Social Media Campaign: A Success Story

Mountain Dew (PepsiCo) Launched a pretty terrific Social Media Campaign. To start out here is one of their first TV advertisements, to sum up the campaign:

In this campaign, PepsiCo had fans of their Mountain Dew Brand develop three flavors.

Why is this campaign so successful? Because it was everything a social media campaign should be, and nails aspects of a campaign where others miss the mark. It is true to the brand. It targets the demographic that Mountain Dew targets, and positions the product in a way that is appealing to young, active, adventurists that seek caffeine to keep them going in their energizing lives. This is parallel to the traditional Mountain Dew advertising and strategy. Increasing their facebook fans? Check- by 800,000! Getting people out to vote? Yep- 2.9 million of them! This is everything a social media campaign should be! Check out how involved the fans got:

What do you think? DEWmocracy 3?

http://www.aolnews.com/philanthropy/nc/article/philanthropy-on-10-a-day/991224?icid=mainmaindl1link3http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aolnews.com%2Fphilanthropy%2Fnc%2Farticle%2Fphilanthropy-on-10-a-day%2F991224


This guy is incredible. We can all learn a lot from him. What he is doing is amazing and inspiring. He makes me want to plop down next to the next stranger I see and just start up conversation. Learn about them, understand them and where they are at in their life.

You can learn a lot from people and what they have been through. Everyone gets so caught up in their own lives, they forget that other people have them too, and maybe they have something good to share. Maybe they have something horrible to share, a miserable experience that probably shaped them. Either way, its worthwhile knowing, and moreso finding out.

"We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give"-Winston Churchill

"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans"-John Lennon

Life Happens-so leap!

It has officially been two months since my last post, something I guess I should work on. In the meantime, I have become cultured. On a more serious note, I did travel for two weeks to India and had some great experiences, and learned so many things. Here's a recap:

• No matter how bad you think you've got it, someone's got it worse.
• Ignorance is not bliss, its stupidity. Open your eyes, see the world and what it has in store for you. You will see everything you have to be thankful for so clearly. Count your blessings every single day. Someone put you here, and it was purposeful, what is your purpose? Are you doing anything good in your life- and is it good for anyone else? I think I do good things most days. But after traveling I question whether or not those things are helping any one else. Everyone should help out others a little bit more, selfishness has enveloped modern society and it is pathetically sad.
• There is more to life than you think, traveling can prove that to you. And I don't mean going and staying at the Ritz. Seeing the way people live outside of your lifestyle is life changing. You will be uncomfortable, yes. But seeing the world from someone else's point of view instead of yours- just in a new place, makes a huge difference. Step out of your shoes and walk- see the world.

I can't wait to travel more.

Also, I have met someone pretty great. It's strange how my new life at school of being on my own living in my own house can change the aspects of a relationship- things move a lot quicker. I'm falling hard and fast while trying to keep a grip on reality and its like a whirlwind I can't keep up with. I don't know when to plant my feet or when to jump, but I've been mostly jumping and wearing my heart on my sleeve. When something or someone takes you by surprise- embrace it! I can't tell you how, but when its right, you know. You just know, and there's no getting around it. I've realized my barriers are breaking and I'm a little scared, but sometimes a little leap of faith is just what it takes to be happy. I think this applies to a lot of things beyond relationships. There's a risk-reward pay off. You have to give a little and put it all on the line if you want to push the envelope. Everything is about risk and however much you put it directly determines how much you get out. The situation and person become variables in how much risk is willing to be taken.

As far as traveling and experiencing new things go-

"Sometimes your only available mode of transportation is a leap of faith" -Margaret Shepard

Gray Area.

You have got to be kidding me, right? Every time my mouse ventures near the big blue "e" on my desktop and I click it (pretty damn often) I am referred to AOL's homepage. The first article for the last week has been regarding Tiger Wood's affair(s?). Today's really got me goin', because it hit home a little. Here's why:

golf.fanhouse.com/2009/12/08/where-are-tigers-cabalasian-backers/?icid=main

Terence Moore wrote and article about how Tiger is alone in his struggle because of something he said on Oprah in 1997. He expressed his thought that he was neither black, nor white. According to Moore, this lost him all the support he could be getting from the black community which backed OJ (when he killed his wife) Vick (When he decided animal cruelty was NBD) and more black celebrities who have found themselves in heaps of trouble. NEWSFLASH MOORE! Tiger isn't black, and he isn't white either! He is "cablinasian" (A word he coined growing up to describe himself). Moore, are you in this position? I doubt it, because my brother is, and I can see growing up the difficulty he has faced in finding his identity. It really is a struggle, and no, you don't fit in with the black people, nor the white, really. You're just not black enough, you're just not white enough.

