By when?

Big plans for 2013?. . . by when?

With business planning now taking a longer strategic view, its ironic how seldom anyone asks “by when?”

A recent online conversation contrasted those who believe ideas are the only driver of  business/cultural progress, against pragmatists who insist ideas are only the starting point. If you can’t execute and bring an idea to fruition, it’s just an exercise.

If you believe execution wins the day, then the question “by when” is a critical (and usually the most ignored) piece of the execution plan. Strong ideas, if not implemented by date certain, perish quickly. Their idea shelf-life passes.  More time, energy and life passes by, because “by when” never got answered.

cut the crap!

Cut the crap, get to the point, you’re wasting my time. …why salespeople believe it’s all about them.
Ever experience this–you pick up the phone, or open email and you read or hear the following:
“I’m in your area next Thursday, and wanted to set an appointment and …”  (or, “find out more about your business, what you look like, see if you have any spare budget, money, coin, dinero to throw my way because you’re on my list and I need to make a sale, or at least see someone on my call sheet”)  Or…
“Are you happy with your payroll system”?… “No” I say. It’s not paying me enough to listen to your boring driveling, sniveling one-line ‘sales grabbers’
Or how about this…a volunteer  (let's call him John) from the local art museum called my home at 7:30 on a Tuesday and started telling me about how the museum has so many wonderful things going on, and on, and on.  
John droned on until I cut him off. Understand that I’m trying to relax, have dinner and he’s  rambling on about what a great art museum we have—he’s calling me for membership, for money.
Finally I say,  “John, cut the crap, what’s the offering”—he finally gets to the point–that I can have a 14 month membership and $200 worth of coupons good for other things if I signed up tonight for $65. A good value at a great place, I say yes and we hang up.  
Note to sellers …if you’re calling a stranger and asking for money, get to the point—what’s the value, the offering, the benefit for me to sign up…how is it good for me, not the museum.  
If you’re selling (and we all are), then tell me how I can save money on something that’s of interest to me--nothing else counts.   Cut the crap out…get to the point.