What's Your Story?

Evan Williams: Hilarious, and True, Post

                                                                                       (photo by Aaron Escobar)

Evan Williams, Twitter - nuff said, had a great post on his blog recently.  Even if you aren't starting your own business, the message could be applied to any new venture.  If you're a salesperson looking to take over a territory OR lead your company in #'s, an owner or anyone looking to make their mark in some area of their life.

Anyway, worth a quick read.  Hilarious.

http://tinyurl.com/evheadpost

Enjoy and have a great Saturday evening.  I'm done for the night people!

Steve Gumm

oh yeah, blog coming next week:  newest 18 Stories project rolling out with our friends at SuperPoke here:  shop.superpoke.com  Get Some!  We worked hard on this one.

Turning Trash Into Treasure (Part 2 of 2)

                        

To separate yourself, it's really as easy as looking at what you do and simply asking some questions like "is this something my competition would do?" "Is this something I see all the time?", "If it wasn't MINE, would I pay any attention to this?"

A lot of companies we consult with assume that if you are going way outside the box it means you have to spend a ton of money.  This simply isn't true.  If you're truly in a creative mode of thought - you can come up with a killer marketing piece with almost any budget. 

Here's one way to turn some trash into treasure.

18 Stories Freebie Idea - Run with it:
Here's a blatant - in your face way to stand out and get some attention.  We did this a few years ago and received a tremendous response.  We pissed off a few people, but give me a unique item that pisses off a few people over a safe idea no one pays attention to any day of the week.

Take a sheet of letterhead and write a compelling, but fun letter.  Crumple it up and stick the letter (and only the letter) in a small box.  Ship away.  Watch how many people read that one my friend!  I guarantee a killer response.  Prepare for some angry responses - it comes with the territory.  For anyone doing different things, there's a crowd that will always scream out in opposition.  The alternative is to be safe and be largely ignored.

Make sure you take an angle in your writing noting that you realize the majority of marketing pieces end up in the trash because they aren't worth paying attention to.  YOUR service, product, message demands attention and you're also "saving your clients time by preparing the letter for it's inevitable trip to the trash bin."  That's customer service!  The goal is always lead to get another customer touch due to the marketing, which is where you really drill in with information and turn that lead into a customer.

This little example shows you an inexpensive, but effective way to truly turn some trash into your own little treasure.

Enjoy.

Steve Gumm

Turning Trash Into Treasure (Part 1 of 2)

We all get so much junk mail it's scary.  Junk mail is really just a reflection of our fears and attraction to patterns or "standard practices".  

We have all become very good at tuning out the static, however most businesses and sales people haven't realized how to avoid being that very static they are tuning out.  

It's amazing really.  It takes me about 10 seconds to go through the mail these days and I actually toss 99% of everything WITHOUT EVER OPENING IT!  My brain scans it like this "junk, junk, junk, junk, BILL, junk, Letter from Mom, junk, INC MAGAZINE, junk, junk, junk.....done".  Anything not labeled junk gets looked at or opened, everything else goes in the trash.  There are those random days when my static pattern is interrupted "junk, junk, junk, junk, WHAT IS THIS?, junk, junk, WOW - COOL PACKAGING - HMMM, junk, junk etc".  On these days, I'll open the items that don't fit the pattern, EVEN IF IT'S ON A TOPIC I'M NOT PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN.  

Now, here's where it gets insane.  Most businesses and people in general have this same experience I just described.  Then it comes time to do some marketing and what do they do?  STATIC JUNK!  That's right, now that the flat, boring piece of static junk happens to have your name on the front and your information inside and you put it in that bright yellow envelope, it's no longer static junk - it's yours! Because it's yours, your brain separates it from what you do to the mail each day and doesn't even realize that all you've done is tossed another piece of junk on the pile.  If that didn't have your name on it and your information in it, you'd never ever open it.  Guess what?  Out of 1,000,000 people - you are the only one who can own that information.  Everyone else will file it in their mental "static junk" pile and you'll be lucky to get anyone to pay attention.

You can apply this same logic to many actions:  how cold calls are handled, how meetings are handled, what kind of clothes we wear, how we interact with customers, what our voice messages say, how we decorate our offices,  etc.  It's like a standard is set and everyone decides to operate within the walls of the standard, regardless of how boring or un-unique.  Why?  The brain LOVES it.  It's safe.  It makes sense.  It's what you do because that's what we were told to do by the person who was told to do it before....and so on.  It's amazing we still don't eat with sticks and rocks.  The first person to introduce an actual fork like object was probably laughed at and called insane.

