DISQUS

Great Idea, you know I will stop by and leave my opinions and comments for content. Also, you will be getting a link into my lens.

What a great idea! I will visit your lens and may link it to one of mine. As far as content, you know you will get my feedback.

Great stuff! Thanks for the resources. I will be sure to pop in and take a look from time to time. If I find anything good I will pass it along.

Ben,

When making those first few hires, it is imperative that they have the passion to do whatever it takes to help the company succeed. My phrase is, "the have to bleed [Insert company name here]".

Anyone that got in an uproar about Jason's posts is absurd and should stay away from entrepreneurship.

Great post, keep em coming, back t my 18 hour day....

Could not agree more. In our Beta at http://messageslinger.com whether you sign up for a $12/mo package or a $75+, I will personally coach and assist you through your first send. I will also walk you through every feature, best practice, and detail to help ensure your letter gets out and you know how to track it. Why? Because we want the reputation of having the best service AND the best customer service.

Everyone we hire will think this way. I should know, since I am the CEO.

Brilliant post, and keep them coming!

Fact: I discredit people that spew facts

Fact: No one can say with 100% certainty that any survey provides statistics that are factual unless that survey includes the planet. Even if the Yale study were true, who is to say the in 1954 or at Cambridge, the people who did not write down goals did not put a whooping financial on the goal setters. What if someone wrote down the goal of curing the ill, would that effect the survey. You bet your northern soil.

Fact: Consultants, by and large, talk out of their backside. Why? Because they are used to people listening to them.

Fact: I am now spewing facts, therefore in accordance with fact #1, have been discredited.

Ben,

A hard smack in the face is necessary now and again if you are going to succeed at the startup game. Bootstrappers, especially those new to the game, tend to fall just a little too in love with their ideas. What each of these posts shares is how to call your own bluff and realize that perception is more important than invention.

If you can take the harshest of criticisms, listen then adapt, and keep on moving forward, you are probably an entrepreneur with a good idea.

This is an interesting topic. As a blogger who only writes original content, what would be a scenario where I might need bloggers insurance? Can someone sue me for a trackback?

Karl Goldfield
startup sales mentor
http://karlgoldfield.com

The lessons of why we lose can be important, or as irrelevant as the story told by Dr. V. With how we succeed the lessons are always valuable, as emulation can create consistency. Consistency creates greater success. Greater success is what we should all strive to achieve.

Great Post!

All day long the words, "status quo" seem to eek from my mouth. Ian your points on overcoming this and the perception of what is "best" is spot on. Great post and great advice.

Ian and Skip,

There two things that great sales people have that is not listed here. These qualities are all too often taken for granted.

One is the ability to shut up and listen. The second is the ability to craft and ask compelling questions that demand thought provoking conversations.

If you add these to the four above, you have a rock star.

Skip,

What are your other 8?

Ian,

You have hit it on the mark. In today's environment if you are not leading with real value:

1. either tangible results that someone that matters to the prospect achieved, Yes, they have to able to call them.

2. or value in the initial meeting and everyone thereafter.

One thing I teach people to do is find relevant content about their prospect's industry to share ahead of time. I did this just today. One of my prospects is at a trade show and very busy. I learned that a major competitor just consolidated their business channels and renamed the entire company in an effort to go public. When I shared this information, information that my prospect did not know, I became more valuable. Someone who can get the jump on information he needs is someone he wants on his side.

CRM is a philospohy, not a product, as stated in the quote. As a workflow and process manager, my ideal solution is whatever makes it easier for anyone in a company to quickly understand their relationship with a contact.

The new trend to workstyle and automated tools is only beneficial if that is the need of the organization. Personally, I am starting to use my social networking tooks as an adjunct to my CRM. All of my communication history is there, and guess what it is free.

I also think that simplifying the input requirements seems to help.