Blog

A year ago, I had a challenge with a friend, to extract business lessons from weird places.

It all started when he mentioned the book “Everything I know about business, I learned in kindergarten”.

Set yourself up for an incredible new year with the 12 marketing lessons every business owner should learn from the man in red…

1. Deliver on time

Would we still believe in Santa if he missed a year, or came late?

2. Everyone loves a giver

Don’t be a taker. Move the free line, and win your prospects over with your generosity.

3. Hire a team of hardworking admin people to make you look good ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Santa gets the glory, but the elves work hard to make it all look easy. Maybe you need to hire some elves next year (Think hardworking, talented, and offshore) ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

4. Build your database ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Santa makes a list and checks it twice. Most businesses don’t even have a list.

5. Teach your clients how to treat you

Every kid knows to leave out Milk & Cookies, and leave carrots for the reindeer. Do your clients know how to help you?

6. Qualify hard

Do you grade your prospects and clients? Santa even grades KIDS either naughty or nice! Which of your clients has been nice? Which prospect has been naughty? You know what to do…⠀

7. Leverage

Santa has a team of body doubles who have been working for the crowds at every shopping center on the planet for the last 4 weeks. (While the real Santa sips margaritas by the pool at his condo)⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

8. Limit access

Santa’s got things set up, so you can’t get him on the mobile, or just see him whenever you want. You’ve gotta send your request to an obscure PO Box in the North Pole. Are you too easy to get?

9. Run special events

He’s the original Product Launch Formula guy. He builds massive anticipation and even gets your kids counting down the sleep until the big day.

10. Costume and Self-promotion

If he just wore regular clothes, he’d be no big deal. Do you have a uniform that makes you THE leader?

11. Get others to talk you up

His P.R. elves get everyone talking about Santa, so he never has to talk himself up.

12. Build a business that gives you free time ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

With all his body doubles and the team of elves, Santa really only works a couple of days a year.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Most of the list-checking is done in Bangalore these days, so he and Mrs C get 363 days off, which they spend in the Bahamas.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
There are business lessons everywhere… if you look for them.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
How about you? Where did you learn everything you know about business?