The Wealthy Business - by EnergizeGrowth

Delicious Marketing Lessons From Anthony Bourdain's Voracious Brand

I’m a voracious traveler. For the past 30 years, I’ve traversed nearly every state, trekked through Central American rainforests, swam the rough Pacific seas, and sampled Europe’s refined cultures.

Nothing, however, compares to Anthony Bourdain’s travel log. In case you do not subscribe to cable TV, Bourdain hosted a highly acclaimed show on The Travel Channel, No Reservations. He is a prolific food author and speaker with a penchant for food porn. He just landed a food-documentary series on CNN, Parts Unknown.

Bourdain doesn’t sample new cultures; he feasts on them. He lives in the moment with every episode. It’s a Zen experience to watch his shows. He is on a mission to help our society connect with and embrace other cultures through shared food experiences.

Aligning Sales and Marketing to Drive Demand

I recently hosted the first annual CMO Wine Reception in Washington, DC.Twenty-one top CMOs from the region participated.

The session was entitled "You've Got a Revenue Quota -- NOW What? Demand Creation Secrets from Top Performing CMOs." Here are some highlights you can use.

Lisa with Jignesh Shah of Metalogix

Reflections on 2012

TURN OF THE YEAR

December brings the sun down low,

sending tree shadows on a long

determined quest across the snow,

a blue-gray, bare and spindly throng.

 

December leads the mind to dwell

on things determined, dared, and done,

and things deferred or botched as well

since these twelve months began their run.

 

December does all this.  But see,

at noon the shadows brightly shift

the other way. And so should we

turn to accept our new year’s gift:

 

Grace to step past what we remember,

shrugging away that shadow’s hold,

and plot a course toward next December

neither abashed nor overbold.

                                                                      --
-- Robert B. Shaw

Author, Aromatics, 2010.

Cascade Mountains, Oregon photo courtesty Mike Putnam photo.

The Holidays: A Time of Remembrance

I'm happy that 2012 is almost over. The past year was emotionally challenging. We witnessed immense, senseless human loss. In addition, two of our beloved elderly cats, Picard and Fisan, succumbed to renal failure and cancer.

When I witness the passing of such innocent, loving beings, I feel powerless and deeply saddened. I can only imagine how families in Newtown, Connecticut and Aurora, Colorado are coping and healing. (keep reading on how you can help).

  
Fisan (1994-2012) and Picard (1992-2011)

One story has helped me find some peace. It makes me realize that the bonds between humans and animals are eternal and inexplicably linked, and we need each other to endure these challenging times.

Client Success: Corent Wins Market Share and Mind Share

June 11 was a busy week for Corent Technology CEO Feyzi Fatehi.

It all started on June 13 at the TechAmerica American Technology Awards in Washington, DC. Feyzi, one of my longstanding clients of 9 years, attended to accept the nomination. He also invited me as his guest to meet some of this country's top innovators. Corent was nominated for the "Best Cloud/SaaS Product" award. Surrounded by hundreds of technology industry luminaries, Corent ceded to Virtela Technology Services.

Marketing Strategist Endorsement – Find New Customers

I just heard from Jeff Ogden, Founder of the highly acclaimed Fearless Competitor blog, that I have been awarded the April “Fan of the Month” designation.

The Power of New

It's that time again. The pied pipers of business performance beckon us to create new goals, forge new alliances, attract new customers, and hire great people.Unfortunately, we carry too many of our old habits, routines, and tools into the new year. How can we ensure that our new ideas and plans are not tainted by the old ones?

Lisa's Excellent New York Adventure

A change in your work environment can sometimes be the jolt that you -- and your teams -- need to find fresh new ideas.

Case in point: I just returned from a whirlwind three day trip to Southern CT and NY City. Book signings, client visits, and some tourist time kept me on the go.

The air was balmy, and the energy was electric. The bellman hailed our cab to Penn Station as if his life depended on it. Hotel staff answered their phones after three rings or less. Even the restroom line of 100+ women at the Hirschfeld Theatre moved swiftly during intermission!

As I traversed the potholes of Manhattan and its crusty old railways, I am still--after 27 years of visiting the Big Apple--pleasantly surprised by its unique qualities.

Customers, Kawasaki, and Crazy Weather

I am headed home from a dynamic series of Voice of the Customer sessions and book signing at the 2011 Allegiance Engage Summit in Deer Valley, Utah.

Amidst two days of dashing through snow flurries) and dodging slush puddles, I enjoyed learning about the rapid adoption of this new profit-producing technology space. In my upcoming posts, you will hear how companies such as ING Direct, JetBlue, and EMC Corporation are re-framing the definition of the customer experience, and its impact on the bottom line.

I was also excited to re connect with an old friend, Guy Kawasaki. Have you read his new book yet, Enchantment? If you have not bought your copy, get it now. It will shift your thinking about the ways in which you engage others in important causes--whether they be personal or professional.

Here is what Guy shared after our respective book signings yesterday (45 seconds):

 

I'm still blushing!

Here I am, enchanting a new friend at the conference:
 

copyright 2011, Lisa Nirell. All rights reserved.

 

Business After bin Laden

Ask any decorated leader — military or business — what keeps them focused and energized. They will echo what retired U.S. General Joseph Hoar shared with me a decade ago: a daily commitment to quietly reflect and re-evaluate our course. As world citizens discuss and debate the proper way to respond to the successful capture and killing of Osama bin Laden, we face the same opportunity.