4 Old-Fashioned Childrens’ Toys That Teach Modern-Day Business and Entrepreneurial Lessons!

4 Old-Fashioned Childrens’ Toys

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That Teach Modern-Day Business and Entrepreneurial Lessons!

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An original Business blog article by Yonatan Maisel

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Ah childhood! Those memories of times gone by. The carefree life. No job. No obligations. No commitments. Just playing!

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But now in my forties, and in the 2nd full-year of my freelance writing business, the idea struck me today like a freight-train…those silly little childrens’ games weren’t so silly after all.

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Certainly, once-upon-a-time, Donald Trump, Sir Richard Branson, George Foreman and J.K. Rowling were just little kids, merrily-at-play with their rather low-tech toys. But maybe, just maybe they were more than just toys? 

Perhaps a few of these iconic items have a lesson or two that we as people trying to navigate the dog-eat-dog world of Business can glean. On Entrepreneurship? On business-acumen? On the principles inherent in leading our businesses to success and profitability!

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Here is my list of History’s Greatest Low-Tech "Entrepreneurial-Toys" (No batteries required!)

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1) Weebles:

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The Toy: A product of Hasbro‘s Playskool Division, those iconic little guys took the toy world by storm beginning in the summer of 1971. Whether alone or in their Flying Circus, Haunted House or the myriad of other "play-sets," they never failed to live up to the old jingle "Weebles wobble but they don’t fall down!" 

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 The Entrepreneurial Lesson: Weebles were both egg-shaped and bottom-heavy. You could hit them, smack them, knock ’em head-over-heels and drop them. And…they would always, always land right-side-up.

In the Business world, it’s about resiliency and perseverance. It’s about overcoming obstacles and potential setbacks. It’s saying to others…and to ourselves…

"I might fall all the way down, but bet your ass I’ll pick myself right back up, brush myself off and try again!" It’s the never-say-die attitude which can separate those businesses which survive the rat-race and thrive from those which become statistics.

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2) Lego:

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The Toy: A product of the Danish family-consortium Lego Group, these building blocks appeared on the market in the 1940s and took the world by storm! The word "LEGO" is a derivative of the two Danish words "leg" and "godt" which mean "play well." These interlocking bricks can be used to make a skyscraper, a fire-truck, a castle, a robot…the only limitation is the child’s imagination! 

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The Entrepreneurial Lesson: Here it’s about connecting. It’s about linking to others to create networks, partnerships, relationships and connections! 

The English poet John Donne (1572-1631) said "No man is an island." Well, if that’s the case, I say "No business is an island." Whether referrals, strategic alliances, or with Social Media tools such as Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook, only by connecting to others, and having others connect to us, can we maximize the potential which doing business in the electronic-age affords. We and our businesses are but links in a chain, ready to be linked to others.

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3) Toy Blocks:

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The Toy: 17th Century England is where experts agree these oldies but goodies originated. And ever since, children the world-over have been using them to learn, build and improve dexterity, and both physical and social skills. It doesn’t get more basic than square, wooden blocks.

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The Entrepreneurial Lesson: Blocks are probably the first forum in which children learn the consequences of trying to build upwards without a stable foundation: things come tumblin’ down! But, make yourself a proper foundation and things, seemingly miraculously, stay up!

In Business, decades on from our childhoods, the lesson is no less dramatic. Skimp or make a mistake in the early stage of a project…or take that risky shortcut, and you might watch everything which is based upon your initial shortcoming crumble down.

But take the time and effort to do things correctly, methodically and meticulously, and build a work which is stable, strong and stands both the test of time and the client’s expectations!

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4)  Crayons:

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The Toy: The word "crayon" (a hybrid of the French words for chalk and earth) can be traced back to the 1600s, but it is only more recently that the notion of a wax coloring pencil has come into existence. There have been over 500 modern manufacturers of crayons (the best known being Crayola), and in the ensuing years, children the world-over have drawn billions upon billions of bright, colorful, imaginative pictures!

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The Entrepreneurial Lesson: It’s about IMAGINATION! It’s about seeing something in the mind’s-eye and bringing it to fruition and realization! It’s about trying. Drawing and re-drawing. Fixing and perfecting. Cars, houses, planes, trains. It’s about making dreams visible.

I’m going to say it here and I’m going to say it loud: a child drawing with crayons instilled the spirit of creativity which led to…The Internet, the computer, the cell-phone, emails, blogs, Social Media, airplane designs, and almost every other modern invention we take for granted.

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Child + Toys + Curiosity + Imagination = Business Skills!

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Image Credits: Globe: imba.nccu.edu.tw; Weeble: 3.bp; Lego: brandimpact.files.com; blocks: 4.bp.; crayons: sweetpeatowels.com 

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Yonatan Maisel is a Business blogger, history buff and author. He specializes in all aspects of Business writing.

