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Embrace change or die

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You’ve heard the saying “evolve or die”, well it couldn’t be more true. If you are a business you can’t continue to do things the same way year after year because you’ve always done it that way. No one cares what you want or what makes you comfortable, if you don’t put your customers front and center you won’t have a business to run.

Take Toys R’ Us for example, the company just declared bankruptcy which has taken a lot of us (ok, me) by surprise. I don’t have kids, so I haven’t kept up with the retailer as I have no need to buy toys…besides checking out the latest in Star Wars action figures. So…the news came as a surprise to me until I started reading the reasons behind it.

  1. The company was resistant to e-commerce. To this I say, know your audience. If I was a mom, there is no way in hell I am bringing my kid into a toy store when I can easily order it online and avoid the inevitable temper tantrum.
  2. All of your competitors are in the digital space, refusing to compete is just idiotic. If you want to compete with Amazon, Target, Walmart, etc. then you have to be in the space they are in.
  3. Brick and mortar is becoming extinct, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for it but it can’t be the only facet of your business.
  4. If your audience is moms or young familes then you need to consider their lifestyle, buying patterns – you know do the market research.
  5. A quick look at the company’s social media revealed that there are a lot of rogue Facebook pages out there. It would appear there is no company wide policy for individual stores. On top of that, several posts all publish at once, there is no strategy around it. On September 15th, 3 posts went live at 9:00 a.m. – how the hell does that make sense?

The company had so much opportunity to get it right. I mean you are a TOY STORE, what could be more fun to market? I’m talking video, charity outreach, Facebook live, Instagram, Pinterest, influencer outreach, celebrity endorsements…the jingle “I don’t wanna grow up, I’m a Toys R’ Us kid…” still plays in my head.

Toys R’ Us needs to grow up and fast. I hope they can turn this around.

 

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It’s not about who you know, it’s about who knows you.

When I talk Big Deal Energy™️, I remind people about the power of their network and the investment it requires to actually reap the benefits. You gotta give to get.

I shared some thoughts with @fastcompany on the ROI of conference sponsorships, which only makes sense if you build connections and are visible.

“The benefit and ROI need to outweigh the cost. ROI should be defined in multiple ways: brand awareness, visibility with a core customer base, or being able to share knowledge, which positions you as a thought leader. Note: Invest in personal branding workshops or education so your people know how to connect, make an impression, follow up, and nurture a lead.”

If you don’t know how to work a room, give more than you get, then for the love of all that is holy, register for the Big Deal Energy™ Workshop on June 23.

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Open post by bodespeaks with ID 18113165018500052
It’s not about who you know, it’s about who knows you. When I talk Big Deal Energy™️, I remind people about the power of their network and the investment it requires to actually reap the benefits. You gotta give to get. I shared some thoughts with @fastcompany on the ROI of conference sponsorships, which only makes sense if you build connections and are visible. “The benefit and ROI need to outweigh the cost. ROI should be defined in multiple ways: brand awareness, visibility with a core customer base, or being able to share knowledge, which positions you as a thought leader. Note: Invest in personal branding workshops or education so your people know how to connect, make an impression, follow up, and nurture a lead.” If you don’t know how to work a room, give more than you get, then for the love of all that is holy, register for the Big Deal Energy™ Workshop on June 23.

The moment you step into your Big Deal Energy™️, people will find a reason to hate you. They’ll disagree with you. They’ll leave shitty comments. They’ll try to make you feel small.

Let them.

Their mediocre is not yours to carry, their discomfort with your confidence is a them problem. You aren’t showing up to make everyone comfortable, you’re doing it because being authentically you means something.

And when the haters roll in? Smile; they just proved your point. See you on the 21st.

5 0
Open post by bodespeaks with ID 18086507009522326
The moment you step into your Big Deal Energy™️, people will find a reason to hate you. They’ll disagree with you. They’ll leave shitty comments. They’ll try to make you feel small. Let them. Their mediocre is not yours to carry, their discomfort with your confidence is a them problem. You aren’t showing up to make everyone comfortable, you’re doing it because being authentically you means something. And when the haters roll in? Smile; they just proved your point. See you on the 21st.

Small Business Survival Skills: Critical thinking, communication, conflict resolution, professionalism…when employees are missing these, it costs us a whole bunch of money.

We have a choice, and I say this with all the love my feral little Gen X heart can muster: we can spend our energy wishing things were different, or we can adapt and teach them.

Companies investing in integrated learning models see 24% higher profit margins and save roughly $18K per new hire in productivity ramp up.

It’s survival. @8thirtyfour Skills Survival School, June 25 - https://8thirtyfour.com/skills/

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Open post by bodespeaks with ID 18108525116488231
Small Business Survival Skills: Critical thinking, communication, conflict resolution, professionalism…when employees are missing these, it costs us a whole bunch of money. We have a choice, and I say this with all the love my feral little Gen X heart can muster: we can spend our energy wishing things were different, or we can adapt and teach them. Companies investing in integrated learning models see 24% higher profit margins and save roughly $18K per new hire in productivity ramp up. It’s survival. @8thirtyfour Skills Survival School, June 25 - https://8thirtyfour.com/skills/

I started @8thirtyfour #19 years ago because I didn’t see many women in leadership positions; those I saw weren’t real keen to lend a helping hand. If you want something, make it happen; no one is going to hand you your dream.

#smallbusiness #bigdealenergy #womenfounders #womensupportingwomen kimbode

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Open post by bodespeaks with ID 18088244546206111
I started @8thirtyfour #19 years ago because I didn’t see many women in leadership positions; those I saw weren’t real keen to lend a helping hand. If you want something, make it happen; no one is going to hand you your dream. #smallbusiness #bigdealenergy #womenfounders #womensupportingwomen kimbode
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