Tag Archives: management resource lists

Not all User Generated Content (UGC) is Valuable – Exhibit A: Mixtent.com

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If you have more than a few connections on LinkedIn, then you’ve surely been exposed to the most asinine website dedicated to UGC since CompanyNameSucks.com: mixtent.com. (You’ll have to learn why CompanyNameSucks.com is asinine all on your own, I’m going to use the rest of this blog to tell you why I think you should opt out of mixtent.com – and opt out quickly.)

I’m not the first to write it, but the Internet really is just one big bathroom wall. Often it’s just a place where anyone can express any opinion at any time with little or no recourse. The difference, as I see it, is the Internet is filled with small-minded billionaire wannabes who will gladly stomp on your privacy and dignity while they construct a new enormous bathroom wall and then encourage others to step up with their Sharpies and write whatever the hell they want without any regard to the veracity or value of their opinions.

This, my friend, is the essence of most sites 100% driven by user generated content. The rub for those of us who just want to live our lives in honest and ethical fashions is that without users generating content (any content) these sites will not be able to be flipped for the billions the founders expect. We, you see, get included in this content whether we deserve or even want to be included.

Enter mixtent.com

I doubt there has ever been a more ridiculous, misguided or pointless effort allegedly directed at professionals and cloaked in some misstated mission about helping sort the wheat from the chaff when it comes to which person is better at what skillset. This site is nothing more than a HotOrNot.com for professionals, only this one ranks you without your permission.

The primary problems with mixtent, as I see them, are two-fold: 1) You are ranked as hot or not on a multitude of skillsets by those in your LinkedIn network – whether you want to be or not, and regardless of whether or not this particular contact has seen you demonstrate this particular skill; and 2) Like all ranking, rating and review sites, this one can be gamed. In fact, mixtent (in my opinion) seems to be actively participating in and encouraging the gaming by helping you send messages to everyone in your network that you’ve just ranked them… now will they please go and rank you.

Here is one such auto-generated message: “My Entrepreneurship percentile is 89%. Help me increase it and find out where you rank…” This is followed by a link to join mixtent so you can start ranking others.

The ranking process is really a joke because you are presented with two of your LinkedIn contacts (who may not have opted in to mixtent, but have certainly not opted out) and you are asked which of these two is better at __________. The tendency for most human beings is to give the nod to the person they like or know the best, not necessarily the person most deserving of the honor.

This means a well-liked dufus is likely to rank higher on most skills than a hard-charging doer. (My guess is that most hardened, yet accomplished women executives will be butchered on sites like this, as they generally had to step on one or two toes on their way through the glass ceiling.)

Okay, How Do I Opt Out of mixtent.com?

The greatest part about all of this nonsense is that you cannot opt out of mixtent.com without first granting them access to your LinkedIn profile. That’s right, you have to first let them suck all of the personal and other information from your LinkedIn profile before you can tell them you don’t want to play their shitty little game.

That, my friends, is ballsy. Of course, once you’ve opted in, you can (as of this writing) fairly easily opt out by clicking on the tiny “opt-out” link at the very bottom of the homepage.

Interested in mixtent.com’s About Us page?

I thought it would be fun to read between the lines of mixtent.com’s About Us page (the bold text in parentheses is mine):

About Us

Our goal is to help you connect with the most talented people. We want to help you hire, get hired and find talent to do amazing things. (We just don’t think you’ll be able to do that by using this website.)

Mixtent is building a professional reputation graph on top of the main social and professional networks. We believe we can become a driving force in making online recruitment and talent management materially more efficient. (Or, at the very least, we can help companies find unqualified people who have the most friends or don’t rock any boats… ever.)

Mixtent is built on the core notion that collective intelligence gathered through engaging experience can provide the right data to solve the hardest problems online. (That is, are they hot or not?)

Our mission is to reduce structural unemployment driving down asymmetries of information and increasing liquidity on the labor market. (What the fuck?)

We are looking for crazy talented engineers. Take a look at our jobs page (Why do they need to have anyone apply? Don’t they already know who the crazy talented engineers are by just looking at the ratings on their own website?)

We are located in Redwood City, CA. (Okay, finally something I can believe here.)

How about the geniuses behind this monstrosity?

