The Compass Podcast: Recent Episodes
Samuel Stern
Word StressEpisode Sponsored by: Tampa Mosdos Campaign
https://me.thecompasscrew.com/tampa
In this week's podcast episode, we delve into “word stress” and its impact on communication.
Ever sent an email and wondered if the recipient truly understood your intention?
We explore interesting examples such as the classic: "I didn't say we should kill him." By emphasizing different words in this sentence, the entire meaning shifts.
"I" didn't say implies someone else did, while "I didn't say" suggests it was written or just misunderstood.
Discover how mastering word stress can enhance your communication skills, leading to clearer, more effective messages.
Tune in to Episode #101 and enjoy!
Watch the video version:
https://thecompasscrew.com/100 Episode Sponsor:fundipros.com
- How do we decide which topic to choose for each of the episodes?- What is the motivation to keep going after 99 podcast episodes?
- What has been the best feedback on one of the episodes?- Which episode episode has been the most popular?
- Which one became popular among fundraisers?- Who is the target audience of our podcast?
- The military secret: How many listeners?- Greetings from London/Israel...
All these questions and more answered in today's special episode. - Tune in now! 🎙️🎉
Unity: It’s All About Us
Nearly everyone in behavioral marketing and influence marketing was surprised when Dr. Robert Cialdini, the “godfather” of persuasion science and the creator of the celebrated Six Principles of Influence, introduced a seventh principle:
Unity.
And his is this week’s topic – Let’s learn together.
Listen & Enjoy!
No one likes a pushy salesman.
Yesterday, someone I did not know reached out to me.
He went straight for the shoot: “When are you available? When can we meet to discuss — ?”
Woah, slow down, sir!
I don’t even know who you are!
Let’s connect first.
Let’s become friends.
And once we know each other better, we can start talking tachlis.
This reminded me of a speech one of our presenters gave at our Fundraising Conferences.
He told the fundraisers one thing he does not appreciate is people coming over to him at a wedding and asking him for a donation on the spot.
Yes, arranging a meeting with him is hard. But first thing’s first: When you see me at a wedding, let’s connect, shmooze , And after we become friends you’ll get an appointment to meet and discuss a donation.
There’s a key lesson here:
There’s a difference between connecting and going in for the sale.
Knowing that difference turns a pushy salesman into a friend who wants to make a sale.
And his is this week’s topic – Let’s learn together.
Listen & Enjoy!
View on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/shmiel-stern-057b101b2_navigationconference-compassconferences-sales-activity-7080238351382933504-9oZM
What’s a Time Millionaire?
Let’s assume the following is true:
· I am currently 26 and will live until I’m 79
· I work a standard 40 hour work week until a retirement age of 65
· I get on average 8 hours of sleep a night
Of the 1,672,518,456 available seconds that I have left to live (until the US life expectancy of 79). 292,032,000 seconds will be spent working and another 557,136,000 seconds will be spent sleeping.
Therefore, of the 53 years left that I thought I had, the reality is that I only have 26.1 waking years left.
To be a time millionaire is to understand this reality.
And his is this week’s topic – Let’s learn together.
Listen & Enjoy!
Who’s your focus?
We all know that by focusing on a specific target clientele, businesses can better understand their customers' preferences, pain points, and behaviors.
This knowledge can be used to create products and services that are tailored to their needs, leading to greater customer satisfaction and loyalty.
It also allows businesses to develop a stronger brand identity and to differentiate themselves from competitors by providing a unique value proposition that speaks directly to their target audience.
In summary, understanding and catering to a specific target clientele can help businesses to streamline their marketing efforts, improve customer satisfaction, and drive growth and profitability.
And his is this week’s topic – Let’s learn together.
Listen & Enjoy!
A.I. A Threat or a Help?
Welcome to the newest episode of The Compass Podcast, where we’ll be exploring this week whether people should be afraid of AI, or use it to their benefit.
let’s find out how AI is impacting our lives and our society in both positive and negative ways. this podcast will cover it all. We'll also discuss ethical implications, potential future applications, and more.
Let's learn together!
Listen & Enjoy!
Timeboxing and to-do lists are two popular productivity methods, and each has its own unique benefits. To illustrate these benefits, let's consider a scenario: Imagine you're a software developer working on a new project. You have a long list of tasks to complete and only a limited amount of time each day to work on them.
On one hand, you have timeboxing, where you allocate a specific amount of time for each task. With this method, you set a timer for a set amount of time, usually 25 to 50 minutes, and work on a single task until the timer goes off. The idea behind this approach is to use time constraints to increase focus and prevent distractions. By using timeboxing, you'll be able to complete more tasks in a shorter amount of time since you're not allowing yourself to get sidetracked.
This is the topic we’re discussing in this week’s episode.
Listen & Enjoy!
Sometimes, we all say things, unfortunately, that can make people judge us negatively.
Today, I'm gonna give you five phrases that will make you come across as lacking in confidence and what you can say instead to not come across that way.
The first phrase is "Obviously." Also related to "Obviously" is, "Oh, that's not hard to tell" or "I already knew that."
If you find yourself saying this after someone has told you something that they thought was novel and interesting to you, you are essentially dismissing what they said. You're saying, "Your perspective has nothing new to add. I already knew that. It was so obvious to me and I am so smart for having known this before you told me."
Now, what should you do in the scenarios where someone is telling you something that you already knew? You put yourself on the same path as them; you are two learners.
This is the topic we’re discussing in this week’s episode.
Listen & Enjoy!
This episode is a live recording of our recent navigation conference, for 600 fundraisers & administrators.
In this episode, we dive into two important principles of Dr. Cialdini, AKA the master of persuasion: authority and social proof.
Learn and grow with us. – Enjoy!
This is an interesting method to identify:
Who needs your full attention?
Think of it this way:
Are they in my
Ocean?
Lake?
Pool?
Jacuzzi?
or Aquarium?
This is the topic we’re discussing in this week’s episode.
