Today is Father’s Day and my not so little girl took me to lunch. I even had a hot fudge sundae. She paid. I tried to because she’s just back from wandering around Iceland for three weeks on her own dime and I know she’s broke. But she insisted. “It’s OK Dad,” she said “I put… [Continue Reading]
Archives for 2011
The Most Dangerous Words Your Customer Can Say
The Most Dangerous Words Your Customer Can Say At some point in many of my sales programs it was always fun to throw out the question, “What is the most dangerous thing your customer can say to you?” Over the years I’ve come up with quite a collection culled from the various audiences. Sometimes tragic,… [Continue Reading]
How not to drown in The Sea of Assholes
As my dearly departed sainted mother used to say, “God must love assholes. He made a lot of them.” Of course, unlike me, she was far too refined to use the word “assholes.” A number of years ago I had a two part epiphany. 1. Since I already knew the world had plenty of assholes,… [Continue Reading]
What We Own and Why We Own It
Note: This 2011 post was updated in 2018… What we own and why we own it: 2018 In the simple path to wealth I created for my young daughter nine basics guidelines. Readers noticed that the plan called for only one investment: VTSAX — Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund. Here’s why: 1. VTSAX is an Index Fund at… [Continue Reading]
The Ten Sales Commandments
THE TEN SALES COMMANDMENTS I. Thou shalt believe in thy company and its products, that others may believe. This is #1 for a reason: It is absolutely critical. If you intend to be a top sales professional you’d better select something in which you truly believe. In your heart of hearts you want to… [Continue Reading]
My ever so formal and oh so dry CV
You don’t want to read this post. Really. This is the most boring post I intend to ever place on this blog. If you want to just skip over it, I understand. Unless you are considering asking me to sit on your corporate board. In that case this CV should show I can clean up pretty… [Continue Reading]
How I Failed My Daughter and a Simple Path to Wealth
Literally since the day she was born people have been complimenting my daughter. Her looks, her brains, her charm (she takes after her mother) and her behavior. For that last one I sometimes get credit. Not that I deserve it. Mostly I’ve stood by and simply watched in awe and tried not to get in… [Continue Reading]
The Myth of Motivation
Alec Baldwin, with his best flinty-eyed glare, announces the new sales contest. “First prize,” he says “is a brand new Cadillac Eldorado. Second prize is this set of steak knives. Third prize: You’re fired.” The movie is “Glengarry, Glenross.” Baldwin is the ruthless sales manager addressing his motley crew of losers and has-beens. Their mission… [Continue Reading]
Why You Need F-You Money
Shortly after 9/11 my company kicked me to the curb. Six months earlier our division president had taken me to a congratulations lunch for a record breaking year. We were explosively growing and embarrassingly profitable. Over a bottle of fine wine we discussed my very bright future. It was the best job I’ve ever had…. [Continue Reading]
My short attention span
Now that I’ll probably never have a full-time job again I’ve finally figured out something. I’m good for about four years. I just quit my job. Best boss I’ve ever had. Great properties. Wonderful team. Fine industry. Customers who were friends. My boss said, “You may not believe it now, but in a couple of… [Continue Reading]
