Alan Weiss’s Monday Morning Memo® – 02/05/2024
Most mornings Coco, our Cavapoo, and I take the pickup truck and go for coffee after both dogs come in from the yard at about 6:30. Royce, our Shepherd, hates riding (we have to plan carefully for his vet checkups). So he doesn’t come along in the mornings, but hangs out in the kitchen awaiting our return. (My wife sleeps late.)
At Dunkin’ Donuts, the women know us, and call Coco “princess.” I’m dressed in knock-about clothes with a baseball cap, have a beard, haven’t cleaned up. It occurs to me that these very nice, cordial women see me as an old, perhaps immiserated guy in a Toyota pickup, with my small dog, thankful for getting the seniors’ discount which they provide me, and for them providing a biscuit for my dog.
I find it kind of sweet, and have done nothing to alter their impression.
Saturday night we walked out of a Marie Osmond concert (fabulous) at Bally’s Twin River Casino, where there were easily a hundred people waiting for valets to fetch their cars. My Rolls was parked by itself, on the sidewalk, in front of the crowd. Maria looked like a million bucks and I looked like a half-a-million, maybe. A valet came running over with our keys, no waiting in line, no ticket.
The crowd openly speculated about who we were. I heard “mansion” and “private jet” and “producers.” I smiled and waved and thanked them as they raved about the car.
I found it kind of rewarding, and did nothing to alter their impression. (We’re two kids from Union City, New Jersey, who worked hard and appreciate every day. This ain’t my daddy’s money.)
We all have varying roles we advertently or inadvertently assume every day, sometimes more than one in a day. We can’t assume that people know us except for the role we are in at the moment. (I’ve had people try to teach me how to publish a book, which is fair enough, if they don’t know I’m an author!)
The trouble arises when we try to play a role that’s inappropriate or misleading. Leave that to the actors who get paid to do so. Otherwise, just be yourself.
We must not allow other people’s limited perceptions to define us. —Virginia Satir
What changes with fame is the perceptions of the individual rather than the individual. —Julia Roberts
The funny thing is, people’s perceptions of what a song is about are usually wrong a majority of the time. But they’re still going to read what they want to into it. —Vince Gill
Just Created: Using Contemporary Events to Generate Uniqueness and Extreme Value to Buyers
One day I was forced by my buyer at a St. Louis hospital to attend a board reception before my speech. I simply could not get out of it, so I began to “mingle.” I met a man who owned the largest trucking firm in Missouri and the eighth largest in the nation. I said to him, “How does the bankruptcy of Consolidate Freight affect you?” (I had read that in the Wall Street Journal on the plane.) He spoke for 15 minutes and asked if we could talk again later. He became a client.
Are you aware that supply chains are being “shrunk” in order to be less dependent on foreign sources and intervention? Do you appreciate the fact that use of telehealth has increased by a factor of 38 since the pandemic and is expected to grow almost 25% annually from its current $100 billion in revenues? There are 32 million small businesses in the US, small businesses comprise 99.9% of all global businesses, and 50% of all of them fail in the first five years due to clearly preventable factors.
Two bad service experiences prompt about half of your customers to quit the brand.
This will run on March 4 at 10:30 US eastern time, on Zoom, and will be recorded for distribution later. My birthday is the prior day, Sunday, March 3, and so your gift to me is $900. Includes recording Bring your own coffee. https://alanweiss.com/
NEW: The Maximally Productive Week: God didn’t rest enough—He rushed things in six days You arise Monday morning with great energy and vision to accomplish a vast amount of things. You take a deep breath, shut your eyes…..and it’s Friday afternoon and you haven’t done a damn thing. The week has been absorbed with unexpected requests, failure work, presumed “opportunities” that didn’t pan out, family issues, writer’s block, and the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse: guilt, fear, stress, and obligation.
Join me for 90 minutes which will change your life view and expand your business results immediately:
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ry time
January 30, 10:30 US Eastern Fee: $695 https://alanweiss.com/growth-
NEW: Alan’s five keys to guaranteed consulting success for the next two years It’s not easy being green, but it IS easy pulling down the green if you know where to look
There are huge opportunities created by the turmoil of our times, the No Normal®. I call these the “New Realities.” But how do you know which are best for you? Is your expertise sufficient? Should you develop additional expertise? Are you in the right market? Do you possess the correct resources? We are moving toward a society and business culture where competence will trump credentials and results will rule. Sample key: Key #1: Transitioning is vital to survival.
Join me on February 13, 10:30 US Eastern $450 https://alanweiss.com/st
If you join both of the above you can do so for $1,000 in total, over a 12% savings: https://alanweiss.com
Master Master Class III The first two were sold out, hence this third one, with all new material, past “grads” are welcome back. Maximum 12 people. Learn and apply key marketing and creative techniques to reduce your labor and improve your profits. This is a live program but you may attend remotely, as well. This will be in Newport, RI March 19-21. The fee is $6,000, $5,000 for past attendees. Breakfast, lunch and favorable room rates are included. https://alanweiss.co
