Business Jazz

Paul and Roger fire themselves live on air. Robots are coming to replace them—Tesla and Edison have seen to that. When should a business give up, or should it persevere until it succeeds? Will we be able to reframe ourselves in time for Season 16? Or is this the end?

The question of microphone adaptors - that's the topic that begins this episode. One expert and one novice. "I am the lowest tech person" says Paul O'Mahony. Business Jazz podcast is not the best place for you to get digital connection advice. Coffee making is another matter. Roger Overall hasn't noticed that there is a top-class coffee machine in Paul kitchen. Adobe software would frighten you because it's so complex - but Adobe have installed an explainer video that pops up to show you what to do. Coffee machine makers could learn from Adobe. It's best to drink coffee while listening to this episode. Roger gets down to brass tacks - he starts chat about how to help your customers. Shipping slips, pizza deliveries, maritime matters, China to Southampton, stuck in Suez canal, Canada, 'the amazing Jane Boyd", overnight driving, Halifax, Vancouver - all get a mention in about 3 minutes. What does "I ship that" mean to you? "I just want to socialise this" means what to you? Roger disapproves of modern corporate speak - "that's not how humans speak" asserts our grammarian. "I'll help you drive traffic to your website" - is the sentence that Paul detests - and considers it wrong to treat people as cows. Listen on for more of the conversation about attracting people ...

"To avoid a disaster" or "To gain additional success" - that's why Paul O'Mahony decides to record a back-up of this episode. You will hear Roger Overall report on the emergency customer service he received from Irish Water. A leak threatened to undermine his house - "there is a valuable business lesson here" Roger assures listeners. You'll hear about the local business that came to Roger's rescue - and you may pick up a tip or two on how best to serve your customers a solution. PS. The house survived. Roger also survived the pain.

The big issue is customer service. You'll hear here: Apple Storytelling - how Apple customer service was a disaster for Paul's daughter. "I lost all faith in your procedures". Paul O'Mahony & Roger Overall play with this experience. A box eventually delivered by UPC. What happened between the ordering of the iphone and the late delivery of it. Apple missed the deadline. You hear all the details ...

Crystallised stone sugar (Borstplaat) - brown sugar - brown rice - these are the first things you hear about - as you tune into the ongoing conversation between Roger Overall & Paul O'Mahony. It was not our intention to say anything damaging about Tate & Lyle - the sugar company. "How to become the No 1 restaurant in town" quickly becomes the subject of this episode. A black hat episode. Scurrilous rumours. ... Russell Brand has reformed. "No unpleasant person recommends meditation & mindfulness" - asserts Paul. The Valentine's Day Massacre enters the conversation. The Slurring Strategy: How to slur your competitors ... If Roger wanted to damage the city of Cork, this is what he would do ... Fake food poisoning ... Ryan's restaurant ... "you can't get Salmonella from eating steamed carrots. The rest of the episode goes from bad to badder.

In this episode (recorded in Montenotte Hotel, Cork, Ireland) Paul O'Mahony & Roger Overall touch on what's happening in Ukraine. Quickly, the conversation shifts to Manchester United - and what happens when a company loses its CEO & loses its identity. They riff off Lisa Fallon's article in The Irish Times - this become a football chat. "Do you not have your mission statement written down?" "She's talking about the brand", says Paul - as the coffee arrives. Chelsea comes into it. The fall & rise of Alex Ferguson. Barcelona FC. Pep Guardiola too. Paul reveals that he's been supporting Spurs. "You can't change the brand of your business in the short term ... " and so the conversation goes for about 25 minutes.

Seated upon a purple velvet throne and squeaky desk chair, we arrive without friction at a minimalist conclusion.

Roger Overall & Paul O'Mahony grapple with "Should you ignore current issues (like what's happening in Ukraine) when communicating about your business?" What advice would you give to a Newsletter editor - or a CEO before they go lto be interviewed about the business on TV or Radio program? If you were the CEO, would you refer to an current event which is huge in the consciousness of its customers, shareholders & wider community? Roger & Paul talk about business communications in the face of terrible events elsewhere and locally. We struggle through and come to a conclusion.

This episode contains (1) analysis of marketing copy for hotels - inspired by how the Montenotte Hotel in Cork advertises itself. (2) advice about advertising copywriting - including education about "Merchant Princes" - and praise for what Montenotte has communicated in copy. (3) discussion of what it was like in the 'garden of Eden' (4) advice on how to tempt customers to your business (5) education about 'clotted cream' - and a snippet of a chat with a member of staff at Montenotte Hotel This is the final. episode in Season 14.

How to be genuinely attractive in business? [These notes deserve to be tarted up - this won't be difficult to do] Paul shows Roger his way of keeping track of things he's meant to do. This episode is almost all about the business of testing, maintaining & repairing cars - and reassuring customers. Opel failed its annual health test (NCT) Fail faster Arsenal Football Club has recently failed faster Liverpool beat the team Roger supports Discussion about the Irish health check - including how you approach your doctor. NCT testers tell you dispassionately that you've failed Roger's car failed too. You hear how little of what the tester said Roger understood. You hear about Paul's interaction with the man who tested his car. Paul's No 1 tip: 'Do not run after a retreating tester". Roger praises the person to whom he next took his car - enlightenment & empowerment. Part 2 of the conversation is all about how a pilot reassured people on a plane. Reassuring the customer is a way of keeping the customer willing to buy: "It's alright, we can fix it. Servicing the boiler in Roger's house - my boiler is older that your's, said Roger. Roger needs a new computer, new car & new cameras. Depreciation reserve pot. Buying wine - not putting funds aside to pay value add

Overlooking the city of Cork, drinking different types of coffee from exotic cups, from the Montenotte Hotel. Roger Overall has a story which begins with Irish property tax and the "infamous tomato tax". Roger reveals his house is like an archeological dig, and attracts a property valuer who refuses to charge Roger for a declaration to government. Roger failed to persuade the professional advisor to accept payment. You hear Paul give his opinion that millions of people in Ireland value their property by sticking an index finger in the air and pluck a value from the air. The future probably involves a bill from the Revenue. (tax collectors). The drama shifts to Glanmire where a motor factor didn't charge Paul for a small service - thereby winning Paul's lifelong loyalty. "I'll see you next time" versus "I'll see you again" - which attracts you. most? The conversation continues to consider examples of wise decision-making - and how Paul confronted someone who was not wearing a mask. https://www.goldenpages.ie/michael-o-connor-motor-factors-ltd-cork/ is a link to Michael O'Connor, motor factor. Listen to all 30 minutes ... and Roger's GAA "All-Ireland Final" story.

In this episode - recorded in the Montenotte Hotel in Cork Ireland - Paul O'Mahony apologises for his negligence, Roger Overall shows how to receive an apology. - Roger talks about his beard, and talks about the "West Cork Beard Company", the business owner may have a Garibaldi Beard. - Montenotte breakfast is served, the cups, saucers & tea pot are praised - This podcast is not sponsored by the Montenotte - Beard oil, Beard balm, and wax are attractive products ordered online by Roger's wife - "Only bearded ladies my apply" : how amusing is that phrase? - Roger tells the customer service story - A hand-written note blows Roger away Listen to the whole episode - you'll hear more.

