The 7 step process to guaranteed success.....or How to Fail your way to Success!

This is the first in a step by step series of articles on how to Fail Your Way to Success...

Step 1

Selling 101( or the art of selling custom made ceramics)

Age 9 - went into my mothers ceramics room and took 24 pieces she made and placed them on my wagon pulling it around the neighborhood, thinking I was going to knock on doors and sell them for $2 each.

Action Taken - of the 11 homes I went to, the first 4 I did not go to the door(I was to scared), at the next group of houses, I knocked on the doors and 3 were not home(what a relief) on the next 2 they smiled and said thank you but no thank you. At the 10th home not only was the lady in the house, she smiled at me(and not close the door) but she asked me to present my wares...here is what I remember telling her...
Umm...I have these statues...you can buy them for ...ummm 50 cents each....(she then bought 5 of them)..bolstered by the air of success I went to the next house, knocked on the door..the lady came to the door and after my very very good presentation...

"I have these beautiful statues for sale for only .25 each..yes ma'am I made all of them...no ma'am they aren't stolen...I made them myself(all 19 pieces left)" she asked me to hold on and then went to the phone and called my house (she was in my mom's ceramic class).

Results - Sales of 5 units for a total of $2.50
COG(Cost of Goods) 2 weeks restriction and a spanking
Profit - negative profit as manufacturing and marketing cost surpassed Sales

Lesson 1 of selling 101 -
Know Your Product, Know Your Target Customer, Know the Cost of Sales
and finally make sure that you NEVER ..EVER...steal from your mothers ceramic cabinet....


Next Article - How to sell in the very lucrative Publishing Industry....



Bonus: So I like to cook a lot and I like to pass along some miniscule experience on my cooking..here is one little bit of fun:

Cooking Da Peeg Island style -

So you want to have a taste of Hawaii but live in Medicine Hat, Montana and you find it a little hard to grab the kids and drive to the islanders local favorite restaurant in the North Shore? Well you can try this Pork BBQ to either feed a few family members or the whole Ranch.

Kalua Pig
- this is similar but different from your North Carolinian BBQ(mine is moister). You do start with the Butt of a Pig...NOT THE SHOULDER....about 10 -15 lbs, take the Butt and cut it into pieces about 2 by 4 inches and lay it in a pan that is about 3-4 inches deep(like a turkey roaster pan)

Take kosher salt and shake it generously all over the meat(pork is very forgiving). You can take garlic powder(I prefer fresh chopped garlic) and spread about 1/3 cup over the meat. Get liquid smoke and place about 1/4 cup over the meat.

Poor into the pan about 2 1/2 inches of water. cover the pan TIGHTLY with foil. Place in the oven at 325 degrees for approx 4-5 hours. You can test it by opening the foil and with a fork see if the meat falls apart. (also if you have a party that is later in the day...you simply turn the temp down to 200 degrees and let it continue to cook...this will easily stay moist for 5 more hours at that temp(just make sure there is at least a little liquid in the pan)

When ready to serve take two forks and shred all the meat mixing it in with the liquids. You can serve this with a spicy BBQ sauce of your making or off the shelf on top of a bun with slaw on the side or on top of the sandwich, or serve it with baked beans, corn on the cob...or if you want it island style..you make sticky rice, mac salad and island slaw(let me know if you want the recipes for these)

Aloha Ya'all

11 teen thoughts on whats in a name(I mean Brand)!

This is for those that are starting a business or in a business that is not doing well and for those that think they already have a successful business and know it all. In all cases there is a good chance that you do not have the 11 teen thoughts on why you Brand-Brand-Brand.

1.) You walk through life with a label that was posted on your forehead by your parents. It has helped to shape you and from the day you are born (to most likely) to the day you die, your name is attached to all you have done(of course unless you changed your name).

2.) Like your name a Brand is not just an identifier but a promise to your customers. It is what you stand for. It is the perception of great value or no awareness of value.

3.) The idea of using someone else's email address to get your email is ludicrous. ("Yea please send all my email to my friend Bob's address and I will pick it up")So why is it your using MSN, YAHOO or some other email address instead of your Brands address for mail(unless of course you own Yahoo, MSN etc.)

4.) Branding your company name can give up to 37% greater value. If you have a Brand that is differentiated and relevant then you can be rewarded with a P/E ratio that will pass your competitors by 15%.

