As a First-World nation, all our advanced technologies keep us too well-informed. We must deliberately turn off the news and not check our ever-present cell phones to hide from each day’s shooting incident, or political scandal, or hotly debated moral impasse. Depending on how close to home any of the above situations are, it can […]
Things Are Fine? Stop Right There . . .
Why do businesses make cold calls to potential clients? Why do some people interact with cold calls and others won’t? Cold calling can be an awkward experience from both sides, whether in person or by telephone. Why is it even done? I believe it goes back to our childhood. Doesn’t every parent teach that if […]
Get Back To Why It All Started
I’ve come to appreciate that everyone’s individual story is so interesting. Especially in business, I like to know why and how someone got into the business they are in. I always heard growing up, “it takes all kinds to make a world.” With the increase of news sources and social media, we now have perhaps […]
Which Two Would You Pick? Price ≥ Quality ≥ Service
America is a country of refined consumers. Our economy is consumer-driven, and the art of buying is a tradition handed down from fathers to sons, and from mothers to daughters. Whether it is a car, a refrigerator, an orthodontist, or a vacation—we learn to set our standards and to search for the product that satisfies […]
Would You Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is?
“Thanks, but I’m good.” I think it is so American to always answer with confidence when anyone asks about someone’s situation. We have that Yankee/Can Do/Birth of a Nation attitude, and we usually expect to have to be effectively competent in, well, everything. When asked “How is _______?”, our reflexive response is usually some sentence […]
Information Technology Should Be Your Partner, Not Your Jailer
The relationship between a business and its IT management is a real hot button for me. There is no choice but to have computers and other forms of Information Technology in today’s competitive markets. Tech is a must-do, just like lights on every day and heat in the winter. But I ask all of you: […]
The Price And The Cost
Price and cost are not the same thing. I address these two similar-but-different perceptions in business often. “Price” can be a seller’s decision about the value of his product or service, or it can be what the buyer chooses to pay for a product or service. “Cost” can be the amount in resources needed to […]
My New Year’s Declaration For 2021
I suspect everyone makes at least one New Year’s resolution that they say out loud, then they acknowledge several resolutions that they just keep to themselves. I would like to share with you my New Year’s declaration, rather than any resolutions. I declare that I absolutely believe in the positive economic predictions for 2021. I […]
‘Tis The Season To Listen When Folks Say “Soon” and “I’m Fine”
I have recently been paying close attention to how folks are doing at this point in a frightening and troubled year of many unknowns. So many were looking forward to “after the election.” Now most of those same people are saying “after the first of the year.” The positive side of this attitude is that […]
You May Be Surprised If You Ask Me “What Can You Fix?”
Times have changed. Does that seem like an understatement right now? How we work has changed. Going to school has changed. Church has changed. How we enjoy sports has changed. The list seems endless right now. Oddly, there are some in business who do not realize how much Information Technology has changed and was changing […]