Comments for ThoughtShot Consulting :: Karrie Kohlhaas. Grow Your Business. Smarter.

Comment on Should I wash my mouth out with soap? by Karrie Kohlhaas

Karrie Kohlhaas — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 01:11:12 +0000

Hi Melanie. Really enjoying your comments on my blog! It is funny how more than a decade into the new millennium we still feel a little daring admitting we swear. Thanks for your note. Looking forward to getting to know you better!

Comment on Should I wash my mouth out with soap? by Karrie Kohlhaas

Karrie Kohlhaas — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 01:09:14 +0000

Amy, I just can’t imagine you not being your full-on self whether you were the student or the teacher! I like how you worked out your feelings about swearing on the spot in front of your class. It enriches the experience to see someone be that real and honest in the room with them–especially a twice-published author! (Congrats on your 2nd cookbook.)

Comment on Researching the competition : How do you measure up? by Karrie Kohlhaas

Karrie Kohlhaas — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 03:59:10 +0000

Many great points, philip! I agree that the goal is not to copy your competitors (although, some would argue that Microsoft and others have made off quite well copying Apple in some areas) but it’s still a good idea to look at them as human beings and possibly even friends instead of seeing them as a threat to your existence.

I believe there’s enough to go around for everyone and lots of room for mutually beneficial collaboration. That said, I agree that it is wise to look closely at what others are doing and to seek out more innovative opportunity areas (I’d say look at what they are not doing–how you can meet a need they are not meeting) as long as looking at them does not trigger some kind of neurotic response that causes you to compare and either feel one up or one down from them (not so helpful to motivation, confidence or collaborative opportunities).

Thanks for your thoughtful comment. Loved your detailed examples! I didn’t realize that about President Kennedy!

Comment on Researching the competition : How do you measure up? by Karrie Kohlhaas

Karrie Kohlhaas — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 03:48:15 +0000

Felipe, consider asking your more remote colleague/competitor to coffee on Skype. A kind note is also thoughtful if you aren’t up for meeting him or her yet but there’s nothing like having a live interaction, even if it’s online. I think it builds relationships faster to have a back and forth conversation in real time. Who knows, maybe there’s a way you can collaborate or sell each others’ products online.

Comment on Researching the competition : How do you measure up? by Karrie Kohlhaas

Karrie Kohlhaas — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 03:46:58 +0000

Lara, I really hate swallowing pool water!

Comment on The Trick to Doubling Your Efforts by Karrie Kohlhaas

Karrie Kohlhaas — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 03:42:42 +0000

Hi Lara,

I see task hording like any addiction: you have to continually keep an eye on it or it can creep up and take over again and again. Since you and I are both detail-types, it can be especially challenging to let go and let others do things for us. It can feel like free-falling to actually let go of a task when the control freak within wants to hold on so tightly. The more I witness clients let go, the easier it gets and the more their business soars. Thanks for your note.

Comment on Bad blog going around about you, have you read it yet? by Melanie Kissell

Melanie Kissell — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 05:58:51 +0000

When will the scammers and spammers and hackers EVER get a life?! Let us pray it will be sometime … soon.

What kind of sick mind gets ANY amount of joy, satisfaction, or gratification from heading up a scam like this, Karrie?

All I can do is shake my head in disgust.

I’ve almost been duped a hundred times over. I’m at a point where I don’t even trust opening some of the emails I get from people I know. Pretty sad. If anything looks the least bit “fishy”, I hit delete. :(

Comment on Should I wash my mouth out with soap? by Melanie Kissell

Melanie Kissell — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 05:40:28 +0000

No sense trying to fudge my way through this one, Karrie — it’s time to call a spade, a shovel!

Presbyterian upbringing and all (gasp!) …
I swear sometimes.

There, I said it. And no lightning struck me nor did the sky fall in. And as far as I can tell, the world is still spinning on its axis. :)

I believe there’s a Grand Canyon size difference between a small biz owner or entrepreneur who cusses like a drunken sailor and one who finds the occasional four-letter word appropriate for the situation or conversation.

By the way …

This is one hell of a damn good post! ;)

Comment on Researching the competition : How do you measure up? by Felipe

Felipe — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 03:31:13 +0000

This is the second article I read today about inviting your competition to a coffee. There are many ways to compare yourself to others, or your business to others. Statistics, depending on who does it, are a valuable resource to compare your business. My closer competitor is 4 hours away by airplane so I don’t think that I will be able to invite him for a coffee, but I will send him an email and let him know that I appreciate what he’s doing to improve the opportunities of children to learn a new language for sure.
Thanks for the reminder Karrie

Comment on Researching the competition : How do you measure up? by Lara Feltin

Lara Feltin — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:26:28 +0000

(How’d I miss this post.) I also love love love the video — AND this line: “I went back to swimming at my own pace, swallowed a lot less water and knew I had an ally in the pool.” Nicely done.