For as long as I can remember I start each business day with a cup of coffee. It usually doesn’t stop there, since I drink it all day long now, probably 10-12 cups a day. There is something about the aroma and smell that even surpasses the taste. I’ve said before that as long as it is hot, I’ll drink it. I wouldn’t say I am a connoisseur of coffee by any means like many of my friends, knowing the background of how and where it is grown, etc., but I do love a hot cup of coffee. For me, it is the bridge to conversations, inspiration, and relaxation and focus on the things I design and create.

Creaffination
There are so many analogies to what I do and life itself found in coffee. Take for instance the coffee bean, they are all different and unique, just like the many creative designers and partners I have worked with through the years. Each bringing their own talent and flavor to the project.  When the beans are ground they mix together for a special flavor all their own, then when heat and water are added they become a product for all to taste and savor.

Reflection
Through the years I haven’t always stopped to enjoy the projects that  I have collaborated with  
to design. In his new book, Greenlights, Matthew McConaughey states, “We need to take time where we stop and do inventory. Let’s go back to our last week, who we were in it. How did we do?'” After 45 years, I have spent more time recently reflecting on the incredible talents of the thousands I have had the opportunity to share coffee with during the creation of designs that have touched so many. A strong aroma of gratitude lingers in regards to the thousands of hours spent to develop identities and brands for companies large and small.

Motivation
Coffee, like the work I love, continues to motivate me for more. Solving a client's problems, whether design or procedure, motivates me to drink another cup, and enjoy the taste. The taste of satisfaction while realizing how blessed I am to get to do this thing called design that I love so much.  Most of all, I'm grateful to God who reigns and am humbled by how he continues to use me in many small ways.

Now it’s time to go back to work, and pour another cup.

Marketing can sometimes feel like a really confusing road map - so many avenues, so many detours, so many directions to turn. Some days, you might feel like you've accidentally ended up in the scary part of town....with a flat tire....in a rain storm.

Admarc understands the confusion. Besides traditional marketing avenues (print, TV, radio, collateral), digital marketing offers more options (websites, social media, online ads). But the fundamentals of marketing remain the same today and into the future. 

A good start to clarifying your personal marketing road map is taking some time to answer these questions:

• What do you want to achieve? Set goals. Be as specific as possible. 
• Why should people buy your products or services? What is special about you?
• What sales promotions can you offer? Special deals, giveaways, discounts.
• Where do your find your typical customer? Hunting? Reading? Surfing the web?

The answers to these questions form the foundation of your marketing plan. 

Admarc has been in the marketing business in Midland Texas for 40 years. We have experience, knowledge, ideas and a killer cup of coffee.  Give us a call or stop by and let's talk about your marketing.   Contact Us

With 2021 on the horizon, the design world is looking forward to a fresh start. Colorful, whimsical, attention-getting graphics will continue to trend in 2021. Creative platform 99designs predicts that the upcoming year will be dominated by bolder, more surreal and maximalist styles. 
Design styles like "Abstract Psychedelia" and "Retro Futurism" are expected to dominate in 2021. 
These design styles and others are illustrated in 99designs' infographic below. For more detailed information and other examples, head over to 99designs.

Try to do something difficult,  something new, anything different from what other people do. And critics, naysayers, and devil's advocates will always comment or critique. Granted, input and feedback are certainly valuable.

But only to a point.

Sometimes, paying attention to criticism--of your business, your products, your ideas will only serve to grind away the sharp edges.

To many, "new" can make people uncomfortable. "New" can make people feel defensive. If you're right, then I must be wrong, and no one likes to be wrong.

Steve Jobs said, "You have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something: Your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life."

The next time someone criticizes an idea, ask how they arrived at their opinion. Look for the data behind the conclusion. Otherwise, ignore everything that isn't data--warnings, cautionary tales, and well-intentioned but poorly grounded advice--since you already know all those things anyway. Then keep in mind, analysis can only take you so far, especially since critical thinking tends to steer a decision towards conventional wisdom.

Innovative products, designs or services are only groundbreaking in hindsight. At some point, someone believed when others did not.

Apply a little selective listening to your critics and sometime that someone might even be you.