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George Torok Articles

Written by: George Torok

But We've Always Done it This Way: Top Ten List - Click To Read Article
What does that really mean? Perhaps you just asked a question at a committee meeting. The room went silent and at least one person pointedly explained to you that "We've always done it this way". The rest of the group either chimed in or nodded their heads in arrogant approval. Some might even have glanced at you with that dismissive look of lost causes.

5 Tips for Introducing Yourself at Your Networking Meeting - Click To Read Article
Before you say, "Hello my name is..." read these tips to make a better impact at your next networking meeting. Networking is a process. It is a sequence of events and touch points with your contacts.

Presentation Warriors: Sales & Marketing Executives Versus 12-Year-Olds - Click To Read Article
Who delivers a better presentation and why? Recently I listened to a group of senior sales and marketing executives speak at a networking meeting. I also served as a judge at a speech contest for 12-year-olds. These two unrelated events prompted me to compare the presentation skills of each group.

Business Networking: Stop Working the Room - Click To Read Article
Have you approached a business networking event as another "Room to Work"? What a mistake that could be.

How Not to Start Your Presentation: 10 Roads to Disaster - Click To Read Article
Preparing a speech can be like sculpting. You keep removing the excess clay until you have your work of art. If you want to start your presentation with a bang instead of a bust avoid these ten mistakes. These tips will show you how not to start your speech.

Branding Secret: Controversy Sells - Click To Read Article
Do want a powerful branding strategy? Take a controversial position. Offend someone and attract your target market. But you have to pick your position and enemies carefully. Don't offend your fans or best customers.

Who's Knocking at My Door and What is He Selling? - Click To Read Article
It happened again: a knock at my front door. I answered the front door - which was an interruption. It always is. Why don't door knockers understand that they are interrupting? I was not waiting for the visit.

Your Database: Your Most Valuable Asset! - Click To Read Article
Your most valuable asset is not the money in your bank account. Your most valuable asset is what you know about your customers - because that will lead to more money in the bank. Money in the bank is good.

Marketing Advantage: Small Business - Click To Read Article
Small business has powerful advantages over big business when it comes to marketing. But small businesses often miss these advantages because they are seduced into emulating the big corporations.

Is There a Brand in Your Stand? - Click To Read Article
Watch out for the branding gurus. Beware of the branding police who focus only on images of brand. Fire the branding consultants who feel qualified to tell you what your brand should be. Ignore the branding zealots who proclaim "brand or die".

Movies for Entrepreneuers - Click To Read Article
Entrepreneurs and budding entrepreneurs should watch movies. Some movies are better than others. Some movies are made for entrepreneurs. Here are movies that entrepreneurs can enjoy and learn from.

Entrepreneuers Beware: -- Cool is not enough - Click To Read Article
Every entrepreneur should watch this movie at least three times. I watched Cool Hand Luke on TV the other night. It is an old movie (1967) staring Paul Newman in the lead role along with George Kennedy. There is an assortment of other actors who I recognized more by their voices than their very young faces - including Wayne Rogers from the MASH TV series, and Dennis Hopper. The story is set in 1948 at a Southern US chain-gang prison. It lives up to the label of a classic movie - enjoyable to watch and full of powerful messages.

Why Are Conference Speakers So Bad? - Click To Read Article
It was horrible. I watched the speakers at the conference. Their presentations were bad, very bad. They were boring, annoying and insulting. I left the room several times because I couldn't stand it.

Presentation Crisis: How a Quote, Cartoon and Story Could Save Your Career - Click To Read Article
The following is a true report of how I used my new-found communication skills and a combination of props to get me out of hot water with my company's auditors.

Marketing Strategy: Fight an Evil Enemy - Click To Read Article
Conflict sells. If you want to be noticed fight a powerful and evil enemy. Who or what are you fighting? While planning your marketing strategy pick an enemy. The tougher, the meaner, the more disgusting your enemy - the better for you. That positions you as the hero.

