The Race and The Chase

Do you remember chasing anything as a kid? … chasing friends while playing tag. … chasing your pet dog as he was running away with the chew toy. … chasing your dad around the house, eventually falling in a heap on the couch and ending in a tickle fight. At some point, many of us …

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December 18, 2009 – 8:20 am | By DUST!N | Posted in brand you, human spirit, Personal Brand, Professional Development, Purpose, Success | Comments (0)

Lessons from the Sock Drawer

In our current economic situation, are you finding repeat business or intermittent sales? This may sound crazy, but the difference may be found in your sock drawer.  I’ll explain in a minute.  First, I want to point you to a story about a Chicago cupcake boutique.  Molly’s Cupcakes, located in Lincoln Park, serves gourmet cupcakes …

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November 13, 2009 – 4:30 pm | By DUST!N | Posted in Recession, Sales | Comments (4)

Embracing Embarrassment

Fear of failure is overrated. We don’t care as much about failing as we care about being embarrassed. Picture yourself on a baseball team. If there wasn’t a chance of losing the game, it wouldn’t be nearly as exciting to play hardball. The mantra is, “Win as a team and lose as a team.” Still, …

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November 6, 2009 – 8:00 am | By DUST!N | Posted in human spirit, Personal Brand, Purpose | Comments (0)

Why Hire Pros?

I have a friend who owns a restaurant business. He does all his own marketing and advertising… and he’s quite good at it.  It’s really fascinating to see what he comes up with and how tightly bound it is to his objectives and his brand.  Part of the fascination is of how rare he is. …

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September 25, 2009 – 11:11 am | By DUST!N | Posted in Ad Agency, Advertising, Marketing, Tulsa Ad Agency | Comments (2)

Pick a Fight

In her book The Creative Habit, Twyla Tharp gives several creative exercises. Creative Exercise #16 is Pick a Fight Tharp states that “Creativity is an act of defiance.” What are you defying?  Are you willing to defy your usual route to the office and see what the new scenery inspires? Would you defy your typical …

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September 18, 2009 – 5:04 pm | By DUST!N | Posted in Creativity, Ideas | Comments (1)

New Look

I just haven’t been happy with the look & feel of the blog lately. Trying out some new skins.  Maybe if I get the right theme going, I’ll blog more often.

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September 18, 2009 – 4:51 pm | By DUST!N | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

180° Ideas

Here’s a quick brainstorming tip. Next time you’re stuck on predictible, unoriginal ideas, try this: Think 180°. Ask yourself, “What is the LAST thing I would do in this situation?” or “What is an idea opposite of these?” Make a list of the ideas that come to mind. Read over the list and evaluate WHY …

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September 9, 2009 – 7:43 am | By DUST!N | Posted in brainstorming, Ideas, Society | Comments (1)

5 Tips for More Tantalizing Writing

The great folks at FuelYourWriting.com have asked me to contribute a monthly article to their site. If you’re a writer of any sort (blogger, author, screenwriter, copywriter, etc.), FuelYourWriting is just beginning to fill with great tips and resources for you. My first article was posted yesterday, 5 Tips for Tantalizing Writing.  Check it out …

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June 12, 2009 – 10:53 am | By DUST!N | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Put On A “Conference” Without A Budget

There are many hurdles to overcome in order to go, or take a team, to a conference.  Especially in a down economy. But what if: • The conference is local. • You can invite whoever you want. • It would cost next to nothing (or maybe even nothing at all) That eliminates most concerns, doesn’t …

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May 15, 2009 – 5:02 pm | By DUST!N | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (5)

Take A Risk On Me

“Take a risk on me.” That’s probably one of the toughest sells out there. The few people out there with enough confidence and competence to take a risk, probably will take that risk on themselves. The rest are too motivated by fear and need a ‘sure thing.’   Something proven.  Something they can count on.  Something …

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May 8, 2009 – 3:50 pm | By DUST!N | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Top Posts

If you’d like to read some of the top blog posts from Casual Fridays, here they are: 7 Reasons No One Likes Your Ideas Why don’t people listen or use your ideas?  Here are a few clues. Pull! 10 Signs You’re Shooting Down Good Ideas Are you as open to new ideas as you think? …

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December 15, 2008 – 12:52 pm | By DUST!N | Posted in Creativity, Ideas | Comments (0)

A Way-Worthy Tribe

johnmoore of Brand Autopsy often cites whether a book is a Way-Worthy read or not. Seth Godin suggests good bloggers create tribes. I think that is why I haven’t been satisfied with this blog the last 2-3 years.  It has not consistently been a way-worthy read and has not created a tribe. Realizing this, I …

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November 14, 2008 – 3:24 pm | By DUST!N | Posted in Bloggers I Read, Blogging, Seth Godin | Comments (1)

The Onus of Loyalty

When you hear “customer loyalty,” what do you imagine? The Happy Couple The customer gleefully spending all their money with you out of some sense of belonging. The Ol’ Ball & Chain The customer is locked into a relationship with you because of terms and conditions or simply a lack of better choices. The Gold …

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October 24, 2008 – 10:16 am | By DUST!N | Posted in Customer Experience | Comments (0)

Thanks

I just want to give thanks today: Thanks to you for reading my blog.  I’m grateful for my audience, no matter how small. Thanks to David Walker and the folks who put on Tulsa Techfest this week.  They did a great job organizing a very impressive event. Thanks to those who came to hear what …

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October 10, 2008 – 2:33 pm | By DUST!N | Posted in Tulsa, Word of Mouth | Comments (2)

Living Among Critics

Last night, I attended a meeting held by my daughter’s teacher. She was explaining the structure of the class and led us through some sample exercises she uses with the students. Occasionally, she called upon us parents for volunteers to read or give answers. I was stunned by the silence and awkward glances downward. The …

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October 10, 2008 – 2:25 pm | By DUST!N | Posted in brand you, human spirit, Personal Brand, Persuasion, Professional Development, Society | Comments (3)