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Articles by Geoff Ficke

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By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla - The Difference’s Between Fame and Forgotten

by: Geoff Ficke I recently saw the movie “The Prestige”. The story is about two ferociously rival magicians and is set in the 1890’s. A sub-plot in the movie conce s the largely forgotten rivalry between scientists and inventors Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison. Entrepreneurs today can learn much from the Edison/Tesla saga. Thomas Edison is one of the most famous and revered Americans of all time, and deservedly so. School children are taught that he harnessed electricity, invented the light bulb and the phonograph.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

5,349 views★ 3.0 (6)

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

The World’s Oldest Watch Manufacturer Stays on Top by Constantly Innovating

One of life’s great pleasures is travel. The opportunity to view distant lands, experience new food and drink, sample exotic cultures and meet local citizens is always rewarding. One of my most prized experiences when I visit any new land is to sample local produce, manufactured goods and learn about local industry and commerce. When I visit Geneva, Switzerland I relish the opportunity to shop, research and be amazed by the fabulously artesian craft of exclusive watch making found in the city’s endless jewelry ateliers.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

5,716 views★ 2.6 (5)

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

Make a Friend Everyday, Network!

Have you ever noticed how successful people always seem to have a very wide net of friends and acquaintances? Howard Hughes became an infamous recluse only after he was fabulously wealthy. His network of business associations enabled him to excel in aviation, manufacturing, heavy industry, oil, movie making and hotel/casino ownership. He tapped into the best managers, engineers and executives available within each industry he tackled to manage his properties and provide essential expertise. Most people are very lucky if they have two or three truly close personal friends in a lifetime.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

1,442 views★ 3.6 (13)

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

How to Turn an Ancient Scottish Peat Bog into Marketing Gold

How to Turn an Ancient Scottish Peat Bog into Marketing Gold Many years ago, as a young entrepreneur seeking to launch my very first consumer product, I discovered the importance of having a Unique Selling Proposition (USP) to establish my brand’s niche. My partner and I had developed a very superior multi-use skin moisturizer that we positioned as working in conjunction with a novel loose powder make up. The performance of the treatment and color cosmetic system was far superior to anything on the market at the time.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

2,756 views★ 2.2 (6)

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

“What Is Our Aim? Victory, Victory at all Costs..!

Winston Churchill’s Famous War Cryr Is Fully Applicable for Today’s Entrepreneurs Arguably, the courage and moral leadership provided to the western world by Winston Churchill was the key instrument essential to keeping World War 2 from ending early, and ever so badly for the cause of freedom. The ability to use words as a tool for effecting an outcome was never so vividly displayed, before or since. A demoralized and near beaten people took heart, did not quit in the face of overwhelming losses and turned an imminent route into ultimate victory.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

2,316 views★ 2.6 (5)

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

Why Students Make Excellent Entrepreneurs

by: Geoff Ficke During my many years of lecturing university business school students on entrepreneurial topics I have been pleased, and surprised, at the relatively large numbers willing to take the plunge and pursue new business opportunities. The surprise is that modern students are willing to forego a corporate job right out of school; a job that for so many has been a pre-occupation (and the dream of tuition strapped parents).

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

1,227 views★ 3.0 (5)

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

How Not to Choose a Professional Consultant

Several years ago I wrote an article entitled “How Do You Choose the Best Marketing Consultant”. The article was posted on my website - www.DuquesaMarketing.com - and on numerous print and internet links. The content was written to advise layman of the many options and obstacles that should be addressed in their search for experienced and competent consulting help. Common sense, some inside-baseball tips and guidance on avoiding shyster’s constituted the bulk of the articles copy points.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

1,264 views★ 2.2 (6)

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

The Lesson of “I, Pencil” An Essay on Economic Freedom for the Ages

The Lesson of “I, Pencil” An Essay on Economic Freedom for the Ages As a young college student studying economics in the 1960’s I was exposed to the writings and philosophy of Leonard Read while researching a paper on Adam Smith’s enlightened principle of the “Invisible Hand”. Mr. Read had founded the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) in 1948. As I conducted my sophomore research I noted that the thoughts and articles of Leonard Read were inevitably intertwined with the ideas of the capitalist pioneer Mr. Smith. At that time I stumbled upon an essay that Mr.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

