How do you name a business?
February 2, 2010
This is the million dollar frustration I face these days. How to go about naming a business. Do you follow the course of high end retailers and give it a catchy unique name that is brand worthy or do you keep it simple but popingly creative. I am not sure which way to go. I mean who knows these days. I believe that with so much competition it is better to have a unique and creative name that simply tells what you offer. I mean with a name like Gap these days how will this create word of mouth and stand out. I mean sure gap stands out today because of who they are. Gap has been in the market for so long now that they have created a brand. What business pops in your head right now? I recently found this conceptfeedback.com site where you can upload your ideas and get feedback. I have gotten some great mixed advice and in some areas I am more confused than ever. Take a look and vote for me will you. http://www.conceptfeedback.com/concept/2270/business-name/ Heple me solve this craziness and I promise you will be rewarded.
Dear Reader:
Been reading a few books these days. Just finished Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azcaban. J.D. Rowling is an amazing author. How she conceived such a wonderful, exciting page turner I wonder. Is this not what great marketing is all about. I mean the ability to captivate a market and keep them wanting more. Anyhow that is Harry Potter and Stephen Covey writes amazing books himself.
I have started reading his book Principle Centered Leadership and came across a jaw dropping profound sentence that is the answer to my business failure thus far. Well I have not completely failed because failure is part of the success equation. But thinking back I realize that trust had everything to do with what I did wrong. Here is the phrase from the book :
Trust-or the lack of it-is at the root of success or failure in relationships and in the bottom-line results of business,industry,education and government.
Here are my thoughts. I was insecure of my business idea and website design. I did not trust that I could succeed. The issue is I had doubts. Where there are doubts there lacks trust. I did not expand the way I should have and worried like crazy. What’s to worry about when you trust that everything will be okay. Me show up at networking events and talk among the ranks of millionaires? Why would they care about what I had to say when it is clear with my dress that I am not among their ranks. No confidence and not trust. I realize better now and take comfort in doing so. So much to think about. What do you think? Could trust be an issue in your business. Are you getting the leads you want. If not I bet it’s because somehow people do not trust you. Trust is about building likability, accountability, responsibility, relations, communication, loyalty, referrals and what else can you add.
The Best Business Success includes a Key Factor
January 11, 2010
Dear Reader:
The key factor is failure. Is it true that mistakes happen, and out of all the major major ones true greatness was born. This gives me hope. Here’s why.
What is the lousiest mistake you have ever made? I am talking about the the kind of mistake where you simply want to hide away and wish the mistake could magically disappear. Okay well not exactly disappear. You tell yourself that there has got to be a way to dig yourself out. Some how somewhere there is a solution. Then you discover there is no solution except to stare it in the face and somehow get through it all. Well my mistake was just like this. Here goes.
When I started my online gift basket business I had limited funds. I wanted to market my business. I set up a simple site and used my marketing skills to help me create a buzz worthy site. I hoped and dreamed to achieve success. Nevertheless my business was online and marketing online is a different ball game. What did I do. I signed up with a contract with AT&T YP Clicks. The sales rep did a great job on selling me exactly what I thought I needed. He made it sound all grand. Here is the line that cost me $2,000. Look, at 90 clicks a month guaranteed to your site and if 10 of these clicks become customers then you will break-even. The plan costs $298 a month for these clicks and at an average sale of $30-50. It sounded like there was no way I could lose. I did not expect to make huge sales but thought for sure I could break-even. What a lousy mistake. This ended up hurting my business to the point of closure. If only I could go back in time. Well, now I realize that it is a great lesson that cost me $2,000. Sure I did not have to learn this way but I did. I can now breath and focus on a new business venture. Do you disagree about lousy mistakes making you stronger? Have you never made them. If so then to what do you owe your talents? So what is your mistake?
Yahoo Users Vs. Movie Critics
January 5, 2010
Dear Reader:
So I was deciding on whether to go and see the movie Old Dogs. I thought I would research reviews for the movie and help me make my decision. Here’s what I found. Yahoo users gave the movie an average B review. The critics gave it a C-. Who’s right I pondered? Well the critics view the movie and measure it against certain criteria. What this criteria is, who knows. By the way I do give them props. Yahoo users, on the other hand, watched the movie and then gave it a B review. What does this tell me? It tells me that the people who watch the movie are right. Movie goers want to enjoy a good film. Escape reality shall we say. I remember a director speaking this way about the movies he likes to create. The director’s name seems to escape me right now. I know this. Every movie that I enjoyed I did so because of the experience. Maybe it satisfied my need or want for my hopes and dreams. Maybe I related to what the movie theme Maybe the movie made me laugh and smile.
