The Merrill Dubrow Blog

It has been almost 50 years ago that John F. Kennedy said, "Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country."

I have always admired JFK and not only what he said but how he said it. Clearly he was a great communicator. I believe his famous quote should be tweaked ever so slightly in 2009 and changed to "Ask not what your company can do for you — ask what you can do for your company."

Hopefully over time your company has provided for you. During that time you received training, went to conferences, had your 401k funded, received raises and bonuses and provided a nice atmosphere.  If they haven’t, you might be working for the wrong company.

Unfortunately in 2009 companies need their staff more than ever. They need you to find ways to increase revenue, decrease expenses and improve the bottom line. They need you to take care of clients. Deliver every day on every project. In essence the new standard is to be GREAT! Anything less than that and your current clients might go elsewhere. They might call your competitor which will obviously have a negative effect on revenue.

Companies today need your best effort! This is the hardest business environment that I have ever worked within and I am sure that is true for many of you.

So I say to you, "Ask not what your company can do for you — ask what you can do for your company."

What are you doing for your company?

How are you going above and beyond for your company?

Do you believe most people are working harder now?

I look forward to reading your comments.

Posted in Business | Post Comments (2) »

So there I am in Las Vegas at McCarran Airport.   Just finished a great lunch that consisted of fries, a burger, and water and am now ready for dessert prior to jumping on a plane. I look up and there I see Mrs. Fields cookies — hello warm cookies. I sprint over there — ok walk somewhat fast — and get in a line with five other people craving something sweet. As I get closer to the counter I see two employees standing and talking with each other and every minute or so acknowledging a customer. At this point I notice there are six bins for cookies. Four of them are empty and the other two only have one in them. No problem I say (to myself).  They have some hot cookies in the back and haven’t moved them forward to the counter. As the countdown begins in a few more seconds I will be at the front of the line and have a few warm cookies.

The person behind the counter finally looked at me and said "yes." With excitement I respond, "What cookies do you have in the back?" She doesn’t answer me and I restate: "Do you have any warm cookies?  These bins are empty." Much to my surprise, she didn’t answer me again although she did shake her head as to say "no." I couldn’t believe it!  In the middle of the day around 2:00, Mrs. Fields has no warm cookies! . . . Has no cookies and apparently staff that isn’t customer friendly and really couldn’t care less. I proceed to walk out of line in sheer disappointment and frankly frustration that people treat CUSTOMERS like that!

• What companies have you been disappointed with recently?
   
• Did you still make a purchase?
   
• Will you go back to them again?

I look forward to reading your comments.

P.S.  I have had other great experiences with Mrs. Fields.  It just was that this one wasn’t good at all.

Posted in Business | Post Comments (11) »

As you know I try and read USA Today daily. For the past six months I have been cutting out full page advertisements that companies have placed in this newspaper. At this point, there must be 150 ads sitting on my desk (please read on–before you call me a packrat) and a few times a month, I will review them to see what words and messages companies are keying on during this challenging economic time. I went through them and listed twenty-two of them in alphabetical order:

1. Challenge
2. Champions
3. Confidence
4. Demand the best
5. Dependable
6. Exclusive
7. Frugal
8. Happiness
9. Honor
10. It deserves
11. On time
12. Stability
13. Stick Together
14. Stimulate
15. Stimulus
16. Stimulus package
17. Struggle
18. Thank you
19. Together
20. Trust
21. Understand
22. We salute

For me I really like these words: confidence, exclusive, honor (especially in the context of being their client), understand and trust. For me these words will resonate with me and make a difference, and I believe using the right words makes an ENORMOUS difference in advertising. Even more so now, than perhaps ever before.

The words that don’t work for me is anything to do with the stimulus package, stimulus, stimulate; they have a negative connotation in my mind. I also don’t like we salute, frugal and struggle in advertising. It doesn’t work for me and especially the word frugal never works for me. Frugal seems cheap, inexpensive and not worthy. Just my opinion.

I realize that you don’t have the advertising in front of you but I still think you can answer these few questions:

• What words do you like?
   
• What words do you think make a difference?
   
• What words do you not like?

I look forward to reading your comments.

Posted in Business | Post Comments (4) »