Brent Worley Blog

Ahh, Memorial Day weekend. It is the officical start of summer. Here in Arkansas, summer has arrived (highs in the 90’s with 50% humidity or higher). What a tradition this weekend has become for many of us. Usually the weekend falls on or around my birthday (its actually this coming Thursday instead of on the weekend itself) and spend a lot of time with family.

This year, I’m spending a LOT more time with my grill (yes, my family too, but we’ve decided to grill everyday of the weekend so far).

Its the weekend of the Indy 500. Its the first weekend that many start their summer vacations…if the kids are out of school, that is.

But mostly for us, its about the grilling.

Lets not forget the intent of the holiday, though. While I’ve never served in the military, far be it from me to disrespect any past or present member of our Armed Forces. Soldiers of the past fought for our freedom, many loosing their lives. And while you may have your own opinion of the current war(s), lets not forget our men and women serving. Pray for their protection and their safe return home. My wife and I spend a lot of time thinking and praying for her father-in-law who is currently in Iraq. We wish nothing but safety and fortune over him and the people he serves with over there.

Just think about this while your grilling, sitting by the pool, catching some additional sales this week, or whatever it is that you plan on doing this weekend.

God Bless America, our veterans, and our current forces serving the country.

As I expected, it comes down to the two Davids.

However, I think one is a HUGE favorite.

David Archuleta, while vocally the most talented on the show, has worked himself into a peciliar situation coming into the final. He has only showed one genre that he excels in: Ballads. Take away the chance for him to show off those crooning pipes to a slow, lyrical toon, and he gets mediocre reviews. His Chris Brown performance last week proved that.

And while he has the vote of most teeny-boppers, he is not the complete package or star material. In fact, he is a little awkward. He has shown us throughout this season that he does not know how to communicate in a one-on-one interview. Only in the taped moments did he ever seem comfortable.

Archuleta has one other factor working against him: He is not original. In fact, I would guess that, minus some slight movement of notes in some songs, he has not had an original moment. It appears that most of the differences he put into his music was the prodding of his father, not from his own imagination on how a song should be.

The “Goliath” in this match-up is definitely David Cook.

Lets fact it, Cook is the complete package for a star. Vocally, he is extremely talented both within and outside of his comfort zone. The minute-and-a-half time limitations have not served him well in the last couple of weeks, but his originality has. He has the look of a star, the ability to communicate like a star, and the ability to make songs his own through arrangements.

And while not all of his performance this season were his originals, the ones he performed that he did arrange were nothing short of incredible. He not only brought the house down on the re-arrangement of “Always Be My Baby” by Mariah Carey but this rendition of Aerosmith was incredible (regardless of what Randy says in the end).

So what will it take for Cook to win it all?

Not much.

If Cook shows up with an original arrangement in hand and rocks the house in one of the many songs he’ll get a shot at this week, he’ll capture an overwhelming majority of the votes of anyone over the age of 16.

If an older demographic votes this week, Cook will win in a landslide.

The final airs live this Tuesday on Fox. Lets hope for a knockout performance from both contestants.

In my usual manner of filing taxes, I use Turbo Tax’s online system (usually a higher priced one as I have business expenses I need to mark on a Schedule C as well as do my personal taxes).

Never again.

Since Turbo Tax loves Santa Barbara Bank and Trust (SBB&T) for their direct deposit option, using them will force the IRS to mail your rebate to you instead of having it wired into your bank account.

How nice of Intuit to inform me of this.  Oh wait, they did not.  I found this out after digging through their website, wondering if I would get my rebate this week or not.

Some people are claiming that they are receiving direct deposit.  I decided to place a call to Intuit to discuss this with them.  Their response?  Paper check mailed no later than May 30th.

Turbo Tax fully let me down this year, not only with the rebate, but the fact that their software showed me getting a larger return than what I actually received.  Their software had an error in it, the IRS caught it, and my refund was less.  Supposedly they have a 100% accuracy guarantee, but they will only pay the amount of penalty plus interest and not reimburse the cost of using their service (which was nearly $100).

I do not think I’ll use Turbo Tax for any future tax filings.