Before you do anything to market or promote yourself or your business - STOP!  Ask yourself if it's unique and if you'd pay any attention to it.  Compare it to what your competition is doing or what you see in the mail or marketplace each day.  If it doesn't stand out to you - there's no way it will get passed the "static junk" file folder in anyones brain.  

It really doesn't take much to get passed that "static junk" detector.  You just have to wake up.  Quit sleep walking through your marketing and pay attention to what you are doing. Rather than just grabbing the sticks and rocks to eat, just stop and ask yourself if there's a better way to get better results and I'm sure you'll find a fork in there somewhere.

How can you separate yourself from the junk pile?  Ahhhh - that's coming in part 2.

Bull Fighting

I blog about products, people and things that I think stand out and "give the finger" to the safe, boring ways of doing business.  I just love it.  Whether you are truly news worthy, or just really good at what you do without the in your face differentiators -you still need to be a great bull fighter.

As a promotional marketing company, we not only excel at dissecting the way you are reaching out to customers, and employees, but we always give you the tools to engage.

Your business is the matador and your customers are highly distracted bulls.  "Hey, look at me - I'm the greatest matador of all time.....look at me!"  That's great, but if you are standing in the corner of the arena, you are going to be awfully boring, or worse yet a failure.

The matador would be nothing if he couldn't draw in the bull to do his work and then continue to work that magic over and over again.  Your business cannot succeed if you are unable to attract customers to you so you can work your magic.  Just like a bull isn't easily attracte without the big red cape, your business isn't exactly screaming to be noticed if you don't pull out your own version of that cape.

If your company is the matador, 18 Stories is the provider of capes that draw the most attention.  Let's assume you truly are great at what you do.  The next step is to grab the attention of those who will charge at you because you've gained their attention.  Swoosh! (That's my best attempt at the sound of your cape as the bull runs through it)  Now you've either succeeded and put the company into your client category to get a different, but still consistent, level of attention OR you gained the attention and they took a look but the timing wasn't right.  Now you have to set-up and get another pass of that bull to try and turn them into a customer.

Bull Fighting is another way to take a step back and ask if you are continually gaining the attention of people who will charge at you.  If you aren't continually adding ways to draw attention you will be like a matador who puts the cape down after 2 or 3 passes - the show will get very boring, or it may even end.

And that's no bull!

Steve Gumm

Your Business as the Drive Up Window......

It seems like there should be an easier process for fast food drive ups.  When's the last time you, or the person driving you, didn't have to lean in to understand or decipher the conversation?  And how many times do you drive off and realize even though you got fries - you forgot to ask for ketchup and so there is none?

I'd love to be in the interview process for hiring the employees in charge of communicating with drivers.  Who is saying "perfect - you are perfect!" I can almost understand you completely - you have the job?   I wish I had a cool accent, but I don't and if I did - I wouldn't want the frustration of trying to process orders for people who had a hard time understanding me.  The bottome line is simply this:  in the order of customer contact, is this even close to the best idea?  No.

Is it really that hard to do a walk through of this process and make it better.  In the Chicago market - the exception to the rule is PORTILLOS (www.portillos.com) Even though their lines are usually 4x as long as your average drive-up they are quicker and more accurate.  They have a drive-up just like the competition.  So why are they so much better?  Someone is paying attention to the needs of the customer, from the first hello through to the delivery of the end product.  It's impressive. 

Think of your business or sales as a drive up window operation.  When people call or drop in, is the message clear and concise?  Are you thinking about the entire process or just the making of the food and selling it? 

The drive-up was once a new thing, designed not only for efficiency, but for a customer experience!  In this day and age, the experience is often as important (or even more important in some cases) than the product itself.

Create exciting, new, creative interactions with your customers and they will brag about you.  They will wonder why your "drive up" is so much better than your competition.  Look at your company or process from the point a customer makes first contact all the way through until they receive the finished goods.  How can it be better at point A, B, C etc.?  How do you answer the phone?  Do you have fun communication while people wait for an order?  How about a follow up after an order?

It's one thing to put out a great product, but don't forget about the entire experience along the way.  Take a step back and put yourself in the shoes of your customer.  Then walk yourself from the point of contact to the follow up.  Would you think you were incredible?  Worth bragging about?

Ask yourself:  are you tossing some ketchup in there at the end or would your customers have to pull back around, get out and ask?

Some food for thought (pun fully intended).

Steve G.

