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Jan 14 2016 
LOOK at One Word Answer Friday – Business Efficiency
It’s a busy time for LOOK as we enter 2016. We are assisting with PR and event leveraging at North America’s largest boat shows, planning some big event marketing and big time visual merchandising projects and immersing our newest spark plug and social media specialist, Carmen Natschke into our world. There is a lot going on and everything we can do to be more efficient is appreciated.
During the New York Boat Show we were passing time by talking to some sales managers and they were explaining their boss’, “one word answer Friday,” policy.
Avi Laub is a regional sales director for BRP in the North East and has a rule for his team who send him e-mails or texts on a Friday. They can only send a question that can be answered in one word – yes, no, or maybe. “I don’t want to dick around on a Friday,” Avi exclaims. “This forces people to think through their question at a deeper level, forcing them to be more clear and concise. Or ideally they figure out the answer before they ask the question.”
Avi concludes, “If I can’t answer with Yes, No, or Maybe, they need to go back and rethink their question…on Monday.”
We like the idea and the result even more. It’s the simple second grade, “do you like me” note strategy. But lets not save this policy for Fridays only. It’s kind of like the wasted, “Weekends are made for Michelob,” campaign, isn’t it good enough for everyday of the week? Think things through and this is very relevant for your branding and communications. Avoid throwing stuff at a wall and hoping it sticks. Think your strategies through, integrate efforts and use logical tactics to make true progress.
#onewordanswer #BESEEN
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Dec 03 2015 
Go Ahead, Be Scared, It’s Part of Growing Your Business
It’s scary. It’s such an uncomfortable situation.
Growing a business, buying a building, taking your driving test, going on a first date…they all involve a heightened level of emotions, all of them. At some point, at some level, one of those emotions is fear – being scared – and thinking about the possible negative outcomes of a decision or action. Being scared of failure.
Being scared is normal. It’s good to realize fear yet if you give it too much space it can paralyze you…or your business. The manner in which you react to being scared is what separates you from growing and progressing or stagnating and becoming obscure. You can sit back and watch the action from a Space Coast park bench, safe from everybody or jump into the middle of the action where you can see, smell, touch and feel everything and everybody can see, smell, touch and feel you (and your brand).
Two clichés come to mind when talking about playing it safe or pushing forward.
“The best things in life happen outside of your comfort zone.”
Scared of having a baby? Scared of buying your first house? Scared of jumping from the high board? Scared to swing at a curveball? Sure, but once you get past the fear and do it, it’s great. You just did something and controlled the outcome.
Take this to business. Are you scared of quitting your job to go to a new job? Scared of changing vendors? Scared of new technology? Scared of going on your own? Scared of new processes? Advertising more? New markets? Expanding? Firing? Hiring? These are all things that are scary to some level but necessary for growth. You can obviously lower the fear level with education and preparation but there is still that sense of fear that raises your heart rate when it’s time to make the final call. Or you can go the other route and do nothing and wait for something to happen.
This brings us to our second favorite cliché. We love this one as it comes from the brilliance of legendary college football coach Lou Holtz. Coach Holtz was one of the greatest pep talk speakers of all time in the locker room and now a mega popular motivational speaker in business world.
“Your business is like a tree, it’s either growing or dying,”explains Holtz. It really is that simple. Bottom line is you can’t do nothing.
It’s okay to be scared. Look at the situation, put your business in the best position to succeed and charge on. No matter what do something, the discomfort will pass and the bliss of success will take its place.
#BESEEN.
