And then I had 60 iPod Nanos
So… a couple weeks back I was talking with Dillsmack, who has been at every elite retreat so far, brain storming about more things we can add to the event. These brain storming sessions is generally me throwing things out there and him telling me how stupid they are… So anyway I brought up the fact that there is always kind of a let down when people leave. You just spent the last 48 hours cramming a lot into your head and putting a lot on paper. You want to put it into action right now but its downtime time. You have to get a plane home and then the weekend before most can even really get after it on Monday. So I wanted to find a way to keep those juices going.
I thought it would be cool to buy everyone every book I always learned from… but then they have to lug them around… what a pain in the ass. So then I thought wow what if we bought everyone a new iPod Nano filled with those books… like specifically Seth Godin’s books, Malcom Gladwell, my radio shows, Neils radio shows… etc etc.. That would be cool… plus the new iPod Nanos are pretty cool by themselves. So I talked to Tigh about it (newest employee and manager or projects (mainly Elite Retreat right now) and by coincedence he was just contacted by another company who wanted to sponsor the event.
So long story short we ordered 30 iPod Nanos all engraved with “Elite Retreat 2008 San Fran” on the back courtesy of clickbooth. It was like 5k for 30 or so… we purchased the Malcom Gladwell books but I was able to contact Seth Godin and we made a deal where I would donate a dollar amount to charity instead of paying him for the audio books. How awesome is Seth Godin!
But I have been traveling for the last 2 weeks and haven’t been keeping tabs… I did think it was weird I did not receive a receipt from Apple or anything. So today I went into my Amex account and… sure enough I had not been charged for them. Then I went into my Apple account and… the order is not there. WELL POOP.
So I placed an order today for another 30 and as soon as I got off the phone Fedex came with the 30 iPods we originally ordered. I tried to cancel my order but it said engraving has begun and cant be canceled. DOH!
So now I have 30 iPod Nanos I have no use for…. what to do with them hrmm
Perhaps you could share them with your readers?
I agree with this one =]
Obviously that’s what he should do.
Desperately in need of a quality music player?
I think John should buy 30 more for ShoeMoney readers
I guess all ER attendees would like to have the iPod’s given away there and all people that are not attending ER would like a give-away or something like a contest…
Ha ha ha….I think that was the intention.
OK fine, you can send me one too. I am just over the border in Iowa so I can pick it up just as easy if need be.
Even I want 1. I have 0
OK…I am the capitalist here I guess…Like I said about the DVDs do the same thing and sell them! …then give me one for the awesome Idea
Dude, remember that time I….well I….you know that time yeah it was fun wasn’t it!
Ha ha, the good ‘ol days. Can I have an iPod Nano puhleaze!
I agree! Ive got one of those 1st gen 1GB nanos that the japanese are all worried about since that one exploded.
Yea, that sounds like a great idea. A contest like that would certainly generate some buzz and it would be real cool if of course I won one.
A contest for your readers of course!
Do another Elite Retreat in San Francisco later this year
haha nice! Thats actually a good idea
Jeremy I just sent you an email with a very special plugin that can help you with your excess iPod inventory.
If another Elite Retreat goes down, how about making it east coast?!
oh ok, i’ll send you my address since your pressuring me. LOL
Give it to the first 30 commenters of this post? Just a thought,
I like that idea, but I think the contest would be even better.
I’ll take one.
I’ll take one too
I’d like and engraved one just to show off that I have enough dough to go to the elite retreat…which of course is not the case
Hook me up, yo! I only need one, but I can take all 30 off your hands.
Well, if you are in need of funds, you can always auction them off on ebay. To get a price above what you paid for, maybe include a 15 min consulting session from Shoemoney himself. That could net another $+100.
Or…send them to Walter Reed Medical center for injured troops coming from overseas. It will make you feel really good knowing you did something for those who have given so much. Maybe send half to Walter Reed for the Army folks and the other half to Bethesda Naval Hospital for injured sailors and Marines…
As a veteran, I can probably help finding the phone numbers of the correct people if you want to go with option #2. Just use my email I included in this comment.
What’s better than getting 1 Ipod nano- You got it, getting 2.
If you can afford it give them both to the attendees. 1 will be full of the marketing goodness to keep them pumped and the other is for them to find there own stuff to load on it. That way they don’t have to delete any of the other content.
As you said, go big or go home.
You can give me two: one for me and one for my dog. Ha!
Well, why don’t you hold a contest or something on your blog?
I would give them away to the first 30 commentators on this post, but that’s just me
I smell a contest! Or actually (taking off my self centered OOH I want to win one! hat) Graeme has a good idea there.
“I thought it would be cool to buy everyone every book I always learned from”
I’d be interested in what’s on your booklist.
