Hey, business owners, have you ever thought about what the “American Dream” is? Have you ever thought about what it means to you?

Over the weekend, I was honored that my son selected me to interview for an English essay about the American Dream. I am certain that it had absolutely nothing to do with proximity, nor did it matter that I respond very nearly to his beck and call (I know that it comes as a shock to many who know me that I can be a beck and call girl, but I digress).

The interview humbled me, and I found it to be a very thought-provoking exercise. The questions he posed to me:

1. In your own words, what is the American Dream? What does it mean to you?
2. Do you see the American Dream in your own life? Has it motivated you, influenced your decisions?
3. Over the course of your life, have your own dreams changed? In what ways?
4. How would you define a “successful” life? What’s most important?
5. Which generation – yours or your parents’ – has had a better life?

My answers were as follows:

1. The American Dream is the right to freedom, choice, justice and prosperity. For me, the American Dream means living in a place where we are free and are treated fairly. It also means the right to have multiple, differing opinions; and those opinions are respected and acknowledged, and actually make us better and stronger as a nation. Having the opportunity to prosper and start my own business are also part of what the American Dream means to me.
2. I see the American Dream in my life every single day. I am married to the man I chose to be married to and have two healthy, happy, wonderful children who attend schools we selected for them. We practice the faith of our choice. I started and have owned Front Porch Marketing, my business, for almost seven years, which not only helps my family financially prosper, but also helps those that work with me contribute financially to their households. I am also extremely lucky to partner with clients that work for start-ups, small to mid-size businesses, organizations and franchisees who themselves are living the American Dream. Daily, I am inspired by my family, team and clients. Because I am mindful of the fact that in other countries, many people, especially women, are not allowed the opportunities I am, I honestly count my blessings every day.
3. Some of my dreams have not changed, like having a family, giving back to our communities, and being successful professionally. Over the course of my life, others dreams have changed. I dreamed of owning the first company in which I worked. That didn’t happen, because I was hired away from that marketing company by a client that I managed. My dream then became to climb the corporate ladder and become the Vice President of Marketing for that company. Ticked that box. Then, I pivoted and started Front Porch Marketing. And it has been the absolute best part of my professional journey to date.
4. A successful life to me is being happy, healthy, kind, empathetic, resilent and respectful; having a strong sense of self; raising responsible, happy, kind, humble, respectful, empathetic, resilent children; giving back to others in need, and providing for the needs of my family.
5. I really don’t think it is up to me to judge if my generation or my parents’ generation had a better life, because it’s like comparing apples to oranges. And, because our world since 9/11 changes at light speed, in addition to constant emerging technologies today, our generation is more complicated; but I think one could make an argument for either

So why did I ask business owners to answer these five questions?

A perspective check-in is always a good thing, and I hope this exercise inspires you as much as it inspired me. Be well, friends; and keep livin’ the dream.

P.S. We can help you keep livin’ the dream by growing your topline through strategic branding and marketing, so call, email or text us today!

It’s almost the 4th Quarter, and here on the Porch, it’s all about cooler weather, football, holidays and … 2018 plans. The time is NOW to schedule your 2018 winning game plan. We can help you Play. To. Win.

Here are 6 Things to Think About as we head into Q4:

1. Volunteering.

   Folks, the need for volunteers is going into overtime to help hurricane victims. Our fellow Texans will persevere, but still need our help in Q4 and beyond. Over the last five weeks, the Front Porch Marketing team has donated some serious rocker time to help our clients whose teams were affected and to raise awareness for their fundraising and donation efforts. If you are looking to support hurricane victims in Texas and elsewhere, check out TrustedWorld.org. This fantastic organization based in North Texas helps us all keep on helping.

2. Supporting Women.

   Does your playbook include doing business with and promoting women-owned businesses? Look for WBE certified businesses by visiting Women’s Business Council-Southwest. Consider joining this great organization, and if eligible, get certified. Front Porch is proudly certified WBE, HUB, SBE and WOSB and recently attended the WBCS Business Works Expo in Arlington, Texas. We will gladly answer your questions!

