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Sometimes we need to keep it simple. It’s August. It’s summer. I bet we’re all having problems staying motivated – so I’m going to keep this email simple and rev you up!

Give this iconic punk song a listen with me as we see what the experts are saying – let’s go!

Business Lessons from the Ramones???

As you know by now, I love trying to bridge that gap between music and B2B. There’s something about the Ramones that people just love. Is it the attitude? The simplicity and raw energy of the songs? The fun of it all?

They were actually tremendous business people! I found this great post that outlines lessons from the punk rockers that apply to B2B. Let’s see what we can learn from them:

  • Short & simple works. Most Ramones songs clock in at a little over 2 minutes. Short. Simple. Impactful. Use the same strategy with your sales and marketing messages; say just enough to get your prospects interested and move them through their buyer’s journey – that’s all you need!
  • Clever shines through. Ramones songs were funny and smart – and not everyone got the joke. Your smarts and expertise will shine through when presented correctly to the right person – not everyone will get it, but those that do could be your best clients!
  • The brand is more important than the individuals. Only two members of the Ramones (Joey & Johnny, who by all accounts hated each other) lasted from inception to dissolution – other members were swapped and changed with regularity and yet their popularity never wavered. The brand “the Ramones” mattered more to their fans than the individual members. Your lesson – work hard to build your brand so that no matter who’s representing it, it remains successful.
  • Don’t take yourself too seriously. The Ramones were caricatures made real and they knew it and had fun with it. Bring fun into what you do every day – people will like you better and you’ll probably live longer.

Keep these lessons in mind when dealing with potential clients. What they want, I don’t know – but these strategies can help you stay top of mind!

Too Soon for the COVID Concert?

Did you stream any of the Lollapalooza festival last week? Experts are saying that precautions were insufficient, and infections may spread among concert-goers, as thousands piled in the backseat, as it were.

The four-day festival welcomed about 100,000 guests a day to hear headliners including Megan Thee Stallion, Foo Fighters and Tyler the Creator. To attend, people had to provide either a COVID-19 vaccine card or proof of a negative COVID-19 test from the previous 72 hours. But doctors say more restrictions should have been in place as the US tries to limit the spread of the more infectious Delta variant.

And of course, many of those that attended left at the end of the weekend and crossed state borders. Not to mention there are fake vaccination cards making the rounds. Should we be worried about the future of events in general?

According to Bob Lefsetz, it’s too soon to know – “Delta is gangbusters and very transmissible. But promoters are wary of shutting the business down.”

How will this impact B2B? I think we’ll need to see how B2C events shake out over the next months – as they will indicate how the fall B2B event season will progress. We’re all revved up and ready to go… but at what cost?

As always, don’t hesitate to call me to brainstorm or just say hello.

Looking forward,
Rick

Rick Endrulat, President | ricke@v-causeway.com | www.linkedin.com/in/rickendrulat