Question

Topic: Other

Handcuffs, Chains & Ropes--do U Have Escape Plans?

Posted by Deremiah *CPE on 4/4/2007 at 12:17 AM ET 2269 Points
THE MOST MARVELOUS FEAT EVER ATTEMPTED IN THIS OR ANY OTHER AGE BEGINS RIGHT NOW WITH YOU!

Hi, my name is Deremiah, *CPE and I would like to become your friend. Beginning today and ONLY for the next THREE business days I will be asking the most *** intriguing questions*** you have ever heard me ask on this forum.

While I speak motivationally and have great relationships with the Nightingale-Conant family my life goal is to provide more opportunities for children than anyone you've ever heard of in this or any other age. So that means I'm going to need your help and there's a whole lot in it for you. Shoot me an email right now. Thanks!

Now I personally invite you, every friend, family member or Marketingprofs Expert to be my special guess for the NEXT MOST EXCITING ---THREE DAYS--- of your life!

The questions I will ask will spread across many categories in hopes to get you to the state of mind you will need to be in to answer the FINAL QUESTION this Friday, April 6th, 2007 @ --6:09 PM Sharp-- Central Time.

I can not say this enough...Each question is somehow connected to the other so if you miss one (I hope you don't) there will be a DIS-CONNECT in how you SEE the final question. Of course it is my prayer that YOU WILL not MISS one single question because it will be equal to trying to answer something you have not prepared for.

Many people will not participate because most people lack the ability to

*** KEEP FOCUSED ***.

And this is the primary reason why most people fail (but I've been quite successful). Because in order to succeed in anything

*** FOCUS *** is required.

I will try to make this part easy ---by making the questions mean so much more to you in content, personal value and points--- but I have not decided how I will reward those points so PLEASE give your best answers and to heck with everybody else. Go for yours!

SO HERE WE GO with the THIRD most amazing question.

Are you SLEEP?!!! Stop! contact one other person right now!

THE SET-UP:
A good friend of mine and a guy who left an amazing legacy of tremendous records/successes named Benjamin Franklin left us a rich legacy.

This legacy is the -( Junta )-. An amazing group of skilled craftsmen, workers and businessmen who helped each other out by sharing valuable answers to questions never asked before by a group of people.

What made Benjamin Franklin's Junta so spectacular was their ability to practice sales pitches and share huge volumes of insight with one another based on others successes and failures. Well today you and I have the same amazing opportunity to right now form a Junta right here!

And the power of our group will revolve around the answers each one of us gives away about the ESCAPE PLANS we use to get out of our most trouble some delimmas.

Well write what you really feel and say what you really mean. No two answers will be alike. At the end I'll share some of my own experiences and I'll let you glean from the wisdom I Depart but first share your wisdom. Here's your chance Starring (YOU).

HANDCUFFS, CHAINS & ROPES--DO U HAVE ESCAPE PLANS?

Hi you,

you're probably wondering what is Deremiah, *CPE cooking up now. Well I'll tell you in a minute but first we got to deal with the amazing ideas in this question. If you've been following us closely you know this is question #3.

So if you're wondering what do HANDCUFFS, CHAINS and ROPES have to do with Marketing, Branding, Sales or taking care of the Customer? All I can say is you've got a legitimate question.

But think about it...

How many of your friends in this day and age are HANDCUFFED to ---inflexible--- Marketing Plans, CHAINED to the ---same old Branding & Sales techniques--- or just ridiculously ROPED up by ---"Unmotivated Customers"---.

WELL If this is YOU, a friend, a boss, or if for a moment you feel like business partners have you in a bogus REGULATION STRAIT JACKET, yep the kind used on the Muderous Insane...then it's time for you to get an outrageous "ESCAPE PLAN" for your situation.

now on with the questions ( but you only get to choose to answer at least 1 out of the three )...


1.) Have you ever been HANDCUFFED to an ---inflexible--- Marketing Plan by your boss or other business partners? You know the kind that just offers more restrictions than solutions. If you have please explain HOW you created an ESCAPE PLAN that got you out of this delimma.

