Showing posts with label @optioneerJM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label @optioneerJM. Show all posts

Monday, December 23, 2019

Square pegs don't belong in round holes




ref:  article from HBR 

"A clean desk
is the sign of
a sick mind."
~Albert Einstein
Fact check

My commentary on the following article from HBR 

When I was at my peak performance in sales:  winning awards ..... my desk was a big huge blob of paper.

When I became a leader, I kept my desk sparse and turned off all devices when someone came to me with a problem.

When I took a job to pay the bills:  I ensured I was surrounded by art:  art of beaches, boats or light- hearted sayings to keep me motivated.

People need to stop trying to be a square peg in a round hole.  You are you and your desk habits are your own: 

* pristine (conveys no nonsense efficiency)
* cluttered paper bomb (disorganized scatter head)
* lively & personal (keeping things light & disassociate from surroundings)

When, in fact:

* spotless can mean you are organized and efficient
* a MESS says: whatever you're doing is more important
* tasteful art and super slogans means you are balanced

NOTE:  I am not a doctor, educated in human behavior, nor am I a psychologist.  This is my own take.

Art by Jeannette Marshall (c) 2019
Michael McCool - the sales guy

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Posted on Wordpress

The updated version of today’s CEO … writing more on #CalgaryBlogger at http://www.optioneerjm.com on WordPress < doing Facebook from my iPad sucks! It doesn’t automatically link when you type with www . com > THAT @Microsoft is impressively intuitively improving its force quietly. I’m not surprised Bill Gates is becoming even more legendary successful dominance in technology. Constantly being of the social UNIVERSE: giving back and paying it forward. Leading by example that it is POSSIBLE to be the BEST version of himself AND help the world be a better place. 1000% control of his personal brand, for example what he’s reading…I’ve followed on Linked In for 12 years now…

Here is my opinion on what your CEO is doing:

A CEO is the frontman of every great band.

…. to be continued …..

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Know the rules of engagement if you are going to approach a CEO

Don't ASS-U-ME that the founder or CEO is a man.  More women are starting home-based startups and leading corporations because awareness is better that this an under-recognized issue.



Major accounts sales tip for selling to executives, particularly CEO

Sales to executives is a whole different kettle of fish:  THINK numbers if you're meeting/have audience with a CEO=Chief Executive Officer | Chairman of the Board + keep your meeting request including any PowerPoint presentations to 20 minutes with Q&A at the end = Practice practice practice doing your presentation in front of audience of colleagues who can constructively give feedback.  Even if you don't make it to Q&A you HAVE to ask PERMISSION to extend time allotment or reschedule to continue the conversation - that allows them the chance to absorb your initial presentation and come up with questions as it would apply to their company 



Always send a thank you note:  or two
1) Email recapping what you told them, any comments or feedback -- take a colleague or manager on the call (no more than one other for total of 2) to write notes and itemize NEXT ACTIONS by BOTH parties in the meeting (who agreed to do what) - reiterate what your next appointment will cover - ask for their input and edits or additions; 2) anyone else that may be needed to attend the meeting (i.e. Marketing Executive/Ops) to allow the CEO to get their input and evaluation extra set of eyes and ears and opportunity identifier.

2) send a handwritten card thank you note - it can be generic but better if you have cards printed with logo and your contact details - like a postcard or put in an envelope with a stamp and your own handwriting with Personal&Confidential on seal side.  Here, you make a social comment like - have a great vacation, day on the golf course, board meeting, union sit in - you get my point?

Before each meeting, you send an agenda beforehand, with time length beside it - to show that you are only going to take the 20 minutes allotted.  Ask for confirmation of agenda and whether they have anything to add, or people to add.  If they say they want to invite one of their executives, offer to send an email, coordinating event with the CEO copied in.  That is called leveraged selling in my book (don't know if there is such a term in sales?)

When you end the 2nd meeting with a more gelled action plan from both sides, again you follow up the meeting with notes, next steps, action owner, timeframe and again confirm the follow up timeline - 90 days on the third Friday in January, for example -- giving both parties plenty of time to gather needs or cultivate services or proposal with estimate, costs and timelines. Or topics that were tabled for the sake of time.

www.optioneerjm.com



Sunday, October 27, 2019

Posted on Wordpress

What exactly does a CEO do? Today, he’d better be digital! READ MORE: http://www.optioneerjm.com where I’m writing a blog about it using the outline of the cartoon below, in progress. FYI @optioneerJM was suspended by @Twitter > please #RT so my 20000+ followers know and to follow me under @1960to65 … it’s fine everywhere else @optioneerjm on @Instagram @Facebook @Pinterest @reddit @LinkedIn @Quora

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Posted on Wordpress

⁦@MarioFrangoulis⁩ >> just listening to your song with ⁦@SarahBrightman⁩ how beautiful and lovely

Thursday, June 14, 2018

Pure ENGAGEMENT online = social ethiquette



The following was just posted on Facebook:


Hey Marsha Collier .... Happy 3rd Frienaversary!! It's been a happy ride on the bus with you and together, we show how 2 women, from 2 countries, remarkable and steadfastness to the roller coaster of social media together. Interesting isn't it that this came from Facebook and not Twitter where we consistently interact and "engage" with each other.