3. Working Social Media.

   Are your fans crazy about your brand? Are they visiting your sites, watching you play and win the social media game, reading your blogs and newsletters and wanting more? It just takes one good quarter to make some great plays. Start now.

4. Celebrations.

   4th Q wouldn’t be 4th Q without events that celebrate family, friends and don’t forget – your team. We love it when our clients such as Mister Sweeper celebrate the team and let us help them plan it. Hint: Cinemark. Star Wars. Private Screenings. Make sure you have plans in place now to thank your team for 2017.

5. New Clients.

   Now that the Back to School huddle is over and everyone is settled into the new routine, we want to take a moment to shout out to two new clients who spend every day helping teachers do a great job of educating the children in our communities. Faith Family Academy and Catch Up & Read are North Texas organizations that demonstrate it’s all about having a passion for what you do.

6. and lastly …

   Friends, if you have to pick one of six things to do in the 4th quarter, pick this – Find. Your. Purpose. Like this one.

Our purpose at Front Porch is to rock your world and help you play to win. See you on the field.

It’s Monday, you’ve likely got the kids back to school and if you’re like us on the Front Porch, you are fired up! By the time mid-August rolls around we begin dreaming of routine, organization and a more productive schedule for everyone in the family. It takes a bit of focus, energy, a Lil’ shopping, and just like that, the kiddos are back in school. Should we do the same for our business and get fired up about bringing back a sales culture? Yes, it’s time to go back to Sales School!

Back to Sales School

Need a jump-start? Make a decision right now to have a renewed focus on attitudes and behaviors that will help your business get back to a successful sales culture. These three things will help you get on the right track.

Sales School Lesson #1. Be curious about others

Those who are deeply curious about the people, businesses and the world around them tend to be more successful. As Albert Einstein said, “I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.” For salespeople, an ability to think of oneself as an extension of their customers’ businesses, an intense desire to solve problems by fully understanding their needs, and the skill to ask more questions before jumping to solutions are important skills that are rooted in curiosity. Want to know more? Check out the ever curious Seth Godin and start learning from his brief but interesting blogs, including several on the topic of curiosity.

Sales School Lesson #2. Commit to your industry

Businesses that want a successful sales culture need to commit to their industry. Joining associations, chambers of commerce, and other networking groups requires going above and beyond, and that commitment demonstrates to everyone on the team that the leadership team wants to continue to learn, network, and give back. Get back to having a passion for your industry.

Sales School Lesson #3. Engage your entire team

We tend to focus on the individual salespeople that close the deals, win the awards and earn the big bonuses as the heart of sales success, and they certainly are a critical piece to the puzzle. But the entire business needs to be part of the sales culture. This requires engaging everyone on the team in promoting the brand, understanding the goals, and being part of the rewards of sales success. Need ideas or assistance? Call Us! We can help you engage.

Curiosity about others. Commitment to others. Engagement with others. All three remove the self from the equation and put the focus and energy on everyone else – customers, industry, and team. Now that the kids are back in school, it’s time to be insatiably curious, commit, and engage at a higher level to get your business back to a rockin’ sales culture again.

Here’s a final lesson for the day. What we want from our children, we must demand of ourselves. Make it a great week, friends!

Well folks, it’s August! The final month of summer … how you doing? Are you surviving? Are you ready for fall? Summer is my second favorite season and fall is my first! I can’t wait for football, school, my kids sports, and routine; but also immensely enjoy summer adventures, long days, beautiful sunsets and all the water things.

August is The Time for Some Serious Marketing Talk!

Did you see or participate in any ‘Christmas in July’ sales last month?  American advertisers began using Christmas in July themes in print for summertime sales as early as 1950. It is typically used as a marketing tool and is not an actual holiday. If you are interested in a little marketing history you can learn more here. We think this tactic is fine, but we find it to be a bit of a snoozer.