Why Do We Fear Public Speaking? - Click To Read Article
Public speaking is often rated as the greatest fear that adults have. Yet speaking by itself is not threatening to most. It's the public in public speaking that frightens people. Why is this?

Leaders Invent Themselves - Click To Read Article
Look at the mess we're in. Why doesn't somebody do something? When was the last time you heard or even thought that? Look! Up in the air, it's Superman! We're saved. What a hero. If only I had his powers I could be a hero. If only I was born a leader. Wrong! The big myth is that leaders are born. The reality, in the words of Warren Bennis, author of On Becoming a Leader, is "Leaders Invent Themselves".

Get your name and message in the media - Click To Read Article
Imagine the media talking about you. That builds your visibility, credibility and perception of expertise. Whether you call this promotion, public relations or publicity, remember two important points: 1. It is free. Well nothing is free - you pay in time and effort. 2. We believe more what others say about you. This is doubly so when the media talks about you. Follow this five-step proven process to get your name and message in the media.

How to Kill Your Restaurant Business Fast: Four Eulogies - Click To Read Article
One of the biggest mistakes that restaurant owners make is to believe that they are in the food business. Big mistake! Grocery stores are in the food business. Restaurants are in the experience business. The experience at McDonalds is very different from that at Boston Pizza from TGI Fridays from Ruth's Chris Steak House. Yet they are all in the same business - just different segments of it. Why do restaurants fail? It's usually not the food. Here are four restaurant failures that I witnessed recently in our neighborhood.

What Makes an Entrepreneur? - Click To Read Article
Entrepreneurs - the fastest growing area of our economy. What makes these strange people, risk takers and wealth generators tick? Why do entrepreneurs take risks, endure pain, fatigue, and embarrassment? What makes them run? Is it money, fame, rock and roll or sex?

The ONE THING to be a Powerful Presenter: Pause - Click To Read Article
What is the one thing that you can do to make your presentation more powerful and effective? Pause - more often and more dramatically.

Keep your Business Alive with Smart Marketing - Click To Read Article
Growth is the real goal That is the litmus test of keeping your business alive. Look at nature. Everything that is alive continues to grow. Growing your business is the best way of keeping it alive in the long term. How do you continue to grow your business? Feed it, nurture it, invest in it and treat the business as a journey - not a destination. On your journey you must keep one eye immediately on the road in front of you and the other on the horizon. Invest in your business success with smart marketing. Smart marketing does not entail expensive advertising campaigns

Business Lessons from Las Vegas - Click To Read Article
If you haven't been to Las Vegas recently - you must go. When you visit take good notes. Las Vegas is an inspiring business model. Las Vegas is a place to learn how to run your business. It might be called the sin city. But the real lessons of Vegas are not about gambling. It's about how to run a successful business. Study these important business lessons that I learned from Las Vegas.

Marketing Benefits vs. Features: Will it make me late for dinner? - Click To Read Article
Stop telling your customers about horsepower (feature) when they are concerned about missing dinner (benefit). One of the biggest marketing mistakes is to talk about features like horsepower when your customers only care about benefits like getting home for dinner. What are you marketing - Benefits or Features? Wake up and talk about what's important to your customer. Your engineers care about features like horsepower. Don't worry about hurting the feelings of your engineers. They are not your customers

Marketing Definitions in the Raw - Click To Read Article
Marketing has become a cult. It is rife with mysterious terms, magic powder and self-anointed gurus. Use this list of definitions to better understand the terminology and refute some of the ridiculous statements of the high priests. Warning: some of these definitions might offend some people.

Marketing - Art or Science? - Click To Read Article
Is marketing an art or a science? The answer is yes. Marketing is both - an art and a science. Enjoy this point and counter point about the art and science of marketing. Use the strengths of both arguments to better understand and improve your marketing.

10 Tips to Master Questions During Your Presentation with Authority - Click To Read Article
During your presentation your audience will often want to ask you questions. You must expect and encourage questions. This can be the tipping point in your presentation that moves them to think or do what you are proposing.

