PLI TrendBlog

Twitter by Machiavelli

2008-05-13T19:46:00.000-07:00

Whether you're already a Twitter aficionado and know nada about Twitter, Twitter by Machiavelli will define many of the different users and help you avoid commiting Twittercide with poor Twitter-quette. Oh, yes, it's addictive!

Seriously, if you aren't savvy about Twitter, drop me an email. It's part of the marketing mix we help our clients with when building an online presence. And, check out the link in the right-hand column and click to follow me on Twitter.

Today's Quote 5/6/08

2008-05-06T07:52:00.000-07:00

Integrity is not a ninety percent thing…not a ninety-five percent thing. Either you have it, or you don’t.
~Peter Scotese~

More on this later...

The More Things Change...

2008-04-22T22:31:00.003-07:00

"The art of progress is to preserve order amid change, and to preserve change amid order."

- Alfred North Whitehead
British Mathematician and Philosopher

As we hurtle through each day in the name of progress, it might well behoove us to pause, consider, and contemplate what Whitehead's words mean. It's not an easy or simple thing with which he charges us. But, I'm so glad that progress is viewed as an 'art.'

Where Have All the Leaders Gone?

2008-04-21T19:56:00.001-07:00

Like me, you may have recently received an excerpt from Lee Iacocca's bookWhere Have All the Leaders Gone? If not, you will! It's making the rounds.

It's really a great, thought-provoking piece. Not only is it timely because we are where we are in this far-too-long slog to choose a new leader for this country and it reminds us of some very valuable criteria for choosing that leader when we go to the polls. But, considering how Iacocca brought Chrysler back from the brink, it's also a great list of qualities any business leader or entrepreneur should emulate.

I'll leave the politics out of it. Just do yourself a favor and take a coupla' minutes to read what Mr. Iacocca has to say.

*Disclaimer- I happen to be an owner of a rare cherry '91 Chrysler TC by Maserati, exotic red w/ black leather interior.

More Food for Entrepreneurial Thought

2008-04-18T10:13:00.002-07:00

"Pearls do not lie on the seashore, if you desire one you must dive for it." ~ Asian proverb

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage". ~ Anais Nin

"The opposite of courage is not so much fear as it is conformity." ~ Wayne Dyer

(Compliments of my friend, Lisa Zimmerman.)

If I read every book, listened to every CD, podcast, watched every Webinar, DVD, etc. that're recommended every day for 'improving' whatever, I'd never have time for anything else, like, building a company, training for a triathlon, spending time with friends. That being said, I will go out on a limb and say that one of the best things I've ever done for myself was load a complete set of "The Power of Intention" by Wayne Dyer on my iPod and listen over and over.

From the site Dr.WayneDyer.com - "he transforms conventional thinking about making things happen in our lives into a profound understanding of how each person possesses the infinite potential and power to co-create the life he or she desires."

Isn't that what an entrepreneur does? Isn't that what we all want to accomplish in our lives?

Best wishes for a fabulous weekend!

I Took The Other Road

2008-04-16T07:38:00.002-07:00

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
- Robert Frost

We've all seen, read, and heard this quote many times. But, just like a piece of music that you listen to over and over or a book you re-read every year or so, it can speak differently to you each time and evoke a flood of thoughts, memories. Today when I read it, it seems the perfect description of an entrepreneur.

Recently, when interviewing David Stein of Automatic Mail for The National Networker, he offered his description of an entrepreneur, "...what many call entrepreneurs are business owners responsible for their own destiny, but they are not trailblazers and that’s what I think defines an entrepreneur."

Not that it doesn't take courage to buy a franchise or a small business and build it up through blood, sweat, tears, and years, but that isn't the same as creating something new. Think McDonald's franchises vs. Ray Kron's creation of that model.

In a conversation yesterday, we talked about what we wanted to do, build, create. The other person said he wanted to create something that has a big "wow" factor, e.g. Google Maps. As I've said so many times before, I seek to solve problems by taking what already exists and combining these in a new way to make something that is greater than the sum of the parts and offers ease, efficiency, and economy for our users.

Does that fit the entrepreneurial model? What do you think makes an entrepreneur? Send me an email, please!

