THE HUMANITY OF HENRY

Those who know me know that I do not affiliate with any one particular political group, although my voting record would classify me as a staunch "Republican." Normally I don't get into my personal life as it's just that..."personal." But yesterday something really hit me that I wanted to share. Those in WPM and iA know that I spend a lot of my time working out of my house and therefore as we're having renovations done it's been filled with skilled tradespeople over the past three weeks. Over the past couple of days a fellow who goes by the name of "Henry" has been working on our new walls. Henry is from Honduras and doesn't speak any English. I noted that he had been coming to work (in an active construction zone) wearing a pair of old dress shoes that did not fit. His heels were hanging over the crushed backs of the shoes, thus wearing them like one would wear slippers. This troubled me. I mentioned it to my wife and we decided to provide Henry with the means to obtain satisfactory protection for his feet.

As I sat in my office looking at the money set aside for Henry I began to reflect at what this man has gone through just to work on our walls..did he leave a wife and child behind, did people try to rob him, how long had he traveled, were people skimming his wages?...all to be here in North Carolina and try to earn money. Now, is Henry here illegally...I don't think so as our contractor is very diligent about that, however, I found myself (as a man, and as a person) not caring. I put aside any political ideals for the moment and asked myself...would I have the courage to go several countries away (not just to another state) to provide for my family, subject myself to a bureaucratic nightmare in a land where I don't speak the language, where my own people might very well take advantage of me, etc. Would I? Could I? Suddenly Henry became more of a hero to me than anyone I've met recently and coming up with advertising strategies, clever creative or website modifications began to pale in comparison to what this man had gone through just to sand dry wall. Many have been the evenings when I looked on television at folks not dissimilar to Henry and thought less than positive thoughts. Henry has changed that...maybe Henry was God's way of saying "Dave, give people the benefit of the doubt the way you did when you were younger and far less cynical." Perhaps... Now, don't get me wrong, I believe that people who are here should be here through legitimate means. I, however, cannot begrudge anyone the desire in wanting to come here, and on a human level can understand that if our government is too inept to give them legitimate means, (and based off its track-record ineptitude seems to be the currency of the realm in Washington) might seek other methods of entry. Is that wrong, YES, but thanks to HENRY at least I have a bit more of a human outlook on the situation. Now I would just challenge our lawmakers to get a grip on the situation and allow hard working folks like Henry legitimate means to achieve their portion of the American dream..open an Ellis Island South at the Texas border, staff it, re-open Ellis Island NYC and open an Ellis Island station San Diego. Jobs would be created, optimism would rise on both ends of the political spectrum, others seeking to come here would see that they have a legitimate entry point (I mean, think about it...if you lived in a foreign land and wanted to come to the U.S. where would you go?!? Exactly, I don't know either...there is no place that says "ENTER HERE.")

In closing out this rambling post I have to say, "Thank You God," for through your messenger, HENRY I heard your voice and now feel a bit more like I did when I was younger! It's refreshing and enabling. It's prompted me to write my congressional officials...not to provide "amnesty" mind you, but rather to seek to push for a series of legitimate entry points and a process by which brave souls like Henry can come to this great land and become solid, contributing citizens!

Best Always,
Dave J.

When good things happen...

You know, I absolutely love it when good things happen to good people. Recently we've had the opportunity to do some work for ConnectionForce. This morning we put out a press release for them and they got "picked up" by some of the most high-powered media outlets out there. Congratulations gents!

Best Always,
D-

ConnectionForce - PRESS RELEASE

Connection Force™ – Throwing Back the Curtain on World’s First Web 3.0 Sales Interface Solution!
In today’s social media market, new service puts emphasis back on Relationships

