4 Tips To Create A Successful 2024

In January, Kirby was asked to speak at PPAI Live about 4 Tips To Creating a Successful 2024.  In this DMJ 1 on 1, we go LIVE to the PPAI Expo from the show floor.  Watch now!

As we approach the new year, it’s time to start thinking about how we can make 2024 the most successful year yet. In this blog, we’ll be discussing four key tips that can help you achieve just that. These tips are not just about setting goals, but also about maintaining a positive mindset, continuously learning and growing, and prioritizing deep work. So, let’s dive right in and start planning for a successful 2024.

Be Intentional and Set Goals

The first tip for creating a successful 2024 is to be intentional and set goals. Setting goals is a crucial step toward success. It gives you a clear direction and helps you stay focused on your path. But remember, these goals should be deeply personal. They should resonate with your values and aspirations.

Consider setting goals in five key areas of your life: Finance, Fitness, Family, Faith, and Fun. By setting goals in these areas, you ensure a balanced approach to your life. You might also want to consider setting shorter time frame goals, such as 12-week year goals. This can help you stay motivated and see progress more quickly.

Be Positive and Practice Gratitude

The second tip for a successful 2024 is to maintain a positive attitude and practice gratitude. Positivity can significantly improve your performance, especially in stressful situations. It helps you stay calm, focused, and resilient. But how can you boost your positivity? One effective way is through gratitude exercises.

Gratitude exercises can help shift your mindset to a more positive state. They can help you focus on the good in your life, leading to more things to be grateful for. So, start your day by listing three things you’re grateful for, and see the difference it makes in your life.

Continuously Learn, Grow, and Change

The third tip for a successful 2024 is to continuously learn, grow, and change. Personal growth is a lifelong journey, and investing in your personal development can lead to significant improvements in your life. One way to do this is by reading books and investing in education.

Look for opportunities to learn and grow, such as online courses and certifications. Avoid living the same experiences over and over again. Instead, seek new experiences, learn new skills, and embrace change. This will not only make your life more interesting but also help you grow as a person.

Prioritize Deep Work and Avoid Multitasking

The fourth and final tip for a successful 2024 is to prioritize deep work and avoid multitasking. Despite popular belief, multitasking is a myth. It can hinder deep work and lead to decreased productivity and focus. Instead, focus on one task at a time for better results.

Batching activities can also improve your productivity and effectiveness. This involves grouping similar tasks together and doing them in one go. This can help you stay focused and reduce the time wasted on switching between tasks.

Conclusion

In conclusion, creating a successful 2024 involves being intentional and setting goals, maintaining a positive mindset and practicing gratitude, continuously learning and growing, and prioritizing deep work. By following these four tips, you can make 2024 your most successful year yet. So, start planning now and make the most of the coming year.

We hope you are getting lots of value out of these DMJ 1 on 1’s!  You can find all of the content we create on our blog page here.  And if you want to create a marketing campaign that truly Hits The TARGET, check our FREE TARGET Marketing Playbook here.

5 Must-Haves For a Successful Health And Wellness Program

At Hasseman Marketing, we work with organizations from all over the map.  We have clients in manufacturing, financial services, education, healthcare, retail…and more.  But what do all of them have in common?  They all need an incredible workforce to deliver their products and services.  Without exception, each of these companies needs a great team in order to do their best work.

So how do you attract and retain the best talent for your team, if everyone is trying to do the same thing?  It’s the million-dollar question (or for some organizations, the billion-dollar question).  And while there are MANY different strategies and tactics to make sure your people want to stick around, one is universal.

Care more.

Employees tend to stay where they are fairly compensated…and they feel appreciated.  That appreciation can be shown in many ways.  But one way that we have seen organizations showcase their “give a damn” is through Health and Wellness programs.  The best Health and Wellness programs not only help employees be healthier but also show that the employer wants them to.  As Maya Angelou said, “People will not care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Why Do You Need A Health and Wellness Program?

