[...] by Jennifer Mooney As we careen full frontal into 2012, we continue in uncertain times. We are reminded that relationships, a decent reputation, a bit of creative marketing and a positive attitude still count for something. We see one another “coming and going” – no matter how hard we might try to outpace the parts of ourselves that we choose to escape. Words and pictures are delivered to us and generated by us. No matter who we are and what we do. The online economy that defines “life as we know it” puts us each at the epicenter of an image. Or as therapists for eons have lamented – Internet or not – we are each tied to our own tails. There is no escaping the image reflected in the mirror. I spent five years as an executive in Central Florida. My (like most kids’) vivid childhood memories include Anaheim and my first date with the mouse. Back then there was no thing known as Walt Disney World. Only ONE Magic Kingdom that was paradise personified. Our more recent family-life life in the Sunshine State included a home not far from the tourist scene in an idyllic and old neighborhood. The epic center of marketing madness – more contritely: Disney vs. Universal. It’s easy to be cynical about all things Disney and their über marketing prowess, but I am a mom after all. So Disney got a piece of me. The girls and I chortled at the Mickey Christmas with faux flurries and I became a kid again. At the same time, my communications eyes observed really truly happy folks collecting trash, operating “rides” and selling us lots of stuff. From a the reputation POV, Disney has had its own share of “ugly” moments. Yet, they demonstrate resilience and  customer satisfaction during what can be otherwise dark days. Even in this economy, they continue to attract record breaking patrons — while other entertainment venues are left reeling. Disney knows a thing or two about people. About marketing. About the consumer. About you and me. These are smart people. At the same time, we witness men and women “taken down” due to their random acts of impulse and humanity. We people just can’t help ourselves. We are who we are. We do what we do. We prosper, live, sometimes learn, push forward and look for our own form of happiness that old man Walt may not have found an experience to emulate. David Byrne said, “Watch out you might get what you’re after.” Entry to a new year offers time to take stock. To reinvent. To be better. To do more. To eat less. To live the life we seek. And psychologists instruct that in each of our passive-aggressive ways, we often get just that – we are who we are. The information age has ensured that we find long lost friends, lovers, family members and coworkers. While the first five minutes of this discovery may be uplifting, then we once again confront the man/woman we once were. The good and the bad. The size 4 I was and the stupid young things that I did. Disney reminds us that we can find those momentary bouts of intense, unbridled happiness and their environment makes (even the plastic snow) seem kind of real. We relish in the childlike playfulness of it all. Yet, underneath the glamour — inherent trust that darkness still lurks. The question is: Will it be ours to see? The Internet reminds us of who we once were, what we are like as grown ups and that we never escape our past, our relationships and ourselves. Reputation Management is the futility of managing the information that exists out there. And starting with the truth is a good place. The information ensures that we “never forget.” WOW. While we marketers have consummate respect for the machine that Walt built, we humans know better. Nothing stays dormant forever. With every great marketing campaign there resides the part that no one (no one) wants the world to see. Prophecy that has been spoken by Byrne and his bands remind us that while this may be 2012, it really is “same as it ever was.” Let’s try to live out next year being as good, honest, hopeful – and as realistic as we can. Darkness lurks; optimism lives. Hope is alive. [...]