Fascinated by any story on growth at times like these? Well, we can take a lesson from the Poles. They have many of the things that Americans have in their core, and a few other things that we need to get back to.

Let’s see what is contributing to their success:

• Hungry (psychologically) business people who are still relatively new to a free market economy post-communism. Innovation and optimism after the fall of communism is always amazing. Remember to embrace our free market for the opportunities it provides.

• Low to no debt. The Poles are still new to the concept of credit. They pay cash for everything…including their homes! Low debt enables them to leverage their opportunities without carrying a chain mail suit of debt around. Debt is not bad when it is strategic, but American businesses and entrepreneurs need to keep a healthy perspective on debt. If it’s choking you, you can’t respond to change or opportunity when needed.

• Control of their currency and some independence from the European Union. The lesson I take from this is that while there is safety in numbers, there is also strength in autonomy and independence. When all boats are tied together, they fall with the tide when it’s falling. In business, critical partnerships and supply chain relations are important, but the ability to stand and deliver on your USP independently can be a real competitive advantage.

A: Knock knock.

B: Who’s there?

A: Polish Entrepreneurs.

A: Polish Entrepreneurs who?

B: Polish Entrepreneurs who are the only European country growing economically right now.

Anyone fancy a networking trip to Poland?

We are starting to hear chatter over the wires of the next round of entrepreneurs who are ready to launch their ventures. It seems over the last year some of you have really hunkered down, developed your proof of concept, gotten your funding lined up and got to work on your products or service.

And by “getting your funding lined up” we’re not exclusively talking about start-ups. There are plenty of mature businesses who are prepared to diversify their offerings by entering new markets or creating new products/services with the help of private equity firms. Whether you are big or small and looking to grow despite the current economic conditions (aren’t we all!!!), then these are things investors will be looking for:

• A well-developed offering “proof of concept”
• A credible, successful management team
• A well-defined business plan
• Validation from the market or prospect group of interest to buy
• A marketing plan that clearly states the target position against competitors and how you seek to maximize that position
• And last but not least, actual tangible progress toward selling and delivering your offer.

Don’t wait for the money. Work while you shop for the right investor that shares your values, interests and specialties. It’s officially the second half of 2010. There is no time like now to find your sweet spot and launch the next great business or product.

To view the winners, click here. To see our winning entries, click here.

We don’t just profess this as cheerleaders for our clients…we say this because we have experienced it first hand. Modo Modo Agency was just ranked the 2nd Fastest Growing Women-owned Business in Atlanta by the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

We’re proud of this because it puts us in league with our clients, attempting to grow in a variety of capacities. Some people hear “growth” and think of headcount or square footage at headquarters. We hear growth and ask more questions to determine how marketing can help achieve the specific growth our customer is after:

• Geographic Expansion - marketing assists with voice of the customer and learns regional, national and international distinctions. Targeting is key.

• Product Line Expansion - marketing helps articulate and leverage existing market experience that reinforces the new line value prop. If the lines are unrelated, marketing can focus more on establishing a distinct identity rapidly and getting to market.

• Growth Through Acquisition - marketing helps understand the two firms coming together, the collective value prop, the comprehensive customer set and help align teams, messages and materials. Acquisitions also move at the speed of light so marketers play a critical role in rapidly assimilating information and organizating the launch of the retained or refreshed brand.

There are of course many more types of growth–across industry, across category, and more. Whatever the opportunity our customers face, we are always excited and curious to learn and grow with them. Our success in asking these questions, keeping this type of optimism and seeing the vision that our customer expresses leads to our own growth.

Here’s to more growth in 2010 and beyond. Let us know how we can help you.

•  Visual Branding/Identity - B2B for “IQL Logo/Branding” for IQ Laboratories

• Event Marketing - Event Under $100k Investment for “SureSeal Irrigation Show Marketing” for Southwire Company

The AMYs held at Atlanta’s Fabulous Fox Theatre are always a fun event for our firm. As active particpants and leaders in the AMA organization, we enjoy seeing the diversity and quality of entrants and campaigns that Atlanta has to offer. We are proud to be a part of the movement to keep Atlanta at the forefront of marketing excellence and represent the many innovators that call this their home.

To see the complete list of winners and learn how you can get involved with AMA Atlanta or the AMY Awards visit the Website at www.amyawardsatl.com/aboutamaatlanta.html.

The most gratifying and enlightening activity for a true marketing partner is participating in the proof of concept of product development. The best marketing comes from working side by side with the client as ideas are vetted, driving focus groups and interviews with diverse groups of stakeholders, observing in field demos and gaining first hand feedback, testing messaging, and assisting as manufacturing challenges and opportunities are transferred into value propositions.

A business to business organization can always find someone to draft a better piece of collateral or design a communication vehicle better. What they can’t always find is a firm with an interest in the underlying business drivers and an appreciation for the gaps between buyers, sellers, marketers and innovators. We thank all of our clients for letting us play a role in closing those gaps and participating in meaningful results and success.

Enter as many people as you’d like FREE online at: http://tinyurl.com/ygd5whl

Plenty of people throw the term innovation around, but it takes discipline to pursue. Oh…and money. As the recession has hung around this year, many of us have seen U.S. investments in innovation take a hit.

A recent article from CNN Money explored the drop in patent filings in the U.S. You can read the full article here. Patents are not the only indicator of innovation but they are one major indicator of the number of new inventions pursued each year. According to the article U.S. patent filings are down for the first time in 13 years while other countries applications have gone up. This is a concern for those in Silicon Valley, including many companies who are responsible for a wealth of annual filings such as Symantec. In 2009 U.S. Patent and Trademark Office revenue from patent filings was down $200 Million. That’s a double-whammy in lost opportunity–lost revenue (and jobs) for the patent office and lost benefit to the U.S. economy from U.S. invention.

I remember traveling to the U.S. Patent and Trademark office with my father. He had drafts of his filings for us to research. He has video footage of inventions from the late 60s that he attempted to patent. He spoke with pride of the patents my Uncle attained for pharmaceutical solutions. There is a passion that comes from invention and the validation and excitement of commercializing those ideas. The Patent office certainly shares this enthusiasm as they’ve begun promotions on a variety of programs including pilots on Green inventions.

For the Holidays this year, we wish everyone and particularly all Modo Modo Agency’s clients a HUGE dose of innovation for 2010.

It’s been a little different this year. It’s not that our clients aren’t doing Q4 activity or preparing for Q1, but their approach is a little more surgical. In several cases, Q4 performance is so tight that clients are opting to not use their budgets to ensure the Q4 margins are the best they can be. In other cases, clients whose Fiscal year ends in March, who typically have an active fourth quarter of promotions are directing their investments into Sales activities and programs with inside sales and account managers.

It is smart to do these things when this quarter’s numbers are a make or break proposition. In the long run however, this approach alone without a consistent investment in longer term gains and activities can be dangerous.

In 2010, while you focus on greater performance, increased leads, shorter sales cycles, and higher margin product promotions, be sure to commit yourself to a percentage of strategies and activities that deliver longer-term payoffs. The only way to get out of a week-by-week and month-by-month performance chase is to do the things that will deliver a big bang to the bottom line. Not incremental gains or campaigns that deliver to projection. Instead make time for your BHAG (big hairy audacious goal) and do a little work toward it each quarter while you’re turning the crank and watching the numbers.