8 Powerful Public Speaking Tips - Click To Read Article
When it's your turn to stand up and speak to an audience, whether it is a room of five or an auditorium of hundreds, you can speak confidently and effectively when you use these eight powerful public speaking tips.

Marketing Secret: Be a Name Dropper - Click To Read Article
What's in a name? Could be millions. If you were a movie producer and you wanted a "name" to help you reap millions - you would pay $10 to $20 million for Bruce Willis, Julia Roberts, Jim Carrey or Arnold (when he returns to Hollywood...he said he'd be back).

300 Seconds and 7 Steps to Writing Your Speech - Click To Read Article
The wrong thing for you to do is to immediately start writing the speech. Yet that is the strongest impulse you will feel. Fight that urge and instead think about what you want to accomplish.

Five Rules to Building Your Successful Marketing System - Click To Read Article
As a marketing expert I am often asked, "What is the most important element in a successful marketing program?" My answer is, "Follow a good marketing system."

Top 10 Tips on How to Open Your Speech - Click To Read Article
You have a few seconds to engage your audience at the beginning of your presentation. What should you do to ensure a successful opening to your speech? How can you start your speech with greater success?

How to Speak & Present Without Notes - Click To Read Article
Why would you want to speak without notes? Because you will look more confident and knowledgeable about your topic. You will hold the attention and respect of your audience as they recognize that you know your topic well.

How to Get Started as a Professional Speaker - Click To Read Article
If you are thinking of becoming a professional speaker and you want to know where to start, then I offer you the same advice that helped me launch my speaking business many years ago.

9 Simple Tips for Better Presentations - Click To Read Article
Do you want to make your next presentation more effective? Use these nine simple yet powerful presentation tips and techniques to enjoy better results when you speak before an audience.

5 Emotional Marketing Triggers that Determine Why We Buy - Click To Read Article
When you understand the marketing triggers that make people buy then you can sell more. And you can find more eager customers. Our emotions trigger us to buy. Don't make the mistake thinking that people buy what they need. People buy what they want. Needs are driven by logic while wants are driven by emotions.

Presentation Secret: Tell a story - Click To Read Article
Tell me a story. Do you remember saying that to your parents when you were a child? Perhaps children have pleaded with you to tell them a story. It's not just children who want to hear stories

8 Presentation Flaws that Steal Your Money - Click To Read Article
Why should you care about your presentation skills? Because poor presentations cost you money. Do you want to close more deals and make more money? Improve your presentation skills!

8 Marketing Truths that Will Make You More Profitable - Click To Read Article
Beware of the dangerous marketing myths that can destroy your business. You've probably heard most of them. Many are spread by the marketing mystics who don't understand or don't want you to understand the simple realities of marketing

Guerilla Marketing is Not for the Timid - Click To Read Article
Do you want to be a guerilla marketer? Do you have the temperament to be a guerilla marketer? Are you ready for battle?

Presentation Success: How You Can Own the Room - Click To Read Article
A successful presentation starts with the presenter owning the room. When you know and own the room, you will be a more powerful and confident presenter. That leads to more successful presentations for you.

Branding: 7 Important Questions and the Straight Answers - Click To Read Article
Consider these important questions about branding and the brutally honest answers that could help you sell more and save you lots of money that is typically wasted on branding. If you sell yourself as a branding expert - you might not like these answers. These are frank answers that demystify branding.

Public Speaker: Do Not Think on Your Feet - Click To Read Article
Public speakers should not think on their feet. Presenters who try to wing it often fail, and fail miserably. Trying to deliver your presentation by thinking on your feet is an attempt to wing it. Winging anything is like spinning the roulette wheel and hoping for the best.

Why are Extraverts Bad Public Speakers? - Click To Read Article
What advantage do introverts have as public speakers? Have you ever heard a colleague say, "Oh don't worry about Bob's presentation. He loves to talk. He'll do just fine"?

Branding Secrets from Genghis Khan, the Mongolian Marketer - Click To Read Article
What can a growing business learn about branding from Genghis Khan? He united and ruled Mongolia. Genghis is known as a strong ruler and conqueror. Some might call him cruel and vicious. But he is remembered as a strong, memorable and effective leader.

