Monthly Archives: September 2011
DASM: The Big Squeeze
(DASM= Dumb ass, stupid management) The Big Squeeze Outstanding businesses attempt to improve and increase their value to customers, thereby enabling higher prices/fees and enhanced customer loyalty and referral business. But if you walk out the door these days, you’re not in any danger of tripping over those outstanding businesses. Here are just a few examples of what airlines have done: • Reduced amenities. • Increased annoying charges for meals, luggage, leg room, etc. • Penalized customers who choose to …
The Adventures of Koufax and Buddy Beagle
Million Dollar Club Meets in Stresa, Lago Maggiore, Italy
Episode 61: Sandbox
House Growth
Guest Column: Herding Cats
Todd Ordal is a member of Alan’s Private Roster Mentor Program and a graduate of the Million Dollar Consulting® College. Herding Cats No Win Assignments By Todd Ordal As I came upstairs from my basement office the other morning for Round 2 with the coffee machine, my wife yelled, “Come here, I need your help!” I dutifully responded and found her wearing exercise garb and straddling her bike just outside the front door. “You need to go tell Ike to …
In Case You Were Wondering What I Was Thinking
• Why do airlines charge more at the last minute when they should want to fill empty seats, and less far in advance, when they’re giving people more choice and options? • Hotels are more frequently using independent audio/video companies, which are separate profit centers, so you’re dealing with more expense and less flexibility. I was recently cited a charge of $25 “to connect your music to our sound system.” • Seriously, your mattress is looking better and better as a …
Million Dollar Consulting® College
Talent Synthesis
My observation is that a “talent synthesis” is going to be required by all types of businesses in the years ahead. By that I mean that executives are going to have to identify the types of talent, sources of talent, and relationships with talent that are optimal to maximize the impact of products, services, relationships, and resultant profit. The recession and volatility of the times have created a conservatism about investment and growth. Large staffs and concomitant overhead aren’t prudent—in …