HEADLINE: “ADB has approved a $1 billion loan to help establish a city-wide public transport project in Davao City, the first project in the country to deploy electric bus fleets at scale in support of the Philippines’ efforts to reduce greenhouse gases and promote climate action. The Davao Public Transport Modernization Project, ADB’s largest road-based public transport project in the Philippines, is expected to serve as a pilot for overhauling the country’s public road transport system.”
There is something about the Asian Development Bank that gives me a very positive feeling whenever it supports projects such as this one. Yes, the Bank has hundreds of big-ticket projects around the world, but when it comes to the Philippines you can be sure it is going to be as bright as sunrise, i.e., the institution will see it through to the end, The same with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA); the projects it initiates in many countries clearly redound to the benefit of the people of such countries. American linguist Noam Chomsky calls the strategy “soft power,” i.e., a subtle way of developing goodwill among peoples, in this case, between the Japan and the Philippines. I call it plain old-fashioned helping. It’s like when Japanese athletes or fans clean up dug outs or the portion of the arena after a sports competition: utmost respect for others and a tribute to those who mounted the event.
Millions of Mindanaons will benefit from the ADB-supported Davao Public Transport Modernization Project. I am very happy the project of such magnitude will commence in the south where urban planning and zoning still have a chance to be strictly enforced.
Domo arigato gozaimasu,
ADB!
vvv
It is my professional view that marketing and sales are communication driven. We convey our sales pitch through verbal and non-verbal cues. We actually articulate our ideas through language and para language. By definition, “para language includes intonation, pitch, rate of speaking, facial expression, and gestures.”
The words we utter may not be in harmony or consistent with the way our eyes or hands move, or even the volume of our voice.
That’s a “disconnect,” Atty Jess Apuyod would point out.
There was one time when we were conducting a sales presentation for a campaign that at mid-point, the potential client asked my colleague: “Galit ka ba?” Of course, the presenter wasn’t, but the intensity of the delivery of the spiels seemed to overwhelm the listener. Reacting to the feedback, my collaborator inhaled deeply, shifted to low gear, and continued with measured intent. The presentation ended with a respectful applause.
Yes, we got the deal!
vvv
I have renamed my AIDAC Communication Model to Customer Engagement Model. I believe it’s more apt for people who are in sales and marketing. But let me go over the AIDAC briefly: make your potential customers aware (A) of the product you’re offering, get them interested (I) in it, persuadethem to decide (D) to try it, lead them to act (A) on their decision, and as soon as you close the deal, immediately convey(C) your (or your company’s) appreciation for the customer’s patronage.
In the context of AIDAC, the Customer Engagement Model is a sure-fire formula for continuous patronage. The effective salesperson should strive for a long-lasting relationship, and that relationship may not even end up in actual sales turnover. But the essential thing is that you are always the go-to person for the potential customer. I know this is easier said than done, but mind you, it works!
The “wolf” on Wall Street was just after his sales commissions because he was after all in the “selling business,” and when his customers began unloading their shares, his true nature was revealed: he wasn’t really there for them. Not only countless lawsuits hounded him but anger and disgust pummeled him to the ground.
A salesperson, like a politician, is a professional. Consensus-building, engagement, and equity should be second nature.
vvv
Something New Trick for An Old Dog: An old dog should continue to read books. National Book Store has countless Collins classics priced at less than PHP200.00 each. Don’t rush when you read.
Enjoy! Make sure you write on the inside cover the date when you first started reading the book.
Last week I wrote finis to a soft-cover which I began in November 2022!