Don't Believe Everything You See...

... and half of what you hear.

Companies that have long-term, consistent success have three characteristics about the promises they make:

1. They promise something that's relevant to their customers.
2. They make sure they can deliver on that promise.
3. They communicate that promise in clear, unambiguous, cons
   Should I Stay or Should I Go?
   There are many reasons why people decide to change jobs. Sometimes it's simply about moving forward on long-term goals -- about having choice and options. But sometimes an individual's desire to make a change springs from frustration and/or desperation and the need is immediate and high priority. With this second type of change a person may be looking to get away from such things as a difficult boss, a
   Integrity and honesty. Seems they're always in the news these days. If it's not the lobbyist-incited exposure of someone's political misbehaviors, it's authors "embellishing" on their autobiographies. Oh, and let's not forget the hardy crew of the HMS Embellishment: Marketing people.

   Hmmm. That's us.

   Surely each of us has at one time or another used a little white lie to avoid trouble, make a resume seem better than we think it is, or add some "interest" to a story told in praise of a personal exploit. Even the squeaky-cleanest of us has some such fib to reveal.

   But let's examine integrity as though there were a trend here, a trend toward consistent truth-bending. Have we become hardened by the lies we're told nearly every day, writing off those that seem harmless enough and shrieking in astonishment at others? That answer is for sociologists and psychologists to debate.

   What I want to know is this: Is it okay to alter the truth about a product or service? I'm not talking about putting your best foot forward here, showing your best side to the camera, or deciding not to expose minor product problems. I'm talking about exaggerating the purported benefits of our goods. Of fabricating testimonials. Of positioning our product as one thing when it is in reality something else.

   I'll admit it. I have an opinion. It's NO.

   Here's why.

   The Customer Relationship: "Trust Me"

   If what we want is a long-term relationship with our customers -- and no sane business person wants anything else -- then we must be worthy of the customer's choice to spend his or her money on our products and services. We must offer them something they perceive to be of unique value, and we must deliver on the promise implicit in that value. By consistently fulfilling our promises to our customers, we become trustworthy. It's the only way to gain customer trust.

   So... If being trustworthy is our goal in business, and being trustworthy means promising something and consistently delivering on that promise, what happens if we make a promise about value that isn't all it's cracked up to be?

   Don't Believe Everything You See...

   ... and half of what you hear.

   Companies that have long-term, consistent success have three characteristics about the promises they make:

   1. They promise something that's relevant to their customers.
   2. They make sure they can deliver on that promise.
   3. They communicate that promise in clear, unambiguous, consi
      Trick Interview Questions: How To Handle Them
      Not all questions you are asked in an interview will be logical ones that are directly related to the job itself.Remember, we all have a different personality and some hiring managers you speak with might be a bit unconventional.Some questions are asked just to gauge your reaction to them!Some individual hiring managers and some companies might ask legal interview questions that co
      nal exploit. Even the squeaky-cleanest of us has some such fib to reveal.

      But let's examine integrity as though there were a trend here, a trend toward consistent truth-bending. Have we become hardened by the lies we're told nearly every day, writing off those that seem harmless enough and shrieking in astonishment at others? That answer is for sociologists and psychologists to debate.

      What I want to know is this: Is it okay to alter the truth about a product or service? I'm not talking about putting your best foot forward here, showing your best side to the camera, or deciding not to expose minor product problems. I'm talking about exaggerating the purported benefits of our goods. Of fabricating testimonials. Of positioning our product as one thing when it is in reality something else.

      I'll admit it. I have an opinion. It's NO.

      Here's why.

      The Customer Relationship: "Trust Me"

      If what we want is a long-term relationship with our customers -- and no sane business person wants anything else -- then we must be worthy of the customer's choice to spend his or her money on our products and services. We must offer them something they perceive to be of unique value, and we must deliver on the promise implicit in that value. By consistently fulfilling our promises to our customers, we become trustworthy. It's the only way to gain customer trust.

      So... If being trustworthy is our goal in business, and being trustworthy means promising something and consistently delivering on that promise, what happens if we make a promise about value that isn't all it's cracked up to be?

