Business
An interesting mix of items this week -- A 30 year fan offers surprising suggestion to HP; Burn your business plan before it burns you; Thumbs up / thumbs down on the best business books of 2012. Plus, some insights and homage to Zig Ziglar, a man who inspired generations of successful salespeople. We begin with some Hot Potato News items …. We talked last time about another multi-billion dollar write off HP endured with the purchase of Autonomy. Bill George, the former CEO of Medtronic and a 30 year fan of HP offers a stark and surprising suggestion on what HP’s next strategy should be (hint -- breaking up is hard to do). http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/11/28/to-save-hewlett-packard-break-it-in-two/ Write a business plan. It’s the roadmap for where you are going and how to get there. Alexander Osterwalder in his Wall Street Journal Accelerator Blog has a different suggestion -- Burn your business plan. “No business plan survives first contact with customers.” There is an alternate path worth exploring. http://blogs.wsj.com/accelerators/2012/11/26/burn-your-business-plan-before-it-burns-you/ We consider Fast Company’s list of the Top 12 Business Books of 2012, and offer some frank Thumbs Up / Thumbs Down assessments. http://www.fastcompany.com/3003283/best-business-books-2012-find-fulfillment-get-productive-and-create-healthy-habits Discussion Item -- Remembering Zig Ziglar Zig Ziglar died last week at age 86. He was a world renowned motivational speaker and sales trainer. Brian, Tom and Ken remember Ziglar through his own words, more accurately quotes for which he is well known. Our three favorites: Tommy -- “You were designed for accomplishment, engineered for success and endowed with the seeds of greatness”. Brian -- “Timid salesmen have skinny kids.” Ken -- “Stop selling. Start helping.” Here’s some more -- http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/33889/17-inspirational-sales-marketing-quotes-to-honor-zig-ziglar?source=Blog_Email_[17%20Inspirational%20Sal] http://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinkruse/2012/11/28/zig-ziglar-10-quotes-that-can-change-your-life/ Tell us what you think. Email Tommy or Ken at OpenForBusiness@OnTheHORN.com. Open for Business – Seven days of Fun in Less than an Hour. Click Here to Subscribe in iTunes: Open for Business http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/open-for-business/id533309378?mt=2&ign-mpt=uo%3D4