James Dalman : Branding Dude and Freestyle Entrepreneur » Thoughts

Free. Does It Kill Your True Value?

James Dalman — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 15:55:11 +0000

Give it away for free.

Give away your E-book, insider knowledge, business secrets, that new product, your professional insight, or whatever else that makes you and expert at what you do. You’ve heard this advice from great thought leaders like Seth Godin and Darren Rowse. It’s about creating and using the Whuffie Factor or being a Trust Agent. If you give away your best stuff then it will help you become “the go-to person” and positive karma will return ten-fold. Maybe that’s The Secret.

I agree that BETA versions to free samples to blog giveaways really do help increase website traffic or a person’s willingness to “try you out.” Our free-economy has definitely changed our business strategies and this mindset has proven to be highly effective for some entrepreneurs. Yet I am still not convinced this is always the best strategy.

In a previous post I wrote on pricing, I talked about how offering your products or services for cheap will hurt you and the market. I believe this same principle applies to freebies as well. Do you think that this strategy could teach customers that they should expect something for nothing or that it communicates that there is no value in our expertise or products? I do!

This week I talked with a web developer who has been providing advice and services without compensation in order build an in-road for a bigger potential opportunity. During the course of our conversation I could see red flags everywhere and it’s evident that the road is going nowhere, except providing immense free help to the client. I’ve heard similar stories from other bloggers or business owners who are trying these techniques to build their community … but building community and fans can only help so much.

In order to stay in business and thrive in business you have to make a profit with your business!

Creating a fan base and being known as the expert is awesome, and I love the online and offline communities I’ve built for myself and others but if you just build a crowd of people wiling to listen and no one is willing to buy, then what good does that do for you? You HAVE to get paid for your knowledge, skills, experience, products, and services. You’ve invested your time and money in getting to where you are. And you deserve to be paid for what you are offering.

I truly see the reason behind giving away some of your best work or ideas, but if you are not generating a Return on Investment for these actions, maybe your true value is being killed by the free-economy. Whuffie and karma can only take you so far before you end up in a cardboard box.

What do you believe?

What’s Missing in Our Media?

James Dalman — Mon, 17 May 2010 03:17:01 +0000

We have a hugely powerful and media rich global community. Never before has there been a time like today where we can be real-time publishers of just about every event happening on our planet. It is completely mind blowing!

We also have access to more information than ever imagined. You can learn just about anything with a click of a button. We can discover world’s we never knew existed. The opportunities are limitless, but I still feel that something is really missing … I think that it’s stories.

I read a lot of blogs and RSS feeds and most of what I encounter is “how-tos” or bullet lists of tips, tricks, and advice. These posts are great and they have a valuable place in our lives. I just don’t come across many stories anymore.

Stories of real modern day heroes or those who were. Stories of hope or victories in life. Stories of how the Native American’s used to live, how our WW2 vets faced and won against global terror, or how one single mom is making a difference in the lives of her children. I miss the days where grandparents passed on and talked about old traditions or when people sat on porches and carried on meaningful conversations about the “good ole days.” Maybe it’s just me living in a world I used to know as a kid.

I am not saying there are no more stories – just that our society has become more focused about following steps or plans or lists to become more rich, more balanced, or more brandable. Who really remembers the last five points on how to be a better whatever? But we do remember the urban legend and myth or the extraordinary tales of our elders. If we stop telling them though, we will forget.

There is so much value just by sharing the events of our lives. What’s your story … and will you tell it?

Blessed Despite the Storms in Life

James Dalman — Mon, 17 May 2010 02:49:27 +0000

Do you ever have those days or months were it just seems like so much goes wrong and you don’t think it’s going to stop? The last 30 days for me have been filled with health problems and sickness to a broken refrigerator and iPhone. There have been some bad situations that I have made me really bitter and sad. Then there are the real storms … tornadoes and hail. It’s been a crazy month!

To be honest, these situations are nothing at all compared to other circumstances. I am truly blessed.

I think of the people whose homes have been destroyed lately by the Oklahoma weather or our soldiers who have been away from their families for so long now. I am reminded how there are kids who are suffering from hunger or abuse and women who are being trafficked in other parts of the world. No, my problems are minute.

