Jingo-Jihadists Cheerfully Surrendering Mike Jingozian, candidate for president (of the United States) has begun his political campaign.

With a surrender.

Using the banner "Jingo-Jihadists for Surrender Soonest" the JJ for SS hopes to mobilize the America-Firster voting public into surrendering, a la French, to Al Qaeda.

However. It might be a mistake for a politician to throw his hands into the air and cry "Surrender Now!" This makes for a compelling picture message, that didn't even work for Cindy Sheehan.

The first rule of politics, as in medicine is First Do No Harm.

Which is close to a motto in our household: Don't screw up.

(Alert Readers understand well that Your Business Blogger rather enjoys a [calculated] risk. Don't Screw Up is not a retreat from trying, but an invective to be smart.)

Smart politics has yet to be found in the Jingo-Jihad Surrender presidential campaign. The first item on which Your Business Blogger advises clients is to get the big, simple things right.

Like your name.

And the domain. This being the internet age and all.

Which makes the Jingo-Jihad Surrender campaign so sad. Mike Jingozian claims a degree from Harvard and various technology awards.

You'd think he'd get the basics right. Him running a super-duper tech company as he is wont to remind us voters. And running for President (of the United States!).

Basics like:

www.MikeJingozian.com

Mike Jingozian
visionary on a pedestal The Jingo-Jihadists might also reconsider the Reset photo shooting. It is very difficult to get a good publicity shot of a client where the audience is looking up his nose holes. Even assuming excellent nose-hair-hygiene.

So, we start with three minor campaign criticisms:

1) Surrender is bad bannering
2) Claim your name domain
3) Make your picture perfect

Yes, there's more. Continue reading the Jingozium Erratum at the jump.

Reset American banner ###

Thankyou (foot)notes,

See "First, do no harm": Not in the Hippocratic Oath sans abortion.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 8:23 AM | Permalink
Comments (1)

Mike Jingozian
founder of AngelVision
announces political ambitions "You will hear more about my political plans in the months ahead. For now, I wish you peace and harmony. Be well, Jingo."

A number of Alert Readers have been following our case study of AngelVision. The founder, Mike "Jingo" Jingozian has been most unhappy with Your Business Blogger's analysis and has hired (at least two) lawyers and a private investigator in response to the critique and the comments.

(A private investigator??!! I'm honored.)

Jingo will be running for an elected or appointed public office -- but has taken some time off the campaign trail and his business to address Reasoned Audacity's review of the unusual AngelVision management style.

Jingozium Erratum
Your Business Blogger at
Oxford's circular library
May 1995Over the next few weeks we will discuss the challenges of crisis management in dealing with the blogosphere.

AngelVision continues to be an outstanding case study -- on a "distinctive" reaction to public criticism.

Meanwhile Jingo should consider CampaignSiteBuilder.com to help him launch his political career. (See compensated link on sidebar.)

Continue reading at the jump. Hint: Don't hire expensive private investigators to spy on bloggers.

###

Thank you (foot)notes:

Be sure to visit AngelVision and take the Jingo on-line poll on what to do with Your Business Blogger. Here's how I voted:

Number three: Don’t be a wimp! Kick some @ss! Sue the b@stard out of principle! [Expletives modified]

The vote results will surprise you.

(Charmaine voted for "ignore him." She's no fun.)

Here's my advice and bumper sticker for his political world view.

UPDATE: 16 May 2007, Mike Jingozian claims that Your Business Blogger is a Washington government insider. Very flattering, but I must not be much of a political insider because I just now noticed that Jingo Jingozian is really, really running for public office. No, not town council. Not for congress. Nope. Jingo is going the Full Monty. Mike Jingozian is running for President. Goodness.

Blue state Oregon is now in play for the GOP.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 12:20 PM | Permalink
Comments (8)

Jingozium Erratum
Your Business Blogger
at Oxford's circular library
May 1995

The Dude,
Dad went to Oxford
and all I got was this shirt
and a Jingo-Jihad

www.MikeJingozian.com

Erratum at the jump

Continue Reading »

Posted at 5:22 PM | Permalink
Comments (0)

Branding BlunderMike Jingozian is the Founder of Angel Vision Technologies. And presents an outstanding case history on wrong-headed public relations management. A Branding Blunder.

In retaliation to my analysis, Jingozian has threatened to make a donation to Amnesty International. In my name. The Horror. The Shame.

