Business Lessons from sucessful entrepreneurs and business leaders: LunchLearning.com

Reading time: 2 - 3 minutes

Video Time: 56 minutes 45 seconds

Happy New Year!!! It’s 2010 (twenty ten or two thousand ten…we can fight over that later) and we at Lunch Learning want to continue bringing you more videos and business advice to keep you motivated through the new year. We all have our New Year’s resolutions and goals like loose ten pounds, find true love, or make more money and while I can’t guarantee that we can help you with resolutions 1 and 2 we hope we can help with resolution 3 or any other business related goals.

In today’s video Larry North, owner of Larry North Fitness chain, talks about what it take to be a good entrepreneur. North’s video isn’t so much an instructional video about how make it as an entrepreneur, instead it’s his incredible story of how he went from absolutely nothing to owning a very successful fitness franchise. A true American Dream story if I ever heard one. Don’t get me wrong North still applies his life lessons to business, but he does so very subtly.

In the video North focuses on the mental and emotional fortification needed to make things happen. He talks about the importance courage, discipline, and commitment and how these three values combine to make successful entrepreneurs. For all of you out there in big business trying to make a name for yourself, I hope you can take North’s stories and apply them to your own goals. Whether it’s starting your own company, maintaining an already existing company, or climbing the corporate ladder I hope you are all successful in your endeavors. It’s a brand new year people, lets make the best of it.

Thanks for joining LunchLearning.com today! Enjoy your Lunch!

Reading time: 2 - 3 minutes

Video Time: 15 minutes 52 seconds

Has this happened to you? You’re working on a deadline and you call another department in your company to ask a question like, “When will X get finished?” or “What happened with Y?” and all you seem to get is the run around. Frustrating isn’t it? Or maybe you’re on the other side the problem and people keep asking you questions about things you know nothing about. This is common in large companies where each department seems to operate in its own little universe. Erik van der Zijden, creative partner for DigiRedo, knows this problem all to well. That’s why he spoke about the benefits of podcasting as a way to solve the internal communication problem that hinders so many businesses.

In today’s video Erik presents a case study about a pharmaceutical company using podcasts to increase internal communication.

Erik’s study outlines:

• The need for good internal communications
• The reason for using the podcast format
• The results of using podcasts

As you watch the video think about the implications that good internal communications can have on your company, like faster product development or better brand awareness. If you’re currently feeling frustration like the above story, then maybe you should suggest another communications strategy (like a podcast) to the decision makers of your company…they’ll thank you for it if it means a bigger profit margin. Enjoy!

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Reading time: 2 - 4 minutes

Video Time: 59 minutes 10 seconds

Metaphor or Facts? Logic or Emotion? Which is the best way to not only reach an audience but have that audience act?

In this excellent thought-provoking talk by entitled “The Science of Communications” sponsored by the AMS Journal’s AMS workshop, we hear from a variety of scientists and communications experts who tackle the idea of how to best communicate scientific discovery to an apparent apathetic world. The take-aways from these various opinions are bountiful, and if you listen all the way through, you’re mind will no doubt be racing about how effective your own efforts at communication are, whether they be personal or business related.

In the video, you’ll hear from American Meteorological Association’s Dr. Anthony Socci discusses the apparent value of “framing” a conversation or marketing message to yield greater adoption of an idea. . .particularly one that is new, or unpopular.

Socci is followed by professor of political science at The University of Michigan, Dr. Arthur Lupia. Lupia discusses decision-making, and how people make those decisions without good, solid information. In the field of politics, as Lupia this issue is endemic, and he talks about the corollaries to the Green Movement.

Molly Bentley, contributor to BBC Science, tackles the idea of how to simplify the extremely complex knowledge possessed by scientists into information that can be digested and embraced by a lay audience. This somewhat comical discussion of how such scientific discovery is presented to the non-scientific community currently, may serve as a reminder of just how many companies try to explain unsuccessfully their own products and mission to customers. It’s a case for technical writing at its best!

