What do you do when "great" isn't good enough to grow your career or business? How do you stand out and move up in today's world? Join bestselling author (book named by 30 newspapers as one of "Ten Best Business Books" of the year) and Hall of Fame professional speaker Scott McKain to discover what it takes to create distinction in your career, business, and life!
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Let's talk! Scott’s matchless experiences have continued throughout his life. They range from playing the villain in a Werner Herzog film that Roger Ebert called one of the 50 “great movies” in cinema history to being booked to speak by Arnold Schwarzenegger for an event on the White House lawn with the President in the audience; from being the aut…
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Episode 19: The role of “learning” in creating distinction…
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You cannot move from where you are now to where you want to be with only the information that you currently possess. In today’s program, Scott McKain asks you three critical questions to help you consider the importance of enlightenment as a core value of distinction.By Scott McKain
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Episode 18: Differentiating the customer experience…
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If the experience that you deliver to your customers is identical to the one the competition is creating, it becomes impossible for you to be perceived as distinctive. In today’s episode, Scott McKain relates three specific steps that you can take to make your customer experience more unique.By Scott McKain
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Episode 17: More on changing your habits to succeed and create distinction…
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“Motivational speakers” have said for years it takes 30 days to change a habit — however, research clearly demonstrates they are WRONG. On this program, Scott McKain reveals the truth about changing habits — it’s a process, not an event. And, we learn the five specific steps it takes to move to a more dynamic and distinctive life, both personally a…
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Episode 44: Dealing with being insanely busy…
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Our friend, Victoria Labalme (http://VictoriaLabalme.com) has a great phrase — she calls it, “Crazy, Busy, Nuts.” Know the feeling? You can’t create distinction if you are always overwhelmed. Today, Scott McKain gives you two great exercises to help you start taming the “busy” from your life.By Scott McKain
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Episode 43: Penguins in the lobby? No problem!
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On a trip to Hawaii, Scott McKain was reading an article in USAToday about Ritz Carlton (in which he was extensively quoted), with a penguin sitting by him at the Hyatt. Today’s episode is a commentary on how important it is to have something unexpected to delight your customer…and the people to maintain it.…
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Episode 42: Are you burying your distinctive point?
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Looking at competitive websites, Scott McKain noticed they all said the same thing — yet, one had a very distinctive fact buried deep in the copy. Are you presenting identical information as your competition — or, are you standing out?By Scott McKain
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Often when we examine the “positive” attributes of leadership versus “negative” approaches of bad bosses, we fail to recognize that “fine line” that separates the qualities from one another. Today, Scott McKain talks about when good approaches turn bad for leaders and the companies they serve.By Scott McKain
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Probably at one time or another, we’ve all had to deal with a boss that was difficult and demanding. But, what if that boss crosses the line and becomes disrespectful? How do we deal with a bad boss? In today’s episode of Project Distinct, Scott McKain will provide a few ideas on the steps we should take.…
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Episode 39: Distinction lessons from Bryan Cranston
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Whether he’s playing a meth dealer, former President, or goofball dad, actor Bryan Cranston’s career teaches two important lessons about distinction: 1) it can come at any time in life; and, 2) the first step to avoid being “pigeon-holed” as a professional is to not think that way about yourself! Scott McKain has more in today’s “Project Distinct.”…
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Episode 38: The critical importance of the first impression
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From a waiter on Valentine’s Day to a cab driver, first impressions set the tone of the customer experience — and, whether you know it or not, critical clues about your ability to create distinction. That’s the topic from Scott McKain on today’s Project Distinct!By Scott McKain
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Episode 37: Using your experience as a customer to enhance your customer’s experience
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Your experience as a customer is deep (you have a lot of experience buying from certain vendors) AND wide (you’ve done business a lot of different places). Scott McKain focuses today on how you can leverage your experience as a customer to help create an Ultimate Customer Experience.By Scott McKain
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Episode 36: Are you assuming that your way is the customer’s way, too?
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A recent Pew Research study revealed that only 15% of Americans have ever used Uber or Lyft. It also uncovers other startling information for those of us who actively engage online. This causes Scott McKain to question: are you assuming the way YOU do things is the way that the customer does, too?By Scott McKain
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Episode 35: “Great service” won’t differentiate you!
