Comments on: Are you desperate to prove your way is The Way? http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/05/12/are-you-desperate-to-prove-your-way-is-the-way/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:48:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Can Peace Be That Simple? « Sunflower Life Solutions http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/05/12/are-you-desperate-to-prove-your-way-is-the-way/comment-page-1/#comment-5137 Can Peace Be That Simple? « Sunflower Life Solutions Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:08:08 +0000 http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/?p=1248#comment-5137 [...] read a blog post  from a good friend and mentor of mine, Pam Slim. Her post focused mostly on sales and marketing [...] [...] read a blog post  from a good friend and mentor of mine, Pam Slim. Her post focused mostly on sales and marketing [...]

]]> By: susan kuhn frost http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/05/12/are-you-desperate-to-prove-your-way-is-the-way/comment-page-1/#comment-4814 susan kuhn frost Thu, 14 May 2009 20:39:05 +0000 http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/?p=1248#comment-4814 I think people want someone to tell them that what they really aspire to in their hearts is what they can have. In the movies, it's the superhero rescuing the orphan, if you will, but the orphan discovers that she had it within her all the time, she just needed help to bring it out. The kind of offering Pam describes is from people who are stuck on who they are -- not focused on their customers. Chris Brogan said somewhere...empower your readers/customers/whatever and they will tell tell the world how great you are.... by saying WHAT THEY CAN NOW DO because of you. The important thing is not the program, it is what it does for its adherents. If it makes them dependent automatons who surrender their initiative to parrot the details of the program -- how sad. But if they are free spirits who rave about how much they loved the program and what it did for them....that's another story. No icky feeling there! I think some people have never been exposed to that alternative..... I think people want someone to tell them that what they really aspire to in their hearts is what they can have. In the movies, it’s the superhero rescuing the orphan, if you will, but the orphan discovers that she had it within her all the time, she just needed help to bring it out. The kind of offering Pam describes is from people who are stuck on who they are — not focused on their customers. Chris Brogan said somewhere…empower your readers/customers/whatever and they will tell tell the world how great you are…. by saying WHAT THEY CAN NOW DO because of you. The important thing is not the program, it is what it does for its adherents. If it makes them dependent automatons who surrender their initiative to parrot the details of the program — how sad. But if they are free spirits who rave about how much they loved the program and what it did for them….that’s another story. No icky feeling there! I think some people have never been exposed to that alternative…..

]]> By: Barbara Saunders http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/05/12/are-you-desperate-to-prove-your-way-is-the-way/comment-page-1/#comment-4812 Barbara Saunders Thu, 14 May 2009 17:08:21 +0000 http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/?p=1248#comment-4812 I generally agree. At the same time, I think people who take this approach are just attempting to follow self-help/entrepreneurship advice that has been pushed for the last decade or two. "Be an expert", for example, leads people to stuff like, "92 years combined experience" on the Web site of a company with 10 people who have less than 10 years experience each. Many, many customers are in the market for exactly somebody to show them "the way." I would even argue that perhaps this is a niche marketing issue to some degree! For example, you posted once about a personal trainer who advertised that he could help people with "back fat", which you took as an effective message. I had an entirely negative response to that. -- Yes, Barbara, I remember our "back fat" discussion! :) The point I wanted to make is that people do indeed what to be led. But there is a difference when you say "I am leading you here and it is the ONLY way, and if you do something else you will lose," vs. saying "This is my way and it seriously rocks, here is what to do if you want to follow, AND, if you don't follow, keep rocking on with your bad self." It is clarity without the cult-like overtones. -Pam I generally agree. At the same time, I think people who take this approach are just attempting to follow self-help/entrepreneurship advice that has been pushed for the last decade or two. “Be an expert”, for example, leads people to stuff like, “92 years combined experience” on the Web site of a company with 10 people who have less than 10 years experience each.

Many, many customers are in the market for exactly somebody to show them “the way.” I would even argue that perhaps this is a niche marketing issue to some degree! For example, you posted once about a personal trainer who advertised that he could help people with “back fat”, which you took as an effective message. I had an entirely negative response to that.

–

Yes, Barbara, I remember our “back fat” discussion! :)

The point I wanted to make is that people do indeed what to be led. But there is a difference when you say “I am leading you here and it is the ONLY way, and if you do something else you will lose,” vs. saying “This is my way and it seriously rocks, here is what to do if you want to follow, AND, if you don’t follow, keep rocking on with your bad self.”