SEASON 14 BEGINS HERE - in a new venue: Montenotte Hotel on the east side of Cork City. Paul & Roger settle down with new equipment - and focus on marketing, in a genuine way. You hear Paul make a mistake - and Roger correcting him. Ray Kelleher is the Director of Sales & Marketing. He joins Business Jazz for a brief chat. You hear that the hotel will soon start its own podcast. Previous venues include Lords Cricket Ground, Blackrock Castle Observatory cafe, Café Beva, Republic of Work. We use Røde microphones - from Australia. Paul sheepishly says he doesn't associate Australia with "tip-top technology". Roger speaks about how good Sennheiser kit is - and how much more expensive their mics are than Røde. https://bit.ly/3EvLpEl is the link to the equipment that Roger talks about. Doug Menuez - one of Roger's favourite photographers - is mentioned. "Let's send this episode to the CEO of Røde". There's a lot more to listen to.

Curious about Customers: Paul O'Mahony found his hearing aid while recording audio - you hear him telling Roger Overall about Specsavers where he bought the aid. You hear about Walmart's method of comparing themselves with competitors You also hear about "A Curious Mind" by Brian Glazer https://www.amazon.co.uk/Curious-Mind-Secret-Bigger-Life/dp/1476730776 And also bits about Unilever, Heintz & Peter Cox (photographer) - plus Copernicus Ian Kath in Australia came in too. END OF SEASON 13 - you hear the last word.

A friend sent Paul a gift - the book "Switch - how to change. things when change is hard". This led Roger Overall & Paul O'Mahony to chat about change. Leading it, managing it, surviving it.

Paul O'Mahony & Roger Overall address Apple & other fruits. "What is is about the fruit Apple that makes it so attractive?" What about Cherry Waste Disposal Company? You can choke on a Cherry. What about Bananas? They are dangerous. Do people like to hang around with dangerous things? Red Apples are dangerous - Snow White & the Garden of Eden are mentioned. "Apple has a bad reputation historically" says Roger. "Temptation is a terrible thing" says Paul. "An Apple a day keeps the doctor away". Isaac Newton also appears in this episode. William Tell too. Can an Apple be used to save a human life? In other words, this episode contains a desperate search by Roger & Paul to uncover why the fruit Apple is so successful. Why are we talking about Apple? This is so convoluted you better listen to it. This episode has not (yet) been sponsored by the Apple Growers Association.

DO NOT SHOUT AT YOUR CUSTOMERS S13 - E05 by Business Jazz

Why did Shakespeake edit his text? Henry 5th. How to make Vets genuinely attractive

This episode begins with CRICKET - the game. Root & Sibley play for England. Nottingham Forest football team feature. Paul's friend Diplomatic Diva inspires this episode into live. Newcastle Football Club also feature.

Ireland Inc needs to be more attractive. Imagine you had the job of lifting Ireland to the next level. Would you use Dublin as your key? What. would that mean for rural Ireland. Facebook is a force for good - is it? How did it pivot from being a disgraceful exploiter of sexual attraction? In this episode Paul & Roger discuss whether we should get rid of the Internet. Global warming and "smelling the roses". Utopia and a famous bit of satirical humour collide with "Plastic" (the insult). Paul says "ever since we've had the Internet, we've had global warming and melting icebergs" Roger strives for balance by pointing out that the planet is going to burn out some day - but not this week. Does this podcast have any listeners left? Roger introduces his car. How it was checked to find out whether it was safe to let loose on Irish roads ... Listen to the major disappointment that followed ...

This episode begins with the challenge of Louis barking in the background. Roger Overall & Paul O'Mahony launch Season 13 with reference to CAPITAL PUNISHMENT & exaggerating the importance of what you say when podcasting. By the end, Paul & Roger reveal "BARTERING FOR BUSINESS" is a topic they haven't addressed in the eight years of the podcast. Future episodes may include: (1) Roger's experience with the Irish NCT (2) Rejection letters sent to Roger's wife (3) Paul's hat (4) Elliot Erwitt's fried egg (5) Personal branding (6) Business branding (7) Bartering (8) Customer service (9) Relations with suppliers & other interested parties (10)Too hard to hear ...

This is about : What we can learning about personal branding from Donald Trump. But we want to avoid law suitS - everything from now on is "OPINION ONLY". It's really important to stand for something - even if it's the antithesis of truth. (1) The DT brand is strong - messiah to one group - strong negative brand to others. (2) The Trump brand is attractive - has attracted huge attention How did Donald Trump achieve a strong, attractive brand? (3) The Trump brand is dynamic & agile Roger asserts : the Trump brand is static DT plays fast & loose with the truth ... shifts his stance ... is agile. Roger: We seem to agree that the Trump Brand is Both inflexible & flexible Listen to the whole episode to hear plenty more - including the view that the strong brand is about to collapse, implode ... How Trump built his brand: (1)Created his own reality - DT is a winner - and sticks to it consistently (2)Powerful communication skills - short, catchy memorable phrases (3) Simple language, easily understood - limited vocabulary, a common way (4) Set up his own broadcasting company - called Twitter (5) Made BIG HUGE statements - hyperbolic rhetoric (6) Teamwork - a strong team. The development of followers matters. Career development style - you're fired. You'll have to listen to the episode to absorb the other insights.

Here's the flavour of this episode: Division Director Paul O'Mahony says Roger Overall is a 'sight for sore eyes'. Roger immediately gets the point. Here are some extracts from Paul: "You can love your wife too much. "I am spending too much time with members of one organisation. "The culture attracts you to sell your soul. "you're allowing your soul to be bought" says Roger. Roger's big interest: Me & Running One of his mentors said to Roger "It's fine to have had enough." I've become a member of an organisation that's too attractive: Toastmasters International. This leads on to a chat about how awful things can happen when a business becomes so attractive that it can't cope with the demand for its products & services. tribe, belong, life's work "This is a disaster". "I wish it would elect an international president who would be a disaster." says Paul (in a fit of humour). "You'll end up neglecting your clients, warns Paul "gibbering devotee" "almost a drug" Roger gives his theory on how civilizations grow, reach a tipping point and fade.

Paul O'Mahony does not have a "list of complaints" today. Overpowered by an in-box. "I'm worn down" is a way of disguising complaints, isn't it? _______________ Empathy. Releasing 1,500 hares. The sport of Coursing. Courses. _______________ Complaints are a sign of life. Complaints are a sign that people still have some a believe that the company might pay attention to them. Customer Complaint Box: AIB Allied Irish Bank - how Roger Overall complained to the Bank - and prepared himself to go to war. Algorithms deal with complaints from customers - except in special circumstances. What's the different between Venting & Complaining? ____________ "Toddler-rant" by Donald Trump. ____________ "I am disappointed in you" & "You have disappointed me" - the shocking power of 'disappointment".

