Oddpodz

Old friend. New site. All about helping you succeed.

To our Openeyez readers,

If you had a profile in the Oddpodz Muzeum and subscribed to Openeyez, you may be hearing from us twice regarding the new and improved Oddpodz. We apologize for the duplicate mailing, but we wanted to make sure that you receive the exciting news.

We wanted to let you know that Oddpodz is back on track. After months of development, we are ready to serve you, the creative professional and business, and help you succeed. We will also be reinstating our weekly ezine soon with a brand new name, content and look.

We are proud to introduce the new and improved Oddpodz site. Our goal is to build the best online destination for creative professionals and service buyers. We are more than a social network and content site, we are an Idea Engine^SM that powers creatives and businesses.

Our mission is to advance your creative career, help grow your business and take products, services and ideas to market in the biggest, best, most efficient way possible. We bring buyers and sellers of all creative services together so they can collaborate, connect, create and do business.

You’re invited to test drive the new site. During the Beta it’s FREE.*

Promote yourself, your service or organization. Find the best talent, trusted and reviewed resources and creative stimulation, inspiration and education. Our Creative Services Marketplace already has over 750 listings. Search it now and add your own business.

*After Beta some fees may apply to enhanced services. However, we will always have a FREE version of the site.

If you did not have a profile before, join us now and set up a profile in our Member Network.

You will be able to tell us about you and your services, contribute content, participate in forums, ask experts questions, and recommend and review other service providers, suppliers and resources.

Search the Network now to see who’s there.

If you already had a profile, you may have to reset your password due to all the server and database migrations. To do so, simply use the “Forgot password” link in the left hand column on the front page. If you run into any difficulties accessing your profile, please contact us via email.

Don’t take our word for it, check it out yourself.

The site is currently in Beta. If you like it, please tell your friends, if you don’t, tell us. If you experience a bug, don’t get out the Raid®, post it in the “Bugs” section of the forum.

Help spread the word.
The more you contribute, the stronger the Idea Engine^SM will be.

Oddpodz powers creative professionals and business · www.oddpodz.com
We bring buyers and sellers of creative services together. We unite creative thinkers, change agents, and thought leaders. We share smart ideas to help you advance your career, grow your business, and take products and services to market with the best creative resources possible. Visit our blog for news on marketing, branding, and biz development. Check out our shop for great gifts, gadgets, and life’s fun necessities. And sign up for Oddpodz Idea Engine, our weekly ezine, which is full of resources and ideas to keep you moving forward.

Muzeum's gone. New creative biz site is born.

To our Oddpodz Muzeum supporters,

You’re invited to test drive the new site. During the Beta it’s FREE.*

*After Beta some fees may apply to enhanced services. However, we will always have a FREE version of the site.

If you did not have a profile before, join us now and set up a profile in our Member Network.

You will be able to tell us about you and your services, contribute content, participate in forums, ask experts questions, and recommend and review other service providers, suppliers and resources.

Search the Network now to see who’s there.

Don’t take our word for it, check it out yourself.

The site is currently in Beta. If you like it, please tell your friends, if you don’t, tell us. If you experience a bug, don’t get out the Raid®, post it in the “Bugs” section of the forum.

Help spread the word.
The more you contribute, the stronger the Idea Engine^SM will be.

Oddpodz re-launches with new site to grow business

Dear Oddpodz supporters,

Some of you have online profiles in the Oddpodz Muzeum, some have profiles AND are Openeyez readers. We apologize if you’ve received multiple emails from us.

We know your time is precious and if you are going to spend it on a site that is supposed to help you succeed in business, there had better be some very compelling value and purpose.

We are very excited about the transformation from what was a simple social network and content site for creatives to what is now an Idea Engine^SM that powers creatives and business. We are relaunching on Friday April 4, 2008.

Why the change? So you can:

Advance your creative career
Grow your business
And take products, services, and ideas to market in the biggest, best, most efficient way possible.

