by Kirby Hasseman
If you had told me, when I was first watching Billy Madison, that I was watching one of the most bankable movie stars of the next 20 years, I would not have believed you. Adam Sandler was silly, obnoxious, absurd and, well, funny. But I did not see this as an act someone could ride for more than one movie or two.
I would have been wrong. Way wrong.
For years, Adam Sandler has made movies and money at the box office. He has had some really fun movies (Happy Gilmore, Waterboy and Grown ups) and he has made some bad ones (think Grown ups 2). But whether you like Sandler or not, I think he has several things to teach us about business.
Do What You Do: Sandlers first movies were obviously not Academy Award winners. But he found a formula that worked, and he stuck to it. He was the goofy underdog that overcomes in the end. Then, obviously a sports lover, he started making silly movies about sports. He found his niche, and did not try to be something he was not.
Lesson: Find your niche. Be authentic.
Have A Crew: One thing that always catches my eye with Sandler movies, is he has a consistent group of friends that he works with. Sure, he is obviously buddies with Chris Rock, David Spade and Kevin James. But his other cast of characters comes with him on nearly every project too. When you have a crew you enjoy working with (and trust), keep working with them!
Lesson: Find a team you trust…and stick with them.
Be Willing To Fail: Though I enjoy some of Sandler’s movies, he has certainly has had some stinkers (Jack and Jill and Little Nicky come to mind). But each of these has involved him trying something and taking some creative risks. The fact is, once people hit a certain level of success, many people don’t want to try something new. They don’t want to fail. I love that Sandler is willing to try some off the wall things. They either work, or they don’t. But he is already off to something new.
Lesson: Take creative risks. Failure is not the end of the world.
Let Others Shine: As I mentioned, Sandler clearly likes working with friends. He has even created a production company that produces movies that he is not even in! He lets some of his other friends take the lead and showcase their talents whether he is involved on screen or not.
Lesson: You don’t always have to be center stage. Let others have the spotlight.
Be Willing to Branch Out: Once he established himself in Hollywood, I like that Sandler did do some more family friendly movies. Though he still has his core characters, he has done some movies that the whole family can enjoy.
Lesson: Once you have a track of success, continue to grow. The most successful people, in any arenas, can teach us lessons we can emulate. Adam Sandler has created an amazing career that nearly anyone could envy. And best of all, it seems like he enjoys it too. Bravo.
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by Kirby Hasseman
The best thing about the internet, and social media in general, is that everyone has a voice. This brings a very real “power to the people.” If you have a bad experience, or have been really wronged, you have a way to tell people about it. Most of the time, I think this is a great thing. It gives companies the incentive to do business “the right way.” The worst thing about the internet, however, is that everyone has a voice. What Facebook and Twitter and other social media platforms has proven is that if (some) people are able to spew garbage, untruths, and hate, they will. These people have, of course, always existed, but now they have a larger microphone. This makes it incumbent upon the rest of us to do a few things. Don’t Confuse Opinions with Facts: The saying goes that “everyone is entitled to their opinion.” It’s true. But everyone is not entitled to their own facts. For example, if you are frustrated with Coshocton, feel free to say “Coshocton is not what it once was,” or even “Coshocton sucks.” That’s your opinion. I don’t agree with it…but I respect your right to have it. On the other hand, please don’t say “There are no jobs in Coshocton.” That is empirically false. Be Thoughtful About Our Voice: What does this mean? It means you need to think before you hit “send.” Don’t just share any post that comes along (that might agree with your agenda). Do some research to make sure it’s based in any truth before you just share it. If you don’t have time to do that…then just don’t post. To be clear, I think we are living in an amazing time. We have opportunities our great grandparents could never have imagined. We have ways to grow a business, grow our brand, and create influence. We have a great opportunity to have a real voice. Let’s just make sure we deserve it. Make sure you never miss an update. Feel free to sign up to become our VIP. You can do that by signing up here.
by Kirby Hasseman
Tis the season for holiday parties!
Your reaction to that statement probably reflects a few factors. First, it might depend on how you feel about getting together in public. It also might depend on how you feel about the holidays. But maybe the most powerful indicator about how you feel about holiday parties is what kind of festivities you have been to in the past.
Last night I attended one that was great. And it got me to thinking…what makes a great holiday event? Here is a quick (and likely incomplete) list.
1. Socialization: I love it when I get the opportunity to meet and greet with great people. The holidays can be a time when you are so caught up getting ready for them, that you don’t take time to enjoy them. The best parties allow the time for you to connect with good people.
2. Food And Drink: Whether it’s finger foods or a full meal, then best holiday gatherings offer the chance to enjoy something good to eat and drink.
3. Laughter: For me, I love any event when I get a chance to laugh. Whether you create that opportunity for your guests, or it happens naturally, laughter is the best holiday song. Create an atmosphere where everyone can have some fun.
