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More Jobs-Steve and Small Business
Many thousands of words have been written about Steve Jobs as a visionary and titan during the past week. They are well deserved. Today however, I’m looking in on his life as an inspiring story for the small business owners of today and tomorrow.

3 Lessons Microsoft Taught Us About Branding
How many years has Apple been dictating how the public perceives "the PC" with its ongoing dialog between our two stars in the "I'm a Mac. I'm a PC." commercials? Is there a lesson we can learn from this. After all, if Microsoft can make mistakes, lose market share and waste marketing dollars, isn't there some takeaway that we can learn from the sidelines in watching this rivalry?

Drama Sells, Even When it's BULLoney!
When supposedly brilliant gurus resort to name-calling to diss a product - I've had enough. Drama queens - go home so I can enjoy my iPad.

iPad: A Miss for its Wi-Fi Function
The iPad is finally out after months of anticipation, unfortunately it falls short with its Wi-Fi capabilities.

Top Value Brands (Part 2 of 2)
The communication of value is where the real trick lies. After all, Target didn't get to be known for designer quality on a budget by getting lucky or stumbling upon something that worked. Effective communication of value is a product of three things: positioning, implicit communication and audience touch points.

Mobile Electronics are Driving Demand for Lithium
The phenomenal growth of mobile electronics is fueling demand for lithium. For the foreseeable future lithium-ion batteries will provide the energy for all the most popular mobile electronics. This makes lithium one of the greatest wealth making opportunities of the century.

Apple’s Decisions Could Be Impacting Your Bottom Line
Apple and its founder Steve Jobs are making decisions that are impacting you even if you don’t realize it. As it turns out, Apple has been making changes lately that will impact Internet marketers and Internet entrepreneurs around the world. If you want proof of Apple’s massive clout, all you have to do is look at statements they have made concerning Flash.

Would you get A Tattoo of the General Motors’ Logo?

When was the last time you were really excited about the customer service you received? A recent survey showed that 44% of people rate the customer service they usually receive as dull and bland. Most customer service experiences are, well ok, and we unusually come away somewhat satisfied from the experience. This is all well and good, but most of your competitors are already doing this. To stand out from the competition you need to demonstrate customer service on a dramatically different level: service that is anything but bland and dull! Think Disney, Harley Davidson, or Apple.

Lesson #5: Never Stop Learning
“Every now and then I like to pick up a copy of Time magazine and read every article from beginning to end, not just the articles that interest me most,” says Gates. “That way you can be certain to learn something you didn’t know previously.”

Lesson #2: Don’t Settle
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do,” says Jobs. “If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.”

Lesson #4: Stay Ahead Of The Pack
“Innovation is the distinction between a leader and a follower,” says Jobs.

Lesson #2: “You are nuts and you should be proud of it”
“One quality of entrepreneurship is just persistence, not giving up because you have road blocks and also not giving in because other people tell you that you’re nuts,” advises Hawkins. “You are nuts and you should be proud of it. Stick with what you believe in.”

The Art of Driving Your Competition Crazy
“The purpose of competition is not to beat someone down, but to bring out the best in every player.” Walter Wheeler

The Top Ten Things I Love Most About Woz
Woz and I did a one-on one-chat for the Commonwealth Club on November 16, 2006 as part of his iWoz book tour. It was one of the most enjoyable gigs that I’ve ever done. After the event, I compiled this list of the “Top Ten Things I Love Most About Woz.”

Money as a Social Barrier
Check out this study by Prof. Kathleen Vohs of the University of Minnesota (Go Gophers!). She tested the hypothesis that thinking about money can create social barriers. Here is a description of what she did:

Two kinds of people in the world...
The folks that want (need!) an iPhone, and those that couldn't care less. And of course it's not just Apple and it's not just phones. It's every single industry in the world.

The Appeal of "New" is Hardwired
Dr. Bianca Wittman of University College London found that making novel choices activates the ventral striatum of the brain.

Free Online Term Sheet Generator
If I didn’t see it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t believe it, but Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich, and Rosati, one of Silicon Valley’s dominant law firms (as in Apple, HP, etc), has created a free, online term sheet generator. This is the site’s description of the tool:

FORMALDEHYDE IN F MINOR: DOWNPLAYING DISCORD WITH POSITIVE SPIN
For two entirely different crisis management situations, our advice was the same: keep it positive.

