The Military Channel recently broadcast a program that dealt with famous submarine captains. I was particularly interested when I saw an interview with Otto Kretschmer, the most productive submarine skipper in the Atlantic theatre during World War II. In Marketing to the Affluent, I mentioned reading the book, Memoirs: Ten Years and Twenty Days, by Karl Doenitz, the head of …
Too bad I won’t be able to make it to the Daytona 500 this year. Now, according to The Wall Street Journal, “Daytona International Speedway has eased its cooler policy, letting fans bring in as many as 36 cans of beer rather than just a six-pack.” If I could go it would be for a reason beyond watching …
Have you ever considered becoming an advocate for the causes of your clients and prospective clients? This is what Jason, a financial consultant, does all the time. He has great sensitivity to the needs and problems of others. I would like to share one of his experiences with you. Jason is a community volunteer who is actively involved with …
Buddy Valastero, the star of cable television’s Cake Boss, was recently profiled in USA Today. According to the article, the Make-A-Wish Foundation recently asked him to help grant the wish of a 7-year old girl who was terminally ill. She wanted to make a cake with Mr. Valastero, and her wish was granted. “After she left, Valastero cried. …
The senior vice president and head of national sales for a brokerage company once asked me an interesting question, “If you can get millionaires to answer all your questions, would you consider interviewing our top financial advisors? They are all great at making money for clients. But there’s more to it. How do they attract …
In a previous blog, Stop Acting Rich: Follow Harry’s Lead, I mentioned a fund raising event that I had attended. I was invited because I had volunteered my expertise about how to market to millionaires. However, several of the other patrons of the school’s construction fund who were in attendance were all quite wealthy, like Harry. But …
A rather interesting fellow once told me how he became head of marketing for what is today a major mutual fund. He said that being the fund’s top sales professional had helped him a great deal. How did he become an extraordinary sales professional (ESP)? My own research shows that mutual funds are hard to …
In Chapter 5 of Stop Acting Rich, Keeping Up with Your Spirits, I discuss several issues concerning the consumption of distilled beverages. In the process of researching this topic I discovered that vodka is the number one distilled beverage consumed by the affluent. Also, I mention the fact that there are more than 300 competing brands of …
I have taught more than 10,000 students during my career as a college professor. If I was asked today to list the top ten students whom I predicted would succeed in business, surely Charles aka Chip would make the list of the 1 in 1,000. Chip was a bright student. But being bright alone will …
Some of the most productive and well run automobile dealerships can be found in small town America. They rely upon repeat business and a good reputation among a finite population. Word of mouth information, both good and bad, spreads quickly in this environment. The success of one particular small town dealership was highlighted in a recent …