The O Theorem
Oprah suggests these rules to decide whether to buy a piece of clothing: Do you love it? Does it make you feel alive? Is this the image you want to portray to the world? Think about that last one in business…and social media. I’m amazed at some of the photos and...
The Real Art of the Deal
When you think about negotiating, the word “fair” springs to mind. Everything has to be fair. Or worse. As one colleague said: “You know it’s a good deal if everyone walks away a little unhappy.” Not me. I want to be happy—and I want the other side to be ecstatic. So...
Dear Mentos
We all have people that we just don’t gel with. If there is someone in your business that you constantly argue with, you need to put an end to that relationship as soon as you can. If it's an employee, you need to fire them. If it's a business partner, you need to map...
I gua-ran-tee it!
We’ve all been there…buyer’s remorse. You hit “Buy Now” and panic sets in. Or worse, the panic is so crippling you don’t even order. The same thing happens for your customer. Sure, you have a guarantee, but they only have 30 (or 60 days) to get life-changing results....
The customer may always be right…but they don’t always have to be a customer…
All businesses experience demanding, unappreciative, or generally exhausting clients, but few actually do anything about it. Regardless of the size or importance of a single client, though, ask yourself if they are really worth the headache. It may seem crazy to drop...
Cockroach Theory
It’s a simple fact of business…some customers will always try to take advantage. They’ll say they didn’t get a package when the tracking info shows their signature…They’ll use 100% of the product and still want a refund (2 years later!)… They’ll stock up during a sale...
The Nana Standard
She expects a lot from you and you never want to let her down. That’s what makes your grandmother a powerful business ally. With any business strategy, ask yourself these 3 questions: 1) Would my grandmother understand this offer–what she’s being charged, when–and...
Leap!
The original name for this post was “The End.” I’ve been a word person my whole life and it seemed ironic to me to name the first post “The End.” But even though The End is what allowed me to make this beginning, I am at the point where I only want to look ahead and...