10 Attributes of the CEO Who Drives Sales and More
My second conversation was with an effective CEO who is completely unlike those that I described in the other article. My good CEO has the following 10 qualities that have a positive impact on the sales force:

Rejection Proof - The Science Behind Success in Sales

The stronger a salesperson is, the less likely rejection is to have a major effect. That said, there are effective salespeople who have a rejection problem but they manage it better than their less effective colleagues. There are also some very ineffective salespeople who don't care about being rejected. In fact, their lack of caring about it may even lead to their ineffectiveness since their strategy rarely includes consideration of how to avoid resistance!

Self-Growth Equals Striving to Reach your Potential
Growth is all about moving to reach our potential as fully-functioning fully-alive human beings. The major keys in this article, i.e. why we should never compare ourselves to others, shows us how to do this. It also gives tools to broaden our perspective of ourselves and thereby stop being self-limiting.

How Dell and Apple Use Customer Service as Their Sales Force
You expect your salespeople to find and close business. You should expect your customer service people to not only retain the business, but uncover new opportunities too. Sounds a lot like inside sales to me...

Lesson #3: “Our whole purpose was to help others”
Wozniak and Jobs first met in their high school computer club, Homebrew Computer Club, where, says Wozniak, they created a unique balance together: “I was shy, he was outward.” As the two worked together on Apple, this would morph into a new kind of relationship. “I created, he sold,” says Wozniak.

Lesson #2: “Don’t think about the money you don’t have”
When Wozniak first started designing computers, he did not have much to go on. He knew he could put sketches down on paper, and they seemed plausible enough, but he did not know how to get from point A to point B, building a real computer.

Customer Service Neutralizes the Efforts of the Sales Force

Companies spend a lot of money on marketing and sales calls to acquire customers. Then they spend money to train and develop their sales teams to improve their effectiveness at finding and closing business. Then, because the people in charge of customer service simply don't get it, they encourage customers to walk away because they aren't wiling to address some of their customers' most basic needs.

Idealism AND Pragmatism

dealism without pragmatism is like a beautiful house on paper. It is nice to look at and dream of, but it does not manifest itself into physical reality. Pragmatism without idealism is like putting a house together without a design, it serves some purpose in the short run, but does not create lasting values. As Victor Hugo put it, it is by the real that we exist, and it is by the ideal that we live. As human beings, we obviously need both: to exist and to live. To create a meaningful and fulfilling life, we need both ideals AND practicality.

7 Steps to Financial Freedom

Through my years of experience as financial consultant, and interviews with numerous successful people who have achieved financial freedom in their lives, I have developed a simple and practical method to help you create financial freedom – and abundance in your life as well. Financial freedom means different things to different people. The steps I am sharing with you will guide you to develop your own roadmap toward the ultimate freedom in your life.

Find your Passion because YOU ARE WORTH IT!
Have you found your passion? Are you living it? Passion leaves clues. It is your responsibility to find yours, become it, and let it become you. You will find great things happen FOR you, TO you and BECAUSE of you.

Three Strikes for Customer Service
All I wanted was to buy an iPhone.

Smart Women, Subways and Asking
This article is about asking for help from people or “experts” that have the knowledge and information that could help women in their lives both personally and professionally. It’s natural to get “lost” at different times in our life. The key is to ask the right people for help and direction to get you back on track and moving in the right direction of your goals.

Software developers can start earning from Palm Pre apps in September

This week, Palm announced the latest phase of its strategy to take on Apple’s iPhone and Research in Motion’s Blackberry by offering a range of innovative applications for users to purchase for the Palm Pre. According to the company, software developers will be able to begin charging customers for downloading their applications from an ecommerce beta program in September. The move follows last month’s release of the Mojo Software Development Kit, which was viewed as a step forward in Palm’s efforts to strengthen relationships with developers.

Steve Jobs is Financial Times’ Person of the Year
Britain’s Financial Times has named Steve Jobs, the brains behind the most influential company in the consumer technology world, Apple, as Person of the Year.

