Impact Today™
Friday, November 14, 2008
The one-legged man
An ad ran in the New York Times many years ago with a unique request. It was placed by a man who had lost his right leg in an accident. He was looking for a man who had lost his left leg in hopes they could strike up a friendship. The man had to be a size 8 shoe as the goal of the friendship was to share the cost of new shoes.
The ad caused a French newspaper to make the following observation at the time. “An American may lose his leg but never loses his head.”
An ad ran in the New York Times many years ago with a unique request. It was placed by a man who had lost his right leg in an accident. He was looking for a man who had lost his left leg in hopes they could strike up a friendship. The man had to be a size 8 shoe as the goal of the friendship was to share the cost of new shoes.The ad caused a French newspaper to make the following observation at the time. “An American may lose his leg but never loses his head.”
Labels: Anecdote, Creativity
¶ 11/14/2008 0 Comments Links to this post
Thursday, November 13, 2008
The office workout
Working long hours can be bad for your health. Here is a great way to get some exercise at the office (actually, you probably shouldn’t try this, but it is worth a laugh).
Labels: Creativity, Video
¶ 11/13/2008 0 Comments Links to this post
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
How To Do Business as Unusual
Remember the last time you were pleasantly surprised by something a business did -- maybe a business you patronize frequently?
One thing a great company must do to become and stay great is by astonishing its customers with excellent products, services, and ideas -- with excellent people.
A great lesson in astonishing the customer belongs to Fred Smith, the founder of Federal Express, or, as we know it today, FedEx.
To continue reading, click here.
Remember the last time you were pleasantly surprised by something a business did -- maybe a business you patronize frequently?One thing a great company must do to become and stay great is by astonishing its customers with excellent products, services, and ideas -- with excellent people.
A great lesson in astonishing the customer belongs to Fred Smith, the founder of Federal Express, or, as we know it today, FedEx.
To continue reading, click here.
Labels: Creativity, Goals, Strategy
¶ 11/12/2008 0 Comments Links to this post
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Getting the big account
Benjamin Franklin was noted as being a creative inventor and statesman. However few have heard what a great salesperson was.
A gentleman by the name of Andrew Bradford had been awarded a contract to do all the public prepping for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The fierce competitive nature of Franklin prevented him from accepting this loss of business. After all, Franklin knew he was a better printer and faster than Bradford.
Franklin learned the governor was scheduled to make an important speech in Philadelphia. He took the opportunity to outshine Bradford. Using his best lettering on elegant paper Franklin quickly reprinted the speech and sent it to the governor’s office. Not only did the speech arrived at the governor’s office faster than Bradford’s, the quality was much more appropriate for a governor.
The governor was obviously impressed as the following year Franklin was awarded the contract!
Life Lesson: Be creative in building business
Benjamin Franklin was noted as being a creative inventor and statesman. However few have heard what a great salesperson was.A gentleman by the name of Andrew Bradford had been awarded a contract to do all the public prepping for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The fierce competitive nature of Franklin prevented him from accepting this loss of business. After all, Franklin knew he was a better printer and faster than Bradford.
Franklin learned the governor was scheduled to make an important speech in Philadelphia. He took the opportunity to outshine Bradford. Using his best lettering on elegant paper Franklin quickly reprinted the speech and sent it to the governor’s office. Not only did the speech arrived at the governor’s office faster than Bradford’s, the quality was much more appropriate for a governor.
The governor was obviously impressed as the following year Franklin was awarded the contract!
Life Lesson: Be creative in building business
Labels: Anecdote, Creativity, Sales, Strategy
¶ 9/07/2008 0 Comments Links to this post
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Penalty avoidance becomes income
The publisher made a startling discovery moments before 3 million copies of Teddy Roosevelt’s 19 full convention speech were to be printed. It seems permission had not been obtained to use a picture of him and his running mate, Governor Hiram Johnson, of California. Under copyright laws photographer would have been entitled to one dollar per printed copy.
The chairman of the campaign committee knew they needed an immediate release so decided to try little creativity. He sent a telegram to photographer’s Chicago studio that read, “Planning to issue 3 million copies Roosevelt speech with pictures Roosevelt and Johnson uncover. Great publicity opportunity for photographer. Will you pay us to use your photographs?”
Within the hour the photographer replied, “Appreciate opportunity, but can only pay $250.”
Life Lesson: creativity has its rewards.
The publisher made a startling discovery moments before 3 million copies of Teddy Roosevelt’s 19 full convention speech were to be printed. It seems permission had not been obtained to use a picture of him and his running mate, Governor Hiram Johnson, of California. Under copyright laws photographer would have been entitled to one dollar per printed copy.The chairman of the campaign committee knew they needed an immediate release so decided to try little creativity. He sent a telegram to photographer’s Chicago studio that read, “Planning to issue 3 million copies Roosevelt speech with pictures Roosevelt and Johnson uncover. Great publicity opportunity for photographer. Will you pay us to use your photographs?”
