by Kirby Hasseman
It is REALLY hard to believe, but the 4th quarter is upon us! And if this year has been any indication so far, October, November and December are going to fly by. That’s why now is the time to start thinking about saying “thank you” to your employees, stakeholders and best customers. Yes. It matters. Did you know that studies show that 69% of customers that leave you will do so because of “perceived indifference?” That’s right. They will leave because they think you don’t really care. That is a statistic that can be hard to swallow. But now is the time of year that you can assure that doesn’t happen. On the other hand, we understand that you don’t want to completely break the bank. So here are a few “frequently asked questions” that might be able to help you through the appreciation process. Do I have to buy for everyone? This is a tough one. This is a “yes, but…” answer. The obvious answer is, “do you want everyone to feel appreciated?” You should probably want all of your customers to know you appreciate their business. They are, after all, giving you money! But that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to appreciate them all evenly. The fact is, most companies have the 80/20 rule. 20% of their customers will often represent 80% of their overall business. If that is true for you, then you want to make sure the 20% REALLY know you appreciate them! What we recommend is to select a gift that is extra special and get that delivered to your top clients. Then create an “everyone” gift as well. This can be a nice, lower cost item that can also be a gift for prospects as well. Do I have to buy a LOT of quantity? Not always. Depending on how many you need, and the budget you want to spend on each person, we have many suppliers that can do very low quantity so you can make sure every customer and employee is recognized. Just let us know and we can guide you to a lower quantity option. What about Food? Food can be a great gift for the year end. First, it’s a customary item around the holidays. But maybe more importantly, its a great share-able item! Let’s say you have 4 customers in one office, a gift basket can be a gift for all of them! One thing you want to consider about food is freshness. When you go to a department store and see gift baskets out in October (or earlier), just know that those were likely put together months in advance. How fresh could that food possibly be? Just something to consider. We have some amazing food options for your year end needs. Those are just a couple of questions we get! We are glad to answer any additional questions you have too! What is most important is to remember to say “thank you” to your customers and employees. You will be glad you took the time! If you want to make sure you stay on top of all of our updates, sign up for our VIP list here.
by Kirby Hasseman
Begin with the end in mind. In Stephen Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” this is Habit number 2. Covey tells us to think to our own funeral. He tells us to consider what we hope people will say about the life we lived. Then he reminds us to go live that life…create that legacy. I was reminded of this during the past week as I prepared to give the eulogy at a friend’s funeral. He was my best friend growing up. He was the best man at my wedding. But there I was, preparing to try to speak about his life and his impact on me. It was an honor to have been asked. But wow. For the better part of a week, I struggled with what stories to tell and what words to use. What would he want me to say? What would his family need to hear? Honestly, what would be therapeutic for me to say? But of course there are no special words in a situation like that. What I think brings healing in those moments are to celebrate a life lived. We did that, I think. Eric was very much my brother. I certainly hope we all remember the best in him. But now, as is the case in situations like this, we are expected to move on. So this week, as I come out of the fog of grief (piece by piece), I am reminded of Habit number 2. What do I want people to remember about me? What life do I want to have lived? What legacy do I want to have created? I have thought a lot about that. Now I need to begin with end in mind…and go live that life.
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by Kirby Hasseman
It’s hard to keep track. In today’s cacophonous echo chamber of content and constant “news,” it’s hard to know what to listen to. It’s hard to know what is worth clicking on. So many of us default to the the latest trending topic or soundbite. It’s understandable, but it’s reactionary. I think it’s more important than ever to be intentional about the voices we allow into our head (on a regular basis). Just like we become more like the 5 people we hang out with the most, we start to parrot ideas we hear on a regular basis. So here are some voices that I seek out as I try to “fill my head with good ideas and thoughts.” Jeff Haden: If you are in sales or an entrepreneur and you are not reading Jeff Haden already, check him out now. He is a leading contributor for LinkedIn and Inc.com. He is a really good writer (and a good dude). Every time I see something that he has posted, I read it. Here is the latest. Bill Petrie: This one is a little self-serving since Bill and I collaborate a lot. But his Monday blog posts are great. Bill is a veteran of the Promo Industry and understands the idea that we are all “media companies.” Read his latest piece here. Gary Vaynerchuk: If you have not seen or heard of Gary, I am surprised. But he is a huge motivator for me. I can’t listen to all of his content (I have other stuff to do!) but it seems I get a nugget each time when I do. He is direct and foul-mouthed and awesome. He is best on Youtube and you can find that here. Bobby Lehew: If you are wanting thoughtful insights and wonderful interviewing, you need to listen to Skucast with Bobby Lehew. Bobby is with Commonsku and is their Chief Content Creator. He also often gets to interview Mark Graham…and you just won’t find two brighter minds in the Promo Industry. Listen to an example of Skucast here. Seth Godin: One of the leading minds in marketing, Seth Godin is a true thought leader. Want motivation and education every day? You need to read his blog. Yes he posts every day. I am also super proud to have had the chance to have him on Episode 100 of Delivering Marketing Joy! John Lee Dumas: I would be lying if I said I listened to all of his podcasts. That’s because JLD interviews a new entrepreneur EVERY SINGLE DAY! John is an inspiration on how to build an entire business around content. He is also a great person to help you blow your “don’t have time excuses!” Check his site out here. There are MANY other great content creators I read, watch and listen to…but this is a good start. Who have I forgotten? What other great content creators are out there that we should listen to? Let us know! And if you never want to miss our content, sign up for our VIP list! Each week we make sure you see our latest content and get some special offers too.