Pricing by Zoom - their practice. Zoom Enterprise account. Benefits of the transcriptions this account produces. "I am a business" says Paul "You have to speak to a human being" responds Roger Cat sanctuaries. Foster parents. Zoom agent in Cork. Contracts with Zoom by Toastmasters: 5,000 licences perhaps 'you will not do certain things" Scarcity marketing. Seinfeld and his car Apple computers If The government of Ireland gave every citizen Zoom Inter-continental ballistic missiles for sale UK power ECCO shoes can sponsor this podcast "Feck off and mind your own business" The reality of podcast statistics

IKEA communication. Tiger in Cork City O'Mahony's Bookshop in Limerick Roger's suggestion : "Do not turn right to EXIT" Potholing Flesh-eating Leprechauns Text-messaging 'Correct' spelling & grammar New form of language Emogjs Paul found out who sent him the birthday present Morse code: sound batches The in-group that will understand Paul's mother-in-law Two questions: (1) Who are our in-group? Customers & wantabe customers (2) Why do we want to communicate with them? Insider Emotion Harley Davidson engine sound = brand identifier Symbolic meaning - the meaning of symbols

The NOTEBOOK made by the company in Galway - not Kerry. Paul makes a big mistake at the start of this podcast. Here's the link to the Mishnoc website https://mishnoc.com/notebooks-and-accessories/

Roger looks like a Budda for a few moments. No preamble Dinner party behaviour Personal introductions by the podcasters. 'The best dinner party I ever heard of": PARTY FOR TIME-TRAVELLERS Why do people not come to your business? Did the information reach the people for whom it was relevant? Going backwards in search of something valuable. Going forward into the future in search of trust. IBM party Apple party Cambridge party in a parking lot Oxford party in the middle of the Sahara Desert. O'Mahony's Booksellers in Limerick Ireland and more ...

How will others choose to fill the holes in your communication? "Gaps between your words allow others to understand better", Paul says. Roger fills the anxious space by imagining himself the victim of bureaucratic injustice and serving 30 years in a maximum security prison. NCT (annual roadworthy test) for Roger's car. Babies, kittens, puppies & butterflies are mentioned. Doesn't everyone crave attention - and cry for it? Attracting attention. When doing business - remember this matters.

We just KNOW you are going to LOVE what is in the podcast because we LOVED putting it in there. That meant finding a gorgeous SUN-DRENCHED recording location with podcast hosts who LOVE what they do making FABBY DELICIOUS YUMMY speech for your ears from carefully nurtured thoughts that form spontaneously in their minds, which they ship to YOU over the wavy wavy wavy dot internet to you, knowing their suggestions are fleeting and that life is GOOD. Also in this episode: Does great packaging mean a great product lies within? Who sells the best underpants? A stolen message from the Australian Wine Marketing Board. CAREFUL NOW! This episode contains rude words, strong opinions and alcohol.

A hot topic. (The hottest of all time?) How can humans save their mothership? Human beings are social animals. They are joined in a great collective endeavour. Together they are destroying the world so that they can't live on it any longer. It is a huge success so far. Can they be stopped? (Do they want to be stopped?) Paul discovers the answer among aliens on a distant planet. Also in this episode: Outrageous claims Superfluous talk A chainsaw

Roger is wrong! (Gasp!) Paul schools Roger about the business of education, and advocates tearing up school copy books. Teenagers revolt, parents are disengaged—but schools do what they should? (Find out.) Companies are delighted with the fodder the school systems are producing for the corporate meat grinders? (Find out.) Are tax payers happy? (Don't listen. This topic is left undisturbed.)

It starts badly. 81 people gather under a cloud of suspicion. Did they play golf? One person resigned their ministerial post out of embarrassment. (Maybe their round was dreadful?) Next, Paul and Roger talk about the appeal of using opposites to confuse people and attract their attention. Roger feels a like a packet of cat treats wants to take him on a date. The language is very flattering. Soon a giant squid is dragging a vessel and its crew to the depths of a sea of wine. It's a Curious story of pulp fiction. All this and more freewheeling marketing/communication insight from Lahinch and Glanmire in Ireland.

Should you mind your own business? Did Soundcloud tell us to mind our own business? Who are the most effective English-speaking communicators? (Not Paul, nor Roger.) What makes communication memorable? What was the best way to deliver orders on an 19th century battlefield? These, and many more, questions are barely answered in this episode of Business Jazz.

Roger is blessed with abundance and sweetness. Paul teases out what really went on. We learn from Anric Blatt (a memorable giver) and almost get as far as talking about Curious Wines (a giver of memorable wines). Main takeaway: how to use sticky language.

Paul & Roger overcome a vicious cat and an assault by helicopter to answer these important business question for you: —Are imperfect recordings valuable? —Should we rubbish Robert Capa's blurry photographs of the D-Day landings? —How much should you swear in business communications? —How can you build online trust? —What extraordinary experience did Roger have while buying fibreglass? —What terrible experience did Paul have in a restaurant? —What the hell happened to Series 11?

Chris Brogan has a goal: empowering you. His weekly newsletter (sign up at https://chrisbrogan.com)is what triggered Business Jazz all those years ago and is still a weekly source of fabulously practical insight, guidance and suggestions to help you connect and serve your target audience. This is the second part of our recent conversation with Chris Brogan.

We wander around the the streets of Cork during the 2013 Jazz Festival.

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of Business Jazz. It first went live on 8th August, 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): TOPICS: The podcast is put on hold. All good things come to an end. Or at least have the Pause button pushed. So it is with this podcast as well. Producing a podcast takes time and energy. We knew that going in. However, our schedules have conspired against us and we find ourselves needing to focus our attentions elsewhere. For the moment, any road. Will the podcast return? We can't say it won't, but we don't want to give false hope either. For now, we'd just like to say "Thank you" to you for taking the time to listen to the podcast. We truly appreciate that you did. It means more to us than you can ever imagine. You star.

Paul and Roger started Business Jazz by reading Chris Brogan's weekly email and riffing off it. Chris joins us to talk about making deep organisational changes and how stories are powerful tools to help your business communicate internally and externally.

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of Business Jazz. It first went live on 2nd August, 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): TOPICS: How be genuinely attractive by not being online Do you need to be online? Really? After all, we managed to survive without the internet for centuries. People were contented. Businesses succeeded. In this episode, Jane and Roger talk about how we still need to be active offline to make our online work.

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of Business Jazz. It was recorded on 24th June, 2013, and first went live on 30th July, 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): TOPICS: Knowing who your ideal clients are, April Ennis, Michael Port, Steve Farber We welcome April Ennis to the podcast. She graciously stepped in when Roger was unavailable recently. Jane and April talk about finding the right clients for you. Rather than chase everyone, they discuss the idea of seeking out a well-defined client who suits your needs and who will enable you to do the very best work you can.

