Wednesday Buzz: Stop Giving Lame Swag

If you’re a frequent meeting attendee, you probably have dozens of tote bags in the back of your closet all boldly stamped with an organization name or company logo. Sometimes these bags can be pretty nice, but carrying around heavily branded bags outside of the event can feel a little … tacky.

To combat this problem, entrepreneur Lynne Lambert started a company called Mapt Gear “that makes the anti-swag swag bag, a high-quality, stylish tote that publicizes a brand without turning into a walking billboard,” reports AdWeek  (opens in a new tab).

Her company imprints maps that highlight locations of brand headquarters or conferences on different products, including canvas tote bags. The idea is something of a left turn in a $20.81 billion swag industry that usually relies on logos for promotion, notes the magazine.

And event pros might want to take a cue from Lambert’s idea. Think about how you can rework the swag that you hand out to be more elegant, personalized, and less logo-heavy.

Know Your Weaknesses

Most Leaders Know Their Strengths — but Are Oblivious to Their Weaknesses https://t.co/G3C292ddo9  (opens in a new tab)

— Harvard Business Review (@HarvardBiz) February 21, 2018  (opens in a new tab)

A lot of us know what we’re good at, but we may have a blind spot when it comes to our weaknesses.

A new post from the Harvard Business Review  (opens in a new tab) says that leaders don’t have to be great at everything, but one serious flaw can do a disproportionate amount of damage.

“Our data shows that someone who is perceived very poorly on any single, important leadership trait pays a high price,” writes researchers Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman. “If their score is in the bottom 10 percent on one key skill, they will rank in the bottom fifth overall—no matter how strong their other strengths are.”

The post goes on to provide a few ways you can identify your weaknesses.

Other Links of Note

Could your fundraising ideation use a little inspiration? The Get Fully Funded blog shares educational fundraising lessons from Disney movies  (opens in a new tab).

Combat stale memberships. Here are a few ideas for re-engaging members  (opens in a new tab) with benefits from Web Scribble.

Sometimes, a meeting attendee’s mind can’t help but wander. Meetings Professionals International reveals how to keep him or her focused  (opens in a new tab).

(Mapt Gear)