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Seriously! Just Tell Me The Truth

Written by: Misti Burmeister

Article Overview: Advice for businesses who are trying to attract and retain potential clients and employees

Seriously! Just Tell Me The Truth

Many organizations are looking for the quick fix when it comes to attracting and retaining both customers and talent. While I usually say, “there is no quick fix to anything,” today I’m going to share a story that will show you how to do it right. Is it a quick fix? You bet -- as long as you make firm commitment upon completing this newsletter.

A few days ago I received an urgent voice message on my cell phone. The message sounded something like this, “My name is Diane and I have an editor with Money looking to do a story on your topic. Please call me immediately so that we can set up a phone interview.”

Money magazine! As soon as I got that message, I called Vannessa Moran, our Business Manager and asked her to help me set up this phone meeting right away. Vannessa followed up and was in the process of setting up a phone meeting for the next day.

The next morning I sprang out of bed and headed off to the gym for my morning workout. On the way, I left a voice message for Diane to let her know she was welcome to call me on my cell phone at her earliest convenience.

Just as I was arriving back at my home from the gym, Diane called. Naturally, I was excited to be speaking with her – I wanted to get a story in Money! Diane asked me almost immediately if I was near my computer.

I told her that I could easily log on if it was important. I would have preferred to take a shower and get ready before doing so, but I wasn’t going to let this opportunity go.

I quickly fired up my laptop and went directly to the website she instructed me to go to. The first thing she said was “Do you see that beautiful lady on the top left side of the page?” “Yep, I said.” “That’s my boss,” she responded. I happened to know that lady, but wanted to let her proceed.

She then pointed me toward the middle right-side of the webpage. There on the page was the lady who she mentioned in her voicemail message – the one who would do my interview. Wasting no time, I said, “let’s do it … I’m ready to do the interview … Let’s set it up.”

She then directed me to other parts of the website. And I quickly got the feeling that something wasn’t quite right here. When the following words came out of her mouth, I was ready to drop-kick her: “Membership for you today is $1,350/year, and we’ll give you two years free” – “And, if you sign up for our X service, I’ll give you two weeks free.”

In order to gain my attention, she totally lied to me. YUCK, what a huge turnoff! Had she told me the truth from the beginning, she may have actually captured my attention. I might not have bought into her system that day, but who knows what I may need in the future. Now I have zero interest in speaking with Diane or anyone from her organization – I have no respect for people who lie to me.

This is the same system many organizations are using to entice young professionals to join their team. They say things like, “You can have the freedom and flexibility you deserve,” or “Build your skills here,” or “Come join a company who cares about their people.” But when young workers sign up, they find that instead of freedom and flexibility, the company expects all team members to be in the office from 8-5. And when it comes to skill building, well, there really is no system in place. And instead of that caring atmosphere, the organization is hugely lacking when it comes to developing a sense of community across the generations.

The system that Diane – and many organizations – are still using today is very outdated and has little chance of survival, especially with young professionals. This new generation of workers saw the scandals within the business and political arenas alike while growing up. They have sensitivity for and zero tolerance of inauthentic people and organizations.

So, if there’s one magic bullet that will help you attract and retain clients and exceptional talent, it’s this: Tell them the truth. If what you’re selling (i.e. a position within your organization or a product/service) is of value, you’re sure to attract the right people.

Related Articles
  To Tell the Truth
  Set Us Free
  Truth-Telling Game
  Network Marketing? You Can Only Go So Far on "Stretching the Truth!"
  No Excuse!

Article Tags: beautiful lady, boss, business manager, cell phone, earliest convenience, few days, firm commitment, laptop, money magazine, morning workout, next morning, phone interview, urgent voice, vannessa, voice message, voicemail message



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Me Too - So.... - I write. Its a form of 'pull' marketing that suits me, though I'm quite an outgoing person. I know all the stuff about it not being me, 'they're just not ready yet'. Truth is I'm not good with rejection and will walk if I get too much of it - so I do it differently. Each to his own I guess. Still, I wish I had the guts to do those 500, just to say 'I did it'! Will read that article!
Re: Cash up front ... or Royalties? - There are so many amazing stories here. Most my inventions were created on the job and are the property of my employer. Cash up front if you are out of options is what some people must do. These people may consider a 5 year contract. This would allow them to renegotiate another license when they are stronger financially. Truth is most people that are in financial trouble today are still in trouble 5 years later. Discipline and control of your own life is priceless. An example of cash up front versus royalties is "Star Wars" Harrison Ford (Hans Solo) took cash up front. He needed the money. Alec Ginness (Obiwankonbi) took royalties. I believe the force is still paying.
Business plans are a waste of time - I really like what Shri said in a previous post about how the usefulness of a business plan depends on the individual. However, after reading some of Martin Lindstrom's "Buyology: Truth and Lies About Why We Buy"... I'm beginning to think that all business plans and traditional market research (i.e. using focus groups, surveys, etc.) are a total waste of time. No joke, I'm serious. Lindstrom says "That's because, just like market research, economic modeling is based on the premise that people behave in a predictably rational way", but "Most of the brain is dominated by automatic processes, rather than deliberate thinking. A lot of what happens in the brain is emotional, not cognitive." ("Buyology" pg 28). Basically, consumers will tell you one thing, and do simply do another with their unconscious minds.
Synergy and Other Creative Insights - Truth is that there is [u:2iwgooi1]C[/u:2iwgooi1]ollaboration - on a formal basis and [u:2iwgooi1]c[/u:2iwgooi1]ollaboration which is informal. Let's say that you have a great new product. Before it launches you get loads of buddies in the same business as you to tear it apart and let you refine it. Creative people will get others in as well. people from outside the business - or those who are in the business who might not have anything to do with it and seek their input - listening hard. These aren't focus groups, they are way beyond this - they are real outsiders and thus have very open minds, asking the dumb, the stupid questions, which are often the most valuable. Questions like these help me be a good coach too! I once worked in a business where the backshop (the store room) was always untidy. They held a team meeting and had the cook in as well (you know the one who ran the employee facility). She knew nothing about the storeroom and its processes, but boy did she ask some tricky questions of them. Sometimes, little 'c' collaboration is real good at the mocro level, without which the big 'C' collaboration would be worthless.
Re: Franchises in Texas... - [quote="GT Bulmer":2vkmvy75]ps - Is global warming a concern? Or are the melting icecaps and changing weather patterns simply one of Earth's cycles that happens periodically with or without Mankind's loving touch? We've been on the planet too short of a time to truly understand Earth's cycles.[/quote:2vkmvy75] Hi GT, I think global warming is definitely a concern for everyone. While some of us may not directly be "hurt" by the environmental changes in our lifetime, I believe the next generation will. According to Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth"... I can't recall for sure, but I think there's a prediction that Manhattan will be submerged in water in the next 50 years (due to polar melting and rising water levels). And I just heard on the news today that out of 29 weeks of "summer" this year, Toronto had 8 weekends where both Saturday and Sunday had rainfall which is abnormal (and also weekend spoilers!).


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