Week of May 11, 2009

Hey everyone, here we go. . . . . .

 

IN OUR WORLD

 

Just off the plane from Atlanta where I had another fantastic class of sales professionals to work with.  I taught a revised version of Interpersonal Communication skills.  As you know my style is very unusual driven on a multimedia / interactive delivery.  People love to learn this way.

 

The weekend was great as a bunch of family spent time in Fayetteville to celebrate Colin’s graduation from the University of Arkansas.  What a proud time for parents.  Fayetteville is a wonderful college town.  It was a perfect fit for Colin.

 

It’s thunderstorm time in Dallas and thinking your flight will get anywhere on time is a fools position.  Be ready to hunker down with a good book and your tunes. Yesterday we left the gate in Atlanta only to turn around and wait 2 ½ hours for the storms to clear in Dallas.

 

Next week it’s off to Minneapolis to teach a custom designed class on thinking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HEY, YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER –CREATIVEVENTURE

 

AND ON FACEBOOK – STEPHEN HARVILL!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

 

In touch times, when fear is the driving emotion, you need to tap into the power of the “touch”.  Now is the time people are looking for connections, for ways to feel involved and part of your relationship.  This is the time to cement your relationships and push your sphere of influence outward.  The formula for this plan is surprisingly simple and, if managed correctly, not very time consuming.

• Soft Touches:  Sit down on a designated night each week and write 5 – 10 HANDWRITTEN notes.  The power of this simple task is amazing.  People open a different sized envelope with their name handwritten before they open anything else in their mailbox.  Let your clients know that you are a valuable resource to them and available to help in any way they deem appropriate.
• Newsletter:  Create a simple newsletter that you can send to your clients that gives them some industry insight as well as a little fun.  Make it visual and not just text.  This pushes your influence further into their world.
• Social Networks:  I know, I know, you hear about FaceBook, Twitter, LinkedIn and so on, but think it will be a pain in the butt to do, but that’s not true.  With a simple little management plan, you can become a player in the world of social communities.  Their power is increasing exponentially.  You may think your clients are not involved in this silly viral behavior and that may be true.  If so those are your customers of TODAY.  Your customers of tomorrow are as comfortable in the world of social networks as you are in your favorite pair of jeans.

 

Don’t go silent when fear is in the air.  It provides you an opportunity to stay connected and INCREASE the equity of your relationships.

 

 

 

ENTERTAINMENT

 

 

MOVIES:    Angels and Demons:   The summer hits just keep on coming.  I loved this book and early buzz says it is way better than The DaVinci Code.  Star Trek was as good a movie as I have seen all year.  Is there a more valuable entertainment franchise than Star Trek?  There have been 6 television shows, 11 feature films, countless conventions,  books, video games, comics and a serious cult following.

 

NetFlix Fans:  The Wrath of Khan:   This is the second of the Star Trek films and one of the best with William Shatner as Kirk.  A lot of homage was paid to this film in the new JJ Abrams movie. 

 

TV:    Hanging around the History Network and you will find just about everything you want to know about WWII.  There is a series of shows now playing that are fantastic.

 

BOOKS:  How to Really Stink at Work   – By Foxworthy and Hartt.  I have only read excerpts of the book, but they made me laugh. 

 

MUSIC:   I am a huge Randy Newman fan and this is one of my favorite tunes by the king of movie and theme music.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jiLL2d-alc     

 

WEB SITES:   A fantastic web site resource for some of the best leadership and management trends.

 

 

www.coachingourselves.com  

 

 

SOUTH OF NORMAL

 

Some stuff I noticed:

• All states are looking for some new revenue sources but come on you guys at the Lone Star State Senate; a new tax on nude dancers that falls under the Occupation Tax structure.  They call it the “stripper tax”.  As John Prine said; “I knew that topless lady had something up her sleeve.”

 

• Sikhs serving in the UK police force are looking to develop a bulletproof turban so that they can meet the requirement to wear protective headgear of the force’s armed response units without having to break their religious prohibition not to remove them.

 

• This summer AirTran will be offering the internet on all their flights.  WOW.  During the same week the adult entertainment industry put together a fly and buy package.  Ain’t capitalism wonderful?

 

 

Hold on tight with all of your might

You know it takes the time it takes to get it right.

Tony Lucca

 

 

Drop me a note with your comments at steve@creativeventures.com

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by and until next time, Adios and Aloha.