5.) If you ever were in the service or watched a movie where a soldier went through basic camp. You will notice they had to live, eat and breath the motto of that service or unit. That "Brand" became not just the identifier of the service but WHO they/you are.
" We do not accept applications....we just accept Marines"

6.) The best time to build a Brand is in the down times, the start up times and the unaware times. When times are tough most will cut back on Branding awareness, for those that continue to move forward they can experience a dramatic market share gain(Source - Center for Resource Planning & Development and The Strategic Planning Institute). When you were in trouble as a kid, did you hide away or stop telling people your name?

7.) Many think that creating a Brand increases your cost of sale - WRONG! It builds perceived value all encompassed in one word. It generates and qualifies leads all in one word. Try calling a client and they ask who you are ...every time you call give them a different name...you get my point.

8.) The value of a Brand can be quantified on a balance sheet..well the SEC wants the idea to come to fruition. The countries of UK and Australia realize that Brand has value. What are you doing to create Brand value?

9.) You sell a product...is that what they are buying? NO...your logo, your packaging, adverts, web, collateral must all communicate to the customer ..one thing...a Promise, then there is your PR, your employees and yourself...all of which emanates from one CORE CENTRAL are your BRAND!

10.) What is the best way to promote your Brand? Umm...advertising? NO...Press Releases? NO...it is the CUSTOMER...the consumers who will create the value of your brand and pass it along...good, bad or indifferent..they are the ones you need to make aware of your BRAND!

11teen.) What's in a name? Mrs. Fields Cookies or cookie dough with chocolate chips. Kentucky Fried Chicken or Dead Hot Chicken, Coca Cola or soda water with corn syrup and coloring. You get the idea...a brand or name encompasses all you are and will be. It is the foundation of your company, the promise to the consumer and the results of your success all wrapped into a NAME!

The 15 thoughts a boy carries in his head as he grows up...

A guys thoughts up to the age of 10 pretty much revolves around -

- How much more time do I have to play?
- Boy, I hope those girls don't ask to play with us EUCCCHHHH!
- Where is mom and dad? I lost them here in the Mall..MOMMMMMMYYYYY!
- Football, Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Nintendo, Sony, XBox
(not necessarily in that order).
- C'mon Mom, I don't need a babysitter, I don't care if her name is Suzy...
(wow - she is only 13 years old...I guess it's ok)

(Feel Free to add Comments and I will Post em)

His thoughts from 10 - 12


- How much more time do I have to play?
- Crud - (its bent again and I can't straighten it out, everyone is watching)
- Man, she is really really cute...I LOVE my teacher Miss Jenson
- Boy - I hope those girls notice us playing...
- Man...I hope I can lose Mom and Dad here in the Mall
- Football, Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Nintendo, Sony, XBox
(not necessarily in that order)
- Crud - (its bent again and I can't straighten it out, everyone is still watching)
- Mom..why can't Suzy keep babysitting me? I am only 11...
I still need an older person here (oh no not Old Mrs. Ellison)

His thoughts from 13 -15


- How much more time do I have to play?
- Man..she's hot...man..she's hot also...man..that picture is really hot...
- Ugh...I hate waking in the morning....
- Man...I love the Mall without my parents....
- Football, Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Nintendo, Sony, XBox
(not necessarily in that order)
- Man..she's hot...man..she's hot also...man..that picture is really hot...
- I wonder if I will see Suzy today? (she is soooo hot)
- I HATE my parents...my brother is an ASS....
- I Hate School (rather the classes)
- Gotta keep the door locked...sh*t..My Space has the HOTTEST babes...
- John just showed me how to get around the parent filters...DL the songs and porn..oh yea


What his thoughts are from 16 - 17


- How much more time do I have till I gotta be home?
- Finally I am a Junior...this is sooo cool
- Man..she's hot...man..she's hot also...man..that picture is really hot...
- Ugh...I hate waking in the morning....
- I love working at the Mall
- Football, Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Nintendo, Sony, XBox
(not necessarily in that order)
- Man..she's hot...man..she's hot also...man..that picture is really hot...
- I wonder if I will see Suzy today? (Maybe I can sneak into her room later tonight)
- I HATE my parents...my brother is an ASS....
- I Hate School (rather the classes), but it's cool I am a Junior
- Gotta keep the door locked..sh*t..My Space has the HOTTEST babes..especially Sheila Tequila
- I LOVE my iPod ( man can't let my parents find out about the DL's)
- Man...why did she break up? Aw well...time to get loaded

---- YA..I am a MAN..I graduate tomorrow..(it's cool that i have to take the summer classes)