The Center for Sales Strategy - Sales Strategy Blog

These 3 Things Will Derail Your Goals

by Kathleen O. Celmins, on April 17, 2015

10_Message_Goals_in_Two_Paragraphs_Can_You_Do_It This was another great week in terms of engaging content. We found a lot that made us think.

Here are the five articles that piqued our interest:

1. 3 things that'll derail your goals {Inc.}

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but they're mostly internal. Sure, the third thing is external, but if you read closely, it's actually how you react to external forces.

2. 51(!) productivity tips for startups {AlleyWatch}

These range from the obvious (email is a beast, don't let it rule your life) to the not-so-obvious (never accept vague goals) to the downright clever (focus on vice presidents when looking for an intro).

3. Auto dealers aren't great at social media {Marketing Mind}

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Topics: Wrap-up

How to Transform Your Boring PowerPoint Presentation

by Kathleen O. Celmins, on April 10, 2015

transform_your_powerpoint_presentations This was another great week in terms of engaging content. We found a lot that made us think.

Here are the five articles that piqued our interest:

1. Before & After PowerPoint Presentations {SlideShare}

I love this visual representation of slideshows. The transformation from title and bullets to a more visually pleasing look is astounding.

2. Why You Should Care About Holocracy {First Round}

The term holacracy caught my eye. When I read this I thought about some of the better managers I work with right now. They tend to follow this principle of dispering control and ownership so it doesn’t all reside with them.

3. How to Be More Resilient When Things Get Tough {Inc}

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Topics: Wrap-up

10 Habits to Ditch to be More Productive

by Kathleen O. Celmins, on April 3, 2015

be-more-productive This was another great week in terms of engaging content. We found a lot that made us think.

Here are the five articles that piqued our interest:

1. 10 habits to completely eliminate in order to be more productive {Entrepreneur}

Stop checking email all the time, stop weekly status report meetings, stop losing sleep, stop skipping breakfast, and more.

2. Richard Branson knows how to have fun {Inc}

Here's a guy who knows how to let loose, have fun, and... apply eyeliner! The slideshow is a fun feast for the eyes.

3. How good is your company's grammar? {Marketing Land}

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Topics: Wrap-up

Don't Put Comfort Over Doing Good Work

by Kathleen O. Celmins, on March 27, 2015

the-right-way-to-argue This was another great week in terms of engaging content. We found a lot that made us think.

Here are the five articles that piqued our interest:

1. Why arguing at work is okay, and the right way to to it {Inc.}

Brené Brown discusses the value of being uncomfortable when giving feedback, and why you shouldn't put comfort over doing good work.

2. How to write content that drives traffic for years {Top Dog Social Media}

Focus on your topic. What would your target persona find most valuable? This article also goes into the best kind of title/topic for evergreen content.

3. Be careful with email automation {SK Murphy}

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Topics: Wrap-up

Does Font Matter? Turns Out, Yes!

by Kathleen O. Celmins, on March 20, 2015

typeface-font-matters This was another great week in terms of content. We found a lot to love.

Here are the five articles that piqued our interest:

1. The Healthiest Typeface {The Atlantic}

If you're trying to convince people to do something, choose your font carefully. The font you choose to convey information is nearly as important as the information itself, according to these studies.

2. Turn Meeting Confirmations into Selling Moments {Spiro Technologies}

This one makes some great points about confirming upcoming meetings—not just to confirm, but to advance the sales process.

3. 7 Habits of Highly Successful Startup Entrepreneurs {Inc.}

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Topics: Wrap-up

Should Journalism Worry About Content Marketing?

by Kathleen O. Celmins, on March 13, 2015

working-remotely This was another great week in terms of content. We found a lot to love.

Here are the five articles that piqued our interest:

1. Should Journalism Worry About Content Marketing? {CJR}

Corporations are getting into the news business. Is this something journalists should worry about? Or can companies like Chevron and Coca Cola be trusted to create unbiased content?

2. Do You Really Understand How Your Customers Buy? {McKinsey}

This is a great in-depth article about the buyer's journey, and how it has changed over the last several years.

3. 7 Habits of Highly Successful Startup Entrepreneurs {Inc.}

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Topics: Wrap-up

The Best Tools for Growing a Smart Business

by Kathleen O. Celmins, on March 6, 2015

freelance-writers-help-with-content This was another great week in terms of content. We found a lot to love.

Here are the five articles that piqued our interest:

1. The Best Tech Tools for Growing a Smart Business in 2015 {Inc.}

There are some great tips here. Note: item #4 is only available for Google Calendar as of right now, but you can go to their website and enter your email address, and they'll let you know when an Outlook calendar version becomes available. We love #5 (of course!), and if you're interested in one of HubSpot's free tools, check out Marketing Grader.

