They did this by applying a key principle from Predictable Results in Unpredictable Times: focusing simply on the job real customers want done. Clearly, the App Store is successful because it allows customers to get exactly what they want immediately and in a simple and inexpensive way. As we said in the book, “Simplification reduces uncertainty. You can get more predictable results if you focus on simple, high-value offerings for the customer.”

Is the App Store simple? Absolutely.  Search the catalog for what you want, and buy with one click. 

Is the App Store “high-value”? Absolutely. You get low-cost applications that solve such pesky everyday problems as remembering your schedule, counting calories, and checking the weather, as well as giving you instant access to your favorite music.

We agree with the comment from Domonic on our previous post, who contributed this insight:  “One of the biggest challenges I see is that people are focused more on what they have to offer than really identifying the needs of the market. They are telling the market what it needs instead of listening to clients and letting them identify what the true need is.”  So true.

So many organizations just don’t get it. They are, as Domonic says, focused inwardly on what they have to offer while deluding themselves that they are customer focused. In crazy, unpredictable times, customers are very careful, but they do know a good deal when they see it.

If the App Store can solve one of my problems right now and for 99 cents, I’ll buy. And, it so happens, so will a billion other people. 

So what are you doing to focus more on your customers in these wild times? Is it paying off for you?  We’d love to hear.

Check out videos and tools from the book Predictable Results in Unpredictable Times 

Vanity is one of my core values and with that comes an aversion to alluding to my age. Suffice it to say that I have been conducting live, classroom training for a really long time.   (Okay, Okay! I have been in the people development biz since 1985!)  So, what happened when this Baby Boomer (close to Gen Xer, though!)  was given the opportunity/privilege to develop and deliver training via FranklinCovey’s brand of LiveClicks Webinars?   (Resolving Generational Conflict)

I wasn’t sure if I was the right person to be doing these.  After all, I am used to face-to-face interaction with participants in workshops.  I found learning the technology intimidating and a little frustrating.  I ran scared for awhile then relied on what I know to be true for me, something I learned eons ago:  Perfect Practice Makes Perfect.  I practiced like crazy in my office, online for hours, (with only Sparky the dog as my audience), going through the layouts and getting the presentation just so.  I attended many other Webinars to determine what made them effective; I made sure that my technical systems were running perfectly.  By doing these things, my energy during the session was focused on the participants’ verbal responses and chat offerings.

Here’s some additional advice:  keep your voice strong; blend yourself a protein shake to sip on during the session.  Become great at delivering Webinars folks; great for you, for learners and the planet.

Attention fellow facilitators – it’s a whole new world out there and this blog is to let you know that, with passion and sweat equity, you too can become an effective facilitator in this new, important way to deliver training.

Vanity is one of my core values and with that comes an aversion to alluding to my age. Suffice it to say that I have been conducting live, classroom training for a really long time.   (Okay, Okay! I have been in the people development biz since 1985!)  So, what happened when this Baby Boomer (close to Gen Xer, tho!)  was given the opportunity/privilege to develop and deliver training via FranklinCovey’s brand of LiveClicks Webinars?    (Resolving Generational Conflict)

I wasn’t sure if I was the right person to be doing these.  After all, I am used to face-to-face interaction with participants in workshops.  I found learning the technology intimidating and a little frustrating.  I ran scared for awhile then relied on what I know to be true for me, something I learned eons ago:  Perfect Practice Makes Perfect.  I practiced like crazy in my office, online for hours, (with only Sparky the dog as my audience), going through the layouts and getting the presentation just so.  I attended many other Webinars to determine what made them effective; I made sure that my technical systems were running perfectly.  By doing these things, my energy during the session was focused on the participants’ verbal responses and chat offerings.

Here’s some additional advice:  keep your voice strong; blend yourself a protein shake to sip on during the session.  Become great at delivering Webinars folks; great for you, for learners and the planet.

 Author: Renee Tomlinson