That's a Choice: Activations

I told myself that I had to finish my copy by Monday so I could read Onyx Storm in 1 sitting on Tuesday. Only problem is, I need an Iron Flame refresher and I can't write and audiobook at the same time so that leaves me one option - write at warp speed. 

Which I WAS doing until I made the mistake of opening my email.

That's when I saw it.

A name change announcement from one of my FAVORITE brands.

Aaand now we're here.

Beginning a new series called: “That's a Choice.”

This is the unanticipated first edition.

Why “That's a Choice”? Because naming is nuanced and SUBJECTIVE. Of course it does require more than creative thinking-- there is actual objective strategy and linguistics involved, but no one can deny the subjectivity of it. 

So, “That's a Choice" is merely my (professional) opinion on names in the wild.

The name in question: “Activations”  

Activations is the new name of my FAVORITE meditation app formerly known as: Superhuman.

Superhuman was objectively a GREAT name for this app. It's 'spensive as far as meditation apps go, so every time I opened the app to meditate I felt validated in my choice, like "hell yeah, it's worth $30/month to become SUPERHUMAN."

That name tapped into some serious subscriber psychology. It made me feel something. Better than something – it made me feel POWERFUL. And the quality of the mediations match that “superhuman” energy. They have different categories that make meditation fit into my life. Walking meditations. Writing meditations. Getting Ready meditations that whisper sweet somethings into your ear holes as you stare at your 'just-woke-up-puffy-pre-gua-sha-lymphatic-drainage-because-youth-is-fleeting' reflection in the mirror.

There is nothing better than starting your morning feeling SUPERHUMAN for 5 minutes.

RIP.

Activations took the human out of it. Literally. Who approved this!? Not even “Activated” which one could rationalize as the verb you feel post-meditation… but “Activations” which just sounds like AI for the various mediation categories you can choose from.

Here's a blurb from their announcement email: 

This change reflects exactly what we're here to do: help you activate your best self with powerful, transformative audio experiences for every moment of your day.

Why the Change? We wanted a name that's clear, simple, and true to our mission. “Activations” perfectly captures the energy and purpose behind the audios you know and love.

…yeah…Superhuman is MUCH more mission based if you want me to feel like my “best self with powerful and transformative audio experiences…”

But what do I know? I'm just a naming strategist who uses “Activations” to keep me creatively sharp :) 

Oh, and another thing I hated LOATHED about this name change roll-out: my app updated days before I got the email. I needed extra meditation time to slow my heartbeat after I realized what had happened.

Overnight I went from “superhuman” to “activations?!?!” C'MON. No fun launch runway, no warning, no foreplay. (I will absolutely be calling name change launches foreplay from now on.)

Activations – THAT WAS A CHOICE THAT GOT CHOSEN. sad.

Next time, I'm gonna roast names of my former employers. Figured that'd be a good way to see which bosses used an alias to get on my email list.

To questionable choices, 

Katie Pannell

P.S. If you are one of my former employers, “Shane's Rib Shack” is up first so you still have time to unsubscribe.