Loud Thinking

Posts Tagged ‘My Views’

Learning is the process of gaining knowledge.

“I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it. ”

Pablo Picasso (1881-1973);
Spanish artist

Don’t Listen to Customers — Observe Them

Every business wants to know what influences their customers. So, they should just ask them, right? Not so fast.

There’s a fundamental problem with asking people what will persuade them to change: Most of the time they won’t know the answer. It’s not that they won’t give one. They’ll give you plenty. But those answers are likely to be wrong.
Asking someone to pinpoint what will influence them in the future is a bit like saying, “Tell me how you will behave when you are not thinking about what I have just asked you about.” Instead of listening to your customers, watch them.
Set up small field tests and controlled studies that observe what they actually do.
In most instances, these experiments will be lot cheaper than traditional market research, and the insights will be much more revealing.

Today’s Management Tip was adapted from “Stop Listening to Your Customers” by Steve Martin.

“Dream big, but allow yourself the opportunity to start small,
and have your share of struggles in the beginning. The world’s greatest composers weren’t writing symphonies the day they first sat at a piano.”

— Kevin O’Rourke

Just received the following Twitter messages from the US State Department.

1. @USDOSDOT_Urdu: @nayyarahmad
پاکستان کے استحکام کی جانب امریکی ٹھوس سرکاری پالیسی پر نمائندوں کی تبدیلی سے کوئی اثر نہیں پڑتا

2. @USDOSDOT_Urdu: @nayyarahmad
امریکہ پاکستان کيساتھ ايسے اسٹریٹجک تعلقات قائم کرنے کيلۓ پر عزم ہے جو ہماری عوام کی حفاظت کو يقينی بنانے سے بڑھ کر ہوں

3. @USDOSDOT_Urdu: @nayyarahmad
ہميں يقين ہے کہ صرف اقتصادی اور سیاسی طور پر مضبوط پاکستان خطے ميں پائیدار امن قائم کرنے کيلۓ اپنا کليدی کردار ادا کرسکتا ہے

4. @USDOSDOT_Urdu: @nayyarahmad
ہميں يقين ہے کہ ایک مضبوط اور سياسی طور پر مستحکم پاکستان خطے ميں امن قائم کرسکتا ہے اور امریکی مفادات کی ضمانت دے سکتا ہے

InshaAllah, mark my words, repeat mark my words, as a result of the general elections on 5/11 in Pakistan, PTI is forming government in the Center and in many provinces including Punjab.
(This should be noted as of 6th May 2013).

Rising-Above is to overcome difficult situations, to weather the storms of life.

“A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him. ”

Sidney Greenberg (1917-2003);

Set the Right Tone for Your Talk

When you present, your audience usually sizes you up before you even utter a word — so it’s critical to make a positive first impression.
Start by communicating ahead of time.
Send a thoughtfully written agenda with a concise but telling subject line — and be explicit about what the audience will get out of it.
Once they’re in the room, match your disposition to your presentation.
For your content to ring true, do you need to come across as passionate? Humbled by the challenges ahead? If you’re announcing a layoff: be somber, not happy. If your talk is upbeat, chat with individuals as the group gathers.
No matter what tone you’re trying to establish, be available and sincere.

Today’s Management Tip was adapted from the HBR Guide to Persuasive Presen

“The life you have left is a gift. Cherish it. Enjoy it now, to the fullest. Do what matters, now.”

— Leo Babauta