Instead of feeling down, my resolve is to remind myself daily of just how fortunate I am. There is so much to be thankful for! How about you?

What Do You Place First?

James Dalman — Wed, 05 May 2010 14:15:51 +0000

Our lives are constantly busy and there is no shortage of tasks that we must complete on a daily basis. My question to you is, what do you place first?

I know it sounds simple but really think through the question.

Do we look at Twitter before we say good morning to our spouse? Are our e-mails tended to before the kids or the exercise program we’ve been meaning to start? Have we been putting all of our clients priorities before the needs of our families? Does God get the breadcrumbs left over in the day or does He get your best?

This is not a post about feeling guilty. Rather it is a reminder that sometimes we just put things first that really should be last.

What Does Worship Mean to You?

James Dalman — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 16:08:26 +0000

Church worship has dramatically changed over the last 10 years for good and bad. There have been great strides to pull the church out of the “dark ages” and to show church members and visitors that worship can be made more “user-friendly”, but I’m not convinced this has all been done in a way that is reverent to God.

I’ve visited a lot of different churches over the last decade as part of church plant training and from a personal perspective of finding a church home. These churches varied in denomination, style, and size. And what I have discovered is that what once seemed cool and hip is really becoming a distraction instead of drawing me into a place where I can worship. Let me elaborate.

Going to church is not about creating or crafting an experience that we feel comfortable in or that meets our needs.

A worship service is about giving God glory — through reverence, love, prayer, hearing His Words, submission, respect, and praise. There is no doubt that this can be achieved in a variety of styles or methods including loud music, soft music, no music, video, preaching, drama, art, standing, sitting, or kneeling. My argument is not that there is one specific way to worship but that some church services have now become more about meeting our desires and not that of God’s. The question is worship getting too relaxed?

People now loudly talk to each other throughout the service or consume massive amounts of coffee or snacks. Being at least 10 minutes late seems to be en vogue. Playing with your cell phones and technology is a part of worship. Pastors must be part preacher, part entertainer, and part guru. And for whatever reason, I see as much cleavage and thongs as Victoria’s Secret advertises. There is just something very wrong with this! Church service is NOT supposed to be a movie, snack bar, or lingerie show. I think that the seeker movement may have done more damage, than good. It’s very concerning.

There have been amazing leaps made with technology and the casual attitude. I don’t discredit that and am truly thankful. I just wonder if the “come as you are, be who you are” mantra has fostered an environment and attitude that is not worship to an awesome God, but worship to our worldly desires instead.

What is worship to you and do you agree with the relaxed mind set that we should feel comfortable at church?

No Magical Headline Here. Just A Moment of Truth.

James Dalman — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:39:11 +0000

It’s not to often that I really say what’s on my mind or share personal stuff, but this is one of those posts where I think I want to do exactly that.

This year I am turning 40, and even though my wife in her endless wisdom believes it’s just another number, I have found it quite difficult to deal with so far. My mind continues to wrap itself around the reality that so much time has already passed and that if I am blessed with another 40 years, I don’t want to screw that up.

There are so many things that I want to do and complete. Stuff I know I will regret if I just let these ideas or days pass by. When my dad passed away unexpectedly at the age of 51, one of the last things he said was “it is amazing how to we take a breath of air for granted.”

I don’t want to take anything in life for granted…

My kids are now teenagers and moving closer to flying the nest. My wife has invested her love and life in me for almost 19 years now. My mom is getting older. I have “known” for 10 years that life moves fast and all of a sudden it’s like a hard realization has hit me. I have taken so many things for granted because I’ve had the wrong focus. Now I am thinking of my legacy and what I have done that really matters.

It’s time for me to re-prioritize. It’s time for me to stop procrastinating on things I’ve wanted to accomplish for years. It’s time to embrace that there is a new season of my life on the horizon and that I must not take anything for granted. Decisions have been made and there is more to come…

Don’t Believe the Internet Marketing Hype (but Believe in the Truth)

Give Your Art Away

James Dalman — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:37:13 +0000

I used to be a true artist.

