Actions speak louder than words. Do. What will you do today?
Enough said.
Happy leap day!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Be Extraordinary or Else
Be extraordinary or else.
Extraordinary things create demand. Businesses that are extraordinary don’t have to discount to generate demand – they're remarkable instead.
In our neighborhood there are a few local restaurants that have great food, a unique experience, and friendly employees that get hospitality. No matter the price point they are busy. No one wants to eat at an empty restaurant – it’s empty for a reason.
Many businesses that aren’t great enough to be busy have succumbed to online discounters like Groupon, LivingSocial, and others to generate demand.
The cost is high. One restaurateur admitted the net proceeds are 25% of retail after the discounter’s cut. In his business that doesn’t cover his food cost. This is not a sustainable strategy. A spa marketer mentioned that a client got hit with a coupon demand they couldn’t service and had unhappy customers. Unhappy customers tell friends.
When you’re extraordinary the price is the price. Create demand by being extraordinary or else.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Get Ready
Get ready. Everybody has a first time.
You think your heart is going to explode out of your chest. Your mind is racing, your heart is pumping. The crowd is excited in anticipation of what they are about to experience – the roar seems deafening. Breathe!
Your heart, your passion, your energy, your vision, your gift - your entire life has led you to this moment – this very moment – this Gig.
Go for it! Hold nothing back. Be you. Be epic.
You never get a second first time. After that you’re known. Loved or hated – you’re out there. Today… for the whole world to see.
Get ready... for the ride of your life.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
It's Worth It
When it becomes something you have to do you begin to understand the concept of worth.
Things will be very difficult. There will likely be countless hurdles, obstacles, and challenges. People will tell you it can't be done it's impossible. There will be alot of naysayers. You will likely be called crazy. Why then doesn't any of that matter to you?
Because you believe it. You know it's possible. You see it. You're called to it. As a result, to you it's worth it.
All the great explorers were seen as crazy in their day. Now we look back on them and lift them up as trail blazers, conquerors - true pioneers. Yet it all started with someone looking out beyond the horizon into the unknown and saying I have to go there. Setting sail - indifferent to the voice of opposition.
Why? Because it is something they had to do - it's worth it.
Things will be very difficult. There will likely be countless hurdles, obstacles, and challenges. People will tell you it can't be done it's impossible. There will be alot of naysayers. You will likely be called crazy. Why then doesn't any of that matter to you?
Because you believe it. You know it's possible. You see it. You're called to it. As a result, to you it's worth it.
All the great explorers were seen as crazy in their day. Now we look back on them and lift them up as trail blazers, conquerors - true pioneers. Yet it all started with someone looking out beyond the horizon into the unknown and saying I have to go there. Setting sail - indifferent to the voice of opposition.
Why? Because it is something they had to do - it's worth it.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Quit Procrastinating
I have been thinking about quitting. Quitting led me to think about procrastinating. So I have decided to quit procrastinating.
Life is made up of moments. Every moment is full of possibility - potential. Every moment we do something. Even doing nothing is doing something. Procrastinating is putting off doing something you should do and doing something else. The “should do” is the most important thing to be done in that moment.
The challenge is that we are bombarded by new things – opportunities to procrastinate. They come in many forms and include phone calls, email, text messages, tweets, unannounced visits, and any other types of interruptions too numerous to mention.
These interruptions don’t necessarily change the “should do” of a given moment. Only if the new thing is urgent (the house is burning), important (more important than what you were doing), and something “you” (versus someone else) should do should it be considered. Otherwise stay on task.
If not managed effectively interruptions can be huge productivity killers and have a significant negative impact on achieving your full potential.
Life is made up of moments. Every moment counts. In order to realize the full potential of as many moments as possible, decide to quit procrastinating.
Barriers to Competition?
In the early days of my career in the luxury hotel business we used to hang our hat on perceived barriers to new competition. A magical setting with a "sense of place", exceptional service, world class cuisine... Back then we also knew the capital cost of new construction was a significant barrier. They worked to a degree for a while.
That was then. Airbnb is now. With 20,000,000 connections and counting, and a $100 million round meaning a $1 billion valuation this is formidable new competition for the traditional hotelier.
The world has gotten incredibly connected and very social. Everywhere there are tribes of people forming with no geographical boundaries - just common interests. We yearn to be connected to people in a meaningful way. Life is too short to go it any other way.
What barriers?
The magical setting may be just down the road, footsteps away, or the view from the back deck. World class cuisine is likely at our fingertips, at a trendy local haunt again down the road, or a function of a lively and engaging dinner party hosted in our new vacation home compliments of airbnb. The guests of the party are a local subset of one of the tribes we're in and we are meeting many new friends in person for the first time and we are having a blast. Exceptional service? Maybe - maybe not. But who cares. We are having the time of our life. "Have you been out on the deck yet?"
There are no barriers to new competition.
Staying relevant and protecting market share and profitability means being remarkable - memorable. For a refresher on being remarkable read Seth Godin's, Purple Cow.
It takes blue ocean strategy. So unique, so special, so remarkable it can't be replicated, or results in such a head start that major competition is not likely.
It's innovative. Innovate or die.
We live in very exciting times! Happy leap day!
That was then. Airbnb is now. With 20,000,000 connections and counting, and a $100 million round meaning a $1 billion valuation this is formidable new competition for the traditional hotelier.
