Call ‘Em Like You See ‘Em
By · CommentsThe challenge in analytic objectivity is not on the process of analyzing. It is on the presentation of the product of analogy. Being objective in anything you do is easily a cinch, you just have to take heart that the accuracy of the information you impart is a serious accountability, and policies and future actions will be hinged on the veracity of the information we relay.
However, the trip to objectivity does not always have successful endings. The process is not always hunky dory all the way, in fact the hurdles might be coming towards the latter part of the whole process, the delivery.
Of course, we never be able discount the influence our past experiences have on the outcome of our analysis. There have been advances made in the setting up of strict parameters on analytic methodology, but still the final product of human analysis is highly prone to the human prejudicial nature. Somehow, we come to a particular topic where we have already stereotyped a particular segment of which, and it would be a big personal lie if we look it in a totally unbiased fashion. At most, the milieu we live in, together with its different media, help cloud our own perception of things.
If one is able to overcome this inherent error and come up with analysis that is free from bias partiality, well and good. However, what if the bosses are the ones “wanting” and “expecting” a predetermined stand? What if after putting forth your earnest effort and presenting the most objective analysis on a particular research item, your managers totally disregarded your findings and diverted your focus to an item not on the possible reasons list? It only means that the higher ups have honed in on a totally different end result and they were expecting your research would vindicate their partiality. It may not be intentional, they might be working on what we call “seniority hunch” which is a classic example of what we discussed awhile ago, bias based on past experience.
Whether the attempt to veer us from being objective is conscious or not, it is our responsibility to put things right back on track. We can rephrase the question in a different way as to highlight only the more objective aspects of the issue and give a more impartial scenario. Everyone has to realize that the relationship between analyst and management is two-way, not authoritarian.
Surviving in a business world that’s full of Competition
By · CommentsCompetition is healthy. It means there is a market for the good or service you are selling. If there is no competition, you’re in unchartered waters & you have a greater risk of failure if you haven’t done your homework.
Direct completion can be cut-throat. You are in this game called survival of the fittest. Once your weak, you’ll be eliminated which turns to loss of business, financial investment, effort and time, but once you’re strong, you will be on top and the price; fame, power and money.
There are certainly benefits to having competition. Here are some tips on how you can be successful in spite of the presence of competition
Analyze your target market and identify your industry norms
You must know your competition. Write down and observe all the businesses that are going after your same target market. If they are non-direct competitor, team up with them (Joint Venture – create a win-win scenario). If they are, how can you differentiate yourself from them? Where are they located? What are the features that make them more unique than your product? Also try to identify all the market norms (competitors pricing, their marketing strategies, their product positioning, how they advertised and so forth…). After you gathered all the necessary information’s of your competitors, brainstorm and create an intensive plan on how can you attract customers and make your product more appealing to your target market. Remember its not a wise thing to compete your customer directly and be on the same boat as them, that’s a big mistake if you will continue to fight them eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth. Product uniqueness, service, support, guarantee, pricing and quality are the features that each customer is eyeing at.
Gain knowledge from your competitors and your customers
Don’t be afraid of competition. Instead of worrying competitions, make it your learning tool and assess their marketing/business model. Learn your competitor’s strength and weaknesses – challenge their strength and use their weaknesses as your own advantage. This will help you to surpass them in your industry.
Gain in-depth knowledge about your customers (their needs, are they after with the price or the quality, are they introverts or extroverts type of customer, etc.). You should need to take note of that. Ultimately, they are key to business success.
Don’t be afraid to take risks
Take calculated risk, try new things, and don’t fear change. Test, test test, the three most important words for any business. Make sure you isolate each variable when testing. NEVER test more than one thing at a time! How will you know what works and what doesn’t? Patience is everything and in the long run, it will save you time. If you change multiple things at once, it will take you even longer to fully maximize profits, as you’ll have no idea what’s working and what’s not! Tweak and try as many marketing tactics you can until you find the right plan for your business. (By the way, this is an endless process) 
More on Unique Selling Proposition
By · CommentsYour USP must be short enough to convey into no more than 30 seconds. Alot of guru’s call this your elevator pitch. If someone in an elevator asked you what you do, you need to be able to convey your marketing message to them before the elevator stops.
