Save time, do it half ass’d

September 1st, 2010

And fail.

Doing things well is an attitude. It is about consistency and the refusal to be sub par.

A hole-in-one to the weekend golfer is worthy of a mass email out, a bunch of phone calls and a reason to get drunk(er). But he still ends up shooting 20 over par and gets upset.

A hole-in-one to the professional golfer is enjoyable but it probably only saved him one stroke – no big deal. He shoots 10 under and is satisfied.

The professional is not surprised. The weekend golfer is. Neither should be.

The professional has given himself the time to be exceptional. The weekend golfer hasn’t.

Being exceptional takes practise. Without it, it is merely potential.

Validity

August 28th, 2010

If a competitor starts offering a lower price than you do, there is only a problem if the products are identical.

What difference are you offering? Why should I pay more for your product?

Sometimes, the introduction of a cheaper alternative helps us identify the point of difference in what we are actually offering (or perhaps that we need to create one).

A lower priced competitor may actually eccentuate your quality, expertise, service, experience.

Sometimes we think we want cheaper. What we  really want is better value.

Bait advertising

August 24th, 2010

Sometimes bait advertising is quite legitimately accidental. Sometimes quite intentionally, it is not.

With modern business all about engaging your public, letting them get to know you, being transparent and being accessible, why would you intentionally aim to p*ss them off?