I’d like to start out by saying that I hope this doesn’t affect my readership. I think the world of my readers, and I understand that we are all entitled to our own personal political beliefs. This is simply my opinion. Feel free to agree and disagree, but please do not resort to angry name-calling. Keep it civil and intelligent.

If people are the greatest resource a nation has, then a primary goal of government is to inspire those people to do what is necessary to make that nation great. This is simply an exercise in the marketing of ideas on the grandest scale. While McCain might be a maverick who can help to clean up Washington, Obama is the candidate who has nailed the ability to communicate and inspire people to do more. Inspiring confidence and communicating with people may mean more than any bill either candidate can get signed into law.

– From “Marketing and the Economy; Why America Needs Obama and Coca-Cola” by Joe Marchese, MediaPost

This post may be too late for some, and I actually considered not posting it. I’m not very eloquent about my political beliefs – my expertise is in marketing. Then my mom told me she was still undecided. So this one is for you, Mom.

I’ve been in marketing for about a year and a half now. I’m no Guy Kawasaki, but I’ve really taken to the field. I’m fascinated by what motivates people to make a purchase, choose a certain product or brand, and how pyschographics plays into that. So, when Ad Age named Barack Obama Marketer of the Year, I wasn’t surprised. The man is a marketing genius. I actually think this is why people compare him to JFK. It’s not so much the youth thing – it’s the agent of change thing.

Whether or not you agree with the issues, I think you should vote for Obama.

Obama is the candidate that has been able to inspire large chunks of the population to believe that things can change for the better. Whenever I’ve had conversations with my acquaintances and friends about why I am voting for Obama, I cite consumer confidence.

Either way, I think the markets will see an upswing after Nov. 2. Any change in leadership is a positive one, in my opinion. But I think we will see a greater upswing in national confidence if Obama is elected. For one thing, other great nations would like to see Obama as president. If he were elected, I think you would see faith restored in the international markets.

If McCain is elected, a large portion of the population will be left dejected and with a total loss of faith in their nation. This election is more to us than any other election. For someone my age, the belief that I can, along with my fellow Americans, create lasting and vital change hinges on the outcome of this election. Obama has been able to inspire a historically apathetic voting demographic to become involved in politics, to show up at the polls (I’ll be voting for the first time since 2000), and to take an earnest interest in the future of their nation.

McCain simply doesn’t connect with people on that level. If McCain is elected, my belief in America as a great nation that can lead the world into an era of positive change will be shattered. I will know that my nation has failed the vision test, that I live in a country blinded by fear-mongering, hatred and impotence. Change will be slow, not swift. We will have elected a corporation where we needed a start-up. It will be titanic effort instead of nimble agility, which is what we see with brands that “act small” versus the colossus of slow-to-change industries.

It takes more than wielding power to get a law passed. Like Joe Marchese said earlier this month in an article on MediaPost, the American brand has taken a beating recently. Which message would we like to send our nation and to other nations – one where we’re too blinded by fear of change and backward-looking issues to make the leap of faith, or one that stands for change, belief and hope?

I for one, regardless of the issues, because let’s face it – it’s less about abortion, the economy, and oil than it is about the kind of nation we’d like to have, would like to put our nation’s best face forward. I don’t think that’s what McCain will be about. I want a strong person in power who is ready to lead this nation into the 21st century. It’s not about the issues – it’s about the message.

What message do you want to send?

I’m not happy with my personal style lately. It’s sort of been ongoing since I got sober and lost some weight… and you know, stopped spending all my money on booze. I’ve told myself that part of the problem is that I don’t have a lot of money to spend on new clothes, but I think there’s a little more to it than that. I would say the real problem is that I don’t give it much thought until I’m actually in a store, ready to buy some item that I need. Seeing as I give almost everything in my life too much thought, I thought that was a little ironic.

Whether we like it or not, we’re judged at a moment’s glance by our outward image. And as much as the BF hems and haws about appearances not mattering, he plays by the rules and wears a suit to the office every day, even Fridays. In our careers, in dating, we’re judged first by our appearance and our clothing does a lot of the talking. (I wasn’t sure if I was attracted to Date #4 when we met – he was wearing a suit and I always say that it blocked any read I was trying to get from him.)

I’ve been watching the preliminary back-to-school ads roll in, and it amazes me how much time and thought middle and high school kids put into their clothing choices. Their clothes (in their minds) say so much about them – what group they belong to, what kind of music they listen to, what their socioeconomic status is, how in tune they are with trends, which causes they support (if any). Why this is, is an entirely different subject that I don’t wish to touch on here. What it did, though, was prompt me to look at my style choices and think about what they said about me.

That’s when I realized that my style choices weren’t really so much choices as they were lazy acquiesces. I live in a town with few clothing options, but I’m not sure I would be much better off anywhere else.

