For immediate assistance call 303-594-1694 or email cross@gocross.com

You can skip this article to all the courses below. However, we thought we would give you some critical issues driving the future of the virtual business world. As one CEO said, "we are not going back, we are going forward into the virtual business world before our competitors do, new startups do and anyone else does, as we want to be the best in virtual business now."

The New Virtual-First Business Model

The name of TMC is Technology Marketing Corporation and since the beginning they have always focused on the marketing of technologies. Today, marketing of your technology is now more important than ever accelerating your efforts to retain and sustain current customers and gain new customers faster. If you are involved in marketing, sales and customer experience you know this was not just one thing before, now it's extending and expanding your business presence virtually to everything your customer is and their customers are doing. Even more important is "seeing through" them to help their customers gain and retain customers takes looking beyond what you are selling them to what experiences they are creating. TMC is totally focused on doing this and through this process we are now providing virtual-first business acceleration programs. To the end, TECHtionary has partnered with TMC to offer our courses from them including Fundamentals, Advanced and Expert virtual sales and presentation programs, these virtual technology marketing programs go even farther with a 14-course Enterprise Business Acceleration program with ongoing sales coaching service. Even further is a seven-phase organizational virtual sales development program. 

You may not be ready for this kind of long-term professional engagement but we are ready when you want to put the "pedal to the virtual metal" and go. This is what we have been doing for more than twenty years. To get this started, we plan weekly updates to this blog to show you our commitment and provide you with steps and pathways to this business development program. I can only recommend you start today before your current competitors beat you in current markets you serve and new companies beat you to new markets and customers before you do. As once said, "if you don't make dust, you eat dust." We can't guarantee there will be no dust but help you be the one making the dust and not eating it. Get started with the program below.

Part 2 - Throughout business history there are clear business models of market dominance, transformation, decline and destruction. Forty years ago, new businesses started with a personal computer rather than a typewriter. The PC could do many things, not just one thing. Typewriters didn't die right away but they are largely found in museums today. A decade later when the laser printer emerged it could print images, graphics and much more, not just text. There are many other examples as when CDs replace vinyl, digital cameras replaced film, even now as electric cars are replacing gasoline vehicles and soon driver-less autonomous vehicles will replace person-drive vehicles. Yes there will be problems but in twenty years driving a car for most but certainly not all activities will be a think of the past. Twenty years ago, or so, the internet was finally accelerating, not just a real innovation but seen by many as a means for replacing FAX machines and mailing expensive printed content. Look at what happened to those who were internet-first in their business model. Today, video meetings invented in 1964 by AT&T used in the iconic 1968 movie 2001: A Space Odyssey are finally changing the way all kinds of business meetings are conducted and much more with hundreds or thousands of participants and viewers The point is that technology always changes the way we do business, some much faster than others and some dependent on a changing customer styles and user behavior such as the business suit has taken a while longer to decline. In other situations, things like working in an office may die much more slowly but will absolutely change dramatically. Why because for many though not all working at home saves so much time that was wasted commuting. We have dozens of other reasons like not working with people you actually didn't ever like. The home is a sanctuary where people can not wear pants, play the music they like, set the temperature that suits them and so much more. Yet, we also see offices of any kind from military, school, industrial, office and government becoming more of a place for inperson events and corporate studios like television broadcast networks with large video and augmented reality demonstration centers. Buildings and offices will have to also evolve with health safety as a priority, we will address in future articles.

Today, companies are always facing the challenges of digital transformation or put more simply, automate anything and everything they can faster than their new or existing competitors. This concept has fueled the growth of many siloes which focus on narrow business functions such as process automation, sales management, team communications and others. The point is that the pandemic will not necessarily accelerate digital transformation, however along with a virtual-first business model alter the trajectory and ultimate outcome. Just redesigning a business for telecommuting or as some say working virtually from anywhere is not just about technology but changing the company culture. Previously when you had a "collective" approach to your culture, your communications processes were designed for face-to-face meetings and inperson business operations based on a "hive" office environment. The pandemic destroyed both of those concepts at the onset and while many forms of "collective hive" will may come back, it will be very different if not completely different than before for existing companies. However, for the new virtual-first businesses that have emerged based on new ways to business and will grow with people hired on a "remote office" basis using technology to "meet up virtually" rather than, in some cases, never meeting the person inperson. There are a dozen other business models that we have identified incorporating a virtual-first business approach that will rise, struggle, succeed and fail like anyone business model. New technologies from 5G, IoT, and artificial intelligence along with its many variations such as robotics, machine learning, expert systems and others will also rise not as just another silo application to solve process automation or logistics but synchronized networks solving many problems not just a few. 

