How are you on your best day?

Dan Merchant is smart marketing guy that I always enjoy talking to. He's a longtime ad guy, former CMO. You either love him or you can't stand him (that's ok with him) because he'll say things that sometimes just don't go down easy. I'm going to share one of his brilliant nuggets. It's a two-part nugget. It's starts with the question:

At its best, on its best day, what does your company do, how does it behave and perform?

I'll be vulnerable and answer that about my company.

On my company's best days, we're brave and passionate. No fear, lots of fun, lots of exciting, inspirational ideas. I love those times. When we're not that way, when we're fearful or just following orders, it's not any good for anyone. I don't enjoy it at all, I'm not sure anyone does.

The second part to this nugget is: Now that you know how you are on your "Best Day," make everyday a "Best Day." Or at least come as close to that as you can. That means you have to do things that will allow these days to happen more often, whatever that takes.

Apply that to you and your company. 1) Determine how you are when you truly are at your best on your best day. 2) Try to have as many of them as possible.

Could you imagine how your company would be if you had 200 "Best Days" a year?

Everything old is new this recession

48% of all car owners are now saying they will hold onto their current car a year or two longer. Instead of turning in the old one for the new model, people are planning to hold on longer. A used product is now more attractive to the masses.

Bad news? Yes, if you sell only new stuff. But it's good news if...

You sell used stuff or
You sell old stuff that you fix up or
You provide service to people who have old stuff that needs to be fixed

Avoid the void

What do corporations do when there's undesirable situation?

They usually avoid it, pretend it's not there or hope it will go away. Sometimes they re-name the thing to sound less offensive. For example, instead of lay-offs or firings, we now have a RIF--a Reduction in Workforce. Now, that feels better...

It's best to face the issue and communicate to your employees, clients, suppliers, whoever. Why?

Because when there's a void in communication, people will usually fill that void with negativity.