The Power of Basics

To Blame or Succeed: That is the Question

2010-08-16T15:06:00.000-07:00

One challenge we've seen come up a lot lately is the phenomena of "Blame Questions." These are requests for information that - because of how they are phrased - cause the questionee to go on the defense. Unfortunately, we've seen several companies come almost to a stand-still as staff respond to blame questions with fear and defensiveness and employers become angry with their staff's "lack of cooperation." This is especially disheartening as the whole situation could have been avoided with a more thoughtful approach to question asking.

Next time you are asking a client, staff member, or even a spouse or child a question pause beforehand and take a moment to ask yourself the most critical question of all: “Am I looking for answers and solutions - or am I looking to cast blame?” Think about this carefully. Consider the outcome you're looking for and which relationship you are attempting to build. Your question should seek information and solutions - not demand a defense.

Blame Questions often involve the words "I" or "You".
Example:

"Why didn't you do this?"
"Why don't I have the information you said you would send?"

Both of these questions require that the questionee becomes defensive - after all, they have just been challenged. This immediately inhibits their ability to provide a full, honest answer and possible solutions. Granted, sometimes you need to know "why" a person did or didn't do something - but getting to the real answers and solutions is only possible if the questionee can respond honestly and openly, rather than defensively.

Example Scenario 1: Imagine you are finding that key files are consistently misplaced by staff and it's causing large scale operation problems.

Blame Scenario: Maybe your first reaction is to say, “I can't find these important files. Who did this?” Immediately, the offending party is going to begin protecting their interests and may not be open to suggestion or feedback. The Blame Question has successfully stopped potential solutions.

Solution Scenario: It really isn’t important who misplaced the files - after all, knowing who is doing it doesn't fix the problem. The real goal is to have things put away properly so files can be found when they are needed. Let's rephrase the questions to say something like this: “We’ve noticed important information keeps being misplaced and it's causing complications. How can we keep this from happening in the future?”

Suddenly the question focuses on the solution, rather than the problem - blame has been removed from the conversation and solution-finding becomes a group effort.

Posing solution-oriented questions is especially effective in helping get the most out of the relationships with your Vendor and Service Providers, ensuring that you receive the best service. When facing a challenge with a Vendor, try contacting them with a description of the problem and a solution-oriented question. Remember that there's a good chance that mis-communication or misunderstanding is at the heart of the matter, so don't burn bridges before you know what is actually going on.

Example Scenario 2: A Service Provider does not complete a project by the deadline and your company is left in a lurch.

Blame Scenario: With emotions running high you may be tempted to ask, "Why didn't you do this right?" Already the Service Provider is on the defense - even if there was a legitimate reason that the project didn't get done on time.

Solution Scenario: If your goal is to have your Service Provider complete the project to the best of their ability then step back and ask the question more like this: “We noticed that that you completed 3 out of 4 items we requested, however, item 4 was not completed by the deadline. Is there additional information you might need? Were our directions clear? Is there anything that we can do to help facilitate the completion of this project as quickly as possible?”

Of course, even with solution-based questions you will always encounter individuals conditioned to respond on the defense. While this is frustrating to deal with, remember that it's still in your best interest to always lead with solution-based questions. It's a good habit and will yield better results in most cases.

Review:

Building bridges and getting honest answers is to your advantage more than bridge burning and blame.
Ask yourself what your real goals are before asking questions of others.
Avoid beginning a conversation with blame, which demands a defensive answer.
Encourage honest information and solutions by phrasing solution-oriented questions.

Social Media Seminar 2010, Puerto Vallarta

2010-08-02T15:34:00.000-07:00

Last week consultants Lanae Rivers-Woods & Rebeqa Rivers flew down to gorgeous Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to teach a fantastic seminar on how to Maximize Your Social Media. The two day seminar was sponsored by Plush Catering & Events, and covered the following information:

DAY 1:

Why do I care about Social Media?: building your brand (2 hours)
Social Media is quickly growing as one of the most critical elements business. Customers want more than just a website, they want to know who businesses are, what they stand for and how they think before they make contact – especially if there is geographic distance. Develop these relationships using Social Media tools, and avoid damaging these relationships with ineffective Social Media habits.
How do I build my Social Media to best speak to my brand?: (2 hours)
Establish your Social Media tools or refine a current profile. Make your account match your brand and support your marketing strategy most effectively while drawing in consumers.
DAY 2:
What to say and how to say it: sharing your message (2 hours)
Now that the Social Media tools are in place and/or enhanced for productivity, walk through the various Social Media campaign rules that will keep clients interested, usage time down, and your brand strong. Use different strategies for different clients, identify and avoid mixing conflicting strategies, keep the conversation on business and away from over-personalization, rules for getting customers involved, how to involve your community in your conversation, cross-promotion between companies, and leverage connections and business relationships to drive your market as a whole.
Where and how to use Social Media tools: where the money is made (2 hours)
Once your Social Media presence has a strong, clarified message, share that message with as many people as possible. Embed your tools in blogs and websites, network within your industry, and create a loyal client following using RSS, iFrames, linking, widgets, etc.

A smashing success, the seminar garnered excellent reviews from the attendees! In fact, before we left we were invited to return in October, 2010 to present the same seminar again, as well as to teach a Level Two on how to interpret your web analytics data and apply what you learn to better your online marketing.

Interested in taking the seminar in October? Learn more or sign up here!

Power of Basics Website Builder

2010-05-02T11:00:00.000-07:00

We are quite excited to announce that the Power of Basics Website Builder is up and running beautifully! Several new companies have signed up to use this easy tool to build their website pages.

What is the Power of Basics Website Builder?

The Power of Basics Website Builder is an all-inclusive web publishing service accommodates any type of content, and offers interactive features with professional website design. It is the complete, easy-to-use solution for building impressive Web 2.0 business websites.

Easy to use. No coding required!