Summary - technology always changes the way we think faster than society can adapt to its impacts and consequences. The pandemic has shown us that we can adapt faster even when we are forced too, though the unintended consequences of all this are only beginning to emerge. In parts 3 and beyond, we will explore the virtual-first business model and see how fast, what new and exciting innovations will emerge into what will be the next billion dollar startup. We do know for sure there is "no going back" as whether this virus or the next has set the global stage for how the world must and will react, then act and be ready for the next one.

we build great talent."

Business has been and always will be about being faster, cheaper, better. To accomplish that strategically, the faster you can communicate, the faster you can change, and those corporations that change the fastest will be the most successful. Yet organizations struggle because to increase the speed you need to increase the speed of the people who work there. The world is moving faster and faster as what I call “organizational velocity” (OV). OV is the speed by which information travels throughout the organization. We all know where information is but how it is used and how fast it is used is critical to making decisions faster. Decision making is more than a yes-no but often a carefully orchestrated process that looks at what needs to be done and through the lifespan until the decision changes. The concept of the mythical person month effectively describes that if you are an organization of one, you can make decisions instantly, but you can only do the work of one. When you add more and more people, decisions take almost infinitely longer as more and more people are involved but you can do more like sending a person to space. To accelerate the communications process means getting people “on the same” page faster.

The process of collaboration in today’s environment requires the “buy-in” or socialization from more and more people. However, as each day delays any decision the value or ROI-return on investment declines faster and faster. In other words, the longer the delay the lower the return. Giving that people involved in many decisions are not just sitting around waiting for what you need but working on their own work. Indeed, we need better collaboration, but we also need not just faster but better improvements in the collaboration process. If you consider that meeting participants may need time to research, complete a task, visit a customer, work with others you can see that the more complex the decision the more indepth the development to determine validity or potential outcome. In those situations, in which factual information is being exchanged in order to solve a problem, studies show that only about half of the person’s time is actually spent communicating—sending or receiving information. Searching for information, taking notes, and other organizing efforts took up the rest of the time. If the meeting type is one of negotiation or conflict requiring an exchange of opinions and argumentation, the person spends as much as 75% of his or her time actually communicating with verifying each step of a document or process along the way. Nonetheless, other non-communicating activities, such as information retrieval and document reading, still make up 25% of the person’s time. In addition, another overlooked challenge did meeting attendees really understand what the presenter/speaker was trying to convey. That is, did they all agree on what was said, was what was heard and ultimately gets done? If you are boring face-to-face, you will still be boring via video and technology only makes you look worse. The goal of the course is not just to overlay technology to a fundamental problem of poor communication but integrate enhanced technology with better business communications processes.

Before you fail, flub or otherwise lose face or some would say fall on your face yet again in your video sales, lecture, crisis call, news, investor, team, status, leadership or any other meeting or class, get virtual meetings smart today.

To order, please email cross@gocross.com or call 303-594-1694

Summary – Virtual Sales (VSP) & Virtual Events (VEP) Professional Certification is designed to provide faster, cheaper and effective ways for improved business communications. Enhanced meeting technology options are complex and getting more so as there are fewer and fewer people in one place with more and more people in customer, technical labs, research centers, working at home, co-working, mobile, auto, train, plane with fewer onsite each using often very different technology. VEP can bring technology with business processes and operations that accelerates decisions faster with more involvement and allows for more thoughtful analysis.

"Tom and I developed and delivered more than a dozen virtual webinars on social media, virtual selling and marketing strategies. Tom is an excellent course designer, developer and importantly has great delivery and virtual presentation skills. I would highly recommend him for any virtual presentations including investor pitch, virtual selling, virtual events/sales professional as well as highly technical subjects including AI. His book on AI - MindMeld has been called the best business book on AI yet written. He can really help you be the best."