Listen & Enjoy!
It’s not perfect, and that’s perfct!
People don’t want perfection. They want relatable.
In 1966, researcher Elliot Aronson first discovered this with a study involving spilt coffee. An actor was filmed answering quiz questions. After answering, the actor then spilt his coffee down himself. Turns out, viewers rated him as more likeable after he spilt the coffee.
Cybertruck sales didn’t implode after Elon Musk’s infamous failed unveiling (you know, the one where he said the glass was bulletproof and then it cracked twice).
Instead of pretending it didn’t happen or writing a PR-style follow-up, Tesla made t-shirts laughing at the incident.
This is the topic we’re discussing in this week’s episode.
Listen & Enjoy!
Choose your hard!
“Marriage is hard. Divorce is hard. Choose your hard.
Obesity is hard. Being fit is hard. Choose your hard.
Being in debt is hard. Being financially disciplined is hard. Choose your hard.
Communication is hard. Not communicating is hard. Choose your hard.
Life will never be easy. It will always be hard. But we can choose our hard. Pick wisely.”
This is the topic we’re discussing in this week’s episode.
Listen & Enjoy!
Cognitive Dissonance
When we introduce to the world something new or achieve something big. Sometimes, the people who find it hardest to rejoice in our success, will be those closest to us.
Why does this happen?
The answer to this, explains Jewish Psychologist Leon Festinger, is:
Cognitive Dissonance. - The mental discomfort that results from holding two conflicting beliefs, values, or attitudes. People tend to seek consistency in their attitudes and perceptions, so this conflict causes feelings of unease or discomfort.
for example: a soldier sent on a mission he doesn't believe in, will either need to change his position, so that the task would now be justified, or quit the mission to adjust his behavior to his position.
When we make a difference in our lives, take a risk, or achieve it, It threatens those closest to us:
We're going to do things they're afraid to do on their own, or they'd like to and couldn't.
How come that this guy suddenly starts a business and not us?! How come he got the job even though I'd pick him last by force?
To settle this contradiction with ourselves – without having to conclude that we’re maybe now so competent, after all… - we're going to have to convince ourselves that “this person is fake”…
This is the topic we’re discussing in this week’s episode (Yiddish).
Listen & Enjoy!
Your Boss, Your Client!
This week’s episode is another topic a portion of our speech at The J2C Conference, this past Sunday May 22, in front of 600 employees who came to learn how to turn their Jobs into Careers.
The topic is a recap of episode #20 and #22 about tonality and decision making.
Enjoy it!
We’re back!
This week’s episode is a portion of our speech at The J2C Conference, this past Sunday May 22, in front of 600 employees who came to learn how to turn their Jobs into Careers.
The topic is a recap of episode 20 and 22 about tonality and decision making.
Enjoy it!
Personality Tests in corporate mainstream
Can Enneagram bring enlightenment, efficiency and a better bottom line to organizations?
For a growing number of companies across the world, the answer seems to be yes. From small businesses in Europe to U.S. government departments, a popularized personality typing system, known as the enneagram, is being promoted, with claims that it improves teamwork, communication and leadership.
It is a shortcut to understanding what drives people, and to discover strengths and blind spots around yourself and others.
A CNN 2011 study by Enneagram in Business covering 72 companies, including Best Buy, Daimler-Mitsubishi, Toyota and Avon, found that using the enneagram led to better communication and collaboration, rising sales and increase in employee engagement.
In today’s episode (Yiddish) we’re diving into this fascinating discussion.
Enneagram #9 – THE PEACEMAKER
Let’s meet Mr. Nine.
Personality traits:
- Calm, collected demeanor
- Ability to defuse conflict with ease
- Zen-like presence
- Mellow and soothing voice
- Wide circle of acquaintances
- Generally liked by most people
- Fluid, slow movements and gestures
Are you a #9?
In today’s episode (Yiddish) we’re diving into this fascinating discussion.
What’s your vote?
Regarding the upcoming episode:
**#1 – Summary about “Enneagram in business”
2: Back to routine: Sales / Marketing / Fundraising**
Leave #1 or #2 in the comments section
Enneagram #8 – THE challenger
Let’s meet Mr. Eight
Personality traits:
- Independent and self-sufficient
- Fierce and confident look
- Determination and stamina
- Very energetic and busy
- Fiery passions and power
- Stubborn and headstrong
- Serious about control over environment
Are you a #8?
In today’s episode (Yiddish) we’re diving into this fascinating discussion.
Enneagram #6 – THE SKEPTIC
Let’s meet Mr. Seven.
Personality traits:
- Always on the go
- Wide range of interests
- Childlike enthusiasm and energy
- Curious, sparkling eyes
- Many ongoing professional and creative projects
- Upbeat and optimistic; glass-half-full outlook
- Well-liked and popular among peers
Are you a #7?
In today’s episode (Yiddish) we’re diving into this fascinating discussion.
Enneagram #6 – THE SKEPTIC
Let’s meet Mr. Six.
Personality traits:
- Strong identification with a social group
- Organized and well-liked
- Good at managing finances
- Excellent team player
- Belongs to a tight-knit group of friends
- Clear communicators
- Detail-oriented and precise
In a Truity study of more than 54,000 respondents, Type Sixes were found to make up approximately 10% of the population.
Are you a #6?
In today’s episode (Yiddish) we’re diving into this fascinating discussion.
Let’s meet Mr. five.
He:
- Appears lost in thought or absentminded
- Extremely difficult-to-crack inner world
- In-depth knowledge on specific subjects of interest
- Gives insightful, well-thought-out responses
- Thinks extensively before speaking
- Has clear boundaries between family, friends and work
- Withdrawn and extremely independent
In a Truity study of more than 54,000 respondents, Type Fives were found to make up approximately 10% of the population. Type Five is more common among men, making up only 7% of women compared to 14% of men.
Are you a #5?
In today’s episode (Yiddish) we’re diving into this fascinating discussion.