First Law of Networking: Scratch My Back and I'll Scratch Yours - Click To Read Article
The law of reciprocity says that after you do something for me I will feel obligated to pay you back. Say hello and I answer you back. Ask me how I feel and I respond in kind. Hold a door for me to enter and I will thank you and be more inclined to hold it for the next person. This is the most important principle of networking.

Business Speaker is a Thief - Click To Read Article
How would you like that to be the news headline after your next business speech? Business speakers and companies need to be more aware of what intellectual property they might be stealing.

3 Marketing Mistakes That Sink Business in a Recession - Click To Read Article
A recession does not mean the end of your business unless you navigate those rough waters blindly. Here are three rocks that can sink your business ship unless you avoid them while navigating the dangerous waters of a tough market. You might get wet but no need to capsize.

Presentation Success: The First Question You Must Ask - Click To Read Article
Before you deliver your next presentation you must ask yourself one critical question. If you ask yourself this question before every presentation you will create a more effective presentation every time - and you will write it faster

Five Steps to Build a Personal Brand Like Harry Houdini - Click To Read Article
Harry Houdini died in 1926. Yet he is still remembered as the greatest escape artist of all time. Even David Copperfield doesn't come close in terms of brand and name recognition. That is the power of personal branding. Build a solid personal brand and it catapults you to success.

Build your network faster with smarter questions - Click To Read Article
Networking can be a waste of time or it can be very profitable. What determines the difference? You - and how you approach the science of networking. To build a more profitable network you need to understand and master the power of questioning. Networking without good questioning is doomed to failure.

What do your best customers smell like? - Click To Read Article
7 critical things you should know about your customers Smart marketing starts with asking the right questions and uncovering the answers that will help you build your business. If information is power, how much do you know about your customers? Try this quiz.

12 Suicide Pills for the Business Presenter - Click To Read Article
Do you hate your job and want to be fired tomorrow? One sure way to move to the front of the line for dismissal is to deliver a suicide-pill presentation. Use any one or more of the following methods to deliver your career ending presentation. Use these presentation tips today and say hello to unemployment tomorrow.

Branding: Death Cigarettes - Click To Read Article
How can you create a powerful brand? Follow the advice of UK entrepreneur BJ Cunningham. This is so good. BJ created a company called The Enlightened Tobacco Company in 1991, selling a cigarette called “Death Cigarettes”. It was presented in a black package emblazoned with a white skull-and-crossbones logo. Just imagine how this might appeal to the rebels.

Build More Profitable Business Relationships - Click To Read Article
How can you build more profitable business relationships with your clients and prospects? Follow these examples. You will be pleasantly surprised with the results.

Cycle City declares bankruptcy - Click To Read Article
A lot of bargain hunters were picking up deals. I noticed one of the owners behind the parts counter dispensing friendly advice to a customer. At least he didn't seem bitter about his failed business venture. While browsing about the store I heard at least one person comment on the bankruptcy that “it was a sign of the times.” I couldn't help but wonder what this bankruptcy might be really a sign of.

Creating, Recognizing & Measuring Value - Click To Read Article
Deliver value that your customers recognize, appreciate and reward. If you want your customers to value what you offer - you must demonstrate that you value them and their money, risk, time, staff, business, and needs.

Do you make your clients feel safe? - Click To Read Article
Do you make your clients feel safe? If your clients don't feel safe - they won't buy from you. And they won't tell you why. It's not enough to be safe. You must make them feel safe. When they don't feel safe fear kicks into gear. Fear is the biggest obstacle to buying.

Create Your Top Ten List for Marketing - Click To Read Article
Create a top ten list to answer this question. Print this list on a postcard or flyer. Publish it on your website or blog. Memorize the list but never say all ten at one time. Tell people one or two then give them the printed list to read on their own. Reading the printed list will be more believable and convincing than you droning on. And very few people can deliver a top ten list as entertaining as Dave Letterman.