Within the hour the photographer replied, “Appreciate opportunity, but can only pay $250.”
Life Lesson: creativity has its rewards.
Labels: Anecdote, Creativity, Strategy
¶ 8/10/2008 1 Comments Links to this post
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
First it was cheap junk, now its energy efficiency
You absolutely have to admire the Japanese for being ahead of the curve. Fifty years ago when the global marketplace was first forming, Japan captured a large segment of the borderless economy by producing inexpensive items at a rapid pace. Then they spotted an emerging global interest in technology and developed some of the most advanced products possible. At the same time they saw a global need for quality inexpensive cars and answered that call, too. With world-respected corporations like Toshiba, Sony, and Toyota the Japanese have marveled the world.
Now comes the next trend, green and guess what. The world once again is turning to the creativity and ingenuity of the small but powerful island nation. They have created a commercial complex in Chiba that generates it’s power from transparent solar panels imbedded in the building’s windows. They discovered a way to harness the heat from the waste of the Taiheiyo Cement Factory in Kumagaya to make generate the factory’s own electricity. And the list of accomplishments goes on.
Engineers from around the world are traveling to Japan to see the marvels the inventive Japanese culture has now introduced to the world.
You absolutely have to admire the Japanese for being ahead of the curve. Fifty years ago when the global marketplace was first forming, Japan captured a large segment of the borderless economy by producing inexpensive items at a rapid pace. Then they spotted an emerging global interest in technology and developed some of the most advanced products possible. At the same time they saw a global need for quality inexpensive cars and answered that call, too. With world-respected corporations like Toshiba, Sony, and Toyota the Japanese have marveled the world.Now comes the next trend, green and guess what. The world once again is turning to the creativity and ingenuity of the small but powerful island nation. They have created a commercial complex in Chiba that generates it’s power from transparent solar panels imbedded in the building’s windows. They discovered a way to harness the heat from the waste of the Taiheiyo Cement Factory in Kumagaya to make generate the factory’s own electricity. And the list of accomplishments goes on.
Engineers from around the world are traveling to Japan to see the marvels the inventive Japanese culture has now introduced to the world.
Labels: Corporate_culture, Creativity, Strategy
¶ 7/09/2008 0 Comments Links to this post
Monday, July 7, 2008
Hats at the boutique
Because her niece had offered to manage her small neighborhood boutique the store’s proprietor was able to take her first vacation in years. Trying not to be overly demanding, the aunt left only two instructions. First was to simply maintain friendly, courteous relationships with the customers. The second was, time permitting, she throw out two racks of old hats that the aunt had been meaning to discard but had not had the opportunity.
Upon her return the proprietor noticed the shop had been well shopped and much of the inventory had been sold.
“You must have been very busy,” the aunt inquired.
“Yes, there were a lot of customers while you were gone,” the niece said.
“Did you have to mark anything down?” asked the aunt.
“Oh, no! Everything sold at full price,” the niece reassured the aunt.
Surprised and pleased, the aunt then noticed that not only did the niece sell a record number of items, she had been able to discard the two racks of hats.
“Was there enough room in the trash?” the aunt asked.
“Well, I didn’t actually throw them out,” said the entrepreneurial niece, “I sold them too.”
“How on earth did you manage that, they had been here for a year or more?”
“It was simple,” replied the niece. “All I did was . . .”
To find out what the niece did to sell all the hats at full price, click here.
Life Lesson: When people perceive value, price is not an abject.
Because her niece had offered to manage her small neighborhood boutique the store’s proprietor was able to take her first vacation in years. Trying not to be overly demanding, the aunt left only two instructions. First was to simply maintain friendly, courteous relationships with the customers. The second was, time permitting, she throw out two racks of old hats that the aunt had been meaning to discard but had not had the opportunity.Upon her return the proprietor noticed the shop had been well shopped and much of the inventory had been sold.
“You must have been very busy,” the aunt inquired.
“Yes, there were a lot of customers while you were gone,” the niece said.
“Did you have to mark anything down?” asked the aunt.
“Oh, no! Everything sold at full price,” the niece reassured the aunt.
Surprised and pleased, the aunt then noticed that not only did the niece sell a record number of items, she had been able to discard the two racks of hats.
“Was there enough room in the trash?” the aunt asked.
“Well, I didn’t actually throw them out,” said the entrepreneurial niece, “I sold them too.”
“How on earth did you manage that, they had been here for a year or more?”
