Shelby Shaffer

With all that’s going on in the world today, there’s never a better time to talk about mental health. Coronavirus forced a lot of us to pack up and create a make-shift home office as we entered lockdown and a 6-month quarantine. But the sudden shift in our daily routines and the absence of social … Continued

What do Gallagher, Evil Knievil, and Bert Kreischer have in common? These three entertainers have unique brands, but one thing stands true for each of them, their weird branding works. People of all ages nationwide can tell who they are. They are memorable. So how can businesses learn from these examples of weird branding that … Continued

“Thanks for calling. We appreciate our customers, and your call is very important to us. Please stay on the line as all of our customer service representatives and serving others” I don’t know about you, but when I call a business and get a recording similar to this, I certainly do NOT feel like an … Continued

“Hey, Summer, how did that website project turn out? Did you review website flaws to avoid before sending it to the new design intern?” “Ugh! Gene, I’m a little frustrated. Jay understood what website flaws to avoid, but the bounce rate is still high. He and I spend months putting it together, working with our … Continued

It’s been about two whole days since I was assigned to write this blog, and just now, at noon on day three, I’ve forced myself to sit down and write.  My to-do list, which is sitting next to me, is seemingly long, but this task is highlighted because it takes priority. My list isn’t just … Continued

I remember growing up; my mom always would say, “Shelby, what is the Golden Rule?” I’d giggle and blush (or if called on bad behavior, I’d cross my arms and mumble) “The Golden Rule is to treat others how you want to be treated.” I’m sure you were taught something similar. It’s synonymous with “treat … Continued

“Fish are friends, not food!” I’m sure you remember this iconic quote from Finding Nemo when Bruce, Anchor, and Chum invited Marlin and Dory to their Fish-Friendly Sharks support group. As a business owner, YOU are the shark, and your customers are the fish. This same friendly principle should be applied to your business model, … Continued

We can all agree that Henry Ford was a smart businessman. His legacy and business models still live on today. But there is more we can learn from Henry Ford than just assembly-line efficiency.  Henry Ford taught business owners how to say “no”. Ford famously insisted, “Any customer can have a car painted any color … Continued

It’s 2 am when I wake up and I hear nothing.  Normally, at 2 am, hearing nothing would be ideal.  It’s not a scene out of a horror movie when hearing nothing means there’s a bad man hiding in your house. But it’s the hottest night of the year so far and I don’t hear … Continued