I recently worked with a high-end luxury sales professional who had a signature scent. He smelled of exotic oils … and tobacco. It was unique, pleasant and “heavy.” By that I mean it came across as a serious scent. It said, “This guy is wise to the world. He knows what he’s talking about.” A lot of customers agreed and …
Are you accidentally a luxury brand?
“Ford is a luxury brand. Prove me wrong.” So says a friend and colleague who used to be a luxury car dealer himself. I see his point. The F-150, for instance, technically starts in the $30,000s but can easily be equipped for double that. (Some trim levels start in the $60,000s and $70,000s.) I have had clients over the years …
Horn Sections Make Rock Better: The Devil Is Bad
I have an aversion to “contemporary Christian music” (it’s a personal problem; I’m praying about it). This one is fun. Posted in honor of my younger brothers, who thought this band was the bee’s knees while their eldest brother was away at college falling in love with the Squirrel Nut Zippers
Covid is waning. Here are two meetings you need to have now.
Mark was so struck with the powerful simplicity to Mike’s recent work that they made a podcast episode about it: The lockdowns have come to an end. Here are two meetings you need to have before too much time passes. Questions? Comments? Ideas for future episodes? Email Mike and/or Mark. Listen here … subscribe on Spotify, Amazon or Apple … or watch …
The concern about what you’ll miss if you labor remotely
Labor Day for some reason became a line in the sand. Now that we are past it, many employers are facing a decision on remote work. I know all the arguments, and you do too. If we allow remote work, it will be the end of productivity. And possibly the end of what The New York Times recently called “squishy …
The Labor Day motto of Clan Ramsay
ORA ET LABORA. “Pray and work.” This ancient phrase of Benedictine monks became the motto of Clan Ramsay. I’ve always liked it. It reminds me that work itself can have a higher purpose. In fact, we were working in the Garden of Eden. We had three jobs–all part of the plan. Work is something worth doing. This article quotes Teddy Roosevelt: Far and away …
A couple more exhibits in the court of public opinion
One of my clients, a car dealership, walked me through how they talk to local customers about car prices. A local prospect was complaining about the sticker price. The store of course walked him through the current realities of the market–supply, demand, logistics, etc. And then they added this: “We have regular calls from companies trying to buy our vehicles …
If you keep quiet, they’ll quit quietly
Increased tardiness and sick days. Inability to collaborate or embrace a change. Doing the bare minimum or saying, “That’s not my job.” Meetings that constantly become complaint sessions. Increased turnover and decreased productivity. Surveys continue to show that only a small percentage of the workforce is actually engaged in their work. There is a simple-to-explain, hard-to-master skill that addresses the …
Coaching employees: Is telling off the table?
It’s a question we are often asked: “I’m trying to coach my employees, but sometimes I need to tell instead of coach. When is that OK?” There is a simple answer, and it involves this chart we have made available for download. It also involves Charles Bronson and Jason Statham, for some reason. … Questions? Comments? Ideas for future episodes? …
Horn Sections Make Rock Better: Am I Still in Love with You
“Keeping the Faith” was an illogical movie in the same way “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” was. Romance as justification for giving up one’s faith and world view is a tough sale. Having said that, the movie did one thing really well: It portrayed what it can look like for a couple to fall in love. Jenna Elfman’s reaction, walking …