Ford posts worst loss in its history

I seriously think Ford should just turn off the lights and close the doors for good.  What are they thinking? 

The company has rolled out or will introduce several new or updated products during 2007, including the Edge crossover (have you seen this car?  Talk about playing catch up….can you say Murano, or Lexus 330?!) , new F-series Super Duty pickups (who cares?), a redesigned Focus small car (why don’t they make a hybrid Focus??) and an updated Five Hundred larger sedan.  (Just what we need….a larger sedan!  baloney.)

But many analysts are skeptical that the products are strong enough to turn the company around.  ——uh yeah ya think?!

Here’s the link to the obituary for Ford:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070125/ap_on_bi_ge/earns_ford

have a great day!

Dawg

New Apple Phone

Hey all, Apple just announced the ultra kewl, very disruptive, iPhone.

Check it out at http://www.apple.com/iphone/

Outback Steakhouse

Well,

My double date tonight was nice.  No kiddos and good friends with lots of laughter and good beer. 

That said:

1) The service sucked

2) The waitress told us she didn’t like boys anymore

3) Even though one of the buss boys is “totally” in love with her.

4) My friend’s steak was unedible according to him and had the manager take it off the bill.

5) The Pork Chops are way too peppery served with a weird orange marmalade mixed with red peppers type of sauce.

The steaks were clearly not worth the $20 each that we paid.  (I know I know…it IS Outback afterall)

Needless to say this chain has gone down hill in the last few years and we won’t be back for quite some time if ever again.

I would have eaten “outback in my backyard with a steak that I BBQ’d any day over those skewered gems we had tonight.

Hold the pepper!

Out.

Dawg.

Training Update

Hey all.  Well, My prison sentence training is over.  I really feel like many times some exec is trying to save their ass so they use training as:

1) a way to justify their existence for another 6 months

2) A way during that 6 months to try and re-orchistrate the selling process into this fairy tale called “Value Selling” or as some may refer to it as Solution Selling mixed in with a pinch of Vision Match. 

3) *deep breath*  See number 2.  I know I know. 

The bottom line is sales training really needs to be tailored to the skill level of the sales team that is in attendance instead of trying to shoehorn in 2 days of hell and be limited by the least common denominator.

They had lead gen and sales dev reps in with senior sales managers! 

As Charlie Brown would say:

AAUUGHHH!

And as my daughter says after her presentations on sharing days:

“And I am ready for questions.”

Sales Training Tips

I am in training all day today and tomorrow.  That said, no one is safe.  I just want to say that if you are a sales trainer or do any kind of training at all, at least do the following:

1)  Know your audience.

2)  Explain why the training matters to them and will benefit them.

3)  Be sure to give stretch breaks often.

4)  When sales training in particular, absolutely positively, always know the company and what it sells backwards and forwards.  Without this, you will look like a fool.

I am a prisoner in my own office building.

Happy Selling!

UPS Tracking

I just want to sound off about UPS.  First off, if you have a choice, use the USPS or FedEx.

I had something 2nd day Air ship out on the 18th of December.  It is now 3 business days later and I still don’t have my package.

This is something that has occurred 2 or 3 times this year so far.  This shipment is from Costco and the agent at Costco said that UPS doesn’t even include a PO with their tracking info!  What a POS company UPS is.  They must have given Costco a whale of a deal to get their business.

FedEx sales people:  Please go to Costco and get their business.  Consumers like me are sick of not receiving and receiving late packages from tired ‘ol UPS.  They suck!

Costco execs:  Please switch to FedEx; they are worth it for just the piece of mind alone!

UPS (Untimely Piece of Shit) :  You really need to get you act together!

Check this for more trouble with UPS:  http://www.geekasaurus.com/clint/blog/?p=27

Time: Person of The Year

I saw the Time Person of the Year a few days ago was ….drum roll please….YOU!

Blah.

Couldn’t those folks at Time Magazine make a decision on one person?  I would have hated to be at those internal meetings.  I bet an intern watching the clock thought this up.  Pretty undeniably unoriginal.

Very non-committal.  Like cutting a piece of chocolate in half.  Just something you don’t do.

Come on Time Magazinites get it together!

DDOS (Distributed Denial of Service Attack)

In the spirit of a sales guy knowing just enough to have an educated conversation with an engineer, I bring you the following rocking story!

How a Bookmaker and a Whiz Kid Took On an Extortionist – and Won

Facing an online extortion threat, Mickey Richardson bet his Web-based business on a networking whiz from Sacramento, California who first beat back the bad guys, then helped the cops nab them. 

If you collect any revenue online, you’d better read this.

It is a little long……about 30 minutes to read.  But great reading.  Could they make a series out of this guy?

Click here to check it all out!

Funny Craigslist Post

I was reading the best of Craigslist tonight and thought I would share this little gem with you.

I especially LMFAO when I read this: 

35 year old secretary- You have a 20 year old son, and a 15 year old son… yet you dress like you are 16. I would be embarrassed to be your children. Oh and you look really stupid when you wear that plaid school-girl skirt with the white tights and hooker boots. This is an office… not a brothel.

Enjoy!

Dogs at The Mall

I have been sick the past few days and havn’t had the chance to post much so get ready for a flurry of posts for your reading digestion and enjoyment.

 I was at the Valley Fair Mall on Thursday night.  (I know I know, I hate malls too)  I am like a green beret when it comes to mall shopping; I know where I need to go, exactly what I need to buy and where it is located. 

I get in and get out.  Quickly.  So in the spirit of Christmas, here goes:

 So I am hustling along to Macy’s and Restoration Hardware for gifts to purchase and what to my wondering eyes to see? But a medium sized Collie sitting next to the tree.  (INSIDE THE MALL!!) Yes it was on a leash, but also on a bench with it’s 55+ year old owner eating a Mrs. Field’s Cookie.  I could not believe it.  I mean, what in the hell is a dog bigger than my kids (Weight: Dogs 60-75 pounds) doing inside the fucking mall?  Now I see why Santana Row was built.  I mean the high rollers  must have gotten tired of crap like this.  I asked a mall security guy if dogs were allowed in the mall and he replied, “No did you see one?”  I said yes and pointed the culprits out to him.  He was on it.

 I want you to know I am a dog person, born in the year of the dog.  I love dogs.  I have raised two beautiful dogs at separate times, both male Golden Retrievers that lived to be 11 and 14 respectively.  I would have even been fine if it was a seeing eye dog. 

But is wasn’t. 

What are people thinking these days?  I am sorry if I alienate any readers out there, but come on people.  These damned Baby Boomers that are now old, think that the world revolves around them to the point of bringing their mutt into the mall?  To eat a cookie with their mutt?

Hey rover, next time you want to take the missus on a walk, go to the dog park with your frisbies, pooper scoopers and fleas.  Not at the mall for my shopping dis-pleasure.

Thanks.