Why Communication is the Most Important Skill You’ll Ever Have

We all know the importance of hard work and skill. Honestly, communication is more vital than either. It’s THE key to success, both in business and in life. When I was younger, my parents would drill me on the importance of hard work. Through determination and perseverance, they told me, I could accomplish just about…

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Leadership Development: 5 Special Qualities Shared by Courageous Leaders

There are many different aspects that make up the complex psyche of a true leader who passionately strives for success for both themselves and others. A leader has so many special qualities that it’s inspirational when you work with them. They possess an invisible aura that radiates confidence and challenges everyone around them to achieve…

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I’m Not Your Sweetie, Honey, or Darling!

I recently had a call with a representative in the billing department of a vendor who provides technology services to my business. Before I go any further, think of the expected tone of a customer service interaction in regards to technology. I expect a professional communication. While the representative was very polite and helpful, she…

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Why Your Signs Matter

To simplify complications is the first essential of success. ~George Earle Buckle Signage plays an important role in every business. Not only do signs convey information to your customers, but they also bring new customers in. Clearly, spending money on great signage is a wise investment, but it is important to remember that not all…

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7 Things NOT to Do When Managing External Customers

“Without customers, your [small] business would not exist. It’s that simple. Your business success and longevity depend on acquiring and retaining its target customers. You can’t do so without developing and maintaining a customer-centric mindset.” (Beyond Your Logo: 7 Brand Ideas That Matter Most For Small Business Success ©2015) In keeping with a customer-centric theme, here…

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Being Interesting

Millions of people hours are spent every day confronting the issue, “How do we get our customers to be interested in us?” Marketing spends millions in content strategies, overlaid with all sorts of promotion programs. Sales looks for insights or provocation. Together, marketing and sales looks for provocative prospecting messages and approaches. In the escalating volume…

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3 Tips for Creating Content That Speaks to the Reader

When it comes to content marketing, it’s important to get out of the sales mindset in order to reach a wide audience and create a genuine interest in the niche that you are promoting. Of course, your content should draw your readers in and make them want to invest their time or money into the…

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The Problem with Pitch Decks

I’ve seen thousands of pitch decks. The vast majority are horrible. There’s the corporate vanity deck. It always has a lot of slides. Usually it mentions the customer name in about 3 places, on the cover slide, the second to last slide, and the last slide. The rest of the deck is all about the vendor. You…

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4 Key Traits of Great Business Leaders

Steve Jobs once said: “Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.” If you are about to become a business leader and fulfill your leadership potential, that is exactly what you should do—try to be the best and to nurture the qualities that you have which make…

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6 Tips for Interview Success

As you may recall, a few months ago we wrote a piece about how you can plan and pitch a top-notch PR campaign. Hopefully by now, you’ve had a few chats with the media and secured interviews about your subject. Great job! But now the real work is about to begin, so get ready for some…

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