Ian Gotts

Yoga mat for sale. Used once. – $1 (Bellevue)

Here’s the full text from the Seattle Craigslist ad below: Yoga mat for sale. Used once at lunch hour class in December 2009. Usage timeline as follows: 11:45a Register for hot yoga class. Infinite wisdom tells me to commit to 5 class package and purchase a yoga mat. I pay $89.74. …

Why are some people happier (than you) – here are 22 reasons

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to address those with clinical depression or other mental illnesses. There are two types of people in the world: those who choose to be happy, and those who choose to be unhappy. Contrary to popular belief, happiness doesn’t come from fame, fortune, other people, …

Bootstrapping 101

The Art of Bootstrapping Definition according to Wikipedia Bootstrapping or booting refers to a group of metaphors which refer to a self-sustaining process that proceeds without external help. Someone once told me that the probability of an entrepreneur getting venture capital is the same as getting struck by lightning while …

Success eludes those with the most excuses

Why networking is lot like singles parties

Everyone’s been to a few “business networking” events. With talk of mixing business with pleasure made me consider the real similarities between networking events and singles dating clubs. Location: Networking events are often held in a bar. Guess what? Singles mingle in bars all the time, and the booze is …

You no longer own your brand. Your consumers & enemies do

In this video, it explains why the power is now with the consumer. You  no longer own your brand when your customers or enemies have the power of social media in their hands. One misquote by the CEO can send a brand into freefall as Gerald Ratner discovered in 1991. …

The jetpack for your career

Public speaking – wowing an audience with confidence and ease. It is the most under-rated skill that can super-charge your career.  And in the past 15 years on the professional speaking circuit I have seen little or no improvement. Great presentation technique gets you noticed inside and outside your company, …

Decision making in the full glare of social media #socialmedia #decisions #pr

Artemis Racing has called for an end to the rumours and speculation about the horrific accident that killed Andrew “Bart” Simpson racing on an AC72 in San Francisco Bay. Quite reasonably, his family and friends need space to come to terms with losing someone who was so popular but taken …

No one can throw a book away. Can the same be said of your marketing literature? #marketing

Marketing’s dirty little secret In the world of B2B marketing a hidden secret is the humble printed book. Although eBooks are taking off there is still a place for the business paperback. Books are a little like PR and sausages. The more you know what goes into them, the less …

The amazing power of improv…. to get you out of trouble #improv #presentation

Yesterday in a my blog I reflected on the preparation required to make “your client look a star” by interviewing them on stage. One of the key skills which makes it easier is improv. Most people think of improv as Whose line is it anyway, comedy clubs or improv troupes …

America’s Cup team reveal their secret weapon #americascup #social

In this fantastic video it shows the Emirates Team New Zealand team understand how to maximise the power of social media. But they also understand that these videos need to be done properly. It is not hacked together on an iPhone after a few beers. They also showed that some …

An effortless conference interview actually takes a lot of preparation #presenting #gartnerbpm

New format, big risk, monster rewards Rather than go with the tried ( tired ) format of getting a client to present a hours worth of Powerpoint slides to a lifeless audience, we thought we’d go for a slightly higher risk interview format.  I interviewed a client on stage with …

Inspired by humility and willingness to take risks

I’ve blogged before about how natural Michael Buble is and how he seems to be enjoying everything he does.  Here is another example about how comfortable he is with himself. A rare trait in life and even rarer in his industry which appears to be made up of self-obsessed ego-centric …

You’re a paradigm-shifting, thought-leading, market-disrupting new-tech company. How should you Go To Market?

Killer products don’t sell You’re a major corporation with a track record of strong sales for your current product range. You’ve worked long and hard to produce a unique innovative product that you know the market needs. It should have flown out of the warehouse, but sales tanked and it …

Gartner BPM Summit. Nothing to see here. Move along.

I am bracing myself for a mailbox of hate mail from disgruntled BPM software vendors that say that they are releasing V8.3.45 which has enhanced dynamic repetition or some such bollocks. Having spent 2 days at the Gartner BPM Summit in London a couple of things struck me. BPM is …