The sales process is like a river. I'm on this side. You and your products are way over there on the other bank. If you want me to buy, you need to coax me all the way across that river.
So you dream of a bridge. A nice big super-highway would make it so easy to get me over to your side.
Problem is, I don't really want to cross the river. I chose to be on this side for a reason! I'd rather avoid the sales pitch and keep my money. So after you pile a small fortune into that nice beautiful bridge, nobody uses it. Your money's down the drain.
But a stepping stone is easy. It's
When planting a tree, the most important thing is to get the right seeds and put 'em in the right spot. Add a small bit of rain and sunshine and the tree takes it from there. The tree does all the work. You get all the glory.
Now about that money tree. When you have the right products and you've connected with the right customers, business gets really easy. You capture the public's imagination. Smart people see the opportunity you've discovered and come alongside to help. Investors, consultants and customers want to
Imagine you're walking down the busy streets of Washington, D.C. The Sidewalks are wide. Sights are plentiful.
You pass an advertisement hanging on the wall. It's only 3 feet away and hangs in your field of vision for about a second and a half as you pass by.
Will the poster actually persuade you? Let's test it. Here's the
If you're sitting around a campfire and you pull out a guitar, you instantly become the center of attention. Conversation stops. Eyes turn to you. Smiles grow. Friends sing along.
It doesn't take much. Strum a few chords. Sing a song everyone knows. Do it in tune. You're an instant celebrity.
You've carved out a unique niche. No one else in the world can play us a song right here, right now, around this fire tonight. You become elite!
But do the same thing in downtown Nashville and
Every decision your consumer makes is based on anticipation and expectation. They make decisions today based on how they hope to affect tomorrow. But tomorrow is unknown. The future lives in the imagination.
You can build a great product. You can solve huge problems. But without consumers, your products and services are
Oh say can you see...
All the firesworks stores
Overnightly they rise
From the once shuttered store fronts
Whose broad signs and bright stars
Bring us in to see more
With the carts piling high
We're left wishing for more funds
Then our cards in mid-air
And the ATMs there
Gave proof through its light
That our credit's still there...
Oh say does that fireworks store clerk yet wave...
As we're driving away to our homes of the brave.
There are few in human history who's lifestyles and freedoms can compete with ours. Thank you to our soldiers, to our founding fathers, and to those who turn storefronts into commerce on a summer afternoon.
I wish you all a happy holiday, with the family you love in the land we adore.
If only business could be like a video game. You go at your goal 100%, and if you die in the process, simply start over.
But business is more like an ocean. Your small biz is a tiny fish, hiding in the reeds. The open sea is full of giants, waiting to gobble you up. One wrong move and BAM!! They've got you. They bite. You scream. It's over.
And as reality sinks in, you realize your business will never ever swim again...
But wait. Maybe business isn't quite so
Motivation is a funny thing. How do we start and stay motivated? Perhaps motivation is less about effort and more about momentum. Once you are up and moving, we begin to associate you with motion. Motion becomes your brand. We expect it. Knowing we are watching keeps you moving. We become a motivating influence. You strive to meet our
Wow! Found some irrefutable proof the dollar will collapse in 2013. Of course, it was also predicted to collapse in 2012. And in 2011. And again in 2010.
2009? Yep, another collapse.
Is this data manipulated? For sure! For any opinion you'd like to espouse, simply drop a few words into Google and you're handed boatloads of supporting evidence.
Here are a few more evidence based opinions for you. Robots will destroy humanity. A coming return to the Ice Ages will end civilization as we know it. The White House's Secret Service employs space aliens. The Walt Disney Corporation is suppressing evidence that Mermaids are real.
Try it. Any cause, opinion or belief you'd like to support, Google has your evidence ready. The Republicans are destroying America. No, wait! The Democrats are destroying America. No, wait wait wait!! It’s actually FLORIDE!! that’s destroying America.
It seems Google isn't filled with facts. It’s filled with stories. And what happens if you ignore them all? Not much.