And in closing:  (off topic) - read the blog on Underdogs and then read this:  http://sports.aol.com/mlb/story/_a/bbdp/rally-for-ages-saves-red-sox/215491?icid=100214839x1211514569x1200699438  Case in point.

Digging Deep - The Underdog Stories

I was disturbed this morning by a story I read on the AP newswire about the increased rate of suicide due to the financial turmoil America is suffering right now:  http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081014/ap_on_re_us/financial_crisis_violence 

Here's a few excerps from the above story:

"An out-of-work money manager in California loses a fortune and wipes out his family in a murder-suicide. A 90-year-old Ohio widow shoots herself in the chest as authorities arrive to evict her from the modest house she called home for 38 years. "

"In Massachusetts, a housewife who had hidden her family's mounting financial crisis from her husband sends a note to the mortgage company warning: "By the time you foreclose on my house, I'll be dead."

"Then Carlene Balderrama shot herself to death, leaving an insurance policy and a suicide note on a table."

There's something to be said for believing in the underdog, especially when the underdog happens to be you.

I've been in some dark places in my life.  I think everyone has been at one point or another.  It goes without saying that anything worthwhile in life comes with a certain amount of risk - otherwise it wouldn't be worthwhile.  It's when the chips are down that you have to take a step back and just breathe.  When you are sitting with a large stack of chips and in the blink of eye it's gone, the idea of being objective seems ridiculous.  But this is exactly when you have to find the strength within to center yourself.

When I've been at the bottom I always start by asking myself "what if the worst happens?"  Typically it's visions of my home being taken away and me owing more money than I care to think about - even bankruptcy.  This is when it dawns on me that even the "worst" possible scenario is not going to kill me.  Not to get all philosophical here, but the things that really matter become more apparent at times like this.  Because of this, I am thankful for the adversity.  Yes, I said it....thankful.

The next thing I think about is the fact that I live in America and I'm capable of doing anything.  If everything is stripped away from me today, you better believe I'll be back tomorrow shooting for something even bigger.  The knowing that anything is possible keeps me going.  Anything.

It's when people take themselves and life too seriously that you end up with headlines that those of today.  What would life's pleasures and great triumphs be if there were only great triumphs and pleasure?  Hey, I don't like going through difficulty any more than the next person - but the universe tends to have a little give and take to it, so what am I going to do? 

Pretend life is a monopoly board.  If you were playing and you were down to one little house on a board full of competitors' hotels and cash, would you quit?  No way - you'd play it out and see what comes of the next roll of the dice.  It's those times when you go from having that one little house, about to be eliminated, to somehow pulling out a win that everyone talks about for years to come.  It's the underdog story America is built on.  We love it, and we should.

There's tons of examples in sports when spectators leave the stadium with heads held low, only to turn on the radio in their car and listen to some miraculous comeback victory.  Now everyone is screaming "we should have stayed!".  That is life under a microscope.  You NEVER give up on yourself or the reality that tomorrow could be YOUR day.  It's the underdog story.

Here's one for you:  In 2006, the Michigan Spartans faced off agains the Northwestern Wildcats in a football game that featured the biggest comeback in NCAA history. The Michigan State Spartans, after falling behind to the Wildcats 38-3 with 9:54 remaining in the 3rd quarter, rallied to score 38 unanswered points to defeat the Wildcats 41-38.  If this was your life in sports, would you have walked out wth 10:00 remaining in the 3rd?  If you did - look what you would miss!!!

I'm not going to point you to a bunch of links to kids in Africa or paralysis victims, or parents with sick kids, or any of that.  There's plenty of stories out there and if you want to find more, simply google it.  The point is that no matter how hard you think you have it, somebody out there will gladly trade places with you.  It is so sad to see anyone, especially in America of all places, give up on themselves and the underdog story that lies just beneath the tremendous fear, anxiety and depression of a challenging moment.

For anyone facing challenges that seem insurmountable right now - take the time to sit back and reflect on all you have that truly means something.  Then visualize yourself on that monopoly board or in that game with 10:00 left in the 3rd - down 38-3.  Yes, this is a challenge (note I didn't use problem....a problem is anything noted in the previous paragraph) - but what an awesome opportunity to create an underdog story of your own, that you can pass on to generations that follow so they too will have reason to believe in America and our favorite past time:  cheering on the underdogs.

Steve G.

