I got schooled this week. In fact, I’ve gotten schooled many times over the last few weeks. And it’s been awesome. I’m not talking about being dominated on the basketball court or losing big in a tennis match. I’m talking about meeting folks and companies that are impressing me with their deep knowledge and understanding …
Author: John Stevenson
Get naked, give away the business [The Sunday Snippet 8.7.11]
Those of us involved in client service and consulting live with a few recurring fears that if not dealt with can permanently damage client trust and loyalty. Patrick Lencioni, in his most recent book Getting Naked, outlines three main fears that can threaten strong and lasting client relationships: fear of losing the business; fear of …
Holy Grail of Marketing: Know, like and trust – The Sunday Snippet [7.31.11]
Marketing is essential but can be overwhelming when you think about all the possible methods and vehicles. How can you simplify it, understand it, and execute it? John Jantsch, founder/inventor of Duct Tape Marketing, has a simple definition that I like to follow: it’s getting someone who has a need, to know, like and trust …
A guide for building your story – The Sunday Snippet [7.24.11]
Using stories is an effective way to be memorable, to motivate, and to persuade. But what’s the best way to put together a story? What’s the form? Where do you start? Andrew Nemiccolo of Seven Story Learning helps others communicate effectively through story. He works with companies and individuals to 1) tell their own story …
Teddy Roosevelt: Just Do It – The Sunday Snippet [7.17.11]
Sure, Nike made the “Just Do It” slogan ubiquitous, but the essence of this simple phrase is age-old wisdom that’s been handed down since the beginning of time. A bias for action is a character trait of the most successful among us, accomplished by deliberate practice, calculated risk-taking, and trial and error. Almost 80 years …
Cheerleading alone not effective – The Sunday Snippet [7.10.11]
The Enterprise Council on Small Business recently uncovered which types of owner recommendations are most effective at influencing other owners’ purchasing decisions. They tested different recommendations, two of which are below to give you an example: •Stories: These were from owners who framed their reviews/recommendations in a story about what happened to them, which included …
Fundamentals never go out of style – The Sunday Snippet [7.3.11]
Inc. magazine, one of my favorite periodicals, recently asked world-class (and world-size) business owners about the secrets of their productivity and success. From Richard Branson of Virgin, to Arianna Huffington of Huffington Post, to Larry Page of Google, the answers are surprisingly simple: sleep, work out, keep your own calendar, and work a little on …
Make meaning to make money – The Sunday Snippet [6.26.11]
I was reminded by smart clients (and new acquaintances) several times this week that great entrepreneurship is about making “meaning.” When you start with meaning, the money usually follows. Without meaning, the money rarely follows – or if it does, it doesn’t last long. Guy Kawasaki, renowned entrepreneur, investor, and author, talks about “meaning” and …
Four in the morning – The Sunday Snippet [6.19.11.]
The world’s best storytellers gather at TED – the series of conferences on Technology, Entertainment and Design where you’ll find “riveting talks by remarkable people.” And the TED site is a fantastic and mesmerizing YouTube-like collection of presentations on everything from nanotechnology, to poetry, to data analytics, to medicine. Storytellers both professional and provisional use …
Less Is More – The Sunday Snippet [6.12.11]
One of my favorite Mark Twain quotes is “I didn’t have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead.” What a great reminder of the importance (and difficulty) of brevity and careful editing. It’s so easy to email, blog, Facebook, and Tweet that we sometimes forget the time constraints of …