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Hub You - Everything I Need to Know About Business I Learned From My Nametag
There are three, and only three, ways to increase (grow) your business. These are:1. Get more customers; 2. Get your customers to buy more; 3. Get your customers to buy more often.The tactics to cover all three ways would fill a 190 page book* so, in this article, we’ll cover just one component of one of the three strategies, getting your customers to buy more often.OK! So you want me to prove that I know what I am talking about, hmm?How can you encourage customers to buy more often? Big businesses do it with loyalty programs. Airlines do have their frequent flier programs. Credit Card companies have their Rewards programs. Many large oil companies, department stores have loyalty programs.But they all have one thing in common. They’re BIG!But what if you’re a small or medium business. How can you afford to set up and administer one of these loyalty programs? How can a corner deli, a small hairdresser, a local hardware store, absorb all these costs? How can you compete?That’s a lot of questions. Let’s answer them for you.Most small businesses, and probably you too, have said, I can’t compete with these giants and their loyalty programs, they are just too costly for my business.One way is to co-operate with othe
LET ME ASK YA THIS…
What values or practices do you apply that receive criticism from others?
It’s Not Who You Know, It's Who Knows You
Let’s face it: if you wear a nametag all day, every day, wherever you go – you will stand out. And people will notice. I figured that out in the first few months. But I had no idea it would evolve into a writing, speaking and publishing business until after the first two years. And that’s when my accumulated visibility started working to my advantage.
Because once the company was up and running in 2003, it wasn’t just that people noticed me – people knew me. Whether it was someone in my community, a fellow member of an association or even a random stranger, it appeared that a lot of people knew I was the guy with the nametag. They knew I wanted to make the world friendlier. And now, they knew I had a book. It was all coming full circle! So, it’s like my friend Jeffery
Define for yourself what an Entrepreneur is:What makes you think you can start and grow a business?Do you make something that people just have to have?Are you talented in a way that make you stand out from the crowd?What makes you different from Joe Schmoe?Conduct a quick skills assessment and ask yourself what makes you stand out from the rest?What are your ultimate goals? Why are you striking out on your own?· Burning Desire · Financial Empowerment · A new beginningWhat's the Big Idea: Contrast your strengths and weaknesses. Identify your hobbies, skills or your any innovative products you've created, then:· List it · Test it · Work it · Sell itTick-Tock-Tick-Tock....Will you start Full Time or Part Time: This is a critical step on the road to entrepreneurship, whether to ‘cannon ball’ into the pool or just ‘dip a toe.’ There are questions that need to be honestly answered and circumstances that need to be thoughtfully considered.Will you work from home or in a commercial space? Some questions to think about before you make a decision:Home-based:· Is it possible? · Is it legal? · Is is feasible? ·Commercial Space:· Location · Lease (cost/length
And that gave me an idea. A crazy idea. Maybe I should keep my nametag on all night!
I wondered what would happen if I “threw myself out there.” And I wondered how that would affect my approachability.
Sure enough, I walked out of that seminar with “Scott” stuck on my chest. About 10 minutes later I met up with a friend of mine at a local ice cream shop. And that’s when it all started. That’s when the silence was broken.
People began to say hello. Random students walked up to me and started conversations. Even complete strangers yelled “Hey Scott!” from across the room! I noticed an astonishing increase in both my own and other people’s willingness to communicate – all because of a nametag!
Later that night I returned home. I looked in the mirror at that little red and white nametag. And then, I made the most important decision of my entire life:
I vow to wear this nametag all day, every day – for the rest of my life.
That fateful day was November 2nd, 2000. And since then, my entire life has changed. On January 1st, 2003, my first book entitled HELLO, my name is Scott: Wearing Nametags for a Friendlier Society, was released. At the same time, my company, Front Porch Productions was created.