What is the most appealing name for Paul's new client? We are face-to-face again for the season finale of the lock-down 10th series of Business Jazz.

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of Business Jazz. It first went live on 23rd July, 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): TOPICS THIS WEEK: What is being genuinely attractive in business? Listener Marti Konstant put us on the spot. She asked what it means to be genuinely attractive in business today. What is the podcast about? Good question and it lead to a lively conversation in this episode of the podcast.

Paul invents a new word during this episode. Should he trademark it and sell it to Zoom? Is stout Irish? Is the Book of Kells Colombian? Can corporations own common words and national dishes? Please listen to hear wholly inadequate answers. The tennis-like flow of the conversation ends in victory for Paul as Roger misses his shot and an unlucky ballgirl gets a volley from Paul square in the face.

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of Business Jazz. It first went live on 13th July, 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): TOPICS THIS WEEK: World Domination, Chris Guillebeau, Chase Jarvis, Creativity, Risk Taking Jane is just back from the World Domination Summit. In this episode of the podcast we discuss some of the main things that she learned regarding community and creativity.

Why should you put up with shockingly bad meetings and terribly incompetent managers? Paul's buses story reveals the answer. Roger never worked on the buses in London and disagrees. He hates time wasting and promotes revolution in the meeting room. Are the only famous generals the ones with good PR and an ability to run a meeting properly? Not covered in this episode: How to get an address for a new, solitary house in the middle of an isolated Welsh vale.

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of Business Jazz. It first went live on 6th July, 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): TOPICS THIS WEEK: 45 Conversations, Mamukko bags A year ago, Jane and Roger didn't know each other. The first time they had any real contact was during Jane's first run over 45 Conversations recordings. Twelve months later Jane is connecting with the original 45 people she spoke to. So we decided to incorporate her round 2 conversation with Roger into an episode of Business Jazz.

A brief episode without the word "and".

If you want to be genuinely attractive to your customers, you should ask them questions to understand their preferences. We suggest: Are you an Imperialist? Does the day have 24 hours or 2 x 12 hours? Do months occur before days? How long is Paul's Rod? Should the euro have been called the florin? These and far more important questions are avoided in this episode of Business Jazz.

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of Business Jazz. It first went live on 24th June 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): TOPICS THIS WEEK: Surrounding yourself with people who won't let you fail Liz Strauss is a remarkable lady. She has touched the lives of many and helped them to improve their businesses and their quality of life. She's maybe best known on this podcast as one of the people behind SOBCon, a series of deep-dive online business conferences. Liz has been ill. Those four words barely capture the hardship she's endured over the last year. In addition to ravaging her body, her illness has left her unable to work in the face of mounting medical bills. What happened next is quite remarkable. Listen to find out.

Paul and Roger celebrate how you should sleep your way through disaster

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of Business Jazz. It first went live on 20th June 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): TOPICS THIS WEEK: Being authentic as a marketing tool Authenticity is a big buzzword in content marketing at the moment. The question is, how authentic should you be? A second issue concerns how much you push your successes over your failures. Some of us are only really comfortable presenting a facade of wild success to the outside world. Yet in doing so we run the risk of not connecting properly with our audience. Nobody only experiences good things in their lives. Often revealing some setbacks or missteps make us seem more human and accessible. On the flip side, revealing business struggles can put off clients. Plenty of conundrums there.

Listen how we hijack a morning catch up Zoom call and divert it into a rambling episode of Business Jazz.

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 17th June 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): TOPICS THIS WEEK: When Big Corporates Chicken Out While Small People Dream Big and Achieve Greatness, Four Birds Aboating, Ewan McGregor, Charley Boorman, AJ and Melissa Leon One way to be attractive in business is to help others achieve their goals. The bigger and crazier the ambition, the more appealing you can become by helping to achieve it. Or do you? While everyone wants to be associated with success, what are the pitfalls of associating yourself with an endeavour that fails? Is that good for a business? Does that make it genuinely attractive or the opposite? We explore these questions in this episode of Business Jazz.

Theme of this episode: The conversations we most want to hear _________________________________ Recorded while Walking round Paul’s estate (1) Jobs & Woz their rapport (2) Their decision-making style (3) Snippets with trivia included (4) The little contretemps is between them (5) How one person admonishes another ______________________ The value of sharing something about your business which people wouldn’t ordinarily, come across cross - that's what distinguishes one company from another. ______________________ ENRON The Enron emails have turned out to be extraordinarily useful for the development of Auto-complete software. Dog-barking Wikileaks _________________________ Which would you prefer have (1) All the emails (2) All the drama in audio? It’s a no-brainer isn’t it? Later you hear: Raw, almost-unedited, audio is what people want and value most. Not some specially curated presentation. People want genuine. ______________________ Gary Vaynerchuk revisited : The F words have not hurt his brand. He better not get polite. Marmite has led to many family squabbles. It’s hard to get marmite stains out of the floor. It was the Challenger Brand to Bovril. Later ... Ribena versus chateau wine. Château LaFeet (sic). Paul and Roger discuss Elasticity. "Have we said enough?" _________________ Hall of Famers: Macolgan the hero Mark Cotton the genius Jane Boyd in British Columbia the saviour. "Who were the top 10 first subscribers to this podcast?"

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 13th June 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): The biggest threat we used to be able to make when we received bad service was to write a letter. That was utterly ineffectual in most cases. The letter was conveniently filed in the bin. Things have changed a bit. These days we can publicise our anger (or our delight) online. But have companies woken up to this? Many haven't. Social media is a great opportunity for businesses to engage with dissatisfied and satisfied customers alike. The latter is especially overlooked. Many companies are missing a fantastic marketing opportunity by not encouraging pleased customers to use social media. In this episode, we run through some stories of good and bad service, and how the companies involved responded.

Ireland is in lock down. At the time of recording, Paul & Roger were allowed to come within two metres of each other, but no closer. We record in the place where Business Jazz was born in 2012.

[Recorded on 6th March 2020] Are you comfortable? If you are, let us begin. Thus begins this episode. Paul tells a story about a radio program he used to listen to when he was a very small. What does the phrase “are you sitting comfortably” mean to you? This chat is for hairdressers. For hairdressers listening to this, there is a recommended script for building rapport with customers. This chat is also for coach drivers. What if every member of staff greeted every customer in a consistent way? What would that say about the brand? What if the coach is uncomfortable? Roger challenges. Is Roger a miserable man? Paul expresses his view on this. This episode is for miserable men who want a good business card.

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 10th June 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): Gary Vaynerchuk is a visionary social media expert and entrepreneur. He recently announced that he had tasked one of his staff to shadow him and produce social media content based on his comments. His thinking is that more content equals more exposure, and more exposure brings more business. In this week's episode of Business Jazz, we talk about some of the issues this raises. Specifically, we look at access and boundaries. Many businesses are wary of letting people in. They aren't comfortable lifting the veil. So how much access is good? We also look at the issue of setting boundaries for employees who are producing social media on behalf of a business. Trust and responsibility become big factors.