It is clarity without the cult-like overtones.

-Pam

]]> By: Andres Vilas http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/05/12/are-you-desperate-to-prove-your-way-is-the-way/comment-page-1/#comment-4808 Andres Vilas Wed, 13 May 2009 20:35:26 +0000 http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/?p=1248#comment-4808 We really sometimes need to be told what to do. We have too many choices to take in our daily life. I got this idea from Barry Schwartz (http://www.amazon.com/Paradox-Choice-Why-More-Less/dp/0060005696/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242245883&sr=8-1) and I can't disagree with him. But the case you're telling here seems to be the opposite: "You can get whatever you want" vs "This is the only thing you need". If those are the ends of a continuous it'd be like the normal distribution in statictics, you'll find more people in the middle of it that can be comfortable your communications methods. It's a little bit expensive to buy your book from here (Buenos Aires, Argentina) , but I'm really looking foward to reading it so I'll get it soon! We really sometimes need to be told what to do. We have too many choices to take in our daily life.
I got this idea from Barry Schwartz (http://www.amazon.com/Paradox-Choice-Why-More-Less/dp/0060005696/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242245883&sr=8-1) and I can’t disagree with him.
But the case you’re telling here seems to be the opposite: “You can get whatever you want” vs “This is the only thing you need”. If those are the ends of a continuous it’d be like the normal distribution in statictics, you’ll find more people in the middle of it that can be comfortable your communications methods.

It’s a little bit expensive to buy your book from here (Buenos Aires, Argentina) , but I’m really looking foward to reading it so I’ll get it soon!

]]> By: Eva http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/05/12/are-you-desperate-to-prove-your-way-is-the-way/comment-page-1/#comment-4804 Eva Wed, 13 May 2009 16:36:36 +0000 http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/?p=1248#comment-4804 It seems like a lot of people are “hungry for gray” these days, myself included! I just published an op-ed piece about embracing multiple meanings over black and white labels and it drummed up some interesting commentary (see http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/byauthor/292115). I suspect this topic strikes a national nerve. It seems like a lot of people are “hungry for gray” these days, myself included! I just published an op-ed piece about embracing multiple meanings over black and white labels and it drummed up some interesting commentary (see http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/byauthor/292115). I suspect this topic strikes a national nerve.

]]> By: Lisa Evans http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/05/12/are-you-desperate-to-prove-your-way-is-the-way/comment-page-1/#comment-4801 Lisa Evans Wed, 13 May 2009 15:47:59 +0000 http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/?p=1248#comment-4801 As soon as I read you had a sense that something was a bit odd, I could feel my stomach start to churn. I understand that feeling well having experienced something similar with a few folks who were a part of a well-known leadership organization. Your story reinforces the importance of listening to one's intuition. Of course, sometimes our curiosity overrules our gut and we feel compelled to check something out, but if you smell something fishy it probably is a bad fish. Accepting invitations and exploring new things that intrigue us is great, but remember to run whenever a "weird fake crease on their forehead" appears. Thanks for that line, Pam. It had me in stitches. <abbr><em>Lisa Evans’s last blog post..<a href="http://www.thegirlwholookedintothemirror.com/2009/05/blessed-and-at-rest.html" rel="nofollow">Blessed and at rest</a></abbr></em> As soon as I read you had a sense that something was a bit odd, I could feel my stomach start to churn. I understand that feeling well having experienced something similar with a few folks who were a part of a well-known leadership organization. Your story reinforces the importance of listening to one’s intuition. Of course, sometimes our curiosity overrules our gut and we feel compelled to check something out, but if you smell something fishy it probably is a bad fish.

Accepting invitations and exploring new things that intrigue us is great, but remember to run whenever a “weird fake crease on their forehead” appears. Thanks for that line, Pam. It had me in stitches.

