Matt Grundy with an incredible harmonica solo at the Donavon Frankenreiter show at the Belly Up in Solana Beach, CA on Wednesday Night. Matt is a talented musician and long-time band member of Donavon Frankenreiter.
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Mark Cuban's 12 Rules for Startups
Here are some helpful tips from a guy that knows a few things about startups.
Portland Head Light
Recently got to go home and visit Portland Head Light, the most photographed lighthouse in the world. Maine is a beautiful place. If you haven't been, put it on your bucket list.
Saturday, December 19, 2015
L.L.Bean: Terry the Bootmaker
In advance of our trip home, a few words from Terry. BTW, who had these growing up?
YouTube Branding
It doesn't matter what line of work you're in... home builders, landscapers, attorneys, boat salesmen, technologist and retailers, you need to be on YouTube. Here are some stats on how YouTube compares to other social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter when it comes to reaching potential clients.
7 Primary Drivers of Employee Engagement
Employee engagement is certainly one of the biggest challenges any business faces, especially in a growing economy and an increasingly competitive marketplace. Human Resources should be seen by business leaders as a partner, working together to understand employee needs and foster an environment where employees are engaged, feel valued and are put in a position to to do their best work and be rewarded for it.
Friday, December 18, 2015
Five Things That Changed In The Sales Industry In 2015
Over the years, things like the mode of communication and marketing strategy have dramatically changed the sales industry as a result of advancements in technology. The sales industry is comprised of both the sellers and buyers and in the year 2015, we saw several interesting changes in the sales industry that benefit the buyer:
Customer Service
Customer service is a vital part of the sales process and is essential to the success of a long term relationship between the buyer and the seller. With the evolution of the internet and the access to information such as review sites, customer service is becoming more and more comprehensive to cater to the unique needs of the customer and the growing competition in the marketplace.
Inside Sales
By definition, inside sales refers to the practice of selling products or services by phone or email, instead of meeting a customer face-to-face. This strategy depends heavily on telecommunications, email and internet to reach customers. Inside sales is actually one of the biggest transformations in the industry out of sheer convenience to the customer.Platforms such as GoToMeeting are making it even easier to connect with clients without having to travel. To date, this strategy has had significant impact on the sales discipline by increasing specialization and bettering access to resources as physical locations become less relevant.
Sales Territories
Sales territories are dying. Nowadays, a seller cannot control a certain geographical location single-handedly. The days where a seller dominated a specific area are long gone thanks to advancements in technology. For sellers of intangible goods like software or other internet based services, geographical proximity between sellers and buyers is a non-factor.
Evolution of the Gamification technology to Rewardification
Gamification involved rewarding people with virtual trophies and badges when they performed well. However, experts in the sales industry have recognized that the future of motivational technologies lies in rewardification. Rewardification involves rewarding people with things like better leads, which translates to potential compensation increases, making it a very powerful motivational tool.
Need for Speed during Sales
Speed is slowly becoming less important in driving sales especially when it comes to inside sales. Technology such as auto-dialing software allow inside sales reps to essentially do more with less by being more efficient in placing calls to prospects and converting them to sales. There are more technologically advanced tools that have evolved to help the sales personnel to do more within a short time frame. However speed without control can lead to chaos and a customer service nightmare! Sales leaders need to balance efficiency with control, ensuring the increased activity is producing the desired results.
The changes we saw in 2015 all come back to the customer. In order to remain competitive, organizations need to continue to make changes that better serve the customer. Good selling will always win out and the bar is going to be even higher in 2016.
Saturday, December 12, 2015
Five Morning Habits of Highly Successful People
Highly successful people understand how important it is to get off to a good start in the morning. While their habits vary, here are a few common examples that can help you jumpstart your day.
They Wake Up Early
Apple CEO Tim Cook, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, Virgin founder and CEO Richard Branson, Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey and even Ben Franklin all have one thing in common…. they wake up early. And it’s typically before 5:30am while their competitors are sleeping.