      Don't Believe Everything You See...

      ... and half of what you hear.

      Companies that have long-term, consistent success have three characteristics about the promises they make:

      1. They promise something that's relevant to their customers.
      2. They make sure they can deliver on that promise.
      3. They communicate that promise in clear, unambiguous, cons
         Encouraging Employee Referrals
         Referrals have worked wonders for many companies. Your staff is actually your best resource for finding new employees and can save you thousands of dollars in recruiting or other fees. The best way to encourage employee referrals is through a formal Referral Program which might include bonuses, cash awards, gifts, trips, etc.------------------------- What type of award? ---------------
         t putting your best foot forward here, showing your best side to the camera, or deciding not to expose minor product problems. I'm talking about exaggerating the purported benefits of our goods. Of fabricating testimonials. Of positioning our product as one thing when it is in reality something else.

         I'll admit it. I have an opinion. It's NO.

         Here's why.

         The Customer Relationship: "Trust Me"

         If what we want is a long-term relationship with our customers -- and no sane business person wants anything else -- then we must be worthy of the customer's choice to spend his or her money on our products and services. We must offer them something they perceive to be of unique value, and we must deliver on the promise implicit in that value. By consistently fulfilling our promises to our customers, we become trustworthy. It's the only way to gain customer trust.

         So... If being trustworthy is our goal in business, and being trustworthy means promising something and consistently delivering on that promise, what happens if we make a promise about value that isn't all it's cracked up to be?

         Don't Believe Everything You See...

         ... and half of what you hear.

         Companies that have long-term, consistent success have three characteristics about the promises they make:

         1. They promise something that's relevant to their customers.
         2. They make sure they can deliver on that promise.
         3. They communicate that promise in clear, unambiguous, cons
            Reasons To Hold A Conference In Bournemouth
            People considering hosting conferences need to analyze a multitude of different factors when looking for an appropriate city in which to hold their conference. Not all of those factors will be directly related to the conference, but will be just as important in motivating people to attend the conference. One of the greatest challengers for conference holders can be persuading people to attend the confe
            iness person wants anything else -- then we must be worthy of the customer's choice to spend his or her money on our products and services. We must offer them something they perceive to be of unique value, and we must deliver on the promise implicit in that value. By consistently fulfilling our promises to our customers, we become trustworthy. It's the only way to gain customer trust.

            So... If being trustworthy is our goal in business, and being trustworthy means promising something and consistently delivering on that promise, what happens if we make a promise about value that isn't all it's cracked up to be?

            Don't Believe Everything You See...

            ... and half of what you hear.

            Companies that have long-term, consistent success have three characteristics about the promises they make:

            1. They promise something that's relevant to their customers.
            2. They make sure they can deliver on that promise.
            3. They communicate that promise in clear, unambiguous, cons
               Buy A Business Without Paying For An Attorney, CPA, Airline Ticket Or Even A Taxi Cab Ride
               After half a century of buying businesses, people still ask me why I spend so much of my time investing in buying businesses instead of real estate, the stock market and other things like that. And I always tell them -- and this is absolutely true -- the reason I don't do anything but buy businesses is because, in 50 years of doing so, I still have yet to come across a better investment t
               ly delivering on that promise, what happens if we make a promise about value that isn't all it's cracked up to be?

               Don't Believe Everything You See...

               ... and half of what you hear.

               Companies that have long-term, consistent success have three characteristics about the promises they make:

               1. They promise something that's relevant to their customers.
               2. They make sure they can deliver on that promise.
               3. They communicate that promise in clear, unambiguous, consistent language at every point of customer contact.
               There should be no news here. The reality of promise, the value of integrity, and the process of becoming trustworthy should be taught in every marketing class, every business seminar, and in every customer service workshop.

               I'll take that a step further: We should be teaching these things to our children and in the schools. We should demonstrate our commitment to integrity and the keeping of our promises in everything we do.

               And before I step off the soapbox: In the end, we owe it to ourselves as much as our customers and clients to make trustworthiness our goal. It isn't just a good thing to do.

               It's the right thing.