Roland Frasier

Roland Frasier Marketing Strategies Blog

Roland Frasier Personal Journal

• Mastermindin In Austin & Enjoying The Local Color

  I'm back in Austin, Texas again to attend one of the Mastermind groups that I belong to. If you have not added this amazing business and personal boosting tool to your collection you really should consider it. I know that sometimes when I tell people I spend almost $100,000 a year on Masterminds and personal education, they think I'm absolutely crazy, but the return on that investment is always at least 100%. Think about that. Wouldn't you always jump at the chance to double your money on an investment in the course of a single year? Anyway, I flew in today and I have two days of meetings with a bunch of ultra successful marketers and I'm really looking forward to the experience. They hold a "wicked smart" competition each time they meet and the smartest marketing strategy or tool that is submitted is voted on by the group and then someone wins the "wicked smart" award. Just imagine having all sorts of highly successful and talented people revealing their best and coolest stuff so that everyone in the group can benefit from it. How cool is that? I have a couple of submissions that I'm going to make to see if I can take the prize at this meeting, so I have my fingers crossed. I revealed a little bit of it on my personal blog over at RolandFrasier.com but I couldn't tell all there because sometimes when you let the cat out of the bag and too many people start using a particular strategy, it stops working for everyone. So, I am very much looking forward to sharing it with the group and we'll see if it wins the prize! I flew in on Southwest and took a taxi in to the Driskall Hotel where I'm staying for the first time. I usually stay at the Four Seasons or the Hyatt when I'm in Austin, but the event that I'm attending is being held at this hotel so it's easier just to hang out here. The rooms are nice and the staff is friendly and I would definitely recommend the hotel to anyone visiting Austin. It has that old world Texas charm that many of the more modern hotels don't have. I headed down the street to try out a place called the Roaring Fork and it was pretty good, especially the Pork Enchiladas with green chili sauce! - 18 months ago

• Roland Frasier On Thyme In the Ranch

  Hey there, Roland Frasier here, and I'm blogging today about a little known charming hideaway of a restaurant called Thyme In the Ranch. This delightful little sandwich shop and bakery is located in Rancho Santa Fe, right in the heart of the village, and serves up freshly baked pastries, pies, soups and sandwiches every day. If you're in San Diego and happen to be looking for North County's best sandwich shop, you definitely should try Thyme. The chili is just okay, especially if you've ever been to the Texas Chili Parlor in Austin, but the Norma Jane sandwich with roasted eggplant, feta and other goodies is not to be missed. Also noteworthy is the grilled chicken and avocado sandwich. I know, I know, it sounds boring, but it's really exceptional. If you're a fan of cakes, you will be delighted to discover that Thyme has its bases well covered on that front too. The yellow cake with chocolate icing is divine, but my personal favorite is an unlikely choice, especially for me, as I am not normally a fan, but, the coconut cake is absolutely to die for! Now, the folks at Thyme say that they are always lusty for the espresso buttercream cake, but I'm such a non-fan of coffees that I have not yet been able to tear myself away from the other more well known choices to try it. In any event, the shop is expensive and they don't take credit cards, so bring $100 for lunch for four, and don't get there after 3pm, as they will be closed for the day. Also closed on Sundays and Mondays, as well as random holidays here and there. Truly a gem in Rancho Santa Fe! - 2 years ago

• What's The Best Chili In Austin? And Maybe the World?

  As you probably already know, I am a big fan of the burger. But, what you may not know is that I am also an avid chili lover. So, naturally my quest for the best burger is but one foodie pursuit, and I am also interested in who makes the tastiest chili. That question was answered when I recently visited Austin, Texas for a real estate investor workshop we were putting on. I ask "What's the Best Chili In Austin?" and the answer was universally... "The Texas Chili Parlor!" Intrigued, I convinced my good friend, Bob Leonetti, to take me there for dinner one night. I was not disappointed! There were many different kinds of chili to choose among, as well as three varying levels of "heat." There was X, XX and XXX, with XXX being the absolute hottest choice. I was advised that one needed to sign a release to sample the XXX, and I happily ordered the three small "taster" plates afforded by the sampler option. One was their classic Red, the other was a White chili and the third was a multi-bean vegetaian chili. I also had an opportunity to try a black bean option. All four of these concoctions were absolutely delectable and the XX heat was just enough to let you know that you were happy you did not go for the XXX! However, always curious, I asked my server for a little taste of the XXX, and she happily complied. She brought 2 small tasting cups of XXX Red and XXX Habenero. They also were amazingly tasty, and I must say VERY hot! So hot in fact that it was clear they only exist to assist men in establishing who is the manliest based on who can finish a bowl of the molten creation! Hats off to the Texas Chili Parlor. Best chili I have had in Austin and maybe the world! - 3 years ago