Bill Gates' Secret Weapon: Stop to Think - Click To Read Article
Bill Gates stops to think at least twice a year. Bill escapes to his wilderness lodge every six months for one week. It is during these times that he develops strategy for Microsoft. It was one of these thinking sessions that helped him to move his company to embrace the Internet and the related opportunities.

Change what you do - Click To Read Article
January is named after the Roman god, Janus who had two faces - one looking back and the other looking forward. Now is a good time for you to do both. Review the past year to list and celebrate your accomplishments. Also review your setbacks armed with hindsight to crystallize the wisdom you gained. Looking ahead - set your goals and map your path. But don't expect to keep doing what you are doing and get more. Prepare to change your approach just to get the same results. If you want to improve - do something dramatically different.

Motivational speaker: Boxing Legend George Foreman - Click To Read Article
George Foreman became heavy weight boxing champion of the world. Today he is a preacher, entrepreneur and the spokesperson for the George Foreman Grill with over 1 million units sold. And yes a motivational speaker. What could George Foreman, a former boxer, say that might motivate you?

Mentors and Protégées - Click To Read Article
A mentor is someone - perhaps a family member, friend or business associate - who is more experienced in the business who is willing to give you some of their time, advice and support. Mentors never do this for money. They enter into the relationship because they want to help you. They see some potential in you and maybe a little of themselves in you. They want to help and you must be ready.

Powerful Branding: Death Cigarettes - Click To Read Article
How can you create a powerful brand? Follow the advice of UK entrepreneur BJ Cunningham. This is so good. BJ created a company called The Enlightened Tobacco Company in 1991, selling a cigarette called “Death Cigarettes”. It was presented in a black package emblazoned with a white skull-and-crossbones logo. Just imagine how this might appeal to the rebels.

Power Presentations Tips 02: Begin with the end in mind - Click To Read Article
Begin with the end in mind Stephen Covey offers this advice in his book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”. The book is a guide to develop personal leadership. You can apply the first habit from Stephen Covey to your presentation in three ways.

The Van Gogh Syndrome can kill your business - Click To Read Article
If you consider yourself a professional, technical expert or artist, learn from the mistakes of Van Gogh - quickly - if you want to grow your business. When I research and work with these folks I often find that their business is suffering because they are reluctant and uniformed in marketing their business. They mistakenly believe that being good at their craft is enough. Poor fools.

Does your presentation pass the Google test? - Click To Read Article
Presentation Tip. Learn from Google. They know something about the presentation of information. They took the chaotic information soup of the Internet and presented the information in the way that people want. Google didn't invent this but they are the number one search engine.

When You have Something Important to Say - Click To Read Article
How to emphasize the key points of your presentation so that your audience hears, digests and remembers your message. When you are delivering a presentation to your management, a proposal to the committee or changes to your staff they are not hanging on your every word. When you get to the key points - you want them to listen, believe and remember. Use the following techniques to give the key words of your presentation more impact.

What a Difference a Decade makes to Marketing - Click To Read Article
How has marketing changed over the past decade? How did you need to shift your marketing to out-market your competition? What outdated marketing ideas and practices might be killing your business? Follow this review of the changes over the past decade and how you can be in front of the pack.

The Yukon Spirit: Nurturing Entrepreneurs - Click To Read Article
What creates the entrepreneurial spirit? Are you born with it or is it determined by your environment? I believe it is both. The environment can help to nurture the spirit within you. One perfect environment to nurture that spirit is the Yukon Territory of Canada. The Yukon is nestled right next to Alaska.

The fire alarm rings during your presentation - Click To Read Article
What do you do when the fire alarm rings during your presentation? I've witnessed this disaster happen to two other speakers and this week it was my turn. It's a lot easier to think logically about it after it is over. It might never happen to you - but perhaps you should be prepared for the fire alarm to ring during your presentation.

Systems for Business Success - Click To Read Article
What does it take to succeed in your business? How many times have you asked that question of yourself and others? You may have heard many different answers. I have found one thing that successful people have in common. They use systems.

