The Wealthy Business - by EnergizeGrowth

Lisa's Excellent New York Adventure

A change in your work environment can sometimes be the jolt that you -- and your teams -- need to find fresh new ideas.

Case in point: I just returned from a whirlwind three day trip to Southern CT and NY City. Book signings, client visits, and some tourist time kept me on the go.

The air was balmy, and the energy was electric. The bellman hailed our cab to Penn Station as if his life depended on it. Hotel staff answered their phones after three rings or less. Even the restroom line of 100+ women at the Hirschfeld Theatre moved swiftly during intermission!

As I traversed the potholes of Manhattan and its crusty old railways, I am still--after 27 years of visiting the Big Apple--pleasantly surprised by its unique qualities.

Customers, Kawasaki, and Crazy Weather

I am headed home from a dynamic series of Voice of the Customer sessions and book signing at the 2011 Allegiance Engage Summit in Deer Valley, Utah.

Amidst two days of dashing through snow flurries) and dodging slush puddles, I enjoyed learning about the rapid adoption of this new profit-producing technology space. In my upcoming posts, you will hear how companies such as ING Direct, JetBlue, and EMC Corporation are re-framing the definition of the customer experience, and its impact on the bottom line.

I was also excited to re connect with an old friend, Guy Kawasaki. Have you read his new book yet, Enchantment? If you have not bought your copy, get it now. It will shift your thinking about the ways in which you engage others in important causes--whether they be personal or professional.

Here is what Guy shared after our respective book signings yesterday (45 seconds):

 

I'm still blushing!

Here I am, enchanting a new friend at the conference:
 

copyright 2011, Lisa Nirell. All rights reserved.

 

I just enjoyed another interview with Arkadi Kuhlmann, CEO and Chairman of ING Direct. His company mantra is "We are going to lead people back to savings." What is your company's driving message?

Stay tuned for my latest comments on the Voice of the Customer Conference this week. Arkadi has clearly set the tone and shaken up the status quo as the opening keynoter today.

Brand Building - When Traction Happens

Last week, I was waiting in the Whole Foods checkout line and glanced over at the magazine rack. (Actually, I am one of the few people who loves waiting in certain checkout lines. Stores with a healthy variety of reading options earn my patience.)

I couldn't help but fall in love with RealSimple's May 2011 cover.

Do you think they saw my book cover and found inspiration? Imitation is truly the greatest form of flattery.

Energizing your life and your business have become part of the zeitgeist. Let the brand traction continue.

 

copyright 2011, Lisa Nirell. All rights reserved.

Business After bin Laden

Ask any decorated leader — military or business — what keeps them focused and energized. They will echo what retired U.S. General Joseph Hoar shared with me a decade ago: a daily commitment to quietly reflect and re-evaluate our course. As world citizens discuss and debate the proper way to respond to the successful capture and killing of Osama bin Laden, we face the same opportunity.

True Transparency: Zappos, Tribal Leadership, and Charity Water - May 5 Live Event

Are you proud enough of your company to broadcast your annual meetings? Are you willing to enroll strangers--not just business partners--in the future success of your business?

Zappos certainly is.

 

In the true spirit of transparency, my friend Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos, will be live streaming the company kickoff meeeting on Thursday, May 5 from 4pm- 8 pm ET.

Zappos has been a fan of my book since 2009, and it's suggested reading in their business library. One of the areas that Tony and I can agree on is that more companies need to be completely open about what is working in their company, and what is not. For Zappos, core values drive the culture, not the ups and downs of parent company Amazon's stock price. Zappos uses their kickoff meetings to showcase those key points, not just to motivate and inspire teams.

Special guests Scott Harrison, founder of Charity Water www.charitywater.org and Dave Logan, co-author of Tribal Leadership www.triballeadership.net will be speaking at the Zappos Family All Hands Meeting.

You're invited to view this meeting online and take a peek into Zappos' culture. The event will be webcasting Thursday May 5, 2011 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific time. If you can't view it live, they will make the recording available.

Click the link below to RSVP.

https://zapposinsights.infusionsoft.com/link/133e8e6ce0/1ecdbe0

How can you incorporate some of their ideas into YOUR organization and drive a more successful growth plan? I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

copyright 2011, Lisa Nirell. All rights reserved.