MARKETING MASTERY, 7 BUSINESS STRATEGIES YOU CAN

LEARN FROM THE GAME OF THRONES

April 16, 2020

BEFORE WE START, I’M HERE TO HELP YOU THINK DIFFERENTLY

I CHOSE THE ‘GAME OF THRONES’ AS A WAY TO SUPPORT WHAT WE’RE GOING THROUGH AND THE CHARACTER’S UNUSUAL TIMELY WISDOM

We are all missing human connections, uncertain as to what’s nextWe feel out of control

We also know that things will be different because the world was changing before it was shut down

Where will we be and what should we do; is what you’re wonderingI’m going to share my wisdom, experience and research

I want you to feel stronger and more powerful, because you areONE THING THAT WILL GET IN YOUR WAY ……..

UNWILLINGNESS TO CHANGE AND TAKE IN NEW INFORMATION

GAME OF THRONES: FOR A MINUTE, PRETEND YOU ARE IN A LAND WHERE THERE ARE NO RULES AND YOUR FUTURE IS UNCERTAIN

• Game of Thrones is about politics, crossed with a medieval legend and throwing in ambition and power-hungry lords and ladies all vying for the throne. WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE WORLD IS THINKING, LISTEN THROUGH LIVE STREAM WITH YOUR GOVERNOR, COMMENTS.)

• The Game of Thrones is set in the fantasy realm of Westeros, which is modelled after the United Kingdom and Ireland as a whole. It was set during the time of middle ages, probably the late era prior to the beginning of the Renaissance.

• Always unchartered territory, things always changing! Paying attention is a competitive strategy!

SURVIVAL IS THERE ONLY FOCUS!

HOW DIFFERENT IS THIS FROM OUR WORLD? YOU MUST BE PREPARED!

• For many there, no work. High risk jobs, Amazon, Walmart, Uber drivers, Dr• $250,000 was paid weekly to unemployed, now 16 million, not set up to

handle. Can’t pay child support, no unemployment for them• Going back to work, to where? Jobs gone, who will go into a restaurant if

they think they will get sick (need testing and a vaccine) • I listen to our governor and the livestream daily; people are not going

anywhere and don’t have money. “First insight,” 65/54% men to women• Everyone is hurting, does your supplier have enough business? If only

Wyoming is open, can supplier make it with their business?• Student debt has been put off 6 months, federal government’s cash cow

IN THE GAME OF THRONES, WINTER IS ALWAYS COMING,

WE NEED TO BE MORE VILIGANT, BECOME VILIGANT!

WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH OUR WORLD SITUATION AND CORONA-19? IT’S OUR

WINTER!

THE CHARACTERS ARE ALWAYS INVOLVED IN SOME TYPE OF WAR

OR STRIFE.LACK OF RESOURCES, UNKNOWN WINTERS THAT WOULD LAST FOR

30 YEARS AND OF COURSE PLAGUES..

NOT TRYING TO SCARE YOU, GET HUNKERED DOWN INTO REALITY!MANY ARE ONLY TALKING ABOUT

HOW GOOD BUSINESS IS—BRAGGING IS NOT A

COMPETITIVE STRATEGY!

YOU NEED PEOPLE BECAUSE PEOPLE GIVE US ENERGY, START

CALLING!

THE HOUSE OF STARK AND THE LAND OF THE NORTH

SURVIVAL THEMES:• ARE YOU A LEADER?• WHAT ARE YOUR

GOALS? CAN YOU RALLY YOUR TROOPS?

• WHAT IS MY COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE?

• HOW WILL I NEGOTIATE OUT OF THIS?

• SEEK NEW PARTNERS• ALWAYS BE ON GUARD!

YESTERDAY’S NEWS: UNLIKELY BEDFELLOWS?WHERE CAN YOU PUT YOUR PRODUCT?

• DSW SHOE WAREHOUSE TEAMS UP WITH HYVEE GROCERY STORES

• 1 day ago - It's an unexpected team-up: discount shoe chain DSW and Midwestern grocery store chain Hy-Vee.

• Here's why they're partnering…..

THIS IS NOT A FANTASY, IT IS OUR WORLD

WORLD CONDITIONS IMPACTED WHAT MUST WE

BE DILIGENT ABOUT ?

OUR HOME, OUR BUSINESSES, WHAT’S

IMPORTANT?

TAKE STOCK, WHERE WERE WE?