Here’s our take on the term Christmas in July … we recommend planning for Christmas in July. Did you plan? No?!?! Well Christmas in August works too! With Q4 right around the corner it is time to get your marketing strategy and plan set. Especially if you are in retail!

Did you start the year with an annual marketing plan? GOOD FOR YOU. Now is the time to dust it off and do an assessment. We like the start, stop, continue approach. Are your tactics accomplishing your goals? CONTINUE. Is the tactic not producing results? STOP. Need to start something new to achieve your goals? START. We are firm believers that all marketing plans are working documents. Make sure you are working your plan and your plan is working.

Don’t Have a Plan?

Now is the time! Seriously. Q4 is the busiest quarter of the year and you don’t want your messages and initiatives to be reactive. You want a proactive plan to make the most of year end. Don’t know where to start? We are rockin’ plans and plan reviews for the likes of Mister Sweeper, Faith Family Academy, The GEM, Ellen Hoffman Designs and more. We would love to ROCK around your Christmas tree (and by that we mean your marketing plan).

You have a few weeks to get the last of your summer lovin’ in and be ready for Holiday 2017. Let’s go!

If you’re anything like me, right about now the reality is hitting you – Summer. Is. Here.

Truth be told, I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with summer. In theory, it’s fantastic – fewer commitments, less stress, and opportunities to travel and enjoy my children. In reality, however, its not all fabulous trips and lazy summer days. It can be discombobulating – I don’t know what day it is. My children get on each other’s nerves, and mine. And getting work done is hard (case in point, I’m writing this blog and it’s almost midnight!).

When I start to feel summer stress, I do well to remember to do these few things:

1. Adjust Your Expectations. Expect that things are going to move slower and take longer. Kids are underfoot! Efficiencies that exist when your children are in school may go out the window in the summertime. Allow for this to keep frustration to a minimum.
2. Keep A Schedule. As tempting as it is to just go with the flow every day because you can, everyone will do better if you keep to a schedule, even a loose one. A little bit of structure goes a long way.
3. But Don’t Be Afraid to Throw the Schedule Out the Window. Some of the best memories are made when you deviate from the norm – stay up super late binge watching Netflix with your teenagers, take an impromptu weekend trip out of town, have ice cream for breakfast. Yes. You can. It’s summer.
4. Use Your Village. Friends, family members, babysitters, drivers. Use them! Lean on them and help each other out. You will need it.
5. Let Go of the Guilt. You may have to work more than you would like. There may be weeks where you have to put your kids in a camp just because you need a break. It’s ok. Your kids will survive. And oh by the way, they may need a break from you, too.

Enjoy your summer, friends!

Bidding farewell to my days as an intern Front Porch Marketing has led me to take a stroll down memory lane.

I remember the day my sister-in-law called me about an incredible internship opportunity with the company that she just began working for, Front Porch Marketing. She knew that with my marketing and entrepreneurial management background, that this company would be a great fit for me. Not everyone is given the chance to work for such a wonderful company that truly supports you and wants to watch you grow and learn, and I am grateful.

I began my adventure with Front Porch back in October of 2016, and as I reminisce about my time here, there is nothing but a smile upon my face. Throughout my experience, I have three major takeaways that I would like to share:

• Culture. Front Porch has such a unique culture that highlights the entrepreneurial spirit in every rocker. It is completely open and collaborative, and everyone is encouraged to share their ideas. Whether it was the meetings, get-togethers to celebrate important life events, or just the occasional phone call to check in and see how you are doing, Front Porch’s culture truly exemplifies a family.
• Opportunities. The Porch gave me the opportunity to form and maintain relationships with clients, learn about different marketing measurements and tactics, and to perform my daily duties with autonomy. I was invited to listen to speakers, go to networking events, and even create videos for the company. The rockers were always flexible with my school schedule and wanted me to embrace any opportunity that I could.
• People. Some say, wherever you work, it is all about the people; this is completely, positively, absolutely TRUE! It is not just about the people you work with on a daily basis, it’s also the clients you are given the chance to work with, and your family and friends that cheer for you. I have had a lot of special people walk into my life throughout my time at Front Porch which has, in turn, made me the hard worker that I am today.

