines:

If you don't understand your customer, how do you expect them to understand you?

I did admire. I said it was fancy. High praise indeed.

Loving the slideshare and loving the words of wisdom. Very fancy indeed ;)

I love quotable aphorisms...

I love quotations because it is a joy to find thoughts one might have, beautifully expressed with much authority by someone recognized wiser than oneself.
Marlene Dietrich (1901 - 1992)

Long live the aphorism!

Just posted a few on blogging at :
http://blaiq.typepad.com/misentropy/2006/11/aphorisms_on_bl.html

if I'm honest. I don't like the slide show. It's a bit. How can I put this. Naff.

Sorry.

I quite like the aphorisms.

The presentation is neither here nor there. But I love being able to upload powerpoint so that is is embedded on the site. And I think slideshow will turn into a brilliant research resource for planners cos the first thing you will do if you are thinking baout something is to find out whether someone else has already written a presentation on it. Hurrah.

This isn't exactly an aphorism but I think it has potential to become one: exec at McDonald's on the failure of their salads - "We listened to our customers but it appears they lied."

There was one from Monsanto after the GM thing blew up in their faces - 'we were so obsessed by what could be done we didn't stop to think whether it should be done'.

Love those McD and Monsanto ones, brilliant.

“In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But in practice, there is.” - Jan L.A. van de Snepscheut

Larry Sumner, ex Treasury Secretary and Dean of Harvard, on the importance of getting people to feel ownership of a project or community:

"In the history of the world, nobody ever washed a rented car."

Sir Winston,

Please go to www.mystreetcar.co.uk then the user guide, then cleaning.

You will see that cleaning a rented car is now common place. Things can change.