The 5 Most Important Questions You’ll Ever Ask…
August 12th, 2010
As Peter Drucker states, “the most important aspect of the Self-Assessment Tool is the questions it poses. Answers are important; you need answers because you need action. But the most important thing is to ask these questions.”
1. What is Our Mission?
2. Who is our Customer?
3. What does the Customer consider Value?
4. What have been Our Results?
5. What is Our Plan?
Asking the right questions can charter the best navigation course for your business or organization. Take the time to think through these questions because the answers will dictate your actions and thus your results.
The NEW ReBranding of one of our Top Clients…The YMCA
July 12th, 2010
Today at 9am in Washington DC at The Press Club the NEW YMCA Brand is being announced. BUT we have it for you NOW!!!!
The Y is the nation’s leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.
Why did the Y revitalize its brand?
The Y has long been a respected nonprofit. Recent research showed, however, that our cause and impact are not fully understood. The Y is changing how we talk about ourselves so that people better understand the benefits of engaging with the Y.
Is the Y’s mission changing?
Our mission remains the same – to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
What is changing?
An updated, more forward looking logo replaces the logo that has been a part of our history for years. The revitalized logo, with its multiple color options, reflects the vibrancy of our organization and the diversity of the communities we serve. In addition, moving forward they will be known as ―”The Y” as that is how people in communities nationwide most commonly refer to them.
This is a major step forward for the YMCA. They have gone through several re-brandings since they were founded. Pay close attention to our blog (and if you are a YMCA CEO…your mail) regarding feedback on the new logo and branding. We will be publishing top stories from the past logos and present. The “old logos” have come forward and have a story to tell, so pay attention because those logos gave The Octopus Solution exclusive interviews! Coming This Week…The “New Logo” tells his story!!!
Finding a Balanced Work & Family Life
May 12th, 2010
We work with many business owners daily and understand their committment to their businesses and what is required to succeed. However, you may be a good owner, have good work ethic, and good skills to succeed, but if you are not striving for excellence at home with your family then you will just be good at work, not excellent!
Let’s face it, when we are on our A Game at home we get our spouse’s A Game and the energy of the home is elavated which then creates a boost in energy going to work. Why go home to fight a battle when you have been fighting battles all day at the office to succeed?
Owning a business can pull you away from giving your family the caring and attention they need. You do not have to be with them every second of the day, but you do need to plan time to show them how important they are. It is not about the quantity of time you spend with your family! It is about the QUALITY of time you spend with them! Find a time to balance family and business and give them your absolute best when you are with them. That means…lose the blackberry, close the laptop, have an activity to do, pay attention to all conversation and LISTEN, and enjoy each other like you did when you first started dating.
Your attitude towards your family will manifest the outcomes. If you are negative and don’t spend the quality time then you will get a family that is negative to you and does not have time for you! If you bring a positive attitude and high level of energy to your family you will get back everything you put out. You are in control of your attitude. Make a great family life happen and you will see dramatic results in your work performance and clarity!
The Marketing of Tiger Woods and His Come Back
April 12th, 2010
Tiger Woods needed to respond to the public after destroying his fan base and reputation. He has tarnished his reputation and become one of the biggest tragedies in golf. Tiger has been in the news constantly with his “big” come back to golf and playing in the Masters. Tiger’s team of publicists got shots of him practicing hard on the course before making his come back; to stress how serious he is about golf. How did that impact fans, viewers and golf followers?
Then Nike and Tiger wanted to film an “apology” commercial to the world by resurrecting Tiger’s father from the grave. The way Tiger and Nike handled this marketing ad says a lot about their character and image. What is says is that Tiger would disrespect his father by dragging him into this media disaster from the grave and that Nike does not care about class or respect and will do anything to duke the public into forgetting Tigers affairs. This is a time that marketers need to look at their ethics and how they will go.
In the end Phil Mickeson won the Masters and ran over to his wife waiting at the 18th hole for him. This goes to show the importance of relationships. In previous blogs we talk about how most everything we do in life involves relationships. Relationships get a ton of media exposure, especially if it is negative news…why?
Image Consulting for Mark McGwire
January 12th, 2010
Mark McGwire finally came clean about using steroids after lying to the public, his fans and committing perjury in a US Court. Any shocker that the statute of limitations on perjury is 5 years? And 5 years after his spotlight in 2005 Mark McGwire rises as a name of the past and a faded memory of the worst time in baseball to soak up the media spot-light once more! If Mark comes clean after the 5 years, he can not be tried for the major felony of committing perjury and can get back into the lime light! He is on every news station!
Here he is…
Now does this felon look like a criminal, a steroid using baseball player, or a liar? NO! He looks like a professor or politician. Big props to his image consultant for putting him in a perfect suit, clean shaved and a 4 eyes pair of reading glasses….And they even added several tears which we can not tell if they are really or visine.
So 5 years after he can come clean, get back into the spot light, get on Oprah, secure several book deals, and become a substance abuse consultant for the MLB.
Remember folks perception is reality and the image consultant working with Mark will pin him as a victim and someone under the pressure of major league status. It is not his fault that he illegally used, lied and committed purgery…it was someone elses fault! Remember the perception of what picture they create will be associated with your mind as true and make you want to believe he is the victim.
Great job to the image consultant!!!…I think