What if People Think You Made Corona the Virus? (S9 E08) by Business Jazz

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 24th May 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): Part of running a business and being an entrepreneur is trying new things. We're all about connecting with our community on this podcast. We think the most successful businesses are the ones that engage well with their target market. They build communities. In this week's episode, we talk about changing the podcast to allow us to engage better and more directly with our listeners. In fact, we're thinking about how you can participate in the actual recording of the podcast. One way of doing that is using Google+. Our conversation leads us to discuss how audiences and companies find each other and how they build relationships. Rather than trying to please everyone all of the time, the better strategy is to please a smaller subset of people who really get your business. That involves taking a leap of faith. Risk is part of finding your true audience.

Paul and Roger are sickly this week. They still managed to record this podcast via Skype. Roger talks about the spaghetti legs he had during 2018. There's a snippet of Monty Python-esque conversation. The style of this episode reminds Roger of Business Jazz episodes he recorded in 2013 with Jane Boyd (who lives near Vancouver, Canada). "What has impressed you this week, Paul? Have you had any business experiences?" Paul talks about a ski resort in France, a bubble lift, and how a few people transformed the experience for his daughter. You hear the story of how Paul’s daughter got skis & boots fitted, how they were helped into the bubble & welcomed at the top of the lift. Everything was at stake. How one person transformed everything. Roger tell a story about the time he went to buy a cover for his water main. He found himself in a system he couldn’t understand. He’d be reluctant to return to that shop. He felt alien & out of place. The theme of this episode is probably: How to transform a customer’s experience. Roger talks about the Nando’s Experience. Someone comes up to you and asks "Have you been here before?" (This episode is not sponsored by Nando’s) Paul is concerned about Training New Staff—induction or on-boarding: is the transformative aspect considered? Roger tells the story of a Bad fish & chip shop—it treated him despicably. The business forgot about the value of all the purchases the customer is likely to make in the future. Paul is attracted by the line "It all hangs on you." "Everyone else depends on you." There's a bit of chat about what it was like to climb into the bubble, and out of the bubble. - Queue, uncertainty - Will my skis fit? - Good humour - We were in the care of experienced people It was a good experience - Not just for newcomers. - Getting out of the bubble nice reassuring smile It's amazing how much hangs in the balance Big thanks to Mark Cotton (http://audiowrangler.co.uk) One of the finest human beings on the planet.

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 10th May 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): In this episode, we get into a conversation about customer service. Roger's website was recently killed stone dead by a rogue squirrelly bracket ({). Unfortunately, the web hosting company didn't make tackling this issue very simple. Listener Dean Read also has a sorry story to tell about replacing a wheel on his car. Jane relates a story from the other side of the spectrum. Her experience of WestJet. Which prompts Roger to retell a story he heard once heard from the remarkable Dinah Liversidge.

Has any business podcast ever covered these topics in one episode? 1) What’s the longest podcast episode ever? 2) What's the longest piece of music played ever? 3) What does Götterdämmerung mean in English? (Twilight of the Gods) 4) How to identify Adam and Eve flawlessly 5) Parking problems 6) The Lost Symbol and The Art of SEO 7) How to write an episode of Fawlty Towers This podcast does.

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 3rd May 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): TOPICS THIS WEEK: Fear, Firewalking, The Flinch by Julien Smith, SOBCon, Social Media Camp Fear is a powerful hurdle we all have to overcome in life. Often, the fear wins out and we don't negotiate the hurdle. Our lives end up poorer for it. We don't progress. So what can we do to overcome this fear? We discuss solutions ranging from fire walking to smashing plates. Fear is also a great ingredient in the story of our business. Admitting the fears we have and the hurdles we have to overcome, along with our doubts, makes us human. It makes it easy for others to connect with what we want to achieve. They start rooting for us and following our story.

Cheese and dolphins are powerful. We tell you how they can make your words an irresistible love potion for your audience.

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 26th April 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): Perfection is key to success in business, right? Your product needs to be perfect to survive in the marketplace. If it isn't, your clients won't like it. Your competitors will steamroller over you. Really? Maybe not. Just how perfect should perfection be? There is a point at which perfection is a killer. You keep delaying shipping. Remember that a project that is 95% done, but hasn't shipped, is as good as 0% complete from the perspective of the marketplace. And a 0% product or services isn't attractive at all. This week we look at perfection in business and how you don't always need to deliver perfection. In fact, have a listen to this episode of Chris Brogan's podcast in which he interviews Paul: The Human Business Way, Episode 10. The conversation about perfection or imperfection turns to office space. Jane has moved into a shed. Sounds odd? Turns out working from sheds isn't uncommon. In fact, it's quite popular: Shed Working. We also look at how you market the mundane compared with marketing the new and unique. You'd think the latter would be easier. It isn't necessarily. After all, you have to overcome people's unfamiliarity with the product and service. How can they buy what they don't know or understand, especially if it pushes the envelop? That also impacts you. If you're doing something new, how do you describe yourself?

Roger gets into an argument with Paul and Steve Jobs. Paul uses a story about an apple to set Roger straight and says "blaggarding'. Roger doesn't want to be straight. And episode about feedback and how to (mis)handle it.

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 19th April 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): Many good stories share a common storytelling device: an epic challenge that the protagonist must overcome. The story of your business is also about overcoming challenges. You are on a quest – a quest to grow your business, launch your product, reach your targets. The higher you intend to reach, the more epic the quest, the more we are drawn to it. You are the underdog we are cheering on. We've set some epic challenges for this podcast, and we'd like you to be part of the quest. Join us on the journey and help us build the bright, giving, supportive, valuable community we have in mind. What are the challenges we've set? You'll have to listen to this week's episode for that. You'll hear how many weekly downloads we'd like to hit by 31st December of this year. You'll also hear of an epic geographic goal as well.