It will either be called a brilliant move or the biggest mistake in poker history.

The World Series of Poker (i.e. Harrah’s Entertainment) and ESPN announced today a delay of playing the WSOP final table…until November.

The goal is to air the WSOP prelims and the main event up to the final table.  The 9 final table players would return to Vegas to play a live broadcast of the final table.

There has been a lot of discussion about it, notably negative on a popular online poker forum, PocketFives.com.  In particular, there are concerns about what happens if something happens to one of the final 9?  What would prevent the weaker players from seeking coaching from a pro?  Are the lives of the final 9 at danger from each other, the mob, etc?

Obviously, these are all hypothetical situations, but things to be concerned with.

The Good:

Poker has seen a slight decline over the last little bit (emphasis on slight).  TV ratings are down slightly as well as players due to the passing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (not passed on its own merits but tacked on to a Homeland Security bill in late 2006).  Poker is needing a shot in the arm, or so the thought is.

So, the goal is to get as much exposure for the final 9, crank the hype machine up, and drive up ratings for the live final table.

Along with increased TV ratings, the other hope is that sponsorship deals can be struck with the final 9, selling spots on their outfit as advertising.  This will make the play more profitable for these players, and others playing the game will take note.

The Bad:

There is too many possibilities for something bad to happen, either for the individuals, or for the game.  I’m all for gaining popularity, but not at the risk of damaging the integrity of the game, the players, etc.

For instance:

• What would prevent a form of collusion at the final table?  For instance, two of the players could work out a system to reveal (within reason) their hole cards?
• What if something happens to one of the players?  Sure, this could happen on the planned day off between the final 18 and the final 9, but with 4 months separating when the final table is set and when they actually play it, well, that leaves for a lot of time for something to happen.
• Extreme scenario:  What if a mob were to get to one of these players?  Don’t think it could happen?  With millions on the line, I would be willing to guess that it is definitely not beyond the realm of possibilities.
• Along with the previous line, what if a hit was placed on one of the known players?  Money makes people do crazy things…
• If someone cannot show up due to natural causes (i.e. death), are they just blinded off, or can someone from their estate play it out for them?
• Deportation for foreign players?

The Ugly

Two things have come up, one from a dealer (though not for Harrah’s) and another from a multitude:

First, realize that in tournament poker dealers are paid “extra” in either one of two ways:  Part of the prize pool is held out specifically for them, or the big winners tip them a certain amount.  This money is typically distributed at the end.  Is Harrah’s going to take care of the dealers?  These guys make a lot of their money based on tips from cash game play and NOT dealing a tournament.  Remember, these are people too, with families to feed, rent to pay, etc.

Also…where is the player’s cut in all of this?

The main event players pony up $10,000 to play in what has been the largest live-play event in the world.  Of the $10k, 6% is being withheld this year, with the largest portion of that going towards “entry fees.”  This is only fair (I have no problem paying fees to play).  But you know the will make millions more while the hype machine cranks up, either in new players to their casinos, ESPN coverage, companies paying for sponsorships, etc.

So in all of this extra revenue, are the players getting any cut of it?  Probably not.

Pro players probably have a larger problem with this than the average Joe, and I definitely do not have a problem with it.  After all, its business, and probably a good business move.  But I can definitely see the complaints, as the 9 players will be inconvenienced by having to wait months before their possible payout.

One thing is for sure on this:  This will be a heated debate until November.  Only then will the verdict come out on whether this was a good move or a bad move for the WSOP.

By the way, I should say this:  The World Series of Poker, WSOP, and Harrah’s are all property of Harrah’s Entertainment.

To the voting public of American Idol:  Huh?

Granted Carly Smithson has been taking heat from Simon for weeks, her performance on Tuesday should have been enough to put her through to the next round.  In fact, that song proved that she can have a great time, perform, and not feel like she is trying too hard to impress everyone.  In fact, even Simon liked it (for once).

Instead of picking the person who blew it (Brooke White) or the guy that has no business making it this far (Jason Castro), you pick one of the two females that have some real talent and chance of making it in the music industry.