Enneagram #4 – THE INDIVIDUALIST
Let’s meet Mr. Four.
He is:
- Prominent artistic outlet(s)
- Quirky and endearing
- Strong sense of identity
- May feel a sense of emptiness
- Passionate about self-expression
In a Truity study of more than 54,000 respondents, Type Fours were found to make up approximately 11% of the population; 12% of women and 10% of men.
Are you a #4?
In today’s episode (Yiddish) we’re diving into this fascinating discussion.
You’re starting a business, and you want to reach a lot of people so your brand can be as profitable and impactful as possible.
For maximized success, you should market to everyone, right?
Wrong.
Although it may seem counterintuitive at first, narrowing down a specific target audience will actually give your business a better shot at survival and make your product or service more memorable.
If you’re not convinced, enjoy this week’s discussion (Yiddish) where we discuss this very topic.
Let’s meet Mr. Three.
He is:
- Acutely aware of social niceties
- Impressive range of accomplishments
- Extremely busy and on the go
- Jam-packed schedules and meetings
- May have interests in improvisation or acting
- Refined taste in outer appearance
- Charismatic; makes good first impressions
In a Truity study of more than 54,000 respondents, Type Threes were found to make up approximately 11% of the population. About 10% of women and 12% of men are Threes.
Are you a #3?
In today’s episode we’re diving into this fascinating discussion.
Enneagram #2 – The Helper
Let’s meet Mr. Two.
He’s helpful, nurturing and caring towards others. 2’s are eager to involve themselves in others' lives. Twos rarely say no when others ask them for help, and want to prove value to others by always being there for them.=
Key Personality Traits of the 2
- Warm smile and eyes
- Approachable, radiates kindness
- Vocal volunteer or activist
- Excellent team player
- Caring and gentle
- Nurturing and patient
- Smooth, flowing movements
How Rare are Enneagram 2s?
- In a Truity study of more than 54,000 respondents, Type Twos were found to make up approximately 11% of the population. Women are more likely to be Type Twos, with the type making up 15% of women as compared to only 7% of men.
Are you a #2?
In today’s episode (Yiddish) we’re diving into this fascinating discussion.
Are YOU an Enneagram Two? find out now!
How Rare are Enneagram #1s?In a Truity study of more than 54,000 respondents, Type Ones were found to make up approximately 10% of the population.
Perfectionists are responsible and serious-minded pragmatists. They want to find purpose in their lives, in particular the ability to improve the welfare of people and make things better for the greater good.
To do this, they use their best judgment to find solutions that can be applied in the real world. They have a deep appreciation and interest in ethics, and frequently spend time evaluating and adjusting their moral compass as necessary.
Are you a #1?
In today’s episode (Yiddish) we’re diving into this fascinating discussion.
Find out YOUR Enneagram type
Well, we’re not talking about your personal phone number…
Have you heard about the Enneagram personality system?
The Enneagram system uses a series of questions based on scenarios to group people into one of nine different interconnected personality groups. As one of the oldest personality typing systems, the Enneagram types are tried and tested and have stood the test of time.
We’re talking about: ENNEAGRAM – your Personality-Type-Number.
The Enneagram is a model of nine interconnected personality types, and has been widely promoted in both business management and spirituality contexts through seminars, conferences, books, & magazines.
Some of you may already know your #number, or may immediately be able to identify yourself when you read a bit more about it.
If you have had a desire to learn more about yourself this is a very interesting tool to do it.
Find out YOUR Enneagram type
Creatives have two ways of working:
Beer mode ~ coffee mode.
“Beer mode” is a state of unfocused play where you discover new ideas.
“Coffee mode” is a state of focus where you work towards a specific outcome.
The problem with traditional productivity advice is that it doesn’t take beer mode seriously: “Turn off the Internet! tune out distractions! and turn towards your goals!” – Those are all examples of coffee mode thinking.
But once in a while, beer mode leads to an intellectual breakthrough that you would’ve never discovered in coffee mode.
This is the topic of today’s episode.
Always keep in mind…
Every YES is a NO to something else.
We have to stop saying yes to the things that don't support our goals.
When a client says:
'Let me Think about it.',
what should you say? How should you respond?
In todays episode (Yiddish) we’re discussing a 3-step process for handling that sales objection, By Mr. Victor Antonio.
BTW, Mr. Antonio is joining us @ TheSalesSeminar.com Aug 12 2021…
Would you make noise for a dime?
Legend has it about a quiet neighborhood where group of loud kids showed up, turning it into their playground. Playing music, dancing and disturbing the neighborhood ambiance.
Begging and reasoning didn’t help much, it actually seemed to motivate them. A wise man in the neighborhood then took an unusual course of action. To the bewilderment of the neighbors, he went to the kids and make a deal: he offered them fifty cents for every disturbance they make. “We actually like noice, we want to reward you for it.” He said to them.
The arrangement kept up for a while: the kids danced and made an effort to be as noicy as possible. In turn, the wise man kept his part of the deal and paid them their promised reward on time.
A few noisy days passed and suddenly the money started going down from 50 cents to 40, and then to 20, and then to 10.
Needless to say, the kids were not very happy with the decline and left the neighborhood. “for 10 cents he should look for others to make noise!” They protested.
The neighbors and the wise man weren’t very upset as they left as serenity returned to the neighborhood.
Have you ever heard the phrase “Teachable Moment”?
A Teachable Moment is a specific time that is ripe for a conversation or lesson because your kid/student is now interest about a subject is peaked.
We ‘bump’ into many teachable moments in our daily business life.
What teachable moments have you taken advantage of? How did they crop up?
This fascinating topic is being discussed in today’s podcast. (Yiddish)
Listen & Enjoy!
How to ride a bicycle…(Coach vs Consultant)
Say you're learning how to ride a bicycle:
A consultant would ride the bicycle for a while, and write you a "how to" manual.
A coach would have you get on the bicycle and walk alongside you, guiding you through the process until you felt confident enough to ride on your own.