2 Ipod Nano’s per elite retreat attendee… or just auction them off on ebay and donate the proceeds to a worthy cause.
Auction them off for those who want 1 but cant get 1
Hey Shoemoney, give them to me and I will give them away on my blog. I can’t think of a better thing to do with them…
RSS Contest pt II with John Chow!
tough dilemma you have.
btw, whatever happened with the writer applications that were sent in for fighters.com?
Hmmm, first 30 people to leave a comment on this post?
- #11
An iPod Nano for the first 30 comments in this post, sound fair to me
or do something like ask everyone to write a comment/story about a book/ebook/podcast related to SEO they like and then take the best 30.
That’s a problem I’d like to have someday… what to do with 30 extra ipod nanos…
Seriously, what can’t you do with 30 ipod nanos?
Sell them at half price.
all attendees get two. 1 for them and 1 for someone they mentor
Send one to your favorite dog crap selling person!
I’m thinking it’s time for a random sweepstakes contest. Or you could send them back… the latter of my two ideas is really terrible. don’t pick it. go with what feels great - giving away ipod nano’s to happy readers.
First 30 eh, I guess I am in if you go with all the suggestion of the first 30 commentators
The first 30 commentators sounds like a good idea.
Just hang onto them and give them out this xmas.
Have a “link bait” competition!
You could give them to the first 30 commentators or your top commentators. You could also have some sort of contest.
Great idea for a post Shoe.
You ‘re where guarenteed to get at least 30 comments
Make Contest help get your blogs pr up and everyone who leaves a comment & helps out gets entered and picked by random ~AdtollForums~
Give the ER attendees two IPOD nanos.. maybe they can use one as a giveaway on their sites….
I thought ER wasn’t going to have sponsors 
I agree with giving it to the first 30 people who post a comments. Well I guess I am number 30 myself.
I am in the top commentators. How can I be forgotten…haha
it should be either
1) another event
2) sell them and proceeds to charity (nothing liek a good PR stunt :D)
3)first 30 commentors is justa side thought
Well, you could hold a contest on your blog, or any of your sites that you own for the readers to have a chance at some. Of course, it cost you money, so you might as well give us a challenge to do for them if it were to work like that.
Or you can use them for other promotional things. I know you know for a fact having things on handy for promotions is always a good thing.
Contest!!! or if you give them to commenters of this post…me me me me!!!! please.
Just a suggestion, donate them to the veterans hospital. They could use the pick me up and you could use the tax break!
Oh please sir, can I have one? pretty please
I’d be way more interested in the info that you are planning on putting on the nano then the nano itself. If they were put up on ebay with the info on it, I’d be bidding in a heartbeat.
You could, as everyone else has already said, give them to the people who post a comment for this post. Or you could have a different IPod for each day of the month. You’d be assured of always having one that is charged.
DANG! That stinks!
You should sell them on here. ^_^
I like the idea of giving them to the first 30 posters. What do you gain out of that though except for a fawn-fest of drooling readers.
I like the contest idea too. The reader gets something and you get….well…more readers due to the promotion you’ll be getting from the contest.
Then I thought, what about a contest where the winners receive the nano and then you turn the nano into the winners “ticket” to some other retreat/program/conference. This way you get the fawn-fest of readers, tons of publicity due to the contest, and then you put it on HGH by making the nano’s “tickets” to another event.
Just a thought.
By the way, do you guys have tshirts for the Elite Retreat? If so, send me a pic of one so I can stick it on my site.
(note to self-check if I’m in the top 30)
Give ME and 29 other people free entry into the Elite Retreat, so you don’t have to waste your Nanos.
you should send me one and i’ll write about elite retreat on my blog
hahaha … a business gift .. saves you some on taxes too
I’d like one!
You got my attention, i’ll take one as well.
Okay Jeremy, Here’s the ad:
“Does your Boss or S/O think you were at EliteRetreat SanFran….But, you were’nt? Is the pressure rising since you almost slipped?
We’ve got the Perfect souvener for you to hand! They’ll love you, and never cast suspicious eye towards you again! In fact they’ll make you go the next E/R!
‘Gift Wrapping and Fedex for just an additional $47!
Good luck man!
I could use one.
Yeah give em away eh?
Well you could give me one of them
http://www.seantheblogger.com
Looks like you’ve already got your Christmas shopping done.
Sounds like you have a major problem on your hands … LOL
Darin
One of these days I’ve got to make it to an Elite Retreat….maybe when I start making money off of MouthyGirl.com I can….maybe….
You could have perpetual contests…and give an affiliate link to an Ipod skin / Ipod case company so that people can buy a skin for their new free Ipod Nano, you make money off the affiliate link and they pick out a skin to personalize their new free Ipod Nano!
Win-Win?
Why not just give them as christmas presents to poor kids? ( If they have any power plug at home… of course.) Or sell them and then donate it to charity?
Most definately love to grab one, assuming you’re hinting at the freebies?! Would even be willing to pay for carridge and your time!
