In order to get the best out of people praise their efforts, not their intelligence. “Mindset” by Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck has some fascinating findings on how different forms of praise can either stifle intellectual growth and performance or stimulate them. Turns out one key predictor of success is having a “growth mindset.” It’s …
Category: Speed up sales cycle
Embracing doubt – The Sunday Snippet – [10.13.13]
Doubt is natural and can be good. Here’s why you should embrace it and deal with it. Business magazines, self-help books and motivational speakers are constantly promoting tips and tricks on how to eliminate doubt, pessimism and paranoia from our thoughts. We’re taught to banish bad thoughts and fear, and press on, faster and stronger. …
How to grow the best ideas – The Sunday Snippet – [10.6.13]
Ideas thrive in certain conditions. Connections are key. People will often describe breakthrough ideas as “Eureka” moments, coming from the Greek word for “I have found.” New ideas and sudden discoveries may seem like they just pop up, by they rarely do so all by themselves. In “Where Good Ideas Come From,” Steven Johnson explores …
Beating boredom – The Sunday Snippet – [9.29.13]
How to overcome boredom and find flow in your job. Monotony, tedium and boredom can creep into any job or career. After a while, you master the learning curve. You develop proficiency that doesn’t deliver the same rush as practicing and learning and figuring out something new. When not fully engaged, the mind wanders. It …
How to build trust – The Sunday Snippet – [9.22.13]
Earning trust is absolutely necessary for sales and success. The little stuff makes all the difference. No one is going to buy from someone that isn’t trustworthy. We just won’t spend hard earned dollars on products, services and people we can’t figure out or understand. What makes it hard for us to trust? Leading causes …
How to say no – The Sunday Snippet – [9.15.13]
Being good at saying “no” can make you happier and more productive. Here’s how. It’s one of life’s great conundrums: Your time is limited, but the number of things you can possibly do with your time is unlimited. It can be a pitfall for anyone, and it’s the main reason that some of the most …
Defy impossible – The Sunday Snippet – [9.8.13]
Flying cars are closer to becoming a reality than you might think. If you attended the TedxKC event, the subject line this morning may be familiar to you. Defy Impossible was the title and theme for TedxKC held here in Kansas City on Tuesday, August 20, 2013, at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. …
Millennials make market waves – The Sunday Snippet – [9.1.13]
‘Idea Brands’ Will Win Big with Millennials: How To Attract Them (We’re pleased to feature a guest post this weekend from Jeff Fromm at Barkley. Enjoy!) Millennials want to change the world. Who doesn’t? However, this generation born from 1977 to 2000 is often accused of passive insensitivity caused by their dependence on technology. This …
Just breathe – The Sunday Snippet – 8.25.13
Deep breathing improves focus, clarity and performance everyday, and it can be particularly important during life’s more challenging moments. Cabrera and Trout do it before they step into the batter’s box. Federer and Nadal do it before they serve. And the best business people do it before meetings and presentations. They all take simple deep …
Higher margins with better stories – The Sunday Snippet – [8.18.13]
If you want to command premium pricing and fees, better stories can help. New York Times Magazine columnist Rob Walker did a fascinating feature a few years ago on what makes one object more valuable than another. He questioned things like what makes one pair of boots more valuable than another if they both deliver on the …