Blog Line

The posting that generated the most response was in regard to the GCI Canada book club. We finished “The Long Tail” earlier in the year and we are now striding through “The World is Flat” by Thomas Friedman. Friedman’s book has been out for a few years now and in fact maybe on its second or third update. It is very well written but what is most interesting is the conversation that it incites in our boardroom. During the most recent book club session there was rabid debate amongst GCIers as to whether brands were becoming less or more important as outsourcing grew and the types of activities being outsourced continued to expand. Some in the room that brands were irrelevant. Others insisted brands ruled and were more important than ever. It was interesting to bring the discussion into the realm of current events using the recent Menu Pet fFood example. Menu Foods is the outsourced manufacturer for several prominant pet food companies. Very few could have anticipated what befell Menu Foods and then thereby their own company brands. For all companies in the outsourcing chain whether at the beginning or the end, individual reputations are dependent on each member of the chain.

Since I haven’t made a post in two months maybe I could win the title of the world’s worst blogger. I hardly every win at anything so it could be something to aspire too. I could say that it is because I’m too busy but everyone is that. What I would say is that I find everyday to be a whirlwind and I am often astonished by how much time has gone by since I last looked up. I originally thought it has been a two weeks or so (admittedly unacceptable) since my last post but I was shocked to see it was actually two months. Fortunately the whirlwind has been a positive one of great assignments and exciting new business opportunities.