A contest promoting the Elite Retreat seems like an obvious option.
Give ‘em to poor kids, personally. That’s 30 people that will never forget you and that may have otherwise never known you. If one of them is successful one day, who knows what may come back your way.
My little brother would love one. He wants to be just like me and I have an ipod and I think it would be cool to give him one. Give it to the low income families and put music already in it. If they don’t have a computer than that would be great.
How about you give em away? I sure could use one
Well you could always go for the tried and true method of eBayin’…
That’s how you got started online, right?
Ebay?? Just auction them off here on the blog!
I don’t want one, and Brent’s got the right idea.
Since this information has positively influenced you so much, give ‘em to the kids man. Chances are slim today’s student will ever come across that kind of information unless they have a mentor, or are into the whole personal/financial development gig.
Could give them directly to the worst performing middle/high schools throughout the US, or even better — get your readers to become a travelling mentor for schools in their area. Hook ‘em up with an iPod and send ‘em to spread the wealth of knowledge that could change countless lives and such.
or, y’know.
You could give ‘em to the first 30 posters like that Cow schmuck suggested.
just kidding, you know I love ya John
Whatever you choose do with your gifts to the world shoe, I’m constantly impressed with how much good you do by just being you. Been a long time reader, finally had some constructive input for ya. Keep on keepin’ on.
My local Red Cross is having a fundraising and awareness campaign. We’re nominating local heroes for the work they do making other people’s lives better. I think the devices would be great gifts for the people nominated as local heroes. If you are interested, just e-mail. We’d love to have them!
Definitely create a contest. You should make us work for these quality mp3 players.
You should do a contest like the one Dill did for the PS3.
I’ll take one, and offer Unix work in return.
A contest seems to be the popular choice.
Agreed there
I think you should run an auction with a reserve price to cover your costs. No reason for you to be out of pocket. Take off the cost of shipping to the winners and then donate any surplus to a charity of your choice. Maybe even include charity selections as part of the auction process
My opening bid is $50 and, since I’m English, my charity choice is the British Heart Foundation. They saved my Dads life a few years back so I’m happy to double the bid to include a contribution. Besides I must be the only person on the planet without an iPod!
List them all on Ebay, and donate the proceeds to the same Charity Seth Godin had you pay to.
You can always donate one to http://www.Melbel.com to help get our blog project off the ground. Or to http://mmmTalk.com to get their forums more traffic!
May as well run some sort of contest to increase the RSS count of shoemoney. I mean I realize you already have 15,000 so what good would another 500 do? Being the mastermind you are, I don’t think you even need that question to be answered by me.
I think a great idea would be holding a contest where the person on this post who comments under the name “big money” should win an ipod!!
OR, just randomly run around and shoot people with a paint ball gun, and casually walk up to them and apologize and give them an ipod for the trouble.
How about a contest where the top 3 commentators each month for the next several months get an Ipod?
Yeah, he’s right. Listen to him! Did you hear me? Listen to him!
Go back to your original idea. Create an Audible.com version that includes all the books that you said you learned from in audio format. I’m sure a chunk of them are online with them. Who knows, they might give you a deal figuring the new owners might become subscribers.
Looks like many like the contest idea.
First off, anyone NOT following you on twitter should even be considered.
http://twitter.com/shoemoney
Good idea that they also be subscribed to your RSS feed.
Don’t give anything out just yet. Wait till the nanos arrive, take some photos, show them online, make us salivate a bit.
Then, like an Easter egg hunt, post a message to twitter only, with a hint as to where and how on your blog a nano can be claimed. Do the same for the RSS feed. Repeat until all are gone. Give away 5-10 at a time, less work for you.
donate one to the win on the web competition. sell the rest on ebay with 2 different sales landing pages; one using everything you’ve ever learnt about making landing pages on ebay. and the other using a plain ordinary page.. use it as a blog case study to prove how good you are and how much proper landing pages helps. send one to me for this awesome idea.
I wonder why this post has the most comments.
I think it’s great that Seth and you came to an agreement to donate to charity. Giving back to the community is something more people need to do.
The idea of giving out ipods with the books on them was brilliant. The people that you give them to are going to be pleased.
~Terry
That’s easy, have a super of a giveaway for your readers!! Sure there’s pretty of us readers that would love to win one!
If you’re going to give them away free, you might as well just sell them. I am in the market for one anyway and would love to buy one! Plus the engraving would be sweet
Why not auction them off, and give the $ to charity along with the money donated from Seth’s books?
I have the solution… Fill the Nano’s with the same stuff that going on the ER’s version, then at ER film one of the interesting sessions and stick that on the nano, (They have video) now you have a nano with all this great stuff on so you sell it at a slight premium.
It is also a way to give people a feel of the ER experience, maybe throw in a couple of clips of the limo ride etc. Could be some extra marketing as well.
Oh and did I mention that as the winner of the best idea I get one sent to me for free