And frankly, Moore, who would want support from the same people who backed a MURDERER?? Adultery is no joke, and I don't agree with Tiger's decisions. But why in the world would someone want support from the same people who supported someone who killed their wife, and animals? You say this is America- face it, you're black, Moore? Reality check- those days are over. It is people like you who continue racism in the world and force people like Tiger and my brother to choose. Why should they have to? It is not one or the other, you don't have to choose anymore. The people like you in this world are the same people that make everyday a struggle for that 6 year old on the school bus who was told to churn butter- because you make them believe they don't fit. So when you make them believe they don't fit, or force them to choose one side or the other, when Tiger makes this statement you can't really blame him because it is your attitude that landed him in this contemplative position in the first place.

All in all, people need to stop blaming race. Who cares what color Tiger's skin is? Shouldn't the fact that he cheated on his wife (which isn't even anyone else's business!) slander enough, now you through race in the mix? We've fought for civil rights and are well beyond those days. Race shouldn't be a factor, and your morals should be the basis of your judgements on whether or not you want to support Tiger during these times, not the color of your skin versus the color of him. Has Barack taught you nothing? It will be interesting when my generation is in your position Moore, because I believe we are above the topic of race, and beyond those days. It will be interesting to see.

And hey, what if you had an affair? Would you want it on the front page of every news article, magazine, and Internet site? Mind your own business if you would. I get it, its a hot story, and you're making bank- but at least come up with something a little more creative next time than Tiger is "missing out" on the support of the black community who supported other black troublesome celebrities, because he struggled with his identity at some point.



"I hope that people will finally come to realize that there is only one race, the human race, and that we are all members of it. -Margaret Atwood

I have been regretfully, and to the dismay of others, neglecting my blog. My sincerest apologies, it has been almost a month since my last posting. I have, however, acquired much knowledge to share.

I had quite the memorable experience recently, and to my displeasure, it is still continuing. I attended an event hosted by my University connecting business students to Alum. It was very useful, and if taken full advantage of, which I intend to do, can prove to be very useful in the future. Approximately 5 students were assigned to each mentor for the morning/afternoon events. To understand the day- you must know all mentors had an hour long opportunity to meet all students, followed by each mentor and their respective assigned students met with 5 or so other mentors and their respective students for a panel discussion, and further dispersed to a more intimate discussion 5-1 between students and their mentor. Each mentor was given an usher out of their 5 students that would escort them to each of their rooms in which there presence was required.

This is the interesting part- I was willingly an usher to my mentor, whom I had never met. While in conversation during the networking portion of the morning, I finally had the opportunity to meet him as he rudely interrupted my conversation with another mentor. I immediately thought this was rude, looked at his name tag, realized he was my mentor, and was a bit annoyed- until I had the chance to take in his attire. Then I was appalled. He was dressed in a blazer, t shirt, jeans, and sneakers with dishevled hair. This was a professional event- tie required.

I was nice and poilte- in retrospect, this was my first mistake. I introduced myself as his usher and explained and offered my assigned services to him that afternoon. He was extremely innappropriate all afternoon long, kissing females on the cheek, using profanity, hitting on the students (myself included), promoted picking up women at events such as this, dressing as casually as he was, he was untimely, eccentric (made us meditate), and overall not someone you want representing your school-let alone influencing your students.

By the end of the day I had completely changed my demeanor toward him and was strictly professional, a little brash regarding his behavior, and basically set him straight a few times. It ultimately earned me a dinner invitation (declined), attempt at a kiss (rejected), stolen cell phone number from my resume, and resulting phone calls and text messages (to which I have not responded).

A week and a half later this manner has not changed. I have taken proper actions and approached the necessary school officials whom are not inviting him back.

In retrospect I have learned many things from attending this event that I had not forseen;

1. I am glad that this happened to me. Rather than someone else, I am a strong willed human being with strong moral convictions. Other female students may have been too shy to be straight with him, or have played into his innuendos too much. Overall, I had the perfect personality to handle such a character.

2. I made the best of the event, regardless. I decided 15 minutes into the event after meeting him that the day was a complete bust, but I reminded myself it didn't have to be. It was what I made it. I made many other useful connections and did try to sift out some valuable material from my mentor.

3. Sometimes in life you will be handed situations like this. These moments define you. How you handle them will have a huge impact on your life. I am proud of handling the situation the way I did, and that is because my Dean and other officials expressed that they also thought I handled the situation very professionally. I know that I will encounter more situations in my career that will test my morals, ethics, judgement, and business professionalism. I hope I can remain the person that I displayed that afternoon, but hopefully, have learned even more by then, and handle it even better.