Here are the links to the LinkedIn profiles of two guys listed as Founders at mixtent.com (in case you are a crazy talented engineer in Redwood City looking for work):

http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=6037432

http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=23979582

Oh, and if they’re already in your network and haven’t opted out of mixtent just yet, be sure to rank them appropriately.

NY Times Business Hardcover Best Sellers – July 2009

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New York Times – Hardcover Business Best Sellers – July 2009

Okay, how long can this thing last?

What will certainly be recorded as the most successful business book written in 2008, Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers continues to dominate the best seller rankings for the eighth consecutive month. With success like this, Outliers truly stands to become an outlier itself. (For those who’ve read it, you may be asking whether Outliers would have performed so well had it been released in a bull market. Gladwell would likely argue in the negative.)

Given the unbelievable run normally reserved for motivational and self-help titles, we decided Outliers was due both a second read and a dedicated review this month. We even considered changing the title of this regular post to Outliers and the Other Hardcover Business Best Sellers.

What is the Best Book Released in 2008?

In January, we called Outliers “one of the best books released in 2008.” We can now definitively say after our reread that it is not one of the best books released in 2008… Outliers is the best book released in 2008; and second place isn’t even close.

Like similar mega-successful eye-opener Freakonomics, Outliers is not a “how to” book. In fact, it is unlikely that the book provides many readers with any practical knowledge that will easily translate into future success (for them). The only probable application of the lessons learned in Outliers is with future generations. Some readers of this book will certainly use the education gained to hyper-focus their progeny with 10,000 hours of hockey practice or computer programming. (Certainly this was not Gladwell’s intent.)

Outliers, like Freakonomics, is an interesting, enlightening and educational read. Its success during a recession is remarkable (since it provides little to no useful advice) and a testament to just how well Gladwell develops and presents its central theme and ideas. Gladwell knows his audience and he delivers what they want. He superbly delivers his educated observations in an entertaining and informative way.

Yes, But Will Pseudo-Intellectuals Enjoy Outliers?

Just like Freakonomics, Outliers has its detractors; and they are likely one in the same. Despite its success – or, more likely, because of it – there are those who declare they hate this book. (Hate is such a strong word, but it’s warranted here. Those who don’t find either of these books to their liking don’t simply recommend against them, they claim to literally and utterly despise them.)

Without detailing the most common complaints against a great read that (as of today) has spent 245 days on Amazon’s Top 100 list (currently at Number 15), let’s oversimplify it and say that those who dislike this book are mostly jealous, failed writers. Take this excerpt from an unbelievable 2,370-word diatribe masquerading as a review railing against Outliers on Amazon.com: “… McDonaldized salmagundi of information is itself is [sic] an inadequate account of the thesis proffered by Gladwell.”


Where do we start with this overly pretentious, unloved thesaurus user? His silly and revealing typographical errors? (Perhaps his book would be published if he would just proofread a little.) The length of his unreadable review? (This entire post is just 1,015 words long; 57% shorter than his Amazon attack.) His self-satisfying misuse of the made-up term “McDonaldized?” (I’m sure by his misapplication of the word coined by George Ritzer he means Outliers was written for mass consumption – shame on Malcolm for wanting to sell a couple of books.) Salmagundi? (Wasn’t that the guy who wrote The Satanic Verses?)

Okay, enough about the naysayers; other than to mention they remind me a lot of the fat guy in the Def Leopard T-shirt who told me in 1986 that “U2 sucks, man.” He was wrong, he knew he was wrong, but he couldn’t bring himself to like what others liked. His loss.

Alas, Outliers is not Perfect

Although it is the best book of 2008, Outliers is not The Old Man and The Sea and Gladwell is not Hemingway. Those expecting Hemingway or Salinger or Hugo are going to be sorely disappointed in Gladwell’s work; and in the work of the other 200,000+ authors who published books in North America in 2008.

…

Why do we read? People read for a number of reasons, though most would say they read to be entertained and/or informed; and Gladwell’s Outliers is entertaining and informative. That’s why it could very well remain Number 1 for twelve straight months. (Unless we just jinxed it.)

…

(While we said this article would be a review dedicated to Outliers, it would be disingenuous if we failed to brag that the cleverly titled 10-10-10, by Suzy Welch fell out of the Top 15 after just two months on the list. Way back in May, the AskTheManager.com editors bet that this tome and fellow May 2009 Top 5 read The Ultimate Depression Survival Guide, by Martin Weiss were headed straight for the bargain bin. Weiss’ drivel did not disappoint, and made it to the table-of-shame in June. It seems it took Welch’s formulaic pages a whole month longer. Look for either title on the clearance rack this month only if you’ve run out of good books to read.)

