Archives for June 2015

Horsing Around in Bodega…The Draw of 50 Year Old Marketing

June 28, 2015 by Mike McRitchie Leave a Comment

Yesterday I was up North of San Francisco at Bodega Bay. Checking out the location that the Hitchcock classic movie, “The Birds” was shot – a movie I’d recently seen again.

The Birds

It is amazing that a movie from 1963 still has marketing pull over 50 years later.

Arriving in the morning I saw a sleepy town of Bodega Bay (just over 1,000 people). The waterfront was small and quiet. A couple people were cleaning salmon and throwing the remains to the sea lions.

This was the location that in the movie Melanie Daniels rented a small motorboat and took off across the bay to surprise Mitch Brenner. It looked almost the same as in the movie. Pretty cool.

So after checking out a few of the sites (like the Potter Schoolhouse),

we decided to try some horseback riding. As our horseback riding guide later told us, there’s not much to do in Bodega Bay. You can pretty much see everything in a half day.

So if you’re looking for nightlife, go somewhere else. If you’re looking for an interesting day trip then it can be fun…and maybe spend the evening at a spa or winery in the Napa/Sonoma area later that evening.

So I hadn’t ridden a horse in probably 25 years but I’m game. So we checked out horsenaroundtrailrides.com at Chanslor Ranch.

It recently changed ownership but is basically a 378 acre ranch with daily guided horseback rides. They also have camping onsite for those who want to make a camping adventure out of it.

They do a good job of catering to the novice who wants to experience horseback riding in a beautiful area without having to worry about out of control horses. They also share a lot about the area during the ride. Like getting a guided tour.

I checked them out on Yelp before going and their reviews were solid.

So what makes their business do so well and what makes it a good business model?

The Hitchcock movie brings the tourists to town (it is only an hour and a half away from San Francisco)
Once they’ve seen the sights they ask what else is there to do?
This horseback riding business is #1 on Yelp with good reviews
A good informational website
It is open 7 days a week
It has multiple riding options from beginner to more advanced and different trails you can choose based on your interest and time available
They have camping options which will also likely bring additional people into the trail rides
Their staff is friendly and inviting
You can fit a ride into your day easily
For a vacation or weekend getaway, the price isn’t too steep
And you can leave town with a fun adventure to talk about for years to come

If you’re interested, it is worth checking out. Enjoy!

P.S. Have you signed up for my ezine yet? If not go Sign Up Now and get weekly emails that dive a little deeper into many of the business topics I highlight in these blog posts.

How to Make Mistakes Like John F. Kennedy

June 26, 2015 by Mike McRitchie Leave a Comment

Check out this video from my friend Julie Broad. You’ll find some interesting insights about what to do when you make mistakes. When you’re done…read on about how to deal with others’ mistakes 🙂

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Okay. You’re back. You did watch the video right???

So here’s Part II of the story about mistakes. What do you do when you believe someone else is making a mistake. Or not coming around to your way of thinking?

What do you do when They are making the Mistake?

This is something I see all the time in project management. I have a fact that I need to convey to someone. Okay, it really isn’t a fact…more like my opinion. but isn’t my opinion fact? I digress…

So like Julie mentioned in her video, people tend to either not notice their mistakes, or defend their mistakes or opinions as facts that must be defended at all cost. So how do you change their opinion or come to your side of thinking when they’re dead set on defending themselves?

How do you get someone to change their mind?

Let’s use a little verbal jiu jitsu. I’ll give you a parable that will make the point.

The North Wind and the Sun Parable

The North Wind and the Sun were debating who is more powerful. They saw a traveler walking along and bet who could make him remove his cloak.

The North Wind blew and blew. The harder he blew, the tighter the traveler clutched his cloak.

So then the Sun came out. Soon the traveler warmed up and got hot. When he got hot he removed his cloak.

And the Sun gloated because she won. Alright, that wasn’t in the story…

So how does this relate to getting people to change their minds?

Everything.

