What Gets You Up?

Last night when chatting with a friend online, he posed this question to me: 

"What keeps you up at night?" 

It's a great question that cuts to the heart of any business owner, salesperson, or parent.  What stresses you?  What scares you?  It's a great question because it makes you be real.  If you are honest, this question can create real dialogue and allow you to dig deeper. 

The problem is, in my experience, business owners, salespeople, parents, etc. spend way too much time worrying about the thing that keeps them up.  It's constantly around us.  We are constantly thinking about cashflow, or teenage drivers, or employees, or sales quotas.  And although we need to have these on our mind, because they are obviously important, they can become all-consuming. 

When I find myself being bogged down or overwhelmed by stress, I like to ask a different question.

"What gets me up in the morning?"

What project am I working on that gets me fired up?  Who inspires me to do more?  What am I excited to do today?

This question can also get to the heart of a person.  And it can also start your day with a totally different tone.

P.S.  One of the projects I am really excited about is the new web show Delivering Marketing Joy!  If you haven't checked it out yet, you can do that by heading to Youtube.  Here is the latest episode (new every week) as of this post.

Just Be Grateful

Want to have a better day today?  Just be grateful.

It is so easy to get caught in the minor minutia of life that we sometimes forget all the good things we have.  We spend time "majoring in minor things."  But when we take just a few minutes to really look around, we understand how much we have. 

Do we have bad days?  Of course.  But most of our lives are in better shape than we allow ourselves to believe.  Want to feel better about today?  Do these simple steps.

1)  Take just a moment today to consider some of things for which you are grateful. 
2)  Think about a person who helped that happen.
3)  Send that person a note, give them a call or send them a card to let them know you appreciate them.

This will not only make them feel fantastic, it will make you feel fantastic too! 

Now do it again tomorrow.

Consistency is the Key

I have heard a lot of discussion recently about how to become good at creating content.  There are a lot of answers from a lot of sources, but my number one answer is simple...consistency.

Most entrepreneurs, sales professionals, and leaders have great intentions.  You decide we need to institute a social media strategy or a sales strategy or (insert your plan) strategy, and so you set out immediately to do it.  And that's great.  The problem is, most of us (and I have totally fallen for this) don't think about what happens is 6 days, 6 weeks or 6 months, when business and life get in the way.  So the strategy stops.

But if you can keep it up...all the time...that is when the magic happens.  At first, you might not see the results.  You might not hear about it at first.  But later, after doing the work consistently, it will start to pay off.

I was telling the story of early in my sales career recently.  I visited a certain area every Tuesday for over a year.  I was like clockwork.  Each Tuesday I came into town to visit with customers and try to gain new ones.  Often I didn't have an appointment, but my customers began to expect me. 

After some success, I got to a point where I was not going as often.  And then I stopped. 

A year later I rolled into town (accidentally on a Tuesday) and I stopped in one of the places I used to go.  I went in and immediately apologized for stopping without having an appointment.  The customer said "That's okay!  You ALWAYS come on Tuesday!"

Be consistent with your efforts (whatever they are) and your efforts will pay off!

What are YOU Reading? Top 5 Business Books

I read a study recently that said the average person reads 1 or less books per year.  That same study said that company CEO's claim to read 60 books per year.  Think about that for a moment.

I was recently asked what my favorite business books are...and I struggled a bit with that.  I love to read and grow, so I have read quite a few.  So I thought this might be a good forum to share books that have moved me.

E-Myth Mastery:  This is the number one book I recommend to people who are thinking of starting a business, or already have.  I have re-read this probably 10 times and get something new out of it each time.

High Trust Selling:  Great book on how to sell "the right way."  In addition, it moved me to focus on the 20% of activity that makes money...not the other 80%.

The Ultimate Sales Machine:  Chet Holmes has a track record for growing businesses...here he tells you how.  It's a good one.

The Thank You Economy:  I love Gary Vaynerchuk's work, but I think this is my favorite.  He tells us why we have entered an era where we need to "give" first...and how we can win if we do.

Epic Content Marketing:  This book is a great manual on how to create content...and why you should!

Bonus Book...7 Habits of Highly Effective People:  You can look at this as a business book or a life book, but it is powerful either way.  I have told the story in the past that this book changed my life for the better.  So I hope you can check it out so it can do the same for you!

So that's my list for today.  I am currently reading 3 more books, so I will update you on those soon!  What books am I missing?

When the Critic Shows Up

It's hard to choose yourself.  It's hard to put yourself out there and take the chance.  It absolutely IS what you should do...but it's hard.  And when you do, it is so nice when you have people give you that positive feedback to encourage you. 

