Alan Weiss’s Monday Morning Memo® – 03/11/2024

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Be patient, this isn’t an IQ test or a massive software breakdown.

I’ve found that people need to use personal accountability to have successful lives. You may choose “public accountability” in that you’re announcing to others (whom you’ll see again) your intentions to be philanthropic, change jobs, lose weight. But seldom will relying on others do the trick.

Yet today we have warning signs on TV ads showing bizarre driving maneuvers: “Professional stunt driver, do not try this yourself.” Really? On some bikes the front light says, “Turn on at night.” (Apparently there was a successful law suit when someone on a bike was hit at night but there was no indication that the rider should have turned on the bike’s light at night. What we really should require here is an IQ test.)

At the Grand Canyon signs advised, “Warning, no guard rails, sharp drop.” Well, that was pretty apparent. Yet the main cause of visitor deaths is plunging over the precipice while taking selfies or walking while texting. I’m asked by the host, then the seater, and then the server at restaurants whether I have food allergies. Shouldn’t that be the first thing I tell people or consider in choosing a restaurant? (I tell them I’m allergic to kale.)

I’m astounded at warnings to topical medicines “not for internal consumption” (nor is kale, really), and the warning in my car that “under 35 MPH your lane crossing warning will not operate.” Shouldn’t I be aware, awake, and alert enough to stay in my lane at any speed? And if I’m impaired or sleeping, will that warning be noticed or observed?

Then there are the ubiquitous signs in restaurant rest rooms (aside from the confusing signs about gender acceptance—one local theater here, bewilderingly, informs you that “urinals are available”) that advise, “Employees must wash hands before leaving!” Why the hell shouldn’t everyone wash their hands before leaving? (Of course, I went to Rutgers University and they taught me not to pee on my hands, but that’s for another column. It did get me three credits.)

Remember “close cover before striking” on the inside of matchbooks? Prior to the huge decline in smoking that was the most read sentence in the English language. And the most ignored.

Oh, yeah, the initials at the outset: Those are some of the food warning and advisory initials at a buffet in one restaurant. They also had logos with them, preludial to choosing any food. You could starve to death trying to figure out which food is safe.

Thought Leadership 2024

I’m hosting a tenth Thought Leadership Conference, and our first such session post-pandemic, in the West Palm Beach, Florida area on September 10-12, 2024. This will probably be the last such “live” event of its kind since my future plans are to create a quarterly Zoom subscription for this endeavor in 2025 and beyond.

We will focus on:

• The No Normal® of the workplace and how to market and succeed in continually turbulent times. • What the impending US presidential election will mean for professional services. • How to create weekly, relevant, dramatic IP. • Staying ahead of the innovation curve using your own past and continuing “body of work.” • Passive, global income generation—creation and sustainability. • Options for successful use of discretionary time. • Financial realities and metrics for safety and security (and prudent risk). • Topics raised in the prep work sent to participants.

We will have a special guest speaker whom I’ll announce soon. My newest book, Building Dynamic Communities: creating an evergreen client ecosystem, to be released in June, will be my gift to you, and the morning of the third day of the 2.5-day event will be optional and included in the fee. I’ll be “riffing” on that day on politics, society, education, personal wealth, and so forth.

The fee is $15,000, which includes rooms, breakfasts, lunches, and a cocktail reception. If you register during March, the fee is discounted to $12,000. Finally, if you attend this session you may join the quarterly Zoom sessions next year for free, a $2,000 value.

Register here, please: https://alanweiss.com/store/quick-pay/

In the Buyer’s Office

I’ve been asked to elaborate on the extremely popular “In the Buyer’s Office” videos on a regular basis. So I’m going to stop whining about doing it, and do it. I’m offering a 1.5-day, live session in Rhode Island during which everyone will get the chance to sell to the buyer and to be the buyer. You may record this if you like. You’ll learn how to, and apply how to:

• Open the meeting gracefully and move quickly to your objective.
• Handle distractions.
• Overcome objections.
• Reframe and pivot the conversation.
• Create trust, find key issues, create conceptual agreement, and “pour cement.”
• Create a resultant proposal with over an 80% probability of acceptance of options 2 or 3.

For those of you who can’t travel or are afraid of TSA, I’m offering the same experience (as much as possible) virtually over the course of three mornings. All of this will be recorded for distribution. https://alanweiss.com/growth-experiences/in-the-buyers-office/

Million Dollar Consulting® for the World: I’ve provided 14 modules with videos from me, from your colleagues globally, slides, and text. They include everything from launch to self-esteem, proposals to fees, closing business to creating a brand. No upsells! It’s only $115. What do you think about a 10,000:1 ROI? We have over 500 people from 47 countries. https://milliondollarconsultingcourse.com

Million Dollar Consulting® for the World ADVANCED: The new program contains over 60 videos and has 15 modules focusing on what to do in the buyer’s office, overcoming crises, financial planning, and much, much more. https://alanweiss.com/growth-experiences/advanced-global-learning-program/

Sentient Strategy Certification: My new book on the topic (above) has been released, so this is an ideal time to market Sentient Strategy. Write me to apply, join over 70 people certified in six countries. One-time fee of $12,000, includes 90 days of my support, free admission to all future certifications, and admission to a private web board with other Sentient facilitators.  alan@summitconsulting.com In a recent program a participant sold a $100,000 strategy program within 48 hours. Write me at [email protected] The next certification session spans April 4 and 5, each morning by Zoom. We already have four people, participation is limited.