This episode was streamed live on Periscope on Paul's account. Recorded in the Republic of Work in Cork by Paul O’Mahony & Roger Overall. We discuss unpredicted topics that matter when you want your business to be genuinely attractive.  Attractive to customers, staff, suppliers & shareholders (and your boss). "Our listeners are number one"  There's a Story: You hear the story of Peter Cox, Neil McShane, Fiachra Muller, and Roger Overall, a production team and the talents. 1917 (the film) came up - Roger shows off his knowledge of the cast, and empathy for the poor, neglected production team. We also discuss the BBC Radio 4 game Just a Minute. It takes time for us to decide on the main topic for this episode. Paul suggests the topic "what should a big organisation do when it has a lousy reputation among one of its subsidiary companies?" Paul asserts "the EU did not become genuinely attractive". Roger vetos discussion of Brexit. Roger's topic is "what we grappled with in The Laboratory: how can we attract more subscribers to our newsletter?" Roger challenges the wisdom "If you want money, ask for advice.  If you want advice, ask for money." We reveal we call our newsletter a Dispatch. [As part of our marketing, we've drafted two friendly emails to people we know.  One says "please give us advice", the other says "please give us a subscription." We send emails every Friday.] The advice Roger's received from Karen at Burren Smokehouse & Joleen Cronin, founder of Irish Redhead Convention encourages us to go further into the bizarre with our dispatch (newsletter).  We need to include more visuals. We need to include more variety. The poem is not enough. (It's the most radical thing we do.) There's more we could be doing to show the range of our talents. [Go to showandtell.ie to sign up for our Dispatch (weekly newsletter). The Dispatch doesn’t cost any money yet] At last, we get an opportunity to dwell on Accountants with Loud Socks in pinstripe suits. Plus what their clients don’t realise. There are implications :  "Put on a loud colourful tie", a bit like the Yachting Financial Solutions fluorescent green.  But there's no need for you all to wear yellow jackets. We've been advised Why Not Be Bold.  Don’t be afraid to be yourself.  Roger says “I thought we were flamboyant & bizarre in our Dispatch.”  Paul suggests "our dispatch is predictable". To be more bold - every issue should have a new feature. But it's not easy to go from four hours to 30 hours, even by going from weekly to fortnightly. Remember this: if you reduce the frequency of your newsletter, some people will think you’re on the way out. Seth Godin sends a daily email, Our listeners can be very influential over the future of the company. Which day of the week would you like your newsletter to arrive? Eventually, we become frivolous:  Louis (Paul’s English Setter) is the company mascot and team leader, if you like.  This is not a vegan podcast, Roger remembers to say. We'd love you to do two things. Please send this podcast to a friend. Please subscribe to the newsletter Dispatch.

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 12th April 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): In this episode of the podcast, we look at the power of asking directly for help – from your support community and from your clients and customers. Sometimes you need to seek out help, sometimes an offer of help drops in your lap. In the case of the latter, we often let the moment slip because we're not ready. That's happened to all of us. So how can you make sure that next time you're ready? We also lift the veil on where the podcast is at the moment and start to reveal where we'd like to go with it. Community is key to the future of the show and to grow it we need the help of you, our listeners.

This podcast is about how to be genuinely attractive in business today Conversation between Roger Overall and Paul O’Mahony in Cork Ireland. Recorded in the Republic of Work. This week Paul has been impressed by Coca-Cola. Roger is shocked. This episode focuses on The World Economic Forum at Davos in Switzerland. What is the purpose of Davos? What comes out of Davos? What concrete actions does Davos lead to? Are “all the best minds” at Davos ? Donald Trump Secretary of State Greta Thunberg [This podcast is not being sponsored by Davos.] Is the scientific research about global warming reliable? Paul takes it for granted. Politics is a business and this podcast exists to talk about how to be a genuinely attractive business. Politics is a totally legitimate topic for this podcast.(5:20) What about Coca-Cola? Advice: If you want to grab attention, make statements that the other person is not expecting you to make, and might unsettle them. Titles on your marketing emails should be very attractive; they should make an impression and be an attention grabber. Coca-Cola grabbed attention at Davos. Paul and Roger discuss Coca-Cola’s stance on plastic bottles. (8:19) “Our customers like plastic bottles.” INEOS is one of the biggest manufacturers of plastic. “It’s nothing to do with us.” Brand Emperor Nero stands for “We fiddle while Rome burns” - or “Fiddling While You Burn” Donald Trump’s beliefs. Australian PM’s stance. Davos wants to change its brand reputation. Membership at Davos. Riots at Davos in 2011 & 2003. Roger tells them the "Frasier in a spa" story. How to change a bad reputation of a business. Davos is making an effort to become more open - to change its bad reputation. The Elders “group of global leaders” does not appeal to Roger. Will Coca-Cola go into the fish food market? (28:00) What a forward-looking brand might do: joking (we hope you realise?) Paul says “I’m disgusted...” A circular economy as against a linear economy. Everyone isn’t going to lose their jobs. “It’s very simple...” says Paul.

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 5th April 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): In this episode of the podcast, Jane and Roger continue their discussion about Chris Brogan's concept of Loving the Grind. What's the Grind? The grind comprises all those things that you don't really like doing but are essential to the health and success of your business. The boring, dull, hard, difficult, tedious stuff that underpins the success of your business.

Roger Overall & Paul O'Mahony fall over themselves praising two books. Productivity, personal organisation & management.

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 29th March 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): Chris Brogan talks a lot about learning to love the grind. The grind comprises all those things that you don't really like doing but are essential to the health and success of your business. In this episode of the podcast, Jane and Roger discuss various ways in which to make doing the grind more palatable based on their own experiences.

The final episode from inside The Laboratory. Our brains are fried. Our mouths don't work and we fumble through some remarkable listening figures. Should we ditch Paul and bring back Jane?

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 15th March 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): We're all part of a chain. Not only are we suppliers of products and services to our own clients, we are buyers too; we are clients ourselves. That raises a question: Do you treat your own suppliers as well as you would like to be treated by your clients? One thing that can strain the supplier-client relationship is bad communication. It leads inevitably to misunderstandings and stresses. Jane and Roger look at examples from their own experience in business of where communication went wrong – sometimes by accident, sometimes maybe more intentionally. They also look at the benefits of ensuring that client-supplier relationships are good, particularly if you are on the client side of the equation. As an aside, Jane has launched her new website. You can find out what she does in more detail over at www.boydjane.ca.

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 8th March 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): We've talked a lot on the podcast about how putting the emphasis on your customers and clients is a cornerstone of being attractive as a business. Chris Brogan highlights the perspective of "You" (the customer) rather than "Me" (the business) in marketing. We buy into that. You probably do too if you're a regular listener of the podcast. In this week's episode, Jane and Roger discuss the opposite approach – just talking about yourself. This works well for a large number of businesses, and you'll hear that there are some clear benefits. It makes us wonder whether Chris is wrong. Or is it a case that both approaches work and that you have to find the one that fits best with who you are?

We are in the laboratory, figuring out how to attract more clients who we find irresistible. Our strategy is to grow the Show & Tell newsletter. The laboratory is a series of tactical experiments to achieve that. What have we learned so far?

We are in the laboratory, figuring out how to attract more clients who we find irresistible. Our strategy is to grow the Show & Tell newsletter. The laboratory is a series of tactical experiments to achieve that. Are we building a community? Why does Jono Bacon's latest book about community disappoint Paul? What fuels disappointment?

