Surprise

In The Box Podcast

Episode 7: Disney Movie Secrets, Print Advertising, Vacations And More – Podcast

Garth Beyer

On this episode of In The Box Podcast, we did things a bit different. In addition to talking about email scams, what it’s like to not be surprised anymore, and how to relax on vacation knowing there’s work to be done when you get back, we brought forth a few internet resources to help guide a discussion around Disney movie secrets, terrible (and great) print ads, and beer labels. You can find the links below. Enjoy.

Episode 7: Disney Movie Secrets, Print Advertising, Vacations And More

Disney Movies – Why do you think Disney puts so many secrets in their movies? Just to make secret finders happy? Link to a list of Disney movie secrets

Print advertising – Why are there still terrible print ads? Link to 30 awesome print ads in 2014

Beer labels – Do you think using vulgar names or label images degrades the beer (or even the whole beer industry)? Link to offensive beer labels

Email scams – How the hell are email scams still a thing?

Surprises – How often do you find yourself surprised by something?

Vacations – Are you able to relax on vacation knowing you have a lot of work waiting for you when you get back?

 

Stay Positive & Be Sure To Subscribe On Itunes

The Brand Formula

Garth Beyer

Seth Godin said a brand is the product of two things: prediction of what to expect times the emotional power of that expectation.

Where does the emotional power come from? That too is the product of two things: the relief in getting what you expect times the joy of getting more than you expected.

Earning trust isn’t about meeting expectations. More importantly, it’s not about lowering expectations so you can exceed them upon delivery. No. The good stuff, the brand, the trust; all of that comes from setting high expectations to begin with, but always finding a new way to surpass them.

Johnny Cupcakes, yet again, is my go-to. You get everything you expect (high quality content and packing), and inside the box I find something I didn’t expect, something goofy and special, something that brings me joy.

Relief and joy, two seemingly opposites actually make a perfect duo.

 

Stay Positive & Branding Is Making Bold Promises, But Always Over Delivering

The Not-So-Simple Simple Process Of Becoming An Expert

Garth Beyer

Step 0: Choose what you want to become an expert in.

Step 1: Learn about it to the point you don’t make mistakes.*
Step 2. Do things adequately.
STUCK
Step 3. Follow your intuition.

After step two is complete – you’re mediocre and work has become more a routine than anything – is when almost everyone gets stuck. They get comfortable with meeting standards and not pushing any buttons for improvement. But there is no art in doing something right. The art is in doing something better than it was done before. Art follows passion and passion follows intuition which hopefully you follow. That is how you become an expert.

* No. I hope it’s obvious that I don’t actually mean that you don’t make any mistakes at all. However, there is a point in every position of your career path where you make little to no mistakes. This point arrives when you learn nearly all you can.

 

Stay Positive & If You Stop Being Surprised At Work, You’re Stuck

Garth E. Beyer

Announcement: Getting It Out There

Garth Beyer

November 6th is going to be a big day. Not only because it will be my birthday, but because I will be releasing something special. Free of course.

I will also be giving the chance for you all to get rewards such as me being your child’s penpal, adopting one of your artistic creations into my my surprise, a chance to hire a journalist for less than the normal professional rate (that journalist being me), and my personal favorite: a certificate to my soul.

Lastly, I am still looking for housing accommodations for my trip to NYC over the holidays. I can be out of your hair each day off making a ruckus, or I can be just as happy celebrating a day with you in whatever way that may be. If you are willing or know anyone that is willing to house a fun person trying to make something remarkable in the world, email me at thegarthbox@gmail.com

Doing What You Think People Will Frown Upon

Garth Beyer

It was awhile ago when I raised my hand in my Poetry 101 class and asked if we could bring in our own work and read it to the class for extra credit. (Weird that was something I had to ask isn’t it?) The teacher hesitantly agreed only after the class followed suit in making quite the ruckus for approval. The day came and I risked going up to the podium and reading a love poem I had written – but this isn’t about me. It’s about someone else who got up and took a much larger risk than ridicule.

—-

The whole class was smiling, laughing and as I remember it, a few people stood up giving a standing ovation to the girl who did what you may think people would have frowned upon. Now, I never curse or swear on this website (though I may let some words slip in life), let it be known that I am merely going to pick out words that were in this young lady’s poem.

Imagine the following words put into one of the most heart wrenching and fluent poetry you have ever heard: “fu#k”, “w@ore”, “s%it”, “c*nt”, “b^tch” and a few others.

The reaction of ecstatic approval from the classroom made me think how happy it makes people to hear and see other people do what most would frown upon. This lady didn’t risk ridicule, she risked isolation, she risked the repercussions of fighting back the status-quo and following her intuition and heart.

To my surprise, she was congratulated for an epic non-standard performance and begged to share more of her poetry. She sat down with the largest grin on her face, larger than a silver Waning Crescent of a moon turned sideways.

 

Stay Positive & Fight To Be Frowned Upon (You’ll Be Surprised)

Garth E. Beyer