Disqus - Latest Comments for lvadgal

Re: Don’t Ignore The Weaknesses

Suzanne Vara — Wed, 09 Oct 2013 14:41:11 -0000

Bob

Always fantastic and useful posts you bring to us readers. I use this concept with my son as at 8 he is more inclined to brag about something he does really well. Very age appropriate but teaching him to steer away from that and ask for help/talk about with something he wants to improve upon has shined some light. Instead of giving up with an attitude, I cannot do this!, he is finding that he can turn a weakness into a strength and have fun doing it.

We all have weaknesses and the fear of exposing makes us vulnerable. This vulnerability many times prevents us from tackling the weakness. It keeps a barrier up around us as no one can see that I cannot do this or that. Makes sense until we realize that relationships can be built or made stronger when people see the real you.

PS I share your junk food weakness. Who needs a salad for lunch when cookies are staring at you?

Re: Tom Martin on the Invisible Sale

Suzanne Vara — Wed, 09 Oct 2013 14:31:19 -0000

Excellent interview and overview of the book. The book is awesome Tom is truly a star. So personable, smart and just down right real. Who else wears a Saints shirt for an interview about their book? He is my hero as he sealed a deal over beers! My kind of guy. The book explains the concept of the invisible sale and also how to put it into action. It takes referrals to the next level and really makes sales painless. I love Tom. Thanks for allowing us all to spend some time with him.

Re: 11 Things A Business Could Do With the New Vine App

Suzanne Vara — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 16:06:34 -0000

6 seconds is pretty quick. I might just get Hello Hello, take a breath and ... yeah it is done.

Re: This Post Isn’t Worth Your Time – Brave Now

Suzanne Vara — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 19:25:37 -0000

It is something so simple that we would never think of. The position of your chin changes your mood and also the perception ppl have of you. Powerful. On paper or via voice, it sounds so ridiculous but when you actually sit down and do it, it does make such a difference.

Re: This Post Isn’t Worth Your Time – Brave Now

Suzanne Vara — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 00:34:17 -0000

Confidence - oh yes and yes again. Kinda like hello hello; it needs to be repeated. =-). True confidence allows us to brush off the negativity from the outside but also from the inside. When we are on the fence of being confident, we do listen and continue to listen to the critics. If we have that inner confidence instilled and really believe and trust it, we are able to shut out the I can't, I suck, no one cares, etc. Too many times it is easier to seek the outside for that validation and gain that sense of an euphoric confidence but it never lasts as one thing will set us back because if we do not have it inside us, we cannot sustain that euphoric feeling.

Taking it a bit further where you talk about shoulders down - Tony Robbins talks about that lil bit of where your chin goes down and how it is inches or is it centimeters (??) where when you chin goes down that little bit, lift it. I tried it and it does make a world of difference in your mood which relates back to confidence. Chin down, shoulders down - it exposes that insecurity whereas up you feel that confidence. Funny how when we are chin and shoulders up we feel the confidence but when they are down, we do not feel the insecurity as much as we feel the confidence when they are up. Hmh.

Re: Don’t Take a Bad Deal

Suzanne Vara — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 20:42:39 -0000

Were the deals when presented even slightly viewed in your mind as bad deals? Were they more to create that revenue and you would be able to maneuver or change them once the revenue was in? Were they taken as a means of a start of something to help dig out? Sure looking back now they are bad but at the time were they a survival mode acceptance to get things back on track? Biting off more than one can chew is exactly what we do in that survival mode. It is what makes sense at the time while we are sorting things out. It is a part of growth recognizing that this happened and never feels good when we have to admit it and start turning the other way. If we do not turn/recognize it, we are on that eternal hamster wheel.

IDK you taught me to ask the tough questions of myself in these situations and then find the answers that probably are tougher than the formulating the questions themselves. That is the strength that we gain while emerging from these bad deals. Oh wait, you already know that part, you said it and now I repeat it as it resonated and worked. =-)

Re: Trends, Opportunities And Challenges Of Location-Based Marketing

Suzanne Vara — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 09:16:31 -0000

Jason

Fabulous interview! The analogy to the Sunday coupon is very on point as we have seen a resurgence in coupons with the Extreme Couponers and also the economy. However, this is limited as was your regular brand advertising? With location based, consumers do not have to wait and see if their brand is offering a coupon, they can go there, check in and get the coupon instantly. It is more of a targeting in the moment where you simply let people know you are here and you are rewarded instead of buying the Sunday paper and going through page by page of the inserts. It lends itself to the convenience, time and also get the people there to spend the money at that moment.