by Kirby Hasseman
If you get to a certain age, you will have made your fair share of mistakes. You will have said some dumb things. You will have done some dumb things. As the old saying goes “Good decisions come from experience. Experience comes from bad decisions.” On the other hand, in nearly every life, you will have made some good decisions too. You have had triumphs. You have had some wins. During some of those tougher times, you hopefully learned some lessons. I feel comfortable saying this, because this is the human experience. We have some good…and some bad. But which story are you telling yourself? Moving forward, each of us have the opportunity to tell ourselves a story. Is your highlight reel only showing you the defeats? We all have crashes. But you can sabotage yourself by reminding yourself of your failures every day. The thoughts you choose don’t have to be totally rosey (you want to learn from those mistakes) but it shouldn’t be all negative either. As you start the next phase of your journey (and yes, that starts today), make sure you are choosing thoughts that inspire you. Show yourself the highlight reel of the best of you. I am reminded of the old parable below.
A grandfather is talking with his grandson and he says there are two wolves inside of us which are always at war with each other.
One of them is a good wolf which represents things like kindness, bravery and love. The other is a bad wolf, which represents things like greed, hatred and fear.
The grandson stops and thinks about it for a second then he looks up at his grandfather and says, “Grandfather, which one wins?”
The grandfather quietly replies, the one you feed.
So today, ask yourself what story you are telling yourself. And remember, the story you tell yourself is the one you are telling the world too.
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by Kirby Hasseman
So let’s start with the good news. One of our great supplier partner representatives, Brett Schaffer, came to Coshocton recently to show us some of the latest products their company has to offer. We had a great time learning and laughing…and we have some cool new products to show you below. The bad news, the next week Brett was quarantined as the first person in his area with the flu. Uh…hope you feel better, Brett. We have sprayed everything you were near with disinfectant! But back to the good news…we have some cool new products to show you to get you started off right for the 4th quarter! Let’s dig in! DUO USB Speedy Car Charger and Safety Tool: I know, long name. But this very functional piece will not only charge your phone on the road, but it will break glass and cut your seat belt in case of an emergency! Great multi-functional tool that ties your brand to your customer’s phone! Learn more here. Rubik’s Wireless Speaker: This is a different twist (get it?) on the wireless speaker. The Rubik’s cube is recognizable and fun. And now you can put your brand on it…and have music come out of it! Fun and different for the right promotion. Check out info here. Tuscany Heathered Beanie: If you want Beanie that is fashion forward and will catch your eye…this is the one for you. It has a great look…and sort of a retro patch that you imprint. Everyone at our meeting liked this one! Get more information here. LED Beanie: And speaking of beanies…these will keep you safe! If you have a running event (at night) this winter or you have employees that work at night, this is an awesome piece to keep them safe and warm! This beanie has an LED light sewn in…so you can see and be seen. Check this one out here. Gametime Fidget Spinner: Yes you have seen these. But have you seen them with custom shapes and themes? These are (safety tested) fun fidget spinners with themes like football, breast cancer and more. Check out the details here. So these are just a few of the products that caught our eye when Brett came to town! If you want to chat with us about ideas for your 4th quarter promotions, let us know! And if you want to make sure you never miss an update, sign up for our VIP list here.