Twitter for Dummies

2008-04-13T14:57:00.002-07:00

Twitter, everybody, well, most everybody loves it, but just like Facebook, there are a lot of questions about how to leverage it for your own purposes. Following threads can be challenging. Wondering if you're following the "right", "cool" people. Just trying to sort topics out and make sense of all the chatter.

Enter TweetScan. Enter any topic that's on your mind and TweetScan will deliver a list of up-to-the-minute tweets from all kinds of people that you may or probably aren't following.

Needless to say, I am in love with TweetScan.

Thought for April 7th

2008-04-07T18:21:00.000-07:00

"The greatest challenge to any thinker is stating the problem in a way that will allow a solution." -- Bertrand Russell

April 4th Quotation

2008-04-04T07:58:00.002-07:00

"First secure an independent income, then practice virtue." -- Greek Proverb

The first time I read this quotation it conjured those past times in ancient Greece we've seen portrayed in art where the leaders in their flowing white togas of the city-states are gathered together, discussing and debating what was the best course for their city-state and its citizens. Then, it prompted the image of the well-to-do founding fathers gathered in Philadelphia signing the Declaration of Independence. Next, I thought of the many leaders this country had who came from wealthy families that had a tradition of public service set by those founding fathers. Admittedly, the motives were not always entirely altruistic. Their wives practiced charity, organizing giving to the poor.

And, of course, one always thinks of the corporate raider (or Paris Hilton) who commits all kinds of awful acts to achieve success, gets caught, makes retribution in one way or another, "finds God", and pursues a pious path.

Finally, I thought about how the old model has evolved so quickly to what we have today where "regular, ordinary" people start foundations and work tirelessly to support their causes, lobby for research into rare and not-so-rare diseases, demonstrate for human rights, ecological responsibility, where companies from the first day have a clear corporate social responsibility policy in place and pay their employees to do community work, where everyone wants to "give back." Everyone wants to do good works in gratitude for all they've been given.

We're not doing such a bad job at some things. Give yourself a little pat on the back.

Now, get out there and commit an act of kindness!

First Quote of the Day

2008-04-03T09:35:00.002-07:00

There is scarcely anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse, and sell a little more cheaply. The person who buys on price alone is this man's lawful prey. - John Ruskin

So true! But, on the flip side, just because something is more costly does not always necessarily mean that it is 'better.'

How do you walk the line? Interviewing the people who'll have to use what you're buying, researching the options, balancing needs versus cost, determining the benefits, break-even point, figuring out the real cost of what you're investing in, and eventual ROI.

Treat your end-users like your customers and make sure you're giving them something they want and will use.

So, in the end, it may turn out that the mid-priced product that might be a little 'too big' in the beginning, that you won't outgrow or will scale will save you money on both ends. By only having to train once, by not spending money on bells and whistles that people won't use or don't need, everyone will be happy, including your CFO.

Quotes for Today

2008-03-28T09:43:00.001-07:00

"Science arose from poetry -- when times change the two can meet again on a higher level as friends." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The story of my life! Growing up on a farm I was fascinated by the beauty surrounding me, so I ended up majoring in Biology to better understand what I was seeing. The study of science only magnified the beauty, mystery, and grandeur of all creation which is truly poetry in motion, all the time!

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." - Sir Winston Churchill

So many ways to apply this to our daily lives, but I think it's a pretty good rule of thumb in business! Networking, customer service, interacting w/ others in the workplace, this rule will always stand you in good stead and pave the way to success, all kinds of success.

Best wishes for a fabulous weekend!

The "Says It All" Quote for the Day

2008-03-25T16:43:00.000-07:00

"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all." -- Sam Ewig

Cars vs. Bus vs. Bikes

2008-03-17T13:57:00.000-07:00

Cars vs. Bus vs. Bikes graphically illustrates the amount of space required to transport the same number of passengers by car, bus, or bike. Since the pictures seem to have been shot from different perspectives, it kind of makes the bus look like a good alternative until you consider just how large a bus is, how much pollutants it spews, what it takes to build a bus, the cost of inactivity by its passengers, etc., etc., etc.

