Water Under the Bridge

This is a great time management tool. Often I get call that looks like it is relevant to my day (so says the caller-id). Turns out that the call for a partnership is a recruiter, or trade show rep, or other such time eater I do not want to talk too. So what to do? Simple there is a high probability you answered the call out of reflex, brain cramp or other such failing of focus and need to extricate yourself from the call as soon as possible. Enter the “Con Call.” When I get on a call that is clearly a black hole for my time I immediately check the time, if I am within 10 minutes of the hour or half hour I cut of the person and say; “Okay, I really want to give this my full attention, I am 10 minutes out on a conference call and am writing up my notes. Drop me an email and I will get back you, guaranteed.” Give email address, hang up, and move on. So if you get the “I’ve got a con call” line, most likely you have missed the mark and need to re-prepare your approach. And yes I do answer ...

This is rich. I was asked to provide a client with a presentation on how to give a presentation to C-Level executives, seriously. Talk about slippery slope. What to say that not only meets the literal structure of a good preso, and what literal structure to follow? The always relevant, who, what, when, where, why and how? The always riveting ACE presentation structure? The marketing framework of; what we are (insert value prop/startling statement here)? Who needs this? Our product does “X” unlike the competition who obviously cannot do “X” as well as us. Which means to you…? Nope, skip them all and go to the source. C-Level people who are pitched more than Larry Ellison’s yacht during a Pisco sour infused, Sydney to Hobart run. That is right I asked the big wigs, the top guns, the man (women) the HMFIC, the buck stops here (it does not by BTW), the subpoenaed, Sarbanes Oxley-ed to death, board managing, decision making, house remodeling, globe-trotting, nothing like you and me crowd....

Well, I have never written anything other than a bubble sort program for a computer that accepted input via a punch card reader. And I thank all of you "coders" for that. I simply do not have to program. All the effort, sweat, late nights, and code crushes, (a wine country reference), billions in advanced education and artistry of the SW development process are appreciated, but most likely lost on me in the big picture. Now what is MSFT like as a person? Microsoft is that guy you see at the latest hip restaurant (Web X.0). He looks tired, is actually 45 to 50 years old and looks older. He is half paying attention to his spouse (Windows Server) and too young kids (SQL and MSN), while mostly wondering when the kitchen remodeling will end if it ever does (Gates leaving). He can no longer conspicuously consume to feed the hole in his soul where his childhood used to be (DOS grab). But he does anyway, and is typically a year or more behind any meaningful social trend (selling ads ...

Back and in the mix again after a week in the beautiful pacific NW including a 4 day stay at the Lake Crescent Lodge. In a wired world I have put off getting any type of mobile email device. I did however get a customer call on Sunday (September 2) and took a conference call lakeside. The quiet was unsettling and I am sure the local wildlife now knows quite a bit about data discovery and recovery. Now, one issue I dealt with last week relates to negotiation. I swear it is the fourth or fifth time I heard a potential customer say, “We need you be here (insert huge discount here)” as we do not have enough money in the budget.” Being the Chief Perspective Officer I was asked to consult on this call (the lakeside call) and found an interesting customer behavior that appeared to be a mystery to many sales people. This customer is well described in the book, “The Wisdom of Wolves: Nature's Way to Organizational Success,” by Twyman Towery who obviously has a name that sounds like he is ...