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Holiday Shopping 2007: The Business of Matching Hot Gifts to Cool People

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Buying Is a Business Skill Too

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They call today, Cyber Monday, the busiest shopping day on the Internet. Folks in the US, returning to work after the Thanksgiving holiday, realize that the shopping window to the holidays is limited and that the sales have officially started.

We seem to be getting the hang of this online shopping thing.

Forrester Research says this year’s sales are projected to be up 21%. Consumers report that online hot spots that are taking off include jewelry, apparel, and accessories. As a buying group, we also getting more interested in free shipping and turning down “extras” in the form of gift wrap and overnight delivery.

Matching Hot Gifts to Cool People

Beyond the sheer fun factor, the ability to match a well-chosen gift the right person is a fabulous business exercise for any person who serves other people . . . bloggers who write for readers, folks who who work with clients . . .
at the heart of great gift giving is the passion to deliver something folks really desire or need.

That, of course, means starting with the people we’re “serving.” With that in mind, I’ve organized this list by the people not the gifts.

For the “IN” Crowd

Be they 5, 50, 500 years old, these are the folks who hang with the coolest crowd. They know what’s “in” often before we’ve even heard it exists When we shop for them it’s good to keep in mind one rule: Timing is everything. What they want will be in short supply. Buy their dream gift early in the season.

Watch the popular searches, if you’re not sure. At the moment, these are the predictions for what will be hot this year.

PS3, Wii and Elmo were among the top 15 product searches on Yahoo! Shopping, according to Chris Saito, the company’s vice president of products. Elmo placed at No. 13 on the list. — CNN Money

For the Musical Kids in All of Us

Toys that work with our MP3 players. C’mon they’re not just for kids.

Mattel Singing Barbie

Singing Barbie is a diva. Yep she’s a diva with all of her hair. This Barbie will answer her cell when you put it up to her ear. I’m sure some human divas don’t do that or do that well. The doll will perform three prerecorded tunes or will “lip sync” and dance to songs on your MP3 player.

Mattel’s “I Can Play Guitar System” takes Guitar Hero to a new level. Plug the minature into the TV, match the color-coded song notes to the color-coded finger position buttons along the shorter strings. Earn points and move up through the levels. $99.99

Hasbro’s “Power Tour Electric Guitar,” is made in partnership with Gibson. This minature electric guitar has 4 play modes, 12 preloaded songs, and can plug into an MP3 player.

For That Favorite Techie

To know a techie is to love one. To love one is to know that they have precise tastes. When in doubt, let them pick what they want.

Take phones, for example, a blackberry user wouldn’t be caught with an iPhone. Jeremiah suspects the Nokia could lighten his equipment load because of it’s 5 megapixel camera. It’s often a matter of individual needs and preferences. Buying a phone these days is like buying a car. The research takes 53 times longer than the purchase.

The Flip is popular, especially among nontechies– like me — trying out video. Emily Price is an expert on camcorders. I’m not even going to pretend to know more than what I’ve already said on the subject so far. Michael Carr at About.com discusses digital cameras in every price range. Digital Photography Review can keep you up to date on which cameras are popular.

Some folks just like to know where they are . . . Check out GPS devices.

One Laptop Per Child Laptop

Though someone told me yesterday he wants a Macbook Pro and another said she was looking at cool laptops. Before you buy me either, I’m wondering whether I want to wait for Tablet.

Still most everyone agrees, you could do worse than this Give One Get One laptop deal.

For Folks Who Love Low-Tech Too

Low tech can be incredibly elegant.

Which of the moleskines is your favorite? I’m partial to the tiny cahier ones that fit in my back pocket without discomfort.

An elegant writing instrument can make what we say seem more important. A note written with a beautiful pen seems to have more meaning.

Levenger Leather Shirt Briefcase

Anyone with too little space or a collection out of control might be turned on by elegant organizers.

That graduate in that first career job might like something elegant to carry and use in business situations.

