The Best Profession!

Posted by scottvandam in Marketing on July 15, 2010

Image by RandomESHG on Flickr

I love the Sales and Marketing profession. I’ve been in the game for 15 years.

No other career gives an individual the freedom, flexibility and reward than Sales.  A sales colleague of mine likened the sales profession to being the chairman of the board, general sales manager, chief financial officer, executive vice president, janitor and chief cook.  In short being a sales professional gives you the independence of being your own boss.

Yet sales professionals are big problems for customers, prospects, bosses, and spouses.  They are cussed at parties, gossiped about behind closed doors, miss family time, travel a lot, work long hours, work flexible hours.  Sales people make a lot of noise, they interrupt, make mistakes, listen to complaints, respond positively to grievances and sometimes waste peoples time.

Yet no profession moves more freight, loads & unloads more ocean liners, freight trains and transport trucks, introduce new products, open new factories and keep the wheels of the economy rolling than any other profession.

I am proud to be a Sales Professional.

, ,

1 Comment

Leadership: Create Conditions in Which Others Generate Great Ideas

Posted by scottvandam in Musings on June 15, 2010

I read a tweet this evening that inspired me to share a video I watched last night.  Sally Hogshead from her Twitter account reminded both her followers and myself that:

“Your job as a leader is not to have great ideas, but to create conditions in which *others* have great ideas.” ~Sir Ken #taom

The vehicle to accomplish this is through effective communication.

Whether you are a leader in business, government, a ministry or a not-for-profit the most important job you have as a leader is to communicate.  How leaders listen, engage, speak, take action and model behaviour has a direct impact on how the front line interacts with the customer, how engaged partners get results, and customers make recommendations on your offerings.

Social Media is giving leaders an unparalled opportunity to listen, engage, speak and take action.  The following video is living proof of this by way of Michael Hyatt’s explanation of how he leverages social media to lead and earn influence with his employees, customers, stakeholders and partners at Thomas Nelson Publishing.  Have a listen as to what he has to say at the Christian Leadership Alliance Annual conference in San Diego last year.

How Can Christian Leaders Get Started with Social Media? from Michael Hyatt on Vimeo.

Let me know what you think!

, ,

No Comments

UnPlug and Read a Book

Posted by scottvandam in Musings on May 15, 2010

I’m linking to Michael Hyatt today and his post on defending books.  Reading a good old fashioned book is one of the best ways to wind down, imagine, dream, contemplate, explore, expand and learn.  So turn off the TV, close the laptop lid and shelve the blackberry.  The experience is most therapeutic!

On my reading list this month is a good mix of economics, politics, religion, business and technology.

The Post American World by Fareed Zakaria

The Armageddon Factor – The Rise of Christian Nationalism in Canada by Marci Mcdonald

Behind the Cloud by Marc Benoiff

No Comments

Information Technology in the 13th Century

Posted by scottvandam in Technology on April 28, 2010

Often when we think of the history of Information Technology we consider the Gutenberg Printing Press. It was in fact the first time that content could be reproduced at a rapid pace.

13rh Century Clock - Photo care of RockN on Flickr

But what about Clocks?  As both a lover of history and technology I found myself pondering if the invention of the clock in 13th Century Europe is an example of an early Information Technology development.  The clock has allowed us to use information and accurately record and monitor what we do.

Here is a brief list of other benefits of the clock:

  • Accurately tell time and depend less on the sun and moon
  • Provide the possibility to order our day
  • Measure the cost of labor more effectively
  • Track the number of hours that go into a specific project

The clock gave us information that allowed us to make time a measurable value and it altered history forever.

What other older taken for granted Information technologies can you think of?

,

No Comments

Silicon Halton Interview

Posted by scottvandam in Technology on March 25, 2010

I was interviewed by Silicon Halton recently talking about why Waggware does business in Burlington, Ontario and why it is important to get involved with your local community business groups.

For the full post click here

,

1 Comment

Abstract Statements

Posted by scottvandam in Marketing on March 9, 2010

Abstract statements are simple statements that communicate the core values and mission of a business.  Here are some of my favorites:

UPS – “Enabling Global Commerce”

South West Airlines “The Low cost Airline”

All State “Your in Good Hands with All State”

Avis “We Try Harder”

Well designed abstract statements help managers & employees drive decisions and align efforts toward a common goal.  Simple abstract statements are effective.  Effective abstract statements turn into concrete statements that lead to successful sales campaigns, happy customers and consistent service delivery.

,

No Comments

Concrete Is the Opposite of Abstract

Posted by scottvandam in Musings on March 8, 2010

I’ve been reading “Made to Stick” by Chip & Dan Heath and I’m considering the idea of concreteness.

Concreteness is the opposite of abstract.  An abstract statement sounds something like my personal computer has high performance on the other hand a concrete statement sounds more like my personal computer has a 2.13 GHz processor.  Being abstract is important if you are the commander of an Army and you require military dominance in a given region.  However it’s the commanders on the ground that tranlslate that abstract statement and make it concrete (actionable)  “Prepare a shipment of munitions, position troops at the border, and send in the fighter jets”.  The troops need instructions to win the battle and the commanders need abstraction to win the war.

What’s more important abstraction or being concrete to winning? In what context do you use a concrete or abstract statement?  I’ll share my thoughts over the course of the next few days.

,

1 Comment

Me: Simple & Concrete

Posted by scottvandam in Marketing on March 6, 2010

My attendance at the Art of Marketing Conference in Toronto this week and reading Chip & Dan Heath’s “Made To Stick” book has inspired me to update my about page here on my blog.  It is my effort to make my messaging more simple and concrete.

No Comments

Augmented Reality

Posted by scottvandam in Technology on January 16, 2010

Nan Palmero over at http://www.nanpalmero.com reminded me how much the world is changing with the power of technology.  Perhaps you are touring around Toronto and want more information on the CN Tower.  Take a picture of it and let wikitude download data from Wikipedia and learn the date it was built, why it was built and how it was built.

Did you just attend an interesting lecture and want more information on the speaker?  Take a picture of him/her and use face.com to learn more about him/her from his social networks.

Be blown away and check out Nan’s post over here. Join the conversation on his blog on whether this technology is fun or will push the end to our sense of privacy?

,

No Comments

Reflect On The Past & Looking Forward To The Future

Posted by scottvandam in Musings on January 3, 2010

Tomorrow marks a return to a normal routine of work, taking kids to school and the various community projects I’m involved with.  Despite the holidays being very busy I managed to take a few moments to quietly read, reflect and journal about the past year and look ahead to the new year.  I’m sharing a few posts that I found inspiring and practical to apply in my personal, professional and spiritual life.

, ,

No Comments