The secret of many a man's success in the world resides in his insight into the moods of men and his tact in dealing with them. -J. G. Holland

And you come crash, into me yeah.

This weekend was pretty damned brutal. I got in a car accident and now must enter and exit my vehicle through the passenger door. I have become quite swift actually, after 4 days. The accident happened, and the police officer arrived shortly thereafter. Boy was that an experience.

First of all, I was making a left turn onto a side road from Main St. There was no traffic light, just a left turn. I slow down and let oncoming traffic pass, signaled, and turned. Then.. WHAM. I am smashed on my driver's side from the vehicle behind me. The traffic flow was one lane in either direction separated by a double yellow line. No white dashed line separating lanes, etc. So why the woman was trying to pass me on either side, I am unsure. Regardless, the officer came and was rather unkind to me. And I realize I am at quite the disadvantage. I am from out of town, a 20 year old college student, and the other woman was local and middle aged. He was negative toward me, and completely stereotyped me from the get-go; thinking that I am a primadona Daddy's girl that doesn't know how to drive. Which is completely false on all accounts.

Later in Management class Monday evening, stereotypes were the ironic topic of discussion. I realized that many people hold preconceived notions and stereotypes about one another. Even I fall culprit on occasion. My professor, however, made a fantastic point to mention that by definition, stereotypes are inaccurate, false measures. Not that I believe them to be true in any fashion whatsoever, but it was enlightening to learn that even by definition stereotypes are categorized as false. It is common knowledge that stereotypes are wrong, but interesting to learn that they are literally false.

My new goal is to look at a person, and think of their best possible quality- and avoid stereotypes altogether. Like a police officer for instance, although I happened to encounter a not so friendly one, the stereotype that all officers are out to get you I should really drop. Maybe this new outlook will be apparent for next time I have a similar encounter (knock on wood!) and things will go a little more smoothly. I think this will apply to a lot of things in general, not just law enforcement authority figures.

Stay tuned.

Stereotypes are devices for saving a biased person the trouble of learning. -Unknown

Lesson.Learned.

As tomorrow dawns, I will have two weeks of junior year under my belt. I have already learned some great things, less pertaining to academia.

I added a Yoga class thinking it would break up my heavily analytical business schedule of Finance, Management, Marketing, and International Business, and also be a great way to relax and escape the hectic weeks. Turns out the class is a lot of work, which I am not adverse to, but certainly did not expect. There are intense journals after every asana (yoga pose) which I feel takes away from the yoga experience. There is a 12 page paper, and video journals as well. Just seems like a lot of work for a yoga class, and nothing I was necessarily expecting. I contemplated dropping the course, until I thought to myself, Jess, when you are working in the real world and your boss hands you a project on your already loaded agenda, what are you going to do about it? You're going to do it, that's what. And you're going to do it to the best of your ability with all of your effort. So I am still in the course, and looking forward to 1:15 when I will enter FA 091 with a new outlook on the class. It is remarkable how small instances like this define one's personality traits and work ethic so profoundly.


I have also, since being at school, helped friends out a lot. This is not much of a change as before, but I find it happening more and more frequently. Giving friends rides home that don't want to pay for a cab because I am always the sober one, taking care of my drunken sickly friends, doing laundry, cooking dinner, etc. I realize that with these people I am making an investment. I am investing my time and efforts into our relationships so that in the future I can earn a return on my investment in the same manner in which I initially invested. It has become something of a future asset, that I can claim somewhere down the road when I need a favor, and hopefully I will be able to collect interest! The only problem is- what if I have invested in a poor security? What if my investments yield little to no returns? I suppose that is the risk you take, and that is essentially how friendships work. Some are more giving than taking, but I am staying optimistic. At least with some of my investments.

Lastly, I have learned that things are not always as they seem. I recently moved in with 6 other girls (5 on my cheerleading team), one of whom it was no secret, I did not get along with whatsoever. We are both extremely opinionated and often knocked heads. I thought living with her would be a nightmare at the worst, or silent at best- essentially not expecting much of a friendship at all. Turns out we are talking more than ever and really opening up. We have been sharing more personal anecdotes and experiences with one another, and I really did not expect it at all. We actually agree on a lot of things off the court, and it took me by surprise. We spoke of friendships with men vs women and she has three best friends (whom live in the house) and made a comment along the lines of - "and surprisingly I have been talking to you a lot about stuff lately too!" I knew we were on the same page in many regards. We both acknowledge that we did not get off on the right foot, that we were wrong in our assumptions about each other, and lastly, that a legitmate friendship is actually starting to form, rather than a simple tolerance. Its really a great lesson to learn, and for once I honestly am pleased that I was/am wrong. I think I'll take this one with me.


Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. - George Washington

Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival. - C.S. Lewis