Movie Magic

Like many of you I suspect, I watched with at least a fair amount of interest the Academy Awards a couple of weeks ago.  It seems to me that next to the Super Bowl the Academy Awards Show has become the most popular television event in our country.  Heck, my wife even decided to throw an Academy Awards watching party at our house that evening.  The only thing difference between it and our Super Bowl watching party is I didn't need to spend an hour on the treadmill the morning after working off all of the "tailgate" food from the football game.

It got me thinking, why has this event become so popular?  It wasn't always this way, at least not that I remember.  Sure, I think media hype has vaulted all kinds of things in to our consciousness that weren't there before but this is different.  Like the Super Bowl, every television, radio, newspaper and Internet site was abuzz the morning after discussing the results of the Awards.  How did the movies become so popular?  From what I have read, box office receipts are not increasing by any great stretch.  There must be something(s) else in place that has made it a must watch event. 

Not only has the show itself become an enigma but now the stars arriving on the red carpet was televised for an hour and a half before the awards ever started.  Just like we watch the Super Bowl to see who has the best commercials, we're now watching to see which star has the most awesome dress, the most beautiful shoes and whose hair looked amazing.  While it would be easy to be critical and write this off as a nonsensical event, it's getting hard to ignore.  Are there some lessons we can learn from the movie industry?  At least a few I can think of....

First, some of the attraction must be the ability to see Hollywood stars out of their normal element.  To see them as real people with families, hopes, dreams.  Just like us.  In today's world of IM, email, texting and reduced spending for marketing our customers and constituents need to see us and need to see us be real.  Meet with them, talk with them and find out what's happening with them.  In short, be approachable and be helpful.

Also, be unpredictable and spontaneous.  Oh, if only we could get all of our prospects and customers to pay attention to us.  How many times have you lamented your inability to reach a customer or prospect.  Be different, get noticed.  Like Seth McFarlane you may fall on your face every now and then but you won't be boring. 

Finally, be passionate.  There is no substitute for hard work.  it's easy to look at successful people and think they have it made but when you listen to their stories you realize how hard they had to work and how much they had to risk to get where they are.  They outworked and out husteld the other person to become a household name.  Are you thinking about leaving a mark or just admiring others who have?

I don't go to the movies often and I certainly don't always agree with the messages and causes that some in Hollywood portray.  But like everything else in life there is diamonds to be mined from observing Hollywood.  They give us the stars and it's up to us to make the magic. 

Never Say Never

I just returned from yet another trade show.  Last week I was in Las Vegas.  My show season is about finished and I am reflecting on all the good things that have happened over the past few weeks.  I am extremely grateful to work in an industry that is very close nit and supportive, even amongst competitors.  There is no substitute for going to industry trade shows and renewing old friendships and acquaintances.  It makes all the hard work in between pay off.

Like many other industries, our industry has consolidated tremendously over the last several years.  Meaning that there are too many suppliers trying to sell to too few customers.  Translation: competition is fierce and without a clear point of difference and competitive advantage over any number of similar companies I am toast.  It's enough to keep me up at night and focusing on continuously improving my products and services!

In order to do this I've had to break a lot of old models that frankly were the backbone of my business for many (profitable) years.  What worked three years ago, heck last year, well, actually, last month doesn't necessarily work today.  Sound familiar?

If so, I have a couple of thoughts and suggestions.  If you're still trying to operate under the tried and true model of years gone by you are getting passed by quickly.  What worked before has been forever changed by technology, market efficiencies and consumer behavior.  I would almost guarantee you the way customers evaluate and buy your products has changed drastically.  The question is have you changed how you produce, market and sell to keep up with customer's desires?

If your web site doesn't rock your customer's and prospect's socks off then I suggest you do what I've done and get an all hands on deck meeting together to make it so.  Quickly.  I am convinced that a correctly designed and executed website is the most important sales and marketing tool that any of us have.  It IS the way customers shop today. 

The other thing that might make you a little uneasy is you may have to look to some of your competitors or customers as potential business partners.  As I mentioned, my industry is pretty close nit and there aren't a lot of secrets so the other way to mix things up is to collaborate and contribute alongside people that you have always considered unable or incapable of helping you.  It is truly important who you know but I believe it is becoming increasingly important to focus on what you know and who can help you learn and make things happen.

This makes for some uncomfortable decisions and ideas.  The only thing that makes less sense is status quo.  If you're not in the habit of challenging it then I suggest you find a way to stop living in the past and be willing to take necessary calculated risks to impact your future.  If you're my competitor, never mind.  I'm sure you're doing just fine.