I don’t make this stuff up, folks: Chicago, the Musical
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The show’s over, and we’ve got a get-together tonight as one of our castmembers moves across the state for a new job. But a few people asked, so here’s a link to the
review for Chicago, the Musical.
Overture… Curtain lights… Chicago!
So in my mad ramblings, I don’t talk too much about my personal life. I figure there’s more important stuff going on in the world besides me.
But today, I’m sharing pictures from a recent birthday party.
What makes this party so unique is that the attendees were, for the most part, cast member from a local production of the musical, Chicago.
One cast member, Aaron, celebrated his 20th birthday and invited all of us cast folk to join in the soiree. He’s the Blonde in that first picture, standing next to Anthony.
It was such a blast to see the cast reunite for something like this. We spent a few months together working our BUTTS off for this production. Choreography was tough – at least for locals that haven’t had a dance class in eons. Music was challenging, but we were blessed with some very talented cast members that could out-sing some of the greats on the karaoke stage – and some of us really tried, believe me.
So we ate, drank and had pickles – it’s a tradition, the pickles. You’ll have to ask me about it sometime.
But why is this in a Marketing Blog, you ask? Well, a couple of reasons. This blog also doubles as an occasionally personal blog (deal with it), and because it emphasizes what a good story (Chicago), a loyal customer base (the cast and crew), and a powerful product (Vertigo Theatrics) can bring about.
Ted, the guy that runs the show over there, is really a humble giant of a guy. In our many conversations, one of the things that he’s touched on is the fear that he’s not making a difference in the lives of people in our area. Now I’ve worked with Ted on several other productions where the cast and crew become close in an almost magical way, but he always wrote it off as a fluke. Well, I think the third time’s not a coincidence: it’s what makes a good theater company GREAT:
Jen and Steve, to my knowledge, have never done a show together before. This show stretched Steve in a leading role. Jen had to dig deep for some amazing choreography. This show really brought them together and gave them a new “thing to do” as husband and wife.
New friendships were forged – some of which transformed lives. People came to this show with broken pieces, and somehow, through the power of theater, shared trials and a good belly laugh, they found themselves on the mend.
Super HEROES came to the rescue. Anthony’s folks gave us an amazing set, and raised the bar for all of Ted’s future productions. And don’t get me started on the amazing job Barb did on the costumes. Selfless giving. Yeah, they’ll say it was because they wanted Anthony’s first production to be spectacular, but few people give of themselves that way for total strangers – even if their kid is involved. And the tireless day-in, day-out work of Ted’s “better half”, Jacque is a testament to the passion they both have for this community.
And me? I just took it all in. Making notes so that Ted couldn’t backpedal on this one. There was so much joy in a room that never would have been there if it weren’t for companies like this, productions like this, and people like Ted and Jacque who found a passion and nurtured it with “Class”.
There were others in this cast of characters that didn’t hang around long enough to pose, and others still that couldn’t make it to this seemingly simple birthday party.
But this was a party unlike most. This was a cast of strangers that became friends for a time, who reunited for one of their own to celebrate, remember, and be grateful. These people have their own paths in life and will take new directions now that the show is over.
But I think it’s safe to say we were ALL transformed by what a little passion can do.
THANKS, TED! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY AARON!
A Real Business Comes From the Real You
So after a quick trip to the local library with my oldest child and his best friend, I scoped out the shelves for some new reads.
I found a couple of VERY good resources, and I had to share this one today:
Kaira Sturdivant Rouda is the president of Real Living, and “gets it” when it comes to personal branding. I’m half way through her book, Real You Incorporated: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve shouted from the rooftops the importance of Branding yourself. Kaira’s book really gets it done.
Stay tuned!
2010 Update: This book is uber transformative. After a couple of years of living with this book, I can tell you it really gets to the heart of building a business around your passion. I use it every 6 months as my business bible when it’s time to review my progress, make sure I’m on track for goals, and to be certain I’m still following my passion in my business. I had the pleasure of interviewing Kaira for my Direct Sales Super Summit last fall and it was a dream come true in so many ways. Every woman should have this book on their shelves – or in their briefcase for easy access. It’s truly transformative for business and personal growth.
You Have a Choice and You Chose Me. Thank You!
I’ve traveled a lot in my 33 short years on this planet. Not as many places as I’d LIKE to go, but I’ve been on many of our wonderful highways and byways here in the U.S.
And I’ve passed many a “Waffle House” along the way.
I never gave them much thought, really. They looked like dingy little “hole in the wall” diners from the road.
The yellow and black sign looked so generic that I wasn’t sure it was a chain until my recent trip to the Carolinas.
See, my friend, Ruth, LOVES Waffle House. She gets as excited about eating there as I do about new books to read. She even squeals a bit with delight when you suggest going there for a meal. In fact, I now can’t say “Waffle House” without trying to imitate her joyful squeal, and it’s become a little inside joke between us.
For her it’s the grits that makes her swoon. For me it’s the customer service.
This company is a marketing machine. Over the grill, there’s a sign that reads “You have a choice, and you chose us. Thank You!”
What a concept.
And as I looked around, the place was clean, cozy and busy. There’s a sign on the door that read “Hope to see you: Soon, Often and Hungry” or something like that.