Aaron, in speaking about the app for Sea World. Quite a nifty app especially for people are not frequent visitors or who feel that the place is just too big and the maps they provide are not easy to navigate. This not only ties in the GPS mapping or the other apps for driving directions, it also starts to help with adaption. There are so many apps that it is overwhelming to some. An app that you are using at the facility that helps you find where you are going bridges the gap and creates a positive experience with downloading and using the app which would have people look at other apps.

Great stuff as always and a lot to consider for SMB who are trying to remain competitive in the social space.

Re: How To Add Facebook Subscribe Button To Your Website

Suzanne Vara — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:13:12 -0000

subscribe adds the updates to the news feed/ticker where the like does not. This way people subscribed see the update in their feed and that is to try and increase the popularity of the article/update.

Re: How To Add Facebook Subscribe Button To Your Website

Suzanne Vara — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:10:26 -0000

I generally do not use FB much on the biz page so for me now it is a matter of regrouping and making FB a bigger part of 2012 and also waiting for the plugin.

Re: Every Day is Someone’s First Day

Suzanne Vara — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 19:21:38 -0000

Being new is exciting but yet at the same time difficult. Will we be accepted? Will we doing everything "right"? How will people treat us? Will we want to come back? We experience this in so many facets of our lives but so many times do not recognize it. When we are new, we are vulnerable and it takes just one thing/person for it go go very right or very wrong.

Great to see you diving into new things to have that experience first hand of being new. It goes a long way when we are mapping out and defining success.

Re: Franchise Book Giveaway #1

Suzanne Vara — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 12:00:58 -0000

Great question Joel. If I was looking, I would CALL you to see which one was best. However, I would probably consider a small food place like a sub/hoagie place. You can never go wrong with a ham, salami & provolone sammy. =-)

Re: You’re Not As Busy As You Think

Suzanne Vara — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:52:05 -0000

Margie

I agree with you about the self love. When we are giving people what they need (ie blog posts, webinars, appearances at conferences) we become popular and sought after as we must be someone as we are every where. This allows them to attach to our/the image to increase their self worth (which is why people buy a mercedes and not a hyundai). They in turn are increasing our own self worth as the more we are shared, talked about, etc the more we start buying into it. When we stop and become invisible the hardest part, I feel, is that we have to accept that they were attaching to our image to increase their self worth and not just us for being us.

The thing is that we are still us. We still have the same eyes, nose, smile, personality and brain. Yes, when we are not producing, our brain is still the same. Crazy, I know. Part of our brain reacts to the stimuli (which ties into what you have said above, that SM is a drug). We react to the stimuli of being recognized. The more visible we are, the more recognized, the more recognized the more we feel wanted, needed and desired. This is why a piece of chocolate hates diets =-) b/c the minute we stop, the stimuli goes away and we are left feeling inadequate. But we are still the same person with the same brain. Our image is suddenly not worthy of being attached to and the people have moved on to someone else b/c they need that attachment to fulfill their self worth.

I champion Chris (when I really want to say - give him a good ole football slap on the ass) for admitting that he wanted to be seen. Shrinks get to the core of it and that is the core of it. We all want to be seen b/c then we are someone when really we always were and are someone. Hard to break through that barrier and know that being invisible to the social world only means that we are being visible to the physical world.

Re: When Celebrity Endorsements Hurt the Brand

Suzanne Vara — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:28:22 -0000

Marla

I was thinking about you this am. Thank you for your kind words. I do always think about they why in things especially in advertising. It helps to work out behaviorally who we are and how we receive advertising. If we do not believe in the brand, we will not buy. Regardless where the uncertainty comes from (a celebrity, performance, ugly packaging, social status) it taints the brand and we are done. I am sure that Fiat and J-Lo thought this was a great partnership venture but J-Lo wins as she is getting exposure to her song/album and Fiat is getting ... um what are they getting? I know they are spending. Who knows maybe sales will skyrocket. Maybe

Re: Sweat Equity

Suzanne Vara — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:11:50 -0000

Jessica

The hardest part about sweat equity is when we are going down the dark path and do not see the glimmer of light. It is there, but we have to look for it. After we have that dark path completed, we forget how bad it was. They say that about labor as it hurts so bad (oh yes) but after you see your child (or an epidural) you forget how bad it hurt.

It is hard, oh so very hard sometimes to keep the chin up and remember that what you are doing today is the sweat. It is what will bring you to the success when you have the determination, consistency and patience. Patience is difficult as we feel as if we are pushing and working so hard and then we are not seeing the results. They come and sometimes in the strangest ways.

