Sunday, January 22, 2012 / 08:25:11 Time to Perform - new brand campaign for BridgestoneIntroducing your brand as well as keeping your brand name known throughout the years is important for any major brand. Especially if your brand is all.. Jay Gory
Introducing your brand as well as keeping your brand name known throughout the years is important for any major brand. Especially if your brand is all about quality, experience and life-long evolution of your product.
Bridgestone brand is definitely very strong all over the world, but even they need to keep things fresh and remind their existence to the world whenever they can.
And now they have come out with new ads for Super Bowl to help with Bridgestone Americas Brand Campaign. One of the main keywords in case of Bridgestone brand is and has always been performance. Performance when it matters the most. In their new campaign they call it "Performance Moments."
The main idea behind their campaign is to investigate the impact Bridgestone performance attributes could have on professional sports. And they try to do it with the help from some very well-known sports celebrities.
These commercials try to show how the attributes from each of their products could translate to the football field, basketball court, bowling lane and ice hockey rink. The commercials will debut during Super Bowl on NBC on Sunday, February 5, 2012.
Bridgestone knows what they are doing. The question to you, however, is, do you? Whenever you work on your brand, you should be looking at how some big successful brands are doing their thing and then see what you could learn from them, which ideas you could use in marketing your brand better.
Learn more about New Super Bowl ads for Bridgestone Americas Brand Campaign by watching the videos here:
... read more
Wednesday, December 23, 2009 / 05:25:24 The logics of successSelf-help industry is there to make money. Nobody wants to pay for something way too obvious. Siim Einfeldt
Every day we are being told how we can become successful. We get the information from books, movies, tv-shows, self-help coaches, seminars. The similarity of all this "education" tends to be the simple complexity that is easy to understand but difficult to believe - and if you don't believe - hey, that's your problem right there, that's the reason why you are not successful - you just don't believe what we are telling you. Or if you do believe, you are unwilling to act on those beliefs because you don't believe enough, you think it looks foolish or not something meant for you.
The reason for this simple complexity can very easily be understood if we look at it from business perspective. Self-help industry is there to make money. Nobody wants to pay for something way too obvious. So some level of complexity needs to be added - lets bring in the good vibes and the bad vibes. Preaching that the good you do will come back to you two fold and the bad you do will come back to you three-fold. Even if the theories happen to say something that actually makes sense, they talk about the bits and pieces, the things they think you should know. Almost never do they clearly state how they came to this conclusion.
Honestly, even the word self-help has been demoted by this type of theories. It didn't really use to be a bad thing. People read, people learn, afterwards feeling just a bit good about themselves, until they need to get back to the self-help materials. It's becoming addictive. It's like saying that if your head aches, take that drug; if your foot hurts, take another drug; and if you're out of breath go to your doctor's office and get some tests done. What they, the sayers, forgot to tell you, is that instead of watching hours of tv followed by computer games you could have gone for a walk or jogging, or out with your friends; what they forgot to tell you is that you shouldn't kick stones with your bear foot; what they forgot to tell you is that simple excercise could help you with your breath problems a lot.
It is hard to say if the reason for not talking about what should be talked about is the will to make more money continuously selling more and more self-help courses; or maybe they just don't know more than you do - they have successfully achieved the state of mind and state of being everyone would love to be in, but don't actually know why or how. They say you should take action - because they did it. Or they say there are strange unexplained vibes all around us and by influencing your mood, you influence the vibes next to you which results in these vibes influencing the vibes next to them - and by the end of the day, if you send out good vibes, all the vibes around you are good and success will follow. And this entire theory came to be just because someone was happy when he became successful. Or he made the story up to make some money. Who knows.
Being a fan, follower, believer of logics, this all doesn't work for me. In order for me to believe in something, I need to understand it. Now comes the guy with his light bulb theory or discussions about radio waves - we can't see it, most of us can't explain in in a simple manner. Heck, I'm not smart enough to say I know for sure someone actually does. Whether someone does or not doesn't really matter for the sake of my argument. There are things out there that most people (maybe in some cases all people) can not logically explain, but success definitely is not one of them. And yes, if you're reading this and you believe you became successful only because of some luck factor - I can't even dissagree. Heck if I know. Luck might have done it for you. Yet, in most cases, even luck is based on logics.
