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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
In Praise Of The Checklist
Fast Company has an interesting short article, Heroic Checklist, that is a worthwhile read. I’m a tremendous fan of checklists, though in our consulting practice we find too many people resist them as either too structured or too simplistic.Checklists are great, there greatness lies in their simplicity:They help keep us disiciplined and focused.They make sure, that in the rush of everyday activity, we don’t overlook critical items/activities.They free us up to identify and focus on the most critical issues.They help us be more effective.They free us up to be more creative and innovative.They help us produce results.Use checklists, keep them […]
Improving Our Communications
I’ve been seeing a lot about “problems in communicating.” Newspapers and TV are filled with stories about “communications problems.” As I speak with business executives around the world, much of the dicussion is rooted in communications problems. Even my wife complains, “you don’t listen!” — It’s true—and I think most husbands probably get this same complaint—but that’s a different issue. A lot of the materials I see about “improving communications skills” are oriented around presenttion and speaking skills. Something struck me about the things I read and, in fact, a lot of the conversations I have been invovled in that […]
Stop Networking And Start Building Relationships
I’ve written a number of times about Social Networks and Networking. Today, I read a nice blog entry at thd Dumb Little Man-Tips For Life Blog: Stop Networking and Start Building Relationships. Echoing my thoughts, they write: “Creating working relationships should be the goal of networking, not meeting as many people as possible.” They comment on MySpace, Facebook, and LinkedIn, saying: “We need to shift our goals from numbers and volume to quality and relationships. After all, the point of networking is to connect yourself with others who can help you, as well as you help them. Relationships, communication and […]
The "New" Art Of Selling????
I’m somewhat distressed the article that appeared in the January 28, 2008 issue of the Wall Street Journal. It was the column on Theory and Practice, entitled: Next In Line For Reinvention: The Art Of Selling. Both the author of the article, Phred Dvorak, and the author of the Book, Ram Charan seem to have discovered the secret to selling: finding a customer with a problem that you can solve and helping him solve it. What a tremendous insight! I’m sorry, I don’t like to trash others, particularly Dr. Charan. I have liked some of his past books. But have […]
Truth In Advertising — Do You Really Believe The Value You Produce?
I just got an email inviting me to yet another networking site. This was an interesting email, similar to others that I receive. Perhaps this was the straw that broke my back and forced me to comment. This email came from “a friend,” someone I don’t know inviting me to join this website. When you look at the email more carefully, it is part of a blanket email sent by the company trying to recruit members to the site. I find it offensive when companies claim familiarity and a relationship that doesn’t exist. Sending a mail that looked like it […]
The Real Essence Of Strategy
Oren Harari has a great post in his blog on the Real Essence Of Strategy. Simple message, but we forget. “Without a doubt, understanding and coping with competitors is a vital part of competitive strategy. But never forget that the soul of a winning strategy revolves around the pathbreaking value that your organization can create, regardless of what competitors are doing. That’s what excites customers, turns on employees, and brings investors rushing in.”