Gene Simmons – Lessons From a Rock and Roll Great

“Hey. There’s Gene Simmons!”

Gene was booked to speak at the seminar the next morning, but here he was wandering down the hallway all by himself. No one had even really noticed who this living legend was that was casually strutting his stuff, all by his lonesome.

So my buddy Owen and I jumped up and went to say hi. He was incredibly friendly, offering us signatures or photos if we wanted. As we were snapping a couple pictures, people around us started to figure out who this was… and the crowd soon surrounded him.

What impressed me was watching him with the crowd. There’s a guy that knows who pays his bills! He was patient and friendly with everyone. Photo? Sure. Sign this? Sure. He made sure every single person who wanted it, either got a picture with him or went home with something signed by Gene (the girls usually went away with some very strategically written ink on their bodies).

No rush – he was there to be with his fans. One fascinating thing about his fans was the multiple generations that consider him the best in the world. Grandmothers there with their grandkids – each of them as giddy at meeting Gene as the other.

The next morning he gave a fantastic talk about thinking big and success in business. Many people judge Gene by the image he portrays in his old KISS costume, with makeup, platform boots and tongue sticking out.

If that is all you know about Gene, you will be astounded to learn how successful he has become marketing himself, his brand, and his many companies.

Seriously, Gene is a marketing genius and his Sex, Money, Kiss book gives you some incredible insights into the way he thinks, acts and grows his businesses (a warning though: if you are easily offended and unable to see past some of the points he makes, you will not enjoy this book. If you have thick skin, this is packed solid with marketing lessons).

If you watch his Family Jewels show, you catch a glimpse of how he runs some of the business and makes tens of millions of dollars a year, when most Rock-and-Roll old timers have dried up and blown away.

Did you know Gene has never used drugs or been drunk?

Most have no clue. Most don’t want to believe it.

But that’s how he stayed sober when all the rest of the band fell victim to drugs and booze.

Gene took control of the main assets and has continued to leverage his success for decades now.

He is one of the BEST at being a showman. He knows when to put on his game face, and does it incredibly well.

Some of the lessons I have picked up from Gene that are ideal for small business marketing:

Make it a cool and catchy name. Many of the major successes in business are centered around products and businesses whose names are memorable (or they paid huge bucks to make it memorable).

Also, Gene is big into the designs and packaging of the name you use. You cannot deny the success he has achieved with this strategy. Make the name into a catchy logo, and, the real key, make the logo attractive enough that you would wear it on a t-shirt, or baseball cap, or on a poster, etc.

Gene has created a multi-million dollar empire out of merchandisable clothing, posters, stickers, electronic gear, etc…. all with a very catchy logo and designs.

Think through each and every area that you can generate revenues from your business and offerings.

Your main product or service offering – price it at the high end (trying to win the low price game is not something I ever recommend). Prices at the high end may attract fewer buyers (sometimes it attracts more buyers), but the profits are higher, and the effort required to close a high end sale is typically as easy as selling the cheapest on the market.

Find ways to incorporate a membership program into your business. This is a BIG money maker if done properly (the KISS members club has a massive client base that will buy anything that is promoted). You can price your membership program monthly or yearly, definitely worthy of testing both options. With a membership, they should get some form of discount of future purchases, they should have special member-only days, they should be eligible for contests, points for purchases – redeemable for additional goods, or impressed clothing or hats.[Side note: I have been watching closely all the different places that use memberships lately, and they are, typically, one of the leaders in their market, usually VERY busy with paying customers, and usually very unique, in that their competitors are too scared to implement membership programs.]

What is your conversation piece? When someone talks about you and your business, what one thing are they likely to bring up in the conversation? If you don’t have that, yet, start thinking it through.It could be the bizarre things you do in your ‘off-time’ (think Richard Branson) – it could be who you regularly write about in your newsletters (I used to write about my twin daughters extensively in my newsletters, as they taught me much about life and business).

Find something, anything that can position you as highly unique.

Have annual customer appreciation events (more frequent is even better). People LOVE a good party – give them one. Make it free for all customers – you can combine the free event with an extra paid event, but do it at a separate time and make the paid event highly valuable.

