It's that simple - but it's also a personal stance. What if I said that sales and marketing's job is to 'manipulate' perception in the market? How did you react when you read the word manipulate? Probably not too positively.    Manipulation is something bad people do, right? Yet we  practice the art of persuasion every day in our businesses.    We bend our audiences' beliefs through the stories and information we share, through the brand or image we create, through the sales discussions we guide so carefully.  Tough one, huh?  MORE >>

" Scott put it on the table when it comes to selling out our integrity for the big bucks - something I personally see happening all around me.   And now to one of my current personal peeves - the everyday sensationalism or just plain negative attacking comments that have become cool in our world. Tags: My Own Personal Soapbox Scott McKain wrote a post on Friday that got me going, I ntellectual Dishonesty. IN the end that behavior all boils down to MONEY and EGO. Now the only question is, "What's your price?" He nailed the topic right between the eyes. MORE >>

Tags: My Own Personal Soapbox MORE >>

Or there's that personal agenda, "But I need the money!" Help them identify a blogging team that alternates posts so there's no big load on any one person. Tags: My Own Personal Soapbox The topic of ghostblogging and Tweeting is popping up everywhere.    I even saw a Tweet last week touting that a VA (Virtual Assistant) can write your company's blog. can't believe we're even having this debate. Especially among those who claim to believe in integrity and honesty above all, who strive to create trusted relationships with our customers. MORE >>

Marketing departments in all kinds of companies are using the power of being 'personal' as a way to attract customers and win business.   Personalized profiles are all the rage in outbound marketing.  Somehow - that doesn't seem like a truly personal approach.    A mass production of 'personalized' information is just that - a mass communication.    Customers and prospects, friends and family see right through those approaches, especially when we aren't thoughtful about our personalization. MORE >>