by Kirby Hasseman
Yesterday morning, we got a call that there was a leak at a building we have been working on in Coshocton. Technically, my lovely bride, Amy has been working on it. You can see some of the progress on this video. When we bought the building, it needed a lot of work. It’s hard, expensive and slow work. It’s important, but the progress can seem frustratingly slow. And on mornings like this, when we get a call about a problem, it’s really hard not to be annoyed. You look around and all you see is challenges. All you see is how far you have to go. If you have ever chased a big and challenging goal, my hunch is, this moment feels familiar to you. Whether your goal is get in shape, grow your sales, train for event, build a business, we all get to that point in the road where all we can see is potholes. In that moment, it might be time to look back. You heard me right. Yes, it’s important to “keep your eyes on the prize” or “gaze at the end goal,” or any other cliche’. But sometimes it’s important to remind yourself how far you have come. In our case, we can look back at the first video we shot when getting the building. It was a mess. It was unsafe. It was scary. Yes, we do have a long way to go. But wow! We have come a long way. As we look around at the painting that has been done, the renovations, and the improvement in culture and safety, it’s enough inspiration to get us back on track. So if you are at that moment in your journey, take heart. Though you still have a long way to go, you have probably made quite a few strides in the right direction. Take a few moments to celebrate those. Then you might have the motivation to get back to work. Make sure you never miss an update! There are plenty of places to connect. You can find us on Facebook here, subscribe to Youtube here, or you can sign up for our VIP newsletter below!
by Kirby Hasseman
Since I started writing this blog every day, I have many times when I wondered whether or not to keep going. The obvious goal (or at least it seems obvious to me) is to provide a ton of value to the people reading. If I can do that over time, the audience will grow. If I continue to do that over time, this will ultimately affect them in a positive way (and help grow our business). I feel like that is growing a business the right way. But make no mistake. There are have been times when I question whether it is worth it. I wonder if anyone cares. I wonder if it IS providing value. I wonder if it’s worth it. This is not a cry for help or a plea for attention. It’s just an honest assessment of time. Coming up with ideas each day, and clackety clacking the keys in order to create this, is a real investment. If I am doing this, I am not doing something else. Then, though, I am reminded of a few things. First, I really do think this is the right thing to do. Whether or not I create any short term sales with this strategy is really not the point. It would be nice, sure. But I really believe we are in a “Give First Economy.” As I mention here, if I believe that, then I want to provide value up front. Reconnecting with that helps. Next, I am reminded that I never know what will provide value! Sometimes I will write an article that I think everyone NEEDS to read. I am convinced that this article will really help people (like this one)...and no one really cares. Then I crank out a piece quickly, and I assume the world will ignore it, and it catches fire (like this one). I point this out because, if I believe my goal is to provide value (and I do) and I am not sure what will resonate (and I am not), then I just need to keep showing up. I need to have a cup of coffee, wipe the sleep from my eyes, and get back to work. My guess is…you do too. Here’s to making a difference. Make sure you sign up for our VIP newsletter below. Become a VIP…and get all of the content we create once a week!
by Kirby Hasseman
My friend Bill Petrie and I talk a lot about authenticity. We talk about it on our weekly podcast unScripted (it drops every Friday here), and in talks we give about Content Marketing. The concept is simple. Be you. Create your own voice. But as is the case with many things in life, simple is not the same as easy. When it comes to authenticity (in content and in life) I have good news and bad news. The Good NewsThe good news about creating content around your authentic voice, opinions and personality is…it will be easier. You won’t have to create an opinion about your work or your life. You have them. In many ways, when you can truly embrace this, you shed a weight. Many of us go through life wearing a mask. When you make the realization that you are not for everyone, and accept that, it can be freeing. The Bad NewsOn the other hand, it can be scary. If you are like most of us, you have some concern that if you are really you, people won’t like it. I totally get it. And here’s the rub. If you are authentic, there are going to be people that don’t like it (or you). There will be people that bristle if you share a true opinion or point of view. They will avoid you or not do business with you. And that’s okay. The fact is, when you share your authentic voice, you will turn some people off. But you will attract people as well. And for the most part, the people you attract are much more likely to “get” you and what you are all about. The people you attract are going to be the organizations that identify with what Simon Sinek calls “your why.” They will even (most likely) be people or organizations you enjoy serving more. You will have real relationship that is authentic. As I said to Bill recently, this does not just mean being authentic about opinions. For us, it’s being authentic about joy. Our mission is to “Deliver Marketing Joy.” Recently we did t-shirts (they are so sweet and you can check them out here) that say “Be Kind. Spread Joy. Embrace the hustle.” Though I absolutely love them, there are going to be some that are turned off by the message. That, my friends, is totally cool with me. If our message does not resonate with them, there are plenty of other options out there. But if that message gets you fired up and brings you joy…welcome to the tribe. Make sure you never miss an update! Sign up for our VIP newsletter below!
by Kirby Hasseman
I admire people who have accomplished big things. I think most of us do. Whether with jealousy or admiration, we look at them and are impressed with what they have done (or are doing). And when we see people that have accomplished things like we want, it’s natural that we want to “get their roadmap.” We want to borrow what they have done, so it can naturally lead to what we want too. That makes sense. The problem with this is, we tend to look at the destination on the map…not so much the journey. We look at the apex of the mountain…not the trails. We want to catapult to the gourmet dinner by using the microwave. The more I study people I admire (and we have more and more access to them now), the more I understand that it’s not about the end goal. As Jeff Haden writes today about teen driver Hallie Deegan, the most driven people focus on obsessively on the process. Hallie wants to become a professional driver, so she is not focused on things that don’t move her toward that goal every day.