There is a lot here in this talk, feel free to skip around a bit, or listen all the way through. There is a lot to learn, and a lot to take notes about if you are a communicator, or even just someone responsible, or interested in, someone clearly understanding, embracing, and acting upon your message.

Reading time: 2 - 3 minutes

Video Time: 49 minutes 48 seconds

Have you ever watched those old Star Trek episodes, you know, the ones with William Shatner in them? Don’t be embarrassed, you can admit it. For those of you who’ve never watched the show the main character, Captain Kirk, would sometimes send away teams to foreign planets to gather information and create alliances with alien species. Occasionally some of those aliens weren’t so friendly and a skirmish between the away team and the aliens would inevitably ensue. It was clear to the audience that the peaceful mission had turned into a dangerous problem when the dramatic music played and the communications officer said, “We’ve lost all communications with the away team.”

This week we’re focusing on the importance of communication for a businesses to succeed. You don’t have to fly around the galaxy in a starship to know that good communications is crucial if you want to survive in businesses. In today’s video Stefan Posthuma Technical Director of EA Games, talks about his approach to fixing some of the glitches he found in EA’s internal communications.You will see how poor communication can affect a business’s productivity and potentially its profits. Posthuma uses various strategies to fix these communication problems and while some of his ideas fail, he solves most of them with one little word…clarity.

In the video Posthuma discovers that his employees lack knowledge regarding team goals, career advancement, and management’s duties because the company has not clearly defined these areas. By communicating specific and concrete goals to his employees, Posthuma creates a stronger and more productive community of employees. As you watch the video, take note of all Posthuma’s techniques even the ones that didn’t catch on and see how the idea of clarity permeates all of his strategies.

Happy Learning…and Game On!

Reading time: 2 - 4 minutes

Video Time: 34 minutes 55 seconds

In this video Chip Heath the co-author of Made to Stick talks about what makes a sticky idea. Don’t worry, the video isn’t about pouring honey and feathers over people (college pranks can be so wrong sometimes), it’s about making ideas more memorable or stickier in the minds of individuals.

So how do you make an idea sticky? The answer, keep it simple. Chip explains how simple ideas make for the stickiest ideas. Simple doesn’t mean dumbed down, it means straight to the point with the use of concrete language. Keeping it simple is at the heart of a sticky idea and you will notice that throughout the video.

Chip also warns against the curse of knowledge. The curse of knowledge is the idea that experts of a field have a hard time explaining ideas in simple terms to those who know little about the topic. Chips example, asking someone in IT to explain what’s wrong with a broken computer. I know from personal experience that computer questions can often lead to more questions and even a couple of aspirin.

The third major component of making an idea sticky is to make it unexpected. It doesn’t need to be shocking like “100 dead babies” it just needs to capture the attention or imagination of whoever hears it. One of Chip’s example was JFK’s speech about sending a man to the moon. The idea was simple and unexpected and with the aid of concrete language JFK was able to motivate a nation to go boldly where no man has gone before.

So what do sticky ideas mean to us in the business world? From a marketing point of view it can mean creating memorable ads or pitching marketing plans that have employers or investors dreaming about the possibilities of your product. Creating and utilizing sticky ideas can turn a good, but bland powerpoint presentation to a sensationalized marketing event. As you watch the video try and pick up some more of Chip’s ideas on making an idea sticky and use them in your own marketing strategies. Enjoy!

(Note: To watch the entire video click on the Watch Full Program button on the lower right hand side of the video.)

Thanks for joining LunchLearning.com today! Enjoy your Lunch!

Reading time: 2 - 2 minutes

Video Time: 13 minutes 55 seconds

“In this world of digital, in this world of speed, in this world of fast. . .you’ve really gotta’ change it, and you’ve gotta’ make it happen differently. Right?!”

That ‘IT’, that Kodak’s Chief Marketing Officer, Jeffrey Hayzlett (@JeffreyHayzlett on Twitter) is referring to in this quick and snappy video, is the heartbeat of your business. In this video, presented at the Twitter-inspired “140″ conference in Las Vegas, Jeff shares with his audience some anecdotes about how he came to be one of the most active C-Level Twitterers and how Kodak leveraged its mass of social media “followers” to help re-brand what is being talked about as one of it’s most innovative recent products.

