Monday Motivation | 1

#mondaymotivation

Why 'Playing It Safe' Isn't So Safe

Though this was a guest post on a blog about "life after college," I read an article this morning that I couldn't help but share: Why Successful People Are Crazy — and You Should Be Too — by Eric Lunsford

The HME world isn't exactly the target audience, this is exactly the kind of energy we can benefit from. Here's an excerpt:

Crazy is different. Crazy makes a difference.

And that’s exactly why the people who truly succeed in life choose to be crazy. Those that don’t take chances are stuck. Stuck in a life they don’t enjoy – waiting for the day their dreams magically come true.

Not. Going. To. Happen.

Not without crazy choices at least.

Take a minute to think:

• If Ben Franklin didn’t have the “crazy” idea for Night Riders to deliver mail between colonies at night, the mail system we have now may not exist. In fact, the entire fate of the American Revolution may have been different.

• If Richard Branson didn’t make the “crazy” choice to sign the (at the time) unwanted band the Sex Pistols, he may have never grown to the position he is at now with over 400 Virgin companies affecting the entire globe in more industries than you can count.

• If Yvon Chouinard didn’t go on the “crazy” 6 month trip to Patagonia his friend recommended, we likely would not have the brand Patagonia or any of the environmental initiatives we have today created by him and his employees.

Think about what "crazy" might mean for home health care: Not waiting around to see what may or may not happen with competitive bidding. Taking control of the way we communicate with patients and partners in care. Doing the right thing. Trying new marketing strategies. Embracing new technology. Incorporating fun into the day-to-day routines. 

There isn't any good reason I can think of to leave this kind of motivation to the recent college grads of the world. It is easy – especially when it comes to marketing and branding – to get stuck in a rut or be wary of not following the pack. Today, challenge yourself to be a little crazy, to think outside the box. What did you come up with? Did you solve a problem? Have a new idea? Let me know! Leave a comment or shoot me an email.

Marketing Magic: The Balance of Personality and Professionalism

Personal? Yep. Professional? Check. Last time you wrote one? Umm...
A handwritten note can have a big impact for just a few cents.

Chemistry. Allure. Charisma. Je ne sais quoi.

Whatever you call it, most successful companies have "that certain something" that sets them apart. Of course there are specific strategies you will execute to drive your marketing forward, however, your message is always rooted in your company's personality. Your customers want to know the genuine personalities of your team... but  each office has a few individuals with a little too much personality. (Or so to speak.) Customers also need to be treated with respect and made to feel comfortable -- a pleasant experience is what keeps them coming back! So how do you find the right balance?

Today I ran across this blog post, an entertaining guide to "Uping Your Personal Dignity Quotient." Each tip contains some common sense suggestions that balance personality and professionalism:

1. Don’t clamor for credit when you do good things
The more time you spend looking over your shoulder to make sure everyone sees you being good, the less time you actually have to be good.

2. Play the “wouldn’t you be sorry?” game with yourself
"Wouldn’t you be sorry if this hilarious sexual anecdote that you are about to write an email about was forwarded around?”

3. Watch ya mouth
Ask yourself: Do I need to say this? Can I pause a beat to decide if this joke may offend someone? Does this cruel remark I’m about to make need to exist in the world? Who will benefit from my sharing all these colorful details of recent medical troubles?

4. Act like you’ve been there before
If you’re in a situation where you are either excited or uncomfortable, the best thing to do is to act as though you’ve been there before. I find that if I am working to project calm steadiness outward, usually my brain feels calm and steady as well.

5. Respond gracefully to a-holes
Don’t yell back at them. Don’t swear. Don’t call names. Calmly stand your ground, secure in the knowledge that eventually you will emerge triumphant.

I encourage you to check out the whole article here and pass it around to your team!

Mother's Day Marketing

How are you marketing for Mother's Day? Try using this awesome flyer!

I am a HUGE fan of the marketing calendar. It keeps your marketing plans organized and helps you remember to plan in time for holidays! We all laugh when we see Christmas decorations around Halloween time, however, there is truth in those big-box store merchandising strategies. It takes some planning ahead to promote a holiday-based sale.