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 1st March 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): Change is unsettling. We grow comfortable with things the way they are. When they shift an inch, we feel the movement as if it were a mile. Regular listeners will have noticed changes in the podcast this week. The intro, the tone, the focus. That's a lot to take in. If you've listened to the podcast already, we hope you understand why we've tinkered with the formula. If you haven't yet. Here's a quick overview. While we know Paul will return, we don't know when. All we know is that it will be a while yet. When he does, you'll hear three voices host the podcast – Jane is staying on. With that in mind, it was appropriate to change the intro to include the three of us. The second change is that we are weaning ourselves off Chris Brogan. He was our genesis, our original inspiration, and won't be forgotten, but there are other great thought leaders in business to look at as well. Besides, who can speak in detail better about what Chris Brogan is thinking – us or Chris himself? So, we're broadening our horizons. We don't stray too far in this episode, though. Podcast regular AJ Leon gets a big mention. This week In this week's episode, Roger and Jane look at AJ raised big bucks using Kickstarter to publish a book. Roger tells of Peter Cox, an Irish landscape photographer, who had equal success. You can listen to this week's podcast using the player at the top of the post or download it directly here: Business Jazz – 1st March, 2013. We're also in iTunes. We'd love it if you subscribed or left some feedback. We might be flying the Brogan nest, but please connect with him If you want to hear the amazing things Chris Brogan is saying, you can subscribe to his newsletter on his website. Utterly, totally recommended.

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 23rd February 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): One of the best things you can do in business is release your grip over your customers and clients – invite them to leave you. This is a healthy move for both sides. For you, it brings a dose of reality. The grip you have on your customers is never as strong as you think it is. Your customers always have alternatives, even if nobody else does what you do or builds what you build. Your client can simply decide to do without your unique product or service. That's a choice too. By inviting people to break the bond with you, you'll remove the weaker links in your client base – the people who weren't that into you to begin with, or who have started to feel less excited by you. What remains is a core of dedicated customers. In this week's episode, Roger and Jane look at an email in which Chris Brogan invites everyone on his mailing list to unsubscribe. During the podcast, Roger does – only to find that the sky didn't collapse in on him.

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 16th February 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): How easy do you make it for people to buy from you? Do people even know that they can buy from you? And do they know what they can buy from you? In this week's episode, Roger and Jane Boyd look at idea's Chris Brogan has about "touchpoints of opportunity" – places where the customer can interact with you or your business. He uses the metaphor of the sidewalk, the storefront and the back room. Roger and Jane end up talking about the Soup Nazi and AJ Leon.

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 10th February 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): Have you heard of this really powerful sales tool? Don't sell. At least, don't sell until the buyer is ready – until you have earned the right to sell. Getting to that point takes time. Too often, we jump straight in. Particularly when we are trying to sell ourselves. Instead of getting permission to talk about ourselves, we just do it. There are better ways. In this week's episode, Roger is joined by Jane Boyd again to talk about ways in which to introduce yourself to prospective clients in a way that won't bring down the shutters on you. They try to answer questions raised by Chris Brogan in a recent email newsletter, and give suggestions about how to introduce yourself gently to new people.

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 2nd February 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): Being neighbourly isn't a concept taught at many business schools – or at least, we don't think so. But if your intention is to generate business through your online activities, it is a very important one. Helping others is a great way to build your community. It establishes and deepens relationships. And once the relationship is in place, business will follow – often in very surprising ways. Paul is unavailable for the next couple of weeks, so in this episode Roger is joined by Jane Boyd to discuss an email by Chris Brogan in which he looks at how to be neighbourly online.

This episode is the end. Season 8 has ended. Paul & Roger are heading down into the Laboratory. Testing and invention are important if a business is to survive. That goes for BusinessJazz too. You'll hear: Jo Malone loses her own name. Paul reveals his relationship with her, and admits he is shocked by a revelation. Simon Toon gets in touch. So does SM2N. Roger has never been to Mars. Puma and Louis interfere with the recording. Brad Allen is mentioned. He has an idea about the obligations of decisions. His book is Fried Chicken is Awesome. Paul says all business relationships end. Roger takes his cue and leaves. What is the cost to you when the relationship with a customer ceases? Then Season 8 stops. The last word: "feed". Paul & Roger & Louis & Puma intend to return for Season 9. In the meantime, watch out for escapees from the Laboratory taking up residence in your podcatcher.

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the first season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 25th January 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): Selling is a mind game – much of it is psychology. Very often, we experience the bad side of it. Think Glengarry Glen Ross. We've all been on the receiving end of those tactics. It is selling as an adversarial pursuit of of someone else's purse. Nobody, except the vulture-like salesperson, enjoys that experience. Ultimately, it benefits nobody. Not even the salesperson. In the long run, they lose our trust. Trust is the key that unlocks our purses. Without it, the lock stays firmly shut. In this episode Paul and Roger discuss an email by Chris Brogan that starts with a declaration of intent. It intends to promote something that Chris hopes the receiver will buy. However, he advises strongly in the first paragraph that if you don't want to be bothered by a sales pitch, you should set the email aside. He doesn't want to waste your time or impose upon you. He recognizes that the recipient of the email will buy from him when they are good and ready. And when they do, the sales process will be smooth and, importantly, enjoyable. A smooth and enjoyable sales process (or purchasing process, if you look at it from the buyer's side) is one of the things that makes a business genuinely attractive.

Being born on the 12th of October is being very memorable and controversial. Listen from the start to find out why... The day divides people in the United States - it may bring people together in Ireland. Roger is a Piscean creative. If everyone is creative the word has no use - we need a word that signifies people who stand out from the crowd. ———— Recorded in Paul’s kitchen this episode is not sponsored by the Pencil Manufacturer or any Monkey - even though they are both featured within. _______________________ The big question is "when should you name your business after yourself, and when should you not name your business after yourself?" _______________________ (This podcast cannot be insured - it seems.) _______________________ Why do companies name their business after themselves? Paul talks about doing business in the village, and how his grandfather called the business after O’Mahony. World Wool Production Inc (WWPI)sheep are mentioned. The conversation moved on to serious branding - it's best that you listen to the spoken words. Please share this episode with your best friend - or anyone you like. Thanks for listening.

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the first season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 18th January 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): Fire is powerful. It burns and destroys. Fire also warms and rejuvenates. It provides a place to come together. In a house around the fireside; outside around a campfire. It is where we gain comfort and where conversations are held. In his latest email, Chris Brogan uses the campfire as a metaphor for creating content and story around your business. Content so compelling that it attracts others to it and compels them to discuss it. Paul and Roger look at how we can apply this to our own businesses to make ourselves attractive to our customers. They also try to fit the campfire model into a rehabilitation programme for Instagram.

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the first season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 11th January 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): Last week we talked about ambitions, execution and failure. This week, we riff off an email sent by AJ Leon in which he talks about the decision whether or not to give up. He recently stuck with something and ended up $8,000 lighter. Good decision? Bad decision? That's a key question we're all faced with. Is it better to cut our losses and abandon a road we've set off down, or should we push on? Chris Brogan gets his regular airing too as Paul and Roger discuss his recent email about the rise of bespoke business. In the podcast, Roger alludes to a story about Walt Disney being born in Mojácar, a village in Spain. It's quite likely nonsense.

