Bonjour Y'all!

For more than 85 years, great things have been happening at our Harbor Playhouse.  But while the show went on, the building fell into serious disrepair, development efforts became unfocused, and our beloved theatre came in serious danger of closing its doors forever.

In March, I became part of a team of professionals led by Brucie Moore, Carla Gardiner, and myself.  We were planning a party to promote the upcoming run of Les Misérables.  However, priorities quickly shifted.

Soon, we were managing operations.  Brucie oversaw efforts and a renovation project, seeking donors to help fund replacement of rundown and overused doors, flooring, the roof, and other parts of the Playhouse building.  Carla took on the role of Interim Executive Director, like Brucie, eating, sleeping, and breathing all things theatre.  I primarily worked on marketing and development odds and ends.  

We worked through much sweat and many tears with Bonnie Rodda, Connie Cone, Becky Gardner, and many others.  A few weeks ago, when The Crucible was opening, all the Playhouse A/C units went out, right in the middle of lobby renovations and just before youth theatre camp.  A plea to supporters and the general public resulted in those bills getting paid.  The renovation could continue!  Our amazing community and their support had saved us!

Bonjour Y'all, the party our group was initially tasked with planning, will be held this Monday, June 24th at 5:30pm at Brewster Street Icehouse.  Harbor Playhouse and its patrons will give a BIG Texas Howdy to all things French in honor of Les Misérables, which opens July 19^th. We'll have Champagne and Shiner Bock, Croissants and BBQ, and delicate French pastries served with Blue Bell ice-cream.  Of course, you can also count on a great deal of Ooh la la and Boot Scootin'!

Please plan to join us, Honorary Chairs, Kathy and Joe Adame, and the many community leaders, local business, and volunteers who are working hard to ensure the Harbor Playhouse will enter into its second act.  Tickets are $100 and available by calling the Harbor Playhouse (882-5500) or purchasing at the door the night of the event.

 

We look forward to seeing y'all there!

 

 

Thank you, Chumbawamba

I've always wanted to make a good impression.  I worry about what other people think.  But one time, as a child, I went out on a limb and asked my very conservative aunt for a music CD that was unconventional, weird, and a little scary looking.  I wanted Chumbawamba's catchy new song, "Tubthumping".  And as uncomfortable as it was for me to ask for it, I was really glad I did when  I received my new CD that Christmas.

I've been working on a lot of projects lately, and with a lot of teams.  I have also had the opportunity to run face first into politics that were much more prevalent and convoluted than I ever could have imagined.

I know politics are commonplace.  But lately, I've gotten a close look at the deceit and dysfunction they can create.  It's unfortunate, and I am frustrated.  Often I feel defeated, as if there is no way out, and nothing left to do.  But sincere supporters who believe in me and what I am doing have come to surface.  To me, they have meant the world, especially as I try to navigate these tricky new waters.

Last night, I was working late, inspired by my mission, my friends, and their encouragement.  I starting getting excited about new ideas.  I had renewed energy.  And then, it came back from my childhood.  "Tubthumping" was playing in my head.

Right now, I find the idea of getting knocked down and getting up again all too familiar.  Lately, it seems half my time is spent on the floor, wondering if I ought to just stay there.  But no matter how discouraging our circumstances, we must always get up and keep trying.  We must keep working hard and moving forward.

Thank you, friends, for your inspiration and encouragement.  And thank you, Chumbawamba, for sticking with me, even after all these years.

Dusting Off the Blog-Webs

I have fallen into the trap I warn my clients about.  Worse than cobwebs, my blog has started to grow blog-webs.

The last month has been especially busy.  In addition to being swamped, I've been amazed to see that so many growing and learning opportunities can be packed into such a short window of time.  There have been highs, lows, challenges, and opportunities.  Perfect plans have fallen apart.  I leaned on friends and they leaned on me.  We picked up pieces and developed new plans for moving forward. 

Looking back, it's surprising to see there were more disappointments than I'd realized, a true testament to the impact high functioning teams and a positive attitude can have on challenging situations. 