“… Hire a consultant when you need an expert who can teach you a process or method. Hire a coach when you want to discover yourself.” - Leanne Wong.
In today’s podcast we’re having a discussion all about coaching with the renowned coach Ben Halpern.
Listen & Enjoy!
We need to know MORE about our customers!
Or do we?
After decades of watching great companies fail, Clayton Christensen - an American business expert & innovator (1952-2020) - has come to the shocking conclusion that knowing more and more about customers is actually - - -
taking firms in the wrong direction.
What they really need to ZOOM in on, is the PROGRESS that the customer is trying to make in each circumstance—what the customer hopes to accomplish.
What is now known as the #JobToBeDone.
We all have many jobs (tasks) to be done in our lives.
Some are little - some are big.
Some surface unpredictably - some regularly.
When we buy a product, we essentially “hire” it to help us do a job.
If it does the job well, the next time we are confronted with the same job, we tend to hire that product again. And if it does a crummy job, we “fire” it and look for an alternative.
This fascinating topic is being discussed in today’s podcast.
Listen & Enjoy!
Boss VS Leader
The words leader and boss may have pretty similar dictionary definitions—but are they synonyms?
Consider the following:
💁♂️ Leaders Listen.
A boss is not known for his acceptance of feedback. By contrast, a leader wants to hear what their team members have to say and to engage them in the decision-making process.
💪 Leaders Empower
A great leader does everything to prepare their team members to a project, and instills them with confidence in their own abilities.
🤼♂️ Leaders Collaborate
Bosses think of themselves as above the other employees. A leader, meanwhile, knows that there is always more they can learn—even from lower-ranking employees!
In today’s Episode We’re discussing this topic, as we’re looking forward to TheBossSummit, on Jun 1st. - Leadership By Example.
Listen & Enjoy!
Motivation isn’t a good thing, actually …
You might be motivated by your sweet tooth to get that one-million-calorie candy bar. And what’s one of the first things police look for after a homicide? That’s right, it’s “the motivation of the killer”.
There's a lot of information around on motivation these days. You can hear about it all the time from motivational speakers, motivational books, and motivational videos.
But what is motivation, really? And what do you do when it goes away before you've achieved your goal? How do you stay motivated over the long term?
Well, we’re going to give you some help with that today, in todays podcast-topic, which we call:
The G.P.S (Goal | Plan | Support) to Motivation.
Listen & Enjoy!
”I AM BLIND... 😞”
One day, Rosser Reeves - one of the most celebrated American advertising executives from the 50s – was having lunch in Central Park.
On his way back to Madison Avenue, he came across a beggar. The man was holding a cup for donations and a handwritten cardboard sign, that read:
I AM BLIND.
Sadly, the man’s cup was almost empty. His plight, for some reason, was not moving people to donate.
So, Reeves introduced himself to the man, explained that he was in advertising, and offered to change his sign slightly to increase people’s willingness to give.
The man agreed.
Reeves took out a pen, added JUST 4 WORDS & stepped back to watch…
Almost immediately, passers-by started to drop coins into the blind man’s cup. Others came by, began talking to the man, and took dollar bills from out of their wallets.
Pretty soon, the man’s cup was overflowing with cash.
What four words did Rosser Reeves add to the sign?
“It is springtime and…”
I AM BLIND.
This simple story demonstrates the power of The Contrast Principle.
Where they previously passed by, unmoved by ‘just another blind man’ begging for change…
…now they saw a person in need of help who wasn’t able to see the beautiful New York spring day they all took for granted.
And they were moved to make a donation.
Make #contrast work in your favor, and watch how it works its wonders.
Job or Business?
What do you choose? a job or a business?
It is a hard decision to make.
Both of them are very different in each and every aspect, except for the basic goal — to earn money.
Michael E. Gerber, Author of The E-Myth Revisited, says:
“If your business depends on you, you don't own a business—you have a job. And it's the worst job in the world because you're working for a lunatic!”.
If this is your case: rather work for someone else…
We’re going to explore this question, and get more insight into the two career aspects, in this week’s podcast. – Enjoy!
So, are you a Visionary or a Integrator?
90% of the time, when a business switches to the EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System), the person who used to lead the company becomes either the Visionary or the Integrator.
The hard part is deciding which one you are.
What’s the difference?
In short, the Visionary handles the future of the company. They make the big decisions, maintain the big relationships, and spark the innovation for future growth.
The Integrator handles the day-to-day operations, making sure every person in the company has exactly what they need to keep the machine running smoothly.
Without an Integrator to turn a vision into reality, a Visionary is far less likely to succeed long-term and realize the company’s ultimate goals—
Likewise, without a Visionary, an Integrator can’t rise to his or her full potential.
When these two people share their natural talents and innate skill sets, they have the power to reach new heights for virtually any company or organization.
You're Right!
Whether You Think You Can, or Think You Can't ...
In other words:
-
Choose to think you CAN - & you’ll be RIGHT.
-
Choose to think you CAN’T - & you’ll be equally RIGHT.
*
This is true for most projects\goals you take on.
I love the way Ratan Tata (a popular Indian industrialist) puts it:
Nothing can destroy IRON; but its own RUST can...
Likewise no one can destroy YOU; but your own mindset can.
Most people think having the right PLAN is what makes or breaks a project.
While these are important, a project’s fate is mostly determined well before you make these decisions.
This is because so much of it is based on attitude & Belief.
One day, an Italian Economist - named Vilfredo Pareto - noticed an interesting fact:
- 20% of the pea plants in his garden generated 80% of the healthy pea pods.
This observation led him to a new discovery that:
- 80% of the land in Italy was owned by just 20% of the population.
He investigated different industries and found that:
- 80% of production typically came from just 20% of the companies.
This brought him to the generalization of the:
80/20 RULE!
80% of RESULTS will come from just 20% of the ACTION.
Although the 80-20 Rule is frequently used in economics, you can apply the concept to any field—such as personal finance, spending habits, and even relationships.
