Sales and Marketing Teams Work Together to Increase Sales Productivity in 90 Days

Here is a low-cost tip for quickly Improving Sales Productivity:  Get Sales and Marketing to talk to each other! Unfortunately, Sales and Marketing Teams do not always work together very well.  Sales Productivity often suffers as a result of having different metrics and goals. When the Teams do work together to focus on improving the existing sales process... sales results quickly go up and the cost of selling goes down.  This is a "must-have" in today's business environment.

Here is a simple plan on how to get Sales and Marketing to quickly work together and focus on improving sales productivity in 90 days.

Simple Action Plan

1. Create a small team to focus on sales productivity
2. Summarize your current sales and marketing metrics Click here for Five Key Sales and Marketing Metrics (or Ratios)
3. Document the existing sales process - Keep it simple
4. Brainstorm ideas on how to improve the process and metrics
5. Prioritize the top 3 ideas
6. Implement the top changes
7. Create a spreadsheet with the metrics, measure your progress and report your results
8. Celebrate your sales productivity successes together

When you are in the middle of this project, just think about this quote:

"We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible." C. Malesherbes

Cloud Backup Best Practices, Services & Top Tips

Over the last five years,  we moved more and more of our important information from paper storage to our PCs, Smartphones and to Cloud Applications.   When we completed Spring Cleaning this year, we actually eliminated "two 4-draw File Cabinets" with folders  instead of typically adding more of them.

In the past, we only backed up the computerized information daily to external disk drives on site and kept a few of them off-site.

During the last 3-4 years, we added unlimited internet backup services.  We have hundreds of gigabites of data now stored off-site that are available if something happens to our local equipment. They automatically transmit an encrypted copy all our information off-site everyday.  (Note: We test different services to learn how they work and better help our clients).

The backup services are wonderful.  The cost of backing up your Smartphone, Laptop, PC or Mac  has significantly dropped, security is extremely high and the service is easy to implement.  To get started, you download and install a small program from their site on your PC or Mac.  We have our systems set up to backup all changes that occur during the day that night.  All the data is encrypted by the software before it leaves your home or office.  We've tested Mozy, Carbonite and Crashplan. The Transporter drive is next on our list.   So far, knock wood... no problems.

We spend about $120 per year for complete data backups of all PCs/Macs.

Below are some lists we compiled during our evaluation and use of the different Internet Backup Services:

• 5   Backup Service Benefits
• 5   Key Questions About Your Current Backup Process
• 10 Applications to Backup in Your Office
• 10 Reasons to Backup Your Home Computers
• 10 Top Ways Data is Distroyed or Lost
• 2  Top Internet Backup Solutions

5 Backup Service Benefits

• Set-up is quick and simple
• Software is easy to install on your PC or Mac
• Backups are automatic and in the background
• All files are encrypted on your Computer before transfer for best security
• Perform incremental backups

5 Key Questions About Your Current Backup Process

Here are five questions to ask yourself about your current computer backup process:

• How often should you backup your data?
• Do you backup your data Daily, Weekly or Monthly?
• Do you keep a copy of your backup in an off-site secure location?
• Is the data encrypted to increase security?
• Do employees (or you) leave backup copies in the car while doing errands,  dining or overnight?

10 Applications to Backup in Your Office

• Customer Information and Order History
• Sales Forecasts & Leads
• Customer Service Info
• Inventory
• Purchasing / Vendors
• Accounting- GL, AP & AR
• Employee - HR - Payroll
• Marketing Materials & Templates
• Business Plans, Reports and Calendars
• eMail, IM and Other Communications

10 Reasons to Backup Your Home Data, Videos, Photos and Music

You may want to think about how you would feel if a fire, flood, robbery or tornado destroyed all the photos and videos of all your:

• Birthdays
• Wedding & Anniversaries
• Graduations
• Vacations
• Family BBQ Picnic
• Grandparents & Grandchildren
• Financial Statements
• Sons & Daughters
• Sisters & Brothers
• Family Holidays

