Archive for January, 2007
By Rajesh Setty on Thu 11 Jan 2007, 9:17 PM - 1 Comment
Christine Clifford Beckwith is an internationally recognized expert on overcoming adversity through humor, as well as a popular deliverer of Selling the Invisible Presentation. A former monthly columnist of Professional Speaker magazine, Christine is a Certified Speaking Professional, a designation accorded only seven percent of all professional speakers.
Her experience taught her how to market and sell products, services and
herself. Now, Christine Clifford Beckwith shares that message with
others. Christine Clifford Beckwith has definitely cracked “the glass
ceiling.” At the age of 40, she was Senior Executive Vice President for
SPAR Marketing Services, an international merchandising and information
services firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She currently serves as the CEO/President of The Cancer Club and Sales Director for Beckwith Partners.
My $.02: The quought and the explanation are just fantastic. We are all at loss of words when something bad happens to someone close to us. If you have faced that problem, think about Christine’s question and you may have an answer.
(click on the button to read the background for this series)
Christine’s Quought for the Day:
How can I bring laughter into the lives of others facing adversity?
Christine’s thoughts on the Quought:
When friends and family learn that someone is facing adversity, they often don’t know what to say. They don’t want to say the wrong thing, so they often end up saying nothing. Humor is a great connector of people. It breaks down communication barriers and puts people at ease. So the next time you hear bad news from someone you care about, ask yourself, “Is there a way to make this person laugh, if even for a moment?” A shared gift of laughter is a priceless gift to the spirit.
Related Links:
1. Company:
The Cancer Club2. Company:
Beckwith Partners3. Upcoming Book:
You, Inc.
Note:
Quought = Question that provokes thought. Questions are important. Thinking is important. Questions that make you think are very important!
PS:
Squidoo Lens: The Power of Questions!
Posted under Main Page, Quought for the Day.
By Rajesh Setty on Wed 10 Jan 2007, 11:39 PM - 1 Comment
Benjamin Yoskovitz has over 10 years experience as an entrepreneur, primarily focused on web and software development businesses. His expertise lies in developing easy-to-use, quality web-based software, client/customer management and operations. Benjamin started blogging earlier in 2006 at Instigator Blog ( http://www.instigatorblog.com), focusing on small business, entrepreneurship, technology and marketing. More recently, Benjamin has joined b5media, launching Startup Spark ( http://www.startupspark.com), a blog focused on entrepreneurship. As well, he’s helping a fellow entrepreneur with a project of social experiments at Gifter.Org (http://www.gifter.org ).
My $.02: Think about Ben’s question and it may motivate you to re-look at the tasks that are keeping you busy today.
(click on the button to read the background for this series)
Here’s Ben’s Quought for the Day
“Why should someone care about what I’m doing?”
Ben’s note accompanying the Quought:
This is a question you’d ask yourself. It might come across a bit “nasty” at first, but that’s not the intention. As well, it’s not about caring about what other people think; you can’t be successful worrying overmuch about what other people think.
It’s about looking inside yourself and figuring out why what you do matters. It’s about honing in on your “personal elevator pitch” and focusing not on what you do, but why it matters (and being able to express that quickly!) And not why it matters to you, but to others. People are busy, attention is spread thin, if you want to stand out and make a difference, you need to know why others should care. Walk the walk, talk the talk and people will care.
Related Links:
1. Company:
Startup Spark 2. Blog:
Instigator Blog 3. Special Project:
Gifter.org
Note:
Quought = Question that provokes thought. Questions are important. Thinking is important. Questions that make you think are very important!
PS:
Squidoo Lens: The Power of Questions!
Posted under Main Page, Quought for the Day.
By Rajesh Setty on Wed 10 Jan 2007, 4:39 PM - Leave Comment
Bruce W. Marcus is a consultant and strategic market planner to law, accounting, consulting and other professional services firms. He is the editor of the award-winning The Marcus Letter on Professional Services Marketing, read internationally by more than 20,000 lawyers, accountants, and the marketers who serve them.
