I come from a long line of merchandisers.
Every generation of my family, going back to The Great Depression, was in the business of promoting and selling their wares. Shoes, hard lines, cookware, apparel, gifts, closeouts, discount goods, problem inventories, they’ve peddled it all.
So when I started own company ten years ago, I followed suit. The only difference was, my product was intangible. As a writer, publisher, performer and consultant, instead of selling shoes, I sold ideas. I carried my truth to market, every day. And that meant I had an obligation to ask one question, over and over:
“What’s that called?”
And any time I witness something, I name it. I give it a phrase, a brand, a title, a label, a handle, a designation, a moniker or a signature.

For example, I wear a nametag twenty-four seven. And people are instantly friendlier. What’s that called? Approachability. Done.
I do this for a few reasons. Partly because it’s in my blood. When you come from a family of merchandisers, that’s what you do. You name things. Also, I want to do justice to the things I notice. When I see something that’s a beautiful reminder of what could be, I want to make it easy to share with people.
But the big reason I name things is, when you name it, you create the category. When you create the category, you set the standard. When you set the standard, you own the mindshare. When you own the mindshare, you become the superior voice. And when you become the superior voice, anyone who follows will be compared to you.
Coin a new word, create a new world.
LET ME ASK YA THIS… What word do you own?
LET ME SUGGEST THIS… For the list called, “7 Ways to Out Experience the Competition,” send an email to me, and you win the list for free!
* * * * Scott Ginsberg That Guy with the Nametag Writing, Publishing, Performing, Consulting [email protected]
Yes, I do more than just wear a nametag all day. My enterprise is actually quite robust. I add value to my clients in several cool ways.
Explore the myriad ways you, your people and your organization can leverage my talents.

LET ME ASK YA THIS… What are you the answer to?

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For the list called, “62 Types of Questions and Why They Work,” send an email to me, and you win the list for free!

* * * * Scott Ginsberg That Guy with the Nametag Writing, Publishing, Performing, Consulting [email protected]

Never the same speech twice. Customized for your audience. Impossible to walk away uninspired.

Now booking for 2012-2013.

Watch clips of The Nametag Guy in action here!

I’ve always been told that art should speak for itself.
That our job is to do the work, the work’s job is to speak for the work, and any attempt to make grand claims about what the work is, what it’s supposed to do or what people should think about it, is bad form.                                                             And yet, every time I go to an art museum, watch a documentary or see an interview with one of my heroes, all I want is for the artist to speak. To me, artist statements are more interesting than the art itself. That’s what inspires me. That’s what gives me permission to try something new.
Yes, I pay attention to the work, but I what I obsess over is the thinking behind the work. As the consumer, I want the back story. I want a detailed description of the landscape that sustained the artist when her spirit was tired and sagging. I want to know who the artist had to become in order to finish it.
What’s interesting is, now that most artists are operating on some permutation of free, res ipsa loquitur might not cut it anymore. If we just sit back and let the work speak for itself, where’s the value to the fans? As Seth says, when the cost of delivering the thing itself is so cheap, there isn’t a bright line between exposing the work and delivering the work.
That’s why Kevin Smith has spent tens of thousands of hours in the past twenty years – on stage, on camera, on air and on ink – answering questions, telling stories and sharing secrets behind his work. He’s not trying to perfect the audience experience; he’s trying to extend it. It’s the second bite of the apple. And his fans couldn’t get that if he simply let the work speak for itself.
Today’s audience no longer buys what we sell, they buy the story we tell. They buy the humble beginnings that first ignited the work, the process we endured to create the work and the resistance we overcame to sign, seal and ship the work.
Just because the work is done, doesn’t mean our mouths should close.
LET ME ASK YA THIS… What have you declined this week?
LET ME SUGGEST THIS… For the list called, “21 Things I Learned While Spying on Myself,” send an email to me, and you win the list for free!

* * * * Scott Ginsberg That Guy with the Nametag Writing, Publishing, Performing, Consulting [email protected]
Do you need an expert who tells you what to do, or a mentor who lets you tell yourself what to do?

“After investing in your mentoring program, I’ve become centered on who I am and what I have to offer. Now, I am attracting clients I want to work with. Life is great and I just wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart.” —-Melanie Jatsek, Diet Busters
Rent Scott’s Brain today for 2 hours, 30 days or 3 months!