I'm thankful for the opportunity to put things in perspective and see small setbacks for what they are, merely stepping stones that teach us and provide opportunities for us to dig in our heels and find a better way of working things out.  Rather thank licking wounds, I've learned to move quickly in working towards converting disappointments into something greater.

Take time to identify and learn from friends, mentors, and people you trust.  Then, when we need their lessons most, we will find them in ourselves and have the ability to share what we've learned with others.

Cat Love

I was asked to do a presentation on target markets for a group of local veterans who wanted to become small business owners.  I started the session with a video:

I knew the group I was speaking to would find my choice weird.  I knew they would probably think I was weird too.  But that's why this video was so purr-fect.

Knowing your target market means knowing what makes them tick.  It means relating to them and establishing a connection with them, allowing them to see that you understand their needs, beliefs, and concerns as if they were your own.

Although my class full of veterans wasn't nearly so amused with this video as I am, Whiskas helped them understand the importance of making marketing-related decisions that appeal and relate to the niche you are trying to attract.  This ad wasn't meant to appeal to everyone, but is a home run to people who are obsessed with their cats.

In our businesses, it's easy to fall into the trap of believing that everyone wants or needs our product or service.  However, our resources are limited, so it makes sense to focus efforts on select groups, or target markets, who are more likely to want and need us.

Has your small business identified its target market?  Help your target market see that you understand them and can meet their needs.  When we reach and relate to our target market, success is sure to follow.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

This week I took my car to Champion Honda for scheduled maintenance.  I was looking forward to downtime, clearing my head, and reading a new book on employee engagement.

In the quiet and spacious lobby, I picked a seat and threw my nose into my book.

Soon, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed an older woman walk in.  She was thin and petite.  She carried several bags.  As she entered, a staff member gave the woman a hug.  She dropped her belongings near mine and walked away.

I was uncomfortable the woman set up so close while twenty other seats open. (Yes, I counted.)  But I was still determined to avoid conversation and read my book.  The woman shuffled her feet as she paced the waiting room floor, back and forth, back and forth.  She came uncomfortably close and walked away, only to return again.

Now and then, another staff member would come in, greet the woman, and exchanged genuine pleasantries.  Employees even acknowledged the woman's latest knitting project.  Unintentionally, I lifted my gaze and made eye contact.  The woman, surprisingly kind looking, smiled, and I smiled back, quickly returning to my book.

When my husband arrived to give me a ride, we exchanged a quick hug and kiss.  "We don't allow that in here," the woman teased.  I joked that we promised to stop.  She had been looking for an opportunity to chat and had found an open window.

The woman I saw at Honda and the respect the team members there showed her perfectly aligned with the principles in the latest book I am reading, Carrots and Sticks Don't Work: Build a Culture of Employee Engagement with the Principles of RESPECT, by Paul L. Marciano.

As I reflect on my experience, I remain impressed with the respect the staff members at Champion Honda showed this woman.  Clearly, she was there often and wanted company and conversation in addition to whatever else she was waiting for.  But instead of being annoyed or curt, staff members were respectful.  They further cultivated and developed the relationship they had with the woman.

Respect is a basic and primal craving.  All of us need it.  All of us want it.  And though I started reading Carrots and Sticks to learn about employee engagement, I was thankful for the reminder that respect must be integrated, not only in the workplace, but in all other areas of life as well.  Without respect, relationships crumble. Everything falls apart.

I do believe Aretha Franklin was on to something...

Walt Disney and the Coffee Bean

I started listening to the Catholic Channel on SiriusXM.  I know, I know.  It sounds lame.  But their programming is engaging.  Ironically, every day they have me belly laughing in my car and getting funny looks from other drivers.

This past weekend, I turned on the Catholic Channel and the program host was talking about Walt Disney.  My ears perked up.  My attention was his.

The show host told a funny story about his daughters begging to watch the movie Bambi.  He fought hard but eventually gave in.  During the viewing, he was surprised to learn that Bambi, was in fact, a boy deer, not a girl.

