(Time to read this Blog is about 2 minutes)
Before we get to the main topic, here are a few things to get you thinking or smiling:
- My Biz Quote of the week:
“The beginning of wisdom is the recognition of reality! There’s no wisdom in denial or false beliefs!”
…Donald Cooper.
- Quick Biz Tip:
Make sure that your employees are not ‘just’ an anything:
When I’m touring client’s facilities as part of my research, I love to ask front-line Team members what they do in the business. sadly, the reply is often, “I’m just a machine operator.” or “Just an Accounts Receivable Clerk.” What these replies tell me is that they don’t think their job is important. Why? Because management has never told them why their job is important to the customer, the Team, the business and the bottom line and they’re rarely, if ever, acknowledged, thanked and rewarded for making a difference.
How terribly sad to go through life feeling that you’re ‘just’ a something instead of an extraordinary somebody doing something that matters. What will you do to make sure this never happens in your business?
- ‘Loads of Love’. Sunshine Coin Laundries, with 8 locations in South Florida, regularly holds free laundry events, called ‘Loads of Love’, for those in need throughout their community.
A few years ago, when speaking to a group of Heating & Air Conditioning Contractors (HVAC), I suggested that they could take on the project of ensuring that the HVAC for their local Women’s Shelter was always in 1st class operating order…no charge.
What could / will you do to bring help and love to your customers and your community? What a great subject for your next Team meeting.
Our ‘cashless future’. Canada, along with all of the ‘western world’, is racing towards a cashless future. It is predicted that paper money and coins will make up just 3% of all transactions in 2 years.
- Redefining ‘Customer Service’: A grocery store in Korea packages 6 bananas together in various stages of ripeness, to be eaten over several days without them spoiling. They understand what life is really like for their customers.
My 4-step process for coming up with simple but brilliant customer service and experiences like this appears below:
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- First define yourself by ‘how you help’…not by what you sell. “We are in the business of helping whom, to do what?”
- Take the time to understand what life is really like for your target customers. Think and feel like a customer.
- Make a list of all the help they need in any way related to understanding, wisely choosing, buying and effectively using what you sell.
- Have the creativity and courage to deliver some of that help…better than your competitors. Become the clear and compelling ‘wise choice’ for your target customers.
If you’d like help with this transformational process, I’m easy to reach at donald@donaldcooper.com.
Now, to this week’s important topic:
There are two kinds of liars!
I’ve been thinking a lot about ‘liars’ lately. From Trump still lying about the 2020 ‘stolen election’, to recently elected US Congressman George Santos egregiously lying about everything (which he refers to as a slight embellishment), there’s a lot of lying going around.
This past week evidence submitted in a $1.6 billion US court case against Fox News shows that while their on-air ‘reporters’ ranted about the stolen 2020 US election to stoke the Republican base, they ‘privately’ exchanged emails with Fox management agreeing that the election was not rigged and that Trump and his minions were ‘liars, dangerous as hell, mind-blowingly nuts, a demonic force and totally off the rails’.
Why did they lie, at the risk of undermining and destabilizing their nation? They did it to keep ratings and viewers and support the stock price of Fox Corporation, the owner of Fox News.
So, I’ve been thinking a lot about the subject of lying. What I’ve figured out is that there are two types of liars. There are the ‘delusional liars’ and the ‘completely aware’ liars’. The ‘delusional liars’ are so narcissistic, so removed from reality that they actually believe their lies are the truth.
The ‘completely aware’ liars, on the other hand, know that their lies are lies, but they tell them anyway to convince others of something, for financial gain, or to make themselves appear to be exceptional.
So, are Trump and Santos ‘delusional liars’ or a ‘completely aware liars’? In any case, Trump’s lies and inappropriate behaviour weakened his Brand enough to get him fired in 2020. Sooner or later lies destroy brands!
In business we probably have some ‘delusional liars’, but my guess is most are perfectly aware liars. Way too many businesses are making false claims to mislead or manipulate us with lies or half-truths. There’s false advertising, fake discounts, phoney ‘Sales’, bait and switch, small print, hidden charges and delivery dates they know they can’t meet. The list is endless.
