by Kirby Hasseman
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.
Want to keep up all the time? Make sure to join our VIP List! Our VIP’s get an email with the latest content…and other special offers as well. Join here. Oh, and if you are in sales and want our Sales Playbook, click here and sign up…we will send it over!
by Kirby Hasseman
“You are selfish.” When you read that sentence, or hear those words, how does it make you feel? Does it fill you with pride? Or do you turn your head or step back in disbelief? Most people, like me, get a negative feeling in their stomach if they have been labeled as “selfish.” It’s just not how most of us want to be known. But sometimes being selfish is important. Never forget the flight attendant’s speech that reminds us to secure our own oxygen mask before we help those around us. When we are creating our life on purpose, we need to spend some time being selfish, if we want to get it right. Here’s what I mean: 1. Your Purpose: I am amazed when I look at the world and see how many people have live just “happen to them.” They travel through the world with no intentionality. What type of life do you want? What do you want to be when you grow up? What do you want to achieve? The fact is, only you can answer those questions for you. You can’t find it from your parents or friends or (God forbid) your phone or social media. You have to take some “me time” and decide what you want your life to look like. 2. Your Priorities: Once you have decided what you want, now you need to be “selfish” with your time (if you want to make it happen). You will need to prioritize one thing over another. I never thought wanting to run a marathon was selfish, but long days of training take time. That time comes at the expense of other things and other people. The same is true if you are growing sales, starting a business, or launching a new career. This time of “selfish” is totally fine, as long as you have decided this on purpose. 3. Your Journey: It’s your life…not anyone else’s. As you make these choices and priorities, you might have to lose a few people in your life. But if you have created the life you want, that will be okay. Hopefully they are doing the same. Maybe you are uncomfortable with this “selfish” talk. But once you get your life moving in the direction you want, you might find a group of people moving in the same direction.
As always, if you don’t want to miss any content or update or special, make sure to join our VIP list here.
by Kirby Hasseman
It’s time for the latest Delivering Marketing Joy episode, and this time Kirby gives a call out for potential guests…and gives three tips on productivity! It’s a short and sweet episode that you won’t want to miss. So watch it here. 
As you can see from watching today’s episode, it’s a little different! First off, we are always on the look out for exciting guests for the show. We do Delivering Marketing Joy each and every week. So if you, or someone you know, might be a great guest, please let us know. Just email us here to let us know who to contact! But wait! There’s more! In addition to a call out for potential guests, Kirby touches on three things that help to create content or to get more done. Creativity: There is a common misconception about creativity. People believe that you have to be “creative on the spot.” It’s like when you meet a comedian and blurt out “say something funny!” This idea of spontaneous creativity takes away from the hours of work it takes to really create something. You have to create a lot of bad, in order to create the good. So just create. Squeezing the Most: The most impressive people tend to get the most out of every minute. If you have a gap in your schedule, you could check email or surf Facebook. We have all done that. But instead, try to milk 3 more calls out of that time. Get the most out of every minute and you will get a lot more done in your day. Consistency: If you want to create a brand, build a business or have success in sales, consistency is nearly always the key. It’s simple…but it’s not easy. Delivering Marketing Joy is no different. There are times when it’s a struggle to get a show out. That’s when you get creative to keep them coming. It shows respect to yourself and to your audience. The best of the best show up…every day.
Want to learn more about Hasseman Marketing, check out our About us page here. As always, you can shop online here. And if you are a Promo Pro, you can get our Sales Playbook here.
Finally, feel free to sign up for our VIP list if you want to get updates and special each week.
by Kirby Hasseman
As a business owner, entrepreneur, or even an employee, it is really easy to fall into the habit of designing solutions based on ease of use…for you. You look at a challenge in the business, and you naturally come up with an idea that solves the problem in the easiest way for the company. It’s understandable. You are the person that has to take care of it. It’s natural. It’s logical. But you are not the person who needs the problem solved. I found myself doing that yesterday. For those that don’t know, I am working to start a microbrewery in Coshocton, Ohio…Hasseman Brewing. When starting any new project, especially at the beginning, you are faced with decision after decision. Where will this furniture be? What will the decorations look like? What type of SWAG will we have? How will we price it? Oh, and just about a million other decisions. When faced with that mountain of decisions, it’s natural to find the easiest way to solve them. What is the path of least resistance? How can I solve this so it is not a problem for me anymore? In that moment, I would like to encourage you (and me) to pause. Especially at the beginning of a business, you are making some “forever decisions.” These are the decisions that don’t feel like a big deal at the time, but then become the things that people later say “we always have done it this way.” (This is same process that you choose the side of the bed you sleep on, only to stay there for the rest of your life!) As you are making customer-facing decisions, don’t ask yourself how you can solve the problem. As yourself a different set of questions: 1. What will the customer actually want?2. What will delight the customer?3. How will this make them feel?4. How can I make them smile? You get the idea. Take the time to make your business (and your customer experience) remarkable.
Want to learn more about Hasseman Marketing, check out our About us page here. As always, you can shop online here. And if you are a Promo Pro, you can get our Sales Playbook here.
Finally, feel free to sign up for our VIP list if you want to get updates and special each week.
by Kirby Hasseman
“I don’t know what I want to do next,” my daughter was saying in a recent conversation. She was talking to me about the big question that many people struggle with (until late in life). The question is related to “What do you want to be when you grow up?” For many, it’s a tough question. And for those struggling with it, it can seem overwhelming, partially because it feels like “we” are the only ones that don’t know. Here’s one quick secret…most people are not sure. It’s okay. We put enormous pressure on kids today to know exactly what they want to be or do. It’s unrealistic. But I digress. With this as the backdrop, I told her that she needed to lighten up. I explained that her age (and probably at your age) there were really only three things she needed to be focusing on. Make a Little Cash: Yes, making some money needs to be a focus. It doesn’t, however, need to be her only focus. This is not a time (for her) to give up the last two to chase this one. As a matter of fact, the only reason this is on the list is for her to the next two. Create Memories: This is a great time to go out and make the most of each day. Do have fun. Do try new things. (It’s the reason I said yes immediately when I was asked about a helicopter ride). There is value in keeping our nose to the grindstone. But we all need to create a life worth remembering. Gain Experiences (and learning): I have saved the best for last. In today’s world, we have the opportunity to try, and do, and learn a ton of new things. At her age, gaining experience and learning is more important than money. So take that internship with a non-profit so you can take on new projects. The experience will bring money down the road. Oh…and done right, this will create memories too. After the conversation was over I realized that this was not only good advice for my daughter. These are three things I need to be doing each day too.
Want to learn more about Hasseman Marketing, check out our About us page here. As always, you can shop online here. And if you are a Promo Pro, you can get our Sales Playbook here.
Finally, feel free to sign up for our VIP list if you want to get updates and special each week.
