Author: Garth Beyer

No Matter Where You Are

Garth Beyer

You can be in the same market as other businesses, but you still need to differentiate yourself.

There are a lot of excuses not to: too busy, will wind up too far from the target market, tactics might go unnoticed.

Excuses, though, don’t lead to success. Let alone successful differentiation.

That’s why I’m writing this on my phone. That’s why some stores stay open and some closed on Christmas. That’s why you can look at your favorite business and say what makes them different.  

Being different is never safe. And that risk is what will get you noticed.

Stay Positive & What Will They Say About You?
Garth E. Beyer

If You’re In It For The Scoop

Garth Beyer

Most readers of my blog aren’t in it for the scoops. There’s no gossip. There’s no immediate assumptions. There’s no breaking news.

While those are all interesting in the short run,  they don’t last more than five minutes and lack real impact.

Doing work that matters and getting to the point of remarkable doesn’t happen over night or out of the blue.

Readers of my blog are in their art for the long run. There’s nothing wrong with attempting quick and meaningless turnover, but quick news is old news.

Stay Positive & Pace To Win
Garth E. Beyer

At The End Of The Day

Garth Beyer

Do you consider the end of the day throughout it? Or are you stuck in the moment, caught up in a whirlwind of emotions, captured in the small picture?

It’s overwhelming in the moment, but at the end of the day, whoever is causing you stress, is just a person, likely heading back home to be with their equally demanding family. The aggressive client wanting a discount for no reason is just a person, likely heading back home to make his or her special someone feel special. The fevered parent you had to console is just a person, likely heading back home to deal with all the trials and tribulations of being a parent.

It’s not that every person is fighting their own battle, it’s that many of them are losing it.

You get the opportunity each day to help them fight. That is a privilege in my opinion.

 

Stay Positive & People Aren’t That Bad When You See Them As People

Garth E. Beyer

Where’s The Party At

Garth Beyer

Holiday networking parties are fun. Any networking event is, actually.

However, the problem I see at most networking events is that everyone goes there to network with each other and forget about everyone else who is at the same venue but not there for the networking.

I love networking events because everyone at the venue who isn’t there for the event is curious about the event. “Why is everyone in suits?” It’s a great moment to sell yourself, build your tribe and establish trust with someone who will actually purchase what you have to offer. (It’s pretty hard to sell your consulting time to people who are also public relations specialists.)

This is why I divvy up my time at events.

1/2 time: to socialize and get your face recognized with those in your entrepreneurial environment and who are there for the same reason as you.

1/2 time: to socialize and get your name remembered by those you can actually help and who didn’t know about you previously.

You know where the party is. Networking events give you the opportunity to bring the party to other people who are at the venue for different reasons.

 

Stay Positive & You Gotta Fight For Your Right

Brands Businesses And Their Faces

Garth Beyer

I played an odd game last night with family. The game Faces. Basically you try to associate a particular attribute “the flirt” with one of the seven faces. If you guess the same as the dealer, you both win.

I also watched Shark Tank (worth watching otherwise I wouldn’t mention it).

Combining the two made me think a few things.

1. If given the chance, people can read your face. They are constantly analyzing every feature to see if it fits the world view you’re trying to sell. No, the grumpy looking women is not going to be the flirt. No, the stock faced men trying to pitch a tie business based on the Netflix platform are not passionate about their product.

2. Most will get close to understanding the face of your brand, but the more you stand out, the more they will all agree on what the face represents. That’s when you can call your branding a success. Everyone looks at Apple and sees the same face. It took years and plenty of differentiation and risk to get there.

3. Sometimes it doesn’t matter if you’re pretty.

 

Stay Positive & But Some Makeup Never Hurt

Garth E. Beyer

Assorted Links

Garth Beyer

1. 5 historical attempts to ban coffee (read)

2. These are the 30 people under 30 changing the world (list)

3. A letter from my future self (read)

4. Sharapova is back in the game and as driven as ever (read, guilty pleasure)

5. Five innovations IBM expects will change our world (watch)

6. The ultimate productivity blog (realize)

Nothing Works. Really, It Does.

Garth Beyer

No post lined up for today.

No great ideas today either. Good ones, but not great.

So instead of writing about a good idea. I’m choosing nothing. Because when people expect great and all you have is good, nothing is a better choice.

There’s overselling (1), underselling (2) and not selling at all (3).

Now rank them in their importance to you.

 

Stay Positive & Nothing Isn’t Always Just Safe, Sometimes It’s Smart

Garth E. Beyer