[Welcome back to the Damn, I Wish I’d Thought of That! newsletter. This is text of the great issue all of our email subscribers just received. Sign yourself up using the handy form on the right.] The cost of your stuff is often an overlooked opportunity for starting word of mouth — and this isn’t about deep […]
Newsletter #926: The “How Much Are You Charging” Issue
February 28, 2013
Why every customer service moment matters
November 3, 2012
A great story from Ron Burley in Inc. Magazine about how going above and beyond for one customer turned into a $4 million sale. So when my cell phone vibrated at 2 a.m. on a Sunday morning, I recognized the 618 area as Southern Illinois. That meant the caller was Bob, a crusty old-time radio […]
How to know if you should be an entrepreneur
March 4, 2012
If you don’t find Inc. Magazine completely fascinating and relevant to you, you’re probably not right for the entrepreneurial life. Norm Brodsky, Jason Fried, Leigh Buchanan, Meg Hirshberg, and Jane Berentson talk about the minutia of life in a small business. The tiniest things. Which, of course, is what it’s all about. Entrepreneurship isn’t about […]
This is how it’s done — learning to listen
March 13, 2011
Enjoy these classic tales of great listening from smart entrepreneurs featured in Inc. Magazine. Read all 30 stories in this great article from April 2009. Whistle blow while you work “Always communicate without fear of retribution.” That was one of the tenets on which Patrick Kelly and his partners founded Physician Sales and Service in […]
What is the janitor’s name?
July 10, 2010
The word janitor comes from the Roman god Janus, who was the keeper of the keys. Historically, cleaners were honored. They were trusted. We want to go back to that. If you work in a building where you know who the janitor is, you are going to create less dirt. A lesson on respect from […]
Why social media freaks people out
December 20, 2009
We’ve all seen executives freaking out trying to chase the social media fad of the day. I’ve always advised them to take a deep breath and chill. In my opinion, the only platforms you need to worry about are the ones where your customers are. Your job is to connect with a community of people, […]
Microtesting: Sell it before you build it
November 20, 2009
Before you build a product, test it by offering it for sale on your website. If no one responds, you’ve just saved tons of time and money. If the responses include suggestions, you’ve just improved the product before you even started. If people give you money — bingo! This sort of testing is faster, cheaper, […]
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