While I don’t usually spend too much time viewing or analyzing commercials on the “tube”, I did view a TIDE detergent commercial that I felt was sending the wrong message.

It shows a teenage girl asking her mother if she has seen her green blouse. The screen shows the Mom flashback to where she (the Mom) is wearing the blouse and had spilled something on it that left a stain. No big deal right? Just tell your daughter you borrowed it but will clean it right away with your great TIDE product…nope. The Mom in the Commercial lies to her daughter and says she has not seen it. The commercial goes on to show the Mom wash that bad stain out of the nice green blouse with the great TIDE detergent. The ending has the daughter being asked by the Mom “oh, I see you found your top” Daughter “Yes, must have been hiding in my closet somewhere”.

What kind of message is Proctor and Gamble thinking they are sending to the Mothers and daughters of the world? It is O.k. to lie to your children yet you raise your children not to lie to you? This commercial message is ultimately wrong and misguided. I am not sure who P&G hires to do these commercials but the marketing department for Proctor and Gamble should have realized this was not the message their Company or brand should be portraying and rejected it.

I will be sending a note to P&G this week and let them know my thoughts. I doubt it will make a difference at all but maybe suggesting my wife change her brand of detergent might.

Stand for something or fall for anything.

Regards,

Larry J Clark

I was invited by one of the owners of Laratta Homes, Tony, to join him for a round of golf at Redwood Meadows Golf Course in Calgary.

This was my first round of golf I have played in over a year and the very first since I moved back to Calgary. I got there early so I decided to hit some balls at the range. At first it was not pretty and very inconsistent and I am sure the regular members of the Redwoods were probably thinking “who is this guy?”. I started to get back in the swing of things and felt more confident.

Then came the putting green..ugly and then the first drive. Straight left into the trees about 50 yards out! YIKES! Now I am sure Tony and the others in the foresome were probably thinking…”who invited him?” I managed to get a few good drives in during the round and even one birdie on a par 4. Broke a hundred but just barely. The good news is I really love to golf so I was not dissuaded, the course was in excellent condition, the leg held up right up to the last 2 holes and there was a buck deer feeding on one of the picturesque par 3’s. (picture above)

I hope to get more rounds in this year and adapt to my new surroundings here in Calgary.

Regards,

Larry J Clark

I have new agreement with Laratta Homes, a Custom New Home Builder in Calgary.

Laratta has been building custom designed homes in Calgary since 1978 and has an excellent reputation for building infill homes, acreage homes as well as high end renovations.

My position will over see sales and marketing of our current Development commitments: Willow Creek in Bearspaw, Coppers Crossing in Airdrie for our new semi-custom line…Artigiano Developments, as well as other acreage area’s and custom infill clients.

I look forward to the challenge and hope to make a big impact on their growth into the future.

Kind Regards,

Larry J Clark

Here is the video I did for a Custom Home Builder friend in Langley BC. Here is the website as well.

www.langleycustombuilder.com

I am sure you probably heard this quote before…” if you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything”.

I am beginning to believe it is time for us to start standing p for what we believe is right. I am now writing responses in the news paper editorials to voice my opinion of what is being written. Now I know that opinions are like belly buttons…everyone has them, but I am seeing the news media indoctrinating the readers with ‘their’ slants on Government, politics and moral values. The main issue I see is that there is little or no opposition not many people standing up for what is right.

I am not saying what I believe is right or right for you, what I am saying is that if you have heart led belief that opposes what you see is a wrong direction for humanity and for this Country, don’t stay silent. Silence has caused this Country to move in directions that our founding fathers and politicians had warned us not to go. Some may call it progress or ‘tolerance’ but I call it inaction. Hey, count me in as one who stood back numerous times in the past and took no action but complained about the outcome. Not any more.

I will know oppose those decisions/opinions I believe are wrong and morally corrupt this Country I live in. I want to continue to sing “God keep this Land Glorious and Free”.

You may disagree with everything I have just said in this. Excellent…voice your opposition and opinion. We may agree to disagree but at least you stood for something.

To the majority voices rising up for what is right…

Kind Regards,

Larry J Clark

I really enjoy helping people with Marketing and Sales advice. It is truly rewarding when you can take a poor performing website or marketing plan and transform it into a productive one quickly. This being said, introducing my services to someone new can be a bit daunting.

I feel I do a good job of explaining what I do and what I charge. I preface it with some real advice based on my experience, actual cases and reviewing the potential clients website or service. Here’s my dilemma…some people want me to give them everything they need over the phone in 15 minutes. I usually pass the point where I am giving out too much free advice for no remuneration. I equate it with trying to sell someone a cake by giving away the whole bakery. Not any more.

If someone contacts me , they know they need help and believe I can help them. I have proven testimonials and examples and if that is not enough to get them to spend $125.00 for an hour of advice that can increase their online/business presence instantly, then I am of the opinion I am not the person for them.

Hey, I like free advice and have gotten allot myself. I have also had no problem paying good money for great wisdom and I have benefited greatly from it many times over. I want to attract the ‘BIG’ thinkers who want to take their business past the ‘next level’ and who want to dominate their Industry.

“Sometimes you have to kiss allot of frogs to find a prince” ...So be it.