2.) What about CHAINED to the ---same old Branding & Sales techniques--- by guess who? Your boss or other business partners. If you can identify with one of these save us all some heart ache and misery by showing us HOW you created an ESCAPE PLAN that got you out? You never know...your ideas may revolutionize other peoples thinking. Maybe even your own.

3.) Have you ever for one moment been just ridiculously ROPED up by ---"Unmotivated Customers"?--- Let us know how you escaped.


You can only chose one answer from above and you must explain or communicate why you feel the "ESCAPE PLAN" you used will work for others.

You might even give an example to support why you feel so confident in your answer.

NOTE: (this question will not be up longer than *** 69 hours ***... so please after you answer the question notify at least one marketingprof friend to take a shot).

Thank you so much. You're such a wonderful, amazing precious human being. Never let anyone ever convince you of anything different. And if they think differently tell them "What you think about me is none of my business". Is there anything else I can do for you? You know more than anything I'd love to help. Serving customers like you is so wonderful!!!

Is there anything I can do for you?

Your Servant,

Deremiah, *CPE (Customer Passionate Executive)

*Caring Promotes Exuberance

PS
REMEMBER... our only real problem in life is our failure to be "MORE Creative" than we’ve ever been. If you “Invent” your opportunity YOU WILL most definitely create your future.
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by michael on 4/4/2007 at 7:24 AM Accepted
    Deremiah,

    Not sure if it fits under 1 or 3. A company I worked for had hired me to reach a certain market, yet they dedicated less than 1% of their marketing budget to reach them.

    The strange part was that every sales meeting started out with "our primary strategy will be to reach/get more of the xyz market." In a sense I was handcuffed to a marketing plan that did not reach across the aisle. (for those of you in Chicago, think white sox fans vs cubs fans)

    I told no one, even my boss, and started a guerilla campaign designed to increase the business quickly. The key was to have NEW business on the books to offset the slap on the wrist I was bound to receive when they found out I was doing things they'd never done. (They weren't real big on risk taking...I am)

    To this day, their sales people still do this; they still don't have a marketing budget for the segment; they still look at it with a wary eye; sales are still up; they still have the same "focus" to increase that market.

    So, did I create a problem by not NOT performing? Should I have forced the issue by failing in order to show I needed funds and/or a new campaign? I'd submit they don't need the funds their using in their major market...but that's me.

    Thanks for making us FOCUS.

    Michael
  • Posted by NovaHammer on 4/4/2007 at 8:36 AM Accepted
    Chained you say.....

    Coaching has reminded me that the parameters of the game/playing field always apply but as I've told my team.... If you can't get in the front door try the back or even a window metaphorically speaking.

    some chains allow more latitude, work with what you have, just look at things from another angle.....

    ....the Easter Egg is said to be an alllegory suggesting the tomb of Jesus, a stone to some with no apparent life within but with time things change.

    Happy Easter!
  • Posted on 4/4/2007 at 9:51 AM Accepted
    Funny you should mention this topic. I have issues with all three but this one in particular.
    1.) Have you ever been HANDCUFFED to an ---inflexible--- Marketing Plan by your boss or other business partners? You know the kind that just offers more restrictions than solutions. If you have please explain HOW you created an ESCAPE PLAN that got you out of this delimma.

    We had a marketing plan that was ridiculously stale and frankly absurd. We had been sending out postcards each week to our mailing list for years. We would send a newsletter once in awhile that literally looked like a 14 year old played with clipart for a school project. Nothing else. No advertisements. No magazines. Nothing. We didn't even have a tag line or updated logo. Our website looked like something from the 80's and we didn't even have internet then. I went to him time and time again and to no avail, I was shunned because all of the marketing that we had been doing was successful. (Mind you just because once in awhile during client visits, we would see some worker with our ugly dog postcard that has a headache posted to their cubicle.) Guess what? The decision maker could care less!

