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Wednesday
March 17, 2010 The Secret to Success: Do What You LoveFiled under: Community, Members, News About ASI In a recent radio interview, I was asked about my early goals and how they helped me realize my dreams. In short, I live by a pretty simple guiding rule: do what you love.
As I told radio show host Herb Cohen, my family was on food stamps when I was young. But, that never stopped me from pursuing ambitious goals. After college, I left the great Midwest for New York City, starting out as a national copyreader for Dow Jones News Service – and ending up president and chief executive of Dow Jones Reuters Business Interactive. Under my management, Dow Jones was one of the first companies to provide business information to corporate desktops over the Internet. Today, I head a company that’s equally ambitious and forward-thinking. Here at ASI, digital products now make up 70% of our service lineup, up from 20% just a few short years ago. Our emphasis on cutting-edge technology – and an investment in the people who drive that technology – sets ASI apart and keeps us finely attuned to business today and the future. In a real sense, I’m still following the same dream I had as a kid: doing what I love. You can hear what I had to say about our industry during the Executive Leaders Radio interview, a weekly roundtable with executives and CEOs, live this Friday from 8-9 a.m., on WWDB Radio. Just click here to listen to the live stream of the show during that hour. Let me know your secrets to success by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Thursday
March 11, 2010 Texas Here We Come: Advantages Roadshow Continues 2010 TourFiled under: ASI Shows, Industry Initiatives, News About ASI There’s no sweeter phrase in business than “We’re number one” and that distinction belongs to ASI’s Advantages Roadshow. The industry’s most successful traveling show is just 5 weeks into its 16-week tour and has already attracted more than 3,000 distributors. Next week, the 2010 tour hits Texas: Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and Houston. Last year, the Texas portion of the tour drew 617 distributors and 73 supplier companies, giving exhibitors the opportunity to spend time with many more clients and prospects than they could by making traditional sales calls. It’s free for distributors to attend! Texas – home to the second largest number of distributors – is a lucky state for ASI. In February, ASI Show Dallas attracted distributors from 1,383 firms, along with about 500 suppliers. The show – the largest industry event in the Southwest – returns to Dallas next February 16-18, 2011, so mark your calendars. Each year, the Advantages Roadshow visits more than 70 cities throughout North America, including Canada, providing suppliers with an intimate, one-on-one environment to introduce products and services to quality distributors and decorators. And, three times a year, the show co-locates with the Stitches Roadshow. The two-for-one shows provide decorators with opportunities to meet equipment, software, supply and service providers face-to-face, see new wearables vendors, enjoy valuable education and network with other decorators. Let me know how the Advantages Roadshows have worked for you by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Monday
March 8, 2010 Take the State of the Industry Survey TodayFiled under: Guest Blog, Research
So, why is it important? Because of the in-depth reports each year on key sales, marketing and operational metrics that industry practitioners can then use to build their businesses. Nowhere else do you get the scope of this detailed information about our industry. And, it’s free to ASI members. What do you have to do? All we ask is that you take 10 minutes to complete the survey. And you could win some great prizes just for participating. There are distributor winners chosen at random for cash prizes totaling $1,500, and suppliers can win one of three full-page ads in an ASI publication of their choice. If you’re a distributor, take the survey here. If you’re a supplier, take the survey here. If you’d rather take a paper version of the study, email me at lbasinait@asicentral.com and I’ll send you the PDF you can mail back to us. But hurry, the deadline is Friday, March 19. Thank you in advance for your participation in this important research. For additional research from ASI, click here. — Larry Larry Basinait is ASI‘s executive director of research services.
Wednesday
March 3, 2010 When Irish Eyes Are Shining, Promo Products Strike GoldFiled under: Community, Using Ad Specialties
Whether your tastes run to lucky shamrocks or tricked-out pints, there’s a product for you and your clients, along with plenty of ways to launch St. Paddy’s Day advertising campaigns throughout March. Joe “The Joe Show” Haley struck gold at the end of the rainbow with a new video featuring the products. Click here to watch the video and click here for photos and purchasing information. Here are the 7 luckiest promo products: 1. Irish Rubgy Shirt – Great for sports team promotions throughout March. 2. Shamrock Tattoo – Include these in themed mailings to college students. 3. Light-Up Bottle Ring – Partygoers will love getting this fun bonus from their local tavern. 4. Leprechaun Hat – Local restaurant servers and staffers can wear these to greet patrons. 5. Necktie with Shamrocks – The perfect business gift for customers at banks and offices. 6. Irish Pint Glass – A classy pewter emblem adorns this business-gift favorite for executives. 7. Plush Shamrock Toy – Daycare centers would enjoy giving these to children. Let me know what products you’re bringing to the party by posting a comment or emailing me here. And don’t drink too much green beer! I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Monday
March 1, 2010 The Power Within, California-style: Videos from ASI Show San DiegoFiled under: ASI Shows, News About ASI This morning I took a cue from Tony Robbins and asked myself one important question: What will I focus on today to accomplish my goals? Tony brought a packed house to its feet at ASI Show San Diego during his 2-hour motivational talk, which centered on what we ask of ourselves and how we look inside to find the answers. Tony also turned us on to the “Emotion from Motion” theory, which explores the power of movement. Change your physiology and change your level of performance. It’s that simple. For more on Tony Robbins, click here to watch my Tim’s Take video from San Diego. Tony’s keynote was the perfect way to open the final day of our San Diego show. The pumped-up crowd flowed onto the show floor, where thousands of distributors converged over three days – exceeding expectations and setting the bar for our return to California next May. Click here for my San Diego wrap-up. And don’t forget to register at www.asishow.com for our next two shows in New York May 4-6 and Chicago July 13-15. Let me know what question you asked yourself today by posting a comment or emailing me here. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. |
Each year, ASI conducts the most comprehensive and important research about our industry, the Counselor State of the Industry.
