We recently held a client appreciation party and served them hot dogs. Now you may be thinking, well, I never want to be your client if you’re going to feed me hot dogs!, but let me tell you, these were not any simple hot dogs. In fact, had a client’s daughter not specifically asked for the ketchup, it would not have made an appearance on the menu. What did make the menu were some really fun concoctions like Hot Dog Satay, Tropical Dog and the winner, Homestyle Breakfast Dog with Hot Sauce. So venture on over to our facebook page and check out these great hot dog photos. Be sure to be a client for next year’s party… you never know what we’ll be up to, but it will be fun.

1. What is your most marked characteristic? My dry sense of humor. Physically, it must be my curly hair and my height – I’m 6’2”.
2. What is the quality you most like in a man? Respect for others and air guitar skills.
3. What is the quality you most like in a woman? A good conversationalist and appreciation for sports, especially baseball.
4. What do you most value in your friends? Non-judgmental of my flaws.
5. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Procrastination.
6. What is your idea of perfect happiness? And endless supply of pie and ice cream.
7. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Stopped at a traffic light with a bass-thumping car next to me.
8. Who are your favorite writers? Sadly, I’ve never read much for leisure. GQ’s The Style Guy (Glenn O’Brien) cracks me up and offers common sense sartorial advice
9. What is your current state of mind? Scatterbrained. My wife and I have a 6-month-old – need I explain more?
10. What is your motto? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
11. What is your greatest fear? Not being able to be there for my family.
12. What is your greatest extravagance? Jackets. My wife thinks I have to many.
13. On what occasion do you lie? None. I don’t lie, to the point that it may be a flaw.
14. What do you dislike most about your appearance? My posture.
15. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? “So…” “In terms of” “For all intensive purposes (which I recently learned should be: for all intents and purposes)” “The fact of the matter is…”

In the past month, I’ve had a handful of people contact me and ask me to refer business to them. Once I do, they’ll give me money. I don’t know anything about these people, they know nothing about me, I have no idea how they work or if I think they are honest with their business. Not even helping me answer these unknowns makes me shut down immediatly. Kind of like when you start to have that gut feeling that something is a little off but you’re trying to be professional and hang in there. There are right and wrong ways to ask for, receive and give thanks for referrals. This cold approach, however, falls in the wrong way to do the act. It makes me think … if you’re treating me like this and handling your marketing in this matter, how else are you handling your business?

When you’re ready to offer a referral program, do it the right way. Figure out what works best for your referral sources, how you’ll consistently thank each referral source and how often you’ll do this thanking. These are just some starters for important elements. Before any of this takes place, though, take the time to get to know the people you’re hoping to help you grow your business with referrals. Any other way will offer the opposite up… a complete turn off and zero referrals… ever.

Ever heard of the SXSW conference? Big Omaha? These annual conferences have grown up out of a need for business owners and technology taste-makers to share ideas and examine the present and future state of technology. Technology and how we use it for business is evolving daily, and the residents of Austin and Omaha recognized the value in creating a venue to exchange ideas. So they created SXSW and Big Omaha.

If you are thinking that the need for that type of exchange is just as strong here in Indiana, you’re not alone. That’s why Bloomington, Indiana will be hosting the inaugural year of The Combine from September 9th through 12th. You might expect that the first year for this type of event would struggle to draw much in the way of celebrity speakers, but there are couple of big hitters on the docket.

If you are interested in measuring the ROI of your online activities, you won’t want to miss Neil Patel. A little birdie told me he’s going to be diving into analytics, testing, and highly targeted online ads.

The Saturday and Sunday of the conference has some cool stuff going on, but I’ll be honest: those two days are largely for the hardcore coders and development geeks. What does The Combine have to offer normal people? Thursday and Friday. The events on those days give you a chance to rub elbows with talented, driven entrepreneurs that are defining how we will be using technology in the coming years. Check out the full mix of networking, panels, and presentations.

I’ll be there. Come say hi at the Tech Cocktail on Thursday night.

