The Visionary Chronicles

The Visionary Chronicles Podcast

CHRONICLE: May 10th, 2023

The Visionary Chronicles Podcast was ranked the #1 Global Visionary Podcast & Top 50 Marketing podcast by Feedspot in 2022 & 2023

PODCAST: Courageous Leadership | 5 Principles of Courage in Leadership

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." - Martin Luther King Jr.

This quote from Martin Luther King Jr. speaks to the importance of courage and faith in leadership. You may not always have a clear vision of the path ahead as a leader, but you must have faith in yourself and your team's abilities to take that first step forward.

Doing this creates momentum and builds confidence, which can help you navigate the challenges. This quote encourages leaders to have courage in their hearts and faith in themselves and their team, even when the path forward is uncertain.

Courage is a word not often used when describing Leaders, those who are Visionary. Instead, you will use; risk-taker, innovator, or disruptor, but all of these descriptors are built off a foundation of being courageous first. Courage is a trait that dates back centuries and is common in all Visionary leaders today.

For a Visionary leader to be considered generational, one who changes our daily lives for the better or disrupts an industry, you must take risks, but the pillar of risk is having a heart full of Courage. Unfortunately, not all leaders have this quality, and those who do are relentless in their pursuit of success, and achieving what others say is impossible.

Courage is a vital quality for effective brand leadership. Here are five principles for how to use courage in brand leadership:

1. Take calculated Risks: To make bold moves that differentiate your brand from competitors, you must be willing to take calculated risks. This requires courage, as there is always the possibility of failure. However, you can take risks more likely to pay off through strategic planning and a solid understanding of your brand's strengths and weaknesses.

Each of these is a foundational pillar of those who have the courage to risk being different, successful, and relentless in pursuing their Vision. They inspire others through their faith, make others better through creating a culture of success, always stand by their decisions, and are models for others to learn from as they progress in life.

Stay True, Stay Authentic, be Different, and be Great!

Enjoy the Journey!

Bryan Smeltzer, President

 LiquidMind Inc.

#TheVisionaryChroniclesPodcast

#TheVisionaryBrandBook

@LiquidMindsite.com

@BryanSmeltzer.com

 © All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2023

Bryan Smeltzer is a consumer products business executive and entrepreneur. He has held executive-level roles in business development, product, and marketing with some of the world's most prestigious brands, including; Oakley, TaylorMade, Adidas, K-Swiss, and Schutt Sports, among other international brands. He also founded a men's apparel brand, successfully running a profitable business for ten years, eventually selling to a VC firm.

He also hosts a Podcast called The Visionary Chronicles. In addition, he recently finished his first bestselling book, The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World's Most Visionary Brands, and received the prestigious Readers Favorite Award for BEST Non-fiction, Marketing Genre book.

He is also a member of the Board of Advisors at UCI's BCIE along with their New Venture Program, an Innovation Advisor at the UCI's Applied Innovation program at the Cove, a Mentor/Advisor to UCLA's Price Center Venture Accelerator Program, and a Mentor/Advisor at the San Diego Sports Innovators Accelerator (SDSI) center.

Bryan currently oversees LiquidMind Inc., a global brand strategy firm that partners with both start-ups and established id to large-cap consumer brands to empower their businesses to think different, be different, drive a passionate culture, and execute relentlessly.

You can contact or  follow him at;

 [email protected]

  @bryansmeltzer33

 @bryan_smeltzer

 @bryansmeltzer

 linkedin.com/in/bryansmeltzer/

CHRONICLE: April 25th, 2023

"The best way to predict the future is to create it." - Peter Drucker

The latest buzz in all aspects of business is how to apply Artificial Intelligence to my business model. However, having worked with many brands recently through our  © LiquidMind MasterMind development, most are not adequately prepared to implement what they do not clearly understand.

We have found Artificial Intelligence to be an extremely useful resource when creating our content platforms across social, podcasts, and BLOGs, each unique and required in building your AI platform. We have used Open AI’s Chat GPT for quite some time and have integrated it into our daily routine. 

Often, we need to take a step back and understand the intent, purpose, and goal of integrating an Artificial Intelligence initiative into their brands. Doing this lets us understand and determine where AI can best utilize, maximizing investment and time.

Here are five steps to applying artificial intelligence in brand marketing:

1. Define your goals: The first step is to define your brand marketing goals and identify the areas where Artificial Intelligence can add value. This could include improving customer engagement, optimizing advertising spend, or enhancing personalization.