Flashback.

When Walt Disney and his brother, Roy started making a lot of money, they bought their parents a nice new home in Burbank, CA.  Tragically, a furnace had problems and the Disney brothers' mother died of asphyxiation in 1938.  Walt Disney never spoke of this event, even to his children.  It was worse than tragic.  It changed his life forever.

In 1942, Walt Disney produced Bambi, the popular story of the little boy dear who lost his mother and had to learn to navigate the world alone.

The host of the talk show went on to talk about how bad things happen, but they can be used as a catalyst for something great.  If we turn things over to God and work hard, we can persevere.  Good things can come from bad.

The talk show host went on to discuss coffee beans.  Coffee beans aren't very useful independently.  However, hot water (perhaps unpleasant for coffee beans) helps them realize their true purpose.  The hot water allows the coffee bean to become something greater.

Life and business present challenges.  Bad things happen.  Sometimes things don't go our way.  But even when things don't seem right, good can come. 

Remember Walt Disney.  Let your coffee inspire you.  Keep the faith and never give up.

Little Effort. Big Impression.

My husband has been working hard.  Really hard.  So I agreed to attend a career fair this weekend in hopes of recruiting some relief.  In preparation for this career fair, I created a full bleed tri-fold brochure. 

Since my background is corporate, I've never had to worry about getting things printed.  They just were.  So on Friday, I dropped off my first full-bleed brochure to a print company.  I let Michael, the man behind the counter, know I needed 500 copies no later than close of business Friday. 

Michael could get 100 brochures done for $500.

 

His quote was high, but Michael was willing to help.  He admitted what I needed wasn't their speciality.  Their equipment was meant to copy, not trim and fold.

Michael could have said he couldn't help.  He could have told me to take it or leave it.  Instead, he suggested I look into alternatives with other print shops.  He said he would still be glad to help if I couldn't find a better deal.

 

I’m grateful to Michael.  The effort was small on his part, and although he didn't win my work, he was honest.  He was patient.  He impressed me by giving me the opportunity to evaluate other options, knowing full well I would probably do business elsewhere.

I did find a print shop that could print 500 brochures for a reasonable price.  I saved money, but also learned a bit about print and copy shops.  More importantly, I learned to keep Michael in mind the next time I need something his business can help me with. 

Kudos, Michael!  It's nice having someone look out for your best interest.

Let customer service help solidify your client relationships.  Putting customers first always makes a great impression.

Be Inspired

While participating in a yoga teacher training, my friend, Michelle, who brought the class to Corpus Christi, gave some great advice.  She wisely suggested we take a trip, attend a workshop, and learn from teachers who inspire us most when we need new ideas and motivation.

As a new yoga teacher, I have kept this in mind.  I continue to study, read, and learn so I can stay motivated, and in turn, better help my students.

Recently, I realized that Michelle's advice transfers to other areas of life as well.  This is especially so in business.

Near the end of last year, I found myself burning out from taking on too much and trying to support too many causes.  I stepped back and tried to do less.  Surprisingly, I found myself becoming lazy and unmotivated.  I had difficulty gearing up and being ready for the opportunities and challenges of a new year.

All this quickly changed as I affiliated with new causes, such as the South Texas Council of the Boy Scouts.  I became inspired and rejuvenated by passionate staff members and volunteers.  I attended a professional workshop where I reignited my passion for learning and small business.

During my yoga teacher training, our teacher, Christina, commented to me that "if your class is boring, it is because you are boring."  There is much wisdom in these words, which also transfer easily to business.

As leaders, we must remain energized.  We must stay motivated and informed so we can inspire our team, our subordinates, and our clients to do the same.

My challenge to you (and myself): Keep motivated.  Inspire yourself.  In so doing, encourage those around you.

Lauren

When I was in college, one of my favorite business professors reminded us, "Today is a gift. That's why it's called the present."

A few days ago, the news reported that a Corpus Christi woman was killed in a three-car collision.  The news was tragic, but I later learned that victim wasn't just a Corpus Christi woman.  She was a former co-worker and friend.