9,464 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

The Man Who Invented Modern Athletic Shoes Inadvertently Revolutionized Commerce and Sports

I grew up in the 1950’s playing basketball hour after hour on city playgrounds. The public courts of the day were nothing like those found today in most American towns. There were no lights, a steel, kidney-shaped backboard (ugh!) with bent rims, occasionally a steel chain net and no lines painted to properly delineate the free throw line and out of bounds. The surface was often rough and cracked. You had to know where the ball would give a true bounce and where you could lose control because of the uneven surface. But we played on for endless hours in all weather.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

5,672 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

Hit the Prospects Hot Buttons to Close More Sales

At the conclusion of every sales presentation the salesman will have achieved one of three results: a sale is made, a sale is lost or valuable information is gleaned that can result in building a relationship. The third result can be called identifying the “hot button”. Obviously, the purpose of every sales presentation is to close the sale, and this is the only acceptable outcome any good salesman expects.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

5,633 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

A Professional Demeanor Screams Success

The importance of a professional business presentation can not be overstated in determining the fate of a new business opportunity. Nevertheless, it is amazing how many times the presenter does not apply these same essential professional requirements to their own person. You only get one chance to make a great first impression. Make the most of it! This goes far beyond the obvious elemental issues of personal care and hygiene.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

5,315 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

An Exclusivity Strategy Can Be Crucial To Successful Brand Marketing

by: Geoff Ficke Many of the inventors and entrepreneurs we deal with in our consumer product marketing business approach us with dreams of selling product to the masses. This can be lucrative and a proper launch strategy in cases where all of the stars in the galaxy line up properly. How often does that happen? Mass marketing success is contingent on economies of scale, production advantages and large budgets for penetrating a clamorous commercial environment.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

5,208 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

How to Make a Single Mall Kiosk Into a Multi-National Company

One of the bigger mistakes we see new entrepreneurs and startup businesses make is to try to hit a home run right out of the box. My experience in the days when I played baseball, and in building a solid business foundation, is that when purposely trying to hit home runs, you usually strike out. The homer usually comes when you just try to make contact with the ball and put it in play. My consumer product marketing consulting firm counsels dozens of entrepreneurs every year. Very often, these admirable, ambitious go-getters are driven to be as big as they can be, as fast as they can be.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

5,077 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

Successful Entrepreneurs are Doer’s - Not Dreamers Too Many Inventors Are Confused About the Difference

For many years I felt that if you scratched any American you were scratching an entrepreneur. This is the country where entrepreneurial activity is most possible and seemingly every citizen has an idea with commercial potential. Sadly, over time, I realized I was wrong. If you scratch most Americans you are most likely scratching a dreamer. The difference between a dreamer and a doer is profound. Successful entrepreneurs might have initially dreamt of success, but they will not stop there.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

4,802 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

The Oldest Tea Merchant in the World Is Still a Marketing & Branding Phenomenon

Any traveler to London is naturally overwhelmed with the many sites, sounds, history and majesty of this glorious ancient capital, especially first time visitors. Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Thames, Big Ben the Horse Guards, 10 Downing Street, St. James Park, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Old Bailey and Hyde Park Gate are only a few of the famous must see locations tourists consume in the vast spread of this vibrant metropolis.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

4,750 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

The Importance of “Instant Gratification” When Marketing Consumer Products

by: Geoff Ficke The Importance of “Instant Gratification” When Marketing Consumer Products I remember as a little boy the excitement of shopping for a new car with my father. Dad was a Chevrolet man. He always bought cars from the same dealership and the same salesman. We would walk the lot, climb into various models, review the stickers for price and features, and then dad would go into a little cubicle with the salesman and make the deal.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

3,850 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

How Exclusivity Makes a Premium Liquor Brand a Cultural Phenomenon

As in so many consumer product categories, it would seem that there is little room left for innovation in mature businesses like liquor. Most of the world’s best selling alcohol brands have pedigrees that extend back for generations, if not centuries.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

