Comments on: 100 Attributes of Successful Entrepreneurs http://whatwoulddadsay.com/2007/12/100-ideas-and-recommendations-for-new-entrepreneurs/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=100-ideas-and-recommendations-for-new-entrepreneurs Just another Diggings site Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:42:41 +0000 hourly 1 By: MN Headhunter/Paul DeBettignies http://whatwoulddadsay.com/2007/12/100-ideas-and-recommendations-for-new-entrepreneurs/#comment-113678 MN Headhunter/Paul DeBettignies Thu, 06 Dec 2007 23:13:25 +0000 http://blogs.jobdig.com/wwds/2007/12/02/100-ideas-and-recommendations-for-new-entrepreneurs/#comment-113678 GL, thanks for helping me with my therapy. I could have used this series, oh, about 10 years ago and every day between then and now. I will be sure to link to them when you are done. GL, thanks for helping me with my therapy. I could have used this series, oh, about 10 years ago and every day between then and now.

I will be sure to link to them when you are done.

]]> By: Conrad http://whatwoulddadsay.com/2007/12/100-ideas-and-recommendations-for-new-entrepreneurs/#comment-113664 Conrad Thu, 06 Dec 2007 04:18:43 +0000 http://blogs.jobdig.com/wwds/2007/12/02/100-ideas-and-recommendations-for-new-entrepreneurs/#comment-113664 Mike, I used to do customer support for a company in Silicon Valley, which, as GL knows, is an extremely competitive environment. We feared some of our salespeople. What we feared was not the pressure they would exert, but that they would sell our product falsely. Whatever they thought sounded good to a customer, they would say. You want it to do Mil Spec documents - sure, we do that! We can produce a catalog, no problem! Then they would go back to the engineers and try to schmooze them into making the product do it. The support people would demo the product while the salepeople talked with the prospects and we would at times cringe at what we heard. We wanted sales, but we wanted something we could deliver and support. The sad part was that they ultimately cost us sales by doing this. Mike, I used to do customer support for a company in Silicon Valley, which, as GL knows, is an extremely competitive environment. We feared some of our salespeople. What we feared was not the pressure they would exert, but that they would sell our product falsely. Whatever they thought sounded good to a customer, they would say. You want it to do Mil Spec documents – sure, we do that! We can produce a catalog, no problem! Then they would go back to the engineers and try to schmooze them into making the product do it.

The support people would demo the product while the salepeople talked with the prospects and we would at times cringe at what we heard. We wanted sales, but we wanted something we could deliver and support. The sad part was that they ultimately cost us sales by doing this.

]]> By: Mike http://whatwoulddadsay.com/2007/12/100-ideas-and-recommendations-for-new-entrepreneurs/#comment-113655 Mike Wed, 05 Dec 2007 16:22:52 +0000 http://blogs.jobdig.com/wwds/2007/12/02/100-ideas-and-recommendations-for-new-entrepreneurs/#comment-113655 Maybe scared is more a word sales people use---sorry I am refering to the fact that some people don't trust themselves around sales people--uneasy that they will make a bad decision. You know the feeling--you walk into a store---looking----you want someone to be there if you have any questions---but God forbid he is high pressure. I have a guy who is so good most don't even feel anything until the cc bill arives. I'll admit I am a little off base for start-ups----and your point about sales importance is great. Maybe scared is more a word sales people use—sorry
I am refering to the fact that some people don’t trust themselves around sales people–uneasy that they will make a bad decision.
You know the feeling–you walk into a store—looking—-you want someone to be there if you have any questions—but God forbid he is high pressure.
I have a guy who is so good most don’t even feel anything until the cc bill arives.
I’ll admit I am a little off base for start-ups—-and your point about sales importance is great.

]]> By: wwds http://whatwoulddadsay.com/2007/12/100-ideas-and-recommendations-for-new-entrepreneurs/#comment-113652 wwds Wed, 05 Dec 2007 14:42:02 +0000 http://blogs.jobdig.com/wwds/2007/12/02/100-ideas-and-recommendations-for-new-entrepreneurs/#comment-113652 Mike...good comments. Keep in mind this advice is mostly geared to those who are just getting started in a new company. I dont mean to say that sales is the most critical of all the departments in a more mature business. Crucial, yes...but certainly other departments contribute mightily to the business' success. The issue i was trying to raise was the simpler point of do not ignore the importance of early sales to a new developing business. Everything else on the business plan is open to change ONCE you start satisfying and selling customers. I am not sure if non sales people are "scared" of sales people...that is a very interesting perspective...I'd like to think on that one. Maybe scared is the wrong word? Good comments. Mike…good comments. Keep in mind this advice is mostly geared to those who are just getting started in a new company. I dont mean to say that sales is the most critical of all the departments in a more mature business. Crucial, yes…but certainly other departments contribute mightily to the business’ success. The issue i was trying to raise was the simpler point of do not ignore the importance of early sales to a new developing business. Everything else on the business plan is open to change ONCE you start satisfying and selling customers. I am not sure if non sales people are “scared” of sales people…that is a very interesting perspective…I’d like to think on that one. Maybe scared is the wrong word?
Good comments.

