The Actuation Zone

Using Video in Your Business is Easy…and Powerful

admin — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 23:32:34 +0000

TJ Walker, the author of the USA Today #1 bestselling book, “TJ Walker’s Secret to Foolproof Presentations,” says there is no excuse not to be using video in your business. He also says anyone can quickly prepare a pretty good speech. The key to both, says TJ, is to just…get started.
Available in HD and full screen: Click Here

Improvising Your Way to Success

admin — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 06:02:54 +0000

Avish Parashar, author of, Improvise to Success!, says you can plan to your heart’s content—and then life throws changes at you. He says you can improve your success by learning how to improvise and flow with those changes. Avish reveals the secrets of improvisational comedy techniques that anyone can employ, every day, to be more successful.

—A “Brett’s Favorite” interview!

What Your Sales Manager Won’t Tell You

admin — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 06:42:09 +0000

Speaker, consultant, and top sales blogger, Mark Hunter, tells what your sales manager won’t tell you about how to grow your business: fire your customers, don’t give them such good service, and dump social media! Brett Clay interviews Mark Hunter, at the National Speakers Association national conference in Orlando, FL.

To Grow Your Business, Stop Discounting and Start Selling

admin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 19:06:42 +0000

Speaker, consultant, and top sales blogger, Mark Hunter (The Sales Hunter), says the current sales environment has revealed to many sales VPs that their sales organizations are really order-taking customer service organizations. Mark challenges senior executives to make the tough, important changes in their sales organizations that will enable them to grow their businesses, including: firing their order-takers, firing their customers, eliminating discounting, cutting back on customer service, and pulling back on social media! (Listen to both interviews)

Small Businesses Must Embrace Online Marketing

admin — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 20:29:46 +0000

Brett Clay, award-winning author of Selling Change and the host of The Actuation Zone, talks with Jim Blasingame, host of the Small Business Advocate radio show about small business marketing. Jim says small businesses must profile and target their customers, rather than trying to pursue every name in the phone book. Brett talks about the changing media and marketing landscapes and how small businesses must change the way they market.

Could a Word or Phrase Increase Your Business By 10X?

admin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:27:36 +0000

Sam Horn, “The Intrigue Expert”, and author of many books, including POP: Stand Out in Any Crowd, and Tongue Fu!, says finding the right name for your initiative, products, or business can be worth millions of dollars and inspire thousands of people. Listen as the legendary Sam Horn essentially delivers a seminar on how to create one-of-a-kind branding that can eliminate competition and propel your business to new levels.

Face the Hard Questions That Can Save Any Company

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 03:02:40 +0000

Author Jeffrey Hayzlett, hailed the “Celebrity CMO” by Forbes Magazine and famous for his outspoken appearances on numerous television shows such as CNBC’s The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, Fox Business News, and NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice with Donald Trump, asks the tough business questions and suggests the changes that executives and business owners need to be making, right now, to grow their businesses.

To Grow Your Sales, Sell Change, Not Solutions

admin — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 03:26:15 +0000

Author, Brett Clay, joins fellow host David Wolf on Small Biz America Radio to discuss his book, Selling Change, named the “best business book of 2010″ by Independent Publisher Book Awards. Brett says the old approach of selling solutions to customers’ problems is not profitable in today’s globalized, Internet-empowered markets. To survive and thrive, salespeople must become change agents that help customers achieve their goals.

Having the Right Marketing Mindset for Success

admin — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 03:42:56 +0000

Marketing consultant and coach, Robert Middleton of Action Plan Marketing, says having the right marketing mindset is critical for successfully building your business. He says most people dilute their marketing efforts using haphazard approaches. To be highly effective, executives, marketers, and salespeople must have the right marketing mindset and must execute systematic, highly focused campaigns.

How to Get the Attention of “Crazy Busy Buyers”

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 22:49:10 +0000

Today’s corporate buyers are “crazy busy”, says Jill Konrath, author of SNAP Selling and Selling to Big Companies. To capture the attention of crazy busy buyers, Jill says salespeople must align their messages with buyers’ top priorities. Jill’s new book offers four SNAP rules: keep it simple, be invaluable, always align, and raise priorities.