*When I ask her if she worries about someday looking back on on things she didn’t get to experience, she’s quick to answer.
“If I wanted to do the ‘typical’ things other people my age do,” she says, “I would. I want to train. I want to get better. In my mind, if there is something I want to do well… I don’t want to waste time doing things that won’t help me.”
I love this. The reality is, most people put in average (or below average) effort toward their goals, and then wonder why they are getting average results. If you want to achieve something special, you have to act special. You have to do what most people are unwilling to do. In his most recent vlog, Casey Neistat explains his daily routine. What is he doing at 5am? He is working. Oh…and then he talks to Navy Seal Jocko Willink about why this works. So regardless of what you are trying to accomplish, it’s about the work. Set the big goal. That’s very important. But the step that most people skip is the daily work you need to do to get there. What is that? What do you need to do (that most people are unwilling to do) to move you toward it? Now. Go do that. Every day. We are posting new content every day. Make sure you never miss an update! Sign up for our VIP newsletter. We want to provide you motivation and inspiration to get you moving toward your goals. Sign up below.
by Kirby Hasseman
We have a fun business. That’s why we say we “Deliver Marketing Joy.” When you receive something from us (if we get it right) you get a little piece of Christmas morning. We hear stories of teams gathering around a box to see the latest goodies that have arrived. That is so cool. We do fun stuff. As I have heard PPAI’s Paul Bellantone say, “It’s the only kind of marketing that your clients actually thank you for!” One of our challenges, however, is the diverse range of products and services we do offer. Being in this business, it’s easy to get pigeon-holed. We can become the “t-shirt guy” or the “pen gal,” or “weird guy who sells calendars.” Titles can be tough. 🙂 With approximately a million products to showcase, it’s hard to let our clients know ALL the things we offer. So how about a test? Did you know? Here are a few product categories where we shine. Custom Awards: A great way to make employees and team members feel appreciated is with a custom award program. Yes…we do that. We even helped one of our clients create a really cool award program for their top customers. Read more here. Regardless of who you want to recognize, a cool custom award could be the perfect way to leave an impression. Print: From flyers to calendars to business cards, we work to be a one-stop marketing solution. And with a full time graphic designer, we can help you look good! I mean, we know you look good, but we can help translate that to paper! Signage: One of the reasons I love our Trade show is that it gives people a chance to see this up close. We have a full selection of trade show displays, banners and so much more. Oh…and that design capability is super important here too. Food Gifts: This is a great time of year to talk about this! During the holiday season, food gifts are a great item for offices. Not only is it personal, but it’s shareable. And though you might normally think of the local grocery store (they are great) or a big box store (not so great at this), we can be a great option for personalized food gifts during the holidays. And those are just a few things you might not have known we offered. It’s not your fault! It’s hard to keep track. Make sure you never miss an update, or a product category! Sign up for our VIP newsletter. How does it work? We gather all of the content we create and send one email per week to catch you up! Sign up below.
by Kirby Hasseman
Tell me if this sounds familiar to you. You invest the time and money to attend an educational event in your industry. You struggle to get all of your work done in advance, so you can “really focus” while you are there. (With me so far?) Great news! You attend the event and it really speaks to you! You leave the conference fired up. You are committed to making real change in your office…and in your business. You head back to the office…and…nothing. Either you can’t convince your team, or you can’t convince your boss, or you can’t focus. Whatever. The amazing and inspiring plans you have fade away…into the whirlwind of your day to day. Sound familiar? Yeah. Me too. I had this happen enough times. So I came up with a few strategies to get more ideas implemented in my business. Here are a few thoughts… One Big Idea: I recently attended an event called Skucamp (I talk about that here) and my head was swimming. It was almost too much! So I decided that I needed to settle on just one idea that I could implement. I made a list so I could move on after I knocked #1 off the list. But my goal was to start with just one idea. That helped me not be overwhelmed and focus. Take an Extra Day: My wife and I attended an event called an EME. It’s like speed-dating for business. We had approximately 48 (20 minute) meetings, one after another. The event takes 2.5 days and you leave completely exhausted. It’s truly like drinking from a firehose. Amy and I had done the events before, and the results were okay. Then one year we decided to take an extra day. We sat around the pool and discussed all our notes from the previous three days. It was amazingly productive and we left with a plan. It was a total game changer for that event for us. Keep the Journal Book: Many events you attend will give you some sort of custom journal book for taking notes at the event. I love these. And in order to keep the “mojo” going after the event, I keep using it. It helps me to reconnect to the event mentally, and gives me quick access to the notes I took. Those are just a few ideas for getting back into the swing of things after a big event. What are yours? Make sure you never miss an update! Sign up for our VIP newsletter by signing up below!
