Jul
27
Kill Your Darlings
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In the last couple months, since my last post on this blog, I have signed up for Twitter. @genemccubbin is my Twitter username. Twitter is a micro-blog and quite addictive. A combination of voyeurism and exhibitionism in one. Perfect for my slightly, occasionally, not-so-normal mind. Also, even more perfect for the occasional blogger like me who hates formatting, spell checking, adding pictures and all the other mundane blogging requirements (sorry WordPress, alas you still fail me). So…my desired blogging rundown of a vacation I took six months ago has gotten stale and old and I have lost interest. My intention then is to “Kill My Darlings,” as the oft misquoted writer’s statement attributed to William Faulkner would dictate, and give a super fast synopsis so I can move on to more interesting posts (or at least more relevant to this month). Final summary of trip follows…then this baby is dead:
May
1
Decadent French Toast & Experiential Value
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Continuing the journey…we drove from San Francisco to Sonoma and stayed at a great little bed and breakfast called the Sonoma Orchard Inn. Where we ate Decadent French Toast & learned about Experiential Value.
Apr
22
Indian Land
Filed Under Miscellaneous, Entrepreneurism, Management, Leadership, Sales | 1 Comment
My wife and I recently took the kids on a two week driving trip through California. Along the way I decided to try and find something noteworthy to write about, along the key topics on which I dispense alleged wisdom (sales, leadership, management, & entrepreneurism). So..although I am fashionably late in crafting this prose, what follows are interesting posts and tidbits that I outlined on my blackberry while on our journey. Today’s topic… Indian Land.
So the story goes like this… Read more
Nov
10
How to Think & Act Like a Loser
Filed Under Miscellaneous, Entrepreneurism, Management, Leadership, Sales | 9 Comments
I love people sometimes; they come up with every possible excuse and self justification for their own actions. Usually focused on how somebody else’s actions or thoughts are the REAL reason they turned into a sloppy, irresponsible, broke jerk wad. So…I decided to sum up some of the more effective methods of thinking and acting like a loser. The next ten steps are not in any particular order, you can choose any combination of the ten below in order to prove to the world how awesome at NOT being awesome you really are:
Aug
25
Completing the list ~ The 9th and 10th rules.
Filed Under Miscellaneous, Entrepreneurism, Management, Leadership, Sales | 3 Comments
I’ve taken way too long to list out ten simple rules…but here are the last two. I’m currently at the San Jose Search Engine Strategies Conference and about to attend the Google Dance…so I gotta type fast…Mecca calls (at least for my industry). Remember, these were in order of task completion or at least as you will become aware of the issue they address as your business evolves from wild-ass idea to something you can pass on to your kids (or dog if you are a loner): Read more
Aug
4
5, 6, 7, 8…Who do you Appreciate?
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Your people…that’s who!!! What people? Employees, vendors, investors, and customers. Note: I did not put the customer first. The customer does not ALWAYS come first…because some customers are better off being sent to your competitors. Great post on that right here…I’ll write more on my vehement belief that customer service is crucial but clients do not always come first. Back to that later; on with the countdown: Read more
Jul
15
The 4th Rule for New Entrepreneurs (this one warrants a post by itself)
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Continuing the list, Number 4: If it is good enough for Rudyard Kipling, it’s good enough for me -
The Five W’s (and one H) of SALES. Many a great idea has died a slow and painful death due to no cash to buy food and drink for the human beings who are building this new enterprise, many an army has lost the war before ever entering battle from a lack of supplies. Business is no different. Cash is oxygen. Cash flow is created through the production of sales. I must admit, this is a subject I can wax poetic about for a while. Sales can be one of the least appreciated, albeit oftentimes highest paid, career paths in existence. Bottom-line though is this, new businesses need to generate cash. Cash can be easily generated from sales. Sales don’t happen by accident though, and they rarely happen virally. They happen through a planned target for customer acquisition and servicing. Thus…Rudyard Kipling’s poem:
I keep six honest serving-men
(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who.
Jun
27
10 things I taught in prison.
Filed Under Miscellaneous, Entrepreneurism, Leadership, Sales | 8 Comments
I occasionally speak at the Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP) to new ’students’ on consideration or ruminations related to starting their new gig. A few weeks ago I was speeding up the road, running late , in my oh-so-smooth new car (Jaguar XK-R) and my wonderful devoted wife was scribbling notes I was dictating to her as I kept Jelly-watch between Houston and Huntsville. After I gave my little speech, to a crowd of aspiring entrepreneurial hopefuls, I felt this was something worth sharing for all… so here are ten thoughts to consider, in rough order, if you want to start a new business: Read more
May
3
Ari Gold is my Hero!
Filed Under Entrepreneurism, Management, Leadership, Sales | 2 Comments
This guy rocks!
If you’ve seen Entourage you either love Ari or hate him. Even if you hate him, you probably admire his bulldog tenacity, his superbly quick wit and his insanely funny sharp tongue. Played by Jeremy Piven, the character is a cartoonish version of an all-sales-all-the-time-super-performer.
Here is why I love Ari Gold…. he is the physical representation of capitalism at it’s best. Supreme confidence. Awe inspiring. Ari is all business all the time: “Playboy mansion, strip clubs, whore houses, I go where the meetings are…its my job.” - Ari Gold Hear more Ari one-liners here (not for the feint of heart).
In real life, we cant all be like Ari …but we can duplicate his work ethic, his aggressiveness, his tenacity and his drive to win. In Ari’s case, he is already rich. Its not about the money, it is about the will to win. The desire to prove who is the BEST agent in town. Read more