From speeches to resumes, from corporate bios to research, from blogging to website content, from articles to ghost-writing, he provides the highest level of quality at a very reasonable price.

A Quick Business Lesson from Jimi Hendrix and Manfred Mann: On Clarity of the Message!

     

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A Quick Business Lesson from Jimi Hendrix and Manfred Mann:

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 On the Criticality of Clarity in the Biz Message!

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An original Business blog article by Yonatan Maisel

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They are two timeless, classic hits from two giants of Rock ‘n Roll. Yet, due to lack of proper enunciation, pronunciation, non-clarity and the resulting misunderstandings, the messages have become somewhat garbled and confusing.

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Are there implications in the world of Business? Lessons for Marketing, Advertising, speech, texting, Tweeting and written communication? You betcha!

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Purple Haze was a 1966 psychedelic classic by The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Yet there is one line of the lyrics which has become "lost in translation."

The words go excuse me while I kiss the sky!

Yet, due to lack of enunciation on the part of Jimi, many thought what he was actually saying was: Excuse me while I kiss this guy!

It has led to much enduring debate and speculation. What was the meaning? What was the message? Whether it had to do with a guy or the sky…we might never know.

Ambiguity can leave many interpretations.

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Manfred Mann and his 1970s group Manfred Mann’s Earth Band produced many chart-topping hits.

One hit in particular was "Blinded By the Light." The lyrics go Blinded by the light, revved up like a deuce… ("deuce" refers to a type of 60’s hot-rod).

Again, due to lack of clarity and enunciation, this has become perhaps one of the greatest misunderstandings in music history.

It sounds to most as if old Manfred is singing Blinded by the light, wrapped up like a "douche." Think I’m exaggerating? Listen to the first few seconds of the YouTube clip and see what I mean! 

Yes, a ‘douche’ is simply "a shower" in French. In English, however, it has two meanings: 1) a feminine hygiene product; 2) a slang insult, akin, according to the folks at the Online Slang Dictionary: American, English and Urban Slang, with the word "asshole."

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The world of Business is not so much different than the world of Music. In Advertising, Marketing, and both written and verbal communication, clarity is essential! Pronounce. Enunciate. And spell things out clearly to avoid misinterpretation!

It applies equally to verbal and non-verbal communication, emails, Tweeting on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn messages, blogging, newsletters, voicemails, text messages, Advertising, Marketing and Branding messages.

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Garbling the message can deliver the wrong message entirely!

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Avoid ambiguity and eliminate room for mis-interpretation!

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In Business, "SAY WHAT YOU MEAN…"

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 and "MEAN WHAT YOU SAY!"

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Image Credits: Guitar: shopgaithersburg.com; Jimi Hendrix: myguitarsolo.com; Manfred Mann: t1.gstatic.com; Globe: imba.nccu.edu.tw; microphone: romakhin.ru/tmp; Businesspeople: sxc.hu/pic

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Yonatan Maisel is a Business blogger, history buff and author. He specializes in all aspects of Business writing.

From speeches to resumes, from corporate bios to research, from blogging to website content, from articles to ghost-writing, he provides the highest level of quality at a very reasonable price.

An Opulent, Luxurious Lesson In Uncompromising Business Quality from Rolls-Royce!

 

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A Luxurious and Practical Lesson In Uncompromising Business Quality:

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From Rolls-Royce!

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Silver Ghost, Phantom, Silver Cloud, Wraith.

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No matter the model, fine automobiles produced by Rolls-Royce have always been synonymous with one thing: QUALITY!

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But it is important, vital in fact, for us as businesspeople to ask ourselves: "What is quality?"

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Is quality an "ideal" deserving of those few elite, discerning clients and customers who have half-a-million dollars to shell out for the best? Anyone who subscribes to this theory might find his or her business losing the battle for reputation and brand allegiance. Unless, of course, the business’s Marketing and Advertising is geared exclusively to the ‘upper-crust’ of society. But how many small-businesses fall into that category?

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So what is quality?  

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I read a statistic today which absolutely blew me away!

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According to National Geographic (Mega-Factories II: Rolls-Royce Facts), 65% of all Rolls-Royces built, that’s 2 out of every 3 Rolls-Royces ever produced, are still on the road! Not since 1990. Not since 1950, but two-thirds of every one produced since 1906! 

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I got to thinking, after my head stopped spinning from the sheer magnitude of this amazing statistic, what the Rolls-Royce formula is and how it can be incorporated into any business:

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1) Attention to Detail: Whatever the business, whatever the product or service, every "unit" (resume, computer, business plan, legal representation) must be prepared as if it is for the most important, most discerning, most deserving person in the world. Treating a client as anything less can destroy all semblance of loyalty and value.

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2) Branding: The only way that a successful brand and brand loyalty can be established is through quality and dependability. Perfection is the name of the game. Have you ever seen a Rolls-Royce broken down on the side of the road? Have you ever seen one on the back of a tow-truck? Neither have I!

