An Act of Kindness – keeps giving – for both receiver and giver!

September 1, 2013September 1, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 42 Comments

This is from my own ‘yesterdays’ of life but even though it happened a while ago the memory is indelibly printed in my mind. Each time I recall this day, I’m reminded why small acts of kindness are so important.

This experience happened while I was operating a small marketing firm in downtown Portland, Oregon. While trying to secure an appointment with an editor for a busy city newspaper, the lines to his office phone kept staying busy. Every 5 minutes or so the receptionist would come on the phone line and apologize for the delay.

Although I could hear in the background that she was extremely busy herself, her voice was polite and sincere. At one point, while she was asking me to wait on “hold” just a little bit longer, I heard her speaking to several people, at once, there in the reception room, she was clearly having a very hectic and difficult day.

Still, each time she spoke with me on the phone, she stayed polite, friendly and interactive. I finally said to her. “A hard day today?” And she told me it was one of the worst she’d ever had regarding situations to handle. I was greatly impressed that she did not let her bad day interfere with her ability to give great service. Eventually I did get to speak with the editor and an appointment was set for the next day.

The next morning as I prepared to go to the meeting I kept recalling the excellent demeanor of the receptionist, I wanted to thank her and acknowledge her “good job”. I stopped at a florist’s shop and bought a single rose. When I arrived at the newspaper’s offices, it only took a few minutes, once in the lobby to locate the receptionist. She was the busy person handling a variety of people standing by her desk while holding the phone to her ear.

I waited my turn then introduced myself to her mentioning my appointment with the editor. She checked a list on her desk and I could see she recalled our brief ‘back and forth’ phone interactions. In a friendly voice she gave me directions to his office.

I handed her the single red rose bud and thanked her for her courtesy on the phone. She looked up at me, tears flooding her eyes and the cool, calm demeanor vanished. With the tears rolling down her face I was rewarded with one of the largest and most sincere smiles I had ever seen. She thanked me profusely, and said “That was such a long hard day for me, thank you for thinking of me. I now have this rose to recall when I think about yesterday.”

I was personally overcome. I had just wanted to do a thoughtful gesture of kindness. To me “a little thing”, but for her, something that made her sit up straighter, feel much better about herself and the job she was doing … just because … Someone was thinking of her, appreciating her and letting her know!”

As I headed down the hall towards my appointment, my own heart felt lighter and my steps more carefree. I nailed the interview with the editor and my piece was published.

I’ve never forgotten the expression on her face or that day. An act of kindness does keep giving … for both the receiver and the giver!

Have an excellent day, thank you for stopping by,

~ Penny

Are YOU an Innovator?

August 14, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 11 Comments

The Passion of an Innovator!

Are you an Innovator, just hovering inside a niche waiting to move into the mainstream by making a sizeable impact? Do stylistic explorations of “newness – being different from” define your idea or thought, (your personal creativity) going forward?

Understanding why this happens is not easy. Do you need to be “special?” A “genius?” No I think not! Do you need to be a superior marketer of your work? I don’t believe so, many artisans (of all shapes and sizes, crafters and creators) shy away from promotion even while being aware of its need.

What makes one brilliant “idea or creation” wildly successful, and another ignored? Look beyond the individual, however gifted, and beyond even the idea itself. Just as a painting is encompassed within its frame, innovators always operate in a market of some kind, and the success or failure of their idea is invariably contingent on its individual peculiarities.

First, the nature of the consumer is constantly evolving: Young, elderly, middle class, wealthy or not, local, national or global in its focus.

Second, new channels of distribution keep expanding and for each – a new breed of marketers emerges as well. These young, hungry and ambitious marketers are competing to find the next new thing first and sell it at the most compelling price possible.

In short, although I’m sure you’ve noticed, the Internet is a breeding ground for and very receptive to the commercial possibilities of risk-taking. Innovation appears to be extremely economically viable. Breaking with the past seems now demanded. This is the environment where an innovator will make his or her leap into the unknown.

Having an exceptional idea isn’t enough: if it is to catch fire, the market conditions have to be right – a question of luck and timing! The closest analogy is Silicon Valley in the early days of the dotcom boom, when venture capitalists and entrepreneurs were “out there” in the cutting edge of tomorrow.

Jeff Bezos success of Amazon was the product of a unique set of converging economic, technological and cultural circumstances, although with his passion for success he would have made it in any era. Steve Jobs, another who was passionate with his ideas, was “sure” of his innovative design at a time when everyday design was already becoming more important to consumers.

With the innovator, their talents have to be perfectly suited to the movement of the market. In a world that increasingly rewards experimentation – at a time when it’s cool to bend the rules of artistic endeavor – the level of the passion of the innovator seems to be the one key ingredient in all of them.

Stating this in another way; for your innovation to succeed YOU must still reach out and seize the moment.

Are you an innovator?

~ Penny L Howe

Marketing – the copyright of things

June 30, 2013June 30, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 28 Comments

Yes, I still need to post part II of promoting (I haven’t forgotten that many of you want to increase your viewership, and get yourself or your work “out there” in the public eye), but today my topic is the copyright. What it is and isn’t.

