Marketing - The Bold Approach Method

Are Today's Entrepreneurs As Tough As Teddy Roosevelt?

I was reading a post about President Theodore Roosevelt and his support of living the "Strenuous Life." Roosevelt is a fine example of what we can all accomplish it if we just get out and do it.

Often when I'm speaking with entrepreneurs they have an excuse handy for why they can't get things done, why they can't own a market, why they don't have enough time.

Teddy Roosevelt was shot in the chest, the bullet being slowed by a metal case for his glasses and a speech he was to deliver lodged in his ribs. Rather than rush to the hospital, President Roosevelt went to the auditorium where he was to deliver the speech and gave a 90 minute speech before he agreed to go to the hospital.

That is focus and commitment.

If we want our businesses to grow and to continue to perform in any economic climate, we must have the will, focus and commitment of Teddy Roosevelt.

Ask yourself what it is that you put off because it is inconvenient and uncomfortable, then ask yourself what doing it would mean. If it is vital and important to your business, get it done. If it isn't, take it off your to do list and forget about it. Put your focus and commitment into something that will transform your business.

An even more important question you may want to ask is "am I as committed to my clients and prospects as President Roosevelt was to his constituents?"

I wonder if McCain or Obama could stand up to Teddy Roosevelt's standards?

I also want you to think about the story and the mythology of Teddy Roosevelt. Why is the story you are creating around your business? How will you be remembered 50 or 75 years from now?

If The World Is Flat Does Made In America Matter Any More?

I was driving home tonight and the pickup in front of me had a giant decal in the window that read AMERCIAN MADE!

I thought to myself, "Wow, is that really true and does it matter any more?"

The reality is that much of the equipment in the truck is not made in America, it is made outside the country, imported and the put into the truck in the United States. So if anything, to be accurate, what the decal really should say is "American Assembled!"

And, with the flattening of the world, does it really matter if you say your product is "Made in the USA?" My suggestion is that it matters a whole lot less than it ever has. People know that most of what they buy is built where the cost of production is the lowest. And, if your product really is completely manufactured in the United States, what does that mean?

The focus should really be on what is important to the people who buy your products, is it reliable, will it solve my problem, how is it better than the twenty or thirty competitive products that I've already looked at? And, if all things are equal, are you price competitive?

Unfortunately, it matters only to a small majority of people whether or not the product is made here or someplace else. A large percentage of your buying audiece wasn't even born here and may have brand loyalty to the companies that American made products compete with. It is your job to solve their problem, reduce their pain, make them feel like they've made the best choice possible. If you can do all that with a product that is 100% American made then leverage that as the icing on the cake, not the invitation to the party.

Now before you go crazy and hang me out to dry, I want you to now, I'm a huge proponent of manufacturing here in the United States, I think a problem with our economy is that we've let too much manufacturing leave our shores. But none of that matters when it comes to whether or not you'll buy the heating and airconditioning system that was built from the ground up here or the one that was shipped here that works better and costs less.

I truly believe that the problem of the economy in the United States will be solved by small and mid-sized businesses not the government and for that to happen we all have to become much better marketers and communicators. If not, we stand to lose . . . a lot.

I'd really value your opinion on this, I'm going to be pondering it for many months to come. Please take a moment and share your thoughts in the comments.

When you begin thinking about what really matters to your customer and focus on that your business will grow. And after the sale, celebrate with a good old American Draft Beer or California cabernet . . . unless of course you prefer Corona or Aussie Reds.

Guerrilla Marketing Balance Sheet

Jay Conrad Levinson and Ben Mack are creating a new book called Guerrilla Information Marketing. They are compiling a tremendous amount of information to include in the manual and they've released some of their work here, there is a video and an ebook called The Guerilla Balance Sheet, worth a look for sure.

A great review from an unlikely source for Persuasion

Facebook Applications Make The Framework More Persuasive and Marketer Friendly

I just installed Blog RSS Feed Reader to my facebook profile. It allows me to get the RSS feed from this blog and show it on my facebook profile page. Application are much more valuable to marketers than giving gifts or any of the million little bites, nudges and drinks you can give people on Facebook.

Take a look at the application by going to my facebook page and arrowing down just past the information section, you'll see a box titled Blog RSS Feed Reader. While you are there, invite me to be your friend and experience what Facebook can do for you.

As the integration of more useful tools occurs Facebook becomes a much more valuable tool for centralizing your identity online and spreading your story to a very connected audience.

Whether you've done anything with it yet or not, Facebook is an application that marketers, publicists and salespeople have to pay attention to. Marketing to and through social networks will be a staple in your business in the next year . . . or you'll be well on your way to being dominated by your competition.

Tom Petty, Superbowl Ads, The Book That May Just Save Your Life and Making Money Online

On Sunday like millions of others I watched the Superbowl and it was actually kind of cool and revealing at the same time. It was cool because there was a little pool at the party we were at and my wife won the first quarter, my 3 year old daughter won the next two quarters and I won the last quarter!

But, during the halftime show, I said wow, Tom Petty looks a lot better with a beard, I wonder how long he has had it. My brother in law who is 16 (there are 21 years between he and my wife) says "Tom Petty has always had a beard." I didn't know whether to feel old or just out of the loop . . . so I chose the latter.

Superbowl Ads

This year was one of the weakest ad years I remember. The standout ad as most previous years was E*Trade my favorite was the baby with the clown. (Click to see the ads on Youtube). As Blaine Parker, Adman extrodinaire pointed out, they do a phenomenal job of actually selling their product and entertaining rather than just trying to make you laugh. The baby and the clown ad definately did both.

The Book That Could Save Your Life

Dr. Don Kennedy isn't your average family practitioner, he works with the elderly, many of them ready to die and he does something probably no other doctor does. He asks them what is the one thing you wish you'd have done but didn't and why didn't you? What kept you from doing the thing most important to you?

Many have very interesting responses and as you might have suspected, none of them are "I wish I'd have worked more." But almost all of them have a series of excuses and habits that kept them from getting what they want. Dr. Kennedy lays out a very simple process for defeating what he calls "Babbits," those things that keep you from having all you want right now. They keep you stressed, addicted, depressed, overweight, overworked and on the fast track to an early and unfulfilled death. His process is simple and direct and you will create change in your life. This book is less than $10 and will likely be one of the most memorable books you'll read. I loved it. And, I'm using it to identify and make some very impactful changes in my life. Now that I have a daughter, I'm comitted to extending my life as long as I can and filling it as full as I can with shared experiences with her.

What is the one thing that you want to live one more day, one more month, one more year for? What is holding you back?

Making Money Online

I was recently interviewed by Erik Stafford along with 28 other successful entrepreneurs about the one thing that we did in the last 12 months that made us the most money. I was very revealing and from what I've seen so far so has everyone else. Erik will give you my interview and any other four (or five if you don't want mine) interviews you want free. You can get them here.

Do me a favor, in the comments section below, let me know what is the one thing in your life that you'd like to change but haven't yet and why, I'm going to try and get Dr. Kennedy to repond to your coments.