Podcasts about takeaways don't

1. Mental Health 2. Your Actions Determine Your Results 3. Don't Have Regrets

1. Gain Clarity 2. Don't Work Hard at Being You 3. Care About What the Right People Think

Some people follow their dreams in a figurative sense. And then there's JJ Rademaekers. JJ is the founder and CEO of JJ's Sweets. Their signature candy is an award-winning, coconut milk caramels called Cocomels, and the idea for Cocomels came to JJ in a dream. For this special episode of Brand Builder, we sent our intrepid field reporter Travis Miller to Boulder, CO, to see where JJ launched JJ's sweets, and to learn how JJ went from scientist, to musician, to candy maker, and finally to candy business-maker. Takeaways Don't cut those corners. JJ shares with us a few lessons he learned the hard way. Build the right team for your growth stage. JJ explains why he's built a hybrid team, when to make that first critical hire, and how he iterates his team as the business scales. Get your product out there. The proverbial (coconut) cream rises to the top. Share your product with taste makers for some earned media magic. Jump to JJ describes the dream that inspired Cocomels. 2:35 Some of the early failures JJ encountered while managing his own candy production. 6:29 Tips for rebranding. 8:27 How Cocomels ended up in Oprah magazine. 11:34 JJ’s newest creation, and the process he took to develop and launch the product. 13:13 Why networking is so crucial to building out your business. 14:41 Tips for maximizing your experience at trade shows. 18:56 How to build your team to your growth stage, and how to adapt as your business scales. 22:50 How to keep the big picture in view. 26:05 Links Cocomels Connect with JJ on LinkedIn Have an idea for the show? Drop us a line! Brandbuilder@snacknation.com. Brand Builder is a co-production of SnackNation and ForceBrands.

Our guest expert today is going to talk about the major disruption that is affecting the manufacturer - distributor - end user relationships and how your company can be the survivor. Guest:Derek Weber, President at goBrandgoWebsite: gobrandgo.com Highlights: [4:00] The relationships on both sides, the manufacturer and the distributors, are ending because of retirement. In the past, the relationship was the catalyst for business, if the relationship goes away, behaviors have to change. [10:10] Technology will play a critical role in this disruption. The manufacturers and distributors who can work together to serve the end user will be the survivors, those that do not will not make it. [12:00] Here's why the end user comes out the winner, at least in the short term. [15:14] It's all about education and problem solving. [17:30] Derek shares a real life example of how a good manufacturer-distributor relationship helped an end user with a big problem. [23:45] The upside potential for manufacturers and distributors who can and will adjust, is huge. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to differentiate and gain market share. But the downside is even more dramatic in a negative way. Interview Questions: Question 1: Derek, as I mentioned, this is an age-old problem that probably goes back to the first civilization in Mesopotamia. What are some tips and advice you can offer to our manufacturing marketers out there who face this challenge? Question 2: You mentioned technology. How does technology, the internet and ease of access to information play a role? Should distributors be worried that it is easier than ever to reach out to the manufacturer just as much as they are worried about being cut out? Maybe the days of using distributors, manufacturer’s reps or re-sellers are coming to an end, what do you think about that Question 3: Could you share an example of how the ideas and suggestions you mentioned earlier have worked for a manufacturer and the distributor as a win-win proposition? What type of results did they see in this example? Question 4: Is it an opportunity for savvy manufacturer who gets it and learns to work closer with his distributors to gain a competitive advantage over those not willing to change the way they go to market? Challenge Question: This week our challenge question comes from the VP Sales & Marketing at a Midwest plastics manufacturer. Here it is “We’re really a service provider of injection molding. Our customer base is mostly retailers. It’s almost impossible to differentiate our service from our competitors, so it almost always comes down to price. We and our competitors seem to be spiraling into the abyss of tiny margins. Do you think your idea of sharing expertise could help my business to increase profit margin and revenue? Nobody else is marketing that way in our space.” Derek shares a great story about Schlitz beer and how they increased market share by sharing expertise. Think about what your customer is trying to accomplish and how you can help them get there. When you share knowledge and help them solve a problem, you get TOMA, credibility and reliability. Then you will get the first call. The best place to find topics is in the inboxes of your service and tech support email. Takeaways: Don't underestimate the changes and make sure you're prepared for the future. Make sure that you're partnering with good people. Related podcasts and blog posts:MM 051 - Learn exactly what your distributors need from you to sell moreMM 063 - Channel partner sales strategy for manufacturers

