Sam Geist - Engaging, Connecting, Energizing, Exploring the Possibilities
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During hands-on, interactive discussions and brainstorming workshops, Sam Geist's programs use the Socratic method to encourage participants to question themselves, to think about their business in new ways in order to change, improve, and grow. He insists that asking tough questions—and answering them honestly—is crucial to the well being of your organization. He shows you how to capitalize on your resources, and how to use your knowledge more profitably than you ever did before.
As a consultant he also uses his extensive experience to assist companies involved in restructuring, develop a unique road map to create their own future.
Sam's Goal... "I focus on encouraging participants to search for new viewpoints, discover new possibilities and develop new strategies so they can improve themselves and their organization today—and succeed tomorrow."
The Process... Pre-Program Research
Sam conducts industry-related and company-specific research, including interviews with clients and participants at length, and sends emails containing pointed questions that are to be answered and returned before the presentation.
Customization
Utilizing his experience, his field trips and the data collected, Sam prepares and presents a specialized program, that is customized in both content and length to the particular requirements of clients.
Follow-Up
Sam invites clients and participants to continue learning by dialoguing via email—sharing their post-presentation experiences.
Biography
No idle armchair philosopher, Sam's insights stem from years of front-line business experience. He grew his single sporting goods store into a 15-store $40 million dollar a year national chain before he sold it to his competitor.
He opened a marketing and consulting agency, based on the full-service customer concepts he had honed in the retail arena, and went on to learn an entirely new set of skills and experiences.
When his marketing clients began asking him to speak to their clients he discovered his true calling.
A Speaker
Sam's early business roots taught him well about our volatile, ever-changing marketplace. His experiences provide him with an invaluable dual perspective—both as client and marketer—a perspective he has been sharing with audiences across North & South America and Europe for the last 15 years.
His business programs are not just theoretical speeches, they offer tangible ideas, and solutions. They provide a wealth of applicable information as well as the impetus to act on it. Sam questions. He challenges. He informs. He refocuses participants. He provides actionable strategies to address the obstacles faced by so many of today's organizations.
An Author
Sam has written "Why Should Someone Do Business With You... Rather Than Someone Else?", an interactive book on business strategy that has assisted thousands of marketers to review, renew and move ahead of the marketplace. His second book, "Would You Work for You?"" is a thought-provoking guide that encourages leaders to better see themselves, their relationships and their skills to enable them to lead their organizations effectively. He has also written two short business guides—"Make It Happen: 20 Ways to Execute Your Strategy Every Day" and "Why Should Someone Do Business With You... Rather Than Someone Else: Eighteen Strategies to Get and Keep Customers."
What people are saying...
"We sincerely appreciate your enthusiasm, professionalism and insight into the changing business environment. Your thought-provoking presentation on the topic 'Would you Work For You?' made all of us search within ourselves for answers to some tough questions. You've certainly provided an array of questions to help each of us assess our individual leadership strengths and potential areas for improvement. Your material was right on target!"
–State Farm Insurance Companies
"Thanks for the tremendous job you did in addressing the NPCA Industry Outlook Conference in Toronto! As I think you could tell, your message and style of delivery was very compelling for our members. And although we are still compiling the evaluation results, I am sure we will find that your was one of the most highly rated. Congratulations! I was particularly impressed with the way in which you used the audio visual materials to support your presentation. You were especially effective by including information specific to our industry. We could tell you had done your homework. This was very impressive. Sam, we certainly look forward to the next opportunity we can work together."
–National Precast Concrete Association
"Everyone is still talking about the impact our meeting had. Sam, as the facilitator you surpassed our objectives—you probed, pushed, asked questions, offered up refreshing insights and stirred up the troops. You were thorough and meticulous in your preparations. Your visits to gather perspectives from all in order to make all participants feel comfortable, and challenged, was certainly noticed. Your ability to draw out constructive solutions by webbing your own observations and shared experiences—all the while maintaining your objectivity—was valuable to us as it would be to any organization. Sam, you are an ongoing asset to our organization, as we continue to draw on the perspective you facilitated."
–President & CEO Drug Trading Company Limited
"We are still receiving glowing comments on the educational program. This year's was one of our best ever, thanks to your presentation, 'Why Should Someone Do Business With You... Rather Than Someone Else?'"
–National Food Processors Association
"Thank you for taking the time to speak to the members of the National Association for Home Care. The reviews are still coming in, but by all reports the members were greatly moved by your words. Please accept my warm thanks for the generous gift of your presence at our meeting. Thank you for helping to lift the spirits of a wonderful group of people who have elected on a day-to-day basis to care for the sick and dying. You presentation was wonderful. You had the audience spellbound. Thanks again. You are a wonderful person and an inspirationto us all. You know you have my great respect and admiration now and always."
