During the Pandemic, Remember to Smile

So for now I39m going to change things up a bit and share some musings on marketing in the Age of Apprehension with the goal of bringing a little bit of levity and some smiles to our current reality Said another way here39s a glimpse of what happens to a creative mind when there39s more downtime than usualHave you thought about the followingThe Charmin Bears Are Still HibernatingWith all that39s going on in the world including a national outage not shortage of toilet paper our loveable ursine friends are enjoying a long uninterrupted and clueless slumber While the mascots are dozing and we39re retreating to the safety of our lairs Charmin factory workers are at it 247 so quarantined families can sleep at night knowing they39ll have a year39s supply of TP Don39t try to understand why we stockpile in times of fear we just doAs someone who helped create the Charmin Bears I love our little furry friends amp8212 but right now I39m brimming with envy It sure would be nice to sleep our way through this crisis and wake up with a big stretch and a yawn as if it never happened at allIt39s Not Game Over for SportsWhile the postponement of all major sporting events is also deflating our spirit there39s a great way to end run the lack of live programming Considering that the outcome of live sports is unpredictable amp8212 and that we have enough unpredictability to go around right now thank you amp8212 why not rewind some of the greatest sporting events of all time My pick would be the most improbable and inspirational triumph of the last century the US men39s hockey team victory over Russia at the 1980 OlympicsDubbed a miracle this stunning upset came at an auspicious time for a hopeful country We were still in the midst of a prolonged recession concerned about an interminable Iran hostage crisis and of course fearful of the expansion of the Cold War with the Soviet39s invasion of Afghanistan We were in a dire need of something to celebrate then just as we are now Click on the link and see how long it takes for you to be wearing a patriotic and optimistic smileSocial Distancing How About a Lassie HugHow good would it feel to watch some classic Lassie episodes right now Those of us who grew up with Lassie loved her because she was unwaveringly faithful had an eagerness to help others and a determination to right wrongs If Lassie39s admirable wholesome and unjudging values made us feel that good then imagine what she could do to salve some spirits now All these years later I39m betting that Lassie still knows how to save the dayAbout That 401KIf we39re shutting down everything else why can39t we close the financial markets I don39t know about the rest of you but there39s no quotKquot left in my 401K account Look for my next column on why and how boomers are rethinking retirementIt39s a Quarantine Not Gilligan39s IslandBeing selfquarantined is no one39s idea of a good time but at least you39re not a slapstick castaway marooned on a remote island with a bumbling first mate If you39re looking for entertaining distraction forget about the Skipper and watch some Flipper insteadWe39re Never Too Old to LearnJust when you thought you knew how to wash your hands you39re told you39ve been doing it wrong all these years Who knew It makes you wonder how many other things we39ve been doing so incapably for so long While we39re on the topic of selfimprovement I know a few bad drivers who could learn a thing or twoWhere Did All my Purell GoAs someone who has given and received countless stockingstuffer bottles of Purell over the years I was convinced that I had as much as I needed and more Now they39re nowhere Is it just me I39ve got a hunch that they39re hiding in the same place as all my lost socksSeveral years back I was taking a skiing lesson and my instructor kept stressing the importance of having fun and remembering to smile I immediately dismissed his advice because I was more intent on improving some of the technical aspects of my skiing But the more time we spent together the more I came to appreciate how my mental disposition was affecting my physical technique My mental fear of the gnarly terrain that I was skiing was tensing my entire body amp8212 exactly the opposite of the flexibility one needs to get through the tough stuff By smiling in the face of fear my brain told my body to relax and my technique was never betterBy extension these are gnarly times for all of us and while we will all need to cope with our circumstances in our own best way don39t underestimate the power of a smile At a time when we39re all preoccupied with not spreading germs let39s remember to smile so we can spread the cheer that keeps us goingDon39t stop now Stay in the know on marketing to age with more from Peter HubbellClick the social buttons to share this story with colleagues and friendsThe opinions expressed here are the author39s views and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet

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During the Pandemic, Remember to Smile

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Peter Hubbell

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During the Pandemic, Remember to Smile

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