Hit Me with Your Best Merb

Here's an interesting problem.

You're driving on a curvy, hilly road in which the speed limit is 55mph.  Getting caught speeding much over 60mph is not only probable, but bad for you (since you've been caught doing so before).

You're behind another driver who is going 60mph in the passing zones and 50mph in the non-passing zones.  (I'm convinced this was some sort of game)

Do you pass?

How to Handle the Fly on the Wall

Listening with your full attention is a very important thing to do in order to build relationships and remain credible.  That said, we can't always execute in that way.  Our mind gets in the way.  Other thoughts creep in...

"What is the person in front of me about to say?"
"Did I lock my car door?"
"Is my boss going to rip me a new one when we meet this afternoon?"
"I've got to finish this presentation."

These are our flies.  Killing them is very challenging (and potentially time consuming...have you ever chased a fly?).  But when they exist on the walls of our mind you must let them out before you can focus.

How do we let the flies out?  Address them when you can.  Either interrupt the person talking to you (assuming it's a casual conversation or relationship) and state, "I'm sorry, I'm a little distracted because I've got a big meeting I need to prepare for." Then suggest that you either talk later because you want to give them your full attention or decide to make it short.  If this is not an option you must practice "fly ignoring" - just plain resolve to listen (this IS in your control) and either decide on a time to address the fly or decide that you must cohabitate.

Now, you don't want colonies of flies.  If they begin to take over start scheduling time with yourself to address these things.  It does not matter how busy you are.  Your sanity and your relationships depend on it.

What is Luck?

Luck is where preparation meets opportunity.

There are a number of people who have used a variation of this phrase...so I'll just say that it isn't mine, but I believe it wholeheartedly.

Years ago, I was talking with an executive from a multi-billion dollar company and I asked him how he got where he is today.  "I'm just lucky." he said.  I was never quite comfortable with that statement.  Obviously, he wasn't sitting on the couch, watching TV, eating Cheetos when the phone rang and the caller said, "Hey you lucky guy.  Wanna be an executive?"  He had to work...and work...and work.  And finally, when the opportunity arose his work paid off.

Keep this in mind.  You may not control the opportunities, but you have full control over your preparation. Thus you have more control over how lucky you are then you may realize.

The Lifecycle of a Consumer

I received a catalog the other day (yes, I still get catalogs...love them) that I hadn't seen in 10-15 years.  It was a catalog that, long ago, I would fawn over.  Every page contained products that I wanted to own.  Not just wanted....LONGED for.

How did I feel when I looked over the catalog today?  Old.  None of the products really appealed to me, though I found them interesting.  It made me think....what is the lifecycle of a single consumer?  How long can you typically hold their loyalty, preference, etc.? 

My Beliefs

I don't believe in never or impossible.  Only time, effort, and innovation.

Embracing the "When"

Relationship Building Rule #1

There is no such thing as "can't"
There is only "when"

Constantly telling a customer, partner, or anyone for that matter "no" will only provide you with negative equity.  If you provide alternatives to what is being asked you are more likely to build respect - which is the foundation for a healthy relationship.  This is applicable whether you are working with a customer that wants a specific deliverable or your own child asking to go to watch TV.

Negotiating conditions and then meeting those expectations is a wonderful thing.

The Interesting Thing About Mobile

This is likely old news, but I was thinking.  In a conference I attended last week someone stated that the younger generation actually feels it is "rude" to call someone.  Instead they use mobile devices to text, chat, etc. as a standard mode of communication.  It was also mentioned that the average teenager sends approximately 3000 texts a month.  It occurred to me that communication is up while "face time" is down.  I already knew of the latter, but it never actually dawned on me that we might actually be communicating more.  And I mean actually communicating.  Not spamming or the like.