Here are a few more stories you might like ignoring: Running a business is harder than running for president. Obamacare will destroy small business. Banks won’t give you a loan. Bankruptcy reform will ruin any owner who fails.
You see all the stories stacking against you and you plow ahead regardless. Because you know the widest screens and highest fidelity are saved for stories that are more scary than they are likely. Whether it's Obamacare or fiscal policy, Robotic apocalypses or mermaid invasions, they're still just stories.
And you and your business have stories too. And this is where you focus your energy. You develop the main characters. You overcome the obstacles, beat the odds and push the many plot lines forward. And on the world's smallest screen, the perfect ending to this very real story will one day unfold before your own two eyes.
We struggle to build our ideas and our business. We think, if only the world knew, if only the media would pay attention. Success is just one Oprah interview away.
Then we look over at K-Mart and J.C. Penney, Oldsmobile and Pontiac. We realize publicity is not enough. They are well known but not well loved. Their names do not generate leads or sales. Customer referrals are rare.
We honestly don’t even know what to say, “please buy my Oldsmobile. It’s just like a Buick, but with a different logo!!!” or “let’s go to K-Mart. It’s just like Walmart, but more run down.” Even Oprah would struggle to make us care!
Publicity is not enough. So what if we're aware. Why should we care?
You not only have to introduce yourself, you must help us remember. Luckily, you have what it takes. Share your passion. Why did you start this business? Inspire us with everything you put into it. Show us why you love what you do, and we will likely love it too.
Why not start right now? What's your business; Why do you love it?
You know you’re unique. You’ve got style and substance. You’ve got the goods and no Walmart can compete.
Am excited to hear it. This is great news. The world needs more people like you, ready to stand out and do your thing.
Before you leap. It’s smart to look.
Are you simply dancing to a different drummer or starting a movement? Where is your movement moving to? I need to know before I jump aboard.
Think of our most iconic celebrities. Whether it’s Tim McGraw, Rush Limbaugh, Oprah Winfrey, or Lady Gaga, we know exactly where they’re going. We know what their movement is all about. They’ve made it simple for us to say we want in... or out.
The key is, keep it simple. Make our choice clear. It’s less work for you, more movement for us.
You've probably heard about the two self-help gurus who suffocated themselves. Their specialty was positive thinking.
The irony makes for great headlines. The reality is a very sad story that ends in the worst possible way. You know progress requires effort. Ups require downs. Gain requires pain. Life is like a duracell. Without both positive and negative sides you simply cease functioning.
If this story makes you sad, that's good. It means you’ve got what it takes to be complete and whole and human.
Why do people keep starting businesses when it's so hard? You go through all the hard stuff because something is driving you to insane effort. We call this insane effort Inspired.
Once you're up and running, your inspiration gets
Your brand is the thing people think and say about you when you're not around. It's the first and last thing people see.
Imagine for a minute your organization is a pop-bottle. The words we'd see on your label, that's your
You cannot innovate unless you want to change. To want to change, you must believe you're not good enough. To believe you are not good enough, you must overcome your ego. Your ego wants to believe you are perfect. You must confront your ego and smash
Imagine a world without books. It may not be far away. But can you imagine a world without reading?
Libraries are really good at storing, archiving and creating accessibility to books. But what purpose will libraries serve when books are all online?
But libraries are also incredibly good at inspiring kids to read. The need to teach reading will never
5 minutes ago I sat down with this blank page and felt a small bit of terror pass through my body. Why on earth would anyone want to hear what I have to say? Is there anything even worth saying? Can mere words help us push
Labor Day weekend is a time to honor labor… By not working?
So as my kids run and play, I sit here trying not to work. Because that’s what we’re supposed to do. But it's driving me nuts...
With sleep, we're backwards. We all want it, but pretend we hate it. People love to brag about how little they sleep. As if people who only give themselves 4 hours a night are
Panic is never fun. Panic inside the Magic Kingdom at Walt DisneyWorld? That's even worse…