January 10th, 2008 Rachel
Well, another CES is done. Almost done. Nearly done.
GES has all our stuff tucked away in the booth for another night, since they won’t let us load things up on our own…they have to be involved. Holding your clients hostage is a great way to make a pile of money.
It’s been a great show. Like, a really great show. On a scale from one to ten I’m an exhausted but exhilarated 11.
So now the planning starts for next year. The wheels are turning, pages of notes/thoughts/ideas are stored away for discussion next week after we’ve all had a chance to enjoy a full 8 hours of sleep.
I have a lot to say…many thoughts and tips and useful things that I want to write about, but not tonight. My mind is too full and belly happily digesting a celebratory rocky road ice cream cone. It’s time for sleep.
Then back to the Sands, once more, tomorrow.
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January 4th, 2008 Rachel
This has been a hectic 60 days. A new brand (you’ll see tomorrow), a new website, new marketing materials, new hires, new vendors, new partners, the holidays…and the biggest tradeshow of the year coming up in three days. Whew…when I reflect on what my days have been like, I think the only way I’ve been able to get through it all is by maintaining a zen like stance of…rigid flexibility.
But the hardest part about this kind of mentality is that not everyone else is thinking exactly the same way you are. The number of tasks on my plate where long (not that I’m complaining - who doesn’t love a challenge?) - which meant that at certain times things that I wanted done sooner had to wait a little bit…in order to knock more pressing items off the list.
It’s impossible and silly to expect everyone to understand exactly why what they need isn’t taking priority and your focus is on something else. S’okay. Either they’ll understand just by the harried look in your eye (I didn’t say zen was pretty) or they won’t…and if they don’t, no amount of complaining or listing your to-do’s is going to help them to understand…more importantly, why waste time when you could be getting things done?
This is not to say that a truly interested ear should be snubbed - no, no…this is just to say when you’re getting the pouty face because Joe-shmoe wanted his body copy yesterday even though he doesn’t need it until next week…the best thing you can do is smile, be kind, explain briefly the delay and when it should be done, and move on. They won’t have to pretend they’re interested in your hardships and you can get back to work. 
Now…I have to say, I’m fortunate enough to have a team where this conscious decision rarely comes up. “What can I do to help?” is more typical…how refreshing. Not only that, but I can honestly say that at moments of real panic (like embroidered shirts that made my eyes want to jump out of their sockets and run back to Canada) I was truly blown away by the dedication and teamwork that slapped me in the face and calmed me right now.
“My wife has an embroidery machine.”
“What? Seriously? Stop - you’re kidding. SERIOUSLY!?”
“Yeah, sure. I’ll give her a call right now.”
Problem, amazingly enough…solved. And within 24 hours. Did I mention how fortunate I am?
Yeah, I’ve been working like crazy - but I doubt that I would be so satisfied with that were it not for how hard the rest of my team is working too.
Let the CES homestretch countdown begin…
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December 27th, 2007 Rachel
I admit, there’s been an overabundance of kitten gracing these (web)pages. Part of working being at home this week, I suppose.
And I’m probably feeling needy and more attached to my furballs since Scubahood went to fishy heaven last week (R.I.P. little man).
Anyway…
On Tuesday we determined that the dining room table was pretty much useless - literally, we never ever use it. So, the dining room table was magically transformed into a desk for me. Sweet beans!
I originally thought MJ would claim the bed strategically positioned to be close enough for impromptu snuggles between brief stints of genius…or at least, brief stints of typing. But I was wrong - Tucker moved in, I got lots of work done, and all was merry.
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December 20th, 2007 Rachel
I’m one extremely lucky gal.
Marketing and Sales…we’re supposed to mix like oil and water, right? Well…yeah - I’ve seen and heard and experienced this enough to know that the odds aren’t exactly stacked in everyone’s favor that you’re going to turn out being BFFs.
But, being aware of this common fact has fortunately not left me (too) jaded. As our sales staff has grown, I sort of winced, held my breath and waited for the usual headbutting and strained conversations. But now, I don’t even know why I was worried - honeymoon period being what it may be or not, I couldn’t be happier with our team - and that’s saying a lot given CES is increasing everyone’s workload and stress level.
Here’s what I think is helps
Wanting to have the discussion: I could just smile and nod when someone makes a suggestion…and Senor Sales could roll his/her eyes at my copy and then just trash it. But I can’t tell you how liberating it is to have someone sitting across the table with useful feedback and at least sane if not brilliant ideas. Not only am I ingesting feedback, but I feel comfortable enough to voice my own opinion…so now we have multiplied the brainpower instead of chopping it up. How could that not be a better foundation?
Competence, confidence, and mutual respect: I may not have twenty years under my belt, but I care deeply about what I do and spent an great deal of time studying, reading, and thinking about the different aspects of my job. Some of the people I work with have been in the business for many, many years more than me. But they don’t throw that around - instead they offer their experiences as guidance…as additional data points. No one’s threatened or makes themselves feel better by belittling the less experienced folks.
Genuine excitement: We are all driving toward the same goal. We are all on the same bloody team and we all want to succeed. I can’t imagine holding the training session I ran yesterday with a group of more enthusiastic, fun, intelligent people. I also can’t imagine getting through it with colleagues who just worked the nine to five.
Having all this - man, what a treat. Last night I was up until 2am building an html email…and I don’t really know how to code. Nor am I a graphic designer. But being so jacked up about the team I’m working with made it worth it. So, I made it work, the email went out and hey…I (sorta) learned a few new skills (FYI Adam I promise you never have to look at my messy code ever again…okay, THAT messy code, maybe not ALL the messy code I’ll inevitably create…).
I love marketing. And being able to love my sales team too just makes me relish my role all that much more.
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December 7th, 2007 Rachel
Over the last five weeks I’ve been pulling a lot of things together for our biggest tradeshow of the year…CES. I’ve learned a lot, been hair-brained crazy and will be delighted to see the fruits of all our labor in January.
One of the biggest things I’ve taken away from this is that all those things you read in marketing books about having so much money that you’re just spending on whatever it takes get to zero so your budgets don’t get cut the following year…aren’t very realistic.
Yeah…I’m guessing that’s really only the case for maybe 5-10% of marketing professionals. The rest of us have a lot more people around and above us asking a simple question…why?
Luckily, my sister and I were brought up under a simple rule - “make me a reason”. In other words, don’t pound your fists and stomp your feet…articulate why you feel the way you do and let’s talk about it.
Even if I didn’t get my way, it always felt better to at least lay out what I thought instead of being shut down with an all powerful “NO.”
In everything I do, in every dime I allot to any particular project I think about the why. I think about what reason I would have if someone came up to me right this instant and said “how come you ordered that many business cards?” or “why do we have our logo on water bottles?” Sometimes it comes down to dollars and cents and other times it comes down to added value. Or whether something is really necessary…or not.
I think this is a far better way to start - and from there I’ll have the skills to scale this method for when I have $5 million dollars to spend. I’m fortunate enough to be in an environment where as long as we can all agree that the expense is justified and worthwhile, we’re good to go. But I think part of that comes down to being conscientious and thoughtful about what to do and what to pass on before people start raising their eyebrows.
Looking at the big annual picture, budgets and options can be determined for all the projects, materials, collateral and campaigns that are planned throughout the year. Always asking yourself “is this worth the money?” and “could we be getting more out of this?” before someone else surprises you with these questions (you know they’re thinking it…) will keep the creativity flowing and ensure you’re getting the most out of your budget.
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