Take a moment to think about it for a second. Please, stop reading now! If you're still reading - don't! At least for a moment. Just think. I believe 95% of you didn't stop reading - that's the logics why most self-help book don't give you enough - you read, you consume, you feel better about yourself, but you don't really put your mind to it, and thus it ends up giving you just a temporary effect...until you need a new boost. Well, that...and the fact that most self-help books actually seem to have been built this way anyhow - to keep you on a short leach. The thing is that most self-help books don't lie. And they do contain useful information. Useful, yet not extremely helpful. Just to check - did you notice the NOT before the word extremely? Thought I'd make sure.
Difference between useful and helpful in my eyes, at least considering the current context, is that the information has the value of educating you, reminding you things you had forgotten. But it's not helpful because of the complexity of things. Pardon - not complexity but the overflow of information - page after page after page after page of examples, ideas, reminders, things you should know. I assume you know the result of this useful information already, don't you? Or actually 80% of you don't. But the answer is - it's just the type of information you end up forgetting again soon. Helpful information in my mind is just that one thing you need to remember in order to restore everything else in your mind yourself again.
Let's repeat that again -
USEFUL - everything you have just read before this line.
HELPFUL - the word "logics".
All the information you have read thus far in this article has been, well, we could call it background information, maybe some of it was even useful. But was it helpful? No. It might have been good to read it, you might have started thinking how right I am. Or that I should burn in hell. That's already up to you. But all I have really written so far have been words combined into sentences of which some have had some thoughts in them. If it was a book of fiction, why the hell not. But our current topic is just a bit different. Do you even remember what the initial topic was? And have you noticed I have really not said anything I said in the title yet? I'm starting to feel like a self-help coach.
Although I have intentionally repeated the world logics a few times, I haven't really said anything about it. I do however, hope, that some of you are starting to see what I'm trying to say. That is, except for the theory (well, fact, but I'm not smart enough to claim to be the only person talking truth in this world) that self-help industry doesn't really carry out its mission too well.
Lottery winnings
Getting dates
Finding business partners
Earning more money
Becoming a millionaire
Feeling happy
What's the common factor for all of them? I say logics. Some say this lucky son of bitch won a lottery again. Hmm, no I didn't, even though I wouldn't really mind winning it. Then again, I haven't bought a lottery for years either. Have you? Of course, winning a big prize from a national lottery - your chances are slim. But not impossible. And yes, in case of lottery, there is the luck factor as well...which actually is randomness. But in order to win, you need to play. That's the logics. And when did you buy the ticket? Okay, now you say he was lucky to buy the ticket at that right time from that right location. But what is the reason he did that? There are logics behind it. There was a specific reason he bought it from there - maybe it's close to his office?
All good, or bad for the matter, that happen to us in life, have some kind of logics behind them. Why can't I get any dates? Maybe you're an asshole - might that be true? It doesn't mean you're unlucky. Why can't you find business partners or new clients? Are you searching for them at all? Are you talking to people and let them know you're searching? Have you left a reputable impression of your business - do you have a great-looking website? Do you have it all but still things seem to go the wrong way? Do you like your job? If you don't, you might not be enthusiastic enough and end up leaving not so great impression of your business. There's always some kind of logics behind EVERYTHING.
Look at your life, look at your business, think what you like and what you don't. Then think what has caused the current situations. Base everything on simple logics and you'll know what you need to do differently or what you have done right in the past.
There's only one thing from this article you need to hard-burn into your brain and it's LOGICS. Everything is based on it. Think about it.... read more
Wednesday, October 7, 2009 / 05:04:04 What keeps you from success? Fear, greed and lack of disciplineThere are two types of fear when doing business. One is the general fear of trying to do something new. And no, it's not bs. Siim Einfeldt
Investors and day traders know what I am talking about. Fear and greed are two things that influence the market movements, they are two main forces behind the market. Fear that the stock prices go down and greed that makes you believe it goes up. Yes, that's extremely simplified explanation, but it really is all about fear and greed.