IT CAN HAPPEN AGAIN AND, IN OUR LIFETIMES

BEFORE THIS HAPPENED?CUSTOMERS ARE WATCHING YOU MORE THAN

EVER, WHO ARE YOU IN THIS GAME?WILL YOU BE A HERO OR A VILLAN?

• IS MY HOME MY CASTLE OR DO I HATE IT?

• TRENDS,ONLINE SHOPPING, DELIVERIES, PREPARED FOOD

• WHERE WILL BRICK AND MORTAR BE, DESTINATION?

• WILL ANYONE COME TO MY BUSINESS?

• ONLINE RULES: WHERE ARE YOU WITH YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA?

• WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH YOUR EMPLOYEES? DON’T WORRY, THERE WILL BE PLENTY TO CHOOSE FROMLEAD WITH INSPIRATION

THINK LIKE A LEADER, HAVE A PLAN, YOU CAN ALWAYS CHANGE IT

GET HELP FROM YOUR MANAGERS, CONNECT WITH OTHERS

NO MATTER WHAT YOU’VE LOST, WE’RE ALL UNITED IN THIS COMMON CAUSE

“BE THE HERO” OF YOUR OWN STORY AND THE COMMUNITY, WE WANT TO BE

UPLIFTED

THE GAME OF THRONES IS

COMPLICATED, LIKE OUR LIVES

RIGHT NOW, NO DIRECTION,

MAKE A DIRECTION!SET GOALS,

CHANGE THEMBOUNCE YOUR

IDEAS OFF SOMEONE

WINTER IS COMING

• WINTER IS WHAT THEY WORRY ABOUT AND WE SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT

• WHAT DO YOUR CONSUMERS NEED, WHAT DOES YOUR COMMUNITY NEED?

• IS IT A DISCOUNT ON FLOORING OR YOUR PRODUCT, IT’S DOUBTFUL

• UNLESS YOU’RE IN THE FOOD, MASK, TOILET PAPER OR DISINFECTANT WIPES BUSINESS

IS IT TOO LATE TO BE PREPARED?

NO, IT’S TIME!

• "Winter Is Coming" is the motto of House Stark, one of the Great Houses of Westeros. The meaning behind these words is one of warning and constant vigilance.

• The Starks, being the lords of the North, strive to

always be prepared for the coming of winter, which hits

their lands the hardest. WHAT DID WE MISS?

WINTER IS COMING, WINTER IS HERE

• The phrase “Winter is Coming” denotes a time in the future that will bring tests and trials. This is because winter is usually a more difficult time of the year for people to survive.

• “Winter is Coming” is the motto of the family of House Stark.

HERE ARE THE 7 LESSONS: IS YOUR BUSINESS READY?

• All about loyalty and conflict resolution.

• Sound familiar? The dramatic twists in the Seven Kingdoms can help guide you through the throes of your own intense battles--no pillaging of neighboring villages required.

1.LET YOUR COMPETITIORS DESTROY THEMSELVES• As the dwarf-prince Tyrion Lannister says, “your enemies hate each other

as much as they hate you.”

• Sometimes competition brings out the worst in us. It can cause us to stress out.

• Should you carry more products?• How can you become an essential business? I WANT

YOU TO BECOME ESSENTIAL. You could have been, may have missed an opportunity.

• My friend’s vacuum store is considered essential. • Everyone is worried about The Home Depot..you can’t ever compete with

them, DON’T!

BUILD SELF-AWARENESS, LOOK INSIDE FOR ANSWERS, GET CALM • Look at yourself objectively, WHAT IS SCARING ME?• Keep a journal, WHAT AM I NOT DEALING WITH? SAVIOR?• Write down your goals, plans, and priorities, WHAT IS MY

OPPORTUNITY ...• Perform daily self-reflection, AM I CHECKING IN WITH LEADERS FOR

ADVICE• Practice meditation and other mindfulness habits, CAN I KEEP MY

MONKEY-MIND FOCUSED?

ANOTHER THREAT, THE WHITE WALKER

• A second meaning is that the Starks themselves are Winter, poetically, and that

this is supposed to be an intimidating motto for the enemies of the House of

Stark. YOU MUST BE WINTER!• The third meaning, one that is long

forgotten even by the Starks themselves, is that the White Walkers (ice zombies) may return in the winter,• THE THREATS ARE ALWAYS OUT THERE!

you can be attacked by your competitors who are adapting to the market’s change faster than

you.