But with every passing day of wearing a nametag – I was forced to look deeper. I knew there was something bigger at work. And now after three years of business and five years of wearing a nametag all day, every day – it’s time to go from experimental to experiential. The following are seven valuable business lessons I learned from wearing a nametag.
Repetition
Like a large percentage of the world, I didn’t learn much in college. Or maybe I just don’t remember much from college. Either way, I did take away a few key concepts from my marketing studies. The main one was called “The Three R’s of Marketing,” which are:
1) Repetition
2) Repetition
3) Repetition
I know it sounds incredibly obvious. But with every single day that I wore that little nametag, people were more and more likely to think “He’s still wearing that nametag!” “Hey look, there’s Scott again…” “Why in the hell does that guy always wear a nametag?”
It was catching on. People not only noticed me, but they remembered me. And now they were starting to tell other people too.
LET ME ASK YA THIS…
What new action could you repeat on a daily basis?
Combine Vocation with Values
I often remind people that what I do as a person and businessperson is not about nametags. The nametag is merely a symbol that represents several core values I hold close to my heart. The truth is; my nametag and my values are one in the same. You see, my nametag represents friendliness, approachability, fun, creativity, uniqueness and casualness. And I, as a person, believe in friendliness, approachability, fun, creativity, uniqueness and casualness.
This reminds me of my friend Ed. He’s a financial planner, and a damn good one at that. But the reason he’s so successful is because his values (planning ahead, setting goals, organization) are manifested through his job. And I think the greatest businesspeople in the world are those who do just that: combine vocation with values.
LET ME ASK YA THIS…
Which values are manifested through your work?
You Can’t Make Everybody Happy
You’d be amazed how much hate mail I’ve received over the years. (Yeah, I know – hate mail addressed to a guy trying to make the world friendlier? Go figure.) But I actually value it tremendously. After all, as customer service experts say, “A complaint is a blessing!” First of all, it’s hilarious. And as you read in the last section, I’m a fun guy. Secondly, there were a few emails that gave me a much needed kick in the butt, making me aware of certain inconsistencies I didn’t see.
Lastly, as much as I don’t want to admit it, not everybody agrees with me on this whole nametag thing. And hey, that’s cool. I’ve come to terms with it over the past 1,635 days. But I’ve still stood my ground, even in the face of embarrassment, staring, humiliation or physically harm (yes, I’ve been beat up for wearing a nametag.) Why? Because I believe in what I do and it makes a difference in others’ lives. Ultimately, it makes me realize that Peter Montoya, author of The Brand Called You, was right when he said, “If everyone agrees with you, you’re doing something wrong.”
LET ME ASK YA THIS…
What values or practices do you apply that receive criticism from others?
It’s Not Who You Know, It's Who Knows You
Let’s face it: if you wear a nametag all day, every day, wherever you go – you will stand out. And people will notice. I figured that out in the first few months. But I had no idea it would evolve into a writing, speaking and publishing business until after the first two years. And that’s when my accumulated visibility started working to my advantage.
Because once the company was up and running in 2003, it wasn’t just that people noticed me – people knew me. Whether it was someone in my community, a fellow member of an association or even a random stranger, it appeared that a lot of people knew I was the guy with the nametag. They knew I wanted to make the world friendlier. And now, they knew I had a book. It was all coming full circle! So, it’s like my friend Jeffery
Have you ever had that strange inner feeling you were supposed to be doing something, but just didn't know what it was?That's what happened to me last Sunday. All day I felt like something was nagging me. But... couldn't discover what it was. Have you ever had that kind of feeling?I did some work on my ezine, checked email several times, worked on a software problem and defragged my PC. And... still had the feeling I needed to do something else... Something important!This went on all day until about 7 pm Sunday night. Then I had the strong urge to check my email again. There was an email from Jim Edwards that caught my eye. He's a great writer and I'm always ready to read what he has to say.Jim mentioned in his email, he was thinking about writing an ebook about the lives, problems, successes, and setbacks that ebook writers and sellers had encountered.Jim said, "He wanted to get his readers opinion on whether that was a good idea for him." Many writers suggest if you're looking for a subject for an ebook, report, product or ecourse, ask your subscribers what they think... They'll tell you!He said, "He had a short story about his setbacks and successes, and gave a download link. I automatically down-loaded his story. I don't
I vow to wear this nametag all day, every day – for the rest of my life.
