Do you have any idea what “synchronized organizational hardware” is or what “compatible logistical mobility” means? Do you want to know more about either? Probably not and neither does anyone else—except maybe the person who created these names. In an age of short attention spans, many choices, and increasing complexity, keeping names and processes, simple has never been more important. Business strategist and marketing guru Jim Nowakaski drives this point home in this entertaining, but quite important, post for successful business communication.
(First appeared December 2018. Still timely.)
If the holiday season is, as the song says, the most wonderful time of the year, this year, it can also be one of the most treacherous. Why? Because as we get together with our families, politics in these contentious times is likely to come up in discussion. Rare is the family (or group of friends) where everyone agrees on current events. So, how do you avoid turning political discussions into deeply entrenched battles that leave everyone bloodied, angry, and defiant?
I recently changed dentists. My new dentist doesn’t talk. Oh, he can physically talk, but beyond, “Hello.” “Open.” “Close.” “Done.” and “Good-bye”, he. does. not. talk. Not exactly a hoot to be around. My old dentist not only talked throughout our session, but would occasionally step outside his office into the waiting room where there is a piano and play some jazz for his patients. Visiting him was fun. But why I dropped him reminded me what the basic requirements are for sales success.
Some prospecting emails win business and some just disappear into the ether. Clients of serial entrepreneur Yassin Shaar happily fall into the former group. His compelling persuasion tool that helped one client land $400,000 in sales? Metaphors! Here’s how he did it.
Some prospecting emails win business and some just disappear into the ether. Clients of serial entrepreneur Yassin Shaar happily fall into the former group. His compelling persuasion tool that helped one client land $400,000 in sales? Metaphors! Here’s how he did it.
This true story led to lost business. It didn’t have to happen. What would you have done? Stasha had a long-time monthly contract with XYZ service to clean her shop every other Wednesday. On the day before the scheduled cleaning, XYZ owner Robert texted Stasha his usual pre-cleaning date reminder that asked for a confirmation …
What would you do if a colleague (let’s call him Joe) came to you with this problem? “I don’t know what to do. I was appointed to this new job as manager of eleven people and, in the beginning, everything was going well. However, it is now six months later and, I can see that the team is unmotivated and is putting in only the bare minimum effort to get our jobs done.”
“I have tried various carrot and stick methods to get them to work harder, but that has only led to short- term improvement. If this situation continues, I am afraid I may lose my job.”
Clients may leave for many reasons beyond our control: a change in decision-makers, a budget cut, a change in strategy, a better product, etc. However, there is no excuse for them leaving because of one common stupid mistake that is all too easy to make. Late Responses To The Phone Call One buyer called his …
See what you can learn from this unexpected source about the power of metaphors to make what you say most accessible, interesting, and persuasive to your listeners. Between looney conspiracy theories, extremist social positions, and questionable qualified office holders on both sides of the political spectrum, you could be forgiven for questioning the wisdom and …
You’ve heard of IQ (Intelligence Quotient) and EQ (Emotional Intelligence). PQ (Presentation Intelligence) is the ability to keep listeners engaged and excited throughout your presentation — no matter how dry the material is — and move them easily to a positive outcome. And now, for the first time, you can measure your PQ with a …
When was the last time you “stepped up to the plate” or had an event come “out of left field?” To all-star third baseman Nathan Brenowitz, who grew up in Brooklyn in the 50’s and who fondly recalls watching baseball for many, many hours with his father, baseball is life itself! Now, Nathan teaches how baseball relates to everyone’s life regarding how we deal with failure, defeat, fear and joy. I had the pleasure of interviewing this avid baseball fan for whom baseball is life’s best metaphor. Here are some examples.