Windows Vista This is from a guy who uses a MAC?

I had to add some great information from Aaron Booker today. He is giving some great information on Vista and their new (Little late) campaign to show how Vista is GREAT. Here is a sample from his recent post

"Microsoft met with a bunch of XP lovers/Vista haters in San Francisco last week and captured video of them playing with this new "Mojave" operating system. "Oh, WOW!" one of them said... But "Mojave" isn't Windows 7 or SP2 of Vista - it's Vista right now. "

To read it all visit http://www.varvid.com/2008/07/microsoft-final.html

Proving once again, you can have superior product in the market but without sales and marketing, the word will not get out by its self.

Something I don't understand

I have only had 3 jobs in my life. I found from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (I cant make this stuff up)


"The average person born in the later years of the baby boom held 10.8 jobs from age 18 to age 42,according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. Nearly two-thirds of these jobs were held from ages 18 to 27."

Estimates are showing that this is approaching doubling. So what does this have to do with sales? Well, I am probably reaching for some conclusions. But in general, people shift more, are less loyal and are always looking for the next best thing. Another conclusion that I am reaching for is that this most recent economy down turn (Still debatable) will make people look for more security. Once again, building long term solid relationships wins.

Number 100

This is my 100th post. I would have never predicted that I could have found 100 things to write about. Who knew? Beyond that, I never thought I would have the audience that I have seen. I have daily readers from Washington State to North Carolina. Canada to Texas. Even several over seas. I really feel blessed to have had this type of response.

Thank you for everyone that has left comments, talked to me or just quietly read my thoughts.

I do have some thoughts today that has been a problem for me. Handling phone calls. It is so important that if people need help, responses or just want to purchase something, it is important that the calls get routed to someone that can help them in a speedy manner.

With that, it is important to return phone calls in a quick time frame, set expectations on return calls and always meet those expectations. A simple missed phone call can mean missed opportunity. I know that I have taken my business elsewhere because I could not get ahold of who I needed.

Bad customer service can destroy a business.

Recently I heard a story of a person that had spent $65k on landscaping in Hays. It had been about 5 years ago. A couple of weeks ago the sprinkler system started to blow fuses. So he called the company that installed the system to fix it. A week later with no response, he called back, his yard was starting to suffer. The response he got was they were 7 months booked so he should call another company. He explained that he would pay for the work and that he purchased all of the equipment from this company. They said tough and hung up. I will make sure that I spread this word to 10 people who this was and the bad customer service they give.

I cant imagine that this type of customer service won't destroy a business. It is definitely BAD business.

In sales always remember that most people will tell more people about bad experiences than good. Do everything in your power to make the client experience the best it can be.

Direct relationship Blogging and Productivity?

I didn't blog a lot last week. I have found that there seems to be a direct relationship between my blogging and my productivity. I spent a lot of time working in versus on business last week. You know, paperwork, cleaning up two weeks worth of being out of the office, stuff like that. Not wasted time mind you, just not sales focused activity. So I am starting this week off with a blog and making a commitment to post every day.

Sales tip of the day? Even though you may be focused on doing the paper work of sales, Quotes, orders and tech stuff. Make sure you are focused on new sales. Take at least an hour a day to spend it on new opportunities. Make phone calls, send the quick email, get out of the office and into the field. Some of the best advice I have been given is out of the office from 8 to 11 and 1 to 4. Office time will wait!