10 Ways Data Is Destroyed or Lost:

• Fire or Flood
• Earthquake
• Storm / Rain Damage
• Tornados
• Delete a File by Mistake
• Burglary & Robbery
• Children's Mistakes
• Virus
• PC Crashes
• Lost Smartphone, Laptop or iPods

Summary

We get asked all the time.... So which is the best backup company to use for a Small Business or Home Office?    The bottom line is most of the top companies  work extremely well and we don't have a strong preference one way or another.  However, if you have a large amount of back-up data,  at this time CrashPlan has a few more options to speed up the restore process.  We highly recommend Mozy, Carbonite, CrashPlan and DollyDrive to our Friends and Business Clients.

As part of my consulting job at Deloitte and Touche, I use to perform security audits for large data centers and company computer systems.  We would have killed to have these great backup and security products available for our smaller clients.

Top Rated Cloud Backup Services for Small Business (and the Home)

If you want more information on four of the top rated Internet Remote Small Business Backup Services,  you can click the links below. All four services also provide home versions of their services that are ideal for the Family, a Home Office or a Small Office.

Carbonite Business Backup - Gives you secure, automatic & affordable online backup, plus access to your files anytime, anywhere $229 / year

Mozy Backup for Personal and Business - Secure Online Backup for Small Business... and Home Devices

Crashplan - Provides Secure Encrypted Cloud Backup for Small Business and Home Devices

DollyDrive  - Specializes in all Apple devices.  If you have an all Apple Home or Small Business, they have Apple specialists and very good prices on large amounts of data.

The Transporter Private Cloud - Low-Cost Cloud Storage and Backup for people that are concerned about Cloud Backup Security. Highly rated by everyone. We like this product a lot. There are two popular models now:

Transporter Sync Private Cloud - Buy from Amazon

Seagate 1TB SSHD and Drobo Transporter Private Cloud - Buy from Amazon These services protect you from yourself, your employees and criminals.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or please comment below.

Top 10 Reasons Why I Dumped my Android for an iPhone 4

“The iPhone is Just Easier & More Fun to Use” - Quote from my wife

Let me start by saying that I highly recommend both Android and Apple iPhones to all of our clients, friends and family. I think they are the best Smartphones available for business and personal use in the marketplace today. The other vendors have great Smartphones. However, Android and iPhones are just better to use at this time. Sorry Blackberry, Nokia and WIndows users :(

In the past, I was an enthusiastic user (and fan) of the Blackberry and the Palm Smartphones.  For the last two years, I used an iPhone 3g. Unfortunately, it  was stolen out of my jacket pocket in San Francisco a few months ago. I was devastated. So my wife, feeling sorry for me, let me borrow her Android Smartphone for a few months (one of the many reasons why I love my wife). Since I always really liked the Android Smartphone, I took this opportunity to evaluate all the latest Android Smartphones to see if I wanted to buy one of them or to just buy the new iPhone 4 (FYI... our contract was up, so I was free to buy any mobile phone). I spent hours in the various phone stores and Best Buy asking questions and testing the new Androids. I read all the reviews, watched the video reports and asked everyone with an Android what they liked and didn’t like about their Smartphone.

However, after using an Android Smartphone for 8 weeks and after all the research, I dumped my Android Smartphone for the iPhone 4.  At this time, I greatly prefer the iPhone 4 to any of the Android Smartphones. Everyone kept asking me why I switched... so here are my Top 10 Reasons:

