Everything is not normal right now…certainly none of us are in some constant, dreamy state of positivity. But having a good attitude and resilience is about bouncing back from stress and setbacks. Adapting not just to endure, but to “endure it well.”

Lyceum was the perfect project for a new consultant in the Marketing Lab at BYU. We were contacted by a pair of entrepreneurs who were in the early stages of ideation for a new business that would disrupt the education sector. Drawing from their own experiences with higher education and launching ventures across the globe, these entrepreneurs saw an opportunity to disrupt the education space while making learning opportunities more widely accessible for both learners and teachers.

Did you know that the higher a job pays, the lower likelihood to die from a heart attack? You’re thinking, “Sure! If I was making six figures I would eat better, exercise more, keep up on my health, etc.” The truth is, those that make the big bucks have greater flexibility in their workday. More freedom to choose leads to lower stress, which translates to lower blood pressure, making heart problems much less likely. Choice is pretty important, yeah?

Fred Rogers, star of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, connected to viewers unlike any other program had before. While he specialized in children’s television, his thoughts on people and practices in content creation translate well into some spectacular advertising tips. Here are a few things we can learn from his neighborhood.

By gathering insights about the market and segmenting effectively, Under Armour was able to build a profitable and competitive brand. What is segmentation? Segmentation is the process of looking at your market and dividing them into groups. An effective segmentation strategy is foundational for building a strong brand.

Product managers know that bringing a new product to market is both costly and risky. Just as with the perfect prom dress, trade-off decisions like, “Which features should we build into the product?” or “How should we price the product?” could make or break the product’s success.

Bouchard was trying to make a conscious attempt to develop their own brand internationally. They wanted to enter the US market. However, entering the US market successfully is easier said than done, especially when their primary product to enter was a bar of new probiotic chocolate.

We at the Marketing Lab suggest that the whole misunderstanding could have been avoided by the Empire reinforcing their own brand love through creating unique engagement experiences for each Galactic Citizen.

Given that fact, it should come as no surprise that we spend a lot of time reading and sharing new insights with each other. We felt it would be appropriate to share the list of some of the best books that have captured our thoughts with you, dear reader, with a small warning. If you add these to your 2020 reading list, you better have enough shelf space so that you can revisit them regularly in the years to follow.

Hey! Remember that Peloton ad that went viral this past Christmas season? Or Pepsi’s controversial Kendall Jenner ad that was pulled after just one day? It’s all too easy to spot examples of poor marketing and bad advertising. The reality, however, is that most marketing is not bad or good, most marketing just is.

What I do now is pretty much identical to what I did in the Marketing Lab. Getting that practice early on has provided me a head start in the company and has helped me deliver valuable content to our clients.

I’m stoked about this because it’s exactly what I wanted to do after I graduated.

We talk a lot about what Marketing Lab does for the clients, and for the students who get the opportunity to work with clients, but what I wish to emphasize is another one of the gifts I’ve received from BYU Marketing Lab: the people I get to work with on a daily basis. 

The Marketing Lab is here to make you the hero. In essence, we turn marketing research into strategic decisions. Our team of top-tier undergrad and graduate students, supported by marketing professionals and our director, Matt Madden, will help you crush whatever your next project entails.