The Daily Mentor Minute Blog | Bruce Hudson

From The “You Just Never Know” Marketing Files…It’s like the X-Files of Studio Marketing!
Monday, Nov 01, 2010

A few nights ago I had the opportunity to sit in one of my favorite restaurants (a client of mine owns it) for about an hour and a half just catching up with his staff. It’s very rare that I get along time like this to just visit and hang out, but I look forward to it when the occasion presents itself. I sat at the bar, which overlooks the kitchen, and had a few glasses of wine while I watch Chef Paul do his thing. I even pulled out my election ballet and filled in my votes for this year’s historic mid-term election. I was also waiting for Terri; she was out with her “girls” and was coming to meet me. “Take your time”, I said! Anyway, what does this have to do with marketing? Well, during the course of my “me” time I ran into 3 different sets of clients. The last was a family client that I photograph about every 5 years. It was the grandma’s birthday and the family was celebrating a few tables away from me. As they left the restaurant, she mentioned to me that the family had changed (new babies) since the last family portrait about 3 years ago and that she wasn’t getting any younger, it was her 84th birthday. “I think we need to update the portrait sooner, what do you think”, she asked? Of course my answer was something like, “Sure, I’ll give you a call and we’ll chat about it!” This is all well and good, but how do you capitalize on an opportunity like this? Well, I made a little note to myself on a napkin so I wouldn’t forget; I’m not getting any younger myself you know. The next day I called up the local flower shop I use and ordered a nice bouquet for her. I also sent her a Send Out Card with the last family image we took on it! I’ll keep you updated on this one! I’m excited because she gets a 30x40 every time I photograph her family. The moral of this story is simple, as wise man once said, “The harder you work, the luckier you get.” This is one of those “You just never know” opportunities that come up on a daily basis for all of us. Think to yourself about situations like this and how you’ve handled them in the past, are you making the most of your day to day opportunities? –Bruce Hudson