Make a difference

The Science of Persuasion: Why You Need to Build This Muscle. Do this simple exercise to kickstart this journey.

Posted by in Personal Effectiveness

It does not matter who you are, what you do, and the kind of impact you have. There is always a scope to improve, and this is one area that is really, really required by all of us. The Art of Persuasion can make a big difference to how well you do in every aspect of your life.

We need to improve on this definitely:)

Here are the key summary points –

  • Science of Persuasion: Over 60 years of research into the factors that lead us to agree with others’ requests have identified a science to persuasion, which includes six key shortcuts: Reciprocity, Scarcity, Authority, Consistency, Liking, and Consensus.
  • Reciprocity: People feel obligated to return favours or gestures. An example is the increased tipping in restaurants when waiters give mints to customers; this illustrates how the principle of giving first and providing personalised, unexpected gifts can enhance persuasion.
  • Scarcity: The desire for scarce resources. The increased demand for British Airways’ Concorde flights following their discontinuation announcement serves as evidence that emphasizing what is special and what might disappear can increase persuasion.
  • Authority: People follow credible, knowledgeable experts. For instance, physiotherapists displaying their diplomas, or real estate agents introduced with their credentials, show how signalling expertise before making a request increases compliance.
  • Consistency: People want to be consistent with past actions or commitments. Studies show that small initial commitments can lead to larger ones, like homeowners displaying a small sign leading to a willingness to put up a larger one later.
  • Liking: People agree with those they like, influenced by similarities, compliments, and cooperative goals. This is shown in studies where negotiators who share personal information before discussing business achieve better outcomes.
  • Consensus: People look to others’ actions to guide their own, especially when uncertain. Examples include hotel guests reusing towels more when informed that most others do too, demonstrating the power of pointing to what others are doing to persuade.

Here is a simple exercise for you to do when you are trying to build an engagement with someone—your client, your vendors, or your manager.

Key PointYour Action Items
Give first, personalize, and surprise. (Reciprocity) 
Highlight uniqueness and what can be lost. (Scarcity) 
Show credibility before making a request. (Authority) 
Seek small initial commitments. (Consistency) 
Find commonalities and give genuine compliments. (Liking) 
Show what others are doing, especially similar people. (Consensus) 
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13 lessons from Alex Hormozi

Posted by in Motivation, Personal Branding

I am reading Alex’s book $100M Offers, which has been a very different but exhilarating read. I should have read this 20 years ago (but he wasn’t around then) :).

Here are the 13 life lessons from the transcript:

  1. Humility and Learning: The value of assuming you’re less knowledgeable than others to foster learning and better decision-making. The narrator emphasizes the importance of listening over speaking to gain insights and avoid embarrassment.
  2. Earning Self-Respect: Understanding that the hardest respect to earn is one’s own and that changing personal behavior is key to altering public perception and gaining respect from others.
  3. Controlling Narrative for Effective Communication: The lesson that if you want people to understand and convey what your business does, you need to provide them with clear and simple language to describe it effectively.
  4. Quality over Quantity in Learning: The importance of deeply understanding a few significant texts rather than superficially reading many. The narrator suggests that re-reading valuable books can lead to a deeper understanding and implementation of their lessons.
  5. The Importance of Goodwill: Realizing that goodwill compounds faster than money and that cultivating positive relationships and sentiments can have significant long-term benefits.
  6. The Power of Persistence: Recognizing that committing to a single course of action over a long period can lead to mastery and success, and that this commitment is more crucial than the nature of the action itself.
  7. Excellence over Speed: The insight that doing things well is more important than doing them quickly, and that great work requires significantly more effort than merely good work.
  8. Negotiation and Long-Term Relationships: Learning the importance of negotiation and maintaining good relationships for long-term benefits, rather than focusing on short-term gains.
  9. Humility and Contribution to the Community: Understanding that humility involves serving others and contributing to the community, which in turn, enhances one’s own status and fulfillment.
  10. Personal Accountability and Progress: The realization that focusing on one’s own actions and progress, rather than external opinions and criticisms, leads to genuine self-improvement and satisfaction.
  11. Cycle of Failure and Success: Acknowledging the inevitable cycle of failure, learning, and success, and striving to minimize complacency to continuously learn and succeed.
  12. Shedding False Realities for Entrepreneurship: The process of discarding false beliefs and perceptions to see the world more clearly, which is crucial for entrepreneurial success and personal growth.
  13. Value of Focused Investment: The lesson that investing time, effort, and resources into genuinely understanding and applying a few key concepts or skills is far more valuable than spreading oneself too thin across many areas
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10 Rules of Life: Naval Ravikant

Posted by in Motivation, Personal Branding

Quick and short perspective of some key rules of life (from Youtube video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmAO9jBqJf4)

