Let’s run away together One day, many years ago, I was having an especially bad day at work. Late in the afternoon I called my not-yet-then-but-soon-to-be wife and said: “I’m sick of this crap. Let’s quit our jobs and run away to Tahiti.” I’m not entirely sure I knew where Tahiti was at the time…. [Continue Reading]
Chainsaws, Elm Trees and paying for College
Sweep the Drive My daughter is looking for a summer job. It is nasty tough out there. She has two solid leads and we have our fingers crossed. One of the coolest would here: Mount Washington Hotel All thru high school I worked and saved my money. Going into college I had saved $2000. … [Continue Reading]
Snatching Victory from the Jaws of Defeat
Snatching Victory from the Jaws of Defeat In 1999 I took a new job as a Group Publisher. They moved me to New Hampshire. The company had just acquired some new technology magazines located in Chicago. Upon sealing the deal they promptly fired a bunch of people and moved most of the operations to New Hampshire. … [Continue Reading]
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]
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]
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]
Why I Can’t Pick Winning Stocks, and You Can’t Either
Don’t feel bad. Most pros can’t either. Indexing vs. active management is always a fascinating debate, at least for us stock geeks with nothing better to do. Over the decades I’ve been on both sides of it at various times. For a very long time I laughed—ha, ha, ha, ha—at the indexers. I made all… [Continue Reading]
