Mary Engelbreit quote
If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it. ~via
Posted on Saturday, July 04, 2009 in Quote
Do what you already do
I'm a big fan of a business doing what they already do. This may sound a little obvious, but I believe there are tons of people and business looking to do the same thing that you already do, but are they as good at it as you? Are you as good at it as you should be?
Running a business at it’s essence is an exercise in focus. There are so many things that can be compelling, that is easy to chase after too many things. There is a balance however, one of my instructors at NYU, a student of Peter Drucker , likes the idea of trying many different things and sticking with what works. A great example is 3M, a business that started out in one but found success in another, innovation is maybe their business not scotch-tape and post-its—but I digress.
Posted on Thursday, July 02, 2009 in Branding • Business • Strategy
Content is a princess
Interesting thought from Joe Webb, a graphic communications guru.
How many times have you heard the phrase “content is king”? Perhaps hundreds or thousands of times in the last 10 to 15 years. This has been uttered all those times as a justification for the dominance of publishers of all types—audio, video, text, and images—in the digital age. If it were true, the content kings would not always be whining about profits, downsizing, or restructuring. They’d be riding a wave of successes that emanate from their kingly dominance
He concludes that Distribution is King, which I happen to agree with. Ironically enough, at the end of the article there is no way share it. I’d love to have sent this to everyone I know.
Hat tip Metaprinter
Posted on Sunday, June 28, 2009 in Business • Strategy
Who will survive in commercial printing?
This was the title a of a speech given by Greg D'Amico, one of my professors at NYU.
He covered six points that, although they were used in the context of the Graphic Communication industry, could be applied to any business environment.
1. The customer is our business
2. Focus on core-competencies
3. Create one-to-one customer relationships
4. Build strategic alliances
5. Enable a culture open to change
6. Hire a talented and educated salesforce
Posted on Thursday, June 25, 2009 in Business • Strategy
Mandate
As suggested the only way to store something is to keep it moving. I'm busy archiving files from CD's I created as archives several years ago to assorted cloud services such as flickr, scribd etc., in addition to running across loads of bad poetry from my misspent youth, I came across this little gem, some mandates I'd written for myself.
- Be Proactive
- Plan Weekly Objectives
- Focus on my reactions
- Continue to learn
- Be a better husband
- Laugh
- Smile
- Do something creative at least once a week that has nothing to do work
- Don’t be crisis driven
- Don’t se excuses
- Take responsibility
- Take ownership
- Fine solution before problems arise
- Be preventive
- Learn to say no
- Delegate
- Let go
- Do my job
- Take care of my business
Most of these things I’ve internalized, but it’s interesting to see again. I plan on putting this up again as a daily reminder.
Posted on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 in Productivity
10 things my father taught me about sales by Gary Dolgins
I found a one-sheet from Gary Dolgins, a salesperson, an adviser in my department at NYU, and I guy I look up to. It's a list of ten things he learned from his father about sales, which is a seminar he gives on sales. Why I don't consider myself a salesperson by trade. I am always selling. Here are the tips:
- What is the most important thing about sales?
- Overcome an objection gives you the OPPORTUNITY to ask for the order.
- The first one who speaks looses.
- Close early…close often. It never hurts to ask.
- Listen to what your customer is saying. There is no crime in saying “I don’t understand”
- You must have a reason to discount your price.
- You’ve got to have a pitch.
- Never hide success.
- Always prospect. But, never prospect from the curb
- Plan your work and work your plan.
Some of these are a little vague without the seminar, but some are dead on, and worth thinking about.
Posted on Tuesday, June 16, 2009 in Branding • Business • Selling
Salvation Army Commercial
I find this commercial for the Salvation Army done amazing well. It's not flashy, expensive or have superstars. It's a simple commercial that is just familiar enough so I don't need to think (the words to Amazing Grace), but adds a twist that made it stick in my mind (those that are profiled add in a personal experience - one's we may be able to relate too).
Posted on Sunday, June 14, 2009 in Branding • Creativity • Critique
Joshua-Michéle Ross Quote
The ability to pay attention, focus and strategically disconnect will be a winning discipline of the next generation of business leaders. via
Posted on Friday, June 12, 2009 in Quote
Thoughts on branding
I've been thinking a lot about branding lately, especially the way Obama masterfully branded himself during his campaign, one I'd wish he'd adopt to the presidency more. In this regard he could learn a little from Bush, who artfully misused words to enforce the exact opposite (i.e. "No child left behind", "Patriot Act", "Clear Skies Act", etc) which should be a case study in branding. But I digress. I've been thinking about a definition of a brand, and here is what I've come up with:
Establishing, with time and execution, an inseparable link between two ideas.
I think the most important word in this definition is time. In this instance ‘time’ is one of two things. 1) a super short amount of time, or 2) a very very long amount of time. The subjective space between is non-committal at best. Time is the link between your product or service and it’s emotional after taste
Posted on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 in Branding • Business
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