Month: January, 2012

Astonish Welcomes New CFO Eric Johnson

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Astonish Results is pleased to introduce Eric Johnson, the latest member of our executive team. Eric has taken on the critically important role of Chief Financial Officer for Astonish, and will be ensuring that our finances will be managed properly and used effectively to serve our clients and help our company grow.Astonish Results CFO

Eric has an impressive education, with an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business, and a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. That makes Eric the second chemist among our executives, along with John Boudreau, our COO. We are bound to benefit greatly from the addition of another analytical mind at the helm.

Prior to joining Astonish, Eric worked for Intel in Arizona within various finance roles for 10 years. He also co-founded a solar cell manufacturing business, SpectraWatt, Inc., which he and others spun out of Intel with the help of multiple investors. Eric served as the VP of Finance at SpectraWatt for three years prior to taking on his new role at Astonish.

Eric was one of the first four employees at SpectraWatt, and says that he was able to meet every new employee one at a time, as they joined. In larger companies like Astonish, he says it’s always a challenge to remember names and faces all at once when joining, but he’s enthused. Eric was introduced to us for the first time during our annual, company-wide Astonish Results family meeting this past week, which he said was “definitely a bonus!” His favorite part of Astonish so far is “definitely the employees—all the people who work here. I love their enthusiasm.”

Outside of work, Eric enjoys traveling, reading, cooking, and fishing. He’s also excited about Super Bowl 46 this year. Who is he rooting for? “Without question, the New York Giants,” Eric says. “I’ve been a Giants fan my whole life having grown up in New England, so this year looks to be a fun one.”

He even has a bet with a buddy over the game. If the Giants lose, Eric says, “I’ll have to place a Pats bumper sticker on my car for a year. But I’m really thinking my buddy is going to get lots of compliments on his brand new Giants sticker. I’m totally looking forward to that.” We’ll be looking forward to how his bet turns out, as well!

Thanks, Eric, for taking on the monumental role of CFO in our company. We’re grateful for the knowledge and experience you are bringing to the table to help our company succeed this year and in the years ahead.

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1 Comment by on January 27, 2012
filed in Astonish Results News, Employees, Executives, Recognition
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Astonish Results 2012: Stand Together

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“If you could get all the people in the organization rowing in the same direction, you could dominate any industry, in any market, against any competition, at any time.”

– Patrick Lencioni

The dream began with passionate, fervent determination under the 2010 slogan, “War is the Answer.” 2011 saw a carpe diem approach as the greatest digital marketing company in the world spread “The Time Is Now” throughout its ranks. This past Monday, Astonish Results brought together over 100 employees from two different states to craft their mindset for the eagerly anticipated 2012 growth plan:

Stand Together.

Hosted by CEO & Founder Adam DeGraide, the 2012 Astonish Results annual employee meeting began with reinforcement of the importance of unity in any corporation.

“Every part of the body must work together for the health of the whole body,” began DeGraide, “and we band together. A company fails not because of bad sales, not because of technology, or clients … It fails if we forget for a single moment that our mission is to serve and love local agents across the country.”

While last year’s course of action was “Identify, Implement, Improve,” this year found Tim Sawyer, President and co-founder of Astonish Results, urging the room of eager ears to provide consistent and superior service in all that the company does.

“Million dollar question, folks! What can you do personally to stand together with team members to provide a consistent and superior customer experience? Because here’s the reality—I don’t care if you’re on SEO, Social Media, an RFM, a programmer, a designer… They may have signed the contract that a sales guy offered them, but these clients hired YOU. They value YOU, they want YOU.”.

 

Jonathan Monterecy, General Manager of Astonish Results, and Kelly Donahue-Piro, VP of Raving Fan Management, both took time to speak about the importance of a smooth launch to any client’s campaign, and how astonishing results are only possible with a firm foundation and a solid start. Monterecy also dipped into the launch of Astonish University and the Astonish Help Desk, and how the Astonish Results System will depend on moving clients smoothly through the use of these streamlined, customer-oriented utilities.

The meeting concluded with John Boudreau, co-founder and COO, speaking plainly and compassionately.

“We are to love and serve our customers, as we love and serve each other,” Boudreau concluded. “Love is ‘the unselfish and benevolent concern for the good of another.’ I’ll tell you how we’ll deliver consistent and superior service, results, and experience. We’re going to do it standing together with unselfish and benevolent concern for the good of our clients, and for the good of our team.”

