Have you ever lit fireworks? Great. We can use your help.
Fireworks are a paradox. One part terror, one part intoxication; all a means to an end. And fireworks are the best metaphor to describe this new blog from GCG Marketing.
I remember as a kid when dad would buy our family a bag of “Black Cat” fireworks. Complete with wild colors and exotic illustrations, this cellophane-wrapped package held lots of combustibles. But it contained emotional ingredients, too — everything from dread to euphoria.
Sparklers.
Color fountains.
Roman Candles.
Way too many explosives for children, I know.
Everything whizzed, whistled and thrilled those of us under 10.
And, then, there was the “Snake.” A vicious serpent, ready to strike, was printed on the paper wrapper — surely this must be the show-stopper.
You know what happened. Most times, it simmered and melted into a blob on the asphalt. Whee.
But — there were times when it performed in just the right way, lunging dangerously enough to spike our blood pressure. We couldn’t get enough.
Every year, we were energized by the danger, but usually my dad burned his fingers and something (typically the snake) was a dud. We expected the world and were both thrilled and disappointed. Lots of emotion and experience wrapped in a larger purpose — connecting with family.
Those memories are from long ago. A golden age when fireworks were culturally acceptable and your four-year-old sister was asked to light the fuse (more than once). As a parent, I’m glad that’s no longer the case.
Now, as a marketing professional, I’m presenting you with another mixed bag of possibility — the GCG Ideas blog.
This blog is dedicated to exploration. A process of discovery in which GCG Marketing will, for ourselves, publicly go through the steps we prescribe to our clients. In the first phase of this journey, we will generate “insight” about our market, our competition, our customers and industry trends. In phase two we’ll apply this insight to generating ideas, and phase three is when we’ll implement those ideas.
I encourage you to subscribe to the RSS if you want to follow this path with us. I hope you’ll contribute some thoughts, too.
Challenge us when you disagree.
Tell us when we need to consider another angle.
Share examples that might clarify thorny issues.
We’re opening ourselves up to the world, and, frankly, that’s terrifying.
But we know taking this step is the best way to find an answer we may never have considered.
And that’s exciting.
Along the way, we can realize our goal of connecting with fascinating people.
And that’s the destination we seek.
There will be ups and downs, honest emotions and energizing insights. Duds and burnt fingers will be countered by epiphany. That’s why, to me, this blog is like the Black Cat bag.
Help us light the fuse, won’t you?
