The Visionary Chronicles

By Bryan SmeltzerBusiness Entrepreneurship Marketing Management

The Visionary Chronicles episodes

September 23, 2022Team Leadership| 5 Things High Performance Teams do Consistently
The Visionary Chronicles Podcast
CHRONICLE: September 20th, 2022

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

PODCAST: Team Leadership | 5 Things High Performing Teams do Consistently

Hiring, building, and nurturing high-performance teams has long been a holy grail for brands. Each team has unique needs, personalities, and individual triggers that drive a passion in each team member. So how does a brand build a competent team and one who gets along with one another and consistently produces superior results…consistently, not just one-hit wonders?
First, when looking at building a high-performance team, understand there are primary needs of each team and individuals;

Autonomy; the ability to perform without hindrance.
Competence; having the skill set to perform.
Relatedness; being able to interact with other team members.

Then there are the three levels of support and building effectiveness in the team;

Dependance; INDIVIDUAL, the baby, the newbie, is learning from others. Crucial to have a process for onboarding.
Interdependence; TEAM, working with a group and being part of a team, finding a solution together.
Independence; LEADER, Leadership level, finding ways to make others successful. Be humble and grateful, and do not take credit for others' successes.

So what are the 5 Things that High Performing Teams do Consistently?
They are Real with each other; they express personal and professional emotions and share with the team, building a more intimate bond.
They Share Praise; they are more likely to share praise with others vs. trying to take credit for themselves. Again, it's all about the team and no friction.
They Bond; they spend more time together on non-work-related items and discussions. So it's not all about work!
They are Strategic, not only with their work but, more importantly, with their time. They are finding ways to get more done in a shorter period of time. They are working together through Interdependence and Independence.
They Communicate Directly; they are more likely to communicate through Voice vs. Text or e-mails. Be honest, be Live.

Building, managing, and growing successful teams for your brand takes a commitment to process and action. The approach to getting team members up to speed and the effort to assure they are satisfied with what it takes to be a part of a successful team and brand!

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

This is content from my new book, The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World's Most Visionary Brands.
I am proud to announce that The Visionary Brand received a Readers Favorite Award for BEST MARKETING Book, and is an Amazon Bestseller!

AMAZON: The Visionary Brand Book
21 min
August 22, 2022Pillars of Great Leadership | Principles to Follow
The Pillars of Great Leadership
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 see 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. There are a lot of delusional executives who 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 a key element to successfully executing the leader's Vision through others. 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 of the Leaders who successfully navigated their brands to generational success.

The following are Pillars of a Truly Great, Visionary Leaders
Embrace Change; no leader can avoid change, but those who do will ultimately fail and lose their sense of direction.
Embrace Failure; all great brands have failed to succeed, but you must be committed to fail and Learn from these Failures.
Show Compassion; understand the balance between success and failure… of your TEAM, not your product. Drive hard, Praise harder.
Build Loyalty; be able to build Loyalty to your brand, both inside and outside of four walls. Without Loyalty, the inherent value of your brand becomes either Equity or a Commodity, your choice.
Have a Vision; being able to see vs having a Vision are two completely different attributes. Unless you can see the future, you will only be to visualize what is in front of you.
Execute the Vision; having built a Loyal team, ensure they are executing the Vision, and provide ALL the Praise to the Team, not your Vision. They understand is your Vision, no need to remind them.
Overcome Adversity; being able to have a plan when circumstances abruptly change is a key Pillar for a Visionary Leader. Take Covid, who knew the world would stop spinning, what is your Plan?
Show Humility & Appreciation; in insecure Leader in NOT a Leader, they are not humble, they devalue contributions to the Vision, they do not share in successes, and do not embrace failure. Enough said..!

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

Stay True, stay Authentic, be Different, be Great!
Enjoy the Journey!

Bryan Smeltzer, President
LiquidMind Inc.
#TheVisionaryPodcast
#TheVisionaryBrandBook

@LiquidMindsite.com
@BryanSmeltzer.com

© All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2022
21 min
August 18, 2022IDEA Engine | How to Maximize Creativity Flow
The Visionary Chronicles Podcast
CHRONICLE: August 15th, 2022

"I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones..."
Wisdom from John Cage

IDEA ENGINE | How to Maximize Creativity Flow
In a 2018 LinkedIn Survey, Creativity was the number sought-after soft skillset.

