Shooting the Donkey in the Complex Sale ... Hollywood Style

From: Cincom systems
Published: Mon Jun 20 2005


HOLLYWOOD, CA - Cincom's award-winning Expert Access e-zine provides some hilarious and irreverent B2B humor and objective real-world business advice on how to win in today's complex sales environment with its latest feature article titled "Shooting the Donkey in the Complex Sales Process ... Hollywood Style" published today. In an interview with prolific author and Hollywood screenwriting teacher, Skip Press, the article examines quite possibly, the most complex business sale of all ... a sale to Hollywood.

It's one in a remarkable string of continuing "Shoot the Donkey" columns that provide a unique, often tongue-in-cheek, irreverent look at the current complex sales and business environment.

The "Shoot the Donkey" stories focus on remarkable people who take decisive actions to fulfill their mission -- whatever it is, in their life of business or business of life. The articles are full of "Shoot the Donkey" insights (lessons, strategies, actions) that are culled from the interview.

What does "Shoot the Donkey" mean?

The title, "Shoot the Donkey" refers to a classic scene in the movie "Patton" (based upon a true life event) where the Third Army gets critically held up in battle on a bridge, by a cart-pulling donkey that has stopped and refuses to budge, totally blocking the bridge. Life and death are at stake. An MP struggles with the donkey and the owner, trying to get them out of the way.

The entire Third Army halts for this recalcitrant donkey.

General George Patton roars up, leaps out of his jeep, whips out his ivory-handled pistol, shoots the donkey, and immediately has it hurled off the bridge, removing the obstacle. That classic scene not only revealed Patton's character in a cinematic way, but also embodied the great leadership principle of taking decisive action to remove all obstacles to fulfill one's mission.

These stories help people laugh and learn how, why, when, and where to "Shoot the Donkey."

What is Cincom's Expert Access?

Cincom's Expert Access is a free, award-winning e-publication that identifies key strategic trends, innovations, and critical business issues. A biweekly publication with approximately 25,000 subscribers in 49 countries, Expert Access provides relevant, concise, objective information, sometimes in an irreverent, humorous manner, to help readers do their jobs better, become aware of new ideas, products, or services or occasionally have a B2B laugh. It is provided free to Cincom clients, prospects and other readers who are interested in the latest in business and technology strategies and products.

Why is Cincom's Expert Access e-zine different?

Cincom, in addition to their vast internal technology expert base, has recruited and partnered with some truly brilliant and forward-thinking technology analysts to participate in their "Ask the Expert" program. One of the unique aspects of Expert Access is the ability for subscribers to ask "Experts" for feedback/answers to questions revolving around innovative business strategies and technologies. Some of the truly visionary and world-class technology, marketing, and sales experts that have contributed include:

-- Dave Stein, best-selling business author of "How Winners Sell,"
-- Al Ries, author of "The Fall of Advertising and the Rise of PR,"
-- Donald Sull, Harvard Professor and author of "Revival of the
Fittest,"
-- Skip Press, author of over 20 books including "How to Write What
You Want and Sell What You Write," and a host of others,
-- Ken Sutherland, creative impresario and the music behind the film
"Savannah Smiles"
-- Dr. Paul Pearsall, international best-selling author of "The
Beethoven Factor,"
-- Robert McKee, Hollywood guru and author of "Story,"
-- Seth Godin, Fast Company contributing editor and best-selling author
of "Purple Cow."

A Simple Mission

The mission of Expert Access is to be an integral part of the "Cincom Golden Rule" articulated by CEO Tom Nies, the longest-serving CEO in the computer industry: "To serve and help our customers grow their businesses faster and more profitably, with far less upfront investment, much less risk, and much greater and quicker ROI. Part of that is giving them the knowledge capital and resources available to not only stay abreast of the latest technologies and trends, but to know that Cincom and our Cincom Expert Access are always there to serve them with trusted and objective sources of business information.

About Cincom

For nearly 40 years, Cincom's software and services have helped thousands of clients worldwide simplify the management of complex business processes. Cincom specializes in the five areas of business where simplification brings the greatest value to managers who want to grow revenue, control costs, minimize risk, and achieve rapid ROI better than their competitors: Data Management; Marketing, Sales and Customer Service; Application Development; Manufacturing Business; and Outsourcing/Hosting.

Cincom serves thousands of clients on six continents including BMW, Citibank, Boeing, Northwestern Mutual, Federal Express, Ericsson, Penn State University, Messier-Dowty, Siemens, Rockwell Automation, and Trane.

For more information about Cincom's products and services, contact Cincom at 1-800-2CINCOM (USA only), send an e-mail to info@cincom.com, or visit the company's website at www.cincom.com.

CINCOM, The World's Most Experienced Software Company are registered trademarks of Cincom Systems, Inc. All other trademarks belong to their respective companies.

©2005 Cincom Systems, Inc.

All Rights Reserved

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Company: Cincom systems
Contact Name: Steve Kayser
Contact Email: skayser@cincom.com
Contact Phone: 5136122300

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