But You Asked Me!

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 My friend was frustrated with me.  And I didn’t blame him.  It was my fault.  Let me explain. I had reached out to a friend in my industry.  He was successful.  He had some of the results I wanted.  So I took the leap and reached out to him to ask him some advice.  As is so often the case in these situations, these successful people are happy to help.  They WANT others to succeed.  So he took the time to answer my questions. But then something weird happened.  I argued with him.   Don’t get me wrong.  I didn’t call him names.  I just didn’t listen.  I spent the time telling him “why that would not work for me.”   Finally, with a sigh, he just said, “I don’t know what to tell you.  That’s just how I do it.”   What he didn’t say, because he was too gracious was, “But you asked me, asshole.” We do that a lot don’t we?  As we are working to climb the ladder of success, we want shortcuts.  We want to tap into the wisdom of others, but we don’t always want to put in the work.   We spend a lot of time in our own heads, explaining why that would not work for us. “Sure that works for them, but they are rich.”  But were they always? “I could not do that because…” “I don’t have time to do it that way…” “Yeah but…” “My customers would never pay for that…” Regardless of the excuse, it’s exactly what they are.  That’s why, I think, we struggle to take the advice of those we ask.  It just seems too damn simple!  We want there to be a magic formula that will guide us to success.  But as I often say, simple is NOT the same as easy.   It’s not about the idea.  It’s about the execution.  It’s about putting in the work. So the next time you ask a mentor, buy a book, or listen to a podcast for advice…take it.  Don’t argue with it.  Don’t make excuses.  Get out of your head and do the work. Make sure you never miss an update!  It’s time to sign up for the VIP newsletter.  You can do that here.  We send out a weekly recap of our content in one email.  And of course, if you want to look for some great gifts, check out our website here.

Brand-ecdotes: Brandon Pecharich

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Welcome to our awesome blog post series for Hasseman Marketing called: 

“Brand-ecdotes!” 

Each time, we talk to a branding all star about what makes the Promotional Product advertising media so special!  

This episode we talk with Brandon Pecharich!  Brandon who is a Senior Sales Director at Promo Corner lends his expertise to Brand-ecdotes!

 

1. What is your all-time favorite Promotional Product and why?

Backpacks. I have a very strange addiction to backpacks and I don’t care who knows about it, HA! A million and one reasons to use a backpack. I have had some really crappy backpacks in my day, but guess what…I STILL HAVE THEM. The addiction is real y’all. Currently, my ‘Errday backpack is the limited edition Chemo Duck custom Penryn Pack(R) from Origaudio. Number 81 here…what you got?

 

2. Can you name a Promo Product that you have that STILL reminds you fondly of an event, person, organization? If so, can you tell us that story?

Promotional Products are like smells, right? You see the product and read the imprint that usually has a date or reminder of where you got it and all of a sudden…you are back in that memory. I have a bar key…big bottle opener…that I got at the 2006 RMRPPA Fall Show in Keystone, CO. It was donated by Logomark and I know that because like a good supplier they added their info to the Event logo. This bar key has made it through 5 moves, 2 of which were to different States. The reason I have kept this bar key is every time I use/see it I am reminded of the first time I traveled alone for a tradeshow and how amazing this industry is on all levels. Almost everyone that I met and spent time with at that show I am still in contact with…what’s up Anna Marie Madai and Brian Ketterlin?!?! From all the help with set up, transportation, to the Golf pairings and evening outings, everyone was welcoming and FUN! I learned some “tricks of the trade” that I still use today…but those are for another blog post! 🙂

 

3. What is the current product you use all the time?

In terms of the most total time used during the day, I am using a 32oz Viking tumbler that I received at an HPPA bowling tourney. My team won first place, BTW. However, Errday I use a Gold Star Vision Brights pen, Prime Line comfort touch journal, and Bay State Bamboo Coasters...and Many Many More!

 

4. What is an idea/product that you think organizations UNDER use?

The idea of kitting. When companies put a budget together and figure out the cost per person, most of the time they try to spend the whole lot on one product per person. While this can lead to an awesome Bluetooth speaker, Portable battery for electronics, or BA backpack…that is only one product. Low impression rate, limited kool-aid drank. If organizations would take the time to put a kit together with 4-5 lower cost errday products, the daily impression rate increases and kool-aid is guzzled. Put it to y’all this way, for your birthday do you want to tell your friends you got, A. one big prezzi or B. this and that and these and those…etc?

 

5. What do you think is the best thing about Promotional Products as an advertising media?

Brand recognition through subliminal messaging on products used Errday. A billboard is in your face. TV commercials are annoying, funny sometimes, but mostly a nuisance. Promotional Product advertising is like your best friend. Always there for you through the fun times, hard times, and that one time in jail.

