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Who's Your Caddy?
by Steve Vaught
We were all walking down the 12th fairway at the Glen Oaks Country Cl ub. It was the Pro-Am event at the Principal Charity Classic and my volunteer duty was to keep score for the professional golfer and the team of amateurs with which he had been paired.
As the amateurs searched for their drives, the professional's caddy wandered over to chat during the break in play.
"What do you do for a living? he inquired.
"I'm a business consultant." I replied.
A large grin spread across his face as he looked me straight in the eyes...Read complete article >
Brand Challenge:
With the distractions summertime always brings, how will you keep your business moving forward this summer?
The summer months can be a slow time for many businesses. People tend to become more focused on the great weather, vacations, and improving their golf game rather than their business. However, "business lulls" are great times to work on your business and prepare for busier times. Stay focused with these initiatives:
- Take time to define and profile your target customer. Simply reevaluating the customer you must reach can open up new ideas to improve your marketing and customer experience.
- Test the relevance of your promises to customers. Do your customers still value what you promise or is it time to refocus to become more relevant?
- Find your remarkability. Quality does not speak for itself. But, quality surrounded with remarkable experiences will turn customers into raving fans and keep them coming back for more.
Don't let the summertime become wasted time. Focus on building a stronger business with a brand that truly performs and you will reap the rewards far beyond the end of the summer.
Ask the Rabbit
Q: In this economy I've been keying in on cutting costs and getting more sales. Is this the wrong place to be focusing my resources?
A: Working on sales and cutting costs will get you an "A" for effort, but will probably come up short in terms of satisfying outcomes.
To focus on sales without regard to the way customers are experiencing your business is ignoring half the equation. Not only must your sales team be calling on only those customers you have chosen strategically, but it also must be done remarkably. Sales is a free sample of your brand and distinguishing yourself from your competitors starts here. Determine how your sales process can be both relevant and different to your customer. Create a raving fan even before the product/service is delivered!
Equip your sales team with a remarkably different message, backed by the operational commitment of your organization, and you win - before and after the recession ends. |
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Ideas and practical applications from Mike’s unique perspective. Read how a well-established brand still needs to focus on the basics:
That Sounds Familiar >
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6/2: CIRAS Workshop - Sioux City
6/4: CIRAS Workshop - Cedar Rapids
6/9: Kreg Tool
6/10-11: ABI Convention - Okoboji
6/16: Kreg Tool
6/22: Saxton, Inc.
6/30: Kreg Tool
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Brain Rules
by John Medina
 Multitasking is the great buzz word in business today, but as developmental molecular biologist John Medina tells readers in a chapter on attention, the brain can really only focus on one thing at a time. This alone is the best argument for not talking on your cell phone while driving. Brain Rules presents readers with a dozen good principles on how the brain works and how we can use them to our benefit at home and work. Find out more >
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