As we all gave our final farewells to 2011, 2012 made a grand entrance for our team at Varvid as we received a capital investment from our new partners Brad and Arlin Sorensen. Before Varvid set sail into the open seas of 2012, Arlin Sorensen and Brad Schow traveled to our hometown Bellingham, Washington to take our staff through what’s called a “SWOT” which stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. This three day program unraveled our entire company by exploring all the systems and structures by which we operate, and through constructive discussion we produced numerous goals which we’re set on meeting within the next three months to prepare our company for significant long term growth.

Directly after the SWOT, Varvid’s President Mike Simmons and Business Development Director Drew Graham traveled to Dallas, Texas to attend a leadership meeting lead by Dan Weston of the Weston Group, who works as a coach for Gazelles Inc. which is a company that provides executive education, coaching and technology services to help mid-market companies around the world build and execute a strategic plan.

Two books were handed out at the event, Mastering the Rockefeller Habits by Verne Harnish, and Execution Without Drama by Patrick Thean. Overall, Mike and Drew noticed an strong affinity between the business resources and tactics Gazelle had to offer and the strategies laid out by Arlin and Brad from HTG. This affirmation of our current goals and focus was just another positive reinforcement to Varvid’s new path and has been very encouraging as our steps into the future are developing into leaps and bounds.

4.  Whether or not folks on the other side are going to like the answer, tell the truth. This is not to say I’ve cried wolf my entire life, just reiterating what we all know can be a tough conversation, especially if it’s not a positive answer, response or dialogue.  Remember that productivity comes from both sides of the isle. Be it clients, customers, family members, co-workers or law enforcement, be honest. Like my father once said, “Son, the truth is not only the right thing to share, it’s the easiest to remember.”  Took me years to realize how right on the money that statement is.

3.  When it comes to a conversation, listen twice as much as you talk. We all know (or are) people who struggle with this. There’s the no eye contact gazer… the one-upper … the interrupter… the sentence finisher… the argument maker… and the list goes on and on.  When it comes to listening, I’ll be honest… it’s difficult for me. I am a talker and love to share stories, thoughts or insight with anybody who wants to engage with me.  But in an effort to listen, I have found the connections I am making in this industry are more real and more meaningful than those I have made in the past. Not because I’m hearing you, but because I’m listening to you.

2. It’s OK to ask for help.  I still have a hard time with this part of my business life because I don’t want to come across as a poser or fraud. My biggest fear is that somebody is going to call me out. In this industry especially, if you pretend you do know and you don’t, you will be eaten alive.  When that happens, there goes your credibility and any business you may have hoped you’d earn. Recently I have put my ego on the back burner and started to ask people to slow down or explain it again.  Do some folks get a little bent out of shape?  Sure they do, but more often than not they understand and want to help me.  It’s in our nature to help, so don’t be afraid to ask for it. Like our school teachers always said, the only dumb question is the question not asked.

1. To fully appreciate all in life, creating priorities is a must. While work is not life, it plays an integral role in who we are, allows us to be creative, productive and utilize our education and experience to better those we come in contact with. I speak for the majority of us when I say what we do is not brain surgery. Lives are not in the balance every time we go to work. As a people pleaser, learning to check out at 5:00 (most days) and not bringing home my work has proven to be a difficult task. But doing so has done wonders for my marriage and my relationship with my son.  These are the most important thing in my life and to remember my work helps me provide a roof and food for those people, it does not replace them.

Again, these are only 4 lessons of the dozens I have learned since I started with this organization nearly a year ago.  The education continues with each new person I have the privilege of meeting.

The forecast may have been for grey skies and soggy conditions, but that didn’t dampen the spirits of those participating in the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure run in Seattle. Varvid’s Drew Graham was on hand, along with race sponsors Wellesse Premium Liquid Supplements, to take in the sights and sounds of family and friends doing their part to help support those who have battled with this disease. One of the highlights for us was the Survivor Parade which was the culmination of the event.  To watch hundreds of women (and a few men) who have fought or are currently fighting breast cancer, there to support one another… that was incredible.  Thanks to Lori McKnight, Leslie Ellis, Sharon Beerman, Meridith Mossman and Greg Andrews from Wellesse for allowing us to document this gathering.  We look forward to doing it again.

Together we’ll find the cure.

Not only are video results increasingly common in Google’s search results, but your videos stand a much better chance than your text pages of being shown on the first results page. On the keywords for which Google offers video results, a recent study by Forrester.com found an average of 16,000 videos vying to appear on results pages containing an average of 1.5 video results — giving each video about an 11,000-to-1 chance of making it onto the first page of results. By comparison, there was an average of 4.7 million text pages competing for a place on results pages with an average of just 9.4 text results — giving each text page about a 500,000-to-1 chance of appearing on the first page of results. Now that’s a lot of math, but here’s what it means: on the keywords for which Google offers video results, any given video in the index stands about a 50 times better chance of appearing on the first page of results than any given text page in the index. Those are some attractive odds. 

Here’s the kicker… so few interactive marketers focus on video optimization that most of the videos in Google’s index aren’t very well optimized — so if you optimize your videos well, your chances of success will increase even further. 

Sure, it’ll take time to reorganize and tag your videos, but it’s so worth it. If you need help or want to add an online video delivery system with your personal branding… well, we know a company that specializes in just that. 

*Most of this information and content was provided by Nate Elliott of Forrester.com 

Christy, Ken and and the Info Desk Crew

1. The organizational staff with HTG is completely top-shelf. Arlin, Scott, Ken and Christy are incredible human beings who are extremely generous with their time and talents and help those around them reach their true potential. (Note: Christy “fired” me with a smile 10 minutes upon my arrival in Dallas.  Ask her about it sometime.)

2. HTG Peers are embracing the “go-giver” attitude in ways I have never seen an organization members do.  EVER. This peer group is destined for greatness on many levels, both as a group and individually.

From Dallas to College Station with a lapfull of rubber.

3. Don’t try and save a couple bucks when renting a car to haul gear from Dallas to College Station. I mean no disrespect to my boss (the one who signs my checks) but a spare tire on your lap for long car ride leaves you smelling like the Michelin Man and unable to use your legs for 13 minutes and 43 seconds. While I love the Grand Marque, I’ll gladly pay the extra 20 or so for the van upgrade and pitch in on the gas.

Ribs & Brisket with Fried Okra & Slaw... yummy!

4. If you’re ever near Bryan or College Station in Texas, stop by the Martin’s Place for some yummy and very cost effective BBQ, but make sure you wear something you don’t mind smells like smoke for the next couple days. And don’t try to get through airport customs with a zip-lock bag full of ribs and sausage… that dog was on me like… well, a dog on meat.

5. Jamison West is the man. A real-life “go to guy”. Period.

6. ConnectWise, Quosal, Ulistic and JoomConnect are going to be some partners we’ll walk with during this journey.  We’re honored to have such guests along this early part of the path. We may stumble, but it’s good to know you are there.

Antonio and David, the heart and brains of AgniTEK.

7. Take time to get to know your clients,  I spent a lot of time with the crew at AgniTEK in Bryan. David and Antonio have built one of the smoothest operations I’ve ever witnessed. Friendly staff, knowledgeable team and-on top of that-their clients wouldn’t stop saying great things about them on and off camera.

It’s been a month or so since we all came together in the same room, working on common goals and I must say… this team is really starting to gel.  Aaron and I are working with clients, Mike is in his cave editing all the footage he shot, and Bryce keeps the wheels on by doing all the HR/PM stuff. I am really excited about the potential of this company.  Now to get the processes in place and really help our clients succeed.  We are ready to rock it. Are you?