Every one of my nametags is handwritten.
People assume they’re printed because they all look the same, but I assure them that I personally write every single one. And not just because I’m an anal retentive obsessive compulsive control freak. There is a method behind the madness.
My brand is done by hand.
By writing the nametags myself, I inject soul into my conversations. I give my values a heartbeat. I bring my humanity to the moment. I exude interactional casualness wherever I go. And I make my exchanges with people unexpectedly personal and memorable.
Because I care about people’s experience when they’re around me.
Had I chose to print the nametags en masse, to outsource the human function and automate my authenticity, the brand wouldn’t be honest.
Of course, I’m just one guy. The debate I’ve been having with my clients is, what happens when your brand becomes so big that you’re no longer able to do it by hand?
Just ask Disney. Their artists built the most magical brand in the history of entertainment, by hand. Just ask Taylor. Their luthiers built the most innovative brand in the history of acoustic guitars, by hand. Just ask Etsy. Their users built the most vibrant independent online marketplace, by hand.
Looks like the size of the brand doesn’t affect the use of the hand.
LET ME ASK YA THIS…
How is your brand done?

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For the list called, “27 Ways to Out the Competitors,” send an email to me, and you win the list for free!

* * * * Scott Ginsberg That Guy with the Nametag Writing, Publishing, Performing, Consulting [email protected]

Never the same speech twice. Customized for your audience. Impossible to walk away uninspired.

Now booking for 2012-2013.

Watch clips of The Nametag Guy in action here!

When we work for someone else, the question that rules our world is:
“Who’s going to let me?”
When we work for ourselves, the question that rules our world is:
“Who’s going to stop me?”
That’s the draw. That’s the biggest advantage to self-employment. That’s why forty-one million people in this country work for themselves.
It’s not a financial thing — it’s a freedom thing.
Freedom in a physical sense, meaning we can do whatever we want, wherever we want, with whomever we want, whenever we want, for as long as we want.
Freedom in a mental sense, meaning we can empty our mind of all the pointless, bureaucratic noise that blocks our ability to thrive and execute what matters.
Freedom in a creative sense, meaning we can give ourselves permission to test out all those crazy, stupid, irrational ideas without somebody jailing our spirit.
Freedom in a vocational sense, meaning we can focus our efforts on doing the few things that we do better than anyone and outsource or eliminate the rest.
Freedom in a spiritual sense, meaning we can align our actions with our higher purpose and do great work that validates our existence on a daily basis.
And make no mistake: When we go out on our own and take the road less traveled, it’s no walk in the park. None of us can escape the inevitable self-motivation, self-doubt and self-isolation that comes with the territory of hiring yourself.
But to have the freedom to stop wondering “Who’s going to stop me?” and start asking, “Who’s going to let me?” is well worth the cost.
LET ME ASK YA THIS…
What have you declined this week?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS…
For the list called, “21 Things I Learned While Spying on Myself,” send an email to me, and you win the list for free!

* * * * Scott Ginsberg That Guy with the Nametag Writing, Publishing, Performing, Consulting [email protected]
What happens when you wear a nametag all day, every day, for 4000+ days?
Strangers make fun of you, mostly.
Check out Scott’s comic strip, Adventures in Nametagging!

We can love what we do, but we can’t fall in love with what we do.
That type of attachment will be the end of us.
Nothing against love, but when we’re smitten by our own enterprise, hopelessly enchanted by our own work, the blinders of the heart obstruct the vision of the brand.
And like Narcissus, infatuated with our own reflection, we can’t see what’s obvious, practical and profitable.
Sometimes we fall in love with our own technology. And we never question our own assumptions about redundancy. Take Kodak. They filed for bankruptcy because they failed to innovate and adapt to the digital world.
Sometimes we e fall in love with our own inventory. And it’s hard to imagine why the rest of the world doesn’t feel the same way. Take BlackBerry. Their sales plummeted last year because they never realized the mobile world had already passed them by.
Sometimes we fall in in love with our own press. And we spend all our time soaking in the accolades instead of trying to get better. Take Toyota. Their quality slipped because they obsessed over company legend instead of customer legroom.
Sometimes we fall in love with our own ideas. And we get so close to them that we overestimate their potential. Take John Carter. Pixar lost two hundred million dollars because this boring, bloated, poorly marketed epic couldn’t recoup their massive budget.
Sometimes we fall in love with our own perspective. And terminal certainty blocks our acceptance of better ideas. Like Lehman Brothers. They filed the largest bankruptcy in the nation’s history and started a global financial crisis because they were too big to fail.
And yet, I still believe that business without love, isn’t.
But I also believe that emotion distorts evaluation. And if we want our brand to stick around, we owe it to our customers, our employees and ourselves to love what we do, but not fall in love with what we do.
LET ME ASK YA THIS…
What are you falling in love with?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS…
For the list called, “11 Things to Stop Wasting Your Time On” send an email to me, and you win the list for free!

