I have been in sales for quite some time now, and over the years I have found that one thing works really well when trying to sell stuff to people….. face to face relationships. Even though we have lots of technology to engage people remotely (cough cough, web ex), nothing is as engaging as meeting someone first hand. No one likes sitting in boring snoring meetings, so I suggest spicing it up a bit. This can be as simple as taking clients out for drinks, “wining and dining”, or taking them to events like ball games.
The major issue here, though, is that traveling to meet all these people can be expensive. With flight costs, hotel costs, food, etc…. the expenses tend to rack up quickly. Luckily, British Airways has our back with their Business Opportunity Grant.
With this contest, they are giving 100 businesses a grant that contains the following:
Now, I actually flew first class from JFK to Heathrow on British Airways back in 1997 when I went for a trip to Egypt. Let me tell you first hand, the entire experience was primo! They have awesome service, great tasting food (which is crazy for an airline), but the best part has to be the comfy seats. On a 6+ hour flight, you would be amazed how something this comfortable can change your view of flying.
First Class Seat
The contest ends soon, so make sure you enter today… I did.
Back in highschool, I really didn’t know what I wanted to do career wise. I was always good at history, science, and computers, but hadn’t found that one thing I absolutely loved doing. I knew that I loved computers, but wasn’t sure if that’s what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. While still in highschool, at age 16, I actually studied on my own time to earn an A+ Certification….. which is a standard certification for those looking to be become a computer repairman.
After passing the two tests, I actually became more engaged in the computer field. I started learning more about networking, the internet, and building websites. At this time, I was certain that the IT industry was the career path for me…. until I got my first job. In 2000, I got a job at Sears selling electronics. It wasn’t until this time period did I realize how much I love working with people, overcoming objections, and learning to influence people’s decision making.
Now, I pretty much have my dream job. I work in sales for IZEA, a web based social media marketing company….. which means I get to deal with both IT and sales simultaneously.
Do you have a dream job? Have you ever considered IT Security? Right now, one of the most trendy (and lucrative) jobs in the IT landscape is ethical hacking. An ethical hacker is someone who is legally hired to break into various computer systems/networks to test their levels of security. The first step to becoming an ethical hacker is becoming certified. EC-Council offers various online classes that are both flexible and reasonably priced to help you achieve the certification in a timely manner.
Just think about how cool it would be to tell all your friends and family members that you are a real life hacker! If you are considering a career change and are interested in computers, this may be a good option for you.
Here is the parody.
If you follow any of the A-list blogs like TechCrunch or Valleywag, then you probably have been reading about all the new Microsoft ads. They just wrapped up a deal with Seinfeld and recently hired Pharrell (rapper) and Rashad Evans (fighter) as pitchmen. When discussing the ads, most people are rather critical. Mentioning that they are odd, irrelevant, and inadequate compared to Apple.
Microsoft’s agency is Crispin Porter located in Miami. They have a reputation for almost crossing the line. They came up with the “Man Law” ads for Miller back in the 90’s, but lost the account. Now they handle Ask.com and Burger King. I am not too fond of the folks there, as I met with them personally earlier this year.
The ads must be working to a degree as everyone seems to be talking about them. Do you think it is true that there is no such thing as bad press?
My ramblings about IZEAfest:
Bad Behavior has blocked 27 access attempts in the last 7 days.