Creativity is a Cornerstone for an Innovative Thinker and a Progressive Brand. The ability to consistently think of great IDEAS, understand the impact at a brand level, and ensure they are commercialized is a trait few possess and are willing to explore.
Exploration is a crucial piece of Creativity; having the guts to do what others say is "Impossible" and pursue a Dream and bring it to Reality for others to see. This Exploration brings excitement and passion to a brand. The willingness to FAIL and FAIL again for the pursuit of reaching the pinnacle of success. Those who are willing to take this challenge, not just once, but make it part of their DNA, their core Identity will succeed, not only in their markets but with their teams and community as well!
With Exploration comes an Artistry around successfully realizing your great IDEA. The creative mastery around molding the IDEA to match your Identity.
The Artist is the one who knows what the painting looks like before a brush is put to canvas. So be an Artist, understand the beauty behind the product, making your communities life more accessible and non-burdensome. The Simple Sophistication of a great product and the Artistry to deliver on your Brand Promise.
To Maximize IDEA flow, you must first be committed to Exploring, embracing Failure, and being an Artist, and all are collectively generating insanely GREAT IDEAS.

What are the areas required to Promote Creativity?
Free Flowing Ideas and Pace; The quicker a decision is made, the better the company. However, having a Brand committed to providing an environment to Create, and generate IDEAS, is one that will never run short on Innovation.
Free your Mind; let the process take its Pace, provide boundaries and ensure these IDEAS are processed, commercialized, or blown up to make it great!
Be a Cognitive Thinker vs. a Logical Mindset; Take your time when flushing our IDEAS, understand the implication to the brand and your community. Then, find solutions through Great IDEAS.
Leave the Door Open; Allow IDEAS to enter the Creativity process, do not be quick to judge, and ensure Cognitive Thinkers are at the table, the Creative doers.
Only the Smart Illusion; Creativity is Cognitive, and why the Logic may not always be the best trait in building an Innovative Culture. Intelligence is often misplaced, put in the correct location it can be very productive, placed in the wrong location is disastrous. Having the ability to think of what "could be" vs. "what is" is the DIFFERENCE!
Implement Balance; When Steve Jobs took over at PIXAR, he implemented the "pluses" policy, meaning every negative needed to be balanced with a plus. This simple policy broke down gridlock at PIXAR and was integral to creating their first blockbuster, Toy Story.
More is Less; Brands feel the Ideation process is better served with more people providing more Ideas…the opposite is true; the best Ideation process, where it provides the best IDEAS, is one where the mindset is common Logic is left at the Door. Cognitive THINKERS ONLY!
Many leaders agree that Innovation and Creativity are the most sought-after traits, but most do nothing to promote creating a Culture where Cognitive Thinkers can thrive!
Stay True, stay Authentic, be Different, be Great!
Enjoy the Journey!

Bryan Smeltzer, President
LiquidMind Inc.
#TheVisionaryPodcast
#TheVisionaryBrandBook

@LiquidMindsite.com
@BryanSmeltzer.com

© All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2022
23 min
August 02, 2022 Art of Competition | Creating a Strategy to Overcome Competitive Forces
The Visionary Chronicles Podcast
CHRONICLE: August 1st , 2022

"Know your enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster."
                                                                                                         Wisdom from Sun Tzu, The Art of War
PODCAST:
Art of Competition | Creating a Strategy that Overcomes Competitive Forces
The Forces of Competition, which determine strategic planning and marketplace execution, are shared among all industries. Those who can anticipate both industry and competitive moves will succeed for generations.
Anticipation is the "Art of War," and brands who fight and win the battle without having pulled a sword are the ones who have mastered the "Art of Competition." But unfortunately, many have gone to war and have shown nothing for their efforts; a strategy built on a foundation of brute force inevitably fails.
Find a way to determine outcomes before they are fought, and you will build a team and a brand set on a solid foundation, a fortress others cannot enter. Creating a culture where everyone knows their role, works together to ensure the foundation stands, and others envy what you have made and want to know your future Vision. The best they can hope for is to follow in your path but never lead.

There are several forces brands must be aware of to execute The Art of Competition in the marketplace.

New Blood
With this scenario, new blood is the latest entry into your category, one who has a new idea, provides a potentially better service or product.
Combatting this competitor takes anticipation, an innovation process, and the ability to never look over your shoulder. Each of these allows a brand to move ahead with your Vision while ensuring this new blood is blocked or eliminated from establishing a beachhead without doing anything different. Changing course is not an option, but pivoting without disrupting your business is critical.

Scale
The scale was a strategy many were caught off guard by during the pandemic, and most were unable to recover in whole or in part.
However, to attain sufficient scale with a manufacturing matrix with the core competencies needed to produce a consistently excellent product and out-innovating yourself first is the winning formula.

Community
Loyalty, recurring revenue, and value creation are foundational to longevity. These pieces of your foundation will create a wall no competitor can climb.
This takes consistency, an understanding of who your customer is, what they value, and why they buy your products is a strategic weapon built off your team's shoulders.

