… and how to put them in practice in your business today.
Germany is the land of cars – talking about strong positioning – so I’ve made it my mission to visit the best cars museums this country has to offer while I live here.
My visit to the Mercedes Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany inspired this blog post about business growthfor IMPACTFUL PROs- coaches, trainers, consultants and independent service professionals who can make a REAL difference in the world with their good work.
7 Fun Facts About Mercedes-Benz: The Beginning
Did you know…
… The automobile wasn’t developed by a large industrial company with vast resources? It was created by two independent visionaries working in small workshops! This proves that world-changing innovation often comes from passionate individuals with a vision, not just corporate giants.
… Mercedes-Benz is the oldest car manufacturer in the world! The story began in 1886 when two visionaries in south-west Germany independently invented the automobile in the very same year – without ever knowing each other personally.
… Carl Benz received his patent for the three-wheeled “vehicle with gas engine drive” on January 29, 1886 – and this date is now celebrated as the official birthday of the automobile itself?
… While Carl Benz was inventing the three-wheeled automobile in Mannheim, Gottlieb Daimler was creating the first four-wheeled automobile just 100 kilometers away in Cannstatt near Stuttgart – both working independently and completely unaware of each other’s groundbreaking work?
… Bertha Benz, Carl’s wife, was the world’s first automotive pioneer AND the first person to prove the automobile’s practical value? In 1888, she confidently drove the Patent-Motorwagen from Mannheim to Pforzheim on a widely acclaimed long-distance journey – a key moment that established the car as a viable means of transport.
… The iconic “Mercedes” brand name was born from motorsport competition in 1900? Daimler sales partner Emil Jellinek commissioned a powerful racing automobile and named it “Mercedes” after his daughter Mercédès – and the revolutionary Mercedes 35 PS that resulted is considered the first modern automobile in history!
… At the end of the 19th century, there were no efficient motorways or networks of filling stations? Yet, Benz and Daimler still successfully realized their dreams of new individual mobility with the combustion engine. Talk about innovation against all odds!
If you want to enjoy the experience for yourself…
This is a video of some highlights from the museum so we can share the experience…
So, these are the lessons Mercedes Benz has been modeling for us in making a BIG impact in the world with our good work and growing and scaling a profitable, sustainable business at the same time…
Lesson ONE- The foundation of replicable success…
“Adding value is to take people closer to where they desire to be”
– Ana Rosenberg
Sometimes we feel that we need to have the most creative, original idea in order to succeed.
The company before it was even called Mercedes Benz started by adding value. The first value they added was to simply replace a horse for an engine.
They didn’t start with the cars we know Mercedes Benz for today.
Thought Experiment – Where can you add value today? Where can you help your clients get closer to the outcome they desire?
FREE Resource – Value Communication Kit™
Uncover the real value you provide and the words to communicate it so that your best potential clients get it.
What if you could discover the words to communicate the value you provide so people see it for themselves, instead of having to persuade and chase?
DOWNLOAD YOURS – https://anarosenberg.com/vck/
Lesson TWO – Rome and Mercedes Benz were…
not built in a day.
One of the most obvious truths is that Mercedes Benz has been creating and building for a long time.
Yes, it was not a one-thing thing.
It was iteration.
Sometimes, we feel that our offers, products or services are not perfect so we hesitate to release them. The Mercedes approach was to release a product and then to continue perfecting it.
Thought Experiment – Where could you be iterating in your business?
Lesson THREE – The important number one…
Benz and Daimler patented separately the first car and started the first car company.
Yes, the positioning of the first one counts.
Positioning is without a doubt in my mind the most important factor in the success of this company.
I leave here some resources that can help you position your work to be seen, respected and well-paid. And yes, you can still have a strong positioning even if you aren’t the first one in your industry to do what you do.
Small Business Growth – Why Don’t They See The Real Value Of What I Offer?
What’s The Best Positioning For Expert Brands?
