Sluggish. Stale. Stuck. We all feel that way, at least at times. A simple solution? Springwise. If you already know about Springwise then you know that ‘this’ is a source of real inspiration – once a week, 52 weeks a year. If you haven’t been tipped off to this site, then this is your tip off. Go to: http://www.springwise.com/ and you will quickly see what I mean.

>The Key Point:

Springwise has 8000+ volunteer scouts who scour the world looking for innovative new business and marketing ideas. You’re probably not looking to start a new business. But. Many of these ideas have to do with tweaking an existing business so that it fills – or creates – a brand new niche. Here’s an example from this week’s edition: EcoModernism, a North Carolina company designs, assembles and installs IKEA kitchens. That’s right. This is a service that any home decor business could develop as an add-on – at virtually no cost. With clients in Ontario, Missouri and Virginia, as well as Carolina, Ecomodernism charges an hourly fee to facilitate the entire process – from arranging demolition and drywall, to selection, configuration and installation of the new kitchen. Brilliant. One of my Springwise favorites, from the February 23, 2010 edition, is Vrachtfiets, a new concept by two students at Delft University. Primarily created to help people move house without renting a van, the Vrachtfiets is a two-person bicycle vehicle. As explained by the bike’s designers, moving furniture usually isn’t a solo effort, so why not have two people work the pedals? The bike includes a solar-powered electrical lift. Brilliant, brilliant. Ps – Please be sure to forward this email or blog link to business friends who would enjoy Marketing Dangerously – and who would appreciate knowing about our next Social Media Challenge Meetup gathering, this Saturday, in Langley, BC (details below). Thank you! ——————————————————————————————————–

Next Social Media Challenge Meetup gathering: This Saturday in Langley, BC

This is your invitation to attend our next Social Media Meetup Gathering.

Special Note: This Meetup marks the half-way point in our 90-Day “Marketing Dangerously Social Media Challenge”

What: Our live Meetup gatherings are all designed to answer this question: “How can you use social media to build your business?”

Why: Because we’ve all got to learn this brand new language – if we want to grow our sales without spending money on old fashioned advertising.

When: Saturday, August 7, 2010.

Where: The Hampton Hotel, Langley Bypass (West of 200 Street, on the south side).

Time: 10:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (But you’re invited to come at 9 a.m. for a f*re-e additional presentation by image makeover expert Debbie Reynolds).

Speaker: Neil Godin, Author of ‘Selling in the (Comfort) Zone,’ and Publisher of Marketing Dangerously.

Registration fee: No charge.

Note: We are challenging you to help us double attendance at this month’s Meetup. Please read all the details below.

Door prizes: Join the fun and participate in door prizes worth over $1000

About your speaker:

Neil Godin (a.k.a. The Turnaround Guy ^Ò ) is publisher of “Marketing Dangerously,” the marketing and sales coaching and “idea” service for business builders, and author of “Selling in the (Comfort) Zone” (available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other outlets). As a speaker Neil has presented to more than 300,000 business people from coast to coast in Canada and the United States. While his client list includes majors like Shell, Ford, The Royal Bank, Telus, Dun & Bradstreet, Subway and McDonalds, Neil works mainly with independent  businesses, and specializes in turnaround marketing work with small to mid-size companies in crisis. In these turnaround cases, sales always have to be doubled or tripled — immediately — and at minimal cost — and in his presentations, Neil shares ideas from his turnaround work that can help any company – in any condition – to ramp up their sales – now! In this special presentation, Neil will share what he and colleague Jonathan Christian have learned (so far) about using social media to drive business – and how you can use social media marketing to build your business as well. Key point: Like the internet itself, social media is here to stay – and – you’re missing a huge opportunity if you stay on the sidelines. Why not RSVP right now at  http://www.meetup.com/The-Marketing-Dangerously-Social-Media-Challenge/and we’ll see you on August 7.

Announcing a brand new partnership: “The Vancouver Business Builders Forum”

Starting with this Meetup gathering on Saturday, August 7, Marketing Dangerously is joining forces with three powerful business coaches – Shane Morgan, Steve Keough (aka “Coach Steve”), and Debbie Reynolds – to form The Vancouver Business Builders Forum. For now, the group will continue to meet once a month in Langley (Metro Vancouver), BC.  This month the forum will feature Debbie Reynolds at 9:30 a.m. followed by the Marketing Dangerously Social Media Challenge Meetup at 11 a.m., with Neil Godin. Important note: Registration opens at 9 a.m. and you are invited to attend the entire morning event “at no charge.” And we encourage you to invite your business friends to attend at no charge as well.

Here’s our August 7 Social Media Challenge to “you”

We have had a consistent turnout of about 40+ people at each monthly Meetup Gathering. This month, we want to double that number to 80+ – even though we’re competing with beautiful weather on a summer weekend. Can we do it? Yes, but only with your help. Here’s what we’re asking you to do:

1. Forward this email to every business colleague in your address book. (Your friends will thank you for alerting them to this totally f*re-e business building opportunity.)
2. Post messages on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn (etc.), letting people in your network know about our event.
3. Personally ask at least one business colleague to attend the Meetup event with you (why not two?)
4. RSVP for the event – why not do it now? – at http://www.meetup.com/The-Marketing-Dangerously-Social-Media-Challenge/

Thank you! Neil, Jonathan and the Marketing Dangerously Tribe.