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In honor of this week's NFL Draft, Nebo recently interviewed sports marketing veteran Jim Smith. Before stepping into his role with the Atlanta Falcons in 2004, Jim was President/General Manager of the Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew, held sports marketing positions at Ohio State University and the World Wrestling Federation, and worked in minor league baseball. Jim’s impact on the Atlanta Falcons has been significant, ranging from creating a new standard for the Falcons brand to developing the award-winning “Rise Up” campaign featuring Samuel Jackson. Jim spoke to Nebo about the impact of interactive marketing on the Falcons.

In my last post about injecting a performer’s spirit into business, I focused mostly on techniques such as bringing energy to every situation, loosening up conversation, and listening with skill. In this post, I want to focus on three entertainers who brought a specific attitude to their pursuits that helped define their core authenticity and the spirit of their art. The last “entertainer” may be a surprise to you, but he is just as relevant as any of the other artists we’ve discussed and dissected.

(Photo Source: Linda Cronin)

As content marketing becomes more prevalent, there is a tendency to view it simply as a commodity. But think about the content that has an impact on your life and business. Why does that particular content matter to you versus all other content?

T'ai chi ch'uan is an unusual martial art in that it does not meet force with force. Instead, its goal is harmony – yin/yang. I took T'ai chi ch'uan many years ago, and I recall one particular lesson where my instructor showed our class the essential principles of conflict. He pointed out two common flaws in how people deal with conflict.

Normal vampires suck your blood. Meeting vampires suck away your productive time. In both cases, you feel awful after they’ve had their way with you.