Oddpodz’ new vision is to bring buyers and sellers of all creative services together. So everyone can collaborate, connect, create, and do business.

You’re invited to test drive the new site while it’s in Beta. It’s FREE.
Our Idea Engine^SM will be more than a social network or jobs site; it will be a utility for finding the best talent, trusted resources, and creative stimulation, as well as inspiration and education. After Beta, some fees may apply to enhanced services. However, we will always have a FREE version of the site.

Q: What happens to my original user name and password from the Muzeum?

A: Due to platform changes and for security reasons, we will be re-sending you your user name and a temporary password in a separate email in 24 to 48 hours.

1. Enter your user name and temporary password to log in.
2. Change your password. And, you’re ready to go!

This is just the beginning.
More features, networking tools, access to trusted/reviewed resources and ideas, and creative inspiration and collaboration are underway. So check back regularly or sign up for updates. We need you more than ever. The more you contribute the faster and better the Idea Engine^SM will grow.

We appreciate your continued support.

Karen and Jocelyn and the Oddpodz team.

Oddpodz powers creatives and businesses · www.oddpodz.com
We bring buyers and sellers of creative services together. We unite creative thinkers, change agents, and thought leaders. We share smart ideas to help you advance your career, grow your business, and take products and services to market with the best creative resources possible. Visit our blog for news on marketing, branding, and biz development. Check out our marketplace for great gifts, gadgets, and life’s fun necessities. And sign up for Openeyez, our weekly ezine, which is full of resources and ideas to keep you moving forward.

Brand naming for the biggest bang

oddpodz home | blog | odditeaz | contribute

Kool Wordz cut through the clutter
Was Shakespeare right? Would that which we call a rose by any other name smell as sweet? At Oddpodz, we say NO. Original naming and adventurous word choice can be two of the most inexpensive and effective ways to brand better. Distinct jargon, unique names, and interesting terms can provide valuable momentum to your branding efforts. Case in point, our pals at Octopz. This week we’ve got a how to guide for creating kool wordz and tips on how to protect your original brand or product monikers. Continue reading.

The Power to Get Things Done - Try Octopz (3 Months Free)
In today’s warp-speed, hyper-competitive marketplace, creative professionals are under enormous pressure to work faster and produce more innovative communication solutions, often with limited resources.

Some creative professionals have discovered that by using online creative collaboration services like Octopz, they can become more flexible and responsive to changing client demands. Continue reading.

Protect your kool wordz
Carol Desmond at Trademarks To Go (www.trademarkstogoinc.com), provided us with an excellent article, “An Introduction to Trademarks for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.” This is a great primer on the value of trademarks and service marks how and why your company should protect them. Continue reading.

On the Oddblog
In a prediction for 2007, trend and inspiration organization PSFK stated on its site: “…consumers will react by engaging in brand abstinence..." consumers will ask questions like, "Why should I replace my phone so often? What will happen to my old one? Why upgrade my PC? Do I really need a faster machine made of plastic and metal just to surf the web?" They will wonder what their product purchase decisions will mean to the world around them.” So did it happen? WILL it happen? Read more at the Oddpodzblog.

Odderations
Mitt Romney has dropped out of the race after spending about $40 million of his own fortune. Billionaire Mike Bloomberg might run. Perot did. Ditto Rockefeller. Running for president is a kind of hobby for some of the insanely rich. But why don’t more do it? Wouldn’t this be what you would do if you had a billion dollars? Read more at the Oddpodzblog.

Literacy
Want to know what goes into making a good brand name great and a bad name ghastly? In The Making of a Name: The Inside Story of the Brands We Buy, you’ll learn who makes brand names; why they're made; and how they're built from the ground up, bought, sold, and protected. The do's, don'ts, and nevers of naming and even how their sounds are engineered.

Weekly Covet
With football season over it’s only a matter of time before we’re standing in the bathroom line during the 7th inning stretch. If you have a fan of diamonds of both the sartorial and grass versions in your life, there’s really no better gift than cufflinks made from the actual seats of famous ball fields. Includes Shea, Yankee, Wrigley, Fenway and more.

