Mike Rochelle, MBA’s Post

We all agree that Barbie is the Product. 👠 Now, let your imagination roam. Have you considered the roles that Ken, Allan, or even Weird Barbie might bring to a Product Team? 👀 We've taken that leap and are thrilled to present our very own Product Team – Barbie edition! 🌟 💗 #productmanagement #barbiemovie

“I got a call from an old friend…” Billy Joel intoned… and it happened to me right around Christmas last year, a perfect gift. Gary Conlon told me about a great creator-owned and founded company that had earned a reputation for high-quality, highly articulated Action figures… He said he was working with them. Two interviews later and I had my first day January 2nd, which made last Friday 100 Days in! So like the POTUS, I think the 100 Day report card is due. It was a whirlwind of a start as I dove into their rich history, learning how the former Hasbro folks completed a Record-Breaking Kickstarter and launched the company in 2013 out of Norwood, MA—about halfway between Pawtucket, RI (Hasbro HQ) and Boston. Direct-to-consumer is in our DNA! Selling to retail is in mine! Prepping for the Nuremberg Toy Fair (a career-long goal of mine) was a dream come true! As can happen, we had a hiccup with our product getting to the booth, but we hung tough. We met our primary goal of attending the show by building our relationship with existing distribution customers (taking them to the next level of coordination) and signing on two new international partners who are both dominant in their individual territories! Both have purchased products with plans to grow. There are others in process. We are working with a new national retail chain that has no shortage of customer traffic and developing an exclusive licensed piece with them. We have several other exclusives in the pipeline with new and existing customers. We are strengthening these relationships with others. By design; we formulate, record, and track well-defined goals, which are available through my newly implemented CRM system. The company is moving into a new State-of-the-Art Distribution Center, as I write this. New properties and products are announced, pre-ordered, or soon to be revealed. I have never felt so challenged, exhilarated, harried, and appreciated. How do I know this? (New product label on every product)

I am so grateful for the incredible opportunity to develop video content with Neil A. Carousso and Gabriel Gomez! Stay tuned for some exciting Bringabouts updates! Interested in learning more about sustainable innovation in the wipes industry? Check out Bringabouts.net! #innovation #sustainability #cpg #wipes #babycare #personalcare #circulareconomy #startups #socialentrepreneurship #health #business

I love this from Candy Kittens. It's not often you see organisations celebrate their employees as they leave. What do you do for your employees at this stage? Does your contact end on their last day? Reflecting and rethinking every employee interaction and experience from attraction to alumni is a really interesting activity as you align your comms and processes to the culture you want to have. #employeeexperience #attractiontoalumni

A lifetime ago, my very first job was at Applebee's Neighborhood Grill + Bar who took a chance on an unexperienced but ambitious teenager. I stayed with the franchise for the better part of a decade and learned all front and back of the house positions while trying to decide my path in life. Although I never figured out “what I want to be when I grow up,” I had the opportunity to work in several different industries (many at the same time!) before landing in technology and solutions. Even to this day, I still utilize some of the basic principles I learned at Applebee’s in both my home and work lives. * Clean as you go principal - To promote efficiency and organization, clean up after yourself while completing a task rather than waiting until the end. Today this means closing browser windows/tabs, or applications, keeping my workspace (and email inbox) clutter-free, and taking that one extra moment to put something away. * Consolidate steps - Combine multiple steps or actions to simplify or streamline a process. Reducing the number of actions required to complete a task or achieve a goal results in increased efficiency and productivity. * Set yourself up for success (aka – stock to rock!) - The more prepared you are, the better. Plan, organize, and prioritize to optimize performance and productivity. Set clear goals, create a schedule, break down tasks into manageable steps, and eliminate distractions or obstacles that may hinder progress. * If you’ve got time to lean, you’ve got time to clean! - During your free time, take a moment to assess your surroundings. Can you assist a colleague, refine a process, enhance your skills, or prepare for an upcoming meeting or task? * Consistency is key! - Manage expectations for the client by creating a predictable, repeatable, and positive outcome. * Be kind to your teammates - Follow the golden rule - treat others the way you would like to be treated. Positive behavior and attitude often lead to more positivity and kindness in return. 😊   As I’m approaching the XX year (sorry, not going to date myself 😉) mark on my hire anniversary with Applebee’s I thought it appropriate to send a wee shoutout to express my gratitude and give credit where credit is due. So – thank you, Applebee’s!!!