This week we push the envelope and discuss recruitment and selection process in manufacturing industry. It's all about creating a culture that positions your firm as a highly desirable place to work. Here's how you can achieve that perception. Guest: Adrian Hargreaves, Managing Director, Hargreaves Marketing Ltd Website: hargreaves-marketing.co.uk Highlights: [6:30] A lot of people are setting up for the "gig" economy as consultants or contractors. [8:30] Adrian shares why just recruiting at a time of need is the wrong way to go. Recruiting should be an ongoing effort even when there is not an immediate need.  [9:20] Recruitment should not be an island operating on its own, it should be a process integral to the growth strategy and plan. [10:40] Here's how your manufacturing company can become a highly desirable place to work: Develop a great culture Develop a superb reputation for training and development Build partnerships with educational institutes [12:00] Adrian shares some great examples of companies that are creating a highly desirable place to work. [15:20] Best practices for manufacturers to get the very best choice for their recruitment. You need to have quantity and quality in the pool of applicants. [18:10] Some ideas about writing a well balanced job description. [21:15] A simple framework for creating an attractive and truthful position offering. [23:30] Adrian talks about 'fit' and how a company knows if a candidate is a good fit for culture, team and duties. [26:00] Your reputation as a great employer or a poor place to work spreads quickly and a company should always be working on that perception. [27:40] The companies that have the highest performance are unequivocally, always superb trainers. This single attribute will attract high quality talent. Interview Questions: Question 1: Adrian, what are you seeing in the talent market place? What is the typical process when it comes to recruitment of talent in the manufacturing space? What, if anything, is wrong with that traditional process? Question 2: How should companies be approaching the recruitment process? I know most companies try to cram everything possible into the job description (the unicorn or the purple squirrel) and just hope for the best. Is there a better way you recommend that they should create the job requirements to ensure success? Question 3: How about the process itself, should firms have a specific process? What are a few best practices you would suggest to ensure a good outcome? Question 4: Perhaps the most important aspect of finding the right talent is ‘fit’. Fit could mean a lot of different things. I bet if we got 10 managing directors in a room and asked them to define ‘fit’ in the context of hiring talent, we would get many different answers. How do you define fit and how important is it in high performance recruiting? Finally, the recruitment process doesn’t end with the first day on the job, correct? Could you expand on that idea? Challenge Question: This week, our challenge question comes from a manufacturer of recreation vehicle aftermarket parts right here in Colorado, here it is: “We’ve been lucky enough over the years to have a few great customers who kept us busy and profitable. Lately, they are looking for other suppliers and diversifying their supplier networks. Our business is suffering. We’ve never had or needed a sales or marketing function. Now we need a strategic go-to-market function and we need to execute fast. What position should be my first hire? Sales, marketing, consultant or something else? Any real-life examples appreciated!” Take a look at the internal values, do those values include taking care of the customer? Make sure that every employee is aware of the customer-centric values. Go out and talk to the customers that are leaving. This should be the MD/CEO making the connection if possible. Send in your challenge question to the show. Takeaways: Don't wait for a vacancy for a role before you think about recruitment, make it part of your company plan.  Be a magnet for ambitious, career minded people by developing a reputation for training and development and become a highly desirable place to work. Develop high level level of community partnerships. Treat each recruitment as a campaign. The most important word in recruitment is relevance. Related podcasts and blog posts: MM 049 - Are You Truly Customer Focused? MM 081 - Customer Focus, the Key to Great Content Marketing