Great post as always and a good reminder as my chin was down. =-)

Re: Your Loudest Voice

Suzanne Vara — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 23:33:51 -0000

Not being a history buff nor knowing a smidgen as much as you Margie, we can look at how Lincoln being stupid was not so far off. He thought differently. He challenged people to think about a house and how it could be divided. At the time a house was not divided (and if it was it was not spoken about very openly/widely; technology was an issue). But if we think about how yeah he was stupid for thinking deeper and saying very profound things that did not resonate. That, my dear, is marketing in so many ways. It is the "we have always done it this way" mentality that stagnates. Twitter was stupid. Facebook wound never pass MySpace. Hmh. The loudest voice was the most silent in not making a peep about the feathers ruffled when it came out and just moving along to ultimately become the loudest voice. Lincoln was louder in his legacy. While in his death his voice was silenced, it was actually heard and considered.

In the end, you can have the loudest voice and it is heard but if it is considered, it matters most. You can have the loudest which sometimes can be the internal but so long as it is considered for you and when exposed to others it becomes louder but yet softer. The roar of the crowd inside you never stops but the outside noise does. The fire may smolder outside but deep down inside there is always that spark. That spark ignites and is the voice.

Re: Community Only Means Something If You Keep It Warm

Suzanne Vara — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 23:49:33 -0000

I love the book Switch. I was talking about it tonight actually with the elephant and the rider and how there are times we are both. You can only be the rider if you know (proper term??) the elephant you are riding. The elephant is bigger and can garner control in a means that is not always the right end to the means. The rider has to know how to ride the elephant which means falling off a time or two ... or more.

When building community we have to think of behavior and how they respond to us and what their needs are. If their needs are more elephant then we have to be the rider and snap into learning how to be their rider. This ties into Pavlov's dog and also Maslow's hierarchy of needs where as building a community you are ringing the bell for them to come but if you have no meat you are not satisfying a need for them. We can abandon them or go to them. When we go we build community as we are giving them something but at the same time if we are not establishing and building our needs then we are building a community of emptiness. This is really a push and pull. Do you have what I want and need or do I have what you want and need? Innately we want and need and are selfish. That is human business. Giving is a part of that until we need and look around and think wow, I gave but now you are not. We gravitate to what we need while almost masking on what we give. We give a lot when building a community and sometimes we never take as we build it up. If we constantly give then when we need, all will be there. Sure, ok.

Keeping a community warm is so valid and worth it if you understand the role of the rider and the elephant. I, as you know, have issue with that everyone's mind can be changed as they cannot but that hierarchy of needs pushes us to keep trying as we need to prevail. Because one day we will or just find something else to change.

So on a different note - Donny Deutsch. Love him! So jealous that you were there with him. He is so above my love for Fallon. =-) Imagine!

Re: The Time We’re Losing

Suzanne Vara — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 20:45:13 -0000

I am wit ya on losing time but sometimes aren't we gaining time when we are perceived to be losing time? If we look in the mirror and see failure aren't we gaining time to move forward from it? If we spend an extra 30 or so minutes in a meeting we could be gaining that eye to eye, face to face, smile to smile? I guess glass half full or empty and situational/behavioral/emotional and all the myriad of thoughts that makes my head look like a big fat lollipop on a stick.

Re: You Have What It Takes

Suzanne Vara — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 18:58:35 -0000

I will never be an NFL player but yet I play football just about every day. One of our visits to the field this last week had the older pop warner teams practicing. I was teaching Andrew some routes and how to throw the ball like a QB with drop back, planting, arm position and follow through and this coach was watching (creeping me out actually) and gets close enough to say to me, "hey, you ever been a QB? (Um - dude, I am a chick and mostly they do not allow chicks to play QB) I looked at him very puzzled and said No. He said "you are amazing and are really really good at what you are showing your boy." I am so passionate about raising my son to be we well rounded and dive into things that he loves (which luckily for me is football) that I find it easy to teach him. I watch each play and how the players moved, learn it and teach it to my son. Andrew said to me after that coach said that to me, you become the best by practicing harder and longer than anyone and, mom, you are the best lady football player.

As I am in the job hunt, it made me think about practicing. The rejection letters come in and bring me down. After reading this and thinking about what Andrew said and feeling pressure with an almost zero bank account, I realized that I am practicing with each job posting I see that I would be a good fit for. I practice every single time I send out my resume. I need to practice harder and more than anyone. I thought I was but obviously I have not been. I need to do more because the alternative is not an option anymore. Time to go and practice some more. =-)

Re: Ragu Hates Dads

Suzanne Vara — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 18:47:27 -0000

I read a lot of the comments and then watched the vid. I am not offended and really do not see where men would be but hell, I am embarrassed for them. This is creative? This is what an agency scripted out in a story board? Oy vey! As a marketer, I am offended that this would be put into the marketplace thinking that this was something of value, would be something that would entice anyone to buy their product. It was a chat room of women bitching or attempting to have some sort of conversation that their man sucks in the kitchen and they are superior.