The Top Five – NY Times Business Hardcover Best Sellers July 2009 (to view the entire list, follow this link):

This
Month 		Last
Month
1 OUTLIERS, by Malcolm Gladwell. (Little, Brown, $27.99.) Why some people succeed — it has to do with luck and opportunities as well as talent — from the author of “Blink” and “The Tipping Point.” 1
2 HOW THE MIGHTY FALL, by Jim Collins. (Jim Collins/Harper­Collins, $23.99.) Companies fail in stages, and their decline can be detected and reversed 10
3 SHOP CLASS AS SOULCRAFT, by Matthew B. Crawford. (Penguin Press, $25.95.) A philosopher and mechanic argues for the satisfactions and challenges of manual work.
4 HOUSE OF CARDS, by William D. Cohan. (Doubleday, $27.95.) The fall of Bear Stearns and the beginning of the Wall Street collapse. 5
5 THE TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER, by Dave Ramsey (Thomas Nelson, $24.99.) Debt reduction and fiscal fitness for families, by the radio talk-show host. 4


Bad Holiday Gifts – The Worst Gifts We Ever Received From Vendors

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Vendors Give The Darnedest Things…

 

Loyal reader Tye Mills sent us a question in response to our Leader’s Gift-Giving Guide article.

 

What are the top 10 wacky gifts you have received from vendors? – Tye Mills

 

Great question, Tye…

 

Hmm, let’s see, the unfortunate result of most truly wacky or bad gifts from vendors is that they are somewhat forgetful. A poll of the AskTheManager editors at first drew blank stares – no one could recall a wacky gift. When we expanded the request to overall bad gifts (no just wacky ones) from vendors, they still seemed a bit perplexed.


 

We all remember the great, thoughtful gifts. The wine we love, the golf balls or putter we cherished, or the thoughtful basket of our favorites. And while we really couldn’t think of ten wacky vendor gifts, we did come up with a list of ten bad ones we received over the years… in no particular order:

 

  • Mouse Pad & Pens – 8-10 years ago it seemed every vendor sent you a mouse pad emblazoned with their logo, but I actually received one as a Holiday gift (with three cheap pens) just two years ago. Two problems with this gift: First, doesn’t everyone who needs one already have a mouse pad? Second, I have exclusively used a laptop (sans mouse) for the past five years – I have no use for a mouse pad (and neither does Goodwill).
  • Bottle of Liquor – He can’t remember the brand, but one of our editors once received a very nice bottle of expensive liquor from a vendor. The problem with this gift? This editor was once a raging alcoholic. The worst thing about this was that it was well-known in the industry that he was now a recovering alcoholic and always seemed ready to fall off the wagon. Not very thoughtful.
  • iPod Shuffle – I know this will sound jaded, but last year a vendor sent me an iPod Shuffle as a holiday gift and now it ends up on this list. My problem with this particular gift was that I already carried a Video iPod, as did everyone in my immediate family, and that the vendor didn’t include a note of any kind – just the iPod. I would have been happier receiving a nice handwritten note wishing me holiday cheer and a $50 donation in my company’s name to a charity. I ended giving the iPod Shuffle to my administrative assistant in one of the most shameless acts of re-gifting known to man… She was thrilled.
  • Tie Clasp – About three years ago a vendor who had been trying to do business with my company for some time sent me a logoed tie clasp as a holiday gift. No big deal… if I was 70 years old and actually wore a tie clasp! Not to mention I had no intention of doing business with them, and didn’t need to see their logo every time I looked down at my tie.
  • Paper Weights – Over the years we’ve received dozens of these and only one – a golf-ball-snow-globe-game with a tee in the middle – ever saw the top of my desk.
  • Other Desktop Do-Dads – Not sure what to call this category, but some vendors who over-think the whole holiday gift-giving thing will send those crappy executive desktop gifts you can buy in the men’s department of most large stores. A few years ago I received a miniature dartboard that provided advice based on where the dart landed. “Go Home,” “Go Fishing,” “Play Hooky,” and “Sleep Under Your Desk” were just a few of the inspirations provided – not a good thing to have on your desk if you want to convince your boss that you’re dedicated to your job.
  • Successories – While these gifts are, on the surface, very thoughtful, one of our editors once received an unframed Successories wall poster entitled “Change.” The issue was that he was with a very successful company who had gone through a painful, major change in the past few years, and who had a very, very bright future ahead. He really didn’t want to display a “Change” message in his office at this time, and he certainly didn’t want to pay to have it framed. (Besides, who is this vendor to say he needed to change?)
  • Mixed Nuts – When I was on the vendor side, one of my salesmen once sent a client, who happen to have a severe peanut allergy, a tin of mixed nuts. From what we hear, the ride to the emergency room was not pretty. He survived, though we never got another dollar of his business.
  • Live Plants – One of the editors once received an expensive fern for her office from a vendor who felt this particular leader needed to “green up” her surroundings. The fern lived for five weeks, laid dead in her office another ten and was unceremoniously dumped before Memorial Day. There was a reason she didn’t have any live plants in her office.
  • Chia Pet – Ch, Ch, Cha Chia… The undisputed king of wacky, bad gifts; the dreaded Chia Pet has appeared as a vendor gift for one of our editors in back-to-back holiday seasons. The first year, the sender sincerely believed that he would enjoy such an exotic and fun gift. The next year, a vendor who was also a close friend, sent him the same Tasmanian Devil model Chia Pet he had received a year earlier – this time as a well-received joke.