While this all may feel warm and fuzzy, a great health and wellness program affects the bottom line too.  Many organizations negotiate their healthcare costs based on the health of their employees.  In other words, if you are team is healthier, it will save your company money on healthcare costs.  But it goes further than that.  In a study done on the ROI of employee wellness programs, Harvard researchers conclude that, on average, for every dollar spent on employee wellness, medical costs fall $3.27 and absenteeism drops $2.73. This is a 6-to-1 return on investment.

According to the Rand Wellness Programs Study, the disease management component of the studied wellness program was responsible for 86 percent of the hard health care cost savings, generating $136 in savings per member, per month, and a 30 percent reduction in hospital admissions.

So while you may explore a health and wellness plan because you want your employees to thrive, it can certainly help your bottom line as well.

5 Must-Haves For a Successful Health And Wellness Program

However, there is a challenge with organizations that want to implement a health and wellness program that will move the needle.  Where do you start?  What do you need to do to make it happen?  As with most things, if you just throw it together, it will feel that way.  And you won’t get the results or impact you or your organization wants.  So here are the 5 things we think your health and wellness program needs to be successful.

Enrollment Plan

For people to make real change they have to be enrolled in the journey.  Enrollment is not forced.  It’s voluntary.  There is a difference between education and learning.  Education is forced.  Learning is voluntary.  We learn faster and grow faster if we WANT to do it.  We need to be enrolled in the journey.  The goal is not just to get people signed up.  You want to get them enrolled!  We recommend the 3 E’s to get the program started.  Excite, Engage, and Enroll.

Excitement is what you create when you promote the program.  This is when you tell the team about the program.  You explain the potential results.  This is when you talk about the impact on the team and on them personally.

Engage is when you get them to sign up.  You give them their first cool branded merch to help them identify as a part of the tribe.

Enrollment is the process of getting their buy-in.  They may have signed up, but you need to continue to motivate and inspire them to get started on the right foot!

Design Plan

While you can certainly use your company logo on the merch, we think it works best if you create something special.  Make no mistake, your health and wellness design should match your branding guidelines to maintain continuity.  But we think having a special design will help to announce to the team who is taking part in the journey.  This allows to members of the team to build camaraderie on the journey and to lift each other up.  By making a special design for the program, you can make your team members feel special in the process.

Merch Plan

We say all of the time “Friends don’t let friends do bad merch!”  And while you might expect to hear that from a company that sells branded merch, we believe it because it’s about affecting human behavior.  If you and your organization do trashy branded merch in your health and wellness program it will not encourage people to sign up.  And if you don’t get enrollment, you will not affect any change.  This does NOT mean you need to break the bank.  But you do need to focus on items that will fit the goals and encourage people to jump in.  It takes a commitment and a plan.

Communication Plan

If you have ever started a new fitness program, you know that maintaining consistency and motivation is a huge factor in success.  We believe that creating a communication (or inspiration) plan that reaches out to participants consistently can help to increase their chances of success.  While you may be completely self-motivated, most of us are not.  A coach or a voice of encouragement can really help to push people to do their best.

Exercise Plan

A great Health and Wellness plan is not only about exercise anymore.  The best plans help your team to focus on mental wellness as well.  This might come in the communication/inspiration plan above.  But it should include a fitness plan as well.  As studies will tell you, your overall fitness will help shape your mental wellness too.  So make sure to consider ways to get your team active in a real and positive way!

As you can see, a productive health and wellness program can really have a positive impact on your organization.  On the other hand, you can probably see how much there is to run one well.  Want help? At Hasseman Marketing, we have a program called Total Wellness.  If you want to schedule a call to see how we might help you, click here and we can set it up.  

 

37 Game-Changing Books for Business

I love blogs, podcasts, and videos.  Each of these has the chance to inspire me and lift me up.  I have created time in my morning routine to put some good into my brain each day…and these are often my tools of choice.  But if I really want to take a deep dive into a topic, I still am inspired by books.  Whether I read a physical book or simply take a walk with the author (in audio form), books help me grow (and level up).

