by Kirby Hasseman
I feel confident in saying one thing. The world could use more kindness.
Kindness has always been important. But in a world where “everyone has a voice,” we certainly see voices that are unkind more often. People have an opportunity to spew hate whenever they want. Combine that with a 24 hour news cycle where (it seems) that the most mean spirited get rewarded with airtime, and it can seem the world is more divided than ever.
In that world, Kindness really is a superpower. So here are 3 Posts that remind us about the Power of Kindness.
Kindness Is A Super Power
We all want to make an impact. Most of us want to make the world a better place. I think that is why we like Super Hero movies. We love the idea that someone can “save the day.” It turns out you can. In this post, written in July of 2018, I talk about how each of us can be a Super Hero. We just have to be willing to put on the cape! Read more here.
Simple Acts of Kindness Matter
I often put off doing the “little things” because I don’t think they will matter. I don’t send that text because the person might be too busy. In this post, I hope you learn from a simple example. Simple Acts of Kindness do matter. Send the card. Send the text. Reach out. Read more here.
What Kind Words Can Do
Finally…from the mouths of babes. Last year, I got a note that really brightened my day. Sometimes, when we most need it, a simple message can help us to keep going. This was certainly the case with this note from a 6 year old named Bailey (and her mom). Thanks Bailey and Sarah! You can learn more about that here.
In each of these cases, the cost of entry is small. We think that if we want to change the world, we need to do something huge. But you can start today with a simple act.
Hold the door. Send a note. Smile.
Spread some kindness today.
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by Kirby Hasseman
It’s time for Episode 20 of the He Said/She Said Podcast with Hasseman Marketing! This podcast is designed to give an inside look at being married and being entrepreneurs and the projects we are working on and the challenges we are facing! We talk about business, family, community and more. So listen in and let us know what you think!
On this episode we talk about…
Trending Topic
This week Kirby and Amy talk about talk about the middle of August. Is it back to school season? Are we looking forward to the fall? It’s an interesting time of transition in seasons…and in life. Listen why here!
Weekly Whirlwind
This week in the Weekly Whirlwind we talk about Kirby being like a “kid at Christmas” when some really cool SWAG comes in. He is out Delivering #MarketingJoy this week. Oh…and you have a chance to get a t-shirt…just listen in! Oh…and you get a quick update from Amy on what is going on with her back and with the building!
Lesson In Life
This week Kirby and Amy talk how they get their day started off on the right foot. Do they have the same routine? Do they have a routine at all? Kirby and Amy discuss how they are similar and different on this topic!
Shout Outs
Each week we want to give a shout out to an organization or an individual doing good work. This week Amy gives her shout out the Coshocton County United Way. The campaign kicked off with the Taste of Coshocton event. Listen in about why she loves what the United Way is all about! Kirby talks about the upcoming Sunflower Festival and our very own Josh Williams who is going into the Leadership Coshocton program. Listen in about that now!
So that’s a wrap! Thanks for listening to Episode 20 of the He Said She Said Podcast! Any feedback will be welcome as we try to provide you value! If you want to subscribe you can do that where you normally get podcasts…or you can head here to follow on Soundcloud.
Thanks so much for listening! If you have any topics you want Kirby and Amy to cover, please comment and let us know! Oh…and if you like this content, check out this page where you can find all of the content we create!
by Kirby Hasseman
When scrolling through Facebook the other day, I came across a post that caught me off guard. Well, to be clear, the post itself did not catch me off guard. It excited me. The response to the post, however, really surprised me. Let me explain.
The post included several pictures of construction being done on several sidewalks coming into the city of Coshocton. It showed the machines being run, the progress being made and talked about the improvement this would be for the entrance to our town. To be honest, I was excited. I saw progress. (It still has to do with “What you see.”)
The comments, on the other hand, had a completely different tone.
There were complaints about the mess. Some complained about the noise. One complained about what time the work was being done. I was blown away by the level of complaining about the project! (We all need to complain less…here’s why).
My friends, let me let you in on a little secret.
In every area of your life (and my life) progress takes pain.
Growth takes discomfort. Improvements are hard and are mostly not convenient. This is not new. This a constant rule of life.
- If you want to grow muscle, you first need to break it down so you can build it back up.
- Proper home renovation nearly always starts with demolition.
- Improving your habits takes breaking down old habits to be replaced.
- And yes, replacing a sidewalk (or a road) begins with taking out the old one so there is room for a new one.
So yes, progress can be frustrating. It’s slow. Progress can (and will) be painful. It takes work. And whether you are building a community or a book of business, it will take longer than you think. That is the bad news. Progress takes pain.
But here’s the good news.
Progress is worth it.
Stop complaining. Put in the work. Be a part of the solution. Keep showing up.
Thanks for reading! If you want to see all of our content, head to our blog page. We have new content nearly every day. Oh…and if you want to have some fun, head to our About Us page to learn more about the team.
by Kirby Hasseman
As I write this, the sun is not yet up. The day has begun, if only mentally.
