BLArticle®
The personal touch of a blog; the informative touch of an article.
A Good Plan Gone Awry
For a while, I’ve been working on a new book. The title, and the concept of the book are still under wraps, but that doesn’t mean we can’t learn a thing or two from it. Over the weekend, this book provided its first lesson to me. When a manuscript has been...
A Trip Outside The Box
I was conducting a program in Denver last week, and the concept of “thinking outside the box” came up. It’s an overused phrase. It is astounding how many people think they’re operating “outside the box” when, in fact, they are stuck in their prison of familiarity. ...
Closing The Loop
It’s amazing how many people pass through our lives in a lifetime. To quote a saying from the Grapes of Wrath, “some of the things folks do is nice, and some ain’t nice, but that’s as far as any man got a right to say.” But I do want to say a little more because...
Is It Mean, Or Is It Merciful?
There’s no sugarcoating it: The most challenging part of the job of a salesperson, a parent, or of anyone who wants to persuade, is to ask the more difficult questions. These are the questions that are sometimes referred to as “pain” questions. If you spend two...
A Packaging Lesson From A… Tea Bag?!
One of the most common questions I am asked is, “How do you come up with all these BLArticle™ topics?” My answer is this: “I am what you might call a methodically observant person.” That means that I look for lessons in almost everything I do. I look for a lesson...
Is it Bragging or Business?
Have you ever made the mistake of asking someone, “How’s business?” and after a rather over-the-top response, mumbled to yourself, “Sorry I asked?” It’s so easy to quietly fault the somewhat obnoxious, partially arrogant, and maybe a tad egotistical response. Well,...
Cadillac’s and Volvos
The other day, I was conducting a coaching session when a rather simple and often used phrase came up. The phrase immediately made me wince. I’ll bet you’ve heard it before. It went like this: “I told my client that, among these products on the market, this...
Focus On What Brought You There
As we continue to struggle with this beast of an economy, companies and organizations are still facing hiring’s and layoffs. The results can often create a kind of paranoia, and that can cloud our judgment. Let me present you with a classic case of the reason why,...
Taking Your Own Advice
On Thursday, I had lunch with the first manager I ever worked for. I worked for this man over 30 years ago, and although I may not have known it at the time, he was probably the best manager I ever worked for. He taught me how to sell, how to manage my time, and so...
Managing The Difficult Boss
I have coached and mentored many people over the course of my career, but one of the most difficult issues deals with how to manage your boss. For the sake of this BLArticle™, let’s spend our time talking about managing a difficult boss because, quite frankly, it’s...
Reinventing Your Business Is Like Shaving Your Head!
I’m not sure how long you’ve been sitting at your desk, wondering; “Is now the time for a dramatic change?” Everyone’s mind wanders when it comes to making startling changes and reinventing oneself. I’ve always been a fan of change, and a fan of a quote from the late...
A Very Short Vacation Message
Blog: I’m with my family on vacation this week. That might be interesting for me, but there’s no real message for you. Article: It’s our 20th year in a row of taking the family to the beach. 23, 22, and 18 year old kids and they still make it important. There’s an...
Baseballs, Bucket Lists, and a BLArticle™
The short story goes like this… Rob goes to see his beloved Washington Nationals play baseball and lightening strikes in the second inning. No, the Nats didn’t score - they rarely do. Lightening strikes by way of a screaming foul ball that travels fifty feet over...
Happy Birthday to the BLArticle™
It seems like yesterday when I told my son, Danny that I was going to try and create a new writing concept. Eagerly, I told him of my idea to put together two writing forms: I wanted to take the blog, a dedicated site with a consistent posting and delivery strategy,...
It’s Time to Pitch the Word “Pitch”
I received an email from a good friend, and she asked me a question that I’d like to share with you; She asked me what I thought of the word “pitch.” She explained to me that she works with a salesperson who enjoys using the word “pitch” to describe his daily sales...
Facebook, Friendship, and a Lesson Learned
Ah… the paradox of Facebook. Who knew such a simple idea could create so much angst and confusion. Ask one hundred people what they think about the Facebook revolution, and you’ll get one hundred different answers. There are the pessimists who won’t get near it. “Why...
Ten Listening Habits To Avoid
I’d like to start this week’s BLArticle™ with a small confession. I’m about to try and teach you a thing or two about being a better listener. If I told you that I was a wonderful listener, my wife Ronni’s eyes would be rolling and my nose would be growing. Franklin...
A Two-Word Response To Pressure
I was on the phone with a loyal BLArticle™ reader from Atlanta, and we started talking about that word I don’t like hearing very often; “nervousness.” I’ve already been over my views of eradicating that word from the Dictionary altogether and replacing it with the...
Sticking Your Neck Out
I’d like to debut a new feature to our weekly BLArticle™ conversations. From time to time, I would like to introduce you to others who are remarkable. I would like to tell you their story, and not mine. Meet Brian Jolles. Yes, I am related to Brian Jolles; He is one...
Be Careful What You Don’t Wish For!
If I had a nickel for every time someone spouted out the phrase, “we all sell,” I’d have enough nickels to pay for Redskin parking. Trust me, that’s a lot of nickels! Yes, it’s true that we all sell, and for people who sell for a living, I might be preaching to the...
“Rob is an expert not only in the art of influence,
but also in human nature.”
~Ken Blanchard,
coauthor of The One Minute Manager® and Trust Works!
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