Posts by Mark Morgan Ford
Beware of the Natural Entropy in Customer Service
One of the first things I did upon taking on AP as a client was call his customer service line, pretending to be a customer. The phone rang eight times before it was picked up.
Read MoreMarketers – Beware of the Advice You Are Getting Today
A little knowledge, they say, is a dangerous thing. And nowhere is that more true than with the Internet marketing industry.
Read MoreDo You Own Your Business – or Does It Own You?
Hal looked tired when he arrived at the restaurant. “You look beat,” I told him. “I am,” he said. “I’ve been working nonstop, running from my home in Canada to my office in Honduras and then visiting all my projects in Central America. I’m too old for this.” “How long have you been working at…
Read MoreTrue Value: Understanding What Matters in Business and in Life
We were walking down a small cobblestone street in Aix en Provence. It was a perfect June day – sunny and still warm in the late afternoon. The old, unpainted buildings had an amber glow.
Read MoreMake Your Writing More Persuasive
It appears, the scientists say, that our brains are hardwired to trust simpler things. This makes complete sense, if you think about it. Our primitive ancestors…
Read MoreMarketing Truths from Scientific Advertising
I have been in the marketing business for more than 30 years. And in all that time, I’ve read only a handful of books on advertising.
Read MoreDouble Your Personal Power
In any organization, power moves inexorably to those who speak well. By well, I don’t mean eloquently. I mean persuasively. There is an art and a skill to persuading people to accept your ideas.
Read MoreThe Most Important Thing I Ever Learned About Living Rich
The most important thing I ever learned about “living rich” was taught to me by a former rich guy who dropped out of the moneymaking game to study Chinese philosophy and teach Tai Chi.
Read MoreHow to Achieve Growth and Profitability
Bonn, Germany. Dead of winter, 1996. The meeting began at 8:00 a.m.
Read MoreThe Economics of Customer Service
I once “fired” a client – let’s call him Jerry – who had paid me more than a million dollars and wanted to keep on paying me more than 20 grand a month. In every aspect but one our relationship was terrific.
Read MoreWinner Take All? The Yin and Yang of Negotiating
Sid had done it. He had convinced the IRS agent to forgive the mistake my partner Joel and I had made. He had spent three weeks with the guy, working mornings, golfing with him in the afternoon, and taking him out to dinner.
Read MoreDealing With Disappointments
The $3,500 commission check you were expecting won’t be coming. The customer canceled the order.
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