DW's Blog

Literal

by DW Green — May 2, 2018

Design is the opposite of literal.

Sometimes with design work, retailers prefer designs that literally reflect the subject they represent.According to the ole dictionary, literal is defined as the strict meaning of the word or words, not figurative or metaphysical. To construe words in the strict or in an unimaginative way; matter-of-fact; dull; prosaic. So basically, the word literal refers to the use of words. The problem is that design goes beyond the specific definition of the word or words, good design also conveys feeling and emotion. Grocery shopping is more than a grocery cart. A new or remodeled store is more than new fixtures, new floors and new décor. Design is the opposite of literal. Good design is imaginative, dynamic, and energetic. Good design builds an emotional connection between your customers and your brand. We recently updated a store logo for a client. The new design created a clean, comfortable, and captivating look and feel. The design brought energy and an aliveness to the brand (a word). Amazing.

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by DW Green — April 3, 2018

The journey to now-here.

I try to read an hour or so a day. As I’m reading I will write down a sentence or two of what I just read. My plan is to reread the words at a later date. Sometimes I do. But, mostly I don’t, because I’m too lazy to sort through the hundreds of pages of sentences I have saved with the date I wrote them and a key word description. It’s like a scrambled cliff notes version of many different books!Here’s my list of sentences from last week…Am I at ease at this moment?What’s going on inside me at this moment?See in what way you are avoiding, resisting, or denying life—by denying the Now.Primary reality is within, secondary reality is without.Gratitude for the present moment and the fullness of life Now is true prosperity.When you catch yourself slipping into waiting…snap out of it. Come into the present moment. Just be, and enjoy being. If you are present, there is never any need for you to wait for anything.The moment judgment stops through acceptance of what is, you are free of the mind.To offer no resistance to life is to be in a state of grace, ease, and lightness. The state is then no longer dependent upon things being in a certain way,...

by DW Green — March 28, 2018

But thinking makes it so…

“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” —Bill Shakespeare HamletI have always found this notion perplexing. Seems true enough. What do you think? Ah the think word!Are you having a good day or a bad day, today? How do you know?There is no such thing as good or bad. They are comparisons to our expectations. They are not grounded in any objective standards and they are always relative – sometimes just in time. Is it bad, then, to get laid off? What if you hate your job but the fear of the unknown compels you to stay put. If you get laid off you may feel a weight off your back and be given the opportunity to explore new things. Is it good to get a job, then? Not if you end up working for people you don’t like, doing work that you don’t find fulfilling. I understand the realities of the world require us to make practical decisions, like making a living, but let us not judge the decisions we make or the experiences we have as good or bad. Lets just consider them all good.If you have a colleague who you think is doing bad work, before you go tell them what is bad, think of one thing that you GENUINELY think is good. Now consider everything else an opportun...

by DW Green — March 21, 2018

Choose to Serve.

I’d like to acknowledge Adam for his incredible blog posts. His topics are always interesting, informative and relevant. He has a real gift of expressing his thoughts in a simple and easy-to-understand way with the ever present, comfortable undercurrent of humor. So, thank you Adam for your contribution to myself and readers of our weekly blog.On the other hand, I tend to get caught up in the less fashionable world of Self. Of Spirit. Each morning I spend 30 minutes in mediation. I end that time of silent reflection with a short prayer. A line from that prayer is “I dedicate my life to the service of God.” What does that mean? God is an imposing, intimidating, concept. To me, serving God means serving Life in all of its expressions…people, plants, animals, bugs, insects, trees, flowers, rocks, dirt, seashells, the universe! Well, it means to be of service to everything (including ourselves).I often share words of writers who are more articulate and expressive on the topic of Self than I am. In his weekly blog, my favorite leadership writer, Scott Mabry, writes the following, entitled A Minimalist Leadership Post (60 Words).

by DW Green — March 14, 2018

In the light of your awareness…

“Rather than being your thoughts and emotions, be the awareness behind them.”
-Eckhart TolleLifelong, set-in-stone thinking keeps you stuck… often without your even realizing that you’re stuck! Since this type of mental activity can’t lead you in a new direction, becoming aware must be the first step to getting rid of your excuses forever.When awareness is your reality, you don’t need to explain your shortcomings or missed opportunities. Instead, you transcend the pull of ego and move into a totally new dimension of higher consciousness. To put it simply and bluntly: if you don’t realize that you no longer have to be stuck in your old thinking habits, then the habits will prevail and persist.Breaking old habits requires noticing that you’re creating impediments in your life, and that these impediments have become excuses for so-called limitations. For example, if you’re averse to risk taking and tend to choose the safe or easy path, this has caused you to erect mental barriers. Such barriers are what I’m calling “excuses,” and they give you a way out. So when it’s time to try something new-or to take a step that might result in failing, becoming the butt of criticism,...

by DW Green — March 7, 2018

The times, they are a-changin’.

Dorothy Lane Market in Dayton Ohio is one of my favorite companies. They are an excellent retailer, one of the very best in America. It’s an honor to know them. I hold the entire organization in high esteem. In fact, they are celebrating their 70^th Anniversary this year, which in itself, speaks to their enduring ability to maintain relevancy in the ever changing, fast paced supermarket industry. Dorothy Lane is a premier leader in customer loyalty marketing. They have stayed the course and have improved and deepened their knowledge and expertise in rewarding, valuing and understanding their best customers. Being relevant in the marketplace is huge for any business. But knowing and doing are two different things. Staying relevant means acknowledging past successes and failures but leaving them in the past and focusing on the present. What do my customers want and need today? And how can we better satisfy those desires today?In this week’s “Club Deals” email blast Dorothy Lane features their “Rainbow Roll”, 9 count package for $10.99. Their Rainbow Roll “uses a California base of krab, cucumber, and avocadoes topped with tuna, salmon, red snapper, shrimp, and more avocado for a...

by DW Green — February 28, 2018

And that hymn is what we call purpose.

Trust is perhaps the most important currency in business, and big ideas may be the only true source of competitive advantage. Lack of trust is a form of tax. And that tax rate has increased over the years. Customers simply don’t trust institutions as much today. Particularly large businesses. The main reason is that we now live in an “information everywhere” and more transparent world. Every customer has a camera in their cell phone, a Facebook in their pocket and Twitter at their fingertips. This means we hear and see evidence of businesses not walking their talk. Their products don’t match their promise. In order to regain this trust you must simply make sure that all your products, your merchandising, your advertising, your people and the totality of your touch points with consumers sing from the same hymn. And that hymn is what we call purpose. Some people call it vision. Others call it focus. It is the same thing. It is source of your promise. It answers the question: Why are you here?