Testimonials
I am pleased to recommend the strategic planning services of Jim O'Shea. Jim won the bid for strategic planning work sought by the Specialized Information Publishers Association (fka Newsletter & Electronic Publishers Association), an international organization of business owners, marketers, journalists and other professionals in the niche content industry.
Jim won the contract over considerable competition from more experienced individuals based on his thoughtful approach to the planning process; his sensitivity to the specific needs of the association; his willingness to work with each member of the planning group individually and in teams; and most of all his desire to see the strategy work through to detailed planning and even execution. While he was flexible with this approach, Jim held firm to producing a meaningful and executable plan that would improve the association's position in the face of dramatic changes in the information content industry.
Jim delivered on all points. It was through his leadership and patience that we were able to convert many skeptics into believers in a rigorous strategic planning process. Jim was able to demonstrate to the team how strategic planning leads to actual business plans, plans that are already having a positive impact on our association.
Recently Jim kept his pledge to stay with the association as it executed its plan. Jim revisited the SIPA Board of Directors to check progress, make recommendations and answer questions.
I feel confident that our association has a clear and unified mission, and that it will continue to prosper, in large part as a result of Jim's leadership and guidance.
I would strongly recommend his services to companies or organizations who wish to develop a strategic plan that puts them on the road to success.
Thomas Hagy
Vice President and General Manager
LexisNexis Mealeys
King Of Prussia, PA
Dear Jim,
Working with you during my tenure as president of the Newsletter & Electronic Publishers Association on the association's strategic planning project was a revelation.
We've been business friends long enough that you knew my skepticism going in: Having been through similar sessions in the past with other groups that were largely unproductive, I didn't see how workbooks, timetables, creativity/brainstorming exercises, and assignments were going to help us generate a vision for the organization.
Bad enough when the participants are paid employees and they HAVE to go along with this kind of process. But when they're 20+ volunteer entrepreneurs on a non-profit board, each of whom is used to running his or her own show-you were going to be herding cats. Then, on top of the fact that we were going along with all of this, you told us one day wasn't enough time; we needed two. There went everyone's discounted airline reservations.
Well, I'm a convert. The process worked incredibly well, and I attribute that to your abilities as a facilitator (well, to a great board, too). The advance work, the workbook materials and the focused discussion streamlined the process. But most of all your ability to drill down to who's going to do what, and when it would be due, and your ability to cut through debate and pull out the often hidden meta-meaning, gave us a realistic timetable and a reasonable breakdown of responsibilities for each individual.
I speak for the entire board in saying that we left the two days energized and invigorated. We accomplished far more than we anticipated, and the strategic planning document you fed back to us enabled the board to measure its progress easily and on an ongoing basis. Similarly, your participation in follow-up meetings helped keep us on track. The sessions also empowered the board to accomplish a number of major changes that it had danced around for years, including changing the association's name!
How much of a convert am I? Would you please help EPM work through its planning issues at a full-staff, off-site meeting this summer?
Again, on behalf of the Newsletter & Electronic Publishers Association (the Specialized Information Publishers Association as of tomorrow), thank you for your seasoned guidance. If I can be of help to any of your prospective clients, please don't hesitate to have them call me directly.
Ira Mayer
President & Publisher
EPM Communications, Inc.
New York, NY
Dear Jim,
The strategic planning session you facilitated for us has everyone here buzzing with enthusiasm. Our entire staff left the day energized, and the brainstorming continued first thing the next morning-and is still going on.
The questionnaire you came up with a few weeks before the meeting was invaluable-people did a lot of advance thinking, and that document helped them organize their thoughts.
Your questions and suggestions throughout the day were always on target-steering us toward specific goals, and clarifying some of the muddier concepts. And the post-event planning document will keep us on track for achieving those goals.
Thanks for all your help; please feel free to have anyone who may be thinking of working with you contact me directly anytime.
Ira Mayer
President & Publisher
EPM Communications, Inc.
