Report: Combined Consumer Education and Increased Security Measures Equal Reduced Identity Fraud
While surfing the 'net, I came across a report about the reduction of identity theft and identity fraud. Obviously, it caught my attention. Following, in part, is that report which was produced by Javelin Strategy & Research, and co-sponsored by CheckFree Corporation, Visa Card, and Wells Fargo & Co.While identity theft remains a multi-billion-dollar problem for businesses, organizations, and individuals, incidents of the fraud dropped significantly last year, according to a report.Identity fraud occurring in the United States declined in 2006 by 12 percent over the year before, from $55.7 billion to $49.3 billion, according to the third-annual survey by Javelin Strategy & Research. The survey, which involved 5,000 telephone interviews, estimated the number of victims dropped for the fou

Advantages of a Branded House or a House of Brands
If you want to win by growing your market share — there is a better way, a smarter way, than the traditional advertising and marketing strategy and tactics. However, it requires looking at your business and brand from a very different point of view. This different point of view is hard to grasp because old myths die-hard and old expensive myths seem to die hardest of all.If you need to steal share, it does not require underhandedness (as the name might suggest) it requires smarts. If you think that “stealing,” as it relates to taking market share, is a short cut to success — a means to cheat your way to success — you are dead wrong. Winning requires great effort and hard work because it means you must outsmart your competition in order to achieve success. In our book, you must learn how to be d

11 Tips for Working with an Ad Agency
Think you work well with your ad agency? You probably don’t. Companies go to ad agencies to get results. And if you’re like most companies, it is a very one-way relationship. This is especially true when your company is larger than the ad agency. Although you have the size advantage, they have the edge with experience. Remember, they do advertising for a living! Don’t expect to go into the relationship as the boss of them just because you’re paying them.Listen up, because it is likely you are doing some things that the ad agency does not want to see. Below is a list of 11 tips for working with an advertising company. Every business is guilty of looking over many of these things. So read on to make sure you’re doing all you can to make your relationship with your ad agency the best it can be.s. Red raspberries and a cup of ice cream sure sounded good to me.

The raspberries were elusive because every time I thought all were picked, more would appear when a leaf or bush was moved and another angle of view was used. After going over the entire growth in one direction, more missed berries were noted on the way back. So a simple task of picking the berries turns into a hunting mission!

As a manager, supervisor or salesperson we often take a situation we face, quickly evaluate and then act. My question is, “How many berries have we missed?” “Could there be other information or solutions that are hidden under another leaf?” “Was the elusive right answer missed?”

This is where Outcome Based Thinking comes in. If we follow the steps and actually dig into the steps deep enough, it can change our view and solution to the situation we face. After all our purpose in most situations is to create an opportunity or eliminate a problem.

We can also look at trying to avoid Albert Einstein’s definition of insanity: “Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome!” How many of us have fallen into this trap?

What if you could find alternate solutions, more creative solutions and have different outcomes to the situations you face today? How much time, effort and frustration might be saved? Here are 6 steps to getting a different outc

of picking the berries turns into a hunting mission!

As a manager, supervisor or salesperson we often take a situation we face, quickly evaluate and then act. My question is, “How many berries have we missed?” “Could there be other information or solutions that are hidden under another leaf?” “Was the elusive right answer missed?”

This is where Outcome Based Thinking comes in. If we follow the steps and actually dig into the steps deep enough, it can change our view and solution to the situation we face. After all our purpose in most situations is to create an opportunity or eliminate a problem.

We can also look at trying to avoid Albert Einstein’s definition of insanity: “Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome!” How many of us have fallen into this trap?

What if you could find alternate solutions, more creative solutions and have different outcomes to the situations you face today? How much time, effort and frustration might be saved? Here are 6 steps to getting a different outc

is where Outcome Based Thinking comes in. If we follow the steps and actually dig into the steps deep enough, it can change our view and solution to the situation we face. After all our purpose in most situations is to create an opportunity or eliminate a problem.

We can also look at trying to avoid Albert Einstein’s definition of insanity: “Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome!” How many of us have fallen into this trap?

What if you could find alternate solutions, more creative solutions and have different outcomes to the situations you face today? How much time, effort and frustration might be saved? Here are 6 steps to getting a different outc

Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome!” How many of us have fallen into this trap?

What if you could find alternate solutions, more creative solutions and have different outcomes to the situations you face today? How much time, effort and frustration might be saved? Here are 6 steps to getting a different outcome!

1. What are your real expectations in this situation? Are they clearly defined so you can have a strong focus? Do others understand the expectation and focus as well?

Jerry continually falls just short of his monthly objectives. So which your outcome is the most desirable: 1.) getting the objectives on track, or 2.) getting Jerry’s performance on track? How do the two different questions change your focus?

My suggestion is to ask yourself at least six different objectives, write them down and then compare, combine or prioritize them into one very focused objective that will address all or most of the six. Now you’re not leaving berries on vine.

2. How well do I understand the other person or party? What don’t I know about them and their view of the situation? How can I find more of their “berries”? What is it they may really want out of this?

So what does Jerry want out of his work? How did he get into the position? What motivates him? What are his values, beliefs, perceptions of the situation? What are his expectations in this situation? In short, “What’s in it for him from his view, not yours?”

The suggestion here is to find out as much as one can about the situation and the other parties involved to gain an understanding of how they may be viewing it. Do the research, ask questions, talk to people and use other resources until you ha