Slumdog Millionaire is a wonderful movie – but it could be a movement

I saw Slumdog Millionaire last night at the theatre and I loved it.  Not many movies move me but it did and I couldn’t wait to tweet praises for it.  And I did.

I had left the theatre with a new appreciation for the conditions people are living in in India – appalling conditions – in the slums of Mumbai.  I felt like I had taken part in an experience that, maybe if enough people saw it, something could change in the world. I wanted everyone to go see it.

Then I got a tweet from Mathew Ingram and it changed my whole mood. 

The BBC story told of how some of the child actors were paid small amounts of money and were still living in the slums that the movie was shot in.  Say what?  The movie had brought in over $140 million and while some funds had been set up in a trust for the kids when they turned 18, they were probably going to be stuck in extreme poverty until that point. 

Yes, film producers make movies to make money. Thankfully for them they did an amazing job and thus people are flocking to see it at the theatres.  But they know they’ve create a powerful message that’s being carried by the film.  This message is touching audiences in a way that makes them want change.  It’s a similar feeling that fueled the Obama campaign.  That campaign became a movement and we all know how this wonderful story ended. 

Slumdog Millionaire has opened up a new story line and, in reality, that story doesn’t have a great ending.  This movie has a chance to become a moment.  Wouldn’t more people see a movie that promises 10% to a fund that promises to help change the situation in this slum to start with, others after.   And that doesn’t mean just throwing money at the situation but finding resources to work with the inhabitants, to teach, to provide opportunities, to find ways to break the cycle they are stuck in. 

So the question is, with the odds in Slumdog’s favor for an Oscar win, what do you think we’d all want to hear from the director during his acceptance speech?  He can inspire a movement, but will he?

 

February 21st, 2009 - Posted in social media, twitter, viral | | 3 Comments

Social media as the new alternative fuel

So, waiting in the dentist’s office this morning I caught a CBC Nature of Things show on the new hydrogen powered cars.  Then, when I cracked open my local paper’s business section I saw a great article on how BuildDirect has built its successful supplies business with social media at the core.  So a couple of synapses went off in the noggin’ and viola yet another analogy for y’all to chew on.

(image credit by heidiheidiheidi via Flickr)

I’m a big fan of social media as the primary alternate fuel to power a business.  Radian6 owes a lot to this fuel.  We have spent very little on traditional marketing fuel since the company began.  So, what are some of the attributes of this alternative business energy source that make it such a great choice.

Low Emissions – Yes, you just have to look at the amount of waste you’ll produce when using traditional marketing.  You burn through a lot in order to get maybe 1-3% engine response rate.  Social media is about directly building relationships with the community, avoiding the extra “eyeballs-to-interested” catalytic conversion with traditional marketing fuel, and producing much higher efficiencies.

Very high MPG – When your business has a remarkable product that resonates with its audience then it takes very little fuel to propel it forward.  It’s all about providing little boosts to get things going and to get up the hills.  Remarkably there will be times when you’ll think your vehicle is driving forward on its own.  And, amazingly, if you don’t have the perfect product the fuel will actually tell you what to tweak and improve on.  Try that with traditional marketing fuel.

Powerful & Responsive – Talk about 0 to 60 in seconds.  Social media fuel does not have a lot of additives between the cause and the effect.  Basically your vehicle connects directly with the community, with the right product & solid traction you can get immediate results and continue to accelerate.

Ah, but like hydrogen in today’s gasoline economy there are a few things you must overcome if you want the benefits.

Produce your own fuel – Yep, just like hydrogen there are very few stations you can pull into and get a fill up.  This of course will change over time as there are a number of agencies and specialty firms building reserves in this area of expertise.  Yes, social media fuel is not a commodity.  It takes an investment of time and people resources to produce the fuel that powers your business but, boy o boy, does that engine ever fly when it does.

Highly Explosive – This is the nastier side to the “Powerful” attribute above.  Yes, if you mishandle social media fuel or improperly use it it can blow up in your face.  Just remember, transport the fuel in “transparent” containers, use only “real ingredients” and constantly monitor for feedback.

So, are you ready to switch to the alternative?  Any other pros and cons of this new alternative fuel?

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February 7th, 2009 - Posted in analogy, social media, viral | | 2 Comments

Feel the power of disruptive technology

Sometimes we get into the mode of accepting the status quo as well, acceptable. But often it isn’t and deep down we know there has to be something better. Well, a month ago a colleague and I ran into what I would consider something as close to disruptive as you can get. And we found it in all places, the Montreal Airport washroom. How many of you have cursed when you wash your hands and look around for paper towel only to discover it has been displaced by the dreaded wimpy air hand dryer. With so much emphasis on being environmentally friendly these days you’d think we’d be happy. But alas, the old wimpy traditional air hand dryer is just that – wimpy. It barely does anything to dry hands. In fact I think just standing there holding your hands out sans dryer is pretty close to the same in the effectiveness category.

But hark, what goes there in the Montreal Airport. The Xlerator. So powerful is the wind coming out of this puppy that you swear your skin may peel off. But boy does it do the trick. It actually does what it should – it dries your hands as quickly as a paper towel but without the waste.

Something so simple yet so effective. And viral as well. The Xlerator does such an amazing job that in every place I’ve seen it installed strangers are talking to strangers “Wow, that’s amazing.” Kids are telling their parents. Colleagues are joking to colleagues. And it’s just about a hand dryer. Just goes to show that if you invent something purple, it doesn’t matter what the category is, word will spread and the traditional will quickly become passe.

March 11th, 2008 - Posted in Seth Godin, viral | | 3 Comments