Popularity, Branding, Accountability, "Manjacking" & Needlepoint
5 Things in NancyAF's Brain the Week of 10/5
Yeah, it’s my usual eclectic mix.
It’s going to get a little heavy, which I figure is OK after last week’s rant about The Golden Bachelor and reality TV.
I am truly loving how AI takes my random lists and turns them into graphics.
The first four things in my head this week all relate to my work.
Yeah, I still work at 69 and have no plans to stop. I consult on branding and write content, and I will get back out on the speaking circuit (conferences and a little stand-up comedy) in 2026.
I also just read that the number of older women on OnlyFans is surging, but I would rather sell my brain than my body at any age. People sometimes question my (tasteful) lingerie shots on IG, but a girl’s gotta do what she must to stop the scroll. Which relates to “thing #1…”
The world is now obsessed with quantity…the number of followers and fans we have on social media, how many people tune into a streaming series, and how many eyeballs a digital billboard draws. In the case of today’s OF girls, setting new records for the number of men you hook-up with seems to be the new normal. Ick!
Of course, reach is super-important in marketing and sales. But let’s not forget the WHO we’re trying to reach and the power of engagement. The social is in social media for a reason. Even Gary Vee, who was the godfather online marketing, has been speaking lately about ICP (ideal customer profile) and quality over quantity.
Who has the need and $$ to buy what you’re selling? It’s a pretty basic question, but it still matters.
Branding seems to be dying. It’s not being taught in marketing classes, and so-called “agencies” and marketing service providers often can’t define what it is. We all recently saw what happens when a legacy brand like Cracker Barrel ignores its core brand soul and kills poor Uncle Hershel. An agency got fired, and the CEO was publicly shamed. Having worked at Mastercard during the creation of the longest-running brand campaign in history (“Priceless”), I kinda know what I’m talking about. Even if you are a personal brand or small business, who you are and how you differ from competitors are your keys to growth and longevity. Need a brand to drive all your communications? You know where to find me. (As I noted above, I’m still working!)
Another thing that seems to be dying is accountability. If you say you’re going to do something, please do it. And do it when you say you’re going to do it. If you can’t do it or make a mistake, man or woman up and make that difficult phone call. Back in the day, we called indirect people “pansies.” Today we call them “snowflakes.” The concept is the same. Don’t ever say something isn’t personal when you’re making a tough
decision. Why would it be personal? Business is business. Work is work. You can be kind, yet direct. Nicely say what you need to say, and let’s all move on.
“Manjacking” is a word I recently created. I love men. Don’t get me wrong. I work with them, hang out with them, and have many in my family. But this is about a common behavior…not the entire gender. You may have heard of “mansplaining,” but this is different. An anti-ageism advocate, I’ve noticed that a lot of men in the space have started talking about women’s issues.
We are always happy to have support from male allies (mallies). I have my perception of what men might want or need in a particular situation. But I will always reach out to someone who is actually of that gender to get a perspective.
Another variation on manjacking is when a guy takes full credit for something a woman created, without even saying thank you. (You’ll hear more about the power of gratitude this November!)
Needlepoint. It’s creative, calming, and (unless you’re doing fancy stitches), it’s kinda mindless. You can do it while watching TV, listening to a book/music, or
I just HAD to include this image. It’s what AI came up with and it clearly illustrates how AI has a long way to go in the diversity department! speaking on the phone (like with your voice…not texting). I’ve written before about the value of crafts. I’m actually looking forward to a rainy weekend because I’m a tad cranky and stressed this week, and plan to bake gluten-free pumpkin spice muffins and complete a needlepoint project that I started over a year ago. (I’m in the home stretch…perhaps I’ll even post a pic next week!)
Because I’m cranky (for a variety of reasons, but overall it was a great week), I asked my AI agent to tell me how this article sounds. It said:
“Candid. Confident. Conversational. Clever. Compassionate.
It’s exactly the kind of essay that invites engagement—some readers will nod, some will chuckle, a few might bristle—but all will keep reading. It feels like classic NancyAF: thoughtful, unfiltered, and distinctly human.”
And, even though I said that it’s not ALL about quantity, I could sure use some more Subscribers. You know what to do!
This week, instead of my usual chart o’ facts and figures, I’m simply sharing the video I put up for Ageism Awareness Day on October 9th, along with the caption I used. Aging is only scary if you allow it to be!
The caption:
Today is Ageism Awareness Day.
Bias is everywhere, including Spirit Halloween!
Check yourself and your work/friend circle today, please!
Some fun facts from this tech pioneer who’s almost 70:
Older consumers control an estimated $2.4 trillion in spending.
Yet only 6% of people who work at ad agencies are over 50. (I spend on travel, fashion, food, and electronics. Stop selling me pee panties and walk-in showers)
80% of women say they’ve experienced ageism at work.
And if you lose your job after 50, there’s a 1 in 4 chance you’ll never find another one. (My friend Janine Vanderburg just launched a course to help you launch a consulting practice.)
I’m dusting off and “corporatizing” (cleaning up) my comedy routine -- “I’m Not Your F*cking Grandma.” Watch for it next year on a conference stage near you.