You’re Not Ready for Social Networking
A colleague who operates a retail franchise asked me my thoughts about incorporating social networking into his Internet sales efforts. Currently, he tracks about 35% of his sales directly to customers who first contacted his store via the Internet.
As I explained to my colleague (without trying to sound like [...]
Filed in Business Situations, Digression One Response so far
How Do You Deal With a New Boss?
One of our regular readers – and someone who asked our advice very early on in the legacy that has become AskTheManager.com – AngelCakes from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan recently provided us with both an update on her management career and a new dilemma.
When we first heard from AC, [...]
Filed in Business Situations, Leadership Development, Management Training No Responses yet
Sometimes You Have to be a Prick to Those Outside of Your Company
I just received the March 2009 purchase report from one of our company’s 50+ vendors who provide such recaps. This particular vendor chose to name the file MyCompanyMarch.xls. By “MyCompanyMarch,” I mean he put the name of my company and the month in [...]
Filed in Business Situations, Digression, Leadership Observations, Management Training No Responses yet
If You Want the Swindlers, Get Their Accountants
“If you want the Mafia, get their lawyers,” explains Mitchell McDeere, formerly of Bendini, Lambert and Locke.
I think we’re missing the real villains in the Bernard Madoff affair. Madoff, in case you’ve been under a rock for the last few months, is the 70-year old investment fund [...]
Filed in Business Situations, Digression One Response so far
Too Much Technology…
When working to help an underperforming business unit (in my real job) grow their revenues, I always discover instances where the unit has purchased some widget, gadget or other magic bullet designed to help them sell more.
Although well-meaning, the manager who made this purchase generally believed against all his or her own [...]
Filed in Business Situations, Leadership Observations, Management Training, Sales Management 3 Comments so far
Leadership Lessons from Snow Days in Georgia
(My apologies as I get a little local here, but this stuff really ticks me off.)
It snowed in Georgia yesterday; this is news. Some towns, like Athens, received as much as six inches of snow. Gwinnett County, Georgia (north of Atlanta) got a little more than an inch. To [...]
Filed in Business Situations, Digression, Leadership Observations, Management One Response so far
The Top 10 Resume Tips for Out-of-Work Leaders
One of our loyal readers sent us an email this week that included their resume. As has likely happened to someone you know, this manager got caught up in the current economic turmoil and their position was eliminated. No notice. No severance. No clear prospects.
Since it’s too late [...]
Filed in Business Situations, Leadership Development, Management Resource Lists No Responses yet
Skynet is Here, and the Nerds are at the Controls
(Terminator fans can probably skip the next two paragraphs, as they’re just an explanation of the havoc we can expect in our not-too-distant future.)
Skynet, for the uninformed, is a computer-based defense system, created by nerds working for the U.S. military in the 1990s. Long story short, [...]
Filed in Business Situations, Digression, Leadership No Responses yet
