I read an article in the Seattle Times  yesterday that had me thinking about marketing. Usually, I try to notice how others are doing it and how to do it better. This one got me wondering about the times when the amount – and type – of marketing we do actually takes away from the purpose of what we are marketing.

The article was about the Heisman Trophy . For any non-college-football-lovers out there, the Heisman Trophy is the honor given to the top college football player each year. At least that’s what it is supposed to be. Over the last several decades it has become all about which school will spend the most money to come up with the best marketing campaign for their particular player.

Here is the line that pointed out the essence of what made me scratch my head (and feel a little sick to my stomach):

Back in 1970, Notre Dame convinced a willing, young, talented quarterback named Joe Theismann (once pronounced Thees-man), an all-American and all-Academic All-American, to change his name so it rhymed with Heisman.

Seriously? All these years I – and the rest of the sports world – have been pronouncing a guy’s name incorrectly due to marketing for an award that is supposed to reward talent?!?! (Joe took 2nd by the way behind Jim Plunkett. So there.)

Of course, I also started wondering if any of the marketing I do actually takes away from what the purpose of That You May Know Ministries  really is.

Don’t get me wrong. Marketing is vitally important. After all, if no one knows you exist, it’s hard to serve, train, or help them. But when the goal of the marketing is simply the promotion of self something has gone terribly awry. Here ends today’s rant.

What messages is your marketing sending?

Read full article here.