Everyone a Salesperson; Dan Pink's Latest Book; 4 Keys to Economic Growth; Ft. Myers Jan 9

"...keeping you great"

HEADLINES:  

The only thing you got in this world is what you can sell. And the funny thing is, you're a salesman, and you don't know that.
	Arthur Miller Death of a Salesman

Need Acquisition Capital? -- I met up with a friend over the New Year who is distributing $100 million of capital for acquisition financing of private companies. If you need $10-30 million for acquisitions in Q1 or Q2 this year... shoot me a note and I'll introduce you.

Everyone a Salesperson? -- an insight reader asked me for a great book that all the non-sales people in their company could read that made the point that everyone is really in sales!! I struggled to come up with a book, though I thought Dan Pink's (author of the huge bestseller entitled Drive) upcoming book To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others might be the perfect read (Dan had mentioned he was writing this book to me a year ago after keynoting our 2011 Growth Summit). And it is!! Released Dec 31, it's already in the top 10 of all biz books and will surely be one of the smash hits for 2013.

1 in 9 in Sales -- this, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is the number of Americans in some form of sales position. In turn, as most growth firm leaders know, the other 8 play a role in sales as well. The key is helping them understand this and giving them the support and skills to be helpful. This is what Dan Pink's book does - in a highly entertaining and readable format. One interesting trend, not only in Pink's book but others, is the focus on introverts - and why they are able to "move people" in ways extraverts can't. The first review on Amazon provides a great summary of the book, but you'll need to scan it for the specific "how to's." This book is worthy of your book-of-the-month club.

Antifragile Children Part 2 -- if you're looking for an overseas experience for your high school student, without having to move the entire family, Pam Krulitz, Managing Partner of Isis Associates, sent two recommendations. Her daughter has participated in both - thus the references to her below:

1. School Year Abroad - Year-long programs with rigorous academics and living with families in China (where my daughter went), Spain, Italy or France. The program was founded by a consortium of boarding schools, and draws heavily from about 40 independent schools around the country, but anyone is welcome to apply. Its boarding school prices, but need-based scholarships are available.
2. United World College - 2-year residential IB program in one of twelve United World Colleges around the world. Over 130 countries, including the US, have national committees that select students to represent their country at the UWC's, so the kids literally live and study with students from around the world. 50 American students are selected each year to attend, and receive a full scholarship courtesy of Shelby Davis. 25 go to the school in New Mexico and the rest go to the other schools around the world (Wales, Canada, Norway, India, Swaziland, Singapore, Hong Kong, etc.). My daughter is finishing her second year at the UWC in Hong Kong. It's a fabulous program, and I'm always surprised that it's not better known.

Concludes Krulitz, "Both programs have a very good track record of college placements."Pam thank you for sharing this information.

Economic Formula for Growth -- my January "Growth Guy" column weighs in on four significant challenges countries and economies are facing around the globe - education, R&D, exports, and competitiveness. There's some surprising statistics and suggested best practices from economies/countries that are thriving.

Ft. Myers, FL Jan 9 -- this is the first Rockefeller Habits workshop in 2013 and our 11th year of offering the course.