Prizm as a Time Bandit? Ah, yes!

As we begin a new year, it occurs to me that I have spent a dozen years now with Prizm.  How can that possibly be?  After all, to contemplate 12 years in future tense feels like a much longer span of time than it does to look back on that same number of years.  And the scary part about it is that as I age, time seems to just go faster and faster.  But enough of that conversation, it could lead me down an entirely different path.  Hmmmmmmmm…Perhaps another blog?  Perhaps not…we shall see.

The purpose of this blog, though, is to give you, the reader, an inside perspective on Prizm, and why, as I look back over these past years, it is easy enough to recognize why time here passes so quickly.  There are a number of contributing factors, all of which could be a singular cause of time slippage, depending upon which angle one views life through, at, and with Prizm.  I have decided to list my top five in no particular order:

The first crucial step to building a successful website

What really goes into building a website?

Prizm's website

What a loaded question!  While it may appear that certain websites you visit are just simple, straightforward pages, you might be surprised to know that the planning and development that goes into creating those seemingly simple pages is actually quite in depth.

It could even be stated that building a website is much like building a house.  Once the foundation has been poured, and the framing is done, it becomes a far more complicated task to add to, remove from, or dramatically change the layout.  In fact, if the changes are too demanding, it would be best to demolish what you’ve started, and begin once again from the ground up.

The Importance of Creative Leadership and Culture

We’re asked on a regular basis about creative leadership at Prizm.  With our roots at Disney, I thought I’d share some excerpts from a recent speech I gave at Indiana State University Foundation’s Leadership Experience.

My keynote presentation at ISU Foundation

The Anatomy of the “Director of First Impressions”

Who is the Director of First Impressions for your company?  Why, it’s you, of course!  It doesn’t matter what position or title you hold, if you are ever the first person to greet a visitor or pick up the telephone, the responsibility of making a great first impression is all on you.

While it’s obvious that greeting someone with a warm smile is crucial when you’re face to face, many people don’t realize the importance of a smile even when you are simply taking a phone call.  This is the point where you are probably thinking:  Oh come on, it isn’t as if you can really hear a smile, can you?

You bet you can!  And the flip side is that you can definitely hear it when that smile is not there, even though you may not be able to see whom you are speaking with.  Think about your own experiences.  How many times have you been put off by an unpleasant conversation with a seemingly unhappy or completely uninterested sounding customer service representative?  The truth is that the majority of those service reps really were interested in helping you, they were just never taught the basics of proper telephone etiquette.

New Logo, New Emblem, New Icon – OH MY!! | when to re-brand and why

Starbucks is evolving their logo once again this year

Image is everything.  Who hasn’t heard that a million times?!  

While substance is what ultimately matters, if your first impression doesn’t attractively and informatively communicate that substance…nobody cares.  That’s why every business, product, film, music group, etc. needs a brand.  A face to put to their name.  A personality to put to the person.

Walmart and Starbucks – a couple of the largest, most successful companies our country has seen – have re-branded within the last two years.  Why is that?

A Labor Day Thank You

If you stick with something long enough and educate your audiences, eventually the maturity curve predictions come to fruition. Such has been the case at Prizm. Back when it was uncool to talk about convergence of the television and computer, Prizm stood by our understanding that we had to offer clients more in delivery while remaining focused and committed to our success as content producers.

A grandfather’s lesson

I was at the Greater Kansas City Chamber “smooze” event this morning at Lucky Strike in the Power and Light District.  While enjoying the atmosphere, I began talking to Keith, a gentleman who grew up in his father’s business.  As we talked about the importance of relationships in growing a business,

People do business with people they trust…

Really…It seems so obvious yet most businesses forget that a simple, trusted relationship goes a long way.

As we’ve studied through the duration of our careers, we’ve watched closely the dynamic.  As we approached video on the web nearly a decade ago, we found that people were more responsive to us when we offered a trusted relationship for them to do business.  Now, we have the opportunity to communicate through video when we can’t necessarily be there for the handshake (the handshake is still the best avenue to build trust.)  The thing is, if you can’t be there in person, then seeing a person’s soul through their eyes and in their mannerisms builds trust.  Human Host(tm) and now Intellihost(tm) have become a standard of our Media Sites(tm).  People do business with people they trust because they are being interacted with, guided, and informed.  Would you rather do business with a page full of text or experience the culture through carefully crafted messaging with a personal touch?  You decide.  I’ll take the trusted relationship anytime.