1. What is your most marked characteristic? My ability to listen and thus converse. Or maybe my right dimple.
2. What is the quality you most like in a man? I like a sense of camaraderie – it shows humility and character.
3. What is the quality you most like in a woman? An easy laugh, and a big smile to go with it.
4. What do you most value in your friends? Their taste in food, because the best things in life happen during, or after, a great meal.
5. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? I was going to answer this later, but… procrastination.
6. What is your idea of perfect happiness? In a national park, or another continent, with my family, after a long hike, with a good beer, at sunset.
7. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Homeless and hungry.
8. Who are your favorite writers? Bill Bryson, The Coen Brothers, Jimmy Page, Mark Twain, James Brown
9. What is your current state of mind? Analytical. My work is technical, so I get in modes where strict logic rules.
10. What is your motto? Live life well.
11. What is your greatest fear? I’m not sure – I don’t focus much on fears.
12. What is your greatest extravagance? Time – I spend it, waste it, burn it, and otherwise disregard its finiteness.
13. On what occasion do you lie? Questionnaires.
14. What do you dislike most about your appearance? Don’t look now, but I have a bald patch on my chin.
15. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? “Right,” “Okay,” and “It is what it is.”

Wonka on flexibility

Willy Wonka: Invention, my dear friends, is 93% perspiration, 6% electricity, 4% evaporation, and 2% butterscotch ripple.

Mrs. Teevee: [as Mr. Wonka drinks the formula] That’s 105%!

Mr. Beauregarde: Any good?

Willy Wonka: [smacks his lips, then speaks thinly] Yes.

When Silver Square begins working with new clients, sometimes we discover that they have crystal-clear plans regarding what they need. They want us to simply execute their vision because they don’t have the time, manpower or expertise. But more often than not, our perspective on the clients’ marketing and design needs leads to a modified version of their expectations of us. Instead of just the branding and image work they anticipated, we might also recommend website strategy. That extra 5 percent could be the butterscotch ripple and electricity a client needs to be really good.

Wonka on new things

Willy Wonka: Little surprises around every corner, but nothing dangerous.

If you want to grow your business through better marketing, chances are you’re going to be doing some new things. If you don’t welcome a few surprises, then you’re going to stay stagnant. Silver Square clients know that they’ll become more appealing to customers and potential customers by shaking things up and trying new things.

Wonka on silliness

Willy Wonka: A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.

Humor has its place, and it usually has a place in whatever Silver Square is doing. At the least, humor can lighten a mood, make dull things more palatable and inspire interest. Knowing when and how to use a little nonsense is necessary. When you’ve figured that out, there is always room for a laugh.

Wonka on perpetuity

Willy Wonka: The suspense is terrible… I hope it’ll last.

Marketing isn’t a one-shot deal. You can’t put up a website and expect it to sit there and make money. You can’t run a series of ads and expect that to sustain your business growth for years to come. In order for marketing to really work — to generate interest, to grow customers, to stay compelling — it must be perpetual. It must create suspense. That takes hard work and creativity. It takes a dedication to continuously staying on top of how businesses market themselves. Wonka knows this.

Wonka on victory

Willy Wonka: But Charlie, don’t forget what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he always wanted.

Charlie Bucket: What happened?

Willy Wonka: He lived happily ever after.

Don’t be afraid to visualize the perfect outcome. What could be the harm in that?

Check out http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067992/ for more Wonka wisdom.

1. What is your most marked characteristic? Trust…..trust that those around me will do what is right
2. What is the quality you most like in a man? Humor…..and kindness
3. What is the quality you most like in a woman? First impressions….someone that you see for the first time and know you want to see and know them better….sometimes it is their face, eyes or just the way they carry themselves but mostly it is the first impression when I first meet someone…..I can tell in a few seconds if I want to know them better or not.
4. What do you most value in your friends? Generosity and willingness to share
5. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Fear of failing…….which creates a lack of confidence in my own ability……even in areas where I think I do a pretty good job, I always see the areas where others are more thorough and detail specific….details are not my strength.
6. What is your idea of perfect happiness? Health….time to be with the ones I love including my pets….friends who take you for who you are…..the means to do what I want to do…..
7. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Helplessness……not being able to control or change events that hurt others
8. Who are your favorite writers? Shel Silverstein
9. What is your current state of mind? In a state of disbelief…..living a dream after waiting sixty years to actually write, produce and see my own musical on stage
10. What is your motto? I have two……..”What’s the worst that can happen?” and “All you need in life is luck and timing!”
11. What is your greatest fear? Running out of time…to be with the loves of my life and to do never have a shot at a Tony award.
12. What is your greatest extravagance? Not worrying about money or where it is coming from…..when I should
13. On what occasion do you lie? I try not to lie….at one time I thought that would help or soften the moment…it does just the opposite….so lying never works….at least not for me.
14. What do you dislike most about your appearance? Too short……
15. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? Probably the word “so”….seems like a good filler…..in terms of phrases…not sure if over used but one of my favorites is…”so what’s the worst that can happen”…..