Artificial Intelligence is a strategic weapon that can provide a significant first-mover value if implemented correctly and appropriately. However, if it is to implement for the sake of implementing, you will fail and set your brand further behind rather than leading your peers.

Stay True, Stay Authentic, be Different, and be Great!

Enjoy the Journey!

Bryan Smeltzer, President

 LiquidMind Inc.

#TheVisionaryPodcast

#TheVisionaryBrandBook

@LiquidMindsite.com

@BryanSmeltzer.com

 © All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2023

Bryan Smeltzer is a consumer products business executive and entrepreneur. He has held executive-level roles in business development, product, and marketing with some of the world's most prestigious brands, including; Oakley, TaylorMade, Adidas, K-Swiss, and Schutt Sports, among other international brands. He also founded a men's apparel brand, successfully running a profitable business for ten years, eventually selling to a VC firm.

He also hosts a Podcast called The Visionary Chronicles. In addition, he recently finished his first bestselling book, The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World's Most Visionary Brands, and received the prestigious Readers Favorite Award for BEST Non-fiction, Marketing Genre book.

He is also a member of the Board of Advisors at UCI's BCIE along with their New Venture Program, an Innovation Advisor at the UCI's Applied Innovation program at the Cove, a Mentor/Advisor to UCLA's Price Center Venture Accelerator Program, and a Mentor/Advisor at the San Diego Sports Innovators Accelerator (SDSI) center.

Bryan currently oversees LiquidMind Inc., a global brand strategy firm that partners with both start-ups and established id to large-cap consumer brands to empower their businesses to think different, be different, drive a passionate culture, and execute relentlessly.

You can contact or  follow him at;

 [email protected]

  @bryansmeltzer33

 @bryan_smeltzer

 @bryansmeltzer

 linkedin.com/in/bryansmeltzer/

CHRONICLE: April 19th, 2023

The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World's Most Visionary Brands.

• Readers Favorite Award Winner: Best, Non-fiction, Marketing book

"Products are made in the factory, but brands are created in the mind." - Walter Landor

Saying you “are” a brand vs. actually “being” is a significant difference. Companies that say they are a brand but have no category pricing power nor a loyal customer base are not truly brands, they are commodities.

Calling yourself a brand is an earned right, carefully crafted through knowing who you are, how you are different, and consistently leading your category with the latest revolutionary products your customers eagerly anticipate. Most do not need your latest product but want to be a part of the early adopter crowd.

Over the years, building a brand has changed. It used to be where customer acquisition was the goal; now it is customer loyalty, long term customer value, not just transactional. I discuss this Journey in my latest book, The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World’s Most Visionary Brands, creating a loyal customer through superior products, adding value beyond the product, and building trust in the relationship.

Creating loyalty and consistently providing a product or service that improves a person’s performance at work, at home, or in sports creates a bond that moves them into your brand, “ECO-SPHERE.” However, once they enter your ecosystem, it is up to you, the brand, to ensure they have a reason to stay. Ongoing revenue, and lasting value, that is the trade-off.

Brands like Adidas or Nike engage with their athletes or consumers long before they purchase, creating a bond through other athletes who authenticate their product, content which improves their performance, or through retailers who sell their products, creating a merchandising Lifestyle their community wants to be a part of.

This is a delicate balance, being authentic while not losing sight of the brand Vision. Creating a Brand Experience is a crucial principle and a foundation element all generational Visionary brands have adopted and is at the heart of their success.

In building this experience, what are the pieces of the puzzle put in place along with Journey?

1. Engagement; engage with your community, and help them become part of your brand experience. They ARE your voice, your advocates.

Remember…

Employees know what is RIGHT for the brand, while your consumers know what to expect from your brand.

Building a brand around realizing and consistently making your Vision in your consumer's eyes must be generational. Be a once-in-lifetime brand, and it is not for those not committed to sticking to your brand vision and foundational values!

Stay True, Stay Authentic, be Different, and be Great!

Enjoy the Journey!

Bryan Smeltzer, President

 LiquidMind Inc.

#TheVisionaryChroniclesPodcast

#TheVisionaryBrandBook

@LiquidMindsite.com

@BryanSmeltzer.com

 © All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2023

Bryan Smeltzer is a consumer products business executive and entrepreneur. He has held executive-level roles in business development, product, and marketing with some of the world's most prestigious brands, including; Oakley, TaylorMade, Adidas, K-Swiss, and Schutt Sports, among other international brands. He also founded a men’s apparel brand, successfully running a profitable business for ten years, eventually selling to a VC firm.