Commodity Players
The Imitators, not the Innovators, are the commodity players. They are not be feared, but rather these are the ones to be called out and challenged at every turn.
Imitators take great Ideas and churn them into inferior quality products and lower-tier price points. As a result, they do not build a trusting, loyal community that embraces value provided by the brand, but rather a following looking for the next significant "draw-down."
Some have been successful with this strategy, but this is like building your foundation on the sand vs. rock. YOUR CHOICE.

Rivals
The most threatening part of a brand executing its future Vision is its direct Rival, those who have authentically built a loyal community, created their innovation pipeline and stayed true to their foundation.
They are to be respected, but the Art of War principles are genuinely beneficial and provide the most benefit. You want to anticipate the moves of your Rivals, find ways to outflank them, diminish their impact, and put the fires out before they start.
The Art of War is winning without having gone to battle. So what can you do to anticipate your Rival's next move and step out and take risks, never to relinquish your lead?

The Art of Competition is understanding the landscape, anticipating your Rival's moves, outflanking your Competition, and finding ways to win the battles through a strategy where you never have to draw your weapon! Find a way to win!

Stay True, stay Authentic, be Different, be Great!
Enjoy the Journey!
Bryan Smeltzer, President
LiquidMind Inc.
@LiquidMindsite.com
@BryanSmeltzer.com

© All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2022

The Visionary Chronicles Podcast
We discuss this and other business strategy topics and pressing issues facing Entrepreneurs, Executives, and Small Business Owners.

Please check out "The Visionary Chronicles" on these sites.
Available on

Podbean
Apple Podcast
Spotify
iHeart
Pandora

If you like what you hear, I would appreciate you providing a rating and following to receive my weekly Podcasts, along with exclusive content as a follower.

Subscribe to The Visionary Chronicles PODCAST, and receive The Visionary Chronicles Weekly Newsletter, along with a FREE copy of my new book;

The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World’s Most Visionary Brands.
I am providing a FREE copy with the hope you will review Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, or any other international distributions sites the book is currently being distributed. It is always greatly appreciated to spread the word.
Enjoy!

Visionary Interviews, I will be doing some upcoming interviews with some icons in the industry. If you happen to know of someone, I may want to interview, please let me know. Just provide some brief information, and if it works, we will reach out.

Interview Form

LiquidMind
a Brand Strategy Firm for those looking to disrupt their industry, build a global digital platform, business execution leadership, or just need someone who understands your business's complexities and can provide solutions.
LiquidMind



21 min
July 20, 2022 Alignment | Managing Marketing & Sales Alignment
The Visionary Chronicles
CHRONICLE: July 21st, 2022
" Great things in business are never done by one person. They're done by a team of people.”
Wisdom from Steve Jobs
Alignment | Managing Marketing & Sales Alignment
With over 88% of companies indicating a misalignment between marketing and sales on items such as; strategy, branding, and creation, it is an area that needs vast improvement across almost every brand.
Our clients at LiquidMind (LiquidMindsite.com), both large-cap through start-up, face the same issues, and most do not either recognize the misalignment or understand the process to improve the alignment. In addition, as more brands move to DTC, the sales cycle becomes more tangible on the direct-to-consumer side and with your retailers, as they fight for both dollars and time. As a result, this alignment becomes more critical to a company's short and long-term success.
With most brands, you will find these two functional areas run independently of one another when they should be working in parallel, ensuring the brand is in complete alignment across all channels and modes of communication. However, they need each other, and frustration, inefficiency, and misalignment set in when separated.

So how does a brand work to correct this misalignment?
At LiquidMind, we work with our brands on the following areas, and step by step, piece by piece, the alignment becomes a reality.
Content Creation
Marketing often makes assumptions, based on the brand positioning, creative assets, and channels, that what they are creating is valuable to the sales teams, buyers, and customers. To define what is needed, you must understand where, when, who, and how you create and communicate.
Is this content a valuable tool for the sales team, and does the marketing strategy take a regular "pulse" check with your brand community, buyers, and sales team? Creating for the sake of producing is not a strategy. Moving does not mean you are making progress.
To create alignment with Content Creation, ensure the sales team is mapping your creative strategy, both online and in-store. Also, provide your community in engaging with your content, and they are finding helpful something "beyond" product.
Understand Need
More often than not these two areas do not understand each other's needs. Always start with Marketing, and end with Sales. Just because you "create" something does not mean it is an effective tool for the sales force.
To better understand the need, have the sales team provide regular input on tangible tools to make their lives easier and provide branding, tools, and communications to make your communities' Lives easier. Understanding and balancing both is critical to marketing your brand and ensuring you maintain brand equity and loyal with both sales and your customers.
Mind Merge
Having regular sessions with the sales team, communicating marketing efforts, and applying the strategy daily builds trust with both organizations.
Merging ideas and concepts with reality will bring the Marketing Strategy to a more tangible level to the sales team. So get them involved, but sales must also understand their role in the process, it NOT to create, but rather provide details on NEEDS.
Tool Generation
Ensure marketing has laid out the tools, resources, and integrated brand strategy to the sales team. The sales team needs to be seamless with "messaging" to buyers and consumers and the lead driven by marketing.
If there is no clear strategy, vision, or plan, you can imagine how quickly this alignment can break down.
Ensure you provide online and offline marketing tools that can be used by both internal sales and external buyers or customers.
With the fast-paced, digital world we live in, aligning with everyone inside a brand is critical to the successful execution of your strategy. Frustration and misalignment can be replaced by an authentic, genuine passion and excitement for what your brand is doing and yet to accomplish. Together, lock arms, understand shared needs, and complement one another strengths, and work on your weaknesses to better the brand!
Stay True, stay Authentic, be Different, be Great!
Enjoy the Journey!