After my experience at Front Porch, it made me open my eyes to what I wanted in a company that I would potentially work for. Front Porch has taught me so much and I cannot thank all of the wonderful rockers that helped me along the way. For now, it is a farewell, but I will always come back to rock on the porch with ya’ll.

I recently read a book entitled “Make Waves” that enlightened me to the perspective that an individual has the power to be a wave maker and spark change in the corporate world and their every day life.

Author Patti Johnson explains that people can make small “waves,” or changes, in their daily life that slowly disrupt the status quo. She breaks the book up into four easy to read sections that teach you how to think and act like a Wave Maker, and then introduces you to inspirational Wave Makers (including our very own Chief Rocker, Julie Porter).

I highlighted some of the key lessons I learned below, and I promise that by the end of the book you will be ready to get up and go chase your dreams.

• Finding your wave and accomplishing your goals always begins with asking questions of yourself. When you come home at the end of the day, how do you finish the statement, “If only I could…”? The answer is your wave. Any passion or inspiration, no matter how small, can start a wave of change that can impact more people than you ever imagined.
• According to Patti, every successful wave has these three qualities: impact, purpose, and credibility. Since a wave’s “goal is to make your organization, community, or market better with tangible results,” it makes sense that a Wave Maker must be knowledgeable about the subject and passionate about the results. So ask yourself, will my wave create “undeniable impact? Does it have a bigger purpose that engages others? And lastly, is my wave built upon knowledge and credibility?”
• After you have identified your wave, you must apply the most important chapter in the book, which addresses how to think like a Wave Maker. Just as every wave has certain qualities necessary to succeed, Patti notes that every successful Wave Maker she interviewed had very similar traits and thought processes. Going back to how important it is to always ask questions and be curious, Patti notes that Wave Makers typically “see the unseen, think progress not perfection, and most importantly ask ‘what can I do’ before they take action.”
• It’s important to note that being a creative and innovative thinker doesn’t necessarily come naturally. The most important thing is to foster your curiosity, because constantly asking , “why is it done that way?” or “what if…?” can lead you to a solution to a problem that you didn’t even realize existed before.

If learning how to become a disrupter and Wave Maker lights a fire inside you, then I highly suggest reading “Make Waves” in its entirety. I truly think this book is relevant and helpful for everyone; but I think it is particularly good reading for recent college graduates entering the corporate world, or those who may feel stuck or in a rut at their current job.

Always remember, “those crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”

Folks, it’s 2nd quarter. If you haven’t finalized the strategy, written the plan or started the project, it’s time. No need to agonize or over-think it, just get started and take a small step forward.

• Do you still need to define or revise that strategy?
• Are you not executing on a plan, or haven’t written one for the year?
• Is the project behind schedule, or not started yet?

The reality is we are all behind on something and you’re not alone here, but maybe it’s time to leave team belated and start something right now that needs to get done and can help you produce great results. This year is still young – bring on your second quarter by ringing that opening bell, firing the starting pistol, waving the green flag and get yourself going on something that can no longer wait.

“But …”

If this is what you are thinking right now, you are going to need assistance to get started! Start small with a phone call or e-mail to that person or company that will follow-up with you and make absolutely sure you are doing what needs to be done and begin executing. Find a partner internally or externally who helps you define, decide, plan, execute and grow.

“I need to …”

You already know what you need to start that has been on the back burner but you just haven’t done it? Write it down immediately, in a place where you can look back on it and add future notes. Ask that partner to capture it for you. The best execution starts with clarifying the need(s), then defining the strategy and executing a plan based on the need(s). Write it all down.