They know what they do well, and they market the heck out of it. Even the background music is songs about Waffle House.
This family business really “gets it”.
What about you? Are you remembering that your customers have a choice? Even if you’re the ONLY place they can get a product or service (which is rare anymore), they STILL have a choice – either do business with you, or go elsewhere, or go without.
Then, are you remembering to be grateful? So many businesses choose to look at the transaction value and forget about the lifetime value of a customer. You need to remember that good customers are like good friends. You won’t always get a long, but you’ll be invaluable to each other over the years – if you build the relationship.
It begins with gratitude. Waffle House gets it. Do you?
Birth, Death …and Taxes
This has been an insanely messed up week. My tax refund arrived, my sister turned 8 (she’s a leap year baby, so she’s been on the planet for 32 “earth” years), and my grandfather died.
I’ve been trying to write a pithy piece on death and taxes, but I keep coming up short. Besides, how would that translate into a great learning bit for network marketing?
“The Show Must Go On” is about as close as I can get.
Call it cold and heartless, but business – and life – carry on after you die. It’s true. There are people to see, proposals to make, deals to close and customers to satisfy. Just because your grandfather passes into the next incarnation doesn’t mean the rest of the world stops to mourn with you.
Just to be clear, I’m not bitter. I was, however very apologetic to my hostess on Saturday for being 30 minutes late.
I hate being late. I’m sure if God sent me a memo that my death was scheduled for 7:42pm, I’d try to be there at 7:40, just to be safe.
And I’m not trying to affront my grandfather’s death. I am deeply saddened by the loss of such a great man. His 85th birthday was this month, and he outlived a daughter, his wife, MY dad, a couple of his sisters, and two wonderful women that he met after my grandma passed away.
So this is VERY personal for me.
When people in my life die, I get ultra organized. I start “nesting” like pregnant women do. Trying to “prepare” things and get places “ready”. I make lists.
Something about checking off to-do items makes me feel like I’m accomplishing something. Even though I know that all the minutia really don’t matter in the grand scheme of life.
So I plan to pick up my sister and mom at the airport at 10pm, but when I arrive, the board says the plane is scheduled to arrive at 10am. So I head home and call my sister. She tells me she is AT the airport looking for me. So I head back to the airport, and load ‘em up to bring ‘em home. But first, we stop for food.
We arrive at a local coney island that prominently displays a sign:
After 9pm, seating is limited to 1 hour.
Pardon me? I’m hungry, just plunked down $30 to feed the three of us (and I’m thinking about dessert), and you’re trying to kick me out the door in an hour or less? What if it takes the server 15 minutes to even take our order? What if she doesn’t bring the bill? Should we just get up and leave?
Where did good old fashioned customer service go? Instead of dealing with the occasional vagrant that might order a cup of coffee and hang out all night, you post a rude sign scribbled in chicken scratch for customers to decipher? Hmph.
I appreciate signs. Really, I do. But I was running on no sleep, and I had lost my internal dialogue – and did I mention my grampa just died, too?
You should be giving me a free cup of coffee, dangit!
Okay, maybe not, but a little compassion would be nice.
I did manage to eek out a smile from my sister – after all it was her birthday. So I got a chance to sing to her before the clock struck twelve.
Then we went out for dinner – the whole family – to kind of commiserate and reminisce and celebrate my sister’s birthday.
Our server was an angel sent from God – despite our rambunctious kids (that includes my 50 year old aunt). She was patient when we couldn’t decide what to order, tolerant when we kept moving “the coat chair” into the aisle, and cooperative when I asked her about humiliating my sister with a birthday announcement in the middle of the restaurant.
She didn’t know we were miserable. She didn’t care. She just wanted us to have the best possible experience while under her care.
That’s your marketing lesson. And it continues.
Today, we went for the family viewing. I arrived a bit earlier than the rest of the family because the funeral home is conveniently located across the street from my church.
Plus, I hate being late.
So my husband, the kids and I approached the greeter who escorted us to a waiting area. This funeral home was originally an old farm house, and I have an affinity for old houses. So as I was admiring the craftsmanship, and killing time, the greeter offered us a short “private tour” of the restricted areas of the old homestead. I was taken aback by the detailed woodwork and beautiful turn of the century detailing in the doorknobs and trim. My son was excited to be getting a “sneak peek” of places where people don’t usually go, and my husband was just glad that everyone was smiling and not crying.
Is it okay to tip a greeter? This funeral home is always top-notch. My grandmother and great grandmother were both viewed at this mortuary, and every time we are treated like old friends.
I’ve said it before, and it bears repeating: how friendly are you?
Death is a horrible prospect for the people left behind, and most funeral homes are trained in sensitivity and decorum. But giving the tour was an extra touch that went a long way to occupying a couple of squirmy, bored children in an otherwise tense waiting game.
I really felt like someone gave a care that we were there. They could have just let us sit in the waiting area, bouncing on the couches and ogling the old antiques. Instead, they provided an extra touch that made us feel more at home.
What do you do to provide exemplary service to your customers. In network marketing, there’s always another distributor around the corner waiting to service your clients – or recruit your prospects. What are you doing to protect your turf?
The more friends you make, the better off you’ll be – in business, life and death.