Bryan Smeltzer, President
LiquidMind Inc.
@LiquidMindsite.com
@BryanSmeltzer.com
© All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2022

The Visionary Chronicles Podcast
In my new Podcast, Alignment | Managing Marketing & Sales Alignment
, I discuss both the understanding of team misalignment and how to correct this going forward.
We discuss this and other business strategy topics and pressing issues facing Entrepreneurs, Executives, and Small Business Owners.
Please check out "The Visionary Chronicles" on these sites.
Available on
Podbean
Apple Podcast
Spotify
iHeart
Pandora

If you like what you hear, I would appreciate you providing a rating and following to receive my weekly Podcasts, along with exclusive content as a follower.

Subscribe to The Visionary Chronicles PODCAST and receive The Visionary Chronicles Weekly Newsletter, along with a FREE copy of my new book;
The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World's Most Visionary Brands, an AMAZON Bestseller!
I am providing a FREE copy hoping you will review Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, or any other international distribution sites the book is currently being distributed. It is always greatly appreciated to spread the word.
Enjoy!

Visionary Interviews, I will be doing some upcoming interviews with some icons in the industry. If you happen to know of someone I may want to interview, please let me know. Just provide some brief information, and if it works, we will reach out.
LiquidMind
a Brand Strategy Firm for those looking to disrupt their industry, build a global digital platform, business execution leadership, or just need someone who understands your business's complexities and can provide solutions.
24 min
May 31, 2022Leadership | Lead by Faith not Fear
The Visionary Chronicles Podcast
CHRONICLE: June 1st, 2022

“When we are in chaos, everybody has a plan to fix it. But it takes a leader of real understanding to straighten things out.”
Life Faith from Proverbs 28:2 (Mes)

THE VISIONARY CHRONICLES PODCAST
Leadership | Lead by Faith, not Fear
Faith is something all of us have embraced at one point in our lives, and we know if, more often than not comes at the darkest moments or times. This is a comfort we have, knowing that all things are possible through Faith.
We often try to take on the world or do not understand how the world operates or works, and trying to figure it out seems to be an impossible task. Through building my own company and having been with some of the world's most iconic brands, problems and barriers are an inevitable part of your evolution. It is where you turn in these times that makes the difference between just surviving or eternally thriving. The strength to know there is an end and the power to realize you will always have blessings through your Faith that will carry you through these storms of life.
Each has barriers of different magnitudes, but very few of us take the time to pray and know this is a test to strengthen us for both ourselves and others. Many people feel uncomfortable discussing their Faith, which is fine as long as you have an authentic Faith that reaches out in both the good times and bad times. You will have both, but to have a singular Faith is very reassuring and comforting.
Leaders who are open about their Faith and have an engraining belief in the blessings true Faith provides each day are more reassured during difficult times and understand there is an end to the struggles. Having a leader with this character and strength in these difficult times is assuring.
Leaders can embrace several biblical principles as they look to Lead through Faith.
Lead by Faith, not Fear; the assurance that all things will work together for good.
Do not overemphasize the negative; during these storms of life, people hear enough of the bad and be the bearer of good news whenever possible.
Never underestimate the power of a team; cohesively bringing others together for a common goal, driven through a shared passion, is powerful.
Inject the positive, eliminate the negative; during storms, be the one who leads through reassurance and positivity.
Faith overcomes Fear, knowing and believing that a solid foundational Faith conquers Fear.

