Tag Archives: business cards

Persuasion: From Sumo to Judo

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By Peter Jeff
The Leadership Mints Guy

Here’s an idea to help you counter challenges in the marketplace. Reading time: 2:02

You’re the CEO of a family friendly resort. But the prostitutes seem to be more visible than ever before around the resort, no matter how much security and police patrol.

Judo -Using an Opponent’s Weight Aganst Him

Now the prostitutes are getting even more brash, distributing their business cards in public lounges, on vending machines and in bathrooms among others places throughout the resort.

It seems the faster the janitorial staff confiscates and trashes those business cards, the quicker those prostitute business cards reappear. (For a Fun Time call xxx-xxx-xxxx).

How would you solve this problem?

Practice judo not sumo. That’s what the most effective leaders do. They outsmart the prostitutes.

They use their strength—against them — the way combatants in judo use each other’s weight against themselves.

Forget trying to out power them the way sumo wrestlers do. Forget trying to confiscate those business cards faster than they can distribute them. Out do them with judo like this:

The CEO decided to turn the prostitute’s strength -their business card distribution system-into their weakness. He had his janitors carry a label stamp.

This time the janitors picked the prostitutes business cards up, stamped them with a three-word message and put them back on the vending machines, in the bathrooms and in the public lounge areas.

The three word message: “First Hour Free.”

Within 24 hours none of the prostitute business cards could be found on the resort.

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Signature Statement: Saying I’m Sorry the Write Way

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By Peter Jeff
The Leadership Mints Guy

Here’s an idea to reinforce the bonds of a relationship. Reading time: 3:42

“I’ll be there to give you moral support,” my new boss told me as I prepared for a presentation at a large sales meeting.

It really didn’t matter that my boss never showed. After all, he clearly had confidence me. Besides, the presentation went well as expected.

As soon as I got back to the office, my boss stopped me before I had a chance to sit down.

No “how-did-it-go” inquiry. No excuses for not attending my presentation. No hiding behind the proverbial “emergency that I had to handle.” He just simply confessed:

“I screwed up. I just forgot all about it. I am sorry. So sorry. That’s for you.”

My boss pointed to an envelope on my desk.

The envelope had my name written in perfect penmanship. Inside there was a blank motivational card that said “CHALLENGE” on the front.

I opened the card and read his carefully handwritten apology. I knew my new boss as a highly successful leader who brandished his reputation as a street-smart, don’t-mess-with-me guy.

That’s why I felt goosebumps sprinkle all over my back as I read his words — “I’m sorry. I screwed up….” Each letter he wrote in his best penmanship seemed so thoughtfully scripted. His expensive fountain pen seemed to ooze drops like so many virtual tears.

(Oh, I know that sounds so over the top, but in my world — a dashed note from a boss in lousy penmanship is the rule not the exception. This was no quickly dashed note.) Anyway, after reading his apology, I needed to swallow before getting back to work. Continue reading →