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For Those Who Have Nothing
I’m sure you’ve heard the story about the small boy who picked up beached starfish and threw them back into the ocean. When chided that there were miles of beach and hundreds of starfish, and that he couldn’t possibly make a difference, the boy tossed another starfish into the surf and smiled. “I made a difference for that one.” Read More »
Stop And Hear The Message
On a cold January morning, during rush hour, a man wearing jeans and a ball cap walked into a Washington, D.C., Metro station, pulled out a violin and began to play. For about 45 minutes he played six classical pieces amid the hustle and bustle around him. While he played, at least a thousand people rushed by—probably on their way to work or school. Read More »
Oh, The Possibilities …
The year stretches out before us like so many blank sheets of paper waiting to be filled. What will you do with yours? Read More »
Get Ready To Hit Your Q4 Sales
It seems that once we get past Halloween, the remainder of the year zips by in a big whoosh. I’ve always seen the year that way but, in our industry, the fourth quarter seems to spin even faster because of the increased activity taking place in the final months of the year: New product development, catalog production, tradeshow preparation and filling orders related to holiday giving, corporate appreciation and year-end awards. And, sandwiched within all those projects is that annual revenue goal with your name on it. Healthy Q4 sales often make the difference between missing annual revenue goals and exceeding them by a mile. Well, good news—that critical fourth quarter is now under way. Read More »
Let Me Give You Some Advice
I know two things to be true about advice: Most of us love to give it, and those who need it most, don’t listen. Oh, well. Advice is kind of like a big wad of chewing gum on your shoe. It sticks with you and can be annoying, but it always reminds you that someone else experienced it first. Read More »
Get Out Before It’s Too Late
A few years ago, my friend (and probably yours, too) Mary Ellen Nichols, MAS, director of marketing at supplier Bodek and Rhodes, dropped a quote by author John le Carré that I found both enlightening and unsettling: A desk is a dangerous place from which to view the world. Read More »
Something To Chew On
When I was a kid, the best part about going to the grocery story with my mom was getting to put a penny or nickel into the gumball machine and watching it dispense a bright, shiny ball of bubblegum. I’d pop it into my mouth and savor the familiar sugary crunch as I bit into it. Read More »
Seize The Day
Guest Columnist Sherri Lennarson, MAS, Former PPAI Chair Of The Board [This month I’m pleased to share my column with one of my favorite people: Former PPAI Board Chair Sherri Lennarson, MAS. Her message is timely, personal and it’s sure … Read More »
Seven Lessons We Learned From The Recession
Those who lived through the Great Depression were a changed generation. They changed their thinking, learned to get by on almost nothing and found ways to stretch a buck that would put today’s superstar coupon clippers to shame. The recent … Read More »
What Really Drives You Crazy?
Several mornings a week I grab a latte at either McDonald’s or Starbucks on the way to work. Although I prefer the taste of McDonald’s coffee, the experience there is very different from Starbucks. For example, at McDonald’s, I always … Read More »