Lisa Evans’s last blog post..Blessed and at rest

]]> By: Susan Kuhn Frost http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/05/12/are-you-desperate-to-prove-your-way-is-the-way/comment-page-1/#comment-4799 Susan Kuhn Frost Wed, 13 May 2009 15:04:23 +0000 http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/?p=1248#comment-4799 Well put! If more people acted on their feeling of unease -- instead of going ahead with a purchase in these lousy situations -- our economy would function on a much higher level! The cheesy products and services would disappear (or so I like to think!). And you also show how being a good sales person comes from being an aware consumer. But the truth is, like attracts like. So the people who sell like that will attract people like them....and those who hew to a higher path in doing business will sell to people who buy in the same way. You've hit on a very subtle part of doing business. Higher quality, higher ethics, higher value raises the bar for everyone. And it is *the* fundamental driver of economic growth as well as firm growth. So astute business people -- especially in the services industry -- are finding a way to increase the value of their offerings in the recession. And in so doing, they are building the integrity and success of their business for the long run. <abbr><em>Susan Kuhn Frost’s last blog post..<a href="http://siteground220.com/~recessi2/2009/03/17/social-sustainable-business-competitions/" rel="nofollow">Get in On 2009 Social and Sustainable Business Plan Competitions</a></abbr></em> Well put! If more people acted on their feeling of unease — instead of going ahead with a purchase in these lousy situations — our economy would function on a much higher level! The cheesy products and services would disappear (or so I like to think!).

And you also show how being a good sales person comes from being an aware consumer.

But the truth is, like attracts like. So the people who sell like that will attract people like them….and those who hew to a higher path in doing business will sell to people who buy in the same way.

You’ve hit on a very subtle part of doing business. Higher quality, higher ethics, higher value raises the bar for everyone. And it is *the* fundamental driver of economic growth as well as firm growth. So astute business people — especially in the services industry — are finding a way to increase the value of their offerings in the recession. And in so doing, they are building the integrity and success of their business for the long run.

Susan Kuhn Frost’s last blog post..Get in On 2009 Social and Sustainable Business Plan Competitions

]]> By: Catherine Cantieri, Sorted http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/05/12/are-you-desperate-to-prove-your-way-is-the-way/comment-page-1/#comment-4797 Catherine Cantieri, Sorted Wed, 13 May 2009 13:18:03 +0000 http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/?p=1248#comment-4797 Excellent advice. The services I offer have to be highly customized or they simply won't work, but I am offering my expertise as a solution, so I think I might be falling into the "The Way" trap a bit myself. I've subscribed to Sonia & Naomi's copy school, and I think the writing tone on my site can only benefit as a result. Great post! <abbr><em>Catherine Cantieri, Sorted’s last blog post..<a href="http://www.get-sorted.net/2009/05/amazing-web-productivity-tools-sendoutcards.html" rel="nofollow">Amazing Web Productivity Tools: SendOutCards</a></abbr></em> Excellent advice. The services I offer have to be highly customized or they simply won’t work, but I am offering my expertise as a solution, so I think I might be falling into the “The Way” trap a bit myself. I’ve subscribed to Sonia & Naomi’s copy school, and I think the writing tone on my site can only benefit as a result. Great post!

Catherine Cantieri, Sorted’s last blog post..Amazing Web Productivity Tools: SendOutCards

]]> By: Lucy http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/05/12/are-you-desperate-to-prove-your-way-is-the-way/comment-page-1/#comment-4795 Lucy Wed, 13 May 2009 12:58:54 +0000 http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/?p=1248#comment-4795 Excellent article! It is so important to respect potential client’s intelligence and really be present to they have choice. When we trust ourselves and what we are selling is in alignment with who we authentically are it is easy, comfortable and fun to be with potential clients. If they say yes, you have already started a great relationship. If they say no, they will refer others to you because they had a great experience. Excellent article! It is so important to respect potential client’s intelligence and really be present to they have choice. When we trust ourselves and what we are selling is in alignment with who we authentically are it is easy, comfortable and fun to be with potential clients. If they say yes, you have already started a great relationship. If they say no, they will refer others to you because they had a great experience.

]]> By: Joseph Logan http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2009/05/12/are-you-desperate-to-prove-your-way-is-the-way/comment-page-1/#comment-4792 Joseph Logan Wed, 13 May 2009 08:42:30 +0000 http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/?p=1248#comment-4792 Bob Sutton is fond of saying, "Argue as if you are right, but listen as if you are wrong". I like it. <abbr><em>Joseph Logan’s last blog post..<a href="http://publicorgtheory.org/2009/05/12/safford-disses-management-theory/" rel="nofollow">Safford disses management theory</a></abbr></em> Bob Sutton is fond of saying, “Argue as if you are right, but listen as if you are wrong”. I like it.

Joseph Logan’s last blog post..Safford disses management theory

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