Oddpodz Marketplace

Get custom art made from your dna.

Oddvertising
The Super Bowl ads sucked. That is all. Related: Greatest. Super Bowl Ad. Ever.

Odditeaz
Cool and creative tees for guys, gals, pets and kids.

Tell us about it
Have something you’d us to take a look at? Send tips, news, accolades, and/or groupie pictures to: info@oddpodz.com

This your first issue?
Check out all of our goofy and useful back issues. They make a lot more sense than Tim Russert talking about super delegates.

Openeyez is an eblast brought to you by oddpodz.com, the community of creative professionals, thinkers and doers. Got something to share, a marketing gem, an inspirational quote, an interesting person, a distinct place or just something intriguing? Email us at: info@oddpodz.com. Spread the word. Visit our blog, network in The Muzeum, wear our teaz and make things happen, your way. After all, odd is a beautiful thing.

Have you been hit by brand assassins?

oddpodz home | blog | odditeaz | contribute

Brand Assassins on the Web
Have you goggled or conducted thorough Web searches with the top search engines on your brand name recently? Other people are doing it after they’ve met you or have been given your name as a referral by a friend or colleague. Take note as to what kinds of things are returned and how you may augment or improve them or have them deleted. Whether you navigate a company brand or it’s your personal brand, see what comes up, you may be surprised. Business expert, porn star or convicted felon are all possibilities. Intentional brand slamming or even innocent name coincidences can be bad first impression when a customer is doing background on you. Prevent this by keeping on top of your search words, secure many URLs around your brand with different spellings and be thoughtful of profile content on social networks too. Make sure that your online presence stays in line with your brand and your offline self.

Coffee is for Closers
If you’re a marketer you know that building a great gadget is only half the battle. You have to actually sell it to make it successful. With that in mind here’s the ten best booth displays at this year’s Vegas CES. Related: Here’s the Ten Reasons We’re Doomed: CES Edition (Designer Tasers: “..and now we're supposed to give them to people who see leopard print as a pretty hip fashion choice?”)

OK, so you might not have a giant Disney pirate ship as part of your trade show presence, but if you are looking for some excellent resources on how to find trade shows or anything related to them, check with the following sites. Exhibitor Online is a great place for corporate exhibit and event managers and marketing executives to gather info.

Conventions is a comprehensive site for finding convention and Trade Show Planning Resources. Finally, at TSSN, you can look for events, search for venues or suppliers.

Event
Looking for an edge in the interactive advertising and technology marketplace? ad:tech 2008 is a traveling, worldwide event blending keynote speakers, topic driven panels and workshops highlighting tools and techniques you need to compete in the fast-paced online world. San Francisco in April, Chicago in August and New York in November (in addition to a host of international locations in between from Shanghai to Paris).

Brain Juice
Does your legal knowledge only extend from Perry Mason to “You can’t handle the truth!”? Then you need to juice your brain with these 9 Heroes of the Courtroom. Impress those law-school dropout friends of yours (we all have one right?) at the next cocktail function. Including: Hugo “Where’s My Constitution?” Black; Louis “Shuffle Up and New Deal” Brandeis; and Joseph “Holla’ If You a Schola” Story.

Literacy
Showcasing a variety of design methods, including mixed media, illustration, letterpress, screenprinting and collage Fingerprint: The Art of Using Handmade Elements in Graphic Design is full of inspiration. Look for ideas in examples from outstanding designers and see how traditional elements can be more powerful than numbed digital work.

Oddvertising
Ever worked with or been frustrated by online advertising of the banner variety? Well, this is a fascinating study on why, from a marketing perspective, all that frustrating your readers stuff isn’t worth it. “…the fact that online ads get viewed more when they match surrounding content is a strike against the tendency to build advertising networks. If advertising spots are simply auctioned off, then you can't design an optimized ad for each placement.” Banner Blindness: Old and New Findings

This your first issue?
Check out all of our goofy and useful back issues. They won’t send you to rehab.

