Please allow me a “proud dad” post here. But I think you might get some value out of it as well.
My oldest daughter Skylar Hasseman is an aspiring dancer. She just finished her Freshman year at Kent State University (and did very well) but it struggling with the idea of whether to return. Like many young people (and not so young people) she is trying to decide which is the best path for her to reach her dreams and goals. So in working to build her own personal brand, she has decided to create dance videos that showcase her dancing and her choreography skills. (You can subscribe to the channel here).
Her first video went up last night and (again proud dad here) I think it looks great. You can check it out here.
But what does this all mean to you? Great question. I think she is battling with what many of us work on. How do we work toward our goals? How do we stand out in a loud world? What if no one likes what we are doing? You understand. If you are like me, you have heard those voices in your head.
So here are 3 Lessons you can learn from my daughter and her video.
1. She Chose Herself: Dance is something where you can wait your whole life waiting for someone to “choose” you. You go to auditions. You are judged at competitions. You wait to get chosen. She decided to take a different (or maybe just an additional) path. She created an opportunity to showcase her skills on her own.
2. She Took Action: How many times have you said, “I have an idea…” only to let it go because it might be too hard? It’s those ideas that you need to take action on if you want to stand out.
3. She “Shipped:” The project is never done until it’s out there. She could have waited to get one more shot. She could have continued to work and edit and wait until it was perfect. Instead, she pushed it out into the world. I am proud of that. This first project can be deemed a success. That’s great stuff. Now, if she wants to really take this path, she needs to create more and more consistent content to build her brand. Whether or not she does that is up to her. But what’s cool, is that she knows that now.
As I write this I have a basement full of young ladies that will be on the local soccer team. Yesterday they had a long day of scrimmages and today they are sharing pizza and watching the video of the games in order to learn. I listen to the coaches going over lessons of strategy and positioning, and I know that today will make them better. They are bonding and laughing and questioning and learning. But it goes on outside of the spotlight. It’s not big. It’s not the sort of activity that ends up in the Under Armour commercial. But it’s the little things (like this one) that success is built upon. The same is true in sales and business (and the rest of life). We always celebrate the crowning achievement. We all want to get the kudos and the trophies and the recognition (and we should). But so much of success is built upon the days when you are just alone (or with our team)…getting better. They are built on the days when you make “one more sales call.” They are built on the times when you choose to read a book instead of watch a reality show. They are built on doing the work no one else sees.And it takes time.I don’t know if our girls soccer team will be great this year. And frankly, that’s not the point. What I do know is they are learning how to succeed. What they need to understand now, is that you have to do it every day. The same is true for building sales or content or a business. You can’t stop because it’s hard. You can’t quit because it’s inconvenient. It’s about doing the work that most people don’t see. Every day. Over time. And when you do, some day (years from now) someone will marvel at how you “came from nowhere” and are an “overnight success.” But you will know different.
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(Coshocton, OH) Coshocton based marketing firm and promotional products distributor Hasseman Marketing & Communications is excited to announce the acquisition of Paparazzi Promotional Marketing.Paparazzi Promotional Marketing, based in Southern California, was founded by Marty Hagerty in 2011 as a creative, design, and branding services promotional products distributor.Hasseman Marketing CEO, Kirby Hasseman said, “Marty has a great creative mind and has built a business with a great reputation. We are excited about partnering with him to make both teams even stronger.”Marty Hagerty says, “Hasseman Marketing is a thought leader in the industry and a leader in content marketing as well. I am so excited to partner with them to increase our footprint and serve an even larger client base.”The Hasseman Marketing team in Coshocton, Ohio will take over the logistical operations of the business and allow Marty Hagerty to focus on the creative side of growing our clients business. To get in touch with Marty you can call him at (949) 735-4034 or you can email him at [email protected].Hasseman Marketing is located at 432 Main Street in Coshocton, Ohio. Hasseman Marketing is a full service marketing company that provide marketing campaigns that include promotional products, video production, social media, and graphic design. They can be found online at https://hassemanmarketing.com. In addition, you can follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hassemanmarketing.
For the last several years, I have set a goal to read enough to change me. Two years ago I read 50 books. Last year I read 31. This year I have set the goal to read 40 books. Why? Because “in 5 years you will be the same person, except for the people you meet and the books you read. Simply put, it helps me (and you) grow.
So what have I read so far this year? Let’s take a look…and I will include links so you can check them out yourself.
Night School: I know, this is fiction. But somehow, Jack Reacher novels always make me feel like more of a man! I love the novels of Lee Child, so this is often a fun distraction for me.
