Sometimes You Just Have to Take a Break

It has been a while, a long while since I wrote a post or even visited this blog.  I was taking a break, one that was only suppose to be a few weeks that turned into a few months and well...  But I am back now rested and refreshed and with a notebook full of ideas for blog posts.  

I just did not feel like blogging and was struggling to write something that I felt was quality and awesome enough for people to enjoy or learn from.  What started as a I will only hit the snooze button one time than I will get up turned into a hit the snooze button four more times then turn off the alarm.  I hate when that happens but am working on improving on that so it won't happen again as much.  

A break is a good thing it lets you get some rest and come back fresh and ready to go.  Whether the break is from a level in Angry Birds or from a current project being able to set it down.  If you planned enough time you will able to come back tomorrow with a new approach and new ideas.  For me, I did this a lot in college mostly when I was studying architecture and had models to build.  Instead of constantly having to pull all-nighters I would do some work each day and allow myself to have enough time to come back in the morning. When I did that I would always have better results and feel better about my work than the few times I had to work on the model for 20+ hours straight.  I also need to take a break after I read for a while, after about an hour I stop absorbing the information and start wandering.  I found what works for me and stick to it.  

Do you include time in your life for breaks?

What do you take a break from?

Photo Credit to: HikingArtist

An Example of the Importance of Timing

With the current internet meme of Rebecca Black's Friday YouTube video staying popular and finally starting to peak as it is reaching maximum market saturation.  All memes have a life cycle similar to a product life cycle. Like most internet memes when something new comes focus transfers from this meme to the new thing, as described in Brand Value - It Changes with the Tide post. The remixes, parodies, and covers are still being introduced on YouTube.  With the videos starting to die down in popular as this meme comes to an end it is being revived.  Both by FunnyorDie's April Fool's Day gimmick of turning it into Friday or Die and by Jimmy Fallon with the help of Stephen Colbert, The Roots, and Taylor Hicks.  Extending the life cycle long enough for this to be in my opinion awesome.

YouTube Videos keep on being removes you can see just the video here or the full story and more videos on the Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Blog.

Why this is better and being blogged about is more about the back story of how this happened because over $26,000 was raised for charity.    They timed the release on the end of the Memes life cycle more likely because of scheduling.  Luckily Rebecca's Black Friday is still popular and being consumed by the masses so this video has an additional audience.  In addition to being part of Friday's episode of Late Night With Jimmy Fallon with Stephen Colbert both things would gather a large audience to consume this media.

So if this video was made in a month would it be as popular?  Doubtful because it is likely that the "Friday" meme would be over.  It would still be popular because of who is doing it, Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon.  The added views and popularity of the timing would help this get more views, attention, and word of mouth than being released to some other meme or at another time.

Added bonus get your QR reader out at 3:47 for another special bonus message.
Spoiler for those who can not read it, it takes you to a bonus thank you video you can see here.


Some previous similar blogs include  Time Sensitivity and Importance of a Timely Response.

Do you think the timing of this video will help?  How so and by how much?  Does what the video is of help it, if they sung a different song would it be as popular?  Anything you would like to add?

The Importance of a Timely Response

When some negative press occurs about you or your organization it is your job to address that complaint right away, and if it is a large story gaining momentum you need to stop it immediately.  The negative news is like a small leak in your boat if you choose to ignore it or take to long to fix it, the leak gets worse.  The leak will get larger and more water (negative press/publicity) will get into your boat (company) and stall your engines and maybe even sink the boat.  Even after stopping the leak you will still have to take the time to clean up the water damage caused by that leak.

Jay Culter was recently injured during the NFC Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers.  While injuries do happen the Chicago Bears took what many consider to be too long to release a statement regarding his injury. Much of his negative back lash could have been stopped if they told the media that he suffered an MCL sprain in his left knee.

While Taco Bell took an immediate and proactive approach to a lawsuit claiming that Taco Bell doesn't use enough meat in their tacos and instead it is mostly oats and other fillers.  Taco Bell used social media and the tradition press release to address the lawsuit immediately.  The action they took helped to slow the damage and more importantly let the public know the(ir) facts about their meat.

A timely response is the best action to take against any negative publicity or press.  In the current age of instant information from the use of social media a delay of a response will only make the problem worse.

How quick do you expect a response from a company?  Does a later response have the same impact to you as an instant response?  Any other examples you know of and would like to share?