Below is a great article from Terrica Skaggs, owner of Fabuluxe and the voice behind Mind Your Business, the iWed blog. I just had to share. Terrica is one of the most innovative and fabulous wedding planners of today. Enjoy!

my·o·pi·a (m-p-)

n.

1. A visual defect in which distant objects appear blurred because their images are focused in front of the retina rather than on it; nearsightedness. Also called short sight.

2. Lack of discernment or long-range perspective in thinking or planning: “For Lorca, New York is a symbol of spiritual myopia” Edwin Honig.

Marketing myopia is a term coined by economist Theodore Levitt.  It is defined as management’s failure to recognize the scope of its business. Becoming product oriented or product defined instead of customer oriented threatens to stunt the growth of any business—especially those in our industry. Our industry is one that deals with several people, emotions and expectations.  Understanding that there is something much bigger than a day-of-coordination service keeps the focus on the client and your company’s impact on that client.

To stand out from our colleagues and competition, as well as avoid marketing myopia, we need to ensure that our companies’ goals are oriented towards our clients’ needs. Several other companies such as AT&T and Revlon have undergone intense transformations to allow them to service their clients and meet their needs.  Try broadening your marketing oriented business ideas to focus on the client’s needs.  In other words, don’t market as if your existence is based on your product, target your actual demographic and their needs.  Instead of telling your story, show them your place in their story.   Avoid pigeonholing yourself into a myopic description:  e.g., “we are a wedding coordination company”. What happens when your potential client doesn’t want a coordinator—but someone to assist with full-service planning or event design?  You risk becoming obsolete by defining yourself by your product, instead of how your product can service fill the needs of your clients long term.  By continuously re-evaluating your business, you can find yourself a constant in the changing times and economy.  Focus on your core competencies and position yourself to sell them.  Simply:  find a need and fill it.

How do you define your business?  Ask yourself, seriously, “What business am I in?”

Came across this today thanks to the fabulous Lara Casey, found on Seth Godin’s blog. If you have never read his blog, bookmark it now. He is brilliant! Thought it would be great to share! To me, #3 speaks the loudest. Which one speaks to you?

1. Understand the urgency of the situation. Half-measures simply won’t do. The only way to grow is to abandon your strategy of doing what you did yesterday, but better. Commit.

2. Remarkable doesn’t mean remarkable to you. It means remarkable to me. Am I going to make a remark about it? If not, then you’re average, and average is for losers.

3. Being noticed is not the same as being remarkable. Running down the street naked will get you noticed, but it won’t accomplish much. It’s easy to pull off a stunt, but not useful.

4. Extremism in the pursuit of remarkability is no sin. In fact, it’s practically a requirement. People in first place, those considered the best in the world, these are the folks that get what they want. Rock stars have groupies because they’re stars, not because they’re good looking.

5. Remarkability lies in the edges. The biggest, fastest, slowest, richest, easiest, most difficult. It doesn’t always matter which edge, more that you’re at (or beyond) the edge.

6. Not everyone appreciates your efforts to be remarkable. In fact, most people don’t. So what? Most people are ostriches, heads in the sand, unable to help you anyway. Your goal isn’t to please everyone. Your goal is to please those that actually speak up, spread the word, buy new things or hire the talented.

7. If it’s in a manual, if it’s the accepted wisdom, if you can find it in a Dummies book, then guess what? It’s boring, not remarkable. Part of what it takes to do something remarkable is to do something first and best. Roger Bannister was remarkable. The next guy, the guy who broke Bannister’s record wasn’t. He was just faster … but it doesn’t matter.

8. It’s not really as frightening as it seems. They keep the masses in line by threatening them (us) with all manner of horrible outcomes if we dare to step out of line. But who loses their jobs at the mass layoffs? Who has trouble finding a new gig? Not the remarkable minority, that’s for sure.

9. If you put it on a T-shirt, would people wear it? No use being remarkable at something that people don’t care about. Not ALL people, mind you, just a few. A few people insanely focused on what you do is far far better than thousands of people who might be mildly interested, right?

10. What’s fashionable soon becomes unfashionable. While you might be remarkable for a time, if you don’t reinvest and reinvent, you won’t be for long. Instead of resting on your laurels, you must commit to being remarkable again quite soon.