The Savannah Bananas enjoy much success with their "Fans First" attitude, companies too will experience varying levels of success with their own focus on improving the "customer experience". Businesses today focus entirely on data and analytics for "B2B" sales, but seem to have lost focus on how to manage "H2H" or "Human-to-Human" communications. It is the relationship with your end client that will prove to be the biggest asset in your long-term success! "Create the moment" in order to create success! #gobananas #customerexperience

Happy 2-year anniversary to Her Fantasy Box These past two years have been incredibly rewarding, as we’ve managed to grow significantly without any external funding from investors or loans. We take pride in owning 100% of Her Fantasy Box, having bootstrapped our way to success. The most challenging aspect of our growth has been capturing market share while simultaneously increasing our top-line revenue and maintaining a strong bottom line. This year has been our best yet, with over $20 million in revenue generated within just six months, maintaining a 26% net profit margin. For new and emerging brands, my key piece of advice is to determine whether you envision selling your company in the future and set a high target before you earn your first dollar. This way, as revenue starts to flow in, you remain motivated and avoid complacency, knowing your ultimate goal has yet to be achieved. Focus on market dominance with a limited number of SKUs, concentrating on perfecting your hero product rather than creating multiple variations too quickly. Additionally, prioritize getting your product into the hands of as many customers as possible during the first year before concentrating on the bottom line, depending on your business’s long-term goals. Looking ahead to Q3 and Q4, we have ambitious plans and are striving for even greater achievements.

Take time to reflect I thought about my career the other day. *The things I’ve learned *The things I’ve achieved *The brands I’ve worked with *The rate at which I’ve grown And the impact I’ve had on the industry and my clients. It took me by surprise. I started my business in 2010, but I’ve been in and around video production since the 80s, where I helped out at my parents infomercial business. I looked up to my parents. I still do. Back then, I dreamed of one day owning a business in this space. I told myself that if it was even 10% of what they had — I’d be happy. Fast forward four decades, I’ve worked with some of the biggest brands on the planet, like Coca-Cola, VW, Visa, Taco Bell, Heineken, Uber, Dell, Adidas, and Mountain Dew — to name a few. It hasn’t been easy, mind. It’s been full of ups, downs, twists, turns and surprises. It has tested me. It has pushed me. It has broken me (at one point). But it’s been worth it. I’m not telling you this for a pat on the back. Instead, I want to highlight the importance of sitting down from time to time and thinking about how far you’ve come and what you’ve achieved. It’s easy to overlook when you’re so focused on the present and the future. But it’s a great little pick me up. And well, we could all do with more of those in our lives, right? So take a moment to reflect. Thank me later. (That lo-res pic is @ GDC a billion years ago with my ole buddy - and host of Qore - Veronica Belmont) #BusinessOwnership #VideoProduction #Reflection

Here’s what we’re watching this week:

Richard Dickson the genius who turned Barbie around when he was at Mattel, Inc. Now, he’s shaking things up at Gap Here’s what we can all learn from his playbook: Dream Big & Sweat the Small Stuff: He’s all about setting big goals and nailing the details. Dive In: Richard dives deep into improving everything. Stay Strong: He’s riding out the tough times like a pro. Richard’s is leading with style and smarts. Let’s grab some of that magic for ourselves. #LeadershipGoals #GapCEO #RetailMagic 🚀🛍️