To me, the word Professional means “Worthy of Trust and Respect”. Without these qualities you’re unlikely to be an effective agent of change and growth in your company. So here are five (5) qualities that correlate with being a pro . . . 1. Competence You could call this ‘Knowing Your Stuff’. And while […]
The famous Chinese general, Sun Tzu once said: “Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.” I’ve just returned from the annual ‘Gathering’ of my fellow Duct Tape Marketing consultants in Kansas City, MO. It was good. But it also reinforced a basic premise of the […]
Well, here we are . . . one day after Hurricane Sandy left our area (NY/NJ/CT) but only after leaving a trail of destruction and tragedy behind her. During this difficult time, I have received several emails that sought to ride-the-coat-tails of this significant weather event. Most were sad attempts to be cute but, in […]
I recently opened my local town flyer / paper and saw THIS: This has to be the ultimate in self-centered marketing. I mean, OK . . . every business wants ‘new customers’ . . . but Geez . . . couldn’t you give me, as a prospective client, a more personally compelling reason to work […]
Are you in a profession or field where selling WHO you are is just as important (if not more so) as WHAT you do for your clients? I like to say, “If you focus on building transactions, you’ll fail to build relationships. But if you focus on building relationships, you’ll build transactions, too”. It’s a […]
Whether you love the tragic-comedy Lifescapades of Lindsay Lohan or not, you have to admit that she’s getting a LOT of media coverage lately. In fact, all that media coverage has not been lost on the good people at Goodyear Tire. Yes, the people with the blimp. Lindsay — You’ve Got Mail! It seems that, […]
There is a wise and seasoned professional colleague of mine . . . named Kyle Hunt. Kyle’s based in Michigan and he’s the owner of Remodel Your Marketing. He specializes in working exclusively with clients who are in the remodeling business and related trades — painters, carpenters, builders, electricians . . . well, you get […]
In a NY Times interview Tyson Cole, the Japanese restauranteur, shared a keen insight about many restaurant owners who shun thoughts about adopting systems in their businesses. Many restaurant owners feel that using systems would mark them as corporate ‘sell outs’. In fact, Cole argues, nothing could be further from the truth. Actually, there’s great value in […]
I’m compelled to comment on something I’m noticing with an increasing and alarming regularity. It’s a variation on the biological imperative to choose, when faced with a serious threat to your life, between ‘flight’ or ‘fight’. As we’re now well into the second half of 2012, I’m observing that a number of smaller business owners […]
Welcome back. My summer sabbatical is over and I’m ready to resume my work here on the blog with a renewed vision and refreshed energy! In case you’re thinking, “Oh no! He’s going to belabor the old ‘feature vs. benefit’ issue . . . I get it . . . people want ‘holes’ not ‘hand-drills’ […]
BILL DOERR, CCO860-798-6964