    What worked. Obviously since I am younger, and that it was my idea to make changes, this was not going to work with my Alpha Male boss. So I did my own newsletter and took it took him and said, "Last week in our meeting I heard you say, that you wanted something very professional and almost attorney firm like in our advertisements. So I did a little newsletter and wanted to know if this is what you had in mind?" It worked!!! It was now his idea. From that moment on, I sent him articles on marketing and branding to copywriting and PR campaigns. I bought html for dummies and Flash MX hands on training and did our website. Currently, we have been advertising fools and have increased revenues like you wouldn't believe.

    Now that is a successful action!

    Promo Chic
  • Posted on 4/4/2007 at 1:15 PM Accepted
    I'll start wqith more wisdom I've heard over the years.

    1. Never try to "blow-dry" a cat.

    2. If someone offers you a mint, you should take it.

    Frankly, can I call you Frank? I don't know which to answer so I'll just add that I "do it by getting to it."

    Sometimes the plan is the plan and others know more and have more experience than you do - so you just do your best and learn from it. I have had more success by having an open mind and asking intelligent questions hoping to learn rather than complaining about the restrictions imposed by someone in the know. They have their reasons and when phrase a concern in the form of a question, you are not attacking, just asking.

    Thanks again for the thought provoking questions!!
  • Posted by Deremiah *CPE on 4/4/2007 at 4:22 PM Author
    Hi Kathy,

    got your email and THINK what you do in the area of children is quite "phenomenal" to say the least.

    So you chose 3 "being Ridiculously Roped up by ---"Unmotivated Customers".

    I hear you girl, "Unmotivated Customers" can be TOUGH to escape from and the way I do it everyday is just proprietary knowledge..."and if I told you".........I'd have to put you in a "Strait Jacket"!

    Good news is we've got a lot in common. Benjamin Franklin had the Junta and we've got

    "The Marketingprof *** PRISON BREAKERS ***"

    let's make the "Unmotivated Customers" MOTIVATED.

    Measuring a customers perceived interest for any particular product is always of great use. Thanks again Kathysmithcasting. I'm here for you. Is there anything else I can do for you?

    Your Servant,

    Deremiah, *CPE
  • Posted by mgoodman on 4/6/2007 at 10:20 AM Accepted
    Q3.) Have you ever for one moment been just ridiculously ROPED up by ---"Unmotivated Customers"?--- Let us know how you escaped.

    When I encounter an "unmotivated customer," I always assume that either he/she is the wrong customer for me, or that I haven't identified the right need.

    Marketing isn't pushing what you have at unsuspecting victims (called "customers"). It's satisfying their unmet needs in a way that will guarantee a sale for you. It's a win/win encounter.

    When the customer is "unmotivated," I need to consider whether the customer is really a legitimate prospect for what I offer, and/or whether I've identified an important need for that customer.

    That's my escape plan. It doesn't have to do with "motivating" the customer. It has to do with satisfying an important need in a way that will make us both winners.


  • Posted by Deremiah *CPE on 4/6/2007 at 8:55 PM Author
    Hi Michael, (handcuffed and roped up)

    very interesting story. It appears they needed what you may have offered and yes I would have pushed the campaign for more funding or a new campaign. Thanks for your answer and participation.

    Your Servant,

    Deremiah, *CPE (Customer Passion Evangelist)
  • Posted by telemoxie on 4/8/2007 at 1:21 PM Accepted
    regarding being, "CHAINED to the ---same old Branding & Sales techniques" - my personal approach is to work in small prepaid blocks of time. The good news is that this has allowed me to escape "long term contracts" with folks who may prefer those '... same old..." techniques, and it allows a certain creative freedom in marketing for my customers. The bad news is that most of my projects are small and underfunded.
  • Posted by Deremiah *CPE on 4/8/2007 at 4:50 PM Author
    Hi Telemoxie,

    great input for those who want to avoid the CHAINED up scenario. Do the small blocks of time and avoid the long term CHAINED experience you get when you deal with clients but learn from the bad news part also.