“Some have refused to let Faith guide their decisions, and they have been destroyed like a wrecked ship.”
1 Timothy 1:19 (GW)
In creating this Podcast, I wanted to discuss ALL subjects, ones I intuitively knew entrepreneurs needed to hear and ones no one wanted to discuss. Faith played an essential role in assuring I would be able to knock down barriers put in front of me in my entrepreneurial journey. The reassurance that the storm would eventually end, and the light would again be bright.
This is also why I started the Saddleback Christian Entrepreneur Leadership Ministry at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA, where Rick Warren is our Pastor and the author of Purpose Driven Life. Click on the image below to find information on our Ministry, or forward it to those you feel may benefit.

I hope you find this Podcast inspirational and you take it to heart. I am sure you will need the Faith to take you through a trying time or storm in your life.
Stay True, stay Authentic, be Different, and be Great!
Enjoy the Journey!
Bryan Smeltzer, President
LiquidMind Inc.
@LiquidMindsite.com
@BryanSmeltzer.com

© All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2022

In my new Podcast, Leadership | Lead by Faith, not Fear, I discuss how leaders need to lean on their Faith when barriers to success seem out of reach or when you need to reinvigorate your passion or lead your team through the storms you will inevitably face.

The Visionary Chronicles Podcast
We discuss this and other business strategy topics and pressing issues facing Entrepreneurs, Executives, and Small Business Owners.
Please check out "The Visionary Chronicles" on these sites.
Available on
Podbean
Apple Podcast
Spotify
iHeart
Pandora
If you like what you hear, I would appreciate you providing a rating and following to receive my weekly podcasts and exclusive content as a follower.

Subscribe to The Visionary Chronicles PODCAST and receive The Visionary Chronicles Weekly Newsletter, along with a FREE copy of my new book;
The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World's Most Visionary Brands.
I am providing a FREE copy hoping you will review Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, or any other international distribution sites.
Enjoy!

Visionary Interviews, I will be doing some upcoming interviews with some icons in the industry. If you know of someone, I may want to interview, please let me know. Just provide some brief information, and if it works, we will reach out.

LiquidMind
a Brand Strategy Firm for those looking to disrupt their industry, build a global digital platform, business execution leadership, or just need someone who understands your business's complexities and can provide solutions.
26 min
May 26, 2022Marketing Metrics | Develop a Roadmap
The Visionary Chronicles
CHRONICLE: May 27th, 2022

            “The aim of marketing is to know and understand the customer so well the product or service fits him and sells itself…”
                                                                                                Wisdom from Peter Drucker

THE VISIONARY CHRONICLES PODCAST
Marketing Metrics | Developing a Roadmap
We know that Marketing Metrics do matter and are an essential contribution to defining brand ROI. They establish marketing discipline, decision making, investment analysis, assessing the effectiveness of critical activities, and validating how business outcomes are achieved.
It is how we determine, assess, and manage these metrics to build an effective marketing strategy that provides tangible brand equity benefits and a realized ROI.
The first step in building your Roadmap is determining the most critical data points to construct an analysis of brand investment value.
Metric Data Point Analysis;
Do these metrics impact revenue (P/L) or the brand equity value/goodwill (balance sheet)?
Do the metrics define the past (previous) or the future (lifetime value)?
Are the metrics static (period demand generation) or dynamic (ongoing demand build)?

The Roadmap to the Value of defining marketing metrics:
Campaign Metrics; effectiveness, ROI through click-through rates, and visits.
Satisfaction Metrics; customer satisfaction through NPS (net promoter score), or revenue.
Brand Metrics; brand affinity or brand equity valuation increase.
Customer Acquisition/Attrition; process to determine customer churn rate.
Corporate Metrics; enterprise value translation through corporate Culture, HR, or potential M & A value.
You will need to initial the analysis with metrics that track marketing investment performance, such as promos. Then, determine and measure the outcome and compare it to the expectations, such as;
Click-Throughs?
Customers Visits?
Do the results justify the investment?
How effective and efficient was marketing’s strategy?
Were you able to determine ROI?
The most common marketing ROI formula’s are;
TOTAL: Marketing Return on Investment
MROI (%) = Incremental revenue attributable to marketing ($) during the period – Marketing spending ($) ÷ Marketing spending ($)= % ROI

FUNNEL: Marketing Return on Investment (LiquidMind action sports customer-example)
Campaign cost ($30,000) generates 6,000 views of video. Historical tracking projects 12 of viewers will become qualified leads within 6 weeks and 10 % will convert to revenue within 6-9 months = 72 sales. At a profit of $500/sale = $36,000 in revenue.
Funnel MROI - $36,000-$30,000/$30,000 = 20% MROI