With elegant designs, comprehensive branding options and interactive features, the Power of Basics Website Builder is the one-stop solution for stylish and engaging Websites - and there's no technical or artistic expertise necessary!

User-friendly, nimble, SEO optimized by default, and easy to integrate with shopping cart systems, the Power of Basics Website Builder is easily one of the best website building tools available.

Here are some examples of sites that use the Power of Basics Website Builder:

Plush Blog, Twitter, and Facebook Launched

2010-03-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

Power of Basics client, Plush Catering and Events is well-known in Puerto Vallarta as one of the most knowledgeable and reliable Event companies available. Now, with a little help from Power of Basic, Plush is getting the word out beyond the Puerto Vallarta area, giving the rest of the world easy access to their expertise, innovation, and world class service.

This week, Power of Basics helped to launch the new Plush Catering & Event Blog, which focuses on Puerto Vallarta events - everything from beach weddings to intimate birthday celebrations. On the blog you can find helpful articles including menu planning tips, Puerto Vallarta activity recommendations, expert advice for planning your Puerto Vallarta destination event, and reviews of a few of Plush's gorgeous events.

Also, stay informed via the Plush Twitter Feed, or search for "Plush Catering" on Facebook and get regular updates on destination wedding trends and the latest Plush news.

GoBoda at WPPI

2010-03-16T09:34:00.000-07:00

Power of Basics client GoBoda: Tools for Photographers finished an excellent week at WPPI, 2010. While the GoBoda booth was nearly selling out of their recently-launched lensbag, the BODA V3, GoBoda owners Jim and Katarina Garner were busy sharing their expertise at Master Classes, Platform Presentations, and Guest Speaker Spots.

Congratulations GoBoda on a successful week at WPPI!

The Coffee Catcher 2010 Appearances

2010-03-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

2010 is shaping up to be a busy year for Power of Basics' client, The Coffee Catcher. After making its debut in the Seattle coffee scene and attending Coffee Fest, New York it will be taking the show on the road over the next few months.

Don't miss The Coffee Catcher at one of its upcoming appearances:

SCAA Expo (April 15 - 18, 2010)
Hilton Anaheim
777 Convention Way
Anaheim, CA

Caffe Culture (June 23-25, 2010)
This is also where they'll be hosting the World Barista Championships, 2010
Olympia, London

Coffee Fest, Seattle (October 29 - 31, 2010)
Washington State Convention & Trade Center
800 Convention Place
Seattle, WA

WPPI Master Class Review

2010-03-11T16:13:00.000-08:00

Lanae Rivers-Woods and Katarina Garner's WPPI Master Class, Work vs. Profitability: Stop the Bleeding, wrapped up a couple of days ago to much acclaim from the attendees. Sold out weeks in advance, the Master Class inspired early-rising hopefuls, who patiently lined up at 7:00 am, waiting to fill any last minute no-show spots.

After the two hour presentation, which was peppered with thoughtful listener questions and input, Lanae and Katarina met with attendees in the hallway, offering followup tips and scheduling meetings for later that afternoon. Despite running overtime by 20 minutes, the Class remained full until the end - a true testament Lanae and Katarina's engaging and informative presentation style.

For anyone who attended the WPPI Master Class, please let us know what you thought in the comment field below. We would love to hear from you!

Power of Basics Launches Website Development Tool

2010-03-10T11:10:00.000-08:00

Many Power of Basics clients request our website development services, and over time we’ve searched and searched for just the right web development tool that will allow us to create eaily manageable, interactive e-commerce sites that rate high in both function and style.   Then it occurred to us—why not just develop our own?

Announcing the new Power of Basics Web Development Tool!

Versatile, easy to use, customizable for different needs, rich with design options, and a great value to boot, the new Website Development Tool even offers a free 14-day trial option, so clients can see how easy it is to create a website that works for them. Check it out now at www.PowerofBasics.org

 Looking for a better tool to design (or redesign) your website? Power of Basics might have exactly what you need. Sign up for a free trial now and see just how easy it can be.

Burk and Burke Achieve Literary Success

2010-03-07T11:05:00.000-08:00

In late January, Power of Basics clients Katherine Burk and Gloria Burke published their first book, Finding Mr. Ness, through La Familia Publishing. Less than two short months later, they’ve already achieved incredible success!   A children’s book that apparently appeals to all ages, Finding Mr. Ness has already garnered 5 out of 5 stars from Amazon.com’s customer reviews.

According to Lisa and the Trevors, you should:  

“Read this story!! Finding Mr. Ness transported me back to my childhood adventures. I read it myself for the joy of entering the magical Tilania. Then I read it with my son for a whole new experience in imagination. This book is a great gift for a spectrum of ages. I have shared the excitement of the book with my 11 year old nephew and my 6 year old god daughter and my husband.” (Customer review, www.amazon.com, March 3, 2010)

  Sales of the book have surpassed all goals to date, and we expect the good news to continue.

Congratulations, Katherine and Gloria! 

Power of Basics Consultant takes the stage with rock legends

2010-03-06T14:53:00.000-08:00

Power of Basics Efficiency and Processes Consultant, Rebeqa Rivers took to the Showbox stage in Seattle, WA on Sunday to join with rock legends and rising stars alike for the Hootenanny for Haiti fundraiser. Presented by STG, 100% of the event's raised funds went toward the Haiti relief efforts of Partners in Health.

Here is a review of the evening by www.EarCandy.com:

Some of Seattle's finest put on one helluva hootenanny at Showbox at the Market to help victims of the earthquake that devastated Haiti in January.
A hootenanny by definition is pretty much an informal participatory musical gathering of friends and family where everyone either plays instrument or sings along to their favorite songs. And that's exactly what was delivered Sunday night right down to the stage decor, which included several couches and votive candles for lighting.
The show had a very casual down home feel but this was no family jamboree. The musicians on stage were some of the biggest stars Seattle has contributed to rock 'n' roll including Mike McCready, Duff McKagan, Matt Cameron and Kim Warnick to name a few. It was like you were being invited into a living room of local legends for a jam session in the form of a near three-hour concert that contained so many major players from the local music scene, both past and present, that all of them couldn't be contained on the stage. It was an awesome mix of the old guard teaming up with some of the city's fastest-rising talent for an unforgettable night.

