Episode description

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.

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