Project Distinct Podcast

Artificial intelligence can be used to help us know more about our customers and serve them more effectively. But, what happens when some companies use it to wring every cent from a customer and take them right to the breaking point? It’s happening, according to the Wall St. Journal — and today’s new PROJECT DISTINCT discusses what smart, iconic companies do instead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your customers are now turning to social media more than ever before to connect with you and your organization! How can you leverage your presence on social media to enhance the customer experience so you can expand customer loyalty, retention, and referrals? That’s the topic of today’s PROJECT DISTINCT! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many of the cliches about leadership are truly valuable — but they are ones we’ve often heard. On today’s PROJECT DISTINCT, Scott McKain relates information and insight from a book on leadership that challenged the writers to come up with some new and innovative ideas about the role of a leader in a distinctive organization. Some you’ll like — some you probably won’t — but all will challenge your thinking. Today’s episode aims to expand your perspectives on leadership! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

According to a major study by Salesforce Research, almost 70% of customers say they have higher expectations of organizations like yours — and professionals like YOU — in today’s marketplace than ever before. Problem is, they also feel that OVER HALF of all organizations fail to deliver on their promises. Here’s the latest data and info on customers — and why it’s important — and what you need to do about it — on today’s PROJECT DISTINCT. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You can’t create distinction or deliver ultimate experiences to your customers if you’re constantly feeling burned out and uninspired. In today’s 24/7, fast-paced, global marketplace, it’s easier than ever to have severe burnout sneak up on us and knock us for a loop. If you’re a highly driven achiever, it’s surprising how suddenly you can have feelings of fatigue, detachment, and pessimism. On today’s PROJECT DISTINCT, Scott McKain will help you identify if you’re potentially burning out — and what you need to do about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

One of the world’s largest annual sporting events was recently held — although it’s technical classified as “sports entertainment.” It’s Wrestlemania! If you are a WWE fan — and especially if you aren’t — here are three serious business lessons that you can learn from the success of Wrestlemania 2019. It’s a “no hold barred” edition of PROJECT DISTINCT from the man in that corner, Scott McKain! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s “experience economy,” perhaps the most important aspect is the connection you have with your customers. In today’s episode, Scott reminds us we should make our customers the star of our organization’s “show” — and gives three specific ways we can make that happen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You can’t be distinctive unless you’re delivering an Ultimate Customer Experience ® to those who are doing business with you. In today’s PROJECT DISTINCT, recorded from Hong Kong, Scott McKain (whose company owns the Federally registered trademark on the term “Ultimate Customer Experience”) reveals the initial steps required to get started. It’s an important topic for every professional because it gets you closer to your customer so you can enhance retention and referrals. A vital message is waiting for you in today’s episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Creating a “customer journey map” is all the rage among customer experience professionals. And, whether you work for a large organization — or you’re a solopreneur working out of a back bedroom — you need to work on enhancing the experience that your customer has at every touchpoint with you. However, there is a singular problem with this approach that goes against the grain of the relationships we desire with our clients — and that’s the topic of today’s episode. Scott McKain will reveal the basic problem that's wrong with the customer journey map. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Scott McKain and friends visited a winery in Hunter Valley, Australia, they were denied the chance to sample one of the wines on the vineyard's menu because they were told, “We aren’t tasting reds today.” As they left without purchasing any of the wines they were selling, Scott was reminded of the great customer service story from Bob Farrell of the old Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlours: “Give ‘em the pickle!” That powerful story is at the center of today’s episode of Project Distinct. 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

The statistic caught Scott McKain’s eyes: “53% of sales professionals had not been to any type of sales training for five years!” In today’s Project Distinct, Scott looks at the importance of sales training — and how it has to change in the rapidly evolving world of selling. The movement from subscription to transaction means that sales professionals need training more than ever before. Yet, few look for what they really need — and scant organizations provide it. Today is a controversial and compelling edition of Project Distinct! 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