Read The Full Review...

Lanae Rivers-Woods' Master Class at WPPI is Sold Out!

2010-03-05T11:03:00.000-08:00

In some situations “selling out” is considered a bad thing, but in this case we consider it great news. The Master Class that Lanae Rivers-Woods is teaching with Katarina Garner at WPPI, Work vs. Profitability: Stop the Bleeding, is completely full!   If you’re going to be attending WPPI we hope you’ve reserved your spot in the conference room with Lanae and Katarina. For two action-packed hours, they’ll share a variety of strategies that will help you manage your small business better and increase your profitability. If you didn’t sign up in time, we recommend you show up early and try to stake your claim on the waiting list. We look forward to seeing you there.

Jim Garner schedule announced for WPPI, 2010

2010-03-03T12:39:00.000-08:00

Power of Basics client, GoBoda: Tools for Photographers will have a robust presence at the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI), 2010. Award-winning photographer and GoBoda founder, Jim Garner, will be speaking, presenting, and judging throughout the week at WPPI. Here is a lineup of Jim's WPPI schedule:

March 4th-5th
Jim Garner-Plus Class

March 6th-7th
Jim Garner-Judging

March 8th
Jim Garner- Graphi Studios Theatre at 11AM
Jim Garner- Platform Class at 3:30PM

March 9th
Jim Garner- Graphi Studios Theatre at 11AM
Jim Garner- Bay Photo Booth at 1PM
Jim Garner- Page Gallery Booth at 2PM

March 10th:
Jim Garner- Graphi Studios Theatre at 12PM
Jim Garner- Page Gallery Booth at 2:30PM

Also, Jim took time to do an interview for WPPI Radio this week:

Click Here to Listen: WPPI Radio – Road To WPPI 2010 – Jim Garner

Lanae Rivers-Woods' WPPI Radio Interview

2010-03-03T12:14:00.001-08:00

Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) 2010 is right around the corner. Business and Management Consultant, Lanae Rivers-Woods, and Efficiency and Process Consultant, Rebeqa Rivers, will both be in attendance as they keep in touch with the current trends in the photography industry.

Lanae will also be joining Katarina Garner of GoBoda: Tools for Photographers to present a sold-out Master Class on Work vs. Profitability: stop the bleeding from 8:00am - 10:00am on Tuesday, March 9.

In the midst of the preparations, Lanae and Katarina took a little break to do a fun interview with WPPI Radio.

Click Here to Listen: WPPI Radio – Road To WPPI 2010 – Katarina Garner and Lanae Rivers Woods

The Coffee Catcher goes to New York!

2010-03-02T11:12:00.000-08:00

Power of Basics clients, The Coffee Catcher are going to be represented on the East Coast this weekend!

Catch them at:

Coffee Fest, New York in the Meadowlands Exposition Center, Secaucus, NJ

They'll be there from March 5 - 7

Find them in booth #231 with our friends from Visions Espresso. Ask Tom Pikaart for a personal product demonstration and see the Coffee Catcher in action!

Client Profile: Plush Catering and Events

2010-02-17T12:26:00.000-08:00

As the premier catering and event company in Puerto Vallarta, Mexio, Plush Catering and Events boasts a team of international event experts, who have been arranging events in Europe, the US and Mexico for decades.

The Company.

With more than five decades of combined international event experience implementing thousands of events, clients can be sure that the Plush Catering and Events team has the answers they need. They know how hard it is to plan across miles and borders and work to ensure that their clients comfort and confidence throughout the planning process.

Plush Catering & Events partners with Puerto Vallarta’s top-ranking venues, florists, bakers, and photographers to ensure that each event runs smoothly from start to finish. Each of thier professional partners is chosen based on a history of professionalism, elegance, and superior quality.

The Owner.

Prior to opening award-winning restaurant Boca Bento in Puerto Vallarta in 2004, Stewart Haverlack served as Senior Vice President of Paula LeDuc Fine Catering, the preeminent caterer for the San Francisco Bay Area. With more than 1,000 high-profile events and more than 11 years of international event hosting to his credit, Stewart’s expertise is unparalleled.

The consummate host, Stewart understands that each event is unique with special details and considerations. Years of working with A-list clients in San Francisco and Europe have proven Stewart’s talent as a gracious, responsive, and professional host. With Stewart organizing your event, you can be sure that each of your guests will be considered, accommodated, and delighted.

GoBoda's BODA V3 Lens Bag Arrives

2010-02-09T12:46:00.000-08:00

With much excitement and anticipation, Power of Basics client, GoBoda: Tools for Photographers, has launched the BODA V3 Lens Bag, which promises to revolutionize what active photographers expect from their equipment.

Excellent reviews are already rolling out, here are just a few:

Click here to read Scott Bourne’s review.
Bourne Media Group ,www.bournemediagroup.com
Photo Focus, www.photofocus.com

Click here to read Armin Defiesta’s review.
Armin Photography, www.armindefiesta.com

Click here to read Jay’s review.
Photos by Jay, www.photosbyjay.com.au

The Coffee Catcher whispering of a new French Press

2010-02-06T11:18:00.000-08:00

Our client, The Coffee Catcher, recently announced that an unveiling of a new French Press is on the horizon! Here's a note from Coffee Catcher founder, Nate Jones:

We're designing an all new French Press right now with the same attention to functionality that guided us as we developed the Coffee Catcher. Jason Coffee [of CoffeeCupNews.com] is right, you get what you pay for with a French Press. We're looking to develop a press that consistently brews the best French Press coffee in the world through rigorous attention to the small details of the French Press experience. People have been fiddling with espresso machines for years. We think it's high time someone brought that same passion and attention to the French Press.

