Marketing - The Bold Approach Method

The Human Asset Manifesto

I just got finished reading a blog by a man called Jonathan Ledwidge. Without question, he is controversial and his ideas are a little beyond mainstream. And yet, I found myself agreeing with much of what he said. Particularly as it relates to organizations and their employees.

Organizations are quick to say that "Employees are their greatest asset." And, while it makes a tidy soundbite in reality their actions are a much better indicators of what they believe or implement.

According to Ledwidge, author of The Human Asset Manifesto, women and younger workers are the key to real innovation and social harmony and older workers who maintain the history and knowledge that are not written down are the key to implementing the big ideas that the young workers will ideate and women are the catalyst to bridging the gaps.

His blog and book deserve a deeper look, I suggest doing both today if you want to create an organization that will survive tomorrow.

Persuasion, Seduction and Sales

I was recently speaking at an event when Len Foley, the editor for MemberSiteSecrets.com asked me to do a piece on persuasion, seduction and sales for one of his member sites. I sat down with Len and he was kind enough to put part of our interview up (about 10 mins) on YouTube.

Take a look and do me a favor, vote for my video while you are there. I share a bunch of things that I've only shared with my highest end coaching clients and private seminar attendees. I think you'll find it interesting and informative.

Just go here to see the video.

Urgency and Buying

Does your hurried state cause your customers to buy more? Well, yes and no.

Seth Godin makes a very good point about urgency and buying on his blog today. And while Seth points out that people buy based on their own internally generated urgency and focus and when they want something in that state they want it then. Price doesn't matter, only fulfillment of desire.

If however when people are in the state and you don't serve them quickly and fulfill their need to do whatever is most important to them, you lose.

Ask yourself this question, "What can I do to help people who are feeling pressed for time or who are experiencing urgency get what they need even faster?"

The answer will be very profitable.

If you'd like to take fuller advantage of your time, why not check out The Power of an Hour?

My Analysis of Derren Brown and "The Heist" - One of the most dangerous examples of persuasion you'll ever see

In an email to the readers of my newsletter, I shared with them "The Heist," a show aired on British Television that demonstrates the power of persuasion, manipulation, motivation and more. If you haven't watched Darren Brown in The Heist yet, go here and watch it then read the rest of this post, it will make more sense.

I decided to provide my analysis as a blog post so that you can comment and discuss your feelings as well. I strongly encourage you to post your thoughts here as this is where I'll be responding.

Much of what Darren Brown does is missing. They demonstrated pieces of what he did but you have to remember that this conditioning took place over an extended time. The outcome would not have been the same at the end of a day for example.

These people were carefully selected from the initial group and narrowed down to those people most susceptible to actually taking the actions that were anticipated. There is a strong sales and marketing lesson here, it is much easier to influence those people who you've carefully screened (you do have criteria for the people who can work with you, right?) and who demonstrate further interest in changing their views. He attracted a certain kind of person by using an advertisement that promised that they'd learn his techniques.