October 25, 2017,
Success Magazine
Do you allow yourself the “think space” you need at work? While CEOs believe creativity is the most important skill for leaders, research shows that 80 percent of U.S. and U.K. workers feel more pressure to be productive than creative.
December 12, 2016,
Success Magazine
No one likes being put on the spot, but it teaches you to anticipate the unexpected, a lesson forever useful in life and in business.Bus
December 5, 2016,
Inc.
Podcasting is the new blogging — everybody’s doing it. And if you do it well, you’ll see massive benefits for you and your business
October 10, 2016,
Inc.
There are lots of ways to recharge, even though most of us think of lazing on the beach when we hear the word “vacation.”
Celebrity involvement with 
brands and commercial enterprises has become so commonplace that there’s even a buzzword for it: “star-ups.”
From Jay Z and Tidal to Jessica Alba and The Honest Company (not to mention Ashton Kutcher and, well, just about everything!), celebrities love working with companies they resonate with.
But that doesn’t mean getting a celebrity on board is easy. Struggling startups, for example, may not be ready. Even well-funded, established companies should have a meaningful reason to partner with celebrities and be able to offer sufficient cash, equity, or something else that’s meaningful and incentivizes them to want to participate. …
From Seinfeld to Bieber: How to Engage the Right Celebrity for Your Business?Read More »
Yo
u know that feeling deep in your gut; the one that tells you not to trust the person you’re talking to? Trust it–it almost always has critical information to share with you if you listen.
I’ve had several occasions in my career where my gut told me not to work with someone. But, because I was in need of the work at the time, I ignored it to my peril. It was always a mistake.
I once worked with a startup that had just secured investors–a startup’s dream, of course. Without warning, the CEO completely disappeared; he left the country. He never responded to anyone, and he didn’t pay the consultants or principals what he owed them. He just left and cut off all communication without explanation to anyone involved. …
How to Pay Attention to the Whispers When Vetting a Connection?Read More »
In today’s landscape–where startups are sexy–founders can sometimes become hoarders. They might hoard capital because they don’t want to spend it unwisely or give it away foolishly (which makes sense). Or they may tend to hoard equity to keep control of their company.
This can be a big mistake. Handing out equity early to qualified advisors might be one of the smartest things you do. Strategic advisors can provide a wealth of value right from the start. They exist to provide the expertise that your startup needs but doesn’t have the money to acquire.
Think of these advisors as business sherpas: people more experienced than you who help you navigate and climb the startup mountain. …
Why Advisors Are Worth Your Equity (and How to Find a Good One)Read More »
As a startup owner, chances are that you have little time to yourself. You’re constantly running from task to task trying to do everything you can to keep your head above water and get your startup off the ground. But it’s during busy times like these that crucial mistakes–some that could be highly detrimental to the fate of your business–are most often made.
In business and in life, there are certain dos and don’ts. Here are four common (and costly) don’ts I often see first-time entrepreneurs make and how to avoid them: …
4 Expensive Mistakes Your Startup Could Make — and How to Avoid ThemRead More »
Video marketing is one of the best tools that businesses have at their disposal today. For starters, a high-quality or clever video has the potential to go viral, which can get your brand in front of the eyes of millions of people in a single afternoon. Video also can be inexpensive and therefore cost effective, provided you know what you’re doing. If your company is ready to start making videos, learn these marketing lessons from the big brands that you can apply to your campaign:
Apple
Apple may be one of the most successful companies now, but it wasn’t always that way. Much of this company’s recent success can be attributed to the high-quality products it makes and to the unique video campaigns it conducts. Apple’s TV spots are brilliant in their simplicity — many of them feature simple music, stark white backgrounds and little more than the product on display. Apple isn’t attempting to distract the viewer with loud music or flashy graphics — instead, it lets the products speak for themselves.
Lay’s Potato Chips
Lay’s has been experimenting with hugely successful videos in the last several years. The company launched a video campaign called “Do Us a Flavor,” which urged people to visit a specific URL to submit ideas for new potato chip flavors. This campaign was successful because it leveraged the power of the Internet and social media to the company’s advantage. By inviting the audience to participate in the campaign, Lay’s was essentially putting the viewers on display.
While the chance to win $1 million dollars certainly didn’t hurt, Lay’s campaign was successful because it embraced emerging technology in a simple yet effective way by letting those who viewed its videos get in on the fun. It also went a long way towards showing customers that their opinions really did matter.