Over the course of the last 10 years, I have had the chance to read hundreds of books.  Some have been forgettable.  Others have been what I needed to hear at the moment.  But here is a list of 37 Game-Changing Books for Business that have impacted me.  I wanted to share them with you.

I originally wrote this list in 2021.  So I updated this list again to add a few new favorites!

The E-Myth Revisited

This is one of the best business books ever.  I have bought countless copies and have recommended it more times than I can remember.  I have probably read it 10 different times and have found myself in a different place on the journey each time.  If you are in business or want to start a business, this is awesome.

Profit First

When I first listened to Profit-First, I thought author Mike Michaelowicx was following me around.  It spoke to the challenges I was having in my business’s cash flow right then.  We tentatively adopted the philosophy and have not looked back.  It’s been a game-changer for us.  Mike’s goal is to “eliminate entrepreneurial poverty,” and for many in business, that is a real thing.  Love this book.

Start with Why

You know a book is powerful when it becomes something that everyone else repeats.  It seems every business leader discusses the need to find your WHY now.  Sinek created the conversation and it is an important one in today’s business world.

Leaders Eat Last

I think each one of Sinek’s books has gotten stronger. And while I really enjoyed “Start with Why,” I thought “Leaders Eat Last” was even better.  Sinek goes into what makes a great leader and even the biological reasons for it.  Powerful information…and super interesting too!

Infinite Game

As you might expect, this is my favorite of Simon Sinek’s books.  He explains the difference between a finite game and an infinite game and why it matters so much to know what kind of game you are playing.  For me, it crystallized the idea of playing a “long game” in business.  It’s what I have long believed and discussed, but Sinek does it in a much more articulate way than me!

The Thank You Economy

I love Gary Vaynerchuk.  I am a fan.  But while I love his content, his energy, his speaking, and his philosophy, I don’t always LOVE his books.  But The Thank You Economy was different.  Gary talks about using social media to create appreciation, value, and connection at scale.  Loved this one.

Pumpkin Plan

This is the second Mike Michaelowicz book on the list.  I am a fan of Mike’s work and this is a powerful one about differentiation.  He says “The Riches are in the Niches” and explains how to find your niche and grow into it.  He even spends a bit of time explaining how to “fire a client” which just seems so hard for some entrepreneurs.  The Pumpkin Plan is worth harvesting.

Purple Cow

I am an unapologetic fan of Seth Godin.  He is a thought leader in business and marketing.  And he has the ability to say things in a way that is simple, yet powerful.  “If you want to be remarkable, you have to do something worth remarketing about.”  Read this one if you want to stand out in a crowded marketplace.

The Dip

While this is probably not Godin’s most famous book, it is the one I find myself quoting the most often.  It’s short and powerful.  When you start something new, you will be learning fast and your improvements will be fast.  Then, that will excitement and progress will slow down.  It will not be as exciting.  This is the Dip…and it’s when most people quit.  Get through the Dip…and you become the expert.

The Practice

His most recent book (as I type this), The Practice is a powerful reminder about how we get better at anything.  If you want to build a career, a business, your fitness, content, or a life…creating a Practice will help you do it.

Ultimate Selling Machine

If you are an entrepreneur or are in sales (and we are all in sales), this book is powerful.  There are strategies for everything from creating a sales process to building real relationships.  Love this one.

High Trust Selling

I read this one a long time ago, and it was one of the first books that changed my business.  Duncan’s observation is that 80% of our results in sales come from 20% of activities.  But as salespeople, we tend to focus on the wrong part of the business.  We need to hire out the 80% that does not make us money.

The 5-Second Rule

File this under “simple but powerful.”  Mel Robbins gives you a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 solution for procrastination.  Along the way, she gives powerful insights into performance and life.  Oh…and this is a great audiobook if you enjoy those.

Finish

Jon Acuff is a great writer and speaker.  His sense of humor helps me get lessons I might otherwise miss.  While I love his book Start (Punch Fear in the Face), the book Finish was more powerful for me.  I have never had problems starting things…but finishing?  Squirrel!  He gives some great tips on getting your project to the finish line.

