These are tough times - economically, politically, personally - we’re all challenged in ways many of us have never seen. That’s why, in 2009, you should “go Green.” Charles Green, that is.
Everyone has been publishing their “Best Of” lists for 2008. We’d like to suggest a “Blog of the Year for 2009.” Yes, this year, in a tailspin economy you’re going to need more than a voice about how to make bucks. You’ll need a voice about how to act.
The Trust Matters blog would tell you that Charles Green is:
…founder and CEO of Trusted Advisor Associates. The author of Trust-based Selling and co-author of The Trusted Advisor, he has spoken to, consulted for or done seminars about trusted relationships in business for a wide and global range of industries and functions.
Actually Mr. Green is a moral compass in worlds gone mad - the world of selling, the online world and the world of business ethics (which is not, in his world, an oxymoron).
Want a few examples? Here he is on social networking:
Just as email is getting overwhelmed by spam, there is a surfeit of those who collect Linked-In contacts; who enjoy applying the still-latent meaning in the word “friend” to 700 such people on FaceBook; and generally those who wish to find a shortcut to relationships and to sales.
If you think he’s just standing on the sidelines barking at the future - not so. He’s as involved in the online world and the need for change as anyone. Here he is on the concept of “Built to Last“:
The point is not to last. The point is to do great things for all your constituents. Where continued existence helps, great. Otherwise, standing water stagnates. The visionary thing works; but these days, the vision had better be to change, morph, grow, evolve, turnover, shift.
He asks a lot of his readers, insisting they bring their brains along with them. In taking on the bestselling book and movie “The Secret” he even uses words like “logic” and “syllogism” and “necessary condition“:
If dreaming big were a sufficient condition, every dreamer would win the lottery. If mere willpower were enough to win American Idol, the parade of early season misfits would be in the finals. Simon Cowell’s role is to remind us all that talent and hard work matter too. We love to hate him because we want to believe those self help books are enough—if you just dream hard enough!
The online world is full of pop-up ads, pretenders and even Christmas Eve sales offers. In a world where Twitter spammers masquerade as your friend, LinkedIn hosts too many PitchedIn’s and Facebook is a “Beacon” to privacy invasion - this blog is fresh Web 2.0 air.
Last year we ended the year telling you about a wonderfully readable blog from Sarah Moffett. This year it’s Trust Matters.
In Trust Matters, Charles Green says he tries to “do my best to offer you a consistent diet of thoughtful, provocative ideas from my own work and from that of others.” He does much more than that. He keeps track of our better instincts - in a world that continues to tempt us to our worst.
9 comments ↓
Michael,
I am honored and humbled. Thanks for saying all those wonderful things, and especially thanks for saying the particular things you said. Like you, I believe in great content written with style and passion. Many thanks.
Sincerely,
Charlie Green
I will make it a point to go to the “trust matters” blog. I like the style of Charles Green. The only thing everyone can be sure of is “change” and “change” equals opportunity for all of us.
Thanks for the suggestion. We could all do with some fresh Web 2.0 Air. We can all dream big, but I think where we fall down is on the execution. I look forward to reading the Trust Matters blog.
Great choice! Charles Green’s posts are thoughtful and inspiring.
I especially like his *annual* New Year’s post: http://trustedadvisor.com/trustmatters/470/A-Better-New-Years-Resolution.
(Disclosure: Charles Green is also a contributing editor on our website http://www.RainToday.com.)
I liked The Secret because it reminds you to monitor what you’re thinking about and stay positive. Its hard honest work on top of that though which provides results and goal attainment, not just wishing.
I look forward to reading Charles Green in the coming months, thanks for the recommendation!
Hello Charles, Corky, Wendy, Mary and Scott,
What a diverse group! Corky Kyle works in government and says that he’s “the guy you hire to protect you from the people you elected.” Wendy Peters describes herself as a newbie to blogging, but is already thinking deep thoughts on that blog (which we find rare). Mary Flaherty is in charge of content development for RainToday. They have such incredible content that Charles recommends them without any strings attached (like affiliate fees). And Scott McIntosh has an innovative strategy for singers, songwriters and musicians - allowing them to get the word out without being tied to the apron strings of the big music labels.
Good writing and challenging thought attracts all kinds of people, and yet Charles is “honored and humbled” to be featured. Which is, of course, why he deserves to be featured.
Thanks all,
Amen to the thoughts about LinkedIn! Like a chainsaw, LinkedIn is a wonderful and useful tool when it’s used appropriately. When not used appropriately, they can both spew out a lot of useless chaff. Charles thanks for making the world (and the Internet) a better place!
Michael,
Thanks for suggesting the Trust Matters blog. I like both the insights Charles brings as well as the depth and variety of the content.
His post on curiosity in selling makes a great point for being genuinely interested in your client. However, I have to challenge the statement that, “Done right, sales are a natural byproduct of being curious.”
While I agree that looking out for the the interests and success of your clients is critical, I know far too many salespeople who err on too much curiosity and too little selling. They know everything possible about their client, industry and their childrens’ birthdays but fail to move the sales process along.
My suggestion is a heavy dose of curiosity combined with an equal dose of staying in contact, providing value and asking for the business (where appropriate).
Hi Mike and Robert,
Mike, you make such a good point. I got chainsawed on Christmas Eve - got a LinkedIn invitation to attend a seminar filled with “simple steps” and one that will “dramatically reduce” and all that sales blather - on Christmas Eve! Ugh. I forgot to look to see if it was signed “Freddy” or “Jason.”
And, Robert, yup, gotta’ grudgingly agree. Only because we are the type who are curious, helpful, network aware - but often forget to, or just don’t, ask for the sale. That’s why you have a selling blog and Charles has a selling blog - and they both remind folks like me how I don’t do enough of any of the good and wise sales stuff. This year - gonna’ do better!
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