Jingozian, accused of academic credential enhancement by Alert Readers of this blog, admits his mistake for confusing a Harvard certificate with a Harvard sheepskin.

Easy to tell the difference: the degree is in Latin, I think. The certificate, on very nice 20lb bond, is not.

Mike apologizes.

Sort of.

Mike "Jingo" Jingozian sent me the longest email that I have ever received. He sends some 1600 words from his Oregon commune. He requested that I "post it in it's ENTIRETY." Emphasis his. See extended entry. He speaks of suing. World Peace. Debt,hunger,war,healthcare,disease,pollution. And homosexual love.

(You can cover a lot of ground in 1600 words.)

"Jingozian" keeps popping up on my blog site meter and inbox. By Google referrals and a number of emails from Alert Readers who know him.

His brand mis-management deserves further study. On mistakes to avoid.

But I could be wrong on my approach. Besides not recycling. Jingo tells me, "There's a peaceful warrior inside you crying to get out."

When is the Left Coast ever going to slide off into the Pacific?

###

Was this helpful? Please comment.
Consider a free eMail subscription.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Angel Vision's site.

Free Consulting to the AV team: Exercise caution whenever using the 'reply all' function on email. 2 reasons:

If by error, it can make the sender look, well, "stoopid." Bad for a tech-savvy company.

If deliberate, it can slander the receiver. Bad for business.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 5:22 PM | Permalink
Comments (10)

Mike Jingozian
Founder
Angel VisionStretch the truth. Mislead. Lie.

Harvard University

Yes, I know Truth is the most obvious way to protect a brand. Obivous to you, Gentle Reader. But not Mike Jingozian, founder of Angel Vision. We can see a truthless-clue in a simple reference check of academic achievements. Here, Mike is not concerned with the precision of his pedigree.

Mike was quick, very quick, to remind us that "he received a CAS degree in Applied Science from Harvard." His degree was touted in the pitch and in print.

Except that Mike Jingozian does not have a degree from Harvard.

An Alert Reader, who has intimate knowledge of AV, comments, "I just read your blog posts on AngelVision Technologies - and almost fell out of my chair laughing...:

The one little tid-bit I thought I would add - just because I've always found it to be hilarious - is that Jingozian doesn't actually have a "degree" from Harvard. He took some computer class there back in the mid-80s, and so he actually has just a certificate from Harvard. . .

The Alert Reader is right. Harvard says that:

candidates for the master's degree...Note: This program is separate from the Harvard Extension School's open admissions program leading to the Certificate of Advanced Standing in Applied Sciences (C.A.S.).

MIke Jingozian has a "certificate." Not a "degree."

These distinctions are important. Academic credentials are critical. Woe to the student who even confuses associate professor with assistant professor with full professor.

The Alert Reader continues:

[AV] is without a doubt one of the most bizarre experiences of my life. . .Jingozian would talk endlessly about his conversations with "The Entity" - which was some form of God that he spoke to, and I imagine, got all his business advice from....

Thanks for your post - it really cracked me up.

So how did this all get started? I would submit AV is closer to a quasi-cult than a corporation. Jeff Otis, the AV BizDev VP says,

"Our company slogan could have been "Be Like Mike" but that was already taken."

My fear is that they all would be like Mike. A bit confused on the truth.

###

Was this helpful? Do comment.
Consider a free eMail subscription for this site.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Angel Vision's site.

See Your Business Blogger's previous posts.

Persistence vs. Knowing When to Stop

How Much is that Doggie in the Window?

Posted at 6:48 AM | Permalink
Comments (1)

Credit: GrowABrain

When does persistence begin to look like lunacy? Typical sales managers will typically berate their teams to never give up! to keep pounding the pavement! overcome that objection! flog that prospect!

I know. Your Humble Business Blogger used to do the berating.

I come to you from a recent encounter on the receiving end of being a sales prospect. And I love sales guys -- The easiest people to sell to are other biz dev cheerleaders like me. However...

Death of a Salesman

Jeff Otis, VP from AngelVision telephoned me three times -- on his fourth attempt, I took the call. Readers will remember the 70 minute sales presentation I endured from this marketing outfit.

During Jeff's call I referred him to my post on their presentation and some observations/criticisms. (File under Prospect Alienation Program.) After the call I get a gracious email from Jeff wishing me success yady yady ya. He's a class act. But it ends there.