“It was simple,” replied the niece. “All I did was . . .”
To find out what the niece did to sell all the hats at full price, click here.
Life Lesson: When people perceive value, price is not an abject.
Labels: Acronym, Creativity, Sales
¶ 7/07/2008 0 Comments Links to this post
Monday, May 12, 2008
The Clever Chihuahua
The family’s pet Chihuahua wandered from the camp site one night while on safari. Scared and hungry after his night in the wild, the Chihuahua found some fresh bones under a bush. Quickly he began to devour them, satisfying his hunger. As his little belly became full, he noticed a lion out of the corner of his eye.
Knowing he was in deep trouble, the little dog exclaimed loudly, “Wow! That was a delicious leopard. I wish I had another to eat.”
Overhearing the Chihuahua, the lion stopped his prowl and ran in the other direction. After running for ten minutes, the leopard took a rest. He thought, “That was a close call! That vicious dog almost got me.”
A monkey was in the nearby trees watching everything. He quickly thought of a way to form an alliance to protect him from future danger.
Carefully, the monkey approached the lion. Staying safely in the trees he called to the lion, explaining the entire prank.
The monkey did not know the Chihuahua had seen him venture off to the lion nor did he know the dog had listened to his conversation with the king of the jungle.
The lion was enraged when he heard the truth and set off to locate the little canine. But the sly pooch had another trick ready. When the lion approached he turned his back and pretended to be hunting.
As the lion started to pounce . . .
What did the little Chihuahua do? Click here.
Knowing he was in deep trouble, the little dog exclaimed loudly, “Wow! That was a delicious leopard. I wish I had another to eat.”
Overhearing the Chihuahua, the lion stopped his prowl and ran in the other direction. After running for ten minutes, the leopard took a rest. He thought, “That was a close call! That vicious dog almost got me.”
A monkey was in the nearby trees watching everything. He quickly thought of a way to form an alliance to protect him from future danger.
Carefully, the monkey approached the lion. Staying safely in the trees he called to the lion, explaining the entire prank.
The monkey did not know the Chihuahua had seen him venture off to the lion nor did he know the dog had listened to his conversation with the king of the jungle.
The lion was enraged when he heard the truth and set off to locate the little canine. But the sly pooch had another trick ready. When the lion approached he turned his back and pretended to be hunting.
As the lion started to pounce . . .
What did the little Chihuahua do? Click here.
Labels: Anecdote, Creativity
¶ 5/12/2008 0 Comments Links to this post
Monday, April 21, 2008
Lateral thinking
Are you a lateral thinker? Read this story and you will find out.
A man was touring a senior’s home looking for a loving place for his aging mother. He was impressed by the cleanliness of the facility and the friendliness of the staff. That is until they got to the dementia wing where his demeanor immediately changed. The tour guide, trained to detect displeased guests, kept noticing rolled eyes, sneers, and a general attitude of disgust.
Her customer service training prohibited her from allowing the disgruntled tour taker from leaving without finding out what his so vehemently objected to.
“Everyone in this wing seems to have gone mad,” he remarked. “Have they all gone mad under your care?”
“Oh, no,” exclaimed the tour guide. “When people are admitted we give them a test. If they pass, they go into the other wing. If they fail, they come into this one.”
Intrigued, the man asked what the test was.
“We show them a bathtub full of water,” she explained. “Next to it is a bucket, a jug, and an 8-ounce glass. We ask them what is the quickest way to empty the tub.”
“Oh, so those with all their faculties will know it is the bucket, right?”
“Absolutely not,” she replied, “The bucket is not the right answer.”
For the correct answer, click here.
A man was touring a senior’s home looking for a loving place for his aging mother. He was impressed by the cleanliness of the facility and the friendliness of the staff. That is until they got to the dementia wing where his demeanor immediately changed. The tour guide, trained to detect displeased guests, kept noticing rolled eyes, sneers, and a general attitude of disgust.Her customer service training prohibited her from allowing the disgruntled tour taker from leaving without finding out what his so vehemently objected to.
“Everyone in this wing seems to have gone mad,” he remarked. “Have they all gone mad under your care?”
“Oh, no,” exclaimed the tour guide. “When people are admitted we give them a test. If they pass, they go into the other wing. If they fail, they come into this one.”
Intrigued, the man asked what the test was.
“We show them a bathtub full of water,” she explained. “Next to it is a bucket, a jug, and an 8-ounce glass. We ask them what is the quickest way to empty the tub.”
“Oh, so those with all their faculties will know it is the bucket, right?”
“Absolutely not,” she replied, “The bucket is not the right answer.”
For the correct answer, click here.
Labels: Anecdote, Creativity
¶ 4/21/2008 0 Comments Links to this post