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3) Building Things That Last: The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that the average life-expectancy of a new car is 12 years. So how is it, you may ask, that Rolls Royces remain on the road for 50, 75, 100 years? Quality-craftsmanship! Attention to detail! And cutting no corners in the production or service processes!

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4) The "Mark" of a Job Well-Done: In the case of Rolls-Royce, it is the "Spirit of Ecstasy", the winged lady which graces the hood of every one of its venerated vehicles. In the case of most small businesses, it is our signature and final handshake! It is the mark of personalization and quality. It is the mark of pride in a job well-done, a job in which our heart and soul was poured into the final product!

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5) CUSTOMER INVOLVEMENT: Here, at least as far as I’m concerned, is the biggest one of all. People who have bought Rolls Royces, whether in 1921, the years of the Great Depression or in the 1980s, LOVE their cars! They continue to cherish them, maintain them and preserve them long after the average car would have faded or rusted away. How many Rolls-Royces do you see ending up in the scrap-yard? 

Inherent in quality and longevity is the desire of the purchaser to keep the product, in this case a fine automobile, in their possession! Decades after the sales-slip was signed and the final payments were made, the Rolls-Royce continues to give its owner a valuable Return On Investment (ROI), both monetary and in terms of satisfaction.

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As businesspeople, we might not sell products with million-dollar price-tags. Hell, as a writer, my resumes, speeches and corporate bios can usually be had for under $200. 

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But when it comes to craftsmanship and quality, pricing is and should be irrelevant. No matter the product or service which we offer, whether it’s top-of-the-line or the discount, entry-level variety, our clients deserve THE BEST for Their Money! Any defects, sub-standard workmanship or failure to meet lofty expectations can render a product or service useless. Think you’ll have a return-customer if this is the case? Think your customers will laud and praise you and your company? Think you’ll achieve the sterling reputation you so desire?

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Only when these things are achieved will we earn the trust, loyalty and allegiance necessary to cultivate a brand with the reputation which we desire. And only then will our customers cherish, revere and hold in the highest esteem that which we have given them!

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It’s the only way…

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It’s the Rolls-Royce Way!

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Dear reader, thanks for stopping by. If you’ve enjoyed this original article, please consider giving it a re-tweet. I’d be most grateful!

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Image Credits: Rolls-Royce: diecastgarage.steves-services.com; Focus On Quality: zebratranslations.co.uk; Handshake; foundingimage.com

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Yonatan Maisel is a Business blogger, history buff and author. He specializes in all aspects of Business writing.

From speeches to resumes, from corporate bios to research, from blogging to website content, from articles to ghost-writing, he provides the highest level of quality at a very reasonable price.

How This Freelancer Managed to Save Enough $ In the First Year of Business to Buy a Ferrari

 

Image Credit: www.web4.hobbylinc.com

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How This Freelancer Saved Enough $ in the 1st Year of Business…

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to Buy a FERRARI!

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An original Business Blog Article (Reality-Check) by Yonatan Maisel

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A Ferrari? Yup! A bright-red high-performance super-car. 0-60 m.p.h. in 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 220 m.p.h. The Ferrari Enzo. No, sadly not the full-size one which retails for $670,000…

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The Ferrari Enzo which I can afford after a year as a freelancer is a 1/24-scale plastic, die-cast model from Revell. It will set you back about $30, shipping not included.

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It’s the type of car which hobbyists, myself included, meticulously and painstakingly glue together, paint and display. And being a freelancer, it will have to suffice until I make my first million (predicted in the year 2077). 

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"Yonatan Maisel, you are a big, stinking liar! You deceived me with the article headline! You bastard!"

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Deceived you? No. What I am providing here for anybody thinking of going the route of freelancer, as I did one short year ago, is a…

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Image Credit: barringtonstoke.co.uk

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Reality Check:

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I’m a freelance writer. Just over a year ago, I decided to bid farewell to the traditional workplace and the 9 to 5 rat-race.

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The truth is, I have no regrets. I’m my own boss. I work when I want and take breaks when I want. No more long commutes. No more filling up the old gas tank twice a week. No suit and tie, no workplace politics. I spend lunch-break walking our two dogs in the woods. I have no cranky supervisors or despicable bosses. I jump in the water and sink-or-swim on my own.

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I spent the first few months building up a portfolio and a list of references and testimonials. It was tough-going…a LOT of time waiting for the phone to ring…and PRAYING it would! Then I began BLOGGING for clients and customers. The result of the hard work and persistence? 80 to 90 percent of my new clients now come to me as a direct result of reading my blog. I use Social Media, mainly Twitter, as my only form of Advertising and Marketing. It’s worked like a well-oiled-machine!

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There are many, MANY reasons to go the route of freelancer. But…

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If you think getting rich is one of them, let me be the first to pop your proverbial rose-colored balloon!