Lauren passed away at only 29 years of age.  Her death is especially sad and tragic, as it happened just after Christmas.  Her fiancee was driving in front of her at the time of the accident.

Lauren was engaged to be married.  She had recently become a professional engineer.  She had worked hard, and it had paid off.  Everything seemed to be coming together perfectly.

I've been thinking a lot about Lauren, although I hadn't seen her in a while.  I can't believe she's gone.  I don't understand what gives some of us the opportunity to experience a new year, while others of us don't get that chance.

2013 is a time for starting over.  It's a time for hope and reaching towards unmet goals. 

I know, that I, personally, took the new year for granted.  I assumed I'd be here and have the chance to try again, improve, and take on new things.  Not all of us were so fortunate.

The reality is that "now" is the only thing we're guaranteed.  If you've been meaning to do something, if you've been reassessing priorities, now is the time to take action.

I'm so sad that Lauren is gone.  My heart breaks for her fiancee, her family, and her loved ones.  I can't make sense of her tragedy.  I can only be reminded to give thanks for the new year and new start I and so many of us were given.

May God bless you and forever keep you, Lauren.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

When I started my career, the end of November and December brought peace, quiet, and a great opportunity for reflection, planning, and catch up.  Things got slow.  Coworkers and clients took vacation.  A skeleton crew was in place.  It was the perfect time to start a personal pot of coffee and tackle that perpetual "when I have time..." task list.

This year, I've been looking forward to December for that very reason.  2012 has been busy.  I, like others, have been ready to dial down intensity a bit and reflect on strategies and challenges with a fresh perspective.  I wanted to use my remaining time in 2012 to plan ahead and position better for 2013.  I was going to come up with great creative ways to build upon what I've done since starting my business.  And my desk?  It was finally going to get cleaned off.  It would be immaculate.

Despite my good intentions, the calendar has remained especially full.  Things haven't slowed down.  Thankfully, work has been steady, and planning ahead and catching up on "it would be nice" projects continues to look like a luxury of years past.

Like Santa, I've made my list. I've checked it twice.  I might not get to everything, but I've established priorities and am determined to schedule in time for catch up. 

The calendar isn't clear, but now is as good a time as any. 

What nagging tasks can you and your business tackle before the year's end?

Pep Talk

My husband and I recently opened our home to an exchange student.  Since August, we have been touring Pierre around.  We've been to Fiesta Texas and the River Walk in San Antonio.  We went to an Aggie football game in College Station.  We explored Houston, and most recently, Washington, D.C.  We  bought Pierre occasional gifts and French cookbooks to welcome him to our family and encouraging him to share culture with us.  We drove him to early morning cross country practice, taught him to play catch, helped him sign up for drivers ed and get a driving permit.  Most recently, we created a huge collection of classic Christmas movies to share.

In recent months, we had behavior issues with Pierre.  After ongoing talks with him, the agency, and even his parents, we knew things would get better.

However, Thanksgiving night, Pierre picked a fight.  I told him to sleep on things.  We could talk the next day.  He continued arguing and told us he wanted to live with another family.  With a shaky voice and tears in my eyes, I called our local agency contact to have Pierre picked up.  I emailed agency headquarters and Pierre's parents, apologizing that things did not go better.

In the past week, we have heard nothing from anyone.  Pierre has deleted us as friends on Facebook.  His parents and the agency have been silent.  My husband and I can't help but feel angry, frustrated, and, more than anything else, used.

I keep trying to spin this experience so it's less personal.  I keep thinking about sunk costs in business, hoping that will make it easier to cope.  Like sunk costs, our experience is in the past.  We can't change our decision to host.  We can't get the money or time we spent back.

Then, I am reminded of volunteering with the homeless, giving out jackets and sandwiches.  I remember the shock of being asked for a different color jacket, or a sandwich with a different kind of lunch meat.  I remember how frustrating it is to give and not be appreciated.  However, I also remember that lack of appreciation by a few is no reason to quit. 