This low level attempt at creative is telling us nothing about the product and recipes that the product offers. I, as a woman, should trust and believe that Ragu has some great recipes from mom bloggers who are telling me through saying their husbands cannot cook? Sure it got us talking but no one said they were going to buy the product b/c they have recipes.

As for their twitter, yet another brand that has no idea that social media is marketing. Now, I am not the poster child for social media as my twitter stream is quite decorated during sporting events (ahem) but as a member of the social media community I take responsibility for my brand. I do get pissed when I see this crap out there as we as a community should and do expect more from brands. Most brands would not trust an intern and recent grad with their creative but do so with their SM. How has that become acceptable? It is not acceptable to me and having been intricately involved in the creative process of shooting commercials, this is not acceptable either.

Meh, I can go on forever about the lack of responsibility on behalf of the Ragu marketing team and agency but that is just echoing the masses here.

PS I am a mom and I am certainly no genius in the kitchen and await the day for a man to come in and take over the duties.

Re: The Bitch Slap: 9 out of 10

Suzanne Vara — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 10:35:56 -0000

Erika

I love the way you explain the person and the persona. People get a notion of who they perceive you to be and hell if you are not that person. I hover around a 6-8 but man oh man when you push me I hit harder than a 10. Defense mechanism. Dumb but sometimes warranted. Those whose intent is to demean and degrade another shows a weakness and when we are responsive/reactionary, we are feeding their weakness begging them for more. I have lived that for 6 years and now 2500 miles separated from it I get to finally look the other way and not respond.

You are who you are and we are better people having you here to set us all straight.

Re: Loehmann’s “Share the Secret” campaign exposes a different secret

Suzanne Vara — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 10:41:58 -0000

I was just looking at emails the other day that still come that I have not OPENED in years. Years I have not opened emails from some retailers but yet they keep on sending them. I recognize that this would be a big job for someone to look at all the unopened but if done timely it is a small job and would increase sales in the end.

As far as Loehmann's sending out offers, could they presume that you would be willing to travel to shop with them? It is a tall order especially for a store like theirs where there is no online option to even see some of the merchandise/brands that has come in and is being offered. Then again, they could offer a bus or something to take ppl from MA to their nearest store. Just thinking a bit on going that extra mile to let die hard customers know they still love you as much as you love them. Does that exist still though or is it do this to earn this and we will continue to punch the numbers?

If it helps any, there is a good one in NJ, just over the GWB if you are up for a train ride and then a bus ride over the Hudson so as to not tire out driving.

Re: Targeting In The Moment

Suzanne Vara — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 09:27:44 -0000

Thanks Barb. There is so much to consider in marketing to get inside your clients that gets missed when we are trying to keep up with all the new tools.

Re: Targeting In The Moment

Suzanne Vara — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 09:26:14 -0000

Jason

NJ is great. Been a bit cooler than I would like for sure but I know in a month or so, it will be much colder. Abbie has to be getting so big already and making some adorable baby noises.

Re: You Shouldn’t Curse In Blog Posts, Damnit

Suzanne Vara — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 09:15:55 -0000

Jason

Be who you are on and off the blog. There is some validity in where people make the choice not to curse in their blog as they are looking to attract new clients. I see that but at the same time they are not getting the whole picture. I curse with the best and worst of them which is not always becoming of a lovely lady however, we are so past that. If we are going to profess transparency, then be transparent. Again, be who you are as when you are trying to be someone else, it never really plays out very well in the end

Re: Digital Envy

Suzanne Vara — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 23:14:37 -0000

Jessica

You are so sweet and I thank you for the hat tip. It is very easy to wear the hat but you always stop to take the time and tip it.

Envy it is in us when we are feeling low. It is in us when we stop wanting to be living who we are and wanting to become someone else but we do not know how to fight. The key is that to keep envy from showing its evil side is to have friends and people around you for support. Talk it out, hug it out and then talk it out some more for guidance. The grass may be greener but it is not your grass. Your grass can become green if you take the time to care for it and watch it grow. There is something magical about taking something and watching it grow from something so small into something so big that you are so proud of. The easy street is inviting especially when we are feeling tapped out. That street becomes that dead end as you never knew how you got there.

Envy has its place and sometimes can be what drives us to attain a goal so long as it is not something that gets in the way of losing focus on who and what is important.

XO!