CAN YOU PARTNER WITH A COMPETITOR? The competitive approach loses its edge and collaboration makes more of an impact.

Do a community project together, have training, create workshopsWHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT, CUSTOMER SERVICE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER—DISENFECTING YOUR

STORE AND KEEPING IT CLEAN. WHO ARE YOUR CUSTOMERS? ARE YOU IN TOUCH?

GREAT SOCIAL MEDIA, EVERYONE LEARNS SOMETHING NEW FROM THE COMPETITOR!THE WINNERS ARE THE HEROS!

2.FREEDOM BEGATES LOYALTY• In Game of Thrones, allegiance is nothing

short of sacred. The best management style is one that gives employees options--treat them as allies, not slaves. In a recent episode, the Khaleesi have purchased several slave warriors called the Unsullied. They are trained to do as they are told no matter what it is. They were given freedom!

• THIS IS TIME TO TALK WITH YOUR EMPLOYESS..WHAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED? USE THIS TIME TO FIX YOUR PROCESSES

• You need employee allies, you’re not in this alone

YOU NEED EMPLOYEES TO BE LOYAL AND PARTNER WITH EACH OTHER

• YOU WANT TO KEEP THEM OR HIRE BETTER?

• WHO DO YOU NEED, WHO IS VALUABLE?

• THE CAR DEALERS ARE RUNNING ADS ONLINE AND IN PRINT AND FOLLOWING UP ONE WAY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN IS TO PAY GAMES WHERE PARTNERSHIPS ARE ENCOURAGED

• YOU NEED BETTER NETWORKERS, PEOPLE WHO

KNOW HOW TO GET A CUSTOMER

GAME-BASED LEARNING IS REVOLUTIONIZING LEARNING

TRAIN YOUR EMPLOYEES ON LEARNING HOW TO BE COMPETITIVE

• I KNOW IF YOU’RE HERE YOU ARE WHAT I CALL CRITICAL THINKERS—THIS IS A WAY TO FUTHER EXPAND YOUR LEARNING

• HAVE YOU GOT ENOUGH PEOPLE TO PLAY AT HOME OR WITH EMPLOYEES ON LINE—STIMULATE YOUR MIND…

IT’S A MYSTERYINSTEAD OF TRYING TO DO BUSINESS, STOP AND:

THINK!WHAT WILL BE IMPORTANT?

CLEANLINESS AND SAFETY

3. WE HAVE OUR WINTER

• Strategic planning for the long term and being ready for any disasters which may come in the future are important traits for successful small business.

IT’S LIKELY YOU WILL HAVE LESS BUSINESS..• WE NEED TO GET BETTER AT THIS!• WE SPEND SO MUCH TIME COMPETING WE

DON’T SPEND TIME ON STRATEGIZING! WHO ARE YOU, WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT?

• What about your showroom, and your building?

• WHEN IS YOUR WINTER? IT’S YOUR SLOW SEASON?

WINTER IS COMING FOR YOUR BUSINESS, CONSTANTLY THINK, WHAT IF?

• In the Song of Ice and Fire books, lengthy winters are feared in part for their association with supernatural threats. According to Westeros legend, the white walkers ( ICE CREATURES) first appeared 8,000 years before the events of Game of Thrones, during the Long Night—an icy season so severe it shut out daylight and stretched on for a generation.

• How do you get prepared for this? DID WE MISS IT? IF YOU WERE AT DOMOTEX,

THE THREAT WAS THERE• THERE WERE SIGNS WE DIDN’T ACT

SUPPOSE WINTER LASTED FOR A GENERATION? • WHEN YOU OPEN, WHAT WILL MAKE YOU DIFFERENT?

• Your business, paint, plant flowers, get out there! Look like you’re moving forward..give hope to all those than connect with you.

• WE DON’T KNOW IF THE CUSTOMER WILL WANT TO SPEND?

• WILL HOME BE THEIR CASTLE OR DO THEY WANT OUT?

• ARE YOU GOING TO CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE OR WILL YOU BECOME MEAN AND LEAN!

• Is there a summer winter coming? More COVID-19?

• GREAT PREPARED, NOW!!!

4. EMBRACE CHAOS

• You're short on installers, the materials didn’t come in from the job, your top salesperson will be gone for three months.