1. Silent Mode Button - Every Smartphone should have this button. I use it every day during Movies, Meetings, Phone Calls and Meals. One click and the phone is OFF. One click and it’s back ON. Most other Smartphones require you to enter passwords and click several times through menus to turn off the Smartphone sound.
2. One App for all Music, TV, Audio Books, Movies & Podcasts - This is a very BIG reason why I love the iPhone (and yes... I’m using the word “Love”).  I use ONE App to download, buy, back-up and play all Music, Movies, TV Shows, Videos, Audio Books & Podcasts.  It is fast and easy to use each day. If you have a simple question,  just walk into any Apple Store and someone is usually available to help you.If you use an Android Smartphone, you need to find, evaluate and download 2-10 different Apps to buy, play and download multimedia.  When I go into the other retails stores to ask which Android App should I use to: Buy, Back-up, and Play Music, Movies, TV Shows, Videos, Audio Books & Podcasts, the Store Reps all have different answers and typically  recommended 2-4 Android Apps.  Bottom-line: With the iPhone, there is only ONE iPhone App to learn and use... and only ONE company to ask questions.
3. One Simple User Interface - All 100 million+ iPhone iTouch and iPad) Users have had the same simple user interface for the last 3 years. Almost every Apple employee and iPhone user can help answer questions on how to use the iPhone... because they all work the same.  You can also ask almost anyone at work or friends that have an iPhone for tips and help.   The Apple iPhone is simple to learn, use and upgrade. Almost every new Android Smartphone User Interface has a different (or sometimes significantly different) interface to learn.  The vendors add their own look and feel to the basic Android operating system on each phone. When you upgrade to a different brand Android Smartphone, there is a high probability that you will have to start all over learning a new use interface. Most people HATE  having to learn a new mobile phone.
4. Apple Retail Stores -  I can’t get over how wonderful it is to go into an Apple Store and ask anyone for help. It is even a better experience when you make an appointment with a Genius Support Rep to help answer (for free) any questions about the iPhone. There is even an easy-to-use special Apple Store App (that you can download for free from the iTunes Store) to schedule Apple Store Training and Tech Support Appointments. The FREE weekly Training is pretty terrific as well.  I went with my wife to the Apple Store iPhone Trainings after she recently got her 1st iPhone.  She loved the training. I believe it is always better to have someone else teach your Spouse how to use new technology... if possible. Don’t you agree? :) I have a dramatically different experience when I go into many Verizon, Best Buys and Sprint Retail Stores for help & demos on the new Motorola Droid X, HTC Incredible, the original Motorola Droid, Samsung Android or various Blackberry Smartphones.  They can usually tell me all about their rates and plans.  However, the Reps are not much help answering standard “App questions” on how to use a Smartphone.  To be fair, there are so many models, options and versions of the Android, it is hard to know them all.   This goes back to the fact that too many versions of the Android operating system makes it very hard to provide an excellent customer experience buying and learning how to use a new Smartphone.  Even if the Sales Reps own one Android phone, that doesn’t mean that they know how to use an App on another Android smartphone because the interface will be different.
5. App Store & Security - The Apple iTunes Store is very easy to use.  In addition, Apple Engineers Review and Approve Apps before I even see them in the iTunes Store.  Why do I prefer this as a user?  Read the recent two examples below. Android recently had 1+ million people download and install a free nice looking wallpaper Android App. The App looked perfectly normal in the Google Marketplace Store. Unfortunately, the Android App sent user passwords and personal information to a website in China without their knowledge. Google started looking into the “high security risk” App after a million+ Android users’ data was stolen. Most experts predict that this problem will get worse... not better in the future.Here is another Android App issue: Since no one checks Google Marketplace Android Apps before you download them, many poorly designed Apps keep running in the background after your think you stopped using them.  The problem is very common on many Android Smartphones and can cause the Apps to quickly drain the battery.   To fix this, you need to find and download a special Android App to kill other Apps. This is just great for non-technical people that just want to use their Smartphone phone.
6. Camera & Video - I don’t know what Apple did... but the new iPhone 4 camera has a fast shutter speed and takes great photos during the daylight. Night shots are good but not great.  The Camera App has one switch that changes from a Digital Camera to a Video Recorder within the App. Most of the the Android Smartphone Camera and Video Apps work slightly different on each Smartphone and the camera shutter speeds are much slower. On the Android Smartphone you need two Apps to do the same thing as the iPhone one Camera App.  You have one App for the Camera and another App for the Video.
7. Design & Screen - The iPhone 4 is beautifully designed.  It is the right size and feel for most users.  As a result of the iPhone 4 being 25% thinner than the older iphones, I replaced my iPod with the iPhone 4 when I work out. The extremely high resolution and quality of the screen really makes a difference with everything you do on the Smartphone. I love reading and watching HD Videos a lot more since I upgraded to the iPhone 4. The new hot Android Smartphone operating systems are rough around the edges, the hardware has a plastic feel and many of them are huge when you hold them. If you have small hands, you need to use both of them to hold some of the new phones.  I don’t like the “Geeky Look” when I am on the phone.   When  you hold one of the new huge Android phones to your head to talk, it looks like you are holding a brick. If you put it in a case and try to wear it on your belt or clipped to a purse it looks ridiculous. Women will have a hard time fitting a Droid X or Sprint HTC EVO into a small purse going out at night.
8. Bloatware, Crapware & More -  Apple doesn’t install lots of extra Apps (Bloatware and Crapware) on your iPhone. There are a few Apps Installed when you first get the Smartphone. When you buy an Android Smartphone from AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon, they install lots of extra Apps from paid Advertisers and their own Apps.  The first thing you have to do when you leave a store after buying your new phone is to go through the phone and figure out which Apps to delete and which Apps you need.  I hate when HP and Dell install Crapware and Bloatware to a new Windows PC. Unfortunately, Android Smartphones are now sold using the same bad practices.
9. Facetime - This App is just a wonderful “Game Changer” in Smartphones.  Apple made this video phone App so simple to use compared to any other smartphone or laptop solutions. Touch One button and you are seeing and talking to a loved one. If you travel for business, have a child at college, a loved one in another city, or just stuck late at work, I cannot describe how wonderful it is to see someone you care about on your phone. A few other Android Smartphones have video Apps. However, they are much more difficult to set up and use... so the App doesn’t get used.
10. It’s just Easier to Use -  This is a quote from my wife after using her new iPhone 4 for four weeks (Note: She replaced the android smartphone that she was using for the last year)  The bottom line is... “It’s just easier... and more fun to use.”

