On yesterday’s episode, Scott McKain discussed the problems that organizations and professionals create when they focus obsessively on their products and not on their customers. Today’s PROJECT DISTINCT discusses an all-important step: a customer focus in every phase of your business. Whether you’re a solopreneur or in a large corporation, this message can play an important insight for your success! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Sep 03, 2020•10 min•Season 2Ep. 514
You’ve probably had it happen to you — a sales professional that tells you more about the product than you want to know, while ignoring your needs. Why does that happen? Why do we often fall into the same trap with our customers? That’s the topic of today’s PROJECT DISTINCT with Scott McKain. We’ll take a look at the two major reasons that we often are so focused on our products that we don’t center our approach on our customers. It’s a revealing insight for you on today’s episode! Learn more ab...
Sep 02, 2020•12 min•Season 2Ep. 513
Following up on yesterday’s episode, Scott McKain dives deeper into the importance of storytelling, why you can never start as the hero, and why it’s so critical that you tell the story of your company, department, or team. In fact — you should be telling YOUR personal or professional story, too! That’s the subject for today’s PROJECT DISTINCT! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 01, 2020•10 min•Season 2Ep. 512
What’s the most important skill a business or professional can possess in the 21st Century? The ability to tell stories, according to “The Futurist” journal. Do you identify more with the airline started by two guys in a bar writing on a cocktail napkin — or a conglomeration of smaller brands you don’t remember with no narrative that’s told? Learn the importance of your story from Scott McKain on today’s PROJECT DISTINCT! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Aug 27, 2020•12 min•Season 2Ep. 511
On today’s PROJECT DISTINCT, Scott McKain reports on a new study by FreshBooks ( https://www.freshbooks.com/press/annualreport ) on the latest trends in small business ownership. Who does better — those entrepreneurs with…or without…a college degree? Who does better…those with or without multiple streams of income? All that and more on today’s episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Aug 26, 2020•11 min•Season 2Ep. 510
In a recent conversation with an Australian businessman, Scott McKain was surprised to learn of an American-based company that is rapidly losing marketshare. “They forgot who they are,” was the reason offered by the business leader. On today’s PROJECT DISTINCT, Scott discusses the importance of clarity — and why it’s critical to deliver to customers what they expect that we are…even as we grow and change for their benefit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Aug 25, 2020•9 min•Season 2Ep. 509
Every human being has made a mistake of some kind. Yet, some handle them well and turn them into learning experiences, others deny, delay, and — even worse — never let it go. Today’s PROJECT DISTINCT with Scott McKain looks at what you should do after you’ve made a mistake to ensure that you not only learn from your mistake, but grow from it to help create distinction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 24, 2020•12 min•Season 2Ep. 508
We know that we’re more profitable and productive when our teams are engaged in their work. So, how do we hire and keep engaged employees? Today from Hong Kong, Scott McKain shows two different approaches — and provides insight on why one way is superior to the other. Which one describes your efforts? It’s today’s episode on PROJECT DISTINCT. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 23, 2020•10 min•Season 2Ep. 507
While working on the road this week, Scott McKain attended a rugby tournament — Hong Kong Sevens. A special version of the game of rugby — of which Scott freely admits he knows nothing about — gave him ideas for three specific steps we can take to make our businesses stand out: 1) Make your efforts smaller and more intensive; 2) Make it faster for your customer; 3) Make it more compelling to do business with you. It’s the formula that attracts tens of thousands of fans to the Sevens tournaments ...
Aug 22, 2020•8 min•Season 2Ep. 506
One of the world’s largest annual sporting events was recently held — although it’s technical classified as “sports entertainment.” It’s Wrestlemania! If you are a WWE fan — and especially if you aren’t — here are three serious business lessons that you can learn from the success of Wrestlemania 2019. It’s a “no hold barred” edition of PROJECT DISTINCT from the man in that corner, Scott McKain! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Aug 21, 2020•9 min•Season 2Ep. 505
When you make your conversations with customers and colleagues about them, you grow loyalty and expand your leadership abilities. In today’s episode, Scott McKain explains why this is such a critical factor — and gives you specific tactics to make this concept work for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 20, 2020•10 min•Season 2Ep. 504
In today’s “experience economy,” perhaps the most important aspect is the connection you have with your customers. In today’s episode, Scott reminds us we should make our customers the star of our organization’s “show” — and gives three specific ways we can make that happen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 19, 2020•11 min•Season 2Ep. 503
You can’t be distinctive unless you’re delivering an Ultimate Customer Experience ® to those who are doing business with you. In today’s PROJECT DISTINCT, recorded from Hong Kong, Scott McKain (whose company owns the Federally registered trademark on the term “Ultimate Customer Experience”) reveals the initial steps required to get started. It’s an important topic for every professional because it gets you closer to your customer so you can enhance retention and referrals. A vital message is wai...
Aug 18, 2020•9 min•Season 2Ep. 502
Creating a “customer journey map” is all the rage among customer experience professionals. And, whether you work for a large organization — or you’re a solopreneur working out of a back bedroom — you need to work on enhancing the experience that your customer has at every touchpoint with you. However, there is a singular problem with this approach that goes against the grain of the relationships we desire with our clients — and that’s the topic of today’s episode. Scott McKain will reveal the ba...