But if you are really pushing, if you are really hustling, that is when the critic shows up.  The critic shows up to put you back in the box.  They might disguise themselves as well meaning.  Heck, they might even be well meaning.  But when they point out what you are doing wrong, why your work doesn't make sense, why you stink, it hurts. 

It's natural to get angry and lash out.  You want to remind them that they have not done anything.  It's easy to tell them they don't get it. 

Don't do it. 

Accept the feedback (really listen) and thank them.  Not only can you learn something (maybe) from them, but they have given you something more valuable.  When the critic shows up, you know you are on the right road. 

Keep pushing.

New Project with Marketing Joy

In this new media world, you don't have to wait for someone to "choose" you to have a voice.  You can choose yourself.  You can become the media company. 

With that in mind, I am VERY excited to announce a new project I am working on.  This new Web Show is called Delivering Marketing Joy!  It will come out each Wednesday and will feature me interviewing leaders in the business, entreprenuership and promotional marketing world!

Please take a few minutes to check it out and let me know what you think!  The first episode is with business leader, marketer, and all around great guy Mark Graham. 

Remember...choose yourself...and the world gets more interesting!

People Stil Buy From People They Like

I woke up excited about today!

Today we will be celebrating the Hasseman Marketing Customer Appreciation Show from Noon to 5pm.  It's a great event where we invite our customers to one location to meet with many of our top suppliers.  This event is all about people.  We get to say "thank you" to our best clients.  The clients get to meet some of the folks we do business with.  All of us work together to create great energy moving forward (for the 4th quarter). 

In addition, several of our supplier partners joined Amy and I for dinner last night.  It was a fun evening allowing us to deepen our business and personal relationships. 

And relationships still matter.

Despite technology, and time and distance and our ADHD culture, people still buy from people thing know, trust and like.

Spend some time today investing in people...it will pay off!

Why Not?

Do you want to have an interesting life?  Want to create experiences that others don’t have?  Want to create opportunities that don’t exist in your life now? 

Stop asking why.  

Stop trying to work through the details and figuring out the reasons not to do something.  Too many people talk themselves out of good ideas.  They don’t want to try new things for fear that they will fail.  They don't want to look stupid.  They are way to concerned with the “why.”

Try it.  Poke the box.

Why not?

Business Gets Personal...For Me

Everyone is a "nerd" about something.  It turns out I am a nerd about business and marketing. 

I know this because I recently attended the "Business Gets Personal" event with Dave Ramsey, Seth Godin and Gary Vaynerchuk and was really surprised when not everyone understood!  How can they not know?  It is SO important to me!  :)

If you don't know already, Dave Ramsey, Seth Godin and Gary Vaynerchuk are extremely dynamic business leaders, speakers, and writers.  This event, held in New York City, was a chance for people to not only hear from them, but get to meet, greet and ask questions of them.  It was extremely rewarding and inspirational for me. 

The event started with a networking mixer where other attendees gathered to check in and meet one another.  Dave and Seth even showed up and I got to meet with Dave and shake hands with Seth.  Seth also gave us a copy of his giant book that I had to ship home (it was just too big to carry!).

Then the next day the full day event began.  Each of the three spoke and each had a great message and a powerful reminder.

The event ended with a wine tasting with all three men.  Those of you that don't know, Gary created his national recognition by starting a wine show on Youtube (google it).  So the idea of him walking through these wines was just really cool.

Finally I had the chance to meet Gary and speak with him 1 on 1.  That was the highlight for me.  He is an energetic and dynamic character.  But what most strikes me about him is how "real" he is.  When I asked him questions, he was really there.  He gave me real answers "Now don't be full of shit!" and real attention.  

What an event!  Not only did I get the chance to meet and talk to people I admire and highly respect, it was a great reminder of why we are doing what we do!  At Hasseman Marketing, we are trying to lead by "giving."  Those gifts might be monetary, but they also might be inspiration, education and motivation...and I want to keep it rolling!

Leaving the Zip Code

I live in a small town in Ohio and I love it.  I have a great group of friends, customers and family in the area that make our life both convenient and fun. 

But every once in a while, my wife and I like the “get out of the zip code.”  No matter how much you love your current situation, there is nearly always value in getting away.  This time away can not only give you the “recharge” you need to help your business and your life, it can also provide perspective. 

The next time you are in a rut, get out of the zip code.  You will be happy with what you find…no matter where you go.

What Do You Win By Winning?

Whenever I find myself in the potential for an argument (especially in business) I ask myself a very important question:

"What do I win by winning?"

Sometimes you can spend a lot of energy and time proving you are right, only to realize all you have won is a broken relationship. 

So the next time you are are so sure that you are "right,"  make sure being right really matters.