Change Of Pace, Change Of Direction

I was a pretty good basketball player (emphasis on was).  As I got older and the competitive nature of the game increased, one thing our coaches threw down our throats was “change of pace, change of direction” on offense.  This is exactly what it sounds like.  The effect this has on an opponent is to keep them on high alert due to your unpredictability.   “What will happen next?  How do we respond to it?” is the reaction you’re going for.  It’s an unpredictable approach with a plan that leads to predictability for the offense.  Change of pace, change of direction is essential if you want to win. 

Here’s a few examples of “change of pace, change of direction” in life:  a substitute teacher appears in your class, you are forced to detour from your normal daily route, the power goes out at your home, you find someone you think could be the proverbial “one”, you find an unexpected $20 in your pocket, Mom tosses in a surprise soda or candy bar in your normally predictable lunch, you receive an odd size piece of mail in your mailbox, someone mows their lawn in a circular pattern, your favorite restaurant changes the look of their menu.  There are countless examples.  The main effect any change of pace/change of direction will have on your life is to wake up your mind.  It becomes interesting to the mind and therefore demands your attention in situations where you may otherwise have your brain on autopilot.

 As humans we can become so predictable.  We fall into routines easily and often times fear change even when change is good.  How many times have you driven home from work, only to get home and not even recall the drive?  Most of us are on autopilot.  We aren’t changing pace or direction nearly enough.

The reason I wrote this entry is to point out the obvious, as un-obvious as it may seem.  With your business and sales, try to change things up.  Take the message and mission and keep it consistent, but change up your delivery.  This will help wake up your customers so they actually pay attention and all of your hard work doesn’t fall on deaf ears.  It will also help you stand out in a business environment full of companies who market on autopilot to people on autopilot.  It’s no wonder most companies are unsatisfied with the response to their marketing and sales efforts.

What can you do to change the pace and direction in your business?  I believe all you have to do is ask yourself “would I expect this from a competitor”?  If you think it’s something you’d see from a competitor (not the message, but the delivery of that message) then you aren’t trying hard enough.  Start asking the tough questions of yourself and before you know it you’ll be changing pace, changing direction and beating your competition so badly they’ll be scratching their heads wondering how you do it.

 

 

Here’s to a good, old fashioned shake and bake,

 

 

This evening I discovered something many of you may have been aware of for years.  I've seen the commercials, but have never actually eaten one of these and now I'm wondering why.  Un-crustables are un-believable.  Now, if you don't have the "I LOVE pastries" taste buds I do, please don't tell me how gross I am to love these.  They are tasty!  That's not really the point anyway.

I can remember being a kid and having the crust removed on my PB&J and now I do the same for my daughter.  It's just what kids do and what parents do for kids. 

As I sunk my teeth into the ever so scrumpdillycious un-crustable it dawned on me that this was a perfect example of opportunity being right in front of millions daily and it took this long for someone to raise the opportunity radar and take advantage of this void in the culinary world.  I had to know more about PB&J's and just how long this opportunity hung in plain view before someone grabbed it.

And so my research ensued as follows:

According to Smuckers, no one really knows when or where this sandwich was first created. Bread and jelly have been around for millennia, but peanut butter wasn't invented until 1890. This spreadable creation was a hit at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, and during the 1920s and 1930s, commercial brands of peanut butter such as Peter Pan and Skippy were introduced. Around the same time, pre-sliced bread became common in the U.S. But there's no mention of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches before the 1940s.

That being said, we can assume that it was roughly 60+ years before this delicious idea came to life.  Think about all the countless hours that must have added up removing the crust from PB&J's decade after decade until finally someone said "this seems like too much work - we should pre-package this with the crust removed!"  DECADES!  This idea could have come from any of us - BUT lucky is the individual who has their eyes open long enough to not only see a need and an opportunity - but to act on it.

There are obvious things in your life each day that pose tremendous opportunities if you are paying attention. 

Message:  PAY ATTENTION.  There are opportunities in even the most common, everyday things.  It's your challenge to find one or two opportunities each day and then act on at least one before 2060.

What's next?  Reesees Peanut Butter Cup cereal!? 

Enjoying someone else's yummy opportunity,

Steve G

 

Crocs are the perfect example of a product the large majority of people would have said "NO WAY" to.  How many people would have shot that down?  A ton.  Why?  If you are creating something new, innovative or interesting - the human brain has to go to a place it is unfamiliar with.  There is no reference for a shoe that looks like this nor is there a way for most people to push their mind to envision the vision of the entrepreneur who believes in this.  No matter how much the founders of crocs would try and convince most that this was a good idea - I'd bet you'd have a ton of people not putting money in and betting on it.  Once it hits and is proven....well, "I should have thought of that", "what a great idea" becomes the mantra.