(Research Triangle, NC) ConnectionForce™, the new leader in sales call interruption management, is pleased to announce the launch of its proprietary new service for Office Managers and Buyers to manage the interruptions unexpected sales people can make on their day.
“ConnectionForce was born from the fact that no vendor management system currently exists for the small to medium sized business; let alone a way to facilitate the salesperson engagement process,” said Neal Clark, Co-Founder and CEO of ConnectionForce. “Moreover, we found that the businesses which could dedicate the fewest resources in determining what was new in the marketplace (through unsolicited sales calls) got bombarded the most. We created the ConnectionForce system for businesses to accurately determine whether an outbound sales professional was offering them something of value while at the same time reducing the frustration level that accompanies numerous daily sales solicitations.”
ConnectionForce was founded by a team of sales professionals who, over the course of many years, had both observed and experienced the frustrations that existed between office professionals and the sales pros that called on them daily. The driving force behind the ConnectionForce system was to ensure that valuable information being offered by sales professionals was making it to the right people in a manner that is both efficient and friction free. With the launch of ConnectionForce office managers now have a full online toolbox from which will spring features designed to save time, money and frustration.
“When we heard that ConnectionForce allowed us to still review potentially critical information offered daily by sales professionals that call on our office, and do so in a manner that is respectful of everyone’s time, that seemed like the elusive “win-win” that everyone talks about but so few find,” said Mike Petilli of MVP Insurance.
Bill Davis of Team Nimbus, a business consulting company, was quoted as saying. “In today’s business environment it is all about managing relationships. Whether it’s the use of Twitter™, Facebook™, LinkedIn™, etc. businesses everywhere are scrambling to better manage their existing relationships. ConnectionForce, while not a social media site moves companies towards that same ultimate goal by enabling businesses to better and more efficiently manage perhaps the most important relationship of all – that between the inbound sales call and the office personnel who field such call.”
For more information about ConnectionForce please go online and visit us at www.connectionforce.com/tour or contact us directly at (919) 803-6115.

The Coffee Shop

Ok...it's no secret that times are tough and that there are a lot of people searching for work (which by the way, we're hiring good sales reps - shameless plug). I have, in the past two days found myself meeting people in a couple of different coffee shops. First, let me say, I truly dislike coffee shops. By their very nature I just don't like them. This is not a manifesto against the people who visit them, work at them or even own them. I just personally do not care for them...just my thing. While there I've been able to notice people working on their laptops, interfacing directly with one another and in many instances trying to drum up business of one sort or another. Today, I was waiting to have a weekly cup of java with my Dad (normally he comes by the house but we're renovating). He was uncharacteristically late, which for a retired U.S. Marine is indeed quite unusual, and I had a decent period of time to sit and observe. While doing so something really HIT ME HARD! I heard three different people who were obviously interviewing for positions say the exact same thing - "I'm into building 'relationships.' " No! Really? Is that even really worth stating...I mean, I fully expect the whole "relationship" building thing when I interview folks...maybe that's just me. Now, it would be something if you were to come into an interview and say I run roughshod over folks, take their money and then gave them an obscene finger gesture as I leave." Now that would be something! Not a good something, mind you, but something, nevertheless.

Now, perhaps this sounds a bit raw but as someone who hires and fires people the building of relationships (to me) is just a "given." I view that overheard coffee house statement as bizarre as someone telling me that they're going to give me 110%. You can't give me 110%! You can only give me 100% and if you're giving me that much of your effort, then there is some other portion of your life that's suffering chief...just give me your best while you're on the job...I don't want 110%...that means that you're eating into my life beyond the workplace. I digress... The whole net takeaway is that in sitting in the coffee shop this morning I saw a wonderful cross-section of people that are all trying to move forward but if all someone has to offer a prospective employer are canned platitudes as to how much effort he can give and that he is "into building relationships" I would highly recommend that he scrap the current approach and do some real homework. Before the meeting, study the business of the interviewer, provide him/her a real world scenario where and how you can be of benefit. Describe the benefit in specific terms. Let them know that you care enough to really work in a solution-based capacity right from the start. You see, just like customers or clients you'll come in contact with on the job this interviewer has a need (pain). Show him/her that you are the solution. This is your first opportunity to SHOW that you are into building relationships. You're starting off by building the most important one ...the one that gets you the job. All the rest will be implied going forward.

Best Always,
Dave J.

Darn that BONG!

