Blogs from Art Waskey

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How to Improve Strategic Projections

Like so many areas of business, the art of strategic planning has been greatly altered by the introduction of new technology. Software applications and Artificial Intelligence (AI) have greatly improved our ability to project and make a strategic plan. Three questions...

How To Sharpen Your Forecasting Skills

Traditional forecasting When I retired from a very successful distribution company in 2018, we were creating our strategic plan using the most current and sophisticated methods available. Sales forecasting is achieved by analyzing previous sales cycles and following...

Intuition vs. Data: Which One Hires Better?

Using intuition As a consultant, I am often asked to interview potential new executive employees for my clients. In my sales management career, I hired many outside sales representatives. When interviewing, I relied heavily on intuition and my success rate was above...

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Featured

Adopting AI – The Smart Move for Outside Sales

Attention, all sales executives. Digital Transformation (DX) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are here. It took a long time for the collection of technologies and applications referred to as DX...

A Strong Cultural Foundation

Cultural Fragility Each business has a unique culture and it can be fragile. Changes within and outside your organization can threaten the culture of your company. Firstly, a merger or acquisition...

Managing Change and Building Trust

Be a differentiator The distribution business is built on managing change, building trust, strong relationships, and the ability to find solutions tailored to customers’ needs. The digital...
Adaptability

Adaptability

Looking Back As I start the New Year, I like to make observations about the previous year. Looking back, 2023 was a year replete with some big...

AI and Cost Containments

AI and Cost Containments

One of the greatest advantages of deploying Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications is the effective cost containments they yield. AI can help...

Consider Implementing AI

Consider Implementing AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications offer exciting possibilities for transforming how business is done. Its applications are complex and very...

AI and Marketing Productivity

AI and Marketing Productivity

Coming to your market Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications are rapidly infiltrating market spaces. McKinsey has declared that “AI is poised to...

Managing Change and Building Trust

Managing Change and Building Trust

Be a differentiator The distribution business is built on managing change, building trust, strong relationships, and the ability to find solutions...

Strengthen Your Sales Position

Strengthen Your Sales Position

Digital tools have altered the customer experience. For example, product research, once the realm of the sales rep, is now done routinely by the...

Build Online Confidence

Build Online Confidence

Changing Customer Relationships I consult primarily with distributors with revenues of $10 million and below. This group's success stems from...

Taking Control of the Mind

Taking Control of the Mind

Our mind can be likened to an iceberg. The tip of the iceberg represents the relatively small part of our brain which is our conscious mind. This...

Organizational Tools

Organizational Tools

Why organize? What is it that makes being organized a functional way to succeed? To begin, it is important to realize that with every business...

Passionate About Success

Passionate About Success

There are many elements that go into achieving success in a competitive sales environment. I have found that passion is one of the most critical. A...

Managing Stress

Managing Stress

Stress at Work When stress overcomes you, it can hinder your ability to move forward. I have often been so stressed by noon that I wasn’t hungry for...

Managing Your Projects

Managing Your Projects

The Problem As a consultant to small- and medium-sized distributors, I often focus on project management. I generally begin an assignment with the...

Technology and Personalization

Technology and Personalization

As digital transformation reshapes the sales process, it is crucial to establish a good balance between technology and personalization. Also, the...

Taking Action With AI

Taking Action With AI

Professional sales reps need to pay attention to what is new, particularly as it relates to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and enterprise selling. It...

Finding Opportunity in Change

Finding Opportunity in Change

We need to look for the opportunities often hidden within disruption. As author Barbara Kingsolver, says, "The changes we dread most may contain our...

A Strong Cultural Foundation

A Strong Cultural Foundation

Cultural Fragility Each business has a unique culture and it can be fragile. Changes within and outside your organization can threaten the culture...

Build Customer Loyalty

Build Customer Loyalty

Building customer loyalty in a business environment typified by rapid digital transformation and virtual online alternatives is challenging. Sales...

Pricing— A Core Competency

Pricing— A Core Competency

As customers, we look for vendors who provide stable and fair pricing.  As sales reps, we know that pricing products consistently creates better...

Pricing Solutions for Disruptive Times

Pricing Solutions for Disruptive Times

There is no stopping the impact of economic disruptors on your business. Consequently, supply chains may become tangled, inflation can flare up, and...

Pricing Dynamics for Today

Pricing Dynamics for Today

With digitization has come rapid change in how we view and analyze pricing decisions. It is no longer viable to price on a set-it and forget-it...

Pricing — A Data-Driven Process

Pricing — A Data-Driven Process

Technology has changed the dynamics of pricing strategy. With digitalization, information is now readily available to measure customer performance....