This episode is not all about beef, butchers & buying in bulk. It is about how alliteration always attracts an audience. It was recorded during a food crisis in Ireland. The conversation begins with chat about Stockpiling - (leads to) - Buy beef in bulk - (leads to) - Buy your own cow - (leads to) - “We have a vegan audience on this podcast.” Why are people stockpiling beef in Ireland? We cover topics like: (1) How useful alliteration is in marketing copy. Bring and Buy Beef in Bulk Brother. (2) Advice on headlines to use in weekly newsletters. (3) Why we called this podcast Business Jazz. Messaging for local butchers. A Monty Python sketch. (4) It's wise to have a slogan or motto that people understand. Also sprach Zarathustra has really travelled very well. AUDI & Nietzsche (5) Roger's story: When KFC changed suppliers, they ran out of chickens. KFC ran a clever advert (you must listen to this bit) “Apple Always Attracts Attention” or “Apples Always Attract Attention”. What does LAYA mean? (6) Most importantly: Why “peace of mind” is all that matters to people - and is the secret to all genuinely attractive marketing. Plus ... How to use peace of mind to produce genuinely attractive marketing. Note: It’s best to listen to the end of this episode - to find out what happened next. Special request: Please tell your worst enemy about this podcast - remember to say “It’s right up your street - it’s cheap.”

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the first season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 4th January 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): It's that time of year again when we tell ourselves we're going to put our best foot forward - change a few things. Some changes will be quite radical; some less so. They will all make our lives better. Change isn't easy, though. Before you know it, your resolutions are in the waste paper basket, along with last year's. Chris Brogan has a suggestion for you. Instead of committing yourself to radical change in the shape of ambitious resolutions, he recommends choosing three words that will act as your guides in the year ahead. They will be beacons for you to steer a course by; criteria on which to base decisions. Paul and Roger discuss this concept and reveal some of their words for 2013. They also talk about the inevitable: Failure. At some time in 2013, we will all fall down. Most probably, we'll do it repeatedly. Then what?

Marketing Monkfish The first part of this episode is about germs including dog poo plus the Three Second and the 30 Second Rules. The episode is not about how to market germs and piranha - it is about how to market monkfish. This is the first ever episode about monkfish marketing in the history of podcasting. Roger and Paul grapple with how to make a monkfish attractive. [There is a story from Roger's days as a journalist in Slovenia.] Don’t show the piglet, just show the bacon Don’t show the monkfish, just show the tail. What would a specialist monkfish shop need to do? Rogers Real Monkfish stall in the English market. Lambs and Bambi are touched on. Impromptu story from Roger: How to succeed at a job interview for a global security company: “Remake Die Hard”. Several minutes are spent discussing storylines for such a film, including “Home Alone for your security products”. The conclusion is the maybe the storyline is more suitable for a Netflix serial? The mother of all monkfish. But how do you market monkfish in Cork? Use a massive aquarium. Remove the teeth. “You have to brainstorm bad ideas as well”. Revelation: What Roger thinks would make somebody turn vegan. New Tagline: Save the world from the monkfish. Exterminating monkfish. This episode goes from one macabre scenario to public hangings. And there’s no point in telling you any more about this episode. You would be much better to listen to it all - including Rogers plea that he be corrected. This episode has not been sponsored by "The Hungry Monk" restaurant in Greystones. Please invite someone to subscribe to this podcast. We promise to thank you on the next show - if you let us know.

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the first season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 21st December 2012. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): If we learned anything from Instagram's misstep in the past week it's that businesses struggle to understand the concept of community - even those who are in the social media space. Making yourself attractive in business is about being able to respect the community you serve. Chris Brogan talks about the difference between customers and community in his latest podcast and newsletter. He discusses why not all of the people who come to your shop have to buy. The fact that they are bringing their communities into contact with you is already enough. Treat them well and rewards will follow. Paul and Roger discuss what this approach means in the real world of business. Can the concierge experience be used to improve the sales process? To serve them well, you need information about your clients and customers. Yet blatant interrogation can be off putting. How do you elicit information and still remain attractive to the customer?

This episode begins while Paul is not paying full attention: Paul is doing an Instagram story. The most memorable parts of this recording include: "We are all creatures. "We’re not really welcoming Republic Of Work unless we bring Louis the dog." Trees, power tools and hedge-cutting Swimming in the Atlantic Ocean if you want to stand out ... Three power tool brands use the same colours: JCB - yellow & black Stanley - black & yellow DeWalt - yellow & black Bosch and Makita are green "I’ve never seen power tools in pink", reports Roger. We would normally say that’s not very good because you want to stand out "But it’s genius" says Roger. You can associate yourself with "You cannot break" a JCB says Paul Copying the colour scheme of established brands that already have that reputation. This podcast was never called "How to make the most money." It’s about doing something worthwhile in life. Associating with swimwear has to have been a successful advertising mechanism. This is spoken about with disdain on this podcast. Compare power tools with tractors: Ford and John Deere Vacuum cleaners hoovers. Dyson Revolutionary screws Impact drivers Discrimination in the DIY market Note: JCB are not sponsoring this podcast Track-record of JCB: They already make things that work. They can balance on the side of steep inclines. JCB is associated with hard work, replacing human labour. A real positive advance for human civilisation. "How was Dentistry done before the invention of power tools?" Your brand is your greatest strength. Piling machines Drill technology Monty Python. Shelf & JCB drill that’s perfect for picture hanging. Business learning (1) When you’re going to tell a business story (to attract people to your business) start with something your audience is familiar with (2) connect with what your audience might be doing right now. 40% of listeners drink coffee during an episode Donal Cahalane: how did he get the Republic of Work podcast into the top 10 Irish business podcasts? Special request: Please send this episode to someone - say "I don’t think you’ll like this, but I thought of you while I was listening to it. Or, "The colours of this podcast put me in mind of a podcast you like, so it must be as good."

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the first season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 14th December 2012. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): It's an oft-quoted trend: smartphone and tablet sales are outstripping those of laptop and desktop computers. There is another way of reading that: our social media experience is becoming mobile. Or how about this interpretation? The window to our online experience is getting smaller. That is: the screens we use are getting smaller. All that has an impact on our online experience, says Chris Brogan. Most companies tailor their online presence towards viewers with a large screen. That doesn't provide a great experience for those of us reaching out to them from mobile devices. Paul and Roger take this to the extreme. Will websites make way for apps produced by individuals, companies and collectives? What does that mean for Google's powerhouse search engine? Will your app store become your search engine instead? What about apps themselves? Let us introduce you to the Fluid App (Flapp). Perhaps, we'll all be flapping in the future. You heard it hear first.

The most powerful episode we've ever made. "Saplings & Chainsaws" collaborating. Roger has been "manly" and Paul has swum in the Atlantic Ocean. Hear about JBC + Dewalt + Bosch. This episode does not have a powerful sponsor. Enjoy listening. Please send a link to this podcast to someone who has a business.