That fateful day was November 2nd, 2000. And since then, my entire life has changed. On January 1st, 2003, my first book entitled HELLO, my name is Scott: Wearing Nametags for a Friendlier Society, was released. At the same time, my company, Front Porch Productions was created.
But with every passing day of wearing a nametag – I was forced to look deeper. I knew there was something bigger at work. And now after three years of business and five years of wearing a nametag all day, every day – it’s time to go from experimental to experiential. The following are seven valuable business lessons I learned from wearing a nametag.
Repetition
Like a large percentage of the world, I didn’t learn much in college. Or maybe I just don’t remember much from college. Either way, I did take away a few key concepts from my marketing studies. The main one was called “The Three R’s of Marketing,” which are:
1) Repetition
2) Repetition
3) Repetition
I know it sounds incredibly obvious. But with every single day that I wore that little nametag, people were more and more likely to think “He’s still wearing that nametag!” “Hey look, there’s Scott again…” “Why in the hell does that guy always wear a nametag?”
It was catching on. People not only noticed me, but they remembered me. And now they were starting to tell other people too.
LET ME ASK YA THIS…
What new action could you repeat on a daily basis?
Combine Vocation with Values
I often remind people that what I do as a person and businessperson is not about nametags. The nametag is merely a symbol that represents several core values I hold close to my heart. The truth is; my nametag and my values are one in the same. You see, my nametag represents friendliness, approachability, fun, creativity, uniqueness and casualness. And I, as a person, believe in friendliness, approachability, fun, creativity, uniqueness and casualness.
This reminds me of my friend Ed. He’s a financial planner, and a damn good one at that. But the reason he’s so successful is because his values (planning ahead, setting goals, organization) are manifested through his job. And I think the greatest businesspeople in the world are those who do just that: combine vocation with values.
LET ME ASK YA THIS…
Which values are manifested through your work?
You Can’t Make Everybody Happy
You’d be amazed how much hate mail I’ve received over the years. (Yeah, I know – hate mail addressed to a guy trying to make the world friendlier? Go figure.) But I actually value it tremendously. After all, as customer service experts say, “A complaint is a blessing!” First of all, it’s hilarious. And as you read in the last section, I’m a fun guy. Secondly, there were a few emails that gave me a much needed kick in the butt, making me aware of certain inconsistencies I didn’t see.
Lastly, as much as I don’t want to admit it, not everybody agrees with me on this whole nametag thing. And hey, that’s cool. I’ve come to terms with it over the past 1,635 days. But I’ve still stood my ground, even in the face of embarrassment, staring, humiliation or physically harm (yes, I’ve been beat up for wearing a nametag.) Why? Because I believe in what I do and it makes a difference in others’ lives. Ultimately, it makes me realize that Peter Montoya, author of The Brand Called You, was right when he said, “If everyone agrees with you, you’re doing something wrong.”
LET ME ASK YA THIS…
What values or practices do you apply that receive criticism from others?
It’s Not Who You Know, It's Who Knows You
Let’s face it: if you wear a nametag all day, every day, wherever you go – you will stand out. And people will notice. I figured that out in the first few months. But I had no idea it would evolve into a writing, speaking and publishing business until after the first two years. And that’s when my accumulated visibility started working to my advantage.