People don’t like to admit they’re wrong. So how do you take advantage of that knowledge and still bring them to your way of thinking (assuming yours is correct or can be adequately supported)?

Agree First

You need to first agree with them. Their conclusion was based on something, no matter how faulty you think it is. Second you need to ask for help or their opinion on some aspect that is related to the direction you’re taking them but not a frontal assault.

By doing this you at least have a chance at bringing them around and getting them on your side.

Ask for Help

One method of doing that is when someone has an opinion about something ask that they help you understand the steps to get to that conclusion. You may find they are right. Or you may find a flaw in their process or argument that will allow you to shed more light on it or provide additional information that they were not aware of that would then lead them to a different conclusion. Possibly yours.

So that is the mechanics of it but I think there is an even bigger area where you can get to a positive result.

Your Attitude Matters

And that is the attitude you bring to the persuasion situation. They say “Attitude is Everything”. It might not be everything, but it probably isn’t far from the truth.

A lot of our attitude stems from “Assumptions” we make about things. And a particularly deadly assumption in gaining agreement is assuming the other person has bad intent.

I can’t count the number of normal communications that went haywire due to someone assuming they were trying to undermine them. And when that happens it turns into a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Be Curious

So go in with an open, curious, mind. Ask for help. If you can get past your ego you’ll often find the person you’re dealing with is a good person who wants to do a good job and you may find agreement rather than argument in your dealings.

Enjoy!

How Your Environment Affects Performance

June 18, 2015 by Mike McRitchie Leave a Comment

Today I want to give you some musings about how environmental factors and momentum often play key roles in performance.

What is the impact of others on your individual or team performance?

This week I’ve taken a little sports diversion. The last post focused on how a committed, selfless team can achieve greatness in the Golden State Warriors NBA Championship win.

Today at the U.S. Open we saw how those around you can impact your performance – both in a good and bad way.

Looking at two back-to-back threesomes at the U.S. Open. You see two radically different results. Here’s the golfers and their scores in today’s round at Chambers Bay Golf Course.

In one group you have Jordan Spieth (68), Jason Day (68), and Justin Rose (72) – 208 total score for the group. In the following group you have Tiger Woods (80), Rickie Fowler (81), and Louis Oosthuizen (77) – 238 for the group – 14% higher. That’s a pretty big variation between two groups.

You can’t say they played in different playing conditions (not like one playing in the morning with slower greens and no wind and the other group playing in the afternoon with dry fast greens and swirling winds).

You can only explain so much by the pairings. Both groups had similarly talented players. Both with players favored to win it all (Jordan and Rickie). It wasn’t like one group had great players and the other had weekend duffers.

But how can the two groups have such dramatically different scores? And yet within each group they were so close?

Well what was at play was the impact of their surroundings on performance. Whether it is the course, the shots their playing partners made or didn’t make. Or their emotional mood that developed during the round. Or the crowd’s response to their shots or their playing partner’s shots. They all factor into the result. And today, it appeared to be very impactful.

I’ve noticed the same thing in work groups. I’ve been in ones where everything just seemed to go right. Team members were supportive. Everyone contributed. And the results were amazing. Project goals are attained. Profits are created. It works like a well oiled machine.

And I’ve also been in situations where the group was toxic. Where you literally could sense anxiety, fear, antagonism, depression. Where it was just a self-fulfilling prophesy of a downward spiral. And the result was disaster.

How about you? What have you experienced?

Don’t you find it is extremely hard to perform well in a negative environment? And isn’t it equally easy to succeed in a positive environment?

Wasn’t it Newton who noted that a body in motion will remain in motion. And a body at rest will remain at rest. He addresses both momentum and inertia in this law.

And today, Tiger and company were at rest at the bottom of the leaderboard. And Jordan and company were in motion to the top.

Taken another way beyond the microcosm of this particular tournament, Tiger’s downward spiral in the golf world since his transgressions have continued. And in his head failure on the golf course has become equally as predictable as his past successes on the golf course.

So be aware of your environment. Remember what your Mom told you. Be careful who you hang out with. Because you might get the same results as them. And if they aren’t the results you want then you are often better off finding better friends. And you’ll see better results.