Six hours later I get another email from Mike Jingozian, at Angel Vision. The, "I'm from Harvard and very smart" CEO. It looked like a form letter or worst, much worse -- spam. He closes with:

AngelVision

Technologies

P.S. Just a reminder that it takes three months to produce an Impact Movie - so if you want this tool ready by next quarter, we need to start now.

Start Now. NOW NOW NOW

(A "PS" is very effective in persuasive writing: it might be the only thing the prospect reads.)

Anyway, my good friend Mike, from Harvard, also attached his client testimonials. He forgot that he sent me 11 gushing pages of hard copy, harvesting an entire California Redwood forest to put paper in mailboxes across the country.

Now if there is any one screw-up any company must avoid is having the company name, like, say 'AngelVision Technologies,' in the same sentence as 'spam.'

This firm does not know the difference between sales resistance, dealing with objections and smart selling and account management.

In upcoming posts, I'll review exactly how the seasoned sales professional knows when to stop, using a three word question.

### And now the fine print from our case study:

Our [AV] Impact Movies avoid unnecessary paper waste, help preserve our valuable natural resources such as forests and oil, protect wildlife habitats, and do not contribute to landfills.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Outstanding selling wisdom at GrowABrain postings on Salesmanship.

Posted at 12:25 AM | Permalink
Comments (0)

Not every request for pricing is an objection. I recently sat through a conference call/web based sales pitch by AngelVision for creating a flash presentation to promote one of my companies. But AV would not tell me what it costs before the pitch. It reminded one too much of the Amway "get the whole story" ploy for a face-to-face sales call. This left a bad taste and, for my part, unnecessary sales obstacles.

But wait, there's more, 7 more: AV made these additional mistakes:

1) Start the presentation on time. AV could not immediately locate the CEO as pitchman for the assembled, waiting prospects. If you can't find the presenter, the show must still go on -- with an understudy if need be.

2) Never let 'em see you sweat. So AV's lead presenter was lost. There appeared to be a very capable VP on hand to provide information, asking qualifying questions, giving a warm-up act. Say most anything, but don't tell potential clients you can't synchronize an Outlook calendar and don't know what to do next. Fill the dead air with some anticipation. See The Consultant's Jargon Generator. Unless it's part of the act, don't let on that your hair's on fire.

3) Don't tell me how smart you are. AV's very accomplished CEO couldn't tell us quick enough about his Ivy League degrees -- sounding too much like a college sorority sister establishing a pecking order. I know he was smart because he told me so.

4) Never introduce yourself. Let someone else do the bragging. I am leery of any forty-year-old man telling me what University he attended. (Unless it's Oxford. Like me.) AV's CEO should have had his very capable VP's whisper as an aside, confidentially, "You know, he went to Harvard." Find an accomplished Ed McMahon or a good second banana to say, "Heeereee's Johny!!!"

5) Never discuss religion or politics. AV has pet causes that alienated -- something about rainforests, peace in our time, landfills, I think. And Starbucks. I was left with the impression that the AV commune sits in a circle in Oregon and sings Kumbaya, which must be very impressive to creative media potsmokers. But not to decision makers with a five figure buying authority.

6) Never provide backup/proof unless the client is skeptical. AV sent me eleven (11!) pages of landfill of client testimonials. A few blurbs would be better, sure. And the client list. But pages of telling me how smart you are instead told me how insecure you are.

7) Do as I say; Not as I do. AV highlighted their product as avoiding the need for those pesky salesmen calling and bothering and trying to sell you something. Then I get two follow-up sales telephone calls from AV. Now, I love sales guys -- I started off selling vacuum cleaners door-to-door 35 years ago -- but don't put salesmen down, then use them when (appearing) desperate.

Bottom line: I didn't buy. The AV manufactures suggested retail price is $17,500. But! if you buy now! now! your investment! is onlyninethousanddollars....I had a low four figure budget and AV did not close the gap between my needs, my money and their solution. Which is actually very good.

With Shadrach
the Big Dog, 1995

If I knew how much that doggie in the window cost, and AV knew enough to tell me upfront, you'd be reading a very different analysis about a very different AngelVision.

###

Be sure to see Guerilla Marketing for Consultants

More at B2B Lead Generation Blog at Marketing to Small-Medium Businesses.

Good reading at Carnival of the Capitalists.

Update 13 Oct 2005 Individual and Community has more on multi-level marketing.

Posted at 8:43 AM | Permalink
Comments (0)