If you want to be out in front of your competition and stand out in a marketplace full of everything and anything - ensure that your products and message are different.  I'm not talking about changing the title of your flyer from Fantastic to SuperDuper either.  I mean attention grabbing different!  You have to take chances and push the limits of what people call a comfort zone.

Throughout history, almost every "I wish I did that" product or idea, got to that point because the people behind it had the courage and belief to ignore the naysayers and just go for it.  Want to stand out?  Want to be the company that people HAVE to work with or go to?  Then step out of your comfort zone and do it. 

Oh - by the way, the ugliest shoe on the planet generated roughly $850 million in sales in 2007.  I'd recommend against that ugly shoe - no one will ever wear it.

Steve G.   

This morning I ran out and got a haircut.  I've always been one who makes fun of my guy friends who have a regular stylist they see - and they pay at a minimum twice what I typically pay.
 

A haircut is a haircut is a haircut - right?  Why pay more for what I can get right up the street for half?

Predictability, consistency, extra attention and ultimately satisfaction.  This is what my friends have been paying for and what, for today anyway, I completed missed out on.  But I saved a few bucks!  I guess if I didn't have business functions this week and preferred to look like my 2 year old daughter snuck up on me with the clippers at night I'd be fine, however right now I wish I had that predictability.

On the other side of the coin is the woman who weed whipped my dome this morning.  She doesn't know me, my likes or dislikes.  She doesn't know how much I tip or whether I'll keep coming back.  I'm just a new guy who dropped in on a Saturday morning.  You can't really blame her for not getting it right - how could I expect her best.  It's a gamble on both sides.

In business, predictability, loyalty, relationships and the idea of getting personalized service are critical.  In an era of reverse auctions and cut throat business antics, its no wonder there are so few notable companies out there leading the way.  So many small businesses are running to the local, inexpensive hairstylist of business!

You are only as good as the weakest member of your team.  We've all heard this in sports and it rings true in business.  The thing most of us forget- but need to put in bold type somewhere we can see everyday- is that YOUR TEAM EXTENDS TO EVERYONE INVOLVED IN YOUR BUSINESS, NOT JUST THE PEOPLE IN YOUR OFFICE.  It's the vendors and delivery drivers and cleaning crew and landlords and anyone who has a hand in how your business looks and operates. 

When is the last time you gave your UPS driver a tip OR simply said what a great job they were doing.  How about a beverage on that hot day.  This person is responsible for the important packages that leave your building, but more often than not we don't care.  The next guy who says they can do it cheaper probably gets the gig and won't hear a peep unless they drop the ball. 

Make today the day you start to build your team.  Will you always get the cheapest price on the block?  No.  But you will build a strong team that breathes predictable service, consistency, attention to details and efficiency that will make you better and more profitable.  Let your team get to know what's expected out of them and what they can expect from you.  Over time this builds a well oiled machine in all facets of your business. 

I think we can all agree that we want our businesses to "look good" to our customers every single day.  Let me warn you that if you don't begin to build your team, and build relationships with every member of that team, your business could wind up looking like my 2 year old daughter snuck up on it at night and put it together herself.

Enjoy the day....and Go Cubs!

Steve G.
-- 3 weeks and my hair will be back baby!

Un-Believable?

This evening I discovered something many of you may have been aware of for years.  I've seen the commercials, but have never actually eaten one of these and now I'm wondering why.  Un-crustables are un-believable.  Now, if you don't have the "I LOVE pastries" taste buds I do, please don't tell me how gross I am to love these.  They are tasty!  That's not really the point anyway.

I can remember being a kid and having the crust removed on my PB&J and now I do the same for my daughter.  It's just what kids do and what parents do for kids. 

As I sunk my teeth into the ever so scrumpdillycious un-crustable it dawned on me that this was a perfect example of opportunity being right in front of millions daily and it took this long for someone to raise the opportunity radar and take advantage of this void in the culinary world.  I had to know more about PB&J's and just how long this opportunity hung in plain view before someone grabbed it.

And so my research ensued as follows:

According to Smuckers, no one really knows when or where this sandwich was first created. Bread and jelly have been around for millennia, but peanut butter wasn't invented until 1890. This spreadable creation was a hit at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, and during the 1920s and 1930s, commercial brands of peanut butter such as Peter Pan and Skippy were introduced. Around the same time, pre-sliced bread became common in the U.S. But there's no mention of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches before the 1940s.