CUSTOMER EQUITY: Marketing Return on Investment (LiquidMind banking customer-example)
Customer retention/attrition valuation; 10,000 customers, @ $2,000 annual profit/customer. Current attrition rate = 20%, invest $4M and goal is to reduce to 17%.
Before; 10,000 * $2,000/20% - $100M
After; 10,000 * $2,000/17% = $117M
Customer Equity MROI; $17.6M (increase)- $4M(marketing)/$4M (marketing) = 340% MROI
These marketing metrics need to be combined with other metrics. Still, the most important ones are revenue growth, which realizes a tangible ROI, and customer satisfaction through the Net Promoter Score.
The marketing team can measure the Value of brands equity value growth through other more intangible metrics such as;
Brand awareness
Brand consideration
Brand preference
Brand quality and point of difference
Brand affinity
Brand positioning
Brand culture
In looking at brand marketing metrics, a recent study of CMOs in 2021 found the following are the most important for determining ROI.
Revenue
Digital Marketing Performance
Lead Generation
Content Engagement
Lead Generation
Customer Engagement/Experience
Campaign Costs
As you can see, marketing metrics are important, but determining tangible benefits is of the utmost importance.
At LiquidMind (LiquidMindsite.com), we work with our brands to set a cohesive marketing strategy, activation plan, ongoing investment analysis, and brand equity development and growth determination.
Stay True, stay Authentic, be Different, and be Great!

Enjoy the Journey!
Bryan Smeltzer, President
LiquidMind Inc.
@LiquidMindsite.com
@BryanSmeltzer.com

© All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2022

The Visionary Chronicles Podcast
In my new Podcast, Marketing Metrics | Develop a Roadmap, I discuss what are most important metrics in order to accurately determine marketing return on investment. With so many channels, combined with seemingly intangible results, how to you measure spends, and future investment strategy?

We discuss this and other business strategy topics and pressing issues facing Entrepreneurs, Executives, and Small Business Owners.

Please check out "The Visionary Chronicles" on these sites.
Available on
Podbean
Apple Podcast
Spotify
iHeart
Pandora
If you like what you hear, I would appreciate you providing a rating and following to receive my weekly podcasts and exclusive content as a follower.
Subscribe to The Visionary Chronicles PODCAST and receive The Visionary Chronicles Weekly Newsletter, along with a FREE copy of my new book;
The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World's Most Visionary Brands.
I am providing a FREE copy hoping you will review Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, or any other international distribution sites the book is currently being distributed. It is always greatly appreciated to spread the word.
Enjoy!
Visionary Interviews, I will be doing some upcoming interviews with some icons in the industry. If you happen to know of someone I may want to interview, please let me know. Just provide some brief information, and if it works, we will reach out.

LiquidMind
Empowering Disruptive Brands...
(LiquidMindsite.com)
Brand Strategy Firm for those looking to disrupt their industry, build a global digital platform, business execution leadership, or just need someone who understands your business's complexities and can provide solutions.
26 min
May 11, 2022Inspirational Leadership | How to Authentically Inspire Others
The Visionary Chronicles
CHRONICLE: May 12th, 2022

Inspiration "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them…"
Life Wisdom from President John F. Kennedy

THE VISIONARY CHRONICLES PODCAST

PODCAST: Inspirational Leadership | How to Authentically Inspire Others

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them…"
Iconic words from an inspirational President. Most, if not all, would wish to have such an inspirational leader to work for or be inspired by in life. Unfortunately, this is the case with most, but you can make a difference in others' lives, be inspiring, be authentic and live by your words!
As we know, having gone through the pandemic and a continual barrage of challenges over the years and decades, having an authentic, inspirational leader is a rare sighting these days.
The pandemic has taken a toll on our mental and physical health. Being able to inspire others through these challenges is undoubtedly a trait most would like to have, but nearly everyone ignores. It has been proven that those leaders who take the time to engage, providing an environment of trust, enthusiasm, renewal, gratitude, and recognition, are more likely to have enhanced performance from their Brand, lower employee turnover, more significant innovation, and a better culture. Not a bad return for a bit of investment of your time!
This attribute is a complementary skill set to a Visionary leader, and the one who adopts this authentic leadership style will reap long-term benefits. Conversely, the opposite of inspirational leadership, someone who lifts everyone around them is uninspiring, a grinder who never looks up to see those who are supporting them, someone with no level of gratitude, and someone who burns everyone out.
The inspirational leader gains energy from those you engage with, like a multiplier effect. Unlike traditional energy zappers, running, exercise, and emotions, passionate leaders feed off the positive energy of others.
In looking at the effects of positive, inspirational, Visionary leaders, the following are the result of being genuinely engaged, compassionate, and gracious;
You are authentic and trustworthy.
You enhance your performance through others.
Overall brand performance is improved, both financially and culturally.
Innovation is greater.
Teams are more engaged.
Family relationships are improved as a result of recognition and appreciation.
Being a genuinely inspirational leader with endless energy and the ability to motivate others is not easy. Still, it becomes easy if you are authentically committed and the results are tangible.