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I am considered somewhat of a success-story in the world of freelance-writing. I have much more up-time than downtime. I have made a good name for myself and established a good reputation.

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Image Credit: dotgiri.com

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But paying the bills remains a challenge! It’s one of the "gives" in this give-and-take existence.

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One of the pitfalls is not knowing how much you will earn in any given month. Could be $3,000. Could be $1,200. It could be $0.00! It’s the big income-unknown. Freelancing is a world of FEAST or FAMINE and I have suffered through a famine or two!

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Back to that FERRARI? The real one that comes with the hefty price-tag? Were I to save up every penny? EVERY penny that I now earn?

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It would take me approximately 27 years.

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Yup, I’d have a beautiful Italian sports car. I’d have no money for gas, the electric bill or for dinner, but I’d have that great car sitting idle in my driveway.

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Freelancing is a tough existence…

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It’s NOT for everybody…

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If you’re looking for a steady, guaranteed paycheck (and an Italian Super-Car), it’s probably not for you!

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This has been a REALITY-CHECK!

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Yonatan Maisel is a Business blogger, history buff and author. He specializes in all aspects of Business writing.

From speeches to resumes, from corporate bios to research, from blogging to website content, from articles to ghost-writing, he provides the highest level of quality at a very reasonable price.

 

An Open Business Letter to the Nissan Motor Company: Re: Cockroaches & Cars in Israel!

           

An Open Business Letter to the Nissan Motor Corporation:

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Re: Cars & Cockroaches in Israel!

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An Original Business Blog Article by Yonatan Maisel

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Dear Nissan Motor Company,

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Very recently, at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, your company debuted the mini-crossover vehicle, the Nissan Juke.

          

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Firstly, let’s get down to the vehicle itself. I am not an automobile reviewer or critic, but in my humble opinion it is a LOVELY looking vehicle. Were I not a freelance writer, and if I had a salary which allowed me to own something newer than my 12 year-old Fiat, I’d be pleased to drive a Juke.

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And it appears I’m not alone. Car and Driver Magazine calls it Compelling! Road and Track says Wild looks with a friendly character! Says automobile critic Honest John in his review of the vehicle: "Nissan ambitiously expects to sell 20,000 Jukes in its first full year of production, which will be 2011. And I can see that happening. A plague of Jukes is about to descend on the landscape, devouring young mums and their offspring and raising eyebrows wherever they go. Expect an unfamiliar looking car to start becoming very familiar indeed."

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Wow Nissan! Great looks, great reviews and full-scale production beginning in 2011!

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It appears that you have the formula for success for your new wunderkind vehicle throughout the world!

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Except maybe…

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In Israel.

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Mr. and Mrs. Nissan Advertising and Marketing Guru, let’s take a small step back in history. Once-upon-a-time the Chevrolet Motor Co. came out with an awesome automobile called the Nova. It was an American muscle-car which took the U.S. by storm.

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Yet there was one small problem with the name. In Spanish-speaking countries where Chevrolet did much of its business, Nova means "doesn’t go!" Latin America largely balked at the new model. This branding episode is widely considered to be one of the biggest naming "boo-boos" in Business history.

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Product naming and branding is a complicated undertaking. One has to take into account not just the major markets in which the product will be available. A company must take into account periphery markets and do some homework to ascertain meanings, definitions and translations into the local language and dialect. Failure to do so can have rather devastating financial consequences and repercussions.

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As the experts at Brand Identity Guru explain: A great brand name is one of the most powerful forces in branding, marketing and advertising. It is at once the story (along with negative and positive associations) about what makes you different from your competitors and the emotional tug that connects you with your audience—all in one or a few words.

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Which brings us back to the Nissan Juke…

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You see, in Israel, where the model will be debuting very soon, the name Juke has a special meaning in Hebrew, the native-tongue of the "Land Flowing With Milk and Honey"…

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A Juke is a Cockroach!

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Yes, perhaps one of the most despised and reviled creatures on the face of the earth. One, which just the sight of, evokes thoughts of filth, uncleanliness and lack of hygiene.

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Again Nissan, your vehicle is beautiful! And according to the the many reviews I have just read, it is an example of technological savvy and innovation.

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I’ll be watching from a Marketing perspective, however, and perhaps you will be as well, to see if the discerning Israeli driver is able to reconcile with driving around in a car called…

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"The Cockroach!"

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Image Credits: Cockroach: shakespearecockroaches; Nissan Juke: nissan-juke.sgpetch.co.uk; Israeli Flag: jewishcenter.org; Chevy Nova: atimetolaugh.org; Person typing: sharkbytesblog

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Yonatan Maisel is a Business blogger, history buff and author. He specializes in all aspects of Business writing.

From speeches to resumes, from corporate bios to research, from blogging to website content, from articles to ghost-writing, he provides the highest level of quality at a very reasonable price.

The Business Grim-Reaper and My Near-Death Tour Through the Graveyard of Failed Businesses!