The world has gotten incredibly connected and very social. Everywhere there are tribes of people forming with no geographical boundaries - just common interests. We yearn to be connected to people in a meaningful way. Life is too short to go it any other way.
What barriers?
The magical setting may be just down the road, footsteps away, or the view from the back deck. World class cuisine is likely at our fingertips, at a trendy local haunt again down the road, or a function of a lively and engaging dinner party hosted in our new vacation home compliments of airbnb. The guests of the party are a local subset of one of the tribes we're in and we are meeting many new friends in person for the first time and we are having a blast. Exceptional service? Maybe - maybe not. But who cares. We are having the time of our life. "Have you been out on the deck yet?"
There are no barriers to new competition.
Staying relevant and protecting market share and profitability means being remarkable - memorable. For a refresher on being remarkable read Seth Godin's, Purple Cow.
It takes blue ocean strategy. So unique, so special, so remarkable it can't be replicated, or results in such a head start that major competition is not likely.
It's innovative. Innovate or die.
We live in very exciting times! Happy leap day!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
"Creating Interest in Our Brand"
Dasein - Invitation to Hang is a work created by artist Chase Jarvis being staged at the Ace Hotel in New York City
A very interesting and I think very creative way of taking an art form and creating a living breathing work inside a boutique hotel in NYC. Photos being contributed by photographers from all over the world via the web (freely), and being selected and shown by the artist on a daily basis as a collection of photos inside the hotel.
Not sure whose brain child this was but looking at the Ace’s site it seems to be very much in sync with their branding as a boutique hotel. I am guessing the Ace hotel is experiencing increased interest, traffic, attention, and exposure to their hotel and brand as a result of this work.
So how does this concept translate/transfer to other hotels? Other ideas, translations, or iterations to create interest and awareness in our brand - our product?
That’s for you and others to figure out. I just found the site and shared…
Have a great day!
"Late to the Party"
Some days I feel I show up at certain relevant parties very late! Today happens to be one of those days.
I was reading Fast Company's Top 100 Most Creative People in Business 2011 List this morning and came across Sal Khan of Khan Academy who is ranked 7th on this year's list. The list contains 99 other very creative and influential people, but I stopped at Sal and will return to the list for further review at a later time.
My initial thought was one of amazement and awe as I read about Sal's vision for bringing a world-class education to anyone anywhere, and ultimately transforming the educational system itself through the Khan Academy. Inspiring! Uplifting! Awesome! These thoughts were immediately followed by a feeling of sheer embarrassment on my part as a parent. How could I possibly be so late to this most important party?
How could I possibly be a parent of five kids and not know about the Khan Academy and Sal's vision for bringing web based education to the world? I happen to be very good at math, however, the jury is still out on my mathematical tutoring efficacy (Just ask my kids). How could I be so out of touch? All those hours over the years of attempting to explain math to my kids without a clue of the powerful tool at my disposal a few simple mouse clicks away!
Late to the party? Yes - Khan Academy is at 57 million plus lessons delivered, with 2,100 video lessons and counting, and other tools too numerous to list on this post. But as they say, better late than never!
My passion is to help people reach their full potential. This site can help!
So, I am doing what anyone in my position would do. First, immediately admit that to this most important party I was late. Second, for the rest of your benefit share the information with you so that if you are not already in the know - now you are!
If you have kids check out this site! If you know people who have kids tell them about this site! If you want to learn more about a subject yourself check out this site! If it is good enough for Bill Gates to vouch for as a useful tool, and one that the Gates Foundation is now helping, than I am all ears.
Better late than never! I am off to find the next party.
Have a great day!
I was reading Fast Company's Top 100 Most Creative People in Business 2011 List this morning and came across Sal Khan of Khan Academy who is ranked 7th on this year's list. The list contains 99 other very creative and influential people, but I stopped at Sal and will return to the list for further review at a later time.
My initial thought was one of amazement and awe as I read about Sal's vision for bringing a world-class education to anyone anywhere, and ultimately transforming the educational system itself through the Khan Academy. Inspiring! Uplifting! Awesome! These thoughts were immediately followed by a feeling of sheer embarrassment on my part as a parent. How could I possibly be so late to this most important party?
How could I possibly be a parent of five kids and not know about the Khan Academy and Sal's vision for bringing web based education to the world? I happen to be very good at math, however, the jury is still out on my mathematical tutoring efficacy (Just ask my kids). How could I be so out of touch? All those hours over the years of attempting to explain math to my kids without a clue of the powerful tool at my disposal a few simple mouse clicks away!
Late to the party? Yes - Khan Academy is at 57 million plus lessons delivered, with 2,100 video lessons and counting, and other tools too numerous to list on this post. But as they say, better late than never!
My passion is to help people reach their full potential. This site can help!
So, I am doing what anyone in my position would do. First, immediately admit that to this most important party I was late. Second, for the rest of your benefit share the information with you so that if you are not already in the know - now you are!
If you have kids check out this site! If you know people who have kids tell them about this site! If you want to learn more about a subject yourself check out this site! If it is good enough for Bill Gates to vouch for as a useful tool, and one that the Gates Foundation is now helping, than I am all ears.
Better late than never! I am off to find the next party.
Have a great day!
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