Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I love your idea.  I see a possible play on "what do you want to be when you grow up?"  Like, "You`ve grown up, now what do you want to be?"  Or something.

Ooh, booklover, I like that idea. I`ll have to play around with it to get the right rhythm and phrasing, but THAT`S more of the flavor I`m hoping to have.

I`ve noticed several suggestions for themes that involve dreams and living one`s best life, and while that is the big picture behind what`s being offered, I think I`d prefer a line that conveys a practical and pragmatic style of getting to one`s goals.

But I`m grateful for everyone`s input - it`s cool to see how the seeds of an idea can grow into something viable from a good brainstorm.

Erin, you have a great looking logo and a good tagline for your business. How did you come up with yours?

Y`know what`s interesting to me, reading this thread? It`s that not only do we in the audience have trouble matching your expectations, but you also seem to be having a difficult time setting out those expectations fairly clearly.

What I`m thinking is that there`s a sort of contradicting "sense" taking place, as you said above, where people are getting a `feel` for a future, but you want something a bit more practical.

From a writer`s perspective, it`s a bit hard to put a tagline on the phrase as it is, without sounding maybe too demanding....harsh. It`s like a threat, "Before your next birthday, by gosh, you`d better...." and so on.

Could the phrase be modified in some way to bring out the more practical tagline you`re trying to build? Maybe something like, "Your next birthday is coming:" and then have the tagline?

What about something like
Your next birthday...
         Just another candle? or a day to celebrate you.

i think you are aiming for a feeling of rush but one thats brought on by their own thoughts rather than by you coming out right and saying why they should feel rushed. or to put it in another way it is kind of a "You Choose.. We Help". rather than a "We scare and you jump." motivator. 

just trying to stir the brains.

Yeah, Deft - you get what I`m going for.

It`s kind of like being reminded that you`d better be investing for retirement (you know you should, but you`ve procrastinated this long, you`re not really sure where to start; you`d like someone to get you going, guide you through the process and help you figure out for yourself what you need to do). And if you don`t face up to the fact that you`re not going to do it without a little bit of nudging, hand-holding, and supervising, you`re going to have to struggle with it on your own (and THAT`S not looking too promising).

Or when you have a highly effective personal trainer, they tell you to "get in there," "push it," and "feel those muscles getting stronger." It`s not harsh or threatening, but you feel motivated to get with it and stick it out, and you`re glad to have someone prompting you to do what you haven`t had the initiative to do on your own.

I don`t mean to sound confusing to people who are posting their suggestions. I have a really clear sense of what I`m looking for, and I`m trying to comment on the tones that are getting close and the essences that have the gist of the message but aren`t quite aligned with the attitude I`m seeking. It`s like trying to describe a favorite entree or dessert that you`ve tasted at a gourmet restaurant. You can talk about the ingredients and the texture, but it`s hard to objectively describe an unfamiliar spice or a unique flavor combination.

Hey, Deft, that idea could also be tweaked into something like "Better make a wish before your candle`s blown out." (I`m not sure that`s quite the phrasing I`d want to use, but the image of a candle - burning down, having been lit at both ends, and getting short in the wick - has possibilities.)

What do you think of that concept?

Another phrase that I was playing with was

"Get it together before your next birthday. Inertia is a powerful force to take on by yourself."

(It needs something, but I like the phrase "inertia is a powerful force," and I`ve been using it quite a bit recently when talking about people - including me - not getting things finished or having a hard time maintaining momentum.)

Off the top of my head, I wrote down a handful of various marketing slogans that use the imperative sentence structure in their taglines:

Just do it.

Don`t leave home without it.

Be all that you can be.

Live strong.

Get a piece of the rock.

Think different.

Wake up people.

Go for the gusto.

(Those don`t sound harsh or demanding, do they?)

Hi Denise,

Thank you! It is what I have always said in running my business with my clients. I always let them know that "our goal is there success", and when i hear the usual stories of "i can`t" from my coaching clients , i have always said..."get real, get a goal"... It is that simple, becuase  it really is. Set a goal, make a plan, prepare for obstacles, have a plan b,c, d..z until you get there and if you don`t give in or give up, you can reach any goal. I love your name...Before your next birthday...we all say it..like me about losing that weight, or taking a vacation..it is so universal. I can`t wait to see where you go with this.I am sure that you will come up with a great tagline. It has to be something that is a part of you, something you believe in and easy for other to "get". Then make sure you trademark it!!

-------------------------

Our Goal Is Your Success!
Founder Girls with Goals

`Before your next birthday...be proud and do something amazing`

Andrew

Hey!! What about that, Denise...?