4. Appreciation: The holiday season is a great time to show your gratitude. Whether it’s for your team or for your customers (or both), a cool holiday party gives you the chance to say “thank you.” Last night I attended a party where the leaders got up and personally expressed gratitude over the microphone, then they gave each attendee a gift on the way out. It was simple and classy. So if you are planning a holiday event, those are a few simple keys to keep in mind. But as I said, this list is likely woefully incomplete. What makes holiday events for you? Let us know!
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by Kirby Hasseman
“Familiarity breeds contempt.” You might have heard this saying. It’s a simple concept that says that what you see every day, you tend to get frustrated with. I see this, sometimes, in small town America. We see the same things each and every day, and we can get obsessed about the things that are “wrong.” We have this problem where Hasseman Marketing is located, in Coshocton County.
It’s natural. We have a tendency to see what bothers us. But as I have talked about before, you can train your mind what to look for. When we constantly obsess over the “bad” we fail to see the good. So I wanted to make a list of the things I am thankful for in my community. Here are 4 good things in Coshocton County.
Now Hiring
One of the critiques of Coshocton County for many years was the loss of jobs. It was true. We had lost quite a few manufacturing plants and jobs over the years. But here’s the thing, it’s not true now. It seems like every place I go, they have a sign out that says “now hiring.” If you go to the Ohio Means Jobs website for Coshocton County, there are lots of available positions. I am thankful and excited that there are lots of great opportunities in the community today.
ITM Investment
I am fired up about ITM moving to our Main Street in Coshocton. ITM is a company that has been in our community for many years and they have decided to purchase a building on Main Street…and bring 80 plus employees with them. This has the opportunity to be a really big deal for downtown.
Collaboration
One of the things I have most noticed is a new sense of working together. In many organizations, across many different areas, I hear the chatter of people working together to better get things done. Many of the territorial silos of the past seem to be dissolving. To me, that is extremely exciting.
New Energy
It’s hard to quantify this, but there seems to be a renewed energy in meetings. When you are looking for something good going on, there are plenty of people shouting out examples. You don’t have to look for them…positives seem to be jumping out everywhere. That energy is contagious. In addition to these positives, I see people investing in new businesses. I mentioned ITM above. But there are so many more! Sorrell’s on the Square, McKenna’s Farm Market, and The General Store in West Lafayette are just a few! It’s good to see these positives in the community. They are there. You just need to look for them. And regardless of your community, it helps when you spread the word as well!
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by Kirby Hasseman
My awesome wife (yes my wife is the best) bought me tickets to go see Garth Brooks in concert for Christmas. So I was lucky enough to be among the thousands of fans to see him in Pittsburgh recently. The show was truly outstanding. Whether you are a fan of his music or not, Garth puts on a show to remember. What an entertainer!
But it got me thinking, “What can I take away from this? What can I learn?” So here is what I came up with…5 Lessons to Learn from a Garth Brooks Concert!
The Power of the Wink: Gary Vaynerchuk actually talks about this concept. Garth understands that there is a huge amount of power in making each person in the stadium feel special. He runs around the stage so he spends time really singing and engaging with each section. He waves at individuals, slaps hands, and spends real moments that will create raging fans for life.
Lesson: Each customer matters…do you make them feel special?
Do More: The show was amazing. At the end of the event, I was tired! We had gone on a journey and stood and sang along. We had laughed and cried and screamed. And all I could think was, “He is going to do this again…tonight!” Garth scheduled two shows at 6:30pm and 10:30pm. Now that is ambitious.
Lesson: Want to grow your business? Do more than most people think is reasonable.
Bring The Energy: The reason I was so amazed that he was going to do this twice was, the level of energy he brought to the show was off the charts! He ran around and sang and screamed and (it seemed) had a great time. The audience responded to his passion by screaming louder (which I am sure fed his energy again).
Lesson: Your energy can really be contagious…is yours worth catching?
Play The Favorites: Garth actually talked about this during the show. He said when you come to see your favorite entertainer, it’s okay to hear the “new stuff.” But you bought the ticket to hear the old favorites. He’s right. The same is true for your customers. If you won them over with fantastic service, don’t change that model if you grow. Do what you do best!
Lesson: Don’t lose sight of what makes you special.
Let Your Team Shine: Around the middle of the show, Garth brought out his wife Trisha Yearwood to the stage. She is a talented entertainer in her own right and she did several great tunes from her career. In addition, both Trisha and Garth took the backseat as they welcomed one of their back-up singers to to front of the stage. She had written one of the songs Trisha was performing so they let her sing lead (and she was awesome). It was a cool moment for her and it made you like Garth and Trisha even more.
Lesson: Don’t be afraid to let your team members take the spotlight sometimes! It makes you look good.
What a show! If you get the chance to see it, I recommend it. And if you do (or if you have already seen him) let me know what lessons I missed! Remember…Sail Your Vessel!
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