Sharing best practices company-wide
Can the IT department really benefit from ideas given from Sales? Can Marketing really get great results if they listen to tips from the mailroom? This article shares what some succesful firms have done concerning the interdepartmental sharing of ideas. An exercise is included for discussion in staff meetings.

6 Simple Steps To Naming Your Lifestyle Business
If you are ready to start your own lifestyle business, but stuck on finding a good name for it or just wondering how to come up with a catchy name that hasn't been taken yet, you'll find your answers here. These six simple steps will help you find a great name for your business - something fitting, catchy and not boring.

Are Macs and Wal-Marts a good match?
Apparently, there are plans afoot for Wal-Mart to sell Macs, as well as iPhones and iPods, in at least some of their stores. I'm not sure that's a good idea, but it's worth pursuing, at least on a trial basis.

Apple should NOT cut Mac prices
There’s a constant cry from some quarters for Apple to slice prices on the Macs to: a) compete with the bargain bin PeeCees, b) accommodate consumers in these tough economic times, and/or c) prove those Microsoft ads wrong. To which I say: don’t do it

Apple won't: a) buy EA, b) buy Twitter, c) launch its own game console
Tough economic times or not, Apple is rolling in dough. It has an US$29 billion cash balance, so this has led to some crazy speculation on what Apple will do with the moolah. There's been talk -- crazy talk in my opinion -- that Apple will buy Twitter and/or Electronic Arts.

The Sellers Research Group’s take on Apple’s financial
Apple announces its latest financial results today at 2 pm (Pacific). Naturally, we’ll be covering the announcements in-depth. But first I wanted to give you the predictions of what Apple will announce, as determined by the Sellers Research Group.

iMac to be retired this year? I don’t think so
Ian Lamont, writing for The Industry Standard says he thinks that Apple will announce no later than Sept. 30, 2009, that the iMac is being discontinued. I think he’s waaay off base, but you have to admire his penchant for details.

Apple, regarding AT&T exclusivity—just say no
As reported yesterday, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson is allegedly involved in discussions with Apple to extend the carrier’s exclusive iPhone contract into 2011. I hope that doesn’t happen.

About those Microsoft ads, some folks SHOULD buy a PC
Some folks are concerned about the recent spat of Microsoft ads knocking the high cost of ownership of Macs and the “Apple tax,” it all boils down to this: if nothing matters except getting a bargain basement computer as cheaply as possible, get a PeeCee.

Conspiracy or coincidence?
I guess it comes from too many years of watching The X-Files, but it’s almost enough to make you believe there’s a conspiracy afoot.

Macworld Expo should change venues, dates in the future
It's probably a good thing that Macworld Expo 2010 is moving from January to February. With Apple not attending, however, it won't be the same show as before. And I think IDG, the folks behind the event, should consider more changes in the future, including a change of venue.

Perception remains that Jobs IS Apple
Whatever you want to say about Apple, it’s a brand that is considered one of the best. In the latest brandchannel’s brandjunkies 2009 report, Apple won accolades in several areas. However, it’s also a company that is viewed as having its future tied to CEO Steve Jobs—and that’s an image that needs to be changed.

A look at the latest iPhone, netbook rumors—and my prognosis of ‘em
Speculation has fired up again about upcoming iPhones and the rumored Apple netbook. Here’s a round-up of what’s now being bandied about—and what the Sellers Research Firm (that’s me) has to say about each one.

Be An Orange
When a prospective buyer is looking at your product or service, he or she is really comparing you to the competition. So the question is, are they comparing an apple to an apple or an apple to an orange? It is vitally important in marketing that you find a way to be THE orange! In other words, what is it about you that makes you completely DIFFERENT from your competitor?

Moving Forward by Looking Over Our Shoulder
Everyone is busy telling you what's gonna be hot, what's not, what's going to be the killer, what's not. We know too but we're going to wait to tell you what we know until the end of 2012 (assuming the Mayans aren't right). Then you'll be amazed that we're 100 percent right...amazing. But to know, understand what tomorrow holds for us we really need to see what the past year delivered.

Nothing about the revamped Mac desktop line-up tempts my wallet
I guess I should thank Apple. Following yesterday’s announcement regarding revs of its entire desktop line-up, there’s nothing to tempt me to spend my money.

