“The next phone call you answer–no matter if it is a client, your mother, your father or a prospect–just start the conversation with the following words: solutions not questions.”

“When is the last time you called someone and you immediately started getting solutions?

I called a few people today. They wanted to know my name.

I said, ‘That’s a question not a solution.’

If you’re not adding value to your customers at all times, someone else will.”

curtain

Speaking of customer experience and Web 2.0, I bought a record the other day on iTunes. Upon attempting to read the digital booklet, I was surprised to learn that hieroglyphics are back in style. Generally I try not to make broad assumptions, but isn’t the purpose of a digital booklet the possibility of reading it? If so—if I was supposed to do more than appreciate the line symmetry—this booklet is useless.

Record labels still don’t understand the internet. Last I heard the internet is not going away—there are some indications that it will be around for a little while. It may behoove the music industry to get acquainted.

Note to music labels who are not internet-savvy:

Get it together!

Digital Booklet

Thai stock market plummets over 5% amid rumours King Bhumibol has pneumonia via
Times Online.

Here is a look at the daily chart from the March lows.

Thai Set Index - Daily

Gary completely gets it and he is the definition of eBC (eBusinessCasual.biz). This guy makes an impact and we need more people to follow in his footsteps. Keep it eBC Gary.

Not unlike a certain market hero, Oprah Winfrey is really good at what she does. Her interview with Mike Tyson, aired yesterday, is nothing short of genius.

Though the evidence is impossible to find in any video footage on the internet, Oprah used the word volatility at the tail-end of the interview when she was speaking to Tyson’s wife, Kiki. Fast forward to :52 into the hour long broadcast, and you’ll hear Oprah speak to Tyson’s “volatility with money.”

It’s good to hear my name out there. I suspect volatility will be a more mainstream concept in the near future–especially if O is spreading the word.

Other favorite moments from the interview:

Tyson on Cus D’Amato:

“He was from a bad neighborhood. He was a street kid like me. Then, one day, he just said, ‘Listen, you have the chance to change your life, your family’s life,’ ” recalls Tyson. “He said, ‘You do what I tell you to do, and if it doesn’t work, then you can leave.’ ”

“We’d watch all the great fighters. I would ask him, ‘How do you beat them?’ “Tyson recounted how his mentor had an answer for every boxer except one—Muhammad Ali. Gus would say “No one could beat Muhammad Ali.” Tyson reflects a moment and says, “I agree with him.”

And my favorite quote of all is when Tyson says, “I just thought God never created a man that could beat me in a fair fight.”