Graveyard Witch Night Image 

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The Business Grim-Reaper

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…and My Near-Death Tour Through the Graveyard of Failed Businesses!

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An original Business blog article by Yonatan Maisel

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You’ve read them and I’ve read them. The startling and worrisome rates of small-business failure. Up to fifty percent in the first three years according to some. It’s frightening. But is it enough to put fear into you?

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Last night I awoke with a startle. The wind was blowing the shutters against the side of our home. I heard a cat scream in the distance. Far off, the rumble of thunder. There was, as I focused my eyes better, a presence materializing at the foot of our bed. An apparition which was becoming less transparent and translucent and more and more visible with each passing second…

My heart skipped several beats! I began to sweat uncontrollably…It was…

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HIM! The harbinger of death himself. A living skeleton. The Business Grim-Reaper!

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"Am I? Has my business…died?" I asked him, my voice shaking uncontrollably.

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"Not yet…" he answered in an unworldy, terrifying voice. "Consider this just a visit to show you what might be if I have to come back!"

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And with that, he grabbed my wrist with his cold, clammy hand and we floated away together to…The Graveyard of Failed Businesses…

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…"Look around," he shrieked. His voice echoed into the bitterly cold night. "And don’t think it couldn’t happen to you!"

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And look I did at the masses of graves, each in a sectioned-off plot of the vast graveyard. There was the section for Financial Failure. A section for Improper Planning. And others as far as the eye could see…Not Being Aware of Economic Conditions. Poor Marketing Strategies. Improper Advertising Methods. Inefficiency. Poor Communication. Inability to Cooperate. Refusing to Utilize Technology…

I looked at a few. "Harold’s Plumbing, 1999-2002, Died from too little web-presence." And "S&R Tech, 2004-2006, They refused to use Twitter!" 

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"B-But…that section over there?" I asked. "It’s so much…"

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"Bigger?" he finished the sentence for me in his deathy, raspy voice.

"Yes," he continued. "That is the special section of the graveyard reserved for people who are not blogging for business!"

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"B-But it’s FREE! It’s the single-greatest way to market a business," I interrupted. "I tell my readers that all of the time Mr. Reaper. Every chance I get I tell my readers that 80 to 90 percent of my new clients and customers now find their way to my doorstep as a direct result of having read my blog! Just two posts a week…it only takes two or three hours of writing! And I’m always going on about using Social Media to increase readership…"

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"Well continue to tell them," he said, cutting me off, the first hints of the imminent rising of the sun now appearing on the horizon. "The Graveyard of Failed Businesses’ Blogging Section is quickly running out of space!" He stared at me long and hard with those empty, hollow eye-sockets…

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"Tell anyone who isn’t blogging for business that…

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…it’s a 21st Century DEATH-SENTENCE!"

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"And," he spit out with an evil hiss, "I’ll be coming for them!"

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Image Credits: Graveyard: images2.layoutsparks.com; Grim Reaper: t3.gstatic.com/images; Skeleton: parenting.leehansen.com; Full Moon: horrorphile.net

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Yonatan Maisel is a Business blogger, history buff and author. He specializes in all aspects of Business writing.

From speeches to resumes, from corporate bios to research, from blogging to website content, from articles to ghost-writing, he provides the highest level of quality at a very reasonable price.

  

Business & Marketing History: The Marlboro Man: The Greatest, Deadliest and Deadest Pitch-Man of All-Time.

 

Image Credit: sweetskulls.com

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Business & Marketing History: The Marlboro Man:

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The Greatest, Deadliest and Deadest Pitch-Man of All-Time.

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In terms of Advertising and Marketing, he was the figure behind what just might have been the greatest and most successful campaign in modern Business history.

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Measuring by profit and income generated, his effect was STAGGERING! In 1955, the Philip Morris Corporation, owner of the flagship-brand Marlboro, had sales of $5 Billion. 

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Then came the Marlboro Man, a creation of the advertising firm Leo Burnett Worldwide. By 1957, just two short years later, sales had skyrocketed to $20 Billion! Yes, a 300% increase!

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Need more proof regarding the vast appeal, allure and power of the Marlboro Man? He is ranked #1 in Allan Lazar’s brilliant book "The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived." Yup, ahead of Santa Claus, Sherlock Holmes, James Bond, Mickey Mouse and all the rest. The Marlboro Man! #1!

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Who was the Marlboro Man?

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He was a cowboy. He was rugged. Tough. Strapping. Healthy. Macho. The epitome of masculinity. He roamed the plains lassoing cattle. He lived life on his own terms. He represented freedom…

…and yes, he smoked. Marlboro, of course, was his brand of choice.

While the risks of smoking were already evident, it was decided that the best marketing path was to present a healthy image. Hey, look at this tough hombre! Does it seem like smoking is hurting him? 

