Posts Tagged ‘chaos’
Have the Courage to Create a Brand!
Posted by Jane Adamson on December 1st, 2009
Branding is a tricky subject to discuss with small to mid-size companies. It’s a concept that’s more easily associated with consumer products, packaged goods, or the Fortune 500. Branding books use examples like Starbucks, Apple or Dell – examples that don’t resonate with midsize service companies, B2B companies, or industrial product companies.
Many of these types of businesses think of a brand their logo, the look & feel of their web site, or their slogan. Unfortunately, a brand is none of those things. Instead, we define a brand as the combination of what you sell, how you sell it, and to whom. The result is an experience that your customers trust, and it can create substantial value because the right customers will be willing to pay a premium for that experience.
“Why can’t we hire a VP Sales who can deliver?”
Posted by Rick McPartlin on July 7th, 2009
Last month, Jane wrote “I’m lying awake worrying about sales,” which addressed three late-night revenue-related stresses many CEOs face, including “Is my sales manager doing a good job?” and “Is my star salesperson going to quit?” This month, I’m tackling a related issue — turnover in the VP Sales role.
A lot of CEOs share with me their frustration over this painful situation. “We need a sales leader who can build our team, lead us into the market and close business,” they say. “I’ve spent a million dollars hiring, firing, and starting over. How can I stop the churn and hire someone who will deliver?”
Here’s the problem: A great sales VP won’t accept a job where there is no revenue generation strategy, infrastructure or organizational alignment. Top people know that this chaos impedes their success, and they can spot issues a mile away.
Even if they do join a chaotic company, great sales leaders eventually find themselves in lose-lose situations at exactly the time you need their expertise most. They take the blame for organizational problems and leave you to start the vicious cycle again.
“I’m lying awake worrying about sales!”
Posted by Jane Adamson on June 2nd, 2009
As you’re well aware, a CEO is constantly juggling a myriad of challenges. But when it comes to sleep deprivation, the top culprit is typically revenue-related … burning questions such as
Is my sales manager doing a good job?
Is my star salesperson going to quit?
Why does one salesperson excel while others struggle?
This stress frequently stems from two beliefs:
That consistent revenue generation depends on the talents of a few select individuals
That those individuals operate in a world lacking both structure and predictability.
Good news: You can eliminate this chaos! Revenue generation is a science similar to other disciplines inside your organization. And there are three keys to your success.
