So stupid… it made me sick!

I wouldn’t believe that anyone would be this stupid if I hadn’t seen it for myself.

Kids… and I’m not talking about toddlers here… teenagers… are eating Tide detergent pods for fun.

It didn’t really hit home how pathetic and sad and scary this is until I saw a video of a young teenager on YouTube doing the “Tide Pod Challenge.”

Where is his mother??

On camera, this kid fired up his bong and broke open a tide pod and smoked it. His face turned bright red and he said, “that burns” as the smoke hit his lungs (and brain!) and then the scene ended and flipped to him breaking one open and putting it into his mouth.

I was horrified. Especially since I know my kids love watching videos about various so-called challenges online. How can people get away with posting challenges that involve doing things that could kill you?

I got some smug consolation knowing that I don’t use Tide Pods. I use Melaleuca laundry detergent for this very reason. If eating a Tide pod can kill you, why would you want to wash your clothes with it? The same goes for other cleaning products.

But Melaleuca products are non-toxic. They don’t even require a childproof cap.

You’ve probably heard me talk about how emotions can push you to buy certain products, and you need to understand what those emotions are and know that some of them might seem to come from left field.

This is an example. I started out with fear that my youngest child or my dog might get into the Tide Pods. Then there is the sense of horror that older kids would do it on purpose, and rage that they’re encouraging others to do it, and sadness for these kids (because how is it possible that they have so little respect for themselves?) and finally, disgust that this company is making billions by selling us poison. Yes, those are the reasons that I buy the Melaleuca detergent.

If you want to uncover the emotions that your customers may be going through, you’ve got to dig deep, ask questions, and keep your eyes open.

If you need help, sign up for a FREE 15 minute meeting to see if my services make sense for you.

I’m attending finishing school.

Recording a podcast is a lot like going to finishing school.
At least, that’s what I like to tell David Wolf (my wonderful producer) whenever he gives me advice on how to sound more polished and professional during the show.

Last week we had an interesting discussion about how to sound like an authority, even when you’re bringing in guests who might be more recognized in your field.

I don’t know about you, but if I’m interviewing someone on my podcast, it’s because I consider them to be an expert and I want to listen to what they have to say.

But, as David has pointed out, it’s easy to lose control of the conversation, have an episode that wanders in the wrong direction. It’s the host’s job to keep the conversation going in the right direction and make sure that it’s interesting to listen to.
Here are three of David’s tips that have helped me host a podcast with authority.
  • Prepare your intro and out-tro messages ahead of time and practice. I personally have a low-key speaking style and so I have to ramp up the enthusiasm when introducing people. It doesn’t feel “natural” but it sounds good.
  • Think of questions that will get the guest to share information that your guests will care about. Before the guests come on the show, spend time asking yourself why you want to introduce this person to the listener. What will the listener gain from knowing this guest? Once you have that clear in your mind, write out your questions.
  • Create a sense of form and structure with your episodes. Just like news programs and talk shows have regular segments that give the show a predictable flow, you can add sections to your shows too.
Being the host of a podcast has been a great experience. And the lessons that I learn in “finishing school” go with me when I’m out and about in the business world.
P.S. Click here to find out more about David Wolf’s podcasting services.
And if you think you’d be a good guest on my show, send your idea to [email protected].

How to promote music events.

Douglas Detrick is a friend from Lawrence University. He and I both studied trumpet performance.

When I caught up with him recently, I was happy to see that he was still playing the trumpet and composing.
But he’s also bringing his marketing skills to the table in a big way, raising money and awareness and growing a loyal fan base for the Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble as well as for his own musical projects.
During this interview, he tells you all about the marketing methods that have worked well for him and will work with other musicians.
Listen to it here.