That last feature is one we’re extremely excited about because it really opens the door to all sorts of people utilizing Magnt that may not have before. Our passion is introducing you online and we’re confident that these updates are a giant step forward in that process.

Go to http://magntize.com to signup for free.

Photo Credit: Camera Slayer

A struggling entrepreneur was pitching the idea of media hubs at doctors offices. While sitting in the waiting room patrons would be able to get online, watch t.v., and read e-magazines. The product would be supported by ads. The sharks (investors) didn’t think it was a good idea because it was expensive to install and most people could access all of this information on their cell phones anyway. Sensing his chance is slipping away the entrepreneur begins to break down (literally tearing up) and confesses that he’s put everything into this idea over the last few years. He’s mortgaged his home, emptied his kids college funds, and is on the verge of bankruptcy. The investors let out a collective gasp and then start to lecture him basically saying, “What the heck do you think you’re doing? This is lunacy. You need to stop immediately. Nothing is worth you’re kids college fund.”

What struck me was that none of them admired him for the risk he was taking. They didn’t congratulate him on his courage or give him platitudes about his big break being just around the next corner. They told him to quit and focus on his family for awhile.

Most rah rah business books always promote a never give up mentality. Apparently, when the chips are down is when you’re supposed to go all in! I agree that most people give up far too easily but there comes a time when it’s okay to say “I’m out.” Then cut your losses and move on.

We need to learn the art of quitting well.

Photo Credit: mattgrimm

On the one hand you have those who feel that whatever you create should be your passion. It should spring from within and be something you believe in even if your close friends or family laugh and call you crazy. They say some of the greatest innovations in the world have come from folks who’s products no one loved or thought would work at first glance. I think Gary Vaynerchuk of winelibrary.tv would fall into this camp.

On the other hand you have those who say business isn’t about you, it’s about the customers. Starting businesses around your passion is selfish and shortsighted. The key is to get a pulse on the market, larger culture, the masses and ask what it’s looking for? Then create a product that taps into their felt need. Sure it may not be your favorite thing in the world but at least it will be profitable. I think Michael Gerber author of the E-Myth would fall into this camp.

Of course the paradox of business is that it should be both. Novelist Frederick Buekner wrote that vocation is “where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” If you were forced to choose one over the other I would go with passion every time. Yet, to be wildly financially successful it will take both working in tandem.

Photo Credit: Arenamontanus

Good God, how long will our lives continue to be up-ended by this invisible malice? At what point is the lawn so high that you finally muster the will to startup the mower? How long before you finally sit down to write that novel? That business or non profit you’ve dreamed of launching, when is that happening?

The truth is that you’re too brilliant and the world is too desperate for you to be defeated by resistance. I’m not saying it won’t be hard, but I think you’ll find the actual doing of something significant no where close to the pain of avoiding it all your life.

Start today and beat resistance. It’s pummeled you long enough, agreed?

Photo Credit: m4r00n3d

Don’t do this. Not only is it annoying to others and hurtful to your brand, it simply doesn’t work. Social Media is an “opt in” marketing medium, in other words, no one has any incentive to listen to you. If you start blaring your message over and over anyone who was remotely interested will leave. It’s kind of like going to a party and talking about yourself the whole time. Your accomplishments, your good looks, your reason for being, your life story, your agenda. You, you, you blah, blah, blah. Eventually everyone gives up attempting conversation with you. Sure you may have a few hundred followers but the only reason their pretending to listen to you is in hopes that you’ll listen to them. They don’t care about you or what you’re offering any more than you care about them.

Stop screaming.

Chat with people. There’s a reason this is called ’social’ media. It’s like a big party: everyone talking, laughing, sharing ideas, throwing out suggestions, and yes even listening. The key is to strike the right balance between sharing about yourself and being interested in others.

Photo Credit: Felipe Bachomo

I’ve never been to Teavana but apparently they’re doing a wonderful job of telling their story. How do I know? A close friend of mine recently showed up at the office with a brand new tea set in his hands and a fantastic tale on his lips. He’s a hard core coffee drinker but before I knew it he was spinning tales of ancient chinese tea secrets, the benefits of steeping in cast iron pots, and the fact that the freshness of loose leaf tea’s can be examined with the naked eye. He was absolutely raving and couldn’t wait to try out some of his new teas. Three days later I’m at my brothers house when out of nowhere he says, “You’ll never believe what I bought today!” Before I can blink he’s telling me the same story and letting me hold the beautifully designed cast iron pot, cups, and saucers. The enchantment was all around us, I found myself dreaming of sipping tea with the Dali Lama and other people full of wisdom and vitality.

Any company can make up a story as part of some marketing intiative but they’re quickly found out as frauds (especially with the rise of the internet where information travels faster than lightening). The best companies absolutely believe and embody their stories. They feel it down to their toes. For them marketing isn’t something that’s slapped on at the end and design isn’t an after-thought. Everything about the business is done intentionally, each piece a chapter in their grand narrative. Moleskine, The North Face, TOMS Shoes, and 37 Signals all have a story to tell and they’re doing a heck-of-a-job of telling it.

