Tag Archives: Change

The Competent Are Helpless! (Guest Post by George Junginger)

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Seth-Godin

Seth Godin is an accomplished author and marketing genius.

“In the face of change, the competent are helpless.” – Seth Godin

Seth Godin, who always proves thought provoking to me, wrote this article in 1999 for Fast Company magazine. ( Change Agent – Issue 31 ). This was more than ten years ago and I think his argument made sense then and it makes sense now.

Seth writes:

“Oh, there’s one other thing: As we’ve turned human beings into competent components of the giant network known as American business, we’ve also erected huge barriers to change.

In fact, competence is the enemy of change!

Competent people resist change. Why? Because change threatens to make them less competent. And competent people like being competent. That’s who they are, and sometimes that’s all they’ve got. No wonder they’re not in a hurry to rock the boat.”

People used to say that large, bureaucratic organizations were like slow moving dinosaurs. The argument went that this is why leaner, swifter companies were able to take business away from them – that, in essence, they could anticipate change and adapt to it at a much quicker pace. I still believe this. But I think what ultimately gives them the advantage to behave that way is the culture that fosters the ability to make mistakes, take risks, to in essence, be incompetent.

George Junginger is an entrepreneur and marketing professional who specializes in niche markets. He resides in Raleigh, NC and has worked extensively with Carolina Challenge and Startup Weekend’s around the country. You can follow him on Twitter @georgeju!

Viral Marketing: Get the word out….Fast!

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<div style=”width:425px” id=”__ss_9274190″> <strong style=”display:block;margin:12px 0 4px”><a href=”http://www.slideshare.net/DavidSkok/the-science-behind-viral-marketing&#8221; title=”The Science behind Viral marketing” target=”_blank”>The Science behind Viral marketing</a></strong> <div style=”padding:5px 0 12px”> View more <a href=”http://www.slideshare.net/&#8221; target=”_blank”>presentations</a> from <a href=”http://www.slideshare.net/DavidSkok&#8221; target=”_blank”>David Skok</a> </div> </div>

I ran across this slideshow on viral marketing. These techniques are proven over and over again to be effective. With the explosion of social media, APIs, and content sharing, there is no reason why you can’t get the word out about your product or service!

What viral marketing techniques have you used in the past? Were they effective? Share your experiences below!

What Political Attack Ads Can Teach About Guerilla Marketing Techniques

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This photo has been circulating the internet for a few days and I think it can teach entrepreneurs some pretty interesting things about marketing regardless of political views. First lets look at the actual photo. On the left, Mitt Romney is sitting in a chair on an airport tarmac getting his shoe wanded for security purposes. On the right, Barack Obama is walking past a janitor and “pounds it” (the modern, cool handshake). Both of these photos are put together to offer the viewer a contrast about the individuals, their beliefs, and ability to lead our country.

Why is this important to entrepreneurs? This is a fantastic job of implementing proven guerilla advertising and marketing techniques. Here are three effective aspects at play:

Use of public perception: The first aspect is the use of priorly held perceptions about each individual. People commonly think Romney is a rich, white man, while Obama is seen as an African-American who is “a man of the people.” This photo plays on those feelings by trying to make people think that Romney is receiving a shoe shine, while Obama is spending time with the everyday person. Right or wrong, these perceptions will persevere and are very powerful.

Use of powerful images: This “ad” uses two photos that are extremely powerful when you first look at them. It counts on the fact that the viewer will not look very hard at either one of them. They will not question them, but they will be in awe of their initial reaction to such powerful images. I must admit that at first glance, I thought Romney was getting a shoe shine as well. Shock and awe is a tactic that can create great results.

Viral Sharing/Exposure: You have heard that “any exposure is better than no exposure.” In this case, as long as people are talking, debating, or arguing over this ad, it is seen as effective. Create emotional responses from people and you will be more likely to get your desired results. Also, the viral sharing aspect is important because someone is much more likely to find an ad effective if it is attached to their friends in social media, rather than a generic ad. The more you can make something viral, the more eyes will see it, which ultimately increases effective exposure.

In the end, this ad accomplishes its goal through very simple means. Get people to solidify their thoughts on political candidates with two very simple photos. Context and delivery are important and affect the effectiveness of a campaign. This guerilla tactics not only work in politics, but in business as well!

Are there any other political ads that have similar traits? What other aspects do you see with this particular ad that could be used in business marketing?

 

 

Mark Cuban’s Best Piece of Motivation

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I recently read Mark Cuban’s new ebook “How to Win at the Sport of Business” and want to share one of his unique perspectives. Being the owner of the NBA Dallas Mavericks, Cuban uses numerous sports analogies. One in particular really struck home and can serve as motivation to any entrepreneur.