Take this advice and learn from it…

Larry J Clark

I was reflecting on this time of my life closing in on 50 years on this planet. I will hit the big 50 this week, which really is not a big deal for me. Hitting 40 really didn’t make an impact either. I think it has to do with perspective.

When I became a born again Christian at 21, I knew then as I know now, that my life here was temporary and better things await in Heaven. My faith has never wavered and is even stronger now. My biggest concern is to whether I have accomplished what I need to accomplish up to now and are there better things ahead in the next stage of my life? I believe there is.

After selling my Company last year, it has been a bit of a struggle trying to ” fit in”. What I mean by that is that is I know my strengths lie in Marketing and Sales, but is that where I should be? I am working now on some contract and consulting here in Calgary and I really enjoy being creative and helping clients with Web Marketing. I am good at it and have been very successful doing it. There still seems to be something missing if you know what I mean.

Being 50 reduces the already small time left here on the planet to accomplish all that God had intended for me. I want to make sure that I am where I need to be and doing what I need to be doing to conform to what the Lord has planned for me. I know it is natural for us to second guess whether we have accomplished or will accomplish all that is set out for us and I want to make sure I am open to whatever is set before me. I am ready!

I want to encourage you as well that we cannot change what we did or didn’t do last year or the years prior to that…we can only now be responsible for what we do with the years still ahead of us. Here’s to moving forward and completing the ‘good race’ set before us.

Kind Regards,

Larry J Clark

After over 20 years of being in Sales and Business, you learn allot. You also gain allot of wisdom and discernment as to what things to pursue and what things to let go of. After 7 months in my current contract position, I knew it was time to “let go’”.

The Company I was working with had gone through some changes in the last few months. Mostly personnel and Management. I would have to say that I was actually optimistic that the changes would be a move forward for the Company. My optimism soon waned when I saw some policies and changes being implemented, that effected the Sales Team and how we are being compensated for sales. A ‘NEW’ contract was presented to me that was explained as the best remuneration agreement in the Industry. I knew when I first viewed it, this was far from that.

As an Area Sales Manager, it is my responsibility to know what my competitors were up to and also how they were paid. My new presented contract was far below the others. Don’t get me wrong…I am not a greedy guy. I know my value and effort in my position and should be remunerated accordingly. At first this was an emotional response ..”How could they not see my experience and dedication and they are offering me this? After that, wisdom and experience kicks in and it becomes a logical response based on facts.

I know I am at the peak earning years of my life based on my experience and knowledge. I had to evaluate what would be the best use of my experience for this new decade and whether staying where I now, was the best use of that experience. It was not and the decision was easy.

My point in all this is to not to sell yourself short and actually be proud of what you have accomplished and your Industry value. I am confident that I can take my 20+ years of wisdom, experience, success and discernment to where it is needed and valued.

Onward and Upward!

Larry J Clark

First, let me say God Bless Haiti and the people there. I have been listening to radio reports on the Haiti devastation and the response by certain Countries and Agencies to the Earthquake.

I have to say that at this moment it makes me very proud to be a Canadian. The response from our Government was the fastest I ever seen to coordinate and deploy the Military as well as other Government Resources. Our Government has also pledged over 130 million dollars in monetary aid which makes Canada one of the top Countries for per capita relief today. A big thumbs up to our Prime Minister and other Aid Agencies that responded to this need so quickly. It is no secret that Canadians are great ‘Givers” when it comes to helping others in their time of need.

I heard that Canadian columnist, Heather Mallick , wrote a blog post in January stating She was ‘embarrassed’ to be Canadian. She stated many reasons, among them that the Oil Sands are a environmental disaster and that we live in a ‘corrupt petro-state’. What? Is Heather not looking around at the poverty and corrupt Governments outside of Canada and not thanking God she lives in Canada? Would she rather live in Haiti where there is adverse poverty and corruption beyond what we could imagine? Heather needs to keep her Liberal views to herself and should be embarrassed she even made those comments. Shame on you Heather.

This is a great Country to live in and we should take a few seconds and be thankful we are in the home of brave and the land of the free.

Kind Regards,

Larry J Clark

After over 24 years of raising 3 children, this is our first day as ‘Empty Nester’s’. Our eldest, Courtney, has moved up to Northern Alberta with her boyfriend to pursue job prospects there. Both or our son’s live in British Columbia and have made lives for themselves there. Our eldest son, Adam, was with us Christmas week and yesterday we drove him to the airport for his return home.

Well, there you have it. What do we do now? Personally, I have been looking forward to this “freedom” for a few years now and I am excited about spending more time with my wife and not having to include children in decisions. My wife on the other hand, is having a hard time letting go of the fact she has no kids at home. I am trying to understand her side and to be supportive. It will be  change in our life that I know in time we will both embrace. the kids need to make their own lives and futures with their parents cheering them on from the sidelines. I guess we can look forward to Grand Children now.

A week from today we are off to Mexico for our Vacation! I am really looking forward to getting away from winter and to work on a new business development plan. (more on that in a later blog). You want a hint? O.k, it has to do with marketing online using video. Here is a link to a web cam at the Akumal Mexico beach which is just north of our Resort, The Gran Bahia Principe Akumal. 

http://www.locogringo.com/Upload/akumal-beach-cam.html

I will be developing a daily blog from Mexico and will post the link on this blog starting next week as well.

Happy rest of your Holidays,

Larry J Clark