The good news? There is just enough time to put something together for Mother's Day 2012. (I will save you the Google search... this year Mother's Day falls on May 13) Using a statement stuffer is a great way to inform current patients of some great deals. You may also consider leaving a flyer with your referral sources to generate some new leads. The addition of a coupon is another great incentive to motivate people into your showroom.

Even better news? You've got Laboratory Marketing on your team. The Mother's Day statement stuffer flyer that you see above can be used one of two ways:

1. Use this as a guide to create your own Mother's Day flyer with the resources you have.

— OR — 

2. An even easier option. Use this flyer but with your own logo, product choices and contact information.  I'm offering my own Mother's Day sale: this flyer complete with your company's custom information for only $75! Please send me an email for details and questions.

Facebook Timeline for Business: Are You Ready?

At the end of this week, Facebook is switching over to the timeline format for all business pages. I know, you are probably wondering, "What does that even mean and why do I care?" Good questions.

Mostly this means your page will have a new layout. In addition to a new layout template the Timeline feature on Facebook also includes a few extra features for businesses. This article does a great job of briefly reviewing the upcoming changes; here are a few of the important features:

Profile Picture & Cover Photo: These features allow for much more flexibility in visually branding your Facebook page. There are some relatively strict restrictions about prohibited content on your Cover Photo (the larger of the 2 photos) but there is plenty of room for creativity. The example below is what I chose to do with my business page. Why not consider a great picture of your staff or retail showroom?

Ability to "Pin" Posts: One of the coolest new features is the ability to "pin" a post at the top of your page for more visibility. This can work especially well for informing visitors to your page about current sales, promotions or events.

Private Messaging: Now customers will be able to send private message to your company via the Facebook page, rather than posting them publicly. This feature is especially helpful for health care so potential patients can ask questions they may not have otherwise. 

Now, as for "why you should care." These new changes make it easier than ever to create  unique, branded web presence for your business FOR FREE. If you already have a page for your business, it will automatically convert to the new timeline layout March 31... but the good news is that you still have a few days to polish your layout. Let me know if you need help or have any questions!

Spring Has Sprung

 I have a confession: Once the New Year is celebrated, I could do without snow again until December. 

From about January to March, the wake-up light that simulates daylight on dark, cold Michigan mornings is my best friend – which is why I love today. Today is a sure sign that warmer temps, sunshine, backyard BBQs and camping trips to Northern Michigan are not far behind!

Signs of Spring: buds on my cherry tree, daffodils on my desk, tennis courts calling my name!

It's the First Day of Spring... also called the Vernal Equinox; "vernal" means "spring" and "equinox" means "equal night." The date notes when there are equal hours of light and dark in one day. (The other Equinox happens in September and marks the first day of autumn.) Did you also know:

• If you were standing on the equator during either the vernal or autumnal equinox, you would see the sun pass directly overhead, the only two times in the year when that is true.
• The two equinoxes are also the only times during the year when the sun rises due east and sets due west. 
• In spring, the Earth’s axis is tilted toward the sun, increasing the number of daylight hours and bringing warmer weather that causes plants to bring forth new growth.

So what are your plans with a few extra hours of daylight?

Hello Medtrade!

Anna McDevitt & Katie Parrott @ Medtrade // Atlanta, GA 2011

This week, the new mailer for Medtrade Spring graced my desk. I really like Medtrade. It's a great opportunity to see what's new, to network and see what is happening in other parts of our industry. But I especially enjoy the conference aspect, so it was fun to see a photo of your truly sitting in one of the sessions from last year! Sitting next to me is Katie Parrott - a bright, young marketing assistant from Sleep Solutions Home Medical. (It was her first conference experience and she had a great time!)

Though I won't be in Las Vegas for the Spring show, I am hoping to present for the first time ever in the Fall. Perhaps this little reminder is a good omen... it is, at least, good motivation as I finish up my submissions!

Are you going to Medtrade Spring? What are you hoping to learn?