Because once the company was up and running in 2003, it wasn’t just that people noticed me – people knew me. Whether it was someone in my community, a fellow member of an association or even a random stranger, it appeared that a lot of people knew I was the guy with the nametag. They knew I wanted to make the world friendlier. And now, they knew I had a book. It was all coming full circle! So, it’s like my friend Jeffery
There is some doubt whether job satisfaction consists of a single dimension or a number of separate ones. Some workers may be satisfied with some aspects of their work and dissatisfied with others. There does, however, appear to be a positive correlation between satisfaction levels in different areas of work. This suggests a single overall factor of job satisfaction. However, it seems there is no one, general, comprehensive theory which explains job satisfaction.Today is still considered by a number of critics to be, a complex concept and difficult to measure objectively. A wide range of variables relating to individual, social, cultural organizational and environmental factors affect the level of job satisfaction. Specifically:- Individual Factors include personality, education, intelligence and abilities, age, marital status. Orientation to work.- Social Factors include relationships with co-workers, group working and norms, opportunities for interaction, informal organization.- Cultural Factors include underlying attitudes, beliefs and values.- Organizational Factors include nature and size, formal structure, personnel policies and procedures, employee relations, nature of the work, technology and work organization, supervision and styles of leadership
I know it sounds incredibly obvious. But with every single day that I wore that little nametag, people were more and more likely to think “He’s still wearing that nametag!” “Hey look, there’s Scott again…” “Why in the hell does that guy always wear a nametag?”
It was catching on. People not only noticed me, but they remembered me. And now they were starting to tell other people too.
LET ME ASK YA THIS…
What new action could you repeat on a daily basis?
Combine Vocation with Values
I often remind people that what I do as a person and businessperson is not about nametags. The nametag is merely a symbol that represents several core values I hold close to my heart. The truth is; my nametag and my values are one in the same. You see, my nametag represents friendliness, approachability, fun, creativity, uniqueness and casualness. And I, as a person, believe in friendliness, approachability, fun, creativity, uniqueness and casualness.
This reminds me of my friend Ed. He’s a financial planner, and a damn good one at that. But the reason he’s so successful is because his values (planning ahead, setting goals, organization) are manifested through his job. And I think the greatest businesspeople in the world are those who do just that: combine vocation with values.
LET ME ASK YA THIS…
Which values are manifested through your work?
You Can’t Make Everybody Happy
You’d be amazed how much hate mail I’ve received over the years. (Yeah, I know – hate mail addressed to a guy trying to make the world friendlier? Go figure.) But I actually value it tremendously. After all, as customer service experts say, “A complaint is a blessing!” First of all, it’s hilarious. And as you read in the last section, I’m a fun guy. Secondly, there were a few emails that gave me a much needed kick in the butt, making me aware of certain inconsistencies I didn’t see.
Lastly, as much as I don’t want to admit it, not everybody agrees with me on this whole nametag thing. And hey, that’s cool. I’ve come to terms with it over the past 1,635 days. But I’ve still stood my ground, even in the face of embarrassment, staring, humiliation or physically harm (yes, I’ve been beat up for wearing a nametag.) Why? Because I believe in what I do and it makes a difference in others’ lives. Ultimately, it makes me realize that Peter Montoya, author of The Brand Called You, was right when he said, “If everyone agrees with you, you’re doing something wrong.”
LET ME ASK YA THIS…
What values or practices do you apply that receive criticism from others?
It’s Not Who You Know, It's Who Knows You
Let’s face it: if you wear a nametag all day, every day, wherever you go – you will stand out. And people will notice. I figured that out in the first few months. But I had no idea it would evolve into a writing, speaking and publishing business until after the first two years. And that’s when my accumulated visibility started working to my advantage.