The new Press is scheduled to debut in the next few months, and our coffee beans can hardly wait!

Case Study #2: Brand Definition and Online Image

2010-02-01T13:13:00.000-08:00

Presenting Issue

A successful chef, restaurant owner, restaurant consultant, and educator with two published works, the client had taken a career sabbatical for several years. During this time, not only had her online professional presence become obsolete, but the technological arenas for her industry had evolved. The client needed to establish online image representation that successfully translated her personal image into a personal brand in order to pursue future growth. In addition, the client was concerned that distilling her strong personal image into a personal brand could compromise the friendly, socially responsible, family-oriented values for which she was revered.

While reviving her writing career with the planned release of a third publication, the client was contacted by a major international media entity for a high profile interview. With her impending third publication, she knew that having a strong web presence to harness the momentum of the interview was imperative, but she did not know how to reestablish an online presence in an evolved, global market, while accurately representing a personal brand.

Diagnosis

The client had not translated her successful personal image into a brand image

The client had an ineffective online representation

The client had maintained a low professional profile for several years, which compromised her status as an industry expert

While online retailers sold the client’s publications, the client did not have channels in place to directly refer online sales

Due to the impending media interview, the client had an extremely short time line in which to define her personal brand and rebuild her online image

Solution

Define the client’s personal brand
Because the client had a very strong personal image that identified her in her industry, it was imperative that her personal brand accurately reflect her well-established values. Over the course of several interviews, Power of Basics helped the client identify the leading personal and professional priorities that define her career. In addition, Power of Basics worked with the client to describe the client’s future career goals and the values that drove them. Using the client’s established values, priorities, and goals, Power of Basics created an image statement that defined the client’s personal brand, while leaving her ample room for professional growth toward her long term career goals.

Build online representation to reinforce client’s personal brand and establish status as an industry expert
Using the client’s image statement, Power of Basics built an online web presence that promotes the client’s friendly, personal brand by encouraging customer interactions and fostering online community. Also, Power of Basics created online platforms for the client to provide information, answer questions, and educate her audience, thereby reinforcing her status as an industry expert. In addition, Power of Basics included internet search optimization for the website, directly improving the client’s web presence.

Harness media momentum for future growth
Building a contact capture system that feeds into a trackable contact database, Power of Basics enabled the client to capture traffic generated by the media interview. The trackable nature of the database allows the client to monitor customer interest and involvement in order to judge the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. In addition, Power of Basics set up online avenues for media outlets to contact the client with inquiries and additional interview requests.

Conduct client training to ensure appropriate maintenance of personal brand
Over the course of several training sessions, Power of Basics educated the client on the concept of the personal brand, and on confident and accurate brand maintenance. In addition, Power of Basics conducted technical training, enabling the client to manage her personal brand in-house as much as possible, allowing increased marketing flexibility, while decreasing annual expenditures for online brand maintenance.

Client Return on Investment

Definition of client’s personal brand based on the client’s core values, and goals allowing long term sustainability

Effective conversion of the client from a strong personal image to a more marketable personal brand, thereby opening the doors for future growth into a company-based model, rather than an individual-based model

Development of marketing channels for client to drive online sales

Increased number of internet channels that allow the client to provide knowledge and interact with readers to establish the client’s status as an industry expert

Improved internet search optimization yielding a more dominant industry presence

Decrease in annual cost for maintaining online marketing presence

Increase of client control over web presence

Increase of online client-capture for future marketing

Implementation of trackable online community and that yields increasing numbers of online members and member interactions

The entire project was accomplished within the client’s narrow time line, allowing the client to harness the momentum of her high-profile media interview for future marketing of her third publication

Case Study Review

Defining the client’s personal brand immediately opened the door for future expansion by allowing her to initiate online marketing and evolve beyond the limitations of an individualized image.

In addition, building a strong online presence that includes trackable client-capture and online community allows the client to utilize the momentum of her media interview to build a contact database for future marketing. Also, the online platforms allow the client to reestablish her status as an industry expert, while providing avenues to drive retail sales through direct marketing.

Plus, educating the client on long term marketing strategy allows her to stay on track and continually move forward with a clear, understanding of how to drive sales and foster her personal brand.
The client now maintains a robust online presence that allows global representation of her clearly defined, value based, personal brand.

Coffee Catcher Pre-Orders launched

2010-01-25T11:24:00.000-08:00

Power of Basics client, The Coffee Catcher has just launched the pre-order page for their product, The Coffee Catcher.

Assisting with the product launch, and online media development, Power of Basics has helped The Coffee Catcher develop their online presence and social media campaigns.

Client Profile: The Coffee Catcher

2010-01-15T11:32:00.000-08:00

With a focus on French Press Coffee products, The Coffee Catcher is evolving the way we experience the French Press. Here is a brief profile of their first product, The Coffee Catcher, and the inventors behind the innovation.

The Product.

The story of the Coffee Catcher is one of two friends with a passion for coffee and problem solving, who eventually put their interests together and discovered a business.

  It began in 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand where John and his wife were living in a great apartment with bad water pressure. Disposing of the grounds from his French Press in the kitchen sink wasn’t possible, so John resorted to dumping his grounds, teaspoon by teaspoon, into the trash. Back in Seattle, Washington, his friend Nate’s solution was quicker and nastier — head for the bathroom and send 'em down the toilet. All of them loved the full bodied punch of French Press coffee, but the morning ritual was losing its charm.

John started dreaming of a better way to clean out his grounds, and sent some initial scribbles to Nate. Nate loved the idea but promptly pooh-poohed John's design. Eight weeks later, after days of sketching and Skype conversations and weeks of managing prototype development in a basement, the Coffee Catcher was born.   

Today, the Coffee Catcher has been finalized and is headed for production: units are currently available for pre-sale with an estimated shipping date in April of 2010. Your French Press is tired of being scraped and pounded. Sign up and join the revolution!