I can already hear some of our clients balking at this idea…. we need a professional CV, this won’t fly in our industry… what other excuses would you like to toss in the mix? I’m not saying you cannot have a professional resume, in fact, make a link to that too for those who want that detailed look at your career path, but for people who do business with people, make it more real.

Here are some more specific thoughts to help you get on your way:

1. What was some silly or interesting event or title that was bestowed on you in your early years? Were you a prom queen? Were you the champion pig rider? Think of something that could bring in some flavor and immediately give your bio a nod to your past… way past.
2. We get that you worked somewhere and that your job was x, x, and x. What else did that experience bring for you? Did you learn the power of teamwork there? Were you introduced to a global network? Were your eyes opened to the power of technology? Share in those words, not in boring, corporate speak words.
3. What do you do outside of work? What are you known for? What do you love? This bio is about YOU, so it’s OK to make it as much. I always get asked questions about my personal side of life before my work life… and the questions are always coming due to someone reading my bio or reading this blog to learn about Raquel. It’s just interesting to know what we do while not at work. We are human. We just like to know.
4. If you finish writing it and you like to read it, chances are good your peers, prospects and clients will enjoy reading it too.

Here is my updated, fun bio. Use it as inspiration for your new fun bio, or to ask me about my cupcake-eating boys the next time you see me.

Idea girl, artist and founder of Silver Square, Raquel Richardson is an urban wannabe, lover of wine and mother of two cupcake-eating boys. Her business talents started at a young age and bloomed a bit more while enrolled at Butler University.

 After Butler, Raquel made a few twists working at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Bates USA Midwest (an advertising agency), the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce and Charles Schwab. These fine places introduced her to new people, big ideas and global concepts that helped shape the person she is today.

 Raquel’s not really limited to the marketing business; she was a Coca-Cola Junior Championship Bowler at age 10 and to her knowledge still holds the record for most runs in homerun derby in Winchester, IN, (ghosties on first) her hometown. She can be found gracing the pages of the Indianapolis Woman magazine (March, 2010), enjoying  yet another community project with her volunteer work or with her Square crew thinking up something fabulous with her colleagues and clients.

 1. What is your most marked characteristic? Empathy, I’m very good at picking up the subtle non-verbal cues of others. A friend of mine calls this “emotional radar.”
2. What is the quality you most like in a man? 
I value openness and honesty; I don’t like braggarts. I enjoy the badinage that guys do with each other.
3. What is the quality you most like in a woman? My wife is the model for what I like in women; I admire her strength and confidence. We raised our daughters to be that way.
4. What do you most value in your friends? Loyalty.
5. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Procrastination. 
6. What is your idea of perfect happiness? I prefer to think in terms of fulfillment rather that happiness (or success).
7. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? To not have a purpose that motivates and gives you a reason to get up in the morning. 
8. Who are your favorite writers? The last three works of fiction I read were by the late Nevil Shute. When I do work-related reading about leadership, I’m a fan of Lee Thayer.
9. What is your current state of mind? Contentment.
10. What is your motto? I borrowed my motto from Viktor Frankl; he said “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
11. What is your greatest fear? Rejection – It hurts to lose a coaching client or a member of one of my Vistage groups.
12. What is your greatest extravagance? High performance German cars and top shelf single malt Irish whiskey. Though I never indulge in these extravagances at the same time!
13. On what occasion do you lie?  I’ve read that the opposite of truth is withholding, embellishing, cloaking, or lying. I’m far more likely to embellish than to lie. 
14. What do you dislike most about your appearance? My gray hair. Just when I started to like being a red head, my hair began turning gray.
15. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? “What would you say if you did know?”