Care to guess how many hours a week the average person spends playing fantasy football? NINE!
Spending nine hours a week dedicated to playing pretend football is fine for a twelve-year-old but for an adult is absurd.
I love football, the NFL and my Minnesota Vikings but my love for the game only goes so far. It amazes me that in todays fast passed, ultra competitive society that anyone has that much time to waste. So I’m begging guys to quit their leagues and use that time more wisely. To help I came up with a few ideas to fill the void.
Due to fantasy football companies lose over 10 Billion dollars a year. Use that time to make a few extra sales calls, attend a networking event or take a client to lunch. Your company and your clients will appreciate it.
Don’t be afraid to spend more time with the family. Take them to the park, dinner, a movie or just hang out with them at home. They will love it and I am sure you will too.
1/3 of the country is obese and my guess is a number of them play fantasy football. Go to the gym, go hiking or take a walk but anything is better than sitting in front of your computer trying to figure out who you should start at running back.
Clean the garage, watch a MacGyver rerun or grab a nap…Knock yourself out.
I think anyone who has read one of my posts would agree that I am not a nature born writer. Since this is the case I thought it would be wise to do some video blogs. I will do a variety of vlogs from interviews to mindless rantings about branding, marketing and the state of my Minnesota Vikings….Ok, I will spare you the Viking talk.
My first vlog is a brief look at my field trip to the 2012 NAB Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center this past week. Enjoy!!
As I walked the floor at NAB, I saw plenty of amazing new gadgets, unique softwares and the newest industry technology. Everything was big and glitzy with the major manufacturers featuring over the top booths that were meant to wow their clients, prospects and the media.
So, how does a small company stand out in these sea of lights? You go the other way!
Meet Zylight, a LED light manufacturer that prides itself on bringing “Intelligent lighting to the entertainment production industry.” Their booth caught my attention and thought I would stop by and visit…
If it wasn’t for Ozzie Guillen’s dumb comments about Fidel Castro and the subsequent news coverage, I would have never noticed how awful the new Miami Marlins logo is. So I need to thank the Marlins new Manager for this blog post because it inspired me to think about my top 5 bad sports logos of all-time.
5. 2012 London Olympics (Current)
When I first saw this logo I was at a loss for words, after digesting it for a few months…I still am at a loss for words. I have a feeling that this logo will creep up my list over the next few years.
4. New York Islander (1996-1997)
Even some Hockey fans missed this doozy as it was gone after one season. I have never seen a long shoreman with a hockey stick…Have you?
3. Denver Nuggets (1981-1992)
I think the worst thing about this logo is that the franchise stuck with it for 11 years, yes 11 years.
2. Vancouver Canucks (1979-1997)
Arguable the worst color scheme ever. This logo has been ridiculed and mocked for years but if you think the logo was bad you should see the jerseys they wore. Yikes!
1. Toronto Raptors (1996-2008)
This is hands down my favorite bad logo of all-time. This is a classic, from the red skin to the claws hanging out of the high tops this is one logo that the city of Toronto can never live down. However, the thought of a Raptor driving the lane would make me think twice about trying to draw a charge.
So what is your favorite bad sports logo?
I attend various mixers and functions were I get the opportunity to meet a lot of small business owners and entrepreneurs. As I mingle, I make a concerted effort to collect as many business cards as possible. Sure, I want to make a contact but I am also a bit of a business card junkie.
I love good design, creative uses of the latest printing techniques and most of all companies that understand and value the importance of a high quality business card.
Below are a few tips for small business owners to think about when deciding on a new business card.
Don’t be Overly Impressed with Your Title
I think one of the biggest mistakes small companies make is that they are overly impressed with their titles. I understand you rolled the dice and started your own company and want the recognition…I get it, but I see too many cards with multiple titles or over inflated titles. A company of five doesn’t need a CEO, President, VP of this, VP of that…..I think you get the point.
Quality over Quantity
The feel of your business card matters. I understand cost is a concern especially if you are doing large runs but I think it is a wise to spend the extra dollars for a quality card. Often giving someone your business card is the first impression they get of you and your company, make it count.
Please NO Gmail
Nothing against Google but a business owner who uses a gmail, yahoo or other free email service loses credibility. You spent money on a business license, office space, equipment, website and these days gas. You can afford the $2.50 a month for a proper email address. Go Daddy will be happy to help.
Design Always Matters
I understand that some might see this as a bit self-serving but I am a firm believer that design always matters. Your goal is be remembered and a well designed, easy to read card can do that. Should you need design assistance there are several good online services, local print shops and free lance designers all willing to help.
Meet with a Qualified Printer
Going online is easy and convenient but you truly never know what you are getting. Nothing worse than ordering 1000 cards just to get them and be disappointed. The paper is too thin, the color is off and the type is too small. I recommend sitting down with a local printer as they can give you all your options. From foil to spot gloss and matte paper to glossy paper, the options are limitless. You truly don’t know all the possibilities until you meet with a professional.
If I can leave you with anything it is this…Your business card is not just a 2″ x 3″ piece of paper, it’s a branding piece that represents you and your company.
Last night I had the pleasure of attending the Las Vegas Bride Magazines 2011 Awards Ceremony. My client, Andrea Eppolito of Andrea Eppolito Weddings & Events, was nominated for three awards, most notable the “Wedding Professional of the Year.”
