This past weekend, I headed to Miami, Florida with the Pure Romance team where we were a sponsor of the Gronk Beach Super Bowl party. I have to admit, it’s been a while since I’ve attended such a major marketing event, and since Pure Romance has grown substantially over the years, it was a wildly different experience.
The Miami event was especially unique as we debuted our first-ever promotional vending machine. It was exciting to be a part of, but, like with any big event, there were some setbacks throughout the day. As the team and I set up and worked the event, I was reminded that being a business owner is truly a labor of love. If you kept up with me on social media, what you saw was fun, great photos, videos, and a revolutionary vending machine full of top Pure Romance products. But, behind the scenes, plenty of stress went into making the event a success. While our team handled all adversity with grace and turned lemons into lemonade, this weekend showed me how important it is to come back to the 5 pillars of Kobe Bryant’s Mamba Mentality.
Be Passionate
How passionate are you about your business? How often do you practice presenting this passion to others? How often do you teach your team how to interact with customers and show their passion for the business? While in Miami, there was some negativity towards Pure Romance products. Luckily, this is something we’ve learned to conquer with poise and class.
When Pure Romance was founded in 1993, radio stations didn’t want to advertise the business, and the thought of television stations airing a Pure Romance commercial was unheard of. To break the stigma behind our products and brand, people with a passionate for the company had to get out there and advocate and market the business appropriately.
We’re passionate about our cause and mission and it shows through in our response to negativity. If you aren’t passionate about your business and mission, people will walk all over you. When negativity seeps into your space, conquer it by educating rather than getting upset. You’ll always have naysayers but let your passion drive you to continue educating and breaking down barriers.
Be Obsessive
The target market at Gronk’s Super Bowl Party was not a demographic that Pure Romance typically caters to. But why shouldn’t we? Being a 21 and over event, with a substantial number of party-goers ages 21-30, this was an awesome way to reach this demographic and educate them about our products and business.
In business, you must be obsessed with going more in-depth and over to the next level of clientele that you wouldn’t usually market to. If you want to build your brand, learn about the individuals you need to connect with and don’t be afraid to branch out into a new market.
Lastly, be obsessed with making sure you give people a good experience. Over the weekend, no matter what negativity we received, our team stood firm and committed to making sure each person walked away with a positive impression of Pure Romance.
Be Relentless
Never give up. It’s a simple statement that means so much. While you’re out there marketing your business, remember to network and interact with different types of people. And, if a specific person or demographic isn’t receptive to you and your products? Hold your head high and give the same amount of energy towards everyone you encounter later!
So many of us get too comfortable talking to a particular group of people and this hinders us from branching out. To be successful, you have to interact with as many people as possible, even if they aren’t someone you would usually interact with. Take the risk. Significant investments in others bring significant results. Always think outside the box when it comes to networking because a simple conversation can change the trajectory of your business.
Be Resilient
Gronk’s Beach Party was a true display of resilience. Amidst negativity, lousy weather, and last-minute changes, my team recovered quickly and made the most of the event. Life will throw you curveballs, and many occur when you least expect it. Always stand firm in the face of hardship.
Be Fearless
Step outside your comfort zone. Sponsoring a party with a unique demographic is scary, but fear defeats more people than any other thing in this world. Don’t let the fear of failure prohibit you from doing all you can to make your business a success. Always be pushing.
As you build your business, these actions are the 5 things that drive your company to success. The Pure Romance business is unique because of our different and innovative product offering. Many women are excited to experiment and educate themselves on all things related to sexual health but don’t know where to turn. It’s our responsibility to be passionate, obsessive, relentless, resilient, and fearless as we get out there and tell as many people as possible about the business.
Remember, high risk brings high rewards. Network with different people, communicate with new people, and when things get tough, don’t give up because we rise, we grind, and we make things happen. The time is now, so let’s do this.