Is there any way you can license your brand, your products, your services, even your marketing process or ads? Create something unique in your business and how it is perceived by others, then approach others in unrelated markets (even competitors in non-competitive areas). Sell rights to use your licensed goods in their business. For them, it gives them more to sell to their clients, for you it provides additional income streams to further grow your business and bank account.Donald Trump recently discussed the fact that 15% of his revenues come from the licensing of the Trump name. People pay him significant fees to use his name, fees are payable in advance before they do anything with his name.

You and I may not have a name like Trump or Simmons to license, but we definitely have assets we can

and should be licensing.

Cross promote everything that you sell, or want to sell. Each and every part of your business needs to be selling the other parts. You can do this through inserts in your product shipments, in your electronic newsletters, in your customer follow-up pieces, you can even create catchy cartoon or graphic logos that make for great stickers – include a bunch of stickers with each shipment (this has worked great for me and the Wild West Wealth Summit and the cowboy cartoons I have used).

Create systematic 1-2-3 launches for every new initiative you are undertaking this year. As you lay it out on your marketing calendar you will start seeing where the majority of your time will be allocated throughout the year- and where the overlaps are on your launches, which can be powerful in the eyes of you customers – or confusing, if not explained properly.Make sure you cross promote your different businesses as well. Gene Simmons is very good at making sure each and every one of his businesses or clients is mentioned when he is in front of a crowd.

You just never know who is in the market for one of your other offerings!

Always be asking yourself how you can make more money from your existing products or services, and how you can repackage them for bigger boosts in sales. Try surveying your clients to find out what they like most, and least, about the products and services you offer now.

Brand yourself as the personality of your business. Many of the world’s great business success stories (and turnaround stories) are the result of the business leader becoming the front person and personality in all their marketing. Lee Iacocca WAS Chrysler when he turned them around. He was front and center on the television, the voice you heard on radio, and the person people connected with when they wanted to buy a new vehicle (versus all the other ‘faceless’ corporations they had to choose from).Use cartoons, if appropriate. They have worked well for me… and are working well for others. There is a major resurgence of interest in cartoons right now among adults. I don’t recall where I saw the article, but the growth in comic book sales to adults is experiencing a major spike right now – tap into it!

How would you sell you and your company if you were a rock star? You may not want to wear makeup and stick your tongue out (or maybe you would?) – But there is something you would do to stand out from the thousands of other rock stars out there re: What is your personality you want to portray?

Use that personality in your blog posts, in your newsletters, in your marketing and on your website – that is one of your greatest assets if you leverage it right.

Work harder (and smarter) than anyone else in your industry. Despite the premise behind The 4-Hour Work Week, hard work will be the key to your success. Yes, outsourcing and systemization is critical, but if you are working half the hours as your biggest competitor – they will become the leader. Look at Clayton, he doesn’t claim to work the fewest hours to have created the level of success that he has – he works hard, damn hard – and the results from his promotions speak for themselves.

I highly encourage you to pick up Gene’s book. It gives you a powerful look into the life of one of today’s greatest showmen.

Few people in any business can make ten, twenty, fifty million a year consistently… for decades. Those that do, leave some serious clues on how you can do the same.

Even if success and wealth is not one of your ambitions, learning how a guy like that has been able to turn a flame-breathing devil into a multi-generational icon is a fun ride in itself!

To your success,

Troy White

PS: This article was originally written for the weekly article I write on Clayton Makepeace’s blog.

52 Free Things to Do with Your Partner on Date Night

Unless you orchestrate the time for your relationship, other less important things will crowd in and take what precious little time you do have. Pick a night that will be “date night” with your partner and make a game out of being as creative as you can be. Try to see how many things you can do without spending money.

To get you started, I’ve come up with some suggestions to help you for the next year. What follows are 52 ideas for how to spend creative time together without spending money. Feel free to add or modify any of the items on the list to suit your particular relationship and circumstances.