Cuban says that in baseball if you could get a hit 4 out of 10 at bats, then you would be a first ballot Hall of Famer.  In basketball if a player is able to hit over 50% of his shots from the field, then he most likely would be voted an all-star. These percentages don’t seem unattainable but they are almost never reached year after year. In business, you face much better odds.

No matter how many businesses you start, you only have to make one successful. Every entrepreneur chases that one successful endeavor that will make them wealthy beyond their wildest dreams. Instead of having to “bat” .400 or “shoot” over 50%, as a business owner you could be .00001% successful and be considered a genius. These odds are reassuring to any entrepreneur.

With this in mind, we must remember that it is much easier to take a basketball shot or swing a baseball bat then it is to put your financial security at risk and start a business. To combat this, preparation is key in the world of business. To make every endeavor count and give it the best chance for success, put in the necessary time, effort, and work.

Overall, I enjoyed Cuban’s ebook. It was very short, an easy read, and also cheap. He provides insight into his thoughts and advice while including some humorous stories along the way. A great business mind shows once again why anyone can accomplish the level of success that he has. You just have to minimize risk through preparation and believe in your abilities. You can find the ebook here:

http://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Sport-Business-ebook/dp/B006AX6ONI

How many attempts would you go through in order to accomplish success? Have you ever been discouraged, persevered through it and then realized success shortly after? Share your stories and insight below!

What the San Francisco 49ers Taught Us About Leadership

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The San Francisco 49ers are a football team in the National Football League (NFL). Before the 2011 season, the 49ers had experienced 8 consecutive non-winning seasons. These were tough times for a storied franchise that had seen Hall of Famers such as Steve Young and Jerry Rice play for them.

On January 7, 2011 the 49ers made a decision that completely changed their organization. They hired Jim Harbaugh as their head coach from Stanford University. The reason that this hire was so important was because Harbaugh would be responsible for the success or failure of the 2011 team.

Under Harbaugh, the 49ers obtained a 13-3 record and are still playing in the NFL playoffs on their way to the Super Bowl. With this turnaround, one must ask how could such a dramatic change have occurred in one season?

The answer lies in the head coach. Jim Harbaugh was able to bring a certain toughness and unique mindset to the team that helped them to accomplish success. This could only be done by a leader who was able to empower those he leads. Harbaugh showed this group of men what their potential was and then laid out a plan of action for them to accomplish it.

This type of leader is essential to a successful company as well. An executive who can show his team their potential and lay out a similar plan will realize success beyond their wildest dreams. While hard work, persistence, and a great idea are helpful, a team can not be successful without a great leader. Many people believe these leaders are born, but I believe that a leader can be made. Many books, articles, and advice pieces exist to help mold a great leader. Now that you know you need a great leader, are you willing to become that individual?

I am not a 49ers fan but though this was a great example to use. Have you ever been led by a great leader? What are the leadership qualities of the great leaders that you have known? Share your stories and experiences below!

Ethics: What would you do?

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I recently heard this dilemma on the radio and thought I would pose it to all of you. The radio host had a MBA professor call in and ask what question could be asked to get individuals to think about the type of person that they were. Not a question about what the student liked or wanted, but what type of individual they were at their core.

Here it is: You are a recent college grad who has been out of school for 6 months. For the last 5, you have been working for a real estate development firm. You are currently leading the development of a railroad track that a partner at your firm described as “the most important project of the year.” As you develop the project, you learn that the railroad track is scheduled to go straight through a low income housing project that houses 200 families. If the project goes as planned, these families will all be displaced with very little to no assistance. While you realize this negative aspect, you and your firm both stand to profit a few million dollars.

What are the different aspects of this problem? What are the possible solutions? What would you choose to do?

Look Forward, Talk Now

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Dave Morin brings up a great point here when he says “have the hard conversations early and often.” I would try to take it a step further when offering advice.

The goal should be to have these conversations before they become the “hard” conversations. I always advise every entrepreneur that they should have all of the worst case scenarios played out from the beginning when all parties involved are on good terms. Nothing is harder than trying to solve a problem down the road when emotions are high.

Some of the topics to ensure you cover are exit strategies as a team or for  only part of the team, ownership/roles, and how to deal with unhappy management/owners down the road. These are some of the most common topics that are overlooked because “we would never not be friends!” Do it now, while you can. If you wait you may pay for it in money and relationships!

What are other topics that you covered early on in an entrepreneurial effort? Did you have a good or bad experience? Share your stories below!

Project-Based Learning for Better Students

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This video is an example of project-based learning. There are numerous reasons why project-based learning will become the norm in classrooms across the country.  These reasons all contribute to a more effective learning environment for students.

The first reason that project-based learning is effective can be found in the unique learning style it presents.  Research shows that students who have hands-on participation in the classroom are able to stay more attentive and effectively retain more information.  This hands-on approach is rampant in elementary schools, but who said that it stopped working after a student moves to 6th grade?