7 Habits of Highly Effective People

I talk about this book as a foundational book for anything.  I find myself referencing it years later.  If you have read it.  Read it again.

The Goal

got this book recently at the recommendation from a friend.  It’s a great look at how to improve a bottleneck and flies in the face of traditional manufacturing policy.

Known

Want to build your personal brand?  I really enjoyed this book from Mark Schaeffer on how to make it happen.  In this book, he outlines the 5 steps you need to take to build your brand and become Known.

Building Your Storybrand

Donald Miller wrote this gem that outlines why most companies get their marketing wrong.  It was a real “a-ha” moment for me and shined a light on why sometimes messages work and sometimes they don’t.  Who is your marketing making “the hero of the story?”  Most of us make ourselves the hero.  The customer needs to be the hero.  Miller explains why in this wonderful book.

Marketing Made Simple

Now that you understand that the customer needs to be the hero of your marketing story, Marketing Made Simple digs into the tactics of how to make that happen.  This book outlines a step-by-step process to create a marketing machine that works for your business.

Dare To Lead

Most of us are afraid to put ourselves out there.  We don’t want to be completely authentic because it doesn’t feel like “what a strong leader would do.”  Brene Brown breaks down those myths and challenges us to lean into them.  I feel like this book made me a better leader by making me a better person.

Extreme Ownership

And speaking of leadership, it’s hard to learn from better teachers than Jocko Willink and Leif Babin.  These two team up to give amazing lessons in leadership combined with stories from leading teams in combat.  Oh…and if something is going wrong in your company, or division, or family…you should take extreme ownership.  Good one here.

Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics

Everywhere I looked, I saw people telling me I needed to meditate.  But I didn’t know how.  I felt like I was doing it wrong.  It felt strange and weird.  This book breaks down some of those myths and gives you permission to get started with “just one minute” if that’s what you need to do.  This is a good introduction for someone that feels they might need meditation in your life…but does not know where to start.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck

If you are offended by strong language, this book is not for you.  However, if you can get past that, there is a zen-like quality to much of this book that really connected with me.  One of my favorite lessons, which I talk about here, is the idea that successful people are willing to “suffer through” things to get to what they want.  Not everything will be easy.  If you want to reach your goal, you need to decide what you are willing to suffer through.

Scrum

This book is sort of the bible for Agile productivity.  We read it as a team.  If you want to get more done as a team, this book is a must-read.  Can you break down tasks into small enough pieces so that every member of the team can help?  You probably can…and SCRUM lines up how.

4 Disciplines of Execution

Let me see if you have been there.  We come back from a conference (or read a book) and want to implement a great idea.  We start strong, but then the “whirlwind” of business and life gets in the way.  The 4 Disciplines breaks down how to identify the Wildly Important Goal, and create a process to make improvements with your team.

Epic Content Marketing

If you want to do content marketing “right,” this is your manual.  Joe Pulizzi talks about the start of his company and how creating compelling content (for the customer) works.  He shows you how to create an audience and story-tell in a way that will build your brand.  Loved this one.

Hug Your Haters

So you have created a social media following that is worth having.  What do you do when “the haters” show up?  Jay Baer says you need to “Hug Your Haters” in this book about dealing with tough comments on social.  Jay gives the playbook on what to do when complaints happen (and they will).  Most of us want to ignore the comments so they go away.  Jay explains why that is the wrong play…and how doing it right can change haters into fans!

Never Split the Difference

Life is a negotiation.  If you are in business, you already know this.  In this powerful book, Chris Voss takes us inside some amazing stories from a hostage negotiator…and how many of them can apply to you.

Living With a Seal

This is a fun one.  Jesse Itzler tells the story of how he invited the “toughest man on the planet” David Goggins to live with him for a month and train him.  When I listened to this, no one knew who David Goggins was…but it all makes sense now.  While there are some sincere lessons here about how far we (as humans) can go, this one was fun.

The Power of One More

If you have followed me over the past few years, I talk a lot about Ed Mylett.  His book The Power of One More is a great personal development read.  If you want to level up in any area of your life, Mylett gives you the tools to do that.  And I love the way he frames so many of these important topics.