But there is an obvious reason why Brooke made it through:  She has a huge following based off of her looks and previous performances.

In fact, one forum I participate on continually has post about how “hot” Brooke is.  Of course, most of these guys are 18-23, single, and “living life” so to speak.  But this may have had a lot to do with who all continues to vote for her.

Had this been the first time she has slipped on her performance, it might be a little more easily forgiven.  However, this is a second time.

Brooke’s following is that similar to viral marketing techniques.  Consider it a “bandwagon” mentality of followers.  Her popularity has spread quite rapidly since Hollywood week was over.  Her fans have been contagious in how they promote her looks and talent, as is evident by the buzz on the Internet and now the voting.  Through this viral spreading of her fan base, the show became about popularity and not about performances (especially recent performances).  Brooke is talented…just not the most talented this week.

One good thing did come out of this week:  It left hope for a finale with the two real superstars of this season:  David Cook and David Archuleta.

Just think that 5 years ago we were complaining that gas prices were above $1.20/gallon. Now we are faced with prices that make even Honda drivers cringe. After all, your car may get 30 miles to the gallon, but putting in nearly $50 still hurts.

With gas rising, though, marketing efforts for anyone who offer a product or company that can earn them extra should increase as well. People are looking for second income streams or second jobs. With this in mind, ramping up your online marketing is becoming critical.

I’m personally trying to write more articles, start up more sites on pages with Page Rank, and other methods to draw people to one of my many primary copy sites. I’m also going to be increasing some of my affiliate marketing efforts in hopes of earning a few extra dollars here and there myself.

So its time to break out the old dusty brain and begin working diligently again. Write more articles, increase your web presence, and spend some time learning more about marketing online will drastically help your traffic, your business, and eventually your personal pain at the pump.

I never cared for the concept of American Idol until I got hooked watching the auditions last year. Now, its a weekly ritual (and set to record on the DVR in case I’m gone). Its interesting to me…I actually get hooked on the performers and how they do.

For the longest time I figured the baby-faced 17 year old crooner David Archuleta would win it all. After all, he is (in my honest but educated opinion) the most talented vocalist. He has a great future ahead of him but he lacks originality.

Enter David Cook.

I’ve always like David’s style. He’s a rocker with a good voice. What makes him stand out is his ability to take a song, put his touches on it, and make it sound like an original that could be a #1 hit all over again.

Take this week’s theme: Mariah Carey. She is one of my favorite all-time female vocalist but I’m not a HUGE fan of some of her songs. “Hero” was huge hit, as was “One Sweet Day” (combined with Boyz II Men…my all-time favorite song. Ever. Period). However, I never really cared for “Always Be My Baby” as a song. It was a little too, well, bubbly for my taste.

Again, enter David Cook.

David C. takes the song, adds his touch (whoever is helping him with arranging these is a genius…and if no one is helping him, David C. is a genius), and makes a song that I believe will be #1 again. It reminded me of Aerosmith and Bon Jovi in the late 1990’s: A great song, darker than the original (more “rock” than “pop”), and performed very well.

My take on it is this: While David A. is talented vocally and a hit with the “teeny bopper” girls, he lacks one thing that David C. has. Yes, both have great voices, a great stage presence, and great careers ahead of them. David A. lacks a certain flare and originality.

David C. (boy its confusing marking who’s who…even I get confused typing it) has the ability to take a song, here it through his ears, and make it a hit. The other David just sings really, really, REALLY well.

By the way, this is a great point in marketing. David A. has a great voice and a great following, but he has yet to really brand himself. David C. brands each performance with his own touch (other than great vocals). You hear in marketing of anything that you should always brand yourself and not just your products or company. This is a great example of just this.

David C. has managed to brand “David Cook” as a future star, regardless of how the voting turns out. Tonight’s performance is just one great example of that. His voice, his arrangements, his personality on stage, everything about him sets him apart from just a singer or just a guy with looks. He has set “David Cook” up for a successful run in the music business.

Six months after moving in to the new house, our office is finally taking shape. It took some time to find a desk that we thought would be suitable: Had to have lots of space, had to look decent, but had to be near childproof. Finally, after searching, we found it.