    The small blocks are like playing leggos and this gives you an opportunity to make small changes quickly while moving in directions that big corporations have trouble doing. Thanks!

    Your Servant,

    Deremiah, *CPE (Customer Passion Evangelist)

    Caring Promotes Exuberance
  • Posted by steven.alker on 4/8/2007 at 4:51 PM Accepted
    Dear Deremiah

    By shear luck (I’d like to boast that it was skill, but it was luck) I busted the chains of 1 and 3 at the same time.

    I used to be Sales Director of a sizeable electronics company. Our customers were unmotivated because we consistently failed to deliver what they wanted – delivery times, service, quality, reliability or even turning up on time to carry out a demonstration.

    I was hired to cure all the sales and marketing ills, little realising that the board were paying lip-service to every fine sentiment I uttered to them. What’s worse, they were allowing me to dupe my sales team who gave me 100% to turn round an ailing operation. The people who ran the company couldn’t have caused a fire in a phosphorus factory if they were professional arsonists! They couldn’t get their manufacturing act together to the extent that 60% of our products became illegal under new legislation one January, whilst the other 40% vanished into the middle distance of long-deliveries in an impatient market.

    The company was a recent management buy-out, backed by the venture capital funds and I was a shareholder, so I must have believed in the future. I stuck to my guns, stuck by my sales people and got them to do the best that they could whilst moving mountains to get the core problem sorted.

    So they sacked me! It was easy – my team couldn’t make target because we abruptly didn’t have anything to sell. So I had to sell my shares and here’s where the luck kicked in. I had a call from the company’s brokers to say that they had found a buyer for my shares and that it was the group company secretary. Out of interest, he wanted to know why, “The first real sales director they’d had in 12 years was leaving?”

    I politely said that I didn’t want to trouble a stockbroker with my career problems. He said that I’d misunderstood his position, sure he was a stockbroker, but he also represented the owners, the venture capital funds, where he was a director. “What’s going on?” he pressed.

    So I had the opportunity to tell him about the catalogue of mismanagement I’d unearthed. He was stunned. The owners knew nothing of this. Two weeks later, I was handsomely compensated for my shares and I got another phone call from the owners. They’d fired the entire board, did I know anyone who would like to go back and run the outfit.

    They finally got the company that the customers and the staff deserved – all through that chance phone call and my poor understanding of corporate politics. I didn’t go back as invited – I’m not cut out to be an MD and I’d already started my own company, but the friendships I made amongst their staff remain until this day. Even now, the sales team will offer to buy me a drink if they see me at a show – boy I must have been a lousy sales director – surely they are meant to want to poison me!

    Best wishes

    Steve Alker
    Unimax Solutions

  • Posted by Deremiah *CPE on 4/11/2007 at 4:49 PM Author
    Stevea,

    that's an interesting Chain Buster and hand cuff ripper of a story you're sharing. Thanks for putting that one out there where we all could receive something tangible.

    In suttle but powerful ways I believe all of the stories listed above are changing the lives of everyone involved. THANKS again Stevea and watch what happens next!

    Your Servant,

    Deiemiah, *CPE (Customer Passion Evangelist)

    Caring Promotes Exuberance
  • Posted by Deremiah *CPE on 4/13/2007 at 7:26 AM Author
    Hi you,

    YEZ!! YOU MOST CERTAINLY HAVE...

    you have become a member of:

    "BREAKING THE HANDCUFFS, CHAINS AND ROPES" CLUB.

    Starting tomorrow for the next 10 days you will have the amazing opportunity of a life time...This will be a one time ONLY deal. I will make my email account on my profile available to you. What can you do with my email account? You can have Free access to us building a stronger relationship and even participating in the "NEW JUNTA"...BREAKING THE HANDCUFFS, CHAINS AND ROPES Club.

    Well thanks everybody for your special time and your GREAT energy. Is there anything else I can do for YOU?

    Your Servant,

    Deremiah, *CPE (Customer Passionate Evangelist)

    *Caring Promotes Exuberance!
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