"The Boiling Frog" study suggests the following:
Drop a frog in a pot of boiling water, it will frantically try to clamber out. - of course!
But place it gently in a pot of room-temperatured-water and turn the heat on low, it will float there quite placidly like one of us in a hot bath, and before long, it will allow itself to be - - -
boiled to death!
We all need to adjust with people & situations.
But we need to be sure when we need to ADJUST & when we need to JUMP.
Let us decide when to jump!
Let's jump while we still have the strength.
It’s a FACT:
People like to be consistent with the things they have previously said or done.
In podcast #27 we introduced you to the following study, presented by Dr. Robert Cialdini:
Researchers found that people were usually NOT willing to place a wooden “Drive Safely Sign” on their front yard. - they rejected. (You probably would too…)
However, if 10 days previously, they had agreed to place a small "Drive Safe Sticker" on their window, all of a sudden they had no problem with the wooden board anymore - they agreed ;)
Why?
Because, now they are INVESTED in the idea!
The principle of consistency suggests that once someone makes a decision, they will tend to make similar, complimentary choices that reinforce their original decision.
Let’s present you with a simple math question:
5 frogs are sitting on a log.
4 of the frogs decide to jump off.
How many frogs are left?
Did you answer 1?
The correct answer is still 5.
This is because there is a difference between deciding and doing.
Have you experienced this in your own life? We tend to make a lot of decisions. We decide to eat healthier, or start a new business/project. However, all of these decisions really mean nothing.
In order to make a decision mean anything, we need to take action. By getting into the habit of putting ideas and decisions into action, we are in a much better position to achieve the results we desire.
In todays episode we’re exploring 5 proven ways you can move from deciding to doing.
What is your ‘Rope’?Every founder of a new business/campaign/concept, hopes and believes that their
product/service will be a grand success. However, it doesn’t always materialize.
Why not?
Every new concept is built upon a variety of assumptions: People are “probably”
looking for this / there is “probably” a demand / it “probably” should be marketed
primarily to men / etc.
Your idea can survive even if you’ve missed the mark with one of the
“probabilities”.
However, there will always be one “probability” which you should never risk.
You must verify it ahead of time.Similar to mountain climber – who has a helmet, climbing shoes and most
importantly, a rope – you also must be able to identify:
What is my ‘rope’?
What is the one ‘probability’ you cannot afford to risk? You must have that
‘knowledge’ in advance.
The danger of Assuming.
An informative study named “Tappers and Listeners" – which took place 30 years ago at Stanford University - teaches us a valuable lesson in daily life.
This is a powerful lesson in “communication” among employers/employees | businesses/consumers | writers/readers | politicians/voters | as well as teachers and students.
No! Do not assume that the other party “probably” knows.
A Strange Cure for a Widespread Disease…Two businessmen met up several years ago at a conference. The one who had
seventy employees remarked: “I feel like I’m fooling everyone… People think
I’m successful but in reality I simply got lucky…”
The second one – a business owner with 40,000 employees – responds: “Don’t tell
anyone, but I feel the same way!”
This ‘feeling’ actually received a name in medical terms. It’s called “Impostor
Syndrome”.
- The bad news is: most people suffer from it.
- The good news is: most people suffer from it :) ...
Most people – hopefully yourself included – can get cured from this condition
once they realize that most people have it. In other words: When they listen to
today’s episode!
Let’s see if it works for you.
The Lesson from the Guest CantorWe are all familiar with the rule “no one can do a better job of being ‘you’ than
‘you’ yourself”…
Don’t try being someone else. Use ‘your’ strengths, ‘your’ abilities and ‘your’
talents, to achieve success!
BUT, is it necessarily a good thing to compare yourself to yourself?
Today we will discuss the following:
Don’t compare yourself, to yourself.
Don’t compare your current successes to your previous ones.
Can I Set a Thomas Edison Goal?
Try asking your friends and acquaintances: “What is your goal?” Chances are the majority of them will reply by: "Goal!? What type of goal you are referring to!?..."
People don’t usually give much thought to their #businessGoals or to their personal Life Goals.
If you are the type of person who lives with goals – or at the very least you understand the value of setting goals – then today’s topic is for you.
In today's Podcast we will discuss:
- How do you reach a goal?
- Can you set a goal that appears to be an unattainable #fantasy?
- Can you set a goal whose outcome is not in your control?
Whether you’re an employee, salesman, or entrepreneur, you often feel like the day is never long enough.
That’s because most people lose focus and get distracted from their primary goal. It’s too easy to fill the passing hours with less important, mundane stuff.
In the 1980’s Professor Stephen Covey demonstrated the importance of priority and Time Management with a very clear and relatable analogy.
His theory – which we will refer to as “Time in a Bottle” – is still timely and relevant.
We bring it to you here in video format which will make it easier to internalize and remember the concept for the long term.
Excuse me! Who authorized you!?
Dr. Cialdini, "the master of persuasion", has established six principles of persuasion. six tools to convince people to take a specific action. - Cialdini’s approach is commonly used in sales and fundraising.
In today's episode we discuss 1 of his six principles: Authority
People naturally seek out expert advice. If you are established as an authority in your field, your advice will be more readily accepted.
This topic is relevant to businessmen, salesmen, and fundraisers of organizations/institutions. Everyone will reap the benefits of studying and understanding this concept.
If you ordered a suit, it was ready on time and the fit was perfect, will you feel compelled to shop there again even when their competitor advertised nicer designs?
- What compels consumers to “return” to the same stores repeatedly?
- What is the primary reason consumers will leave a business and search for a better option:
Quality? Customer Service? Efficiency?
The answer will surprise you!
This weeks episode is highly relevant to businessmen, salesmen, and fundraisers of organizations/institutions. Everyone will reap the benefits of studying and reviewing this rule.
"... We apologize for the delay, it will be ready tomorrow morning…”
Expectations.
