Bob Poole's Water Cooler Hangout

Just Call Me Scrooge Today

I've got to tell you, I'm feeling like Scrooge today. First, because I'm already tired of the commercial advertising bombardment for Christmas gifts. Yikes! Enough already. If our country's future financial success is based on how much we spend money on stuff - we are in big trouble.

I know I'm not alone in feeling this way. I know there are plenty of you reading this right now who are also tired of hearing about Christmas and what we should buy - from mid-October on. Thanksgiving doesn't even matter anymore according to the merchants and companies persistently pounding us with advertising that makes most of us want to gag.

The TV commercial that really makes me want to drop kick the television are those obsequious Lexus commercials. Actually, all the auto commercials that focus on why you should buy a car for someone for Christmas are beyond good taste but Lexus wins the grand prize. I'd like to take their big red bow and shove it ... well, you know where.

I also wonder what all the people who don't celebrate Christmas must think. I guess it depends whether or not the holiday has some other significance to you. What happens to society during this time of year?

The cellular phone, Internet, TV, telephone companies all seem to be rolling out Christmas deals and advertising too. Do me a favor and make yourself a lot of money in the process. Put together a website that compares companies and plans and gives us information to make an informed decision as to what is the best cellular company and the best Internet, TV, telephone provider. Because none of them tell the truth if you define truth as being honest. 

AT&T doesn't have 3G national coverage according to Verizon. Verizon doesn't give a flying fig about their customers except how much money then can extract from them according to - well, most of their customers - so that one might be correct.

The point is that advertisers have always been willing to bend the truth but these days ads from AT&T, Comcast, Verizon, Sprint and the rest are about as honest as the news from the lips of Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.

I'm not looking for answers to what I see as very sad examples of what is happening to our nation and our culture. Tiger Woods and whatever happened between him and his wife is the top rated search on Google for the past few days. Not what is happening is Afghanistan. Not what the big names banks are doing today that is setting us up for the next big drop in our economy. And, not what is being debated in the Senate as a national health care plan. We're much more interested in Tiger Wood's private life.

Like I said - I feel like Scrooge today. And, I'm an optimist.

Black Friday Sob Story

Here is what happened when my friend Tim went shopping on Black Friday.

I, on the other hand, have avoided it my entire life. An ex did talk me into going to some kind of business disguised as a artists colony one time. Most years, I played golf on the Friday after Thanksgiving - quite often while wearing gloves and woolen hats over my ears.

It was all very civilized and nobody got crushed in the rush for the first tee.

A Thanksgiving Story of Two Wise Men and One Wise Guy

This is a story about two wise men and one wise guy. And, since it is also a story about gratitude, it is a good one to reflect upon at Thanksgiving when 'g' in Thanksgiving not only stands for giving but for gratitude.

But, let us begin the story. Once upon a time in the great state of Ohio, a wise guy who worked as a sales and marketing consultant took an engagement to help a wise man pass a Home Rule Charter in the wise man's county of residence. By the way, other than the Ohio wise man, very few people had a clue as to what a home rule charter might mean to them.

In case you're wondering yourself, it basically meant that citizens of the county would be able to assert in the form of law their vision for the future rather than be governed by legislators and judges in cahoots with the power elite.

Now who wouldn't want that - other than judges, legislators and the power elite? You'd think that put to a vote - it would be a slam dunk. But, the wise guy marketer knew that what people don't understand would frighten them, change would frighten them and the judges and politicians who had something to lose would use fear to frighten them more. Only education on a massive scale could stop the bad guys from winning.

But, this isn't a story about politics. It's about gratitude. It turns out that the wise man from Ohio has spent his life as a very quiet philanthropist doing good things for the people of the county. Yes, he was very wealthy. He had what is commonly referred to as f*@# you money and as a result he engendered plenty of jealousy. Being both a wise and wealthy man also made him a bit irascible but that's beside the point. The man spent his time and money doing good for the people and he now looked toward them for support of his charter plan.

You probably know what happened. The wise man was pilloried in public and excoriated by everyone from the news media to the man on the street. The wise guy was pissed. He took it personally that a man who had spent millions doing good was unfairly being hung out to dry by the people he helped. He voiced his feelings to the Ohio wise man and it was at this time that the wise man said something to him that he would never forget.

He said, "Wise Guy, you need to understand that gratitude is the most fleeting of emotions." He then went on to explain that he did the things he did not because he wanted gratitude - because he didn't expect it. He did those things because he believed it was the right thing to do and he had the resources to do them.

And so the wise guy went forth and traveled far and wide in search of other wise men and women from whom to learn. And, then one day in the year 2009, the wise guy met a wise man from the Isle of Great Britain. The wise guy knew immediately that this was a very wise man because he had left the Isle of Great Britain and settled in the land known as Orlando where the weather change alone was an indicator of his wiseness.

