"The best way to break a negative stereotype is to shock the stereotype" The Funeral Profession plays to the negative stereotype by the persona they cultivate: Formal, unapproachable, dignified, conventional, guardians of the past and so on. I have found one of the best ways to shock a stereotype is with humor. If I owned [...]
When will we stop fighting AMONG ourselves and start fighting FOR ourselves? Why is it so important in the funeral service culture to find blame? Blame is always a counterproductive force that slows us down and PREVENTS us from the personal accountability we need to move us to a higher plane. Some years [...]
There are two fundamental assumptions you must make in order to compete effectively against low price competitors: Some people buy solely on price...but it is the smallest part of your market Most people buy on value Let's talk a minute about the value buyers. People want value for their dollar. You do. Most people you [...]
Happened across this excellent advice the other day. Some things really are worth sharing. "Now, when I spell jerk with a small letter “j”, I’m referring to someone who is willing to say or do something that pushes a peer or subordinate far out of their comfort zones in order to make them or the [...]
Joe Weigel I am glad I don't have to compete with Frank Dawson. His use of social media for the past 50 years has built a veritable competitive fortress. Ron Hast, the recently deceased owner of Mortuary Management magazine, had a very compelling habit. It was shortly after I started my career at [...]
Gonna keep this positive. So just a word for background. Any casual observer would see that the declining results funeral service is experiencing signal a much greater problem: A growing segment of the public isn't sure why they need us or, worse, what they need us for. Now to better news: Statistically, the odds are very [...]
Sometimes the course of our lives depends on what we do...or what we don't do. Will my kids be able to enjoy the same rewards and lifestyle as I have? What am I supposed to do with the investment I have in facilities and rolling stock? How can I get myself, much less my [...]
We need to quit talking about change and figure out HOW we need to change if we are going to be sustainably viable. Don't you think it's time we learned HOW we need to change? Announcing the 21st Century Summit WE need to learn how to ask tough questions: How much am I worth and [...]
When it comes to customers funeral directors are often the nicest people. But being nice and being kind are two different things. It takes courage to be kind. There is risk to it. You don't really have to be more than just agreeable to be nice. Smile, never say anything bad about anybody and NEVER, [...]
