Posts by Mark Morgan Ford
3 Ways To Listen More Effectively
“The reason why we have two ears and only one mouth is that we may listen the more and talk the less.” – Zeno of Citium, quoted by Diogenes I’ve been listening to an audiotape program about listening. It makes the argument that you can increase your personal power by cultivating this often underappreciated skill.…
Read MoreThe Early to Rise Golden Rule of Customer Service
A commercial on the radio this morning caught my interest. It was for a men’s clothing store. All the usual claims were made, but one was phrased in a way I hadn’t heard before: “We treat all of our customers as if they were the only one.”
Read MoreIncome, Assets, And Net Worth – What Do You Need?
“Wealth unused might as well not exist.” – Aesop, The Miser and His GoldIn a recent issue of Strategic Opportunities, James Dale Davidson had this to say about building wealth: Contrary to the misleading advice in The Millionaire Next Door and other best-selling volumes, the key to becoming really rich is not pinching pennies but…
Read MoreTaking The Big Leap
“The impossible often has a kind of integrity which the merely improbable lacks.” – Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the SoulSometime in your business career, you will have a chance to do something or sell something and it will be obvious to you that you are looking at a great opportunity. However, you…
Read MoreMore Ideas To Put On Your Internet Marketing Checklist
“If you give your son or daughter only one gift, let it be enthusiasm.” – Bruce BartonRecently, I participated in a seminar on Internet marketing. I went to listen and learn, but I did make a small presentation.One of the most important points I made about the Internet is that it is not one thing…
Read MoreWatch Out For Dependency-Motivated Managers
“It is easier to exclude harmful passions than to rule them, and to deny them admittance than to control them after they have been admitted.” – Seneca There is a certain kind of manager you need to watch out for. He is often extremely bright. Entirely competent. Completely dependable. In short, everything youve ever wanted…
Read MoreA Very Rich Guy You Never Heard About
“My wife and I were in the country a few weeks ago. We were standing in front of a wishing well and she fell in. I never dreamed those things worked.” – Milton Berle Sitting in the audience at a publishers convention a few years ago, Roy Reiman heard a speaker describe his industrys impossible…
Read MoreE-Mail And Return Buttons
“Even on the highest throne in the world, we are still sitting on our ass.” – Michel de Montaigne I did it again. Copied a “sensitive” e-mail to the wrong person. Its soooo embarrassing. In what I thought was a confidential memo to my partners I characterized someones proposition as “insane.” I neglected to check…
Read MoreHow To Get Out Of That Damned Rut
“I like work; it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours.” – Jerome K. Jerome (1859-1927)Good friend and business partner PH asked these questions:”How do you get out of a rut? Regain passion for your work? Get yourself up for each day? Have you thought about this? It happens to me…
Read MoreMaking Your Dream Worthwhile
Last week, we talked about leadership (Message #173). I said that of all the qualities good leaders possess, none is more important than the ability to make the work seem worthwhile.I’ve been thinking about this since then, and I’m certain its true. All great leaders have this quality. I mentioned Napoleon. But it’s equally true…
Read MoreQuestions…From A Born Salesman
Today, I’d like to get back to the question of questioning. A few weeks ago, in Message #160, we talked about the effect of asking questions in the world of business. My argument, in a nutshell, was this: When you ask a question, you cede power, so be very careful whom you question. Trusted mentors,…
Read MoreThe Selling Power Of Personalization
“Trust every man, but always cut the cards.” – American Proverb A fundamental principle of selling is that customers will buy more if they feel they know you. Understand that and you will be a much more powerful businessperson.The principle is true for all selling, . . . from telemarketing to direct mail to retail…
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