In the not too distant past, customers who placed online orders expected delivery to take as long as two weeks.
However, Amazon, with its 2-day-shipping policy has changed the world and with it, our expectations.
In the current day and age, regardless of which business a customer places their order with, there is an expectation to hear from the company within two days.
This brings us to the discussion of today’s topic:
It’s all about expectations…
Today's topic is relevant to entrepreneurs, Mosdos, and Organizations. Everyone will benefit from studying and remembering this rule.
“... Yes, we do realize that we're having an issue, but we have a much larger issue here today…”
I’m sure you’ve heard something like this in the past, during a meeting while sitting and trying to navigate a situation.
Instead of focusing on the task at hand, the focus and attention will be diverted to a larger and more difficult challenge – a challenge that has no real solution.
- Why are we always looking for a wider-ranging issue?
- Doesn’t it make more sense to focus on those things that ARE within our control?
L'Shana Tova!
Looking forward to a year of health, wealth, and success...
Compass is celebrating going and growing:
- from a Company,
- into a Community.
You’re a BRAND, with or without BRANDING…
If “you” cannot decide what your brand is, then others will make the decision for you.
This is the theme that is discussed in today’s episode along with real-life examples from businesses within our community as well as from the general population.
In todays episode, let's learn about the important role of branding in every business/organization.
We'll also discuss the importance of having clarity regarding your unique selling proposition, rather than have others choose one for you.
In order to gain a better understanding, we will spend a few moments discussing the differences between Branding | Marketing | Advertising.
These are 3 words with three distinct definitions.
The Four Steps to Success; Does it Work?
I hate to break this to you, but there is no 4-step process that will bring about long-term change in your life. -This is the subject of today’s podcast.
After our extraordinarily successful “Sales Seminar”, where countless salesmen benefitted from training with professional sales trainers and were taught many tips and techniques, it is time to make some observations:
What do people gain from a Seminar in general? From an educational lecture? From Success-books? Etc.
Today we will learn, with what type of mindset to approach a speech/book/lecture, and how to utilize it to the fullest extent.
Eat That Frog!...
Notice! We are NOT referring to actual frogs, nor do we take responsibility for their Kashrus or 'taste'....
In today’s podcast we will be learning how to increase productivity by implementing one method practiced by many successful and competent individuals. This strategy will potentially make your life easier on a daily basis and in a more general way.
Aside from the actual concept, we have added another super-relevant point: How the “negative first, positive later” strategy can be utilized for the purpose of communication.
You don’t have to do all the work, let the systems work for you.
By Implementing good systems we are able to increase our productivity, avoid chaos, and thrive in our professional and personal lives.
In this episode we dive into the specific of good system building and implementation, we discuss the seminal work done on this topic by Michael E. Gerber in his bestselling book The E-myth Revisited, and much more.
Is self-confidence an acquirable skill?
Business and marketing experts don't agree on much, but if there is one consensus, it is that in today's business environment, Self-Confidence and Assertiveness is THE key to success.
Not all of us are born with this gift.
So, the question arises:
Is this innate, or can we acquire and develop that skill, and if so, what is the most effective way to get there?
In this week's episode #37 we delve into this and much more, listen and subscribe to our weekly podcast, hope you enjoy it!
Alex From target - The Teen Who Went Viral & the lesson about "Off-Hand Marketing"
Remember Alex From Target? the teenager whose picture went viral 7 years ago and his hashtag #AlexfromTarget was trending worldwide.
Now, 7 years later, after the dust settled, there's a lesson to be made, and that's the topic of this week's Podcast: "Off-hand Marketing".
You fell into a Ditch – What happens now?!
In today’s podcast we discuss:
- Are mistakes acceptable?
- How to deal with mistakes after they occur
- How should an employer deal with mistakes made by employees?
Today we will have a highly relevant 8 minute discussion on the topic of mistakes with specific examples for salesmen and fundraisers.
Trump: Let’s build a wall!
We all know the concept that “a picture is worth more than a thousand words”. How do you ensure people will remember your concept if you have no ‘picture’ to show?
Interesting fact: Illegal immigration has always been a discussion among the presidents. However, it always remained an abstract concept and ordinary citizens didn’t think much about it. Why?
Don’t “say” something you can “show”. Today we will discuss the importance of VISUALS for salespeople and fundraisers and how every business can ensure it will be remembered.
Were you unaware about what ROI stands for? No worries…
Today we will discuss:
- The importance of tracking the ROI of a marketing campaign (especially an annual campaign)
- What are the right methods of tracking the ROI of a campaign?
- Are the results conclusive? If not, is there a better way?
As we have done previously, real life examples will be included from various marketing firms and strategies from our community as well as from the general public.
Interesting Fact: Smoking fell by 50% in the last 40 years, while at the same time drug use has remained the same or increased. Why?!
Today we will discuss the different approaches the government has implemented in their fight to contain these widespread problems. Aside for its points of interest, this topic is also educational and informative and provides food for thought for campaigns.
It also includes an important message for every “tuition collection department” regarding creating a united tuition awareness campaign.
Your Boss Too? Tell me about it!!
Why is it such a common habit to gossip about employees/bosses? Why are people so happy to talk about it and even to exaggerate?
Today we will discuss?
How to react when someone criticizes an employee in your business/organization?
Today’s topic isn’t necessarily marketing related, but rather communication related, yet it is still interesting…
As usual we chose several examples which are applicable to businessmen, institutions and organizations.
The first one invests, the second one benefits…
Following the previous conversation about “creating a need”, it is important to remember the following:
“It is worth creating a ‘need’, if you are confident that your product has the potential for good returns.”
We will continue the discussion regarding “creating a demand” and how to guarantee your profits, along with several real life examples and interesting facts.
Is a Diamond really unique?