Stay True, stay Authentic, be Different, and be Great!
Enjoy the Journey!
Bryan Smeltzer, President
LiquidMind Inc.
@LiquidMindsite.com
@BryanSmeltzer.com

© All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2022

In my new Podcast, Inspirational Leadership | How to Authentically Inspire Others, I discuss your role in being an authentic, passionate, and inspiring leader. This trait is rare, but those committed will make a positive change and impact other people's lives.

The Visionary Chronicles Podcast
We discuss this and other business strategy topics and pressing issues facing Entrepreneurs, Executives, and Small Business Owners.
Please check out "The Visionary Chronicles" on these sites.
Available on:
Google Play
Amazon Music
Podbean
Apple Podcast
Spotify
iHeart
Pandora
If you like what you hear, I would appreciate you providing a rating and following to receive my weekly podcasts and exclusive content as a follower.

Subscribe to The Visionary Chronicles PODCAST and receive The Visionary Chronicles Weekly Newsletter, along with a FREE copy of my new book;

The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World's Most Visionary Brands.
I am providing a FREE copy hoping you will review Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, or any other international distribution sites the book is currently being distributed. It is always greatly appreciated to spread the word.
Enjoy!
Visionary Interviews, I will be doing some upcoming interviews with some icons in the industry. If you happen to know of someone I may want to interview, please let me know. Just provide some brief information, and if it works, we will reach out.
BryanSmeltzer.com/podcasts

LiquidMind
a Brand Strategy Firm for those looking to disrupt their industry, build a global digital platform, business execution leadership, or just need someone who understands your business's complexities and can provide solutions.
LiquidMindsite.com
26 min
May 05, 2022DIGITAL MARKETING | Building Customer Data Knowledge
The Visionary Chronicles Podcast
CHRONICLE # 81: May 5th, 2022

"Data is not information, and information is not knowledge, knowledge is not understanding, understanding is not wisdom.”
Knowledge from Clifford Stoll
PODCAST: DIGITAL MARKETING | Building Customer Data Knowledge

Digital marketing has been moving at the speed of light, and most brands will be left in the dust. But unfortunately, they continue to manage their digital marketing strategy as if it was 1999, not 2022.
It is challenging to jump and stay on this fast-moving train without getting run over, but you must have a digital strategy that allows for knowledge learning.
Knowledge is the king of digital marketing, anticipating consumer needs, offering recommendations, and being proactive with products that match immediate needs.
Companies like Amazon are a model of how to anticipate consumer needs and continually adapt to changing conditions. Amazon is at the pinnacle of digital AI, and this has taken them decades to perfect. They sell over 4,000 products every minute, with over 55% recommended through their AI database. With a database of over 350 million items, they reset their algorithms within seconds. These recommendations are relative to Amazon assets; Prime, Prime Video, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods.
Google is another brand with an endless amount of consumer data and Shopping analysis algorithms. In addition, the interconnectivity of Google is ongoing, with over 25 billion data points connecting products with consumers.
Both Amazon and Google, along with many other brands, capture how individuals exercise, work, play, interact, vacation, and other activities which define specific recommendations.
The intent is to learn their customer's preferences and offer what they “may” need before they know it or when they are looking.
So how does a brand get started and stay ahead of this fast-moving train?
Rich Data; First, understand it is not the amount of data you have but the effective use of what you have. How valuable is the information you have? Determine your customer needs, and personalize it. Rich data!
Algorithms; develop algorithms that personalize your Brand’s experience related to your consumer and community. Build Trust, and offer Value!
Build Trust; as you continue to migrate data through algorithms, ensure you are careful to utilize the data to create a trusting, personalized experience with current customers and those who are not yet.
To build a digital marketing engine, you must have a “dynamic” strategy that can move with the changes in the digital marketing tools and algorithms they create. It is not an easy task, but one you must adopt to succeed in your DTC channel!
Stay True, stay Authentic, be Different, be Great!
Enjoy the Journey!
Bryan Smeltzer, President
LiquidMind Inc.
@LiquidMindsite.com
@BryanSmeltzer.com

© All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2022

In my new Podcast, Digital Marketing | Building Customer Data Knowledge, I discuss establishing a data knowledge structure for your company. Ensuring you accumulate, and use only useful data, along with respecting your communities privacy and continuing to provide value to your consumer.

The Visionary Chronicles Podcast
We discuss this and other business strategy topics and pressing issues facing Entrepreneurs, Executives, and Small Business Owners.