Makes bikes even sexier than they already were for me!

Entrepreneur's Credo

2008-03-17T10:01:00.000-07:00

"Trust yourself. Think for yourself. Act for yourself. Speak for yourself. Be yourself. Imitation is suicide." -- Marva Collins

A Graphic Reminder

2008-03-05T08:55:00.000-08:00

Where Are They Now?

Out of Sight, Out of Mind is even more true for most of us these days. The world is moving so fast, we quickly forget about people and events once they've dropped off the front page. But, as I rolled over each of these orange padlocks, I was reminded of the massive arrogance of these men and the pain and heartache they've inflicted on so many people.

A graphic illustration of the extreme consequences of bad customer service!

Marketing Article: What Social Media Marketing Is Not by MarketingProfs

2008-02-26T11:56:00.000-08:00

BL Ochman in her article, Marketing Article: What Social Media Marketing Is Not by MarketingProfs, presents a very clear, succinct overview of the elements of social media and why that is a scary prospect for many companies.

Whenever I read an article like this I am reminded of the Cluetrain Manifesto and what those guys had to say about communication within, outside of, and between the corporation and the world at large and the impact on the financial welfare of the corporation.

It also reminds of that famous line from Cool Hand Luke, "What we've got here is... failure to communicate. Some men you just can't reach."

Sometimes I feel like that's the case with the C-men in companies who want to continue to ignore the global conversations.

A Quick Little Dose of Inspiration

2008-02-26T07:45:00.002-08:00

I get several daily, well, M-F daily, inspirational emails. As a solo entrepreneur working from a home office, it's a way to give myself a pep talk at the beginning of each day. They inspire me stay on course with my personal and professional missions. Remind me of some self-evident realities. It's a great way to bring focus to the day right from the beginning.

So, do I mind that these emails are all for the purpose of selling books, seminars, tele-courses, and coffee mugs? Nope. I don't have to buy, but chances are good that with these repeated touches I will eventually. I'll also forward to my friends and they'll tell their friends.

What I love about all these emails and what is really smart about them is that they give me the inspiration right at the top of the email above the fold. In the case of Note from the Universe from tut.com, there is always a coda at the bottom which requires that I scroll past their little sales pitch that always includes a testimonial.

Some really smart marketing going on here. It's short, straightforward, to the point, gives me something right up front, makes me feel good! Just like the most skilled networkers know, you will be far more successful in business if you give before asking.

So, what's the quote for today?

We become what we think about.
-- Earl Nightingale

The newsletter is Daily Motivation by WalkTheTalk.com.

What Paris Hilton Can Teach You About Branding - Alex Bogusky - Advertising - Crispin Porter Bogusky

2008-01-15T18:17:00.000-08:00

Love this interview w/ bad boy Alex Bogusky. Not only does he tell us What Paris Hilton Can Teach You About Branding - Alex Bogusky - Advertising - Crispin Porter Bogusky, but he also isn't afraid to reveal a little "celebrity" awe. I mean, really, afraid of Paris Hilton?

Seriously, the point made about creating a brand via polarization, re-invention, and doing it with a certain amount of abandon is thought-provoking. I have to say there are plenty CP&B campaigns that really turn me off, but I don't forget them! Kudos to the agency and their clients for having the balls to try something outrageous. Kind of inspiring, no?

I'm in the midst of preparing materials for a seminar end of February where I'm one of the speakers. I'll be talking about Project Sequencing, you know, all that work that is supposed to be done before you go running down the halls, tearing at your hair, screaming, "Argh! We need to send an email blast tomorrow!" It's actually work that should be done before there's even a Project to Manage.

So, branding is definitely one of those things to be considered at this early stage. And, the biggest question is will you have the balls to really make a memorable statement about what your company is, your products are, and what you actually stand for?

Yeah, it's also about customer service, but we'll talk about that later. In the meantime, think about it.

Food for Thought

2008-01-12T08:45:00.000-08:00

Ambition is a dream with a V-8 engine.
-Elvis Preseley

Character is what you have left when you've lost everything you can lose.
- Evan Esar

Those two thoughts pretty much sum it all up.

More later...