Soundtracks

Jon Acuff is funny and insightful…and this is probably my favorite book from him.  Here Jon talks about the voice that we hear all of the time in our heads…our own.  Most of us can be our own worst enemies, and he gives us permission to push back on that voice…and tools to do just that.  Totally worth a read or a listen.

Buy Back Your Time

Most of the entrepreneurs I know struggle with two things…cash and time.  While this book doesn’t give you any cash, it does give you lots of tactics on how to better use your time in order to grow.

$100 Million Offers

Alex Hermozi doesn’t need any recommendations from me…but he is going to get it anyway!  This book $100 Million Offers, and his follow-up $100 Million Leads, are must-reads if you want to grow your business.  And if you are not following him on social media already, you really should check him out!

Traction

I read this a long time ago…but I didn’t implement it.  I went back to re-read after so many people I respect mentioned the book.  We have worked to implement the tactics at Hasseman Marketing, and now I understand the appeal.

The 6 Types of Working Genius

Sometimes you read a book and it changes the way you look at your team.  This was one of those books for me.  I love the concept of how there are 6 types of work in each project.  Then Patrick Lencioni explains how to increase efficiency and avoid burnout by putting people (and yourself) in your area of genius as much as possible.

12 Months To $1 Million

If you want to start a business, I think this is a great place to start.  There are concepts here that will help you get started off right…and great reminders for those who have been doing this for a while.  Great book!

Hit The TARGET

This is my one selfish plug, but if you are struggling with your marketing, I really think this can help.  Hit The TARGET is my latest book, written as a parable, that helps you identify your perfect customer and grow your business with them.

So there you have it!  This is my updated list of 37 Game-Changing Books for Business.

As always, we want to provide you with value.  So if you want to create marketing campaigns (and appreciation gifts) that hit the TARGET, check out our TARGET marketing playbook here.

5 People Who Help Me Raise My Game

You have heard it before.  You are the people you surround yourself with. We tell our kids this as they grow up.  But we often lose sight of it as adults.  The people we surround ourselves with, influence us in big ways. And while you might not be able to schedule lunch with anyone you want on the other, content has changed who we can spend time with.  In today’s DMJ 1 on 1, I talk about this…and I talk about the 5 people I follow who help me raise my game.

5 People Who Help Me Raise My Game

Ed Mylett

Ed Mylett is a successful businessperson, content creator, and influencer.  He is a man of faith and I quote his advice all of the time (as I do in the video).  In addition, his book “The Power of One More” is awesome.  He is all over the place, but you can find him on YouTube here.

Codie Sanchez

If you are an entrepreneur or want to be one, Codie Sanchez is a great follow.  She has an email called “Contrarian Thinking” and talks about building her empire by buying “boring businesses.”  Again, I am a big fan of following her on YouTube. 

Alex Hermozi

If you want to grow your business, Alex Hermozi is a must-follow.  He built his original business in the gym space, and is working to “build a billion-dollar thing.”  Alex provides real-world advice on building businesses, getting new customers, and more.  He challenges me to push myself and I love that.  You can find him here.

Jon Acuff

While Jon is an entrepreneur, I think of him in the author and speaker space.  He has written books called Start, Finish, Soundtracks (probably my favorite), and recently released a book called “All it Takes Is a Goal.”  Jon is a self-professed “goal nerd” and gives great advice on parenting, business, and leveling up in all areas of life.  My favorite place to follow him is on LinkedIn.

Gary Vaynerchuk

I love Gary Vee.  Gary creates so much content that I can’t possibly consume it all.  But every once in a while I see a piece of content that hits me right where I need it to.  He talks about entrepreneurship, modern-day marketing, and happiness.  You can find him everywhere, but I still love finding his videos on YouTube the best.

These are just 5 people that inspire me to raise my game.  There are plenty of others.  The point, of course, is that you can choose who you listen to in order to raise your level of fitness, finance, or even happiness.  You just have to be intentional.