If there's one thing in business that will lose clients faster than anything else, it's lack of communication. Now I run an ad agency...so by the very nature of my business there is an inherent level of Client-Chasing that goes on. However, there are those times when people say, "Dave I love what you do...I believe that it could be of benefit to me and my organization." I had one such instance happen at a recent entrepreneurial meeting. What seemed to be a very professional person said, "I would love for you to come speak to my organization" (a non-profit professional group). I've done this dozens of times before and I agreed as I believed that our service could indeed help them. She followed up with me and said that she'd like to iron out details...cool. Things seemed on track. Now, since that call I've left two messages and ... (cue the crickets). Nothing, nadda, zip, zilch, zero. Now, when it comes to my business, it's alright and I'm not going to chase the speaking engagement as I do have plenty to keep me busy, but for her... in my mind that's now a different story. I now have a suspicious bent as to what type of corporate leader she actually is and by default HOW her operation runs. That may or may not be fair, but let's be honest folks...it's human nature. None of us like to be brushed aside, especially when we feel as though we're doing someone a favor or can help them in some manner. The moral to the story is that prompt attention to everyone who calls (from the inbound sales call to the high-dollar) client is of utmost importance. More so now that ever before...for we truly live in a long-memory world and people are talking and sharing more than ever. Michael Phelps will never be able to deny his bong-hittin' days to his grandchildren because that 'ol Internet thing has a LONGGGGGG memory. Even if you are waiting on some information before getting back to someone...if the end of the day has arrived just punch them up and say "Mary, just wanted to get back to you and let you know I hadn't forgotten about you...just as soon as I hear back from John I'll give you a shout." Now Mary will go home feel like you care and just perhaps tell millions of people through her own connections!

Best Always,
D-

Idiots

Now some, who know me well, may look at the title of this post and believe that I'm going to go on another one of my rants...well, those people would be right. Corporate idiocy abounds...take a look at this moronic ad. It's a concept being considered by the WWF (the conservation folks, not the wrestling group, they're now the WWE...and not a bad entertainment value for the dollar, but I digress). This ad was concepted all in an effort to compare the devastation of 9/11 to a Tsunami. (100 passenger jets bearing down on New York City) WOW, again I say what idiots! Nothing this dumb involving NYC has happened since the White House conducted low altitude fly-overs around the city for a photo op earlier this year!

Regarding this ad, the first idiot that needs some serious "beat-down" is the creative "genius" who thought "wow we could compare 9/11 to a natural disaster"...please sir or madam, sit back down and do not speak until spoken to! Idiot #2 is the one who said "gee, that sounds like a really neat idea...run with that." You sir, are fired! The final idiot is the one (and I'm assuming that it's not one of the previously mentioned dim bulbs) that actually allowed this to escape into the public domain. What Great Caesar's Ghost were you thinking?!?

If I were the WWF and really didn't authorize this (which, in all fairness they're saying the did not) I'd be livid. There is no telling how much this idiocy has cost them in dollars and what kind of harm it has done to their image. The final act of idiocy was when the shop (that out of courtesy I will not name...although you can find it easily) denied creating the ad. Just own up to it...it's gonna bite you where you sit so you should just deal with what's coming down the tracks.

Now, as far as this relating to our Small Business Blog, it's a prime example of how a bad idea can become "oh so much more" just by sending an electronic copy to someone. If you're ever in doubt as to whether something may harm your business or others by the way it's perceived, DON'T SEND IT! That's my piece for tonight... I'm still amazed.

