Starbucks Brand Hijacking Attempt Part I
by John R. Sedivy
Late last month I had received an e-mail asking me to post a link to a video discussing Starbucks. The author mentioned that given our historical writings on Starbucks that we would find the video of interest. Both Amy and I watched the video but were suspicious as it certainly seemed to attack the company. Prior to viewing the video we were unaware of a movement to attack Starbucks for their labor practices which fell out in the video as well as a subsequent news article. I am not sure why someone would send this to us for discussion on our blog given our support of Starbucks as well as our desire to keep things positive. My only guess is that it was an attempt to gain links directly to the video and supporting blogs, which I will purposefully avoid doing. For a summary of the anti-Starbucks activities, refer to the article “Union Backers Target Starbucks With New-Media Campaign” as published in the Los Angeles Times.
Keep It Positive!
As I had mentioned in the past we stick to strictly positive topics here and will not attack or support the attack of another company or brand on our website. We believe that the positive nature of our blog has contributed a large amount to our success. For more on the power of positive thinking and action, read my article “The Power Of Positive Part I”. By not promptly posting this video we probably missed an opportunity to jump on the bandwagon and experience a surge in traffic that day as many bloggers likely did, however for us it was worth it not to sacrifice our principles.
Keep in mind that I have also stated that we are huge Starbucks fans – so there is a definite bias. We take breaks and go for coffee there, and also purchase some of their other products such as mugs with their logo. With Starbucks we have always kept things positive – as we portray the brand in a positive manner. I did write an article critiquing their strategy for coping with the recession called “The Death Of A Brand?,” however this too was meant as more of an analysis, rather than criticism. The hope is that when we write about brands we support, and provide ideas for improvement and direction, that they may be taken into account at some point as we develop more of a web presence and following.
During our daily lives we have come across negative brands and products. In that instance, we simply do not write about those experiences. There were some products or brands that we were excited about the possibility of using as a topic, however when using the product or service it did not live up to expectations – therefore we were not going to reward the product or service with any additional time or effort – we had just stopped using it and moved on. We certainly would not reward an inferior product or service with an additional purchase – refer to my article “Vote With Your Dollar” for more on the power you wield as an individual consumer. Besides, opinions and tastes are subjective. If I find a great brand, product, or service – I will recommend it wholeheartedly, it I try something and I am not a fan – I will say nothing as others with different tastes may be a fan. To each their own.
If all else fails refer back to the adage that was hopefully passed along by your parents – “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything all.”
To Be Continued…
Next I will discuss the results of this attack on Starbucks.
Keep it positive and you will be rewarded in the long term!
-John R. Sedivy of Cape Cod Branding
How To Find The Meaning Of Your Life
by John R. Sedivy
In “The Meaning Of Life” we had discussed how the meaning of life cannot be answered in general terms. It is the responsibility of each individual to answer this question based upon their unique abilities and situation at a given moment in time. But how does one go about answering this question? That is the subject of today’s discussion.
Where To Look
Viktor Frankl, the author of “Man’s Search For Meaning” offers guidance on how to find your life’s meaning:
“By declaring that man is responsible and must actualize the potential meaning of his life, I wish to stress that the true meaning of life is to be discovered in the world rather than within man or his own psyche, as though it were a closed system. I have termed this constitutive characteristic “the self transcendence of human existence.” It denotes the fact that being human always points, and is directed, to something or someone, other than oneself-be it a meaning to fulfill or another human being to encounter. The more one forgets himself-by giving himself to a cause to serve or another person to love-the more human he is and the more he actualizes himself. What is called self-actualization is not an attainable aim at all, for the simple reason that the one would strive for it, the more he would miss it. In other words, self-actualization is possible only as a side-effect of self-transcendence.”
So it appears that the key to bettering yourself and grasping your life’s meaning or purpose lies in someone or something else. It is achieved by having a service orientation or mentality and assisting others. By being truly selfless and helping others your abilities and therefore purpose, will shine and become apparent to yourself and others.
No Contradiction
This may appear contradictory at first glance, but it is not. If you isolate yourself from your community and use your abilities for only selfish gain others will not witness your abilities, or you may not have the opportunity to use your abilities in new ways, and therefore possibly miss your life’s meaning. On the other hand, by helping others, making the world a better place, it will become increasingly apparent to yourself and to others where your strengths lie. Further, you may miss your life’s meaning and someone else may pick up upon it and help nudge you in the right direction.
How To Find Meaning
According to Frankl, we can find our meaning in three different ways:
1. By creating a work or doing a deed
2. By experiencing something or encountering someone
3. By the attitude we take toward unavoidable suffering
I will elaborate on each briefly. First, one can enhance the environment around them by creating something beautiful or doing good deeds, we had discussed this in the preceding section. Second, through our experience with the world, we can determine meaning. I personally view this as the environment we take in – everything including but not limited to – individuals, books, movies, music, art, architecture, magazines, and the list goes on. The more you experience in as short amount of time as possible, the more you discover about yourself. Finally, the attitude we take towards unavoidable suffering addresses how we deal with pain in our lives. Do we give up? Run away? Complain? Or do you attempt to find some meaning in your suffering? Finding meaning, and some silver lining helps determine purpose.
Now that you know where to look – get out there and find your life’s meaning!
-John R. Sedivy of Cape Cod Branding
The Meaning Of Life
by John R. Sedivy
If a person were to read a book called “Man’s Search For Meaning” they could reasonably expect to come across the ever elusive meaning of life. The author, Viktor Frankl does in fact define this subject -
“I doubt whether a doctor can answer this question in general terms. For the meaning of life differs from man to man, from day to day and from hour to hour. What matters, therefore, is not the meaning of life in general but rather the specific meaning of a person’s life at a given moment.”
This would suggest that rather than find a general meaning to life that each individual should look within themselves and determine their own unique, meaning. Makes sense – we are each unique individuals, therefore it would stand to reason that we each have our own unique meaning of life. Not only should you find your own meaning, but it may change given the circumstances of the moment, so I would guess that you should revisit your own unique meaning from time to time as it will likely change at various points in your life. What works for you now, may not in another time in your life.
No Second Guessing
The author goes on to address the notion of second guessing one’s meaning, or even specific actions in life supporting their meaning:
“To put the question in general terms would be comparable to the question posed to a chess champion: “Tell me, Master, what is the best move in the world?” There simply is no such thing as the best or even a good move apart from from a particular situation in a game and the particular personality of one’s opponent. The same holds for human existence. One should not search for an abstract meaning of life. Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life to carry out a concrete assignment which demands fulfillment. Therein he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated. Thus everyone’s task is as unique as is his specific opportunity to implement it.”
The chess analogy makes sense to me as Frankl is right, there is no optimal, generic move, the best move is always changing depending upon the environment in which the player must decide. Do not second guess your life’s meaning or decisions made – continue to reassess and learn, however what is done is done and should be used to benefit future decision making and determine present and future life meaning.
Will You Answer?
According to Frankl it is not us who should ask the question as to what the meaning of life is, but is we who are being asked:
“As each situation in life represents a challenge to man and presents a problem for him to solve, the question of the meaning of life may actually be reversed. Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather he must recognize that it is he who is asked. In a word, each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life he can only respond by being responsible.”
Will you take the responsibility upon yourself to answer this important question? What is your unique meaning of life at this moment in time? How will you make the world a better place with your unique abilities?
The meaning of life is unique to each individual and changes over time!
-John R. Sedivy of Cape Cod Branding