Oddpodz Marketplace

Heart tea strainer and rest at shopoddpodz.

On the Oddblog
Do you do web development? Do you NEED web development? If you answered “yes” (or “maybe”) to either of those questions, then get thee to Tim Frick’s article on the five biggest web developer mistakes. Number One: Not Giving the Big Picture…

Odderations
Google launches The Google for adults. It's funny 'cause it's true.

Weekly Covet
Save your eyes. Stop squinting at that tiny monitor. This wide-screen TFT LCD monitor can help office users maximize their efficiency by simultaneously viewing multiple applications on the large 19" screen.

Odditeaz
Cool and creative tees for guys, gals, pets and kids.

Tell us about it
Have something you’d us to take a look at? Send tips, news, accolades, and/or groupie pictures to: info@oddpodz.com

Culture twists, what's next?

We've been thinking a lot about culture this week thanks to a review of a new reality series lie-detector show which noted something about the "decline of Western civilization." In our opinion, we were already aware of said decline when we saw previews for the Terminator TV show and "The Bucket List." (Seriously, what happened to Nicholson, Pacino and DeNiro?* Jack is now playing a spoof of himself playing a spoof of himself; that Frank TV guy is more Jack than Jack!)

But fear not; there remains plenty other elements of civilization to turn to for evidence of The Decline™ (and a little hope):

Coffee is for Closers
Coffee Is for Closers literally IS for coffee for closers this week. When Billy Chasen got a coupon for any free Starbucks drink he wanted to get all his money worth. Turns out, that’s worth $13.76, with tax: "...an I'm still shaking a bit. I didn’t attempt to drink the entire thing since I'd like to sleep tonight." So just what is the most expensive drink at Starbucks?

On the Oddblog
Depending on your particular politics or view of the past truth about media being in bed with advertisers, this might not be on the "declining" side of the civilization-measurement spectrum. Want to see the future of advertorial?

Event
If you’re looking for brand inspiration you might want to find yourself in New York City, the traditional center of civil decline (or at least that’s what mom always said) from April 13 to 16 for FUSE: Design & Culture / Brand Identity & Packaging / Creating the Phenomenal: "Phenomenal ideas about design, culture and branding. The FUSE experience engages the senses and empowers people to tell authentic, emotional brand stories through strategic design." There's a boatload of speakers and keynotes.

Pole Vaulting
Can you explain the appeal of Hershey’s Swoops, which are like Pringles potato chips but made of chocolate? Really, no joke; why are these thighs so popular? Co-founder of Remarkabalize.com and director of Lipson Alport Glass & Associates Julie Anixter answers this remarkable question and seven more as this month’s Pole Vaulter.

Literacy
Gordon Lightfoot will probably not write a song about your business or your life if either sinks to the murky bottom. So be ready for the all the inevitables with two great books: Everyday Crisis Management: How to Think Like an Emergency Physician and/or Crisis Management: Planning for the Inevitable. You’ll thank us later.

Odderations
Fortune has released its 2007 dumbest list. Our favorite: In a cost-cutting move, Circuit City lays off all sales associates paid 51 cents or more per hour above an "established pay range" - essentially firing 3,400 of its top performers in one fell swoop. Over the next eight months Circuit City's share price drops by almost 70%. Fortune’s 2007 dumbest moments in business.

This your first issue?
Check out all of our goofy and useful back issues. They’re what took the last beer, dude.

* Francis Ford recently had something to say about what happened to this trifecta of former acting ability: "I don't feel that kind of passion to do a role and be great coming from those guys, because if it was there, they would do it! I mean, they’re all in a position to do it..."

Keep yourself updated on Openeyez and other Oddpodz announcements. Just visit our community page to subscribe to our rss feed.