When doing business, these same factors influence you and your company, influence the results you are able to bring to the table for you and your shareholders. Not exactly the same way as in stock markets, but similarly.
Fear
There are two types of fear when doing business. One is the general fear of trying to do something new. And no, it's not BS. I know none of us wants to admit we are afraid of anything. None of us wants to admit (especially to ourselves) that we are way too conservative just for the sake of being conservative. We are afraid of trying out new solutions, solutions that might take us to our new highs. We are afraid to try these new things. What if it won't work? What will happen then? People like the good old thing they have got used to. We really do. Even if the old thing is to try out new things all the time - for that person the fear would mean being afraid of settling down.
You don't want that fear. Of course, very often it really is not a good idea to go along with anything new, no. But make sure you make the decision of not doing anything new not because of the fear inside you.
The second type of fear is actually succeeding. Sounds kind of stupid, doesn't it? It sure does. Yet all of us tend to feel this type of fear at one moment of our life or another. If you don't believe me, just think about it for a moment. If something really good would happen to you tomorrow, would you be ready for it? Yes, most of us think we are, but aren't we often saying no to things for the simple reason that they might actually work? And then it would start to influence our current well-being? Maybe not the best example, but think about it.
Or what would your parents feel if suddenly you earned 100 times more than they did? Do you think they'd feel somewhat badly because they haven't achieved as much and start feeling bad about it? Or what about your friends - would you be able to handle all the loan requests from your friends? Are you afraid that achieving something big, especially where's money involved, will ruin or simply change your relationships with them?
These are all actually understandable fears. Yet, when you start thinking about it - are they really anything else than just worrying about nothing? And that worrying keeps you from succeeding. Because due to the worry you aren't doing your best.
Greed
Look at the current financial crises (that is fortunately just coming to an end) - what was it caused by? Hugely, it was caused by greed by banks all around the world.
Greed in business makes you do things differently. Instead of looking at the big picture - like you, your partners, nice long-term income - you look at the short term gains. What if I sold my business now? I'd get a lot of money. And then you sold it. Afterward you start to understand that if you hadn't sold your business, you'd be making 3 times of the sales price within a year. It's understandable, money in the pocket is money in the pocket, but by always looking at the small picture with greed in your wide blue eyes, you'll never make it big time. You never get far enough before you manage to sell yourself again.
Greed - not a good thing.
Lack of discipline
Discipline, the way I define it - is the ability to stick to your own plan. It's similar to decisiveness. Yet not the same. You need to BE ABLE to stick to your own plan. That's the keyword here. Being able to do what you set up to do. Many people lack discipline. And lack of discipline results in random action, often random thoughts, and decisions based on no actual plan.
You're probably assuming now that I'm that discipline freak you can find in movies everywhere. No, actually I'm not. How do you think anyone could write about things like fear and greed and lack of discipline without actually experiencing these three things himself? I know exactly what I am talking about. And I can tell you one more thing - talking about it is a lot easier than actually acting on the knowledge. It's not an easy task, keep that in mind. And you might lose track dozens of times.
But even the fact that you're trying dozens of times to keep discipline, stay away from greed and forget about fear, the simple fact of trying to do that again and again, shows you already do have some discipline. Discipline, fear and greed can be managed. You can learn to do it. And then become more successful in business, in life, than you've ever been. It's all possible. No strange brainwaves, no secrets, no help from the higher power, just plain old you doing what you should have done already a long time ago.
If your thinking is sloppy, your business will be sloppy. If you are disorganized, your business will be disorganized. If you are greedy, your employees will be greedy, giving you less and less of themselves and always asking for more." Michael Gerber... read more
Monday, October 5, 2009 / 02:50:33 Planning is nice but insufficientWe are living in an age where there are more business planners than "business doers" Siim Einfeldt
Business planning is important in order for a business to survive and grow. But we are living in an age where there are more business planners than "business doers". We make a great plan on how to do our business, we stick to the plan couple of days and then everything goes the same way it used to.
