November 2008 Entries
During this Thanksgiving week, I thought I would pass along some “generosity tips” inspired by the writings of Keith Ferrazzi, noted networking specialist.
1. Feed people: There's no better way to be generous than by hosting a dinner party, and what do we have coming up but the ultimate dinner party? For most, Thanksgiving is a family event, but many --- for reasons of distance, or even family estrangement --- are alone on the holiday. Inviting a friend or colleague who has no one with which to share the holiday is a wonderful gesture. I have personally been on both sides (alone...
I recently stumbled onto an analysis published last summer, and I re-read it. Had I read it more closely at the time, I might have changed my stock portfolio, but apparently it didn’t resonate with me as significant at the time. It certainly does now, because it leaps directly from the business pages of our newspapers every morning.
These days, the only thing more unpredictable than the weather is the state of the economy. Banking, insurance, housing, airlines and travel, autos, and heavy manufacturing are all in deep trouble as capital markets crash, credit tightens and consumer spending plunges and unemployment rises. Even darlings...
I speak to groups from time to time, and am constantly striving to “dial in” improvements in my speaking style and execution. Recently, Harvard Business Review published a short piece called “How to Become an Authentic Speaker” by Nick Morgan. Some of his key ideas struck a chord with me. Let me share them with you.
Be Open to Your Audience: Practice your speech by envisioning what it would be like to give your presentation to someone you are completely comfortable with. The person could be your spouse, a close friend, or a business associate. Take note of what this feels like, and try to...
QSR Magazine published a Mintel white paper “Five Major Ways Consumers Will Adapt and Make the Best of Next Year.” I felt it proposed some interesting ideas, so what follows is a condensed version of the report. A link to the full report follows this post.
As a backlash against the fast pace of the modern world, people will try to take greater control of their lives and find pleasure in the simple things. Faced with financial insecurity, shoppers will seek out businesses and products they feel they can trust. And although they will cut back on spending, people will continue to treat...
Kelley Robertson, a Canadian business consultant, recently wrote in the Sales Power blog about a study that uncovered “reasons your customers dislike salespeople.” The top ones include:
1. Not listening. This is the single most commonly cited issue in the survey. One of my bosses once told me that the perfect salesperson had “large ears and a tiny mouth.” When we don’t listen to our clients, we often fail to uncover their key issues and “unmet needs”. Furthermore, when meeting personally with a prospect, you also need to...
Jim Sullivan has been a close friend and mentor to me for more than a decade. I always enjoy his view on life, music, and this crazy thing we all know as foodservice. I must recommend his column in this week’s NRN on “The ABC’s of Succeeding in a Downturn Economy.” (link below)
Although written from the perspective of an operator, his pearls of wisdom fit with many of the challenges we face on the manufacturer segment as well. Regardless of your perspective, check it out and see which ones apply to your current obstacles. Simply brilliant. http://www.nrn.com/landingPage.aspx?coll_id=632&menu_id=1408&globalMenuTab=-1&id=359602
“A reputation once broken may possible be repaired,...