3,716 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

Two Centuries Ago “The King of Chefs, the Chef of Kings”

by: Geoff Ficke Two Centuries Ago “The King of Chefs, the Chef of Kings” Created the Modern Gourmet Cooking We Know Today

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

3,668 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

The Invention of the Wheelbarrow Made the Great Castles and Cathedrals Possible

by:Geoff Ficke Virtually every modern household has a basic wheelbarrow stored away. The use of the wheelbarrow is ubiquitous in construction and basic home chores. The design, form and function of the wheelbarrow has not appreciable changed for 700 years. And yet, this simple tool is one of history’s great advances in creating labor productivity. No one knows who invented the wheelbarrow. The Chinese used crude, primitive sorts of wheeled carts, similar to the modern unit, as early as the 1st century.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

3,472 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

The Nearly Forgotten Fashion Pioneer Who Changed the Way Women Dressed

by: Geoff Ficke The Nearly Forgotten Fashion Pioneer Who Changed the Way Women Dressed

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

3,239 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

How We React to Failure Defines How Much Success Most People Can Attain

by: Geoff Ficke How We React to Failure Defines How Much Success Most People Can Attain In 1954 the manager of The Grand Ole Opry told Elvis Presley, “You ain’t going nowhere son. Go back to driving a truck”. After his first audition the great actor Sidney Poitier was told by the casting agent, “why don’t you stop wasting people’s time and become a dishwasher or something”. Basketball Hall of Famer’s Michael Jordan and Bob Cousy were cut from their first high school teams.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

3,135 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

The Ten Commandments for Entrepreneurs

I am often asked by aspiring entrepreneurs for tips that are essential to being successful in launching a new commercial venture. Below I have assembled the big 10, something like the 10 Commandments, only for entrepreneurial success. The items covered below are not negotiable in the process of taking projects. Trying to short-circuit the list is a death knell for any start-up. The Ten Commandments for Entrepreneurs #1 Never Take Shortcuts! The market is unforgiving. You only get one shot at making a GREAT First Impression!

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

3,132 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

Napoleon and Alexander the Great Are Innovative Role Models Even Today

During the 18th century the royal courts of Europe were starved for exciting and fresh entertainment formats. The staid choral recital, piano concerto, plays and opera had been standard fare in all of the great palaces for centuries. Each court strove to offer something more modern, more cutting edge and contemporary. In 1769 the Empress of Austria, Maria Therese invited a member of her entourage named Baron Wolfgang Von Kempelen to attend a conjuring show. Conjuring was a form of the emerging art of magic presentations.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

2,960 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

A Poem to Inspire Every Aspiring Marketer & Entrepreneur

Today poetry is not a culturally prevalent or popular art form utilized to convey deep thought or the meaning of ideas. To be sure, there are contemporary poets, published works of poetry are available and the United States still recognizes a living “poet laureate”. However, for vast swaths of modern populations, poetry seems so prim, almost Victorian. So what can the words of a bygone poet, or poem, offer modern product marketers, inventors, entrepreneurs and designers that would inspire and motivate their efforts?

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

2,909 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

Organize the Business Structure That Is Right for Your New Enterprise

Every business requires a structure that will withstand necessary legal and governmental scrutiny. The choice of how to organize a new enterprise should be made based on the needs and capacity of the owner(s) to maintain and detail the records, history and finances of the business. Many simple service businesses are set up as a sole proprietorship. The lawn service I utilize is a sole proprietorship. I make out the check in the name of the person providing the service.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

2,833 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

10 Bullet Point Options for Bootstrapping Your Small Business or Consumer Product Opportunity

by: Geoff Ficke 10 Bullet Point Options for Bootstrapping Your Small Business or Consumer Product Opportunity Almost every small or micro-business, entrepreneur or inventor faces a harsh financial reality when starting out. They have little or no access to venture capital, financing or grant money. The funding source that is realistically available to them is family, friends and their own ability to bootstrap their business.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

2,786 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

Fear Is a Key Driver of Success

by: Geoff Ficke Ayrton Senna, the great Brazilian Gran Prix driver, once famously was quoted: “To survive Gran Prix racing, you need to be afraid. Fear is an important feeling. It helps you to race longer and live longer”.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

