Anniversaries

It's always good to reflect and respect special benchmarks (good and bad) in your life.  I tweeted the other day that I have a few special anniversaries coming that I'd like to share because it will give insight to where I am today, crazy how time flies!

4 year Anniversary- Cross-Country Move:
  July, 2009 I decided to leave my tenured position as Spanish Teach in Inner City Baltimore to pack everything I could fit in my car to move to California on whim to pursue my dreams.  My goal was to work in Marketing in the Sports Industry, particularly Action Sports. Through hard work and networking, I was able to land contract consulting positions with USA Water Polo, TCA Volleyball, and OC Marathon for most of my first year in California. Then I landed the below opportunity and now have the position I've always wanted.
  Rx Lessons:
  Follow your Passions
  Take Risks
  Network, Network, Network

The Grand Canyon on the road trip to CA

3 Year Anniversary- Oakley:
  June, 2010 Through my contacts at OC Marathon, I was able to land an interview at Oakley (funny story- I brought my parents with me to the interview since they just flew in to visit for the first time).  After a few interviews, I didn't get the original position but was offered a temp position in the same department.  I jumped on it to get my foot in the door and prove what I could do, which I quickly did- I went from temp to managing a $5M Regional Marketing budget.  I'm blessed to work with the best director, I've learned so many valuable lessons from him and he's given me so many opportunities.  Some accomplishments in my time here:
  Interviewed/Trained 6 additional team members
  Development of the Global Direct Marketing tool
  Launched and advanced development on a universal Marketing site (that manages budgets, monitors
    Marketing collateral requests, tracks spend, and calculates ROI)
  Identified the need for an Oakley Marketing App
  Successful integration of an automatic forecasting system
  Increased window campaign graphics (and some kick ass concepts too!)
  Rx Lessons:
  Learn, observe, ask questions, take notes, from an expert
  Swallow your pride to get your foot in the door
  Never settle- with your position, with your processes, with what is "given" to you, with anything.





Successful 3-D Window Concept at Foxwoods Casino

1 Year Anniversary- Hypertensive Crisis:
  June 2012 I had just officially completed my beginner class at a CrossFit affiliate, tons going on in the office with the Olympics and the eve of a huge Women's event I was apart of the planning team.  I had woken up in the middle of the night with an odd headache, that continued throughout the day despite taking ibuprofen then I started with dizzy spells.  I just knew something didn't feel right and after convincing from family and friends I finished work (and errands) and drove myself to the ER.  They took my vitals at check in and then told me to wait; it was packed, I thought about leaving.  Why was I here for just a headache while others are bleeding, bones sticking out, appendicitis, etc?  I waited for about 2 minutes when the nurse quickly called me back.  I was immediately hooked to a monitor without knowing what was going on- my blood pressure was 215/122.  The average should be 120/80, someone in healthy condition like me should be even less.  I was having a hypertensive crisis, which meant my BP was in the stroke/heart attack range.  It was scary; I spent months going through tests, so far genetics is the only answer as to why I have to take meds infinitely.
  Rx Lessons:
  Be authentic, meaning don't make your brand sound like a robot with scheduled Social Media
    postings.  Have some compassion, share your story, relate to your audience.
  Listen to your gut, intuition is usually right

1 Year Anniversary- Official CrossFitter:
  August 2012 After being introduced to CrossFit in 2009 through a friend who opened an affiliate, I started following the sport and dabbled in doing CrossFit style workouts on my own at the Oakley gym.  I came to the realization I wasn't pushing myself nor did I know all of the proper techniques so I took the plunge and joined Orange Coast CrossFit, and like thousands of others around the world it has changed my life.  It has become my life- I train min. 6 hours/week, received my Level 1 and coach, joined the CFG SoCal Regional Media Team, and recently was able to connect my 2 passions Oakley and CF.
  Rx Lessons:
  The community is like no other- I've made lifelong friends, networked, business partners; there are
    endless opportunities.
  Performance-Obsessed (this is also a value of Oakley) its gets you hooked to perform your best
    which then translates to meticulous details in other aspects of life.

When I first started at OCCF and needed a band to do pull-ups

For more information on how to take risks, never settle, be authentic or performance-obsessed with your brand (personal, affiliate, product, service) email

The CrossFit Games SoCal Regional- The Strong and The Weak

I had the honor to attend and work behind the scenes at The CrossFit Games SoCal Regional this past weekend.  The athletes were obviously all STRONG, but what about the marketing aspect of the event?  Who was a stand out?  Who had room to improve their brand game?  Here's my take on the event.


2013 SoCal Regional

The Strong:
KillCliff (Recovery Sports Drink): It was everywhere!  Athletes were drinking it, volunteers and crew had it in n, and spectators were asking where to get it.  Simple grassroots approach to marketing with seeding product.  Catchy tagline "Test Positive for Awesome" and Social Media support of the event and sponsored athletes.  The rumor on Sunday was someone offered to buy 50 cases on the spot, the crew brought 50 for the whole weekend.  I'd say they met their goal in getting the masses hooked.

Andrea Ager (Athlete): While Andrea may not have been strong enough on Day 1 to overhead squat 175 for 3 reps, her personal following and brand got a boost.  With a controversial call on the line to allow Ager to continue to compete, she decided to take the high road and withdraw so she could "win the right way".  She posted her statement on Instagram (and Twitter) and received close to 3,000 likes and 300 comments.  Appropriate use of Social Media to stay connected to fans.


Andrea Ager- Event 2

Rx Jump Ropes and RPM Fitness (Jump Ropes and other fitness equipment):  Yes 2 competitors, both winners.  The 2 booths drew the largest crowds with their interactive set ups.  Rx featured jumping stations, rings, wall balls, HSPUs, and a daily WOD.  While RPM had a jump testing area and a challenge of 1 minute max double unders.  The interactive set up was the ice breaker for crowds to approach and sales associates swoop.


Rx Jump Ropes Set Up

The Weak:
Reebok (Title Sponsor, Apparel and Shoes): As the title sponsor, you'd expect to see an overwhelming presence and true Reebok experience.  While the Reebok tent/booth was 2-3x bigger than the majority, it was separated from the pack and easy to walk past as nothing was drawing you in. The Reebok name is included on the CrossFit Games logo, its almost legible.   There was just an overall lack of Reebok and their commitment to be in the CrossFit world and grow the sport.

Ryan Fischer (Athlete): I know Ryan personally so this is hard for me to write.  I can't comment on the "fairness" of his judge but it was his poor reaction to repeated 'no reps' that puts him in this category .  I can't say I would have handled it differently; its not just a sport but his livelihood, what he has worked for over several years and it came down to 1 judge ruining his chances for a ticket to the Games.  But at the same time it is his livelihood and his career that puts a roof over his head and food on the table, so I wouldn't recommend turning to social media to berate your "employer."


Ryan Fischer- Event 6

In the Middle:
CrossFit Games (the entire event):  CrossFit has stepped up their game again, I heard repeatedly "this is so much better than last year."  The venue, set up, signage, social media, etc. were all on point and even exceeded expectations.  Some minor suggestions would be to amp up the technology, athletes in the warm up area didn't know what was going on the floor and spectators had to pull the scoreboard on their smartphone to see who actually won an event.  Monitors and digital scoreboards would have enhanced the experience.  The food lines were long and the expo was small.  Quality vendors (not quantity) are important, there was plenty of room to sell more spaces, entertain the crowds, and promote commerce within the CF community.

Did you attend SoCal or another regional?  What is your take on the marketing scene?