It's Election Day, so be sure to get out and vote! Days like today remind me that being an American is an incredible privilege that comes with great responsibility. Take a moment to review the candidates and ballot measures, and then go cast your vote, and encourage others to do the same. Our constitutional republic based on representative government is counting on you!
Alright, let's get to this week's takes.
Marketing Tip: Experiment Constantly
Jesse Cole built the Savannah Bananas into a global sensation not by sticking to what worked, but by constantly trying new things. From dancing players to yellow tuxedos to banana-shaped tickets, everything started as an idea someone was brave enough to test.
My favorite story is about the intern who was asked on his first day what he thought would make the customer experience better, and he answered by saying that the phone call to thank fans for buying tickets was plain, and that singing or rapping would be more enjoyable. Jesse then told him to write a rap and that he would be trying it out later that day, and it was a huge success, creating a new memory for a fan getting a well-deserved and entertaining "thank you".
Most companies stop experimenting once something “works.” But that’s when things start to stagnate. Innovation dies when comfort shows up.
Experimenting does not mean chaos; it means curiosity with purpose. Try something new in your marketing every quarter. Test a new message, a different format, or a bold idea that feels a little scary. Some will flop, but the lessons you learn will guide your next success.
The Bananas have a simple rule: “If it’s not a little weird, it’s not worth doing.” Maybe you don’t need a banana costume, but you do need to keep testing what delights your audience.
The best brands in transportation—and everywhere else—are not the biggest or the loudest. They are the ones that keep experimenting until they discover what makes fans say, “Wow, I didn’t see that coming.”
Keep innovating. Keep testing. Keep swinging the bat. Because standing still is the only real failure.
Speaking of things not always working, an audience member recently asked me a great question during a keynote I gave on the topic of excellence to the Emerging Leaders at GEODIS. They said, “Should we prepare for failure or only for success?”
My answer was simple; we prepare to succeed, but we understand that failure is part of the journey. Failure is not final; it is feedback. It is the vehicle that teaches us what to improve, what to refine, and what to try next.
If you expect failure, you’re already defeated. But if you accept it as a stepping stone, you turn it into a tool for growth.
John Maxwell captures this idea perfectly in his book Failing Forward, one of my all-time favorites. He says that the most successful people in life are the ones who are willing to fail the most, and that the difference between average people and successful people is how they respond to failure. One gives up; the other grows up.
So this week, prepare to win, but when failure shows up (and it will), thank it for the lesson, make the adjustment, and keep moving forward.
Interested in having me share these mindset shifts with your team in a virtual or in-person keynote or workshop? Book me here.
Meet-up Spotlight: A Wild Finish in Orlando
The final Post & Pray Classic in Orlando was one for the books. We started strong on Orange County National's Panther Lake course, enjoying perfect weather and great company, that is until Mother Nature decided to make things interesting. A torrential downpour on the back nine cut the golf short, but it didn’t dampen the fun.
PGA TOUR pro Jared Wolfe joined us on the Money Hole, giving players a shot to beat the pro. Only two golfers, Paul Lynch and Jake DePerry, managed to stick it closer, each walking away with the $100 cash prize presented by our friends at Descartes.
The afterparty and awards banquet at PopStroke turned into an unforgettable night. Competitive mini-golf, laughs all around, and a playoff showdown on the Challenge Hole for the Hackers Division championship made for the perfect ending.
Congrats to the Armada Swingers (Paul Lynch and Marino Gasbarro of Armada Talent Group) for taking home the Hackers Division team title. The Ringers Division champions were Dude, Where's My Par? (Jake DePerry and Brooks Garner from Turvo), with Brooks also winning the individual Ringers crown. And a big shoutout to Ryan Wilson from Matterhorn Insurance Group, who took home the Hackers Division individual title.
Rain or shine, the Post & Pray Classic always delivers memories, and this one was truly a blast.
Alright, that’s a wrap for this week’s takes. Now go make a difference out there, and I’ll be back with three more takes next Tuesday.
Trey Griggs, 413 Whitebird Ct, Wildwood, MO, USA, 6362790125
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