The 2011 definition of a craftperson....?

There's always been a bright line around the craftsperson, someone who takes real care and produces work for the ages. Everyone else might be a hack, or a factory guy or a suit or a drone, but a craftsperson was someone we could respect.

A craftsman might be a blacksmith or a carpenter, a visual artist or even a dedicated teacher. Someone to look up to.

Perhaps we're entering a new age of craftsmanship, one where we can see craft in the way a new business is devised, a sale is made or a website is coded. A craftsperson might be particularly talented and connected in the way she deals with clients, or be able to meet deadlines with alacrity.

We're curious how many business owners or marketing directors in 2011,  take the time to treat their image and interactions with clients as an opportunity to create craftsmanship?

Maybe we should be trying to do better, not just more.

Just a thought.

Chris Revis
 
Thanks to Seth Godin for his continued inspiration!

“I can’t die, it would ruin my image.”

I wanted to share this story as it truly resonated with me...CR


Eight Lessons from the life and work of Jack LaLanne -- From Seth Godin

He bootstrapped himself. A scrawny little kid at 15, he decided to change who he was and how he was perceived, and then he did. The deciding was as important as the doing.

He went to the edges. He didn't merely open a small gym, a more pleasant version of a boxing gym, for instance. Instead, he created the entire idea of a health club, including the juice bar. He did this 70 years ago.

He started small. No venture money, no big media partners.
He understood the power of the media. If it weren't for TV, we never would have heard of Jack. Jack used access to the media to earn trust and to teach. And most of what Jack had to offer he offered for free. He understood the value of attention.

He was willing to avoid prime time. Jack never had a variety show on CBS. He was able to change the culture from the fringes of TV.

He owned the rights. 3,000 shows worth.

He stuck with the brand. He didn't worry about it getting stale or having to reinvent it into something fresh. Jack stood for something, which is rare, and he was smart enough to keep standing for it.
Jack lived the story. He followed his own regimen, even when no one was watching. In is words, “I can’t die, it would ruin my image.”

He died last week at 96. I don't think he has to worry about ruining his image, though.

Starting a business in today's economy? Are you crazy?

Some people believe that if you have a good job, you shouldn't start your own gig, because it's foolish to give up a job you can't easily replace.

And some people believe that if you don't have a great job, it's foolish to waste time (and the money you can ill afford to lose) starting something when you'd be a lot better off getting a great job or going to school until you do.

And both groups are missing the point.

The people who successfully start independent businesses, do it because we have no real choice in the matter. The voice in our heads won't shut up until we discover if we're right, if we can do it, if we can make something happen. This is an art, our art, and to leave it bottled up is a crime

What is your excuse?

There are more good ideas, right here, right now, for free, than ever before. More opportunities to connect and lead and make a difference and an impact and a living.

Fewer guarantees, sure, but more ideas.


 
It's your choice about whether or not you do anything with them, but please don't tell me you don't have any good ideas.

Stop making excuses and start making a difference. If you don't, who will?

Don't believe the hype......your vote does count.

This year, fewer than 40% of voting age Americans will actually vote.

That means that less than half of you reading this decide to not go flex your right to be "We the People".
 

If you don't vote because you're trying to teach politicians a lesson, you're tragically misguided in your strategy. The very politicians you're trying to send a message to don't want you to vote. Since 1960, voting turnouts in mid-term elections are down significantly, and there's one reason: because of TV advertising.

Political TV advertising is designed to do only one thing: suppress the turnout of the opponent's supporters. If the TV ads can turn you off enough not to vote ("they're all bums") then their strategy has succeeded.

The astonishing thing is that voters haven't figured this out. As the scumminess and nastiness of campaigning and governing has escalated and the flakiness of candidates appears to have escalated as well, we've largely abdicated the high ground and permitted selfish partisans on both sides to hijack the system.

Voting is free. It's fairly fast. It doesn't make you responsible for the outcome, but it sure has an impact on what we have to live with going forward. 

Even if you're disgusted, vote. Vote for your least favorite choice. But go vote.

Are you afraid of special requests?

Is your business organized for efficiency or something else?

If you fear special requests, if you staff with cogs, if you have to put it all in a manual, then the chances of amazing someone are really quite low.

These organizations have people who will try to patch problems over after the fact, instead of motivated people eager to delight on the spot.

The alternative, it seems, is to organize for joy.

These companies give their people the freedom (and yes, the expectation) that they will create, connect and surprise. These are the organizations that embrace someone who makes a difference, as opposed to searching for a clause in the employee handbook that was violated.

Wouldn't you rather be in the "joy" business?

Thanks to Seth Godin for his amazing outlook on today's business landscape.

Learning from lost sales.....

It's extremely difficult to figure out why people walk out of your store,
throw out your brochure, leave your site... but in fact, this is a great
opportunity for dramatically increasing sales.

"Is your brochure ending up here?"

You won't find what's broken if you don't look.
Ready to start looking?