2. This NYC Startup Just Raised Another $3M in Record Time {Alley Watch}

PuzzleSocial is a daily digital celebrity crossword. It's clearly something consumers enjoy. How can you use the celebrity crossword concept in your campaigns?

3. Quotes For Entrepreneurs {IMG}

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Topics: Wrap-up

How to Keep from Being a Buzzkill Boss

by Kathleen O. Celmins, on February 27, 2015

freelance-writers-help-with-content This was another great week in terms of content. We found a lot to love.

Here are the five articles that piqued our interest:

1. The Buzzkill Boss {strategy+business}

How can you avoid being a buzzkill boss? It's easy -- have a more rewarding home life. According to a study, when leaders feel a work-life imbalance, they're more likely to feel exhausted and cynical on the job.

2. Mozart on Creativity, and the Ideation Process {Brain Pickings}

Mozart writes about the creative process, flow, and how his music sounds uniquely his the same way his nose is hooked in its own way.

3. What Coke Can Teach McDonald's About Love {IMG}

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Topics: Wrap-up

Leadership Lessons from George Washington

by Kathleen O. Celmins, on February 20, 2015

leadership-lessons-from-george-washington There's so much content on the internet that we can't even begin to consume it all. That's why we started curating some of the best pieces of writing we find each week.

Here are the five articles that piqued our interest:

1. Lessons in Leadership: How George Washington Abandoned His Ambitions and Won Big {Inc.}

What stood out is the challenge for leaders not to just rely on passion and drive because that alone can cause you to miss opportunities or drive you crazy while you blindly pursue a path you have in mind. The encouragement here is to blend that drive and passion with a surrender to what you see going on around you. In other words, keep focused on your end game and vision and don’t easily give up, but watch for clues that tell you you might need to shift course or take a different route to get to your ultimate goal.

2. Cause Marketing Lessons from Mercedes {Karen Post}

This is a great story about how Mercedes made a lasting impression on the author by not only providing a luxury experience in the showroom but by partnering with a nonprofit that employs people on the Autism spectrum.

3. What do Kate Spade and J.R.R. Tolkein Have in Common? {strategy+business}

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Topics: Wrap-up

Get More Done by Focusing Less on Work

by Kathleen O. Celmins, on February 13, 2015

planning-for-success What an excellent week!

Here are the five articles that piqued our interest:

1. Get More Done by Focusing Less on Work {From Harvard Business Review}

This was fascinating. And completely counterintuitive. Get more accomplished at work by spending more time with your family, not thinking about work. The idea is that increasing your hours at work doesn't actually help you get more done. So, if instead, you're spending less time at the office, you'll find more efficient ways to do your projects.

2. 23 Productivity Hacks {From Huffington Post}

Now that we're spending fewer hours at work, let's make them count. Turn off alerts, exercise in the morning, drink plenty of water, stop with perfectionism, and declutter your desk are among the productivity hacks Inc. magazine writes on Huffington Post.

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The Center for Sales Strategy Blog

1. 3 things that'll derail your goals {Inc.}

2. 51(!) productivity tips for startups {AlleyWatch}

3. Auto dealers aren't great at social media {Marketing Mind}

1. Before & After PowerPoint Presentations {SlideShare}

2. Why You Should Care About Holocracy {First Round}

3. How to Be More Resilient When Things Get Tough {Inc}

1. 10 habits to completely eliminate in order to be more productive {Entrepreneur}

2. Richard Branson knows how to have fun {Inc}

3. How good is your company's grammar? {Marketing Land}

1. Why arguing at work is okay, and the right way to to it {Inc.}

2. How to write content that drives traffic for years {Top Dog Social Media}

3. Be careful with email automation {SK Murphy}

1. The Healthiest Typeface {The Atlantic}

2. Turn Meeting Confirmations into Selling Moments {Spiro Technologies}

3. 7 Habits of Highly Successful Startup Entrepreneurs {Inc.}

1. Should Journalism Worry About Content Marketing? {CJR}

2. Do You Really Understand How Your Customers Buy? {McKinsey}

3. 7 Habits of Highly Successful Startup Entrepreneurs {Inc.}

1. The Best Tech Tools for Growing a Smart Business in 2015 {Inc.}

2. This NYC Startup Just Raised Another $3M in Record Time {Alley Watch}

3. Quotes For Entrepreneurs {IMG}

1. The Buzzkill Boss {strategy+business}

2. Mozart on Creativity, and the Ideation Process {Brain Pickings}

3. What Coke Can Teach McDonald's About Love {IMG}

1. Lessons in Leadership: How George Washington Abandoned His Ambitions and Won Big {Inc.}

2. Cause Marketing Lessons from Mercedes {Karen Post}

3. What do Kate Spade and J.R.R. Tolkein Have in Common? {strategy+business}

1. Get More Done by Focusing Less on Work {From Harvard Business Review}

2. 23 Productivity Hacks {From Huffington Post}

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