"The price of success must be paid in full, in advance." – Brian Tracy
Christmas Is Coming!
Our annual Christmas In July giving event is almost here. Every year, we give out cash donations to a few charitable organizations. While other companies run sales to bring money in, we're actually doling it out.
We prefer to donate where the money is not going to be used to cover things like marketing, but rather goes directly to the heart of the organization's focus. We've donated to cat shelters, homeless outreach programs, a group home for those severely impacted by autism, cancer research centers, and others.
I'm asking you to contact us, either publicly or privately, and make suggestions about who/where could use a little cash and a little promotion. We'll make our decisions at the end of June, and make the awards in July. I also urge you to make a similar donation yourself, or have your company do so. It can be a matching donation for one of ours, or some place you know your donation will do some good.
So. . . your suggestions?
Motivational Pix – MacArthur 01
"You are remembered for the rules you break." – Douglas MacArthur
There’s Nobody Home
I spent the morning driving around, dropping off award certificates. One of our clients is the review site CNYDining.com , and they asked us to create and deliver award certificates to the last several places to which they'd given 4 star or better reviews. So, loaded up with the freshly printed awards, I made my rounds of the city of Syracuse.
I realize that it's the Friday before the holiday that officially kicks off the summer season, but every place I stopped – except one – had the second string on today. My first stop was a donut shop that's only open early in the morning. A part-timer was on, and she thought the award was cool, and put it aside for the owner. Things went. . . well, not exactly down hill from there, but things started to get skewed. I visited a place that didn't open 'til noon, and scooted off again. The next guy just shrugged and smiled. The following restaurant was the one where the manager was still on duty. However, she looked like I was presenting her with a bill. I explained what it was, and she cheered right up.
Motivational Pix – Patton 01
"If everybody is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking." – Gen George S Patton
Elio Super Efficient Vehicle Stops In Syracuse
Elio motors made a pit stop at the Destiny Mall in Syracuse New York, May 14 – 16 2014. This 3-wheeled vehicle is designed for ultra mileage – somewhere around 84 MPG on the open highway, with a standard transmission and cruise control engaged.
The Elio is slated to be produced in America – they've purchased some used factory space in Louisiana, and will begin production there in 2015. 3-wheelers are nothing new. Many are motorcycles, with open frames and engines between your legs. Some, like the Can-Am Spyder from Bombardier also have two wheels in front. Paul Elio designed the vehicle so that the driver and rider space was enclosed, but because of it's three-wheel design and small 3-cylinder engine, many states – including New York – consider it a type of motorcycle.
But many of the first automobiles on the road only had three wheels. Elio is desperately trying to get the vehicle classified as a car, opening up the market base to anyone who owns a typical driver's license. Production models will have reinforced roll cages and multiple air bags. There's a rear seat, and a rear storage area, but no rear window. The mirrors outside the cockpit should help you back up with no problem, but the attendants stated that a back-up camera is a highly requested option.
Not my intention to be a downer, but I can see the media scramble after the first meeting between an Elio and a Semi on the highways of America; "Tiny car no match for lane-changing big rig. 'I never even saw it' says trucker." How many other sports cars, costing 8 to 10 times the Elio's projected retail price have experienced a similar fate?
Elio has done a tremendous amount of work to generate word-of-mouth publicity. Their blog is meant to keep everyone up on the company's efforts in all areas. Folks who "Like" their Facebook page get several updates each week – often more than one per day. While the posts can sometimes be heavy handed, what I don't see are them providing calls to action! I have yet to notice a message that says "Like and share," or "Invite your friends to come and see our car." Maybe I've missed those. Could be.
What they do call for is for readers to put down a non-refundable purchase deposit of $100 or more. Cash in hand is a good thing, especially when you're looking for additional financing. But if they developed a larger fan base through invitations, getting more deposits would seem easier – you've got a bigger pool to hit up.
Motivational Pix – Robbins 01
"If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten." – Tony Robbins
WordPress-based Client Sites
I've gotten 3 new clients who wanted me to put together web sites for them. I pitched all of them sites based on WordPress software. It was originally a blogging software, but it's expanded to become a true Content Management Service (CMS). All of them agreed, so I'm putting together a sort of recipe book for all the sites I'm managing that are based on WordPress. And I'm not managing all my clients' sites! There are at least two others I can think of off the top of my head that run on WordPress where they have someone else managing it.
So we are managing twelve – that's 12 – sites running on WordPress right now. I may have a couple more who will ask to be switched over in the future. About half of those are for the same client, and they're running a similar setup on each site. They're looking to collect names & email address so that they can cultivate those visitors, so they're putting most of the content behind membership walls. The first level is free – meant to give the visitors access to a taste of what my client offers at a higher price. Most of them (based on statistical probability) won't go for it. But the ones who do should realize significant benefit from their paid memberships.
Motivational Pix – Covey 01
"Start with the end in mind." – Stephen R Covey
Darren Hardy’s Blog
Darren Hardy is the publisher of Success magazine. I strongly suggest you subscribe to it. Even if you don't actually read the magazine, each issue comes with some awesome audio for you to listen to – great interviews with successful people. If you get the print version, there's a CD bound into each issue. The digital version allows you to download the MP3 files. I listen to these in my car, and find them very inspirational, very motivating.
Visit Darren's blog here and read some of the wise advice he's passing along.