Use Conversations to Drive Change

admin — Wed, 12 May 2010 02:24:52 +0000

Seth Kahan, Wall Street Journal best-selling author of Getting Change Right, says the traditional approach of top-down, command-and-control is not effective. Company executives often make the mistake of mandating change initiatives—and they fail spectacularly. To get change right, Seth says leaders must have “conversations” with “most valuable players” in the organization and form “performance communities” that can drive change from the inside-out.

How to Close 90% of Your Business

admin — Sat, 08 May 2010 23:51:17 +0000

Jeff Koser, co-author of Selling to Zebras, says you can close 90% of the business you pursue. How? By only investing your time and resources pursuing zebras. What’s a “zebra”? A zebra is a prospective customer that scores high on your qualification criteria. Jeff says, “Don’t waste your time and resources hunting deals you can’t win. Focus on hunting zebras—and you’ll close 90% of your business. Both your REVENUES and your PROFITS will soar.” Listen how to find your zebras!

Create Your Own Destiny

admin — Sat, 08 May 2010 22:11:04 +0000

Patrick Snow, best-selling author of Creating Your Own Destiny, has vowed to never let his financial stability depend on another company. He says the only way to do that is to be an entrepreneur. But, he warns, don’t give up your day job, just yet. Discover your passion and turn it into a business over time, using your day job to finance your future business.

Sales Managers Must Drive Discipline, Accountability, and Control

admin — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 18:39:55 +0000

Ken Thoreson, managing partner at Acumen Management Group, Ltd, says sales managers need to create an environment of professionalism throughout their sales organizations. Professionalism starts with the attitudes and behaviors that sales managers display. Ken says managers need to focus on three key factors to run an organization professionally and to meet the goals of the business: discipline, accountability, and control.

CIO’s Must Be Business Leaders, Not Technologists

admin — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 21:14:10 +0000

John Hughes, founder and principal of Growthwave, a management consulting firm providing interim-CIO (chief Information Officer) services, CIO coaching, and CEO advisory services, says CIOs must be business leaders rather than technologists. Often CIO’s become occupied with managing technology staff and implementations and they lose sight of goals of the business. For CIOs and their companies to be successful, says John, CIOs must leave the management of the IT function to someone else, so they can focus on strategies to grow the business and create competitive advantage.

You Can’t Save Your Way to Prosperity, You Must Sell Your Way

admin — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 22:17:28 +0000

Grant Cardone, author of the forthcoming book, If You Are Not First, You are Last, and a regular contributor on Fox and Friends, Business Week, and The Huffington Post, busts the myth that you can save your way to prosperity. He says the current economic environment presents the perfect opportunity to grow your business—but, only if you focus on selling. He also says you can only grow through “only practices”. What is that? Listen to find out!

What are you willing to give up to get what you really want?

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:54:03 +0000

Norm Levy, CEO of Strategic Development Corporation and the author of The Seven Questions of Business Strategy, says having a clear strategic intention is critical for driving your business growth. Strategy is as much about deciding what NOT to do as what TO do. So, with 27 years as a strategy consultant, Norm says the key is determining what you are willing to give up—to get what you really, really want.

For Extreme Growth, Find Your Niche and Focus Your Message

admin — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 20:39:25 +0000

Mike Coraluzzi, the president of No-Time Marketing Systems, LLC and the host of the Extreme Business Growth radio show, says 2010 could be your best year ever. Mike says companies can double their business by honing their focus and matching their marketing to it — at a time when most companies are pulling back and taking their eye off the ball.

Keep Up, Or Fall Woefully Behind, says Career Counselor

admin — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:46:50 +0000

Matt Youngquist, a prominent Seattle-area career counselor, says job seekers must reinforce their relationships and keep up with technology to be competitive in today’s job market. He recommends caution when considering wholesale career changes and says one must carefully choose between the strategy of developing a skill portfolio vs a skill specialization.

Whatever Your Job Title is, Guess What? You’re in Sales

admin — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:21:53 +0000

Peter Clayton, host of Total Picture Radio talks with Brett Clay about the roles of selling and change in people’s careers. Peter argues that everyone must think of him/herself as a sales person. Brett talks about what that means and how to do it.
Check out more of Peter Clayton’s informative podcasts at www.totalpicture.com!

Welcome to The Actuation Zone

admin — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:45:06 +0000

Host, Brett Clay, explains what The Actuation Zone is all about and why you should tune in! While the Actuation Zone explores a wide range of topics including leadership, management, sales, and professional development, the underlying theme is “putting change into motion.”