WINTER

1. Take a drive to look at the Christmas decorations.

2. Play cards—perhaps strip poker.

3. Watch a movie together.

4. Go outside and have a snowball fight.

5. Get some finger paints and create your own body art with each other as your canvass.

6. Go sleigh riding.

7. Go ice skating.

8. Work out or exercise together.

9. Stage your own improvisation show.

10. Sing to each other.

11. Review or create a photo album or scrapbook of your memories together.

12. Play a board game—perhaps chess, Scrabble or Twister.

13. Go to a book store, get coffee and read for hours.

SPRING

14. Work on a remodeling project together.

15. Plan and complete a yard work project together.

16. Do the spring cleaning together—room by room. When done, reward yourself by making love in the room you’ve cleaned.

17. Put on old clothes and mud wrestle after some drenching rain.

18. Give each other a massage.

19. Play catch—football, baseball, softball or Frisbee.

20. Go to a car dealer and test drive the car of your dreams.

21. Shoot basketball together.

22. Dance together.

23. Take a shower together and wash each other—everywhere.

24. Take a free adult education class together.

25. Go to a mall and have a contest to see which one of you can get the most free samples.

26. Go rollerblading or bike riding.

SUMMER

27. Build a campfire and roast marshmallows.

28. Go swimming or skinny dipping.

29. Give each other a manicure or pedicure.

30. Go somewhere crowded to people watch.

31. Go to a free outdoor event, perhaps a concert.

32. Lie on a blanket outside and watch the clouds or stars.

33. Go on a picnic.

34. Watch a fireworks display.

35. Be creative and engage in sexual role plays. Be anyone you’d like to be for the night who is also exciting for your partner.

36. Sit by the water somewhere.

37. Do a prolonged strip tease for each other.

38. Have a water balloon fight.

39. Sit outside and read poetry to each other.

FALL

40. Go for a drive together.

41. Go window shopping.

42. Incorporate food into your love making—chocolate syrup, whipped cream, fondue, strawberries—anything you and your partner enjoy.

43. Call or write to someone you haven’t had contact with in a while.

44. Cook something together.

45. Spend an evening just talking with each other. Talk about the things you have done, plans you have for the future, important people in your lives or current events.

46. Take a bubble bath together.

47. Go to a free movie or museum.

48. Take a drive and find the potential in old houses and their properties.

49. Create an imaginary story together—either orally or in written form.

50. Take turns being each other’s genie in a bottle by fulfilling your partner’s every wish and fantasy.

51. Play in the fallen leaves.

52. Create an exciting scavenger hunt that ends in your bed.

Now you have 52 suggestions for things to do with your partner for every week of the year divided by season. Certainly you don’t have to follow my suggestions. Feel free to add your own or to repeat your favorites as often as you’d like.

The main point is not to see how kinky you can get. The idea is to keep your relationship alive by making time together a priority. It is important that you find things to do as a couple that you can both enjoy. If you have vastly different interests then you can enter this with the spirit of taking turns and each agree to happily participate in the activity chosen by the one whose turn it is that week.

As long as you make a habit of making your relationship a priority and allocating time each week for rejuvenation of the feelings that attracted you in the first place, then you stand a good chance of staying together for the long haul.

Please don’t let insidious boredom enter into your relationship through the back door. This is what frequently happens when we are busy placing other things ahead of our time for each other. You know what I mean—the job, the kids, our friend in crisis, etc. There will always be a competing interest for the time you’ve set aside for each other.

Other than natural disasters, threat of death or major crises, do not allow your time together to be invaded by any outside forces. Make sure to create opportunities for you to do things together without outside influence. With more than 50% of today’s marriages ending in divorce, make this small investment in the longevity of your relationship. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. What’s stopping you? Start today.

Have you ever wanted to learn how to beatbox? Well TV host Dave Kelly did! And he sure learned fast too – See for yourself! This video made it into the top ten highlights from 2008 on Breakfast Television Calgary (www.btcalgary.ca Don’t forget to comment, rate, and subscribe! Watch my other videos: www.youtube.com Follow me and Petri on Facebook (Win free stuff in the weekly giveaway!): www.facebook.com Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com … and learn more about Peterpot and Petri at: www.thepeterpot.com

UPDATE: www.defendfreespeech.ca Galloway WAS banned for VIVAPALESTIINA AID. This BEGS the question IS the Canadian Government REALLY this HEARTLESS? The decision to ban George Galloway from Canada seems odd, but now it emerges that the Jewish Defence League (JDL) pressured the Canadian Government to so the action takes on sinister connotations for Canada, why? Because the Jewish Defence League are according to the FBI a Terrorist Group. In its report, Terrorism 2000/2001, the FBI referred to the JDL as a “violent extremist Jewish organization”. This “violent extremist Jewish organization” now it seems has power and influence over the Canadian Government.