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Image Credit: blog.thinkubik.com

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Business Branding:

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In Business, it is something that each and everyone of us strive for. Marketing appeal. Advertising value. And BRANDING! We seek to make ourselves and our businesses stand for something. Quality. Value. Health. And the list goes on.

We associate our businesses with products, services, logos, jingles, catch-phrases, faces, icons and the like…all in an effort to make ourselves recognizable and identifiable. The ultimate goal? To stand for something. To represent ourselves as the reliable go-to people in our industries.

If it’s computers, make yourself and your products seem advanced, state-of-the-art and reliable. If it’s tobacco, make your products seem, yes…cool!

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The REAL Marlboro Man (R.I.P.):

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Actually there were quite a few Marlboro Men. Wayne McLaren, David McLean and Dick Hammer were among them. All three were models. All had rugged good-looks…

…and each and every one of them died of lung-cancer.

Suddenly Marlboro cigarettes developed a most unwanted nickname: "Cowboy Killers!"

One year before his death at the age of 51, already terminally ill, Wayne McLaren testified before Congress on behalf of proposed anti-smoking legislation. Imagine a pitch-man, ultimately testifying against the product he had originally endorsed!

A film entitled "Death in the West" aired on British television in 1976. It documented the deadly effect of smoking on the Marlboro Man. Phillip Morris sued. The movie was yanked and all copies were destroyed. Yup, suppression and cover-up. It took two more decades for the film to be released.

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Image Credit: t2.gstatic.com

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Business Outcomes, Profits and Ethics:

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In Business, we are all looking for those extra profits. We watch that bottom-line, always looking for the next image, pitch-man, catch-phrase and coup which will give us the edge over our competition.

In the Marlboro Man, Phillip Morris found their pot-of-gold.

In the world of Business, it is essential, critical, to convey the proper message. A message which instills consumer confidence, appeal, charisma and flair.

Sometimes, however, we as businesspeople must bring two more factors into our mindset as we strive to earn the business of clients and customers: Ethics and Morals.

Profit yes…it is the backbone of every business. But along with it we sometimes have to ask ourselves: "At what price?"

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Dear Reader, Thanks for stopping by! If you’ve enjoyed this original article, or found it to be useful, educational or informative, please consider giving it a Re–Tweet below! Thanks!

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Yonatan Maisel is a Business blogger, history buff and author. He specializes in all aspects of Business writing.

From speeches to resumes, from corporate bios to research, from blogging to website content, from articles to ghost-writing, he provides the highest level of quality at a very reasonable price.

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A Business Blogging Lesson in Creativity & a “Who-dun-it?”: Murder On the Orient Express!

 

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A BUSINESS Blogging Lesson in Creativity & a "Who-dun-it?":

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Murder On the Orient Express!

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A lesson in bringing CREATIVITY to your Business blogging begins here with a practical and applied example. It’s MURDER…Agatha Christie-style…

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It happened as the famed, iconic luxury passenger-train, still a thousand miles from it’s final stop in Istanbul, rounded the final bend before stopping at the station in Zurich. Clouds were heavy; a fine sleet had begun to fall. The majestic, snow-capped peaks of the Swiss Alps provided the perfect, scenic backdrop. For death!

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It was exactly when the engineer sounded the train’s shrill, almost-deafening whistle that the shot rang out. The BANG, as intended, was muffled by the whistle.

It would be another five minutes before one of the railroad’s porters would go to check on Madame Giselle Landry (she was supposed to get off in Zurich after all) and the body would be discovered.

Pascal Poirot, son of the famed Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, entered the compartment only seconds after hearing the screams of the porter…"Murder! MURDER!"

The sight which greeted the portly, mustached criminologist was a harrowing one indeed. The dazzling, up-and-coming star of the business world lay in a pool of her own blood. A red spot on the lapel of her blazer, directly over her heart, marked the bullet’s entrance. Next to the high-heel of the shoe on her right foot lay the instrument of murder: a pearl-handled .38 revolver.

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Poirot, ever vigilant, his brilliant mind always attuned, scanned the room for clues. He spotted the open Dell laptop computer almost immediately.

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He examined the screen. After a brief hesitation, and just as the first Swiss police officers entered the luxury compartment, Pascal Poirot, son of a crime-fighting legend, muttered these barely audible words: "Hmm…Murdered over a Business blog post!"

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I could go on with this crime-ridden, blood-soaked murder-mystery of a blog. But I won’t…at least as far as finding out which of the Orient Express’s myriad of passengers had the means, motive and opportunity to do in poor Madame Landry.

More importantly, at least in a Business-sense, I have a point to make.

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In addition to being a Business blogger, both for my company and for other organizations, I am a literary writer and author. In that context, people ask me all of the time questions such as "How do you come up with ideas for your posts?" "How do you remain so motivated?" "And what is the catalyst for your creativity?"

My answer is always the same.

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Start having FUN with your Business blog!