 

It was a great exercise for the editors to try and remember the worst of the worst. As leaders, more often than not, we find we can learn great things from bad examples. If we learned nothing else from these ten bad/wacky gifts, let’s all at least agree that you should know your customer before sending anything.

 

Of course, this doesn’t just apply during the Holidays.  

Sales Management Blogwatch – November 19, 2008

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The Best of the Sales Management Blogs

A colleague asked me this week about my first commissioned sales job – he, too, started in sales and worked his way up to management. After a few minutes of friendly banter about old school sales managers and the like, we went back to our regular grind.

Reflecting back on my first sales job, I was reminded of the 2’ by 30’ banner that hung over the sales desks. It was my first day, and as I walked into the salesroom I was greeted by grumpy faces of weathered salesmen and that gigantic banner. The banner read “Nothing Happens Until Somebody Sells Something.”

I thought this saying was a little hacky back in the 1980s, and I think it’s a lot hacky today; but it did get me thinking about the current economic situation. With Citibank laying off more than 50,000, Circuit City and other retailers declaring bankruptcy, and about 2 million auto industry-related jobs in jeopardy – it begs the question: Could some of these companies have sold their way out of their problems?

I don’t have a good answer to this, but my gut tells me that great sales leadership could have made a difference. It always does.

Back to the Blogs

Are you struggling to provide great sales leadership for your team? Perhaps some of these “Best of the Best” blog posts and articles hold the key – there are some great entries this time, including some that focus on selling in the down economy. Enjoy!

Sales Management: Differentiating Your Business during This Recession
What you feel is your differentiator and what you believe you customers want and/or should want is not necessarily true – especially during a business slow down. This article will give you some insights on how to separate your company …

Monday Morning Manager-Common Sense Rule # 1
You’ve been waiting a while for this opportunity and it has finally fallen in your lap-sales management. You’ve been with Widget International for 5 years. You have grown your territory every year and you are one of the leaders in the …

What Does Your Client Touch Program Say About You?
For instance, I work obviously in the areas of sales and sales management. Most salespeople and managers know there are a great variety of training methods and theories. Controversy and going against convention isn’t an issue in this …

Maximizing Your Price–The Value/Benefit Equation …
Price increases are currently occurring at a faster rate than we’ve seen in the US economy for nearly 25 years. The driving forces behind these increases seem to be

Sales Management: Avoid Motivational Bankruptcy, 6 Tips for …
The president of an office supply company was recently lamenting that his sales people were not operating to their potential. “Motivationally bankrupt,” he said. This is a very common complaint in any area of business. …




When Should You Walk Away From a Deal?   Now! The second that question begins to form in your head you should be prepared to walk away now. That is not to say that you shouldn’t perform a thorough evaluation of options, examine how the deal can be altered or …

Doggin’ It
Not by design, but this week a number of the discussions I had with prospects/clients had to do with front-line sales managers. This is a good thing since for a long time I have been a firm believer that the biggest bang for the buck in …