As sad and hurt as we are, it's time to stop looking back.  In life and in business, when challenges come up and things don't go as planned, we must pick up the pieces.  We must refocus our efforts and build ourselves up.  We must recognize we've tried our best, learn what we can, and move on.

The Harder We Work, the Luckier We Get

My mom is a huge fan of Aggie athletics.  When I was growing up, one game was often on the radio while several others were being flipped to and from on TV.  One weekend, and I'm sure pretty this has only happened once or twice in history, A&M lost a game.  My mom was devastated.  She lamented the opposing team "always being so lucky!"  My dad didn't empathize for a second.  He said "the harder people work, the luckier they get," and left the room.

Despite agreeing with my mom and being sad about our Aggies, my dad's comment stuck with me.  I have found his words to be relevant and inspiring in sports, but also in business.  As such, I'm a firm believer in staying busy, learning more, and always pushing to accomplish or attend one more thing.

Keeping active increases your personal network.  It exposes you to new opportunities, friends, and business contacts.  It often also provides information you can use to help yourself or others.

In college, I joined my dad at a Kiwanis meeting.  I met the speaker, the marketing director for the local chapter of the American Red Cross, who later provided my first internship.

After college, I got involved with Texas A&M's Association of Former Students.  My new connections led me to a great job at HDR Engineering.

At a recent training session, I facilitated a discussion that encouraged attendees to talk, brainstorm, and make suggestions for each other.  Many people left with great contacts and new ideas that would have been missed out on had they stayed at home.

The stories go on and on, but the positive results are the same.

Make something similar be your experience.

Lady luck is waiting.

Enough is Enough

There are a lot of things I like about marketing.  I like that there are many paths and multiple solutions.  I like that there is opportunity for creativity.  I like that there aren't rules, but best practices and metrics that can help us make sure we're on the right track.

One thing I'm not a huge fan of is invasive advertising.

Don't get me wrong.  As a marketer and business owner, I know properly placed advertising can help communicate and attract prospects.  As a consumer, I like advertising when it helps me make decisions and learn who provides products and services I need.  But in recent years, ads are everywhere, willing and able to annoy and bombard us at every corner.  And there are some places ads just don't belong.  My Kindle is such a place.

A few years ago, my husband bought me my first Kindle.  I had sworn off electronic readers in favor of real books, but quickly saw the appeal of e-readers.  Recently, we started looking at upgrades, finding that new Kindles are cheaper, but include ads.

At one store, a vendor offered me a deep discount if I would only take the Kindle with ads.  I tried to buy it.  I really did.  But in the end, I had to decline.  Ads are everywhere, and I needed to take a stand.  I couldn't let them invade my quiet reading sanctuary time too.  My old Kindle would have to do.

Monday, my husband surprised me with a new Kindle.  The one without the ads.  The one he had to order special, just for this strange quirky marketer he married.  But thanks to his thoughtfulness, my reading haven remains!

Even marketers need an occasional advertising break.

It Takes a Team

I love working for myself.  I make my own hours, call my own shots, and do what I love.  However, I miss the brainstorming and encouragement that comes with being part of a team.

This weekend, my Kiwanis Club had its annual apple sale.  Because my schedule is flexible, I took on extra responsibility planning and publicizing.  I wanted to grow our sale and ensure our Club raised as much money as possible.

Things were going well, and presales were high.  Then, I learned our apple order was cut.  The unapproved decision was a devastating blow.  We had worked so hard.  Personally, I had taken on way too much, only to find those efforts wouldn’t pay off as I had planned.  I knew the answer was to persevere anyway, but I couldn’t.  I was burnt out and let the setback deflate me.  I felt frustrated, angry, and powerless to make a difference.

The day of the sale, I talked with my friends, and learned they shared my disappointment.  I was reminded of the children we fundraise for, and inspired by those who came out to support our efforts.  My spirits were lifted by a team of friends who were anxious to remind me of all the progress we had made and the ways we could do better next year.

