Rick Baker Thought Posts
Left Menu Space Holder

About the author

Name of author Rick Baker, P.Eng.

E-mail me Send mail
Follow me LinkedIn Twitter

Search

Calendar

<<  July 2025  >>
MoTuWeThFrSaSu
30123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031123
45678910

View posts in large calendar

Recent Comments

Comment RSS

The Perfect Pitch

by Rick Baker
On Feb 16, 2011
More thoughts on pitching business ideas
 
I had the pleasure of visiting with my friend Chris Labrador at The Communitech Hub a week ago.
 
At one point in our conversation we discussed business ideas and how to pitch business ideas, what works and what does not work.
 
I was impressed by Chris’ recommendations, which I will now share with you.
 
Chris recommended pitches be no longer than 5 slides.
 
Chris recommended those 5 slides cover the following:
  1. Clearly state the problem/opportunity (the two sides of the same coin)
  2. Why it's worth solving/winning (dimensions things and puts them into perspective)
  3. Who is the competition (quantitative & qualitative assessment of 'belief' systems - tangible and perceived - in play)
  4. How to address the problem/opportunity and beat the competition (the key elements of the value proposition ad differentiators)
  5. Assuming you've made it this far, the roadmap (key activities and milestones over the next significant period of time)
Chris – thank you for sharing your thoughts and excellent advice.

Currently rated 5.0 by 6 people

  • Currently 5.0/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Tags:

Business Plan: Writing Plans | Communication: Improving Communication

Permalink | Comments (0)

Sales Tweet #153

by Rick Baker
On Feb 16, 2011
Sales Tweet #153 If you can not come up with a new idea then figure out a new way to use an old one.
 
The Thinking Behind the Sales Tweet
In fact, many experts report this is the key to innovation. Recently, I bought a book on this topic titled ‘Borrowing Brilliance – The Six Steps To Business Innovation’. Here is a link to the book www.borrowingbrilliance.com

Currently rated 5.0 by 1 people

  • Currently 5.0/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Tags:

Borrowing Brilliance | Thought Tweets

Permalink | Comments (0)

Sales Tweet #152

by Rick Baker
On Feb 15, 2011
Sales Tweet #152 If you have tried your hand and failed…try your head.
 
The Thinking Behind the Sales Tweet
And – don’t forget: No one appreciates constructive criticism as much as the person who is giving it.

Currently rated 5.0 by 1 people

  • Currently 5.0/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Tags:

Criticism: Constructive Criticism is an Oxymoron | Thinking as in Think and Grow Rich | Thought Tweets

Permalink | Comments (0)

Similarity is a powerful thing

by Rick Baker
On Feb 15, 2011
Some studies have shown people tend to be attracted to other people when those other people hold similar views. Conversely, people tend to be repulsed by other people when those other people hold differing views.
 
This applies whether or not the matter at hand is important or not important.
 
As examples:
 
Important Matters would include topics like religion, politics, ethics, etc.
 
Not Important Matters [or, likely not so important matters] would include topics like favourite colours, music preferences, choice of clothing, etc.
 
Here is a picture of the Impact of Similarity…
 
  If the Matter
Is
Important		 If the Matter
Is Not
Important
When we Agree with the
Other Person's Opinion		 We tend to be Attracted We tend to be Attracted
When we Do Not Agree with
the Other Person's Opinion		 We tend to be Repulsed We tend to be Repulsed
 
The Impact of Similarity…
 
These tendencies tied to Similarity are helpful pieces of knowledge.
  • They explain why misery enjoys company. [yes…a feeble attempt at similarity humour]
  • They support the logic of Stephen Covey’s 5th Habit – Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood. [no point running the risk of alienating people by illustrating our differences, especially if those differences are of little importance or are off topic]
  • They help us understand how and why first impressions are of such importance.
  • They help us understand how rapport gets built [and destroyed].
  • They help us understand the driving forces behind community.

Currently rated 4.7 by 3 people

  • Currently 4.7/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Tags:

Leaders' Thoughts

Permalink | Comments (0)

Sales Tweet #151

by Rick Baker
On Feb 14, 2011
Sales Tweet #151 #1 Client, Mr. Kaye, says Ernest Seller is like glue...he is always getting stuck on himself.
 
The Thinking Behind the Sales Tweet
Some sales people go off topic by talking on tangents. The tangents take them far away from the topic and the Client is not able to follow. Ernest doesn’t do that. He doesn’t go off on tangents. Ernest talks in spirals. That happens often, and it often happens sooner not later. At the centre of Ernest’s spiral-talk you will find – Ernest. Ernest starts with a topic then spirals the conversation to – Ernest. That’s what Mr. Kaye, Ernest’s #1 Client, is talking about.

Currently rated 5.0 by 1 people

  • Currently 5.0/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Tags:

Thought Tweets | Ernest Seller

Permalink | Comments (0)

Sales Tweet #150

by Rick Baker
On Feb 11, 2011
Sales Tweet #150 Ernest Seller gets carried away with the sound of his own voice...but, not far enough.
 
The Thinking Behind the Sales Tweet
After thinking more about Sales Tweet #144, I have decided it is more accurate to say “Ernest gets carried away”. And, as I suspected the Boss has confirmed he thinks Ernest should get carried away. The Boss would do it himself. But, Ernest is a big fellow…well over 6 feet. And, the Boss is a smaller fellow…about 5 feet 6 inches. That reminds me…I haven’t spent much time describing the Boss. I will work on that.

Currently rated 5.0 by 1 people

  • Currently 5.0/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Tags:

Thought Tweets | Ernest Seller

Permalink | Comments (0)

Copyright © 2012. W.F.C (Rick) Baker. All Rights Reserved.