Giving in the age of annoyance
The nonstop flood of emails I’m receiving daily continues, touting every book development and marketing service imaginable. Dozens of these arrive in my mailbox every...
Ask Mr. Marketing
AI works best when it assists, rather than replaces
In 1974 I witnessed a 3-year-old girl receiving a calculator as a gift. I suggested it was a disservice, as the girl couldn’t already do...
Killing sales with tasteless promotions
Labor Day’s behind us, and retailers are promoting themselves with tie-ins to the fall holidays. Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Halloween are all coming up soon. Seemingly...
Rats in my belfry!
My condo complex has rounded roof tiles, each of which provides an entry point for rats. So for five years we’ve had critters doing the...
How much is your time worth?
I was raised to believe you do everything possible to be at an appointment on time. Running late? Call ASAP and give that person the...
Learn to spell your company’s name
Would you buy from someone who couldn’t spell their company’s name? After all, the company’s name is your brand and identity. It connects to your...
The sad house lacking curb appeal
We just spent two weeks in Massachusetts, attending a wedding and visiting friends we hadn’t seen in years. Along the way we visited a home...
Please hate my books, Mr. President
Millions hang on Donald Trump’s every word, so I want him to hate my books. When a powerful public figure criticizes an author, the discussion...
Dealing with problem customers
We’ve all had difficult customers: demanding, obnoxious, late-paying folk who tempt you to pull out a baseball bat. Admittedly, their money’s as good as anyone...
Big mouths are probably losing business
Let’s begin with a few assumptions: You shouldn’t discuss politics in business settings We live in a fractured society LinkedIn has over 1.1 billion members...
Working for your breakfast
Today is the 20th anniversary of my writing this column, and folks regularly ask how I come up with new material every week. Simply put,...
Why listen to your customers?
In late 1985, I wrote to Ben Cohen, president of Ben & Jerry’s, complaining about their Pralines & Cream ice cream. I’d had bad luck...
What successful businesses have in common
You’ve probably heard that marketing is the lifeblood of commerce. So why do so many companies that miss their sales goals see their marketing budgets...
Happy 35th anniversary, Holly Bishop!
Some businesses survive by being big. Others are the lowest-cost providers. The best ones survive because people trust them. Take Bishop Insurance Service, for example,...
How I almost got scammed
I like to think I’m an intelligent guy. I read everything I can, earned a couple of college degrees, and pay attention to the world...