You don’t need a lot of time, this isn’t like writing a blog or book. Remember, you are starting small. Make a list of needs. It’s a simple process. Determine a few important ones followed with a one-page plan of attack is enough to get going and help you define a process to move forward, quarter by quarter. Write it down. Find a partner. Set the plan. Start executing. Plan to Win.

Q2 has started friends. It’s time to tackle that need that is just waiting for the right plan. If you need a little help, you can find us on the Porch.

The term “Pick Six” has long been associated with big success:

• In horse racing, Pick Six is a wager in which a bettor picks one horse in each of six races, leading to a big payout.
• In football, Pick Six refers to an interception (pick) being returned for a touchdown.
• In lottery terms, Pick Six refers to the big payout that occurs when six regular numbers are picked.
• In wrestling, Pick Six is a ranking system used by the Ring of Honor to determine championship contenders.

Big. Successes.

And so, in honor of our sixth year in business, we on the Porch formulated our own Pick Six … for business success, big success!

1. We’re picking Brand Architecture. It’s so important. When was the last time you really evaluated your brand? Is it due to be re-visited? We can help you look at it in a fresh way to ensure you are capitalizing on what makes you unique.
2. Number two on our list of picks: What have we been up to on the Porch? We had an extremely rewarding experience (and an absolute blast) at the PowerGen Trade Show in Orlando with our rocking client, TodoModo. Check out our blog about the experience!
3. Number three involves talking, and lots of it. What have we been talkin’ about? Maximizing your marketing! We spoke about that very thing at the Arlington Board of Realtors‘ Meeting January 27th.
4. What we are off our rocker about? The Super Bowl! The Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots will face off in this colossal battle February 5th and we know what we will be serving at our soiree: The Barefoot Contessa’s Parmesan and Chipotle Popcorn, a chili bar (seriously genius idea – thank you Food & Wine Magazine) and Iron Skillet Peach Crisp. A Texas menu if we’ve ever heard one.
5. Highlights from the Porch Team bring us to our number five pick. Our rocking’ interns, Grace and Rachel, have been an impressive breath of fresh air around here – and we are enjoying watching them weigh their next steps, as their graduation dates are rapidly approaching!
6. And our final pick: The power of the referral in gaining new clients. We are continually amazed and humbled that our Porch family continues to grow through marketing and referrals. Thank you for all you do to keep our Porch rocking!

Please keep those many referrals coming. We are so grateful. Join us on the Porch via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. Subscribe to our blog here.

Thanks, friends, for riding the sixes with us. Here’s to another wildly successful year!

Do motivational quotes really work?

I, for one, am a firm believer in the power of motivational quotes. While studies about their effectiveness are divided, I can personally attest to the fact that reading my favorite quotes in the morning has truly helped me have a more positive outlook each day. I used to think quotes were “cheesy” and ineffective, but throughout the past year, I have strategically posted motivational words and phrases in my living space to start my day on a positive note; and it’s worked.

My two personal favorite quotes are: “Always believe that something wonderful is about to happen” and “Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day”. Reading these words every morning reminds me to count my blessings and to look on the positive side every time something “negative” happens. Although I am already a positive person, I believe these practices have made me a better student, friend, and overall person.

So what do you have to lose? Give it a try! Here is my advice about how to utilize positive quotes in your daily life:

1. Spend some time researching. Find words and sayings that really resonate with you. Write them down on sticky notes, or print them out and hang them somewhere prominent.
2. Read them to yourself in the morning and remind yourself of the importance and relevance of each quote.
3. Once you find your favorites, share them with friends or family!

Hopefully, soon you will find yourself living the mantra. Words are powerful!

P.S. If you’ve ever wondered why we on the Porch prominently display our favorite inspirational quotes on our Facebook feed or Instagram every morning, now you know!