Free Rice

I was reading an article just now from Rob walker about a website called Freerice.com. Now maybe I have been in the dark and never heard of this site. It is ingenious, this is what a nonprofit embracing a new form of marketing media is all about. This site not only is entertaining, thought provoking but it also donates a lot of rice. At last I knew it was around 400 mega tons. I was playing just before posting this and had already donated 400 grains. The site states that just yesterday it donated over 100 million grains. now I am back off to donating more of my time to a great cause.

Happy Hatching,
Jason Desjardins

jason@whereideascometohatch.com

Toms Shoes

I found a great cause recently that is an example to be followed. Tom Shoes headed by Blake Mycoskie, who deems himself Chief Shoe Giver. The concept of Tom Shoes simple and straight forward. For every pair of shoes purchased, which are based on a classic Argentine style shoe, Toms Shoes gives a pair to a child in need. They have plain white shoes you can order and put on community events where you create your own designs. Why is this great? It involves the community and brings people together for a great cause. Not only are people brought together but they are giving a pair to a child in need for every person involved. In today's world where so many things have become non-personal, this is a great thing. With everything being computerized and there being so little need for people to communicate with each other, this brings people together to communicate and talk. More companies and projects need to do this bring people face to face again. This company is based on a simple premise and they live breathe and eat that story. Its simple straight forward and rewarding. Tom's shoes for tomorrow.

Happy Hatching,
Jason Desjardins
jason@whereideascometohatch.com

Tom's Shoes

Customer Service

Here is a story about great customer service. Who this time of year likes buying oil for your furnace? I know I don't with the price of oil rising higher and higher. I had reluctantly called Irving, whom supplies my oil. I told them I needed a delivery and they scheduled it in for this past Thursday the 28Th. I happened to go inti my garage the other day and looked at my oil level. Guess what I found, they had not delivered my oil and now I was getting critically low. It had been two days since my scheduled delivery and I was going to call and let them know. I was not happy when I made the call, as most would not be. I explained to the woman on the other end, she immediately apologized and asked me to hold while she called dispatch. She quickly came back and said they would be here within 24 hours with an emergency delivery. My first question, is that going to cost me? As most places will charge you for an emergency delivery. She said, "Not at all we broke our promise to you.". I said thank you and she said, "No,thank you.". After I hung up the phone I was speechless for a moment. "We broke our promise", "No, Thank you.", these responses caught me off guard. Do I still enjoy spending my money on oil?,NO. Though she handled this situation with true care and made me forget about the overall problem in the first place. Here is an excerpt from their ad "At the other end of the phone, you'll find a friendly, knowledgeable Irving customer care Representative- not an answering service-24 hours a day, 7 days a week.". The key in this a "customer care Representative". I left the conversation felling like she cared, they have a story and they follow it from top to bottom. Does your story do that?

Happy Hatching,
Jason Desjardins
jason@whereideascometohatch.com

Bob's no hassle like Capitol One

My wife and I went out to buy our daughter a new bed. She has outgrown her toddler bed and it was time to move up. We decided to go to Bob's "no hassle" so they say. You enter and I have to say there are sales people hanging out all over the place. One will come up and introduce their selves and show you where things are then be gone. No hassle, no pressure. This is where it gets agitating, after making our selection we hunted down a sales associate and showed them what we wanted. Now we have made our selection, we are ready to purchase, no hassle, no pressure as of yet. Then comes ALL the options, delivery options,extra GOOF proof warranties [I told him we where goof proof], extra protectors. The list goes on, some of the things not being so no hassle or pressure at all. To points where we say "No" and they continue to try and sell it. The purchase was finally made and done, I did not leave feeling no pressure.... It reminds me of dealing with Capitol One, the are "no hassle" as well. That is until you call for something, then they have everything under the rainbow that they want to offer you. Which leads me to my point, your story and sticking with it. If you believe in your product or service you should offer all that. Might it cost a little more maybe, but you would truly set yourself apart. You wold be going to the edges where few tread, due to the fact that so many are afraid of the fringes. It is dangerous water to tread but you will set yourself apart. Maybe offer a pamphlet with all the extras at the beginning, with the prices and tell them if they want any of the extras, to let them know when you purchase. Never asking again, now that is no hassle or pressure. Either way if you say you are one thing and do another your story doesn't jive. How is the customer or client supposed to retell that story? I call this one Buzzkill!

