Sales vs. Marketing

Sales vs. Marketing

by | Nov 14, 2014

If you want to make yourself instantly unpopular, say this in a sales meeting: “Marketing is not a sales-support function. Sales is a marketing-fulfillment function.” But make sure the door is unlocked, the hallways are clear, and the elevator is held...
Hype Dreams

Hype Dreams

by | Nov 13, 2014

Dow Jones hasn’t updated its list of the top gobbledygook terms since 2008. But the world hasn’t changed all that much over the past few years. The business lexicon has changed even less. Buzzwords are like Pit Bulls with ankles: Once their jaws are clenched, it...
Land of Confucian*

Land of Confucian*

by | Nov 10, 2014

First I would straighten out the language. (Confucius, asked how he would restore order to the world) I’ve worked for three of America’s major insurance and financial services organizations. Those are the terms by which those companies chose to describe themselves,...
Happy Meal

Happy Meal

by | Nov 5, 2014

I recently stopped in a coffee shop for lunch. As I was paying for my repast, the earnest young man behind the counter told me all the food was prepared on the premises and said proudly, “It’s all food you can feel good about eating.” Uh oh. Had I...
I Wonder

I Wonder

by | Nov 4, 2014

Years ago, returning from a Sunday afternoon outing with some friends in their station wagon, I said I couldn’t believe the weekend was ending — the next day would be Monday already. The three-year-old daughter of my friends called to her father from the...