There are two simple lessons for marketers of all stripes. . .and business owners of all sizes. . .in Jeffrey’s presentation:

1. Remember, we do not have all the answers, and 2.) We’ve got to always keep our eye on what’s next.

Marketing complacency can not only be damaging to a product-line, but to the bottom-line as well.

Reading time: 2 - 4 minutes

Video Time: 25 minutes 41 seconds

Welcome to a new week everyone. This time around the theme is marketing. It’s a pretty big theme with an even bigger impact on business. Think about it, how can you sell a product if no one knows it exists. Whether you’re trying to market yourself, a business, or a product a good marketing strategy is key. Hopefully this week you will gain new insights into the world of marketing.

We start things off with Russell Carroll creator of Game Tunnel an independent games website. In this video he explains what actions indie game developers need to do if they want their games to standout in the sea of other games. For the 99% of you who aren’t indie game developers every time you hear Russell says indie games replace it with small businesses. Russell outlines a few important steps for indie game developers (small business owners) to follow if they want to effectively advertise themselves.

His three main points are:
1. Consider the market
2. Create a press plan
3. Use the right medium (viral marketing)

Of those three points the most important one seems to focus on creating a good press plan. Russell details how important a press plan can be for generating interest especially in the early stages of product development. Russell also stresses the importance of establishing and maintaining a good working relationship with your business associates. When you perform a business deal you’re not only trying to sell a product, but you’re also selling yourself. If the buyer feels comfortable around you or even trusts you then you have a much better chance of selling. Also, you never know which of your business relationships will help you further down your career so it is important not to burn any bridges along the way. I hope that this video gets you geared up for more of the marketing tips and tricks that we have in store for you. Enjoy!

Happy Learning…and Game On!

Thanks for joining LunchLearning.com today! Enjoy your Lunch!

Reading time: 4 - 6 minutes

Video Time: 40 minutes 3 seconds

Why did the chicken cross the road?….Wait you’ve already heard that one. OK I’ll admit that I’m not that good at telling jokes, but I had to at least try and be funny since this week’s theme is humor in business. Today I’m going to show you a presentation from Ben “Yahtzee” Croshaw on what makes a good game. It’s a little off topic, but see if you can follow my rationale.

Yahtzee is a popular video game critic who has been shot to fame in the video game world with his Zero Punctuation series. Wondering how an upstart become so popular so quickly? It’s because he’s hilarious of course. When Yahtzee critiques a game he makes sure to incorporate his unique brand of humor to emphasize his main points and to keep the audience’s attention.

So what can Yahtzee, a video game critic, teach us about the business world. Well a lot actually. It’s very subtle, but Yahtzee is using humor to sell people on several ideas on what makes a good video game. Even when he is in a crowded room giving a presentation, Yatzhee’s humor creates a casual environment that allows him to speak freely without coming across as a raving lunatic. Another good point about humor is that it’s often memorable. Even if you can’t remember exactly how a joke goes, you can remember how it made you feel when you heard it. By pairing your main points with a joke the aforementioned points intrinsically becomes more memorable.

Using humor in business is important if you want to make positive and memorable impressions on clients. This is especially true in sales. Using humor in a sales environment can get people to return phone calls and close deals. Think about it, if two people were selling the exact same product to you, who would you choose? The person who made you laugh so hard you cried a little bit or the person who did everything by the books, but had you look down at your watch waiting for the pitch to be over. I’ll take two of whatever the funny one is selling, thank you very much. When you watch this video pay attention to how Yahtzee pairs his sarcastic comments with his main points to sell the audience on his opinions.

Note: The first two videos are really the important ones you want to watch. The last two are a Q&A session. If you liked what you saw in the first two videos stick around and see how Yahtzee answers questions on the fly.

Happy Learning….and Game On!

Thanks for joining LunchLearning.com today! Enjoy your Lunch!

