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Showing posts from October, 2023

Watch and Learn: Sales Movies! Whiplash

Not all of these movies cast the sales profession in the best light. Few of them tie directly to the work we do today of engaging prospects and building relationships in the digital space. But as you watch these heralded classics, you’re bound to come away with some insight and food for thought. At the very least, you’ll have a stomach full of popcorn and candy. Now there’s an easy sell. Whiplash is a 2014 movie that tells the story of Andrew, a young jazz drummer who joins a prestigious music school and becomes obsessed with impressing his ruthless teacher, Fletcher. The movie is a gripping portrayal of ambition, passion, and perfectionism, but it also offers some valuable lessons for salespeople. Here are some of them: Be prepared for anything. Fletcher constantly challenges and surprises his students with unexpected tests, changes, and demands. He expects them to be ready for any situation and to adapt quickly. Salespeople should also be prepared for anything that might happen ...

A perspective on the CEO-COO-CFO segregation of duties

Do you want to know what the big bosses in your company do all day? Well, there's a handy tool that can help you understand their roles and tasks better.  It's called a C-level business responsibilities diagram, and it's basically a map of how the top executives in your organization contribute to the overall strategy and goals of the business.  A C-level business responsibilities diagram can show you how the different functions of the C-suite, such as finance, marketing, operations, etc., are connected and aligned with the vision and mission of the company. It can also help you spot any problems or issues in the leadership structure, such as gaps, overlaps, or conflicts, and suggest ways to improve communication and collaboration among the senior managers.  The C-level business responsibilities diagram is a useful tool for anyone who wants to learn more about the inner workings of their company and how they can support the leaders in achieving their objectives. A possible...

How Biology Can Teach You to Run a Better Business: Lessons from Plants, Evolution and Ecology

How to Grow Your Business Like a Garden. The biology of business.  The biology of business is a fascinating topic that explores how businesses are similar to living organisms in many ways. Businesses, like plants, start from a seed - an idea, a vision, a mission - that needs to be planted in the right soil and given the right conditions to germinate and grow. Businesses also need financing, which is like the water and nutrients that plants need to survive and thrive. Without adequate financing, businesses may wither and die, or struggle to compete with other businesses that have more resources. Businesses, like plants, also have to adapt to their environment and respond to changes and challenges. Businesses face various external factors, such as market demand, customer preferences, competitors, regulations, and technological innovations, that affect their performance and survival. Businesses that can adapt quickly and effectively to these factors have a better chance of succeeding ...

A Company's Vision is Not Just a Dream or a Wish

One of the most important aspects of leadership is having a clear and compelling vision for the future. A vision is a statement of what an organization or a team wants to achieve, what impact it wants to have, and what value it wants to create. A vision is not just a dream or a wish, but a realistic and attainable goal that guides and motivates the actions of the people involved. However, having a vision is not enough. A vision needs to be translated into a strategy, which is a plan of action that outlines how the vision will be accomplished. A strategy is a set of choices and trade-offs that define the scope, direction, and priorities of the organization or the team. A strategy is not just a list of tasks or activities, but a coherent and logical framework that aligns the resources, capabilities, and efforts of the people involved. The difference between vision and strategy can be illustrated by using the analogy of a journey. Vision is the destination, the place where you want to g...

Watch and Learn: Sales Movies! The Pursuit of Happiness

  Watch and Learn! Not all of these movies cast the sales profession in the best light. Few of them tie directly to the work we do today of engaging prospects and building relationships in the digital space. But as you watch these heralded classics, you’re bound to come away with some insight and food for thought. At the very least, you’ll have a stomach full of popcorn and candy. Now there’s an easy sell. The Pursuit of Happiness is a movie based on the true story of Chris Gardner, a man who went from being homeless to becoming a successful stockbroker. The movie shows his struggles, challenges, and triumphs as he pursues his dream of a better life for himself and his son. The movie is not only inspiring, but also full of valuable sales lessons that can help anyone who wants to improve their sales skills and performance. Here are some of the key takeaways from the movie: Have a clear vision and goal . Chris Gardner had a clear vision of what he wanted to achieve: to become a stock...

Whales Theory in Sales: How to Find and Keep Your Biggest Customers

If you are in the sales business, you have probably heard of the whales theory. This is the idea that a small percentage of your customers account for a large percentage of your revenue. These customers are called whales, and they are the ones who buy your most expensive products or services, or who make repeat purchases over time. But how do you find these whales, and more importantly, how do you keep them happy and loyal? In this blog post, we will explore the benefits and risks of the whales theory in sales, and offer some practical tips on how to implement and maintain it. Benefits of the Whales Theory in Sales The main benefit of the whales theory in sales is that it allows you to focus your resources and efforts on your most profitable customers. By identifying and targeting your whales, you can: Increase your revenue and profit margins. Whales tend to spend more than average customers, and they are less sensitive to price changes. They also generate more referrals and word-of-mo...

