Shahid Khan Touched My Girl (And I Liked It)

Posted on January 31, 2012 by joash b.

A mysterious stranger swoops into town. Apprehension  heralds his arrival – his presence portends change. The stranger makes no attempt to mask his presence or shy away from his exotic nature.  His luxuriant hair is a carapace announcing the arrival of a brilliant mind; his waxed handlebar mustache a bold act of defiance amid the stares of a nescient population. His past achievements give his bold pronouncements weight. His immeasurable wealth bestows significance upon his every move. Such is the measure of this man, that as he attends to his myriad functions and tasks, he finds the time to charm and drape his arm around your girlfriend. He just may be the most interesting man in the world.

The picture above does not make me jealous. In fact, it leaves me feeling encouraged about the future of our hometown. Shahid Khan, the new owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars won over my girlfriend, and I’m confident he’s going to win over this city. He is a bit of a showman, his confidence is infectious, and he seems ready to embrace this area.

This past weekend serves as a prime example of why I think Khan “gets it.” Gawkers (including our own Kate Heller, who took the picture below) came out in droves to check out Khan’s 223-foot yacht after it docked on along the Northbank Riverwalk in front of the Hyatt Regency.

Khan said he parked his massive yacht at this most conspicuous of downtown locales as a gesture of support for Mayor Alvin Brown, who asked Khan to help generate some buzz downtown. Is this an ostentatious display of wealth? Of course it is. But who cares. This city needs to embrace a little gaudiness, and perhaps Khan is just the man to serve it up. The moves he has made indicate a man who is comfortable in his own skin and comfortable in the spotlight.

This city needs a serious injection of that kind of swag. Too often, I am struck by an underlying feeling of benign inferiority that runs through this city like a crack on a Savoy Vase. Those of us new to Duval County are blown away by its endless possibilities. With his personal rags-to-riches story, Khan represents the best of those possibilities realized. He is a living manifestation of what this city can, and should, become. By extension, I am hopeful Khan will take the shackles off a football team that, for a number of years now,  has been the very definition of vanilla. Build a winner, and the people will come. If this city can start following Khan’s example and thinking like a winner, better times will be ahead for all of us.

Leave a comment Tagged , , ,

Instagram – Get It while It’s Hot

Posted on January 23, 2012 by lawson e.

Instagram is a free photo-sharing app where users apply film filters for stylish vintage effects with the much loved Polaroid or Kodak instamatic feel. Then with a single tap photos can be uploaded to various social networks, as well as on Instagram itself, which has quickly turned into a social network of its own. It’s simple, easy to use and produces a great photo.

With more than 15 million users, all kinds of companies have flocked to the app in hopes of establishing a following. Yes, another social network to cultivate, but I’ve found this is a fun (and moderately addictive) way to tell a story through creative photographs. Words alone fall short of giving a consumer the essence of a brand, so it seems natural for any business or organization to tell its story through photographs. Since the app launched in 2010, brands have been using the platform in innovative ways, testing the network’s ability to build an audience.

In my opinion, the most attractive companies on the app are those posting interesting lifestyle photos, trying to capture their piece of the world in unique ways. Even General Electric has a nice eye for turning combustion engines into works of art. On the other hand, Starbucks seems to be pushing product a little too hard but still has a huge following. NPR was one of the first media organizations to join the platform and has successfully created a personable and creative account where it informally engages with fans on a daily basis.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment Tagged , ,

A Fresh Perspective

Posted on January 16, 2012 by lawson e.

On my first day as an intern at Brunet-García, Kate mentioned the idea of writing a blog post about my first few days in the office. Later that evening, I scrolled through the day’s reel of images. How did it feel walking in? What was the energy? What moments stood out? As I began to compile a mental list of attributes, I found myself countering each adjective with an opposite. A little old and a little new, modern and homey, productive and relaxed, progressive and traditional, creative and structured, until I arrived at my “ah-ha!” impression of BG: Balanced.

Our culture seems to have adopted an all-or-nothing approach to life in recent years. This philosophy leaves little room for failure and creates too much of an emphasis on success. Life is too unpredictable to become reliant on a single concept or outcome, as it usually ends in disappointment.

