July 30, 2008
the blue monster tattoo
Dan Woodman, a Microsoft employee for the last two years, liked the Blue Monster so much, he went and got himself a REAL tattoo of it. He explains why here:
While I can never forget how much I love this company and all of the great things we do, I wanted a daily reminder of the fact that I, as a Microsoftie, need to change the world every single day. That is why, as part of MGX this year, I decided to fully embrace the Blue Monster and all it stands for. That is my very own Blue Monster tattoo (and yes, he is real!). He’s there to make sure I don’t forget why I am here and what it is that I am doing — changing the world.
Wow. Thanks, Dan. As a cartoonist, it doesn’t get any better than this. Like Pam Slim just told me, “Yikes, Hugh, that brings ‘Putting Skin into The Branding Game’ to a whole new level!”
[Hint to Marketers:] The fact that one of your colleagues is willing to get a company tattoo, AGAIN, demonstrates a strong sense of what Mark Earls calls “The Purpose-Idea”. Think about it. Seriously.
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A wee chuckle to start your day off right etc.
OK – so I jumped before I knew all the facts. I gave Hugh grief on Twitter about it perhaps not being real, but a rub-on.
I stand corrected and am in real awe of Dan having the presence of mind to recognize that a reminder like this is a great way to keep your head on straight.
I give it to you Hugh, you are amazing! Nice tattoo Dan.
Thanks, Steven. I can understand — it looks a little fake in that picture, but trust me — it’s the real deal. (It hurt way too much to be a rub-on.) But, now that you mention it… Blue Monster rub-on tattoos: perfect for when you need a non-permanent reminder of what it is you’re here to do today.
-Dan
“The fact that one of your colleagues is willing to get a company tattoo…”
But he didn’t. He got a tattoo of a cool drawing made by a very interesting person, but to anyone who doesn’t read this blog or isn’t part of the cognoscenti at MSFT, this *isn’t* a “company tattoo”.
Show me someone who’s gotten a tattoo of the MSFT logo. Or the Windows logo. Then I’ll start paying a little more attention.
(okay, snark mode off…)
so i’m guessing, if you’re fired, you’re screwed
))
Branding yourself with a corporate logo, even if its only recognisable by geeks? Sheesh. Let’s hope job security isn’t a concern, otherwise there might need to be some tattoo edits. Perhaps a large blue whale to reflect the bloatware that is Vista once you stop drinking the koolaid?
Fascinating, I don’t even wear t-shirts that advertise things. William Gibson was right about corporate archologies. Go get ‘em Dan.
Man, in any other industry this would be seen as the most self abasing kind of brown-nosing. I don’t see why working in IT is any different from being a cog in any other transnational corporation – and a mediocre aggressively monopolist one at that….
DrSnowboard, If you have a better idea, cool. Build it.
I have to admit I’d be reluctant to get a tattoo just for an employer with the way the job market is these days. I suppose if you get one everywhere you work it’s a visual resumé
Denis: Here you go. http://blogs.technet.com/kevinremde/archive/2005/12/06/415649.aspx
(And no, that one isn’t mine)
As for the rest of the comments about getting fired, changing it, etc. I was passionate about Microsoft long before I worked here. And now that I do, I cannot imagine leaving. It is much more than a job — it is a way of life. I don’t envision ever regretting the ink, nor wishing to change it, but you can bet if that happens, I will let you know.
+1. Who more?
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