* * * * Scott Ginsberg That Guy with the Nametag Writing, Publishing, Performing, Consulting [email protected]

How boring is your company’s online training?

For dozens of free video learning modules on sales, frontline service, entrepreneurship and marketing, spend a few minutes or a few hours growing your brain and growing your wallet.

Tune in to www.nametagTV.com!

Nobody knows how to be good customer anymore.
We’ve learned everything there is to know about acting hospitable, establishing comfort, building trust, anticipating needs, communicating messages, creating memories, fixing problems, managing interactions, exceeding expectations, collecting feedback, extending generosity and earning loyalty.
But when the tables are turned, when we’re the ones being served, we suck.
Entitlement trumps respect, impatience trumps appreciation, rudeness trumps understanding and greed trumps civility. Who has time to be a good customer? Just fix it for me. Just bring it to me. Just do what I say. I’m a very busy man and I haven’t got all day. I am the customer, and you are here to serve me.
This has got to stop.
The minute we become customers, we have a certain set of responsibilities:
Pay those who serve you. Instead of trying to a squeeze out a deal, honor their market value, pay them what they’re worth and let them do their work. That way, you’ll get the best possible result.
Inform those who serve you. Instead of doing everything your way, give them the information they need, the way they want it, when they ask for it. That way, you make their job easier.
Educate those who serve you. Instead of expecting them to read your mind, give them your expectations, make your needs clear and your intentions obvious. That way, you won’t be surprised by the result.
Trust those who serve you. Instead of buying a dog and barking for it, give them your idea, let them run with it and meet them on the finish line later. That way, you give them autonomy to do what you hired them to do.
Protect those who serve you. Instead of draining resources and wasting time, make up your mind, own your decisions and respect the implications of those decisions. That way, they can just get on with the job.
Liberate those who serve you. Instead of arguing about what’s possible, respect whatever hiccups in the system arise, let them do their job and understand that they probably know the best solution. That way, nobody has to get upset.
Thank those who serve you. Instead of getting what you want and getting on with your life, give people three seconds of your time, look them in the eye and show them genuine appreciation. That way, they’ll know the work they do, matters.
Highlight those who serve you. Instead of rendering people anonymous, be a stand for their greatness by praising them in front of those who matter. That way, they’ll receive the recognition they deserve.
That’s how to be a good customer.
And the key is, we don’t do it to get better service. We don’t do it to run up the numbers on the karmic scoreboard. We do it because it’s the right thing to do. It’s the right way to treat people.
Be the customer you’d want to have.
LET ME ASK YA THIS… How could you be a better customer?
LET ME SUGGEST THIS… For the list called, “46 Types of Marketing,” send an email to me, and you win the list for free!

* * * * Scott Ginsberg That Guy with the Nametag Writing, Publishing, Performing, Consulting [email protected]
My job is to help companies make their mission more than a statement, using limited edition social artifacts.
Want to download your free workbook for The Brandtag Strategic Planning Crusade?
Meet Scott’s client from Nestle Purina at www.brandtag.org!