Evan Kirstel #1 Social Media in AI, Retail Tech and many other B2B markets.

Tom and I team-taught the section in the RVC Hyperaccelerator program five times on Sales, Go-to Marketing and Marketing to more than 50 companies. We also share the critical concern that marketing is #1 cause of startup failure and success. Tom is a great course developer, engaging presenter and thought leader and would highly recommend his Virtual Event/Sales Professional courses to any startup, business or anyone wanting to make their business plan presentation to investors and others get "pitch perfect."

This is both an introduction and taking action seminar designed to not just “talk the talk” but “walk the walk” in changing the nature of virtual sales, direct and indirect channels and most importantly customers in the way they explore, evaluate, decide, purchase and deploy new and expanded versions of solutions in their business. This course is for new-hires, new to position, new to market and otherwise new to sales though this isn't a fundamentals course on sales which is recommended prior to this class. There is a course in the Expert Level that addresses the personal aspects of presenting oneself - Top-10 Personal Sales Professional Criteria.

Clck here for 11-page complete course outline and details in PDF. 

Special Session - Building a Virtual Selling Corporate Strategy - email for indepth 30-page PPT. Special Session - email to discuss

Click here for 11-page complete course outline and details in PDF.

Strategic Goals for Virtual Sales Expert Level Enterprise Sales Acceleration 

•       And, most importantly, maximize the confidence-to-close factor and the customer gain-retain ratio and seek to shorten the sales cycle.

Expert Sessions Outline : QUEST for The Accelerating Enterprise sales

Questions, Understanding, Evaluating, Systems-Support and Teaching

Sales leadership can select all Sessions or any Session “by the slice” option for delivery including keynote, C-level, investor or sales meeting presentation format.

Click here for 11-page complete course outline and details in PDF.

·   Audience

·   Venue and scheduling

·   Agenda, purpose and format

·   Discussion, dialog, attention, retention and interaction

·   Research and presentation preparation

·   Exchange and analysis of information separate from discussion

·   Meeting reports and analysis

·   Ratification of meeting and distribution of results

·   Actions taken, if any

·   Other activities

·   Video - real-time, still-frame, broadcast, streaming

·   Audio - multi-person conference, broadcast, podcast, streaming

·   Graphic - whiteboards, displays, graphics, and other webinar style presentations

·   Augmented - artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality and emerging technologies

Session 3AE SEAL Training only in Advanced and Expert Level Courses

Any meeting online or off is comprised of some or all of
the following SEAL training elements:

•  Speaker - what you do - preparation, rehearsal, development and delivery

•   Engagement - what you to together - discussion, dialog, attention retention and interaction

•   Audience - who they are - engagement and feedback – voting, polling, testing

•   Logistics – how you do it - – technology selection, implementation, testing, room, food service, usage, feedback and reports

Session 3AE – Using Enhanced Virtual Technology for Specific Meeting Types only in Advanced and Expert Level Courses

Depending on client needs, audience type and size as well as goals is also a workshop to allow participants to give their own presentation, this class is approximately 60-90 minutes with less than 20 students recommended. In the past, we have used Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address as a model for participants to give their own version of this thoughtful and profound speech. If not, this session will be a discussion of how virtual meeting technologies enhances what types of meetings such as, depending on time-permitted and participant discussions:

Special Session - Virtual Event Production (sponsorships invited)

This new section has been suggested by many who are interested in building or remodeling a room or rooms for professional home video production. Key to any virtual production is also having all presenters and talent complete all the Virtual Event Professional courses (Session 1-4) to make sure they all have the key presentation skills. This is an one-hour introduction, not an indepth analysis of this very complex issue. Some of the topics covered however briefly are:

This new special section is a one-hour (yes, we could talk about this all day for event producer rather than presenters, however this is an introduction, not an indepth discussion which could lead to still other special classes depending on customer needs) for large audience and special audience (museums, parks, sporting) event productions. Some made famous with thousands of people singing a song along with the entire concept video streaming for any kind of event. Key to any virtual production is also having all presenters and talent complete all the Virtual Event Professional courses (Session 1-4) to make sure they all have the key presentation skills. Here are some of the large audience presented briefly with a class discussion of them afterward.