]]> By: Mike http://whatwoulddadsay.com/2007/12/100-ideas-and-recommendations-for-new-entrepreneurs/#comment-113650 Mike Wed, 05 Dec 2007 14:12:01 +0000 http://blogs.jobdig.com/wwds/2007/12/02/100-ideas-and-recommendations-for-new-entrepreneurs/#comment-113650 Like always digesting your posts has taken me longer than usual-- With regard to salesman and #28--interesting viewpoint. I have been intimately involved in sales and sales training for several years, and so this one has been chewing on me. It is true salesman identify with their customers, but most of my bosses have made me feel guilty for not balancing this with "what is best for the company". Especially now that I am a sales manager involved in coaching sales people. Believe me I understand bottom lines (weekly managers meetings don't let me forget), but it has always felt like a leash. #29 is the answer I guess----Sales does trump all!!! But----my contention is that all non-sales people are scared of sales people, and this fact can be the underlying cause of their lack of empathy. Trust is huge-hard to achieve though…(if all else fails see rule #29) Like always digesting your posts has taken me longer than usual–
With regard to salesman and #28–interesting viewpoint. I have been intimately involved in sales and sales training for several years, and so this one has been chewing on me. It is true salesman identify with their customers, but most of my bosses have made me feel guilty for not balancing this with “what is best for the company”.
Especially now that I am a sales manager involved in coaching sales people. Believe me I understand bottom lines (weekly managers meetings don’t let me forget), but it has always felt like a leash.
#29 is the answer I guess—-Sales does trump all!!!
But—-my contention is that all non-sales people are scared of sales people, and this fact can be the underlying cause of their lack of empathy. Trust is huge-hard to achieve though…(if all else fails see rule #29)

]]> By: Conrad http://whatwoulddadsay.com/2007/12/100-ideas-and-recommendations-for-new-entrepreneurs/#comment-113622 Conrad Mon, 03 Dec 2007 20:20:54 +0000 http://blogs.jobdig.com/wwds/2007/12/02/100-ideas-and-recommendations-for-new-entrepreneurs/#comment-113622 Let me be the cheerleader - you got an easy 75 left in you! You know what Woody Allen said about speed reading, "I read War and Peace in 20 minutes. It's about Russia." Let me be the cheerleader – you got an easy 75 left in you!

You know what Woody Allen said about speed reading, “I read War and Peace in 20 minutes. It’s about Russia.”

]]> By: wwds http://whatwoulddadsay.com/2007/12/100-ideas-and-recommendations-for-new-entrepreneurs/#comment-113619 wwds Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:01:39 +0000 http://blogs.jobdig.com/wwds/2007/12/02/100-ideas-and-recommendations-for-new-entrepreneurs/#comment-113619 Thanks to you both for stopping by and commenting. I have always thought the speed reading course i took years and years ago was well worth it. If nothing else, I can pretty much read a book in the bookstore aisle...at least, i can glean the most important points from it. Harvey MacKay's books can be read in literally two minutes. JK> Conrad...I am not sure about the stew at all...as each situation is different. This where knowing the tune helps you much more than the lyrics in the specific environment. i know that often the more you stir it, the more it does tend to stink...so I guess I would err on the side of more stirring, less tasting. Most people are resistant to change so your role has to be one of a change agent..at least a cheerleader for it. What is the over/under on me being able to come up with 75 more? Thanks to you both for stopping by and commenting. I have always thought the speed reading course i took years and years ago was well worth it. If nothing else, I can pretty much read a book in the bookstore aisle…at least, i can glean the most important points from it. Harvey MacKay’s books can be read in literally two minutes. JK>
Conrad…I am not sure about the stew at all…as each situation is different. This where knowing the tune helps you much more than the lyrics in the specific environment. i know that often the more you stir it, the more it does tend to stink…so I guess I would err on the side of more stirring, less tasting.
Most people are resistant to change so your role has to be one of a change agent..at least a cheerleader for it.
What is the over/under on me being able to come up with 75 more?

]]> By: Conrad http://whatwoulddadsay.com/2007/12/100-ideas-and-recommendations-for-new-entrepreneurs/#comment-113618 Conrad Mon, 03 Dec 2007 18:21:19 +0000 http://blogs.jobdig.com/wwds/2007/12/02/100-ideas-and-recommendations-for-new-entrepreneurs/#comment-113618 Good stuff! I was personally struck by the part of #12: "to make the comfortable, uncomfortable, and the uncomfortable, comfortable" I've never heard it put that way. Do you keep the stew stirring to foster the process? Good stuff! I was personally struck by the part of #12:
“to make the comfortable, uncomfortable, and the uncomfortable, comfortable”

I’ve never heard it put that way. Do you keep the stew stirring to foster the process?

]]> By: Mike http://whatwoulddadsay.com/2007/12/100-ideas-and-recommendations-for-new-entrepreneurs/#comment-113615 Mike Mon, 03 Dec 2007 15:17:49 +0000 http://blogs.jobdig.com/wwds/2007/12/02/100-ideas-and-recommendations-for-new-entrepreneurs/#comment-113615 This is a great post---it has caused me to really evaluate myself at this point…not that this is anything new. I really think I could do most of what you write here--(maybe not on such a grand scale)--and your best idea is the speed-reading course. I can’t tell you how many books I have bought/started and lost interest in because more pressing issues arose. I do have to admit fear of failure can be a debilitating issue in ones life.-----maybe Emotional IQ by Daniel Goldman will help. This is a great post—it has caused me to really evaluate myself at this point…not that this is anything new.
I really think I could do most of what you write here–(maybe not on such a grand scale)–and your best idea is the speed-reading course. I can’t tell you how many books I have bought/started and lost interest in because more pressing issues arose.
I do have to admit fear of failure can be a debilitating issue in ones life.—–maybe Emotional IQ by Daniel Goldman will help.

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