I’m not as successful as I could be.
But instead of blaming my professional situation on economic, cultural or industry forces, I recently reflected on the mental obstacles that have been holding me back.
And I’m not looking for help, feedback, sympathy or advice. I just thought I’d share, in the hopes that these liabilities serve as a mirror for your own.
Why am I not as successful as I could be?
Because I’d rather be heard than paid. Since I’m more of an artist than a businessperson, I’m more concerned with getting my work out into the world than getting money into my bank account. And because this model has always produced enough income to support my lifestyle, underwrite my addictions and keep the business alive, why stop now? The only problem is, this outlook cripples my earning capacity. I feel guilty about demanding compensation for my work. I feel physical pain when I’m forced to assign monetary value to my intellectual property. So I’ve conditioned the marketplace to expect my work as a gift, not a product. They’re aware of me, but I don’t have command over them. And once you’ve given the milkaway for free, it’s hard to go back charge for the cow.
Why am I not as successful as I could be?
Because I’m once bitten, twice shy. The last time I got really successful, I ended up in the hospital for a week with a tube in my chest. According to my doctor, I didn’t possess the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual wherewithal to handle my newfound success and its accompanying stress and expectation. So my left lung collapsed. That was six years ago. Since then, since the body has such a long memory, part of me is still afraid of getting successful again because I don’t want my other lung to collapse. Once you’ve seen a ghost, you’re always afraid of the dark.
Why am I not as successful as I could be?
Because I’m more afraid of success than failure. If I get exactly what I want, I might realize it’s not enough. I might become a victim of my own success. I might discover it’s not what I actually wanted all along. I might mishandle the changes success brings into my life. I might stop taking the creative risks that made me successful in the first place. I might succeed and miss my emotional goal of expected failure. Or I might fail to live up to the expectations and reputation attached to my success. Either way, these egoic assumptions keep me from succeeding in spite of myself. It’s textbook self-sabotage. I’d rather fail because it’s familiar. I’d rather dream from a distance because it’s safer.
Why am I not as successful as I could be?
Because I lack an overriding sense of urgency. When I started my company, I had no debt to cover, no spouse to support, no kids to feed, no community responsibilities to fulfill and no social obligations to juggle. If I didn’t make a sale, nobody’s life suffered except my own. If I didn’t bring in new business, the repercussions were nominal. Meanwhile, my friends with looming mortgage payments and recurring pediatrician bills were scrambling to close deals, lest their families doubt their breadwinning abilities. By never installing acute sales pressure early on, my life situation made me less hungry, made it too easy not to care and made success less crucial.
Why am I not as successful as I could be?
Because I never needed to be pedal. For the first decade of my career, business just came to me. I never cold called or mass marketed. I simply did a great job and waited for the phone to ring. And this lasted for a while, but ultimately, it was an unsustainable business model that made me complacent and passive. Later, when the economy tanked, I was forced to decide if my product was a necessity or a nicety. I had to determine if my past prosperity was of genuine value, or just brilliant timing and intelligent leverage. Just because you’re riding a bicycle downhill doesn’t mean your legs are strong.
Why am I not as successful as I could be?
Because I’m a devout idealist. I don’t play to win, I play to keep the game going. I’m not competitive, I’m not confrontational, I not a hunter, I don’t have the killer instinct and I’m not a closer. I’m a quirky, sensitive, romantic, pacifist performer. I just want to make art, make people laugh and change the world. Unfortunately, that’s not the most profitable personality type for running an enterprise. Idealism is valuable to the extent that you don’t let it compromise your financial future. I swear, it seems like the more I care about something, the harder it is to get paid for it. So I follow my passion to the detriment of my own financial stability. Yay! Another opportunity not to get paid for something.
Why am I not as successful as I could be?
Because I have childhood issues with money. Since I came from an affluent family, I was often embarrassed by, ridiculed for and taken advantage of for having a lot of money. But I never wanted to be known as the rich kid, so I did whatever I could to make up for the fact that I was born privileged. From pretending to be middle class to romanticizing about blue-collar jobs to acting excessively generous, I concealed my wealth whenever possible. And it worked. Nobody knew. Except me. Fast forward to adulthood, I’ve spent the past decade struggling to close sales because I hate asking for money. Because deep down, every time I make a dollar, I feel like I don’t deserve it. And you’ll never be rich if money isn’t important to you.
Anyway, those are my issues. That’s why I’m not as successful as I could be. Thanks for listening. I’m working on them.
For now, I hope they sparked reflection on the metal obstacles in your own career.
LET ME ASK YA THIS… Why are you not as successful as you could be?
LET ME SUGGEST THIS… For the list called, “153 Quotations to Inspire Your Success,” send an email to me, and you win the list for free!
* * * * Scott Ginsberg That Guy with the Nametag Writing, Publishing, Performing, Consulting [email protected]
HELLO, my name is Host!
Did you know you could hire Scott as your emcee, mobile host, roving reporter or on camera talent for your organization’s next event?
Watch sample footage of his hosting work here!