Recommendations

I think the Android Smartphones are ideal for Tech and Gadget minded users. It appears the newer Android phones will continue to have a few more new features and gadgets when compared to the iPhone.   You can customize an Android Smartphone every hour just for fun and you get to learn a new user interface each time you upgrade.

If you have a contract with and like Verizon, T-Mobile or Sprint, I would buy an Android Smartphone over any of the other Smartphones today.  I personally like the HTC from Verizon at this time.

No surprise here... If you are with the AT&T network, I would buy an iPhone over an Android Smartphone.  Apple has clearly set the new standard for customer service and retail service. And... quoting my wife - “The iPhone is just Easier and More Fun to use”

Photo source: stockimages @ freedigitalphotos.net

Any Feedback or Comments are appreciated from all you Smartphone Users.

Top 25+ iPhone Travel Apps... and How to Use Them

If you are one of the 60,000,000+ iPhone (or  iPad / iTouch) owners, you can use these 25+ Applications to save money, reduce travel hassles and make you more productive before, during and after your trip.  In addition, if you have an iPhone 4, we will describe a few more "extra" applications (or Apps) that you can use during your travels. Some Apps are included standard on the iPhone, others have to be downloaded from the iTunes Store, using the "App Store" App (standard on the iphone).  Over 200,000+ iTunes Apps  are available for you to download.

This may sound funny... but I have over 100 Apps on my iPhone 4. In this article, I include many of my favorite Apps that you can use to Plan, Research your trip, Check on your Day-to-Day Travel and Post-trip wrap-up activities.