He also hosts a Podcast called The Visionary Chronicles, ranked as the #1 Visionary and Top 50 Marketing Podcasts by Feedspot, and recently finished his first bestselling book, The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World’s Most Visionary Brands, and recently received the prestigious Readers Favorite Award for BEST Non-fiction, Marketing Genre book.

He is also a member of the Board of Advisors at UCI’s BCIE along with their New Venture Program, an Innovation Advisor at the UCI’s Applied Innovation program at the Cove, a Mentor/Advisor to UCLA’s Price Center Venture Accelerator Program, and a Mentor/Advisor at the San Diego Sports Innovators Accelerator (SDSI) center.

Bryan oversees LiquidMind Inc., a global brand strategy firm that partners with start-ups and established mid to large-cap consumer brands to empower businesses to think differently, be different, drive a passionate culture, and execute relentlessly.

You can contact or  follow him at;

 [email protected]

 FACEBOOK |  @bryansmeltzer33

INSTAGRAM |  @bryan_smeltzer

TWITTER |  @bryansmeltzer

LINKEDIN | linkedin.com/in/bryansmeltzer/

CHRONICLE: April 7th, 2023

"I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion."

                                                                               Alexander the Great

What makes for a Great Leader? Not just one who inspires confidence or provides direction, but someone who has the innate sense to see the future, envision a path to success, and inspire those who do not yet know this path to take the Journey with them.

These leaders inspire a team, a company, and a brand. They create a community outside the four walls, building Loyalty and inspiring everyone to reach a common goal with the confidence that they will succeed. With each of these qualities, it is easy to see why there are so few "true" leaders. Many delusional executives feel they are leaders, but it is merely a "chain of commitment" from the Team, not necessarily that they believe in their Vision.

For someone to be in this elite class of truly Visionary Leaders, they must embrace the unknown, stay calm amid the storms, show Compassion, learn from past failures, build Loyalty, and provide a Vision for others to follow passionately. I say passionately as this is crucial to execute the leader's Vision through others successfully. No great leader has ever succeeded by themselves, it takes an Army to take a leadership position in your market, and the more your leader has these Pillars, the more likely a brand is to succeed long-term. Success is not a "one-hit" wonder; it is a sustained level of success over generations.

In my new book, an AMAZON Bestseller,  The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World's Most Visionary Brands, I discuss these Visionary Brands and some leaders who successfully navigated their brands to generational success.

 The following are the Pillars of Truly Great, Visionary Leaders

1. Embrace Change; no leader can avoid Change, but those who do will ultimately fail and lose their sense of direction.

Great Leadership does not always mean the most intelligent voice in the room. But, more often than not, it is someone who is cognitive, logical, compassionate, and direct and can see the future when others can not.

Stay True, Stay Authentic, be Different, and be Great!

Enjoy the Journey!

Bryan Smeltzer, President

 LiquidMind Inc.

#TheVisionaryPodcast

#TheVisionaryBrandBook

@LiquidMindsite.com

@BryanSmeltzer.com

 © All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2022

Bryan Smeltzer is a consumer products business executive and entrepreneur. He has held executive-level roles in business development, product, and marketing with some of the world's most prestigious brands, including; Oakley, TaylorMade, Adidas, K-Swiss, and Schutt Sports, among other international brands. He also founded a men's apparel brand, successfully running a profitable business for ten years, eventually selling to a VC firm.

He also hosts a Podcast called The Visionary Chronicles. In addition, he recently finished his first bestselling book, The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World's Most Visionary Brands, and received the prestigious Readers Favorite Award for BEST Non-fiction, Marketing Genre book.

He is also a member of the Board of Advisors at UCI's BCIE along with their New Venture Program, an Innovation Advisor at the UCI's Applied Innovation program at the Cove, a Mentor/Advisor to UCLA's Price Center Venture Accelerator Program, and a Mentor/Advisor at the San Diego Sports Innovators Accelerator (SDSI) center.

Bryan currently oversees LiquidMind Inc., a global brand strategy firm that partners with both start-ups and established id to large-cap consumer brands to empower their businesses to think different, be different, drive a passionate culture, and execute relentlessly.

