Selling With Passion---Internet Style

If you don't have a facebook or twitter page, it's about time you got one. We are in the midst of the biggest thing that has ever hit this society, it's called the Internet.

You can touch base with people all over the world from your keyboard and mouse, FOR FREE. We will never see anything of this magnitude in our lifetime.

In business, the Internet gives you that much more to talk about. The next time you see someone at a networking event you can ask them how their boat trailer is doing. That's because you saw their post on facebook where they explained in detail how they lost one of their wheels on the interstate.

I have a relative who lives in Norway and he knows more that's going on with our family than I do. And most of them live right here in my own backyard. Talk about powerful.

If you don't promote yourself or your personal brand, nobody else will. You can drip feed the public with anything you want. As one of my clients once said, "somebody will read it".

And it doesn't cost you a dime.

Compassion - Just Sell®... it's all about sales®

Compassion - Just Sell®... it's all about sales®

If you are in sales view this video by clicking the link above! It's startling how sometimes we get caught up in our daily routine and forget the important things in life. Sell with compassion, sell with empathy. It will go a long way.

Happy Holidays to you and yours this holiday season.

T

Tell Your Story

It seems the holiday functions never seem to dissipate this time of year. They are happening almost every night. Tonight, a night off. This is life in the Tri-Cities, WA. It's where word of mouth spreads like wildfire. That's a good thing. If people are talking about your business, or you, that's what it's all about.

Whether you know it or not, you are building your brand. The more people that know about you, the more people that will come in contact with you, or your product(s). We not only brand our products and services, we brand ourselves. It's Branding 101. If they know about you, more than likely they are going to know about your product(s) or business too.

There is nothing more powerful than telling your story. All of them are unique in their own way. That's what makes all of us so special.

So the next time you have a chance to tell your story, don't hold back. Give it a whirl. Talk about it. Share it with passion. Work it. Live it. Own it.

You will be amazed at the results that will follow.

Wulff Returning--It's A Good Thing

I'm sure there are a lot of mixed feelings out there on Washington State Athletic Director Bill Moos' decision to bring Paul Wulff back for another year. From my conversations with people in Pullman last weekend, it was overwhelming how many people are in support of Wulff returning.

Although many people didn't see Moos' statement as much of an endorsement, what else is he going to say?

It wouldn't be appropriate for him to say Wulff has done an outstanding job because the wins don't support that. But as Wulff has said following the decision, people inside the football program see the good things that are happening there.

Improvement. Nobody can dispute the improvement in this team this year. The win over Oregon State in convincing fashion on the road confirms that. Corvallis is not an easy place to play either. Critics contend progress is graded on wins, the Cougars definitely fell off in this area but they had a long way to go to begin with, considering what Wulff had to work with.

Recruiting. Wulff and his staff continue to bring in talented players, especially at the skilled positions.

Academics. The Cougars placed more players on the first team Pac Ten all academic team (7) than any other team in the conference. Not much more needs to be said.

Coaching. Change needs to be made on defense. Having co-defensive coordinators doesn't work. They need someone in place that is in charge. Look for a change in this area.

Intangibles. I really don't think Moos had any other choice but to retain Wulff. Why start over? The players are 'buying into his system' and believe in the coaching staff.

Looking Ahead. The Cougars could realistically start the 2011 year 3-0 with a non-conference schedule that includes Idaho State, UNLV, and San Diego State. Three more conference wins and the Cougs are bowl eligible.

Sure, WSU could hire a guy like Mike Bellotti that could generate excitement in the program for the short term. He would come in and say Pullman is where he wants to be and he's excited about building a winner for years to come. He would also say he's not interested in going anywhere.

Sounds familiar doesn't it?

This Is Pullman

I remember I had to write an English paper in college and the last words in the opening paragraph had to be "this is Pullman".

I wrote something like this; "Nestled in the wheat fields of Eastern Washington lies a remote little college town. This is Pullman."

As I approach a big weekend in Pullman for the Apple Cup, I will never forget those words. It really describes what I wanted when I made the decision to attend Washington State University.
I will never second guess my decision, and I will always cherish the friendships I made in my days at Ole' WAZZU.

It's no secret we want to win the game against our cross state rival, the University of Washington. We want to spoil their chances of going to a bowl game for the first time in years. But it's really not about the game. Football is really a side show in this glorious town. Regardless of what people say, there are plenty of things to do. And win or lose, we still have a great time with our Cougar friends.

