Well that was a show – The 2010 Winter Olympics have now concluded. There was great moments, that as a country we were privileged to share together.

This is what I took away from the last 17 days:

First, it truly is an amazing feat to put all this together.

Second, this was a moment better shared with fellow Canadians.

Third, we are a country that should be proud that we have so many amazing athletes.

Oddly enough, I would be interested to see the ratings of online viewership for this years Olympics as Bell, and CTV did an amazing job of having high-end streaming video online (even the Gold medal match-ups)

This is my questions to you, the reader – What was your favourite part of the games? Then, how can you bring that back into your work-place? I know that sounds like a difficult task, but I’ll give you an example.

“For me personally, watching the final Hockey game yesterday with friends was one of the highlights of the Olympics. I’m going to bring back into the work place the idea of teamwork, excitement, and to allow passion to flow seamlessly into new initiatives.”

Have an inspired day!

Let me begin by saying Congratulations to the Canadian Juniors. Many people will look on this team with disappointment, but they truly were an amazing team. Also congrats to the USA team, they where disciplined, and had great speed.

Ok, on with the example: Can you tell it may have something to do with the World Junior’s from last night?

“I was watching the gold medal match-up between Canada and USA on TSN.ca. My house is quiet, so the hockey atmosphere was just not there – although that was a game that really didn’t need much else. I thought I would jump onto Twitter to see if anyone else was talking about what was going on at the World Juniors. To no surprise, I think every Canadian who has a twitter account was on, and some from the US, talking back in forth, chanting Go – insert team here Go. The hockey atmosphere that I was looking for was created, and I was able to connect with those across Canada, and other parts of the world who where watching the game.”

So what does that mean for Your business, or business in general?

You may never have a live event that will captivate a nation like the gold metal matchup at the World Juniors (or you may). But you can and will have conversations about your business.

Use Twitter for what is was made for, a conversation super-house.

For last night’s Twitter feed, I used the # marks of hockey, IIhf, WJHC, and Canada.

Recently, I read an excellent post from Jer at Never Stop Marketing with what I feel is a brilliant title – When you kill your Raving Fans. This is an excellent article that talks about how when a product has fans (or raving fans)Â and you start to neglect them, or even worse mistreat them (as Jer would say, poor water onto them), you eventually will lose them, and the battle.

The article is about Football, however I’m from Canada and this county is made on a few small things

Maple Syrup

Moose / Beavers

&

HOCKEY!

Hockey to many Canadians is not just a sport, it’s a life time passion. It is something we do as young kids on ice-rinks our parents make for use, to 4 am Hockey practice, to staying up far to late on a work night to watch the double head. For many, Hockey is much more than a past time, and our team (what ever team that may be) is the best there is, and always has a chance to go to the cup.

However, I’m not going to focus on one team in particular (although it would be much easier to point out ones who do mistreat their fans better than anyone else) but I am going to bring this down to a personal level. I very much like hockey, love may be to strong a word, but it’s the next best thing. I enjoy playing it, watching it both on TV and in person, and participate in the fantasy pools just to get even closer to the action (watching the TSN showcase for 45 minutes to get a few tips).

But, it has been a long time, a very long time since I have seen a game live. Even longer with good seat. Plus, it seems now that if a team is not in the race for the playoff or in the playoff, they simply don’t care.(Ok one exception Calgary vs. Edmonton are usually great games). Now as a hockey fan, this is disappointing. Every year I hope my team does well, but can afford to go see them live, while I hear stories of people visiting Florida and watching the same game for $19 which included parking.

Each year it becomes more expensive, and the Hockey organization seems to care a little less. I am still a fan, as many Canadian are, but I wonder how long we will have water pored onto us before we stop being raving fans for our symbolic sport?

Watching a hockey game tonight, made me think of how powerful Hockey is (well maybe in Canada, such as Football is to USA, or Football to most of Europe)

So why is Hockey so powerful?

Tones of reasons could come up
- It’s fun to watch
-Fun to Play
-Our (Canada’s) National Sport
-Pride
-The thought that we’re (Canada) the best,

But what does this all mean to Marketing? well if you can build a campaign that focuses on excitement, and inspire people like the NHL does for Canadians, then selling becomes secondary (and in a way so does product – ie. Toronto Maple Leafs – has captured the market so well, that even in the dark times of rebuilding the team, they still sell out every season)

But this is not without loop holes, think of most of the southern State teams, they all need to have specials just to get people in the doors.

Build on excitement, and inspire people to take action. A winning combo