Achieve your dreams

Growing up on India’s dusty streets, Krish Dhanam had a dream.
One day he would find success and prosperity in America.
In 1986, he did exactly that. He came with $9 in his pocket.
Today Krish has spoken in 45 states and 52 countries.
We heard him at the Get Motivated seminar in Columbia.
Krish is a powerful speaker and inspiring ambassador for America.
Here are Krish’s seven steps for achieving your goals.
1. Identify your goal. Write it down in specific detail.
2. List all the benefits it will bring to you and yours.
3. Identify all obstacles that could stop you from achieving it.
4. Define the skills and knowledge you will need.
5. Locate those you will need to help you achieve your goal.
6. Write a detailed plan of action.
7. Set a target for achieving it.
I would add one step to Krish’s list.
8. Take action, overcome obstacles and let nothing deter you.
See Krish at www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpFpcPm8c1s
His book is available at www.strategicbookpublishing.com/TheAmericanDreamFromAnIndianHeart.html
Thanks, Krish, for an inspiring speech and a great list.
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I did a little inspiring of my own yesterday.
More than 500 Gilbert High students heard my message of hope.
We talked about life goals and great purposes in three sessions.
They heard my big dream: $200 million for literacy.
Money from my book sales and speaking fees go to this cause.
Book sale proceeds will teach an illiterate person to read.
To help me raise $200 million, please click here.

Are we losing our connection with our customers?

Yesterday we talked about keeping newspapers profitable.
Today we’ll talk about enriching our customers’ experience.
These insights surfaced at our think tank summit in Atlanta.
Question #1: Is outsourcing our jobs a plus or a minus?
Newspaper technology expert Kevin Slimp sees real problems.
Outsourcing can damage our connections with our customers.
Designers in India don’t understand our culture.
Outsourcing advertising and editing to them is a disconnect.
Question #2: What does it cost to replace people with technology?
Circulation trainer Bob Bobber fears we will become a commodity.
Look at the banks’ attempts to replace tellers with ATMs.
They lost the personal touch, their connection with customers.
Are we headed down the same perilous path?
Question #3: Is voicemail robbing us of that human connection?
Designer Ed Henninger warns of over-reliance on voicemail.
Lets say your newspaper didn’t arrive today. You call the paper.
You get a recording: "If you did not get your paper, press 1."
Three recorded prompts later you’ve given your name and address.
You don’t get to talk to a real person. ‘Real people’ are an expense.
Voicemail is cheaper. But is it a good experience for subscribers?
A banker friend of ours won’t have voicemail answer his calls.
He says his competitors can copy everything else he does.
He stresses the one thing they won’t copy is his friendly staff.
Too expensive, the competition says. Poppycock, he says.
His competitive advantage is that personal customer connection.
Have you maintained a personal customer connection?
Tomorrow we’ll talk about educating future news people.
To get rid of your profit killers click here.