Karl Rove, President George Bush's “political advisor” apparently got his political start in 1970 in Chicago where he walked into the campaign headquarters of Alan Dixon, a Democrat running for state treasurer in Illinois. Mr. Rove hung around for a while, picked up 1000 sheets of campaign stationary and disappeared. Shortly thereafter, Chicago's red light district and soup kitchens were awash with 1000 invitations offering “free beer, free food, girls and a good time for nothing" to anyone who showed up at Dixon's campaign headquarters.

During the 1994 gubernatorial election in Texas, sitting Democrat Anne Richards was expected to win. At the peak of the campaign, a supposed polling agency started calling voters asking the question: "Would you be more or less likely to vote for Governor Richards if you knew her staff is [sic] dominated by lesbians?" Although this stunt has been attributed to Mr. Rove, there is no proof he was responsible.

Such behaviour, of course, would not be legal in normal advertising in America. But, for whatever reason, political advertising is not subject to the same restrictions as commercial advertising. This allows politicians to be really creative in their nastiness.

In China, on the other hand, commercial laws are new and rarely enforced. Dirty tricks go on all the time in marketing.

One of the more aggressive marketing actions of British American Tobacco's (BAT) operation in China was to buy up stocks of the competition's cigarettes, hold them until they became mouldy and then release them back into the market.

Asimco – a large foreign investor in China in the early 1990s – invested in a number of car component factories and breweries. One of their best managers was a chap named Mr. Sha, who ran a rubber parts factory in Anhui province. In fact, he was so good he set up his own competing factory nearby. When Asimco found out, things got nasty. Mr. Sha pulled defective products from his own assembly line, put them in Asimco boxes and sent them to Asimco customers.

While we sympathise with the victims of what I am calling unmarketing the competition campaigns, it is hard not to admire the innovative thinking behind the perpetrators. These unmarketing the competition campaigns cost substantially less then legitimate marketing campaigns and can have devastating effects on the victims, which often translates into benefits for the perpetrators.

Outside politics and developing countries with weak legal systems, such campaigns are, of course, illegal. Nevertheless, as a creative marketing exercise, they are brilliant. Take a half hour to an hour and consider the following:

How would you unmarket your competition?
What would be the best way for your competition to unmarket your company?
If your competition succeeded in point two – what would you do by way of damage control?
Do the answers to these questions suggest alternative legitimate marketing strategies?

The result should be a somewhat different perspective on your marketing strategy and, with any luck, a few new marketing ideas.

Further reading:
The Guardian (newspaper, on-line version) http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,1165037,00.html

“A Survey of Business in China”; The Economist [magazine], 20-26 March 2004 issue

“Mr. China” [book] by Tim Clissold

WALKING

Anyone who knows me will know that I am an obsessive walker. Almost every day I go for a 45-90 minute walk or bicycle ride. In particular, when I need ideas, have to make a complicated decision, need to clear my head or simply have too much energy: I go for walk.

And whenever I go for a walk, I bring a small notebook, or index cards, and a pen. That way, when I have an idea – I can promptly note it down.

There are a number of reasons why walking helps me – and many other people to think. Firstly, walking is about one of the healthiest things you can do – or so it seems. According to the Ramblers (A British charity devoted to walking; see: http://www.ramblers.org), walking can...

Reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke
Lower blood pressure
Reduce high cholesterol and improve blood lipid profile
Reduce body fat
Enhance mental well being [my emphasis]
Increase bone density, hence helping to prevent osteoporosis
Reduce the risk of cancer of the colon
Reduce the risk of non insulin dependant diabetes
Help to control body weight
Help osteoarthritis
Help flexibility and co-ordination hence reducing the risk of falls

When the body feels good, I reckon it tries to return the favour by helping one think well.

At the mental level, motion and forward progress help the mind progress through problems, issues, ideas and more. At the same time, a stream of images and scraps of drama we witness as we walk provide inspiration. Cities tend to provide energy and activity which can excite while the country side offers more beautiful scenery, peacefulness and quiet dramas which inspire.

Last, but not least, walking gently shakes and jiggles the brain cells, helping them to shake off old ideas and think about new ones.

Next time, you need a good idea. Grab a pen and some paper, shove them in your pocket and walk. And if you are in management, encourage members of your team to take walks. But do not think of it as time away from work. On the contrary, it may be their most productive thinking time of the day.

BRAINSTORM TOOL UPGRADE

We've just upgraded Sylvia, our web BrainStorming tool that allows you to brainstorm with others on-line. Most of the upgrade work was in the back-end, making Sylvia more robust. We've also fixed up the overall design to make Sylvia easier to use.

Version 2.0 of Sylvia allows you to run traditional brainstorming sessions over the net with up to 100 people. Sylvia is an effective tool for: brainstorming corporate issues with colleagues from multiple offices around the country – or the world; brainstorming an issue following a conference; bringing favoured clients, suppliers and business partners into idea generating activities; and more.

Sylvia is true “software on demand” in that you pay only for actual sessions you use – rather than having to buy the software or tie yourself into a long-term contract. As a result, Sylvia is very cost effective. You can also try Sylvia out free of charge for groups of up to three people (although as a Report103 subscribers you are welcome to run a larger trial session. E-mail me privately to discuss). See http://www.jpb.com/sylvia/ for more info.

QUOTE

Let's finish this week's issue of Report 103 with a quote from Linus Pauling:

“The best way to get a good idea is to get a lot of ideas.”

Jeffrey Baumgartner

Search jpb.com

Follow Jeffrey on...

What People Say About Jeffrey

"Your perspectives are very enlightening... In an ocean of not-so-useful info about innovation, you manage to get the perls on a regular basis." EO (Technology manufacturer)

"Thank You for spreading good words." RT (Artist)

"Thank you for sharing your ideas and insights and good energy with all us creative folks round the world." JS (US state government)

"Always an inspiring newsletter." SL (Executive management Coaching)

"Thanks and keep up the great work." WN (Microelectronics engineering)

"Thank you for your thoughts. Quite refreshing. I am such a fan of the Report 103." LM (Software company)

"You do absolutely amazing work and provide valuable content as a gift - Thank You." HT (Business strategist)

"I love your newsletter - it is thought provoking and creates a good energy." IM (Innovation facilitator)

"I have printed all your reports for my PhD thesis in innovation and creativity. Amazing work, I really wish to congratulate you for this magnificent effort." RF (PhD student)

"I just got my first copy of your newsletter. Wow! It's wonderful! Very good advice, very helpful. Thank you! One of the few newsletters I get that is worth reading and actually useful, thoughtful and inspired. Thank you!" BB (Publisher)

"Your work is always well done, and thought provoking." HT (Consultant)

Creativity Workshops

Boost the creativity of your team and the innovativeness of your company by hiring Jeffrey to facilitate an ACT, innovation implementation plan or other workshop with you!

Learn more!