Bruce Turkel's Blog
Do what I say!
“Do what I say not what I do” is not a good strategy for children, employees, voters, customers, clients, or anyone you're trying to influence. As Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: “What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.”
Fire Your Client!!
My favorite definition of a diplomat is “someone who can send you to hell and make you look forward to the trip.”
The value of diplomacy is something we're sorely lacking these days.
The Value of Diplomacy
My favorite definition of a diplomat is “someone who can send you to hell and make you look forward to the trip.”
The value of diplomacy is something we're sorely lacking these days.
AI and ChatGPT
Are you interested in AI and ChatGPT?
You're not alone. When I had the AI bot write my blog post a couple of months ago and used AI to produce the video without shooting a custom video blog, the post received more interest and comments than anything I've written in 15 years. When Sam Richter and I hosted a webinar on using AI and ChatGPT just a few weeks ago, over 600 people signed up to learn how to put the new technology to work for them.
Why? Because the new technology appears fearfully magical and something almost everyone feels they need to understand.
Whether you're a business owner, tech enthusiast, or simply curious about what the heck AI and ChatGPT are all about, this video will lead you to the insights that will leave you inspired.
Do You Want What You Say You Want?
Do You Want What You Say You Want? Are you sure? If Lauren had, she'd be traveling the world right now instead of still trying to sell her business.
Overcoming Writers Block
Have you ever suffered from writers block?
It's that awful feeling you get when you can't seem to put two words together in a coherent sentence, even though you have a deadline to meet or something that needs to be written.
Having written this blog every single week since its birth in June 2007, I can sympathize. There are times when my ideas flow like poop from the proverbial goose, and other times when the more appropriate metaphor has something to do with squeezing blood from a stone.
The funny thing is you've never heard of anyone suffering from dentist's block, gardener's block, accountant's block, or mechanic's block. Being a “writer” is the only title I can think of that people naturally put the word “block” after.
Which is Better, Direct Response or Branding?
Deeply ingrained beliefs have built powerful competitive advantages for their respective organizations thanks to years and years (and years!) of consistent and effective brand marketing.
These beliefs dictate why you buy what you buy, eat what you eat, wear what you wear, drive what you drive, and live where you live. They can also determine who you vote for, where you worship, and how and where you're buried.
Or, why you don't do any of those things.
That's what brands do.
Are You Lucky or Unlucky?
The difference between lucky or unlucky might just be a matter of perception and perspective.
Perception is being aware of something, generally from our point of view.
Perspective is awareness of things in their proper relationship to others or their relative importance to other things.
Perception is understanding how things affect us.
Perspective is understanding how things affect others.
It's true for business, it's true for relationships, it's true for politics, and it's true for presentations. Indeed, it's true anytime two or more people get together to try and accomplish something.
The Difference Between Clever and Clear
You don't want to be clever when you're offering directions. You don't want to be clever when you're sharing a recipe. You also don't want to be clever when you're giving instructions. And you don't want to be clever when you're selling. You want to be clear.
Loyalty Programs.
How much more productive would a loyalty program be if companies realized that the way to keep their customers loyal is to demonstrate that the brand is loyal to them and not vice versa? Want to know how to solve this problem for your business…?
The Best Way to Get Hired.
Anyone directly involved in sales, marketing, leadership, or customer service, as well as anyone who produces art, music, professional services, or any other commercial product or service, has asked themselves this same question:
What's the best way to get hired?
Anyone who sells advertising, design, PR, promotion, social media marketing, e-commerce consulting, or other sales tools has not only been paid to answer this question for their own customers, but has also asked it about their own business.
Now THAT'S a Blog Post!
Just as “Fishing” isn't called “Catching,” “Investing” isn't called “Earning.” You win some, you lose some. If your risk tolerance is so low that you can't accept that, you shouldn't be in the game. There's nothing wrong with sitting on the sidelines if that suits your temperament. But the point of this blog post is that there's no reason to believe you're inherently flawed because you can't stand the heat. Just step out of the kitchen.
Do You Know What You Want?
When I was writing my last book, Is That All There Is? I interviewed almost 50 successful people who had changed their lives. I asked them, and hundreds of people since, do you know what you want?
Almost every person I asked gave me one of three answers…
Was Jimmy Buffett's Death Coincidental or Ironic?
The American Cancer Society says if caught early, the chance of living at least five years after a Merkel Cell Carcinoma diagnosis is over 75%. But if the cancer has spread, the likelihood of five-year survival drops below 25%.
Because it's easier to stay out of trouble than get out of trouble, blocking the sun's rays in the first place is preferable to removing skin cancers after they take hold.
If Jimmy Buffett had done that, perhaps he'd still be with us, enjoying his life and making us smile.
In his song Volcano, Buffett sang, “I don't want to land on no Three Mile Island; don't want to see my skin a-glow.”
Considering Jimmy Buffett's death, THAT'S sadly ironic.
My Favorite Jimmy Buffett Story
Jimmy Buffett was not the world's best singer or guitar player. He wasn't even the best musician in his own band.
But Buffett was a great songwriter, a great businessman, and a best-selling author. Most importantly, he lived his own life. And he showed the rest of us how to do it, too.
What Do You Want?
What Do You Want?
I'm curious to know when you've had the type of moment or vision that helped you figure out what you wanted to do and where you wanted to go.
How were you able to visualize it?
How were you able to act on it?
And if you did make a significant change, did the reality of your new life or your new direction square up with the vision you had that caused you to make a switch?
Of course, it doesn't have to be a career change. It could be a change of venue, a change of personal status, a change of viewpoint, or a change of belief.
But whatever it is, I'd like to know how you identified it, acted on it, and evaluated the results as you looked for the answer.
What Does It Take For YOU To Change YOUR Mind?
Sometimes an argument is so convincing that no matter how firmly held our opinions are, we can't help but change our minds.
What does it take for YOU to change YOUR mind?
Steal Smart.
It doesn't matter whether you already knew about Newton's declaration, “If I have seen further [than others], it is by standing on the shoulders of giants” or if you just learned of this concept today. What matters is that from now on, when you look for new ways to get what you want, remember to steal smart and use creative interpretations of proven best practices instead of always trying to reinvent the wheel.
We won't spam!