We didn’t achieve the lofty goals I had hoped for, but we sold out and our team raised the money needed to continue funding Driscoll Children’s Hospital’s Camp for All.

As for the increased volume?  I am confident we’ll achieve that next year.

 

 

Good Things are Happening Here!

Sure, my blog is meant to discuss marketing and business.  But sometimes, I will shamelessly use it to plug things I’m involved with.  Today is such a day.

Corpus Christi Under 40 recognizes local young professionals who exemplify professional and civic achievement.  Each year, nominations are solicited throughout the community and a selection committee picks Corpus Christi’s best.  These recipients are recognized at a breakfast with the Mayor and a party where recipients can hang out with old friends and meet new ones.

In 2009, I was recognized by CCU40.  Despite considering myself relatively well connected, the Mayor’s Breakfast blew my mind.  I was surrounded by young people who are accomplishing amazing things.  Most of them were people I’d never seen.  I wanted to continue supporting the organization that brought these people to surface.  I have nominated professionals and been in involved with CCU40 ever since.  Currently, I’m serving as program co-chair with my new friend, Julie Bedsole.

Since 2006, CCU40 has been supported by our local Chamber of Commerce.  In 2012, we teamed with Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, which has been an amazing partnership already.

In addition to recognizing young people in our community, CCU40 gives back annually to our community.  This year, we are proud to share proceeds with Corpus Christi Metro Ministries.

Many good things are being done in our community, but lack publicity.  Corpus Christi is filled with opportunities to make and impact.  It is my hope that, if we continue to recognize and promote the positive, others will come to appreciate our community more, and become inspired enough to get involved as well.

I hope you will consider supporting CCU40.  Nomination applications are available at www.ccu40.org and will be taken until midnight November 2^nd.  Help us promote the good things that are happening here!

 

 

 

 

The Trouble with Blogs

I recently facilitated training where participants asked about the value of creating a blog.  I advised them that blogs help generate fresh content and keywords, which increases a website’s visibility to search engines.  Blogs also help friends, colleagues, clients, and others learn more about you and what you’re doing.  For business purposes, this can help increase brand loyalty and client engagement.

Creating a blog can seem like a great idea, but it can also be difficult to find the time and discipline to write on a regular basis.

Some people blog daily.  I knew I couldn’t pull that off, so I strive for every week… or two… or so…

In my opinion, the problem with blogs comes when a website links to a blog that is the web equivalent of a ghost town.

This seems to be the case with most of the small businesses in Corpus Christi.  A blog is set up.  Maybe it has a post.  But after the initial effort, nothing.

If a blog is something you want to do, I recommend taking the time and effort to use it to your advantage.  Let your customers know what’s new.  Help them understand things that will help them out.  Teach them more about your area of expertise.

If blogging isn’t your thing, perhaps it’s best to focus on another means of engagement.  After all, it’s often better to acknowledge time constraints and limitations than to refer clients and prospects to an empty and abandoned shell of what you meant to do.

Yoga Marketing

Last year, I completed a 200 hour yoga teacher training program offered by the Yoga Studio of Corpus Christi.  Despite my curiosity about yoga, my professional background made me especially interested in a session called “Business of Yoga.”  As the course progressed, our instructor worked to fit in thousands of years’ worth of history and wisdom, but ended up with only a short discussion on business.  I couldn’t complain though.  Our year was packed with so many good things.

I eventually taught a yoga weekly class, but dropped it when I started my business.  I continue helping as a sub, but no longer practice or teach as much as I’d like.

Yesterday, I was driving to sub at the Yoga Studio of Corpus Christi, and began reminiscing about great teachers who have inspired me.  I thought about friends and remembered the genuine and unconditional acceptance I always felt at the yoga studio. 

Then it dawned on me.  During teacher training, I had looked forward to a weekend focused on business.  When, in fact, my lesson was all around me.

Yoga teachers are taught to empower and care for others, while cultivating peace, beauty, and goodness.  Teachers offer themselves completely in service to help others. 

