“A career is a portfolio of projects that teach you new skills, gain you new expertise, develop new capabilities, grow your colleague set, and constantly reinvent you as a brand.” – Tom Peters On the brink of a new year it’s a natural time to reflect on successes, failures, and most important of all – …
Author: John Stevenson
Lessons from the Past, Present and Future
‘I have endeavored in this ghostly little book, to raise the ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humor with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it.’ The above is the enticing preface from …
Doing things – the best strategy of all
Over-planning can paralyze a company. Kelleher keeps it in perspective. You won’t find a more challenging way to make a buck than in the airline industry. Against long odds, Herb Kelleher, the chairman emeritus of Southwest, has managed to make billions of bucks in this gladiator’s ring of the business world. flickr.com/photos/laughingsquid/Scott Beale The conservative …
Two sides to every story – fair and balanced arguments win in sales
Fair and Balanced Arguments Win in Sales and Are More Persuasive than One-Sided Debates. Here’s why. No matter how obvious a point may be, there are two sides to every argument and we all know it. photo credit: jbelluch via photopin Getting steamrolled or trying to steamroll someone else isn’t fun and it doesn’t work. …
Sincere thanks
‘Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy.’ – Fred De Witt Von Amburgh In keeping with the sentiments of this joyful holiday week, we’d like to extend a simple and sincere thank you. Thank you, Our Readers, for letting us share an idea each week in this …
Short and sweet – keep your story short to focus on fit
An opening line that is guaranteed to please your prospects. New business meetings are always a bit nerve-racking. You’ve asked for the meeting, the prospect or client has agreed to it, and now you need to engage and deliver. Carmine Gallo Opening lines can make or break your meeting which is why I like this …
Seeing is believing – keep your customers in sight to serve them better
Being able to actually see and better understand customers are powerful motivators in achieving top-notch results. Here’s more fuel for the customer-centric sales and marketing fire: The mere sight of a customer can help you do your job better. Researchers at Harvard Business School set out to see what impact, if any, the sight of …
Getting together – the magic word for promoting teamwork
Motivating partners, employees, and teams of all kinds is hard, but a single word can make a big difference. Getting the best effort from individuals – or teams – sometimes feels like trying to solve the Times Sunday crossword. You sift through dozens of cryptic clues, and then try to find an answer that fits. …
Story art and science – stories create trust, empathy and safety
Customer case studies produce neurochemicals that cultivate trust, empathy and buying decisions. Here’s how. Because we depend on others for our safety and happiness, our species has gotten very good at detecting trust and appreciating kindness. And there are some pretty clear drivers of these feelings, among them are stories. Story art and science is a …
Designing dreams – Randy Pausch’s ‘Last Lecture’ inspires better living
Lessons learned from a life full of dreams, achievement and success – The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch It was a little over seven years ago this month that Randy Pausch’s “Last Lecture” first started to capture the attention and admiration of millions. With over 17,000,000 views and counting on Youtube, his thoughts on making dreams …