"Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat. "

Sun Tzu

Despite what you may think from the minimal activity here at Deep Bench Strategies, I spend hours a day [or more accurately, a night] reviewing the blogosphere with a particular eye for Marketing/Advertising, Public Relations, Social Media, Strategy/Planning, & the emerging technologies of the broad Digital World.

One blog that regularly appears at "the intersection of social media, search marketing and online public relations" is Online Marketing Blog. Lee Odden, who leads the blog from nearby Minneapolis, is a rockstar in this world. I've never met Lee, but find his writing to be engaging and enlightening.

Today, over lunch, I came across a post on his blog offering an invite to check out Pownce [http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/10/pownce-invites/]. Pownce is another iteration of "microblogging" similar in concept to Twitter. Where the [self-described] "bunch of geeks" at Pownce have succeeded is in the ability to attach just about anything to these mini-posts. I'm looking forward to exploring it more thoroughly in the coming days.

Thanks for the invite, Lee. I appreciate it!

“I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Being willing is not enough, we must do.” -- Leonardo DaVinci

Argus Leader political columnist, David Kranz, was nice enough to give a 'shout-out' to the new venture in his Friday column:

Link to Column

Weber & politics

Deep Bench Strategies is the newest political consulting firm in Sioux Falls.

Hugh Weber, formerly of Milbank, Watertown and Clark, has established a strategic planning and innovation firm for corporate clients, nonprofit and nonpartisan groups and political campaigns.

During his time in Sioux Falls, Weber has managed the Dave Munson for Mayor re-election campaign and did strategic planning, grassroots organization and research for Gov. Mike Rounds' 2006 re-election campaign.

"My background has been in building teams and providing solid strategy for communities, issues and candidates. With some strategy and training, any organization has the capacity to become an innovator," Weber said.

Although his background has been political, Weber also plans to make an impact through communities, churches and charities who would like to expand their outreach efforts and strategic planning.

Reach Weber through his Web site at www.deepbench strategies.com.

Hugh is President and CEO of Deep Bench Strategies, a strategic planning and innovation firm located in Sioux Falls, SD since March 2006.

Hugh's mission statement is to educate, engage, and empower those he encounters to maximize their personal potential through their church, community and charity, in turn maximizing each of these institutions.

Hugh prefers guitars to drums, baseball to basketball, and good home-cooked pasta to just about anything.

Hugh lives in Sioux Falls with his beautiful, intelligent and extremely patient wife, Amy.