I met my wife in Pullman and we always like to stay at the Cougarland Hotel. It sits on the side of a hill downtown, within walking distance to the only breakfast place in that part of town, and of course the watering holes known as the Office and the Sportspage. The Sportspage is where all the coaches hang out, and older alums like ourselves. We will ALWAYS run into Coug friends that we know.

Pullman breeds character, it really does. When you check in to the Cougarland Hotel and they hand you a remote, you know you landed a room with a TV. It's just one more thing to talk about with your friends over a bubbly one.

Sometimes the simple little things mean so much.

You see, it's the small things that make this place so special. Heading across town is no big deal if you've had too much to drink. You just give Big Cat Taxi a call and you can go wherever you want for only $6 bucks. And you can bring all your friends.

This is Pullman.

Apple Cup Thoughts

I've been going to this game since 1968. I was 9 years old then. That was then, and this is now.

It's still as exciting of a week as ever.

Things are a lot different now for both programs. The Huskies aren't the powerhouse they were in the Don James era when they manhandled teams with their mammoth offensive line. They always had a dominating defensive tackle. Ball control and the kicking game were two key components that won many games for them.

Boy have times changed.

The Huskies enter this year's Apple Cup game hoping to land a bid in the Alamo Bowl, Sun Bowl, or perhaps the Holiday Bowl, not long ago going to the number two team in the Pac Ten Conference.

Not this year.

With Oregon on it's way to the national championship game and Stanford, say what?, possibly headed to the BCS Championship Series, one would think this is a changed conference, especially with the new additions making it the Pac 12. Oregon, a former doormat in the Pac Ten Conference along with it's sidekick Oregon State, has progressed into the premier program in the conference, and perhaps the west coast. Chip Kelly is changing the game with his high powered, quick strike offense that drives defenses crazy, especially when the fourth quarter arrives.

Then there's Washington State. The team with really no identity and still many questions loom over the future of head coach Paul Wulff. In his weekly talk show, WSU Athletic Director Bill Moos still refrains from answering questions about the future of Wulff. After an impressive 31-14 win over Oregon State in Corvallis on November 13Th, the Cougs have been waiting for their arch rivals to arrive in Pullman. The game features a new twist now with the resurgence of the Husky program generating two wins over UCLA and Cal in successive weeks. It used to be expected and is now treated as one of the two biggest wins in school history. "God's play" is what people are calling the one yard touchdown run by Chris Polk as time was running out in the victory over Cal last weekend. Husky fans bombarded the field like they were headed to their first Rose Bowl.

When the final bell rings Saturday, there's a few scenarios that could unfold. We will finally find out the future of Paul Wulff and whether he will be able to fulfill the final year of his four year contract. Will the Huskies go to a bowl game for the first time in years?

Back in Anne Arbor, Jim Harbaugh will be named the new head coach at the University of Michigan, leaving Stanford for his treasured job.

And Paul Wulff will be packing his bags, for another recruiting trip for the 2011 season.

A Devel-ish Weekend

Who would've thunk it. The WSU Cougars dropping a tough one to the Arizona State Sun Devils 42-0. Not me. After a couple weeks of great improvement the Cougs ran into Dennis Erickson and the Devils, a coach many think is on the hot seat at ASU. After a slow start and a 50-17 thrashing by California the week before, it was time to find out just what Erickson is made of. Coug fans found out the hard way. It was a good Ole' fashioned ass whooping. Sorry about the french, I couldn't resist.

Erickson had his team ready and showed why he's landed the big name jobs and outlandish salaries in his very successful coaching career. This might have been a game he needed the most after a discouraging 3-4 record coming in. "We needed a win", he said. Well, he got one and it couldn't have come at a better time.

More importantly, I was able to take in all that the valley of the sun had to offer. I was greeted with good friends, warm temperatures, great restaurants (I highly recommend Dick's Hideaway but you'll never find it. Brilliant marketing on the name by the way), drinking establishments, drinks by the pool, morning walks, and real estate that is almost too good to pass up. Not to mention a sports bar that rivals Hooters, only better. I see now why Erickson took the job at ASU. I also found out how brutal some of their fans are after a few of the Cougar faithful were escorted out of the stadium. Who knows why. I think maybe they were having too much fun. I guess you aren't supposed to stand up during a game at Sun Devil Stadium. Win or lose us Coug fans always do. Some of us fall down too.

It was great to get away from the cool air and the same political advertisements here in Washington State that have plagued so many of us over the past month or so. Mud slinging, thrashing, lies, and someone always gets the short end of the stick come election day. And here in Washington State it's usually the people that live outside of King County. Maybe it's time to open a satellite office.

I'm thinking Maricopa County is a good place to start.