Everybody is a genius…

Filed under: Interesting finds, advertising, Andrew F Stewart, Andrewfstewart, Digital, Digital Marketing, life, marketing, PR, Public Relations, social media, Toronto, Twitter

This Fax Just In!

I just got a FAX at work ….

A FAX, for SEO … really!?! #Seriously

 

Filed under: Interesting finds, Marketing Mix, Andrew F Stewart, Andrewfstewart, Digital, PR, Public Relations, Scocial media, social media, Strategic Objectives, Toronto

Foursquare Day Toronto 2011

My Dear old friend Karly (and college resedence companion) is working on Foursquare Day here in Toronto. Here’s her blog with all the deets and info on this awesome initiative. I will be in attendence for the event, hope you will too

Please remember to tweet or call our belovid mayor to get him to proclaim April 16th as Foursquare Day in Toronto.

We’re in the final countdown for the Toronto Foursquare Day party and we’re all very excited about the turnout this year. A few notes on what’s going down on April 16th in Toronto (in case you haven’t been following our tweets orFacebook posts)

We have a handful of fantastic giveaways from our very awesome local sponsors including Chapters Indigo, Love Sewing, Canadian Stage, Firkin on King andTIFF!  Also, the folks from Mill Street Brewery will be out between 8:30-930 pm for a 4SQDayYYZ tasting!

Our MC for the night is the very lovely Lauren O’Nizzle, who is a self-proclaimed Foursquare Addict. She will be in charge of the prize giveaways so be nice to her She will also be heading up collecting money at the event for relief efforts in Japan, more to come on this.

We will have a (few) photographers on site and will be uploading the party pics to a Facebook gallery for your viewing pleasure. We also plan to shoot some video throughout the night and put together a little recap of the party to be shared around.

Our big mission right now is to get Mayor Ford to proclaim April 16th as Foursquare Day in Toronto, much like many other cities have done worldwide. That being said, we’re asking Torontonians to call, tweet, post on Facebook and do whatever they can to get mayor Ford on board!

• Ford’s office # 416-397-FORD (3673)
• Email mayor_ford@toronto.ca
• Twitter account @TOMayorFord
• Facebook Page

More updates to come. Please share the meet-up page with your friends and we look forward to seeing you on April 16th! If you’re interested in recieving our press release on the event please email karly.gaffney [at] gmail.com.

Thanks!
-Karly

 

Filed under: Interesting finds, Personal, Social, Andrew F Stewart, marketing, media, PR, Public Relations, social media, Toronto, Twitter

My Favorite Wee Book: Keep Calm And Carry On.

 

 

Pearls of wisdom are hard to come by. This wee book is chuck full of wise tips to guide you through almost any situation.

 

You may have seen the saying “keep calm and carry on” on posters and what not over recent years but not many actually know where it comes from. As you may know, we british types aren’t alwayse the best at consoling people in times of need or giving nurturing and sensitive advice (Stiff upper lip and all that good chap) – In 1939 the British Ministry of Information (sounds like something out of Harry Potter) had over 2 million copies of this poster made in the chance case that Germany invaded. Two other posters were made along with this one: “Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness, Your Resolution, Will Bring Us Victory” and “Freedom is in Peril” (The latter really demonstrates our insensitivity). It was an early example of propaganda - given positive propaganda - that never saw the light of day. Most of the posters were pulped and only half a dozen were saved.

The categories in this book include: Crisis, The Economy, Economists, Speculation, The Great Crunch, Big Business, Banking, Money, Debt, Risk, Greed, Work, Strength in Adversity, Mistakes and Failures, The Good Life, Happiness, Friendship, Thrift, Coping, Change.

 

Some of my favorite snip bits of wisdom include:

 

“Now and then it’s good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy” – Guillaume Apollinaire

“If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, it’s just possible you haven’t grasped the situation” – Jean Kerr

And my favorite…

“I am an optimist. It doesn’t seem to much use being anything else” – Winston Churchill

 

I often tweet a number of these statements a few times a week and usually they are among my most ReTweeted.

It’s $10 and makes a great coffee table book for a small table.

 

 

Filed under: Interesting finds, Personal, Words to live by, Andrew F Stewart, Andrewfstewart, Books, life, Public Relations, social media, The individual, Toronto

Delivering Data With Face

Our dear friends at Google have launched a full-length online magazine called Think Quarterly, a quarterly publication that aims at being a “breathing space in a busy world.”