Before You Go - Travel Planning & Research

• Google Maps - Google Maps can help you select your hotel based on how far it is from the beach, ski slopes, a client meeting or a city office. Google Maps comes standard on the iPhone and includes FREE wireless traffic updates, driving directions (on Graph Maps or Turn-by-Turn Direction Lists), Mass Transit pick-up locations (for trains, subways & buses)  and walking (biking) directions.  You an also download Google Earth for more detailed info on a specific vacation area anywhere in the world)
• Weather Channel - We prefer the Weather Channel App for planning travel to the standard Weather App that comes with the iPhone. Search and Bookmark the City that you are going to visit. Then, check the 10-day Forecast and determine what to pack. The day before your trip, you can track any  bad weather coming your way during the trip and plan accordingly.
• TripIt - Everyone seems to like this App. Use it to consolidate all your travel plans into one list and sync them into your iPhone Calendar,  Tripit is terrific for providing key information in one place, hotel phone numbers, maps, key contacts etc.  You can download the Free or Paid version (more features).
• Kayak - They have a great Search App that looks at all the other online travel services in one place.  We use it to find the best prices before we book a vacation, hotel, airline or car rental.  They also have a great Free Alert service that emails you a running 12 months of average pricing each month for a trip(s) that you specify.
• Airline Apps - Download your favorite Airline App to check for prices, schedules and check-in services. The Check-in services can really save you time at the airport and reduce the wait time on lines.
• Online Travel Agents - You can download Priceline, Expedia, Kayak and Travelocity from the App Store. They all have Apps that can be very helpful.
• Open Table - Before you travel, sign up for this service.  You can use the iPhone App to make reservations in advance or in a taxi on your way to the restaurant.
• Yelp - We often use the Yelp App to check out restaurant feedback before we make reservations.
• Games - There are lots and lots of fun easy-to-learn games available in the iTunes Store. They can make the time fly by if your flights are delayed. Find fun Games on iTunes
• TV Shows - Catch up on your favorite TV Shows or missed episodes by using the iTunes App to download TV shows from iTunes
• Movies - Rent or Watch Movies during your trip using the standard iTunes App.  If you own a new iPhone 4, the screen in incredibly sharp to watch High Definition (HD) or Regular movies. New movie releases on iTunes Top movie rentals on iTunes, Special priced movie bundles on iTunes
• iBook or Kindle - Must-haves, if you love to read.  Buy eBooks using the standard iTunes App.  If you prefer Amazon, download the new Amazon Kindle App (from the iTunes Store) and then buy ebooks directly from Amazon (using the Kindle App).  The iPhone is excellent for bringing multiple Books without the extra weight.  Note: Some people may prefer buying an Apple iPad or the new Amazon Kindle Reading Device for the larger screen and type.
• Audio Books - You can use the Standard  iTunes App to listen to audio books. Buy Audio Books to listen to best sellers or an old favorite book. Audiobooks on iTunes - Main Section or Best selling audiobooks on iTunes

During your Trip - Traveling

• Google Maps - Maps helps you get around a new city or resort.  The iPhone has a compass feature to help you find where you are going.
• Weather Channel - Check the hourly weather in the morning before you go out... and plan your day around the weather
• Google Search (with Voice) - Speak to your iPhone and search for anything you need or want.  The speech recognition is fantastic for searching. It really works!  Just be in a quite area.
• Facetime Video Call - If you and a loved one have an iPhone 4, this one App makes the price of the phone all worth it. You literally push one button and you are talking and seeing the other person. If you have Kids, a Spouse or a Parent at home while you are stuck in a hotel room on the road, you can't put a price on how wonderful it is to see and talk with your loved ones.  My wife and I love using Facetime. Note: You both need to be connected to WiFi for Facetime to work at this time. I believe that by next summer Facetime will work anyplace.
• Camera & Video - The standard iPhone Camera App can be used to snap photos and shoot HD video. The camera quality is extremely good and has a fast shutter speed and a digital zoom.  It is one of the best camera phones on the market today.  The photos can be excellent during the day. However, if photos are important to you,  it's handy to carry a point-and-shoot or Digital SLR Camera with you when traveling.  Note: We also love the easy-to-use and compact Flip Video Recorder for shooting excellent High-Def (HD) Videos. Buy a Flip Video Camcorder
• White Noise (Sound Machine) - My wife loves... and needs this App wherever we travel.  The App has 40 different sounds that block outside noises (and snoring).  It helps you get to sleep in a new bed quickly.  It also has a Turn-Off Timer and an Alarm to wake you up.
• Alarm - The standard Alarm App can be set to wake you up in the moring.  I never fully trust the Hotel Alarm Clock, Clock Radio or "Wake-Up" Calls from the Hotel Operator.
• iBook or Kindle - If you love to read, the iBook and Kindle Apps are excellent. With the strict luggage weight limits these days, you can bringing multiple books without the extra weight.  Note: An Apple iPad (or Amazon Kindle) is considered a much better choice for reading.
• iTunes Music, TV, Movies and Videos - Great for the plane trip or on a beach. You may want to buy a small travel speaker to play the music in your hotel room or for a private beach.
• iTunes Podcasts - This is part of the iTunes App.  You can get Free audio and video program downloads of many of your favorite news shows and newspapers from around the world to take with you.  I use this App every day to watch or listen to my High Tech Updates and the News.
• Audible.com - Listen to those favorite books that you just haven't read yet.
• Calendar - Use the Calendar to keep all your key info during travel. Tip: Print out a copy before you travel for emergencies.
• Skype - New Upgrade keeps Skype running in the background once you sign-in.  Now anyone can Skype call your iPhone and it will ring like a regular phone call. Talk or Text with Family, Friends or Business Assoicates with the Skype App for FREE
• AroundMe - This App is very handy in cities when you are looking for a local restaurant, cafe or Bank ATM.  They use the GPS in the iPhone to find the closest places to you and how far away they are on a map.