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Start cutting back on some of the Business you put into your writing. It’s important to have a measured-dose of it; that’s not up for debate. But keep one thing in mind: Business is rather boring!

"Take some of the Business out of my blog Yoni?" YES!  Start mixing the Business which remains with other more interesting themes.

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Politics, news, movies, books, current events, music and nature. Inject some Agatha Christie, Robert Ludlum, John Coltraine, AC/DC, Jim Carrey and Charlie Brown. Find an excuse to throw in some Obama, marital relations, stories and episodes from your childhood and history. Quote Aristotle, The Rambam and JFK.

Tell folks what you’ve learned from your dog. Give tips and advice. Play around. Use metaphors, satire and similes. Make people laugh. Make them cry. Make them think.

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Most importantly: become a story-teller! Readers love a good tale!

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Two things will happen when you start doing these things. You will make your Business blog a much more enjoyable and entertaining reading experience for your visitors…

…and you’ll start having a whole lot more fun writing!

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This post was written under somewhat trying circumstances. My thanks to everyone (Ofira, Rivkah and Rochelle) who assisted in getting it ready for publication!

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Image Credits: Orient Express: ameinfo.com; Blood: newscientist.com; Laptop: images02.olx.in; Coffe Mug: rlv.zcache.com; 2: 2.bp.blogspot.com

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Looking for a writer yo*****@******************ip.com

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Yonatan Maisel is a business blogger, history buff and author.

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If you’re looking for a "lap-dog," look elsewhere; if you’re looking for a writer who will "kick ass and take names," he might be for you! From corporate bios to ghost-blogging, from speeches to research…and everything in between, UNBRIDLED SATISFACTION is the goal! 

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Yoni started a business blog one year ago. 90% of his new clients now find their way to him as a direct result of having read one or more posts. He is a regular contributor here at www.jobshuk.com.

Business Lessons from Great Hospitals & Doctors With Exceptional Bedside Manners

 

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Business Lessons from Great Hospitals & Doctors With Exceptional Bedside Manners

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It’s somewhere my husband Yonatan never imagined he would be spending approximately fifteen hours a month if it was just his routine hematology/immunology treatments and quite a bit more when complications arise. And it is why I have decided to guest-post today and speak about a subject related to Business which Yoni usually does not bring up.

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Little could we have imagined how complicated our lives would become when the tests finally came back from a bone-marrow biopsy just about five years ago. CVID or hypogammaglobulinaemia is what they call it. How much of it is hereditary and how much genetic is still up for debate and further research. It is a rare disorder (approximately 1 case per 50,000 to 75,000 people) in which the body stops producing life-saving antibodies.

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It is not a virus like AIDS, rather it is like a light-switch in the bone-marrow which irreversibly turns off. The patient is left without a functioning immune system. The patient requires immunoglobulin replacement therapy for the rest of his or her life, in Yoni’s case every two weeks. It is a treatment which can have many painful and adverse side effects.

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As a businessperson myself, I got to thinking this morning how similar bedside manner in a hospital is to being a good and effective businessperson.

In the hospital department where my husband is treated, the Sharrett Institute of Jerusalem’s Hadassah–University Medical Center, I have learned many lessons from the doctor/patient relationship which can be applied to the business world.

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In Both a Great Hospital and the Business World:

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 1. A positive outcome begins immediately with a proper welcome: a greeting and a smile! Continued smiles, attentiveness and warmth should be the norm, not the behavior of a few exceptional individuals.

 2) Being treated as an individual, unique and special, makes all of the difference in the world. In a medical environment and in business, nobody should be made to feel like a number or statistic!

 3) There is NO substitute for a great, positive attitude! In both contexts, medicine and business, positivity is infectious!

 4) Listening to the needs of the patient/customer is crucial for understanding and a satisfactory experience.

 5) A Plan of Action should be discussed with both sides as equal, contributing partners. The best doctors don’t say ‘You," they say "We."

 6) Regular updates ensure a smooth and caring process. It is essential for a customer/patient to remain ‘in the loop’ and informed. An informed customer or patient is an educated one!

 7) Great medical practitioners and businesspeople become advocates for those in their care. Their interest often goes beyond business and becomes personal. They become fighters for their clients and patients.

 8) Quality is non–negotiable!

 9) Word of Mouth! In the world of medicine and in business, a customer/patient is free to choose where they will be treated. In order for satisfaction to be achieved, quality and caring must be maintained. A dissatisfied customer or patient will speak of negative experiences. A satisfied patient or customer will tell the world of their great experience! Reputations are at stake!

 10) A patient and a customer can become ‘a member of the family.’ In great businesses and hospitals people are made to feel this way. In not-such-good organizations they can be made to feel otherwise. 

 11) Discharge and Follow–up. In business and in medicine, the relationship should never end when the patient/customer pays the bill. Communication should be maintained and continued satisfaction in the form of follow–up should be carried out! A businessperson should ask customers questions like "Is there anything else I can assist you with?" And "Are there any last minute changes or additions you would like?" A hospital can use a questionnaire to allow the patient to rate his or her experience.

