Will lunacy never cease? General Motors was widely criticized last month for officially declaring that the car, formerly known as a Chevy, will now only be referred to by its given name, a "Chevrolet."

What all of the pundits have missed is that nicknames are a sign of endearment! We only bestow these names on brands that we know and love. And, smart marketers understand that nicknames such asBeemers, BevMo, FedEx, Bloomies, and Nordies mean we have such an intimate understanding of the brand that we have created a shortcut.


Want to read more about naming missteps and the secrets to success? See Chapter 3 entitled Name Dropping: How to Build a Brand That Sizzles in Red Fire Branding.

YMCA officially changed its name to "The Y" this week.  Although I am typically not thrilled about just initials, this name change works for me because:

1) It embraces its long-used nickname

2) It removes the limiting nature of the words "Men" and "Christian"

3) It's shorter which fits into our ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) generation.  

This name gets a YES!

On Thursday, June 3, I am back with my friends Caz Taylor and Ruben Garcia for SBA Radio; tune in Thursday at 11 am PST here:

Remember Cal Worthington and his dog Spot? If so, read my commentary on why his branding works in Long Beach Magazine:

I joined Dr. Nancy radio last week on WomenSpeak to talk about women, branding, and success. Listen here:

On Sunday, June 6, I chat with Networking Queen Robbie Motter on the radio. Click here:

On Wednesday, June 9, I host Dr. Marlene Siersema's Amazing Women...Brains, Beauty and Style. Listen live at 2 pm PST

June 14 marks my debut talk to the National Association of Professional Organizers. Pre-register here:

June 18 brings me back to Missouri; contact me about piggy back options. If you're interested, please let me know. Thanks!

June 22 means I'm chatting with the ladies about branding and the For You Network, Orange County. To register, Click here:

I don't believe American idol is a singing competition, it's a branding one; read my blog here: