The Top 5 SmartLemming.com Posts
After reviewing my stats for SmartLemming.com, I identifyed the posts with the most page views for 2009. I was surprised to see what made the top five. Below are the posts in ranking order with my commentary on why people should read these posts if they are serious about managing their career.
1. Return on Investment Template for Sales and Marketing
My background is in product marketing and product management. In these fields, customers frequently ask you, “What the ROI if I buy your product?” If the customers aren’t asking, then your sales team is asking for the ROI or an ROI sales tool they can use to pitch the company product(s). If you’re in sales or marketing, then you need an ROI tool. If you’re an entrepreneur, then you’ll be asked what the ROI is for your product or service.
Smart Lemming tip: read everything you can on return on investment and business cases.
2. Sales Performance Analysis - The Vital Signs of Your Sales Cycle
Working in sales is hard work. It’s hard for sales people, even harder for executive teams or marketing people to manage sale metrics for a highly effective sales team. Understanding sales performance analysis is vital for sales operations, executives, entrepreneurs, and marketers.
Smart Lemming tip: learn the key metrics of your sales organization. If you don’t have them, then help your manager come up with sales performance measures. Not only does this help you manage sale people, marketing programs, and compensation plans, it also help you see when a recession may be developing in the economy, because you’ll see it in your sales pipeline months before a recession hits.
3. Six Tips to Personal Email at Work - #1 is Watch Your Back
Learning how to manage your work life is critical to career management. I always advise that you should never use personal email at work, even the web-based ones like Gmail. It’s too easy for companies to track your usage.
Smart Lemming tip: with iPhones or Blackberries, you don’t have to worry about using your company computer for personal email. Don’t have one? Get one, so you can be connected.
4. How About a Career Management Plan?
If you haven’t had to write a business plan, then you might want to learn how to do it. Having this skill makes you understand why you also need a personal career management plan. What skills will you need for next career move? How will you get there? What are the market conditions for your next career move? After analyzing in your career management plan, you may change your mind.
Smart Lemming tip: write a career management plan so you can determine if you’re on the right track or not. It also comes in handy, so you can add structure by outlining what skills or work experience you’ll need over the next 3 to 5 years. This information will help you proactively take advantage of opportunities when they cross your path.
5. Cranky, Unhappy Workers are More Productive than Happy Ones
Cranky and unhappy workers are more productive? Who knew! Actually, if you think about it, this makes sense since theses workers are busy avoiding everyone they can’t stand by working.
Smart Lemming tip: should you channel you inner crank to be more productive at work? It might help with the currently downsizing environment…just kidding. Don’t be cranky, play nice with coworkers, be a team player, ask for more work so your boss sees the value you provide. Be a utility player that can do anything in the office.