LifeLock
LifeLock is an example of a big brand that knows how to use successful video marketing for the good of its organization. LifeLock, which offers a full line of identity theft protection services, has won numerous Editor’s Choice awards with leading publications, such as PC Magazine, NetNanny and Geeky Reviews.
LifeLock’s video marketing campaigns have succeeded largely because they stick to a few tried-and-true rules. Each TV spot is packed with information, but still manages to only be around two minutes long. Each spot doesn’t try to cover too much, either. They all pick a single buyer persona and focus on the individual needs of that person. For example, one video focuses on the worries of the online shopper and a separate video focuses on someone who may be using public Wi-Fi in a cafe. This is a successful tactic because the company isn’t trying to tell the whole story in any one video, but rather is creating a series of videos that all work together to sell the same product.
When creating your own video campaign, remember these three examples. Making it simple, engaging your audience and keeping it short are easy ways to help your videos find success.
To your best success,
Stephen, Guest Blogger for the All Access Group
PS: Subscribe to my FREE All Access Group Newsletter https://bit.ly/AAGNewletter
PSS: Listen to an entire library of intimate discussions with industry visionaries https://bit.ly/AllAccessPodcastSeries (Priceless)
Stephen earned his Bachelor of Arts in Film and Video Production at the University Of Toledo College Of Performing Arts in Toledo, Ohio. In addition, he also worked for a big box electronic retailer for three years specializing in high definition audio and video equipment as well as computers and software. He has created almost ten thousand pieces of SEO-driven content for various online clients on topics ranging from the entertainment industry, electronics, computer operating systems and general technology.
It’s spring! As signs of life begin to reappear outside, you might feel the urge to swing open the windows and tackle that growing pile of clutter that you ignored all winter.
That’s the same feeling that motivates so many people to do some spring cleaning every year. By applying this mindset to your business, you can gain a fresh perspective on your company.
Every year, I try to do some in-depth spring cleaning, and I use the same process each time. Although your needs might vary from year to year, this time-tested approach is sure to return your business to a healthier, livelier, and more profitable state in no time:
To get your business back on track, take inventory of your mindset and beliefs. Are you operating from a clearheaded, peaceful state of mind and making progress toward your day-to-day goals? Or are you falling into negative habits in your comfort zone that could be impeding your progress?
Chances are you know this stuff intuitively. But taking the time to think through these answers mindfully and proactively will help you steer yourself back on course.
One of my recent goals was to revamp and relaunch my website. I don’t have the skills to accomplish this myself, and it wouldn’t be the best use of my time. So I hired experts to do it for me.
Similarly, be mindful of the fact that your staff might need help attaining their goals or decluttering (and staying decluttered). Consider bringing in outside professionals to get the job done quickly–and correctly–the first time. Make sure to create systems and structures that you can use to stay organized and streamlined.
If you’re removing physical clutter, knock out one section at a time so you don’t overwhelm yourself. Ask whether an item serves you or is just taking up unnecessary space, and part with it if it doesn’t have a clear utility. You can also create filing systems to contain and conceal items that you don’t need on a daily basis. This way, you can easily retrieve them without taking up valuable real estate. Consider scanning as much paper as possible to conserve even more space.
Team members who take an active role in the process and feel valued will be more likely to adopt the solution after the cleaning bug passes. To incentivize employees even further, establish a system that rewards them for maintaining the new approach or making suggestions for ongoing improvement.
Spring cleaning is about starting fresh. But you don’t have to wait for spring to sweep your company clean; applying this process any time during the year will yield the same benefits.
Don’t let your efforts to spring clean wither away come fall. Make a conscious effort to rid your company of clutter, negative thoughts, and inefficiency for good so everyone can remain organized and stay focused on the business objectives that really matter.
This article was previously published in Inc.com magazine
To your best success,
Kelli Richards, CEO of the All Access Group, LLC
PS: Subscribe to my FREE All Access Group Newsletter https://bit.ly/AAGNewletter
PSS: Listen to an entire library of intimate discussions with industry visionaries https://bit.ly/AllAccessPodcastSeries (Priceless)
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Kelli Richards
Serving exceptional individuals in Silicon Valley, Hollywood & across the globe.
Email: kelli@allaccessgroup.com
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