The Inventors.

John and Nate are self proclaimed “coffee geeks” who are experts at business and supply chain management—they’ve made the process easy, and they’ll give you the support that you need.

John Custer, Co-Inventor 

John Custer’s relationship with French Press coffee began at Grove City College, where he wasn’t allowed to have a coffee maker in his dorm…but the rules said nothing about a French Press and a tea kettle. Since then, his life has been punctuated by the coffee experiences that he’s had along the way.

Working for the non-profit SIL International in Jakarta, Indonesia, John spent 5 years facilitating multilingual education and community development with the Indonesian government and local organizations; he also developed a particular fondness for Kalosi Toraja beans from the South Sulawesi highlands and a slight addiction to Sumatra Mandheling.

In Bangkok, Thailand managing SIL’s LEAD initiative, John honed his ability to generate disproportionate success from minimal cash flow — and learned (the hard way!) to bring his personal French Press wherever he goes.

Nate Jones, Co-Inventor

Nate Jones has been drawn to international coffee culture his entire life. He grew up overseas, and returned as an adult to live for several years in Indonesia and Thailand, some of the premier coffee producing regions in the world.

With his International Relations degree from Wheaton College in hand, Nate went to work for non-profit start-ups like SIL International, where he helped launch the LEAD initiative, perfecting the art of creative problem-solving and business-on-a-shoestring along the way.

Nate currently lives in Seattle, Washington with his wife…who first liked him for his French Press coffee.

Consultant Lanae Rivers-Woods speaking at WPPI, 2010

2009-12-15T12:04:00.000-08:00

Power of Basics Business and Management Consultant, Lanae Rivers-Woods will be speaking in at the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) in March, 2010. She will join Katarina Garner of GoBoda: Tools for Photographers to present a sold-out Master Class on Work vs. Profitability: stop the bleeding.

Here is a brief synopsis of the Master Class:

Managing your company for tomorrow and not today is critical when doing business. Katarina and Lanae will explain how understanding your financial statements can deeply impact your photography studio business. They will cover various topics including: discerning when it’s time to hire vs. when it’s time to fire, how to foster existing clients, developing a framework for better products, and how to price your work for profit. Over time, your business will develop into a healthier system of information management.

BODA V3 Timeline

2009-11-17T15:05:00.000-08:00

Client Profile: J. Garner Photography

2009-10-05T12:55:00.000-07:00

Founded by award-winning photographer, Jim Garner, J. Garner photography has bloomed to become an internationally-recognized entity in the photography industry. Sought-after for their stunning wedding images, J. Garner Photography has developed a signature style called Storytelling Photography, which turns photo sessions into a natural, relaxed and enjoyable experience.

The Company.

Jim and Katarina Garner started photographing weddings in 1999. Their love of wedding photography is based on the pure joy they see and feel for the bride and groom and for what a wedding symbolizes—life, love, commitment and happiness.

Jim’s artistic approach fuses several elements, including an editorial fashion sense, a taste for distinctive colors and textures, a relaxed shooting approach and a strong passion for capturing “real life” moments. After the shoot, Jim and the team put their creativity to work and make beautiful, bound art books for each couple that tell the story of their most memorable moments. As a result, Jim and Katarina provide each couple with an amazing collection of images, while allowing the bride and groom to truly enjoy their wedding celebration.

Photographing weddings is more than simply documenting the events of the day. Providing truly great memories requires insight, intuition and the ability to connect with people on an emotional level throughout the entire process. If the experience is positive, in the right hands, great photos will follow. The team at J. Garner Photography is dedicated to providing every client with an amazing experience.

Sensing and capturing the incredible emotions and love taking place on a couple’s wedding day allow Jim and Katarina to provide them with a tangible reminder of their day which will last for generations.

The Lead Photographer.

Jim Garner’s career began in 1993 as a commercial photographer, where his skill for combining technical expertise with an elegant, modern aesthetic enabled him to build a solid business based on satisfied clients and referrals. But Jim’s fascination with communicating people’s life stories soon led him down a different road: to become one of today’s most sought-after wedding photographers. According to American Photo Magazine, Jim Garner is “One of the Top Ten Wedding Photographers in the World.”

Jim has developed a unique style that consistently wins accolades and awards. J. Garner Photography has won in multiple categories at the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) conference for three years running, and recently acquired three awards at the 2009 Western States Regional Competition of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA), including the prestigious Best Wedding Division Entry. Click here for a complete list of recent awards.

An expert in his field, Jim has been published in numerous photography industry publications including Rangefinder, PPA and American Photo Magazine. He is also a popular educator and public speaker.

The Business Manager.

Katarina Garner has a strong business background that’s prepared her well for running the business side of J. Garner Photography. After graduating from the University of Washington, Katarina spent several years in retail marketing, event planning and lease management for some of the largest shopping centers in the United States. She brought her expertise to J. Garner Photography in 1999, and came on board full time in 2005.

In addition to managing the business, Katarina works with clients throughout their experience to build and deliver the perfect photography package for their needs. Years of working with all types of commercial clients on complex issues have revealed Katarina’s natural ability to connect with people, build lasting relationships and look beyond the obvious to identify just the right solution for the project at hand. Katarina uses that talent at J. Garner Photography to provide a truly personalized experience for each and every couple.

Client Julie Kramis Hearne on Martha Stewart Radio...again!

2009-10-01T11:43:00.000-07:00

Power of Basics client Julie Kramis Hearne will once again appear on Martha Stewart Sirus Radio!

Listen in on October 15th at 9:15am to hear Julie talk about Cooking in Cast Iron. Co-author of Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook and the Dutch Oven Cookbook, Julie keeps us updated on her cooking exploits via her Cooking Blog.

