Everyone applauds mavericks and innovators for breaking the rules when it comes to products or technology. It’s the classic Cinderella story. And we celebrate this image of the lone wolf, standing on a TED stage, sharing with the world how he or she refused to listen and followed their own heart to find success. We tend to think of technology companies or … [Read more...]
Does empathy make you a better leader? And thought leader?
In researching my forthcoming book, The Empathy Edge, I found ample evidence that empathy can make you a more successful leader, But…why? And can it also impact your success as a thought leader? Yes. Today I’m interviewing Denise Brosseau, CEO of The Thought Leadership Lab, where she works with executives and entrepreneurs seeking to grow their influence. She’s the author of Ready … [Read more...]
How Brand Benefits Define your Position
Choosing the right lead benefits for your brand messaging dictates which customers you will attract. And a pair of hospital system giants in the San Francisco Bay Area exactly prove this point. Why this is even more amazing: healthcare advertising is the WORST. Most of it talks about the exact same things and offers no real differentiated position for customers. In my advertising days, we used … [Read more...]
3 Ways to Give Your Marketing More Charisma
You know that killer accessory you have? The one you feel in love at first sight with at a random boutique years ago? You wear it with everything to give your outfit a pop. It makes a statement. People take notice. The great thing is, you can add this piece to simple sweater and jeans and like magic, you’ve added some pizazz to your look. Your marketing and messaging needs to be the … [Read more...]
How to Become a Better Connector
It’s time to go beyond networking and start connecting. Being a good connector reaps endless benefits for your business and life. Knowing the right people gets you jobs faster, scores you more clients, boosts your visibility, increases your acumen and skills, and shapes your ideas. It is also great for your health and enjoyment in your career. But how do you become a good connector if you think … [Read more...]
The Stubborn Person’s Guide to Creating Habits
I’m stubborn and it’s hard for me to change. We can have the best of intentions, but if we can’t make healthy habits stick, the results will always be the same. Apply this to any habit you might be trying to create: updating social media on a regular basis, finding time to focus on writing, sending invoices every week, working out 3x per week, drinking more water. Flossing every … [Read more...]
How to Be a Classy Competitor
When the world is too much for me and politics, current events, work or just plain mean people are getting me down, I seek peace and joy in baking. Well, not literally. I mean The Great British Baking Show. It was once called The Great British Bake Off but a trademark issue with Pillsbury forced it to change names when it came over from the UK to the States. Perhaps you’ve caught a bit of … [Read more...]
How to Build a Sales Funnel
“Hi, nice to meet you! You’ve never heard of me before but please click this button/take my business card and spend over $1000 on my products or services.” The underappreciated skill of marketing is to take a customer on journey. One where they get to know you, assess your approach/values, evaluate how you can solve their needs and compare you against the alternatives. This sales cycle can … [Read more...]
7 ideas for how to make tough decisions
We very rarely, if ever, get to make a major life decision and live with it as reality – before it is undone. We often wish we could “try decisions on” and then turn back the clock if we change our minds. Why? Because it’s one thing to talk about a choice and quite another to actually DO IT. This is a rather personal story about what it’s like to feel a real decision and then have it unmade. … [Read more...]
Traffic or Referrals?
When it comes to the primary method for attracting new clients or customers, small businesses and entrepreneurs fall into two camps: They rely on website traffic.They rely on referrals. Neither strategy is right or wrong. You just need to be clear on what is your strategy so you can invest your time and money into the right activities. Online shops, of course, rely on website traffic. … [Read more...]
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