Please check out "The Visionary Chronicles" on these sites:
LiquidMindsite.com
BryanSmeltzer.com
Podbean
Apple Podcast
Spotify
iHeart
Pandora
Google Play
Amazon Music

If you like what you hear, I would appreciate you providing a rating and following to receive my weekly Podcasts, along with exclusive content as a follower.
Subscribe to The Visionary Chronicles PODCAST, and receive The Visionary Chronicles Weekly Newsletter, along with a FREE copy of my new book;

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

An AMAZON BESTSELLER!

I am providing a FREE copy with the hope you will review Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, or any other international distributions sites the book is currently being distributed. It is always greatly appreciated to spread the word.
Enjoy!

Visionary Interviews, I will be doing some upcoming interviews with some icons in the industry. If you happen to know of someone, I may want to interview, please let me know. Just provide some brief information, and if it works, we will reach out.

LiquidMind
a Brand Strategy Firm for those looking to disrupt their industry, build a global digital platform, business execution leadership, or just need someone who understands your business's complexities and can provide solutions.
26 min
April 20, 2022 VISION | How to Set Your Path & Stay on Course
The Visionary Chronicles
CHRONICLE: April 21st, 2022

Inspiration "The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision."
Wisdom from Hellen Keller

THE VISIONARY CHRONICLES PODCAST

PODCAST: VISION | Set your Path & Stay on Course
Establishing a Vision for your Brand is difficult; sticking with the Vision is nearly impossible for most companies. There lies the difference between generational success and near-term failure. The inevitable fate of those who can consistently and continually execute their Vision is part of the rubble that makes up almost 95% of all start-ups. Failure…
As the Visionary behind your Brand, you must create a culture, an environment inside the four walls where the entire team feels they are contributing to the success of the Vision, a unified Vision of the longer-term future for your Brand.
This is difficult enough, and most leaders fail to execute the plan and see the Vision come to Life over the years. For example, a McKinsey study in 2018 found that only 16% of companies were committed to digital transformation, a necessary piece of a strategic puzzle for both being efficient and effective and Market Driving Brand. So you must commit to the Vision across all levels of the Brand to sustain your success.
In looking at what Visionary leaders create on their path to successfully navigating the course to executing the brand Vision:
Connect the Dots; as Steve Jobs so famously followed, it is a matter of "connecting the dots" as you move along your path. These Leaders have a structured plan, usually driven annually, connected through near-term action plans, accountability, tools, and proper resource allocation.
Embrace Freedom to Fail; Encourage Ideas, allow for the freedom to express how others' lives can be enhanced with our products or services. Never downplay Ideas until you have evaluated their potential impact; you may not see the light before it is too late.
Provide Tools & Support, providing an environment for experimentation with great Ideas! The more you nurture this iterative process, generating innovations and disruptive strategies, the more tangible your Innovation Pipeline becomes.
Setting your Vision is more effortless than sticking with your Vision. So be sure to have a process, both tangible and non-tangible, where others know expectations and all feel part of the process.
Stay True, stay Authentic, be Different, be Great!
Enjoy the Journey!
Bryan Smeltzer, President
LiquidMind Inc.
@LiquidMindsite.com
@BryanSmeltzer.com

© All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2022

The Visionary Chronicles Podcast
In my new Podcast, VISION | Set Your Path & Stay on Course, I discuss establishing a Vision for your company, and ensuring you stick with your commitment to being a leader through authentication and staying the course regardless of the headwinds.
We discuss this and other business strategy topics and pressing issues facing Entrepreneurs, Executives, and Small Business Owners.
Please check out "The Visionary Chronicles" on these sites.
Available on:
Podbean
Apple Podcast
Spotify
iHeart
Pandora
Google Play
Amazon

If you like what you hear, I would appreciate you providing a rating and following to receive my weekly Podcasts, along with exclusive content as a follower.

Subscribe to The Visionary Chronicles PODCAST, and receive The Visionary Chronicles Weekly Newsletter, along with a FREE copy of my new book;

The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World's Most Visionary Brands.
I am providing a FREE copy with the hope you will review Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, or any other international distributions sites the book is currently being distributed. It is always greatly appreciated to spread the word.
Enjoy!

Visionary Interviews, I will be doing some upcoming interviews with some icons in the industry. If you happen to know of someone, I may want to interview, please let me know. Just provide some brief information, and if it works, we will reach out.

LiquidMind
Brand Strategy Firm for those looking to disrupt their industry, build a global digital platform, business execution leadership, or just need someone who understands your business's complexities and can provide solutions.

25 min

About The Visionary Chronicles

From the publisher's feed

I spent 20 years in executive roles at Oakley, adidas, TaylorMade, and K-Swiss — then built and sold my own brand to a VC firm. Now I run LiquidMind, a brand strategy advisory firm, and I share everything I know on this show.

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