Make a difference

“If you can read this, consider yourself fortunate.”
That’s the opening of James Denton’s Sandlapper story.
Sandlapper is a high-quality South Carolina magazine.
James wrote about our literacy campaign.
42 million Americans are functionally illiterate.
That’s a shame in a country with free education.
We’re a great country — but not for everybody.
Our goal: Raise $200 million over the next 10 years.
I believe God is giving me that much time to reach this goal.
The money will come from my book sales and speaking fees.
Donations also are welcome and greatly appreciated.
My thanks to James and Sandlapper Editor Aida Rogers.
They are helping make a difference in 42 million lives.
You’re invited to join us in this cause.
To read James’ article, please put this link in your browser.
http://sandlapper.org/public/files/docs/Winter2009_10/Bellune.pdf

Open your eyes

Our dentist friend Greg Wych had a problem hygienist.
Single mom. Two kids. Lived paycheck to paycheck.
But she always bought everything she WANTED.
She always complained about money to his staff.
This clouded how she presented treatment to patients.
She prejudged their ability to pay.
One year they went to a dental convention in Atlanta.
He booked the Ritz-Carlton for his staff.
He wanted them to learn from the Ritz experience.
She complained because a glass of wine cost $9.
Greg reframed that perception for her by saying:
"I'm at the Ritz and a glass of wine is only $9."
Surprise. She doesn't work for him anymore.
How often do we let negatives cloud our perceptions?
How often do we prejudge a client's ability to buy?
How often do we splurge just because we want something?
How often do we do what common sense says is a no-no?
Successful people discipline themselves.
They let clients decide what they can afford.
They frame perceptions in positive ways.
If they can't afford it, they delay gratification.
When they can afford it, the prize is so much sweeter.
For more on success in life, click on:
http://www.jerrybellune.com/success-strategies.htm

Dare to be outrageous

We’re exposed to 30,000 advertising messages a day.
I don’t know who figured that out but it sounds about right.
The reason we don’t notice 29,990 of them is . . . (drum roll)
They’re bland, bland, bland. It’s awful. It’s wasteful.
Businesses spend billions on bland advertising we ignore.
If we’re going to get noticed, we’ve got to stand out.
We’ve got to do everything differently from what we do now.
Four of us have just returned from three days in Orlando.
What an experience. Three days of outrageous thinking.
Bill Glazer and his team staged the three-day event.
They rolled out dozens of outrageous advertising ideas.
We came home with pages of notes. Dozens of examples.
Over the coming weeks I’ll share the top 17 with you.
If you’re into advertising and marketing, this is for YOU.
You’re in for a treat in my Advertising & Marketing Letter.
For a free four-week trial subscription, email me.
Put A&M Letter in the subject line.
Send it to Jerry@JerryBellune.com
I’ll send it to the first 17 who respond to this blog.
I guarantee you a thought-provoking experience . . .
. . . or your money back (forgive my weird sense of humor).
If you’re not into advertising and marketing, I feel for YOU.
2010 will be a long and painful year for you and your family.
May as well go ahead and slit your wrists right now.
P.S. Lets end on a positive note: 2010 can be a great year.
Just seize the initiative by sending me a note.
We can make it our best year ever.