StoryTeller Media & Communications | Public Relations | Marketing | Video Production
Minneapolis/St. Paul Marketing and PR agency and video production company|StoryTeller
Good Business
May we all be as “crazy” as Steve Jobs
Thank you Steve for teaching us it’s OK to paint outside the lines and to not take “no” for an answer, that a college degree is not a pre-requisite for success, that the journey is as much fun as the destination, and that one person can truly change the world. Don’t be afraid to be the square peg in the round hole, he certainly wasn’t!
Are You a Good Business Partner?
My wife and I have been married for 21-years (no, I don’t know how she’s put up with me this long either) and one of the things that has made our partnership so strong is that it is, indeed, a partnership. We solve problems together, take care of each other and support each other. In essence, I like to believe we make each other better. When we define business relationships the recipe for success is quite similar.
Work Ethic Check: Work Like You’re Under a Contract
Imagine you had a three year contract for your job and every three years your position came up for review. If your employer likes you, you keep your job. If they don’t like you, they have an “out” and can let you go for no reason other than pointing to your expired contract saying, “time is up.” Also, at the end of your contract, you may be asked to sign a new agreement for less money. Sounds like the life of a professional athlete, right? Yep, it’s also the life of a television news employee, less the dough, bling and fancy cars.
Are You As Ambitious As Your Client?
Ambition is an interesting thing. If you’re like me, you have it and you have gone through most of your life thinking that other people are the same way. You know the routine – work hard, climb the ladder, get a bigger job, earn money to travel and play and retire fat and happy, right? Well not everyone is that way and you know what? That’s totally cool.
Why Walking Away From Business Can Be a Good Thing
I don’t know a business owner or sales person who likes to turn away work, but the plain and simple truth is that sometimes that is the best thing you can do for your business and for the prospective client. If there’s one thing we try to do it’s this: exceed our client expectations. When we fall short, it never feels good – for us and for our clients. We’d rather be known as a group that goes above and beyond than below and short.
Blogger/business owner Chris Parente wrote this piece on the same subject on his blog “Work, Wine and Wheels” and he touches on some great points. One of his thoughts is to not ignore the warning signs and then later complain about a disconnect. Truth is, you see the warning signs when courting a new client, but often the financial upside clouds your ability to see clearly.
If you’re looking for the bright side of walking away from a new opportunity remember, it’s better to have never had a client, than to have a disappointed client who isn’t accountable for their shortcomings who then tells everyone they know that YOU don’t live up to your word. Take the high road and walk away with dignity and class when the mix isn’t right.
Ed Heil is the owner and president of StoryTeller Media & Communications an inbound marketing and public relations agency and video production company based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Ed blogs on topics related to inbound marketing, social media, media relations, news media, video production and crisis communications.
Creating Trust With Your Customers
We are pool owners and having a watery wonderland in our backyard is wonderful for the kids, for entertaining and social gatherings. Maintaining it though can be a headache at times especially in the spring. So, we (mostly my wife) spends quite a bit of time adjusting the chemical levels, checking the clarity of the water, dumping filter baskets and of course, making multiple trips to the pool store.
Last year she had a conversation with an owner of a local store regarding maintenance and asked if they had considered using video on their website or through a YouTube channel to provide tips and information on how to handle basic pool and water maintenance. The guy rudely and abruptly dismissed the idea saying, “why would I want to put that stuff on my website and let my competition to see how we do things?”
Professional Advice from Dad
My father was a man of few words. He rarely told me what to do and he never gave me professional advice when I entered the work force, save this one thing. One night, early in my career as a salesperson I made a flippant comment about my job and employer saying, essentially, “they don’t pay me enough to do that.” This phrase is not uncommon with “they” meaning the employer and “that” meaning my job. My dad said simply, “Don’t ever think like that. You do the best job you can regardless of the pay.” He continued saying, “if people were paid by the amount of work they do, the world would look very different.”
My dad passed away in 2001 and I am constantly reminded of the many things he taught me as I go through my life today. Few words from a man who had great perspective and vast knowledge.
Ed Heil is the owner and president of StoryTeller Media & Communications an inbound marketing and public relations agency and video production company based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Ed blogs on topics related to inbound marketing, social media, media relations, news media, video production and crisis communications.
Hiring the Best Candidate May Not Mean Hiring a “Good Guy”
One of the most challenging and critical things an owner or manager has to do in a small business is hire the right people. The right person is not always the “nicest person,” or someone who’s a “really good guy or gal.” In virtually every case, that has to become a non-factor. As I’ve learned, and my dad used to say, there are a lot of “nice people” in the world. However, not every person is the best person for your company.
If you’re in the market for a new job and going to interviews, remember, even though the company might be a “perfect fit” for you. It may not be a perfect fit for the company. Afterall, they know the culture and the need better than you do. All you can do is your best and be honest and truthful with yourself and your prospective employer. If it’s meant to be, it will be. If it’s not and you’ve got a great story to tell, you’ll find your opportunity at a place where you and your employer will thrive.
Ed Heil is the owner and president of StoryTeller Media & Communications an inbound marketing and public relations agency and video production company based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Ed blogs on topics related to inbound marketing, social media, media relations, news media, video production and crisis communications.
Is Your Best Effort Really Your Best?
Effort is an interesting thing. What is your best effort? Do you always put forth your best effort or is your effort “good enough?” Do you correlate your effort with how important something is to you personally? Do you put as much effort into something that benefits someone else or if you’re not paid what you believe is in accordance to “what you’re worth?” One time I was interviewing a hockey player for the Detroit Red Wings, Shawn Burr, who, while talking about effort, said, “sometimes you get used to working at a certain level and you get comfortable so you think you’re working hard, even though it’s not really your best effort.” Do you ever notice that?
Networking For You AND Your Clients
Every so often I get emails or calls from people saying they’ve heard great things about our agency and that they’d like to get together to see if there’s a networking opportunity between our companies. More times than not I feel like I’m being fluffed up for a pitch so that I might be inclined to send that person some business when, and if, there’s an opportunity. I used to go into these get-togethers with my guard up.