The Next Big Thing

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 Everyone wants to create (or be) the “next big thing.”  We want to start off with a #1 hit.  Or at the very least, we want to have some level of success right away.  But when it comes to sales, building a business or creating content, most of the time, it doesn’t work that way.   It’s done by making small, almost unnoticed steps, each day.  Seth Godin talks about this in this blog post “Two Simple Secrets to Good ideas.”   Secret #1 is the biggest one: More bad ideas. The more bad ideas the better. If you work really hard on coming up with bad ideas, sooner or later, some good ideas are going to slip through. That’s how I feel about creating content and building an audience.  You need to be willing to live through the times when it feels like nobody cares.  You have to keep showing up.  You have to keep providing value without getting anything in return.   Oh, and as a side, note, I “keep” saying “keep.”  Before you can keep doing anything, you have to start.  So if you want to build a business or a personal brand, you have to actually start.  Seth Godin would say you have to “Choose Yourself.”  The bad news is, it will take time.  Most of the time it takes a long time to create a real audience.  But the good news is, that lack of audience gives you time to hone your craft and get better.  It gives you time to make mistakes and not be perfect.  You won’t be.   But start.  As Seth says, start creating a bunch of bad ideas.  Sooner or later a great idea, video, podcast, blog, or business will come. Speaking of people who “chose themselves,” congratulations to the people recognized on the most recent Online 18.  Dale Denham has created this list for the last several years.  It recognizes people that put themselves out there online, hopefully, to the betterment of the marketing community.  Keep it up! We will keep putting this “out there!”  Make sure you never miss a podcast, video, blog or special.  Sign up for our VIP Newsletter here.  

Don't Tell Me. Show Me.

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The older I get, the less I value ideas.

 

Don’t get me wrong.  Ideas are fun!  There is something truly fun and magical about that time when you (or your team) has an idea that is exciting.  You get to take the idea out and consider the possibilities.  It can be exhilarating.  But most of the time, that exhilaration goes away as soon as someone needs to actually “do” something.

 

The fact is, everyone in sales knows that if you want to sell more, you need to make more sales calls.  You need to reach out to new prospects.  But most sales pros don’t “do” it.  They don’t lack ideas or knowledge.  They lack the execution.

 

Everyone knows (me included) that if we want to get in amazing shape, we need to eat better (and often less) and work out more.  You know it.  I know it.  We don’t need a fancy new ab machine.  We need to put down the creamsticks!  We know it.  We just don’t do it.

 

So as you are planning your goals and vision for the coming year, remember this.  Planning and “visioneering” what your life will be life is fun.  It’s also important!  You can’t create a life on purpose unless you are intentional.  But build in specific action steps of what are you going to “do” each day to reach them.

 

In other words…

 

Don’t tell me what you are going to do with your words.  Show me what you are going to do with your actions.

 

I still enjoy brainstorming ideas with my team and my business friends.  As a matter of fact, I love it!  We still get the same rush from dreaming that everyone else does.  But what makes a session like that really exciting is opening your eyes and doing something about it.

 

Here’s to “doing.”

 

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3 Products From the Golf Annual

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 Each year, a group of friends and I head off for our Annual Golf Outing.  It’s been going on so long, we just call it “The Annual.”  In our circle, that is all the description it needs.  As a matter of fact, this year was the 30th Annual.  (No, I have not been going the whole time).   It’s a weekend of fun, laughing, adult beverages and some (very poor) golf.  And of course there are many stories that I can’t repeat.  Good times. This year I noticed that there were several products that were “must haves” at the Annual.  These were the ones that were used every day…and every one wanted.  So here are the 3 Products I used (nearly) everyday at the Annual. DM130 Triblend T-shirt:  Each year, we have a t-shirt that commemorates the event.  It has become a tradition.  We come up with fun design each year and the group doesn’t get to see them until I arrive.  This year we chose the Super Soft DM130 shirt for the keepsake.  It’s the comfy kind of shirt you want to wear…and they were a hit!   12 oz 3 in 1 Insulator:  This is one of those products you need to see in action!  That was certainly the case this year!  When I took these out, most people thought they were a Basic Vacuum Tumbler (and those are awesome too).  But when I showed them that you could not only drink out of it, but also take it a part and use it as a Vacuum Sealed Insulator of drinks, you could see their minds get blown.  On a hot weekend where temperatures were at nearly 100, this was a must! Shockwave Speaker/Charger:  When you are “pro-level” golfers like us, you might want some tunes on the Golf Course!  We did.  But you want to be careful with these, because the sound can carry!  And with nearly 40 hours of play time, this lasted way longer than my phone.  But no worries…it’s a charger too!  So this is an awesome piece for the course…and the back porch. So those were the 3 products I found myself using each day at the Annual.  Some other time, maybe I can tell you some other stories…but probably not!   Make sure you never miss an update by signing up for the VIP newsletter here.  Or if you want ideas for your next event, please contact your HMC Sales rep!  Oh…if you want to shop online, just head here to check out much of what we have to offer.   