2,765 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

The Origins of Modern Banking Are Inter-twined With an Ancient Military Order

The world is currently fixated on the international credit crisis and the role banking has played in this debacle. We take it for granted that commerce flows quickly and accurately across borders and frontiers. A resident of Maine can purchase a tank of gas at home, or in Italy with the same credit card. The purchase will be accurately debited to their account, their credit limit will be adjusted and the merchant will receive an electronic transfer of the charge into their account almost simultaneously.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

2,762 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

The Simple Road Reflector Saves Lives And Provides A Great Teaching Template

by: Geoff Ficke One wintry night in 1933, Percy Shaw found himself driving his automobile on a remote country road in England. The night was moonless; the fog hung densely and there was a persistent mixture of rain and snow belting against his windshield. The road was little more than a lane, with no signage, no shoulders, winding and curvy. Any error in judgement would be very costly indeed. As Mr. Shaw slogged along he suddenly came upon a rise in the road and was startled when a small Morriss Minor automobile appeared right at the crest of the grade.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

2,717 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

Ancient Egyptian Lessons Learned Then Forgotten

by: Geoff Ficke Any visitor to modern Egypt, or viewer of a travelogue on this amazing country is awed by the antiquities visible everywhere. The Sphinx, hundreds of pyramids and mausoleums, temples and statuary are testament to the brilliance of this 4000 year old culture. These relics have survived the ravages of time, weather, wars and invasions. Almost entirely forgotten, however, is the ancient Egyptian fetish for personal health and cleanliness.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

2,698 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

The 10 Commandments of Selling

The 10 Commandments of Selling Every successful entrepreneur must achieve a level of sales competence. Short of spending valuable capital on hiring sales professionals, there is no alte ative. Selling is to business as fertilizer is to agriculture. Nothing happens in a company until somebody sells something. There are natural born salesmen. However, with application, practice and determination, anyone can hone selling skills and develop a style compatible with their personality. As an old sales manager, I have had the opportunity to work with every level of sales talent.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

2,642 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

The World’s Most Successful Board Game Was Created As A Metaphor for Hard Times

by: Geoff Ficke Successful entrepreneurs are people that always see opportunity in any situation. By nature they are positive and constantly seek innovations that address wants and needs that they identify in their contemporary environment. Currently we are in a dark economic period, and this will prove to be a fertile time for the introduction of novel innovations that will reward their creators with significant profit. The world’s most famous, widely played and sold board game is Monopoly. Lizzie Phillips created the first version of the game that was to evolve into modern Monopoly.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

2,576 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

The First Commercially Sold Mouthwash Actually Invented a Malady for the Product to Cure

The first commercially successful mouthwash product is still one of the most famous: Listerine. First marketed in the late 19th century as a surgical antiseptic, the product enjoyed modest success. Listerine was created by Dr. Joseph Lawrence and Jordan Lambert and named in honor of Dr. Joseph Lister, the pioneer of antiseptic surgery. In distilled form, Listerine was sold in the early years of the 20th century as a floor cleaner and gonorrhea treatment. However, it was only in the 1920’s that the product started to sell in great volume, and only because of a clever marketing strategy.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

2,546 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

“Fortune Is Not on the Side of the Faint-Hearted”: Sophocles, 5th Century B.C. Greek Philosopher

by: Geoff Ficke What was true when written in Sophocles revered 5th Century B.C. text Phaedra, is ever-more true in the 21st century. Other than the lightning struck few who win a lottery prize, fortune, and success in life is not given easily, and certainly not to the faint hearted. The opportunity to succeed in any endeavor is available to all fortunate enough to live in free societies, but in reality this blessed gift is seized by few.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

2,503 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

The Importance of Focus Groups and Their Alte atives To Consumer Product Marketers and Entrepreneurs

by: Geoff Ficke The Importance of Focus Groups and Their Alte ativesr To Consumer Product Marketers and Entrepreneurs My Consumer Product Development and Marketing Consulting firm offers a variety of services to clients. One that we frequently utilize, and is often misunderstood is the creation and management of Focus Groups. What is a Focus Group? What is the real purpose of a Focus Group? How much do they cost to organize? Can a novice Marketer organize a worthwhile Focus Group?