You can contact or  follow him at;

 [email protected]

  @bryansmeltzer33

 @bryan_smeltzer

 @bryansmeltzer

 linkedin.com/in/bryansmeltzer/

CHRONICLE: March 30th, 2023

"When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor..."

                                                                                    Wisdom from Elon Musk

ENTREPRENEURSHIP | Becoming an Entrepreneur

To become an entrepreneur, most think first of risk vs. reward. However, they must first align and define many principles, strategies, and cultural questions before putting pen to paper, then money to ideas.

Being an entrepreneur is not for everyone, and certainly not for those faint of heart. I know, having personally built a brand from scratch, it can put “dog years” on your career but also provide valuable experience only being an entrepreneur can provide. It has significant up-and-down cycles, rewards, and benefits, but it mostly takes a toll on you personally and professionally.

I should also preface what being a “true” entrepreneur is and what it is not. A “true” Entrepreneur starts from scratch, finds creative ways to find support, and leans heavily on internal strength, knowledge, faith and humility. What an entrepreneur is not is when they start with enough cash to support the long-term “potential,” has significant resources to provide for daily needs, and has taken risk off the table. There are many of these companies, and the hit rate with both is roughly the same. The former has learned to be resourceful, while the latter has learned to use resources. Both are business owners, but only one is an authentic Entrepreneur.

What are the questions to be asked and answered?

Becoming an entrepreneur involves defining a well-thought-out plan, represented by the following questions which need to be answered.

• Do I have definitive Goals?

Within these questions are several more areas which need further thought. Within the scope of Goal setting are;

• Aspirations

For Strategy, the following need to be defined;

• Clear Path Forward

On Execution, many areas will determine your success or eventual failure;

• Resources

As you can see, many areas must be defined long before you question risk vs. reward. Most people know the answer, but most need help understanding what it takes to lessen the risk portion of the formula for long-term success.

Determine your path forward, your Strategy's reliability, and whether you can execute the plan.

Each is equally important, but all are part of a vital puzzle that must be put together before venturing into vast ocean of Entrepreneurship.

Stay True, Stay Authentic, be Different, and be Great!

Enjoy the Journey!

Bryan Smeltzer, President

 LiquidMind Inc.

#TheVisionaryChroniclesPodcast

#TheVisionaryBrandBook

@LiquidMindsite.com

@BryanSmeltzer.com

 © All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2023

Bryan Smeltzer is a consumer products business executive and entrepreneur. He has held executive-level roles in business development, product, and marketing with some of the world's most prestigious brands, including; Oakley, TaylorMade, Adidas, K-Swiss, and Schutt Sports, among other international brands. He also founded a men's apparel brand, successfully running a profitable business for ten years, eventually selling to a VC firm.

He also hosts a Podcast called The Visionary Chronicles, and recently finished his first bestselling book, The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World's Most Visionary Brands, and recently received the prestigious Readers Favorite Award for BEST Non-fiction, Marketing Genre book.

He is also a member of the Board of Advisors at UCI's BCIE along with their New Venture Program, an Innovation Advisor at the UCI's Applied Innovation program at the Cove, a Mentor/Advisor to UCLA's Price Center Venture Accelerator Program, and a Mentor/Advisor at the San Diego Sports Innovators Accelerator (SDSI) center.

Bryan currently oversees LiquidMind Inc., a global brand strategy firm that partners with both start-ups and established id to large-cap consumer brands to empower their businesses to think different, be different, drive a passionate culture, and execute relentlessly.

You can contact or  follow him at;

 [email protected]

  @bryansmeltzer33

 @bryan_smeltzer

 @bryansmeltzer

 linkedin.com/in/bryansmeltzer/

CHRONICLE: March 23rd, 2023

Content from…

• Readers Favorite Award Winner; Top Marketing Book

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and all global book distribution outlets.

Lifestyle Marketing starts with understanding who your customer is, what they enjoy, how they live, and where they spend time, not money.

Ralph Lauren famously said, “We are selling a Lifestyle, not a Product.” The idea that you must sell a product is only part of the formula for building and sustaining a brand. A premium product with a defined point of difference, through performance, fabrication, or appearance, is definable; what is not definable is Lifestyle marketing, promoting a Lifestyle enhancement as a result of purchasing your product.

All brands understand the brand equity created by providing “value beyond product,” which creates Loyalty. Loyalty increases long-term customer value, an ongoing revenue stream to a brand for a lifetime.

