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effective business communication: The Danger of Ad Hoc - 12/15/11 10:06 AM
We've all seen the real estate agent, broker or lender that ran their deals by the "seat of their pants." They often think they are a hero. But don't you usually think they are a mess and a time-waster? Really, admit it.
The ability to think is important. At times, the ability to think under pressure and adapt to change is even more important. However, just because someone important to a deal makes ad hoc decisions, does not always mean they get them right. And it does not mean their authority makes them beyond question.
For instance, I was at a recent large … (0 comments)

effective business communication: It sounded better that way. - 10/14/11 03:04 PM
Tom Wofford is a close friend who I met years ago in college. He is a professional writer and the editor of my book, Nerd-to-English (yes, a shameless plug). Much of Tom's other writing work includes magazine articles, fiction books, celebrity interviews, and historical books. He also works on local and national marketing projects and has years of experience managing theaters.
Occasionally I will hear him tell a story from our mutual past that is not what I remember. He did this one day when I had accompanied him to his interview of a celebrity.
After no one else was around, I … (31 comments)

effective business communication: Do You Borrow Excuses? - 10/02/11 08:54 AM
We all know the the economy stinks. So, does that mean we should all quit working, stop selling, stop buying, forget learning, and give up? After all, it’s hopeless right? Okay, so maybe it’s not that bad. At least most of us see ways we can keep trying and even some are finding new opportunities and new appreciation for their work.
At the same time, I am amazed at the number of people that still use selective reasons to accept their failures or to justify their lack of effort. In many instances, I hear them borrow excuses from the news or … (5 comments)

effective business communication: Makeup's Not Going to Cover That - 09/17/11 08:56 PM
Recently I had a scheduled meeting with a new potential business partner early in the morning, before normal business hours. I arrived at his office about five minutes early and waited. And waited. And waited.
Finally I sent a text to see if he was okay. He called right back and said that traffic was awful and he was almost there. When he arrived, he complained further about all the traffic problems.
What he didn’t realize is that my smartphone shows local traffic. It is very accurate and timely. I had looked at it right before texting him and no traffic … (32 comments)

effective business communication: "Drawing the Joker" - 09/08/11 11:23 AM
What is luck?What makes something good luck or bad luck? Is it important and can you count on it?
Perhaps even more importantly, how much do you rely on luck instead of preparation?
In this economy, many "so-called" real estate and mortgage professionals were exposed as unprepared. Yet many of these never admitted their role in their downfall. They just blamed it just on bad luck, as if they had no faults.
During a discussion of the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, I heard the comment that “BP just drew the joker.” The gentleman went on to discuss that he … (1 comments)

effective business communication: My Earthquake is better than your Mortgage Crisis - 08/24/11 02:48 PM
 
“Earthquake!”
Thus reads headlines, radio report, twitter feeds and FaceBook. For a while. This replaces the prior headlines of debt crisis disagreements, mortage disasters, floods, heat waves, and tornadoes. In a few days, there will be a new headline about something else.
Is one of these a better story than the rest? That totally depends on how it affects you. For most of us that are not directly affected, it is not a matter of “better” but simply “latest.”
When something does not directly impact us then, for all practical purposes, it is more of a reality television show than … (0 comments)

effective business communication: Do You Spill Your Secrets? - 08/21/11 06:25 PM
Recently I was on a conference call with the president of a business I advise and the business's attorney. The call was really just to confirm that an issue with an employee was handled correctly. The attorney was a specialist in employment law. That is why he was called.
During the course of the discussion, a question was asked that seemed rather routine. The attorney said, “I’m not sure, let me Google that right quick.”
While I appreciate the candor, the client got a funny look on her face. She (and I) had already done extensive research on the topic before … (2 comments)

effective business communication: 10 Ways to Screw Up Your Social Media Messages - 08/19/11 09:17 PM
Just like the telephone, television and the world wide web, social media is clearly a real medium for communication. Alone, it is not the silver bullet to solve all our business and advertising woes. However, it is important for business and careers when used correctly and as part of a full, broad communication plan.
There are many people making a living now as social media consultants. Admittedly, I’m a bit skeptical of most of these consultants. Peter Shankman had a great and very direct post about this. We agree that social media is not magic, just a message delivery system within … (60 comments)