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Anonymity is your greatest barrier to business success. Thank God for the Internet, right? After all, if there’s one thing the Internet proves, it’s this: if they want you, they’ll find you. Prospects. Customers. The media. Everyone. If they want you, they’ll find you. FIRST EXAMPLE: My friend Ken once wrote an article for a trade publication. Sadly, the editor failed to include his bio at the end of…

As a salesperson, you don’t want to be a pest. But you DO want to follow up effectively. So, what’s your approach? THREE WORDS: Gentle Reminder Selling. It’s non-threatening. It’s not overly salesy. It’s a great method for delivering value. FOE EXAMPLE: let’s say a certain prospect hasn’t returned your calls or emails. Maybe she’s busy. Maybe she forgot to reply. Maybe she has more important stuff to do…

Every day when I slap a new nametag on my shirt, I remind myself of what Einstein once said: “If at first your idea is not absurd, there is no hope for it.” FACT: Einstein’s greatest scientific discovery sparked from a mental picture he had when he was 16 years old. One day, while taking a walk, Albert envisioned himself riding atop of beam of light into outer space,…

1. Answer in advance. Make a list of the 101 most frequently asked questions your customers. Write a short answer for each one (no more than one paragraph). Then give away that little booklet FOR FREE to every single person who walks in your door. (You could also make this into a CD, audiocassette or podcast.) 2. Use magic. Write letters, thank you notes and proposals to your clients…

“But” is a very dangerous word. It puts people on the defensive. It makes them think there’s a catch. It negates everything you said before. It reduces the positivity of your argument. Now, in most articles addressing this topic, experts will suggest: “Don’t say Yes, BUT; say Yes, AND.” That’s a good idea. THE CHALLENGE IS: sometimes saying “Yes, AND” isn’t enough. Here’s a list of 21 Phrases that…

Coolest Restaurant Ever: Mama’s Ladas: Downtown Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Here’s why… When you walk in the door, you see fewer than ten tables. When you look at the walls, you see traditional Mexican decorations. And the owner (also the waitress) offers a friendly greeting and tells you to sit anywhere you want. There are no menus. There are no options. There are no specials. There are only enchiladas….

Joey Reiman is the CEO of BrightHouse, an Atlanta-based “ideation corporation.” According to this article in FastCompany, he likes to boast that his firm conducts “business at the speed of molasses.” “You can’t hurry great ideas. I tell our clients that we’re the slowest company they’ll ever meet – AND the most expensive,” Reiman says. “But you only have to see us once.” And plenty of big-name companies (including…

People always used to tell me that I “had my head in the clouds.” Guess I finally proved them right! (Check out a few more pics from Leysin here.) -Scott www.hellomynameisscott.com

Earlier this year I posted about my friend Joseph Porcelli from The Nametag Project. He and his volunteers have been wearing his nametags everyday. Well, great news! This Sunday, June 15, The Boston Police Department will be distributing 40,000 nametags at Fenway Park for “Nametag Day” when the Red Sox play the Blue Jays! Joseph has taken a philanthropic approach to nametags. So far, he’s encouraged 6,000 people to…

I’ve been wearing a nametag 24-7 for the past 2,444 days. That’s my Noticeable Number. It’s noticeable in a conversation. It’s noticeable in an interview. It’s noticeable during a speech. It’s noticeable in a book. It’s noticeable in an article. It’s noticeable in a blog post. It’s noticeable on a website. It’s noticeable in marketing materials. First, let’s talk about the WHY. In my experience, I’ve found seven benefits…