I am sure that everyone has been in that meeting that really should have lasted 20 min and carried on for 2 hours. This drives me crazy! I recently have avoided scheduling meetings in favor of the in prompt to meeting. Short, to the point and get it done.
What is especially annoying to me is the meeting without a leader. Most of the time if you call the meeting you are the leader. What should a leader provide during a meeting?
1. An agenda sent out prior to the meeting. That way if people want to add topics, you can put on the agenda and everyone can be prepared.
2. Keep on time. If it is a 30 min meeting. Be on time, on task and get it DONE!
3. Keep on topic. Sure you can get on the edges of topics. But the job of the meeting leader is to bring the group back on topic.
4. If another meeting needs to be set. Do it now.
5. Don't set meetings to just have meetings. WHY DO THIS? Cancel meetings if you don't need them!
6. BE PREPARED! Don't waste peoples time.
7. Don't schedule for 2 hours when you need one. You will end up using 2.
Admittedly I don't follow my own rules all the time. I am getting better...Sorry for the rant today!
Friday, April 25, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
The Lunch and Learn
Today I am presenting for a lunch and learn in Russell KS. For those of you not familiar with Kansas, it is a small town east of Hays. (Home of Bob Dole). We will have between 10 and 15 clients attend. I enjoy these. Getting feedback from our clients, presenting new ideas and seeing some lights pop on for some.
These are hard work. Calling clients, getting rooms, catering and logistics. One thing has remained consistent. We come out with several leads every time that we close at least one deal.
These events are important for our vendors also. They present some of the time and they see the activity in the field. Marketing isn't a sprint, it is more like training. You have to be continually doing activity.
These are hard work. Calling clients, getting rooms, catering and logistics. One thing has remained consistent. We come out with several leads every time that we close at least one deal.
These events are important for our vendors also. They present some of the time and they see the activity in the field. Marketing isn't a sprint, it is more like training. You have to be continually doing activity.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
I work for a Communications Company!
Yes, I work for a communications company. We have every type of communications available. Land lines, cell phones, Internet, E-Mail, face to face communications, and my least favorite the "Meeting" (I promise to cover in the future my thoughts on the meeting). What is it that I feel one of the main challenges we face every day? You guessed it, communication!
From us communicating with the customer the expectations on projects to sales communicating a scope of work to our technical department all the way to communicating to each other. Carsen, my 2 year old communicates better sometimes then I do. He will keep repeating the same word, and pointing at what he wants you to do until either you do it, or someone else in the room tells you what he wants!
I have never heard of too much communication. Focusing on this communication can mediate issues before they become problems, provide better customer service and bring the best solutions for our customers.
I want to thank all of the HTG3 guys that have reached out over the last week. Stuart, Mike, Aaron, Joddey, Brent (I apologize if I missed anyone) Thanks for keeping the communication lines open. It can be easy to not talk to each other between meetings. It means a lot that you reached out. (PS Ricky, I am buying your KU outfit for you this week, this may be a good time to "Communicate")
From us communicating with the customer the expectations on projects to sales communicating a scope of work to our technical department all the way to communicating to each other. Carsen, my 2 year old communicates better sometimes then I do. He will keep repeating the same word, and pointing at what he wants you to do until either you do it, or someone else in the room tells you what he wants!
I have never heard of too much communication. Focusing on this communication can mediate issues before they become problems, provide better customer service and bring the best solutions for our customers.
I want to thank all of the HTG3 guys that have reached out over the last week. Stuart, Mike, Aaron, Joddey, Brent (I apologize if I missed anyone) Thanks for keeping the communication lines open. It can be easy to not talk to each other between meetings. It means a lot that you reached out. (PS Ricky, I am buying your KU outfit for you this week, this may be a good time to "Communicate")
Monday, April 21, 2008
Remembering your past and bringing it forward.
I had a great weekend in Council Grove KS. My parents have a house on the lake there and it is a good place to get away. No Internet, cell phone doesn't work very well, almost no land lines. Anyway, my sister and I gave a surprise birthday (My dad) and 40th anniversary party. (Thanks for all the work Michelle did, she did most of it). Everyone had a great time.
Lots of people from my parents past came. Some neighbors, coworkers (both my parents are retired now),friends and family. All of these people were part of my past and they have shaped who I am. It was fun catching up with everyone.
In life it is important to know who to trust and who will support you. It is equally important to have these people in your professional life. Do you know who these people are? This is just another example how building relationships are important
Lots of people from my parents past came. Some neighbors, coworkers (both my parents are retired now),friends and family. All of these people were part of my past and they have shaped who I am. It was fun catching up with everyone.
In life it is important to know who to trust and who will support you. It is equally important to have these people in your professional life. Do you know who these people are? This is just another example how building relationships are important
Friday, April 18, 2008
Owning what you do.
Again a special thanks to Mike Fafinski President of Syand Corporation (http://www.syand.com/) from Minnesota. We spoke about owning what you do. What does that mean? I think there becomes a time that you finally have seen most issues in the job you do. Sure, you probably haven't seen them all and some of the worst problems hit you on an idle Tuesday.
I don't want to confuse owning your job with comfortable and coasting. I truly believe it takes at least 3 years to become good at any sales position. Owning a position allows you to focus on growing, not just existing. I have a couple of questions that I ask myself all the time
1. What can I do to improve what I do every day?
2. What are others in the industry doing to grow, expand and create new solutions.
What questions do you ask along these lines?
I don't want to confuse owning your job with comfortable and coasting. I truly believe it takes at least 3 years to become good at any sales position. Owning a position allows you to focus on growing, not just existing. I have a couple of questions that I ask myself all the time
1. What can I do to improve what I do every day?
2. What are others in the industry doing to grow, expand and create new solutions.
What questions do you ask along these lines?
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Which do you want $50k or $100k
A special thanks to Mike Fafinski President of Syand Corporation (http://www.syand.com/) from Minnesota. Among other things, Mike reminded me of the old question. Would you rather sell $50k at 20% margin or $100k at 10% margin. Sure, you probably would not turn down either sale. However if I had my choice to choose between the two, I would choose the $50k sale.
1. Less cash flow (Cost of money)
2. Should be easier to sell (No sales are easy)
3. Less to maintain
4. Faster transaction. You can move on to other opportunities quicker.
Tomorrow I will blog about other ideas that Mike and I discussed. Specifically being comfortable in where you are in business.
1. Less cash flow (Cost of money)
2. Should be easier to sell (No sales are easy)
3. Less to maintain
4. Faster transaction. You can move on to other opportunities quicker.
Tomorrow I will blog about other ideas that Mike and I discussed. Specifically being comfortable in where you are in business.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Praise and Thanks
A little praise and thanks go a long way. Have you taken time out of your day to thank the people around you? It is easy to find flaws. I remember in psychology class that if you smile, people around you smile more often. I think (No fancy statistics) that the same can be with praise!
It can be easy to pick on people. It seems all around you. From CNN to the local news. Spend some time looking at articles and stories. They all seem to looking at the doom and gloom. Not some of the positive messages. Look at the presidential race. Pick a candidate. You probably do not know half of the stances they take, however you do know the mistakes they made. What is more important?
Do me a favor. Take a moment out of your day to make someone's day. Give them a compliment and some praise.
It can be easy to pick on people. It seems all around you. From CNN to the local news. Spend some time looking at articles and stories. They all seem to looking at the doom and gloom. Not some of the positive messages. Look at the presidential race. Pick a candidate. You probably do not know half of the stances they take, however you do know the mistakes they made. What is more important?
Do me a favor. Take a moment out of your day to make someone's day. Give them a compliment and some praise.
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