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Hadassah Hospital, a world-renowned medical and teaching institution is, as far as I’m concerned, a model for how to do things right! It blends business and profits with caring and compassion. It is proof that a high–quality medical organization and top-notch doctors can serve as a model for every burgeoning or existing business!

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Do you have a great hospital in your area?

Are you being treated by an exceptional doctor? 

Take a look at what they’re doing right. The glimpse can prove a valuable business tool!

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A small dedication if I may to some special people involved in my husband Yoni’s care. Special thanks to the following caring and consummate professionals:

Professor Ora Paltiel: MDCM, MSC, FRCPR, Professor of Hematology, Hadassah Medical Center. Dr. Neta Goldschmidt, Senior Doctor of Hematology, Hadassah Medical Center. Gita Dror, Chief Nurse, Hematology Day–Treatment, the Sharrett Institute, Hadassah Medical Center.

Professor Amos Etzioni: Director/Professor of Immunology, Rambam Medical Center (Haifa, Israel) and President of the European Society for Immunodeficiencies.

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See full size image

The writer, Rivkah Maisel, works as a project manager and customer relations manager. 

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Image Credits: Hospital: enterpriseirregulars.com. Mice: madasafish.com. Thanks: school.discoveryeducation.com. Blue checkmark: nvlogitech.com.  Contract: 4.bp.; Briefcase: free-graphics.com; Doctor: clipartheaven.com

Business Lessons from Incompetent Space Aliens and UFOs: “The Roswell Incident”

 

Image Credit: topnews.in

Business Lessons from Incompetent Space Aliens and UFOs:  

The Roswell Incident!

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-An Original Business Blog Article by Yonatan Maisel-

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Just a short post today as I’ll be leaving for the hospital momentarily and promised my wife I would take a break from work and blogging:

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Roswell, New Mexico. July, 1947. An alien UFO crashes. A spaceship in flaming ruins. The corpses of "Little Green Men" are strewn about. A government cover-up of monstrous proportions follows. What ensues is one of the largest and longest-lasting conspiracy theories in modern history.

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The truth is, I think it’s a bunch of horseshit. The closest star which can support a life-sustaining planet is hundreds of light-years away. Our good old Space Shuttle traveling at a galactic snails-pace of 18,000 mph would take almost half a million years to get there!

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And I’m supposed to believe that these aliens have developed some super-advanced technology which enables them to travel to our Earth, hurtling across the expanses of the galaxy at Star Trek-style warp-speed. And the first…the very FIRST thing they do on arrival is lose control and crash! 

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It would be like you or I driving 3,000 miles safely from Los Angeles to New York and in the last six inches of the journey plowing your car into your garage door!

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Image Credit: i.telegraph.co.uk

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Let’s Assume for a Moment…

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Image Credit: cdn.indyposted.com

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…that "The Roswell Incident" is true.

What does it mean for us in the world of Business? What implications does it have on our work? On quality? On meeting the expectations of our clients and customers?

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The final part of any project…

 

Image Credit: runalong.se

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…the home-stretch or finish-line if you will, is one which is plagued and wrought with danger!

Oftentimes we are tired. Exhausted even! We’ve poured our hearts and souls into our work for days, weeks, even months. We crave one thing: finishing!

It is at this stage that we have a tendency to rush just a bit. Become a tad careless. A final check for mistakes? Not always. Maybe it’s a deadline. Maybe just the desire to get it over with. We become impulsive. Lackadaisical. We are tempted to send the work out on a whim and…yes…get paid.

It’s time to…

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Image Credit: freefoto.com

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Take a break! Give the old eyes and brain a chance to rest. Watch a good Gable movie. Take your spouse out to dinner. Walk the dog. Sit back, enjoy a cold pint of Guinness and listen to The Jimi Hendrix Experience from start to finish. Let the work sit for an hour or two…it won’t run away!

Then…come back and give it a good review. A comprehensive and thorough second-look. Proofread it. Edit it. Check for consistency, accuracy and clarity. And check for errors.

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Flying saucers apparently crash just short of the finish–line.

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Don’t let the same carelessness ruin your work!

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Dear Reader: Thanks for stopping by! If you’ve enjoyed this original Business article, please consider giving it a re-tweet:

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_____________________

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Looking for a writer yo*****@******************ip.com

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Yonatan Maisel is a business blogger, history buff and author.

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If you’re looking for a "lap-dog," look elsewhere; if you’re looking for a writer who will "kick ass and take names," he might be for you! From corporate bios to ghost-blogging, from speeches to research…and everything in between, UNBRIDLED SATISFACTION is the goal! 

.

Yoni started a business blog one year ago. 90% of his new clients now find their way to him as a direct result of having read one or more posts. He is a regular contributor here at www.jobshuk.com.