How about you? What story is your company telling?

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Two great books on this topic are Design by Tom Peters and All Marketers Are Liars by Seth Godin.

Photo Credit: vociferous.

Many dream of having 20,000 twitter followers but only a handful post interesting links, create good content, and engage conversation like crazy so that one day they can.

Lots of folks dream of creating a million dollar company but very few are willing to become a person that has the capacity to run one.

Plenty of people dream of having a blog read by thousands each day however only a handful get up each morning and write a post.

Anyone can dream of starting a non-profit but only a minuscule number ever fill out the paper work to get the process started.

The good news for you is that you’re not most people, which gives you a massive head start. if you’re willing to get up a little earlier, stay up a wee bit later, if you’re willing to pour blood, sweat, and tears into your dreams, then someday they’ll be your reality.

A true dreamer isn’t someone who has them, it’s someone who respects them enough to take action.

Photo Credit: h.koppdelaney

Recently I was walking through the grocery store when something caught my eye. It was a bottle of soap, but not just any bottle of hand soap my friends, it was the most gorgeous bottle of soap I’d ever laid eyes on. “Oh wow!” I exclaimed to my wife, “Maggie, look at this bottle of soap! Have you ever seen anything so elegant? Now this is great design, whoever created this was on a mission.” Check it out, I think you’ll agree.

I purchased this soap and I will continue to purchase it. Yes, it’s a bit more expensive than your average bar of Dial but I’m willing to pay a premium for something that makes me smile, makes me stare, something that gives me goose bumps.

In a world where thousands of average products are rolled out daily, design can be the thing that separates you from the pack.

Photo Credit: Quinnanya

Your only shot is to build something that people hate, because for every person that hates you there will be someone that loves you. Don’t build a product that appeals to the largest number of people possible, build a product that gets a small number of people excited and talking. If you can win a few die hard fans your idea will spread. Remember the worst thing someone can say about your product isn’t “I hate this!” or “this is the worst idea ever!” The worst thing they can say is nothing at all. Be deeply loved and deeply hated.

Photo Credit: Dr. Seuss

Incidentally, most of our favorites came from the same source: DJ Walsted. His first submission was Compass, using the idea that when you are lost on the sea, you will almost absolutely stay lost unless you have a compass pointing you in the right direction. Applied to the web, a Compass site would be the instrument that people use to find you on the vastness of the internet. Conceptually, we loved the idea; however, the compass is a fairly common image on the web, and we really want something that is distinct and individual.

DJ also suggested Seed; the idea that something small eventually blossoms into something great, with a wide reach covering a lot of ground. This also kept with the earthy, natural feel of Nectar. Still, Seed was a bit vague and simple, and it is a concept that’s very commonly used in just about every regard.

Then DJ dropped the bomb. Magnet. Bloody brilliant. Magnets attract, magnets drive, magnets are incredibly simple, but infinitely complex. Taking it in a broader context, magnetism is all around us and it’s forces can be found throughout mother nature and science. In short, magnetism kicks butt.

The next hurdle, of course, was the domain name. Obviously, magnet.com was taken, so we got creative. We came up with countless ideas ranging from getmagnetized.com to magn.it, though none really stuck out.

Then, almost as an afterthought, Brett suggested Magnt. It looked cool and webby, it was phonetic, and easy to spell (”Magnet without the e”). But, alas, magnt.com was also taken. The domain was home to The Minnesota Chapter of the Association for Global New Thought (MAGNT), and while we were doubtful in being able to acquire it, Dave gave it a shot anyways.

He got in touch with William Schmidt at MAGNT, who was incredibly helpful and open to the idea of selling the domain, and through that relationship, we were able to negotiate a conversion that worked favorably for both parties.

So, there you have it. Nectar is now magnt. As you can tell we’ve already developed our new identity and have begun a partial makeover of our website. We’ll continue to polish and refine over the next few weeks but we hope you are pleased with the early results.  Best of all, the entire experience will be seamless for our customers.

To the people that submitted ideas, we offer you a hundred thanks!! Seriously, we were overjoyed by the amount of responses we got. There wasn’t an idea that we didn’t give significant thought to. If you get a chance, check some of these people out. They’ve got good heads on their shoulders.

-Ryan Scott
-Jacob Good
-DJ Walsted
-Brandon Montgomery
-Tyler Hayes
-Mike Walker
-Alex Hillinger
-Bill Trammel
-Joel Knight
-Karen LeQuia
-Alexis Karlin
-Carol Hammack
-Jeremy Shulse
-Michael Manes (ie Awesome McAwesomton)
-Mike Ames
-Christopher Leitz
-Kyle Steed
-Stephanie Nguyen
-Holly White
-Royce Regester
-Scott Schwartz
-Bob Roman

We’ll have a new post in the very near future talking more in depth about our new brand and focused direction.  Stay tuned!