Garth Beyer

Movement Tells A Story

November 3, 2014Garth Beyer

What you’re passionate about doesn’t necessarily come easy. No matter if you’re doing what you love or not, you’re still climbing a ladder, trying to reach the top, trying to make progress.

Creating art is a method of taking on problems from an outer level with complete focus and forming them into an almost subconscious solution process that allows you to then focus on the next problem. Each step of the ladder presents a new problem to solve. At face value, it’s not enjoyable, not fun, but what sets an artist apart from others who climb is that they find a way to love the process, to enjoy the struggle.

We build value in ourselves when we climb the ladder, when we accomplish goals, when we are moving. When we stop moving up the ladder to say “look at me now,” we tell the wrong story. Humans are inclined to see narratives where there are none because it can afford meaning to our lives, Cody Delistraty at The Atlantic writes. Storytelling when standing still is an oxymoron. It doesn’t resonate well, it doesn’t inspire, it doesn’t tell the message you really want to be telling.

People view you differently when seeing where you’re at now, compared to where you’re going. Sure, saying where you’ve been and what you’ve accomplished and how you got to where you’re at now can be remarkable, but only if people know there is more to come from you; that where you decided to stop and shout down is not the highest you will climb.

Movement tells a story, and people die standing still.

If tasks start seeming easy, if you tackle all your problems subconsciously, if there’s no longer need to focus, no struggle with a problem, it means you’ve stopped climbing, that you’re standing still.

Stay Positive & Is That Really The Story You Want To Tell?

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When Offering Something Difficult To Acquire Elsewhere

November 2, 2014November 2, 2014Garth Beyer

If you’re just starting your business and selling something that’s difficult to acquire elsewhere, you’re appealing to a certain type of person.

Bill Gates won’t be interested. Nor will the farmer who has used the same mixer for his feed for years. I doubt the company that has a daily “business” meeting will want to invest either. They may discuss it at a meeting, but it’ll just be a way to spend time avoiding their real work, sadly.

Being remarkable comes with its setbacks. Those who are detail-intensive might not buy into what you offer. Nor will those who spend their time trying to avoid failure. They’re too busy planning, too busy avoiding doing what they’re not used to doing.

However, Robert Herjavec might be interested in what you have to offer. That avid blogger who is scanning for something new to write about, she’ll try what you provide. Other innovators definitely will give you a shot. After all, they often see people like you as an opportunity to learn from.

You want the type of person who scans Pinterest for a recipe to try that day, not later. You want the lady at the dinner table who, when she doesn’t know what animal’s poop is used to make coffee, googles it right away. (This actually happened to me the other night.)

To be clear, you’re not marketing to the impulse buyer who grabs the reindeer antlers at the checkout line. You want the person who cares, who notices trends, who will try what you have to offer because it’s difficult to acquire elsewhere.

I write all of this so you can answer the following question honestly.

Are you marketing to the right person?

Stay Positive & A Special Business Markets Special People

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Easier As You Go

November 1, 2014Garth Beyer

When was the last time you committed to doing something that scared you out of your shoes?

It’s national novel writing month. 50,000 words in a month. Maybe give it a try?

A friend of mine just ran a 50-mile race. What distance scares you? Give it a go?

Michelle hosted a dinner in NYC from Nepal. Read about it. Replicate it in your town?

The concept, the tendency of staying in our shoes, our comfort zones is a cheap one. As Godin wrote, “It’s tempting to say, ‘this is who I am, habits are hardwired, it’s in my DNA, I’m going to live with it.'” Tempting, and an easy way out, he writes.

Getting from point A to point B gets a lot easier once you accept getting to point B is possible.

Stay Positive & Easier Once You Commit, Easier Once You Start, Easier As You Go

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Three Phases Of Trends

October 31, 2014Garth Beyer

First, people start a trend. Naturally they don’t know it’s a trend yet. Massive quick adoption of the act makes it a trend. Political blogging only had a trending impact once many others started blogging.

