Now Married With Children

This blog post appears on Gays With Kids. Click here to give it a read.

What's your experience?  JIM

Sunrise Belongs to Moderate Drinkers

This is not a new campaign from the Heineken brand, but I've just recently discovered it. It's a great example of putting your consumer's interests first, above and beyond just pushing product.

In this case, it's about drinking in moderation. Not overindulging, not binge drinking, and not getting so smashed that you can't really enjoy the night. Or the next morning.

As we always ask in marketing, "What's the end benefit?" So what's the end benefit of a great night out?

Sunrise!

But in this case ... Sunrise Belongs To Moderate Drinkers!

Doesn't hurt to have a killer DJ featured either...love Audrey Napoleon!

Well done, Heineken! Responsible marketing for responsible drinking, from a responsible brand.

So inspiring to see a brand rise above its product and promote a greater good.

What's your end benefit? What's your greater good? What's your experience? JIM.

Putting "Parent" In Your Day

As part of my column on being both a Parent and an Entrepreneur at Entrepreneur, here's this week's installment about dealing with parenting issues during your work day.

No small feat.

Click here to give it a read.

What's your experience? JIM

Why Is This Still So Hard?

This post appears on Huffington Post - all about sending our children back to college.

Click here to give it a read.  JIM

Ken Fulk at Pottery Barn

I stopped into my neighborhood Pottery Barn last weekend, something I often do to chill and relax on the weekends. I'm a shopper; I should admit that right up front.

Although I often frequent Pottery Barn, I must be honest and say that it's virtually always the same, so I don't often buy much. Through the years, I've bought a bunch of stuff but not on any given visit. And I never walk in expecting to buy anything, just to browse.

But this time I got an instant thrill. The display in the window had a decidedly new feel. Still very Pottery Barn but a whole lot more fresh.

What the Fulk?!? Exactly.

Little did I know that the brand has partnered with designer Ken Fulk from San Francisco. The man is clearly talented because he was able to blend his brand with that of Pottery Barn, while maintaining the look of both. No small feat.

I've already picked out a lamp for my office, a rug for our new place in Palm Springs, and some bar accessories for our New York pad.

Ken Fulk indeed. Nice job.

What's your experience?  JIM.

Coca-Cola Duality

When a brand hits mega status, then they have license to explore multiple dimensions while still staying true to what they stand for. It's one of the things I love most about marketing.

Coca-Cola is a perfect example, with two examples of recent work that explores the brand's many dimensions.

One the one hand, you have a partnership they formed with Riedel to create an iconic glass. The iconic Coca-Cola glass, actually.

Coca-Cola with Riedel...the company that makes the ultimate wine glass!?! Yup.

Coca-Cola. Classic. Iconic. Coca-Cola.

Then on the flipside, you have this video directed by Dustin Lance Black of Milk fame. It's a part of the brand's campaign called True Friendship where it basically explores teen angst and teen relationships, hoping to inspire in the process. While it may sound like familiar territory, this version is oh so different.

The subtitles make it a little difficult to watch, but hang in there because it's worth it.

Coca-Cola. Current. Inspiring. Coca-Cola.

Mega-brand indeed.

Well done. On both sides of the equation.

What's your experience?  JIM.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

This article appears on Huffington Post.

Click here to read it.

What's your experience?  JIM

The Similarities Between a Parent and an Entrepreneur

Here is installment #2 in my Entrepreneur series on balancing parenting with being an entrepreneur.

Give a click here to give it a read.

What's your experience?  JIM

The Happiest Place on Earth

This post appears on The Handsome Father.

Click here to give it a read.  

What's your experience?  JIM.

Is Man Kind?

This simple little message asks a simple little question...and gives us hope that the answer is evolving over time.

Is Man Kind?

Such a powerful statement in a very clear execution. I find it very motivating.

This simple little message encourages us to go out and explore people...other people...and get to know how they live.

Well done, Airbnb. You've given me a firm grip on what your brand is all about, and I'm buying it.

 Go see.

Are We Good? What's your experience? JIM

Balancing Being a Parent and an Entrepreneur

In honor of my new book, Out and About Dad, I've started a new series at Entrepreneur that is all about balancing being a parent with being an entrepreneur -- two things that on the surface seem diametrically opposed.

Not really, as we will explore over the next several weeks.

Here's the first installment...click here.

What's your experience?  JIM

Success Story

This post ran on Success Story - where they asked me to share my story.

Click here to give it a read.  

Share your story -- what's your experience?  JIM

Yes, I Love Airline Food

This article appears in Huffington Post. Click here to give it a read.

What's your experience? JIM

#RacingExtinction on The Empire State Building

Saturday night August 1st, New Yorkers witnessed a surprise spectacular that took their breath away...and raised awareness for endangered species.

The non-profit group OPS (Oceanic Preservation Society) projected larger than life images of endangered species onto the side of the Empire State Building. Yes, the Empire State Building. It's called #RacingExtinction. The race is on!

It put everyone into an Empire State of Mind, that's for sure. The images speak for themselves.

You can learn more about #RacingExtinction by clicking here.

If you are so inclined, you can view the nearly four hours of projected images:

Wow! What's your experience? JIM

Nature Valley #RediscoverNature

Nature Valley (as in the granola bar) is taking on the topic of how our children are spending their free time by comparing three generations activities.

The video takes us from blueberry picking and building forts to texting and playing video games. I'll admit it, I built forts and played Pac-Man.

The brand is asking us to #RediscoverNature. A worthy thought and a good platform for content marketing. This from the brand that mapped out nature trails for us last year.

Give a look and tell me what you think:

The notion is good. Not sure I completely buy in but the notion is good.

What's your experience? JIM.

Products vs Brands - Finding Inspiration

This is the last post from my series at Entrepreneur on products vs. brands. It felt like I was reliving my class at NYU!

Here we look to three mega-brands for some inspiration: Capital One, Tylenol, and Nike

Click here to give it a read.

What's your experience?  JIM