Then, of course, there’s tickets to trips, concerts, plays, games, and special events.

For Folks Who Don’t Treat Themselves

Some folks seem to have everything they need. For these folks, why not try a twist on the usual to offer them some luxury they wouldn’t get for themselves?

Instead of a new bathrobe . . . the most expensive, luxurious bath towels. Every day will feel like a royal stay at a fine hotel.

J Crew cashmere scarf

Instead of gloves, and hat . . . a cashmere scarf. When they wear it to the grocery store, they will feel as if they are going to an oscar-award event.

Instead of a new blanket or sheets for the bed . . . a fabulous new pillow or a feather bed. What better gift than beautiful sleep?

Think smaller, but more luxurious.

Holiday gift giving is a perfect time to practice Steve Farber’s Extreme Leadership philosophy, Do what you love in service to those who love what you do. It’s a great philosophy in business and life that fits any time, anyplace, anywhere.

How will you match the perfect gift to each person on your list this year?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

Be sure to check the Wall Street Journal for more information on perks Online Retailers will be offering this holiday season.

How to Think Like a Millionaire and Be What You Want to Be

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Congratulations! You’ve Won!

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How would do if you won lots of money?
Most folks who win the lottery don’t do so well. The headlines shout out their stories.

Most lottery winners are bankrupt in 5 years. Why is that?

Millionaire Thinking

Google the search string think like a millionaire [without quotation marks], and you’ll find that exact phrase still shows up on page 35 of the search results. Obviously, the idea that millionaires think differently is accepted wisdom.

Suppose your goal is to retire a millionaire. What would it take to get yourself there?

Becoming a millionaire takes the same passion, focus, drive, and vision as any job goal you might set.

Whether you aspire to be the headmaster of the school where you teach, the top research biologist, or an Olympic gymnast, without incredible luck, you just won’t get there, unless you . . .

  • a. believe it’s possible.
  • b. decide that nothing will stop you.

World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov didn’t get to be the best by thinking that he would never be at that level. Nicole Kidman didn’t become an A-List Actress and the highest paid public speaker in history by waiting for chances to come to her. Ian Fleming wasn’t dreaming about who’d play James Bond when he wrote the first book in the series.

All three of them knew where they were going and they got there.

“If you want to achieve something you have never had before, you must become someone you’ve never been before.” –Jill Koenig in her book, How to Become a Millionaire.

Let’s follow her thinking a little further.

“I am not talking about ‘fake it ’til you make it.’ I am talking about redirecting your thoughts, energy and actions into the type of person who would absolutely manifest that Goal.”

So what does Jill say that she did? You can find it her article with the same name as her book, How to Become a Millionaire.
This author who has become a millionaire and an expert in the field of strategic goal setting lays the path in plain language. To become a millionaire, she paid attention to millionaires whom she admired, using their actions as models. The path Jill Koenig took is set out plainly. You could do and so could I.

7 Traits Millionaires Have in Common

  1. Millionaires rise early, show up, and keep their promises. Hard work doesn’t scare them.

  2. Millionaires invest time in motivational activities and personal development.

  3. Millionaires keep a regular routine — one they know keeps on their “best game.”

  4. Millionaires keep their heads and hearts point toward their destiny.

  5. Millionaires see opportunity, not obstacles.

  6. Millionaires know how to say “no,” to a negative influence.

  7. Millionaires are people other folks want to do business with, or they could never have become millionaires.

Go ahead, replace the word millionaire with any goal or role you might long for. Those traits define peak performance and people we like to work with.

Any peak performer owns his or her goal. Don’t just wish. As Ghandi said, “Be the change.” Make your goal your identity. Once you do, people around you will start to agree and the support will move you toward where you’re going.

Be a millionaire or be something even better. If you are willing to become your goal, you’ll get there. You’re the only one who can talk you out of it.

It’s a matter of being willing to win.

