Thursday, April 21, 2011

Let your challenges spur your creativity

Walt Disney had a passionate desire to pursue a career in commercial art, which is how he began his original experiments in animation. He started by producing short animated films for local businesses in Kansas City. By the time Walt had started to create The Alice Comedies, which was about a real girl and her adventures in an animated world, he ran out of money. His company at the time, Laugh-O-Grams went bankrupt. 

Instead of giving up, Walt packed his suitcase and with his unfinished print of The Alice Comedies in hand, headed for Hollywood to start a new business. It was Walt Disney’s enthusiasm and faith in himself and others that took him straight to the top of Hollywood society. Walt Disney's dream of a clean and organized amusement park also came true when Disneyland Park in Anaheim opened in 1955.



Wally Amos opened his first Famous Amos store, with cookies based on his aunt's recipe which he baked himself. Within 10 years his sales had grown to more than $10 million. Due to financial troubles, Amos was forced to sell the Famous Amos Company, and trademarked name "Famous Amos".

Turning adversity into opportunity, Amos launched a new cookie venture, The Uncle Noname's Cookie Company. With America's tastes shifting towards healthier foods, the company focused on fat-free, nutritious muffins at that time. Uncle Noname ultimately became Uncle Wally's Muffin Company in 1999. The muffins are sold in more than 3,500 stores nationwide.


Dr. Seuss’ first book was rejected by over 27 publishers. He had a fleeting thought to burn the manuscript. Instead he sent it out one more time.”

"As you begin to move forward in the direction of your vision, you may encounter delays. Every delay is not a denial. It simply means that you are getting something that you're gonna need to go forward" ~ Michael Bernard Beckwith

Friday, April 15, 2011

Google Branding With Charlie Chaplin

Have you visited Google today? Google is known, among other things, for their branding strategy of consistently updating their Google logo on their home page. Colorful images, clever layouts and even animation.

Today they celebrate English comic actor and director, Charlie Chaplin's 122nd birthday with a short Chaplin style video doodle; which amuses you and cleverly places Google's logo into the era. From the first frame to Charlie reading a Google newspaper, to the more obvious Google logo set up by the painter. At the end of the video you are forwarded to a Google search results page with everything Charlie Chaplin.

Other businesses can learn from this branding approach. It takes creativity and planning. Although the majority of searches are made from Google, one might think they don't need to continually market themselves. Google is smart enough to know that marketing your brand should never stop.

Using creativity to bring people to your website, could increase your consistent traffic. Let people ask" "I wonder what they have on their website today that will educate me, amuse me, motivate me, etc." and "what will I miss, if I don't visit?"

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Monday, April 4, 2011

Seeking Small Business Case Study Profiles

For a new television show that will air in the St. Louis metropolitan area, Susan Solovic is looking for small businesses who are facing a particular business challenge and would be willing to be profiled.

You must be comfortable talking about your business challenge. The profile segments will be shot at your business location and then business experts will discuss your challenge and offer advice during the time the show airs.

Please submit the name of your business, location, years in business, your name
and title and the nature of the business challenge with which you are dealing.

Email your submission to: query-9ub@helpareporter.com

Deadline: 07:00 PM EST - 6 April

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Seeking Entrepreneur Success Stories

Seeking Entrepreneurs who are willing to share their entrepreneur success stories as well as their thoughts on Gen Y and entrepreneurship for an online Entrepreneur Publication.


Email: query-139i@helpareporter.com


Deadline: 07:00 PM EST - 5 April