  1. Embrace the Courage to Pivot: Be willing to abandon a journey that no longer aligns with your goals. Flexibility and resilience are key, enabling you to adapt and find new paths to success.
  2. Act on Inspiration Promptly: When struck by inspiration, act immediately. The potency of an idea is strongest in the moment of its conception, and prompt action can capture this energy effectively.
  3. Marry Impatience with Action, Patience with Results: Approach your goals with urgency, but understand that meaningful achievements take time to unfold. This balance keeps you motivated and grounded in reality.
  4. Leverage Your Unique Strengths: Identify what makes you unique and use it to your advantage. Your distinct combination of skills, knowledge, and passion holds the key to carving out a niche that only you can fill.
  5. Commit to Lifelong Learning: Make learning an integral part of your daily routine. The pursuit of knowledge enriches your life, sharpens your intellect, and prepares you for unforeseen challenges.
  6. Foster Intellectual Curiosity Through Reading: Engage with a wide range of reading materials. A habit of reading nurtures intellectual curiosity and is a cornerstone of lifelong learning and success.
  7. Focus on Understanding Core Principles: A deep grasp of fundamental concepts is more valuable than the surface-level memorization of advanced topics. Foundations are crucial for effective problem-solving and innovation.
  8. Harness Modern Leverage: Utilize digital platforms and content creation as tools for influence and achievement without needing traditional gatekeepers’ approval. In today’s digital age, these forms of leverage can propel you to new heights.
  9. Value Empty Space for Creativity: Allow yourself unstructured time. This space is essential for creativity to flourish, offering you the freedom to think, reflect, and innovate.
  10. Define Success by Personal Fulfillment: Measure your success by your level of internal peace and happiness. This perspective prioritizes personal well-being over external accolades, leading to a more satisfying and balanced life.

Some great tips for people to follow.

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Adding VALUE in every engagement you have drives customer delight

Posted by in Personal Brand, StartUp

I remember reading these three words in a Reader’s Digest from the 90’s (more than 30 years ago) that has stuck with me since then. It said- “3 words that changed my world”.

Make a difference.

That has governed my thinking for a long time. And today, as I engage with clients on my own, I remember those words and they are the tenets we operate in.

In the dynamic landscape of customer experience, the difference between a good business and a great one often lies in its ability to not just meet but exceed customer expectations. Creating delightful experiences is not just about forging transactions but also about making connections that resonate with customers on a personal level.

As aptly put it, “The greatest technology in the world hasn’t replaced the ultimate relationship-building tool between a customer and a business; the human touch.”

Shep Hyken

To truly elevate customer delight, consider these refined strategies:

1. Personalize Every Interaction

In a world awash with generic, automated responses or corporate-style DIY (the horrible intranet links), personalization stands out as a beacon of warmth and sincerity. Take the time to personalize your approach to how you talk to them; do small things that matter to them. Personalization shows that you see your customers as unique individuals, not just numbers on a spreadsheet.

2. Exceed Expectations with Proactive Service

Waiting for customers to reach out with problems is a reactive approach. To truly delight, be proactive. Anticipate their needs and offer solutions before they even realize they need them. Sometimes it is okay to challenge their thinking and ask them questions to make them question their own positioning. Proactive service not only solves problems but also demonstrates your commitment to their satisfaction, making your customers feel valued and understood.

3. Create a Feedback Loop and Act on It

Feedback is a gift, and acting on it closes the loop, showing customers that their opinions are not just heard but valued and implemented. Encourage feedback through various channels, and make it easy for customers to share their thoughts with you. When you make changes based on customer feedback, let them know. Taking feedback and, more importantly, acting on it (and acknowledging the change you are making) also builds trust and loyalty by showing that you are a business that listens and evolves according to the needs of its customers.

Implementing these strategies requires sincerity and a genuine desire to add value, which creates customer delight. It’s about going beyond the transactional nature of business and fostering emotional connections that leave a lasting positive impression. By personalizing interactions, exceeding expectations with proactive service, and creating a responsive feedback loop, you can transform ordinary customer interactions into memorable experiences that not only satisfy but truly enchant your customers.

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Embrace Life’s Full Spectrum: How to Live Wide, Not Just Long”

Posted by in Attitude, Motivation, Personal Brand

The quote by Dianne Ackerman beautifully encapsulates the desire to live a full and rich life, not just a long one. And got me thinking if I am really doing things which gives me a bit more depth. Here are three ways by which you could start expanding your life to make it fuller and richer:

1. Seek Variety: Life is a rich mix of experiences, so dip into as many different activities both professional and personal, as you can. Put up your hand for completely new rules, which no one else wants to pick up, try new hobbies, travel to unfamiliar places, and taste foods from different cultures. Each new experience adds a thread to the weave of your life.

2. Cultivate Relationships: The people we meet and the relationships we nurture add depth and color to our existence. Invest time in family, friends, and meeting new people. The shared experiences and memories are the milestones of a life well-lived. Start living your life by giving rather than taking. You’ll be amazed at how many doors open because of that single behaviour.

3. Learn Continuously: Knowledge and skills are the expansion packs of life. Never stop learning, whether it’s through books, courses, or simply by being curious about the world around you. Learning keeps the mind broad and open to new possibilities.

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