by Kirby Hasseman
I am a positive person. Some people might say overly positive. But it’s very much on purpose. I believe it (often) has to do with the way we choose to see things. It’s a choice (and I talk about that here). But recently it occurred to me that most people are not great at self-auditing. They don’t know they are negative. They believe they are a “positive” person, when many people around them find them a drain. It’s why nearly everyone thinks they are “an above average” driver. Statistics tell us, you are not. 🙂 So when I am speaking to groups I give them a self-auditing tool for social media. I tell them to look at the last 10 posts on social media and I say “if 4 of the last 10 post can be perceived as negative, then your audience sees you as negative.” It’s a useful exercise and I love to see people’s eyes light up in recognition. But it occurs to be that this is not enough. It’s not just about what you post on social media (though that’s a start). It’s a mindset. You either start from a place of positivity…or not. And that mindset is going to affect your thoughts, words and actions. You might not know you have a pessimistic point of view. So I just came up with this exercise that might shed some light on your mindset. Think of your job…what is your first thought? Think of your partner…what is your first thought? Think of the last person you had a meeting with…what is your first thought? Think of your community…what is your first thought? If your FIRST thought in most of these is negative then it might shine a light into your mental bias. It’s hardly scientific (hell I just made it up). On the other hand, it gives you some food for thought on your mindset. If your first reaction on most things and people in your life are negative…then it might be you. Or…it might be time to make some different choices. One choice you can make is to sign up for our VIP newsletter. We send a weekly email recap of all of the content we create each week. You can sign up here. And if you want to increase the happy in your life, you can check out my book “Fan of Happy” here.
by Kirby Hasseman
It’s hard to believe (and even harder to say), but today will be Dustin’s last day at Hasseman Marketing. (Excuse me while I wipe away a tear). Dustin has been with us for 10 years and it’s hard to imagine work life without him. Though we are certainly disappointed that he is leaving, we know he is heading to a great new opportunity! My goal for this organization is to be a good leader for the team. Opinions might vary on my effectiveness, but most would say that a leader is a teacher. I want to help the team grow. But today, as I look at the legacy Dustin left with us, he has been a great teacher to each of us. So here, on his last day at Hasseman Marketing, are a few lessons we have all learned from Dustin. Stay Steady: Dustin has been a calming force at the office. He never gets to high or too low. In a room full of people that can be emotional, this is a powerful trait. Keep Learning: Dustin was hired to be a video editor, and today he is so much more than that. That is because he is constantly learning and getting better with his craft. Much of his learning time might be to upgrading his video skills. But he is also consuming content, social media, SEO and more. We all need to have this thirst for knowledge! Show Up: You become extremely value by simply showing up every day. Not only was Dustin talented at his job, but his consistency and his work ethic took it to the next level. Co-workers knew Dustin would be there to do his job…day in and day out. Laugh: Though he can be quiet, Dustin has a great sense of humor. That is so wonderful in a small workplace! Sometimes, as you are working on a stressful project and a tight timeline, the best skill you can have is a sense of humor! Be Willing To Help: Dustin is a jack of all trades. Obviously he was our “video guy.” But he became our computer guy, our email guy, our art guy, our social media guy, etc. Why? Because he was totally cool when you came to him with the question, “Hey can you help me with this?” We could all use a bit more of this trait. This list is way too small…but it gives you an idea. Dustin has been a great teammate. We are sad to see him go. But we are excited to see what he does on his next adventure! Good luck brother! Make sure you never miss an update! We post new content each day. Sign up for our VIP newsletter here! We would love to have you! Oh…and if you just want to shop for some cool new swag, you can do that here.
by Kirby Hasseman
Welcome to a super awesome blog post series for Hasseman Marketing called:
“Brand-ecdotes!”
Each time we will talk to a branding all star about what make the Promotional Product advertising media so special!
This week we talk to VP of Sales with Branded Logistics…Roger Burnett. Roger is a veteran of the Promo industry and has worn many hats in the industry. Today, Roger lends his (many) talents today to Hasseman Marketing for Brand-ecdotes. Take it away Roger!
