Some define play as the opposite of work. The Flint Group says otherwise.
When work excites and inspires you, it’s play. SimmonsFlint shared some playfulness on May 20 at our annual client party. Our theme this year: baseball. We became The Sparks, the newest baseball team in Grand Forks.
Nice lineup, eh? (Notice our catcher?)
The evening included a batting cage, live music, a client Hall of Fame and traditional baseball fare – chili dogs, popcorn, nachos with cheese and beer (but, unlike a baseball game, it wasn’t flat). Best of all – we got to play outside of work and share a great evening in celebration of our clients.
Manager Susan Mickelson keeps her eye on the ball (as usual).
Clearly, we work passionately and play seriously. We play with messaging and strategy, traditional and social media, words and design. Play is proven to work. Some insights from Leo Babauta at ZenHabits.com:
When work feels like play, we can accomplish so much more: + Unleash creativity for higher productivity levels
Creativity is essential. And not just in the world of marketing, but in any career. The ability to think differently can solve myriad issues in the workplace. Play encourages us to open our minds to new ideas. + Revitalize the mind and spirit to regain focus Does sitting at a desk all day long ever get to you? Running away for two minutes to get an icy cold beverage can do wonders for our mental clarity. So can play. Shutting off the computer (and your mobile) and playing at night gets us recharged and revved for a brand new day. Tomorrow, bring it. + Eliminate stress and worry for a fresh outlook Of course there’s stress in any job. Finding a playful way to relieve built-up stress is not only healthy; it’s fun. Doing something that takes little thought can help you recharge and solve problems. + Attract and keep talented employees
Talented employees are not only drawn to fun companies; they stick around longer. Companies who not only work together, but play together, make cohesive teams.
Long ago, Plato said: “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” He had a point. + Sweep out mental cobwebs and sharpen our thinking Suffering from jumbled thoughts, hazy memories and anything-but-eloquent speech? Feel like you’ve drunk more than your share of work? Take time to relax and rejuvenate. Your brain will thank you by working smoother and clearer. + Discover what brings the most joy
In other words, play helps you find your passion.
The main reason we do the work we do is because we’re passionate about it.
We realize how important all of these things – peak creativity, focus, problem solving, mental clarity and passion – add up.
You’re always welcome to play in our world. It’s bound to be a good time.
Acclaimed interviewer and broadcast journalist Charlie Rose engages America’s best thinkers, writers, politicians, athletes, entertainers, business leaders, scientists and other newsmakers in one-on-one interviews and roundtable discussions.
An internationally-recognized authority on global, economic, political and social trends, Joel Kotkin is the author of a new book, THE NEXT HUNDRED MILLION: America in 2050, published in February by The Penguin Press. The book explores how the nation will evolve in the next four decades. It has received rave reviews from The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, the Globe and Mail, and National Public Radio.
Mr. Kotkin is Distinguished Presidential Fellow in Urban Futures at Chapman University in Orange, California and an Adjunct Fellow with the Legatum Institute based in London, UK. A highly respected speaker and futurist, he consults for many leading economic development organizations, private companies, regions and cities. Joel is also a Senior Fellow with the Center for an Urban Future in New York City; and a Senior Consultant with the Praxis Strategy Group in Fargo, North Dakota.
Flintsters and family at the YWCA Women of the Year event.
The 37th Annual YWCA Cass Clay Women of the Year event was held this week in Fargo. Each year this event honors outstanding women whose lives, talents and passions shape our community. Some of our Flintsters attended the event, and we’d like to congratulate the amazing nominees!
Flint would also like to thank the YWCA for continuing the tradition of honoring these amazing women and the contributions they make to the F-M community. One of our core values at Flint is to put our families and our communities first. With that in mind, we encourage the women and men of Flint to emulate the women that were nominated.
Here are the 2010 award recipients in their respective categories:
Patricia Patron (Advocating for Equality)
Kay Hilde (Arts & Communication)
Danette Nicoloff (Business)
Vogel Law Firm (Business/Organization that Empowers Women)
HatlingFlint recently won eight ADDY® Awards at the American Advertising Federation of Central Minnesota awards ceremony held on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010. The ADDY Awards recognize creativity in numerous forms.