As always, we want to provide you with value.  So if you want to create marketing campaigns (and appreciation gifts) that hit the TARGET, check out our TARGET marketing playbook here.

 

10 Of My Favorite Books From 2021

Over the course of the past 18 to 24 months, most people’s lives have been changed.  Some people have been totally upended, while others have been blessed to have come through the pandemic with just a few scratches.  But either way, most of us have had the chance to look at our lives…and decide if we want to re-imagine them.  This was not the time to put our head in the sand and “just wait it out.”  It was the time to invest in ourselves.

One of the best ways to invest in yourself is by reading (or listening) to books.

I have talked quite a bit about game-changing books on this blog.  Here is a list of 29 that I think everyone should check out.  So what books have had my attention in 2021?  Here are 10 of my favorite books from 2021.

Get Different

When Mike Michaelowicz writes a book, I line up to read it.  I am almost never disappointed.  This time Mike talks about why using “best practices” is a terrible way to stand out in a crowded marketplace.  You can get your copy here.

The High 5 Habit

Mel Robbins has a way of speaking directly to my soul.  Her latest book High 5 Habit highlights a concept so simple that it feels silly.  But listen to this book and you will realize it’s not.  I say “listen to this book” because Mel has a great delivery.  She is very real…and I loved it.

Peak Mind

I have been a slow adopter of meditation.  I still struggle to practice every day.  In her book Peak Mind, author Amishi P. Jha shows the science and studies to help you understand why it’s a must.  If we want to succeed in today’s world (and certainly tomorrow’s), we are going to need a Peak Mind.

Premonition

In a word…wow.  As I mentioned at the beginning, we have all lived through a crazy time for the last 18 to 24 months.  Premonition by Michael Lewis tells the story of the pandemic from behind the scenes. It opened my eyes to some of the challenges we have with public health, but also why some of the solutions can work…and not work.  Really liked this one.

Cumulative Advantage

Why do some people succeed and others struggle?  For some, they have an early advantage that they lean into.  It’s their Cumulative Advantage.  In this book, Mark talks about what that is, and how to create it even if you don’t begin with the headstart of privilege.

Promised Land

Let’s not get political here.  I just wanted to learn some “behind the scenes” from the man in the White House.  This one was interesting (and yes, political) and too long (and this is Part 1).  But it does give insight into Obama’s vision for the country, and where he felt he did well…and where he failed.  I thought it was totally worth my time.  Find Promised Land here.

12 Months To $1 Million

Have you ever wanted to start a business selling items on Amazon?  In the book 12 Months to $1 Million, you can learn how from someone who has done it more than once.  Ryan Daniel Moran talks about how to find the perfect niche, create the right product, and then how to scale it up with new products.  I have recommended this one to several people looking to start a business.

Soundtracks

We all have a voice playing on repeat in our heads…it’s our own.  In his latest book Soundtracks, Jon Acuff talks about why that voice can really be our worst enemy if we allow it.  And he gives real tactics to take your own voice back over (in a good way).  This was probably one of my favorite books of the year…totally recommend this one.

Greenlights

I was a fan of Matthew McConaughey before this book.  But the book Greenlights takes it up a notch for sure.  McConaughey gives you incredible detail into his life and insights that I found powerful.  I found this book to be fun, insightful, and surprising.  And for me, the audiobook was the way to go for this.  McConaughey narrates it himself and his gift as a performer shines through in the audio.

Think Like A Monk

The final book on my list is Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty.  Shetty tells the story of how he became a monk, and why he left.  His insights into training the mind were great.  I really enjoyed him explaining why we all need to have more “T.I.M.E.” in our morning if we want to have a more productive day.

So that is my list of 10 of my favorite books from 2021…so far.  I have a few more I hope to finish (including the new Will Smith memoir) soon.  If you want to keep learning and growing, how about one more book to consider?  You can get the ebook version of my book “The Give First Economy” here.  I would love for you to it check out…and share it with your team!  Oh…and feel free to sign up for our weekly VIP newsletter here.