I declare: Marsha Collier to be my BFF friend online ... dated this 14th day of June, 2018. A solidarity that could not be broken nor can be split even though our country's politicians are both acting like elementary boys volleying to being recognized as the most popular boy at school.

Can you imagine?

If Justin Trudeau invited moi Jeannette Marshall to attend a mini conference with you and Donald Trump -- I BET we'd have it solved in 3 hours if a glass of wine and a great conversation exchanged between two different ladies: setting a new curve in an upward arrow swirling into the stratosphere as a solution of "WE TOO" @WE2 #We2 ..... Read more ......... HERE>

If you have a good friend, go ahead and tweet at them or post on their Facebook timeline, something along how you met and their impact on your online knowledge quest or self development or communications command post.

Even better if you could scout out a great tweet dated back to the early days of "ENGAGEMENT".

What's the big deal about ENGAGEMENT?
If you, my new associate, have to ask: you are NOT a social media guru.

Sales supremacy & social media power
share the same ideal quality that separates all the giants from the tiniest beings is ........ well what do you think it means?

Enter your answer here:

A) On a piece of paper with A) B) and C) ready to go!
B) Share the answer on social media channels with #PureEngagement hashtag.
C) Ability and desire to be responsive, enthusiastic and a positive connection.

Since I wrote this mini exam, I already know the answer but will include "Responsiveness" as I share this blog.

Responsiveness? Conscientiousness? What does that mean? I'm certain that if you were a fleeting observer of either Marsha Collier or me over the past few years, you would have noticed increasing dialogues yet inaudible communication between us.

And, as life usually unfolds, an increasing respect and champion-like exchange begins, ignited between the two. There can be a sprinkle of questions or comments on either party's tweet usually and Facebook post often.

I just realized, we have neither invaded each other's personal space by direct messages, leaving it as a save tool, if you really need to ask a favor or that sort of exchange.

Let's be clear in a mix up space that online is, "Social Etiquette" is the crucial way to be enveloped, acknowledged and supported by the majority: self-acclaimed "Influencer" or compensated "Brand Ambassadorship" folks aside -- simple because it is complicated and more difficult to dissect.

It is near impossible to have unified agreement on the numbers since data is the new child of the universe that creates opportunity and differentiation.

So often I see one sided, one vantage point or one perspective streaming from social media identities, whether from a brand enforcer or personalized name.

There isn't any trick.
You can go to any of your mediums to see where your mentions are coming from.

Battle over Privacy is nothing compared to data. I said that in a blog a good four or five years ago: the race for gathering personal information, habits, posts that create algorithms that allow predictive answers based on the: NUMBERS.

What comes after numbers? Artificial Intelligence or, what I like to call it: "Automated Internet". That is exactly putting the cart before the horse. Intentionally so, because by being able to predict what "desirable audiences" want, want to buy, want to see, want to subscribe to, etc.

Back in 1997, I was on weekly conference calls with the best, strongest sales team mates from across North America. A handpicked sort who developed ENGAGEMENT with each other based on how easy it was to reach out, just say hi or talk shop about anything, for me mostly lands on publishing or digital media (printing, web, social) my chin flips up and my voice gets louder, with excitement and speed builds, momentum jumps. They didn't mind that. People who "get me" recognize that the speed in which someone modulates their language or story shouldn't diminish its value, yet often is .... mistakenly.

Like the finest athletes, who can usually excel at multi physical exertion (i.e. ice skating: technical, artistic, choreography and graceful or dynamic flow)... people who can exude and engage at the same time are skillful in either sales or social media.

Now, there are a lot of anti-sales folks out there. For good reason for sure: usually being oversold something or paying more than necessary or break in promise on productivity, service, timelines. <Heed this advice < always under promise, be realistic to build credibility on expertise > over deliver don't over commit resources, people, tools, equipment, materials, timelines.

If a topic appeals to someone, regardless of stature in life, they will respond.

So think of a topic that you are enthusiastic about, interested in learning more about and then look (it is not hard to GOOGLE: "online+influence+gardening". Where Google likes to show independent opinion by using the numbers at their disposal: what is the number of clicks on a topic or identity? Then they display.

It isn't surprising that Facebook and Twitter are trying to build their engines: like the two kids on the first day of school and how it ends in the following June (around now: best friends, frenemies, etc.)

Facebook had its hand slapped after as people keep digging for more conspiracy theories online more than ever: not only evaluating the numbers that they have at their disposal and how they can leverage that as an enterprise wants to increase cash flow.

The best to fold this up
would be to increase your online responsiveness wherever you have an identity, regardless of medium: Twitter, Facebook or InstaGram, etc. Look to see who "Mentions" or "RT" or "Tags" you and then acknowledge it with Social Etiquette, with "Thank You" being the easiest.

Post art source: Vogue
Iman Raad, Eye (Left), 2017, acrylic on raw canvas, 34 x 40 inches
Photo: Courtesy of the artist and Sargent’s Daughter Gallery (March 18 to April 23, 2017)



This is the New York debut of this breakout young talent from Iran, whose brightly colored paintings and installations allow fruits, flowers, butterflies, animals, and other nonhuman subjects to get a life.