Below, are 10 points your Unique Selling Propostion *USP* must answer to be commerically successful.
- It Boldly Telegraphs the Promise of Big Benefits for the Customer
- It Claims You are Unique and Dramatically Different
- Being Focused, It Doesn’t Try to Appeal to Everyone
- It Addresses the Important, Relevant Customer Concerns
- It is Short and Simple, Concise, Memorable and Easy to Communicate
- Interesting or Exciting, it Grabs Attention
- It has the Seal of Credibility since its Believability is Self-Evident
- Persuasive, Motivating and Compelling, It Prompts Customers to Act
- It Penetrates All Aspects of Your Business, Which Totally Support It
- It Must be Economically Feasible so that it can Support a Business
Examples
Product USP
- A shampoo and conditioner for “swimmer’s hair”
- Microwave dinners that kids can make for themselves
- Computer screens with 15% more color resolution and 24% less radiation
- A car whose global positioning unit comes as standard equipment.
- A time management seminar for career women with families
- Lightweight flashlights made of high tensile aluminum that can withstand any impact and last forever
- A home toolkit for the woman who does everything herself
- Light bulbs that shine 53% brighter, last 30% longer than competing brands, and use 10% less energy
- “Vedic grade” colored gemstones of the rarest colors, clarity and quality that are good enough to change your astrological fortune
- A French language course that involves your emotions so that you learn more words quicker and have higher recall
- A pair of hiking shoes guaranteed for life
- Toll free technical support with a live, in-the-country person
- A cruise ship for hire where the only affair aboard the yacht is yours
- A coffee maker that uses no hassle, prepackaged gourmet coffee pads
- A European shirt ironing device whose “results amaze even professional launderers”
- A steam iron that incorporates a special anti-crease agent cartridge
- An electric shaver that incorporates shaving gel
- A safe running show with blinking lights in the heel so that people will see you in the dark
Examples of business USPs
- Private Investigator: “We’ll find the person you’re seeking for a flat fee or double your money-back.”
- Podiatrist: “Free foot exam.”
- Vocational School: “87% of our students get higher paying jobs within 3 months of graduation.”
- Dentist: “Painless tooth care for kids who can watch entertaining movies while we make sure they maintain their healthy smiles.”
- Accountant: “We’ll get you every possible legal tax deduction and if you are ever challenged, we’ll sit with you and defend you for free.”
- Home Security: “Systems designed and installed by a team of ex-policemen.”
- Cosmetician: “I’ll do a beautiful job because your face is my fortune.”
- Nutritionist: “I teach you how to behave in front of food and shed excess pounds through non-toxic herbal formulas.”
- Weight loss Centre: “We’ll help you lose 10 pounds in 10 weeks or double your money-back.”
- Feng shui Consultant: “With a few simple changes of rearranging furniture or using new colors, I help you create a new energy flow in your home that brings greater health, romance and prosperity into your life.”
- Refrigerated Trucking Business: “The UPS of refrigerated trucking.”
- Jeweler: “We keep track of birthdays and anniversaries in our computer so that you’ll never forget your wife.”
- Contractor: “We use materials that will save you 40% on your heating bill”
- Real Estate Agent: “Our 5-step marketing plan will sell your house in 30 days or the fee is reduced by a quarter point at closing.”
- Travel Agent: “One call does it all – we’ll handle everything for you, even the tiny details.”
- Packaging Company: “Environmentally friendly, biodegradable packaging that surpasses the US FDA standards.”
- Commercial Photographer: “Digital photography with instant approval of the shots that let’s us shoot the picture YOU want.”