• SHARE INSTALLERS WITH YOUR COMPETITIORES! HAVE THAT CONVERSATION

• WE’VE HAD AN INSTALLATION SHORTAGE

FOR 40 YEARS, WHY HASN’T IT BEEN FIXED? THE GOOD ONES WILL BE SWAMPED, THE BAD ONES ARE GONE!

IN THE MIDDLE OF CHAOS, TEACH PEOPLE

• Notice that we are getting anxious or frustrated.Notice that our ideal of orderliness is causing the difficulty.

PEOPLE ARE OUT GRASPING AT STRAWS AND DEPENDING ON EVERYONE TO FIX ITWHAT CAN YOU DO?

• Let go of that ideal, which is causing our pain and struggle.• Breathe, and re-center ourselves, so that we become calm. This is

simply returning to the present moment, with no ideals, seeing the situation afresh and with new eyes and an open heart.

• See the beauty and perfection in the moment in front of you

CHAOS

• Chaos isn't a pit. • Chaos is a ladder. Many who

try to climb it fail and never get to try again. The fall breaks them. And some, are given a chance to climb. They refuse, they cling to the realm or the gods or love. Illusions. Only the ladder is real. • WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE CLIMGING, THE CLIMB IS ALL

THERE IS!

5. LOOK BEYOND THE WALL

• Lord Snow not only keeps a close eye on the other side of the Wall, he even allies himself with the Wildlings, (HIS USUAL THREAT) which he considers the only chance to defeat the White Walkers.

• The lesson from this? • WITHIN CHOAS IS ALWAYS

AND OPPORTUNITY? WHAT IS YOURS?• WILL YOU LIMP ALONG

RECREATING THE SAME THING YOU HAD BEFORE? BECOME

THE WALL SET THE STANDARD FOR EVERYONE!

THIS IS YOUR WALL: BEING THE HOME TOWN HERO! NO ONE CAN TAKE THAT AWAY FROM YOU!

• The Wall in Game of Thrones is said to be warded with magic to prevent the dead

• WHAT MAGIC CAN YOU CREATE?

• NOT ENOUGH MONEY?

• NOT SURE HOW TO SPEND WHAT YOU HAVE?

• KEEP IT CLOSE TO HOME

WHAT IS BEYOND YOUR WALL?

• THERE WILL BE BUSINESS, IS IT ENOUGH? IS YOUR OVERHEAD LOW ENOUGH?

• Do you have the right software, how can you be for efficient?

6. THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO AREN’T AFRAID OF FAILURE ARE

MADMEN, WE’RE ALL SCARED!

• Tyrion Lannister says you should heed in the Westeros and in the real world---whether you’re a king or an entrepreneur, success tends to go to your head quickly and makes you overestimate yourself.

• NEITHER SUCCESS OR FAILURE ARE GUARANTEED FOR VERY LONG!

• UNDERSTAND YOURSELF, DID YOU GIVE UP, KEEP DOING THE SAMETHINGS?

• HOUSES WILL BECOME CASTLES OR DUNGEONES, ASK YOUR CUSTOMERS WHAT IT WAS LIKE BEING THERE?

THE SALES QUESTIONS NEED TO B DIFFERENT.

7. KNOWLEDGE ISN’T ENOUGH

• KNOW WHAT YOUR BIG COMPETITIORS ARE DOING? WHAT SHOULD YOU BE DOING?

• SEEK YOUR PRIMARY CUSTOMERS AND WHAT YOU CAN DO TO KEEP THEM, CALL THEM NOW, FIND OUT WHAT THEY’RE WORRY ABOUT AND WHAT DO THEY NEED?

• THE PLAN: NEW PRODUCTS, NEW SYSTEMS, SAVE MONEY, HAVE SOMETHING THE CUSTOMER CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT. If you had vacuum cleaners, you probably would have been essential!

DON’T BE AFRAID OF TAKING RISKS

KNOWLEDGE IS NOT POWER, WHAT YOU DO WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT GIVES YOU POWER

• CLAIM YOUR POWER AND YOUR GIFTS

• WORK TOWARDS, LISTEN, READ TAKE A CLASS

• REMAIN HOPEFUL!

• EXPLORE NEW THINGS

• MAKE THE MOST OF IT!

• I’M AVAILABLE TO HELP YOU BRAINSTORM AND DETERMINE YOUR COURSE OF ACTION THROUGH ZOOM OR PHONE.

• Lcalandrino@nycap.rr.com

IF YOU LIKE, CONTACT ME: Lcalandrino@nycap.rr.com

Lisbeth Calandrino