DM Decos

Breaking the Sales Mode

admin — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:48:37 +0000

Here are just a few things you can learn from the man I came to think of as The Father of All Liars:

1.   When selling anything, drive 180 degrees from where everyone else is driving.

The TV show winner that day defied everyone’s expectations that he would simply tell a he-man tale, as was the custom on the program. By making a single sentence statement–one that no one expected–he commanded attention in a powerful and compelling way. So many salespeople fail to close–worse yet, to even capture the attention of their prospects–because they launch into a long-winded cliché of a presentation that has “Willy Loman sales pitch” written all over it. Until I wrote Your Marketing Sucks, everyone in marketing was waxing poetic about aesthetics. Because I went in the opposite direction toward generating return on investment regardless of the aesthetics, my book became a best-seller and my business soared.

2.   Say something so different and surprising that it stops people in their tracks.

Recently, I went on a sales call with a client who sells financial services, mostly a systemized approach for managing money. He also advised a high-net-worth client that he needed to buy a substantial life insurance policy. When the client balked and refused to even consider the life purchase, my client told him, “You are making a mistake and doing an injustice to your family. If you don’t purchase the insurance, I, respectfully, will not manage your money.” The client recognized a rare determination to do the right thing, and he bought the insurance. My client didn’t issue his ultimatum as a sales tactic, but he was selling by stopping the individual in his tracks with intelligent and forceful advice, just as the game show winner totally surprised and intrigued the studio audience.

3.   Forget the long-winded sales pitch; less is more.

About a year ago, before the housing crisis hit home, I witnessed a developer trying to convince a prospect to purchase a home from him. Instead of running down a long list of features built into the home, he simply said, “If you are not completely happy with this beautiful home at any time in the next six months, I will buy it back from you for the full price you paid. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose.” Case closed. Sale made. The pitch was original and prudent. It was a short, sweet and powerful offer few would think to make. You never want to lie. You just want to be the one everyone remembers because of the striking originality of your ideas.

Mark Stevens is the CEO of MSCO and the author of 24 business-related books. His latest book is God Is a Salesman.

Pasted from <http://www.entrepreneur.com/sales/salescolumnistmarkstevens/article196626.html

Motivational Thought of the Day

admin — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:46:04 +0000

” The search for perfection ends with the discovery of mistakes.”

Written in 2008 by Pritesh Jethwani — India

Pasted from <http://www.motivateus.com/cust.htm

Quote of the Day

admin — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:44:44 +0000

“The great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.”

- Walter Bagehot

Pasted from <http://www.inspirationandmotivation.com/101inspirationalquotes.htm

San Jose Library Installs Photovoltaic Art Glass - 12/26/2008 - Interior Design

admin — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:41:33 +0000

Entitled Solar Illumination I: Evolution of Language, the project is a collaboration between artist Lynn Goodpasture and Peters Glass Studies.

by Nicholas Tamarin — Interior Design, 12/26/2008

When the new Pearl Avenue library branch in San Jose, California recently opened its doors, patrons got their first look at a jewel of a different kind: a public art installation that combines art glass and photovoltaic (PV) cells in an architectural application.

A collaboration between artist Lynn Goodpasture and Peters Glass Studies, “Solar Illumination I: Evolution of Language” incorporates glass-embedded photovoltaic cell technology that harnesses solar power to light a suspended glass LED-illuminated lamp. The installation is part of the Silicon Valley city’s Green Vision program for environmental protection and economic development.

“Art and technology intersect in a creative and inspiring way, recognizing our community’s diversity, celebrating the history of innovation, and highlighting the great strides we are making with the San Jose Green Vision,” says San Jose mayor Chuck Reed.

Goodpasture’s piece features four art glass windows featuring letters and characters that form the basis for Latin, Russian, Vietnamese, and numerous Indian alphabets and languages–the first writings of humankind. “We are all one” is repeatedly engraved on the lamp in cuneiform.

Renderings by Lucas Fladzinski, courtesy of Peters Glass Studios.

Travertine Tile Basics

admin — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:20:50 +0000

by: builddirect( 187

Learn about the history of travertine tile, how travertine is formed, different ways that travertine is cut, surface finishes for travertine tile, popular uses for travertine tile, a checklist to consider when buying travertine tile

Travertine Tile: Classical Tile in the Modern Age

Travertine tile is a durable and attractive natural stone in a class by itself. Famous structures like the Roman Coliseum stand as a tribute to the long-lasting nature of travertine as a building material. There are many installers and DIYers today who have used travertine tile as both flooring and as wall tile who will also sing its praises as a practical and uniquely decorative addition to their interiors and exteriors. So, travertine tile has been used and relied upon as tile for thousands of years, holding a place in the development of civilization from the Ancient Greeks, to the Roman Empire, and onto today’s modern age in equal measure. But what are some of the defining characteristics of travertine which sets it apart from other natural stone flooring and tile options?

Origins of travertine

Travertine is related to marble, actually falling somewhere between marble and limestone in terms of its development over thousands of years. Travertine is formed by subterranean springs, underground rivers, and other water sources. These water sources carry mineral elements such as calcium carbonate that build up over long periods of time in the same way stalactites and stalagmites in caves are formed. The resultant stone is a smooth and very hard substance further characterized by its porous surface. These pores are the result of gases escaping as the travertine is formed. By the time it is quarried, travertine is naturally beautiful – a smooth, dense stone that exhibits a notable creamy color that evokes a certain old-world refinement. Commonly found in Italy and Turkey, travertine remains to be a popular import for construction products all over the world, including North America.

