P&ID Calls for Chemical Process Development
Back in April 2021, I wrote about Working from Home. One of the points was about video calls and how to “read eyes” to gauge the attendees’ interest and your communication success. Now, however, we’re experiencing “video fatigue.” We’re combating this by returning to telephone calls to discuss chemical process development. But some people have forgotten how to have an effective phone conversation. Others are afraid to pick up the telephone. Fortunately, I’ve always valued what can be gained in…
Reflections & Building Relationships Everywhere
Image: shorturl.at/fhiqv It is now two years since I began this consulting journey and as I reflect on this time, I harken back to the words on my website – Building Relationships Everywhere. Happily, I do have colleagues, coauthors, and clients all over the world. If I put pins in a map for my clients globally, there would be over ten countries including Italy, India, and Canada. Of course, that’s in addition to my domestic clients. The clients include startups, and universities as…
Taking Yoga Lessons into Technical Sales
I have long been a devotee of yoga. With business travel limited and most sales calls moving remote in recent years, I've relied on my practice to power my technical sales. How? I find yoga and meditation can help me keep my composure and work towards the desired result: The Sale. The teachings of yoga and meditation can help improve your performance during stressful video calls. After all, some of the key ideas are: Use controlled, deep breathing to stay relaxed and focused. Remain in the…
Wish You Enough: Looking Ahead to 2022
Do you know The Fabulous Thunderbirds? They describe themselves as “a quintessential American band.” They have been performing their “distinctive and powerful sound” since 1974. One of my favorite songs is “Tuff Enuff.” The “enough” theme is the focus of my blog looking back at 2021 and looking ahead to 2022. The word “enough” has many different meanings in the English language. It generally means “equal to what is needed” or, in more detail, “occurring in such quantity, quality, or scope as…
What I Learned from Working from Home
This is a difficult moment in the world; but now with vaccines on the way, hopefully things are looking up. Previously I shared my experiences cooking and innovation during the pandemic. Six months later, we are still working from home. This time I thought I’d explore what I’ve learned while working from home during the global pandemic. For one, digital fluency has increased. We have all learned how to host online virtual “lunch & learns.” I have hosted many virtual L & Ls on…