I was having lunch with few of my friends today and we all are big Apple Inc. fans, we love the iPods and iPhones and have'em both and some of us even have 2 of them. During the conversation one of my friends mentions that he wants to buy a Macbook but only reason he has been debating on it for more than a year is because he will have to pay for every additional software that he will buy in the future. Because there are barely any "borrowed" copies of the any of Apple's software available out there.
Now I know what you are thinking, this guy is talking about "borrowed" software and its wrong blah blah but lets face it, thats the reality. We see more and more people running "borrowed" software copies out there than those companies would want. I am all about the open source and believe all software should be free to the consumer but that's for another blog entry.
Any how, this conversation got me thinking that maybe the "ease" with which these "borrowed" copies of Microsoft software's is out there, is it actually helping Microsoft, HP, Sony, Dell etc. make money.
My theory says, Yes.
And, here's why. An average John Doe has $1500-$1800 that he wants to spend on computer. He is debating either to buy Apple (which he likes due to sleek design and its sexiness) or buy HP/Dell etc with Microsoft Operating System.
On average a laptop would last him about 4-5 years. Here's what goes in his mind while making a decision: If I buy Apple, the laptop is great, love the operating system and software that it comes with but what if I need additional software during next 4-5 years, I would have to buy every piece and on average the cost runs around at least $200 (I know I am low balling it but lets give the benefit of doubt). So, within next 4 years, if I need 4 more softwares (any kind even from different vendor), I am looking at $800-$1000 in costs. WOW
On the other hand, if I get a HP or Sony or Dell laptop, then there is a very good chance that I would be able to get any "borrowed" copies of most of the windows compatible software I would need in the future and save those $800. Savings.
So, decision is made, lets use Microsoft OS based laptop and even though he would have loved Apple Macbook its just not cost effective.
This is just one example but I am sure lot of people who might have gone thru similar thinking cycle and came out with a decision to purchase Microsoft based products.
Now if you are Microsoft, does the availability is "borrowed" copies out there really affecting your sales negatively? Looks like it is converting customers for you just made a sale for you and your hardware manufacturers.
Don't ever say you will do your BEST.
When faced with a challenge, I never say I will do my best because then it constrains me and you shouldn’t either. What we think is our “best,” is based on our evaluation of our past accomplishments. It’s a collection of successes and failures, which subconsciously creates a boundary in our mind that defines what our best is. So, when you are faced with a new challenge, your mind replays your success/failure video and tells you that when you encountered a new type of challenge in the past, your success rate was so and so when you did you “best”. Therefore, for this new challenge, your “best” effort will result in this type of outcome (based on your past subconscious evaluation).
So what should you do or say to yourself when faced with new challenge? I don’t know what you should do or say to yourself, but this is what works for me. When faced with new challenge, I go all out. I jot down what needs to be done and then go out and do it. I know it sounds simple, but it works for me.
I don’t give up unless the task at hand is finished, which means, I keep going even if I have failed numerous times and even when my “best” effort tells me that “you put in your best and it can’t be done so lets move on.” I go out and try it one more time. Because every problem in this world has a solution and it is on and in you, if you can move beyond the restrains of your “best” efforts to find the solution.
So what should you do or say to yourself when faced with new challenge? I don’t know what you should do or say to yourself, but this is what works for me. When faced with new challenge, I go all out. I jot down what needs to be done and then go out and do it. I know it sounds simple, but it works for me.
I don’t give up unless the task at hand is finished, which means, I keep going even if I have failed numerous times and even when my “best” effort tells me that “you put in your best and it can’t be done so lets move on.” I go out and try it one more time. Because every problem in this world has a solution and it is on and in you, if you can move beyond the restrains of your “best” efforts to find the solution.
Emotional Mirroring: I can feel what you are thinking
Anthony Robbins once said, Emotion is controlled by Motion. If you want to change your current state of mind (aka your emotion) change your physical bodily motion. If you want to feel happy, put a big smile on your face and that simple act of smiling will trigger neurological activity in your brain and you will begin to feel pleasant.
Our facial expressions, partially, trigger within us the feelings we display
we can simulate any feeling by intentionally setting up our facial muscle for that feeling.
Edgar Allan Poe had an intuitive grasp of this principle. He wrote, when I wish to find out how good or wicked a person is or what are his thoughts at that moment, I try to mimic the expression onto my face as accurately in accordance to the expression on his face and wait to see what thoughts and sentiments arise in my own heart as to match and correspond the expression. Daniel Goleman discusses similar views in this book Social Intelligence and refers it as "Emotional Mirroring".
If you are at work, meeting with your boss, coworker or a date or meeting someone for the first time and want to get a "feeling" of what they are thinking or feeling about you, try the Edgar Allan Poe's technique. Mimic their facial expressions and see what first few feelings arise in your mind and heart. It could give you an edge when it comes to reading people in business or in your day to day life.
Similarly, if your face radiates confidence, happiness, boldness, passion, love, care it would trigger those feelings in the person standing in front of you even if they are unaware. And they will notice at subconscious level the emotion you radiate by your facial expression.
Don't ignore the quiet kid sitting at the back in the classroom.
Day in and day out, he is sitting quietly in the back of the class room. He is considered odd, hesitates when he talks and is not the part of the in-crowd. He is quiet, shy, hesitant BUT he is observant. He knows more about the individual behavior of the rest of the students in the class than those students themselves. He notices subtle nuances that go unnoticed by others, he captures them, develops patterns and is able to get a good feel about what tickles every person in the class.
He going through life quietly without unleashing the passion and devotion towards a cause.
So, what does all this have to do with you as a marketer?
A LOT..
Because if you can give that child a purpose, make him part of you team, he will work with you and for you with devotion and passion that no other child who was part of the in-crowd can match.
Why? Because the popular kids do not have to work hard to get acceptance from others, they are popular, so they are cocky and unreceptive to others ideas and feelings but the quiet kid, who has been ignored all these years, has to work hard for every kind look and every acceptance.
And when you give him love and reason and make him part of your team, he will market your product, your company with all his heart and creativity than you can imagine.
He going through life quietly without unleashing the passion and devotion towards a cause.
So, what does all this have to do with you as a marketer?
A LOT..
Because if you can give that child a purpose, make him part of you team, he will work with you and for you with devotion and passion that no other child who was part of the in-crowd can match.
Why? Because the popular kids do not have to work hard to get acceptance from others, they are popular, so they are cocky and unreceptive to others ideas and feelings but the quiet kid, who has been ignored all these years, has to work hard for every kind look and every acceptance.
And when you give him love and reason and make him part of your team, he will market your product, your company with all his heart and creativity than you can imagine.