sales management in times of crisis

This is a followup to my post from March this year, sales management in times of excessive demand. It seems like in crisis all problems that sales management copes with are gone. Top management supports sales and even marketing activities and encourages proactive sales management. They are responsive and affirmative to sales team suggestions compared to their previous passive or even negative reactions to proactivity (although in theory and until it comes to actions they support it or even demand it). It seems that the crisis wakes up the management in so far successful and growing businesses. Finally it drives them to support the real actions so sales and marketing can do their job and if well prepared, just activate the plans already designed before. Unfortunately, it could be too late for the required effects.

Sphere: Related Content

Mac, Linux or Windows? (or is there a question at all ...)

I have been a Mac user for almost a year now and Tomaz finally switched our home mainframe (supporting home LAN, 3 users, serving NFS, Apache, Samba and others) to Linux Ubuntu. So at home, we are off Windows completely (well at work we are both still bound to it). Instead of describing our excitement and satisfaction I rather quote one of his thoughts: "Windows? What is it? How is it used?". Well, maybe we are just the two enthusiasts who have always been searching for alternatives and who are not really understood by Windows users. Anyway, I feel like I need to tell you why we switched (and we have friends, too :)).

Why Mac? It has always been state of the art with its user interface, user experience, security and simplicity. It was simply always a step (or two or three) ahead of Windows as well as a choice of people with strong aesthetic touch.

Why Linux? It combines all the strongest virtues of reliable and customizable OS. And it's open source. I support it and it's a great model for the future (not just for computer development).

And why bother at all about the alternatives if I use Windows at work and had been using it at home since I'd had my first computer?
1) I cannot forgive its major disadvantages (performance, security, dummy-kind user experience ...) and in the same time also pay for it. Besides, every improvement and update comes with a delay.
2) I find trying a different, potentially better OS good for me and the time I spent for getting used to it is not a waste of time. The process itself is good for my knowledge and experience. And the result might bring me a better user experience and higher satisfaction.
3) And I've always been keen on trying alternatives - if there is an alternative to one thing, why not try it? Maybe it is better, different, something new at least, with different kind of experience etc. It's not hard to be satisfied with one thing if one has not tried any other.
4) It's also about the possibility to choose. I want to have it and if I have it I use it.

Sphere: Related Content

online shopping rules ... again

Recently I was occupied (of course ...) with selecting and searching for baby stuff ... furniture, equipment and other accessories, eco clothes & nappies, organic cosmetic ... there's a lot of it all. And I decided to buy everything online. Again, I found online shopping much more convenient than going into stores. More user friendly, less time consuming and less stressful, more deliberate and with much more choice. With plenty of time for decision without a need to go out and drive to the store. And the offer is endless. One of Slovene online stores even offers advise and has a place where customers can see the products (upon the announcement which is even better). The worst store I found on this pre-shopping trip is a leading Slovene conventional baby store. High prices with loyalty program instead of more attractive discount policy, too much to check everything with one visit (I don't find any excitement in visiting it more times), their staff is not competent enough (or at all - they just sell, not advise and they don't have enough information), sometimes they're even unfriendly. Btw, they have online store as well but it's too complicated to use (and takes time to find something) and the prices are as high as in the main store. On the contrary, staff in other online-only stores is friendly, responsive, advisable, proactive and flexible. I contacted some online stores by email and by phone and received personal response and a very good treatment. And I can do all this in my living room or in my bed. And finally I will be comfortably waiting to receive all the packages. At home. (and rather go out for a walk than for shopping)

Sphere: Related Content