Tag: different

“Why are all the angels white? Why ain’t there no black angels?”

Posted on by philipdodson

ali

Another legend from my childhood passes away and this one more than Bowie or more than Prince, has an impact.

Muhammad Ali or Cassius Clay as he was originally named, was part of my early childhood in 1970’s and I remember watching his fights on TV with my Dad, who was a massive boxing fan, when there were only 3 channels, yes I am that old.

Even as a child I liked the rebel, I liked someone who stood out, who challenged things, who was not part of the establishment, who was prepared to be different.

I didn’t know his story really then, although I remember my Dad telling me some of it, however, I instinctively liked him and he was a childhood hero.

To me, and it is all opinion, he will always be the greatest boxer and in a time when for me boxing was still a great sport with true legends. It had not been so totally corrupted by money and greed then.

This is one of my favourite quotes of his:

“Cassius Clay is a slave name. I didn’t choose it, and I didn’t want it. I am Muhammad Ali, a free name, and I insist people using it when speaking to me and of me.”

I’m a huge fan of Brene Brown and she talks in her books about vulnerability and the courage it takes to step into the ‘ring’, ‘get knocked down’ and rise up strong. Well, Ali literally did that inside and outside of the ring all his life. To me, he was a brave man, who was not afraid to be vulnerable. He also went on to do lots of great things in his life despite having Parkinsons disease.

A great man, a great inspiration, a true rebel and the greatest boxer – RIP

A faded glory

Posted on by philipdodson

IMG_5031

Many seaside places in the UK have become a little run down and unloved. Like many businesses become.

People bemoan this, complaining that people book their summer holiday in places like Spain or Greece.

The fact is, like anything in life, you have to keep innovating if you want to be successful in attracting the crowd and stop people going elsewhere. People say they can’t compete with the weather.

Then you have to think differently, you need to create something different, new, exciting, and then you need to market it to the right audience. Not everyone wants just a hot sunny beach. So target those people.

Many places, business and people have sat, trying to compete with someone or something else, by doing the same and trying to do it cheaper. Or simple doing what they have always done, hoping that there are still some people who like that.

Be bold, don’t try to replicate others at a lower price. Simply because others will replicate it and do it cheaper. Don’t aim for the bottom, the mass.

Aim for different, special, and never worry about the price. If you create something that people want, rather than need, then price will never be an issue.

Fish & chips and arcades will not bring people flooding back to the British sea side on it’s own, unless it’s the very best fish & chips or an arcade with something different.

Margate, for example is doing different, it brought in the Turner art museum, and up sprung art galleries, new B&B’s, a different style of restaurants. Now the place is seeing a real renaissance. It is attracting a different audience.

They have thought outside the box and dared to do something new. They have realised that they can not compete for sun and sand, however, they can offer something Spain or Greece can’t and that is why people go there.

If seaside towns want more business, and prosperity, then be bold, and stop offering the same things that have not worked for decades.

Deliver a truly unique experience, like Margate has chosen to do.