Lying And Eye Movement

People lie. 
Clients, co-workers, vendors, you name it, lie. 
And when they do,
it can cause headaches. 
Lost sales, delayed projects, failing businesses. 

So one of the key skills a businesswoman
should pick up is how to detect these lies. 

A common “rule” is that
if the person looks left when answering a question,
they’re lying and
if they look right,  
they’re remembering. 

Unless…  
They’re left handed. 
Then it is the opposite. 
Oh, and unless they’re not “average.” 

What does this mean?  
You can’t rely on only one tell
Use a combo for best results.

Useful Schwag

Weeks ago,
I went to the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas
and returned loaded down with schwag. 
Most items got a ho-hum from this marketing gal. 

Most. 
Not all. 

JVC did an outstanding job once again
in the massive mobile section,
giving out the only air fresheners at the show. 

However, the best schwag I received was
a tiny screen cleaner for phones and blackberries
from iGrip
Costing only pennies,
this piece of branded plastic and felt
was perfect for removing fingerprints
from touch screens. 

I saw people use them. 
I heard people talk about them. 
I witnessed people hoarding them. 

Very clever.   

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Categorized as Marketing

The Real Power Of Influentials

Guy Kawasaki talks about
how anyone can be an influential,
regardless of their sphere of influence. 
He quotes Duncan Watts’ findings on
the importance of readiness of market. 
“If society is ready to embrace a trend,
almost anyone can start one—
and if it isn’t, then almost no one can.” 

I agree. 
The market has to be ready. 
However once the market is ready,
it does help to have some very noisy and vocal supporters. 
Especially if you are on a tight marketing budget.   

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Categorized as Marketing

Mary J Blige Chooses Not To Lose

Mary J Blige has built
her career up from nothing,
overcoming substance abuse,
to be one of the top R&B singers. 

This was not a “fluke.” 
At a recent concert, 
she repeated one mantra over and over
“I choose not to lose.” 

Notice that she didn’t say fail. 
Everyone fails. 
Losing, however, is a choice. 
Only you can define what a loss is
and for Mary J Blige,
that definition is narrow. 

There’s Only So Many Freaks

I was hanging around
after a tradeshow finished for the day. 
Out came a group of employees,
all wearing the distinctive company uniform. 

One employee proclaimed loudly
“There’s only so many freaks you can help
before you get pissed.” 
My immediate thought was
“XYZ company thinks I’m a freak”. 

Be careful with the company uniform. 
Let the employees know that when they wear it,
whether during business hours or after hours,
they are representing the company. 

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Categorized as Marketing

The Executive Spouse

A friend of mine,
very successful in her own field,
is married to an executive.
  
At his company parties,
she promotes her husband’s causes, 
hears the concerns of his major customers, 
evaluates the promotability of his employees,
and at the end of the night, 
presents her findings.  

She is an extension of her executive husband.  
She is also typical

When you meet the CEO’s spouse,
assume that she’s representing him.   
Assume that everything you say (good or bad)
will be relayed back to him. 

Because it will. 

Note: 
At her company parties,
their roles are reversed. 
Don’t underestimate executive husbands either.

No Pre-Rejections

If you plan on achieving something great
(and if you’re not,
why the hell are you reading this blog?),
then prepare to be rejected. 
It is part of the process. 

Who will reject you? 
Don’t worry,
there are plenty of people lining up for that pleasure…
customers, partners, employers, your Mother. 

One person should not be in that line-up,
however,
and that person is you. 
Don’t pre-reject yourself.  
That is not your job. 
Your job is to try and try and try again
until you get past the rejection. 

Elizabeth Gilbert’s advice
to aspiring writers puts it better. 
  
“Magazines, editors, agents –
they all employ young people making $22,000 a year
whose job it is to read through piles of manuscripts and
send you back letters telling you
that you aren’t good enough yet:
LET THEM DO IT.
Don’t pre-reject yourself.
That’s their job, not yours.
Your job is only to write your heart out,
and let destiny take care of the rest.” 

What Makes A Professional A Professional

I read an interview with Clive Barker. 
It was obvious that the interviewer
hated the man’s writing. 

I watched a special on wine tasting
on a business show. 
The host hated wine and
grimaced during the entire taping. 

Does a host have to like
every topic being discussed? 
No. 
However, they do have to suck it up
and not let their dislike show. 

We all do things we don’t want to do.  
With a professional, however, 
you wouldn’t know it. 

Published
Categorized as Sales

The Ever Changing Product

I’ve spent the last couple weeks
doing rework for a project I’m now on. 

Why? 
Because the project manager keeps changing direction

Yes, I realize that the market is fluid. 
Yes, I realize that the competition is launching
with new products every day. 

But changing the product constantly
means that we’re launching with no products. 
Having to change the product also indicates
that we’re not developing anything sustainable.
Our proposed product does not have a competitive edge.
It is a me too
and the me too continually changes.

That is the key problem.

Bloggers And “Real” Journalists

Many bloggers
when talking about print journalists
have a us vs them mentality. 

Foolishness. 
And foolishness proven by a report
by Marketing Pilgrim

27% of journalists confess to having a blog
(I suspect that number is higher). 
70% check a blog list on a regular basis. 
Over 75% get story ideas from blogs. 

There is no us vs them.
Us IS Them
(and yes, I know that isn’t proper grammar). 

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Categorized as Marketing