He is a partner and Of Counsel to The Bay Street Group LLC, a leading think tank and consulting group serving the professions as strategic business development advisors. A pioneer in professional services marketing he has served a diversified clientele that includes most of the Big Four accounting firms and their predecessors, and many major law firms, as well as smaller and solo practices.
My $.02: Replace “marketer” with your profession and the question still remains the same
(click on the button above to read the background for this series)
Here’s Bruce’s Quought for the Day
When all marketers may be assumed to have access to the same skills and knowledge, and often the same experience, how can we compete successfully?
Note from Bruce accompanying the Quought:
Experience refines and sharpens our skills, sometimes to the degree that enhances competitive advantage. But the willingness to seek new and imaginative solutions to both old and new problems enhances our ability to add value to our services. Here is where competitive advantage lies.
Related Links:
1. Blog:
The Marcus Perspective 2. Newsletter:
The Marcus Letter
Note:
Quought = Question that provokes thought. Questions are important. Thinking is important. Questions that make you think are very important!
PS:
Squidoo Lens: The Power of Questions!
Posted under Main Page, Quought for the Day.
By Rajesh Setty on Tue 09 Jan 2007, 10:44 PM - 2 Comments
I watched the video of Steve Jobs keynote at MacWorld. Steve announced the new remarkable innovation from Apple – iPhone. It was fantastic. For the first time in my life, I felt like switching from Verizon to Cingular (iPhone will be available only with Cingular service)
I urge that everyone of you take the time (about 90 minutes) to watch the video whether you are interested in iPhone or not.
The video is available at the Apple website.
Here is what was fascinating:
* iPhone was developed over 2 years
* 200 patents have been applied for technologies used
* Apple partnered with Yahoo! for delivering IMAP “push” emails
* Apple partnered with Google for Google Maps and a host of other services
* Apple partnered with Cingular for developing Visual Voicemail – you can search and listen to the voicemail you want to listen to.
* There is no pointing device. Your fingers are the pointing device. They are introducing a technology called Multi-touch.
* iPod, Phone and Internet communication device – fully integrated
* Foundation software – OS X – the power of Unix on a mobile phone.
* Conference calls on cell phone in a snap
* In a sign of where the company is moving, last but not the last, Steve mentioned that Apple Computer Inc will be renamed to Apple Inc.
I can go on but you have to watch the full keynote after fastening your seat belts.
Not only will you be amazed by the technological revolution, the keynote itself has several lessons for young entrepreneurs.
Here are some:
* Presentation and user experience are key
* Breakthrough innovations take time, energy, effort and innovation
* There is hard work involved – 2 years
* Alone you can’t do much. Together, you can create miracles. Partnerships with Google, Yahoo and Cingular were developed over years and are being leveraged now.
* Steve thanked the whole team in the end and what was touching was that he thanked the families of all the team members for their support. That was nice.
Watch the video whether you like Apple or not. It will be worth your time.
Posted under Business Models, Compelling Offers, Innovation, Main Page.
By Rajesh Setty on Mon 08 Jan 2007, 8:15 PM - 2 Comments
Early part of my career was in the services business and I have enjoyed all of Harry’s books. If you are in a services business and have not read Harry’s works, you are missing something BIG! I am eagerly looking forward to Harry’s new book “You, Inc”
Harry Beckwith is routinely named one of the world’s best speakers regardless of topic, by clients including Beijing’s China Fashion Council, The National Speaker’s Association, The PGA and LPGA tours, the world’s second largest labor union, and over two dozen Fortune 200 companies. His 30 minute to full day presentations and workshops are customized to each client, with a focus on Harry’s specialities: branding, communicating, and client relationships for service companies and firms.