And so it came to be that the wise guy and Orlando wise man were one day discussing - Gratitude. The wise guy thought "here is my chance to impart the wisdom of my friend from Ohio." And, so he told the Orlando wise man the story of the Ohio wise man and ended it by stating what he believed to be a truth - "gratitude is the most fleeting of emotions."

"Yes, that may be," said the Orlando wise man, "but it is also the most powerful of emotions." (See, I told you he was really wise.)

"Wow," thought the wise guy. "Gratitude is like magic dust. It is both extremely powerful and yet very ephemeral."

"Does that mean we need to keep it close and guard it so that it is not lost? Or, do we use its power to do good things?" asked the wise guy.

"Why can't I do both," thought the wise guy. "I'll give it away by showing my gratitude for and to others. And, I'll hold it in my heart by remembering just how fortunate I have been in my life."

"Yes," said the Orlando wise man. "That is how we need to use gratitude. In fact, let us become part of a global groundswell of gratitude called TweetsGiving. It will be an experiment in social innovation that seeks to change the world through the power of gratitude."

And, so, back in Ohio the wise man smiled as the thoughts and deeds of the wise guy and the Florida wise man drifted to him upon the winds of Thanksgiving. "Yes, wise guy, I told you it is the most fleeting of emotions but I always knew it had the power to change the world - one person at a time.

"Go forth and teach now," said the Ohio wise man to the wise guy. "Enlist others in not only TweetsGiving but in how to live a life of gratitude. Do that and I will forget that we lost the vote for Home Rule."

And, the wise man was grateful.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What's Your Avatar?

James Cameron was a 22-year old college dropout delivering school lunches when he had his epiphany and realized that he needed to create the greatest sci-fi, space alien movie ever. That was in 1977. Next month on December 18th he is betting over $250 Million that he's met the challenge with the release in theaters of Avatar.

Along the way he stopped delivering lunches and started learning the craft of movie making. First there was Terminator and then films like The Abyss (one of my all-time favorites), Aliens, True Lies, Terminator 2 and finally a little flick called Titanic.

And, then he went off to make Avatar - the one film that kept him awake at nights and that has driven him to remake both how movies are filmed and created and how we will see them in the theater. He wanted the movie to be in 3-D so he invented a new camera to get the results he envisioned. The computer power, hardware and software weren't even available when he began his quest. His team created the technology to allow the characters to actually look real by supply a visual record of each character they can map to each face. The list of things that would have stopped must people kept getting smaller and smaller.

When I was reading about Avatar and its making, I thought back to a few years ago when I picked up some books on sales and marketing. It was then that my Avatar hit me. I realized I needed to create my own book. And, so began my book writing journey which ended this spring with the publication of Listen First - Sell Later. Now, I'm working on a second book.

People often tell me they would like to write their own book, make their own movie, or start a new career. I tell them to go do it and ask them what is stopping them. And, then the reasons why they can't or won't begin to get listed. Often it comes down to time or money. Believe me - most entrepreneurs and dreamers who go on to create their dreams don't have any more time or money than you.

James Cameron didn't have any money 32 years ago either. He borrowed money to create his first movie that didn't go anywhere. But, it gave him a chance to work at what he loved. And, he kept learning and working and creating movies like Piranha II: The Spawning. He wasn't getting rich but he was doing what he loved. Then he had a powerful dream about an robot attacking a woman which he turned into Terminator. And, soon thereafter, money became a non-issue.

It doesn't have to be an issue for you either. There doesn't have to be anything between you and your dream - your own Avatar - that isn't of your own making.

Close your eyes. Clear your mind. What do you see in your heart?

What is your Avatar?

And, now, what are you going to do about it?

Trains, Planes, and Suckers

Why hasn't Amtrak taken better advantage of this economy. You'd think that the combination of people watching what they spend and the airlines pissing more and more people off daily that trains would be a great (and welcome) travel solution.

It hasn't happened. Same old service and too high of fares on their money making eastern seaboard routes. And, taking a page from the airlines, Amtrak charges business travelers who don't have time to stop every 15 minutes the highest fares. Doesn't it make sense that a train that stops every 15 minutes probably costs more to operate than an express? Then why charge more for the express?

Because the suckers (customers) will pay it.

Then there are the companies like Verizon and Comcast who now offer phone, Internet and television all in one tidy package. Any one out there enjoy having to deal with either of these two companies? When I first signed up for Verizon FIOS I made sure my contract included all the HD channels. Oops! I forgot to make sure that when let say AMC or Animal Planet (all included in my package) have a HD channel that I'll automatically get it since I get the non-HD version. Nope. Doesn't work that way.

