Marketing Yourself

I am going to the ICSC national conference this weekend in Las Vegas.  The conference involves all things retail and developmental real estate with leasing consultants, shopping center owners, small business owners and land developers. I am looking into the whole 'business' of handing out your business card. Namely, how to distinguish your card and yourself in these highly-populated situations. (Several Thousands attend the Conference). Aside from alluding to a prospective deal or business opportunity, what can I do to keep my card from the hundreds of others that will get dumped into their pockets, dumped in their conference binder or settled at the bottom of their briefcase? What can I do in that last minute of wrapping up a small conversation, to keep my service in mind. How can I stand out? For all your small business owners out there, or independent contractors like myself, here are a few great examples of people taking business cards for what they are, and marketing their business!

Rest

....We all know, the best remedy for any sport related injury, is the dreaded REST. Telling an athlete to rest is like telling a monkey not to swing. Nonetheless, we know the sooner it will return us to our sport. This rest has reminded me why I love to run,  as we know with distance, the heart grows fonder.

I read a quote in this super book I'm reading, and it went a little something like this: "Was (HE) a a great man who happened to run, or a great man because he ran? His gut kept telling him that there was some kind of connection between the capacity to love and the capacity to love running. The engineering was certainly the same, both depended on loosing your grip on your own desires; putting aside what you wanted and what you got, being patient and forgiving and undemanding." (McDougall, Born To Run). Speed in running and passion in loving -- we can't be surprised that getting better at one could make you better at the other.

Resting gives you humility. It's admitting your physical weaknesses. It's surrendering your mind. Today I tried running my favorite Balboa Island Loop, in a slower jog. The pain was still there, but the sights and the feeling of motion were so enticing, it overrode the physical pain. But I still told myself to slow down. The more rest I give it, the sooner I'll be 100% back. On another day, I hit the treadmill. I took it for a sloy jog on 5-6, after 8 complete days of rest since the OC Marathon. I couldn't help myself. 'Just for a little', I thought. I boosted it up to 8 and ran for twelve minutes straight. Damn that felt good. That speed. It seemed easier than usual because my body was so rested, but the pain in my hip flexor was reminding me to stop.
Rest, girl. Rest.

....In the meantime I'll continue to dream of the reasons why I run, and anticipate that next solid run. I know it's around the corner.

Thank You, Kara

'Not my day, but thats okay'.

I trained for months to re-qualify for the Boston Marathon at the OC Marathon. I needed a 3:40, but I wanted to get a PR of sub - 3:38. I finished in 4:01.

Today is just the day after the (disappointing) OC Marathon. I find myself using 'the google' in search of others' experience post a disappointing time, after great training. I stumbled upon Kara Goucher's blog after this year's 2011 Boston Marathon experience. It struck home. Whether it was the fact that even the great, sometimes fall short, or just hearing my experience ring true in another.

The OC 2011 Marathon itself didn't have a good day. 80 degree heat. Gusty winds on the back half, including the trail portion. And, misplaced or absent mile markers. I wish I could tribute my troubles to any one of these, but that just wouldn't be true. All of the usual elements were there for a successful race day. My Dad and Dan on their bikes going along side me. The crowds  at the major corners, where I could scan for familiar faces. My dad had all my mid-race goodies packed in his backpack. I wore a pacing band that doted the 'Marathon Pace' miles incorporated in all my training runs. My coach was there hydrating me with his own bottles of water.  My new hot pink running shorts. Just saying', it helps. But, I wasn't feeling it.  I started the race focused on running 'silent' for as long as I could, and found myself turning on my iPod at Mile 2, to relax. I wasn't worried about completing the miles, I was worried about how tired my body felt so early on.  I was still 'nervous' on mile 9.  I usually LOVE running this hometown marathon, and here I was concerned on the best half of the marathon - the back bay early miles.   I had been dealing with a hip injury leading up to the race, and had laid off the mileage a week before. But, I felt that as is typical for me on RACE DAY, all the (pain, doubt) would be replaced with excitement, determination and energy. It wasn't.

Normally, I stay about 5 minutes ahead of the 3:40 pace group, and they passed me by at Mile 13. I knew I would never catch up. My hip really hurt. It was even harder seeing the look on my Dad and Dan's faces; it wasn't an expression of disappointment, but more pity. They knew how bad I wanted this, and they knew I wasn't going to make it. But they are also two of the best people I know, and Dan said it perfectly, 'Just enjoy yourself now, it's not for a time.' The race was grueling. I was battling with my mental side more than my physical. My physical knew how 'fast' it was ABLE to run, so it went on cruise control at that pace. I was emotionally going through what went wrong. Should I have taken more time off for my hip? Did I train enough? Did I train too much? Silly things happened during the course. A man on pace for a 3:40 was just behind me, I heard him ask a man if he had some Gu. I turned around, "I do! DAD! Get me some Gu!" By the time my Dad got it out of his backpack and pulled up on his bike along side me, the man was at a nice pace just ahead of me. Technically, I could grab some energy and run up to him. I looked at the Gu. It was the Chocolate one. My favorite. And I was hungry. So I opened and ate it, figuring 'You shouldn't have passed me if you really wanted it man....' but also thinking 'Please don't turn around and see me eating this right now....'

Was there anything else I would rather be doing on a Sunday morning in Newport? No. Was I debating finishing? Yes. Did I pass that thought up immediately? Yes. Do I miss loving just the experience of the marathon, rather than the competition? A little.....

Thank you Kara for sharing your experience. Like you said, it just made you realize why you love the sport so much. It continues to toughen my skin. The challenge betters me. If it were easy, it wouldn't feel as sweet.


karagoucher.competitor.com

More than a Painted Nail

Service-Oriented businesses are among the few concepts 'safe' from our Internet-Driven marketplace. You can't get your nails painted or your hair cut over the internet. Yet, even these concepts are still improving.
Introducing   - 'The Painted Nail'. Many are uncomfortable in a traditional nail salon environment. Much like sitting in a hotel jacuzzi with the wrong crowd, getting your nails 'done' can be not only intimidating but borderline obnoxious at a time you are wishing to relax. In addition to the top nail technicians, The Painted Nail offers free wi-fi (I'm assuming for use prior to your manicure) in their chic, realizing lounge, so even your wait is tolerable. They also feature an extensive selection for nail polish and nail accessories. A one-stop-shop; everyone'e kinda shop.

They built their concept considering your health and safety, from the ground up. They have SINGLE USE  buffers, files and toe scrubbers, so you are assured cleanliness in these intimate areas. Their tools are sterilized in an autoclave - only usually seen in hospitals. They don't use whirlpool foot spas, as they know these are a breeding ground for bacteria in typical nail salons.  They also have a free mini-bar serving coffee tea, seasonal cocktails and wine and VIP manicure cabanas - a private studio with a flat screen TV to get you your nails done, let's say, after work while catching up on Grey's Anatomy. Talk about relaxation.


Check out their website, or to find an LA location near you!

www.thepaintednail.com