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What Do Diets And Sales Approaches Have In Common?

12 Responses to “What Do Diets And Sales Approaches Have In Common?”

1. Michael Dow, on February 23rd, 2009 at 12:37 am Said:

   Actually, The Pen and Paper Diet is the solution to eradicate obesity from the human population and ease the upcoming global food crisis. It is based on the simple idea of A Personal Daily Calorie Budget and any literate adult, of any age, activity level and lifestyle can do this. It takes 3 minutes a day. See the following press release for more info: http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/solution-to-eradicate-obesity-from-the-human-population-and-ease-the-upcoming-global-food-crisis-60109.php.

   Michael Dow

2. Bob Johnson, on February 23rd, 2009 at 3:13 am Said:

   Dave,

   Very nice juxtaposition.

   Funny as it sounds, recognition of the problem is the first step to changing anything — it’s amazing the rationalizations we all come up with rather than address an uncomfortable situation. Once the awareness takes full hold, it leads to commitment, which keeps you going through the tough times. The other key I see is creating a support structure.. I know when I quit smoking, having my two closest friends quit at the same time made all the difference.

   It’s probably not all that different for addressing sales effectiveness. How many sales organizations actually recognize that they have a problem or step up to making major changes? And how many sales groups provide adequate leadership in the form of coaching, training, and peer support?

3. Topics about Health, Food and Well being » Archive » What Do bDiets/b And Sales Approaches Have In Common? « Dave Stein’s b…/b, on February 23rd, 2009 at 9:26 am Said:

   [...] Dave Stein added an interesting post today on What Do bDiets/b And Sales Approaches Have In Common? « Dave Steinâ [...]

4. Topics about Health, Food and Well being » Archive » What Do Diets And Sales Approaches Have In Common? « Dave Stein’s b…/b, on February 23rd, 2009 at 9:26 am Said:

   [...] Dave Stein placed an observative post today on What Do Diets And Sales Approaches Have In Common? « Dave Steinâ [...]

5. Topics about Health, Food and Well being » Archive » What Do Diets And Sales Approaches Have In Common? « Dave Stein’s b…/b, on February 23rd, 2009 at 9:26 am Said:

   [...] Dave Stein added an interesting post today on What Do Diets And Sales Approaches Have In Common? « Dave Steinâ [...]

6. Steve, on February 23rd, 2009 at 8:04 pm Said:

   As one of the publishers (and marketer) for one of above listed diets, I can say that the market exists for an unlimited number of diets for few simple reasons… The market is insatiable and a reader can almost never blame a diet for not working. When it stops working (and it usually does), they simple try the next one on the list.

   There is a benefit in always have a new diet to try . If a diet can motivate a reader to follow a plan long enough to actually see results, it might actually promote permanent change.

   If I substitute the word “sales approches” for the word “diet” it’s a very close match…

   …the market exists for an unlimited number of sales approaches for few simple reasons… The market is insatiable and a reader can almost never blame a sales approaches for not working. When it stops working (and it usually does), they simple try the next one on the list.

   There is a benefit in always have a new sales approch to try. If an approach can motivate a reader to follow a plan long enough to actually see results, it might actually promote permanent change.

   PS If you want to see the blending of a diet and marketing, you might check out our blog at http://www.bestsellerornot.com

7. Carlo/Carlo At Your Service Productions, on February 23rd, 2009 at 9:40 pm Said:

   Wow! Your list of diets is the true testament that the diet industry is alive and well. Good old fashioned exercise and pushing oneself away from the table would do the trick (and of course, not cost one penny) if people weren’t so caught up in losing weight fast. The ultimate sales tea make the most $$ by pushing the most cost effective with an emphasis on support. The current state of our economy supports this method, I think.

8. Jill at Meeting to Win, on February 24th, 2009 at 9:28 am Said:

   This post is too funny. I’ve tried a few of those over the years and realize it’s “burn more calories than you eat”. The basics! Why is simple sometimes so hard…
   Thanks for another great post.
   Jill

9. Dave Stein, on February 24th, 2009 at 9:59 am Said:

   Thanks, Jill, Carlo, Steve, Bob and Michael…

   I just finished reading In Defense of Food. There shouldn’t be a question in anyone’s mind about diets, eating, obesity and other food-related diseases after reading that book.

   On the sales approach side, a general rule is this: First, get your team up to speed on all the sales 101 basics, with those skills being customized for effective selling to your buyers. Then look at additional skills, tools, approaches, strategies and capabilities that will provide competitive advantage. And remember this: THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS.

10. Luke Petri, on February 24th, 2009 at 11:35 am Said:

    Hi Dave,

    My personal opinion (I stress the word personal) is that before adopting a diet you need to address the ill which you hope it will cure. The concern is if a diet is adopted before this is carried out there is a danger it will mask what is the really underlying problem. If a person is overweight then, sometimes (this is not applicable to everyone who is overweight) I would suggest the reason for this goes beyond simply overeating: overeating can be a symptom of work problems, family problems, personal problems etc and what needs to be addressed first of all is the cause, not the symptom.

    The same analogy can be attributed to a “sales approach”. A failing/problematic sales process needs to be addressed before any sales system, tip or trick can be successfully implemented. Installing the latest software will allow an organisation to structure all their data, have it easily and readily available and probably for the first 3 months, 6 months, 12 months of it being in place be a veritable success. However, the failing/problematic “sales approach” which it underpins, more often than not, will eventually rise to the surface undoing all the hard work that was put into it.

    In terms of a diet unless the initial work problem, family problem, personal problem etc is addressed the person will lose the weight, feel great about themselves, and then months late when the problem ‘rears its ugly head’ again they will be back to square one.

    You cannot build a structurally sound home on unstable foundations.

11. Admin, on February 25th, 2009 at 11:55 pm Said:

    Interesting post Dave – I agree with you that your diet impacts the life you get to live.

    If you are not a scientist, and don’t have access to the details of the diet research, then you are at the mercy of the opinions of others on what is right and wrong. Experts disagree on most points (care to debate global warming anyone?), common wisdom is always evolving, there are tons of myths propagated on the web and many fad diets are created with an objective to sell books.

    So where does that leave us? Probably confused as you point out.

    I used to do triathlons and we studied the research behind various foods, but we are accepted that you have to try different things and see what works for you.

    I have been a vegan for several years – no meat, no dairy. I eat tons of raw organic food, take natural supplements to augment my diet especially since I do a lot of sports, eat lots of fiber and minimize saturated fats and carbs from simple sugars. I always feel great, and am convinced this is the right diet for me, but it is not for everyone. I train with a guy who prefers a high meat/protein diet – it works for him.

    Whatever approach you pick, it needs to work for you – make you feel good today and set you up to thrive tomorrow. I like Jill’s comment above. Stick to the basics. Some things we know….consistent carb overdoses will eventually kill most people, high cholesterol as well, refined sugar is tough, etc, etc.. In the absence of clear rules, better to have balance and consume a broad mix of foods in moderation (and don’t forget the importance of being physically active!).

    Eliot.

12. Dave Stein, on February 26th, 2009 at 9:26 am Said:

    Eliot,

    I was very heavy at one time in my life. Obese, actually. I tried a bunch of diets. Kept gaining the weight back. Finally a doctor friend of mine pointed me in the right direction. Eat less, move more. I lost 80 pounds. Although my weight varies 10 pounds or so here and there depending on how much I travel, eat or exercise, that’s the answer for me. It’s really simple.

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