Because once the company was up and running in 2003, it wasn’t just that people noticed me – people knew me. Whether it was someone in my community, a fellow member of an association or even a random stranger, it appeared that a lot of people knew I was the guy with the nametag. They knew I wanted to make the world friendlier. And now, they knew I had a book. It was all coming full circle! So, it’s like my friend Jeffery
When shopping for trade show displays, save money on your overall budget by choosing trade show accessories that stretch your marketing dollars. Table top displays, literature racks and portable projection screens are all products that can be used after the trade show to enhance your office environment or used in other ways.As you purchase your trade show booth, you will find offers to purchase additional items to make your space more efficient, more organized or more appealing to trade show attendees. If you’re on a tight budget, the costs can quickly add up, so it only makes sense to purchase those items that can later be used in your office or retail space.Here are a few ideas to get more “bang for your buck” with your trade show accessories.Table Top DisplaysTable top displays are an affordable option to begin with because they can be used as the focal point of your trade show space, or as part of a larger trade show display. And when the trade show is over, this marketing piece can continue to be useful.The table top display is a strong visual element that contains key information about your product or company. You can extend its usefulness after the trade show by putting it on display in several different ways:• In your company recepti
LET ME ASK YA THIS…
Which values are manifested through your work?
You Can’t Make Everybody Happy
You’d be amazed how much hate mail I’ve received over the years. (Yeah, I know – hate mail addressed to a guy trying to make the world friendlier? Go figure.) But I actually value it tremendously. After all, as customer service experts say, “A complaint is a blessing!” First of all, it’s hilarious. And as you read in the last section, I’m a fun guy. Secondly, there were a few emails that gave me a much needed kick in the butt, making me aware of certain inconsistencies I didn’t see.
Lastly, as much as I don’t want to admit it, not everybody agrees with me on this whole nametag thing. And hey, that’s cool. I’ve come to terms with it over the past 1,635 days. But I’ve still stood my ground, even in the face of embarrassment, staring, humiliation or physically harm (yes, I’ve been beat up for wearing a nametag.) Why? Because I believe in what I do and it makes a difference in others’ lives. Ultimately, it makes me realize that Peter Montoya, author of The Brand Called You, was right when he said, “If everyone agrees with you, you’re doing something wrong.”
LET ME ASK YA THIS…
What values or practices do you apply that receive criticism from others?
It’s Not Who You Know, It's Who Knows You
Let’s face it: if you wear a nametag all day, every day, wherever you go – you will stand out. And people will notice. I figured that out in the first few months. But I had no idea it would evolve into a writing, speaking and publishing business until after the first two years. And that’s when my accumulated visibility started working to my advantage.
Because once the company was up and running in 2003, it wasn’t just that people noticed me – people knew me. Whether it was someone in my community, a fellow member of an association or even a random stranger, it appeared that a lot of people knew I was the guy with the nametag. They knew I wanted to make the world friendlier. And now, they knew I had a book. It was all coming full circle! So, it’s like my friend Jeffery
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.There are other useful definitions in this field, for example, creativity can be defined as consisting of a number of ideas, a number of diverse ideas and a number of novel ideas.There are distinct processes that enhance problem identification and idea generation and, similarly, distinct processes that enhance idea selection, development and commercialisation. Whilst there is no sure fire route to commercial success, these processes improve the probability that good ideas will be generated and selected and that investment in developing and commercialising those ideas will not be wasted. Good Leadership All of the above stages require good leaders to facilitate, manage, guide and optimise output. There are certain characteristics of leaders that maximise output:a) Good leaders are adept at switching between low and high status – high for keeping control and low to ensure others do NOT shut down.b) Good leaders are aware that idea generation is a cognitive process and encourage expression of that cognitive activity.c) Good leaders tend to spend significant amounts of time on proble
LET ME ASK YA THIS…
What values or practices do you apply that receive criticism from others?
It’s Not Who You Know, It's Who Knows You
Let’s face it: if you wear a nametag all day, every day, wherever you go – you will stand out. And people will notice. I figured that out in the first few months. But I had no idea it would evolve into a writing, speaking and publishing business until after the first two years. And that’s when my accumulated visibility started working to my advantage.