Deep Work: These rules for success in a distracted world are good reminders. The fact is, I think most of us understand that we get more done when we are focused. But Cal Newport fills the conjecture with studies and facts.
Get Smart: Brian Tracy covers the basics of success principles in this short book. There are not new ground breaking principles here, but awesome reminders about business truth.
Business For Punks: Truth be told, I really liked this one because it was about BrewDog (and I am starting a new brewery). That being said, I enjoyed their irreverent look at how to start a business.
The Fortune Cookie Principle: Often the most profound lessons are the simplest. We each need a compelling brand story to stand out in a crowded marketplace. Bernadette Jiwa teaches us to create one.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k: Sorry for the language, that’s the title. If you are offended by language, I think it goes without saying you should steer clear of this one. If you are not, however, I think this has real and lasting lessons is priorities, business and life. This was one of my favorites of the year (so far).
Contagious: This one is high on my recommended list too. Jonah Berger explains why things catch on (or go viral) and how you can work to make your idea spread as well. This was a really good one.
SCRUM: This one was cool because the Hasseman Marketing team read it together. It’s a great book that explains how to get more done in less time…and I think it lives up to the title. I am anxious to continue to work with the team to implement some of the ideas here.
The First Two Rules of Leadership: This was one of those books that was a good reminder. You can be a leader and not be a jerk. I am trying. 🙂
Doing Good Better: I was really excited about this book. It was not what I thought it was going to be BUT it was still interesting. It took a very analytical view of doing good in the world. I didn’t agree with everything the author said, but it made me think!
Beautiful Outlaw: One of my team members challenged me to read more “spiritual” books this year because I told the team I wanted to be more intentional in that area of my life. Josh gave me this one and I really enjoyed it. This book talks about the playful personality of Jesus…not something discussed a lot. I have actually quoted it several times since I finished it.
UnShakeable: This book by Tony Robbins works to unlock the keys to financial freedom. I thought it was good. His book Money, Master the Game was not bad…but too long. This one was more consumable.
Headstrong: This one was tough. On the one hand, it was filled with interesting science and started strong. But by the end I felt like he was telling me I could not live in the 3 dimensional world and be healthy. Interesting…but not sure that I want to live my life this way.
Predictable Success: Written by Les McKeown and recommended by Roger Burnett, this was a good book for those starting or trying to grow a business. Les gives a name for the stages of business that we all can identify with.
Originals: This was a good book by Adam Grant. Not only does he make the point that original thinkers are those that change the world (duh), but he gives some great insights on how to keep innovating…no matter what.
Camino Island: If you are heading on vacation anytime soon, or just need a fun and easy read, this is a good one. John Grisham is a GREAT storyteller. I don’t always like the way he ends his books, but I liked this one a lot.
Flow: So I like the concept of this book, but it was a tough read for me. Very text book-like. The gist is that we all try to create a life to live on the beach and do nothing so we can be happy. Studies will tell you that is NOT how happy is done. We are most happy when we are in the middle of a challenge that we are excited about. Boom…
5 Questions: This book was actually given to me by the author…on a plane. This short book unpacks the reasons that Faith makes sense. If you have questions about this in your life, check it out.
At the half way point in the year, that is my list so far. As always, please let me know if you have any books you think I need to read. I am open to it! And if you want a more detailed “review” of any book on the list, let me know.
(Coshocton, OH) Coshocton based marketing firm and promotional products distributor Hasseman Marketing & Communications is growing again. Hasseman Marketing is excited to welcome Jim Duncan to their team. Duncan joins Hasseman Marketing after working at Cargo Transporters in Claremont, NC for the past 6 years.“We are so excited to welcome Jim to the team!” “His energy and professionalism will really help us and his client’s grow.” says owner Kirby Hasseman.Jim is a native of Martins Ferry, OH and currently resides in Lenoir, NC with his wife, Susan and their four children, James, Billy, Elizabeth, and Emily. Jim spends his free time with his family at the campground. When he isn’t camping he also enjoys hunting, fishing, and watching his children play sports.Jim will be servicing North Carolina region and mostly working in the Caldwell, Catawba, Alexander, and Burke counties.“I am glad to be working with great companies to help them grow”, says Duncan. If you are interested in working with Jim or learning more about what he can offer your organization, please contact him at [email protected] or call him at 1-828-228-8165.Hasseman Marketing is located at 432 Main Street in Coshocton, Ohio. Hasseman Marketing is a full service marketing company that provides clients fantastic marketing campaigns that include promotional products, video production, social media, and graphic design. They can be found online at www.HassemanMarketing.com. In addition, you can follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hassemanmarketing.