1. What is your all-time favorite Promotional Product and why?The tee-shirt, hands down. So much room for branding, great array of styles, fabrics & colors. As I wrote in this piece, the tee shirt gives a wearer a chance to outwardly tell a story, any story. 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?Back in 2006, we visited the AT Cross booth at PPAI Expo. The good people at Cross allowed us to select a pen from their collection as a gift. Additionally, they had us fill out and sign a comment card. Upon returning from the show we each were delivered the pen we chose, laser etched with our signature. It was a highly personal item, one that I loved so much I refused to use it for fear of losing it, and I have had a crush on their product line ever since. 3. What is the current product you use all the time?I am currently sporting a Lifeproof waterproof backpack for my outdoor adventures. I alternate it with my OrigAudio backpack when I’m carrying a bag for work
4. What is an idea/product that you think organizations UNDER use?Outerwear. Users wear a different piece of apparel every day, but typically only wear one or two coats in a season. Why not take advantage of that notion and offer more branded outerwear to increase impressions and return a better cost per impression?
5. What do you think is the best thing about Promotional Products as an advertising media? Longevity. This is an A.D.D. world and ours is a media that stays with people. What better way to keep your message in front of people than with our relevant and long-lasting form of advertisement?
And…that’s the another edition of Brand-ecdotes! Thanks to Roger Burnett for taking the time to jump in on this project! Awesome stuff here!
Make sure you never miss a post, video or podcast! Sign up for the Hasseman Marketing VIP newsletter here. And if you want to look for your own amazing branding products, you can do that here.
by Kirby Hasseman
My wife was looking for something in our “junk drawer” the other day, and she came across these phones. They range from a flip phone to an iPhone in progression. And with the exception of the iPhone, which was one of my daughters’, they are in pretty good shape. But what else do they represent? To me they show you a series in devices that were the latest and greatest technology of their time. They show, in one picture, how we have completely changed in our use of the “phone” as a culture. They also show how fast technology is changing. My wife and I are not usually people who keep things. We are not super sentimental about “stuff.” So when something outlasts it’s usefulness, we tend to throw it out (or give it to someone who can use it). So at first it seemed funny that we would have these phones. But then it occurred to me that, when we put each of these phones in the junk drawer, they were just one step away from current technology. They were not completely obsolete. So they were our insurance in case something went wrong (like it did with that iPhone). And yet, looking at this picture now, most of them look ancient. It reminds me of a a few things… 1. Tech is changing so fast: This photo of phones represents probably 10 or 15 years. This picture shows us going from a mobile phone to a mobile computer in the blink of an eye. 2. Don’t Get Too Romantic: I loved my flip phone. I liked it’s size and ease of making calls. At the time, it was state of the art. But if I still had one I would be missing so much of what our technology has to offer. This picture makes me wonder what is next. Though these were all “the next thing” at one time, each advancement has taken big leaps forward. This picture reminds me to embrace the new steps forward…and make the most of them. Oh…and this picture reminds me its time to clean out my junk drawer. Make sure you never miss an update. We do a weekly recap on our VIP newsletter. You can sign up here. Oh, and if you want to check out the latest in Promo, you can head to our website here.
by Kirby Hasseman
In business, it’s always important to pay attention to the metrics…right? Well…sometimes. If you read this blog on a regular basis, you might know I really enjoyed the book “The 4 Disciplines of Execution.” I talk about that book and it’s concepts a bit here. One of the concepts I love in the book is the idea of focusing on “lead measures.” It allows you to focus on numbers that will lead to the success you want. For example, if you focus on making sales calls, (which you have control over) you should ultimately push your sales up (a lag measure). I love it because I have control over the lead measure. I decide whether I do it or not. The challenge for me recently, is I was focusing almost solely on the lead measure. The lead measure is great. But at some point you have to sell something. At some point you need to re-evaluate to make sure you are hitting your numbers. This gives you a chance to evaluate whether you are using the right lead measure. If it does not ultimately lead to sales, it’s not a great lead measure. Without sales, you will fail. But don’t worry…I am not throwing out the baby with the bath water. I need to focus on both. I need to continue to track my number of meetings. I need to make sure I am actively sending ideas to clients. But I need to make sure my sales (and the sales of my team) are following the activity. If it doesn’t, then I am missing the point. Our content efforts are up. Our web traffic is up. Our time on our website is up. That’s all great. But as in any effort, the metrics are important…so long as you are focusing on the right ones. Make sure you never miss an update! Sign up for our VIP newsletter here. We are posting new content each and every day.