Beyond product, what is your Value to a customer? Most, if not all, commodity brands will not be able to provide an answer beyond “value for the money,” if this is your competitive advantage, you have NO edge. This is why so few brands and countless commodities are on the market. If no brands created breakaway, innovative products, the commodity companies would be out of business. In fairness to these companies, they know who they are and what they can provide to their consumers.

Brands that look in the rearview mirror, constantly looking over their shoulder at who is knocking them off will only lose pace with their peers. Leave the legalities to the lawyers, move ahead with your creativity, continue to innovate, and DO NOT worry about these companies.

If you are doing your job, they will always be two or three generations behind, and you should be progressive enough to ensure your brand and product equity is always leading the market. Your customers expect this; your team and your Community expect this from you.

You noticed I said “community” and not “customer.” Communities are built, nurtured, and grown, while customers are transactional. I understand customers make up a Community, but how do you build a community vs. selling customers through selling a brand, Lifestyle, and image or Community your customer wants to be a part of while wearing or using your brand? Think Different, like Apple, Just Do It, like Nike, the Ultimate Driving Machine, like BMW, all ICONIC, all global brands, all selling a Lifestyle associated with their brand.

So how does a brand build, promote, and sell a Lifestyle?

1. Be Premium, not just in product, but in everything, marketing, sales, operations, customer service, everything. If you are a Premium brand, then BE a Premium brand!

Promoting and building a Lifestyle is a strategy only true, authentic brands can deploy in building their Community of Loyal consumers. Those brands that embrace this strategy become generational, and those who do not quickly fade and are never heard from again.

Be the ONE who embraces providing Value to your Community, and you will be richly rewarded through increased lifetime value. Be Premium, Be Real, Be Consistent, and Be Authentic, and you will BE a Success!

Stay True, Stay Authentic, be Different, and be Great!

Enjoy the Journey!

Bryan Smeltzer, President

 LiquidMind Inc.

#TheVisionaryChroniclesPodcast

#TheVisionaryBrandBook

@LiquidMindsite.com

@BryanSmeltzer.com

 © All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2023

Bryan Smeltzer is a consumer products business executive and entrepreneur. He has held executive-level roles in business development, product, and marketing with some of the world's most prestigious brands, including; Oakley, TaylorMade, Adidas, K-Swiss, and Schutt Sports, among other international brands. He also founded a men’s apparel brand, successfully running a profitable business for ten years, eventually selling to a VC firm.

He also hosts a Podcast called The Visionary Chronicles, ranked as the #1 Visionary and Top 50 Marketing Podcasts by Feedspot, and recently finished his first bestselling book, The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World’s Most Visionary Brands, and recently received the prestigious Readers Favorite Award for BEST Non-fiction, Marketing Genre book.

He is also a member of the Board of Advisors at UCI’s BCIE along with their New Venture Program, an Innovation Advisor at the UCI’s Applied Innovation program at the Cove, a Mentor/Advisor to UCLA’s Price Center Venture Accelerator Program, and a Mentor/Advisor at the San Diego Sports Innovators Accelerator (SDSI) center.

Bryan oversees LiquidMind Inc., a global brand strategy firm that partners with start-ups and established mid to large-cap consumer brands to empower businesses to think differently, be different, drive a passionate culture, and execute relentlessly.

You can contact or  follow him at;

 e-mail | [email protected]

 FACEBOOK | @bryansmeltzer33

INSTAGRAM | @bryan_smeltzer

 TWITTER | @bryansmeltzer

LINKEDIN | linkedin.com/in/bryansmeltzer/

CHRONICLE: March 7th, 2023

“Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected.” –  Steve Jobs

THE VISIONARY BRAND | Strategic Competitiveness

Strategic Competitiveness is born from a Brand that has established itself as premium and can be trusted to consistently provide the best level of products or services.

With the strategic weapon of premium brand positioning, a brand can extend its market share by deploying a Product Squeeze.

The Product Squeeze happens when a brand looks to extend its product mix beyond its core offering without degrading brand equity. That is the key, and it happens without destroying brand equity or community trust.

How does a brand achieve the “squeeze” successfully? It is best explained through marketplace reference. At TaylorMade, we had a commanding market share with Movable Weight Technology (MWT) with our “first mover” advantage. Our flagship product then was the R7 Series of woods and irons. However, our leading sporting goods retailer had requested additional products at a faster pace at differing price points.