New York, NY
We worked with Jim from January to June, and we saw our revenue increase by 30% during this time. Our business has grown more this year than any previous year, and we attribute our growth to Jim's teachings. We both enjoyed our sessions with Jim and appreciated his constructive feedback about our sales techniques. We shared many stories about our sales calls, and Jim always offered positive suggestions for improvement. He also helped us prioritize our goals and become more productive business owners. We learned that you can take control of your to-do list and lose that "overwhelmed" feeling. We would recommend his coaching process to anyone who owns a business or is responsible for generating sales.
Michael and Lindsey Weber
Minuteman Press of Enfield, Connecticut (CT)
Jim,
I want to express my gratitude for the program you presented here in Ledyard on 22 February 2010! Your program was certainly worth the investment I personally made for, and on behalf of our Staff. Many comments came back to me from Staff members, both as to the manner in which you presented and the subject matter! These continue to be very challenging times for all of us, but particularly those employees in small Municipalities. Dealing with stresses in these times takes its toll.
I recommend to all employers that your presentation is valuable and of significant benefit to managers.
Again, thank you for your time and your program!
Sincerely,
Fred Allyn, Jr.
Town of Ledyard, Connecticut (CT)
Office of Mayor
At the end of 2005 and the beginning of 2006, I had the privilege of working with Jim O'Shea utilizing his Time Strategies curriculum. I began the training with no plan or goals as I was pretty much the proverbial blank slate. I soon found that, using the techniques Jim taught me, I was able to become a better organized and more dynamic consultant. I am now proactive in my workday and work week. I cannot say enough about what working with Jim has done for my career.
Edward Jones
Gillespie Management Group
Oakdale, Connecticut (CT) 06370
"Invaluable, Priceless, Expert, Encouraging." These are just a few words I could use to describe Jim O'Shea. I learned an incredible amount from him and continue to use his insightful teachings each and every day. I highly recommend his services to anyone in the business industry no matter the size of the company.
April Brunelle
JuneBug Multimedia LLC.
Ledyard, Connecticut (CT) 06339
After working with Jim on improving my sales techniques, my business increased at least 50% over the next year. Throughout the process, Jim explained concepts and answered my questions in context with my business and the way I want to do business. He helped me to develop a presentation language and style that was comfortable for me.
When I was faced with some major decisions for my business, Jim would ask questions that helped me work through my thoughts to formulate my decision. He is a very effective facilitator. I am very pleased with the services Jim O'Shea has provided and would highly recommend him to anyone who wants to achieve their goals.
Christine Lautz
Moving Solutions
Waterford, Connecticut (CT)
I want to thank you for the impact your sales development process has had on my business.
When we first discussed your program, I was very skeptical. That should not be surprising given that I had been through countless sales training programs over my 20 year career in sales.
The way most of my former sales training programs went, you get a one or two day data dump, you walk out of the training all hyped up with a few decent concepts in your brain, and in just a few days you've forgotten what you heard and you're lucky to hang on to one useable concept. After experiencing so many programs with that same format, I found there was diminishing return with each new sales training program I took.
That said, it wasn't very long into your process that I realized this was something very different. While some of the basic sales concepts are the same, this program was stretched over a longer period of time. The combination of true repetition and consistent coaching forced me not just to carry a few concepts around in my brain, but to build key components into my business and sales process to improve my effectiveness and efficiency.
One specific example is how I incorporated key concepts in the effective presentations section that helped me close several deals. As much as I thought I was a seasoned sales professional, I had a real paradigm shift by focusing more on non-verbal cues and using mirroring to increase my understanding and improve my relationship building.
The bottom line: Since I've taken the program, I've seen my business accelerate by at least 25% in the first 6 months alone. I would highly recommend the program to anyone wanting to grow their business, and I would be happy to share my experience with any other potential candidates.
Brian J. O'Shea
Financial Advisor
Merrill Lynch
North Augusta, SC