I was 8 years old, and my mom had given my brother and me $5 each to spend on the oject of our choosing.
With all the sense of an 8-year-old, I chose a duck. He even had a little string tied to his webbed foot advertising his price at $10; he was perfect, I had to have him. I convinced my brother to go in on the duck with me, and I told my mom about my decision.
“Are you sure you want to spend all your money on that?” She seemed to know something I didnt, but there was no talking me out of it… There was no turning back. I paid for the duck and watched as he was gingerly placed into a cardboard box, which I carried into the car and into the backseat… and we took off for home.
The buyer’s remorse hit me a few minutes later as the duck popped out of the box, flying and squawking around the back of the car. That bute little duck i just had o have had suddenly morphed into a monstrous alabtross, and it was on the attack.
Luckily, we were able to pull over and let him out into a neighbor’s pond, where he looked right at home. I wasn’t going to be stuck with this wild animal I’d bought on impulse, but that sinking feeling of having wasted all my money on a whim stuck with me.
A true entrepreneur from an early age, Derek Champagne has always been interested in fostering connections and finding an audience, in both the marketing and music fields. Now CEO of The Artist Evolution, a marketing, design and practice management firm he founded in 2007, Champagne helps businesses of all budgets design and implement marketing strategies that work.
He’s developed and managed brands and marketing campaigns in multiple industries from start ups to household names. He has pioneered marketing strategies in the medical and dental communities, and has used his twenty-plus years of advertising, branding, and marketing experience to build a formidable business. He is a frequent guest
lecturer at business conventions and college business marketing classes covering marketing and social media subject matter.
Champagne is endorsed by the ASDA as a trusted marketing resource, and he is an advisory board member and a guest contributor for national publication, Dental Entrepreneur Magazine. He is a frequent guest lecturer at business conventions and college business marketing classes covering marketing and social media subject matter. Champagne is also a nationally published musician who has made musical contributions to the soundtracks of television shows on ABC, MTV, Bravo, Oxygen, and the E! Channel.
When he’s not making music or marketing strategy, he enjoys volunteering for non-profit organizations in his home state of Arkansas, spending time with his wife and two children, playing his guitar, enjoying the occasional game of golf, and staying actively involved in his church.
Simple, profound marketing strategy. This should be one of those "must read" books for every college business major BEFORE they get into the workforce. Great book!
Great advice and inspiration for my new business! So glad I have this easy read as a valuable resource!
Great book for a marketer...or even a regular human! Derek makes great points that will help a large company add even more power to their message or help a one man band feel like he has a full orchestra behind him.
If you are a novice marketer like me or a seasoned pro like Derek, there is more than enough wisdom to make this a worthwhile read. Derek has an easy writing style that imparts his knowledge without sounding superior. He is your extremely smart cohort that only wants you to succeed.
Add “Don’t Buy a Duck” to your must-read list this month. Don’t delay.
If you’ve ever been intimidated by marketing or felt overwhelmed, this book is for you. “Don’t Buy a Duck” truly cuts through the clutter and tells you exactly what you need for successful strategies in marketing.
Add “Don’t Buy a Duck” to your must-read list this month. Don’t delay.
I love this book because it breaks down a gigantic topic into bite sized pieces that just work. Derek is an excellent storyteller and gives very practical and actionable advice. Add “Don’t Buy a Duck” to your must-read list this month. Don’t delay.
Super practical, down to earth, make progress today. Helpful tools throughout with bonus downloads. SWOTT with two t's! Execution is everything.
This book was incredibly insightful. This experience and wisdom Derek shares throughout the book could benefit an entrepreneur of any sized business. I am grateful to Derek for writing this book. I am more prepared than ever with an understanding of what I need to do to market and launch products I am working on.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
As an avid reader and read a lot of business books, I wish I had this one in my library long before it was even written. I have bought plenty of ducks in my business adventure. This is an absolute must read for any one starting out or currently in business.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.