I’ve been doing yoga for five years.
It’s changed my life physically, socially, emotionally, spiritually and mentally. I’ve met some of the coolest people in the world who have become dear friends. And I’ve become a member of a global a community, a center of belonging, unlike any other in the world.
And yet, I will find every excuse not to go to class.
I’m too tired. I’m too stressed. I’m not hydrated. I’m still sore from yesterday. I don’t have any clean clothes. I didn’t eat breakfast. I haven’t taken my morning dump yet. It’s raining outside. I have a lot going on today. I’m not feeling especially flexible. And I think I pulled something last class. Plus I really need a massage. Screw it, I’ll just go tomorrow. I have to catch up on sleep anyway. And I should really wait until I buy a better outfit. Plus, it’s not like I can afford more classes. And I’m too full from lunch. And I can’t stand the Wednesday night teacher’s annoying voice. And I don’t want to deal with traffic. It’s too nice outside. Besides, I hit the cheese plate too hard last night and I’m afraid I’ll fart. I’ll just practice at home. I’d never make there on time anyway. Look, I’ve already practiced three times this week. That’s enough. I really just need some rest. I just got back in town last night. I drank way too Diet Dr. Pepper on vacation. And I’m pretty sure I’m coming down with something and don’t want to get anybody sick.
That’s what runs through my head.
The way I see it, if I can just pile the excuses high enough, that should be enough to rationalize my way out of going to class. If I can just outsmart myself to the point of inaction, I can skip yoga and spend the rest of the day congratulating myself for making such a mature, rational and thoughtful decision.
Isn’t amazing how much energy we invest in procrastination? Isn’t amazing what lengths we will go to in order to avoid doing something we don’t want to do?
In fact, we have a running joke at our studio:
The first posture is getting there.
Forget touching your head to your knee. If you can overcome all the mental garbage that stands in the way of walking through the door, you’re already a winner.
In yoga, in life, in anything, motion organizes and creates order. As my friend Ed says, it is by motion that all things tend to their equilibrium and find their place in the universe. And unrelenting motion is what helps conspire towards some unifying geometrical situation.
Which reminds me, I need to go hydrate.

LET ME ASK YA THIS… What is your favorite way to procrastinate?
LET ME SUGGEST THIS… For the list called, “35 Ways to Leverage Your Next Media Appearance,” send an email to me, and you win the list for free!
* * * * Scott Ginsberg That Guy with the Nametag Writing, Publishing, Performing, Consulting [email protected]
Yes, I do more than just wear a nametag all day.

My enterprise is actually quite robust. I add value to my clients in several cool ways.
Explore the myriad ways you, your people and your organization can leverage my talents.

For several years, I made a small career out of going to seminars, attending week-long conferences, schmoozing at networking events, disappearing on spiritual retreats, reading every book on the shelves, studying personal development programs and brainstorming at mastermind sessions.
Which was inspiring and educational, but it was also expensive, time consuming and not especially profitable.
Eventually, I had to get very honest with myself.
Am I actually creating work that matters, or just distracting myself from what’s really important? Am I spending my time wisely, or am I just inventing things to do to preserve the illusion of productivity? Am I actually growing my business, or just satisfying my bottomless need for validation and approval? Am I actually delivering value to others, or just sitting in a corner trying to perfect myself? Am I actually connecting with my peers, or just playing dress up for the wrong audience? Am I actually part of a community, or just feeding into another ballwashing circlejerk of mutual glorification?
So I stopped.
Not completely. I still attend events here and there. I still learn everyday. And I still show up where it counts.
But at this point, I’d rather create than consume.
And what’s fascinating is, when I make creation my dominant act, I do learn. I do grow my business. I do deliver value to others. I do connect with my peers. I do feel part of a community. I do make meaning. And I do make money.
Sure beats spending a week at some hotel in Phoenix trying to prove myself to people I don’t even like.

LET ME ASK YA THIS… What have you declined this week?
LET ME SUGGEST THIS… For the list called, “21 Things I Learned While Spying on Myself,” send an email to me, and you win the list for free!

* * * * Scott Ginsberg That Guy with the Nametag Writing, Publishing, Performing, Consulting [email protected]
My job is to help companies make their mission more than a statement, using limited edition social artifacts.
Want to download your free workbook for The Brandtag Strategic Planning Crusade?
Meet Scott’s client from Nestle Purina at www.brandtag.org!