Canada Travel Should Include A Visit To Prince Edward Island

Once on the Island, marvel at miles and miles of beautiful white, champagne, pink or red sand beaches. On Prince Edward Island shorelines your eyes will soar as high as a seabird and beyond to the top of the red sandstone cliffs that overlook the ocean.

If fishing is your forte, Prince Edward Island has a wealth of opportunity for the duration of the summer months. Charter a deep sea fishing expedition with friends and you could well wind up with Tuna, marlin or even shark as your reward for a long day’s work, and well worth it. For something with less adventure, cast into the still waters beyond the bridge or off the end of a pier and Mackerel could soon find its way to the end of your line. For freshwater fishing, Brook or Rainbow trout could make fly-fishing in any one of PEI’s winding rivers the perfect day trip.

PEI offers not only Canada’s birthplace, but also a spectacular seascape and equally stunning landscape, rich and resplendent in rolling dunes, wetlands, lush fertile farmer’s fields, and the sand and the high pitched cliffs. The diverse habitat of our special Island is home to boundless types of plant and wildlife, including the endangered Piping Plover.

Travel to the edge of Canada and from there, continue onwards across the marvel that is the Confederation Bridge and until you find yourself at the sapphire blue of the water’s edge, then dip your toes in the warmest ocean waters north of Virginia. This is everything a vacation on this Gentle Island was meant to be. Everything and more.

Explore Cavendish, the home of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s beloved classic Anne of Green Gables, one of the Island’s main attractions. Hike or bike our green rolling hills. Then spend some time visiting craft shops in our quaint Island villages. Our pottery, woodworking, tapestries and quilts are as much a fabric of life on the Island as our rich history.

The perfect end to a perfect day should always include watching a magnificent Island sunset as it dips into the ocean. And the perfect night should remain at the water’s edge, drinking in the tranquility that abounds. Be sure, however, to savor far, far more than just the ambience. Prince Edward Island is renowned for its seafood as would be expected so take the time to linger over your lobsters, order tons of tuna steaks, or chow down on the fresh baked bread that is certain to accompany your bowl of clam chowder, served piping hot and rich with cream or dairy products from an island farm, and thickened with the natural agent that is the Prince Edward Island potato.

All of this awaits you and more on Canada’s east-coast jewel,, The Gentle Island. All of this, and more.

The Pyramid Code is a documentary series of 5 episodes that explores the pyramid fields and ancient temples in Egypt as well as ancient megalithic sites around the world looking for clues to matriarchal consciousness, ancient knowledge and sophisticated technology in a Golden Age. The series is based on the extensive research done in 23 trips to Egypt and 50 other countries around the world by Dr. Carmen Boulter in the Graduate Division of Educational Research at the University of Calgary. The Pyramid Code features interviews with prominent scholars and authors in multidisciplinary fields: geology, physics, astrophysics, archaeology, bilogical engineering, magnetic field theory, hieroglyphics, and Egyptology. The series explores penetrating questions: * Who were the ancients and what did they know? * Could the pyramids be much older than traditional Egyptology would have us believe? * Could it be that the ancients were more technologically advanced than we are today? * Why do we have so little understanding of the ancient Egyptians? * Are there still secrets hidden in plain sight? * Do new discoveries force the issue of establishing a new chronology? * Are there little known sites that provide clues to a new understanding of our distant past? * Are we really the most advanced civilization to ever live on Earth? EPISODES 1. The Band of Peace 2. High Level Technology 3. Sacred Cosmology 4. The Empowered Human 5. A New Chronology

Chef John Michael Macneil of Teatro Restaurant in Calgary, Alberta shows us how to make a gourmet burger at home. Learn how to make a gourmet beef patty from scratch, and why the right buns make a huge difference!