Each day on the internet, many trillions of pieces of data (of all kinds, in all formats) are circulating everywhere (worldwide) online. Protecting your creations has become highly interesting.

A few of the larger advertising agencies have no problem with “borrowing” creative works from individuals who have posted on facebook, or other multimedia entites.

And they’re the big boys. Many many private individuals are doing the same thing.

So can you really effectively “protect” your work? Well yes, if you have as much clout and money as the big companies do – no worries. Otherwise develop an understanding about the original work you display online, beginning with understanding what the word copyright means and what it really does.

COPYRIGHT: The meaning – The legal rights (protection), given to an individual/group/entity of original works of art or intellectual property (such as written words, music, lyrics, audio visual, audible, photography, and many other types of creations) belonging to the originator or designated owner.

So here’s the skinny: Your original work is copyrighted the second you hit the publish button for your blog or website. When the public views your work (artistry, literary, musical, or pictorial expression) it’s already been dated and copyrighted (this is understood by the law of most countries).

Stating this in another way, In the United States (and in most other countries), creative original work is automatically the copyrighted property of their creators, once completed in tangible form for the first time, without doing anything else.

The copyright symbol online is a symbolic gesture indicating to the viewer that you “own” the rights to your creations. In the case of large companies, the symbol also means you can safely assume they have lawyers standing nearby to enforce those rights.

Many people still choose to file an application and pay the fee (modest) to register work with the copyright office as added protection in case of legal disputes. But here’s the thing. As previous mentioned, if there is a legal dispute (because someone has “stolen” your original work), you will still need to hire legal representation. To sue for damages, etc.

There are several government agencies in the United States and most other countries, where you can report “stolen” creative property. And they will investigate and help to enforce copyright violations.

It is not hard to prove your original work is yours, because it’s dated and viewed publicly. If you’ve put a lot of time and money into something creative, then you should have already hired an attorney to attend to the legal details to protect your property.

In summation: Today, online, there are those people who have trouble distinguishing between “borrowing” something to put on their blog or website and “stealing” someone’s creative property.

Bottom line, it’s probably going to happen to you. That’s the understanding I’m speaking of. No one (I’ll repeat this) No one is immune from this happening to them.

With the advent of the cyberworld – who owns what, online, can get very murky. Understand this too.

Your creative property has copyright protection, but this does not mean it will not get stolen. You’re the one that decides what you want to expose to the public and what you don’t.

If you have any further questions regarding copyright laws. There is a ton of “free information” online (google it), and through government agencies.

Good luck, keep creating and understand that you are unique, if someone copies your style or an idea (you cannot copyright those things) remember that being copied is the greatest form of flattery you can have, So keep being the original you that you are!

~ Penny

Marketing (online)!

June 12, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 18 Comments

Before there were websites, before there where buildings where people sold “goods” there were open air Markets. There still are too. An open air market is a place where people come to buy needed or desired items. “Vendors” (Those with a product or service to sell.) would set up their area, (booth, specific location) arrange their products, and wait for customers to arrive.

That’s the hard part. In the marketplace, potential customers (foot traffic) will show up. Online (your website) you have to go get them, convince them to show up, encourage them to buy your product or service and then, make it happen (the Sale, of course)!

As people walk by an open market, Many vendors “hawk their wares” that is to say, they yell out or do something to attract the attention of the people walking by. Their purpose is to draw individuals over to them, so they can do their best to sell their products.

The word “hawking” can be used metaphorically today to describe people or businesses who aggressively promote anything for sale. Notice the words “aggressively promote”. For many (writers, artists, etc) being aggressive takes you out of your comfort area. But unless you are very aggressive with the presentation of your product/service to creative an awareness (branding) and then remember to ask for the sale, it isn’t going to happen! So before you try to sell anything, it is a very good thing to understand the nature of the “art of selling”.

Know who is most likely to be interested in buying what you have to sell. (your potential customers) and focus (target market) on them.
You don’t need to know fancy or special terminology to understand marketing. Follow the wisdom of the successful “Vendors” in the outdoor markets.
Have a specific area where people can come to view that which you’re offering for sale.
If you don’t have a naturally ability to be “out there” (promote) so people notice you and your products/services, hire someone else to do that, and or have a hook (an original angle that attracts people to your location). Multi-media leads the way for getting the word out in the online world. And there are numerous online locations to “hawk your wares”, so take you time in deciding what combination of these communication connections will be of greatest value to you.
Create an online identity with yourself and/or your product (branding) that people will come to recognize. It isn’t as difficult as it sounds. Stay tuned for my next marketing post!
Have a “hook”. A clever angle that draws the customer to you. (yes I know I already said this, but it bears repeating to you artistic types).
Understand and know you need great passion believing in yourself and your product (every day). This passion will give you the much needed ‘will power’ to be aggressive (not an “in your face” aggression – but a persistence of purpose or attitude to sell). There are many unsuccessful people with great talent. The two greatest assets for selling your product or service is persistence and determination.

