co-irker

[JCShutout]

Working with a co-irker who has some marketing background on upgrading some of our marketing materials. My boss and I have wanted to do this for awhile, and we finally have some time.

co-irker: "we need to find a way to set ourselves apart from our competition."
me: "... yes... we do... we knew that. Lets talk about HOW to do that."
co-irker: <spends 5 minutes explaining WHY we need to set ourselves apart>
me: "I already agreed with you. Lets talk about HOW we can show we're better than our competition."
co-irker: <a few more minutes on why we need to set ourselves apart>
me: "... you know I agree with you right? Here's basically what separates us... first we onl..." <interrupted>
co-irker: "I want to develop something to physically leave on their desk when we leave." <looks smug>
me: "Like a toy or something with our logo?"
co-irker: "No, I mean..." <eventually, after 5 minutes, describes a toy with our logo>

STOP TALKING ABOUT GENERAL MARKETING PRINCIPLES AND ACTUALLY SAY SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE!!!

[thrill]

This is why marketing people don't like working with people who have to solve real problems and do real work. You've seen through the smoke and mirrors.

[JCShutout]

This put me in a bad mood.

why?

[docellis]

This is why marketing people don't like working with people who have to solve real problems and do real work. You've seen through the smoke and mirrors.

nice generalization.

I don't know what types of marketing people you've dealt with but here are a few things that marketing people do that are "real work":

They compile data based on customer preferences (survey info, web site tracking, etc)
They conduct direct mail campaigns (determine target market, obtain mailing lists, create mailer, coordinate postage)
They create marketing peices (using graphic design, come up with logos, slogans etc)

If you've never done any of these things, you might want to know - it is real work.

[arnie.k]

This is why marketing people don't like working with people who have to solve real problems and do real work. You've seen through the smoke and mirrors.

nice generalization.

++

did you consider he may just be a bad marketing person?

good marketing is not smoke and mirrors. some of the brightest people i know do marketing and do it quite well.

[thrill]

This is why marketing people don't like working with people who have to solve real problems and do real work. You've seen through the smoke and mirrors.

nice generalization.

I don't know what types of marketing people you've dealt with but here are a few things that marketing people do that are "real work":

They compile data based on customer preferences (survey info, web site tracking, etc)
They conduct direct mail campaigns (determine target market, obtain mailing lists, create mailer, coordinate postage)
They create marketing peices (using graphic design, come up with logos, slogans etc)

If you've never done any of these things, you might want to know - it is real work.

Actually I've done so many "marketing" duties at my job it causes me to wonder what the marketers actually do other than golf and go get drinks with clients.

I create their graphics and logos (when it isn't hired out), I deliver their proposals (which are created by a freelance graphic designer and copywriter), I build and design their web sites, I schlep their crap to conventions and meetings because it's very important that they never carry anything themselves; too busy getting drinks.

All this and I also am the lead it support tech for an office of 60+ users.

So yes, it was a gross generalization out of bitterness to my incredibly limited sample size of experience. I apologize to those compentant and hard working marketers out there. All I know is that I took a marketing class in college. I also took a public relations class in college. I had the top grades in both and won all three marketing contests that our professor coordinated, so much of this is bitterness is borne out of a sense that I could do their job better than them, and much of the time, do.

But that's probably my fault for not getting a degree in marketing. Maybe I'll go ahead and do that.

[tothebeach08]

I've noticed, in my limited experience on this site, that when the weather is rainy people get a little testy with each other here and in the real world.

All I can say is: I LOVE EVERYONE.

Carry on.

[cardinalkarp]

Good thing that I've decided to go ahead and finish my degree soon and my major is marketing managment. I guess I'm going to love going out and getting drinks and playing golf w/ clients and having people like thrill do all my work!

[docellis]

Actually I've done so many "marketing" duties at my job it causes me to wonder what the marketers actually do other than golf and go get drinks with clients.

I create their graphics and logos (when it isn't hired out), I deliver their proposals (which are created by a freelance graphic designer and copywriter), I build and design their web sites, I schlep their crap to conventions and meetings because it's very important that they never carry anything themselves; too busy getting drinks.

All this and I also am the lead it support tech for an office of 60+ users.

So yes, it was a gross generalization out of bitterness to my incredibly limited sample size of experience. I apologize to those compentant and hard working marketers out there. All I know is that I took a marketing class in college. I also took a public relations class in college. I had the top grades in both and won all three marketing contests that our professor coordinated, so much of this is bitterness is borne out of a sense that I could do their job better than them, and much of the time, do.

But that's probably my fault for not getting a degree in marketing. Maybe I'll go ahead and do that.

So the key is getting a degree in marketing so that you don't have to do any work?

I've done all the things you mentioned (plus a million more) and held the title "marketing director" or "marketing manager" etc for a long time.

It sounds like you are dealing with "sales" people or "business development" people...not people who actually do the work of marketing.

[Leroy]

Is she hot?