And then I did the unthinkable: I bought a laptop that was not an Apple Macbook. I had my eyes on one for quite a while now, but when it came down to it, I needed a Windows based machine to handle some of the mortgage work I do.

To top it off, I did not even buy a Dell (although I wanted one they had at Best Buy, but they were sold out and had no idea when they might get more). Instead, I opted for an HP.

To be honest, the machine is quite nice. I like the new look and feel of having a widescreen monitor on the laptop rather than the normal 4:3 ratio screen. I feel it is a better picture as well as having more room to have things up and running at once.

Of course, I have become accustomed to have 2 screens with my employer, so I decided that an external monitor was a definite. As many different webinars and other multi-tasking environments I put myself in, a secondary screen is a nice touch to keep my personal productivity up.

The monitor was actually a very nice deal. I lucked onto an LG model. I have a 22″ LG LCD HDTV in the bedroom and think its a pretty good picture for a smaller television, even in HD. The monitor just happened to be the same price as a Dell monitor that I had seen at Wal-Mart. I jumped at the chance to take home a brand name monitor (widescreen as well) at a good price.

Oh yeah…and to top off the office, I had to have some “white noise” as well as something to inform and entertain. Hence, the 19″ widescreen hooked up to the DirecTV connection. During the day, it is typically set to CNN as something to listen to without distracting me too much from the work I am trying to accomplish.

As you’ll notice, the walls a bare. April and I are working on that. We have some ideas on what we want to put up, but nothing yet. Diplomas? Good possibility. Inspirational posters? I would be more likely to choose something from this collection. A whiteboard? Well, that is going up directly behind me. I hope to use it to keep track of….something, although not 100% sure what I’ll use it for yet.

We still have boxes out in the garage we have to sort through and figure out where we are going to put things.

Plus, I still have 2 pieces of equipment to purchase just for office use alone: A new printer (color laser, most likely) and a fax machine.

I’m just happy that it is all finally taking shape. It has been over 2 and a half years since we have had a room dedicated to being an office. Its nice to have somewhere that you can dedicate to being productive in marketing and business and not be tempted to lie down on the bed or having small hands trying to help you type.

So when you read a blog, see any marketing post I make, etc, look at these pictures, because this is most likely where it was thought up.

Oh yeah, and forgive the mess (April has already pointed it out in these pictures). Part of it is the typical “moving and organizing” mess, the rest is Brooklyn working in mommy and daddy’s office.

So it is Sunday night, and time for another week to begin.

Joy….

Actually, tomorrow should be an interesting day if all goes according to plan.  I had an email from the CEO of the mortgage affiliate branch my business partner and I are associated with.  We have been in conversations for a couple of weeks about taking on more responsibility within the company itself.  The email today stated that everything is setup and ready to go.  We’ll see what all of this leads to, but I’m hoping it will be another profit center (on top of my role as the branch manager, I might be serving as a “district” manager which might open up some opportunity to make some more cash).

Tomorrow also should be a payday, as our branch is owed money from our previous district manager.  I requested a wire on Friday.  I am pressing for it to show up tomorrow in full so we can close that nightmare chapter of the branch’s history.  The guy is really nice until he owes you a check.

On top of all of that, I’ve launched a new lead gathering website this weekend and began viral video marketing for it.  Hopefully that will begin to pay off in the near future (page views started happening today, so hopefully traffic will pick up).

This week should be better than last, if all goes well….at least, I hope.

I’ll keep this space updated with how the marketing is going, what we did, etc.

Last night a group of tornadoes blew through central Arkansas.

We were about 2-3 miles from a spotted funnel cloud.

While we were okay (after waking up the girls and throwing them into the closet), some of the damage that happened in and around the Little Rock area was incredible. One cop car happened to catch video of a tornado ripping through a car lot. You can see the tornado snapping the light pole.

Amazingly, there were few injuries and only one fatality attributed to a vehicle accident following the tornadoes.

And also amazingly, the girls went back to sleep without a lot of fuss or hassle after we emerged from the storm closet.

Click here to see the video.