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Did you know that most “close door” buttons on elevators don’t work? It’s true – they’re called placebo buttons. They’ve been around since the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed about twenty years ago. And according to the act’s homepage, the button is there for workers and emergency personnel to use, and it only works with a key. Also, according to the Otis Elevator Company, most door close buttons…

You never know when your brand will need to rise to the occasion. That’s why consistency is far better than rare moments of greatness. But. Living the brand isn’t what you think it is: It’s not about dressing for success. It’s not about converting yourself into a corporate clone. It’s not about memorizing some hollow, hackneyed mission statement. It’s not about puking your unique selling proposition all over everyone…

The sales landscape has radically changed. Customers have the power. Customers make the choices. Customers drive the engine of interaction. Customers decide how much attention to give you. THE QUESTION IS: Has your organization adjusted to these new realities yet? Today we’re going to explore six epiphanies to help you make sales, make money and make a difference:1. Gratitude trumps desire. Sometimes, customers don’t buy because they want it…

The other night I received an instant message from one of my readers. She told me that her parents’ attitude continually crushed her entrepreneurial spirit. They didn’t take her seriously. They weren’t interested in her progress. They only seemed to notice the negativity of her endeavors. Can you imagine how disheartening that must be? I can. Even though I’ve been fortunate enough to have an endlessly supportive family, I…

Woody Allen is famous for saying, “Eighty percent of life is showing up.” I adamantly disagree. In my experience, eighty percent of life is following through. That’s what people notice. That’s what people remember. That’s what people are counting on. And since so much of the world sucks at it, today we’re going explore a collection of strategies to help you do so beautifully. But. This isn’t about goal…

Every speech I give is two speeches: (1) The speech my audience thinks they’re getting when they walk in the door, and (2) the speech my audience realizes they got when they walk out the door. The first speech changes each gig. Depends on the audience, depends on the venue and depends on the needs of the client. The second speech rarely changes. It’s almost always about commitment, consistency…

“Ideas are free; execution is priceless.” That’s my next book. That’s my company mantra. That’s my personal philosophy. Today we’re going to talk about a few things rich entrepreneurs know about execution: 1. Slow footedness is the enemy. My biggest takeaway from The Social Network was when Facebook nemesis Divya Narendra exclaimed, “Zuckerberg knows that getting there first is everything!” Sure enough, he was right. And that’s exactly how…

“I am large. I contain multitudes.” Walt Whitman wrote that in the 1860 edition of Leaves of Grass. Now, the way I see it, his words challenge the reader to do two things: First, recognize how much potential you actually have. Second, spend the rest of your life making use of everything you are. Here’s how: 1. Beware of editors. When I was a kid, my older brother used…

I’m sick and tired of people saying, “This, too, shall pass.” Worst. Consolation. Ever. Don’t get me wrong. It’s a nice cliché and everything. But it doesn’t change the fact that for a lot of people right now, life sucks. And the last thing they need is another marginally helpful, fluffy aphorism that sounds like the title of some heartwarming mini-series on Lifetime. People know this, too, shall pass….

Know your customer. Know your customer. Know your customer. Since day one, you’ve been beaten over the head with those three words. And while they’re important, there’s actually something bigger at stake: How well do your customers know you? ANSWER: Not enough. And if you think you don’t have customers, look harder. Everyone has customers. And they need to know who you are, where you are and why you…