www.youtube.com Click here to watch Cross Counter: Gootecks & Mike Ross ft. Clakey D & His Marvel vs. Capcom 3 Team Cross Counter: Gootecks & Mike Ross: Justin Wong vs. Marn (Marvel Madness MVC3) (S04E01) Welcome back to another season of Cross Counter! Season 4 begins with a recap of everything that’s been going on since we’ve been gone. NEWS: – Final Round 14 in Atlanta, GA Recap – finalroung.org – Combofiend vs. Marn www.youtube.com – Marn’s 8-bit Ending Video: www.youtube.com – Marvel Madness in Calgary, AB Recap – URL: canada-cup.ca for hoodies – SSF4 Finals Air vs. EG Justin Wong: www.justin.tv – MVC3 Finals: EG Justin Wong vs. Marn: justin.tv – Mortal Kombat 9 demo?? – WWE Superstars Demo with the Ultimate Warrior! CALL-OUTS: 17:44 – Marvel Madness MVC3 Finals: EG Justin Wong vs. Marn – www.justin.tv 18:11 – Final Round 14 MVC3 Finals: EG Justin Wong vs. Combofiend – www.youtube.com 18:29 – Marvel Madness SSF4 Finals: EG Justin Wong vs. Air – www.justin.tv THANK YOU: – Canada Cup (canada-cup.ca) o Marvel Madness stream archive justin.tv o Shipping Mad Catz sticks all around Canada: canadacupgaming.myshopify.com o Canada Cup II November 5-6, Calgary – Vesper Arcade (vesperarcade.com) o check out their new SSF4 DVD tutorial set o MVC3 Mission Mode vids youtube.com UPCOMING EVENTS: – Southern Impact — Laredo, TX: shoryuken.com – CEO 2011 — Orlando, FL: ceogaming.com FOR MORE GOOTECKS & MIKE ROSS Visit our YouTube channel (youtube.com to watch the Marvelous …

Customer Service – What Does It Really Mean?

When evening came I thought perhaps I should go to the dining room for something to eat. I ended up crying again and explained to the server why I hadn’t finished my meal.

She was wonderful!

First she kindly expressed her condolences. Then she listened while I talked about how much my uncle has meant to me. She explained that she understood the importance of family and how difficult it can be for her because she lives in Canada while most of her relatives live in Tibet.

She offered to have me try some of the Italian deserts that were featured and then packaged my meal so I could take it back to the room.

A few minutes later the other server came to my table and he, too, offered kind words. He encouraged me to be strong for the next few days when I will be autographing books for attendees at the Conference and serving them as a member of the Board of Directors.

When I asked for the bill I was told that there would be no charge.

I have been thinking about how important this couple of individuals has been in the customer service plan of the large hotel chain that is housing me. They offered genuine kindness after recognizing the situation of their customer and then did what they could to try to make the situation better. Their actions were not from a policy manual and not just on a financial level. They actually connected at a very practical and human level.

Customer service is not just about reacting to problems or complaints about products and services. It is about understanding your customers, building a bridge with them and helping them to get through difficult times – even when there really isn’t anything that your business can do to solve a problem that the customer might be experiencing at the time.

I talked with the hotel manager so that he would know how much I appreciated the kindness of these two staff members. My comment was “This is a good place to be when there’s trouble”.

Sometimes we are surprised by life events that strongly affect us when we are right in the middle of commitments that we need to fulfill. We might not have family or familiar surroundings to comfort us.

At times like these, it is very important that we are in places where customer service is a priority.

Today I am thankful that this hotel knows how to provide it with finesse.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every business was so good at giving excellent customer service? It would certainly make the world a better place!

Escape the Snow to Garden of Eden Vacation Resorts

Many vacation resorts are on the beaches of the islands in the Caribbean. All of these resorts offer their guests the opportunity to relax and regenerate their hearts. The Caribbean is a great place to escape the snow of the winter months and find oneself again. Releasing yourself from the needs created by living in a cold winter climate is a great way to relax. The resorts on the islands can help you do this.

The island nation of Jamaica became dear to many hearts in North America when they entered the bobsledding competition at the Calgary Olympics. Yet, year and year out they offer all North Americans the opportunity to escape the cold and to come experience one of the awesome Jamaica all inclusive vacations. These vacations not only warm a traveler up, but provide all his or her needs: food, water, and shelter. Plus, these vacations give the traveler a chance to experience many different island activities.

Another foreign nation in the Caribbean provides great vacations as well. A trip to a hotel or resort in the Bahamas can be a life changing experience. The all inclusive Bahamas experience can only truly be understood if one lives it. Those who read about, or see pictures of a trip to an all inclusive resort in the Bahamas can not fully comprehend the joy one feels while staying at one of these unique pieces of paradise.