Project Distinct Podcast

In a previous episode of PROJECT DISTINCT, Scott McKain discussed the challenge he faced with an overbearing customer survey. Today, he highlights an article from Harvard Business Review and expands on an important concept: talking with and listening to your customers will produce greater insight for you than merely asking them to complete a survey. So…why don’t more leaders do it? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With all of the celebration about the 50th anniversary of the landing on the moon, Scott McKain started wondering, “Why have we been able to put humans on the moon — yet, it seems impossible for humans to consistently receive an ‘Ultimate Customer Experience ®?’” On today’s PROJECT DISTINCT, Scott will reveal the five reasons the moon mission succeeded, but our efforts at the customer experience often fall short. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’re holding off on expressing appreciation to a customer, colleague, or someone in your personal life…today’s PROJECT DISTINCT has news for YOU! In the midst of a bad day, Scott McKain received a short message from a loyal listener. It not only changed his day — it inspired him to discover the latest research on what expressed appreciation means to BOTH the recipient and the sender. Today’s podcast is an episode you should not miss! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Based on a visit to a famed California restaurant, Scott McKain asks us to consider what the “Ultimate Customer Experience ®” is for our respective businesses. On today’s PROJECT DISTINCT, he’ll outline why it’s important — and the specific steps to get started in delivering it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Regis McKenna wrote about the “never-satisfied customer” — and, in today’s world of endless options, the problem is certainly exacerbated. On today’s PROJECT DISTINCT, Scott McKain looks at what we should do when a customer refuses to be satisfied with the products, services, and experiences that we are providing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/adchoices

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All of us desire to be respected — and, it just makes sense to show our colleagues and customers respect in our dealings with them. Why, then, do we often see examples of pushy salespersons, disinterested employees, or haughty customers? In part, because they haven’t learned and applied the topic of today’s PROJECT DISTINCT: the six steps to respect. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s a $55 million house involved — a real estate agent — and a prospect who won’t buy ANYTHING because of a pushy approach. That’s today’s PROJECT DISTINCT, where Scott McKain discusses how one salesperson’s choice not to listen might have spoiled a potential sale. Is that a mistake you’ve ever made? Probably, we ALL have — and today’s episode shows us what to do about it…and why aggressive sales tactics are like an unexamined drug. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Based on his recent blog post that stirred controversy, Scott McKain explodes the myth that being a “sales badass” is what will help you close deals and convert customers. Today’s PROJECT DISTINCT provides the three points that you must know if you are going to serve customers and grow sales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices