Wow. So I've been hearing a lot about podcasting lately. Didn't really pay it much mind, until I realized that ... wow ... I have the perfect source for a podcast: my weekly Become Your Best™ teleseminars! So now I have a new technology to figure out. While I was researching podcasting, I found out that the term is really a combination of iPod (a registered trademark) and casting, i.e. broadcasting. Now, that's pretty cool, considering you don't need a "pod" to record or broadcast. Talk about branding.
It let me to think about other brands that really "arrived." For example, do you grab a tissue, or a Kleenex? Do you get plastic wrap, or cellophane? Do you pull that metal thing on the front of your pants, or is it a zipper?
These are all brand names that became so powerful we use them to describe things even when they don't belong to the company that created the brand.
Brands are pervasive. I probably have a lot to learn about branding. For example, Natural Physiques is a web-based "brand" that I have ... probably won't be as catchy as "Kleenex" ... but then, many people know me for Lose Fat, Not Faith ... so which is the brand, which is the company, and what is the gray area in between?
Of course, I do not expect to become an expert. I've learned that I should focus 80% of my effort on what I'm good at. For those details I am not strong in - accounting, graphics design, etc - find a professional and hire them. So I will be looking for a brand consultant. Or should I find a PR person first? Ah, decisions, decisions.
What's new? I will hear a sample of the audio soon, they tell me, for the remastered CD set. I look forward to it. It will be about a week after that before it's completed. We went from 4 days to several weeks - reminds me of my project management days, when people were eager to promise rapid delivery but always ended up falling short. Me? I'd heckle and go back and forth between management and the customer because I'd rather have a realistic timeframe and overdeliver than for it to be the norm to come up late. So I'd give them a realistic estimate, and of course it wouldn't be near what the salesperson had promised ... and then the politics would begin. Well, I'm excited about the changes, they are taking longer than promised, but it certainly isn't the end of the world. The team I'm working with actually overdelivers where it counts - with my customers. A client signed up for 12 weeks of coaching in the middle of last week, and when I spoke with them today, they were already holding the 5-CD set that comes with that coaching package. So just a few business days ... not bad!
A few customers received some late items, not because of my fulfillment people, but because of technical issues with the payment processors connecting to the website. Ah, now this is something I'm familiar with - when I was working for the big corporations, it was usually my pager going off at 4am when issues like these occured. So I am familiar with them, and how to coordinate to fix them.
It's been a fulfilling day. Aside from the hot tub after training today, I've been pretty much writing, on the phone, or interviewing my awesome guest. I have another call in a few minutes that I am co-hosting. Will be a productive call, but let's be honest - after that, I'm punching out. Time to catch up on some sleep!
If you listen to the interviews, definitely don't miss this one, it is very informative. I've been blessed with great guests who share a lot, and I hope everyone receives their fill.
Oh, and it's that certain day, isn't it? My daughter gave me a beautiful card, as did my wife. We celebrated with a few chocolates and lots of kisses. Our dinner was last night at the Italian restaurant, because we knew I had my calls tonight. The response for the 208 gifts (the answers to 208 questions in my rough draft of an upcoming book) was phenomenal ... thank you all for paying attention plugging in. The response to the survey was dismal. I really do value your opinion - really! So if you have the time, please let me know a bit so that I can make my products fair and reasonable for anyone interested in receiving value from them.
That's about it for now ... I should probably get a bite to eat, as I haven't had much other than a piece of chocolate and then a peanut crunch bar from the company that I partner with.
Blessed be,
Jeremy Likness
It let me to think about other brands that really "arrived." For example, do you grab a tissue, or a Kleenex? Do you get plastic wrap, or cellophane? Do you pull that metal thing on the front of your pants, or is it a zipper?
These are all brand names that became so powerful we use them to describe things even when they don't belong to the company that created the brand.
Brands are pervasive. I probably have a lot to learn about branding. For example, Natural Physiques is a web-based "brand" that I have ... probably won't be as catchy as "Kleenex" ... but then, many people know me for Lose Fat, Not Faith ... so which is the brand, which is the company, and what is the gray area in between?
Of course, I do not expect to become an expert. I've learned that I should focus 80% of my effort on what I'm good at. For those details I am not strong in - accounting, graphics design, etc - find a professional and hire them. So I will be looking for a brand consultant. Or should I find a PR person first? Ah, decisions, decisions.
What's new? I will hear a sample of the audio soon, they tell me, for the remastered CD set. I look forward to it. It will be about a week after that before it's completed. We went from 4 days to several weeks - reminds me of my project management days, when people were eager to promise rapid delivery but always ended up falling short. Me? I'd heckle and go back and forth between management and the customer because I'd rather have a realistic timeframe and overdeliver than for it to be the norm to come up late. So I'd give them a realistic estimate, and of course it wouldn't be near what the salesperson had promised ... and then the politics would begin. Well, I'm excited about the changes, they are taking longer than promised, but it certainly isn't the end of the world. The team I'm working with actually overdelivers where it counts - with my customers. A client signed up for 12 weeks of coaching in the middle of last week, and when I spoke with them today, they were already holding the 5-CD set that comes with that coaching package. So just a few business days ... not bad!
A few customers received some late items, not because of my fulfillment people, but because of technical issues with the payment processors connecting to the website. Ah, now this is something I'm familiar with - when I was working for the big corporations, it was usually my pager going off at 4am when issues like these occured. So I am familiar with them, and how to coordinate to fix them.
It's been a fulfilling day. Aside from the hot tub after training today, I've been pretty much writing, on the phone, or interviewing my awesome guest. I have another call in a few minutes that I am co-hosting. Will be a productive call, but let's be honest - after that, I'm punching out. Time to catch up on some sleep!
If you listen to the interviews, definitely don't miss this one, it is very informative. I've been blessed with great guests who share a lot, and I hope everyone receives their fill.
Oh, and it's that certain day, isn't it? My daughter gave me a beautiful card, as did my wife. We celebrated with a few chocolates and lots of kisses. Our dinner was last night at the Italian restaurant, because we knew I had my calls tonight. The response for the 208 gifts (the answers to 208 questions in my rough draft of an upcoming book) was phenomenal ... thank you all for paying attention plugging in. The response to the survey was dismal. I really do value your opinion - really! So if you have the time, please let me know a bit so that I can make my products fair and reasonable for anyone interested in receiving value from them.
That's about it for now ... I should probably get a bite to eat, as I haven't had much other than a piece of chocolate and then a peanut crunch bar from the company that I partner with.
Blessed be,
Jeremy Likness
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