Each morning I find myself looking at a day that I hope to do something productive with. There are obligations, to-do lists, emails, and thousands of decisions to make. How can I make this day purposeful? How can I get the most important things done? How can I make sure the whirlwind does not spin me completely out of control.
Sometimes it comes down to the questions you ask yourself in the morning. I have talked about the importance of questions before. So here are 3 questions I try to ask myself each day.
What am I doing to get smarter?
This has everything to do with what I am putting “in my brain.” What books am I reading? What podcasts do I dial up? We have a choice about whether to just surf social media for click bait, or to intentionally find things that stimulate us and make us better. The fact is, I struggle with this. Sometimes I get lost in the mindless banter on Facebook, or start watching videos on YouTube. But on my best days, i find that I start the day doing something that makes me think. (Here are 5 podcasts that are inspiring me right now).
What am I doing to get better?
In addition to just “getting smarter” there are plenty of other areas in my life I want to improve. Am I being intentional about doing something to improve my fitness? Is there a new skill that I want to learn? Are there business opportunities I need to be considering? Maybe I should be looking at a conference or a workshop to attend. My goal is to look for ways to simply improve to a better version of me.
How can I push out good?
This is a great question at any time of day, but I love to consider this first thing in the morning. It reframes my mindset. Instead of (just) thinking about what I want or need, it makes me think of others. It might be as simple as writing a blog post (that I hope will help others) to making it a point to reach out to someone. But finding a small way to push out some good into the universe always serves me well the rest of my day.
Obviously this list is not exhaustive. There are plenty of other questions that rattle around in my brain each day. These 3, however, help me create a good mental foundation to do good work during the rest of the day.
Let me know what you think! And as always, if you have missed a few days and want to catch up, head over to our blog page. We have all of our content in one place there.
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by Kirby Hasseman
One of the best pieces of advice I got when I first got in the promotional industry is simple. “The cost of a promotional item is not determined at the point of purchase. It is determined at the point of usage.” To translate into simple terms, it means “you get what you pay for.”
The cost of any item matters. Regardless of what you are going to purchase, whether it’s a car, a refrigerator, or a branded t-shirt, you have a budget. It’s important to stay smart about your money. And this blog is not about trying you to spend more. I cannot tell you how many times I have told a client, “You can do that. But if it was my money I would not!”
That being said, I would like to make the case that there are times when spending a little more makes a huge difference for your brand. It’s the difference between the item being in your client’s kitchen or the landfill. It might determine whether your logo is in the closet or at Goodwill.
ButterSoft T-shirts
One of the places I think it makes the most sense to upgrade is on t-shirts. Yes, we can all still get you the “promotional t-shirt.” These are the cheap, scratchy, ill-fitting shirts that our industry was known for for years. And there is (probably) still a place for them. But would YOU wear them? The answer is simple…not if you don’t have to! So why would your clients? If you want your clients to want to rep your brand, give them a shirt they get excited about. Yes, it costs more. Yes, it’s worth it. When we did our first “soft” shirt, we never looked back. Now people tell us that our shirts are their favorite shirts to wear. THAT is what you want your customers to say to you.
Premium Beach Towels
Studies tell you that the average lifespan of a beach towel is 7 years. At my house, I think that is low. A nice beach towel is not a cheap branded item…but it’s worth it. Not only do your customers, employees, and prospects keep them for years, but they tend to use them on a fun occasions. That means your brand is being tied (with a quality feel) to some good times in the person’s life. That, my friends, is a good place for your brand to be.
Vacuum Sealed Tumblers
If you want to reach just about everyone with a branded item, drinkware is a great space to live in. You don’t have to worry about gender, sizes, or many other factors. Everyone drinks something. But don’t go cheap…not if you want someone to use your drinkware! This does NOT mean you need to buy a branded Yeti product. You shouldn’t and here’s why. But there are some great Vacuum Sealed Tumblers in the promo world that are amazing. These are the branded drinkware items you targets will use over and over again.
Custom Calendars
Calendars continue to be a very cost-effective way to reach customers every day of the year. But the trend is that stock calendars slip. But if you want to buck that trend and get in front of clients all year around, think custom. When you create a cool custom calendar, you get your “who, what where” message on the wall of the client…and it goes even deeper. Essentially you hand your brochure on walls all over. Yes, custom is a bit more expensive…but in most cases it’s very worth it.
Personalization
If you want to make sure someone keeps one of your branded premium promotional items, put their name on it. It’s as simple as that. There is nothing we humans like to hear or see as much as our own name. It’s music to our ears. When you have the chance, add personalization to your branded merchandise and you will expand your impact. Yep…it costs more. And yes, it’s worth it.
Here’s the thing, there is still a space for less expensive promotional items. We get it. But if you want to have more impact for your brand (you do right?), and create less crap in a landfill, think about doing better SWAG.
It’s true in every area of life. You get what you pay for.
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