Case Study #1: Online Marketing and Retail Strategy

2009-09-27T13:07:00.000-07:00

Presenting Issue

The client presented with low online sales revenues, high fixed costs for web marketing, and complicated, cumbersome web outsourcing arrangements. Because of an unorganized and untargeted web presence, the client could not monetize their online work, control their marketing message or effectively generate sales.

Despite an active blogging schedule, designated staff and an expensive website, sales volume remained low and unreliable. The client knew maintaining an online presence was important, but could not reliably connect investment and up-front work with profits.

Diagnosis

The client had not developed an online sales strategy. 

The client’s limited website structure could not accommodate the client’s recently expanded product line. Because of access limitations, the client required complicated third-party updates to the site, which often did not load during the client’s test navigation.

The product site and shopping site ran on parallel platforms and contained no sales language. It was extremely difficult for a customer to navigate the site to make a purchasing decision. 

The client’s blog and social networking page did not lead customers to purchase, did not promote customer capture, and offered limited opportunity for community interaction. 

The client’s online marketing voice lacked content and a clear message and gave no direction to the online conversation about the client and their products.

Solution

Re-brand as a company, not a single product
The limited product capacity of the company’s previous website had damaged the company image, making it appear that they essentially sold one item, rather than a product line. Power of Basics worked with the client to completely redesign the website and relaunched their entire line, featuring each product separately. The new website is organized to allow ample room for future growth.

Build an integrated, sales-focused / community-focused website with easy updating capabilities
Featuring prominent sales language and detailed product information, the new website anticipates customer questions and leads customers directly to purchasing choices. In addition, the site allows user-friendly online retail sales, and offers easy updating that takes only moments and requires minimal web knowledge for designated staff. The ability to immediately update in-house allows the client to run weekly product marketing campaigns and sales incentives to drive retail sales. Finally, increased internet search optimization for the website directly improves the client’s web presence.

Build an interlinked online social networking/marketing system
Power of Basics linked several social networking platforms to create sales-oriented channels that automatically distribute marketing material directly to an international audience 24 hours a day/365 days a year. This strategy yields increased opportunities for client capture and community interaction as the client’s marketing materials engage an audience that has directly requested additional information.

Design and implement online marketing campaign and sales strategy
Power of Basics implemented a tracking system that allows the client’s company managers to directly access the traffic data resulting from their diverse online marketing channels. Using this data, Power of Basics designed a long term marketing plan that focuses the client’s marketing efforts toward the channels that yield the highest response.

Conduct company-wide training to ensure appropriate use of social networking systems
After building a clear online strategy, Power of Basics conducted training sessions for the client’s designated staff to ensure confident and accurate implementation. By familiarizing the client’s staff with ways to consistently support short-term and long-term marketing goals, Power of Basics enabled the client to achieve success from the ground up. In addition, this training equipped the client to manage their marketing in-house as much as possible, allowing increased marketing flexibility.

Client Return on Investment

Client’s average monthly sales increased 250% 

Effective conversion of client from wholesale company to a retail company, with associated higher profit margins 

Increased purchase response rate to online marketing 

Increase of internet search optimization yielding a more dominant industry presence online 

Decreased annual cost for online marketing and implementing sales strategies 

Increased client control over web presence 

Increase of online customer capture for future marketing 

Increased number of online community members and number of member interactions

Case Study Review

Rebranding the client from a single-product company to an online corporate presence including multiple products immediately diversified revenue streams and opened doors for future growth.

In addition, streamlining the customer’s online purchasing experience allowed the company to successful convert from wholesale to retail sales. Also, increased ability for customers to emotionally engage with the company through social networking interaction has improved customer capture and enabled a higher conversion rate from interest to sales.

Finally, building a long term marketing strategy and educating company staff on marketing goals allowed the company to lift sales in line with growth goals and to continually move forward with a clear, corporate understanding of how to drive sales and foster company image.

The company now maintains a robust online presence that yields robust profits for time and money invested. 

An Excellent Client Review

2009-07-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

This morning we received the following outstanding review from one of our clients. These are the moments we type, strategize, and Skype for:

"[Power of Basics Consultants] Lanae, Rebeqa, and Kate have literally changed my life. Our business would not be where it is today without their help."

Claire Parkin
Production Manager, GoBoda

Thank You, Claire, for all your hard work. We would never make progress without dedicated clients like you.

Just Hit "Send": Four Steps to Getting Past Perfection

2009-07-11T15:46:00.000-07:00

We found this article by Communication Coach, Beth Buelow, on the small business networking site, www.biznik.com. We know how easy it is to become mired in our own perfectionism and we love how Buelow calls us to take deliberate action, rather than waiting around for everything to become "perfect". Here's an excerpt:

"Every once in a while, someone’s Facebook status strikes me as profound. This happened a few weeks ago, when my friend Robin wrote “Just hit ‘send.’” She was writing a paper for her doctoral seminary program, and like me, she has an “A+ student” streak and wanted the paper to be perfect before send-off.

Her short update has become one of my new mantras. In addition to being a great companion to my other mantra, “better done than perfect,” it also reminds me of my Virtuoso Gremlin. Virtuoso is a hold-over from my years of training as a classical musician, when perfection was the only acceptable standard. It tries to tell me that unless something’s perfect, it’s not ready for the public. After all, no one’s going to buy a CD with wrong notes." (read full article)

Lanae Rivers-Woods scheduled to speak at WPPI

2009-07-10T10:59:00.000-07:00

In March of 2010, Power of Basics' lead consultant Lanae Rivers-Woods will be taking her expertise on the road to teach professional photographers how to run a sustainable business. Along with Katarina Garner, owner/business manager of J. Garner Photography (and a Power of Basics client), Lanae will be presenting a Master Class at the world-renowned Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) convention in Las Vegas. What an incredible event!

  Lanae and Katarina’s presentation, Work vs. Profitability: Stop the Bleeding, will explain how to manage business for tomorrow, not just today. They’ll cover topics like discerning when it’s time to hire versus fire, fostering existing clients, developing a framework for better products, pricing your work for profit, and creating an overall system for better information management.

