Let's get creative for a minute. I think it's safe to say the banner is not the end product of display-based Web advertising -- but what will be? What will Web advertising evolve to become?

I was passing through the baggage claim at LaGuardia Airport when I stumbled on a terribly odd contraption mounted to a wall. From a distance, I had no idea what it was. At first, it resembled those tired-looking ATM machines you often see in New York City delis, with a screen, keyboard and credit card reader. But its black handset also resembled a retro payphone. Yet it also had a black industrial-grade box with a peephole, bolted to the top. WTF was this?

I'm filing this column from Sydney, Australia, where I spoke at CeBIT earlier this week on how social media is completely transforming the way we engage with each other and get motivated to participate in causes. It's an interesting topic. The "slacktivism" of privileged Westerners has been amply mocked by meme-generators Webwide: "Oh, so you posted about Kony on Facebook? You must be quite the activist!" So let's be clear. Liking a page supporting democracy in Syria doesn't make me an activist, and won't result in the overthrow of a government. But it's still worthwhile. I've moved one step further …

Tom Hagen once said, "This is business. It's not personal." That memorable line was uttered in "The Godfather," arguably one of the greatest, if not the greatest, cinematic masterpieces of all time. My passion for that film and the characters it created put aside, that line is a lie.

A few days ago, we landed safely in New York Harbor after sailing over 1,000 miles, nonstop, from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. on my family's 46-foot sloop. I was with my dad, my five-year-old son, and two additional experienced sailing friends. It was a great trip.

Last week MEC, the global media agency where I worked from 2002-2008, marked its 10th year in business. The agency was the result of a merger between The Media Edge and CIA (Chris Ingram and Associates). To mark MEC's decade of success, I would like to share 10 things that I learned about media and business in general during my time at the agency:

Merriam-Webster defines it as "the process or technique of promoting, selling, and distributing a product or service." The Chartered Institute of Marketing says it's "the management process responsible for identifying, anticipating and satisfying customer requirements profitably." But I, of course, have an alternate definition, which is this: Marketing is a process of recognition. It is the process by which you recognize your customers and the process by which they recognize you.

When you're building a company, there are many factors that affect your success, but none are as important as the people who surround you. To quote Patti Smith, "The People Have The Power"! The people make the company. You may have the greatest idea in the world, but if you don't have the right team, it will be difficult to create success.

If you ever meet me in a professional setting, you may notice my black notebook and black-ink pen. I carry it around like an evangelical Christian does his copy of the Bible. There are four reasons:

Recently, Sir James Dyson, the founder of the Dyson Company and the inventor of sleek household appliances, said that he doesn't believe in branding. "We're only as good as our latest product," Dyson said. "I don't believe in brand at all."