My advice…stop it. Stop it all now! Commit to creating an extraordinary business by doing the right thing extraordinarily well.
That’s it for this week…
Stay safe…live brilliantly!
Donald Cooper
Donald Cooper speaks and coaches internationally on management, marketing, and profitability. He can be reached by email at donald@donaldcooper.com in Toronto, Canada.
Donald,
Big mistake venturing into politics. Especially using the examples coming from the right. In my humble opinion, there are more lies coming from the left. Have you listened to the abject deceit coming from the Biden administration every single day? The border is secure! The economy is great! Crime is not on the rise! We care about the people! Take the vaccine, it will stop Covid!
Also, read the entire very last line you wrote, “my adcice”…. several problems.
Your friend,
Mike
What’s your take on Trudeau? He’s a proven liar and constantly chooses to ignore rules concerning ethics etc.
Why use examples from US politics when we have enough corruption right here at home with the current liberal clowns?
Quick question. Is it required to display the lies of everyone in politics before pointing to Trumps lies is allowed in your view?
Comment * Thank you for all your informative posts. Interesting choice of topic. I had been doing health research for about six years as I cured my wife of wheel chair bound Fibromyalgia for which Medicine offered a useless drug. When the pandemic hit I continued and noticed very early the amount of censorship that was going on. In addition every western democracy using the words repeatedly misinformation and disinformation. Every western democracy appears to be in lock step as they are all woke Liberals. Yes, I agree Trump is dangerous. Biden is worse and so is our Trudeau. If you want to talk about lying they are just a little more slimy about it, and can easily suck in the non critical thinkers. I think it was Mark Twain that said it is easier to fool someone than convince them they have been fooled. I assume you are aware of the Elon Musk’s Twitter files and the corruption of your current government. Canada is worse only because pretty boy Turdo is a better speaker and therefore better at the job. At least you have alternative media. In Canada there is nothing for the masses CBC and CTV are Liberal propaganda outlets. All the drug companies are liers as they didn’t produce a vaccine for Covid They produced Covid for the Vaccine. I’ve had two jabs and regret it. FYI millions will dye. The so called Spike Protein is actually glycoprotein of venoms. The PCR test has been used since its discovery for testing exposure to venom. Mammals have nicotine receptors everywhere and that is what venom targets. The cure for Covid is actually nicotine because those receptors favor it over venom protein. Obviously I can’t go into any more detail here.
The guy that discovered all the research and proof is Dr Bryan Ardis. Here is a link to his website https://thedrardisshow.com/
I don’t do social media at all so don’t go there other than barely on Linkedin. I know how to do research.
You will eventually find out who the biggest most dangerous liars are in this century.
Comment *great comments 👍👍
As always, I enjoy your newsletters. Quick note: two typos in the final sentence of the main article. Enjoy the day!
your political views are evidence of biased belief. I guess you are now just another commentary pushing an agenda.
They are evidence that he understand that Trump is a liar. Verified by independent fact checkers over 30 thousand times 😉
Comment * You don’t have to agree with the examples used to illustrate D.C.’s points to agree that being anything but honest and transparent with customers leads to negative customer experiences and diminishes the brand. Great article, thanks for sharing.
Comment *Thank you Mr. Cooper. The feedback is interesting as well. I have “known” you since your days with a clothing store near woodbine and steeles and have always found your comments and insights fascinating. Perhaps you should put your name forward in our political arenas, that have been so very badly polluted. We so badly need some honest leadership, In Toronto particularly the east end we are suffering from folks who blatantly misrepresent facts in support of an agenda, in what purports to be public discussions about proposed policy and actions. How can we ever have fruitful discussions based on dishonest representations? The results are telling. Now, one well known prevaricator is publicly musing about a run for the recently vacated mayor’s office – promising to more more better faster. I hope his female assistants are aware. The irony is so delicious.