–President National Association for Home Care
"I am still getting great reviews on your presentation at the Opening General Session. I knew I had a great success when I saw our President & CEO, Board of Directors and senior staff taking notes. I am still receiving requests for the handouts that you used."
–Assistant Vice President National Fire Protection Association International
Programs
On Leadership: Would You Work For You?
No matter whether you are a leader of many, a leader of a few or a leader of only yourself, effective leadership is a major element in both personal and business success. The challenge to lead well—very well—has never been greater than it is now. An affirmative answer to that tough question, "would you work for you?" has never been more vital.
In this program, Sam Geist encourages particpants to look in the mirror and be accountable for who they see there. He feels that once participants see themselves with all their warts, they are able to make the changes necessary to become the leader they too would like to work for.
The perspective put forward is that leaders must blend together the art and science of leadership with its psychology—to motivate, to inspire and to ensure their staff take ownership of their roles and responsibilities.
On Customer Service: If I Hear Customer Service One More Time I'll...
"Customer Service Secret #1 is to treat your customers like your life depends on it, because it does."
This program provides you with invaluable insights to distinguish your staff and your organization from everyone else in the marketplace. It outlines a new perspective with which to view service. It discusses innovative tools to turn your newfound knowledge into action—to turn intangibles into tangibles. Highlighted are the critical advantages of exemplary service; the moments of truth in every organization; developing excellent service providers; and growing new strategies for the long term.
On Business Strategy: Why Should Someone Do Business With You... Rather Than Someone Else?
"The purpose of every business, large and small, is to get and keep customers. To do it well. To do it everyday. It is the ongoing responsibility of everyone in the organization to ask the questions and to search out the answers to determine 'why someone should do business with them...rather than someone else'—and to ensure those answers are clearly evident to their customers. Every business must do this to create customer loyalty and to ensure their own business longevity. After all, a business without customers... isn't."
To answer this tough question accurately requires an observant eye, an innovative mind and a great deal of practical information.
Sam offers just that in this most-requested, fast-paced program. Developed to encourage interaction, it assists participants broaden their business perspective and begin the vital information-gathering process.
Sam connects quickly with participants, involving them, challenging them from the onset. Facts are presented. Questions are asked. Specific "action" techniques, strategies and relevant examples are outlined.
Throughout the program participants are encouraged to search for new viewpoints, discover new possibilities, discuss their ideas and find appropriate answers to then "must-ask" questions in order to capitalize on their business opportunities.
On Marketing Strategy: Differentiate... or Die
STRATEGIES TO USE DIFFERENTIATION AS A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
Transitional times negate the "business as usual" approach. They offer the perfect opportunity to adopt a bold plan, to take a firm stand to differentiate yourself and your organization from the competition. Presented are viable options to create effective differentiation, to grow your organization, to enhance your profitability and to loyalize customers. This program enables you to discover your unique point of difference and how you can capitalize on it in a marketplace blinded by overexposure.
On Execution: Execute or Be Executed
STRATEGIES TO MAKE IT HAPPEN
This program is a wake up call to all marketers in today's marketplace. It addresses the biggest issue in business today: a failure to execute.
It's easy to talk! We all do it, commenting about what's wrong with our organization, about what we want to do, about how great it would be "if only"... Yes, it's easy to talk—but talk doesn't get things done. It doesnt change anything, it doesn't move your organization forward.
Recognizing the huge gap between talk and action, this program's premise is that the engine that drives business today is execution. In order to survive you must execute your plans and strategies.
The program focus therefore is on moving strategy to action. It assists participants develop a personal step-by-step approach that empowers them to act and enables them to do so successfully.
It outlines the primary focus of a customer's value perspective. It emphasizes the advantages in incorporating product and service excellence into the organization's vision. And finally it highlights the tangible benefits to be accrued by effectively executing in every area.
On Change/The Changing Marketplace: Look out! Here comes tomorrow!
THE STRATEGIES TO PREPARE FOR TOMORROW... TODAY
Marketplace concerns and demands, business trends and the implications of today's technologies are outlined, as are techniques for successfully managing change, finding a differentiated stance, and developing a future-focused plan. The program outlines the strategies to develop a future-focused vision; adopt a multi-layered perspective; grow a unique service strategy; exploit new technology; and become a catalyst for action.
