Work for Your Worth...

Tweet I hear people tell me that they aren’t paid what they are worth. All too often, I think they are worried about getting paid to the level that they work, and not “I am working at the level that I expect to get paid.” I remember a great leader that I once worked for at Lowe’s. Dale was the COO of the store where I worked in college, and he went on to have a hugely successful retail career. He recounted his quick rise through management to me one day. Dale was hired as “the...

Business Seem Overwhelming? Lean Into It...

Tweet Sometimes business is completely out of control. Deadlines, emails, telephone calls, meetings, proposals, and then you actually have the work that you are supposed to deliver. In addition, competitors seek to take the next deal from you, you must keep your clients happy, and oh yeah, the economy is at an all time low. You are powerless against the external factors, so you might as well just lean into it. We’ve seen tidal waves decimate villages, flood cities, and kill hundreds of thousands, but...

My Company, Eluminare, is Merging with B...

Tweet In 2008, I started a Marketing company, Eluminare, that initially focused on internet marketing and lead generation. The success of the company has exceeded my expectations and those of my clients. It has grown from Internet marketing into virtualized marketing executive consultancy, and most recently it has focused on “growth” consulting with clients. Now, only two years later, it is my great pleasure to announce the merger of Eluminare with Bluegill Creative. So, what’s a Bluegill...

Consultants, Freelancers, Lend Me Your E...

Tweet Do you ever read something that seems to haunt you? I woke up in the middle of the night in cold sweats thinking about this one. I read a Seth Godin post over the weekend, and, as usual, his words struck a chord. This time, however, I could not just post a tweet and go on about my business. I was struck by this one line: Employees and freelancers that produce more than they cost are worth hiring. Too often, it seems, that we can hide behind rationalizations for what we do. We paint these pictures with...

Planting Vision...

Tweet For the past four weeks I have spent Weekends working long hours in the yard. After, as the wife says, neglecting the yard for several years, I am interested and excited in transforming dirt into something beautiful. While laboring away under the hot sun with the assistance of a few fine friends (kids aged 7 and 2), I have reflected on the fun torture that was working with my dad in the yard when I was young. In particular, I remember one event where my dad had created a raised bed in front of their...

Get the Tip...

Tweet Why do we tip 15% and not 10%? 20% instead of 15%? Sure, it is some sort of ransom “to insure prompt service,” but really we tip based upon our expectations. If we expect lousy service and they exceed the expectations, we generously tip. If we expect Class A service but are delivered a Waffle House experience, we stroke some appalling number on the credit card slip as to make sure they “get the message.” At lunch yesterday, the poor waiters were terribly short-staffed. Two...

Business Advice from American Idol: Pick...

Tweet Adam has some great business advice–Lambert, not Smith, that is. When given the choice, do you look for the “long shot” or the “sure bet?” This guy’s voice gets on my nerves, and I am generally not a fan. However, he consistently picks the sure bet. Within every genre, he has selected the song that turns the judges into bobble heads. Sure, he has a good voice, but out of the 50,000 contestants these finalists all have good voices.  Plus, they practice 8 hours a day,...

New Rules in the Sales in the Age of Con...

Tweet Publish at Scribd or explore others: Internet & Technolog Presentations & Slid sales tools Also, take a look at this Squidoo...

Do it...

Tweet Seth wrote: The only thing worse than starting something and failing… is not starting something. Reminds me of a GK Chesterton quote: Anything worth doing is worth doing badly. What aren’t you doing that you should be? What are you scared to mess...

Launching a Money Saving Site for Knoxvi...

Tweet Spokes Marketing has launched Coupon Katie–a site devoted to sharing money-saving tips–in Knoxville. There are a number of “coupon” sites on the web, but this site is dedicated to hyperlocal stories about saving some money. As I like to say, “Saving Green is the new Black.” As Katie says: The goal of this website is to simply inform you of the best deals here in the Knoxville, TN area and to help you develop your own Coupon Strategy.  Although I am here in Knoxville,...