First Sky diver Felix Baumgartner achieved a 24 mile drop to earth at new Mexico thus breaking the sound barrier.
Second Parachutist Gary Connery stood in for Her Majesty in
one of the show business entrances of all time at the London 2012 Olympics escorted by
Daniel Craig in the summer.
Finally coinciding with the 50th Anniversary of the first
James Bond movie, Daniel Craig makes the signature introduction “Bond, James
Bond” in the new movie SKYFALL.
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| Close up of window display at Harrods, Knightsbridge |
As the recent shortcomings of the UK Transport Ministry have
shown on the North west UK Rail line, the Franchise business is beset with dangers.
So it is interesting to learn from a franchise that has managed to be successful for 50 years. The James Bond franchise
So it is interesting to learn from a franchise that has managed to be successful for 50 years. The James Bond franchise
The Premiere of Dr No in 1962, the first of the James Bond movies, was
at the London Pavilion in Piccadilly Circus. Many of today’s tourists
could well be surprised to discover the London Pavilion was once a Cinema- a movie house. Much else has changed
over the years of the Bond film franchise.
We are familiar with the formula of a villain to be defeated, the briefing by M,
gadgets from Q, beautiful women, exotic
locations, violence and yet a
kind of sophistication.
So what has this to teach us in Selling ?
Making an entrance
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| Clapperboard auctioned at the 50th Anniversary Auction at Christies, London |
The James Bond Film business organise the whole experience.
Well before the red carpet for the premiere s has been laid down , the PR operation
has been in full flow announcing the arrival of SKYFALL to our movie houses.
For the arrival of our monarch it would be a fanfare of state trumpeters announcing her majesty’s arrival.
For Bond it is the Bond film song. Adele has heralded
the Skyfall song - fab voice -fab song!.
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| A new baddie for Bond is advertised on the buses |
In the shops one can be ‘Licensed to smell ‘ like Daniel Craig with official eon productions
fragrance manufactured by Procter and Gamble - James Bond 007 eau de toilette is
described as an
aromatic fougere; notes include apple, cardamom, sandalwood, vetiver, lavender,
moss and coumarin. ( such language is in keeping with the 'shaken not stirred' sophistication)
You can be ‘Licensed
to cell’ buying a Sony Xperia T mobile cellphone on the O2 network and ‘Licensed to tell … the time’ with an Omega seamaster wristwatch.
The advert for Coke’s
Zero drink even educates a generation born well after the launch of " Dr No " by re-enacting the Bond
theme music John Barry’s leitmotif. -Let's all play at being James Bond.
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| In store display at Harrods- back in the day Bond preferred Dom Perignon - the'53 if I remember from 'Dr No' |
Yet all this attention getting is designed with a purpose to
build up an excitement and encouragement to stimulate us to want to go and see the movie.
So in your work of selling -think about how you are heralded.
Think how you prepare your
way in.
It begins in each email, letter, phone call. You are
heralded through the impression the buyer gets form your company website, blog,
LinkedIn /Facebook profile, You tube clip.
So how can we adapt the entrance of James Bond in our work.
It may be over the top to put on a dinner jacket but let’s look at some things
that could work for us.
Think about how we could make a memorable entrance, with impact
and cement a good first impression like Bond.
How does James Bond look so cool , calm and
collected?
Bond has minimal body
gestures especially when he is under pressure. When he is being intimidated by
the baddies , being insulted or shot at, he remains relatively motionless and
speaks in short . monotone sentences.
Bond is so cool he can make love immediately after shooting
half a dozen bad guys.
Bond knows the secrets of attractive body language. ( Read Allan and Barbara Pease The Definitive Book of Body Language”
e.g page 382:-
Face: Have an
animated face and make smiling a part of your regular repertoire. Flash your
teeth.
Gestures: Be
expressive but don’t overdo it. Keep your fingers closed when you gesture, your
hands below chin level and avoid arm or feet crossing.
Head Movements:
Use triple nods when talking and head tilt when listening. Keep your chin up.
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| Close up of Harrods Window display |
Eye contact: Give
the amount of eye contact that makes everyone feel comfortable. Unless looking
at others is a cultural no-no, lookers gain more credibility than non-lookers.
Posture: Lean
forwards when listening, stand straight when speaking.
Territory: Stand
as close as you feel comfortable. If the other person moves back, don’t step
forward again.
Mirror: Subtly mirror
the body language of others.
We may no longer as the modern Bond wear a hat to throw on a hat stand, we may no longer light up a cigarette in front of a client . Yet we still need to be cool, calm and collected even if we have just arrived through an awful traffic jam or just fallen from the sky!
Related links:
Body language in Business
Allan Pease Body language specialist speaks at ISSM Successful
Selling 2012
How conference speakers use body language
What mime artists can teach us about body langage
thanks for sharing.
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