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

2,472 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

The Rarest Most Exclusive Garment Wool in the World is Not for Sale

by: Geoff Ficke The Rarest Most Exclusive Garment Wool in the World is Not for Sale For centuries the famous weavers of Kashmir have gathered and produced shawls from the rarest fiber in the world, Shahtoosh. These fabulous, prized shawls are so exclusive that the name Shahtoosh, meaning “king of fine wools”, is synonymous with exclusivity. The Kings of Persia were especially partial to this most unique wool, thus the name Shahtoosh.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

2,450 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

A Business Model That Really Succeeds at Warfare

Mercenary soldiers have been used by nation states since Biblical times. The Romans used Goth mercenaries to fight Hannibal and his Carthaginian army. The English used Celtic warriors to defend them against the Vikings. The British used Hessians during the Revolutionary War here in the United States. Mercenaries have enjoyed a very mixed reputation as long as government entities have utilized this soldier-for-hire service. The most successful use of a mercenary army almost certainly must be the late 20th century prowess displayed by a company named Executive Outcomes.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

2,417 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

Brand Extension Can Be a Key to Growing and Evolving a Consumer Product Line or Service

by: Geoff Ficke Brand Extension Can Be a Key to Growing and Evolving a Consumer Product Line or Service Switzerland is the couture watch capital of the world. A visit to Geneva and its surrounding cantons exposes the traveler to the hundreds of exotic watch brands made in this famous horology center. Eponymous watch stores, displays, advertisements and billboards and jewelry stores are ubiquitous. Each brand prides itself on the customization, detail, amazing complications and old world craftsmanship that is present in each artisanal timepiece produced.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

2,356 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

Adopt a Pre-Sell Strategy to Drive Interest in Your Project Before Seeking to Attract Investment Funding

by: Geoff Ficke Adopt a Pre-Sell Strategy to Drive Interest in Your Projectr Before Seeking to Attract Investment Funding Recently I met with a prospective client who presented my Consumer Productr Marketing and Branding Consulting firm with an overview of his project, its development status and needs. The opportunity seemed to have legs until we reached the point in the discussion where funding took center stage. I listened as this entrepreneur, with great passion and skill, pitched his reasoning and support data for a funding round that he felt necessary to move ahead.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

2,300 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

Eric Hoffer: The Obstacles We Face Daily Present Our Greatest Opportunities

by: Geoff Ficke As a young, struggling college student in the 1960’s I became entranced with the life, philosophy and writings of the great American thinker Eric Hoffer. Hoffer’s life story was almost mystical, his thinking so lucid and the concepts he presented were so fresh that I could not get enough of this great mans ideas. Only now do I fully realize how my adherence, to the thoughts of Mr. Hoffer have positively affected my professional life to this very day. Eric Hoffer was born in Germany. His family immigrated to America when he was a toddler.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

2,285 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

The Invention of Interchangeable Parts Terrified Government 200 Years Ago-and Today

by: Geoff Ficke Since the beginning of time, until the middle of the 19th century the production of goods was conducted on an artisan, piece by piece basis. Over these many centuries the center of the individual’s universe was the local environ where commerce and enterprise were conducted on a small scale, often bartered basis. The idea of mass production was impossible to fathom.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

2,285 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

A Strong Sales Model Underlies Every Assumption In a Business Plan

One of the most difficult tasks a new prospective entrepreneur faces is the construction of a Sales Model. Many books devoted to instruction for writing a business plan devote little or no attention to this vital exercise. The knowledge needed to assemble a quantified, qualified and clearly narrated Sales Model is essential to convey the scope and validity of an opportunity. The most elemental data point required to commence assembling a strong sales proposition is the Cost of Goods (COG).

