Hip Socket readers, we need your help. A client has asked for a document listing “word tracks” for the best way to speak with customers of each DISC style. We’d like to turn that request into a handout and possibly a podcast episode for our DISC resources page. Please comment on this post answering the question: What words or phrases …
How to become an aspirational brand
“No soup for you!” The Soup Nazi got away with saying that in the classic Seinfeld episode because the soup was just that good. Customers were fawning and falling over themselves to obey the rules and buy soup. I have seen a Soup Nazi approach tried in the real world … but it turns out customers do not fawn over …
How do you deal with a customer who is a fool?
I’m going to submit this with very little commentary. Maybe it’s the approach of Easter, but I think there is some real wisdom in the Bible for customer situations. A bit of background to help make sense of the verses I’m sharing: The book of Proverbs is full of “aphorisms,” short sayings that make sweeping statements about how the world …
Please argue with your customers
I have observed a lot of sales professionals over the years. There are three kinds: Those who wash out Those who just survive Those who truly thrive. If you want to know if you are dealing with a thriving sales professional, look to the long-term outcome. Some salespeople are charming, some are not. Hot spells and cold spells come and …
Vinyl vindication
I’ve been talking about vinyl records as a cultural indicator for a long time now. The fact that they sell despite digital music’s obvious advantages tells us a lot about the fact that all is not lost: Young people want to slow down. Young people want something well-made. Young people want a return to authenticity. I am now officially vindicated …
How I missed out on the next big thing, and two next big things for your review
Years ago, a business friend of my father asked me to conference call with him and another gentleman. They were developing a new service to better sell cars online. They needed someone to start selling it to dealerships. I had relationships with many dealers in many states. They thought that, since I could open those doors, I would be a …
Paying attention to “what it looks like” to your customers
So some deans at Vanderbilt got in trouble for publishing a response to a recent campus shooting. It seemed to hit all the notes you’d expect from a college diversity office … but at the bottom, there was this sentence: (Paraphrase from OpenAI’s ChatGPT AI language model, personal communication, February 15, 2023). Students were in an uproar, and the deans have temporarily …
Teens aren’t buying cars: the case for CX
So it turns out Gen Z is less interested in driving and car ownership than any generation that came before it. They are getting their driver’s licenses later and driving less miles. Read the comments of The Washington Post article to get a sense of the change happening in culture. My generation, plus those of my parents and grandparents, view …
Mike learns about Dude Perfect: What’s the appeal?
If you have kids, you might have heard of the YouTubers Dude Perfect. The channel is geared toward a younger audience interested in trick shots and goofy contests, but even Mark’s wife cackles at their antics. What’s the appeal? Mike learns about the multimillion-dollar franchise and shares his observations. Next up: Mark’s family attending Dude Perfect’s summer tour. Stay tuned …
Influencers in your business
The sexy idol on a pole It was a small naked woman on a pole. She represented the power of the female … sex … abundance … wealth. … And her influence eventually caused the downfall of a nation. You probably didn’t come here for a Sunday school lesson, but here’s the short version: When God gave the Israelites the …