Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Scary ? Brave ? Check this...

Hmmm.. Boston agency Modernista took the phrase "less is more" to heart when updating its website. Enter their website address and all you get is a Google page. If you go the top left hand corner in tiny tiny script you can access their Facebook page or their Wikipedia entry.The agency's past work appears on Flickr, YouTube and del.icio.us. For company news, users are directed to Google News. In other worrds the agency's new online destination is "siteless" - entirely dependent on public resources.

So - great idea ? crazy idea ? do we still need a website when we have a Facebook page ? Would you like to see this or this ?

Monday, March 17, 2008

Aiming High

When I was a very young child I collected autographs (sad eh ?). My headmistress wrote in my autograph book "Aim High - Be the Best you Know". This was rather different than the stuff my little friends had written and many years were to go by before I understood the significance of it.Recently I checked the internet for other people's words on a similar theme. Here are some of them:

Aim for the moon. If you miss, you may hit a star. (W. Clement Stone)

A soul without a high aim is like a ship without a rudder. (Eileen Caddy)

Pursue one great decisive aim with force and determination. (Karl Von Clausewitz)

Having an aim is the key to achieving your best. (Henry J. Kaiser)

If you would hit the mark, you must aim a little above it. (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

To follow, without halt, one aim: that's the secret of success. (Anna Pavlova)

Whatever YOUR aim is - dare to aim for it.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

What They Say...What You Hear...What They Mean

Don't you hate it when a prospect calls with a (supposedly) urgent need for your services. You drop everything to do an estimate, you begin to clear your schedule to make room for this new project, you submit the quote, and then you wait. And you wait. When you don't hear back, you call to follow up and they say they haven't had time to look at your proposal yet. You wait some more and, though you dread it, you call again. Or maybe you don't. In any case, you never hear from them again.

This happens all the time — not just to you — and there's little you can do about it. Here's what it may look like from your prospect's perspective: on the day they called, this project was at the top of their list; the next day, something else came along which took priority and kept pushing the project further and further away, until it was on a permanent back burner. They never bothered to let you know, probably because they didn't have time. Or, more likely, they got caught up in their own world.

What might help is to know the difference between what you think is going on and what is really go on.

What they say: I have a project. Could you send your information.
What you hear:They want me.
What they mean: They're gathering information on potential candidates.
What to do: Send or email your info. Follow up in a week.

What they say: Your info is here somewhere but I haven't looked at it yet.
What you hear:They chose someone else.
What they mean: Other things have come up and the project isn't as urgent.
What to do: Ask when to call back and keep in touch.

What they say: I've looked over your materials and they look interesting, but we haven't decided what direction to take. We'll be in touch.
What you hear: They chose someone else.
What they mean: Things have changed and the project isn't as important anymore.
What to do: Keep in touch quarterly for other possible projects.

What they say: Nothing. No call back.
What you hear: They chose someone else.
What they mean: They're busy with other things or maybe they did choose someone else. It's not the end of the world.
What to do: Keep in touch every few months by email and phone.

Article courtesy of Ilise Benun from The Art of Self Promotion #16

Consulting versus Coaching

I found this on a website the other day - it's so apt:

How is coaching different than consulting or therapy?

Imagine that you’re goal was to compete in the Tour de France.

As your coach we would ask: "Great, so what is standing in your way?”

You reply, "I can’t ride a bike."

A therapist's response might be to ask you to find a time where the resistance/fear to bike riding first occurred? What happened, who was there, what was said?

A consultant might measure your leg, and then measure the length of the seat to the pedal, draw you a diagram of your leg, the pedal and wheel and leave you with you a how-to manual including a detailed description of the theory of motion and physics.

A coach response might be this:
"If you are willing to get on the bike and start pedaling I am committed to holding the back of your seat and running beside you until you can balance yourself and maneuver the bike safely"

In coaching, we don’t focus on what was and we don’t leave you with “how-to” manuals. We do what needs to get done to help you meet your goals.

If you are ready to get on the bike then contact gspinsights.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Trade Shows in Canada 2008

Clicking on 'Trade Shows' will take you to a list of trade shows in Canada in 2008.

Futuralia - Quebec 2008

Futurallia is an annual International Small Business Forum. The 2008 edition will take place in Quebec City from May 20-22, 2008. In addition to having access to hundreds of exhibitors, participants will be able to have personalised meetings arranged with potential business partner/suppliers etc. interpreter services will also be made available.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Try this Search Engine !

Exalead is a tool that provides users with a new way to search the web. Once you have entered your keyword(s) into Exalead, on the lefthand side of the page, you will find a thumbnail view of the sites that the tool has retrieved but on the right hand side is a box that enables you to really refine your search. Exalead also provides the ability to bookmark relevant sites via the result pages. These sites are place on a personalized index page once you have logged onto the site. Check it out !