cranes are a proxy for construction and infrastructure investment. Since both are closely and positively correlated with a growing economy, seeing many cranes along the skyline is a simple but reliable heuristic to know if an economy is doing well or poorly.

In your field of work, what are your cranes on the horizon?

I might start including this in all analytics reports and dashboards.

via XKCD

U.S. Media Reactions Report finds people overall are being more receptive toward advertising. Nearly half (47%) of people surveyed say they have a positive feeling towards ads in general.

The report also points to a “misalignment” in the way marketers are spending their dollars.

“It’s notable that marketer dollars don’t necessarily follow where consumers want to see advertising, nor do they always follow the exposure opportunity,” the report says.

The theme persists

The most surprising thing I found about business was the large concern for finance and low concern for service.

–Henry Ford

Not being concerned about service is a great way to make finance concerning.

What sticks out attracts attention. Which is kind of the point.

Don’t smooth the edges of your marketing.

Polished surfaces are hard to hold onto.

from Luke Geddes via Austin Kleon