Guest post by John M. Bernard, author of the new book, Business at the Speed of Now, and Chairman and Founder of Mass Ingenuity. Imagine going to work in one of Henry Ford’s factories a century ago, proud that management referred to you a “hand” or a “hammer” or maybe even a “wrench.” The labels reflected Ford’s emphasis on automation and management’s view of laborers as mere cogs in the machine. Screw this nut onto that bolt; weld this strap…
What’s Love Got to Do with It? The 3P’s of Identity
Guest post by Allison Cerra, author of Identity Shift With the 2012 Presidential election looming, there’s no shortage of polls to help narrow the field of candidates. I find a recent one from Fox News to be particularly fascinating. Among other questions, Republican primary voters were asked which Republican presidential candidate is most likeable and which they would most trust with a nuclear weapon. While Newt Gingrich scored at the top of the heap in earning the trust vote, he…
How to Make Customer Service Matter Again Part 2
Part 13 in a series introducing my new book, The End of Business as Usual…this series serves as the book’s prequel. These days, customer service seems to be a contradiction of words and intentions. Year after year, customers are appealing for attention, efficiency and a communicated sense of being appreciated. After all, what is the value of customer acquisition if retention itself isn’t valued? Now with social networks becoming the preferred channel of communication among connected consumers, businesses are losing…
The End of Business as Usual and the Beginning of a New Era of Adaptive Businesses
Dave Peck is the author of Think Before you Engage, a new book that guides readers through 100 questions to ask before starting a social media marketing campaign. He asked me to write the foreword and as a friend and neighbor, I of course said yes. But, the only condition was that upon publishing, I could share the foreword with you here… The End of Business as Usual and the Beginning of a New Era of Adaptive Businesses Twitter, Facebook,…
Engage Against the Machine: The End of Business as Usual
One of the most often asked questions about The End of Business as Usual is how it’s different than Engage. I thought I take a moment to answer it here just in case you were wondering the same thing. Engage was and is special. In fact, I felt the mission and content of the book was so special, that I wrote it twice. I viewed both versions as my chance to not only document the transformation in marketing and service…
How to Make Customer Service Matter Again Part 1
Part 12 in a series introducing my new book, The End of Business as Usual…this series serves as the book’s prequel. Over the years, customer service has been something of a paradox within the organization. The name itself inspires dedication to helping people. And while that is the intention of customer service professionals worldwide, customer service as a line item in business accounting has often placed it in the hands of outsourced organizations, under-qualified personnel, or in the hands of…
16 Quotes Visualized from The End of Business as Usual
The other day I saw a Tweet that caught my attention. It read “16 Reasons Why You Should Read the End of Business as Usual” and included a link. I ended up on the site of Josh Duncan who publishes visual summaries of information that moves him. I was intrigued and decided to click through the 16 quotes from the book that motivated him to take the time to create a presentation. To put it simply, I was moved and…
Your customers will share their experiences and they will influence the decisions of others
In The End of Business as Usual, I review in detail how markets are evolving and what businesses need to do to earn relevance among a different breed of consumer. For those who struggle to make the case within their business or organization, to not just engage consumers online, but evolve business philosophies, practices, and systems, to truly matter, this is your guide. In the end, your customers will share their experiences and they will influence the decisions of others….
CMO’s are at the Crossroads of Customer Transactions and Engagement
Part 9 in a series introducing my new book, The End of Business as Usual…this series serves as the book’s prequel. Digital Darwinism is the evolution of consumer behavior when society and technology evolve faster than the ability to adapt. At the intersection of relevance and obsolescence is the ability to recognize opportunities for change based on shifting consumer behavior and the subtle coalescence between emerging and disruptive technology. Businesses must realize that change is taking place today with or…
Are You Building a Social Brand or a Social Business?
Part 8 in a series introducing my new book, The End of Business as Usual…this series serves as the book’s prequel. Social media says so much and so very little at the same time. First, social media implies that media is just that, social. But when you study many of the best practices or test the advice dispensed through popular “top 10” posts, you find that at the heart of notable social media successes is simply brilliant creativity and desirable…