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In research in the field of financial services, Scott McKain learned the critical aspect of clarity — and why just having “great service” isn’t inspiring customers to move their business to you. Today’s episode tells you why...By Scott McKain
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Episode 34: Activity ranking and the plan for success…
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Today’s episode begins with Scott McKain discussing the four-step method of activity ranking — and concludes with how it will create a plan for personal and professional success!By Scott McKain
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Episode 33: There’s no such thing as “time management”…
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In today’s episode, Scott explodes the myth of “time management”…and gives us some ideas on how to get the most from our day.By Scott McKain
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Episode 32: 4 steps that screw up your customer experience...
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Today, Scott McKain provides insight on four critical things that companies, leaders, managers, and professionals do that mess up their ability to deliver a great customer experience. How many of these are you inadvertently doing in your organization?By Scott McKain
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Episode 31: How to create a great place to work…
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From an unlikely source, Scott found some terrific ideas on the steps you need to take to attract great people to work for you — and keep them working there, too!By Scott McKain
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Episode 30: The 3 strategies of differentiation
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According to Harvard professor Michael Porter, there are only three ways for you to compete against other businesses — and, if you want to differentiate, there are only three strategies you can employ. Scott McKain discusses those three, and reveals the importance of each…and how they impact you on today’s PROJECT DISTINCT.…
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Episode 29: Overcoming failure to create distinction...
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Rowland Hussey launched four businesses over a twelve year period -- and all of them failed. He kept a diary of what he had learned from his failures, and tried yet again. Scott McKain shares the story of what happened next...By Scott McKain
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Episode 28: Your lack of employee engagement is hurting your business!
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Based upon a recent whitepaper by Cornerstone, "only 40% of your employees know your organization's strategy and priorities for success!" Based on their research -- as well as Scott McKain's own work -- here is one important step to help you repair your engagement problems...NOW!By Scott McKain
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Episode 27: The four elements of distinctive design for any aspect of your business
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Whether it's designing a product, how you'll serve your customer, or even your website...you want it to be distinctive! Today, Scott McKain shows us the four critical elements required for distinctive design -- no matter what it is that you are creating!By Scott McKain
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Episode 26: Three requirements of an Ultimate Customer Experience ®
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There are many aspects that a business must understand to deliver an experience so compelling to customers that loyalty is the result. Scott McKain today reveals the three requirements that are essential to create an Ultimate Customer Experience ®, regardless of your business or marketplace.By Scott McKain
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A recent study found that exercising intensely for a short period of time can produce the same results as working moderately for a much longer period. In today's episode, Scott examines how that same principle might apply to our creativity, as well.By Scott McKain
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Episode 24: Ideas vs. execution: Which is most important?
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Which is most critical to your success in creating distinction? Ideas...or execution? Scott McKain has a very precise viewpoint on one of the other -- and it's the subject of today's episode of Project Distinct!By Scott McKain
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Episode 23: How lessons from the Presidential campaign can show how to build YOUR brand...
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Political pundits -- and many of we regular folks -- never imagined that the Trump presidential campaign would have such sustained success. Whether you love him -- or not -- Trump's success again proves the power of a recognized brand. What can YOUR business learn from this? That's Scott's subject on today's Project Distinct!…
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Episode 22: The BIGGEST PROBLEM research says is facing your business…
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CareerBuilder.com surveyed leaders in financial services, retail, and technology companies to find out what they determined were the biggest challenges facing their organizations. Surprisingly, they were very much alike — and will be revealed by Scott McKain on this episode, along with a simple strategy to begin to solve the problem.…
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Episode 21: The two currencies that customers are using to pay you…
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What some airlines don’t understand is that some customers use more than just money to purchase a ticket. And, whether the hotel is a Hampton Inn or a Four Seasons, customers always have a right to a great experience. Scott McKain reveals what the second currency is…and how it might even be more important than cash.…
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Episode 20: When customer loyalty is an accident…
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When Scott McKain totaled his Hertz rental car in New York City traffic, it was the beginning of a remarkable experience that created a customer for life. Learn how they did it — and how you can duplicate it, without the accident!By Scott McKain
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Episode 02: Moving to Distinct and the 'Ebert Effect'
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How do you move towards a distinctive presence for your organization — or for yourself? In today’s episode, Scott relates the story of his friendship with famed movie critic, Roger Ebert — and how the Pulitzer Prize winner inspired Scott to understand the importance of differentiation.By Scott McKain
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Episode 01: Introduction to Project Distinct
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Introductory podcast for Project Distinct with Scott McKain. n this podcast, Scott McKain reveals the critical reason why creating distinction is the most important step you can take in your professional life. Today we begin the journey by hearing Scott McKain’s personal story of a life-changing tragedy, and how that inspired him to discover the fo…
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Episode 16: Are your habits preventing you from creating distinction?
