|
|
Like this article? PLEASE +1 it! |  |
|
The difference between a rut and a grave
| Guest post by: Kirk Kjellberg |
Article Overview: How do you know if your stuck in a rut or how to get out? Check this informative article to see the difference between a rut and a grave...
 |
Free Download - Stress isn't real! By Kirk Kjellberg |
The difference between a rut and a grave
“The difference between a rut and a grave...
is their dimensions.” This statement made famous by Ellen Glasgow in the early
1900's is still quoted today with regularity. Today in business we must
look at the idea that a small rut can become a deep grave with extraordinary
speed and brutality. How do you recognize a rut? Is thesales
presentation you’re making today the same one you've been making for the last 5
years? How about the way you pack and ship
your products? Is your human capital up
to date?
Humans are intrinsically very rut oriented. It is nature’s survival tools
at work. In ancient times, ifyou ate something yesterday that did not
make you ill or kill you, you were automatically programmed to eat it
again. Ruts equaled survival to an extent. What worked in ancient
times won’t feed the bulldog today, so lets look at what practices exist in
your everyday work world that aren't working.
While flat and declining sales numbers are a reality in economic downturns for
a great many companies, you need not share their fate. Changing it up
right now is where you can begin to change the descent from rut to
grave. It is truly the best of times to be looking for the best
asset any company ever has, great new people. Never has there been a time
where there are such great brains available at rock bottom prices.
Providing you follow proper protocol, the time has never been better to let go
of any dead weight employees that were more easily carried by the currents of a
better economy.
Do you have sales people hitting the streets with no new tools in their tool belts;
this is also a great time to seek discounts to revamp potentially tired sales
materials. How about that website? Was it built in 1998 by your
brother in-law? Are you learning search engine optimization skills so you
can be found on the Internet or "hiring up" with someone who already
has them?
Can you, as Tim Ferris, author of the 4-Hour Work Week suggests, ditch whole
segments of your operation in favor of an outsource company that does things better,
faster or cheaper than you do?
To decide which direction you're headed in
you can use an easy to employ tactic made popular by my mentor, business
trainer extraordinaire Brain Tracy. Even
though I am usually quite allergic to acronyms, I use this one often:
K.W.I.N.K! It stands for Knowing What I Now Know. KWINKING is my new favorite pastime. I used the KWINK philosophy and asking myself: Knowing what I now know, what should I
do within my career? The answer was that
I needed to step down as General Manager of a realty company of which I am still
an owner. Knowing what I now know, I had to face the fact that I would
never be able to create the burning desire for
the business, necessary to grow the
business.
Low and behold, at nearly the same moment I made this decision, a person within
our organization came forward wanting more involvement. She now does my job
better than I would have and our cost of doing business dropped dramatically. I
also need a new job so I am back to doing what I love to do, more writing,
teaching, speaking and inventing. Funny how it all works out!
Now is the time to check that Rut Altimeter
and see if you and or your company are working your way up to green pastures or
heading for a more grave type depth. Shake, shake, shake it up. I’m
shaking it up, and yes it causes some anxiety to make big changes, but today,
growing and changing is the only way of avoiding your own (business) funeral!
Kirk Kjellberg
. . . The Wisdom to Know the Difference
ENJOY THE RIDE
The Power of the Mind to Achieve
Successful People Make No Little Plans
Tom Peters - Sales Excellence
Article Tags: brutality, compatibility, div, endif, fareast, footer, glasgow, gte, mso, object classid, orphan, paper source, regularity, roman style, size 13, span style, style definitions, style font, style name, times new roman
Referred by: http://www.salesblogcast.com
|
About the Author: Kirk Kjellberg RSS for Kirk's articles - Visit Kirk's website Click here to visit Kirk's website   Stress isnt real How to kill a drama queen The difference between a rut and a grave The mysterious case of the gun shy salesman Women Rule and Men Drool at Relationshipbased Sales |
Related Forum Posts
All A Matter of Perception and Encouragement
- Isn't it interesting how the whole concept of changed perception makes the difference.
In fact, just having this dialogue on here has made quite a difference to my week.
I especiall love this idea of value through e-mail, which makes it all so 'relationship-building', which ultimately is the trust valuable business development needs.
So thanks to all for what's gone on here so far.
Re: what brings tears to Your eyes ????
- Hi Barry
Being able to make a difference in a life, whether it is a human life or an animals life I think gives one a wonderful feeling of gratitude. Gratitude of being in a position to help and that what you do is actually going to make a difference is definitely enough to bring tears to your eyes.
MichelleJ
Re: Poll: Blogger or Wordpress Blog?
- [quote:1oty75kx]Somewhere (maybe earlier in this topic thread?) somebody pointed out a difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org, but I don't recall what the difference is.[/quote:1oty75kx]
Wordpress.org is blogging software that you can use on your own host and domain to blog. It is what most people mean when they talk about Wordpress and it is also what most "wordpress blogs" are created with. You have full control with it. This is highly recommended.
Wordpress.com on the other hand is sort of like blogger in that your address will be xxxx.wordpress.com and it stays hosted on wordpress. You can use your own domain but you still don't have full control of the blog. Basically using this is not recommended. I made that mistake with my first WP blog because I didn't know the difference and it got shut down for affiliate links.
Re: GT and All Mods, Spam Alert!
- [quote="GT Bulmer":2n2w531m]I can only surmise that they do their spamming quickly and in such high volume that a few malcontents like us do not make a big difference in their results.[/quote:2n2w531m]
Yes, that's exactly it. They are blasting out huge volumes of spam to every blog they can using automated programs. It's a numbers game for them hoping to get as many through as they can on whatever blogs they can. It makes no difference to them that most of us have safeguards in place on our blogs because there's still plenty out there that don't.
Re: Matching competitors prices - beware
- [quote="BuzzAroundBooks":3ga2u10u]While I agree that getting into a price war should be avoided if possible... on rare occasions, it's not a bad idea to match someone's price (or even beat it) if you're doing it "one time" to land a new customer.
For instance, I was recently looking for the best price on a [u:3ga2u10u]specific[/u:3ga2u10u] flight to NY and a customer service rep from Flight Centre ended up taking zero commission to help me book my flight. In fact, she even beat the price by $5 in the hopes of creating brand loyalty for the future.[/quote:3ga2u10u]
Matching prices that are close is one thing - but there are times when an inferior competitor can do a job much cheaper - because they are doing a lesser job. There have been times when I'm more expensive, but I'll take the time to explain the reason for the difference. If the person wants a lesser job - then it does not work in my favor to drop my price and take a loss. Customer expectation can make a difference in when this should be done. There is a company who offers work that is somewhat similar to mine, but its just not the same value service and they can undercut my price because they cut a lot of corners. I'm not willing to cut that many corners and that makes a big difference in the amount that we charge. For a person who business who recognizes the difference and some who want to send me business, I'll work with them on the prices or pay them a finder's fee. Lots of possibilities - but I've found it better to evaluate the situation and see if it makes good business sense.
Shri
Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.
Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.
by: 
Simon Fuller Quotes
Lesson #3: “Tell ‘em quick and tell ‘em often”
Searching for the Stars: How Yang and Filo Took Their Business to New Heights
Salesperson Wimp-Out: I Need Help 
Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Common Sense Stress Management
Why We MUST Reinvent The Wheel
Coaching Tip: Identify Your Core Values
Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.