Pediatric Home Service’s Thrive Campaign received a gold award and also won the Judge’s Choice Award. The Thrive Campaign consisted of videos, a direct mail piece, ads and a microsite. The agency also received a gold award for Illustrations from the HatlingFlint Circus posters.
PHS Thrive Campaign and HatlingFlint Circus Illustrations
Silver award recipients were the Blattner Energy website, Glenn Metalcraft photos, the HatlingFlint Circus posters, a video of Tyler’s Success Story for Pediatric Home Service, and St. Cloud State University’s MBA Engaged Marketing campaign.
The award-winning pieces will advance to the district competition in Minneapolis on March 19-20.
On the day of our 61st annual Christmas client party, one may be consumed with the thought that tonight will be a step back to the future in this year’s theme of “AdMen and AdWomen.” Our themed Christmas party for clients, suppliers, partners and friends is a long-standing tradition in Flint Group culture.
Our 2009 Client Holiday Party: "Admen Yourself" at http://www.flintcom.com/holiday/
Historically, the early 60’s was a noteworthy time in advertising history. Some industry experts cite the period as a highpoint, “with skinny ties and fat budgets.” Others look to the era as a turning point of advertising decay and rebirth. Interestingly enough, one needs to read only an industry article or two to note emerging patterns that are reminiscent to the time period of the television series.
For those who experienced the era in real-time or who have heard the story from those who did, a recent article in Advertising Age puts the television series, “Mad Men” in perspective. “Those things did not happen that way” – Ken Wheaton as quoted in the November 2, 2009 article, “Real London Fog Adman Not Happy About “Mad Men.”
When asking Flint staff about past client parties, perhaps the same is true, that “those things did not happen that way.”
You’ve spent hours finding the perfect presenters for your event. You’ve flown them to your venue, briefed them about your employees, your corporate culture, your business model, your goals for your event.
You’ve written speeches for your senior management team and rehearsed them to perfection.
You’ve spent a lot of money preparing graphics, videos and handouts.
Your event begins and suddenly, you feel that horrible tightness in your stomach. The microphone is squealing. The projector is too dim and the screen is too small. You see the attendees squirm in their seats, your CEO gives you “that look” and at that moment, you’re the captain of the Titanic.
Been there? Well, here are the “7 Deadly Sins of Presenting.”
Using an inadequate sound system
Not properly illuminating your stage
Using a screen that’s too small for the size of your audience
Using type, pictures or graphics that are too small or busy
Not providing image magnification for large audiences
Not controlling your environment
Not consulting a professional service provider
What do you think? Do you have any to add to this list?
Media Productions is a partner of the Flint Group.
Several weeks ago, Media Productions and WestmorelandFlint helped maurices, a national fashion retailer with corporate headquarters in Duluth, Minnesota and 700+ stores in 43 states, launch Rescues & Runways. Rescues and Runways is a national campaign that paired fashion and fundraising to help animal shelters and the homeless pets they serve. It was the first in a series of similar events to be staged at maurices stores nationwide. The Duluth event not only helped needy animals find new homes, but it also treated eager onlookers to animals strutting their stuff down the runway, each escorted by a well-dressed model.
The event was staged in the Miller Hill Mall in Duluth, in front of the maurices’ store. The venue offered a unique set of challenges for the Media Productions team. A 20’ x 20’ skylight was located directly above the best location in the mall to produce the event. The team climbed to the roof and covered the skylight with heavy gauge black plastic to block out the sunlight and allow for creative and colorful lighting on the style show stage. Sound also required creative attention to overcome the echo-prone environment of a shopping mall.
Media Productions designed and assembled all production elements needed for the show including staging, scenery, audio, lighting, and even pipe & drape to build dressing rooms for the models.
WestmorelandFlint helped coordinate promotional aspects of the event to garner an abundance of regional and national media coverage. Additionally, Flint Interactive built the website that promoted the event and is being used nationwide as the other 700+ maurices stores hold their events.
