WinSpin CIC, Inc. Creative Intelligence Consulting
Marilynn Mendell
Marilynn Deane Mendell
President
Win Spin CIC, Inc.



Recently Published Article

Please click on the above link to read the recent article in
 Metal Architecture


Review the above list and keep it handy. So often spelling errors can wreck a proposal or presentation. 








Tackle the Boring This Year
For a myriad reasons, exciting tasks always get priority in any office. Boring tasks get assigned to the lower echelon personnel and rarely do those various mundane systems ever get scrutinized --carefully -- by owners/principals

Just like scope creep, boring tasks--the lesser family of details--spread. For instance, when a database reaches 5000 no one wants to take the time to review each contact line by line, much less think about the global repercussions of an out of date, or worse, irrelevant database. While many organizations have an integrated platform, many employees still keep their own individual Outlook contacts. This mind boggling occurrence happens so often that it's hard to understand. The ongoing rationale seems to be that the effort of combining and up-keeping the current system frustrates even the most hardened professional. So better to turn a blind eye and ignore.

This family of unattended boring tasks can slow down business development and marketing on so many fronts. That's why it's so important to peruse lists that hold upcoming opportunities for award submissions or speaking engagements. Sadly, inaccurate or out of date tracking devices can often result in the important loss of missed opportunities. 

In addition, there might be a need to revamp the brand standards book where detailed accounts of how much gets ordered, from whom to order, and exactly the correct logo, the right fonts, paper types, and correct corporate colors reside. There should be a notebook with hard copies of every item ordered including marketing brochures and holiday cards. The electronic versions (with retired editions relegated to the archive folder) also needs to be cleaned out. That might mean double checking office hoarders; those who insist on using some easy access version on their personal hard drive. 

Why should principals take on the magnifying glass to review these various tasks? Wouldn't their time be more wisely spent finding new business? Isn't this in the category of micro managing? Don't I pay intelligent people to take care of these? No!

Systems fall apart if not regularly maintained and reviewed. The further they deteriorate the more monumental the they feel and are in reality more difficult to fix. 

Principals/owners have a level of caring that surpasses entry level personnel. Although, when owning a business we often pass things off to others whom we can trust (such as our accountants), we still review our tax documents or architectural plans, right? It's the same but more so with anything that ultimately touches the client. If a database contains misspelled names or dead clients, then that can sour a relationship or point to a less detail oriented organization. Finally, it is principals who can instantly feel/smell if these various lists accurately reflect the company's current business development direction or if the lists have become stale and still target an audience long left in the dust.

It takes ownership to bother with that kind of examination. That's the truth. Have fun. I promise the effort will pay off in numerous ways every day. Really. 
 








A few of my students from 2015 
at  Georgetown University




Business Etiquette & Learning to 
Cook  Are Special Advantages 
for this Georgetown Class.

Special Thanks

This generous group from the Real Estate Industry have contributed enormously as guest speakers for my 2015  12 Keys to Successful Business Practice masters class at Georgetown University. They so well deserve recognition for their contributions. 

  James C. Dinegar, CAE,  President & CEO
  Greater Washington Board of Trade

  Daniel J. Feil,  FAIA, Executive Architect
  Eisenhower Memorial Commission

  Debra Gilmore, Founder/Principal 
  Gilmore/Lighting Design, Inc. 

  Robert Helwig, Bob Helwig Consulting, LLC

  William I. MagruderSenior Vice President
  Clark Construction Group, LLC

  Caroline Massie,  Editor, Architect Magazine

  Robert J. Murphy Managing Principal
  MRP Reality 

  William H. Norton, Retired Regional Director
  Northwestern Real Estate Investment

  John Simeon, Development Executive
  The JBG Companies

   James P. Tunkey, Chief Operating Officer
  IonAsia

  Finally, I want to thank Nicole Witenstein and
  Lynnecia Eley who set up the programs at
  Georgetown.
  
  Thank You,
Marilynn

Thank You!

To everyone who bought my book and who has supported this effort--you are the best. The book is currently about to be reprinted as it has SOLD OUT. Well, there are a few copies still lingering on Amazon. New books arrive in May 2016. 

For those of you not familiar with my book I was  once the best and largest  off-premise caterer in Western New York. For years I have paired business acumen with my fabulous recipes to help cement business concepts for my clients and that teaching idea became the foundation for my book. The book conveys my story of how to achieve the American Dream; where anyone in this country can become whatever they want with hard work and a never-give-up attitude.  Hence the title: 
Elbow Grease + Chicken Fat

 
"Trust Marilynn Mendell's creative spirit to serve up valuable business strategies alongside everyone's favorite... food... and make it meaningful and delicious. Bon Appetit!"
- Cindy Allen, Editor in  Chief,  Interior Design Magazine
  
"Marilynn Deane Mendell's inspirational book is not only a HOW TO but a WHY NOT? - offering entrepreneurial ingredients for tasty meals, healthy businesses, and fruitful lives. Delicious food for thought!"
- Bill Cunningham,  Television Producer, Los Angeles
     
"Elbow Grease + Chicken Fat is hard to put down. I love the recipes, and Marilynn Deane Mendell has included many that I'd like to try.  The accompanying words of wisdom--on growing a business and much more-- are just as valuable. Kudos to Marilynn for implementing a great idea! It was extremely motivational."  
Diana Mosher,  Editor in Chief,  Multi-Housing News

For the Entrepreneurs Out There 

This book is jammed packed full of entertaining stories about various startups and how they traveled their road to success. In some ways it reminds me of that old book In
Search of Excellence  by Peters and Waterman  and  Alpha Dogs  by Donna Fenn. It's a fast read and well worth your time. 

Read This Book to Grasp the Importance of Deep Learning

This is the best book I've read in years.  The Wall Street Journal agrees. This is a fascinating read on why we need mentors and guides and how just going to the internet can yield all of the wrong answers. There are at least ten other books to read embedded in this one to keep your fascination juiced. Read this book if you're working with creatives, have children or teach anyone. This is a must read.  View All WinSpin CIC Recommended Reading
Read Futurists Books to Help with Your Strategic Planning

Every single reviewer says this is the book of the year to read.  Rise of the Robots  and any book by futurists should be on your list not just because other people say so, but because for a business to be ahead of the game knowing what's coming down the pike (if only 50% turn out to be correct) becomes paramount for a business to succeed.  Go back and reread The Art of the Long View, The World in 2050, and The Experience  Economy to see what those authors predicted and what actually came to fruition. 
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