Recent posts
Why HR Managers should not become plumbers and why IT techies charge the fees they do.
Submitted by Erik Vermeulen on Fri, 2010-03-12 15:43
Many years ago I was told the story about an IT technician who was called to an executive’s office to fix a computer. The techie arrived, opened the machine, turned one screw, closed it and fired it up. It worked perfectly!
When the executive received the account for USD 255 he was incensed. He phoned the techie, demanding to know how turning one screw could possibly cost so much.
Getting back to Communication Basics
Submitted by Erik Vermeulen on Tue, 2010-03-09 13:25
Isn’t technology wonderful? I can sit in my office all day (when I’m not speaking to an audience) and communicate to my heart’s content with the entire world via my blog, e-mail, twitter and Skype. My wife doesn’t understand this – she doesn’t understand that I would rather do it this way than use the more traditional method of picking up the phone and calling someone.
Of course I have a valid reason – I spend most of my time in front of audiences where I can’t answer the phone so I want to make people used to communicating with me in other ways. But what’s your excuse?
Why you need a leather jacket in a post-recession Business world.
Submitted by Erik Vermeulen on Fri, 2010-03-05 08:28
In a world devoid of loyalty from employees and customers, a new style of Leadership is imperative.
Gone are the days when people trusted and followed us on face value and because of position. With global access to information, critical thinking is the modern relationship currency.
Follow this SECRET to make the modern Leadership connection:
Claim what you deserve - but only if you REALLY want it!
Submitted by Erik Vermeulen on Wed, 2010-03-03 10:19
“Just because you deserve it doesn’t mean that you’re going to get it. Sometimes you’ve got to take what’s yours.”
I find this to be an alarming trend in South Africa today. People seem to think they deserve things just because of who they are (or think they are) or because of what they’ve done. Not to mention the legacy of Apartheid.
Leaving a Legacy is simpler than you think.
Submitted by Erik Vermeulen on Tue, 2010-03-02 08:57
“True greatness is often revealed through absolute simplicity.”
Try this training technique. But let me warn, you it’s revolutionary! Are you ready for it? Here it is…
The first Pre-requisite for Success
Submitted by Erik Vermeulen on Mon, 2010-03-01 14:43
"The first requisite of success is the ability to apply your physical and mental energies to one problem without growing weary." Thomas Edison
2 Million e-mails per second - most of which will be read on the toilet.
Submitted by Erik Vermeulen on Mon, 2010-02-22 16:51
Unbelievably, I watched as a guy at gym this morning was conducting his #1 toilet business while speaking on his mobile phone. I was astounded at his dexterity, but I was even more flummoxed by the fact that the call couldn’t wait on the call of nature. I would have (as I suspect most other people would have) let the phone ring, picked up the voice mail, and returned the call. OK, maybe this guy is frugal and didn’t want to call back.
But it kind of got me wondering about communication....
Why your business is affected by doctor’s waiting room decor from the 70’s and air travellers are ratty.
Submitted by Erik Vermeulen on Thu, 2010-02-18 14:51
Last week I was waiting to check in at the airport and was confounded by the rudeness of fellow travellers toward the airline after a delay. This morning, while having a meeting at a coffee-shop at an upmarket mall, I noticed little kids throwing tantrums and being rude towards everyone in their immediate environment. Then I got back to my home-office where I was faced with more short-temperedness because I forgot to buy a new supply of coffee for the coffee machine.
Instead, I took everyone to our favourite coffee shop on the corner for a cappuccino. Noble I know, but my reason was much deeper than scoring brownie-points. Familiarity will cheer people up, while people will only embrace newness and novelty when they’re in a positive mood.
Thomas Edison, sports people and your next Presentation
Submitted by Erik Vermeulen on Wed, 2010-02-17 13:07
Throughout their careers, sportsmen and women will take part in thousands of races. Business people will make thousands of presentations - most of which will fall on (kinda) deaf ears. Unless they fall in the rare 0,5% who chose their parents correctly, like Steve Jobs, Bruce Fordyce, Mark Allen and Lance Armstrong, they will achieve winning or exceptional results in only a hand-full of the events they start. Mentally speaking, the biggest challenge in every event is to replicate your best performance time and time again. Champions become what they are through consistent performance.
So where does real Employee Motivation come from?
Submitted by Erik Vermeulen on Thu, 2010-02-11 09:00
As a “motivational” speaker in the eyes of some people and clients, I’m often asked where real employee motivation comes from. It has always been my opinion that companies falsely believe motivation comes from employees’ back pocket – in other words the money they take home at the end of the month.
I know, however that almost every employee I talk with complains that there is always too much month at the end of the salary. If that is the case around the world, why are these people still working for the same company that does not pay them “enough”?
