I have been tinkering with the idea of becoming a brand ambassador for some brands that represent innovative thinking. Since no ads are featured on this blog, it seemed something more worthwhile doing. It is also a way for us to talk about things worth doing, which I’d like you to share.

That way we find new activities, share the lessons and get talking about entrepreneurial companies that outdo themselves.

Speaking of companies that give rockstar service. This past Saturday, for the first time, I went to Kai Thai with some friends. And boy did they surpass my expectations. They did all the great things you expect of a restaurant, but never get. That alone did it for us.

One of their treatments is the fish spa, where you submerge your feet into a fish tank and Garra fish – little dermatologists – nible away at them. Their manager offered us an additional 5 minutes on the 15 minute treatment.

While preparing to dip into the cold water – long after 9pm – she added an additional 15 minutes as a promotional offer. Contrary to my skepticism, the treatment was worth more than the price. And the added time wasn’t required, also not used.

As an entrepreneur it proved that giving that much extra, makes you worth talking about. Small businesses can use that to their advantage and customize their service offering according to what your client needs.

The 100 list

I rarely encounter phenomenal service, but never get to talk about it here when it happens.

Being a Brand Ambassador on the other hand is an option that could applaud great service, encourage even more of it and hopefully rid us of the unacceptable. That’s the hope.

There are brands and adventures I would like to start with on the 100 list. But that in a subsequent post.

Where were you offered outstanding service? How do you improve client experience, what can be passed on?

Photo by: karlteskey on Flickr

“What problem are you trying to solve?” counts as one of the most important questions I was ever asked by a business mentor. We tend to have great ideals for starting companies, as we should, but end up losing the plot. I would imagine every business has one thing in mind when they open doors, that being solving someone’s problem with their product.

People who created their own solutions

Chris Guillebeau wanted to change world, challenge the status quo, travel the world and meet people with similar interests. He started The Art Of Non-Conformity, his website, where he documents his travels and invites readers to become part of his experience. This solves a few things for both him and his readers:

- It gives other travelers the opportunity to connect with like-minded people around the world.

-         He meets people online before setting off to travel.

-         He also gets authentic voices to talk about their countries, which is always better than reading photoshopped brochures.

Allon Raiz discovered that businesses didn’t need funding to thrive, but required direction and resources that money cannot buy. So he started Raizcorp, the first privately held and unfunded business incubator.

For every online startup that is looking for funding there is the Crowdfund. Some web entrepreneurs realized the need for “Angel Funding” in South Africa and together they started it. With small contributions from the public, who in turn become investors, they are able to develop web startups.

First find a problem then become the solution is what most successful entrepreneurs have done. It’s even better when you know problem, thus making the product even easier to create.

What problem are you solving?

Photo by: Zoopreme on Flickr

In July of 2009, I announced the Netweb Event for that month with a video give away sponsored by Missing Link. Little did we know that the prize would go to an amazing project I had been following for a while.

One Matchstick, a concept where the founder is trading a single matchstick till she gets to offices through a series of trades, is a lesson in innovation.

It was simple for us – start a competition that benefits small business and give it to the most deserving company after our delegates have voted. From that simple definition came being an MC at the premiere in Johannesburg, being in Cape Town for another and making interesting contacts along the way.

The lessons

- You are as big or small as you think you are.

It ‘s because one matchstick that I went over 1000 kilometers away and made contacts I wouldn’t thought of on my own.

- Small has to do with efficiency than size.

The size of this project meant all we needed was a notebook, a DVD Player and a room of 30 people for it to be successful.

- Naming is very significant

We called the prize a corporate video when we gave it away, but Telana referred to it as the “One Matchstick Movie”.

You are invited to the “One Matchstick Movie Premiere” sounds better than being invited to the “Launch Of The One Matchstick Corporate Video” any Sunday afternoon. Yes, the Johannesburg premiere was packed on a Sunday afternoon.

If a single matchstick can make it happen, that changes the whole game.

Please view the One Matchstick Movie below.