Something ive wanted to talk about for a long time - my love of music. Trying to make it relevant to the theme of the Shift Control Podcast isnt easy - so for this one time - I'd like to talk about Roru Gallagher, in a week where his immortalised Fender Strat was sold to a lucky buyer and gifted back to the State.

How many of you are actively and knowingly integrating AI into your business development process? I think at this point everyone has gotten over themselves - even copywriters - and begrudgingly admitted that generative AI can be a great thing for creating content both in the arena of sales and marketing. But beyond that, what else can it do...? A first discussion episode for me in quite some time with Rory Kelly - ex-Hubspot guru who has been recently shining a light on AI in his on line commentary. He is a genuine sales expert who has worked with organisations globally guiding them through the HubSpot platform. Find him on Linkedin, connect with him and enjoy his perspective on AI

The boys are back in town - the bad ones. As Ireland continues to punch above it's weight in global sport - like it does in the arts, music and film - 2 opposing belief systems are clashing in Belfast. Anti-immigrants v anti racists are rioting in Wellington Place - mirroring events in Sunderland, Stoke and Leeds. Bored, undervalued, ignored, badly represented adults are resurrecting an old evil, against a back drop of TEAM Genocide - USA and Israel - carpet bombing of Palestine. Worrying times.

No doubt things had changed significantly in the world of sales after COVID. Sales BC - is that a thing? Some of the outcomes and consequences have been beneficial for sure - but as a business have you moved forward strategically or have you been moved along by the tide of change and have kept moving. For me it is about taking control of that destiny and Im pretty sure that some of the habits and processes that have been crafted by COVID are definitely not business enhancing...what do you think?

Best Hurling Final Ever, Wise Up. by Shift Control

On holiday mode but still find myself thinking about work - what;'s needed to finish this year with a flourish and then what lies beyond 2024. in battle mode - doing the stuff you strategised about last year - you don't get much time to think about beyond the short term. Firefighters are only thinking abut this fire - the job in hand. When you get the right kind of down time you can think about these things - in my case, the comfort of my cottage (rented) in Donegal. The big things that I want too attend to - in no order - the use / integration of AI, being real with EQ, motivating a team through cultural transformation, using data properly, improving sales performance, making the messages more personalised (that's if you're into ABM...) What's on your radar?

A Dudley Moore movie that should speak to anyone in communications - sales, marketing etc...Crazy People. I now know that its Boxy, but good but I always remember it being boxy but safe. Anyway..Marcus Sheridan's book They Ask, You Answer, reminded me of the movie - as it did LIAR, LIAR with Jim Carey - the idea of telling the truth despite knowing the consequences might be just terrible, when in truth they won't be. But you'll never know until you start telling the whole truth about your business - your honesty over the exact value you offer, where your weakness might be and the costs...publishing a cost that you can stand over and not worry what exposure your competition gets. His book is excellent - I'd recommend it for anyone that seems to be spending more time getting the message right and needs to build up the confidence required to say what needs to be said...?

Follow up from the last episode where I talked about managing your energy - never said it was easy, no way. But it is doable. Stendhal Festival would be the perfect place to tune into nature and get into some great local music and art, unwind, chill out and relax. Changing of the guard in Derry GAA - rumour has it that the county plan to revert to their previous manager, the one accused of DV. Lets hope that isn't the case.

'Lively up yourself and don't be no drag' The first line of the Bob Marley song is a call to arms for everyone to raise your vibration - get your energy levels up. Bring your A game to everywhere, everything and everyone. And into work. Especially in sales, the energy we bring to our work impacts directly the success of our work and therefore the overall success of the business. I've avoided giving any content that might suggest this is a scientific podcast...quite the reverse. Much of it is common sense, aye?

How is your sales team set up? Motivated or disciplined? Neither or both? A trip to IFAT in Munch teaches me a lot about both and 2 trips to see Bruce Springsteen reminds me about the importance of thought

I'm sat here waiting for an engineer to arrive to install broadband. They'll be here soon, well some time but it might not be soon at all, in fact just like last Friday, they might not arrive at all...