All retail footprints are built off three distinct price tiers; Good, Better, and Best. We were the Best but needed a product covering all price tiers. Our strategy was to reintroduce a previous TaylorMade product series without the flagship tech of MWT. We would reintroduce the Burner product line. Great product, but with one distinct difference, no MWT Tech. Introducing the Burner line it allowed us to capture the “Better” Tier. With one Tier left to conquer, we would decrease product development and commercialization, allowing to introduce new generations of Best level products, and move the previous to the Good level, similar to Apple's strategy with all their products.

Once we built this three-product Tier strategy, we could “Squeeze” all competitors off the other two matrixes and command a more significant market share. Within 12-18 months, we moved from a mid-30% market share to a mid-50% market share: a fantastic accomplishment and something our retail partner did not anticipate would be so successful. You would think they would be excited, but they were concerned that one brand, TaylorMade commanded such market share power and could now command pricing power, as the brand is now the majority shareholder. Deploying the “Product Squeeze” so successfully allowed smaller to enter the market.

Strategic Competitiveness is about finding a way to leverage your brand equity without damaging brand loyalty. In other words, do not be greedy, be smart. Build consistently great products, build brand loyalty through your community, and partner with your retailer or DTC channel to leverage your Strategic strategy.

Finding ways to eliminate your competitors is a weapon few possess, and those who have this power must use it wisely and strategically.

Stay True, Stay Authentic, be Different, and be Great!

Enjoy the Journey!

Bryan Smeltzer, President

 LiquidMind Inc.

#TheVisionaryChroniclesPodcast

#TheVisionaryBrandBook

@LiquidMindsite.com

@BryanSmeltzer.com

 © All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2023

Bryan Smeltzer is a consumer products business executive and entrepreneur. He has held executive-level roles in business development, product, and marketing with some of the world's most prestigious brands, including; Oakley, TaylorMade, Adidas, K-Swiss, and Schutt Sports, among other international brands. He also founded a men’s apparel brand, successfully running a profitable business for ten years, eventually selling to a VC firm.

He also hosts a Podcast called The Visionary Chronicles, and recently finished his first bestselling book, The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World’s Most Visionary Brands, and recently received the prestigious Readers Favorite Award for BEST Non-fiction, Marketing Genre book.

He is also a member of the Board of Advisors at UCI’s BCIE along with their New Venture Program, an Innovation Advisor at the UCI’s Applied Innovation program at the Cove, a Mentor/Advisor to UCLA’s Price Center Venture Accelerator Program, and a Mentor/Advisor at the San Diego Sports Innovators Accelerator (SDSI) center.

Bryan oversees LiquidMind Inc., a global brand strategy firm that partners with start-ups and established mid to large-cap consumer brands to empower businesses to think differently, be different, drive a passionate culture, and execute relentlessly.

You can contact or  follow him at;

 [email protected]

  @bryansmeltzer33

 @bryan_smeltzer

 @bryansmeltzer

 linkedin.com/in/bryansmeltzer/

“I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” – Thomas Edison

There are many great quotes on failure and the barriers you must overcome to succeed, but few resonate from such great leaders, the Visionaries.

Not a one-hit wonder but a generational success; luck is usually not part of the formula, just hard work, knowledge, and persistence.

Only a few true Visionaries have graced our planet, and even fewer today than in the past. These Visionaries, Rockefeller, Carnegie, JP Morgan, Ford, Einstein, Edison, and Jobs, contributed significantly to our way of life today.

Having discussed a few, I would like to discuss the greatest inventor of all time, Thomas Edison. Think of our world without music, voice communication, movies, or light. Yet, only a few know that Edison was also the father of the innovation process through teamwork.

Edison invented life-altering products like electric power, voice communications, sound recording, and motion pictures. These inventions included the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and the electric light bulb, and each has had a lasting impact on our world!

He established his first laboratory facility in Menlo Park, New Jersey, where many of his early inventions were developed. Over his desk Edison displayed a placard with Sir Joshua Reynold's  quotation: "There is no expedient to which a man will not resort to avoid the real labor of thinking." This is an awesome quote, and when you are looking for continual inspiration, it is best to have one which reflects what the average person aspires to achieve and never realizes, versus those who have impacted our world, the Visionaries. I am always curious as to what, or who inspired these great Visionaries, and finding a quote such as this provides some insight.

