No Rules, Only Consequences (#11)

This title is straight from the mouth of professor Keith Rogers (Smith School of Business at Queen’s University – holy shit that’s a mouthful). Who knows how many opinions influenced professor Rogers’ thoughts.

Look at Facebook violating privacy law in EU (which time? let’s say circa 2018) – they pay a fine and ultimately change their operation, but the damage has been done. And if you look at what the fines amount to it would have been more expensive to take out an insurance policy to cover themselves over the same period of time. It’s clear that the best decision is to play dirty and take the slap on the wrist down the road (how could you not?)

So, I’m not advising people to do anything illegal or really annoying, but if you’re in a place dedicated to selling and others are participating, you have to give yourself an edge. Maybe you’re not supposed to do____, but how could you know if you didn’t try? Most little things will get you a warning before being outright banned, but consider the context of where you are.

But let’s think about a farmer’s market (because I was at one recently). Why wouldn’t you have little signs at the parking entrance, or stickers to give to kids (so they can put them places), or reserve a special spot for your customers by decorating an area. If what you’re doing is interesting, engaging and overall positive it will be hard to say no.

The world is made up of people who go out and do things and make mistakes and make judgement. Vouch for yourself, stand tall and be genuine about what you’re doing. People who ask for things get them more than people who don’t.

The Weeds (#7)

It will make you go cross-eyed from the mental strain it takes on you (maybe to the point of physical strain too).

It’s also where the magic happens. The little details in movies people talk about decades later is a perfect example (see Reddit.com/r/moviedetails a website with over 1.4 million followers for just this).

A favourite analogy by a great boss* that I use to this day originates with Disney.

In their park, there are little hidden details just for children. Cracks in walls at a low eye-level that open up into fairy forests when you peep through. Not everybody finds these, but that’s part of what makes it so special and intimate.

You can’t get to this level of connection without being in the weeds a little.

*(Nancy Knyf – YMCA of Western Ontario)

Details Matter (#3)

In fact, details can be all that matter. If you can’t have a step by step process that at least accommodates for some variation then you won’t be able to scale effectively.

Think in terms of the resources you have, be it people, computer processing power or vehicles (just to name three). If nobody on your team knows where these things are or what they have to be doing at any given time then you’re going to have a serious lack of accountability.

This can be hard when you’re trying to scale regionally, nationally and internationally.

But details go beyond pure logistics, it means have complete work that is ready to implement should you get the green light. It means instead of talking about “local social media influencers in your area” going out and building relationships with them. It means instead of suggesting Facebook and Instagram Stories, making them and having the posts show exactly what you mean.

Actions speak louder than words – don’t be afraid to let your creativity shine through when the opportunity presents itself, just always make sure to keep your audience in mind.

And details matter…