As any regular reader (there is a large handful of
you-thanks, mom!) of my blog
knows, the posts where I can tear
down the subject are better (at least funnier) than when I am endorsing
something Jigsaw related. I like to think that I always retain an edge beyond
marketing copy (OK - maybe a jagged ice pick compared to standard corporate
speak), but let’s face it, Jigsaw is paying the bills and I can’t lower the
boom in public on everything that strikes me as idiotic about my company. Sometimes
I have to promote a positive pose while portraying a personal product, person,
partner or predicament and entertain myself in other ways - like say using as
many “p” words as p-p-possible.
My topic today is one that you are going to hear about in some form every week until the event happens, because it is my baby: the 2010 Jigsaw Sales Jam. Hopefully, the fact that I am so bullish about the whole thing, which is very much a Jigsaw related gig, will not turn off the loyal Garth’s World fan. If so, tune back in after July 13-14, when I will return to ragging on people that say “utilize” instead of “use” because they think it makes them sound more professional. Or maybe August 1st, because I will need at least 2 weeks to recover from how flat out great this party….er….industry summit is going to be.
First off, let me run down the speaker line-up, which is
totally impressive (yes, of course my child is gifted) thanks to the influence
of Michael Norton. As the CEO and Founder of CanDoGo,
Michael personally knows every sales expert and maven out there.
He delivered Cal
Ripken Jr, who will kick off the day with a motivational talk about
perseverance, which the guy knows from setting the record in baseball for
consecutive games started. Then
there is Tony Allesandra, Andrea Sittig-Rolf and Bryan Flanagan, all keynote
quality sales evangelists, who will impart specific wisdom on how sales people
can excel at specific aspects of the sales cycle. Jigsaw member favorites and
respected authors Steve Martin (Heavy Hitter Selling) and Jill Konrath (Selling
to Big Companies) will be onstage, too. Add in presentations from Jigsaw
partners like D&B/Hoovers (I’m still getting used to say these words), Ideahaus, Sales 2.0, Brainshark, Xactly,
and an industry keynote from the SVP of Oracle’s CRM practice and any salesperson
should leave packed to the gills with strategies and tools to hammer their
number for 2010.
For those of you who, like me, have the attention span of a
gnat and require a healthy dose of fun (the “E” in business “T&E”) at the
few corporate events that you attend, the Sales Jam is going to over deliver on
my (seemingly over-) promise. Tuesday afternoon we kick off the Jam with a
heavily subsidized (you pay $50 for a $175 round at Harding Park) golf
tournament with all the trimmings (I am negotiating a shift driving the beer
cart). There is a 1 minute pitch
contest that will be judged onstage, with the winners receiving something sweet
(I haven’t cooked this up yet, but I have a luxury budget). Jigsaw members that
have stacked up huge point totals can redeem them for fabulous prizes at the Not-so-Silent Auction. A lively
cocktail party will end the formal event and then buses leave for Fowler’s
specialty - a charity poker tournament and open house at Jigsaw’s spiffy new
headquarters in San Mateo.
Hell, back in the day when I carried a bag I’d have come just for the golf, Cal Ripken and the poker tournament. Now the high caliber content and concentrated networking opportunities with 1,000 other sales executives and industry pros would attract me. Either way, you’re going to regret missing first Sales Jam.
Register your whole team now at the super early bird rate - I can’t wait to meet you in person!
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