Seth Godin is a bestselling author, entrepreneur and agent of change…wouldn’t you love to be called ”an agent of change?”  Some of his books include  Tribes, Meatball Sundae and Purple Cow.  Some would say that Seth is great if you are a “in markeing”.  I disagree.  Seth’s common sense logic and thought provoking insights are applicable at every level of an organization.  Seth cuts through the crap and provides you with MANY “Aha” moments.  I love “Aha” moments.  Don’t you? Check out Seth’s blog  http://sethgodin.typepad.com/

As a fairly new resident in Austin I have to say that March is amazing here for 3 reasons.  The weather, RISE  Austin  and South by Southwest  SXSW .  If you’ve never been to either one of these amazing week long events, put one or both on your calendar for next year.  Here’s why:

• March in Austin is spectacular from a weather perspective.  After moving here from Southern California,  I profess this is my favorite time of year in Austin.  Spring has sprung and everything is blooming and it’s not 105 degrees…yet.
• If you’re an entrepreneur or aspire to be one any day soon or you just want to meet some very smart and very nice people, RISE Austin is incredible.  I met some amazing attendees and hosts.  For those of you in the advertising business, seeing Roy Spence casually introduce Red McCombs at the opening session of RISE was indicative of a great week of inspiration and information.  Conceived by Roy and Bertrand Sosa, co-founders of NetSpend and the MPOWER Group, RISE was intended to be for, by, and about entrepreneurs.  Here’s a little info on RISE:

“Welcome, rule-breakers and deal-makers.

RISE is a free conference for entrepreneurs of all types, providing a forum where you can connect and exchange ideas that inspire the entrepreneurial spirit.

RISE is not your ordinary conference. Because RISE is designed for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs, the format is hands on, high energy and free flowing. RISE sessions are independently organized by hosts, each of whom chooses his/her own topic and session location. These peer-led forums are limited to 25 participants and take place all over Austin.

During RISE, you may find yourself headed to conference rooms, coffee shops, classrooms or cultural centers. You’ll connect with entrepreneurs from multiple industries and backgrounds, along with leaders from universities, non-profits, neighborhoods and government. It’s a fun and highly educational ride, much like entrepreneurship itself.”

• SXSW, c’mon.   Austin fills up with Film Fans, Music Fans, Tech Fans and Fans of Fans!  Buy a badge, or not;  head anywhere in town; inspire your visual and audio senses; top it all off with emerging technology and a great margarita!  Life is good!

“The South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conferences & Festivals offer the unique convergence of original music, independent films, and emerging technologies. Fostering creative and professional growth alike, SXSW® is the premier destination for discovery.”

Doug Gross, CNN Tech reporter had some great things to say about SXSW so far.  Check out his  Wrap Up.

I’m heading out tonight with Maria and Emilio from La Banda Elastica to listen to some great music.  What’s not to like about March Madness in Austin.  C’mon down, over or up. 

For those of you that have not had the pleasure of listening to “On The Media” on your local NPR affiliate, please do yourself a favor and listen.  Yes, most of the information is on media proper and not specifc to “paid media”, “media advertising” but when something is good…it’s good and I’ll recommend it!  You can also head to the NPR, “On the Media” website and listen to their pieces as well. Start making it a habit!

On The Media on NPR

Satellite Fight

February 12, 2010

The House recently passed a bill meant to deter Arab satellite networks from broadcasting programs that could incite violence against Americans. The bill’s been controversial in the Middle East, where members of the Arab press worry that it could be used as a tool to repress legitimate journalism. Professor and Foreign Policy writer Marc Lynch thinks that the critics may have a point

Read and hear the entire piece: http://www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/2010/02/12/03

Watching the Super Bowl and checking out the trades. I found this great piece by Stuart Elliott, the Media Decoder in the New York Times.

Stuart Elliott, The Times’s advertising columnist, is taking a running look at some of the evening’s Super Bowl commercials, with a full wrap-up to follow the end of the game:

6:35 p.m.: One of the last pre-game spots, for McDonald’s, was a winner. It was a sequel to a popular spot the company ran in the game in 1993, called “The Showdown,” pitting Michael Jordan and Larry Bird against each other in a game for fast food. The sequel was great, with LeBron James and Dwight Howard subbing for the original pair of basketball stars. And Mr. Bird even had a cameo.

The question is, why didn’t McDonald’s run the spot in the game? Was the cost of a spot in the game so much more than one just a few minutes before the game starts?

Read entire article

Ran across this great article by Nat Ives in Huffington Post today. Hard to believe there is still life on the printed page!

Declines Still Common but Lessening, According to New Circulation Reports
by Nat Ives 
Published: February 02, 2010

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) — Magazines’ newsstand recession certainly isn’t over — but it seems to be lightening up.

Many magazine publishers now reporting circulation figures for the second half of last year are again posting declines, but in most cases those declines aren’t nearly as steep as the plunges that came before.

This suggests, moreover, that the momentum may be shifting for the better. Newsstand declines had been getting worse — progressing from a 6.3% slide in the first half of 2008, compared with the same period the year prior, to an 11.1% drop in the second half of 2008, and then to a 12.4% descent in the first half of 2009, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations.

Read entire article.