Personal Insights on Effective Consultant Branding and Selling: Work is Theater and Every Business a Stage
Like many of you, I suspect that with age we have discovered wisdom. During the course of a thirty-five year career spanning cause activism, national politics, global business and academia, I have learned many things––knowledge, insights and skills. At this stage of my life I now seek to share this knowledge, insights and skills through teaching and mentoring.
Wisdom is defined in many ways and I have adopted a Confucian approach to understanding the concept: “By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.”
My purpose this morning is to share some of my “wisdom” in the form of personal insights with you on the subject of effective consultant branding and selling. Keeping in mind the Confucian view of wisdom, it is a personal story that you may identify with. I hope you will find the time engaging, entertaining, perhaps challenging and, for some, helpful to your successful and effective consulting and other business endeavors.
Paul J. Myer is the Executive-in-Residence at the University of Maine Business School.
Paul and his wife Keiko arrived in Portland from Tokyo Japan in December 2002 and have maintained a residence on Crystal Lake in Gray, Maine.
His career spans politics and government policy, global business and academia. He has lived and worked in the United States, Europe, China and Japan and has visited 28 different countries for
special business assignments.
Among his many notable accomplishments, during his 25-year stint in Washington, DC he served as President Gerald Ford’s Associate Director of the White House Domestic Council. A rather
remarkable accomplishment for a former aide to a number of liberal Democratic politicians!
Concerned about the toxic partisan political environment developing in our nation’s capitol, Paul turned his attention to the global business stage and became a senior marketing executive at three major technology companies. As CMO for one firm, he was responsible for the branding and marketing of the company as it went public in 2001.
At the University of Maine Business School, he presents courses in marketing strategy, marketing communications, sales and retail management, and international business.
He also consults with a broad range of businesses on strategic marketing and international business issues and provides volunteer assistance to Maine business and community organizations.
Paul has served as a mentor and presenter in the Top Gun Program and was a principle of UMaine’s Knowledge Transfer Alliance. Paul's email is paul.myer@maine.edu.
Roundtable
Takes place from 9:45-10:30 following the regular meeting and is optional.
Closing the Deal…and Covering Yourself in the Process
Facilitated by: Clay Atkinson, of Ericson Mitchell, and Jim Casey of Casey Communications
So, you are on the brink of signing that prospect. You also know that until you have the signature on the dotted line Murphy's law is most active. This is the time to be sure that you have taken the appropriate measures to protect yourself and your business from liability. The July Roundtable will provide some tips, tools and group ideas on what you should be doing before and after the sale to ensure that your new relationship is a lasting and profitable one.
Clay Atkinson is a principal at Ericson Mitchell Marketing and Communications in Portland, Maine which provides strategic insights and plans to businesses. Years of experience collaborating with 150 clients in 30 different industries is the basis for analyses of primary and secondary customer/client research. With a focus on broad strategic direction from a market perspective. Ericson Mitchell helps companies introduce new products, new positionings and roll out new revitalized brands. A long proven record of providing strong strategic insights translates into streetwise solutions for numerous satisfied clients.
With a Master's Degree from UCLA Anderson School of Business, Clay has taught graduate marketing management courses. He is also on several boards including the Association for Consulting Expertise, has worked with street kids, and has been a mentor in Menttium, a program for women executives. He has lived in Germany and traveled in Europe, Russia, Egypt, Mexico, Canada and most of the U.S. He is also a fine art photographer whose work has been published, shown…some even sold. Besides being a photographer he enjoys traveling, walking, reading and writing. Visit the company website at www.EricsonMitchell.com. Clay's email is clay@ericsonmitchell.com.
Jim Casey is a marketing strategist focused on creating and rehabilitating brands through strategic planning, product positioning, new products and tactical communications. His experience spans a wide range of national and global clients in diverse industries, from cosmetics to genetic analyzers to mutual funds and includes brands such as Yardley of London, Converse, Fidelity Investments, GE Healthcare (Europe), Parker Brothers, Siemens, Avid Technology, Covidien and CVS drugstores. Jim has held senior positions at Boston-based communications and consulting firms. Jim's email is jim@caseycommunications.biz.
Casey Communications - Strategic Marketing Communications:
Our practice focuses on delivering strategic marketing communications, which includes planning, brand strategy, product positioning, product launches and tactical communications. We work with B2C and B2B companies that range from starts ups to global players.
The Facts...
The A.C.E. regular meeting has networking, a buffet breakfast and a speaker. Guests are welcome.
Registrations are required by July 16, 2013. If you want to be included on the registration list at the meeting then you need to register by the due date.
You can pay online by credit card (Visa, MasterCard or Discover NOT AMERICAN EXPRESS!) or mail a check to:
A.C.E.
110 Marginal Way #142
Portland ME 04101
If you are mailing a check, please register here so the system can track the registrants for us. Thanks!
Members: the $22 fee only works if you pay in advance. At the door, it is $28.