Reading time: 3 - 5 minutes

Video Time: 24 minutes 55 seconds

Alright, so a lot of us are back from vacation and I bet you’re itching for some more lunch learning. This time the theme is boldness in the business world. All this week we are going to showcase individuals who have done something different, risky, or innovative that has had an impact on their business. Being the video game junkie that I am I couldn’t resist shining the spotlight on Shigeru Miyamoto. Miyamoto is the General Manager for Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development, but you might know him better as the creator of Nintendo’s Italian mascot Super Mario.

Today’s video is a question and answer session between Miyamoto and his fans about his work at Nintendo. Miyamoto talks about his innovative creations the Nintendo Wii (mentioned as the Nintendo Revolution in the video) and the Nintendo DS, two systems that drop the conventional standards of gaming. The Wii has you trading in your regular corded controller for a motion sensing nun-chuck apparatus while the DS gives you the ability the play games via touch screen. Both gaming systems have experienced wild success during these tough economic times even though people are cutting back instead of spending. So what made Miyamoto risk it all on two very experimental gaming systems? His personal desire to see video games mimic real life. In the video you will see that Miyamoto wasn’t content with just sitting around playing games he wanted to be active. His strong desire to integrate motion into gameplay was risky, but looking back it’s clear to see that it was the right decision.

This should be a lesson to all of us who are out there trying to make it as an entrepreneur. If you’re not following your own personal convictions or don’t have enough faith in your product to try something completely out of the box then you might not succeed. Now I’m not saying that if you believe in your product enough you’re going to be successful, I’m just saying that it’s one of the first steps for it to be profitable. When you watch the video you can see that Miyamoto is deeply passionate about what he does and as entrepreneurs we should be too.

Just for fun, let’s put a little perspective on this. According to Wikipedia the Xbox 360, a competing gaming system, has sold 31 million units worldwide as of August 27, 2009; while the Nintendo Wii has sold 56.14 million units worldwide as of September 30, 2009. That means Nintendo has sold roughly 20 million more units than its leading competitor…not bad for Miyamoto’s radically new gaming system. As you watch this video, I hope you can find more insight on what it takes to be a bold entrepreneur.

Happy learning….and Game On!!!

Thanks for joining LunchLearning.com today! Enjoy your Lunch!

Reading time: 3 - 4 minutes

Video Time: 24 minutes 15 seconds

It must be hard being a woman in the video game industry. Think about it, I mean really think about it. The video game industry has been a boys club for years. The developers are boys, the publishers are boys, and the general audience…..you guessed it, BOYS! It must be difficult or perhaps awkward for women to break into a male dominated industry. Well, Torrie Dorrell (@TorrieD on Twitter) Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing at Sony Online Entertainment is making sure that this trend doesn’t continue.

In today’s video, Torrie talks about the role diversity plays in the workforce. It’s necessary to understand that when an issue is identified, like a lack of females, it is important to proactively try and fix the problem. Torrie does this by creating G.I.R.L. a program designed to help women to get a foot into the “male only” video game industry.

There are two major points about women in the industry that Torrie addresses. The first is that women bring a new perspective to the table. In the video, Torrie brings up a story about how an idea was pitched and all the men in the room thought it was absurd while all the women thought it was a great idea. Through the collaboration of everyone in the room they were able to make a fairly successful online game. In any business it’s important to diversify the decision makers because a product that might seem useless to one person could be a huge benefit to someone else.

The second point is make the product for everyone. Lets think again for one second. If video games cater to only one demographic (males) that’s fine I guess, but if game developers create games (product) for a larger audience they have greatly increased the potential for new customers. Businesses must think this way too. Even if the product is “just for men” the people in charge should consider how they can broaden their audience. This could be anything from making the product relevant to men of all backgrounds and ages or sell it to women as a way to understand the male mind. There are other aspects of women in an industry that Torrie talks about so I hope you can glean more practical business tips from this video.

Happy learning…and Game On!

Thanks for joining LunchLearning.com today! Enjoy your Lunch!