When you Come Home - Post Trip

• iMovie - Very Ease-to-use App to create and improve movies and then load them to Facebook or Flickr Web-Service  You can also use iMovie to create slide show movies (with background music) from your photos. (iPhone4 - $5)
• Flickr - Use the Flickr App to load,  share and store your travel photos.
• Facebook - Upload any photos that you have not uploaded during the trip to share with family, friends or business associates.
• Print Photos - Costco, Shutterfly, Kodak and Snapfish also have good websites to upload, share and print photos.

Here are links to the iTunes Store to download the Free and Paid Apps that you are interested in using during your trip.

Top free apps on the App Store Top paid apps on the App Store

A few more Travel Tips:

1. Very Important: When you are traveling internationally (outside the USA), make sure you turn off your GSM Radio on the iPhone before you land and only use WiFi with your iPhone overseas.  WiFi is often FREE  and GSM voice and roaming charges are prohibitively expensive to use.

2. If you have any questions or problems before your trip, stop by your Apple or AT&T Store to ask for help downloading or setting up your iPhone/iTouch.  You can also call the USA Apple Support phone number at: 800-275-2273.

3. Look up the appropriate Apple Support Phone Number for the country that you are visiting and enter it in your iPhone Phonebook. Apple Support Internationa Country Phone Numbers

4. Try to download the Apps (we discussed in the article) before you travel.   Give yourself a little time before your trip to play with all the Apps so you can enjoy your trip.

5. Please share your own favorite Top Apps for Travel by commenting below.

We hope this article has helped you think about how you can use the iPhone to make your travel so much easier.

Have a safe and fun trip!

5 Tips to Increase Sales Productivity This Quarter

Many Small and Mid-sized Businesses (SMBs)  are looking for ways to Increase their Sales Productivity over the next few months. We have always been told (and believe) that "If you do a few things well, you will be successful."

The following 5 easy-to-implement Tips should significantly increase your sales and reduce your cost of sales.

1. Define Goals, Metrics and Reports Have a team meeting and get agreement to a 90-day program. Set weekly goals, metrics and reports. If it doesn't get measured, it doesn't get done. Result: Team focus on closing sales
2. Leverage Lead Process All leads need to be contacted and qualified in 24 hours or less.  Fastest response time is king these days.  I just contacted a software company and was told that it would be two days to hear back from a sales rep. I'm now talking with their competitor instead of them. Result: More Qualified Leads
3. Increase Sales Calls per Week The average outside sales rep can make a maximum of 10 customer sales calls per week (2 per day). Three quick ways to increase sales calls: - Add an Inside Sales Resource - Add a web service like WebEx or GotoMeeting to add two extra web sales calls per week - Ask for referrals on every call Result: More Sales Calls per week
4. Increase Skills & Knowledge Create weekly in-house workshops to improve closing skills, best practice sharing, meeting skills, phone skills, product knowledge, competition and industry issues. Workshops should be held during non-selling hours and run no more than 45 minutes. Implement web-based meetings if your team is geographically separated. This is one of the best suggestions in improving sales productivity. Result: More Deals in Forecast
5. Improve Sales Recognition Most sales teams are pretty beat-up right-about-now. Reps sell more when recognized on a regular basis. Set up weekly recognition in a team phone or web meeting. A happy Sales Rep is a more productive Sales Rep! Result: More time selling and more sales closed.