During my first day at lunch, I unknowingly explained a “balance practice” of my own, describing myself as a “cheatin’ vegan.”  I do not perceive occasionally indulging in pizza or chocolate as a failure, but as a contribution to a rich and happy life experience. Finding equilibrium between two extremes brings as much joy into my life as possible.

I can’t help but believe BG finds success through balance. My first few days in the office gave me a sense of ease and belonging. It seems like everyone here navigates through life’s duality actively seeking balance – “rolling with the punches“ if you will.

In a world of extremes where opposites permeate our lives in every aspect, remaining sensitive to your state of balance and finding a happy medium that feels right is important. And Brunet-García knows how to feel just right.

Leave a comment Tagged , , ,

Twelve for 2012

Posted on January 3, 2012 by diane b.

Resolutions of a small business owner upon the dawning of a brand new year:

1. At least once per week, sort through and organize the crap on my desk so I can see the surface. (Raking desk contents into the box behind my chair or neatly stacking it on the credenza does not count.)

Neatly stacked crap on credenza

Neatly stacked crap on credenza

2. Control my schedule instead of letting it control me.

3. Politely decline assignments that don’t either build value for our agency or allow us to flex our creative muscle. NO MATTER WHAT.

4. Lighten up! Bring the experience of a life-well-lived to the office to inspire and instigate work-worth-doing.

5. Eat well; play and exercise with abandon; inspire others to stay healthy.

6. Don’t get so wrapped up in daily tasks that you forget to lead.

7. Never stop reading. Never stop learning. Never stop trying the new and untested.

8. Take tangible steps toward developing a smart exit strategy and agency transition plan. (You’re not getting any younger.)

9. Mentor those who are still young to commit to work they are passionate about and to always be honest.

10. Work tirelessly to solidify the reputation of Brunet-García as a world-class marketing, branding and digital consultancy.

11. In this world of layered and complex communication, always say what you mean and mean what you say.

12. Contribute frequent observations to this blog about running a mid-sized ad agency in a beautiful river city by the sea. (So the staff can stop badgering you about it!)

Think I can manage to keep ‘em?!

Leave a comment Tagged , , , , ,

PIECE/PEACE

Posted on December 22, 2011 by joash b.

Al Letson provided the brilliant words and performance, Paul Figura the beautiful cinematography, and MAD DADS the inspiration for the PIECE PEACE video you see above. PIECE PEACE is a campaign to end the gun violence that has been endemic to Jacksonville and other urban communities across the nation. Like many good causes it was inspired by something horrible.

In August, a multiple shooting in Jacksonville’s Brooklyn neighborhood left 11 people injured. Efforts to investigate the shooting were hampered by the culture of silence and fear that often permeates communities where guns, drugs and hopelessness are rampant. In the immediate aftermath of the crime, it was impossible not to notice the presence of members of a group called MAD DADS canvasing the area where the shooting occurred. MAD DADS of Jacksonville is a local chapter of a national organization that promotes safe neighborhoods, community engagement and the protection of youth and families. There they were in the Brooklyn neighborhood, boots on the ground, demanding answers and accountability for a crime that had shocked us all. This holiday season we decided we wanted to help MAD DADS and spread a message to put down the PIECE and spread PEACE.

After meeting with MAD DADS Jacksonville Chapter President Elder Donald Foy, we were more inspired than ever to help create a unified community voice for victims of gun violence and their families. We decided this PSA was the perfect place to start, a jump off point for spreading a message of community, caring, vigilance and visibility. We enlisted the help of actor, State of the Reunion radio host, poet, and playwright Al Letson, along with photographer and filmmaker Paul Figura, who collaborated with us in 2010 on an award-winning PSA for Jacksonville’s Sulzbacher Center. We are very proud of the resulting video, and we encourage everyone to check out and “like” the PIECE PEACE Facebook page at  www.facebook.com/piecepeacejax. You can also contact MAD DADS of Jacksonville directly at jax@maddads.com or at 904-781-0905. Join the movement to be the force behind the change, PIECE to PEACE.

Oh, and in case we don’t put another blog up before SOMEONE’S big birthday, Brunet-García wishes you and yours a peaceful holiday season!

Leave a comment