Another Post from Seth's Blog: Quid pro quo (Santa math)

Another great post from Seth Godin. I guess it resonates with me because it's so descriptive of why I do what I do. They say that you are happiest in your career when you get paid to do what you'd likely do for free. I know that I speak for the group here at Ideavise when I say that this is clearly the case with us (mainly because it's a tough road trying to get paid to ride bicycles recreationally).

I'd invite you to ponder Seth's little diddy below. And if you're not really enjoying yourself in your profession, maybe it's time to step back and think about what would need to change so that you could. You may find that a few minor changes are all that stands between you and a satisfying professional career where you can't wait to get out of bed in the morning.

Thanks for reading.

—Jason @ Ideavise

 

Walk up to the falafel stand and hand the guy $3. He hands you a falafel, no onions.

This for that.

Something for something.

The time between surrendering the money and getting the sandwich is tiny. You gave him something, you got something. It's simple.

Now, stretch it out a bit. You order dinner in a restaurant. They treat you nicely, the room is beautiful, you enjoy the evening, then you pay the bill. This, pause, pause, pause, that.

Go to law school. Pay a lot of money. Spend a lot of time. Be taught a bunch of things you don't particularly want to know, things you probably don't need. Get a degree with a modicum of scarcity. Pay for a bar review course. Pass the bar. Then you get a job that pays a lot of money.

This, then a multi-year pause, then, in return, that for the next forty years. We call it return on investment.

Online, though, I'm not sure the math is so obvious. You don't write a blog to get gigs. You don't help people out in a forum to build a freelance business. Sure, that might happen, but that's not why you do it. If you are busy calculating quid pro quo, that means your heart isn't in it, and the math won't work out anyway.

Online, the something, the quid, the this, doesn't cost cash. It takes heart and energy and caring, which are scarce but renewable resources. As a result, many people are able to spend them without seeking anything external in return. Even better, the act of generosity, of giving without expectation, makes it easier to do art, to create work that matters on its own.

I think it's more like Santa math. Santa flies around the world, giving stuff away, and for what? He earns gratitude, trust and friendship, that's what. Sure, one day he might decide to license his image or try to sell you something. But right here, right now, gratitude, trust and friendship are plenty. Especially if you enjoy doing what you're doing. Quid, no quo.

via sethgodin.typepad.com

 

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Filed under  //   2010   april   business   freelance   generosity   jason lombard   marketing   scarcity  
Posted April 26, 2010 by Jason Lombard 
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Ideavise staff volunteers with the John Wayne Cancer Foundation

Virtually everyone has been impacted by cancer. It's a horrible disease. The folks at the John Wayne Cancer Foundation are working to fund advanced research in conjunction with the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, CA. We at Ideavise are proud to be friends of the organization. Jackie Petro (our tireless PR maven, pictured third from the left) and I (pictured fourth from the left) spent Sunday morning volunteering at for the JWCF at the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, CA.

The action arm of the JWCF is called Team Duke. Their message is to spread the word about cancer awareness, detection and where possible, prevention. I would encourage each and every person to get involved. Learn more about the organization and how you can contribute here.

Thanks to Greg Graber and the crew at JWCF for allowing us to be a part of the event!

Thanks for reading.

—Jason @ Ideavise

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Filed under  //   2010   april   event   greg graber   ideavise   jackie petro   jason lombard   john wayne cancer foundation   monterey   sea otter classic  
Posted April 19, 2010 by Jason Lombard 
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Facebook's Impact on Retailers - Bicycle Retailer & Industry News

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI (BRAIN)—Retailers who are actively involved in marketing their products and/or services using Facebook may have a distinct advantage over their competitors, according to the latest Morpace Omnibus study.

The study finds that not only are consumers joining Facebook fan pages that are managed by businesses, but they use Facebook as a means to offer and receive product recommendations. The study concentrates on three key areas: which consumer segments are most likely to use Facebook and how frequently; how often consumers search for or share product/company opinions or information, and which demographics are most likely to use the social media Web site.

"The results show us that Facebook is a tool for retailers to directly communicate with their target market," said Morpace retail vice president Kirsten Denyes. "Retailers can offer consumers product information and exclusive coupons and discounts to create viral product buzz among Facebook consumers."

Among the primary reasons consumers join a Facebook fan page are: "To let my friends know what products I support," (41 percent) and "To receive coupons and discount offers," (37 percent). More than 36 percent of consumers consider Facebook to be a useful tool for researching products.

Nearly 68 percent of consumers say that a "positive referral from a Facebook friend makes them more likely to buy a specific product or visit a certain retailer." The study also reveals that non-Caucasian consumers tend to be more active users of Facebook, and will more likely join retailer fan pages. One-half (50 percent) of Hispanics, 46 percent of Asians, and 44 percent of African Americans consider Facebook to be a useful tool for researching new products. Only 31 percent of Caucasians agreed.

A total of 1,000 respondents were surveyed March 10-17 as part of the March 2010 online panel.

via bicycleretailer.com

As a 15 year veteran of the bicycle industry, it's always interesting to me when external studies are applied to the bike industry—which very often does not follow traditional marketing metrics.

This, however, is good data for all small businesses, not just those in the bicycle industry. It's tough to ignore when 68 percent of consumers say that they were positively influenced toward a purchase because of a relationship on Facebook; or that 36 percent consider Facebook to be a useful tool for researching products.

I know that making decisions on marketing and social media probably aren't high on your agenda as a small business. That's where we come in. If you're ready to start looking at business outreach from a holistic standpoint but don't know where to begin, please give us a call. We can do it more quickly and cost-effectively than you'd probably think.

Thanks for reading.

—Jason@Ideavise - (831) 887.0111

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Filed under  //   2010   april   bicycle    brand   facebook   impact   industry   jason lombard   marketing   products   research  
Posted April 8, 2010 by Jason Lombard 
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Tom Peters' Leadership Thoughts: Listening

via youtube.com

This was posted on Guy Kawasaki's blog feed recently. The video is thought provoking. How many of us are guilty of making decisions without fully listening to the problem/issue at hand?

One of the commenters on Guy's blog chimed in; "...the number one sales tool is listening." Something to think about the next time you're getting ready to engage a customer or client...

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Filed under  //   2010   april   decisions   guy kawasaki   jason lombard   leadership   listening   small business  
Posted April 6, 2010 by Jason Lombard 
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Seth's Blog: Accepting limits

It's absurd to look at a three year old toddler and say, "this kid can't read or do math or even string together a coherent paragraph. He's a dolt and he's never going to amount to anything." No, we don't say that because we know we can teach and motivate and cajole the typical kid to be able to do all of these things.

Why is it okay, then, to look at a teenager and say, "this kid will never be a leader, never run a significant organization, never save a life, never inspire or create..."

Just because it's difficult to grade doesn't mean it shouldn't be taught. 

Never mind a teenager. I think it's wrong to say that about someone who's fifty.

Isn't it absurd to focus so much energy on 'practical' skills that prep someone for a life of following instructions but relentlessly avoid the difficult work necessary to push someone to reinvent themselves into becoming someone who makes a difference?

And isn't it even worse to write off a person or an organization merely because of what they are instead of what they might become?

via sethgodin.typepad.com

Personally, I found this to be quite inspiring—as well as a great reminder of the power that each of us have to use our everyday interactions to build and enrich the lives of others.

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Filed under  //   2010   april   business   enrich   jason lombard   marketing   relationships   Seth Godin  
Posted April 5, 2010 by Jason Lombard 
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