- Dance Studio: “Without laughter or embarrassment, learn 5 new dance steps in 2 months time, painlessly.”
- Comedian: “I’m a convention comedian who can raise spirits and bring smiles and laughter to the faces of employees just when you need it most.”
Basic Principles of Productivity
By · CommentsAre you always late, in a hurry or leaving projects and deadlines to the last minute? Are you always struggling on prioritizing what which to do first and what can be left for later? Well, I plan on helping you with your time management. If so, you need to breath, focus and ask yourself if you are ready to change and start managing your time properly. Read each article in post order to get the most out of this category. Each will build on one another, resulting in a solid foundation in managing your time.
Here some principles that you need to know that can benefit you a lot in understanding time management.
Basic Principles of Productivity
1. Everyone can be productive and creative [ identify talents and develop them into strengths]
2. Managing time is actually about managing yourself [we're not in control most of the time, we are in reactive mode]
3. We have 3 brains, not just 1 [Brainstem [physical] – Mammalian [emotional] – Cortex [intellectual]…we have a thought and we can ‘will’ ourselves = an illusion, really our old brains are in control in terms of sex, power, controlling others, feeling threatened, getting love and affection and approval from other people — not the intellect brain — take control of us and the thinking part of our brain and rationalize things etc…the 3 brains aren’t in rapport and experience conflict [i.e. feeling emotionally pulled to do something but you know you probably shouldn't, or you really want to do something that will give you pleasure but your emotions are feeling guilty] – thus where a lot of our inner conflict comes from…thus must integrate them together]
4. Habit is destiny [most of what you do is the exact same thing physically, emotionally, and intellectually and you've paved these neurological ways of being to become 'habits' - thus you must make the things you must do to be productive into routines into habits]
5. Internal chaos creates external chaos [inner butterfly effect w/ mind body feelings and emotions and managing and smoothing inner chaos means the external chaos will take care of itself]
6. Focus your talent and strength on your biggest opportunity [take your talent, develop it into a strength, and focus it on your biggest opportunity]
7. Your future can be an extension or replay of your past OR it can be something new that you create [if you try and hold on to your past, your story, your explanations, things you do to get approval etc vs let go of all of it to create the future you want -- you cannot become the best and highest potential you...you have let go of the past and comfort zone and create something that is entirely new]
8. Focus on what you want to create, not what you want to avoid
9. Choose, don’t decide ['decide' implies to cut off possibility while 'choose' implies having multiple options and choosing the one you want]
10. Balance organization with restricting creativity [organizations and structure vs going with the flow - where could you use more of either in your life?]
11. If you want to wake up productive you must go to the next level and you must become the next version of you and you must go to the next paradigm and next level of thinking [you must become YOU VERSION 2.0]
Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)
By · CommentsI decided to write my first blog post on something that is fundamental to every business, but very often the time isn’t taken to get it perfect.
I’m talking about your “Unique Selling Proposition” (USP). Your USP is a precise statement (often fine tuned over the life of your business) of why your company is greater value to the client, more than any other retailer or service provider.
It should answer the following question…
“Why should I do business with you VERSUS any or all of your competitors?”
One of the very best & most successful USP’s of all time is that of Domino’s Pizza. “Fresh, hot pizza delivered in 30 minutes or less. Guaranteed.”
Very simple, very effective. Very important point, don’t over complicate your USP. You can dominate your market by finding the “opportunity gap” and going for it!
Think about why your clients come to you, whats missing in your industry, what your doing that most arent. Don’t just have your USP in your head, put it in writing, keep it simple, and don’t waste a single word.
Still struggling writing your first USP?
- Price – Are you the cheapest? Will you beat competitors prices?
- Operating Hours – Open 24/7? 7 days a week?
- Niche – Really niched in your products or the service you provide?
- Quality – Do you only offer the high end brands?
Remember, your USP is vitally important to your business and will become a great marketing tool with advertising and when promoting your business to other.
