Magnus Marketing Blog

Another title for this is vet the vendor. What sparked this was some recent news postings about a company that I followed for some time. For the sake of anonmynity, we can call this firm ConsultingRUS.

Some time ago, ConsultingRUS was named an honorary winner of an award presented to up and coming businesses. In addition to the prominent addition of this award to the website, the press release noted a quote from the award presenter saying that this firm was recognized for excellence that included employee training, motivation, performance and commitment to excellence. Then, a release popped up about the firm's founder who was named leader of a prominent organization. Next this same person was identified as one of the 40 under 40 on an entrepreneurial leader list.

Well, you could have blown me away. In fact, most of the former employees of that firm were blown away. Because according to those I spoke with: One person was fired from the company for providing feedback to a junior person who did a lousy job, an incident where that same person called a colleague to task for not completing her work appropriately was also cited. The person was the Quality Manager. No lie. Quality? Excellence? The same company had 100% turnover within one year - one person was fired because they couldn't find him a suitable spot, they made him beg for his job first in a humiliating and sadistic way, many walked out without so much as a day's notice. They replaced the senior people with lower paid people, yet charged clients for the same "quality". The owner co-opted ideas from others as his own and talked as if he came up with the ideas...the employees had excellence in training for sure. The same "leader" who was so stellar, cursed people and drove people to tears - he was so aggressive in his manner, I wouldn't be surprised if he talked people to death and hammered them to lead that organization. People in the company resorted to therapy to deal with the abuse they suffered. The company website contains little factual information, like some executives aren't with the company any longer. The company was known more for its Style, not Substance. Yet, it won awards and its leaders are prominent figures. It is a joke. By the way, the "award" was one of those that you PAY for - contribute money and commit to attending some event and you "win" an award for your marketing. It isn't real. On principle as a deference to my friends who worked at ConsultingRUS, I am boycotting the organization that awarded it and will advise my clients to do the same.

Meanwhile, I, my colleagues who have businesses, and my clients who consistently deliver never get so much as a nod. One of my clients has been in business for 10 years and is truly a top shelf guy - goes out of his way for clients, passionate about his work, does everything the right way and is 39 years old was not named to a 40 under 40 leadership list. I and my colleagues are mostly under 40 and are building solid client relationships. Chances are we will never see a 40 under 40 leadership list nomination.

Why does the world continue to reward the ones who raise their hands the highest, rather than the ones who actually study? In the business world, it is all the same. Maybe things are changing in sales/marketing, the pushy aggressive jerky salesguys are losing vogue.

I would advise in account penetration to combine the style with the substance and genuinely give your clients the best work possible. I would advise buyers to beware of people and firms like the one highlighted, ask about quality of delivery. Don't be fooled by the blue ribbons hanging off a website.