Shouldn’t this be the case in business and marketing?  Can you imagine companies wanting to know and understand you, their target market, all so they can better serve?  Who wouldn’t love to do business with people who truly care?

It turns out, I got my “Business of Yoga” training after all.

First Impressions

One of my favorite slogans is from an ad I’d never seen.  A teacher once told my class, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”  What I later learned to be a Head and Shoulders tagline has stuck with me for years. 

Right now, I’m witnessing this tagline in action.

My husband and I are hosting a French exchange student who arrived last week.  Pierre is a really great kid, but his English is limited.  The judgments he makes remind me of the importance of visual appeal and first impressions.

At the grocery store, I asked Pierre to pick out cereal for breakfast. His preference?  Cocoa Puffs.

On his first day of school, Pierre wasn’t sure which group in the gym was his track class.  So he went to the class with students that appealed to him most.  Cheerleading.

At the mall, Pierre quickly found a black t-shirt with white writing that reads, “Overdosed on Confidence.”  My husband and I tried to explain what the shirt meant.  We tried to help Pierre understand the innuendo associated with the word “overdose.” Pierre didn’t mind.  He said that in France, people wear shirts because, despite not knowing what they mean, they look cool.

Every day, people make judgments based on what they see.  And though most of us do speak and read English well, the lesson remains.  Whether an advertisement, a memo, our appearance, or our website, impressions matter. 

Always strive to make your first impression a great one.

 

 

 

 

Opportunity is Knocking

Last week, Del Mar College hosted “The Big Event”.  The seminar featured topics related to our region’s Booming Oilfields, International Trade, and Government Contracting. 

Experts addressed Eagle Ford Shale and anticipated regional impact.  State Representative Todd Hunter spoke about his intent to bring the cruise ship industry to Corpus Christi.  Sandy Sanders, Deputy Director of the Port of Corpus Christi, talked about huge projects that are underway, including the La Quinta Trade Gateway Terminal Project and preparations to ready the Corpus Christi Ship Channel in preparation of the Panama Canal widening and deepening.

With all this opportunity and activity around us, businesses should be positioning to get their share of the pie.  That’s where Del Mar’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) came in.

PTAC representatives provided information about how to register with the U.S. government and be considered for projects.  They discussed procurement systems and how to search for government project opportunities.  They also arranged for groups such as the Small Business Administration (SBA) to discuss programs geared towards helping small and disadvantaged businesses compete in the federal procurement market.  Representatives from local, federal, and municipal entities were also present, all willing to offer small and local businesses a hand. 

“The Big Event” affirmed that no matter what your industry, big happenings in our region translate to significant opportunity for all of us.

All this great, but useless, unless we do something with it.  So the “Big Question” now becomes: With so much opportunity knocking, will our small and local businesses answer?

Forcing the Love

The Olympics are in full-swing and celebrity endorsements are commonplace, which reminds me of a recent “guerilla endorsement” I got to make. 

My Volkswagen has ongoing issues, including a sun roof and electronic mirrors that move on their own, which scares me since I don’t know what else will do the same.  I was dreading another appointment, more inconvenience, and the dealership’s denial of my issues, until I was told I would be given a loaner.  “Hooray,” I thought!  “What a nice, unexpected gesture!”

The loaner had the dealership’s name all over it, looked like a Smart Car, and said “Peace and Love, My Friends” on the back, reinforcing a cheesy and obnoxious ad that makes my skin crawl.

I didn’t have an alternate means of transportation, so I took the loaner.  I would have preferred a root canal.

What initially looked like an act of goodwill quickly became an embarrassment and offense.

Thankfully, my car was back that afternoon (issues still an issue) and that love-mobile was returned to Volkswagen.

Certainly, we all want people to love our business.  But forced promotion under the guise of goodwill made a bad situation worse. It felt crummy to drive around town advertising and promoting a car and dealership that have continued to let me down and let issues with my car go unresolved. 

I don’t love them.  I don’t like them.  And yet, I was forced to promote them.

Next time, I’ll pass on the loaner... and on purchasing a Volkswagen.