The results of the first event were outstanding. Nearly 50 cats and dogs who were being cared for by Animal Allies found new homes as a result of the event. Donations for local animal shelters poured in for a full month following the event—brought in by people in exchange for a 20 percent-off coupon to maurices. The event and campaign raised awareness and increased volunteerism for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the local shelter. And as a result, maurices became synonymous with a great cause.
To see videos, please click here. For more photos of the event, click here.
December 21, 2012, is the deadline when the world is coming to an end. However, there appears to be a little wiggle room here. Evidently the Mayans, who are credited with “publishing” this deadline, have added an asterisk to that date, explaining there is a lot more to the story.* It seems Hollywood has added some drama. Go figure.
But the drama that comes with meeting deadlines is very real. And there are many days where it becomes obvious that some of these deadlines are just not going to be met. It’s at that point in time when we learn the difference between “published” deadlines and “real” deadlines.
Published deadlines are very valuable. They help us set goals, get organized and establish milestones that need to be reached along the way. But even our most well-thought out plans can hit a snag, or time suddenly passes by and before you know it, that published deadline is no longer possible to achieve. When this happens, anxiety begins to set in, co-workers get crabby, mistakes are made and there is unhappiness everywhere. But this situation also opens up opportunities, and that’s when real deadlines are set.
Real deadlines force everyone involved to stop and reevaluate what really needs to be done and how the team can pull it off. The previously discouraged team is re-energized, united for a common purpose and mobilized to accomplish the seemingly unattainable task at hand. Together, they work smarter, use their creative talents to employ unconventional problem-solving techniques, and, in the end, have a huge sense of accomplishment and reason to celebrate a job well done.
Publishing deadlines is great and always the preferred means by which to reach a goal. But deadlines will be missed and when that happens, it doesn’t mean the goal cannot be achieved. Just figure out what really needs to get done and work smarter – together. Then enjoy life and don’t worry about it. After all, it’s not the end of the world.
So, what are you planning to do on December 22, 2012?
Trade shows are amongst the most expensive sales and marketing tactics, and your time at a show doesn’t deliver immediate sales results. Yet exhibiting and participating in the right shows should remain part of most organizations’ plans.
Effective trade show marketing starts way before the show begins. Here are six tips to make the most of trade shows:
Six ideas for effective trade show marketing
Do more than exhibit: Become a speaker on the agenda, moderate a breakout session, host an invitation-only event for key customers within the show timeframe to preview your new offerings
Pre-communicate: If the show requires people to pre-register, get a list. Email or direct mail registrants, plus your own customers and prospects, giving them a reason to stop by your booth (see a new product, get a free guide).
If you’re unveiling a new product or demonstrating something for the first time at the show, let media reps know about it in advance and have media kits and interview opportunities available.
Distribute promotional items separate from your actual display area to drive participants to your booth (candy-seekers only want candy; unless you’re a candy manufacturer, find a more lasting, relevant item).
Capture information from your prospects. Utilize surveys, kiosks, or mobile marketing to capture information to feed into your CRM system.
Don’t expect immediate sales; Expect to nurture prospects: Subscribe them to your e-newsletter, invite them for a tour, schedule a capabilities presentation.
Are you doing any of these already? Do you have any other ideas or strategies to add to the list?
It’s the World Famous Tumbling Bros. Hatling & Flint Circus September 24, 2009 • 4:30-8pm Under the BIG TOP at 330 Hwy 10 South, St. Cloud, MN Save-the-Date and Save Your Self-Respect for Another Day! This is one big party under one big top, and it’s one night you won’t want to miss.
The professionals at SimmonsFlint are always hungry for new marketing trends, techniques or hot topics that we can share with friends and clients. Watch for a regular stream of insightful information – or join in the conversation.
But the drama that comes with meeting deadlines is very real. And there are many days where it becomes obvious that some of these deadlines are just not going to be met. It’s at that point in time when we learn the difference between “published” deadlines and “real” deadlines.
It’s the World Famous Tumbling Bros. Hatling & Flint Circus