Which Sales Productivity Tips are working for you this year?

Are You a Leader or a Manager?

I first saw this list during a management training program at Hewlett-Packard. I've kept it over the years to remind me to be a leader and not just a manager. I also use it as a coaching tool for helping our clients' managers grow into future leaders.  As you can see from this list, there is a big difference between being a manager and being a leader.

A leader creates A leader gives credit A leader stimulates desire A leader values people A leader expects innovation A leader prefers judgment A leader expands liberty A leader employs people A leader welcomes criticism A leader promotes others A leader makes mistakes A leader sees opportunity A leader corrects himself A leader acquires wisdom A leader develops pride A leader wants responsibility A leader seeks a job A leader sees through mirrors A leader has faults People Love to be led Leading is extremely difficult You make yourself a leader

A manager copies A manager gives blame A manager stimulates fear A manager values procedures A manager expects conformance A manager prefers rules A manager expands power A manager employs objects A manager welcomes praise A manager promotes himself A manager makes excuses A manager sees problems A manager corrects others A manager acquires knowledge A manager develops ego A manager wants rights given to them A manager seeks a position A manager sees his own image A manager is perfect People hate to be managed Managing is easy to do each day Anyone can make you a manager

So... are you a Leader or Manager?

Top 10 Most Valuable Global Brands in 2010

Brandz recently published a list of theTop 100 Most Valuable Global Brands for 2010. The study was developed in conjunction with The Financial Times, Bloomberg, Datamonitor and Millward Brown Optimor. You can download a PDF Document with the list of the 100 companies from the Brandz website below.

Here's a peek at the Top 10 Brands:

1. Google
2. IBM
3. Apple
4. Microsoft
5. Coca Cola
6. McDonalds
7. Marlboro
8. China Mobile
9. GE
10. Vodafone

So... which are your favorite brands?

More Info and  Download the Top 100 List from Brandz

How the Apple iPad can Save You $1,600 this Year

The Apple iPad generates an amazing amount of positive and negative press. The day of the first announcement, I went down to my local Apple Retail Store to find out about the iPad for myself.  There were hundreds of people in line outside the store waiting to buy an iPad.

However, inside the store, the iPad demo units were not being used.  I walked in and spent one & a half hours playing with the iPad.  Two Apple Support Reps that were assigned to the demo units answered all my questions and showed me a few tips on using the new tablet.

I also went back to the Apple Store again this weekend to spend more time testing the iPad, asking other people for their feedback and watching how other people were using the new device.

Based on my own experience, the Apple Specialist Tips and all the other reviews, I quickly realized that the iPad packed a lot more into it than what I originally expected.

Without much effort, I was able to list out over $1,600+ of other product purchases that an iPad could replaced this year:

• 10" HD Digital Photo Frame $200
• Portable GPS for the Car $150
• Netbook $350
• Portable Game Console (high-end) $150
• eBook Reader $250
• Portable DVD Player $150
• Small Portable 10" HDTV with Battery (If you can find one) $200
• MP3 Music & Video Player  $150
• Daily Newspaper (Paper) & Magazine Subscriptions $100 per year

Update: The total savings from NOT buying all these other items is now up to $1,700.

Of course, not everyone will feel that the iPad can really replace all these products.   If  you need specific features on a laptop or netbook for example, the iPad just won't do the job.   However, there are very few other products that can really do ALL these functions in a package the size, speed and feel of the iPad.

As a result, your Mother's Day, Father's Day, Graduation, Birthday, Anniversary and Christmas shopping just got a lot easier this year.

So what do You think?