Guest Article: “Managers Continue to Teach Their People How to …
Managers Continue to Teach Their People How To Avoid Full Accountability By Keith Rosen. “What is that guy doing now?” It was just an odd maneuver. Something out of the ordinary from what would have typically been an everyday experience …

Sales Management Corner: Common Sense Rule #2
Last week I mentioned that a new sales manager shouldn’t start at this position by making changes. After assuming the role, a manager should have the salespeople assessed. Too many managers want to change their salespeople without …

Sales Coaching Without a Playbook
Sales management has a significant impact on critical sales performance metrics, including turnover rates, sales cycle length, and quota attainment. Recent research by CSO insights indicates that just the ability to proactively identify …

Sales Management in a Down Economy
Our next three posts will focus on Sales Management in a Down Economy. Here’s the first of three things you absolutely must do as sales manager if you want your sales team to continue to thrive and succeed – no matter what the headlines …

Are You a Sales Professional or Semi-skilled Laborer?
We in sales work in what we like to claim is one of the highest paid professions, yet statistics indicate we are, in fact, employed in one of the lowest paying professions. In fact, we are engaged in a business that is unevenly divided …

CanDoGo is Now a Free Site–Get Great Sales Tips from more than 60 …
I have great news to share with you. I am one of the exclusive authors/speakers/trainers/coaches for a company called CanDoGo that delivers concise advice for sales, personal development, leadership and motivation over the Web. …

Avoiding the Price Question Early in the Sale
The price of your goods and services is always a primary concern to your prospects. Whether you like it or not, price is top of mind with the majority, if not all, of your prospects; and you probably find the question of price comes up …

3 Strategies to Help You Meet Revenue Goals Even in a Down Economy
Ludwig says the sales management team, with the involvement of their salespeople, must evaluate each individual’s sales funnel to determine which opportunities he or she should pursue. Come up with a short list by looking at factors …

 

The Leader’s Gift-Giving Guide – Holiday Gifts Everyone Can Use

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Holiday Gifts for the Office Crowd

‘tis the season to think about all the people who helped you get where you are today. Whether you are a senior leader or an up-and-coming manager, it’s important for you to thank those who make an impact in your work life. And by “thank,” I mean give them something of value.

It’s amazing what the phrases “thank you” and “I appreciate what you do” can mean to your administrative assistant throughout the average workday. Over the years, the AskTheManager editors have come to realize that our fathers’ were right: you can attract more flies with honey than you can with vinegar. And by “sugar,” they meant something of value.

Interestingly, I personally cringe when I receive a gift from anyone at work. I’m not sure why, but I just don’t like getting “boss” gifts from subordinates or anything from a peer. Of course, I am always very, very outwardly appreciative. Additionally, most gifts I’ve ever received from my supervisors were just pure crap (save for the travel alarm my boss gave me last year; I’ve used it at least twice a week since then). 

While I do enjoy the occasional gift from vendors and suppliers, I mostly receive thoughtless baskets of fruit and snacks that I put in the break room for the huddled masses to enjoy. This seems to kill two birds with one stone: as I can both receive and give with the same gift. (Careful, I’m not talking about re-gifting.)

What to get that Special Administrative Assistant?

The best gift a leader can give their admin is the daily affirmation that they really and truly “rock.” Telling them that they are “awesome,” that you “appreciate their commitment,” and that “you could not function without them” are the keys to keeping most assistants happy and healthy. If you do this daily, you are truly an enlightened leader and ahead of nearly all others.

Of course, come this time of year, your hyper-performing admin is expecting something really great. Disappoint them and you could be forced to live with a passive-aggressive psychopath for the next 365 days.

Here are our suggestions for great gifts for your administrative assistant:

  • Gift Cards – you can never, ever go wrong with the right gift card. If your admin is living at or below the poverty line, however, be careful to avoid the completely unusable $25 Morton’s Steakhouse gift card. Instead, opt for something in the $200 range from Target or Amazon.com.
  • Wine or Liquor – if you’re certain they can appreciate great wine or liquor, then you’re probably okay going in this direction. If not, avoid buying the 2002 Opus One for someone who enjoys Riunite on Ice (that’s nice). If you know they love wine, but they may not be a true connoisseur, perhaps you want to give them the best wine opener ever invented. In this case, WaffleMouse.com has some great reviews. To see these, follow this link.




