Drew Schiller

Gain Perspective On Business and Life By Taking a Hiatus

September 1, 2009

For those of you who read my blog regularly, you’ve probably noticed that I haven’t posted in a couple of months. In late June, I began to feel like the direction my business was taking was moving against my grain.
Owning a business that fulfills me personally as well as financially is critical to how I [...]

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Advice: Consider the Source

July 1, 2009

I was speaking with someone last week who is starting her first business, and predictably she was a little overwhelmed by how many things she had to do. As we were talking, she said things like, “I heard that I should do this,” or, “So-and-so recommended that.” She was also actively looking for validation and [...]

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Best of the Blog (First Half of 2009)

June 30, 2009

Your Top Five (as viewed by the readers, ordered by date):
How To Create A More Memorable Brand
Nine ways to create a more memorable brand. I wrote this while examining the question, “Is it getting more difficult for people to remember your brand’s message?”
What You Don’t Know About Branding
Five important branding concepts you may not be [...]

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Treat Customers Like Customers

June 29, 2009

We’ve all seen the commercials and heard the radio advertisements:
At Bob’s Concrete and Lumber, we treat our customers like family.
Wrong! Treating customers like family is a nice sentiment, but it doesn’t work in practice. This idea probably comes from the “family first” mantra we’re all familiar with, but let’s be honest, when things get hectic, [...]

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Good To Bad To Great

June 9, 2009

I held a small branding workshop last month at a local golf clubhouse that is managed by the Coralville Marriott. Working with the Marriott staff to coordinate everything was simple, and the space was perfect (nice facilities beautiful scenery). That was the good.
Then last week I received a charge for the space that was more [...]

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Don’t Be A Dime A Dozen

June 8, 2009

Answer this question: What business are you in?
If you answered with the type of product you sell (i.e., “I’m in construction”), you’re wrong. Products are commodities, and companies that focus only on the products are a dime a dozen. Companies that focus on the service they deliver have the opportunity to create uncontested market space.
Every [...]

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Break The Rules And Be More Approachable

June 3, 2009

I’ve had my pair of Vibram FiveFingers Classics for a few days now, and I can’t tell you how many conversations I’ve had because of these shoes alone. I’ll be the first to admit that these shoes are different—but not too different. They are just different enough to make me seem more approachable and give [...]

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Laziness Leads To Losses

June 1, 2009

I had a nice brunch over the weekend at a little restaurant in a bedroom community outside of Iowa City. After our meal ended, the four of us sat at our table chatting.
At 1:30 p.m., we were one of two tables in the restaurant, and the staff was starting to relax from their day’s work. [...]

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How To Create A More Memorable Brand

May 29, 2009

Last week, I was asked, “Is it getting more difficult for people to remember your brand’s message?”
The short answer is, “yes.” Let’s look at some of the factors that make it difficult to be remembered today than in the past.
What You’re Up Against
Competition is always increasing, and it’s not just from traditional sources (i.e., you [...]

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You Don’t Practice Enough

May 26, 2009

Sports teams spend hours each week practicing unique end-of-game situations and crazy situational plays that may never get utilized. Why? Because if a game comes down to the last play, there isn’t time to practice, there is only time to execute.
The teams that practice these rare situations often have amazing results and win close games, [...]

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