- We Turn Emotions Into Memories!

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work!

Whether it was a class project or sports, from the moment you started school, you’ve likely been on some type of team. If you were anything like me, you remember all the feelings you had when your team won or when your project was a success. You and your team work hard, you make sure everything is perfect. You perform for judges or make your presentation to your class, and then you wait. And when your team’s name is called, you are ecstatic. The amount of energy and excitement gets pretty intense.

That feeling is something everyone wants to feel. That excitement and gratitude fills every part of you. Because teamwork makes the dream work, right? Continue reading…

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#ChuckSaid – No Recognition Is Better Than Bad Recognition

My son-in-law is a physician. He works in a hospital taking care of patients after the emergency department admits them. He works shifts, carries a pager, and hardly has time to eat lunch.

His first job was at a regional medical center in the city where he lives. My son-in-law joined this particular hospital because it seemed to have a great company culture. He agreed with their core values and planned to improve his professional skills as a hospitalist. It appeared to be a great fit both professionally and personally.

And it was a great fit in many ways. He learned a ton about his role in the physician “food chain.” He met some amazing nurses and doctors with exceptional character and was able to strike a balance between work and life for the first time in a decade.

Sadly, though it took only a short time for my son-in-law to conclude that the corporate values and purpose touted during the interview were nothing more than lip service. The core values were hit or miss, depending on the situation at hand. Nobody really believed in them.

All that talk about purpose and values during the interview process was just a marketing ploy to attract new doctors. Continue reading…

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Crystal: the Perfect Product for Any Occasion

Scenario One: you’re a rock star executive assistant, working for a major company in your industry. Your company has ten people retiring this year, and they need something special to celebrate this milestone.

Scenario Two: you’re the CEO of a mid-sized company. You just bought another company and want to commemorate the merger with a keepsake of some sort.

Scenario Three: your sales team hit a significant milestone and you want to celebrate their accomplishment with a spectacular award.

Scenario Four: you’re the organizer of an annual golf tournament. You’re looking for a classy and affordable award for first, second, and third place.

What do these four scenarios have in common? They can use crystal to memorialize these very different occasions. Let’s dive into these ideas a little deeper. Continue reading…

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#ChuckSaid – Sell More by Thinking Differently

Selling is what we do each and every day. It pays the bills, keeps us moving, and gives us a sense of purpose. Make one more sale, place one more purchase order, make one more call – these tasks push us through each day.

This type of thinking is Task Thinking because one task PUSHES us to the next task, then on to another task, and so on. You continuously ask the question, “What is my next task?”

When you ask this question, how do you feel about your work?

Chances are, you feel more weighed down? More frantic? More fragmented? Continue reading…

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An Incredible Experience at the Lifeworks Annual Celebration

Hello, readers! Alexis here, and I have an incredible story to share with you. On April 26, five of our Memory Makers attended the Lifeworks Annual Celebration. Lifeworks is a nonprofit organization that serves people with disabilities. This gala event serves as a fundraiser for Lifeworks as well as a celebration for people with disabilities. And they really know how to make award winners feel special.

I wondered how Crystal D got involved with Lifeworks, so I asked Chuck to fill me in on the details. “Judy Lysne, the previous CEO of Lifeworks, is a friend of mine,” Chuck told me. “I went to one of the galas and saw how crappy the awards were. They didn’t represent the amazing people who won them. Then I found out that Lifeworks was paying for them! I volunteered to donate the awards, and we’ve been providing the awards since 2012. I’m very proud to see our awards associated with such a great organization.”

This year, Chuck sent five Memory Makers to the gala so they could experience the event. I got the chance to talk to them this week! They filled me in on how amazing the event was and all the emotions from the winners and attendees. The lucky five that attended were customer service and solutions manager Kari, HR manager Pam, solutions specialists Mike and Christian, and marketing coordinator Jen. Continue reading…

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Your Focus Determines Your Reality: Onboarding Lessons from Star Wars

May the Fourth be with you! Happy Star Wars Day, readers. I have a treat for you: a Star Wars-themed blog!

I know what you’re thinking: “What does Star Wars have to do with anything you write about, Alexis?”

Well, it has to do with onboarding. If you haven’t gotten the chance to learn what onboarding is and why you need it, check out our NEO post.

In The Phantom Menace, Qui-Gon Jinn trained a young Anakin Skywalker and told him, “Your focus determines your reality.” What does that mean? What does that have to do with onboarding? The reality is that your employees won’t develop a strong connection with your company unless you have focused on an incredible onboarding plan. Onboarding helps new employees focus and connect with their new employer.

“But what does this have to do with Star Wars? They didn’t onboard their employees.” You make an excellent point, but you can learn important lessons from the franchise that will help you create a strong onboarding plan. Continue reading…

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#ChuckSaid – Don’t Leave Sales on the Table

I’ve heard the same mantra for years. Distributors walk by our tradeshow booth and say, “WOW, your awards are so beautiful. I wish my customers wanted this stuff!” Well, the truth is they do want this “stuff.” However, they’re getting it from someone other than you!

Don’t believe me?

I’ve been in this game for 25 years and I know from experience that the game is changing. The demand for recognition awards outside the promotional products industry is growing. However, within the promotional products industry, the demand for awards is shrinking. Continue reading…

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Anything But a Boring Plaque!

Imagine for a minute that you work for a state fire department. Your job is to find awards for an annual banquet that honors brave and hard-working firefighters. Your first instinct is to stick with what you’ve always given: a plaque.

But then you realize something: the plaque is getting repetitive and kind of boring.

What kind of award will turn heads? What can represent them and their profession to the fullest? Is there something unexpected to give them? Continue reading…

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#ChuckSaid – Make It an Easy Sale; Sell Value

As a dealer, you know it is much easier to work with a customer who wants to buy than one that needs to be ‘sold.’ When your customer wants to buy, the selling process is easier, faster, and less stressful. However, when a customer needs to be ‘sold,’ your job gets harder. You wonder, “When and how I am going to close this sale?”

You can avoid this tenuous situation by leading with value and following up with product features. Continue reading…

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Give Your Executives the Gift of Crystal!

Keeping top talent is hard. It’s one of the biggest challenges facing your business. And the executives at your company have worked hard to get where they are. So what happens when you don’t show your appreciation?

They leave.

When they leave, you lose your leaders and their creativity. You lose decision-makers who guide your company toward success.

What can you do to motivate them, strengthen your relationship with them, and create memories? Continue reading…