They Eat A Healthy Breakfast
Whether they do it at home, on the way to work or at the office, most successful people make having a healthy breakfast a priority. Some executives, such as Hain Celestial CEO Irwin Simon, even make it a point to hold breakfast meetings. The idea is to manage your glycemic level and have complex carbohydrates that break down slowly and release energy throughout the day.
They Work Out
Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey goes for a jog, while Apple CEO Tim Cook gets to the gym around 5am. That’s because studies show that physical activity releases endorphins that help reduce stress and maximize energy. Successful people understand the importance of a healthy work/life balance and need a body that is free of stress and disease to operate at a high level.
They Plan Their Day
Most successful people start their day by planning and reviewing the 3 to 5 most important tasks for the day that need to be completed and prioritize them. They set goals and have a clear vision of what they want to accomplish.
They Read
Successful people want to outlearn everyone around them. They start their day by reading the newspaper, listening to an audiobook in the car on the way to work or read business publications such as The Harvard Business Review or Forbes Magazine. They are constantly looking for fresh ideas that they can bring to their business.
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Saturday, December 5, 2015
Mentorship
As exciting as it is to be part of a company in the digital marketing and technology space, the most rewarding aspect of the work I do takes place in our call center. Managing people isn't always easy. In fact, I think as a business leader, we have all had at least one challenging experience related to employee relations that we wish we had handled differently. Those are certainly the situations I've learned from the most and stick with me to this day.
However, what I have come to realize in recent years is the importance of mentoring and providing guidance to the young people that I work with. The entry level positions in our call center create an excellent opportunity for students and newly independent adults to gain experience in a professional environment, and we as managers, have a responsibility to lead by example.
As someone who describes himself as a "reformed mischief-maker", I understand the impact that a lack of mentorship and guidance can have on a young adult. Making mistakes is a part of growing up, however, most young people don't truly grasp the magnitude of how much the choices they make in their teens and early twenties will influence the direction their life moves in.
We have a responsibility as business leaders to create an environment and a culture that fosters creativity and provides the framework for which young people can identify their strengths and weaknesses and acquire the tools and resources to become productive adults.
The call center industry, for the longest time, has had a reputation as a high-pressure sales environment where people burn out and turnover frequently. For some it's a foot in the door and a stepping stone to management and other opportunities for growth within the company, but for most, the position is viewed as a way to make a living while pursuing school and other interests. Regardless of short or long-term goals, we view it as an opportunity to thrive in a structured, organized environment where interpersonal skills can be developed.
Learning to work within a diverse group, while setting goals and maintain quotas are all skills that employees can take with them long after their time at the company has come to an end and each organization should find ways to train and develop employees of all levels. Our people are our most valuable asset and we have to constantly be working to train and develop them and provide the mentorship and life skills that will last a lifetime.
Animal Fostering and Adoption
My name is Anthony Requia and I wanted to take this opportunity to share an important cause with you. My wife recently introduced me to animal fostering and adoption. She uses social media to network animals in the Los Angeles area and other parts of the country and gives them the exposure they otherwise may not have received due to the limited resources of the county run shelters.
This is a noble cause for so many reasons, however, it also creates a unique opportunity for animal lovers to foster animals ranging from kittens and puppies to dogs and cats of all ages and provide them with a good home until they can be permanently adopted. This gets our furry friends out of the overcrowded shelters and off the potential euth list and into a good home, where they can be socialized, loved and provide companionships for individuals and families.
If you are considering a pet but aren't sure what's right for you, fostering is an excellent option because it gives you a chance to see if the cat or dog is the right fit for you before making the long term commitment to adopt. Not only does it save you money but it saves a life! Contact your local animal shelter for more details on how to become a foster or a volunteer and feel free to reach out to me on Twitter if you need more information on how to get started!
Los Angeles North Central Shelter: https://www.facebook.com/northcentralshelter/photos_stream
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