Monthly Archives: June 2012

Go (Shift) With The Flow

There are very few companies that stop, see change, and change with it.

Many are talking about the shifts that is going on around them. They’re probably wrong though. By the time most get around to talking about a shift, it typically has already happened.

Like:

Newspapers. Shifted (not shifting).

Payphones. Shifted (not shifting).

AOL as a means of Internet access. Shifted (not shifting).

Coins. Shifted (not shifting). Unless you’re at a gum-ball machine.

And so forth…

Those who shift with the world that is shifting around them are known as innovators. I think they’re just simply smart and wise enough to not be glued to their inbox. Call it innovating, but there’s nothing world-changing about paying attention. Or maybe there is…..

You can shift with the flow or fight it. I assure you shifting > fighting it.

Stop. See. Shift.

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Leave Them Asking How & Leave The Cat In The Box

No matter the transaction, the service, or the product – when you leave the customer asking “How did they do that???” – you win.

Zappos calls this “wowing” your customer. Wow is now a verb.

You win because astonishment is sharable. We can’t keep astonishing things to ourselves. So we share how you “wow’d” us and the people who hear the story come to you at some point to see it for themselves.

Secondly, you win because they come back for another wow at some point. AND, Sale #2 is a much easier credit card swipe for them than sale #1. “Swipe. Now wow me again, please.”

Examples of leaving the customer asking how….

  • The amazingly rolled sushi roll.
  • The perfectly done hairdo.
  • The custom fitted suit.
  • The perfectly played song set.
  • The 10 minute oil change.
  • The 3 day shipping arriving the next day.
  • Etc.

The problem here is if they can find out how you do what you do they may:

A) Find a way to do it themselves.

B) Go find someone, not you, to do it cheaper.

This is highly unlikely if your wow is off the charts though.

In summary, just to be safe, don’t let your “wow” cat out of the box.

PS – Here’s a secret. Loving your neighbor (customer) like yourself wow’s 99.9% of the time. I’m not asking you to reinvent the wheel. I’m simply asking you be human.

#LTMP

 

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Should We Believe You?

Now that you’re out of bed.

Now that you’re dressed.

Now that you’ve pulled out of your garage.

Now that you’ve got your Red Bull.

Now that your day is here.

Now that the lights are on.

Now that you’re on stage.

What song are you going to give us?

Better yet, when you strum the first chord and sing the first line should we believe you?

Click here and may these words ring in our heads each and every morning.

#LTMP

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Dream. Go. Do. Repeat.

You are what you do, not what you dream.

Frustrating, but true – the success of our dreams has more to do more with our discipline than our creativity.

Go. The world belongs to the dream do-er’s

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Revolutionary

Most of us dream of revolutionizing something.

We want to change the system, the model, the family, the industry, the process,  the service, or the product.

This will happen when you simply play and prepare for your game of choice better than anyone else.

Alabama is revolutionary in football simply by better defense.

The San Antonio Spurs are revolutionary in basketball simply by pick and rolls and bounce passes.

Apple is revolutionary simply by putting smart into a smart phone.

Warren Buffet is revolutionary simply by purchasing stock in great companies, with great vision, that have demand for their product/service in the future.

We have to delete the thought from our minds that being revolutionary has a lot to do with bringing sexy back. It doesn’t. It never has. It never will be about that.

Prepare, show up, and play the game harder than the next guy – and then, by default, you will be called revolutionary.

 

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