 

And…that’s another awesome edition of Brand-ecdotes!  Thanks to Brandon Pecharich for taking the time to jump in!

 

Make sure you never miss a post, video or podcast!  Sign up for the Hasseman Marketing VIP newsletter here.

 

 

 

 

Some Days Suck

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hasseman marketing bad days Some days just suck.   Despite all of the ideas about creating positivity in your life (yes it works) and starting your day off on the right foot (still important), some days just don’t work out the way you hope.   As the saying goes, “Sometimes you are the windshield.  Sometimes you are the bug.”  I think that might be one of the great misperceptions.  Just because you have a positive attitude, it doesn’t mean bad things don’t happen.  It doesn’t mean you don’t have bad days.  And it doesn’t mean you are saying you are perfect.   It means you are a work in progress. It also has to do with how you react when one of those days happen…because they will.   Do you look for someone to blame?  Or do you look for something to learn? Do you look to play the victim?  Or do you refocus on the things that excite you? Do you curl up in a ball and hide?  Or do you get up and show the next day? Bad things will happen.  Bad days will occur.  But what do you do next?   That, my friends, is up to you. Make sure you today doesn’t suck by signing up for our VIP newsletter.  You can do that here.  Get your dose of inspiration and motivation each and every day.  

3 Tips to De-Stress Your Morning

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There is something completely satisfying with getting things accomplished.  We are biologically wired for it.

When you scratch something off of your “To Do list” you actually get a boost of the chemical dopamine in your body.  That’s why it feels good to mark something done.   We are wired to take action. That’s why I know what to do when I wake up stressed.

You know the feeling.  It’s the one where you wake up in the “worry mindset.”  You have been stewing much of the night over the things that needed to be done.  Then you wake up in that “panic” mindset and it can totally frame the rest of your day.

Don’t let it.

When I wake up feeling like that there are a couple of things that help to get my mind back on track.  Maybe they will help you.  Here are 3 tips to de-stress your morning.

Make a List

A human brain is a great place for coming up with ideas.  It’s not a great place to store them.  When you try to use your brain for long-term storage it is exhausting and inefficient.  When you take some time to plan out your day and make a list of things you need to get done (even if the list will take a week), it can free up your mind to come up with solutions.  It can be very freeing.

Re-connect to the Mission

The list-making exercise also helps to remind me what I am working toward.  What is the bigger goal?  What do I hope to accomplish today?  Is there any project I am excited about working on?  These things (if you have thought them out) are usually bigger than the problems that are stressing you.

Do Just One Thing

Doing something proactive. Just taking action can help to re-set my mindset.  For me, it might be writing this blog.  But taking action on just one item (especially if I have a plan to do more) helps me get my attitude back on track.

Let’s face it…stress is a real thing.  These are just a few ideas that help me get back on track.  But if you want to dig deeper on how to decrease stress in your home, check out this article on how to have a “calm home.” 

Make sure you never miss an update.  Sign up for our VIP newsletter here.  Oh…and if one of your things to do is to shop for cool Promo ideas, you can shop online here to cross that off your list.

Introducing Ohio's Heart

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 For many years now, I have said that all of us are media companies.  It’s a mind shift in marketing your business or telling your story that is the result of cell phones with amazing cameras and the internet.  You are no longer a company that sells cars.  You are a media company that also sells cars.   This shift makes you think differently about how you tell stories.  I talked about it in this blog back in May.   It really changes the way you think.  You start to see stories that need telling.  We did.  We started to see those stories.  But we were not sure this blog or website was the right place.  So we decided to create “the right place.”  That is why we created “Ohio’s Heart.”   Ohio’s Heart is an online media company dedicated to promoting positivity and spreading kindness in, what we feel, is an underserved area in Ohio.  What is that area?  Think of the area along the intersection of 70 and 77.  We will cover up to Wayne County and down to Washington County.   We will have articles, videos and podcasts as we move forward.  And we will be looking for ideas on stories to cover (so help us keep an eye out).  We are starting slowly, as we are learning as we go, but we posted our first article to social media Friday (check that out here).  What can you do?  First off, feel free to follow us on social media.  We are on Facebook and Instagram.  Next up, share any articles you think have value!  Finally, as you check into the site, you can make sure you never miss an update by signing up for the Ohio’s Heart email.  It’s a great way to know about positive things going on in our region. So check out the website now and give us your two cents.  We appreciate the feedback and the support as we try to make positivity louder in our region! P.S. Special shout out to Skylar Hasseman, who has been working hard to get this site up and running for the last couple of months!  With the help of Josh Williams and Eric Dingler, we have it live.  Nice job Skylar! We have a new post each and every day on THIS site.  Make sure you stay connected by signing up for our VIP newsletter here.