Can you think like a millionaire?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

25 Outstanding Links to Help You Write a Compelling Tagline

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An Internet of Taglines

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Writing a tagline can seem an overwhelming task. How do you pack all of that promise into four or five simple words that will resonate with the folks you want to reach?

I discussed the strategy behind taglines yesterday.

To fill out the information, I thought I might reseach what some other folks are saying. Here’s the best I found from around the blogosphere. They are 25 to add to the one I wrote yesterday.

  1. Several Links and Information worth exploring: Channel 9 Tagline/Strapline Contest!

  2. Tag Lines Can Make Or Break Your Advertising

  3. A Good Tagline Is A Terrible Thing To Waste

  4. Wag the Tagline – The Rhetoric of Brand Messaging

  5. Tag, You’re It: Benefiting From a Memorable Tagline

  6. The Phrase that Pays- Creating a Tagline You Can Take to the Bank

  7. Tagline – your brand mantra

  8. How a Great Tagline can Help your Business

  9. Drew McLellan: Is a Tagline Part of the Brand?

  10. Does this Tagline “Get it Done?”

  11. That’s not a tagline!

  12. Taglines – Why Your Brand Needs a Tagline

  13. Got tagline? Arrrggghh!!

  14. Tagline Basics

  15. Are You Tagging? Create a Successful Tagline for Your Business

  16. Zzzzzz…Oh, was that a Tagline?

  17. Create a Winning Tagline: The Best Column You Can Get for a Box of Chocolate

  18. Playing with some homeschool stereotypes

  19. The Power of Taglines: Take My Tagline Test!

  20. 1% company ownership for a tagline

    21. Software and Other Related Posts

  21. YouTube Digger Tagline Poll

  22. Tagline Randomizer for WordPress

  23. RANDOM TAGLINE MANAGER

  24. Job description of a movie tagline writer: Big Screen, a Few Small Words

  25. How To: Hide Title and Tagline

Sometimes immersion is the best way to get to know how to do something.

I gathered these links as a resource. Everyone needs a different sort of support when it comes executing the vision of a business that customers will see. Find the ones that suit you and take the wisdom you need.

What words will you use to define your promise in a tagline?
Want to test a few? Write them in the comment box here.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
If you’d like Liz to help you find your strategy, click on the Work with Liz!! page in the sidebar.

Related
3.2: Three Steps to a Killer Tagline that Customers Pass On
Strategy: 40 Outstanding Blog Links, Bookmark Carefully!
20 Blog Promotion Guides to Inform Your Strategy
Strategy: How to Get Maximum Benefit from Complex Link Lists
The 5-Point Strategy to a Powerful Network

How to Master an Overwhelming To Do List

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Worse than herding Cats

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I admit it. To my thinking, one thing is worse than herding cats. It’s wrestling with the things I have to do. In my world, a To Do List can quickly get overwhelming. It can be filled with things I don’t know how to do, little things that are labor intensive, and too many things that are unrelated yet need getting done in the same time period. It always seems that part of the list is extremely URGENT and can’t wait for my learning curve. I can’t get to done that way.

How to Master an Overwhelming To Do List

To Do items are in the flow of things when there are only a few. When there are many, I have to get out of the details to where I can see to move them into a organizational groups. These are key steps to mastering a To Do List.

Every item I write begins with a verb. When appropriate, they begin with “Learn to” to remind me that they need more time and more steps.