Throughout his life, Edison did not always find success, even though his products provided life-changing solutions, such as DC power. The DC world would soon turn to AC, supplied by Tesla. The fight for control would become legendary and involve some of the most powerful men in the world, such as JP Morgan. Eventually, AC would win out and provide the current electrical grid.

Edison would later establish a botanical laboratory in Fort Myers, Florida,  with businessmen Henry Ford and Harvey S. Firestone and a laboratory in West Orange, New Jersey, that featured the world's first film studio, the Black Maria. Imagine the mastermind power of Edison, Ford and Firestone. A legendary team!

With 1,093 US patents in his name and in other countries, Edison is regarded as the greatest inventor of our time. Edison married twice and had six children. He died in 1931 due to complications from diabetes.

True Visionaries impact not only our life but generations beyond, which is why there are so few. Edison was a legendary Visionary, inventor, and Idea generator. He carved the path for others to follow, but few, if any, will ever match his impact on our lives.

Stay True, Stay Authentic, be Different, and be Great!

Enjoy the Journey!

Bryan Smeltzer, President

LiquidMind Inc.

#TheVisionaryChroniclesPodcast

#TheVisionaryBrandBook

@LiquidMindsite.com

@BryanSmeltzer.com

 © All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2023

Bryan Smeltzer is a consumer products business executive and entrepreneur. He has held executive-level roles in business development, product, and marketing with some of the world's most prestigious brands, including; Oakley, TaylorMade, Adidas, K-Swiss, and Schutt Sports, among other international brands. He also founded a men’s apparel brand, successfully running a profitable business for ten years, eventually selling to a VC firm.

He also hosts a Podcast called The Visionary Chronicles, and recently finished his first bestselling book, The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World’s Most Visionary Brands, and recently received the prestigious Readers Favorite Award for BEST Non-fiction, Marketing Genre book.

He is also a member of the Board of Advisors at UCI’s BCIE along with their New Venture Program, an Innovation Advisor at the UCI’s Applied Innovation program at the Cove, a Mentor/Advisor to UCLA’s Price Center Venture Accelerator Program, and a Mentor/Advisor at the San Diego Sports Innovators Accelerator (SDSI) center.

Bryan oversees LiquidMind Inc., a global brand strategy firm that partners with start-ups and established mid to large-cap consumer brands to empower businesses to think differently, be different, drive a passionate culture, and execute relentlessly.

You can contact or  follow him at;

 [email protected]

  @bryansmeltzer33

 @bryan_smeltzer

 @bryansmeltzer

 linkedin.com/in/bryansmeltzer/

Content from…

• Readers Favorite Award Winner; Top Marketing Book

"The foundation stones for a balanced success are honesty, character, integrity, faith, love, and loyalty.”

                                                        Zig Ziglar

Brand Loyalty | The Loyalty Loop

Brands that understand the value of a customer and how to provide value beyond selling products are the ones that become generational, not transactional.

An authentic strategy around “how” you will provide value consistently and genuinely is vital to building loyalty with your Community. You noticed I did not say “Customer” but “Community.” Brands that understand the difference between the two are the ones who understand how their product affects a Community. You are building a Community of customers loyal to “Your” brand as a result of your continual flow of premium products, incremental or disruptive, that allow your Community to gain a performance edge or enhanced lifestyle experience.

As I have mentioned previously, Ralph Lauren once said, “we are selling a lifestyle, not a product,” and this rings true today. Before DTC/e-comm, brands were beholden to retailers to provide the ultimate experience you were hoping your Community would be loyal to over generations. Instead, it became a retail buying experience without any value beyond the product; in other words…transactional.

Before brands embraced the Loyalty Loop, customers were shoved through the purchase funnel, and you would move on to the next transaction. Today, brands can not afford to disengage after purchase; this is when brands must proactively provide “value beyond product.” So there are three principal components to the Loyalty Loop, which occurs post-purchase.

• ENJOY, the Product

Brands that understand Community and the context of why it is imperative to create, grow, and authentically engage will be rewarded with significantly higher lifetime customer value!

As a brand, do not be so short-sighted that you lose your Community to gain a customer—lifetime value vs. transactional consumer.

Provide Value beyond Product, and become Community focused and authentic in all you do!

Stay True, Stay Authentic, be Different, and be Great!

Enjoy the Journey!

Bryan Smeltzer, President

 LiquidMind Inc.