This week we discuss how to use CAD files to increase website traffic and generate awareness. If you are manufacturing parts whether configured or stock, this tactic is a must have. Highlights: The crux of the idea is that as a manufacturer of a component, you should provide downloadable, usable CAD that makes it easy for them to use that file in their own drawings without having to create the model themselves. [4:45] Most engineers will not stick on a site that does not offer CAD. But, only about 50% use this tactic. That spells opportunity. [7:00] The 2D drawing can be more important than the 3D. The 2D has a much wider audience. [9:00] Learn how CAD works to help with SEO. You don't want the person looking for a part to leave your website to get the CAD file.  [15:00] Those companies that do not use this tactic will start to lose business to companies that are already doing it. [21:10] Interview Questions: Question 1 –  Let’s start with the logistics. How does it work? A real example would be great. Question 2 –  It seems like any company selling a part would be all over this. Is the practice widely adopted or are only a few savvy manufacturers reaping the benefits? Is it hard to do and/or very expensive? Question 3 – Would you please walk our listeners through the strategy and then through the tactical steps from a prospective customer visiting the site to downloading the CAD file to making the purchase? Question 4 – How does offering CAD drawings on a website affect SEO? Web traffic in general? Are there other benefits related to marketing and sales that we haven’t discussed? Challenge Question –  This week our challenge question comes from a VP Sales & Marketing of a Midwest manufacturer of steel tubing. Here it is “We’re a mid-size manufacturer of all types of steel tubing. We’re sold on the idea of gaining brand awareness and differentiating by sharing expertise. Our challenge is that we have no idea about how to get started since it’s all new to our sales and marketing team. What would you advise being the first steps?” The best way to get started is to understand a common problem that your audience faces where you have expertise. Share knowledge around that pain or problem. Build some content and distribute it to your target audience. As that content is consumed by your target audience, your reputation as the go-to expert will begin to grow. Takeaways: Don't wait any longer to start using CAD for your business. Be aware that you may never know the amount of business you are losing because they are going to the competitor who does offer CAD on their website.

Text: Romans 12:16-21 Takeaways: Don't be a jerk. Least wise, try real hard. Same goes for being a baby. Always remember when we start hating people or groups of people that we all have been told different stories. Living at peace is not the same as agreeing with everyone. Benediction:  Be still and know that I am God. Be still and know that I am. Be still and know. Be still. Be.

Original post: http://wp.me/p1sfi8-1iW Support Sound Design Live on Patreon for as little as $1: https://www.patreon.com/sounddesignlive In this episode of Sound Design Live I talk with Kenneth 'Pooch' Van Druten, the FOH sound engineer for Linkin Park, Alice and Chains, Kid Rock, and System of a Down. We discuss: 1. How Van Druten got his first job in audio. 2. The number one skill that gets him in the door for every job. 3. The value of microphone placement. 4. Why speaker coverage is important beyond anything else. 5. How to set gates using side-chains and virtual sound check. 6. Results and trends from Van Druten's annual hearing health check. 7. Mixing monitors for Pantera. 8. Van Druten's SPL strategy for Linkin Park. 9. How Van Druten managed to record and mix every Linkin Park show for two years solid. 10. Whether mixing live show recordings is a viable second income stream? 11. Good plugins for vocals. Quotes: "One of the things that you have to do to break into this industry is be willing to do anything." "Often someone will ask me, 'How'd you do that?' And I'll say, 'I have no idea.'" "I worked with an engineer that made me spend an entire day moving an SM57 microphone centimeters around a guitar amp." "The only kind of relationship I can have with an artist is an honest one." "Being a great system engineer is a different skill set than the one I have." "Coverage is important beyond anything else." "The entire drum kit is an instrument. Not just the tom or the snare." "There are situations when you just can't win." "I listen to 200 shows a year. It's important to me not to listen to those at 106dB A-weighted." "You mix at 100dB? That doesn't mean anything." "I don't know if you've measured crowds recently. At a Linkin Park show, if there are 11 songs, there are 11 times where it goes to 107 dB A-weighted no problem." "I feel responsible not only for my own hearing, but for the hearing of people that come to my shows." Takeaways: Don't wait till after college to get an internship. Van Druten started as a studio intern at a local recording studio when he entered school and by the time he graduated he was the head engineer. Learn social intelligence and empathy (i.e., how to talk to crazy people) because you have to be able to get along with them before you can get the job. Mic placement is important. Time spent learning it now will benefit you for the rest of your career.