We are having a fun run for the school this February 14, and the school will be ten years from its centennial. the fun run is open to all but mostly will invited alumni and friends. whats the best tagline for the fun run?
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We need a tag line for a infant and kids wear brand that is being launched. The imagery and primary positioning of the brand is to celebrate ” Sprout” and a New Beginning.
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Jay’s Answer:
We are a fun and trendy fashion boutique offering clothing and accessories to women of all ages. Do you have an idea for a Valentine’s Day slogan?
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Jay’s Answer:
Photo by Phil Brown
One of the biggest habits I’ve been correcting is that I’ll email or call a potential client and get miffed when I don’t hear back from them. I assume they’ve received the message and by not responding, they’re clearly saying “not interested”.
I now have a new system. I go for “no”. A non-answer is simply a non-answer. I don’t know if the person does or doesn’t want my services. All I know is that they didn’t get back to me. Perhaps my email went into their spam folder or my phone call was deleted before they could act on it. I don’t know. I also don’t really care what the story is. My goal is to simply get a “yes” or “no” answer. If they’re truly not interested, I want to hear “no”. If they are not ready to answer, that’s okay – I can re-ask my “yes” or “no” question again after their concerns/needs are better met. Best case scenario – I hear a yes.
Unless you’ve done a lot of door-to-door selling, most of us hate hearing “no”. We take it personally, and a “no” feels bad. So we gingerly ask questions and assume we know the answer.
If you’re sending someone an email that requires an answer, and you don’t get one in a timely matter, call them. If you’ve called someone and they haven’t returned your calls, write them a handwritten letter. If you’ve written them a letter and they haven’t responded, try dropping by (if the answer is truly worth your time). What’s the worst thing that can happen? You’ll hear NO. What’s the best thing that can happen?
I first heard about Hugh MacLeod from Seth Godin. Seth wrote a story about an advertising executive who prolifically doodled original artwork onto the backs of his business cards (while commuting by train) and gave them away to people he met. The cards became a “calling card” for him – he got noticed. Today his website (Gaping Void) gets over 2 million unique visitors. Cost? His creative time.
Hugh’s book is a little bit of card gallery, and a bit of personal insights about his search for (business) creativity. He graciously posted the first 30% of the book on his website to see the content for yourself.
The key point of the book is that you should do something that’s important to you creatively not because you’ll make money, not because you’ll become famous, but because it’s who you authentically are. If you’re thinking of starting a business that leverages your creativity (art, writing, advertising, computer programming, etc.) don’t quit your day job. Having the security of income (what he calls “Cash”) allows you to play with creativity (“Sex”).
Everybody is creative – but not everybody has given themselves the opportunity to rekindle their creative spark. Start today. Stop complaining and try something. Don’t focus on the outcome – revel in the process. And someday, sometime, somehow maybe that spark will ignite your life.
Bonus: Hugh also created poster version of the key points of the book:
Aside: Another wonderful (and definitely recommended) book on business and creativity is: Orbiting the Giant Hairball: A Corporate Fool’s Guide to Surviving with Grace (Gordon MacKenzie).
Photo by Paul Downey
The Internet has provided us all with a double-edged sword: the ability to purchase directly from a supplier instead of a local store. So, how does this affect your business?
If you’re a “middleman”, you need to provide a compelling message not only to choose you over your competition, but also to do business with you (instead of bypassing you entirely). Odds are, you can’t compete on price (nor do you really want to try this as a long-term business model). So, what’s left to focus on? Service. Quick support. Helping the community (if your company provides a local charity “give-back”, for example). Training. Special customization. A human voice and/or face (instead of a toll-free phone number to an automated system). Value-added services (not just focused on a single-vendor’s product, but being able to fix your customer’s entire “system”).
If you’re a “supplier”, it’s your chance to provide easier access to your products or services. Make it easy for people to read all your literature online (including service manuals, troubleshooting FAQs, parts catalog, and how-to guides). Make it easy to order online (using an e-Commerce system). If you’re worried about being deluged with calls from too many “little guys”, then provide a different access on your website for customers vs. dealers.
If you’re a “customer”, determine the true cost of buying direct. How much of the purchase is a commodity and how much is it hand-holding support? Is your purchase time-sensitive?
By understanding the “Internet Middleman” effect, you’ll ensure that your business will be more efficient in the online era.