February 23rd, 2008
One morning, April 2006, a voice inside me said, “I need an orange car.” Until that moment, my vehicle color had never mattered. It felt like some kind of spiritual clue from the beyond…
This inspiration tickled me and my husband into many hilarious test drives. We played with WHEN to tell the salesperson my number one criteria: orange! New and used. Even drove 90 miles with high hopes, only to discover a car was the WRONG orange. Suddenly Happy Orange was the new standard. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Inspiration, Law of Attraction, Psychology of Success, Resistance, Special Projects | No Comments »
February 7th, 2008
Over the years, I have voted for people from Democratic, Independent and Republican parties, considering myself an independent thinker, even though I am technically currently registered as a Democrat. In the house where I grew up, each parent registered with a different party, just to be sure to get the scoop from both sides.
I attended my first Minnesota primary caucus two days ago and I sure wasn’t alone!
I want to share a resolution I proposed to the DFL. I want to share the experience with you for consideration as an Inspired Entrepreneur. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: caucus, DFL, global village, resolution, small business, under 100 employees
Posted in Inspiration, Special Projects | No Comments »
February 5th, 2008
Pamela Maydanis is a spunky graduate of Camp Jumpstart who has a sideline passion that needs your help. I am hoping that you will feel INSPIRED to do some spring cleaning and gather some great stuff up and send it to Pamela for her project for a Women’s Shelter. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: bags, donation, ladies, Pamela
Posted in Special Projects | 1 Comment »
February 4th, 2008
Here is how you often hear marketing simplified by experts:
- Get your name out there! (ok, become known, but for what?)
- Go after your niche (well of course! nothing is for everyone - who are your raving fans?)
- Have a consistent brand presence (yes, consistency is the foundation for establishing your integrity)
- Go viral (this one really feels yucky to me, how bout you? when news travels by word-of-mouth it is the sign of success — why associate success with disease? I prefer to call it “making friends.”)
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: friends, marketing, public relations, raving fans, shining
Posted in Business Principles, Marketing How To's | No Comments »
January 31st, 2008
The Competition
I’m not a big fan of inspecting your “competition” in order to figure out how to “position yourself in the market.” It just doesn’t make any sense to me.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: logo, market research, niche
Posted in Business Principles, Marketing How To's | No Comments »
January 15th, 2008
When I am working with a client to get to the heart of their business and create a logo, it is rather common to have to first shed all the notions they have about their company that come from looking around them, instead of inside themselves.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: logo
Posted in Marketing How To's, Reference Materials | No Comments »
December 31st, 2007
I have a theory about ideas.
I think God/the Universe/Great Mystery offers these ideas to people who can pull them off. Then if that person resists rising to the opportunity, the idea looks for someone who is more receptive. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Ideas
Posted in Business Principles | No Comments »
December 27th, 2007
(This is Part 5 in a five part series.)
The Reset Button in Business
Lastly, I love the concept of the Reset Button. To me this is akin to the “Do-Over” often shouted on the playground. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Business Principles | No Comments »
December 27th, 2007
(This is Part 4 in a five part series.)
Centrally Manage Complexity
“If those [little problems] spread out like a virus and live in everybody’s [practices],
it’s a much bigger maintenance problem down the road.
If we can aggregate as many of those problems in one place, we’re better off.”
- Nate Koechley
Now this principle is all about minimizing work by bringing like things together. If your to-do lists are scattered about in different locations, it is rather difficult to sort out your priorities among all of them.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Business Principles | No Comments »
December 27th, 2007
(This is Part 3 in a five part series.)
Solve Recurring Problems
“We wanted to take the time to solve some recurring problems once and for all.”
- Nate Koechley
What happens in your business on a regular basis? Good, bad or indifferent? Just noticing what recurs is valuable. Walk yourself through a typical day, then week, then month. If you find yourself saying, “there is no typical,” I challenge you to look closer. What happens every morning? Maybe it starts with a cup of coffee and then one of three things occur, but there you have it, a pattern. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Business Principles | No Comments »