At the end of a great movie it does not matter that you spent $20 at the concession stand for popcorn, candy and a drink. This my friends is value and we perceive it to be high otherwise we would not go to the movies. Great Marketing. This reminds me of a recent blog I read today. It was about competition and working with them to stay ahead of the game and build business. I believe that sure this element is important. What really matters is much more. What matters is that you fill a want and cater to the desires we all want. Yes that’s right laugh, smile, feel the love, the glory of exhilaration, feel alive and what ever else I left out here. Here is the cliff hanger question. How many places do you patron because they offer what no one else does in terms of products? How many places do you patron because the experience is amazing?
Out with the old and in with the new.
December 30, 2009
Dear Reader:
Happy New Year . I believe this is the year. It is. Someone is getting married in three weeks. I started a great job. Well it’s hardly a job. I am a guest teacher and I love it. I have gotten past the, “I can’t believe I did that” stage. Yes I made some lousy business decisions because I forget to focus on the passion and purpose. I still have my business dreams and oh they will come true. This year I am starting fresh and with the profound knowledge that I will do what I love with passion. What do I love. I love a great advertisement. I love innovation and improvisation. I love reading about great leaders like George Washington and even Bill Gates. I find it so profound that millionaires and billionaires one day had a dream to change something. In one form or another they took a chance and turned it to something that made a difference in people’s lives. They live for the difference they have made and continue to make. I want this and this blog will be dedicated to fulfilling this dream. I raise my wine glass and toast to my dreams and your dreams. May we together make this world what it is and should always be… a beautiful place!
How do I change what I did this year into the best life I could ever have for next year and the years to come? New post and poll. http://ping.fm/jnLCb
How do I change what I did this year into the best life I could ever have for next year and the years to come?
December 14, 2009
Ah it’s the most wonderful time of the year. Rocking around the Christmas tree at the Christmas party hop. Some words to few songs filled with spirit, cheer, goodwill and that oh so good feeling that comes around every year….according to the songs. These days I have been trying to get myself all wrapped up in that old jolly place. Perhaps feeling a little like George. It was not hard to get to that jolly place while in a room full of children, singing Frosty and coloring pictures of him, I must admit. A few days later I found myself thinking about how every year it can be the same thing. People going out spending money on gifts that well who knows if they will even be appreciated. People are spending money they may not have. Every ad we see on TV, in magazines and even online these days sell you on the get into the spirit and get shopping theme.
We rush and go out to shop till we drop, put up with in-laws and people we can’t stand because after all it is only once a year, spend hours in line to get those cheap deals on black Friday. This time of year we hear more about charity events and helping out. What about the rest of the year. I mean why should we not carry out the jolly holly Christmas spirit throughout the year. I love the holidays but I love it even more when I can stop and ponder the wonderful gestures and sentiments I see throughout the day. Back to my question. How do I change what I did this year into the best life I could ever have for next year and the years to come? What truly matters is the ability to be validated. The point is to give it. I know I want it but more importantly others do. It is how you succeed in business and life. You can start a business or marry the greatest person of your dreams. But you have to nourish, validate, appreciate, and gracefully give for all the right reasons. If you do not well simply ask someone who has been married a few times or missed a great business opportunity? What are your thoughts. As I ponder this and find my spirit that remains with me every day because this month its the beautiful light that glimmers before me. Next month its a fresh new start, a new beginning and come spring its the new flowers that bloom. The point my friends is that there is always beauty and love in the world. One only has to see it and feel it to reap the rewards. What reward do you want this coming year. I know there is much of me to change. I leave you with these quotes. Success is at everyone’s reach. Celebrate with every ounce of your being. Love like you have never been hurt and dance like no one is watching! I love this. Please participate in the blog.
Love you and thanks for writing. I am working on some amazing changes for this blog and my business. Come share your thoughts about this blog.
“Success is simply a matter of luck. Ask any failure.” Earl Nightingale
“The person who gets the farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore.”
–Dale Carnegie 
Happy Cyber Monday everyone. Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! So here is this weeks ponder…..
The Twilight saga. Is it a good movie or not. I mean before the movie debut critics gave it a c grade. I am not a huge Twilight fanatic. If this movie is nothing but a c effort then why is it making so much darn money. Are the critics wrong or are they right? I mean did some genius do a beyond great job in creating such buzz, hype and excitement for this movie. Well maybe. You can sell a product to a crowd that really believes you relate to them.
This movie is in the process of making more than some movies who earned an Academy award. My question to you is did “we” just all follow the heard and watch it. Yes I say we because I watched the movie and although I do not see the greatness that other die hard fans did, I admit it was above okay. I did like the ending. My marketing left brain just keeps drifting off to that place of why? I guess it is a great movie depending on the perspective.
What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving.
I am thankful for love, family, nature, good food, running warm water every time I want to shower, that opportunities and hope always exist, that mistakes help you grow, that we live in a free country, and …..
Happy Thanksgiving!!!
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Mireya Pizarro