March 17th, 2010
Learn Selling from a Drag Queen
Last night I watched an episode of Ru Paul’s Drag Race. A reality show competition of drag queen divas. It has all the things you would expect a show like this to have, the drama, the camp and the predictability. But it had one more unexpected thing, lessons in selling.
If there’s one skill common to all good drag queens, it’s the ability to sell. They know how to sell a whole package, to create a persona, wrap it up in a show and deliver it in a song. They do this so well we suspend dis-belief and are captivated by a performance so ballsy that it commands our attention. Ever wish you could do that? I’m not talking about the drag, I’m talking about the selling. I’m talking about casting aside your fears and creating selling show. One that your prospect can’t ignore.
The thing that sparked this thought for me was something one of the contestants said. She said that by wearing a costume she was able to overcome her fears, transcend herself and be the character who could do all those brash and captivating things on stage. Doing this, she was able to make it through difficult times of self-doubt and create success. Could it be the key to your sales success? I say yes.
Of course I don’t mean you should join the drag show and start looking for a sequined gown. I mean you should create a sales persona, create a costume and put on a fearless show for your prospects. Your persona could be the seasoned vet or the whip-smart MBA. Find the most powerful part of your personality and amplify it. Make a costume. It could be a suit, it could jeans—it doesn’t have to be fancy. Think about Steve Jobs. What’s his costume? It’s no accident he wears the same outfit at every presentation. Just make sure to “own it”, like a drag queen does. When you wear your costume you’ll have the permission and courage to be the most captivating version of yourself. Then put yourself on stage and command the attention of your audience. For at least as long as it takes to sing I Will Survive.
March 7th, 2010
Sanjay Patel Interview from Grain Edit
Catching up on my RSS feeds this morning I came across this interview with Sanjay Patel about his just released book Ramayana: Divine Loophole.
from Grain Edit…
As one of the core legends of Hindu mythology, Ramayana recounts a tale of Rama, a god-turned-prince, and his quest to rescue his wife Sita after she was kidnapped by a demon king. Sanjay is able to breath new life into this 2500-year-old epic tale with over 150 pages of lush, detailed illustrations.
The quality of Sanjay’s work is amazing and the interview provides surprising insights into the personal motivations of a professional illustrator. We’re definitely going to add this book to our studio collection. There is also a limited edition silk screened poster that is signed and still available.
Read the full interview here>>
Find the book here>>
And the poster here>>
March 4th, 2010
Thoughts on Freelancing Rates
Our new freelancing friends often ask us about how much their hourly rates should be. It’s a common dilemma and one that inevitably ends with the phrase “it depends”. Sure there are average rates in the market, a range that collectively we feel the market will bear. But that’s a very localized thing. So much so that across the Denver metro area you’ll find significant differences north to south, east to west.
What everyone should be focused on is find a balance point between the market average and their skills—one that leans toward value for the client. It’s that value quotient that keeps you at the top of the list when clients have new projects. How do you figure out your pricing for new clients? What about repeat clients? What about work that comes to you through other freelancers?
Today Seth Godin takes and interesting view on issues around these questions in his post Open Buying and Open Selling.
March 3rd, 2010
Wiegand Attorneys Logo
This logo for Wiegand Attorneys & Counselors is the latest part of a larger re-branding effort. We began the project by re-defining the firm’s market positioning and creating a new tag-line—Navigating Your Future Success. The form of the logo connects with the tag-line and our client’s love of sailing and the antique nautical maps which adorn his office. There’s more to come in a website, business stationary and environmental signage.
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