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One of the most powerful aspects of both your personal and professional lives are the habits that reinforce consistent behavior. The tension between how you are now — and how distinctive you want to be in the future — can create significant challenges. Scott McKain beings our exploration into habits in today’s Project Distinct!…
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On today’s episode, Scott McKain informs us of something that NO customer in recorded history has EVER said…and why. He also gives us a single, simple step to take to help us create distinction in a hyper-competitive marketplace.By Scott McKain
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Episode 14: Be as Distinctive as you want to be
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On today’s episode, Scott discusses the pitfalls of retirement and the choice to be, or not to be distinctive.By Scott McKain
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Episode 13: What’s the difference between differentiation and distinction?
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The terms “differentiation” and “distinction” are NOT interchangeable, according to Scott McKain — and it’s vital to know why. In this program, he enlightens us about the Pyramid of Distinction, why “Level One: Sameness” is about price, and why you can’t get to “Level Three: Distinction” unless you have something compelling that sets you apart from…
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Episode 12: Overnight success doesn’t happen overnight
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In today’s episode, Scott explores the writing of Harvard’s Elizabeth Ross Kanter’s HBR article, “Instant Success Takes Time” — and reveals what her research says about “winning streaks.” If you want to win and be distinctive — it won’t happen overnight…but this information can help ensure that it does happen!…
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Episode 11: “The quick and easy way to success and distinction”
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A sign announcing a meeting being held adjacent to the ballroom where Scott was recently addressing a group of highly successful insurance agents got his blood boiling! Here’s why — and a message to set our thinking straight about “quick” and “easy” solutions to any problem.By Scott McKain
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Episode 10: Distinction and the organizational culture
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From a one-person business to an organizational behemoth, every company has a “culture.” A recent story about Amazon leads Scott McKain to provide his insights on how a distinctive culture internally creates distinctive experiences for customers externally.By Scott McKain
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Episode 09: Simplicity and Speed — two aspects that can make you distinct
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Continuing our conversation with bestselling author and Hall of Fame speaker Joe Calloway, today we reveal two steps that any — and EVERY — professional and organization can take to create distinction in the marketplace.By Scott McKain
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Episode 08: Being nice and being the best at what matters most
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Today, Scott relates a story on how being nice can really make you stand out — AND he starts a multi-part interview with bestselling author and Hall of Fame speaker (and Five Friends colleague) Joe Calloway that you can’t miss!By Scott McKain
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Episode 07: Differentiation Destroyer #3: Familiarity breeds complacency
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Today on Project Distinct, Scott reveals the third of the “Three Destroyers of Differentiation,” why an old cliche is no longer true, and why your relationships with customers (and family members) can deteriorate.By Scott McKain
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Episode 06: Differentiation Destroyer #2: Change that creates competition
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Fast food restaurants assembled by the exit on the new Interstate Highway System — and wreaked havoc on local diners. Today, as Scott McKain relates, it’s the Internet that’s doing the same to your business! How do you survive and thrive given this new competition?By Scott McKain
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Episode 05: The first “Destroyer of Differentiation” — Copycat Competition and Incremental Advanceme
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If your competition gains an advantage, the first response is to imitate it. However, that dilutes any distinction you have in the marketplace — and fails to inspire customers or employees. Today, Scott McKain examines the first of the three “Destroyers of Differentiation."By Scott McKain
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What holds us back from creating distinction?By Scott McKain
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More on how the Ebert Effect and how it can help you create distinction.By Scott McKain
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Create Distinction in Sales & Customer Service: CREATIVITY
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Ever read or hear of the importance of creativity in growing your business and career — and think, “But, I’m not creative!“? Here’s a single idea that can make a difference — this short broadcast will reveal one approach that can make a major impact upon your level of creativity. Despite the 200,000 books on the subject of creativity on Amazon…it’s…
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Create Distinction in Sales & Customer Service: USP's
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How do you create distinction in a crowded marketplace for your products, services, and YOURSELF? What's the difference between distinction and the old sales training tool of the "unique selling proposition"? Customers now assume how you SELL them is how you will SERVE them. It's a critical point for YOUR business!…
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Create Distinction is Sales & Customer Service -- Episode 8
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In this edition of "Create Distinction in Sales & Customer Service," bestselling author and Hall of Fame professional speaker Scott McKain reveals why a "commitment to awareness" is a primary step in creating the "Ultimate Customer Experience" so you can sell more uniquely and serve more compellingly. Create distinction -- and grow your business! h…
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