  1. Brain dump. Write all of the items down a list in any order. Do it first thing in the morning, or last thing — to be able to hit the ground running when a new day begins. Get them out of your head and on paper or on computer. A spreadsheet works nice. It allows one item per box, and they’re easily movable.
  2. URGENT Sort. Group those things that are URGENT. Define URGENT as something of high consequence will be impaired, if this action does not happen in the next 24 hours. Calculate the amount of time these actions will take. If the time to do them is less than the time you have, get help now. Set the rest aside until the URGENT list is under control. Looking for URGENT items should be routine. Finding them should be rare.
  3. Action Sort. Sort all projects three ways to get things done. Group actions that are better done together. Two criteria rule this step: time sensitivity and power to make things happen.
    • HOT List. Sort everything about the most time-sensitive (HOT) project. List all related actions that need to be executed in the next 2-3 days. First apply these two questions to the HOT project. Then apply the questions to the whole list you have made.
    • What can I do in a few minutes that will get someone else working when I move on to the next item? List these so that you can do them first. Two people working move two parts forward.
    • What similar things can I do in series to save time? List like activities together, if doing them that way will save time. Blocking time to make all phone calls or writing all email related to the HOT project can save bundles of time. When is the best time in your day to do each type of task?
    • Quick Hits List. Sort short 5-10 minute tasks that are not HOT!! but need to be done in a timely fashion. This list is one to keep close. When a few minutes open up, or a piece of writing gets stuck, you’ll be able to grab the list to move something forward. Then switch back to regularly scheduled programming.
    • To Do List. Sort the remaining items. List them by their importance and time sensitivity. Then schedule them into the next 2-3 days.
  4. When new actions anitems arise add them to the list where they fit.
  5. Have a partner on call for emergencies. Some folks, like me, are drawn up to the macro level, we work well organizing strategy. We work best at the 30,000-foot view. Other folks are down to drill down to the beauty of details to build structure at the micro view. When time is short and a pile of action details demand attention, nothing compares to a working partnership — one person sorts the relationships, the other makes the lists.

Attend to the HOT List immediately. Attend to the Quick Hits as time opens — carry it with you to take advantage of opportunities wherever they arise. Attend to the To Do List when you have scheduled each item. Turn off interruptions when you’re working. Revisit your plan every morning to sort, list, and schedule the day.

You might think that three lists are more work than one, but in fact, three shorter lists allow focus and save time when scanning for the next thing to do. The key, of course, is to list everything that needs doing and doing everything on the lists.

Did I just confuse you?

–ME “Liz” Straus
To follow the entire series: Liz Strauss’ Inside-Out Thinking to Building a Solid Business, see the Successful Series Page.

Is Your Business Stuck? I’ve Found a Way to Help

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Here’s How We Can Make It Work

In the last few months, many people have come to me because their business is stuck. I try to help when I can, but my time is growing thinner and thinner, and so am I. Still it tears at me to turn away someone who I know I could help get going just sharing what I already know.

I also suspect there are more who would come if they could, but they feel that they can’t afford to ask. In the same way, I can’t afford to help everyone who asks or I would never see my family. Well, maybe I would when they took our home, because I gave too much away.This problem has been on my mind for some time, because strategy and helping are joys and the two things I do best naturally.

You read my blog. You know I think on problems until I solve them. Today, I can say, I think I’ve got an answer to this one.

I’m Pleased to Announce

The Start-up Strategy Package

The Start Strategy Package is a personal consultation in which I get to know you and together we define and focus your business. We look at who you are, who you want to be, and the ways that you can get there. In a focused set of conversations and communications, we’ll get you started with the right direction and the energy to move forward.

You’ll have

  • a definition of your customer
  • a definition of your product or service
  • a name and tagline for your business
  • next steps to move forward

For a limited time, I’ve put together The Start-up Strategy Package that I extend to entrepreneurs who are stuck or just starting out. We’ll work to define your customer, your product or service, and your company name and tagline. The payment plan is an investment of US$250 as a first payment plus a second $150 payment due one month later or the equivalent in services. (for details let’s talk). If you’re interested email me at lizsun2 @ gmail [dot] com with the subject line The Start-up Strategy Package.

Due to the nature of this offer, I’ll only be able to help one client at a time for limited hours, but at least the helping out will be able to keep going.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Behind every successful business there is an outstanding manager. — The Perfect Virtual Manager.

PS. I have to go to the DMV now to renew my driver’s license. So don’t think I’m ignoring you.