  • Gag gifts – What are you, thirteen? The last thing your hardworking admin wants or needs is some piece of crap gag gift. They won’t “get it,” okay? Even if they do, they won’t appreciate receiving some bobbing head ostrich-thingy that appears to go on forever. Avoid, at all costs, any urge to go for the exotic or gag gift for your direct reports.
  • Crystal Vase – Household accessories, especially a crystal vase or similar display piece could be something your admin will not only treasure, but also remember – provided you give some measure of thought to the gift. For a quick view of more than 5,000 administrative assistant-appropriate vases you can buy from the comfort of your executive chair, check out the selection on Amazon.com.
  • Over the Top – Amazingly we are willing to spend thousands on a single business trip that yields nothing and just $50 a year on the person who may mean the most to our success, our administrative assistant. Why not go crazy in 2008 and drop $1,000 on a big screen HDTV or Movado Watch.

What Should You Get Your Boss?

In short, nothing. While it’s true that the right gift could earn you brownie points, the wrong gift can indelibly brand you as a sycophant. If you’re sure your boss loves “something,” then it might make sense to find the right gift. Here are some suggestions:

  • Is Your Boss a Wine Lover? – If so, a case of 2004 Silver Oak is the bomb. Don’t have $900 to drop on the guy? The Vertical Rabbit corkscrew from Metrokane might be just as well-received (and it will last longer).
  • Sports Fan? – If your boss follows a specific sports team or grew up watching a specific player, the right collectible could put you in their thoughts on a daily basis. An autographed card, ball or other memento – especially if it doesn’t appear contrived – might be just the ticket. To see a few cost-effective choices from Amazon.com, follow this link.
  • Not Sure? – You can never go wrong with a personalized holiday card to your superiors, especially if you have children. I’ve always included my bosses on my Christmas card mailing list. My holiday cards prominently feature my three (hungry-looking) children on the front. I’m careful not to put my ugly mug on the card, or to have too many amenities in the background for fear my boss might realize I’m overpaid.

What about the Office Gift Exchange?

The dreaded office gift exchange – why couldn’t I be sick that day?

There is almost nothing as painful as trying to look happy when you peel back the wrapping of an office party exchange gift only to reveal stinky potpourri or a book claiming to detail the “Best Bathroom Trivia” of all time. (I’m really okay never knowing that WD-40 stands for “water displacement, 40th attempt.”)

There are only two answers for the question “what is the proper gift to get someone for the office gift exchange:” Liquor or Gift Card.

  • Liquor – Company policy permitting, a bottle of Single Malt or Bombay Safire is the perfect gift for anyone on this list. Besides, if they hate it, they can always trade with the guy who got some crappy lavender potpourri.
  • Gift Card – Everyone, and I mean everyone, likes getting a gift card from a store or restaurant they’re likely to patronize. Not sure? Get them an Amazon.com gift card by following this link.

Customer Gifts Must Rock…

I’ve been on both the giving and receiving end of customer gifts, and I can tell you that (when the gifts are right) it’s much better to receive than to give.

However, before you send a thing to any of your customers, make sure you know a little something about them. For example, I only golf when forced by business circumstances, though I invariably receive at least three dozen monogrammed golf balls every holiday season. By mid-January I won’t be able to recall who sent balls and who sent nothing. Clearly, those who sent nothing are ahead of those who sent golf balls.

If you don’t know what makes your customer tick, you’re better off keeping any gifts you might send for yourself.

Start today to discover what makes them tick, what they love, and why they do what they do. Chances are you’ll find out that they really appreciate their kids, as I do, and that tickets to The Nutcracker for their family will go ten times further than a $500 bottle of wine. Here are a few tips:

  • Egomaniacs love anything that makes them feel important, so something expensive or something with their name on it works here.
  • Gift baskets might be okay for someone who isn’t yet a customer. If you’re trying to get your name in front of someone cheaply, a $75 gift basket should do the trick.
  • Liquor or wine – If you go this route, make sure you spend the cash. There is nothing worse than a bad bottle of wine (except, maybe, for bad shrimp). Instead of selecting the decent $20 Coppola for ten of your customers, get your best customer an Opus One and send the others a nice card.
  • Gift Card – what, are you crazy? This is tantamount to bribery. Avoid cash and cash equivalents when you consider gifts to customers.

When it comes to holiday gift giving, your mom was right: it’s the thought that counts. When you look at your list this year, be sure to put the proper thought to each gift and remember that most humans will reward those who most appreciate them. Happy Holidays.