Harry Beckwith is an internationally acclaimed speaker. Over 96% of audience members in all major cities in the world have awarded his presentations perfect scores. He has led major marketing initiatives for 14 Fortune 100 companies, a work that has won the American Marketing Association’s highest award.
My $.02: Preaching is easy but practicing what you preach is hard. Think about Harry’s question and I am sure it will make re-look at your own behaviors and practices.
(click on the button above to read the background for this series)
Harry’s Quought for the Day
How can I be the person that I hope my children become?
Harry’s note accompanying the Quought
Christine and I have six children, and have discovered it’seasy to articulate what you want for your children: in our case, it is that they become generous, respected, and happy. Everything else is just commentary.
So:
Am I generous?
Do I always act ways that will merit the respect of others?
Am I happy–and if not, why the h@*l not?
(My best answer to question 3: If you are grateful, you are almost certain to be happy; unhappiness comes from ingratitude. And at the risk of digressing three steps, I found this from Cicero:“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.”
Related Links:
1. Company:
Beckwith Partners2. Latest Book:
What Clients Love3. Harry’s Recommendations:
Harry Beckwith on Suggestica
Note:
Quought = Question that provokes thought. Questions are important. Thinking is important. Questions that make you think are very important!
PS:
Squidoo Lens: The Power of Questions!
Posted under Main Page, Quought for the Day.
By Rajesh Setty on Sun 07 Jan 2007, 10:53 PM - 2 Comments
Courtesy: Thanks to Mukundan from BlueFile for sharing this
Sneak peak into Qantas Gripe Sheets
After every flight, Qantas pilots fill out a form, called a “gripe sheet,” which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft.
The mechanics correct the problems, document their repairs on the form, and then pilots review the gripe sheets before the next flight.
Never let it be said that ground crews lack a sense of humor. Here are some actual maintenance complaints submitted by Qantas’ pilots (marked with a P) and the solutions recorded (marked with an S) by maintenance engineers.
Note: By the way, Qantas is the only major airline that has never, ever, had an accident.
P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.
P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.
P: Something loose in cockpit.
S: Something tightened in cockpit.
P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on back-order.
P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent.
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.
P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.
P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.
P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That’s what friction locks are for.
P: IFF inoperative in OFF mode.
S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.
P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you’re right.
P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.
P: Aircraft handles funny.
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.
P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.
P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.
P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.
S: Took hammer away from midget
Posted under Main Page, Smile Please.
By Rajesh Setty on Sun 07 Jan 2007, 12:54 PM - 2 Comments
Thanks to Sri from It’s Diff for sharing this.
Note: Most Sardarjis are very intelligent people. That has not prevented people from making a ton of jokes about them. Some of the best Sardarji jokes I have heard are from Sardarjis.
A Trip to Cemetery
Santa Singh (Sardarji) takes his newly wed wife to a cemetery. His wife is puzzled as to why her darling husband brought her to a cemetery on their first outing.
So she asks him for the reason.
Santa Singh proudly says – “Honey, I asked my friend Banta Singh to recommend me a special place. He told me about this place and added that people are dying to come here.”
Posted under Main Page, Smile Please.
By Rajesh Setty on Sat 06 Jan 2007, 10:15 PM - Leave Comment
Here is the third and final part of the program (22 minutes)
Posted under Audio, Main Page.
By Rajesh Setty on Sat 06 Jan 2007, 10:13 PM - Leave Comment
Here is the second part of the program (19 minutes)
Posted under Audio, Main Page.
By Rajesh Setty on Sat 06 Jan 2007, 10:10 PM - 6 Comments
For those of you who missed it, here is the recording from the radio interview on Jan 3, 2007 at KZSU Stanford Radio 90.1 FM. Thanks to Sri at It’s Diff Show for making this available.
Here is the first part (19 minutes)
For a cliff notes version of what was covered in the program, please read
Making the most of your time: 500-word manifesto (Inspired by Hugh MacLeod)
Posted under Audio, Main Page.
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