Make Your People Part of Your Program 

Fourteen?!

A researcher friend told me this week that today's college graduates will have 14 jobs in their career, on average.

Why so many?

Partially, for upward mobility. 

But also because loyalty to any one organization has largely faded away like Mel Gibson's career. 

This doesn't HAVE to be the case. 

Joe Mull's new book, Employalty talks a lot about how to keep team members engaged and passionate.

And I saw an example in action myself, a few days ago, in Portland.

At JoJo Restaurant, the menu trumpets the Employee Special of the month. 

🐓 The "La Bala" is a fried chicken sandwich with chorizo, cheese, onions, and a bunch of other deliciousness.

Invented by team member Salvador, I can tell you first-hand that La Bala is worth the calories. 

Having employees make recommendations isn't exactly new or novel. I dabbled in "Bobby's Picks" at my local Blockbuster Video three decades ago. 

BUT, notice that JoJo doesn't just ask their team to come up with poultry premises, they MAKE THEIR PEOPLE PART OF THE PROGRAM.

For every La Bala ordered, Salvador gets a couple bucks. The more popular his creation, the more he makes.

I LOVE this idea.

We TALK about employee engagement a lot, but leaders almost always expect and anticipate those bonds to be built primarily on emotional pillars. 

Instead, take a cue from JoJo. 

If you want your people to feel like they are valued, AND you're going to ask them to help develop your products or services, give them some skin in the game. 

Is Salvador going to buy a Bentley based on chicken sandwich commissions? Unlikely. 

But the side cash he makes from the popularity of his creation speaks to his value to the JoJo organization. 

When it comes to employee engagement, actions speak a LOT louder than words. 

The Books Report

One of the many things I like about my brilliant friend David Newman, is that he takes complicated subjects and breaks them down, step-by-step, so that anyone can conquer them.

He's done it again with the truly excellent Do It! Selling. 

If you're a person who "sells" but isn't a professional salesperson, this book is for you. 

Here's my quote on the cover:

"Do It! Selling is overflowing with practical, actionable guidance that works in the real world. 

David's ideas will change your entire relationship with revenue. 

It's worth 1000x what you pay for it."

Jay's Faves

I got tired of printing and carrying stacks of business cards. 

In fact, long-time fans will remember that for many years my business card was a metal bottle opener. 

People NEVER lost them, but it was an expensive (and HEAVY) approach to contact info.

Now, I've gone the complete opposite direction, with MobiloCard.

It's one card, customized with your logo, and embedded with a NFC chip that contains all your contact info. 

$5-$39 depending on whether you want plastic, wood (like me), or metal.

You just touch the card to the top of anyone's phone, and PRESTO! all your contact details are available for download. 

Game-changer for me. And maybe for you?

Tell a Friend

If you like The Baer Facts, please share it with your friends. Send them to TheBaerFacts.com.
 

Thanks! I'll be back in your inbox in two weeks.