- Imagine someone trying to convince you that a marketing firm came up with a new concept of spending on a simple stone which has no value…
- Imagine someone trying to convince you that a marketing firm came up with a new concept that you have to spend 2 months’ worth of your salary on a diamond ring…
- Imagine someone trying to convince you that a marketing firm came up with a new concept that there is an ancient tradition to give a diamond ring at an engagement…
This is our discussion for today! We will be looking at De Beers and at their marketing tactic which is considered the largest marketing scam in history – and what this teaches us about “creating a need” when there is no particular ‘demand’ for your product.
Use the word ‘Because’; it Works!
Today we will discuss a study which took place 35 years ago and proved the following:
When people ask a question and the response includes the word ‘because’, they are more likely to agree.
Not Surprising?
What happens if the reason is not convincing? Today we will discuss how even then, the word ‘because’ can still be effective.
Obviously, we will also explore how we can use this concept in our effectively on our own.
What was Tony Blair’s “Question”?
Don’t worry, this is not a complicated or deep conversation. We will be discussing how to transform a client/donor into an activist on your behalf. The former prime minister asked a valid question.
“Do you want him on your team?” is the question in today’s podcast. Motivate him to invest!
We will go through several interesting studies, real daily examples, and of course how to implement these concepts successfully.
I’m ready but the Price is too steep…
Today we will discuss a challenge everyone faces. The customer wants your product/service but has one issue: “It’s too expensive”. How do you deal with it?
Should you give a discount? The customer will end up thinking “If he was able to sell it at a discount, why wasn’t that the original offer?”
Should you stick to the original price if you will keep losing potential customers?
Today we will discuss seven ways to give or not to give discounts, which can be very effective for salesmen and possibly for fundraisers too.
Our Company was Founded Back in the Days of the East Side…
You are trying to sell your product and you’re telling your prospect about the origins of your company which go back many years, and how much you have invested and progressed until today.
Do you think your client is interested? Does he want to know your history? Or would he rather know which benefit/solution your product will provide for him?
Sounds like a fairly simple question but apparently it’s not that simple. In today’s conversation we will analyze this topic:
- Should you provide technical details?
- Are people interested?
- When necessary, how to provide this type of information
As always, we will go through several examples/lessons which can be gleaned from online marketing/personal sales and how to implement them with success.
Are you seeking growth? Move out of your comfort zone!
People perceive the idea of “leaving your comfort zone” as a topic of inspiration and rarely see it as the practical and useful tool that it is.
In today’s conversation, we will bring the subject of the comfort zone closer to reality. We will check out several instances of successful businesses/organizations who engaged in various projects and activities yet still remained in their “comfort zone”. Let’s see what this topic means for you.
How can the “Gamliel” concept benefit you?
“כח היחיד” took root all over and created a revolution. It is interesting to observe it on an ongoing basis.
From the right perspective is has some strong and effective lessons for sales, businesses and institutions/organizations.
Today we will discuss Social Proof, a concept which can make it so much easier to sell your product or service.
Did I borrow $10,000 from you (?/!)
You can implement today’s tip with siyata dishmaya and a little common sense:
- On your own – without any marketing assistance!
- Free – without investing an extra dollar!
- Easy – no hard work necessary!
We will discuss the topic of Tonality – the tone, or inflection you use, makes a difference. Today’s topic is highly relevant for fundraising, tuition collection and every salesman who sells products or services.
What happened when the Concorde stopped flying?
Today we will analyze a study about the importance of:
- Setting a deadline for a campaign
- Emphasizing the cost of not buying
- Encouraging a client to opt in “today” rather than postponing for “later”
As usual we will share some real-life examples from our experience to provide a better understanding of this topic.
Less Options = Easier Decisions
Don’t feel bad, others have made the same mistake. “If I want the client to make a purchase, I will offer him many options…” This mistake is the theme of today’s podcast. The same rule can be found in business/marketing/fundraising: “Make the decision process easier by providing less options”. By easing the decision making process and guiding your client towards a choice and ultimately a purchase.
This time we will provide an excerpt from a discussion about this concept, at the highly successful Navigation Seminar.
Are You an 'Esrog Merchant' or a 'Hat Specialist'?
There is a well-known rule: “If you talk to everyone, you talk to no one!” This is the theme of today’s podcast.
Today we will discuss the following facts:
- Find your target audience
- You will spend less and earn more
- What to do if you don’t have a target audience?
As usual we will share some real life examples from our experience to provide a better understanding of this topic.
Be Original
We often think that by imitating other people’s ideas, we will succeed. Today we will discuss:
Don’t cheat from your friend’s test paper, his questions might be very different from yours.
As usual we will share some real life examples from our experience to provide a better understanding of this topic.
The Last November Elections; a Lesson for Every Organization!
In today’s podcast we will discuss the importance of follow up.
Have you concluded a campaign? Are you ready for vacation?
We will provide some real life examples from our experience, to clarify both the positive and negative aspects of this topic.
"Mayer" Bill De Blasio?!
A strange advertisement this week by the office of Mayor Bill De Blasio, highlights a problem, not only with the Mayor’s office, but one that affects many of us.
Do you want to deliver your message in the most effective manner? Do you want to run a successful campaign? Put yourself in the shoes of your target audience. Make them feel that you really understand their perspective.
As usual, we will bring some real life examples and situations from our experience, which will provide a better understanding of this topic:
Yes, It Works in Yiddish Too…
All of us are indirectly in “sales”. An employee sells himself to his boss. A father sells himself to his children, boss and friends. It is therefore a good thing for everyone to improve their sales skills. Today we will go through “7 words” which experts say are defining factors when selling products/services/(זכות). Go ahead and try it yourself!
A Git Gebentched Yur!
This week we will not be sharing “Tips for Navigation in every Situation”.
Only a personal blessing for the new year, where we can celebrate a year of success together.
Shana Tova!
Trump, Harav Amnon Yitzchak and the bungalow colony shidduch…
In all our previous compass podcasts, we shared concepts and ideas which you were able to implement mostly on your own. Today’s tip is different, however, with siyata dishmaya and common sense, you should be able to implement it as well:
- On your own – without any marketing assistance.