Upon having a good flick through I am overwhelmed with how they are displaying their awesome data. In my friend circle we call delivering attitude and education with impeccable style: “giving face”. That is exactly what Google is doing, giving face but casting no shade!

They are really meeting a fantastic compromise between great editorial content, cool and contemporary graphic with really adorable web appropriate style. Some of the graphics used in this editorial are beautiful pieces of well composed and constructed art to say the least. I urge you have a good flick through and check it out for yourself.

PS: I think Google might kill you if you refer to them as using infographics.

Filed under: Interesting finds, Marketing Mix, Social, Andrew F Stewart, Andrewfstewart, Digital, Digital Marketing, google, PR, Public Relations, social, social media, Toronto, Twitter

Comment Turned Post Turned Awesome Words To Live By

As you may (or may not) have noticed, I do the occasional “Words to live by” posts. These are tib-bits of info, picturegraphs, talking points and general life lessons I feel are worth sharing. In my last Words to live by I got a comment from the ever lovely Darryl Jonckheere (who himself has an awesome blog). I feel this comment is most definitely worth its own post. So ladies and gentleman without further adieu…

Words to live by #5:

Have a mission. Plan ahead. Question everything. Listen. Collaborate. Assume nothing. Study the past. Keep it simple. Communicate. Draw a diagram. Never sell out. Push harder. Say what you mean. Be open. Roll up your sleeves. Dream. Welcome change. Add value. Aim higher. Foster intuition. Do more with less. Laugh. Innovate. Think sideways. Focus. Mean what you say. Take it to the edge. Relax.

(via Robert L. Peters)

Thanks Darryl!

Filed under: Interesting finds, Personal, Words to live by, advice, Andrew F Stewart, Andrewfstewart, Canada, life, media, PR, Public Relations, Scocial media, social, The individual, Toronto, Twitter

Words To Live By #4

This formula really works for most everything. Give it a go!

Filed under: Interesting finds, Personal, Social, Words to live by, Andrew F Stewart, Andrewfstewart, Blog, Canada, PR, Public Relations, Scocial media, social, Twitter

If I didn’t drink coffee I would be drunk and slightly less genius?

Next week is TEDxTO. I can’t wait!

Here is a great video about the creation of ideas and what spurs us to be creative thinkers.

After watching this I started to wonder: Where do you draw inspiration from?  Where do you have your best ideas?

Have a watch and give me your thoughts.

Filed under: Events, Interesting finds, Personal, Social, Andrew F Stewart, Andrewfstewart, Enlightenment, life, Scocial media, TED, TEDxToronto, Toronto

FacePark: There are humans outdoors, and you can speak to them.

Be Stupid, Be Social, Just Be!

If you thought creating a brand page on FaceSpace (As my friend Brendan calls it) was a good marketing idea. How about tapping into the hipster park movement and combine a social network with a social experiment, excellent entertainment, and a pig. Yes, a pig. Now that’s cool creativity!

Filed under: Interesting finds, Marketing Mix, Andrew F Stewart, Andrewfstewart, Brand, Facebook, Facepark, life, Party, Public Relations, social media, Toronto, Twitter

Branding Enlightenment

TEDxTO Update: We got in!

Last week, I received a welcome email from the good people at TEDxTO, accepting my application to attend. The best news, was that not just myself but my beloved boss Axle Davids got in too! I can hardly wait for September 30th.

Last night, I was cruising my blogs (Like I do at 1am) and stumbled upon this great video on enlightenment, which got me to thinking (As a video about enlightenment should). I noticed it was well branded and had a clear message: personality, promise and position, what we at Distility like to consider a well-rounded brand. Not only was it educational and interesting, but it was fun to watch!

It seems to me that long gone is the stigma of the scholarly elite. Making compelling and necessary knowledge digestible to the masses is the new school of thought. Like TED, the producers of this video, and a number of other institutions taking up this call to action on educating the masses: at no cost to them but an internet connection.

There is no reason that knowledge can’t be packaged and designed to be desirable, beautiful and easily understood instead of locked in old books and the minds of geniuses.

We are all genius in our own unique way.

Filed under: Interesting finds, Andrew F Stewart, Andrewfstewart, Brand, branding, Distility, Enlightenment, social media, TEDxToronto