Go BIG! Don't Go Home!

“Surprise and differentiation have far more impact than noise.” – Seth Godin

A friend of mine and an amazing person, Kristin Olson-Kott, is known on LinkedIn for her witty and charming posts. As the Vice President of Wipes.com, she has indeed earned her title The Queen of Wipes.

She is also a children’s book author.

In 2019 her book, Ollie Olson the Ostracized Ostrich, was published by Black Rose Writing. I had the marvelous opportunity to read the manuscript prior to her submitting it to the publisher. I felt like the book was well written and contained a wonderful message. So, after it was published, I offered to create a strategy to help her to accomplish her mission.

See, Kristin had a dream of getting her book featured on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and I wanted to help her realize that dream.

For a variety of reasons, not the least of which was a seemingly perpetual worldwide pandemic, the strategy was never fully executed. And, now, The Ellen DeGeneres Show is defunct.

BUT…

That allows me to share the strategy here. You can learn from it and perhaps emulate parts or all of the strategy for something you want to garner attention for.

In creating this strategy, I began by employing a creative thinking method we teach in our Creative Thinking Training FUNshops called MAGNIFY.

The essence of that method is to take ordinary things and make them huge in proportion. (Go BIG!) To learn more about that method, see the article I wrote for the Summer 2021 issue of FDI Alliance International magazine titled Becoming Lucky. Read that here.

The Ollie Book Strategy Verbiage

Part One: Send the book to the show’s producer in a super-sized box with the book front cover art covering the four sides of the box.

Part Two: Include several of those greeting cards that you can record a voice message on. At least three and no more than six.

On the outside of each card envelope write messages like:

‘Reason #48 Why We Love The Ellen Show’,

‘Proof that kids love the Ollie Olson the Ostracized Ostrich book', etc.

On the ‘proof’ one, record your daughter saying something about the story. (Kristin’s daughter Lucy loves the story! And, Kristin had shared a video on YouTube of Lucy talking about it. Watch that totally adorable clip here.)

What to record on each message is where your amazing sense of humor will come in handy.

(Note: If you have not seen Kristin’s LinkedIn posts, you owe it to yourself to join the nearly 124,000 who follow her. She’s FUNNY!)

These cards come in blank format so you can put what you want on the front and inside of the card. Each should have a picture of Ollie on the front. Perhaps even a picture of Ollie with Ellen on some of them.

The inside of each card should have the same verbiage as on the outside of the envelope with something colorful highlighting the ‘listen’ button.

**If you need ideas on exactly what to put on these envelopes and what to record, we can work in more detail on that.**

Part Three: Video the entire process of getting the package into the hands of the show's producer.

This includes buying the cards, buying the box, getting the large ‘Ollie’s’ to attach to the outside of the box, packing the box, shipping it, etc.

Video everything!

Divide the video content into bite-sized bits; 30 second to one minute videos.

These should to be posted on all Social Media outlets: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest & LinkedIn. (TikTok wasn’t ‘a thing’ in 2019, but absolutely should be part of any strategy that is similar to this in today’s world.)

Use the same hashtag on every post.

A suggestions is: #OllieAndEllen

This will help build a following of people who are rooting for you to get the book on Ellen’s show.

Simultaneously, these posts will grow book sales organically as many people will learn about your amazing book through the campaign.

Bottom Line: The execution of this strategy will have the short-term benefit of increasing sales while aspiring toward the show feature. It also may produce unexpected opportunities!

Want to see the original full-color strategy as designed for Kristin? Go here.?

Need help creating a strategy that will help your company or product get noticed? PM me.

*********

Expert Tip

This week, the Expert Tip I am sharing is the Preface from my book, Discovering Your Greatness. Btw, a pdf version of this landmark book is available to download at no charge. No email opt-in required. Grab your copy here.

Hello Friend

You are not here by chance or accident.?I believe we all have a unique purpose.?For some it may, so far, be undiscovered.?Others live their entire life without discovering it.?If you are reading this it is your time to discover yours now.

People are born with two innate desires.?They have the desire for wealth and a desire to help other people.?Consider for a moment how those two notions make you feel, and you will realize that is a true statement.?Now here is a startling revelation:

Those two desires can and should follow the same path.

Does that sound crazy??What if it is true??If it really were possible to seek wealth and help other people at the same time, how would that make you feel??It not only is possible, but seeking wealth through service to others is the greatest thing you can do for mankind.?By focusing your energy towards satisfying both of these innate desires simultaneously, you will achieve true happiness and true wealth.

This book is designed to take you on a journey of discovery. ?It is designed to help you find the true you. ?Regardless of where you have been or what you have accomplished -or not accomplished- in your life so far, you have greatness inside you. ?We all do. ?Your future does not have to equal your past. ?The processes contained in this guide are designed to bring out that special man or woman you were born to be.

It is also intended to help you find your clearest, best path to gaining the wealth you seek. ?Everything you need to accomplish your objective is already there. ?You just aren’t aware of it yet. ?Once you have discovered a new level of self-belief, you can then use your knowledge, experience, creative imagination, and intuition to find ideas and solutions that mutually benefit you and other people. ?That is the path to true wealth.

If you use it as instructed, this guide will help you get started toward the discovery and better use of your unique gifts. ?By applying the processes in this book, you will begin to understand your purpose and how to apply it to the benefit of all.

One final note before we dive in. ?Just thinking about something isn’t enough. ?Even if you come up with the greatest idea, solution or plan, it does no one any good until it is acted upon. ?You must take action. ?Fortunately, by using this system your actions will be focused by inspiration. ?

Make this your personal philosophy:

THINK and DO!

Want to be considered to contribute an Expert Tip to a future edition??PM me.

Puzzle and Trivia

To add some fun to our reader's lives, the?Freaking Brilliant Ideas Newsletter?each week features a fun Puzzle and Trivia sheet.

To view or download a pdf version of this week's Puzzle and Trivia sheet, click on the image or go?here.

Can't solve the puzzle? Find the solution and the trivia question answer?here.

Thank you for reading! Not already subscribed? Do that?here.

See you next week?

About Bob Sager

The founder of?SpearPoint Solutions, Bob’s professional background includes over three decades of experience in sales, leadership and training. Combined with creative thinking, he uses that experience to develop business strategies that help organizations increase sales and margins. Additionally, Bob facilitates training on methods of thinking more creatively that organizations can practically apply to all aspects of their business so they can thrive in the modern?economy.?

Among other accomplishments, Bob is the?inventor?of the creative thinking game,?What's the BIG Idea?? and?author of the books,?Discovering Your Greatness?and?101 Freaking Brilliant Business Ideas.?He is also the creator of a budget friendly way to access his ideas, the?Freaking Brilliant Ideas Bank?and the NEW?Lite Version of the Freaking Brilliant Ideas Bank.