What Bam Can Teach Us About Positioning For High-Value Clients
The Truth About Standing Out In A Crowded Market Place, Being Different And Unique
Lesson FOUR – The birth of the unforgettable brand…
The company was not born with the ‘Mercedes’ brand we know today. If Mercedes Benz started without a brand, it’s totally OK for us, too.
NOTE – When we talk about a brand, we are not talking about colors, logos or websites. I included a resource to help you create or re-create your own unforgettable brand like Mercedes.
FREE Resource – How To Boost Your Brand To Attract High-Value Clients Even If Nobody Has Heard Of You
Lesson FIVE – Fearless energy…
What if real freedom in business is showing up fearless?
Most professionals spend more time managing fear, self-doubt, and insecurities than creating. But what if you could shift that energy back into your business?
Resource – Fearless
Fearless invites you to explore the real role fear plays—and how a simple understanding can spark a profound shift: from the exhausting game of fear, worry, and insecurity… to the liberating game of freedom, brilliance, and confidence.
Through stories, thought experiments, and ambitious simplicity, you’ll discover that you already have everything you need to create with joy, freedom, and natural confidence. No techniques. No hacks. Just the realization of your innate brilliance.
Dare to let it be simple—and create the business you truly want.
To get Fearless on Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FT3QN9G9
To get a meaningful preview of ‘Fearless’ – The Surprisingly Simple Shift to Fearless Business Growth
Lesson SIX – Proof of concept…
One of the first cars was sold a lot.
The car itself didn’t look like much but its real value to the business was proof of concept.
Thought Experiment – What could you offer today to prove an idea for a course, program or service you have in mind?
Offer it today and use my simple proof of concept test: pre-sell ONE. If one person takes you up on it, you might be up to something.
Lesson SEVEN – Premium offers…
The history of the 20th century was eventful.
Mercedes Benz chose premium offers, especially at the most difficult economic times.
It might sound counterintuitive but their bets on premium offers fueled their growth, especially at the most difficult times.
The German economy had a boom in the 60s and 70s and then Mercedes Benz created premium offers for the middle class.
Resource – Here more on Premium Offers you can start creating and selling today, https://anarosenberg.com/premium-program-brilliance.
Lesson EIGHT – A place…
A museum is a physical place.
A website is an online place.
You can think of your website as a place.
The MB Museum was built specially to display the MB jewels. You can also build your website as a frame to display your brilliance and not squeeze your brilliance into a website.
This is how Mercedes does it in their museum…
A spaceship elevator takes you to the top of the museum and then you are immediately presented with a clear historical path down to the present and future of MB treasures.
Dates and pictures guide your path all along, putting into context the cars that you are seeing.
Result…
You feel smarter when you leave the museum than when you entered it. And it is effortless. You don’t have to study 20th century history hard; you get it immediately through clear photos, dates, headlines and brief texts.
It’s the opposite of overwhelming.
PAD Thought Experiment – Stores are also designed following PAD: pleasure, activation, dominion.
Think back to your favorite store. It’s most probably a pleasure to be there, otherwise it wouldn’t be your favorite.
Pleasure is for sure a pillar of a successful website.
Activation is the stimulation of the senses that keep the visitor engaged.
One of the activation strategies I loved in the MB Museum was the crystal boxes labeled ‘extras’ displaying interesting items and facts. It made me hunt for them so that I wouldn’t miss any.
What content can you create in your website to keep people engaged?
Dominion is about the control you feel as a visitor of your surroundings, how well you can get oriented and get what interests you.
The MB Museum did that extremely well. The museum was easy to explore.
What about your website? Is it easy to navigate and explore?
START HERE – You could revisit your funnels or paths you have created for your web visitors. If you have only 5 minutes, you could revisit your navigation bar. Is it clear?
Next Step
Which lesson, tip or thought experiment would bring you further today? Reflect on it and act.
Till next time, remember… Your brilliance is portable. You can take it with you anywhere and everywhere.
With all my love,
Ana
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