"People forget how fast you did a job-but they remember how well you did it". - Howard W. Newton

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Recall

Rejoice

 Revel

"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice". - Unknown

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Goals

 Plans

 Results

"The price of greatness is responsibility". - Winston Churchill

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Share

 Encourage

 Teach

"The speed of the leader determines the rate of the pack". - Unknown

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Be First

Be Quick

Be Complete

"Adversity reveals genius, prosperity conceals it". - Horace

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Courage

 Confidence

 Compassion

"Our chief want in life is somebody who will make us do what we can". - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Respect

 Honor

 Emulate

"Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprise." - Demosthenes

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Observe

Examine

 Act

Spring has finally sprung. The warm air has finally moved in, enough rain has fallen to green up the grass, and the recent bright sunshine has the trees in bloom. But last Sunday afternoon was not as seasonable. The skies were cloudy, the air was downright cold and windy, and there was rain and snow squalls in the air. It was just perfect to go...

...to the ball game! The area in which we live has not seen organized, professional baseball in the past 47 years. That all changed on April 11. A brand new stadium was built and opened that day, show casing our new baseball team. We did a blog on this new team in 2007, because of the way they were able to attract national attention. Last Sunday we welcomed the Iron Pigs to the Lehigh Valley.

We have never attended a minor league baseball game, and the Iron Pigs are the AAA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. We did not know what to expect. Coca-Cola Park is exquisite! It seats 8100, (9989 showed up opening day, over 7200 last Sunday) and has no bad seat in the house. But the show this team put on was unbelievable. Here are some tips we picked up about running a business from attending the game:

Promotion. There is always something happening before, during, and after the game. The game is the show, but the never ending promotion is the product. From a state-of-the-art speaker system booming music between each and every pitch to the competitive events (potato sack race, for example) between innings, there is always something other than the game to keep everyone involved. And always a message to deliver to an accepting captive audience.

Events. Friday night is "Fireworks Night". Bring the kids out to see the fireworks, every Friday night we are at home. Sunday is the "Kids Run the Bases After The Game" day. Bring the kids out to run the bases every Sunday when we are at home. Last Sunday was whiffle ball and bat day for the first 2500 kids 14 and under. Events fill the seats and expose the product to people who normally would not attend, except for the event.

Affordable. Providing a product that anyone can afford is the key to marketing success, especially in these times of ever skyrocketing costs. For just $6 one can stand behind home plate, under cover, at a standing table and drink $5 beers while enjoying the game. And if one drinks too many $5 beers, bring a blanket and you can camp out in the grass behind the center field fence, and continue to drink $5 beers. This is less expensive than going to the movies. The sign of a successful product is if it's perceived value exceeds it's actual cost.

By the way the Iron Pigs lost to the Richmond Braves this day, 6 to 2. Doesn't matter though, the product presentation will get us back for more. And as always, we welcome your comments.

The Plain Page Prophets

Everything in the world is created for a specific reason. The reason is the real question, and the quest for the reason can become a life long pursuit. The design of all items has always intrigued us as there appears to be good design, bad design, functional design, irrelevant design, emotional design, irrational design, and design just for the sake of design. To seek, find and admire new design is one of the noblest quests in life. And so it is that on March 30th we renewed our annual quest of design with our trek to that Bastian of new design...

...The International Auto Show in New York City. There one finds all of the new, current, and worn designs of all of the world's automobile manufacturers, under one roof. Concept cars, the imaginative ideas of engineers of what the future car can be and sometimes slowly becomes, are center stage for all to worship. The cars are generally on rotating platforms, with beautiful models explaining features about the concept car's design. These people know presentation is everything, and sexy sells.

Power, prestige, and emotion still drive the marketplace in the automobile industry.  But times, they may be a'changin'. In opposition to the golden marketing messages of the past are the quiet rumblings of the future. Here are three themes we noticed on the floor of the show. Perhaps they can be utilized in your business.

Alternative Fuel Sources: The internal combustion engine is under attack. Oil is getting just too expensive to continue using in powering automobiles. What are the answers? Electric cars have been around for more than a decade but they lack the ingenuity of providing sustained acceleration, or power. Great for around town but on the open road? Green is in and water, hydrogen, vegetable sourced ethanol, are all sharing the stage with the electric option. Hybrid is the now term which will save you money while providing the power you have come to expect. Why not have it both? Find a way to make your business message echo in the now concept of GREEN.

Personalization of the User experience: The optimal number of down loadable tunes to your automobile's on board computer should be 2900 songs. This allows more freedom in not having to load up a trunk load of Cd's for enhancing the driving experience. Besides, with the trunk space now available without the Cd's, more and bigger speakers can be installed to further enhance the personal driving experience. The question begs to be answered, what is your business doing to enhance your customer's personal use experience? Are you doing as much as the auto industry?

Emerging World Markets: The Buick name has always had a place in our family as the car to buy if a Cadillac was out of reach. Dad said to strive for a Cadillac, settle for a Buick. Buick had a Riviera concept car on display, sleek, contoured, eye catching light metallic blue, reminiscent of early versions of the car. But as it rotated around, the name "Riviera" was on the left hand side of the back of the car, and quietly on the right hand side were five characters spelling "Buick", in Chinese. Are we to believe this will be the car to dominate the China market, or are we to believe it is time to learn a second language so we will be able to afford this product? Is your business sending a mixed message to appeal to the emerging world market?

And as always, we welcome your comments.

The Plain Page Prophets

Your business faces major challenges in the days, weeks, and months ahead.  There are rising prices, markets destabilizing due to tighter credit restraints, and an obvious feeling of general helplessness by everyone. 

But we are the lucky ones!  We have our own businesses, allowing us the freedom to choose our own course toward the future. We all need to focus on what is most important during these times of uncertainty.  Here are three focal points with which to begin...

1.  The pursuit of excellence is overrated.  The more your business provides to a customer, the more they in turn, expect.  Never mind that it may cost you ever more to provide what they request, raise the prices and you are the villain. It is much better for your business to satisfy as many people as you disappoint providing better balance for your business.  Trying to satisfy everyone all the time will drive you crazy, and the insanity may just appear in the performance of your business.  It is not worth the risk!

2.  Service to the community of mankind is impossible.  The world is in such great need that no single act of kindness will ever make a difference in the grand scheme of things.  You will be wasting your time giving anything away for free.  Do not volunteer time, money, or resources to these lost causes.  There will be no direct value if your business chooses this suicide run.  And who is going to pay for these free rides?  Your customers, after you raise prices and become the villain once again. Will you enjoy being the villain?

3.  Respect of the individual is irresponsible.  Why sacrifice the  good of the many in catering to the few?  Every business has it's 1% of customers it will never satisfy no matter what is done.  Gear your business efforts to the appeal of the masses, ignoring individual differences.  One generic advertising message will suffice reducing  your advertising overhead.  Everyone will just have to discover their own significance in the message. Marketing to the individual will only serve as a catalyst for raising prices and leading us to being a villain.

There is no Fool like and Old Fool, unless you are a Business Fool.  We hoped you all enjoyed "our rant".  Happy April Fools Day!  Snicker on, Garth, chuckle on, Wayne.   And as always, we welcome your comments.

The Plain Page Prophets