Time Management Blogwatch – November 9, 2008

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The Best of the Time Management Blogs

Although we already identified the number one time management of all time tool earlier this week (to see this post, follow this link), we felt compelled to scan the blogosphere and deliver to you the best of the Time Management Blogs from the past few weeks.




Time Management Optimization
Simply put, timeboxing is time management, yet without the need for complicated studies to see how you can best allocate your time. It works by completing any work that you have to the best of your abilities in the agreed timescale …

Rudeness or Poor Time Management Skills
please-don-t-interrupt-me-while-im-ignoring- It’s happened to all of us… we are in what we think is a useful conversation, when the person we are talking with, suddenly switches over to their Blackberry, or cell phone. …

Time as Effective Key to Managing Stress
Many studies show that one of the best ways to manage stress is through effective time management. Why It is because lack of time usually pressures people. When people are being pressured, stress surfaces, which hinders them from …

There is enough time for all important matters
When talking about time management I hear many people claim that they do not have enough time. At first you have to realize that you have enough time for all important matters – if you want. Think on how much time you might loose per …

Cut Through the Myths Surrounding Time Management
As I see it, the current difficulty is that we all face too much information, and that today many myths still abound as to what constitutes effective time management. Time management is subjective, varying from one situation to another. …

Master Time Management Skills in 4 Easy Ways
Time management is all about mapping out a plan or schedule to follow throughout the day so that you do not cram in the end. You have to allot time for each of your tasks, making allowances for unforeseeable circumstances. …

Technologies that Improve Time Management
Apple’s very popular music player, though not specifically designed as a productivity tool, allows you to improve time management by downloading text-based to-do lists in it. A text file is a simple electronic notepad, where you can …

Effective Time Management: Strategies, Tips Techniques
One of the things that sets the more successful people from the rest is management of their time. In today’s world there are always too many things to attend to – job, family, civic work, professional organizations, social obligations …

Time Management and Prioritization
Time Management and Prioritization go hand in hand. It is very difficult to think of one without the other. Let’s think about them separately for a moment and then see where they really fit together.

Is it REALLY time management we’re after? Pt. 2
In my last post I talked about reconsidering the term time management and focusing instead on energy management and reminded readers that the first way to address this is through taking care of personal health through exercise, …

Execution… I Mean The Book
Setting clear goals and priorities is at the pinnacle of practicing effective time management. Without written, specific, measurable and realistic goals it is difficult to move forward. And it leaves you vulnerable to distractions by …

Start with the most important things
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Effective Time Management Skills – Can We Really Manage Our Time?
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Which of These Time Management Skills are You Missing?
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Extremely unlikely productivity techniques
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Can You Stretch Time To Get More Done?
The number one thing, after your ability to perform at your profession, is to become an expert in time management. Time management is perhaps most essential for the person who owns his or her own business. As you become more focused on …

Stress Anxiety Procrastination Tips: A Time Management Problem
Procrastination is a time management problem. If you find yourself putting things off, or forgetting about projects or chores, start scheduling your day. You don’t have to schedule everything for a specific time. …

Time Management – Can You Achieve Work/Life Balance?
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Top 10 Time Management Tips for Busy Entrepreneurs
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The Best Time Management Tool Ever
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The Best Rolling Briefcases Money Can Buy – Laptop Cases for the New Millenium

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The Rolling Briefcase – A Leader’s Most Important Tool?

Not since Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) and his coworkers marveled at the color, font and texture of one another’s business cards in 2000’s American Psycho has a business tool garnered as much admiration and created as much jealousy as the rolling briefcases being dragged through America today.

Whether tooling through the airport or navigating their office hallways with their pull-behind laptop luggage, American business leaders have begun to make both coworkers and strangers take notice.

While there are still those who choose to lug a laptop case by the straps, the editors of AskTheManager.com are convinced these bag-draggers and over-the-shoulder-computer-holders secretly suffer from briefcase envy when they spy us with our new Victorinox, Kensington or Wenger.

