What’s Wrong With Being Like Scrooge?

Howdy folks its been a while, I’ve been way busier than I thought I would be, but I had to do a post about this because (I know its late) this has been nagging at me for a little while. Tis the season or at least Tis the day after the season and I went to see a local play about scrooge. It was an adaptation called The Gospel According to Scrooge so keep in mind if the things that I say sound a little weird its because this play was a little different. But I have 1 question, what exactly was Scrooge doing that was so wrong that everybody had to come screw with him?

The entire story rides on the premise that scrooge was this dick of epic proportions when in reality he was just a workaholic that hated Christmas. Whats so wrong with that, there’s no rule that you have to love Christmas and even the bible says that one of the only joys a man can have is enjoying what he does. So whats the problem here? If I’m not mistaken in the story Scrooge is some kind of banker or lender, granted that these are some of the most heartless people in the world, but everybody hates him because he wants to do his business and not be messed with. Also it seems like a really small community and it seemed like everybody wanted to be his friend. Here again Scrooge seems like a bastard because he doesn’t want to be their friend but if you take a second look, Scrooges nephew is very poor and in need of lots of help for Timmy. Just a part of the story focuses on Scrooge failing his nephew (I’ll concede that Scrooge is a pecker of epic proportions and there is nothing I wouldn’t do for my niece and nephew) but with this great and super friendly community why don’t they get together and help out little Timmy. Because like Scrooge their money is their money.

All in all Scrooge seemed like a rich old bastard that just wanted to keep to himself because he had lead a pretty hard life. Life kept kicking this guy down until he buckled down and got to work and defeated life. Its easy if you’ve never been poor to look at this guy and say why wont he take a day off but when you’re poor nobody gives you any hand outs, I don’t care what the politicians say. He made it, he got rich but it seemed like life wasn’t done kicking him in the head. From a human perspective being a dick is bad but in reality some people are better off being left alone.

The real moral of this story is nobody wants to be your friend when you’re poor but everybody wants to be your friend when your rich. Is it just me or does this story not really jive with the American Dream?

Business Woes

Starting a business is a bumpy road. The payoff is totally worth the struggle but the struggle can be disheartening. We’ve been talking a while now, so I think we’re friends and as a friend I’m going to tell you whats been on my mind lately. Quitting! I’m not going to but it has been on my mind a lot lately. So far I have had almost no sales, views on my items are dropping from almost nothing to nothing. I find myself where a lot of people find themselves when undertaking a venture of this sort, up against our very first business hurdle. I understand why people quit and I pass no judgment. Starting an online business is hard, but I believe I will get through this. I have put everything on the line for this, failure is not an option at this point (that sounds so cliché but its true). I need to put a positive spin on things like, I have not failed I have succeeded in finding what doesn’t work. Boy have I succeeded in that so far. I need a strategy, something to keep me looking forward( to be successful it’s the only way to move). The good thing that has happened out of all of this is that it has angered me. Anger is a fuel I use to keep me motivated, moving and very determined to get what I want. All those easy money people are full of crap! No money worth having is going to come without work, I would not appreciate the journey without some pitfalls. This has helped a lot, thanks readers for letting me vent to you… your such great listeners.

5 Creative Marketing Ideas

Standing out is the key to marketing a.k.a. getting your name out there without spending tons of money. Have you ever seen a big guy in a red shirt? Of course you have, we all have, that is standing out in a sea of conformity. The big guy is your company and it needs to wear a bold color to shout to the world, “here I am, look at me, I matter.”

I’ve been thinking for a while and here are 5 creative marketing tips that could push your business to a new place(don’t forget these are just ideas):

1. If your brand is a hip brand or something that hits big with teens, give it away to influential high school kids. If the product is good enough they will be so grateful they will spread the word to their friends and followers on social media.

2. Give your product away to another business as payment for them to cross promote your product to their customers. If they are not similar or conflicting then it is very possible that another business would go for it.


3. Put your website or your business name on your cars rear window and leave the car parked near the from of a major super market all day (have a friend pick you up or something). A sticker for your window will not cost very much money, you might even bargain with the business that does them as well.

4.Everyone has sponsored baseball teams, but I suggest taking it one step further and sponsoring different groups of people around your town or other towns. Whether it be groups of friends or entire groups of guys that work together…. Feel free to be creative with this one. (don’t be lazy I gave you the idea, run with it)

5. Use your passion to push your business. If your passionate about drawing and you sell carparts, use the drawing social network like deviant art, or art wanted. Whatever your passion get in with those people if your are not already, be bold start conversations with strangers. Chances are they don’t know anyone that does what you do and people are always happy to tell their friends, “ I know a person that might be able to help you.”

These are just ideas maybe they can spark your imagination or you will use one of these, but the key is to stand out and do what the next guy won’t.

Conquering Fear to Start a Business

Anytime you read anything about starting a business its always kind of vague. Most of the entrepreneur books I read were more like self help books. The truth is most people read a lot of those books because its a lot safer than starting their own business, that’s what I did for a while. Now I’m not saying don’t read the books but what I am saying is don’t read book after book after book, at some point you must take action. Books don’t start businesses, actions do. While I am in the beginning stages of my venture anytime I talk about my clothing business it sparks very interesting conversation with people who are full of woulda coulda shouldas. These are usually very nice people but when your 80 years old and looking back on your life do you want to say I had guts or I wonder what it would have been like. I don’t advocate taking stupid risks, but being an entrepreneur is a risk and there is always the prospect of failure. It takes lots of planning and getting your ducks in order but your worst enemy isn’t a bad plan, its usually going to be Fear. I’m no self help guru but if you really want to start your own business, conquer your fear of failing, your fear of success, and your fear of a challenge. If any of those 3 scare you to the point you can't take action then maybe starting a business isn't for you, but if your fear of a mundane, mediocre, and complacent life is much greater then you can push through your fears. (that still kinda sounds like self help but hey I guess a portion of it is mental, go figure) Now here it is the cure for fear,(drumroll please) Experience. If your scared or nervous about starting a business then just do it, get some experience and it wont be that bad. Just as it says in Alexander the movie “Conquer your fear, and I promise you, you’ll conquer death!”

Here we go

This is the official first blog entry for Smelly Finger Salute.  My name is Guillermo the captain of this ship, but call me Willy.  This is the first post so i'm gonna keep this short and sweet. Smelly Finger Clothing is my ebay store where i smell... sorry, sell my designs.  Its a very simple cartoonish style.  In the future i will be updating the blog with all kinds of ideas that come along with starting a business like marketing, designs, drawing tips and so on.  Stay tuned i hope to share all kinds of cool stuff with you.