Because once the company was up and running in 2003, it wasn’t just that people noticed me – people knew me. Whether it was someone in my community, a fellow member of an association or even a random stranger, it appeared that a lot of people knew I was the guy with the nametag. They knew I wanted to make the world friendlier. And now, they knew I had a book. It was all coming full circle! So, it’s like my friend Jeffery Gitomer says, “It’s not who you know – it’s who knows you.” Amen to that, brother!
LET ME ASK YA THIS…
In your industry, community or company – do a lot of people know you?
Angels Unaware
I’ve always held the belief that everyone can teach you something. That everyone has a story to tell. And that everyone can affect you in some way. So, by far the greatest advantage to wearing a nametag all the time was the opportunity to meet new people. People I wouldn’t have met otherwise. People that, often times, became friends of mine! It almost became addicting!
But one evening while riding the bus home from work, I met an angel. I met one of the most important persons in my entire business life. It was just…some guy. A regular dude who was sitting right next to me. We got to talking and eventually exchanged business cards after our brief conversation. He wished me luck on my upcoming book, and I wished him a Happy Holiday Season.
I had no idea his girlfriend was the editor of a local newspaper.
A week later she called to set up an interview, the result of which was a 4 page article that came out two days prior to the release of my first book!
Once that article came out, media outlets from around the globe called for interviews! I spent the next 6 months on a whirlwind media blitz, sharing my ideas – and my business – with the world! That 6 month period eventually led to the forming of my company, which is now in its third year.
And all because I said hello to a stranger. An angel of whom I was unaware. (See Hebrews 13:2.)
LET ME ASK YA THIS…
Have you ever met one person who created the “tipping point” for your business?
Word Ownership
When I think of self-help, I think of Dr. Phil. When I think of customer service, I think of Nordstrom. When I think of marketing, I think of Seth Godin. And when I think of The Yellow Pages, I think of my brother, Steve.
Why?
It’s because each of those people are individuals who, in mind, have the most expertise about, and most association with that particular word. That’s called Top of Mind Awareness – or as I like to call it, Word Ownership.
With me, the word is obvious: nametag. If you Google the word “nametag,” I’m the first page that shows up. If you hear someone say the word “nametag,” you think of me. And after knowing me, reading my work or hearing me speak, you will never think about the word “nametag” the same way again. That’s Word Ownership. Sure, it’s not a word used as often as marketing or customer service, but it’s mine. I own it.
LET ME ASK YA THIS…
What word do you own?
Be Remarkable
Now, as I have progressed as a businessperson, Seth Godin (ibid) has become one of my favorite authors. His most famous book, Purple Cow, changed the face of marketing as we know it. If you haven’t read it yet, here’s the concept: in order to differentiate yourself in business, you must be remarkable. Remarkable is something worth making a remark about. And if you or your company can achieve remarkable status, people will do your marketing for you.
It’s so simple, it’s ridiculous.
And as it turned out, wearing a nametag, all day, every day for five years, was in fact, remarkable. But not according to me. It was according to CNN, USA Today, The Associated Press, The Washington Post, Paul Harvey, Headline News and The CBS Early show. Those were just a few of the international media outlets that did stories on it!
Now, I didn’t include that list to brag. I included that list because honestly, I have no idea how in the hell it happened. I spent a long time shaking my head, thinking to myself, I can’t believe it. But in the end, serendipity, luck and acts of God notwithstanding, maybe it happened simply because my idea was remarkable.
LET ME ASK YA THIS…
What facet of you or your business is remarkable?
The crazy thing is; all I did was put on a silly little nametag. And here I am; author, speaker, publisher and small business owner. Now, trust me, I ask myself that same question almost every day: How in the hell did all of this happen?
Maybe it was an accident. Maybe it was smart marketing. Maybe it was luck.
Or maybe it was the right idea, for the right person, at the right time, in the right place.
You can pick whichever answer makes the most sense to you. But I hope these business lessons I’ve learned from wearing a nametag will help you make your mark and do something unforgettable!
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