Why College is Dead, Elon is Sinking, and Pasta is in Hot Water
On this day in 1919, The U.S. Congress overrode President Woodrow Wilson's veto and passed the Volstead Act, providing enforcement guidelines for Prohibition.?This legislative lunacy led to the trendy Speakeasy, The Roaring '20s, and inspiration for Boardwalk Empire.?Perhaps we will look back on current legislative lunacy fondly for its unintended consequences.?Long live American ingenuity post-American voter volatility!
(Speaking of President Woody,?he once adorned the 100K U.S. Treasury Note. Issued in 1934, its current value is about seven lattes.)
WHAT’S ON TAP THIS WEEK? ??
THE CLASSROOM
The ABC’s of Small Business
By Luigi “The Professor” Rosabianca
Your business is in a constant state of evolution.?Workflows can be improved; sales increased; processes honed; client experiences enhanced. Vertically. Horizontally.?Improvement is a continuous pursuit.??
The history of the Oxford English Dictionary is an ideal example of this mindset.?Googling a word’s meaning or – gulp – leafing through an actual paperbound dictionary is somewhat of a luxury. When the Philological Society of London members decided, in 1857, that existing English language dictionaries were incomplete and deficient, they called for a complete re-examination of the language.?While they knew they were embarking on an ambitious project, they didn’t realize the full extent of the work they initiated or how long it would take to achieve the?final?result. Keep Reading
HEARD ON THE STREET
?? College Enrollment Gets an F
When it comes to college, a significant number of Americans don’t think they are getting a bang for their buck.?46% of parents hope their child pursues something other than a four-year degree after high school, according to a Gallup poll.?Only 56% of adults under 30 who attended college believe the benefits outweighed the costs. Meanwhile, 80% of adults over 60 who attended college feel that way.?Enrollment has been decreasing every year since 2012,?but the pandemic further unveiled the cracks in the higher learning foundation.?Colleges expected to see some of those students return with the loosening of restrictions, but it didn’t happen.
The market is always right.?Apparently, there are other ways to learn that do not require exorbitant debt.?Apprenticeships. Work experience. Books.?Hey, may we be so bold as to suggest our Newsletter and Podcast as the route to knowledge nirvana?
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?? Ice, Ice Baby
America’s obsession with ice is due to shrewd marketing.?We don’t just like ice.?We need ice.?Most Americans shudder at the thought of drinking anything at room temperature. Frederic Tudor was a Boston man who sold so much ice during the 19th century he became known as the Ice King of Boston.?His marketing changed the way Americans drink to this day.?Changing behavior is the most challenging task for marketers.?If done successfully, it lasts!
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?? ‘Made in Iowa’ is Al Dente
Barilla’s slogan has it in some legal hot water.?A judge just declared the food brand can’t?bowtie twist?its way out of a class-action lawsuit.?The complaint claims Barilla’s Italian-heavy marketing misleads consumers into thinking its pasta is?Made in Italy?when it’s?actually made in Iowa and New York.?Iowans unite!?The lawsuit was filed last year by two customers?(who apparently have lots of downtime) who?claimed they bought Barilla’s pasta?(which costs 2X as much as generic brands),?believing it was made in the hills of Umbria.?Some things like food and drink are sacred. Shame on you, Barilla!
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领英推荐
?? I'll Have That Recliner On The Rocks
The furnishings store "Restoration Hardware" has moved into the hospitality business - but the food is not the point.?The bar is!?(Kidding. Kinda.)?RH has?opened 15 lavish, well-appointed restaurants?across the US and Canada in the last decade?- most connected to stores. Clearly resonating with diners, many of them are drawn by the décor. But RH restaurants aren't just a way to draw in shoppers.?They're central to the CEO Mr. Gary Friedman's goal of promoting RH as a luxury brand.?
Oddly, the?French root of?restaurant?is "to?restore," alluding to the days when traveling via horse and carriage would be a physical grind?necessitating someplace to refresh, rest, recoup and imbibe!
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???? ?? Big Tips from The Restaurant Biz
Valuable lessons from restauranteurs to apply to every small business:?The aftereffects of the pandemic,?coupled with economic uncertainty, have provoked a deterioration in how customers behave at the precise time that?service-based businesses are struggling with the return in demand and a shortage of workers. It’s a vicious cycle, but one that can be made virtuous. Businesses?can adapt the mindset of how companies think about their customers.?Take the time to think about that facet of your business and the extraordinary impact you have, not just in growing the business in a positive direction but how it?enhances the client’s experience of?whatever you do.
THE MONEY MINUTE WITH MRM
Pay Yourself First
with Matthew R. Meehan
I've said it before, but I'll say it again.
Pay yourself first.
If you're a small business owner, you've got to prioritize cutting yourself a check.?It's easy to put this low on the list when you've got other expenses that (feel) more important in the moment. This article is a good reminder of why this simple practice is essential for the long-term health of your business - as well as four tips to help you decide how much that take-home pay will be. Keep Reading
?? LAST CALL WITH THE LIQUID LUNCH PROJECT PODCAST
Digital marketing. Affiliate programs. Optimization. Lead generation.?We’re talking about all these topics and more in this 30-minute episode, so we suggest following Luigi’s lead and bringing a pen a paper?because you’re going to want to take notes.
Meet Jon Weberg, a two-time self-published author, speaker, and top 1% business and marketing consultant.?With over 11 years of experience helping 2,000+ entrepreneurs, companies, and businesses scale their operations, he knows a thing or two about marketing and optimization for growth and success.
He sits down with Matt and Luigi to discuss how he got his start with affiliate marketing,?his tips for email marketing, his 80/20 rule, why you should Educate, Entertain, and Entice your customers,?how to successfully redirect and/or upsell, and the importance of building relationships. As we said – we cover a LOT, and we wouldn’t be surprised if you replay it as soon as you’re finished. (We did.) Listen Here
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