You have to subscribe sucker!

Actually, I can do away with pretty much all those services and spend more time reading and writing. I can watch movies and things I really want to watch using other technologies. The thing that really ticks me off is having to deal directly with any of these companies. They really don't have a customer service clue and they can waste hours of my time trying to do anything as simple as ask a single question.

I saw where the airlines are not only going to charge you more now per ticket for peak travel but they will also charge more for your bags. Don't like that? Too bad. Try driving across country or taking the train sucker.

Then there are the mobile phone companies that offer so many different plans that they all begin to look like some kind of Ponzi Scheme. Between their claims about their different technologies, their plans and their contracts it kind of makes you yearn for go old Ma Bell. 

And, if you think all this confusion and obfuscation is the by-product of bad management you'd be wrong.

It is intentional.

The New York Times Haggler's column yesterday had a bit about how he wasn't getting his credit card bill from Bank of America for months. BofA assured him they were sending it. It turns out that the bank decided to change envelopes and started using one that had no mention of the bank's name on it. Since it was a bulk mail piece in a blank envelope the Haggler (and probably thousands of others) threw it out thinking it was junk mail.

How much do you think that little move cost consumers in late fees?

Got you again sucker!

Arrested for Not Leaving a Tip and More

From the "You Can't Make This Stuff Up" column we have two stories today. The first took place in my backyard at the Lehigh Pub in Bethlehem, PA where an extremely intelligent restaurant manager had two of his patrons arrested for not leaving a tip. Yes, that's what I said. They refused to leave a tip for their party of eight. Talk about customer service!

It seems it took over an hour for them to be served their salads and wings and they ended up having to get their own napkins and soda refills since their waitress was missing and outside smoking much of the time. The restaurant has a mandatory 18% surcharge. When they got their bill the tip surcharge was 22% and that put them over the tipping point. They told the manager that because their service was so terribly poor they would not pay the tip. They did pay the bill for the food, drinks and tax.

After taking their money, the genius manager called Bethlehem police and had them arrested for theft of services. The cop in this case has to be related to the manager or the owner. Otherwise, he or she needs to be removed from the force for stupidity in uniform. You can read about it here. Or, just Google it as it is all over the Internet now.

Next up is the Philadelphia city council. Philadelphia has a problem with bicycle riders that don't obey traffic laws. Two pedestrians were killed last month after being struck by cyclists. So, what's the answer? I would think it might be a good thing if the laws currently on the books were enforced. They aren't and both council, police and bike advocates agree on that.

So, what is the solution from legislators? Two council members are introducing a bill to license everyone over the age of 12 who wants to ride a bike. They would pay $20. Yeah, tax the bastards - that will stop bike accidents. Make those kids pay up and they won't ever break another law.

Finally a good story from my back yard. Crayola Company in Easton, PA is going to be focusing a lot of effort on green in the coming year. Not the color but the technology. They are building a 15-acre solar park near their plant where the energy produced by the panels will be enough to manufacture 1-Billion Crayons a year. Kudos to Crayola!

Tim Brownson has Lost His Mind - Well Just a Little Bit

My friend and colleague, Tim Brownson, one of the top life coaches in the world, has gone a little round the bend. However, it is actually your gain as he has decided to give away free copies of his eBook, "Don’t Ask Stupid Questions – There Are No Stupid Questions." He apparently is also giving away his house but that's a different story.

I'd give you all the background information here but quite frankly it is a treat to read anything Tim writes so I suggest you click here to go to his blog and read about the book and how to download it. It is really free with no catches.

Tim has one of the best developed senses of humor that I have ever tripped across. And, he uses it to not only entertain you but to teach you as well. Clever rascal!

You can also spend $14.99 on Amazon and buy the hard copy if you're so inclined. Tim has a great deal for companies who might be looking for a nice gift for employees or customers this time of year. He will sell you a case of the hardback books (35) for the crazy price of $97 plus media mail shipping of about $11 bucks. (I told you he's gone round the bend.) That's less than $3 a copy saving you over $400 on a great gift. Hurry though as he only has a few cases left at this price. When they are gone the only way to buy it will be from Amazon.

If you decide to buy the case to give away as gifts, please mention my name to Tim. If you buy a case, he promises to send me a monkey from his back yard in Orlando. (I don't think it is a monkey. Tim is from England and he thinks an opossum is a monkey. On second thought, don't mention my name.)

Oh, one last thing. Tim's most recent book is called, "How to Be Rich and Happy." He co-wrote it with John Strelecky. John, by the way, has been honored alongside Oprah Winfrey, Wayne Dyer, Tony Robbins, and Lance Armstrong as one of the 100 Most Influential Thought Leaders in the field of leadership and personal development. Yep, it's a great book. I think it is more like a course or a program for life than a book. You'll understand when you get it. It's already facilitated some major changes in my life.