As with any fad or fashion, the market has become littered with both good and bad rolling briefcases. We did our homework, checked out the bags available at the mall luggage stores and office supply outlets, and we’ve decided that pound-for-pound and dollar-for-dollar, these are the 5 Best Rolling Briefcases money can buy:

  1. Victorinox Werks Traveler 2.0 Expandable Wheeled Computer Briefcase   
    The King of Rolling Briefcases, show up to work with this Victorinox and you’d have Patrick Bateman plotting your death. This one stores up to a 15″ laptop, and comes with two mesh pockets for storing computer peripherals along with lots of other cool and useful pockets and compartments. While the front compartment expands 2.5″, the rear compartment features a file divider which unzips to lie flat when not in use. Comes with a nifty zip-away water bottle pocket. Fully expanded, this great case is monster of storage at 16.5″ x 15.5″ x 11.5″. Retails for around $290.




  2. SwissGear by Wenger Black Rolling Briefcase
    This great SwissGear by Wenger lists for over $270, but generally can be had for under $100. We found this one on Amazon for $85 with free shipping. Wenger makes a very durable bag; in fact one of our editors has pulled his through airports for more than three years and over 300 flights – and it still works and looks great. Wenger, for those of you who don’t know, is considered the “Genuine” provider of Swiss Army Knives and Victorinox is considered the “Original” provider of these. Long story short, both are great brands and both have been around for more than 110 years. In fact, Victorinox purchased Wenger in 2005, but decided to keep and market both brands. You cannot go wrong with either, though Victorinox is a bit more durable and certainly more respected in the water cooler discussions.
  3. Kensington 62348 Contour Roller Carrying Case
    Kensington is one of the original providers of protective laptop cases and unlike the other top maker (Targus), they’ve done a terrific job of taking what they learned with the old sling-style cases and converted them into great rolling briefcases. This case is huge (19” x 17” x 9.5”) and is great for the road warrior who takes most of their office with them when they travel. As for bags with list prices under $100, this one is the best. We found it on Amazon for $65 with free shipping. 
  4. Samsonite Business One Mobile Office   
    Not many wheeled laptop bags can handle a 17” laptop, but this great Samsonite can do this and still provide plenty of room for virtually everything else you need for the short or long trip. A durable bag from a great maker of durable luggage – it won’t turn heads like a Victorinox, but it’s well worth the money. We found it on Amazon with free shipping for under $120 ($200 list).
  5. Patriot from SwissGear by Wenger
    A very deep and rugged rolling briefcase, the Patriot is probably the most common of the great bags that you’ll see in airports today. Because of its depth (11”) and the removable laptop tote (included at no charge) this is the most versatile bag available. You’ll never have to pack a second bag for that overnight trip, since you can fit a change of clothes and your toiletries in the rear compartment. A great buy at its $129 list price; though you can find it for under $90 (like we did at Amazon).

Sales Management – Blogwatch August 31, 2008

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Best Sales Management Blog Posts – Week of August 31, 2008

 

The editors of AskTheManager scoured the World Wide Web to bring you the Best Sales Management blog posts and article available for the week of August 31, 2008 – slim pickings on a holiday weekend.

 

Of course, most leadership development and management-related blogs on the web are filled with either immature advice or money-making scams, though most authors who write sales management blogs seem to really know their stuff. These selected posts are filled with useful information and void of the overused tips and tricks found in the time management weblogs (again, the pickings are pretty slim because of the long holiday weekend).

Free Prospecting Whitepaper from Tibor Shanto.
By Brad Trnavsky
Just a short post to announce that one of our members Tibor Shanto just recently released a new whitepaper about prospecting called “Above The Pipe! – Part I: Three Must Haves for Prospecting Success”. I just recently downloaded it, …

In the operating room tomorrow, wish me luck!!!
By Michel Chiasson
These are all things that are difficult to find in today’s sales management approach. I am not saying that I am the best salesman there is. I might think it, but I am not saying it. I am saying however, that all along the career of a …

Guest Article: “Six Ways to Prove the ROI for Sales Inquiries,” by …
By Paul McCord
The Six Ways to Prove the ROI for Sales Inquiries by James Obermayer. Are there more than six ways to prove the ROI for inquiries? Probably, but these basic six ways to prove the ROI will start you off. 1. Salespeople report: The best …

Book Review: Words That Work: It’s Not What You Say, It’s What …
By Paul McCord
Imagine knowing the words, ideas, and concepts that influence people to buy, to make a choice, to solve a problem, to commit to your solution. Imagine being able to write or say something that immediately strikes a nerve; …
Sales and Sales Management Blog – http://salesandmanagementblog.com