Marketplace

Recycled wooden
picture frames at shopoddpodz.com.

Weekly Covet
So, you want to exercise blind consumerism and throw a little kerosene on the fire that is The Decline™? You scan start with this pill filled with 24-karat gold leaf which will make your - ahem... movements - twinkle. And to fiber yourself up for your pill, get some multi-grain wheat bread and toast it in your Swarovski crystal encrusted toaster. And because you shouldn't be making eye contact with the common plebe on your way to the Scientology temple to cleanse your thetans, pick up a pair of 22k gold plated Ray Bans.

Odditeaz
Cool and creative tees for guys, gals, pets and kids.

Tell us about it
Have something you’d us to take a look at? Send tips, news, accolades, and/or groupie pictures to: info@oddpodz.com

Predictions, projections and possibilities

Everyone has been busy making their predictions for 2008. Let’s see, China is going to own us, just like the Japanese were going to in the early 90s, except this time it’s, like, for real. Um, America is going to give the mandate to a new president for better government, just like we did in the midterm elections, but this time it’s, like, for real. Our groundbreaking prediction for 2008? The Internet is, like, going to be big. And here’s a bunch of not overly strenuous stuff to get started with.

Oddvertising
Ever look at a product and wonder what the thought process could possibly have been when it came time for the ad? Listerine probably wished it had a thought process at all when it did this label.

Coffee is for Closers
We recently tried to interview Tim Ferris, author of The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich. We were denied. No, big thing. But something at the end of the publicist’s “thanks but no thanks” not made us take notice. The email’s blogability was “Ask First.” We didn’t ask. Read about it at the Oddblog.

More Coffee for Closers (Double Dose)
Do you need to do some general market research on a specific group or trend but don’t even have the money to pay for a single day of a Marketing Profs’ membership? Try finding a popular blog for that segment and then read all the comments. For example, looking for tips on progressive women and the fashions and lifestyle items they like? Then try the hundreds of comments on Jezebel.com. In one week you’ll know your demo (and for free!).

Odderations
Hey kids, look, it’s our first Star Wars-related mention of the year. It will surely not be the last (and we’re not even going to mention Indiana Jones 4 in May. *swoon*). Anyway, as promised a sentence ago, Star Wars toys that never got made.

Weekly Covet
We can honestly say, all snark and sarcasm aside, this WiFi finding watch has got to be the coolest and most useful product we’ve seen so far this year. With a signal strength beacon the watch can even help you hone in to leech the good free stuff. And we can’t tell you the number of times we’ve looked like an idiot walking around with an open laptop divining for a signal.

Travel
Been somewhere over the holidays? Going somewhere? Oddpodz has a travel section so email us a picture and some copy or even a suggestion about where’s wonderful.

Keep yourself updated on Openeyez and other Oddpodz announcements. Just visit our community page to subscribe to our rss feed.

This your first issue? Check out all of our goofy and useful back issues. They don’t at all cross a writer’s guild strike line.

Oddpodz Marketplace

Beehive candles from shopoddpodz.com

Literacy
Storytelling isn’t just for Alistair Cooke, Beatrix Potter or US Attorney Generals; it’s also for brands. And as our Branding Diva recently pointed out, your brand story is of utmost importance. Read her take, and then read some more with storytelling coach Doug Stevenson’s book Never Be Boring Again.

Tell us about it
Have something you’d us to take a look at? Send tips, news, accolades, and/or groupie pictures to: info@oddpodz.com

Odditeaz
Cool and creative tees for guys, gals, pets and kids.

New creative outlet, showcase your talent, monthly prizes

Our first avatar playground was a hit!
Thanks to all of you who contributed your talent, skill and wit.

Now you’ve got 4 new playgrounds to vent, mouth off, and showcase your genius. They are easy, fun and FREE. And best of all when you are finished creating your avatar you can share them with your friends, post them on your blog, your web site or another social network including Facebook and Myspace.

