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...
Jan 13, 2021•9 min•Season 2Ep. 604
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
Jan 12, 2021•11 min•Season 2Ep. 603
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...
Jan 11, 2021•9 min•Season 2Ep. 602
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...
Jan 10, 2021•12 min•Season 2Ep. 601
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...
Jan 09, 2021•9 min•Season 2Ep. 600
It’s hard to think of a differentiated or distinctive organization — or professional — who is what Zig Ziglar called a “wandering generality.” In other words, one of the first steps you must take to stand out from your competition is a focus on what sets you apart. It’s having CLARITY on who you are and what you mean to customers. On today’s PROJECT DISTINCT, Scott McKain will help us understand the importance of clarity and how to attain it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/...
Jan 08, 2021•9 min•Season 2Ep. 599
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...
Jan 07, 2021•10 min•Season 2Ep. 598
After yesterday’s PROJECT DISTINCT, it’s obvious that listeners wanted more info on dealing with price objections in these competitive times. Today, Scott McKain offers more ideas and strategies on how to deal with customers who insist they can buy it cheaper than what you and your organization are offering. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 06, 2021•11 min•Season 2Ep. 597
At yesterday’s seminar in Tasmania, a participant asked Scott McKain what they should do when a competitor says, “Go out and get the best prices and I’ll beat anything by $500.” Handling the price objection is never easy — but, we can improve our averages in closing. Understanding the important role that distinction plays in getting customers to spend more is absolutely critical — and the topic of today’s PROJECT DISTINCT. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Jan 05, 2021•10 min•Season 2Ep. 596
No employee — or the organization they work for — starts a day thinking, “Another chance to deliver lousy service to our customers!” However, many do. Today’s PROJECT DISTINCT takes a look at several organizations in varied industries and examines the specific steps they take to deliver distinctive service. And, NONE of these are expensive — they’re all steps YOU can take, no matter what you do! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Jan 04, 2021•11 min•Season 2Ep. 595
Why is it that we accept “satisfaction” as success in customer relationships — yet, we find it so average in our personal ones? In part, Scott McKain suggests on today’s PROJECT DISTINCT, because we are unwilling to drill more deeply into the negative aspects that have eroded our customer’s enthusiasm. We must eliminate the points of friction that prevent our customers from receiving an Ultimate Customer Experience®! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Dec 18, 2020•12 min•Season 2Ep. 594
After spending thirty nights in a Sydney hotel last year, a loyal customer assumed a problem would be addressed. He was wrong. Too often we overlook LTV — expressed as either Long-Term Value or Lifetime Value of a customer. On today’s new PROJECT DISTINCT recorded in Australia, Scott McKain talks about a critical aspect of business success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 17, 2020•9 min•Season 2Ep. 593
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...
Dec 16, 2020•14 min•Season 2Ep. 592
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...
Dec 15, 2020•11 min•Season 2Ep. 591
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
Dec 14, 2020•13 min•Season 2Ep. 590
When Indianapolis sports radio celebrity Kent Sterling posted about his horrible experience at a local McDonald’s because of the local managers, it reminded Scott McKain of a recent Forbes.com blog about the “Five Customer Service Practices That Drive Consumers Crazy.” Today’s PROJECT DISTINCT will reveal those five errors so you don’t inadvertently create for your customers a bad experience like McDonald’s did for Sterling! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Dec 13, 2020•11 min•Season 2Ep. 589
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
Dec 12, 2020•11 min•Season 2Ep. 588
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...
Dec 11, 2020•14 min•Season 2Ep. 587
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
Dec 10, 2020•11 min•Season 2Ep. 586
“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
Dec 09, 2020•11 min•Season 2Ep. 585
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
Dec 08, 2020•9 min•Season 2Ep. 584
During a remote recording from Hawaii, Scott McKain reminds us that while we are constantly chopping wood and working to grow our careers and organizations, we also must sharpen our axe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 07, 2020•8 min•Season 2Ep. 583
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
Dec 06, 2020•9 min•Season 2Ep. 582
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...
Nov 30, 2020•11 min•Season 2Ep. 581
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...
Nov 25, 2020•12 min•Season 2Ep. 580
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...
Nov 24, 2020•11 min•Season 2Ep. 579
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
Nov 23, 2020•10 min
In business you have to know your numbers — yet, as Scott McKain reports on today’s PROJECT DISTINCT, the most important metric in your business cannot be defined simply by numbers, surveys, or studies. From LTV to CAC we might have the numbers — yet, if you’re not focusing on the metric that can’t be measured, you’ll lose out to your competition. It’s a thought provoking concept on today’s episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Nov 22, 2020•10 min•Season 2Ep. 577
With the oldest Millennials in the workforce at about 38 years old — and the oldest Gen Z generation members already in their mid-20s — we have to pay serious attention to how we educate and retain the future leaders of our organizations. On today’s PROJECT DISTINCT, Scott McKain discusses five “best practices” for what it takes to train…so you can retain…your best young colleagues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Nov 21, 2020•11 min•Season 2Ep. 576
For about the 20tth consecutive year, Scott McKain will head to Malibu and Pepperdine University to be one of the speakers at the Youth Citizenship Summit. Every year, he has joined other speakers such as Jon Voight, Tommy Lasorda, Kathy Ireland, the late Art Linkletter, and — Scott’s favorite — boxing champion George Foreman. On today’s PROJECT DISTINCT, Scott will relate the critical messages he’s learned from this incredible group of people as they speak to the leaders of the future. Learn mo...
Nov 20, 2020•11 min•Season 2Ep. 575