My days used to be filled with airbrushing custom t-shirts, illustrating greeting cards, creating comic books, and sketching whatever came to mind. I did these things because I loved to do them. Time always seemed to stand still and hours would pass before I ever looked at a clock while being immersed in my craft. It was a beautiful time.

The other side of letting my imagination go was that when I completed my art, it seemed to benefit other people as well. There was an immense satisfaction when friends and family would enjoy the fruits of my labor… and for an artist, this is payment enough for our investment.

It is a blessing to give a piece of yourself away.

I was reminded of these “old” memories as I’ve been reading Linchpin, the latest brain-work of Seth Godin. Godin writes about how we are artists and that we can actually enjoy giving away gifts through our work and jobs. On page 83 he writes, “An artist is someone who uses bravery, insight, creativity, and boldness to challenge the status quo. And an artist takes it personally” Seth then goes on to say, “Art is a personal gift that changes the recipient. The medium doesn’t matter. The intent does.”

This really resonated with me because for so long I have forgotten what it is to give my art away.

I’ve only been focused on the monetary payoff or Return on Investment …and it has robbed me of the joy and satisfaction I once knew. Sure, we should be able to make a living from our businesses or skills but there are ways in which we can improve the joy of our work by being an artist that gives away our art.

How does this apply to you? Maybe you feel as though you’re not an artist, but Seth goes on to explain that being one isn’t about creating a masterpiece with a paint brush, but rather art is as simple as a smile to someone who needs one to writing a blog post that inspires a reader. So to sum it up, true art isn’t about money or fame or even a drawing; true art is about making a difference in the person who receives it – and we are all capable of achieving this!

My goal is to get back to being a real artist. Not in the medium but in the giving. And I encourage you to as well. Remember, we can all be remarkable by doing small things that change the world, one person at a time. Give your art away!

Checking Out Some Chrome

James Dalman — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 02:23:09 +0000

This weekend I decided to take another step towards being James 2.0 (an inside office joke referring to my slowness to adapt and learn technology) by downloading and using Google Chrome. I have to say that I really enjoy the simplicity of this new browser and the clean look of it.

A couple of the features I like are being able to have multiple pages open upon launching the browser and a visual thumbnail view of the last several sites I visited. The Incognito Window is cool if you like to cover your tracks and the preferences setup is easy to figure out. I’m sure there are some things I am missing, but overall I really like Google Chrome.

No related posts.

The Tank is Running on Empty.

James Dalman — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:46:26 +0000

I’m being brutally honest in this post…my tank is running on fumes.

It’s been a long journey this year and while my mind is just as fresh and filled with ideas as it’s ever been, my body and soul are truly depleted. Maybe I’ve hit a technology overload or I’m just flazed by the way things are going in our world…or maybe it’s that I am one year away from hitting 40. Whatever the case I just feel like checking out for a couple weeks. Do you ever feel this way?

I am truly blessed with an awesome career and family and I have everything I need. I just can’t explain it – I just feel empty.

No related posts.

Discovering My One Word.

James Dalman — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:44:17 +0000

I like to think a lot. Stuff like where I want to go and who I want to be if I ever grow up. I have a vision for my life and idea of what I want with this one shot I’ve been given. I’m a dreamer …

I’ve written many times about how we should create a life we love to live and that we should do the things that we feel most important. This is very difficult to do at times because of our professional lives or the responsibilities we may have at home. It’s just not easy at times. But as I was thinking again this week about what my life will mean to the people around me and what I want my legacy to be it was very clear that it wasn’t about branding.

Branding is something I’ve been very involved in and loved to do – it’s very much a part of me and my profession but it”s not THE word I want people to remember me by. This week I discovered that my one word I want to be known for is PASSION.

Many people have gone through life with no spark; they simply go through the motions. This is sad to me because there is so much that life gives us and the God has blessed us with. We have plenty of opportunity to live with a burning fire and to make a difference. I want to be one of those people. Honestly, I’ve had that desire before but it got snuffed out.

Maybe this all sounds goofy but I continue to learn how fragile life is and how quickly it fades. I see how we get caught up in the ordinary junk that doesn’t really matter and miss the extraordinary things that do. I am hoping that I will start focusing more on my passions and leave the rest behind.

Live the Passion Filled Life.