Delivery methods – via webinar one-hour for Fundamentals Sections 1 and 2, approximately three-hours for Advanced Sections 1-3 and approximately five-hours for Expert Level Sections 1-4 courses if taken serially at the same time.

If taken separately, after students have attended the Fundamentals course, the Advanced (Section 3) class is approximately 60-90-minutes. Or after students have taken both Fundamentals and Advanced courses, the Expert Level (Section 4) course is approximately 60-90-minutes each (length is always is determined by student interaction and discussion), subject to change. Scheduling is extremely limited due to previously scheduled seminars. If you are ready to schedule, have special requirements or questions, call 303-594-1694 or email cross@gocross.com - classes on weekends and evenings are available.

Scheduling and Terms – Tuition and webinar fees are prepaid prior to confirmation of delivery date. Payment methods include credit cards, PayPal, ACH/wire. Due to the breadth and depth of this seminar, all topics may not be discussed due to student questions and class interaction. Course topics or terms may change without notice. NOTE: Moneyback guaranteed.

Please subscribe to keep up on virtual events, crisis management, video streaming, AI, virtual technology and many other innovative subjects.

Please join the largest Linkedin Group in SD-WAN, 5G, TeleHealth, Virtual Sales, Teleworking, Virtual Events, SaaS, Enterprise, Safe and Clean Workspaces PandemicTech - click on image below.

One attendee noted, “These classes are critical to show customers and partners leadership by leaning-in and leading from the front now and in the future.”

- Social Distancing Designed Workspaces Blueprintd Places

Click here or on image for detailed course outlines in PPT and custom content available including conversion of current content.

Pandemics will be more frequent, intense and global as "history is only a prologue" to the future, to not prevent them much less reduce their economic, biological, climate or human impacts. Concepts like AI, machine learning and intelligent technologies are more like weather forecasts based on historical models, again not a panacea for what is coming next or even insights. From decades of research in business, economic development, terrorism and other areas, the bottom-line is, "you cannot predict, nor react fast enough, you can only direct your customers to your strategy." This really means that crisis-driven innovation much be integrated into your current and emerging business models and forecasts. This webinar will focus on key innovations and opportunities coming and a few ideas to be ready to the next one. They up to 10 sub-categories within each major category which are:

Evaluations from previous classes - “Getting a fresh look at how we should do rather not do social media was worth the course alone plus the ”heat map” approach was really insightful.” S.R. CMO. “You think you know everything and are really ready but you are just a fool in the dark. This seminar amped up our readiness.” R.E. CM. “After Boeing, Covid19 every CMO and CEO should get this for their company.” R.R. CMO

This webinar is available and please email for complete outline and scheduling.

The Top 10 Critical Crisis Concepts are: Communications, Context, Contact, Collaboration, Connections, Consistency, Channels, Compliance, Cynchronicity and Customers. This seminar will review, navigate and provide actionable tools to help you manage the upcoming crisis coming to you and your business. 

To schedule this webinar, please email cross@gocross.com

“After Boeing, Coronavirus every CMO and CEO should get this for their company.” R.R. CMO

Tom Cross is seriously one of the great thought leaders of our era. Having written more than 1,000 articles on the widest range of technology, applications and business leadership, he has helped 100s of companies accelerate their performance and succeed in their pursuits. He is a superb strategist and thinker with the ability to design and deliver on marketing, product development and channel management. I also strong recommend him for his work ethic and leadership skills."

• Evan Kirstel Social Media Expert

Becoming a global social media influencer and thought leader in the technology industry demands a rare mix of communication and marketing expertise combined with broad and deep technical experience. Tom is a thought leader in both B2B IT and B2C application solutions. He has content development and delivery skills across a wide range of technologies including AI, social media, social selling, mobile apps, IoT, IoMT, network security, blockchain, machine learning and quantum computing. He has a unique ability to translate complicated technologies and opportunities into actionable insights for business leaders from the C-level to the floor-level. If you need help generating and communicating compelling stories about your technology products and services, I recommend you contact Tom. He will challenge you to think differently and act differently in how you communicate the value of your solutions to customers, partners and markets.”

• Roger Toennis – Senior Director Gartner - Retired

For scheduling, please email cross@gocross.com or call 303-594-1694 and ask about special offers for 2020 and even 2021.