How I Boosted My Traffic by 300% with One Satirical Article

If you're a blogger like me, you know how hard it is to get people to read your posts. You spend hours researching, writing, editing, and formatting, only to see your views and shares barely budge. It's frustrating, right? Well, I have a secret to share with you. I found a way to increase my traffic by 300% in just one month. And it's not by using SEO, social media, or paid ads. It's by going tabloid. Yes, you heard me right. I turned my blog into a sensationalist, scandalous, and controversial source of news and entertainment. And guess what? People love it. Here's how I did it. First, I changed my headlines. Instead of boring and informative titles like "How to Use Facebook Ads to Grow Your Business" or "The Pros and Cons of Facebook's New Algorithm", I started using catchy and provocative ones like "Facebook Ads Are a Scam: Here's Why You Should Stop Wasting Your Money" or "Facebook's New Algorithm Is Killing Your Pa...

Watch and Learn: Sales Movies! Thank You For Smoking

Watch and Learn! Not all of these movies cast the sales profession in the best light. Few of them tie directly to the work we do today of engaging prospects and building relationships in the digital space. But as you watch these heralded classics, you’re bound to come away with some insight and food for thought. At the very least, you’ll have a stomach full of popcorn and candy. Now there’s an easy sell. Thank You for Smoking is a 2005 comedy-drama film that follows the exploits of Nick Naylor, a tobacco lobbyist who uses his skills of persuasion and spin to defend the interests of his industry. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Christopher Buckley, and it offers a satirical look at the world of lobbying, public relations, and corporate influence. While the film is not meant to be taken as a serious guide for salespeople, it does contain some valuable lessons that can be applied to the art of selling. Here are some of the sales lessons that can be learned by watching...

Tema de scoala - Interviu cu tata: Cum a fost in perioada comunista?

S & T • 16.10.2023 Interviu S: Ce a însemnat comunismul? F: Comunismul a fost o lungă noapte rece care a întors Romania din drumul liberal si un parcurs unic, European, către Rusia, catre minciuna, coruptie si frica. A fost, in esenta, o mare domnie a oamenilor needucati si sfarsitul unei generatii importante de intelectuali români care au fost anihilati sau indepartati.  Perioada interbelica, de dinaintea comunistilor, nu era nicidecum un exemplu de democraÈ›ie sau de bunăstare. Democratia noastra a fost mereu originala, de exemplu în loc ca parlamentul ales de popor să decidă guvernul, guvernul decidea parlamentul, asa trasnaie... T: Cine a fost Ceausescu? F: Ceausescu reusise performanta ca, pana la varsta de 27 de ani sa petreaca sapte ani in inchisoare. Omul era complet agramat, educatia lui se reducea la patru clase primare.  Nu stiu ce nivel de pregatire avea nici dupa cele patru clase, tinand cont ca noua ni se spunea, ca o lauda, ca era sarac, nu avusese carti si m...

Office Olympics: compete in silly challenges like Slapjack, Russian Egg Roulette, Catch me if you can and others

Crazy Games Team cohesion and team building are essential for any successful organization. When a team is cohesive and members feel comfortable with each other, they are more likely to communicate effectively, collaborate efficiently, and achieve common goals. There are many different ways to build team cohesion and team building. One way is to organize crazy team activities. Crazy team activities can be a lot of fun and can help to break down barriers between team members. They can also help to foster teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving skills. Are you looking for some crazy and fun ideas to spice up your team cohesion and team building activities? Whether you are working remotely or in the office, you can try these competitions that will challenge your skills, creativity and courage. Here are some examples of what you can do: Competitions Slapjack : This is a classic card game that requires fast reflexes and a good sense of humor. The rules are simple: you deal th...

Watch and Learn: Sales Movies! The Big Kahuna

Watch and Learn Not all of these movies cast the sales profession in the best light. Few of them tie directly to the work we do today of engaging prospects and building relationships in the digital space. But as you watch these heralded classics, you’re bound to come away with some insight and food for thought. At the very least, you’ll have a stomach full of popcorn and candy. Now there’s an easy sell. The Big Kahuna is a 1999 film that explores the challenges and dilemmas of salespeople in a hotel room during a convention. The film stars Kevin Spacey, Danny DeVito and Peter Facinelli as three salesmen who are trying to land a big account with a mysterious businessman. The film is based on a play by Roger Rueff, who was himself a sales engineer. The film offers some valuable lessons for salespeople who want to improve their skills and performance. Here are some of them: - Know your customer . One of the main themes of the film is the importance of understanding who you are selling to...

How to Quit Paper for Good and Become an Eco-Friendly Digital Nomad

I used to be a big fan of physical agendas. I loved the feeling of writing down my appointments and to-dos in a notebook. But I also felt guilty about the environmental impact of my paper consumption. I wanted to find a way to go digital without losing the joy and convenience of paper. That's why I decided to invest in a digital note-taking system that would suit my needs and preferences. Here's what I did. On the Hardware side I bought an iPad Air M1 as the best buying option. It is as fast as a Pro but 30% cheaper, and the camera is not something I use on iPad anyway. I bought an Apple Pencil 2, the original accessory that offers 100% compatibility with my iPad. To get an advanced paper-like writing experience, I bought an ESR Paper-feel screen protector. It offers excellent quality and a useful mounting kit that let me apply the screen protector myself in minutes. On the software side I use three types of applications for my digital notes on a daily basis. Fo...