That being said, we can assume that it was roughly 60+ years before this delicious idea came to life.  Think about all the countless hours that must have added up removing the crust from PB&J's decade after decade until finally someone said "this seems like too much work - we should pre-package this with the crust removed!"  DECADES!  This idea could have come from any of us - BUT lucky is the individual who has their eyes open long enough to not only see a need and an opportunity - but to act on it.

There are obvious things in your life each day that pose tremendous opportunities if you are paying attention. 

Message:  PAY ATTENTION.  There are opportunities in even the most common, everyday things.  It's your challenge to find one or two opportunities each day and then act on at least one before 2060.

What's next?  Reesees Peanut Butter Cup cereal!? 

Enjoying someone else's yummy opportunity,

Steve G

You So Crazy!

 

Crocs are the perfect example of a product the large majority of people would have said "NO WAY" to.  How many people would have shot that down?  A ton.  Why?  If you are creating something new, innovative or interesting - the human brain has to go to a place it is unfamiliar with.  There is no reference for a shoe that looks like this nor is there a way for most people to push their mind to envision the vision of the entrepreneur who believes in this.  No matter how much the founders of crocs would try and convince most that this was a good idea - I'd bet you'd have a ton of people not putting money in and betting on it.  Once it hits and is proven....well, "I should have thought of that", "what a great idea" becomes the mantra.

If you want to be out in front of your competition and stand out in a marketplace full of everything and anything - ensure that your products and message are different.  I'm not talking about changing the title of your flyer from Fantastic to SuperDuper either.  I mean attention grabbing different!  You have to take chances and push the limits of what people call a comfort zone.

Throughout history, almost every "I wish I did that" product or idea, got to that point because the people behind it had the courage and belief to ignore the naysayers and just go for it.  Want to stand out?  Want to be the company that people HAVE to work with or go to?  Then step out of your comfort zone and do it. 

Oh - by the way, the ugliest shoe on the planet generated roughly $850 million in sales in 2007.  I'd recommend against that ugly shoe - no one will ever wear it.

Steve G.   

Who's Holding The Clippers Over Your Business?

This morning I ran out and got a haircut.  I've always been one who makes fun of my guy friends who have a regular stylist they see - and they pay at a minimum twice what I typically pay.
 

A haircut is a haircut is a haircut - right?  Why pay more for what I can get right up the street for half?

Predictability, consistency, extra attention and ultimately satisfaction.  This is what my friends have been paying for and what, for today anyway, I completed missed out on.  But I saved a few bucks!  I guess if I didn't have business functions this week and preferred to look like my 2 year old daughter snuck up on me with the clippers at night I'd be fine, however right now I wish I had that predictability.

On the other side of the coin is the woman who weed whipped my dome this morning.  She doesn't know me, my likes or dislikes.  She doesn't know how much I tip or whether I'll keep coming back.  I'm just a new guy who dropped in on a Saturday morning.  You can't really blame her for not getting it right - how could I expect her best.  It's a gamble on both sides.

In business, predictability, loyalty, relationships and the idea of getting personalized service are critical.  In an era of reverse auctions and cut throat business antics, its no wonder there are so few notable companies out there leading the way.  So many small businesses are running to the local, inexpensive hairstylist of business!

You are only as good as the weakest member of your team.  We've all heard this in sports and it rings true in business.  The thing most of us forget- but need to put in bold type somewhere we can see everyday- is that YOUR TEAM EXTENDS TO EVERYONE INVOLVED IN YOUR BUSINESS, NOT JUST THE PEOPLE IN YOUR OFFICE.  It's the vendors and delivery drivers and cleaning crew and landlords and anyone who has a hand in how your business looks and operates. 

When is the last time you gave your UPS driver a tip OR simply said what a great job they were doing.  How about a beverage on that hot day.  This person is responsible for the important packages that leave your building, but more often than not we don't care.  The next guy who says they can do it cheaper probably gets the gig and won't hear a peep unless they drop the ball. 

Make today the day you start to build your team.  Will you always get the cheapest price on the block?  No.  But you will build a strong team that breathes predictable service, consistency, attention to details and efficiency that will make you better and more profitable.  Let your team get to know what's expected out of them and what they can expect from you.  Over time this builds a well oiled machine in all facets of your business. 

I think we can all agree that we want our businesses to "look good" to our customers every single day.  Let me warn you that if you don't begin to build your team, and build relationships with every member of that team, your business could wind up looking like my 2 year old daughter snuck up on it at night and put it together herself.

Enjoy the day....and Go Cubs!

Steve G.
-- 3 weeks and my hair will be back baby!