Reflecting on Class

June 16, 2015 by Mike McRitchie Leave a Comment

Tonight the Golden State Warriors win their first NBA Championship in 40 years.

And I was alive when they won their last one with Rick Barry. And I watched a lot of bad years. I can’t complain because I got to see some of the best players on the other side of the ball – Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan.

Cheering for Oakland teams was often an uphill fight. The teams across the Bay often were the center of attention – the 49ers great years with Joe Montana, Steven Young, and Jerry Rice. The Giants World Series Championships.

So it is nice to see the Golden State Warriors win.

And what makes it even cooler is they are genuine, selfless, hard workers, committed, and true team players. The definition of class – both on and off the court.

Over the years I’ve seen pro sports players turn into high paid spoiled brats. In your face celebrations. Criminals who think they’re above the law. Athletes who don’t recognize the unique opportunity they have to leave a positive impression on all who watch and adore their abilities.

I’ve also seen pro sports franchises so focused on churning the dollars that they often dump on their fan base. Whether it is the high priced tickets that make it so that blue collar families can’t afford to attend the games or trying to avoid spending the big bucks and putting up with having teams that can’t win the big prize that their fans so crave.

So hearing the story of this team. Its players. Its coaches. Its back office management.

All committed to a collective vision and putting their personal interests behind their collective goals.

And in the end they also end up achieving their ultimate personal goals through their self sacrifice.

Did God grant the Warriors this victory? I wouldn’t go that far but isn’t it nice to see a down to earth team that is focused on doing what is necessary to reach their goal.

I think this is what I love about business ventures and projects too. When a group of people come together under the vision, most anything is possible.

And when that vision is attained. It is so much sweeter to celebrate with people you love to be around and are committed to.

So as I go to bed tonight with a smile on my face thinking about the Warriors’ victory, I only hope I can bring that same type of contribution to my work and relationships.

And may you do the same.

Are You Fooling Yourself?

June 12, 2015 by Mike McRitchie 2 Comments

Socks and Baseball Cards

This is a follow up to the Sock Story. Today I’m taking on the guys and their foolish businesses that their wife or girlfriend secretly complains about to her girlfriends when you’re not around.

There are many variations – the hobby business that the guy thinks is a real business. The eBay store, the comic book store, the baseball card shop.

What do these have in common? Often it is a hobby or interest that the guy tries to turn into a business. If you listen to them talk you’d think they were making a killing with their business. But like every great fish story, there’s more hiding under the surface.

Walk-in Traffic isn’t the answer

If you have a store front baseball card shop (like the sock shop), you’re not likely to get enough walk in business to turn a profit. So you need to be doing deals at card shows and online. Otherwise you’re likely to go down the drain with your business venture.

Why?

You may have some really valuable baseball cards. And the profit potential on those cards is really good. But if you start to project those profits onto the rest of your inventory, you’ll be in for a rude awakening.

Good products sell. Bad products don’t. A rare rookie card may bring big bucks. But you can’t get much for the off player. But do you unload those for cents on the dollar just to clear them out of your shop? Or do you hold onto them HOPING for a buyer?

Inventory is the Silent Killer

You might make money early on by selling the best of your inventory. And at that point everything seems great. But what eventually happens is sales slow and your remaining product just doesn’t move as fast…or at all.

And that’s when you’re done. You’re cooked. It is like the car dealership with a bunch of broken down cars that no one wants.

So how DO you make these types of businesses work?

Well first you have to operate in a very well defined and profitable niche where you’re the expert or the go to person in the niche. If you’re a baseball card shop, online you are maybe the expert in certain years, players, or types of memorabilia. Or you have some other “X factor” that brings people to your store instead of someone else’s.

Whatever you do you need to differentiate yourself and then make sure your marketing and inventory is all tied into that niche.

Then watch your inventory like a hawk. Paper profits are just paper. Until you convert a buy into a sale. Into cold, hard, cash. You just have another fish story. Not a profitable business.