Second, people begin noticing the trend. Journalists start writing about political blogs. People other than the bloggers themselves talk about the impact of political blogging.

Third, people start following the trend. The increase of political blogs, not necessarily the immediate early flood of them, but the later consistent growth of them is a representation of following a trend. Instagram, Toms shoes, #scarystoriesin5words, Apple products – all examples too.

Although it is difficult to predict what action will become a trend, it is not impossible.

I had a dream the other night where I ran into Seth Godin at an eyewear store. Although he was dressed up as if he worked there, he wasn’t working. Instead, he was watching everyone who walked by, everyone who came inside and picked up frames to try on, and everyone who voiced their issues.

He was observing all three phases of trends.

1. He listened to the problems people came in with. After all, most trends are just solutions to a problem.

2. Those who entered the store to try on the frames were the ones noticing the trend. After all, the store pushes and showcases what they see is a recent trend in eyewear design.

3. Lastly, everyone who made the purchase of a showcase item or knew full well what they wanted when they entered the store were followers of a trend. After all, there’s not much convincing needed for followers of a trend.

I see it as this: there are actions taking place, things happening that are waiting to be written about, pointed out, learned from, and shared. We can play a role in any of the three phases of trends. We can start them by creating the solution to a problem or we can jump on the bandwagon.

Stay Positive & Do You See These Phases Happening?

if not, perhaps you need new glasses

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When People Come To You With Problems

October 30, 2014October 30, 2014Garth Beyer

Zappos and a few others revolutionized the way to handle problems. It’s not merely about their shipping policy. Nor is it how nice they are when you call them.

Say you’re at Target or Culver’s or some other physically established business, and you have a problem with a product or your meal. You have to go to the customer service desk or they have to phone the manager to get a solution. You’re fighting a battle on enemy territory. Most of the time you win, but does it really feel that way? Do you leave happy?

Where a solution gets hashed out surely is as important as how it gets hashed out, but neither are as important as how the person feels while hashing it out. When you walk up to the customer service desk, you’re on that store’s turf and, perhaps, feeling mad and uncomfortable. Zappos (and so many other online retailers now) do so well because they meet you at your home, where you feel more comfortable. But, we can’t all be online businesses, nor should we.

What if the restaurant resolved your problem in a remarkable way? What if they tried accommodating you in a way that leaves you feeling it wasn’t a big bump in your day? What if they replicated in person the same phone experience you might have with Zappos when you call with a problem?

Sure Zappos and online businesses meet you at home, but what’s stopping other businesses from making you feel the same?

Stay Positive & Seems The Best Solution Is To Make Your Home Theirs

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Find Your Chokepoint And Learn From It

October 29, 2014October 29, 2014Garth Beyer

When you begin having more followers than you can handle, more orders than you can supply, more promises than you can keep up with, and you’re feeling the stress of it all – you’ve reached your chokepoint. It’s a positive thing to know where that point is for two reasons.

It’s a reminder that you can stop trying for quantity, and to start focusing on quality.

I’ve written multiple blog posts in one day. I’ve crashed more time’s I would like to admit. I’ve bitten off more than I can chew. I’ve learned from all of these moments.

There’s a reason I only write one post a day. There’s a reason I take a walk, do yoga or meditate each day. There’s a reason I stretch, before I take on a large workload. I’m not saying don’t make my same mistakes. I’m saying make sure you learn from your own chokepoint. The chokepoint is only a negative, detrimental phase if you stay there.

The chokepoint also reminds you that you’re human. When you recognize your chokepoint, your style of writing, interacting, working, changes. You think more on a personal level. By becoming more aware of how you spend your time, you also consider the time of your audience. By default, it will be easier for you to connect with people.

Stay Positive & Everyone Pushes Themselves Too Hard From Time To Time, It’s Okay

(as long as you learn from it)

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GarthBox

Author: Garth Beyer

Movement Tells A Story

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