Processing travertine tile

Travertine is removed from the earth in large blocks before it is cut into what can be recognized as travertine tile. It may be cut in any of the following ways:

• Cross-cut – The travertine is cut with the grain of the stone bedding and on the same layer as it is formed in the earth. This makes for a more uniform texture and color

• Vein cut – the travertine is cut across several layers of the stone bedding, making for a more mottled, tiger-stripe effect when cut into tiles

After the travertine is quarried, it is strictly selected for color variances, and further assessed after it is cut for holes and chipped edges. Beyond the selection process, the travertine may be subject to any of the following processes

• Honed – the surface of the tile is sanded to create a matte finish

• Tumbled – the travertine is literally tumbled with gravel and bearings, giving it a rough-hewn, aged appearance

• Brushed – a wire brush is used to give the surface of the travertine tile a worn, textured surface

• Filled – The pores in the travertine tile are filled with colored resin or cement to produce a pristine, solid surface.

• Polished – the travertine is sanded and polished, producing a shiny look

Popular uses of travertine tile

As old an option as travertine tile is for a sturdy and reliable building material, travertine tile remains to be a highly diverse natural stone, suitable for all kinds of applications. Travertine was used in the ancient world, but can also be found as a major component of many modern buildings such as the Getty Centre in Los Angeles, and the UCLA medical centre. Travertine tile is used as floor tile in both residential and commercial settings, as well as a decorative option for wall cladding and backsplashes. Travertine tile has both indoor and outdoor uses, being a durable stone, and can be both functional and aesthetically striking. A featured design element of which anyone would find to be a source of pride, the popularity of travertine seems to be undiminished. In fact, it’s getting more popular!

A selected travertine tile checklist:

• Do your research! Ask questions of the experts – the salespeople, local tile installers, owners of travertine tile, and other sources. They can help you make an informed purchase. Knowledge is the best means of achieving the results you want.

• Consider where you wish to install your travertine tile; what kind of conditions will it need to be able to withstand? Foot traffic and moisture levels should be the most obvious considerations, as well as any spillage or staining problems that may arise from your young children or pets.

• With the location in mind, think about the issue of finish. This should help you to choose the kind of finish that would be the most suitable. Tumbled or brushed travertine tile may answer the slip-resistance question. But honed or polished may meet your visual requirements. Weigh the pros and cons, always balancing visuals with practicality.

• Choose an appropriate sealer. This is an important step regardless of which type of travertine tile you choose. Consult the experts – your local retailers of stone products can help with this – on which products are best for your particular choice in travertine tile. As always, follow the instructions on any the labels of any products you do buy to make sure you get the results you’re after.

• When you finally get your travertine, expect there to be slight color variances. Despite the fact that there has already been a selection process for color variation, travertine tile is still a natural product with varying degree of minerral deposits from tile to tile. But you can use this to your advantage. Open all boxes and try a dry run using all of the tiles in your batch. Be creative!

• Read your warranty before you start your installation. Check for any broken tiles, take pictures if you have to, and work out any shipping damage issues with your seller before it’s too late to resolve them.

Travertine tile offers subtle yet rich tones to any interior or exterior, as well as a level of long-lasting durability which makes it a reliable material as well as a decorative one. A travertine tile installation links your interior or exterior with a architectural tradition that goes back thousands of years, as well a linking it to an ongoing tradition likely to last for thousands more!

Pasted from <http://reviews.ebay.com/Travertine-Tile-Basics_W0QQugidZ10000000001340483>

admin — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:14:26 +0000

Ever want to know how to tile?

http://www.thetiledoctor.com/howto/floorsinterior.cfm

http://www.wikihow.com/Lay-a-Ceramic-or-Porcelain-Tile-Floor

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/intro/0,,221776,00.html

How can I reuse or recycle broken bathroom tiles?

admin — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:09:07 +0000

We’ve had an email from Kevin:

What can I do with broken tiles? I’ve just retiled my bathroom and was careful taking the old ones off but most of them cracked in half.

I also have some whole sample tiles that I got from the supplier from when I was choosing. I’m going to use one of the big ones as a hot dish plate in the kitchen but don’t know what to do with the smaller ones.

Following on from your trivet idea, smaller sample tiles would make good coasters or a place to rest your wooden spoon while cooking - especially if they’re pretty or nicely coloured.

Depending on their condition, the cracked ones could be used to “crazy tile” somewhere that doesn’t need to look 100% (like a storage cellar or shed) or smashed up further for a crazy mosaic effect. Offer them on Freecycle if you don’t want to do it yourseld - someone else might like the idea.

(If you fancy renovating them for reusing, I’ve used a translucent glass paint thing to paint ceramic tiles in the past - it let the original gloss of the tile shine through but it wasn’t particularly hard wearing and couldn’t handle being scrubbed clean. Other tile paint is thicker so harder wearing but it can easily look messy and a bit weird because it’s opaque and gloopy. Anyone else got any advice about this?)

Aside from that, there is always crocks for the bottom of plant pots.

Any other ideas?

(Photo by ftibor)

Pasted from <http://www.recyclethis.co.uk/20080926/how-can-i-reuse-or-recycle-broken-bathroom-tiles

Motivational Thought of the Day

admin — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:03:21 +0000

” Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”

Mother Teresa — Submitted by Medha Shashikant — India

Pasted from <http://www.motivateus.com/cust.htm

Quote of the Day

admin — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:00:14 +0000

The very purpose of existence is to reconcile the glowing opinion we have of ourselves with the appalling things that other people think about us.

Quentin Crisp

Pasted from <http://www.quotationspage.com/qotd.html

Quote of the Day:

admin — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:37:33 +0000

: It is by the goodness of God that in our country we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either of them.

Mark Twain (1835 - 1910), Following the Equator (1897)