As you already know, I am a huge fan of Plain English videos. They are the super easy way to explain all of the things that some of us never really understand. I am always asked about Twitter and what the big deal is with it! Here is a little video to explain it in easy to understand lingo. If you watch it and decide to join, you can follow me at http://www.twitter.com/blissamanda

Enjoy!

And Just for laughs…

2009 Pamper The Bride Bridal Expo Saturday * February 28, 2009 NOW ACCEPTING VENDORS visit our website : www.pamperthebrideexpo.com

________________________________________

Event: Pamper The Bride Bridal Expo Date: Saturday- February 28, 2009

Time: 10:00a.m.-3:00p.m.

Location: Silver Garden of Southfield Banquet Center Admission: $10.00 (tickets available on the website or at the door)

Show Hostess: Ramona Prater- Radio Personality Mix 92.3

Website: www.pamperthebrideexpo.com

ABOUT THE BRIDAL EXPO Pamper The Bride Bridal Expo is a different “type” of Bridal Expo. The small and intimate atmosphere ensures that brides and grooms are not “overwhelmed” by too many vendors. Our expo offers “select” & unique vendors / resources, on-stage workshops, give-a-ways throughout the day and services to help brides and grooms plan there “special day”. ENJOYABLE for everyone! Relaxing & STRESS-FREE! ________________________________________

40 VENDORS or LESS & NO MORE THAN |2| OF EACH TYPE OF VENDOR (WOW) !!

*VENDOR TABLE* “SHOWCASE YOUR COMPANY AT THE EXPO! ” ($300-60′Round Table) ($350-6ft. Table) Includes: * No more than (2) of each vendor* “type”/”catagory” * listing & weblink on PTB website * table covered with linen & (2) chairs * list of brides emailed within 1 week of expo * company name and listing in expo program * professional and relaxing environment Can’t Make The Expo?? Additional Advertising Options: LEVEL A EMBELLISHED BRIDAL BAG INSERTS ($125) {Company Provides Inserts} LEVEL B WEDDING RESOURCE DISPLAY TABLE ($100) {Company Provides Documents} We embellish a bag w/ribbon and incorporate your bag insert with other bag inserts and give it to the each bride at registration. We display your business cards, flyers, postcards or brochures on our “wedding resource table” 150 Inserts: Insert Options Below: (flyers, brochures, business cards, postcards) 150 Documents Document Options Below: (flyers, brochures, business cards, postcards) LEVEL C LISTING IN BRIDAL EXPO PROGRAM “UNDER RESOURCES SECTION” ($75) Company Provides For Listing: Company Name + Telephone Number or Company Name + Website

To Request a registration form to participate: Call: (248) 747-3482 or (248) 809-2117 email: pamperthebride@mail.com or visit: www.pamperthebrideexpo.com

Sponsored By:  MissNowMrs.com, Getmarried.com, Metro Detroit Bride, Premiere Bride and WeddingSolutions.com

Do you have a hard time explaining why you blog to family and friends? If your’s are anything like mine, they don’t even know what a blog is and why we spend so much time working on them. I came across this post on The Smart Planner today and thought I would pass along the wonderful information. If you haven’t seen The Smart Planner yet, you are in for a treat. Whether you are a planner or just a small business owner, Liene (pronounced Lynn) Stevens and her fabulous blogs are a wonderful resource. Definitely check them out!

Oh, and if you are wondering, the MWEP member list will be updated this week. I will have all of you linked and posted! Thanks for being patient.

Chocolate & Pretty Things! I just wanted to send a huge THANK YOU, to Abbey from Syd Design. I found this lovely little package in my mail yesterday and just had to share. For future reference, I LOVE surprises in the mail! This adorable package had an invitation sample, a valentine’s card, business cards, and a dark chocolate bar (my fave!). Perfect presentation, Abbey! Thank you so much for thinking of me.

Well, after much debate about the dates and times, we finally have our Febraury event scheduled! For all of you east-siders, mark this in your calendars!

Febraury 25, 2009: Bastone in Royal Oak @ 6pm. Be there!

I will post about the West MWEP Meet-up as soon as we get the information set in stone. If you have any questions, please email amanda(at)yourblissweddings(dot)com.

