Radish Sprouts

Harry Potter’s Business Success Secrets

Have you ever seen such a thing?  People pay a large amount of money to get the opportunity to stand in the hot sun for over an hour in a long line to be able to shop in a certain store.  Then when they finally get into the store, they spend lots of money buying theme products. Unbelievable?  That’s what hundreds of Muggles (non-magical types) did at “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” as part of the newest attraction in Universal Studios in Orlando, FL.  Wouldn’t every business love becoming an international craze with huge demand?

 

Over Spring Break 2011 besides attending the CTIA Wireless show, I experienced with my daughter one of the biggest business successes.  People of all ages traveled in from all over the world and spent lots of money for parking, entrance fees, food, and products.  As a Harry Potter fan, I must admit it was brilliant and the Hogwart’s Castle ride whereby you experienced being on a broom in a Quiddtich Match with Harry was the best ride ever.

 

7 Practical Pointers.  What are the Harry Potter business success strategies?  What can we learn and apply to our businesses?  Radish systems is using these.

 

1. Start with an exceptional product or service.  The Harry Potter book series by pauper turned billionaire J. K. Rowling was one of the biggest and most profitable publishing phenomena.  My daughter has read all seven books hundreds of times – no lie.  The product is different, is filled with characters readers can related to, is action-filled with magic and suspense addressing a universal good versus evil topic, and hit at the right time.  By dividing the book into many parts, there was anticipation for the next part of the story. One of the most important P’s of marketing, have the right product.
2. Be responsive to the market, your customers.  Here is another important P of marketing, know and respond to the people. Wouldn’t it be great if your customers can’t stop thinking, dreaming, and talking about your firm and your service? Your customers are your most important asset – without them you would have no revenue, you would be out of business.  If you make sure your customers are happy, they will keep coming back and make sure you are happy.  How often do you ask your customers and prospects what their pain is and how you can best resolve it?
3. Leverage success to breed more success.  The bestselling book, led to sell-out movies, which led to in-demand products, overflowing amusement parks, and much more.  It is the same concept that Starbuck’s and other well-known brands have used for concentric diversification and additional revenue streams.
4. Go viral.    Harry Potter came out just as social media channels began to take hold.  Readers spread the word to other readers.  When the park was about to be announced, the top 10 Harry Potter bloggers were invited to a private meeting.  They then spread the word virally.  Within 24 hours, millions knew about it. How can you use this most important promotional tool (another P of marketing)?
5. Think BIG.  Believe everything is possible.  Be open to the possibilities.  Use the Attraction Strategy to power the pull (as explained in Chapter 8 of Pursuit of Passionate Purpose, www.PursuitofPassionatePurpose.com). 
6. Surround yourself with great people.  Harry had Hermione and Ron, and Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix who were united in a common set of values.  Rowling found a great publisher and other support team members.
7. Be lucky.  It is said that luck comes when preparation meets opportunity.  Believe, prepare, and then act.  It is useful to be lucky.

Theresa Szczurek (www.TMSworld.com and www.PursuitofPassionatePurpose.com)

BELIEVE AND ACT TO GET BACK IN THE RACE

Do you recall Frank Sinatra’s hit song, “That’s Life?”  Think of his lyrics, ‘pick myself up and get back in the race.’  This youtube video has good advice for all of us (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qh_TKJTPsQ)

 

Many people would say they are happy that 2009 is behind them, that last year was a challenging time.  How can you ensure 2010 is not a repeat of 2009 but much better with business growth?

 

Believe and Act.  You must believe that it is possible and then take proper, positive actions to make it happen. Every year I select a theme to focus my efforts.  I don’t recall ever choosing the same theme twice, until this year.  “Believe and Act” remains as the theme because this is exactly what is needed to get back in the race. What is your theme this year?

 

Regenerate.  Recall from my research and book Pursuit of Passionate Purpose that Passionate Pursuers are like sunflowers; thus there is a large bright yellow flower on the book’s cover.  Successful people have the nine traits that align with each letter of the word SUNFLOWER.  R stands for “regenerative.”  They don’t let things keep them down – they rebound.  A regenerative nature allows Passionate Pursuers to revive, renew, and product again despite adversity, setbacks, and obstacles.  Resilience is a common trait of the extremely wealthy; check out my article “How to Think Like a Billionaire” at http://www.cobizmag.com/articles/how-to-think-like-a-billionaire/

 

Practical Pointers.  Here’s what to do to get back in the race in order to position you and your company for the big win? 

 

1. Assess what worked and what did not work last year.  What progress did you make?
2. Decide to revise your attitude.  You must believe that everything is possible.  Believe, believe, believe that you can pick yourself up and get on top.
3. Revise your personal and corporate Strategic Plan.  What is your vision for the future – where do you want to go? What actions will get you to where you want to go?  Go back to the basics, yet get creative.
4. Act.  Then do what you need to do.  Get help and don’t try to do it all alone.

 

It’s never too late.  Schedule a Strategic Planning session.  Contact me today and let’s explore how to get you back into the race.

 

Theresa M. Szczurek (www.TMSworld.com and www.RadishSystems.com)

 

copyright 2010 Theresa M. Szczurek  all rights reserved.

WHAT CAN YOU ANDYOUR TEAM LEARN FROM A BEE?

At the end of the last school year, my daughter came home with a summer reading list for young adults.  It has valuable information for all of us.  It is especially helpful for me since once of my goals this year is to read at least one fiction book per month – yes, fiction, not only non-fiction business books. 

 

What a fun journey this has become – reading The DaVinci Code, Chocolat, Secret Life of Bees, and many more.  And, it has been a way to connect with my 13-year-old on a different level and learn valuable lessons about life.  Each of us reads the book and then when available we watch the movie. Then I like to analyze and talk about the message and experience, although Annie, unfortunately, is less interested in that part.

 

Last night we watched Secret Life of Bees.  Bees hold valuable wisdom useful in work and life.  No, it is not only that they are headed by a Queen.  They work as a team toward a common goal each innately knowing his/her part in pursuing the passionate purpose—the end result from their superb performance is sweet.  August, the matriarch beekeeper, shares with 14-year-old Lily, who is on a quest to get to know herself and her mother, “Send the bees love.” 

 

What would the impact on our business and family be if we send each other love while we look out for a greater good?  It would produce real rewards.  Too often, rather than pursue a noble purpose, we individually get lost in doing, achieving, or protecting our own turf while putting others down.  Instead, as August recommends, let’s try to “Lift each other to a higher level with love.”  Consider all the energy, currently wasted in friction and conflict, which could be redirected toward real results. 

 

In life, there is a symbiotic relationship between the bees and the flowers.  Again, we can learn a lot from Mother Nature.  Passionate Pursuers, those people who successfully find and pursue meaningful intentions, are like sunflowers who possess the SUNFLOWER traits (see Ch. 3 of Pursuit of Passionate Purpose).    

 

Practical Pointers:

• Act like a bee.  Work as a team toward a common goal with love.  Find better performance.
• Get clear on what real purpose you are pursuing.
• Lift each other to a higher level.

 

Theresa M. Szczurek (www.TMSworld.com and www.PursuitofPassionatePurpose.com)