Give us your best
funny stuff

Tell us some
amazing trivia

Share what fuels
your creative mind

Tout your
poetic pitch

Every month, we will be rewarding the creator of the best avatar in each category. In order to be eligible to win our monthly prizes, you must register when prompted and save your avatar. You can also check out our contestant showcase for more examples and detailed instructions. Happy creating!

Keep yourself updated on Oddpodz announcements and our Openeyez newsletter. Just visit our community page to subscribe to our rss feed.

Oddpodz powers creative professionals · www.oddpodz.com
We unite creative thinkers, share smart ideas to help you grow your business and soon we will be offering tools to connect buyers and sellers of creative services. Visit our blog for news on marketing, branding and biz development. Check out our marketplace for great gifts, gadgets and life’s fun necessities. And sign up for Openeyez our weekly ezine that is full of resources and ideas to keep you moving forward.

Change forward 2008

While contributing this week to the four-percent increase in Champagne sales in 2007, we got to thinking about how our lives have so drastically changed in the last ten years. In 1998 we had our first laptop computer (9 lbs!) and WiFi was a magical thing we heard that, maybe, like, the Defense Department was working on. iPods; Blue Tooth; Indiana Jones 4; these things were all imaginable, yet not. Seinfeld was still on, Blockbuster still carried VHS tapes and “social networking” meant hitting the bar or the mall, you know, actually hitting someone.

Nobody could imagine a LOLcat.

LOL-Event
Speaking of LOLcats: On April 25 and 26, 2008, Harvard University will be hosting, whether it knows it or not, Roflcon, a conference aimed at gathering every famous internet meme available. Roflcon.org is detailing the ongoing efforts of the set-up. Confirmed attendees include Tron Guy, Xkcd, Paperclip to House Guy, Gem Sweater Girl, Chuck Norris Facts Guys, Homestar Runner, Marmaduke Explained and many many more. See the preliminary list (with links). This just might be THE dumb event of the year. Ladies and gentlemen, Goatse is coming.

I can haz vakashon 2 go C? Kthanxbi.

Odderations
Have a Pavlovian reaction to hearing the “beep” of a barcode scanner? Recently used “postal” as a verb? Post-holiday shopping disorder have you questioning capitalism? Well then you might want to see what the “culture jammers” at Shopdropping are doing. “SHOPDROP: To covertly place merchandise on display in a store. Primarily used in tactical media projects and art installations.”

Unfortunately, this coffin maker’s annual calendar is not part of the project and is, in fact, totally real.

Coffee is for Closers (Double Dose)
Former Oddpodz Pole Vaulter and social marketing maven Nedra Kline Weinreich has assembled an excellent list, with breakdowns, of the best non-profit campaigns of 2007. Included is the Save Darfur Coalition, Durex Condoms, and Florida Department of Health's "Talk to the 5th Guy" amongst many more.

Target marketing survey groups, can’t live with ‘em, can’t get anyone to ok anything WITHOUT ‘em. The pizza-suckling monster marketers all love to hate. While sitting 10 people in a conference room and slopping them with $10 pizza and Chiclets may still produce some valuable info, leveraging search engines and online data will provide for truthier data. And for the cost of that pizza, you can Use Google AdWords For Marketing Research. Or at least use it as a supplement.

Wright, Better
Ok, we’re not going to argue that both of these approaches to writing are really that groundbreakingly useful. We’re not even going contend that you’ll be a better writer after you read them. We will however posit that these pieces on improving your business writing skills are at least wildly new in their approach. In case you decide it’s time to rewrite your brand’s story, we offer the following.

The Yogi Berra School of Persuasive Writing: “Yogi: ‘If you don’t know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else.’ Translation: Start with a goal…” And… 6 Things Cicero Can Teach You About Writing: “Use Fear: Be Human to Reach Humans: Shamelessness is the fastest way to alienate your audience. So even if you feel no fear in front of a crowd, Cicero thinks you ought to at least keep up the pretense…”

Keep yourself updated on Openeyez and other Oddpodz announcements. Just visit our community page to subscribe to our rss feed.

