The case for being a 'friendly business stalker'

INC. THIS MORNING The case for being a 'friendly business stalker' Constance Schwartz-Morini isn’t a professional athlete like many of her clients, but she understands the game of business.  In 2010, she took her 20 years of experience in the NFL--which included positions in television programming, corporate sponsorship, marketing, and player engagement--and co-founded SMAC Entertainment with pro football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan. The company features a roster of media, entertainment, and sports personalities, including football Hall of Famers Tony Gonzalez and Deion Sanders, as well as WWE Hall of Famers Nikki and Brie Bella. On Wednesday, during an Inc. Real Talk: Business Reboot digital event, Schwartz-Morini said she likes to refer to herself as a bit of a “business stalker” at times. Translation: She’s the person who pops back up in your inbox every once in a while until the deal is done. Most recently that strategy helped her get Strahan's clothing line MSS into Men's Warehouse in the middle of a pandemic. After her initial outreach, the CEO of Men’s Warehouse declined the offer--but instead of giving up, Schwartz-Morini kept at it. "Every now and again, I'd just, you know, kind of stay top of mind," she said. "Like I said, a friendly business stalker." By August, they reconnected. By November, the clothing line launched. Read our story to learn Schwartz-Morini’s other top tips for growing your business and maintaining a strong, consistent brand. SPONSORED CONTENT Michigan Business By the Numbers [Infographic] The state's fastest-growing companies see Michigan as an ideal place to do business. Inc.’s Best Workplaces. Apply today! Inc. Best Workplaces awards the company cultures that thrive in the face of adversity. Cultures that in response to a pandemic redefine the workplace and continue to enrich it. Cultures that foster employee growth and advancement at all levels. Apply today to be recognized as a place where people love to work, one that sets the standard for excellence in company culture. Regular rate deadline: January 15, 2020 Apply Now. HERE'S WHAT ELSE I'M READING TODAY: The chances for a badly-need federal Covid stimulus bill getting passed as early as next week have improved for the first time since Election Day. --Inc. The pandemic has hit women-owned companies harder than other small businesses, according to a new global survey. --Inc. The Federal Trade Commission and 48 states and territories are suing Facebook, aiming to make it divest both Instagram and WhatsApp. --CNBC A San Ramon, California-based startup wanted to disrupt the power grid. Silicon Valley bought in. Then, almost everything went wrong. --The Wall Street Journal Remote work isn’t going anywhere in 2021. These nine tips can help make it better. --Inc. On this week’s Founders Project podcast: How to be true to yourself as a leader, identify your company’s customer profile, and more. --Inc. --Cameron Albert-Deitch Reporter, Inc. How are we doing? Send me ideas and feedback for Inc. This Morning at calbertdeitch@inc.com or on Twitter, and sign up for daily text messages. Click here to forward to a friend. This email was sent by: Mansueto Ventures 7 World Trade Center, 29th Floor New York, NY, 10007, Unsubscribe • Update Profile • View in Browser • Privacy Policy