(Originally published in Business Fraser Valley, March, 2011) Is your success based on hitting home runs or grinding your way around the bases? Are you Hank Aaron or Cal Ripken? The glory goes to those who swing for the fences. We root for the big play, the Hail Mary pass, the go-for-the-gusto player. We are…
(Originally published in Business Fraser Valley, December 15, 2010) Nordstrom has a crazy return policy. Bruce Nordstrom, Co-Chair of the company tells sales people, “If a customer came into the store with a pair of five-year-old shoes and complained that the shoes were worn out and wanted her money back, you have the right to…
(Originally published in Business Fraser Valley, September 15, 2010) Planning is the process by which we anticipate, organize and navigate the future whether for the next few hours, days, weeks or years. It is not just a business process. We plan family gatherings, holidays, dentist appointments and all manner of personal details. We do this…
(Originally published in Business Fraser Valley, October 21, 2010) I was recently in the U.S. for an extended period. With our dollar virtually at par, I decided to do some shopping. There was a Nordstrom’s Department Store nearby. As I walked into the store I could see sales clerks everywhere. They were helping customers. Not…
(Originally published in Business Fraser Valley, September, 2010) One of my greatest career moments was followed within 48 hours by one of the lowest. I started my career as an order desk clerk for a food company. I was easily thrilled in those days. Having my own desk and telephone seemed like a major achievement….
(Originally published in Business Fraser Valley, August, 2010) The first coach I recall meeting in person was a very positive, rah, rah young woman who thought anyone could do anything. She was very successful. She had a long, prestigious client list, she’d won awards for public speaking and her enthusiasm was contagious. She was a…
(Originally published in Business Fraser Valley, July, 2010) I was a nerd at a time when nerds were just nerds, not future billionaires. I wanted to be one of the cool kids so I emulated kids I thought were cool. Of course, it didn’t work. Everyone saw me as a nerd trying to be cool….
“I couldn’t wait for success… so I went ahead without it.” Jonathan Winters Taking action, being bold, having gumption is usually necessary for success. Placing an ad and waiting for the phone to ring is seldom an effective marketing program. We need to go out and get business. Jim had an unstoppable zeal for finding…
August 16, 2009 My early years of networking were a disaster. My approach turned off more people than it turned on. The harder I tried the more stressed I got and the more I failed. Networking is a learnable skill. I was able to turn things around when I worked on listening more and talking…
July 28, 2009 I recently signed up for Twitter. I intended to check it out, confirm that it was nothing more than a time dump and close my account. A few weeks later I stand corrected. Based on media coverage I expected to find inane “tweets” (messages) proclaiming trivial personal news like what someone had…