This your first issue? Check out all of our goofy and useful back issues. They’re the resolution you can’t keep.

Oddpodz Marketplace

Diamond dust earrings from Uncommon Goods

Oddblog
Need to get out with the old and in with the new? Does your brand need a new rap for the new year? We're here to help. It's a New Year. New Story.

Literacy
Looking for a great new idea to make a great new year? Well, part of the problem many of us have when we go looking is that the “what” of what we’re looking for is often poorly defined. And even when we know the “what” we often don’t know the “how.” Spotting ideas is a skill and, if you’re lacking, Ideaspotting: How to Find Your Next Great Idea might be the book to get your brain in shape.

Weekly Covet
You may have noticed that Oddpodz has taken some new approaches lately. We’ve updated sections and, according to your feedback, tweaked our content. Well, we’ve done more than that. The Oddpodz Marketplace is now totally redesigned and reformatted. It’s like when they replaced Becky on Roseanne; same old name, totally different look. Check it out. And then let us know what you think.

Tell us about it
Have something you’d us to take a look at? Send tips, news, accolades, and/or groupie pictures to: info@oddpodz.com

Odditeaz
Cool and creative tees for guys, gals, pets and kids.

Ignite your innovation

Do you think of yourself as innovative? Does innovation enter into your everyday work? Is your organization one that you’d call innovative? Or are "innovation" and "innovative" just words, ideas, that get bandied about without any real thought to what it means to be it or have it? Are you outtovated?

This week we’ve got a starter menu of innovative (for reals!) food for thought.

Pole Vaulting
This month’s Pole Vaulter is innovation expert Keith Sawyer, a professor of psychology and education at Washington University and the author of ten books including Creativity and Development, Social Emergence and Creativity in Performance. His latest book is Group Genius: The Creative Power of Collaboration.

"There's lots of research showing that brainstorming groups are often less creative than if everyone just stayed in their cubicle and thought up ideas. To avoid group think, you need some friction, some diversity and some argument." Read the full interview.

On the Oddblog
Is it really any surprise that sometimes doing the same old thing sometimes produces the same old results (i.e. very little)? All it might take is an unusual, albeit innovative approach to getting better results. Oddblog has a short list of innovative, though easy, ideas to drive a little more buzz than usual. Don't know what a Chase's Calendar of Events is? (Hint: It’s got nothing to do with Chevy).

Coffee is for closers
On deadline? Lacking innovation? Well then, how about Innovation on a Deadline (via Marketing Profs).

Event
It's not a conference on marketing it’s THE Conference on Marketing. Research and trends, social media and the CMO summit. Over 550 senior marketers attend each year from in areas from branding to hospitality to direct mail. Exchanging truly experimental ideas and cutting edge tactics. Speakers include Seth Godin, Keith Ferrazzai and Arianna Huffington amongst others. Plus, Florida in February? Yes and yes. Feb. 4 – 6 in Naples, FL

Literacy
We’ve mentioned it once already but the Chase's Calendar of Events. “In its diversity and inclusiveness, [Chase’s] is an exhaustive guide to the country’s ideals and passions.”
- Washington Post

This your first issue?
Check out all of our goofy and useful back issues. They’re what my sister might read to induce that over-due nephew of mine.

Need Gift Ideas?

Diamond dust earrings at shopoddpodz.com.

Weekly Covet
We’re going to do what Intel co-founder Andy Grove said and "Think Disruptive" by making this week’s marketplace suggestion something that’s completely free; yep, it’s Andy Grove’s Portfolio piece: "The need to do something different must have weighed on management, and its solution may prove to be a new disruptive phenomenon." Read the rest (for free).

Odditeaz
Cool and creative tees for guys, gals, pets and kids.

Tell us about it
Have something you’d us to take a look at? Send tips, news, accolades, and/or groupie pictures to: info@oddpodz.com