Is Your Web Copy "Plain Talk"?
A few words on the value of using a conversational style when writing for the web.

A little brand personality goes a long, long way.
Do your advertising and marketing reflect your brand personality? Ever wonder how to tailor your advertising to reflect the brand personality of your small business? This article simplifies the process and breaks it down into five basic components. Expert advice from a 25-year advertising and marketing executive.

Is the iPad useful? One CEO tells all ....
MediaSpark CEO describes his experience using the Apple iPad and iPad 2. Is it useful in daily life? Find out ...

The Trusted Authority - Out Care the Competition
And become customer obsessed. Consumers would pay 5 to 25% more to ensure a superior customer experience

Dr. Martin Luther King and Apple
Dr. King gave his famous I have a dream speech. He didn't call it his I have a 12 point plan speech. We follow inspirational leaders and organizations not for them but for ourselves.

Time for Apple to release a 25th anniversary Mac
The Mac turns 25 this year. And Super Bowl Sunday would be the perfect (symbolically, at least) time for Apple to run an ad for a 25th anniversary Mac.

Home Party Marketing - Podcasts & Podcasting : The Best Way To Promote Yourself

Home party companies place many restrictions on their home party consultants when it comes to marketing! When one considers the competition that is out there relative to party plan companies, it is a wonder that home party consultants are still going strong. At the end of the day in order to qualify for that commission check you must make direct sales, which translate to individual volume and personal volume. So what is a direct sales consultant to do? May I recommend podcasting?

Finding Hot Products That People Really, Really Want
You’ve got your new business up and running but no one seems to be buying from you? Are you sure that you are selling stuff that people want? There are ways to ensure that what you are selling is what people actually want.

Why I No Longer Have a Cell Phone
I have grown up with technology, dating back to the earliest Apple computers in the late 70′s. I have also grown up with cell phones, those used-to-be giant plastic things you tried to hold in your hand. I have been through more cell phones and cell phone companies that I can remember.

Value Selling: Getting Customers to Buy at a Higher Price
Because customers often use price as the dominant factor in a sales negotiation, sales pros need to demonstrate that sometimes the higher price is actually a better solution — a higher value. Here’s how asking the right questions and utilizing value-added selling techniques can help salespeople satisfy their customers without getting themselves cornered on price issues.

Selling is Not Politics: Going Negative in Sales May Destroy Results and Reputation
With the USA presidential campaigns in full swing, salespeople may be tempted to sell negatively. But do politics and selling both get the same results from going negative?

How Organized is Your Business? Part 2
Yesterday I asked you how organized your business was. Did you consider your answer? Today I'll share a thought on how you can move yourself to a business more organized. Write Your Processes Down!

Conflict Of Closure
This Brief article discusses the issue of fear in closing the sale.

If You’re Not Selling . . .
Are you working hard, but not getting the results you want? If you’re a professional salesperson and you’re not selling, checkout these tips.

Why Should I Buy it From YOU
When you can tell people why they should hire you or use your services in a way that distinguishes you from the other sweet, juicy red apples, you'll get more business.

Salespersons Elevator Pitch What Direction is it Going

Salespeople often hear the importance of an elevator speech in business, or it may be called a 60 second sales pitch. It might seem sad to think salespeople have reduced themselves to sound bytes like this in doing business, but then again, selling today stretches our communication abilities. For salespeople, an attractive elevator speech is a must have to connect in a way so that the customer knows whether you are focused on them or yourself.

Improve Usability of Your Website
A mailing list is the lifeblood of your online business. The old adage "the money is in the list" cannot be true enough -- if you had a targeted list of prospects to contact each time you have a new product, you will be able to save a lot of effort by marketing it to your existing list of targeted prospects.

EQ Matters in The Global Economy
Apple, Southwest Airlines, Google, Infosys, Disney, Whole Foods, Fed Ex and others are systematically “mining” the workforce in search of emotionally intelligent diamonds.

Inspiration From Steve Jobs:Keep Doing What You Love

Do u know steve jobs was fired from his own company (Apple)when it was about to mark its 10th year??He became a public failure. Media was mad after him.For that moment he didn't knew what to do?All his dreams suddenly shattered. Summing up I would say he was again "No one". After all this, Today Steve Jobs is the CEO of Apple Inc. So, here's the inspirational story of how he reached to that position

Destined or Doomed?
Jobs, Gates, Buffett, Turner, Wynn, Trump. Household names associated with very successful companies. Were there signs early on that foretold their future empires? This article offers a unique look at the names behind the men.