Happy Hatching,
Jason Desjardins
jason@whereideascometohatch.com

Famous Daves

I went out o lunch the other day with my family. We ended up at Famous Dave's, I had heard some talk about it [word of mouth and the story are powerful]. If you haven't noticed I am all about the story that lies beneath the surface waiting to be discovered. This was no different, when I walked in it seemed like a BBQ place. The first thing I noticed was the smell of delicious BBQ. Next was all the odd things all over the walls. Not so much odd but a lot to look at never bored. Then I noticed the old fashioned wooden benches, concrete floors [easy cleanup]. It didn't stop there everyone was laid back and all their names started with Famous. The menu was loaded with BBQ everything, they did not stray from that. I noticed on the table a roll of paper towels. Not one with your utensils or a couple when they brought the meal but a whole roll. This told me "This is going to be messy" real BBQ. Next was the fact that I did not have to ask for BBQ sauce, no, there was a wooden box on our table with seven different BBQ sauces. From "Sweet and zesty", "Sweet and Sassy" to my favorite "Devils spit", it lived up to its name if you are curious. They have a great story here and they live it. This makes it easy for me to retell the story to anyone I please which will be many. Here is an excerpt from their website " Dave’s road to fame began with a strong hankerin’ for fine barbecue and a stronger desire to make the finest slow-smoked barbecue folks had ever tasted. He visited rib shacks, roadside joints, every hole-in-the-wall or fancy pants supper club he could, all in search of the most succulent meats, savory seasonings and lipsmackin’ sauces around." They have a story built in that they live by, do you?

Happy Hatching,
Jason Desjardins
jason@whereideascometohatch.com

A city and its story.

Saturday my family and I ventured out to the city to do some shopping. I had noticed how the sidewalks were not plowed two days after it snowed. I commented on how it must stink drudging through the snow. It made me think about how the city itself even has a story. We began watching how everyone was in their own world. Unobservant of anything but them. It is like the city not taking time for them. To plow the sidewalks, they don't take time to show them they care. Sometimes the littlest things can make a difference. We live about twelve miles outside the city and I go to work at or before 6:30 am and the crews are out plowing the sidewalks and getting rid of snowbanks. I pay higher taxes for it but I feel the town cares about its residents. Everyone knows everyone and everyone cares about one another. Land where we live is highly sought after, not so in the city. "If you don't want to be here we will fill your void. Then to only concrete our thoughts. We went through the Drive through at Dunkin Donuts for coffee. When we made it to the window the girl waiting on us handed us our order with her back to us while talking to a co-worker about her mother. I took our stuff and drove off with out any sort of thanks or personal service. Stories are everywhere and they say a lot. Wahts your story and what does it say? Now I know why I chose not to live in the city.

Happy Hatching,
Jason Desjardins
jason@whereideascometohatch.com

Gatherings

I believe in the power of groups. A group of people that believe in something hold a lot of influence. Whether what they believe in is a cause a product or service. I have been thinking about this concept a lot lately. Word of mouth is a powerful tool that is not always properly harnessed. Sometimes this leads to people being misled or feeling deceived. Imagine if you had a large gathering of people with a common interest maybe not all the same view. Some people that are curios about this cause, product or service. These people are given the tools and stories that go along with this common message and all the things they can imagine to try for free. All while benefiting a great cause. No one is forced a message, everyone is there by choice willing to listen, wanting to listen. They then want to tell others and get them involved... back to word of mouth and genuine stories. This is something I am going to work on making a reality. A consumer conscious for benefit gathering. I will keep you up to date on this idea and when it hatches I will post it here. Now I have some people to get in contact with.

Happy Hatching,
Jason Desjardins
jason@whereideascometohatch.com