We are working on running a special giveaway right now for one lucky & deserving couple. I am in the middle of building the project, but so far we have a photographer, stationers & DJ giving away their services on top of the wedding planning package I am personally giving away. We are looking for a venue, honeymoon, cake, and anything else we can find!

I would love to offer prizes for second and third place couples also. So if you want to offer up a free engagement session or free programs, discounts on services, gift certificates…. everything is welcome!

The other big surprise will be a Swag Bag filled with really cool items and gift certificates that the couple can use. I am thinking jewelry, makeup, gift certificates for a future photo session… again, we will take whatever you have to offer!

We will be choosing a couple based on their need. The wedding must take place between Dec ‘09 and March ’10 and be located in the Southeast Michigan area. Right now, we are thinking of having people enter by submitting a You Tube video explaining their lives and why they think they deserve this wedding. We are encouraging them to include family & friends and elements of their personal lives. I personally love the idea of asking the couples to “pay it forward” in their own way and record it in their submission video. We really want to get to know these couples as much as we can before we make the decision.

Our plan is to launch the giveaway on Valentine’s Day. We are hoping to get a local newspaper/TV station involved, also. Anything we can get for this giveaway would be great. If you are interested, or know anyone else who may be interested in participating, I would really appreciate it! Please email me for more details and information. Amanda@yourblissweddings.com

If you have ideas or offers, please let me know! I would love to open this up to as many companies as I can. Everyone involved will be included in our digital flyer and possibly newspaper/TV ads. I look forward to hearing from you!

It is often said that great memories last a lifetime. If you are lucky enough to have a videographer who takes these memories and turns them into a beautiful and touching love story, it is even better. Epic Motion, owned by Ryan Koral, is by far one of the most creative and intuitive companies in the Metro Detroit area. I stalk their blog religiously for new clips and even though I don’t personally know most of the couples in these videos, I always feel like I have known them my whole life. Ryan and his staff take these personal lives and stories and create the most beautiful romance that everyone can to relate to. On top of all of that, Ryan is just a down-to-Earth, all around cool guy. What could be better?

1. In 25 words or less, what do you do?  Epic Motion is a wedding and event video production company that creates cinema style digital films to capture, celebrate and preserve life’s most amazing moments. 
2. How long have you been doing the video side of weddings?  I was slowly getting my business started by shooting events at my church and the college that I attended, and I had a photographer friend who encouraged me to shoot a wedding with him.  Hesitantly I agreed – and instantly fell in love with the entire experience.  Being with the bride/groom and their families was great. and being newly married myself, I knew the value in what I was doing… but then when they received their finished product – their reaction is what made everything I had done up to that point make even more sense.  They LOVED it.  They made me believe we did a great job.  And I haven’t stopped loving it since.  Oh – to answer the question – 4 years.
3. What else, besides work, do you love to do?  I love being with my family and friends.  I love playing the guitar.  I love making people laugh.  I love helping others.  I love learning.  And I love dreaming.  
4. Where do you find inspiration and motivation? I find inspiration in the quiet-times of life.  I am inspired by the people around me who put the needs of others first…. I find motivation in my beautiful wife Andrea and our studly little dude Evan.  I also get lots of inspiration from videographers and photographers from around the world: blogs are great for that…  
5. What is your favorite part of what you do?  I love making people laugh and I love encouraging them to love.  I think our cinematography does both.
6. What is your least favorite part of what you do? Administration + accounting… neither is a gift or passion of mine.
7. When you were young, what did you want to be when you “grew up”?  A baseball player, rock star, rich, a dad… one out of four isn’t bad. 
8. Three favorite TV shows growing up?  Growing Pains, He-Man, and MacGuyver 
   

   Ryan at 7 years old!

9. How did you get into ideography?  It started when I was 12.  My friend Mat and I used to make these hilariously stupid videos that involved zombies, fake blood (aka ketchup), a dog named Mindy, and HUGE imaginations.  I’ve always loved playing with cameras and playing on computers.  I was destined to do what I do.   
10. Which came first, the chicken or the egg?  Do people still ask that question?  I think Peeps came first. 
11. One thing on your “To Do” list that you are NOT looking forward to?  Cleaning my office.
12. Favorite Holiday song & movie? Bruce Springstein’s version of “Santa Claus is comin’ to town” and favorite movie(s) are Elf, A Christmas Story, and the Star Wars Christmas Special (just kidding).