No Ordinary Flower [random musings from an ex-SIB]

I am a marketing, communications, product and operations leader with many years of SMB, tech start-up, public company & non-profit experience.Career summary post grad school? From international development/education non-profit program management to technology marketing for the first commercial ISP (we launched "flat rate" Internet access for consumers!), e-business transformation for the travel industry, more technology marketing, then marketing/design agency co-owner. I also had the awesome opportunity to work on President Clinton's first transition team! Back in the day, my entrepreneur Dad used to call me a "Sophisticated International Businesswoman" (SIB). I liked that! My dear sister Barbara is one too, and I think I may just have to join Club SIB again!I am on a mission to work with, launch, and sell successful businesses that are profitable, do good for the world, and enable me to continue a lifelong quest to "broaden my horizons" (thanks again Dad!) through global travel. That may seem like a tall order....but then again, I am no ordinary flower as my friend Cherie says. Cheers! Annie Eissler

[annieeissler]

Love Air New Zealand's new 777-300ER aircraft features, esp the Economy Skycouch! #offthegrid #airnz777300

[annieeissler]

4 things I love: The London Plane 1. Space: light, open, airy yet warm...love this space! 2. Food: fried eggs with Harissa and bacon for brunch...heaven. 3. Bread: my table mates said the bread was to die for...and the pastries look amazing. 4. Spreads: hazelnut butter, chia seed PB, avocado with albacore...oh my!

[annieeissler]

4 things I love about StitchFix (StitchFix.com): 1. You get me: of the 5 items you sent me in my first fix, I can see myself wearing all of them. 2. Easy, stress-free shopping: I hate to shop so receiving a box of pieces picked for me to try on at home is just...well...awesome. 3. Cute and affordable: my "Fix" came in at $260 ish for purchasing all 5 pieces! 4. Ideas!: some time over the last 5-7 years I lost my fashion sense so these handy little style boards are super helpful.

[annieeissler]

4 (+ 1 extra) things I love: Mary Blair Exhibit at the Walt Disney Family Museum 1. Mary Blair: beautiful, talented, creative, successful...what a lovely life she lived 2. Alice: falling down the rabbit hole. So many of our childhood memories were influenced by Blair's work 3. Superwoman: as if one of these jobs isn't enough 4. Color: clever use of color--for which Blair is known--in the exhibit space EXTRA 5. Small World: segment of tiles influenced by It's a Small World Blair created for a Jules Stein Eye Center at UCLA (my alma mater) mural

[annieeissler]

4 things we love: Intimate Impressionism Exhibit (Legion of Honor, San Francisco): 1. Mark: Van Gogh - flower beds in holland 1883 2. Annie: George Seurat - study for la grande latte 1884 3. Bridget: Claude Monet - argenteuil 1872 4. Emily: Pierre Bonnard - the artist's studio 1900

[annieeissler]

4 things I love: Elements Tapas Bar & Lounge (Medford OR) 1. Meat & Cheese Platter: who knew you could get a fab Spanish chorizo in Medford? Start with the platter! 2. Paella: 4 options to choose from (did I say Elements is in...Medford?) 3. Burgans Albariño: Crisp and cool after a long hot drive from Seattle. 4. Atmosphere: Love the starry ceiling and roomy booths.

[annieeissler]

4 things I love: A16 Sunday Farm Supper, featuring Lisa Gottreich of Bohemian Creamery

1. 7 shades of goat: well, not exactly but 5 savory and 2 sweet fabulous dishes featuring cheese and goat from Bohemian Creamery 2. Goat sausage: wow…fantastic preparation of goat, paired with corona beans and salad 3. Lisa: this lady knows her cheese…what a treat to see her in action (talking cheese with the A16 staff, tasting her cheese in the dishes, and chatting about life) 4. Cheese: a beautiful plate of Bohemian Creamery cheese…’nuf said!

[annieeissler]

Words of wisdom from Ugandan entrepreneur Grace on the benefits of virtual mentoring.

[annieeissler]

Belcampo Meat Co., A Russian Hill Butcher & Restaurant

Read what SF Eater had to say about Belcampo at Pacific & Polk!

[annieeissler]

4 things I love: Belcampo San Francisco 1. Philosophy: they have one! 2. Meat: it may be pricey but dang it is good. 3. Dinner: another great spot for dinner in lower Russian Hill (starting next Friday). 4. Classy space: the dining room is small but very well done.

[annieeissler]

Look who is coming to town. Belcampo Meats looks like it is getting ready to open any minute at Pacific and Polk.

[annieeissler]

4 things I love: Japantown San Francisco 1. Paper products: while it may not be the awesome paper and pen stores of Paris, this is pretty close. 2. Cako: yummy, just right bite cupcakes and interesting flavored macarons (ps...they are not macaroons folks!). 3. Sushi and noodles: look for the restaurants with more locals and less tourists. 4. Packaging: ok yes, I am obsessed with paper and packaging products...who can resist an aisle filled with lunchbox containers in super fun colors?

[annieeissler]

4 Things I love: Le Marais Bakery

1. Almond Milk: They have it (unlike our friends at Starbucks) 2. Space: Light and airy space (and expanding soon with a bistro serving lunch, dinner, beer, and wine) 3. Pastry Options: Try the delightful Gateau Basque. It is not too sweet 4.Good Coffee: Stumptown Coffee in the house (from the fine city of Portland!)

[annieeissler]

Getting your sales team started on social selling

Social selling is all the buzz these days. If done right, social selling can be good for your customers/prospects, industry, company, and the individual sales reps themselves.

I always recommend that my clients start with baby steps versus mandating that the sales team tackle a long list of social selling "to dos."

Here is what I'd have them start with:

LinkedIn

Flesh out profile

Add skills and endorse others for skills (they will usually endorse you back)

Ask for and give recommendations

Post updates on a regular basis

Join and be active in relevant groups – engage in conversation NOT selling

Twitter

Set up new or re-tool existing Twitter profile (if latter, make sure your tweets are a mix of business and personal-appropriate tweets)

Follow customers, partners, thought leaders, associations, publications, other people and groups that inspire you

Be authentic – best to let your personality and interests come through

Tweet regularly (can use a tool like Hootsuite to schedule Tweets throughout the day or week), a mix of curated articles, general comments/observations, company-related stuff

User Forums/Groups

Identify forums or groups that your sales reps can and should be in to establish themselves as a valued resource (meaning you are being helpful, education, NOT selling); assign appropriately

Having your sales team focus on these activities for the first three months of your initiative will build a great foundation for future social selling success.

[annieeissler]

Supporting small entrepreneurs in Malawi through Grow Movement

Just received my first assignment through GrowMovement.org. Scheduling a call with my entrepreneur for this week.

Excited to get back to African development after a 22 year detour through the world of technology marketing.

[annieeissler]

1 thing I love: Kelly’s French Bakery

1. Pear almond tart

[annieeissler]

4 things I love: Hotel 1000, Seattle

1. Spaahh: check their website for monthly specials before booking 2. Tub: ‘nuf said! 3. Boka: no need to find a restaurant as this little gem is just downstairs 4. Toiletry Amenities: Good quality, convenient, plentiful (no fighting with tiny bottles of shampoo just to get a couple of drops!)