The Advertising Scam: New Entrepreneurs Beware! - Click To Read Article
Imagine that you are a new entrepreneur. You have a great idea; you did your research, you're feeling optimistic and you just registered your company name. Experienced business people would be polite in calling you naive.

Sponsorship marketing: Five criteria for sponsoring - Click To Read Article
Sponsoring is perceived as a good thing. When you sponsor an event, community group or cause that your prospects like - they are more likely to like you. And they are more likely to trust those that they like. Trust makes it easier for prospects to buy from you. You don't need to say a thing about yourself. By sponsoring you are indirectly saying that you support the cause. For that reason be sure to include sponsorship in your marketing. But, choose your sponsorships strategically. The next questions are, “What should you sponsor?” and “How do you know if you are getting a good return on your sponsorship?”

Secrets from David Copperfield - Click To Read Article
David Cooperfield - live at the MGM Grand Hotel Las Vegas! You might be fascinated to know what I discovered behind the curtain. I was lucky enough to assist him with one segment of his show. Of course I was sworn to secrecy and cannot reveal the magic behind that trick.

Secrets of Power Marketing Promote Brand You - Click To Read Article
Enjoy the summary of this best selling book - the first guide to personal marketing for the non-marketer. Read about the five key strategies to help you get more from your personal marketing efforts. The strategies: Manage Perceptions; Build Relationships; Work with the Media; Use Leverage and Harvest your Database.

Seven Marketing Myths that Devastate Business - Click To Read Article
What marketing myths have you “learned” or are you being fed? Marketing has its own dogma - outdated beliefs and mumble jumble all intended to protect self-declared marketing mandarins. Marketing should be helping you get your key messages out - so you can grow, sell more and win more business.

Presentation to the seven dwarfs - Click To Read Article
Every member of your audience is different. You can’t treat them the same and expect the same reaction from all of them. You must be prepared to connect on different levels and receive different reactions to your presentation. Consider this challenge. Imagine that you are presenting to the seven dwarfs. You might be tempted to think that they are all the same because they are all dwarfs and all working in the same industry. Think again. Consider these possible very different reactions to your presentation.

Power Presentations Tip 01: It's not about you - Click To Read Article
Power Presentations Tip 01: It's not about you Your presentation is not about you. It's about your audience. How can you create a presentation that is about your audience?

Power Marketing Tips 01 Warning marketing can be fun - Click To Read Article
Power Marketing Tips 01: Warning - marketing can be fun Marketing can be fun - but don't be fooled by that aspect Marketing can be fun or it can be boring. In either case it is the results that count not your enjoyment level. You should enjoy your business but don't judge the value of your business investments by your enjoyment. Creating new ideas and holding special events can be fun. However the boring side of marketing might pay off more for you in the long run.

Problem Solving: Don't Ignore the Nudges - Click To Read Article
You will encounter two types of problems, acute and chronic. They have two distinct warnings signs and different methods of solving them. You need to be aware of both types of problems and how to solve them. You may already know about the first type. But knowing how to identify and solve the second type will provide greater benefit for you and your organization.

Networking Can Save Your Life - Click To Read Article
Networking is often touted as a powerful career or business development tool. But, have you ever thought about networking as a necessary skill to save lives? Can networking save your life - or the life of someone you love?

Marketing is in the Details: Sears Catalogue Disaster - Click To Read Article
Marketing can make or break your business. Marketing is about sending messages. Marketing is everyone's responsibility because each staff member sends messages about your business. Often your unintended messages have a greater impact then your intended messages. What affects your marketing messages the most? Details! Are you attending to the little details that make or destroy your marketing message?

Are you ready for a Mentor? - Click To Read Article
What is mentoring? Mentoring is a special relationship between a master and an apprentice. You can find good examples in modern culture: Obiwan Kanobee and Luke Skywalker from Star Wars and Cane (David Carradine) from the old Kung Fu TV series. In centuries past this was the only way to pass on critical knowledge of a craft. The mentor's role was to teach, coach and encourage.





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