We sell for less! Here's how.

If what we sell is easily available elsewhere, we have to do everything that surrounds the transaction better in order to compete. However, we shouldn't / can't / must not forget that price, or at least the perception about price tells people that ours is low. Just because we say it won't create belief, but if we don't bother to say it, we drop a level of consideration. We can't afford not to be considered - ever. It's almost an obligatory / courtesy claim. "No one sells for less", or words to that effect - is a must.

To make our point logically absorbable (is that a word?), we should say why or how we do it. Deliver a story that explains how we're able to sell for less. Complete the picture.

There's more of course, but it won't matter unless we get considered. We could always go with..

It's official - the market is down!

The Money Hole

Absolutely terrific stuff!


In The Know: Should The Government Stop Dumping Money Into A Giant Hole?

Don't believe it

You may be tempted at some point to try to make a million dollars. To do it without a lot of effort or skill or risk. Using a system, some shortcut perhaps, or mortgaging something you already own.

There are countless infomercials and programs and systems that promise to help you do this. There are financial instruments and investments and documents you can sign that promise similar relief from financial stress.

Resist.

There are four ways to make a million dollars. Luck. Patient effort. Skill. Risk.

(Five if you count inheritance, and six if you count starting with two million dollars).

Conspicuously missing from this list are effortless 1-2-3 systems that involve buying an expensive book or series of tapes. Also missing are complicated tax shelters or other 'proven' systems. The harder someone tries to sell you this solution, the more certain you should be that it is a scam. If no skill or effort is required, then why doesn't the promoter just hire a bunch of people at minimum wage and keep the profits?

There are literally a million ways to make a good living online, ten million ways to start and thrive with your own business offline. But all of these require effort, and none of them are likely to make you a million dollars.

Short version: If someone offers to sell you the secret system, don't buy it. If you need to invest in a system before you use it, walk away. If you are promised big returns with no risk and little effort, you know the person is lying to you. Every time.

Hey TC

"Top Cat" ran for only30 episodes from September 27, 1961 to April 18, 1962. When I was four years old, Top Cat (a.k.a "TC") was slick.

Sure, I can do that too...

Well peeled

YouTube Contest Challenges Users To Make A 'Good' Video

A smaller Kingdom?

A smaller kingdom is a good idea. Yea... perhaps that's it! There will be fewer servants, but we'll not have generals or even an army.

"Quality Go"

My obligatory political comment (I've refrained so far) is as follows:

It's clear that Barack Obama ran an effective campaign. How different from campaigning is actually being the President? The skills are similar, but not the same. Now that he has the job, can he stop pandering (a necessary task when campaigning - no criticism intended) and start managing? He might act as if he were getting an early start on the 2012 campaign. It would be easy for him to continue to play this part. He surely has the selling skills - now let's see an effective executive. My guess is that he'll drop his poetry and get to business. We'll give him time - at least four years - not to simply stir emotions, but to get to work and do a terrific job. I think he'll have a quality go at it.

Sports / Entertainment product

Commercially, sports are entertainment products. Businesses need attendance, and a loyal fan base willing to spend time and money on the product. A costumed mascot and related interaction with those in attendance, fan contests and other antics - all attempt to add interest (to entertain). The business of providing entertainment - especially for offerings struggling to win attention, can move in some wild directions. I'm not saying it's a bad thing - but it is an emerging aspect of sports with commercial objectives.

We might note that in this example, attendance appears to be weak.

How about painting? Have I said bad things?

Here again, it seems like a straightforward thing - maybe even stress-free, or possibly stress relieving. No! The new rule is: "If it is going to require more than one gallon of paint, or more than three hours - think about getting someone else to to do it". You'll scoff at my discovery and my new rules, but in the end - you'll see that I am correct.

Have I ever said anything bad about drywall?

If you need drywall hung etc., hire someone. There you have it. The final word on drywall.

Any particular kind of berry?

I wonder if these guys are buddies and went one after the other in the uniform number assignment line. I mean 92 and then sitting right next to him - 93. Quite a coincidence.

Maybe

Never do drywall - ever again

Remind me never to do a drywall project ever again. Anything - other than a small patch job - is not allowed.

931 Ocean

One of my favorite restaurants just closed. It wasn't a big place - maybe it sat 50 people plus a another seven or eight at the bar. The food was quite good and the service was also good. They sure seemed to try hard. It always seemed busy, but it could be that I showed up when everyone else did. Maybe it just wasn't big enough. Maybe it was something else. It seems like this restaurant thing is much harder than it looks.

Cuppla Quotes

The man who says he is willing to meet you halfway is usually a poor judge of distance.

It's frustrating when you know all the answers, but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.

A bargain is something you can't use at a price you can't resist.

Doing business without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark. You know what you are doing, but nobody else does.

The Lion Tamer

In this painting by W.A. Rogers, 1904 - the lion tamer stands with confidence and commands the lion's attention. Of course, he knows that should the lions collectively decide to attack, he'll be eaten.

Habanero Peppers - home grown and fresh

You see those little peppers on the counter. Apparently, they were grown in the garden and recently harvested. Together with the tomatoes, this should be quite nice. So - you decide that maybe all this stuff can go in the stir fry. Yes indeed, this will be quite nice.


Make sure you use a cutting board. Don't scratch the counter top. Dice those tomatoes, but not too much - they'll lose their substance. Onions too. Now cut open those little garden peppers and pull out the seeds. I'm not sure if you're supposed to pull the seeds, but I'll do it anyway. Then slice those peppers up into thin strips and chop them up good. Use the tips of your fingers to guide the knife blade and really chop those little peppers into tiny tiny bits. Scrap everything off the cutting board and into the frying pan and we're off and running. This is going to be quite nice.


It's good to clean as you go. Wipe down your counter top and clean the cutting board. Wipe your eye lid, your upper lip and the side of your nose with your fingers. Make sure your fingers still have the oils from the little home grown peppers on them. Now that you feel a bit of a tingle on your eye lid, go ahead and rub your eye in order to make that tingle go away. Rub it a lot.


Turn off the cook top and consider taking a freezing cold shower. Wash wash wash wash scrub, wash wash scrub, wash wash - and repeat. You may just want to rip your eye out or maybe tear your face off and look for a new one later. Nice peppers.

Differentiation

Do the same thing as everyone else and you'll get the same thing as everyone else. If that's what you want - swell. If you dare to be different, go for "better". Figure out what better means and make sure you're a lot better. Being marginally better isn't going to matter. You might as well be worse. It's hard to tell the difference between a little worse, the same, and a little better. Nope - you have to go with significantly better if you want to stand out. Chances are you'll give up something (could be margin, could be control, could be sleep), but you have to do it. Make sure you're right about what better means. Being boldly better wins attention.

Onion News - so good, so bad, so funny

John McCain Accidentally Left On Campaign Bus Overnight