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

2,237 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

How To Invent A Billion Dollar Product and Personally Gain Very Little

by: Geoff Ficke In 1930, a young engineer was sent by his supervisor to spend time working on the floor of a Minneapolis auto body shop. The reason for the working visit was to review the performance of his employer’s principal product, industrial grade sandpaper, in actual use as a car door was being sanded. The young mans name was Richard Drew. While in the repair shop, young Mr. Drew was exposed to a rougher work environment than he was used to. The floor of the shop was loud, dirty, and, well, quite profane.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

2,236 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

Opportunity and Innovation - The Power of Weird Thinking

“The Big Idea” that will make an entrepreneur successful is not obtainable by filling in the blanks on a magic invention template. Where do ‘The Big Ideas” come from? Why are some people able to develop exciting concepts and others, though constantly scheming, achieve nothing of value? How do serial inventors repeat success, again and again. Entrepreneurs are born, not made. Thomas Edison performed over 1000 experiments before perfecting the electric light bulb. Think of that fact, and apply it to people in general. He failed 1000 times before getting it right.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

2,223 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

The Sales Theory of Relativity:ABC = Always Be Closing!

by: Geoff Ficke Albert Einstein’s famous “Theory of Relativity” (e = mc2) is as familiar to many millions of people as a popular modern commercial limerick for a soft drink or a jingle for a candy bar. Even though very few amongst these millions actually understand the scientific premise of the “Theory of Relativity”: people innately understand its import and relate it to its brilliant creator, the wild haired genius Albert Einstein. The famous equation is to energy, as H2O is to water.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

2,221 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

The Art and Modern Importance Of Roman Cement

by: Geoff Ficke Cement is the most widely used building material in the world and has been for thousands of years. The historical record confirms that the ancient Persians, Assyrians and Babylonians used cement in the binding and affixing of mud bricks. The Egyptians also used cement in construction. It was the Romans, however, that perfected the production of slaked cement that made many construction advances possible. The basic materials that the ancients used to make cement were readily available, then as now.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

2,210 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

Classic French Milled Soap Offers a Lesson in Creating A Proprietary Marketing Niche for Common Products

by: Geoff Ficke Classic French Milled Soap Offers a Lesson in Creating A Proprietary Marketing Niche for Common Products One of the most difficult realities an aspiring Consumer Product Marketer must confront is how to present their Brand as a fresh, original, worthwhile counter-offering to their much more established competition. What makes the line, service or item unique? Modern Marketing Consultants call this trait a Unique Selling Proposition (USP). This is a fancy inside baseball term that simply identifies the product “niche” the brand will fill.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

2,163 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

5 Examples of Remora Fish Marketing That Can Jump Start Your Product’s Sales & Marketing

by: Geoff Ficke 5 Examples of Remora Fish Marketing That Can Jump Start Your Product’s Sales & Marketing Everyone is fascinated by sharks. They are so dangerous, explosive and mysterious. Television documentaries detailing their habits, hunting techniques and brutality are ubiquitous, As exciting as the video footage of the lives of sharks is to viewers the little fish that rides the backs of the “alpha” predators receives just the opposite sort of attention. The Remora fish goes almost unnoticed.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

2,155 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

Great Entrepreneurs Build Strong International Brand Names

Their Successors Often Lose Focus And Greatly Damage These Franchises If you are of a certain age you will vividly remember the following names: Helena Rubenstein, Faberge, Germain Monteil, Trigere, Revlon, Elizabeth Arden, Max Factor, Schwinn, W. T. Grant, Montgomery Ward and Chuck Taylor. Each name represented a hugely successful consumer product brand. Each of these brands was grown from the entrepreneurial seed of a visionary. Unfortunately, each was subsequently abused, in several cases terminally, by non-visionary corporate bean counters. A classic example is Revlon.

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

2,133 views

By Geoff FickeRecently published1 topic

America’s Great Advantage Creating Divergent Industries

The American economy is the growth engine of the industrial world and will continue to be so, as long a steady stream of innovative, divergent products is successfully created. The history of capitalism is replete with cycles of unique, needed product and technology advances that exponentially expand the economic base and evolve into completely new industry categories. No country comes close to America in dynamism, creativity and energy in pursuing cutting edge new growth opportunities. Why is this so?

Primary topic: Business Consulting

Business Consulting

2,132 views

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