A great story has tension, conflict, and makes the audience care. How to set the stage for your stories. Pixar filmmaker Andrew Stanton knows a thing or two about effective storytelling. He’s written and produced “Toy Story” and “WALL-E.” He makes the point that no matter what kind of story you’re trying to tell, you …
Category: Small business sales
The perfect fit – The Sunday Snippet – [1.27.13]
Most prospects are not a fit and don’t need what you provide. Here’s how to find that out fast. The best advisors and practitioners are usually extraordinary teachers and Ian Altman fits that description. Altman is the author of “Upside Down Selling,” and has a great deal of experience in building and growing businesses, as an owner/executive and …
Rise and shine – The Sunday Snippet – [1.20.13]
Getting up early in the morning is a practice most highly successful people share. The late, great (fictional) sports agent Dicky Fox, Tom Cruise’s mentor in Jerry Maguire (1996), had some simple advice in one of his flashback scenes: “I love getting up in the morning. I clap my hands together and say “this is going …
Enlightened hospitality – The Sunday Snippet – [1.13.13]
One of New York City’s greatest restaurateurs shares his winning recipe for “enlightened hospitality.” Danny Meyer has built a restaurant dynasty in New York City. Starting in 1985 with the opening of his flagship restaurant, Union Square Cafe, he’s since gone on to open another 25 famous locations. His best-known restaurants include Gramercy Tavern, Blue Smoke, …
Yours for the asking – The Sunday Snippet – [1.6.13]
Ask for what you want — and get it. Do you ever have trouble asking for what you want? Do you feel frustrated when you don’t get what you don’t ask for? It’s happened to all of us. We hem and haw and hope that people will do what we want if we give them enough hints. John …
Thinking like Sherlock Holmes – The Sunday Snippet – [12.30.12]
What we can learn about better concentration – and productivity – from the quintessential unitasker Sherlock Holmes. Multitasking has become a desired skill in our modern lives. In fact, many of us pride ourselves on our multitasking prowess, and even strive for higher levels of frenzied, frantic activity. What few of us are willing to …
People before profits – The Sunday Snippet – [12.23.12]
Being lost in work can lead to being lost altogether. When Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol, his timeless story of greed, redemption and generosity, he was in a bit of a slump and in need of more income to raise his family that included 10 children. We know the tale begins on a “cold, …
Facing down fear – The Sunday Snippet – [12.16.12]
Fear is natural and it’s a part of our daily lives. It can also be paralyzing if not successfully neutralized. The best way to deal with fear is to first gain perspective. Is there a real threat? What’s at stake? Deal with the brutal facts – good and bad. Next, it’s important to apply some positive common sense, …
Attitude, aptitude and altitude
Zig Ziglar died this past week at age 86. A world-renowned motivational speaker, trainer and author, Ziglar wrote over two dozen books and amassed a following of millions who were inspired by his lessons for success. Below are 10 quotes from Ziglar that are worth keeping close at hand when you need a little extra ambition: “You …
Thankfulness and appreciation – The Sunday Snippet – [11.25.12]
Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out. – John Wooden Coach Wooden’s quote above isn’t the exact sentiment of Thanksgiving, but I think it works – be positive and be grateful and everything else follows. In the spirit of the holiday weekend, we’d like to extend a …