  If you plan to attend WPPI, you should definitely sign up for this insight-filled Master Class.

Happy Clients = Happy Consultants

2009-07-03T12:45:00.000-07:00

Just like everyone else in the world, the Power of Basics team has been working double-time the past year keeping ahead of the worldwide economic situation. Burning our candles at both ends, we are spurred on by seeing our clients not only "getting by" but thriving during a time that will likely be recorded in history books.

After keeping our noses to the grindstone for so long, it's endlessly rejuvenating to receive reviews from our clients saying that working with Power of Basics is "the best thing we have done for our business" (Jim Garner, Owner of J. Garner Photography) and referring to us as "the smartest thing I could have done for my career" (Michelle Anderst, Owner of Anderst Art).

Truth is, we find our work to be rewarding, we're just glad someone else enjoys it, too.

Thank you, Kip Beelman, for the great mention!

2009-07-01T16:19:00.000-07:00

As you know, Power of Basics Consultant, Lanae Rivers-Woods was featured in GoBODA's June photography workshop in Seattle, WA. Lanae's joint presentation with J. Garner Photography's Katarina Garner made quite a splash with the workshop attendees. One excellent review of the workshop by Photog, Kip Beelman, sums up Lanae's presentation best when he calls it "a business reality check and wake-up call".

Of course, that's not all he has to say: read Kip's full article here.

Thanks to the wonderful GoBODA and J. Garner Photography teams for producing such a practical and educational event. It's just the sort of clear-headed thinking we needed.

Pulling The Trigger On Trauma

2009-06-23T12:36:00.000-07:00

From Lanae Rivers-Woods, Consultant:

Over the years, I’ve witnessed many companies and lives destroyed by life’s inevitable traumas and the shock waves that continue through the years. Sole proprietors are especially at risk of “losing it all” from the after effects of extreme stress, however, this doesn’t have to happen.

With a little organization and self-analysis, you can manage your company around these issues in a way that takes care of both you and your clients. You start by addressing the trauma head-on, accepting that it has changed you, addressing how it affects others around you and planning for these issues in the future.

Here is a basic framework for identifying the and working with trauma over time.

Know your trauma anniversaries

Step 1: Create a list significant dates associated with sever trauma such as accidents, deaths, divorces, abuse, trials, violence, etc. If you don’t know the exact date do the research to find out when it was. Your subconscious remembers when things happen even if you don’t, so bring the important dates out of the dark.

Step 2: Rate these dates 1-5. 1 being the least stressful and 5 being the most stressful. Take your time doing this. Consider not just what happened at that moment, but what else stemmed from the situation. Maybe the you had a car accident that hurt your neck, but the time off work caused you to lose your house. Which date do you really tie the stress too?

Step 3: Assess your behavior surrounding every date with a level 5 trauma value next too it. During that time of year do you have trouble returning phone calls? Are you more likely to make rash decisions? Do you over schedule your clients? Have you fired someone every year on that date like clockwork?

Now that you know what times of year you will most likely operate with compromised decision making skills, it is time to plan for the event rather then pretend nothing will happen.

Plan ahead for your behavior

Step 1: Share the list of dates with a level 5 response with key members of your staff and be open about what behavior they might expect surrounding said dates. Examples: “Next month will be difficult for me. I may have trouble sleeping and issues with decision making. I may need to take time off to avoid poor performance or ineffective management habits. I want to do what’s best for my employees and my company, and trying to pretending that I’m okay is not what’s best.” Ask for their ideas on ways to lighten your workload without overwhelming the staff.

Step 2: Keep your scheduling light during level 5 trauma anniversaries. This is not the time to schedule big sales meetings, staff reviews or a big product launch. Pushing through these trauma anniversaries will only lead to poor, reflex decision-making that will damage your bottom line, just don’t do it. Plan ahead, be responsible.

Step 3: Have a back-up plan and support system in place. If you suspect you may react more strongly to the anniversary due to such things as media coverage, unrelated exterior stress, or because the trauma happened recently, then pull in outside help. Create a system for temporarily managing your clients so you can meet their needs, while still meeting your own. If you need to, hire a temp or bring in help for that week only. Be clear about the situation and accept help in planning the best way to get through it.

Step 4: Get back on the horse. Once the date has passed move quickly to return all systems to normal. This is the most important part, don’t prolong the process. Practice a quick and effect return to normal company behavior. It is important you demonstrate to both your clients and your staff that stepping back was a momentary move and not a permanent desire to do less.

When you model this behavior for your staff you will build the trust necessary for them to share the issues they struggle with and build a framework for your company to deal effectively with life’s trauma’s as they unfold in the future.

Throughout this process it is important to remember there is no shame in trauma and there is no shame is addressing how it has affected your life. It is a basic fact of the human experience and if addressed, it can be managed and addressed in a healthy productive way over time. You will also find that identifying these dates and your responses associated with them will lead to smoother transitions through them and eventually they may have no negative impact at all.

To learn more about the effects of trauma on the brain during trauma anniversaries I recommend the following two links:

http://dartcenter.org/content/self-study-unit-3-photography-trauma-3

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/emotional_psychological_trauma.htm

Client Profile: Authors, Gloria Burke and Katherine Burk

2009-06-16T11:49:00.000-07:00

Children's authors Gloria Burke and Katherine Burk are a mother-daughter writing team who have recently begun winning over the Northwest with Finding Mr. Ness, the premier book of their Tilania Travelers Series.

The Authors.

Like the characters in their book, Finding Mr. Ness, Katherine Burk and Gloria Burke have embarked on an exciting journey together. What began as a way for mother and daughter to connect despite the miles between them has turned into a successful cooperative writing practice, and it’s only just begun.

Katherine spent several years in the political arena and the cellular telecommunications industry before taking on a new career direction: raising a growing family. Now she’s active in her Pacific Northwest community, contributing time and energy to her children’s schools, extracurricular activities and other charitable organizations. Writing and illustration are Katherine’s way of passing on some of the magic of her childhood to her own children.