I love:
Blazers
3/4-sleeve jackets
Cardigans
Dark jeans
Vintage-y blouses
‘40s inspired dresses, shoes, hair… well, anything really
Splashes of bright color
Scarves
Preppy-style flats
Colorful, vintage heels
Long dresses

How much of this do I own? Er… none. I do have a few cardigans, but they’re pretty much a necessity in my 60-degree office. Oh, and I own about 7 pairs of dark jeans, but all in the same style and cut from the same store. Even I know that’s wrong.

Looking at this list, I can see that this is actually how I used to dress in high school. My mom hated taking me shopping – I never saw anything I liked unless we were at a Goodwill. Luckily, times have changed and Anthropologie picked up what I was throwing down. Anyhow, I did think that it said something about me. Like today’s teenagers, I was keenly aware of the message I was trying to send. I was eclectic, creative, a little hip, a little bohemian, a non-conformist, an intellectual.

How many of us can say we put that much thought into our wardrobe post-high school or college? I grab whatever Express is offering that month in the way of office-appropriate attire within my budget and that’s about it. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a personal style again?

It’s not just about sending an arbitrary message about who I think I am. After all, if you’re worthwhile and think I’m worthwhile, we’ll get to know each other and you’ll figure out who I am. When my outer self matches my inner self, who it is that I am, I’m a lot happier. Plain and simple, if I actually enjoy the clothes I’m wearing, then I’m a lot happier overall. I also feel a lot more at home in social situations. I feel more comfortable projecting who I am when I’m not tugging on uncomfortable clothes that don’t fit right. And, of course, I wouldn’t mind standing out from the crowd a little.

In an age when personal branding seems to be all the rage, why are we sticking ourselves in the same suits and brands as everyone else? Why aren’t we spending more time thinking about how our “look” corresponds to our personal brand, our goals, and where we want to go?

Some questions to ask yourself about your personal style:
• How would I like people to see me? Use descriptive adjectives: polished, bohemian, put-together, artsy, sleek, glamorous, etc.
• How would I describe myself in a few words? Are you a corporate go-getter, an intellectual, a tech geek, a trendsetter, outdoorsy, creative?
• What styles do I identify with? What words describe them? Do those words describe me?
• What are some items I really like? Do I currently have them in my collection?
• How do my clothing choices affect me on a daily basis? Am I happier when I wear certain colors? Certain styles?

Me, personally, I’m going to start holding out for items that fit with my now clearly defined personal style. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to rethink those 7 pairs of jeans…

All images from Anthropologie.com.

There’s something that rubs me wrong about what Starbucks is doing lately. It’s not just the elimination of stores; it’s the constant promotions, the discounts, the free samples, the waffling between light roast and dark. Every time I see a new article on Starbucks pop up in my reader, I cringe inside.

Starbucks has become the desperate guy. The desperate guy caught up in the clingy downward spiral.

I’m sorry, Starbucks, I’m simply not attracted to you anymore.

You see, there are guys who simply have no game. They tell you they’re in love with you on your third date, they text message you constantly, and they become even more insistent when you don’t want to spend so much time with them.

This is where Starbucks has gone. Their marketing department could learn a few things from studying a little pick-up.

First, they made themselves too available. This is Dating 101, and perhaps it ought to be Marketing 101. With a Starbucks on every corner, the customer entered the OMG-I’m-so-in-love-with-you phase of spending all their time (and money) at their favorite addictive flavor-spot. And just like any extreme beginning of a relationship, the customer realized that they were spending too much time (and money) with Starbucks.

We just need some space, Starbucks. It’s not that I need to see other coffeehouses; I just need some time (and money) to myself… you know, to sort some things out.

What does Starbucks do? Promises you the world if you’ll come back, if you’ll be with me the way you used to be with me. Here – take some free frappucinos. I’ll give you Wi-Fi. I can change – see? A new roast! Please don’t leave me.

Ugh. Starbucks, you’re scaring me.

Suddenly, Starbucks is everywhere. On my TV, where it never was before. In my magazines. In my blogosphere. I’m surprised you aren’t following me on Twitter or MySpace to see who else I’m drinking… oh wait. You are.

I’m sorry, but you’re just not who I thought you were. You used to be so cool. You were there when I wanted you, but now you’re on every other interstate exit. You were above all that PR crap other brands get involved in. You had social status. A cup with logo clutched in my hand used to mean something before I saw every other person with one.

Take a tip from the dating world: Don’t make yourself so damned available. Have some confidence in your brand and stop trying to do whatever you think will please me.

That’s what made you so hot before – Podunk towns only had one or two locations and we would drive across the city to spend time (and money) with you. Now you’re up my ass. That is so not hot.