Control Freaks and Micro Managers

Jul 312011

3,940 Views

Control Freaks and Micro Managers

We’ve all had them and maybe we were one ourselves. Maybe we still are? Managers that simply could not let go of any control. This goes for owners of businesses as well. You know the type… they’re pretty sure no one can do the job as well as them. They have the “If you want a job done right you have to do it yourself” philosophy. I wish I could tell you this applies to new managers only… unfortunately it doesn’t.

Are You a Control Freak?

Almost never think that you’re wrong.
Tardy people irritate you.
You’re stubborn.
You interrupt people and don’t even realize it.
Taking orders/directions from anyone is tough.
People disagreeing with you upsets you.
People’s messes really bother you.
You are easily irritated.
If people don’t take your advice your insulted.
It’s difficult for you to trust people.
Need to do everything yourself as much as possible.

Three Issues of Control/Micro Managing
Issue #1: If a manager has become too important to the end results that if anything happens to them the company suffers… big problem. There’s no backup… no redundancy. Possibly in time….. business failure.

Easy Pay Per Click Success

Marketing, Social Media 2 Responses »

Jul 302011

4,852 Views

One of the quickest ways to kick start your business and bring in qualified leads and sales is through a process called pay per click or PPC. However, this can also be one of the most confusing and daunting challenges. Let’s see if I can’t give you some clarity on this wildly popular advertising tool.

What is pay per click?

Simply put, PPC consists of getting potential customers to notice your ad with search keywords. When people search on Google, Bing or Yahoo using one of your keywords, your ad may appear next to the search results. This gives you the power of advertising to a specific audience that’s already interested in your business offering. Nice, right? To achieve these lofty goals, like everything worthwhile, you need to do some research first. I know… I know.

Who offers pay per click?

The three major companies offering pay per click advertising include: Google AdWords, Microsoft Ad Center and Yahoo Search Marketing. There are many others to be sure, like Linkedin and Facebook for example, but for simplicity sake I will use Google’s products.

So You Want to Be a Sales Professional

Employment, Sales 6 Responses »

Jul 272011

3,571 Views

So You Want to Be a Sales Professional

You’re fresh out of college and ready to take on the world. After a couple of interviews you quickly realize that getting a great position mandates experience. How does that work? Well, actually, I have a couple of ideas to help there. Before we get into that, however, let’s discuss what a sales professional is.

What is a salesperson?
I can tell you my six year old is. Politicians, CEO’s, revolutionists, pacifists, friends and family are. Anyone that tries to express or sell their ideas… their “wares”… are. A better idea. A better concept. A better life. Seriously, where would society be in general without being motivated and “sold”? To persuade, convince, or direct others is in its truest since selling. I would go so far to say that everyone has the innate ability to sell. To become a sales professional however is much more than that.

“Anyone can sell something… Do it day in and day out for years… successfully… then you can honestly hold the title of salesperson”

Sales Careers are different
Truth of the matter is that while sales positions-careers look easy they’re not. Here are some of the qualities needed to be successful.

Make Business Personal

Business 3 Responses »

Jul 232011

1,783 Views

Make Business Personal

Hey it’s just business. Nothing personal. Of course business is personal! The concept that somehow when we call something “business” the personal touch to the end user and/or potential customer becomes less important is just wrong. I don’t care if you’re the CEO of a global conglomerate all business is personal or at least it should be. Believe it or not… this is not just a large company problem.

Talking with one of my daughters some time ago I realized that she and her circle of friends really hate “big business”. There were many reasons for this with most of them, as a self-proclaimed capitalist, hard for me to swallow. With that said… her fears that she and her family could grow up without the personal touch from a small local business struck a chord with me. She wants to keep her eclectic world intact and not have it white washed with a corporate brand and insincere customer policy. Interesting.

“Small businesses have a huge advantage. They know their customers. Large businesses don’t. Small businesses which become large businesses forget their customers.” – Jon Stow

Is knowing your customer all that important to the customer?
Yes… but it goes deeper than that. It’ more than knowing… it’s really the relationship. It’s them feeling the love so to speak. When a customer is upset how was their issue resolved… personally and tactfully or did the salesperson regurgitate dated company policy? Was there a real concern with their purchase or were they just another body?

Health and Sales Performance

Health, Motivation 3 Responses »

Jul 092011

1,587 Views

Health and Sales Performance

I have recently found myself dealing with health issues. Suddenly, like a car that wasn’t maintained well, my “warning lamp” has started to glow and I’ve had to “pull over”. For some time now tenacity has been my instrument towards achieving personal and career goals regardless of aches and pains. It seems that’s simply not enough any longer. How did I get to this point?

Over the years I have made multiple valiant attempts at changing my unhealthy life style. Health clubs, free weights, bicycling, super circuits, diets, and health programs for example. But there was always that next career move, quota goal focus, and work ethic expectation getting in the way. Working long hours and long weeks with eating out, minimum exercise, and little sleep, has kept me from any long term health direction and success. Ultimately I have paid the price.

“In order to change we must be sick and tired of being sick and tired. ”

Around four years ago I looked at a picture that my daughter had taken and I asked her who was the guy next to her. She said it was me. I had ballooned to over 300 pounds and didn’t even recognize my own picture! I am happy to say that I have lost 73 pounds since then but unfortunately I’m not out of the woods. I now find myself a type 2 diabetic. Of course I will tackle this new development and overcome… but it has definitely been a wake up call.