Just being nominated for “Wedding Professional of the Year” is an honor but winning it would be one of the crowning achievements of her illustrious career.
As you can guess she won and was shocked when they handed her the huge trophy. The look on her face was priceless and I was so happy for her as she worked so hard to get to this point. Andrea deserves this award but not for being the best at what she does but for her positive attitude, determination and willingness to do what it takes to get the job done.
If you are a young wedding planner looking for inspiration or a veteran needing a shot in the arm you are in luck, I am going to give you the secret to her success. Ready….
ANDREA LOVES WEDDINGS
Yes, it’s that simple! She loves weddings and strives to deliver the best and most memorable experiences she can. I should know, she planned my wedding.
Andrea is also the dream client! She is one of those people who “Get it” and understands the need to be different. We both were eager to challenge the traditional wedding industry marketing model and try some new things. We came up with some creative marketing tools with several more planned over the next few years. I look forward to our continued partnership and to help growing Andrea Eppolito Weddings & Events.
Congratulations to Andrea for being the “Wedding Professional of the Year.”
Noun: Brian Derck Marketing and Design. A boutique marketing and design firm based out of Las Vegas, Nevada, operating nationally.
1. BD – Noun: Brian Derck.
Brian was born in Minneapolis, MN. The youngest of three children (by mere moments – he’s a twin!) Brian attended Winona State University (currently known as Minnesota State University, Winona) where his studies focused on Marketing and Business. Having relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada in October of 2000, Brian honed his skill as a top salesman, district manager, and director of operations. Each position allowed him to sharpen his business acumen while developing a sharp eye for logos and trademarks. Brian understands the critical importance of branding and positioning from the inside out, and now turns that trained eye to your company.
2. M – Verb: Marketing.
As BD says, “Marketing is not a campaign, it’s a conversation.” Information today is traded in seconds, with the click of a mouse, or the swipe of a smart phone. How you communicate with your customers is just as important as what you communicate. BD Marketing offers a comprehensive set of services including traditional print campaigns, press releases, social media in the form of Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, Vimeo and more.
Always on the cutting edge of the newest technologies, BD specializes in the creation of QRCodes that do more than simply lead back to a static web page. They lead to..An Experience.
3. D – Noun: Design.
Through a commitment to adopting your corporate identity as your own, BD immerses himself in the essence of your company, Brian is then able to design a comprehensive design suite by turning those differentiators in unique trademarks, logos, and corporate identities.
What started as a nickname has turned into a philosophy. Not just for my business, but for my life.
I moved to Las Vegas in October 2000. Just an All American guy from the Mid West looking to do something bigger with my life, something different. I’ve got a few things going for me. I’m tall, and I like to say that people fall in love with my baby green eyes. What I really had going for me was my whit, and the fact that I like to think I could make anyone laugh in any situation. More often than not, I relied on self depreciating humor. So, when asked to describe myself, I would go to extremes. I liked to tell people that Brian Derck couldn’t be described, that you actually had to experience me. It involved lasers, light shows, pyro-technics. In reality, I figured I was about as average as the next guy, and I sold myself as the opposite for a laugh. One night, while making my “pitch” to a new friend, one of us used the term “The Brian Derck Experience.”
And the legend was born.
Now, in all seriousness, I was just a guy in my 20′s looking to find to my way. But what started as a joke really became a defining factor in my life. If I was going to make it in this city, I needed to stand for something more than the next guy. I had to bring my A game to the table, and bring it hard. I had to give what the other guy couldn’t, or wouldn’t. Being with me, at home or at work, had to offer something different.
Now, for you ladies that are checking out my picture, thinking I’m not much more than eye candy…Sorry, I’m married. *But not happily…So you’ve got a chance! No, I’m kidding. Really, honey..I’m kidding.
In all seriousness, I live my life by a few basic principles and philosophies. First, you gotta be a good guy. There’s really no other way to do things. I am a good guy at home, and a good guy at work. And if we’re going to do business together, I have to believe that I am working with good people, good companies, solid brands. Something I would be proud to share with my wife, kids, and family.
Number Two, I really believe in having fun and being real. Whatever business you have, whatever brand you are building, there is something about it that initially attracted you to it. Whatever it is that made it fun in the beginning, that’s what we need to tap into together. People respond to the real, so let’s get to the root of who and what you are, and build from there.
And lastly, I deliver. You know why? Because I have to, and because the other guy doesn’t. I can’t tell you how many times I was held up on a deadline, a presentation, or a sales call because someone in a corporate office or at another firm failed to design, approve, or initiate the tools that I needed to do my job properly. I know the value of having a logo that inspires confidence. A branding piece that moves people and removes the obstacles. A presentation that makes them want to buy. I know it because for years I was the guy using these tools. So unless I do my job, you can’t do yours.
That’s why I do what I do. I saw a quote once that said, “I don’t stop when I’m tired, I stop when I’m done.”
That’s The Brian Derck Experience.
Brian
PS – That quote…I wish I knew who said it, but since I can’t find a reliable source I’m going to steal it and pretend it’s mind.
Copyright 2012 - All rights reserved by Brian Derck Marketing & Design