Brand-ecdotes: Joe Durham

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

“Brand-ecdotes!” 

 

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

 

This week we talk with Joe Durham.  Joe is a rock star Account Executive for Halo.  Joe is a father, husband, hustler, and pusher of positivity!  Check out his take on the Promo world in this week’s Brand-ecdotes.  

 

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

I would have to say that my favorite promotional product is the t-shirt because there’s so much variety. Not just in color or short or long sleeve, but in the feel and the touch now as well. And let’s be honest… we all know what the net cost is of a t-shirt but when you have either a great graphic or some kind of nostalgia printed on it, we’ll pay 10 times the cost just to have it. It kills me that I’ve done that but it’s a true story and it happens all the time!

 

 

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?

I have 2. The first is a whisky sampling set that I was gifted by Jason Lucash & Mike Szymczak a few years ago. I got it as a holiday gift and as a thank you for choosing them to partner with, but for me it was more of an affirmation or recognition of mutual respect in the industry. Mind you the whiskey is long gone. It never had a chance… but the impact of the promotional piece has lasted much longer.

The second is a Kanata blanket that was given to me just this year by one of my best friends Keith Lofton. He sent this and some other items to my mom when she went into hospice care. I get emotional just thinking about it now and along with his friendship and words of encouragement throughout the hardest time in my life I still get great feelings when either I or my kids snuggle up in that blanket. And I think that’s what we all want to achieve in this industry, right? We don’t want to peddle product… we want to provide an experience that’s tied to an emotion.

 

 

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

I would have to say a combination of power banks, charging cords & Bluetooth Speakers. We’re on our phones all the time for everything (I’m using my phone to reply to this email) so they have to stay charged and how dull would life be if you couldn’t play your favorite 90s R&B and old school hip-hop and rap music? ? mix in some classic rock and a few country favorites and i’d say you have a really great day!

 

 

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

I think it’s the T-shirt. I think that so many times companies want to just put their logo on a T-shirt whether it be for a volunteer event for a race or anything else and they don’t utilize the canvas that they have to work with. We have come such a long way in the way that we are able to decorate anymore and to not use the creative resources and the available imprint space is ridiculous in my opinion.

 

 

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

I think the promotional products as a whole have gotten a much better reputation in the last 10 years. Before that I think that everyone looked at a promotional product as cheap plastic crap or a tchotchke or a ceramic coffee mug for god sake! But I think that our industry has done a great job in educating people understand the effectiveness and the lasting impact that a promotional product can have when used thoughtful and creatively in a targeted marketing campaign. But if you’re just chucking mud up against the wall to see what sticks, then it doesn’t matter what product you use, it’s not going to be effective.

 

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

 

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Teaching the Basics

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 I was grilling out steaks the other night when the tank ran out of propane.  Good news…I had another one.  But my dad brain said “Wait.  This is a teaching moment.”   So I called to my oldest daughter and asked her to come outside.  I decided it was a good time to make sure she knew how to attach the tank to a grill.  Yep…it’s basic.  But so is everything…once you know it.   And just as she walked out the door, I hesitated.  I did know how to do this, right?  I want to make sure I was showing her correctly! Luckily this is a super easy task.  But it reminded me that sometimes teaching beginners the basics is a great way to solidify skills you have already learned.  As a matter of fact, it might even motivate you to sharpen up on things you have been getting rusty on. So take the time to teach the basics to a beginner.  You might learn something too. Make sure you never miss an update.  Yes…sometimes it’s basic.  But we like to think you will get something out of it.  Sign up here for our VIP newsletter.  Seriously…all the cool kids are doing it.