Best Always,
Dave J

PRESS RELEASE - Allen Tate Realtors and Neighborhood Services Join Forces

Allen Tate Realtors, Neighborhood Marketing Services Join Forces


RALEIGH, N.C. (September 1, 2009) – Two of the Triangle’s premier real estate organizations have joined forces. Allen Tate Realtors, the Carolinas’ leading real estate company, is pleased to announce its affiliation with Neighborhood Marketing Services, a full service real estate firm specializing in new home sales throughout the Triangle.
“We are extremely pleased to announce this new relationship. Neighborhood Marketing Services is a regional leader in promoting and marketing new home communities, and their expertise and solid reputation will create and enhance opportunities for Allen Tate clients. Likewise, we’ll be able to offer Neighborhood Marketing Services an experienced sales force for their builders, as well as strong relocation contacts and cutting-edge technology in interactive marketing,” said Phyllis York Brookshire, Regional Vice-President- Triangle, Allen Tate Company.
“Neighborhood Marketing Services has always been a strong leader in the new homes market, but as market conditions change, we believe that we can work smarter and more effectively to reach customers through the interactive marketing channels that Allen Tate offers. We recognize that Allen Tate is bringing innovation and industry changes to their agents faster than their competitors,” said Mike Ruth, President, Neighborhood Marketing Services.
The Neighborhood Marketing Services team will work under the Allen Tate Realtors name. They will continue to focus on new home sales in premier Triangle communities, including Village Square at Amberly, Copperleaf, Rose Hall, Bedford at Falls River, Rose Walk, and Renaissance Park.
Neighborhood Marketing Services was formed in 1993 by Mike Ruth and Jim Brandewie who will continue to lead the new company. Daily operations will continue under Jim Cox, General Manager and Bethaney Dale, Marketing Director.
Allen Tate Company entered the Triangle region in 2007 and currently operates six Triangle offices with more than 170 Realtors.
# # #

As the Carolinas’ leading real estate company and the Preferred Realtor® of the Carolina Panthers, Allen Tate Realtors has more than 1,700 real estate professionals in the Charlotte, Triad, Triangle and Upstate South Carolina regions. Allen Tate offers the advantage of hometown service with international capabilities, the latest in real estate technology, maximum marketing exposure and one-stop shopping through the Family of Companies. Visit www.allentate.com for more information.

Pay Attention to The Live Bodies

Good Morning-

It's a cool "fall like" morning here in Raleigh, NC and it feels GREAT! I am ready for the cooler weather, football and the baseball playoffs...not to mention all the fun school things my son will be doing!

Let me preface this post by saying that "I hope that it doesn't come off as being too harsh." You see, I took a few moments last evening to reflect on all the things that had either made of cost me money in the numerous businesses I've founded and ultimately sold off over my career. And the number one item was personnel! Now, this all came about (my reflective state) because I've tried to be generous to some less-than-deserving people in today's troubled economy (I believe in that whole good Karma thing). I've offered positions to both sales and support staff only to have them fail to execute. For example...a talented designer had been posting on FB about how he had no job, no prospects for a job, a newborn, and ultimately might have to move because of the job market. Now I really don't need a new video but I contacted him on a Saturday (via e-mail) and told him that I wanted a video, laid out the parameters for the short spot and offered to pay him a nice sum for his efforts. I didn't hear anything back for 96 hours!!! He ultimately responded in 4 words that he would do it, then never followed up with me in any fashion...now, a week later, I finally told him that I've chosen to go in another direction. Hey, you don't want my money...I'll keep it...no problem.

Then, looking back over my career I could see many such people who have come into and out of my life. And in such cases my reaction has been consistent and in most instances much faster than in this one. Poor personnel must be shown alternative options (to staying with your company) quickly...otherwise they will become a drain on your company from not only a payroll perspective, but such individuals will also hurt overall morale and take up valuable space in your own mind.

As a business owner/partner/C-level exec. you have to just deal with each of these issues with speed and finality. Here's the hard part...You cannot care about their family situation, their past work history, their medical conditions, etc. (I know that sounds bad, but it's true). Otherwise you can get bogged down in their poor performance and/or excuses. And if, by chance, you do believe the excuses and do not take action to correct the problem it's going to be bad. Because, when the other members of your executive team or partner(s) begin to question you about this person, and you convey the excuse(s) told to you that may ultimately lead to your being seen as an ineffective leader..and that, my friends, leads to a whole other (and much more costly) can of worms. Obviously, in the current example provided above, there is another dynamic in place that I'm not qualified to address and/or fix.

So for all you entrepreneurs out there please, take this lesson from me and commit it to memory. Pay attention to the "live" bodies that are moving your endeavor down the tracks and leave those others behind - on the platform watching your train roll out of sight.

Best Always,
Dave J.