Here are some handy hints from our Man in Red who has a great team leveraging his time, so he only has to work one day a year (maybe two)… yes Santa.

  1. Deliver On Time – Would we still love Santa if he missed a year or came late occasionally? He has great systems to ensure everything runs like clockwork.
  2. Everyone Loves a Giver – Don’t be a taker, win prospects over with your generosity.
  3. Plan Ahead – He makes a list, checks it twice… how well do you list what you need to do?
  4. Hire a great team – Santa gets the glory, but the elves work like trojans to make it all happen… where are your elves?
  5. Teach your clients how to treat you – every kid knows how to leave out milk & cookies, and carrots for the reindeer. Do your clients know how to help you?
  6. Qualify hard – Do you grade your prospects and clients? Santa knows if we’ve been naughty or nice. Which of your clients have been Nice, which prospects fall into the naughty corner.
  7. Leverage well – Santa has a team of “doubles” who work the crowds at every shopping centre on the planet for the last 4 weeks… (sorry, you didn’t really think it weas himself did you!!?)
  8. Have great Leadership – running a great team like he has requires great Leadership.. how good is yours?
  9. He knows his numbers – He needs to budget very carefully and plan well ahead.
  10. Limit Access – Santa has things set so you can’t randomly get him on the mobile whenever you want… but has a system whereby you access him through his helpers and letters to the North Pole PO Box. You need to control your time and make sure you have a system to get back to your clients.
  11. Run Special Events – He’s the original Product Launch guys building massive anticipation, getting us to counting down the sleeps till the big day.
  12. Costumes & Self Promotion – If he just wore his regular gear he’d be no big deal… what is your uniform that sets you apart from the masses?
  13. Repeat Business – Santa doesn’t forget the importance of repeat business and making sure that every client experience is a positive one… wowing them wherever possible.
  14. Get others to talk you up – He’s got everyone talking about him, so never has to talk himself up.
  15. Build a Business to give you free time – As I’ve already mentioned… his elves and “doubles” enable him really work only a couple of days. Even the list checking is is outsourced to India so he can relax with Mrs Claus most of the year.

So – there are lessons everywhere for us in business… have fun using these thoughts and I wish you a profitable festive season.

Leave a Reply