I think this movie is great. There are actually two things I really like about it:
it says a lot about our world and makes you think
it is a good example for creating a great presentation
The slides show how to put “cold” statistical data into into an emotional context. Showing the presented data in standard powerpoint fashion (=templates and bullet points) would certainly not get the message accross the same way. I think we can all learn a great bit from this and keep it in mind for the next time we are preparing a presentation. Watch this movie below. (3min 25sec)
More information about the “Miniature Earth” project can be found here.
“Before you speak, ask yourself: is it kind, is it true, is it necessary, does it improve upon the silence?” - Shirdi Sai Baba
I am sure I not always do, but I am really trying hard. Lets remember this the next time we are heading into a meeting or when preparing a presentation. Wouldn’t this make the the world a much better and more pleasant place to live in ?
I could not have said it any better, therefore I leave you with this quote:
Listening, not imitation, may be the sincerest form of flattery. If you want to influence someone, listen to what he says. When he finishes talking, ask him about any points that you do not understand. Then tell him what it is you want and point out the areas where you are in agreement and those where you do not agree. He will be flattered that you have listened intently, that you take him seriously, and that you truly want to understand his position. — Dr. Joyce Brothers
I took this photo during my summer vacation earlier this year. It shows the entrance to a jewelery shop in Bad Ischl, Austria (a very nice and quite town and a great vacation area by the way - check it yourself).
For all non-german speaking folks, it says AIR CONDITIONED - OPEN on the front door. I guess you won’t find many better sales arguments to get customers into your shop at plus 35 celcius in july.
Makes you almost wonder what they’ll put up in the winter season. Any guesses ?
Over the years I’ve done plenty of consulting, and I’ve always complained about every billing solution I’ve ever used. They were not very user friendly or labor intensive to a degree that was totally unnecessary.
Freshbooks is a great answer to the prayer of invoice weary consultants or other service oriented businesses. A simple interface allows you to enter invoice data, track payments and late paying clients, and even resolve disputes. Its an invoicing service that makes me want to generate a billable event, just because its so easy and fun!
If you are in the software development or web design business, you know the struggle to stay on top of feature requests and bugs. Porchlight is a web-based project management and bug tracking service offering user-specific milestone and project tracking, so members of your team only need to see the tasks that matter to them.
Bestselling author Seth Godin wrote a little masterpiece on “small is the new big” a while ago. I fully support his view. After years of “big killing small” (supermarkets vs. grocery stores, appearal chains vs. small shops), we are about to enter a golden age for small business.
Big used to matter. Big meant economies of scale. There was a good reason for this. Value was added in ways that big organizations were good at. Value was added with efficient manufacturing, widespread distribution and very large R&D staffs. Value came from hundreds of operators standing by and from nine-figure TV ad budgets. Value came from a huge sales force.
Remember to design for ease of use. Even advanced users like easy.
Having been in the software business myself, I can only support his points. Coding has become more of a commodity nowadays. You need to focus on other areas to differentiate yourself from competition. There is good input in his article for anyone planning to start a software business or trying to succeed as a freelancer.
Working with the right clients is absolutely critical. The trick is knowing when to say no. The wrong client can kill morale, force good employees out, and cost you big opportunities. Working the right client isn’t work at all — it’s a pleasure.
Yes, I have been there myself. It doesn’t matter if you are in retail, in an industry or offering consulting services. You will always run into “troublemaking” customers. Your are negotiating the deal, but you are feeling uncomfortable. The client presses a bit too much on price, seems complicated to work with or you may just have this “gut feeling”. If this happens, you stand a pretty good chance to get into trouble all along. You may get a sale now, but you will loose money in the long run.
I firmly believe in WIN-WIN relationships. Only they lead to successful partnerships and repeat business. Take this advice and don’t waste your money and time on thewrong clients.