No Comments by on January 26, 2012
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Getting Psyched about Setting Agency Goals for 2012- Webinar Re-Cap

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Recently, Jonathan Monterecy General Manager of Astonish Results, and Kelly Donahue-Piro the Vice President of Raving Fan Management hosted an enthusiastic and informative webinar on goal setting. In effort to boost their insurance marketing strategies, the webinar started with a very happy greeting for our listeners. Astonish certainly started the year out right with a turnout of 167 agencies attending the webinar!

Jonathan and Kelly focused their session on a few main points of goal setting. These main focus points taught the attendees how to create attainable goals, implement a rewards program, set manageable goals, and hold individuals accountable for their goals.

Creating a team environment helps the agency become motivated to succeed in not only individual goals, but motivated to achieve the overall big picture of where the agency wants to be.

Talking Points of the Webinar:

Managers and Employees work harder when given specific goals

  •  “People don’t plan to fail. People fail to plan.” Jonathan mentioned this quote to emphasize the importance of the value in planning ahead to achieve goals
  • Goals are accomplished by roles within your agency. Making sure that everyone understands their expectations.
  •  Accountability-make your employees accountable to follow through to meet goals

“Remember, company roles help achieve company goals!”

How to create good goals

  • Be S.M.A.R.T about setting your goals
    • Specific- breakdown the goals into details. Details matter
    • Measurable- make sure you track your efforts. You can’t imagine what you can’t measure
    • Achievable- make goals that you and your employees can accomplish
    • Relevant- make sure your goals are in alignment with the agency’s overall goals
    • Time-bound- make sure to attach a timeline to each goal. Make sure each goal has a beginning and an end.

 

Stay involved in helping the team achieve their goals; create rewards

  • Have small everyday rewards for small goals being met
    • Gift cards, buy coffee, take out to lunch
    • Have larger rewards for quarterly goals being achieved
      • Day off, $100 bonus, take out to dinner
      • Have ASTONISHING rewards for yearly goals being met
        • $500 dollar bonus, weekend getaways, shopping sprees

The important thing to remember when rewarding your staff is the reward goes along way. People love to feel special and be recognized. Make sure you know your employees and what will motivate them to succeed. In the end as an agency you will meet more goals and have a

Recap: Setting effective goals in your agency for 2012:

  • Define your company goals as a team
  • Get excited to tackle these goals together
  • Get people to BUY IN to your goals
  • Set SMART and achievable goals
  • Create a place in your office to track your goals
  • Meet monthly to show your progress
  • Publically tell each employee where they stand
  • Celebrate your achievements

 

Astonish Results experienced an awesome turn-out for this Webinar, and we hope to have even higher attendance in the future. All in all, we hope everyone who attended is motivated start the New Year out right by setting manageable and achievable goals for their agency!

No Comments by on January 9, 2012
filed in Events, Insurance Marketing, Management, Motivation, Office Culture, Raving Fan Managers, Recognition, Sales, Tips, Training, Uncategorized
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Charity Recap: Astonishing Results for our “Make-A-Wish December” Initiative

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This month we celebrate another Astonish Results success. Throughout the month of December Astonish has been united in raising awareness and funds for The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

With 2012 upon us, we are PSYCHED to announce that outcome of our “Make-A-Wish December” campaign, and share that we have successfully raised $28,950 for the local nonprofit!

On behalf of the entire Astonish Results team, we would like to thank each and every person involved in helping us succeed in our mission. And a special thank you to Astonish Results CEO and Founder, Adam DeGraide, who took the company’s initiative one step further by increasing community interaction. In addition to the funds raised through sales and the Executive Team’s personal donations, DeGraide donated an additional dollar for every Facebook “like” he garnered on his Facebook Fan Page. Overall, the campaign was met with incredible success and allowed the Astonish family to rally behind a cause so many of us are passionate about.

It takes about $4,000 to make each child’s wish come true. The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Massachusetts and Rhode Island has already served over 5,000 children in previous years and with our donation we hope to add some cheer and joy to the lives of many children this New Year.

Once again we are incredibly grateful that we are able to provide this contribution to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and thank each and every person that helped make this possible.

Furthermore, from the Astonish Results team, we wish you all a happy and healthy New Year! We hope that our donation allows many children to start off the New Year off with a smile on their face, as their wishes come true!

No Comments by on January 6, 2012
filed in Astonish Results News, Business, Charity, Events, Insurance Marketing, Motivation, Office Culture, Recognition, SEO, Social Media, Uncategorized
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