And, that my friends and readers is why I wrote this post. If it weren't for the fact that I know Tim and John's work to not only be outstanding but that it also has the potential to change your life as it has changed mine - you wouldn't be reading this.

Thank you.

Taking a Hatchet to Malcolm Gladwell

There are some things you should never read before going to sleep. On my list are newspapers, history books, and anything with Dummies in the title. Last night I opened up my latest copy of The Nation with the idea of reading some essays and editorials. And, then I made a mistake and violated my rule about Dummies.

I turned to the Books & the Arts section where I found an article entitled Gladwell for Dummies by Maureen Tkacik complete with a smiling photo of Malcolm Gladwell. Dummies in the title was a warning as I assumed Ms. Tkacik was not being complimentary in her choice of titles for what turned out to be a hatchet job on Mr. Gladwell.

Eight thousand words later I think I can sum up the Ms. Tkacik's feelings with fewer words. Here is what I got from her screed.

1. I really dislike Malcolm Gladwell's books and writing.
2. I really dislike Malcolm Gladwell.
3. I really dislike that he has sold millions of books.
4. I really dislike that I never will even come close to his level of success.
5. I am a jealous and petty wannabee.

Sales Titles and Powers

Salespeople have a lot of different and sometimes odd titles. These are a few off the top of my head:

• Sales Representative
• Sales Agent
• District Sales Manager
• Business Development Director
• Account Manager
• Territory Manager
• Marketing Representative

Then there are the salespeople who want to be known by something more creative like Solutions Provider or Relationship Manager.

Some people believe a particular title will give them a power like a Cloak of Invisibility. Some are using sales as a stepping stone and don't plan on staying around any longer than it takes to move up the corporate ladder. They like manager or director in their title - even if they are neither.

I always liked the idea of no title. I know there are negotiation experts who tell you to use your title of CEO or President even if you are a one-person business. You're using a couple of types of power when you use certain titles. You can read more about the types of power here.

I've studied negotiation skills and techniques and there are some I use and teach. However, I've never believed that a certain title would give you an edge in selling or negotiating.

I still contend that you Listen First and Sell Later. You communicate with people as another human being not someone who practices manipulative type sales techniques. People still buy from people that they like and trust. And, they buy from companies they like and trust. Even if you are selling online you need to build the same relationships and do what you say you're going to do.

Do that consistently and over time you can take any title you want. Personally, I've always had a fancy to be called the Unicorn Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary. But, someone else already has that title.

Who knew!

Exploding Brains and 2012

My friend, Paul Durban, tweeted something yesterday that brought tears to my eyes. However, upon further review, I'm not sure if they were tears of laughter or sadness. Probably both. Here is what he said:

2012 isn't the end of the world. It's when our brains become overwhelmed with information, reach critical mass, and explode.

If that is what happens in 2012 than I think my brain has already entered that time frame. For example:

• I often write little notes to myself so that I don't forget something important. Then a week or two later I see the note and I find myself scratching my head as to what in the hell it might have meant. For example - can you give me a clue as to what I meant when I wrote Bone Hat, Liquid Money, Image Speech, Attention Interference, or, my favorite, Mozzarella Biscuits? I knew when I wrote them but I don't have a clue now.
• The header on my Google Reader always says 1000+. That means I have over 1,000 items that I subscribe to that I have not read yet. It always says 1000+ even though I read some every day. I have resigned myself to the fact that I will never be able to read all the blogs and watch all the videos that I would like.
• I have an average of a dozen books these days on my nightstand with a few more scattered around the house. Why is that strange? Mostly because I am reading at least 4 at once all the time. I also know I will never live long enough to read all the books that I'd like to read. Since I don't know what day I might kick off, I read multiple books at once with the idea at least I got some of it done. Hey, I didn't say any of this was sane. Read the bold quote above again!
• I currently have four computers in my office. I used to use them all. I cut back and now only use two at one time. Some applications are memory hogs and I've learned to keep them on the computer that sits behind me. That way I can keep things running there while I use the other one to do email, write this blog and most of my daily computer activities.
• I have a number of applications that I don't use all the time anymore. For example, Photoshop. At one time, I was pretty good with PS. Last week I decided I needed a creative break so I started playing with an image. It was then it hit me. When it comes to creative type applications you either use it or lose it.

The mind can only contain so much information. And, mine feels like it's ready to explode any day. I wonder if there is a brain compression algorithm out there. I think I'll Google it and see what I find. I'll let you know - just in case you're feeling the same way as me.