Gloria has always been involved with child development. A mother and a grandmother, she’s also a recently retired Child Psychiatrist and Psychoanalyst, and was the Medical Director at a charitable therapeutic nursery school. She’s been actively engaged with writing in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 20 years. Co-writing books with her daughter Katherine is a natural extension of her love for family, children and creative expression.

Finding Mr. Ness is Katherine and Gloria’s first publication together. With over 800 miles between them the process is sometimes challenging, but always rewarding. They are currently writing the next book in The Tilania Travelers Series, The Scrolls of Tilania.

The First Book.

Finding Mr. Ness is the first book in the Tilania Traveler Series, a series of chapter books written for children ages 7-10. The book is a winning combination of excitement and adventure that will capture children’s attention and keep them planted in their chairs, fully entertained. It’s full of captivating places like the Reflective Reef, Nessen and the Isle of Hearts, scientific devices like puncture-proof wetsuits and weather machines, and not-quite-familiar creatures like Kalya who’s “a cross between a sea turtle and a crab.” (Page 44) Reminiscent of other memorable stories, Finding Mr. Ness transports the reader to another world that seems unreal yet almost possible.

The Storyline.

Clayton and Annie are best friends whose curiosity about an old microscope, a postage stamp, and an eccentric scientist named Mr. Ness soon leads them on a journey into the strange land of Tilania. Once there they are swept into a desperate attempt to save a doomed civilization. Their race against time depends on the completion of Mr. Ness' powerful invention and the destruction of his archenemy.

Client Julie Kramis Hearne to be on Martha Stewart Radio

2009-05-05T11:17:00.000-07:00

Our latest client, author and chef Julie Kramis Hearne, is going to be on Martha Stewart radio this coming week. Right now we are helping her put her best foot forward for the national media by providing the help she needs with her brand. So far we have:

Developed her new website www.whatsjuliecooking.com which will launch in a few days.
Developed her new blog whatsjuliecooking.blogspot.com which we are adding content to later today.
Developed and launched a twitter feed www.twitter.com/castironskillet which took off like right away.

Not bad for a weeks worth of work.

This type of project is what The Power of Basics is all about. We take wonderful artists and authors and package their talent into a simple to manage brand using tools they can easily maintain throughout the lifetime of their company. No need to spend huge amounts of money when true profit is found in the basics of consistancy.

Client Profile: Julie Kramis Hearne

2009-05-01T11:40:00.000-07:00

Julie Kramis Hearne has always loved food. When she was young, she would pretend to be sick so she could stay home from school and watch her mother teach cooking classes, and she often accompanied her mother to her classes with James Beard.

Julie’s formal cooking education began when she decided to major in Food Science and Nutrition at Seattle Pacific University. She continued her education by taking classes at The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone. Her education was then enhanced by working with chef Jerry Traunfeld at the world-renowned Herbfarm restaurant in Woodinville, Washington. Always open to new sources of information and inspiration, Julie continues learning to this day by taking classes with award-winning chefs such as David Tanis, Giuliano Hazan, Diana Kennedy, Susan Hermann-Loomis and many others.

As former owner of two successful Seattle restaurants and a revered restaurant consultant, Julie continues to share her love of food by teaching cooking classes to the public. Also, for over a decade she has donated her culinary talents to raise money for such causes as Heart Hope Institute and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and she seeks to empower women in the culinary arts through membership in organizations like Women Chefs and Restaurateurs, the International Association of Culinary Professionals, Women for WineSense and Les Dames d’Escoffier International. Julie was also a past board member of Slow Food International, an organization committed to the production of food that doesn’t harm the environment, animal welfare or our health.

Along the way, Julie has also managed to co-author two cookbooks with her mother, Sharon Kramis: The Cast-Iron Skillet Cookbook and The Dutch Oven Cookbook, which have received positive reviews in publications like the New York Times book review and the Seattle Times. Julie and her mother Sharon Kramis went on a 21 city tour and taught at all of the Sur La Table's across the country. They have also taught on board Holland America Cruise Lines and many other venues.

Julie has shared her recipes in Rachael Ray and Paula Deen's magazines as well as being a guest speaker on radio shows for NPR and Martha Stewart Living, Sirius Radio.

Julie lives with her husband Harker and their three sons, Reilly, Konrad, Andrew in Seattle.

Lanae featured speaker at GoBODA workshop in June

2009-04-23T15:42:00.000-07:00

We are excited to announce that Power of Basics Consultant, Lanae Rivers-Woods will be a featured presenter at the GoBODA Photography Boot Camp in Seattle this June. Together with photography industry expert, Katarina Garner, Lanae will address how to foster an effective and lucrative photography company (without losing your mind) in her presentation, Work v. Profitability.

Good business is about the basics

2009-04-20T16:54:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the Power of Basics, a blog focused on the simple necessities required to run a successful business. We keep it simple, we keep it refined and we keep it real.

Consultant Profile: Rebeqa Rivers

2009-03-10T14:29:00.000-07:00

Hailing from Seattle, WA, Power of Basics' Efficiency and Processes Consultant, Rebeqa Rivers, is not only an expert in creating effective and rewarding process systems for companies small and large, but she is also an accomplished musician whose budding career is on the rise.

A trained opera singer, Rebeqa is active in many corners of the Northwest music scene. From appearances with world music group, Abrace - with whom she independently released an EP in 2008 - and as featured soloist for the NeoDandi Fashion House's seasonal runway shows, she continues to cross genres.

Her indie Steampunk band, Latitude x Longitude, co-founded with guitarist Spencer Smith is in the process of recording their first full length album, due to release in July of 2010. In addition, Rebeqa often shares the stage with musical great Mike McCready, the lead guitarist of Pearl Jam as well as many other legendary and rising musicians.