Topic

quirky

ideas and experiences with a selling angle that come from left-field

How Did You Get My Number?

Two decades ago I was thrust into the word of cold-calling. One of the more experienced sellers sitting nearby was tasked with ‘helping’ me. I say that, but really, he couldn’t have cared less. We each had a printout, the old style dot matrix kind with the holes down

What Can Change?

[https://salespodder.com/content/images/wordpress/2012/02/20120218-064136.jpg] I do enjoy a good yarn about how a new, disruptive, innovative product came to life. And here’s a real goodie. About time too, we English now have a new plug. The story is heartwarming for those of us

Innovation ≠ Invention

I was flicking through one of the Fast Company sites recently. I’m always interested in the sources of innovation, so clicked with eagerness to learn about the six questions [http://www.fastcoexist.com/1679231/the-6-questions-that-lead-to-new-innovations] that lead to new innovations. But what a missed opportunity. It was far too

Let's Keep In Touch

Someone showed me a funky new businesscard the other day. It was the kind of vibe that the dotcom boom seemed to herald way back in the late 90s. Yet never quite materialised in the flesh. Here’s a pic from the company responsible. [https://salespodder.com/content/images/wordpress/

Your Valentine Client

[https://salespodder.com/content/images/wordpress/2012/02/20120214-0702131.jpg] Got a date this Valentine’s? I’m a long way from home. I dined out to be served by the entertaining Ashley. By day a self-described Virgin America professional soda can opener. By night a waitress and studying business

Microsoft Cut Ties

Working near Silicon Valley I heard a fascinating anecdote about the value of aligned cultural values. A CEO told me about the fun Microsoft engineers used to have with visiting reps back in the day. Each prospective vendor wore suits and ties. This was not the way at Microsoft. They

Expensive Means Excellence

[https://salespodder.com/content/images/wordpress/2012/02/20120209-110042.jpg] Tis me with my new car. Okay, it isn’t. The gull-wing monster actually belongs to Boris Becker. Last night he went into the nearby swanky Italian restaurant, I went to the posh curry house over the road. Here’s

Get Out And Ask

[https://salespodder.com/content/images/wordpress/2012/02/20120208-160538.jpg] Well here’s a funny thing. I was keeping myself to myself in a public wifi spot in London. Tablet in hand, I looked jaded, caught between two far off time zones just before flying farther west. Then two people

Wasta

[http://www.rashidriaz.com/2010/06/arabic-101-chapter-2-wasta/] So I’ve just spent a week in Dubai. A few years ago I also did a small sales project with a multi-national setting up there. In general, reports are not favourable. The word wasta frequently comes up. I’ve heard some pronounce

5 Cs of Credit

Heard of this test for credit worthiness? When being considered for such a bond, this quintet of areas is apparently a useful first indicator of borrower merit. Character assesses a willingness to settle and general integrity. Capacity calculates the ability to generate the funds to repay. Capital deduces overall net