- Free – without investing an extra dime
- Easy – doesn’t require hard work
Besides for its effectiveness and hard work, we will be demonstrating the concept of Self Marketing with interesting examples from President Trump, Harav Amnon Yitzchak and how a shidduch happened through a testimonial in the bungalow colony…
What does בגלל אבות do with their פושקע money?
In today’s episode we will discuss the difference between a raffle/pushka or a sponsor for a day/week in an organization – with one is the most effective?
As always we will bring some examples which we have experienced firsthand, as well as an interesting survey we did, which brought very surprising results.
"A Guten, Du Redt Tovia Meir Neuman..."
No, we will not be discussing robo calls and whether or not they are ethically or morally sound. Today we will analyze the difference between a campaign which is built upon a particular individual vs. a campaign which is built upon the purpose of the organization. Which one is more effective?
It might sound hard to believe, but if Mr. Neiman’s fundraising model can be seen from an objective viewpoint, an interesting lesson can be learned which can be valuable for many fundraisers and educational institutions.
Taking the Leap A good thing or a bad thing?
On occasion it can be a good thing to take the leap and jump into a project. Does the plan make sense? Is the puzzle complete? Is there sufficient manpower? If so, let’s begin!
However, after jumping in, it is important not to keep jumping hoops and to stick with the program. Don’t keep moving from one project to another, don’t keep trying attractive new ideas. Be patient and follow the plan. That is the key to success. Let’s review some examples which demonstrate the “Benefits of Consistency” and the amazing difference that it makes in regard to: Messaging | Increasing revenue | Cutting costs | and more.
Talking to one person and intending another…
It is usually not hard to know which language to talk to my target audience. It is often necessary to figure out the right language for an unfamiliar clientele and indirectly, my clientele will get the right message too.
In today’s 6 minute conversation we will discuss the topic of Indirect Marketing along with several interesting examples.
I’m sorry, we do not sell ice cream…
Every business/institution/organization has policies and principles.
- When is it important to stick to policies without exceptions?
- When is it preferable to be more flexible and try something different?
In today’s 6 minute discussion, we will debate this topic – and along with several interesting examples – we will provide some conclusions.
Isn’t "First Class" too costly?
In episode #38 we heard from Michael E. Gerber about his interesting visit to a hotel. In this week's episode we will hear the same episode again, but this time we will examine it from a different perspective: Customer Experience
A fascinating study shows that:
- 80% of businesses claim that they provide good “customer service”.
- 8% of their clients agree.
How is it possible for companies to be so far off the mark?
Is our focus on the right direction?
In order to create a successful marketing strategy, we first need an answer to the question, “which problem are we trying to solve?” If we don’t do that we might end up with the ‘right solution’ for the ‘wrong problem’… In today’s 5 minute conversation we discuss some examples of these mistakes occur. There is a general solution to this which everyone – with a little bit of thought – can implement for themselves.
I already identified my tree, but I am afraid…
Last week we discussed a business/mosad making a marketing campaign and losing sight of their goal:
Who plants the tree?
What happens when someone already knows where his tree is, he identified it, he can see it clearly – however he is afraid to move forward with it?
Most people have already experienced such an episode.
Find Your “Tree”!
Hundreds of people have already heard the fictional story at the “Ya’azoru Event” in Monroe, with the renowned expert Naftali (Mark) Horowitz. However, the episode has many valuable lessons for every institution/fundraiser/business. Today we will discuss one of these lessons:
Who plants my tree? How can I identify it?
Fundraising “Tidbits”
Our conversation from last week regarding - Why there are so many salesmen/insurance agents, yet everyone stays away from fundraising? Where does “Marketing” end and “Fundraising” begin? What is job description of a fundraiser? ‘Sales’ or ‘ideas’? – has caused a commotion. The feedback has been unbelievable. Many mosdos/organizations actually followed through with the “9 minute meeting” with their organization’s leaders and have submitted their comments.
You are not too late! If you are involved in a mosad/organization, send our previous audio column to your heads. It has the potential to create a revolution, alter the reality and help the administration and the fundraiser.
Following are some tidbits/comments regarding our previous conversation.
The “Fundraising Crisis”
Are you a board member of an educational institution? Involved in an organization? Are you a fundraiser? Send an email requesting to schedule a “9 minute meeting” with all organization heads.
You don’t have to run the meeting, you can simply turn on the attached episode: 1 meeting – 9 minutes – and your sales will skyrocket!
Let’s analyze this issue along with active examples and interesting facts:
- Why are there so many salesmen/insurance agents, yet everyone stays away from fundraising?
- Clarity: Where does “Marketing” end and “Fundraising” begin?
- What is job description of a fundraiser? ‘Sales’ or ‘ideas’?
- “When the notice was hanging I was on vacation…”
Oh No...! Charidy Again???
Although there are many varied interesting subjects which can benefit institutions/organizations, one fact stands out clearly:
“Charidy Campaigns” are running on full steam…
We have therefore designated episode #2 to continue – in 7 minutes – with new informative points and active examples on the topic of matching funds. We will provide answers to several frequently asked questions which have been submitted by subscribers, such as:
- Why should we do a matching campaign? Are the matchers really matching?
- Why use the all or nothing ‘threat’? Does it motivate people to give more?
- Can I run a Charidy campaign if I am not already a fundraiser?
And other ‘hot’ topics…
FACT:Educational institutions/organizations used to invest an enormous amount of time, energy and resources for 8-10 weeks preceding their dinners. The result was pledges totaling around $250.000.
Nowadays, the hard work gets done in 4-5 weeks and they end up with $4-500,000 in their bank accounts!
Question:Is a “Charidy campaign” the right option for my organization/cause?
In our very first episode – today – will take less than 7 minutes to analyze the information and various pointers regarding the topics of: Matching funds, The differences between Go Fund Me and Charidy, who is or isn’t a good candidate for a Charidy campaign and much more.