Let Me Tell You Why What You’re Proposing Is A Bad Idea
"Assertive" means to be confident in your language and actions. "Aggressive" means confrontative and ready to attack. In business relationships, it's never good to be "aggressive" but it's always good to be "assertive." Yet many people mix them up, as though telling
The Bear and the Landscaper
Our landscaper/gardener works from April through November cleaning up, mowing, collecting leaves, pruning, and so forth. He comes weekly. He doesn't bill me until late December. I've learned he does this with four or five of his largest clients, so
Thieves
I receive an email every so often, and today a message from a new Linkedin connection, that my work is being pirated and sold for a few bucks on certain websites. The offer is to remove them all for a
“Get Me Alan Weiss!”
The more initials I see after a person's name, the more suspicious I get that they're trying to prove value without having actually produced it, by "collecting" certifications instead of clients. Some people have told me that the initials are important
Being Mentioned in the Press and Podcasts
Tell a podcaster or reporter that you loved their last piece and they will read your next sentence. Then provide some significant value for their audiences.
Of Course You Can Help, But Should You?
Counterintuitively, when you're approached by a company or individual for your services, don't ask yourself if you can be of help. You probably can. Ask instead: Will you learn, gain referrals, enjoy working with them, see long-term potential? In effect
On Logos, Quality, and Intelligent Consumers (and Cracker Barrel)
You know folks, Sherman Williams Paint has a logo that's disgusting: a can of their paint being spilled over the entire globe. They are the largest paint company in the world with $24 billion in revenues (market cap of 90
Taylor, Travis, and the Cracker Barrel Guy
Cracker Barrel was pretty clever, huh, going through all this and reversing just to get some publicity? What they should have done was hire Taylor and Travis. Would have been cheaper.
Maintaining the High Ground Against Biased Objections
When the buyer makes a typical objection: -You don't know our business. -You're not from this area. -You don't have the right degree. -You're too young or too old. Respond: "That's exactly why you need me!" The buyer says, "What do you mean?" You say, "Without someone