Couple of weeks later we make a new plan based on new ideas and we work on it for couple of days and...there we go again in couple of weeks.
Business planning has no real value if there's no persistence. I'm not saying we shouldn't plan or that we shouldn't plan ahead for too long - I'm saying that IF you make a plan then stick to it.
If you are one of those people who like to plan things and then end up coming up with a new plan soon...or just don't have the persistence to stick to your plan then it really has no value. You could have rather kept working the way you did before you created the plan and you could have brought more success to your business.
Like I said - planning is important, but without the persistence to follow your plan, creating the plan itself is simply insufficient. We all know that, yes, but seldom do we act based on the knowledge.... read more
Monday, September 14, 2009 / 09:49:56 Keep trying - and one day you'll succeedDon't quit Siim Einfeldt
The rough numbers are that 70% of new businesses end their existence within the first three years. And only a small number of the rest of them actually start doing good. The numbers aren't really promising, are they? And after a while of doing something without much success, we often want to quit.
Yes, sometimes it really is a good idea and quit doing what you're doing in order to give preference to new things, things with more potential. But if you are working with something you are enthusiastic about, but just haven't been able to succeed with it yet - just keep trying.
But while you "keep trying", don't forget to pay attention to the things you do. Remember what didn't work. And then try the same thing, but differently; or try doing something totally different in order to get your business out there. If nothing what you do works, then eventually, you are bound to find something that does.
It's all easier said than done, I'm aware of it. But if you don't even try...well, we all know the results in this case. Only by doing nothing or in case of quitting can you be sure of the results...which of course is a failure.... read more
Monday, July 6, 2009 / 07:16:12 Forget multitasking, stick to one main thingWe all like to work on different things at the same time, but is it really such a good idea? Siim Einfeldt
Multitasking can be a very good asset if you know how to do it right. But isn't it better to just stick to doing one main thing?
Independent of how we perceive or what exact definition we give to multitasking, it's still all the same. According to the most recognized definition, "multitasking is the performance by an individual of appearing to handle more than one task at the same time."
What I mean about multitasking is what was just brought out PLUS working on different tasks during the day. Tasks like writing, designing, managing people, programming, promoting. And all of it within the same day. All by yourself. As a small business owner this probably sounds like a familiar situation to you.
I have found from my own experience that while in certain situations or days, even years, you do need to be able to multitask (independent of the exact definition) but if possible, don't.
I like variety, I like working with different things. I like the option that when I get tired of doing one thing, I can switch to another. Or I like to do multiple things at a time, especially if one of them is boring.
But I have found that if you're working with so many different things, whether at the same time or within the same day/week/month, you often end up not doing any of the things too well, you end up being unable to give your 100% to any of those tasks. Some things you can mix with each other, some things you can't. In my case, mixing programming with more creative things such as writing or promoting isn't a good idea.
Human brain works similar to your computer in some ways. If you open up a lot of programs at the same time, switch between them and do it all day long, your computer starts to work slower, especially if some of the software you have opened are more resource extensive. Or if one day it's okay, then if you don't close your computer for the night, some of the programs start to work slower the next day. And that's exactly how we function - even if we manage it for a while, we tend to start putting more of our time and effort into some things while we leave other things unintended. And the results start to suffer in that area.
Couple of weeks ago I decided I will put off programming and design part of my job and rather concentrate more on the creative part of my job. And so far, I'm rather happy with the results.
Whether you want to multitask or not, it's your decision of course, but you should think about it. Which way are you more productive?
PS: Yes, I am a man and there's a little joke about men and multitasking. Basically it says that hands-free for mobiles was invented because men can't do two things at a time - drive a car and hold their mobiles but...isn't that true in case of all people? If they talk and drive at the same time, they can only put 100% of their attention into one of them or 50% into each...thus already lowering the quality of their driving or quality of their thoughts while speaking.... read more
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