Strategy Based on Innovation
One of the most important topics that I discuss with C-level leadership is strategic planning for business growth.

Business Growth Begins With your Employees
Would governments be as despised by their citizens if they actually helped their citizens and tried to meet or exceed their expectations?

How to Grow Your Future-Focus - You Can See Forever
I loved reading Steve Job’s biography and have recommended it to many of my clients and friends. I was so inspired by his focus and passion. Mr. Job’s driven and perfectionistic personality motivated him to achieve greatness. Steve Job’s creativity and genius for creating products that invent the future is so inspiring. Oh Wow!

Macworld/iWorld -- It's The Event, Not the Tradeshow

This year's Macworld made us feel like we were visiting an old and ailing relative in the hospital. You felt obliged to go but didn't really like it because you remember when they were younger, more vital. Macworld/iWorld may not be close to drawing its final breath but a lot of rethinking, repositioning, investment will have to take place to make it a new, exciting, vital event. There's a place for it in the business world but someone will have to rethink what the iPhone, iPad, Mac system(s) are beyond neat devices to carry around and show off your latest game download.

Macworld/iWorld -- It's The Event, Not the Tradeshow

Apple MacBook Pro Adopts the Attributes of MacBook Air
Report said that Apple is going to remove the optical drive from MacBook pro and use flash memory instead of the hard drive. Is this mean that Apple will cut the MacBook Pro product line and put all his effort to produce MacBook Air? Read my article and share you points.

How OS Travel Buttons (iTravel, Google Travel) Will Change the Mobile Travel Landscape
This article discusses how the emergence of travel buttons on smartphones from major players such as Apple, Google and BlackBerry will transform the mobile travel experience.

Glimpses of Today, Tomorrow from the Past
People used to worry about burning their bridges when they left a job...now they use napalm! Now folks have social media and if they're ticked they fire volleys everyone can see and snicker at. It's humorous as long as they're not shooting at you: - do you still abuse your significant other? - are you really in business only for money?

Starting A Movement With Your Business, Gimmick or Genuis?
Business is no longer just about selling stuff. Customers want to have meaning behind the brand. Starting a movement with your business isn’t a side thing you do to draw attention, it’s a complete shift in how you interact with your customers and what you give back to your industry & community.

Going Against the Social Crowd IS the Secret to Success
Don't try to be the next Facebook but only better. Be the leader that everyone else tries to mimic. To be a copycat is easy, it takes boldness to invent something that doesn't exist. Being in business sometimes means you forge your own trails instead of following the ones well traveled.

Want Data Privacy…Get Off the Computer
People increasingly worry about identity and content/data privacy. Your information is already out there. Learn how to limit giving "them" more information about yourself.

DRM Keeping the Treasure Hidden or Opening the Mountain
DRM -- digital rights management -- is an important concern to everyone in the content industry, whether you develop it, distribute it or simply use it. Good DRM properly developed and executed can enhance the value of your content. Done poorly it can diminish the value.

Premium Apple App Store? Mac App Store?
There are rumors that Apple is planning on introducing a “premium” section on the Apple App Store for selling more expensive third-party programs. I think the idea has some merit.

Study: 2.5 million U.S., Canadian Households ready to buy an Internet-connected TV
There have been rumors that Apple plans to release its own television set later this year. I’m dubious, though I’d like to see it, along with a real beefing up of the Apple TV. However, if Apple did make theie own television, they’d probably want to have built-in Internet access.

iWoz A Geek: The Early Years of Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak
He might not be as well known as the ‘other’ Steve, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, but Steve Wozniak had just as much impact on the computer industry as we know it today. From designing over 50 mini-computers on paper in school, to founding Apple I and Apple II in the mid-1970s, Wozniak’s passion for the technology has forever changed the way the world does business.

Why Apple is the "Apple" of Tech
Why does Apple continue to dominate the market despite growing competition daily? Because they are "Apple" and no one else is.

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