#TheVisionaryChroniclesPodcast

#TheVisionaryBrandBook

@LiquidMindsite.com

@BryanSmeltzer.com

 © All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2023

Bryan Smeltzer is a consumer products business executive and entrepreneur. He has held executive-level roles in business development, product, and marketing with some of the world's most prestigious brands, including; Oakley, TaylorMade, Adidas, K-Swiss, and Schutt Sports, among other international brands. He also founded a men’s apparel brand, successfully running a profitable business for ten years, eventually selling to a VC firm.

He also hosts a Podcast called The Visionary Chronicles, and recently finished his first bestselling book, The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World’s Most Visionary Brands, and recently received the prestigious Readers Favorite Award for BEST Non-fiction, Marketing Genre book.

He is also a member of the Board of Advisors at UCI’s BCIE along with their New Venture Program, an Innovation Advisor at the UCI’s Applied Innovation program at the Cove, a Mentor/Advisor to UCLA’s Price Center Venture Accelerator Program, and a Mentor/Advisor at the San Diego Sports Innovators Accelerator (SDSI) center.

Bryan currently oversees LiquidMind Inc., a global brand strategy firm that partners with start-ups and established mid to large-cap consumer brands to empower businesses to think different, be different, drive a passionate culture, and execute relentlessly.

You can contact or  follow him at;

e-Mail | [email protected]

 Facebook | @bryansmeltzer33

 Instagram | @bryan_smeltzer

Twitter |  @bryansmeltzer

 LinkedIn | linkedin.com/in/bryansmeltzer/

CHRONICLE: January 26th, 2023

" Sometimes, when you innovate, you make mistakes. It is best to admit them quickly and get on with improving your other innovations."

                                                                                                    Life from Steve Jobs

There have been many books written on Steve, and I believe I have read every one. His life is so unique and impactful it is hard to wrap your arms around all that he accomplished in such a short time.

Success is never accomplished alone but rather through others who execute the leader's Vision. Steve had a special knack for “seeing the future” and “what could be”. Few leaders over the last several centuries have had this type of intuition. Vision is driven by Visionaries, those who can see what others cannot, those who are committed to realizing their vision through others and can see it through. See it through, as you will face many barriers and failures along the path to category disruption. This is what Steve was consistently looking to achieve, simple Sophistication through disruptive products, services, processes, or technologies. Michelangelo was also a great Visionary.

So how did Steve manage to keep this disruptive, innovative product pipeline flowing for generations? As a result, most of us still use them every day and are considered indispensable!

Steve would have a method to his genius and follow a fairly consistent process.

• Pure Focus, identify your core consumer, and simplify your product mix.

These principles are timeless, and everyone can take some part in these to build a better brand, a more passionate culture, and insanely great products. Take the time to commit to the Vision, and don’t compromise. This is not what Great brands do.

Stay True, Stay Authentic, be Different, and be Great!

Enjoy the Journey!

Bryan Smeltzer, President

 LiquidMind Inc.

#TheVisionaryChroniclesPodcast

#TheVisionaryBrandBook

@LiquidMindsite.com

@BryanSmeltzer.com

 © All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2023

Bryan Smeltzer is a consumer products business executive and entrepreneur. He has held executive-level roles in business development, product, and marketing with some of the world's most prestigious brands, including; Oakley, TaylorMade, Adidas, K-Swiss, and Schutt Sports, among other international brands. He also founded a men’s apparel brand, successfully running a profitable business for ten years, eventually selling to a VC firm.

He also hosts a Podcast called The Visionary Chronicles, and recently finished his first bestselling book, The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World’s Most Visionary Brands, and recently received the prestigious Readers Favorite Award for BEST Non-fiction, Marketing Genre book.

He is also a member of the Board of Advisors at UCI’s BCIE along with their New Venture Program, an Innovation Advisor at the UCI’s Applied Innovation program at the Cove, a Mentor/Advisor to UCLA’s Price Center Venture Accelerator Program, and a Mentor/Advisor at the San Diego Sports Innovators Accelerator (SDSI) center.

Bryan currently oversees LiquidMind Inc., a global brand strategy firm that partners with start-ups and established mid to large-cap consumer brands to empower businesses to think differently, be different, drive a passionate culture, and execute relentlessly.

You can contact or  follow him at;

 [email protected]

 @bryansmeltzer33

 @bryan_smeltzer

 @bryansmeltzer

 linkedin.com/in/bryansmeltzer/