In my next Marketing Basics post I’ll discuss the Art of Promotion (yourself and your product) – getting the word out there!

Thank you,

~ Penny

The Entrepreneurial Spirit – Key to success!

April 6, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 13 Comments

A while ago I wrote a piece about being an entrepreneur. Today I’d like to include the most important ingredient for (successfully) owning your own business. But first ,,,

The meaning of an entrepreneur:

entrepreneur: One who owns (or is in the process of owning/operating) a business enterprise – selling a product or service (always with an accompanying degree of risk!).

While the meaning above is certainly true, there is a bigger truth!

An important part of being an entrepreneur is about having an ‘entrepreneurial spirit’! In too many cases this turns out to be the determining factor as to whether or not a business venture makes it or fails.

What is an entrepreneurial spirit? It’s a feeling, a driving ambition, a burning desire to be successful. In a word – The passion of the thing!

Without a doubt passion is the motivation that often makes the telling difference.

In the course of my marketing career I’ve met a handful of highly successful entrepreneurs.

Without exception the one thing they all shared was this huge desire to make it happen. A ‘never give up’ attitude. An understanding that there will always be “financial risks” involved, but the desire to have a successful enterprise is greater than the fear of taking the risk.

So the key word in this article today is PASSION!

If your strongest desire is to become an entrepreneur and you are committed to making that happen – then you are one. If you are determined to be successful in your enterprise (regardless of obstacles) you are an entrepreneur.

And if you’re willing to learn well and apply what you need to know, while you never stop working towards your dream, then YOU are not only an entrepreneur but you have an excellent chance of becoming a successful one!

Just remember, it’s the passion of it all! That’s the stuff successful dreams are made of!

Good luck on your venture, thanks for stopping by,

~ Penny

The Female Entrepreneur – growing the seed of an idea!

March 26, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 38 Comments

I’ve had several careers in my life. Life experiences tended to change the direction I was going a few times. As I was also a single mom raising children during these changes, life was – well never dull! One of the businesses I owned was a marketing firm.

Today I’d like to talk to the women out there who dream of, or are getting ready to, or who have started a business that is relatively new. If you’ve been in business for awhile then I’m guessing you’ve weathered many of the business storms that can come your way and have a handle on most things by now.

But for those of you who are new to the game I’d like to, encourage and perhaps give you a few things to think on!

When I began to give marketing workshops for people who were small business owners, I discovered many of them lacked a couple of essential pieces of information about running a business. Perhaps the following words will be something for you to consider as you venture forth into the wide world of business:

A Business, A Tree – A Comparison

There is a tree standing alone. The tree is mighty. It is clearly one of the biggest and strongest trees in the area. Its branches are many and fully extended and developed. The leaves are a vivid green and well secured to the multitude of far reaching branches.

The peak of this magnitude reaches high into the sky.

Each year this tree produces bountiful fruit. Better and more plentiful than the year before. It knows when to produce the fruit; and when it is ripe for harvest it yields the fruit to the harvesters.

The climate and other environmental conditions alert the tree as to the nature of the activities it needs to be involved with all the year round.

The tree has survived because it is equipped with the understanding necessary for its survival.

Now picture the tree as a seed, recently planted, bearing no fruit. Picture yourself as a gardener. Because you want the tree to grow strong and healthy you plant the seed in rich soil.

However, before planting the seed you learned about all the conditions in the environment that could affect the seed during its early stages of growth. Next you found the best location suited for your tree.

As the tree grew you monitored your tree closely – fertilizing, weeding, watering – nurturing it carefully.

Year by year it grew but bore no fruit. This was a slow process but necessary to insure the proper growth and structure of the tree itself. The foundation was important. To survive, it would need to be well rooted.

As the tree continued its growth you pruned and cut back unwanted branches and buds as necessary so that the remaining buds could receive enough essential nourishment that would in turn produce rich fruit.

When harvest time finally came you knew the fruit was ready.

With each step, beginning from the seed, to planting, nourishment, protection, and growth, you took the necessary time, energy and required learning to further insure the successful growth of your tree.

All this accomplished before your tree would produce and bear healthy fruit.

The Seed of Your Idea

A business can be compared to this tree. Your product or service can be compared to the fruit. And most important your idea (for your business) can be compared to the seed.

As with the tree you must be familiar with the environment (market research) and all the other factors (business plan) that will influence the success or failure of your business idea. Where necessary you should learn what is needed so that you will be able to accomplish the necessary tasks.

The beginning of a business (like a tree) needs to go through all the required steps before the eventual product or service (fruit) can be successfully produced and sold.

REMEMBER:

the seed – an idea

is but the potential

a place to begin

A strong and healthy, fruitful business is the successfully reality of growing and nurturing the seed of your idea -with many steps in between! So with this comparison in mind, go back and reread from the beginning.

I hope you enjoyed this piece on owning a business. I encourage all women who want to become an entrepreneur to go for it! There has never been a better time than now. If any of you have a particular subject they’d like to know more about regarding marketing, let me know. I would be happy to post an article about it.

thank you,

~ Penny