Aug 11, 2020•12 min•Season 2Ep. 501
When Scott McKain and friends visited a winery in Hunter Valley, Australia, they were denied the chance to sample one of the wines on the vineyard's menu because they were told, “We aren’t tasting reds today.” As they left without purchasing any of the wines they were selling, Scott was reminded of the great customer service story from Bob Farrell of the old Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlours: “Give ‘em the pickle!” That powerful story is at the center of today’s episode of Project Distinct. Learn mor...
Aug 10, 2020•9 min•Season 2Ep. 500
The statistic caught Scott McKain’s eyes: “53% of sales professionals had not been to any type of sales training for five years!” In today’s Project Distinct, Scott looks at the importance of sales training — and how it has to change in the rapidly evolving world of selling. The movement from subscription to transaction means that sales professionals need training more than ever before. Yet, few look for what they really need — and scant organizations provide it. Today is a controversial and com...
Aug 06, 2020•10 min•Season 2Ep. 499
Is it really better to be different? Scott McKain says, “Maybe not.” The distinctive professional or organization finds unique approaches that creates more traction and higher engagement with customers. So, where do you find the best ideas on how you accomplish that difficult task? On today’s Project Distinct, Scott reveals that — as counterintuitive as it sounds — the way to be distinctive is to be derivative…and he shows you how. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Aug 05, 2020•14 min•Season 2Ep. 498
For today’s Project Distinct, Scott McKain researched several resources looking for the answer to the question: “What is the single most important skill required to deliver excellent customer service?” While many experts offered complex answers, today’s episode will reveal one from a post on CustomerThink.com that captured the essence of service and the one skill that will never fail to enhance any touchpoint with a customer. Do you have it — use it — and provide to your customers? Learn more ab...
Aug 04, 2020•11 min•Season 2Ep. 497
When a movie is presented to a test audience, directors then have choices to make before they finish the product for the potential audience. As Scott McKain reveals in today’s Project Distinct, those same three options can help you connected with your customers at a higher level. Perhaps you need to “re-shoot, re-cast, or re-edit” at your business! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 03, 2020•13 min•Season 2Ep. 496
Salesforce reports that customer expectations are changing! That means the time is right for you to deliver what Scott McKain has trademarked as the “Ultimate Customer Experience.” In today’s Project Distinct, he’ll reveal the first step to the UCE —it’s just considering what one would be for YOUR customer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 02, 2020•11 min•Season 2Ep. 495
In a recent episode, Scott McKain mentioned that half of Millennials are dissatisfied with the education and training they’re receiving to help them grow. In today’s Project Distinct, he reports from a new Harvard study that HALF of senior leaders believe they aren’t teaching the skills necessary for future leaders — even as they spend billions to do so. We’ll take a look at why training and development isn’t delivering in terms of leadership — and offer the specific prescription that research s...
Aug 01, 2020•14 min•Season 2Ep. 494
Product. Service. Experience. These are the “big 3” when it comes to the relationships you have with your customers. On today’s Project Distinct, Scott McKain will outline the importance of all three and show how each plays an important role in the total customer experience — which can make or break repeat and referral business! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 31, 2020•11 min•Season 2Ep. 493
“Emotion” is a word we don’t use nearly enough in business, according to Scott McKain. In today’s Project Distinct, he relates a story that brought that fact home to him — and shares the specific reasons why emotion is so important for EVERY business in today’s marketplace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 30, 2020•11 min•Season 2Ep. 492
While a consistent delivery of the customer experience might first be appreciated, over a period of time the sameness will bore and disengage your customers. In today’s Project Distinct, Scott McKain makes the case for refreshing your customer experience — and provides the six questions you need to ask to make it happen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 29, 2020•9 min•Season 2Ep. 491
You cannot create distinction without an engaged team delivering an ultimate customer experience. On today’s Project Distinct, Scott McKain reveals some shocking statistics about employee engagement — and gives you specific steps to take to enhance the involvement of your team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 28, 2020•9 min•Season 2Ep. 490
We’ve all experienced managers who were tough to work for — and, if that’s what you’re dealing with now, how can you handle it? In today’s Project Distinct, Scott McKain shares his story of a difficult boss — and how you can avoid the mistake he made. And, he’ll reveal simple, practical steps to help you be more productive when you have to work with a difficult personality. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Jul 27, 2020•11 min•Season 2Ep. 489
According to Harvard, Millennials are now the largest generation in the workforce. So, how is YOUR organization equipping them to be the leaders who will take you into the future? According to a recent study, probably not very well. Today’s Project Distinct looks at what Millennials want in training and development and Scott Mckain reveals the two steps you need to take NOW to ensure future growth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Jul 26, 2020•12 min•Season 2Ep. 488
Whether we realize it or not, the attitude that we display to others is highly contagious. And, this naturally means that the attitudes we reflect to our customers helps set the tone for their experiences with us. Today, Scott McKain reveals new research on the critical importance of sending out “good vibes” and what it can mean to our customer and employee relationships. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Jul 25, 2020•11 min•Season 2Ep. 487
It’s hard to imagine any band customizing their concert performances more than Metallica does. In today’s Project Distinct, Scott McKain lists how the supergroup makes each show a special event for local fans — and relates it to the steps we need to take in business to make our customers feel more engaged. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 24, 2020•10 min
In this episode, Scott takes a look at the specific reasons WHY your business is a “show business” — and offers specific ideas on what you can do to enhance the customer experience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 23, 2020•12 min•Season 2Ep. 485