Happy New Year!

2008-01-09T16:03:00.000-08:00

2007 went out quietly for me and 2008 has already sorely tested me. But, as Elvis used to say, "Ambition is a dream with a V8 engine" and we have more than our share of ambition.

You will see many changes this year, not the least of which we are in the final stages of relaunching with a new name, new positioning, and a brand new Website to better reflect what Private Label InterActive and PrivateLabel Mail really are and do.

The new name if you didn't already know is Venntive. There'll be more about that name later.

I've been accused of having the 7 Year Itch. Maybe so! PLI turned 7 Jan. 1, 2008. That's a milestone. And, the baby has gone through a lot in those 7 years! PLI will remain the parent company, but PrivateLabel Mail will be replaced by Venntive.

We realized that the solution we market and implement for our clients is far more than an email marketing solution. It really is enterprise email marketing tools integrated with that 10% of CRM tools that people actually use into a very tightly integrated suite. Sweet! No more integration nightmares!

Along with Venntive, we are working on a completely new and exciting venture, CaducesDotMobi. A caduce(u)s is the symbol for physicians, the staff with two snakes intertwined. The mission of CaducesDotMobi is to help women all over the world better manage their families' health and wellness. For women in developed nations, we will provide a subscription-based Website with a multitude of tools and features to go toward simplifying the task of staying on top of doctors' appointments, medications, etc. For the women of the third world, we will provide a goodly portion of our net revenues to subsidize healthcare and other initiatives to improve the quality of life for them and their children.

If you are interested in learning more about CaducesDotMobi, following our progress toward launch, helping us get it launched, and becoming first subscribers, drop us an email at CaducesDotMobi at gmail dot com.

Is That Invitation Worth My Time?

2007-12-30T13:23:00.000-08:00

5 Ways To Test A Social Network For Relevancy is a great little article in a great blog, Startup Spark, that quickly summarizes the acid test questions you need to ask yourself *whenever* you get an invitation to *connect* on yet another social network.

Back in the day, I would register for every new site that came along just to check it out and vet its validity, place a private bet on how long it would last. I remember registering for Six Degrees and never going back. However, they had enough people like me doing that that they got bought for some obscene number based on the eyeballs they'd aggregated.

There's still a lot of that same "checking out the next thing" mentality. I mean I signed on to about a half dozen sites just yesterday. But, that was Sunday and I could allow myself some playtime that was still mildly productive.

In the heat of the business week, do we really need to join another social network? If you're asking yourself that while feeling guilty about rejecting someone's invitation, this checklist is for you!

No, maybe not exactly customer service experience related...unless you count the direct customer service value of this article.

Better Than An Apple A Day

2007-12-09T08:11:00.000-08:00

At first I didn't think this was relevant to the customer service experience, but then I realized that this *is* what it's all about...this is all any customer wants to feel...no!, not literally!

Best wishes for a great week!

Our Inner Economist

2007-12-06T21:40:00.000-08:00

Economics for Humans: Tyler Cowen on Using Incentives for a Better Life - Knowledge@Wharton is a great interview offering insights into the value of using incentives in all aspects of your life for a richer, more rewarding life.

As I read the portion of the interview about using incentives in the workplace, I realized that one reason I've chosen to follow the entrepreneurial path is that I had too many experiences where I was consistently disincentivized to strive for ever higher performance in my jobs.

Then, I thought about how these same principles can be applied in our relationships with our customers.

The applications of Cowen's theories are endless. Can't wait to read the book!

What Bu-bu-bubble?

2007-12-04T15:48:00.000-08:00

This YouTube - Here Comes Another Bubble song is too funny to share and too scary to contemplate.

Common Sense Tips From A Guy W/ Common Sense

2007-11-07T09:56:00.000-08:00

Uncle Mark's Gift Guide & Almanac is always a welcome year-end quickie compendium of great recommendations. Instead of a "Top 10" or worse, "Top 100" list, Mark Hurst, Founder/CEO of Good Experience publishes his single recommendations in certain categories.

At the end, there are great tips on how to run a meeting, how to give a great Best Man toast, how to leave a phone message, etc.

It's a good thing!