The second reason that project-based learning is so effective, is due to the aspect of collaboration.  When a teacher puts students in small groups and asks them to share ideas or answers, the students are able to expand their thoughts and minds.  More importantly, collaboration is a skill that these students will be asked to continuously use once they enter the work force.  The theory is that with more practice, these work force employees will be more effective.

Lastly, in project-based learning each group of students is asked to present a final project or finding.  This keeps students accountable and allows them to take pride in their work.  The more positive rewards and sense of accomplishment that can be given to students, the more confidence they will possess.  As you see in the video from BIE, the students become extremely excited when speaking about their own ideas or models.  Confidence within students leads to them taking more chances for accomplishment.

My prediction is that the more project-based learning that is implemented in classrooms, the more effectively our students will learn materials presented.  The saying goes “Tell me how and I will forget, Show me how and I will remember, Allow me to and I will understand.”  As teachers are exposed to more examples of this method, expect to see even more innovative applications in the future.

Three Education Trends For 2012

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Education has made great strides over the last few years but there are three specific trends to look forward to in 2012.  As more attention is given to the education industry, entrepreneurial perspectives and innovation will lead the way.

Technology Integration

This year, classrooms will continue their incorporation of technology in an attempt to find different ways to enhance the learning environment.  From iPads to the Khan Academy’s progress exercises, classrooms will use innovative technologies to increase students mastery of different subjects.  It will be interesting to see whether these technologies will be able to realize the goals that they set out to accomplish.

Flipped Classrooms

A flipped classroom is where students watch lectures or videos for homework to create the foundation of knowledge.  Class time is then devoted for projects and critical-thinking discussions to further solidify the learning that occurred at home.  This type of learning environment has been used in numerous pilot programs, and will get adopted by more classrooms this year.  As flipped classrooms increase, the hope is that student achievement will increase along with mastery of subjects.

Innovative Funding Strategies

It is no secret that schools continue to face drastic funding issues.  As federal grants and programs begin to dry up, these issues will become even worse.  With this scenario in the future, more focus will be placed on finding innovative solutions.  Currently, public school systems have began to open up avenues for the local population to provide suggestions for solutions.  As the problem increases, more informed individuals and experts will get involved to come up with new strategies.  Hopefully this will lead to viable solutions that allow the focus to be placed on student learning in education conversations and circles.

What other trends are prevalent? What are other ways that these trends will occur? Are these trends conducive to the educational environment?

 

The Greatest Profession In The World

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I was once asked what the most important job in the world was.  The group I was with had answers such as the President, a doctor, and a trash collector.  When it came my turn to answer, I thought that I had a common sense answer (never works out for anyone this way!).  I said a teacher.  The reaction around the group was astonishing.  They acted as if there was no way, or that I had gotten the answer wrong!  I felt I had to explain my answer to try to get them to see my perspective.  Here is my best attempt to recreate my explanation and elaborate on it.

A teacher may not get any attention or credit in the public arena, but that is what makes them even more important.  These individuals show up everyday to work to teach the children of our country and they are usually never known outside of the students and parents who come through their classrooms.  They are hoping to share knowledge with their students that will be beneficial for a lifetime.  Each one of you reading this post was taught by a teacher that most likely had a lasting impact on you.  The impact of our teachers is far beyond that of Steve Jobs, Barack Obama, or the best doctor in the world.  They teach us to enjoy learning, they teach us what to learn, and last but not least, they teach us that we can accomplish anything we want in life.  Sounds like a very powerful and important profession to me!

This leads me to a question that many never think about.  Why are teachers not paid like they have the most important jobs in the world?  The easy answer is because as a country we can’t afford it.  I believe it is not that we can’t afford it, but instead that we choose to spend the money elsewhere.  The second reason is that teacher unions have created a system where tenure and job security for all teachers is more important then financially rewarding the good teachers.  In essence, a good teacher can get paid significantly less than a really bad teacher depending on how long they have been teaching.  Even worse, the school can’t get rid of the bad teacher if they wanted to!

This leads to a system where the best teachers are not given recognition, and the entire teacher work force is not compensated appropriately for the importance of the job they do.  Instead of complaining, many people have come up with a solution that I agree with.  Teachers should be treated as employees, and allowed to enter into healthy competition.  Every year a school should be able to hire and fire teachers based on performance, and they would all be paid according to their abilities and effectiveness in the classroom.  This would allow the school to make an effort to attract the top teaching talent and get rid of their bad teachers.  The teachers would be making much more money which would also help to attract more students to join the profession.  All of this leads to students getting taught by better teachers, who are getting rewarded for the work they do.  Ultimately, the students getting the best quality education possible is the main concern of the school system right?  Imagine if young kids said “When I grow up I want to be a teacher!”  We will have truly created change then.

Have thoughts on teachers and their pay? Agree or disagree with this proposed new system? Please leave a comment below!