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Making A Difference – Thoughts, Observations and Opinions
This is Dave Brock’s Blog.
It offers my views on a variety of business, sales, marketing, and leadership topic. My goal is to make a difference for you, the reader, in both your professional and personal lives.
Latest Posts
Getting Back In The Game
I’ve been terribly remiss in keeping this blog updated — there are always excuses that one can use to avoid writing. Over the past weeks, I’ve been collecting all sorts of ideas, but not committing the time to write and post. I’ve made up my mind to catch up and recommit. To those who read this blog and have been wondering where I am, I’m back and starting to post. Thanks for hanging in there, I look forward to your continued comments and feedback
A Picture Is Worth 10,000 Words
It’s been far too long since I have posted. Combinations of excuses—travel, business, and other conspire to make me feel guilty. At this moment, I am in Cairo on a series of business meetings. Last night, however, we had dinner by the light of the pyramids. They are beyond words, so I thought I would post a picture. Imagine — they were built 3000 years ago and still inspire such wonder and awe. More posts later this week.
MS150–Southern California Event.
One of the causes I strongly support and try to “make a difference” in some small way is contributing to the fight against MS. I have a number of friends who have MS and have been active in a number of MS fundraisers and related activities. This past weekend, I participated in the MS150 Orange County to San Diego ride. It’s one of the most fun events I’ve every participated in —- plus we raise a lot of money to fight MS. So far, we have raised close to $2 million. On Saturday morning, our team, the Derailleurs, left Irvine, […]
Connecting Versus Relating — The Disappearance Of Real Relationships
There is a great post in the Slow Leadership blog on “Connecting Versus Relating.” It speaks to the breakdown of relationships, transforming them into transactions conducted through impersonal channels like email, messaging, Twitter, Blackberry’s and cellphones. I would also add many of the social networking media. While these “tools” have made all of us much more accessible and available–the emotional connection is lost. Relationships—at least meaningful relationships are built on trust and emotional connections. The new ways we “connect,” while convenient, strips away that connection. It seems to me, the more we substitute these convenient ways to stay visible and […]
First Rule Of Management: Stop Whining, Take Responsbility.
Jeffrey Pfeffer has a very nice column in the Wall Street Journal: Woes? Executive, Blame Thyself. There are several very interesting points: 1. It is typical for executives to blame outside-uncontrollable causes (the economy, etc.). Research shows that companies that blame poor results on internal controllable factors see greater subsequent stock appreciation than those who blamed their problems on external factors. Apparently the market appreciates executives taking responsibility for identifying and addressing challenges. 2. Pfeffer identifies the First Rule Of Management: Don’t act like a victim. There are always things you can do to make things better. So stop whining […]
The Future SalesForce — A Consultative Approach???
Imagine my surprise to receive an email from CRM Magazine with this article featured: “The Future SalesForce — A Consultative Approach.” I was under the impression that a consultative approach to selling has been the hallmark of sales professionalism for the 25+ years that I have been a sales professional. Now I have to apologize, I don’t like to bash the work of other consultants and professionals, particularly some that I respect, as in the case of the authors of this article. I also realize the constraints a short article puts on an author in expressing ideas on very complex […]