How To Make Microsoft Cool (Part 2)
Posted on June 11, 2008 - Filed Under Random
Over the past two days, I have been pondering how to make Microsoft cool. Sure, I could have generated ideas that have been born out of insights. I could have constructed full strategies drawing from the “cool equity” of the Xbox 360.
But I didn’t. I just wrote down a list of ideas that popped into my head. Sometimes you just have to spew ideas on the page, unaware of the logic behind them. Let me know what you think.
Microsoft soda … so good that people would pay money for it. NOT!
1. The Start of “Logical Thinking”
Okay, people hate Microsoft because it’s a monopoly. But not all monopolies are hated. Think about Google. People love that company. It makes my life easier, which make it easy to love. And you have to be really smart to work at Google. Working there would be like a badge. I’d probably brag about it. Do you think that working at Microsoft would be the same thing? Or would people just hate me.
Anyways, back to making Microsoft cool. Let’s throw in some celebrities. Like HP computers. A little Jay-Z never hurt a brand. Wait … new idea. Have Microsoft sponsor some cool concerts and give away tickets or VIP access when people buy their shit. Don’t even tell people that they’re going to get free stuff. Surprise and delight. Give people unexpected gifts from Microsoft.
2. The Big Ideas
Make a Microsoft reality TV show. It would be like The Ultimate Fighter. Give the public a glimpse into the world of “Microsoft” and the REALLY smart people who work there. Showcase the people in an authentic manner. Maybe have it as a challenge of two Microsoft teams trying to build some sort of world-changing water purification device for African countries. Put those big brains to good use.
Have a developer prize. Give away a million dollar cash prize to the first team who can invent “x”. Give open source code. Track the progress of the teams. Have a nerd-fest. Because nerds with coin aren’t nerds. They’re owners of the Dallas Mavericks.
Give every employee a “cool” makeover, starting with Bill. Seriously though. Go buy a bunch of Levi’s. Get some of those makeover people into the office to make everyone look cool. Get people acting confident, proud and edgy. Get them psyched to work at Microsoft. Make them look so cool that kids are like, “Holy crap. What does that guy do? I want to be like him when I grow up”.
As a caveat, most of these ideas will sound ridiculous. Or scary. Or both. They wouldn’t have the potential to be big ideas if they didn’t. Thoughts?
- Christian
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have bill gates fight a bear; watch it online with a special pin when you purchase Windows XP or Vista