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George Torok in the News
George Torok is often in the news for his writing, speaking, expertise and opinion. He offers a unique and often provocative perspective.
Below is a sampling of some of those appearances and headlines in the media. In addition he has written and published over 200 articles and over 300 blog posts.
George Torok is also often interviewed for print, radio and TV media. As a writer, interviewer and radio show host he knows how to create provocative interviews.
To arrange a media interview and for more information about any of the news items listed below please contact George Torok directly at:
800-304-1861 (Toll free anywhere in North America)
905-335-1997 (Burlington, ON) or
George@Torok.com
If you reach voice mail when you call please state your topic and deadline.
If you want photos click here.
Be afraid, be very afraid of scaring your customers away
George Torok, Financial Post Published: Monday, March 31, 2008
The two masters of business are fear and greed. You probably know that greed fuels a bull market and fear darkens the bear. But are you aware of how important these two emotions are to your business? Business is about people and people are ruled by emotions. Fear is the most primal and powerful emotion. How do emotions affect the buying decisions of your customers?
February 2008, Quality World, London England, Ian Dalling
Integrated Management - Standards Win/Lose
Sales & Marketing Trends. Marketing Wizard George Torok is featured on the cover of this issue and the featured marketing expert.
Around the globe, organisations naturally manifest to provide some identified or perceived need. They range in size and may or may not be profit making, but what they all have in common is that they use a process to transform something material or virtual to deliver a product or service. However, as the Canadian entrepreneur George Torok said, "Everything in your business will only work in the long term if you follow a system" - he even rates a system as more important than talent. As when we play poker or prepare food in the kitchen, we need a system, comprising rules and guidance, to be consistently successful and avoid; accidents, messing up the environment or being robbed by a malefic party. Every organisation needs a written or unwritten management system to control or guide its processes to consistently satisfy the needs and aspirations of its stakeholders - but why fragment it when a single management system can do it all and more successfully.
Ian Dalling is director of Unified Management Solutions and has written several papers on integrated management for the CQI integrated management special interest group.
Quality World is published by the Chartered Quality Institute based in London England.
January 2008: Enterprise Magazine
The 10th Year Anniversary
Sales & Marketing Trends. Marketing Wizard George Torok is featured on the cover of this issue and the featured marketing expert.
What a Difference a Decade Makes in Marketing!
Imagine that you could continue to market successfully the same way for ten years. Do you like that thought? Well delete that daydream because it just isn't so. Welcome to marketing 2008. It's more threatening, more promising and more exciting. Buckle your seatbelt, take your motion sickness pill and be prepared to be amazing. Because that is what you need to compete today.
Still the Same
Of course some things remained the same. Let's establish our foundation before we venture into the swirl of the Time Tunnel.
The fundamentals are the same. That's what makes them fundamentals. Marketing is still closely intertwined with selling and the purpose of marketing is to help you sell more. Marketing and selling are both strategies to help you make a profit. In fact marketing was and is a fundamental responsibility running through every function of your business.
November 2007, Investment Executive: Canada's Newspaper for Financial Advisors
Smart Moves, Wendy Cuthbert
Advisors talk about the best - and worst - moves of their careers.
What's the best move you've made in your career? Your worst move? Ask these questions of enough financial advisors and you come up with an array of answers - some are universal; others work for some advisors but not all.
Leave the Home Office
"You don't have to find the fanciest place to rent," says George Torok, an executive coach and consultant based in Burlington, Ont., and co-author of Secrets of Power Marketing. "But getting out of the home is important because it sends the signal - even to advisors themselves - that they've made a commitment to the business."
"It sounds funny, but we have to play mind games with ourselves," Torok adds.
Find the Right Marketing Strategy
Marketing is an area in which advisors serve themselves best by looking for the right fit for their business rather that trying to figure out what their peers are doing, say Torok. Because every advisor is unique, his or her marketing endeavours should reflect that one-of-a kind positioning, he says.
October 29, 2007, Ottawa Business Journal, Julie Fortier
Biz Savvy: Real-life Strategies for Building Business
Too many failed entrepreneurs think it is about a great idea or great product. They suffer from the Van Gogh Syndrome. Van Gogh was a very competent painter, he was a genius, and his paintings have sold for millions of dollars. However, when he lived he only sold one painting and the reason is he thought the art should sell itself. He refused to debase himself through marketing and selling.
Read the rest of Real-life Strategies for Building Business
October 15, 2007, Financial Post, Small Business
Market to fulfill desire, not need and success will follow.
It’s Small Business Week and the National Post launches its new Small Business section in the National Post. Featured small business experts include Rick Spence, former editor and publisher of Profit Magazine; Barry Siskin, Trade Show guru, and George Torok, the unfair marketer, with his weekly marketing tip.
Pony sneaker brand seeks a return to its glory days
San Diego Union Tribune, Jennifer Davies, August 12, 2007
The comeback is a central theme in American life. Celebrities stage comebacks all the time, as do disgraced politicians and injured athletes.
Is it possible for a brand to do the same?
That's the key question for Pony, the once-hot sneaker brand that in its heyday counted Pelé, Dan Marino and Muhammad Ali among its stable of celebrity endorsers.
The Pony brand, which has bounced around between owners since the late 1970s, was recently bought by Infinity Associates, an investment group that previously acquired Converse Inc. in 2001.
Read the rest of Brand Come Back article.
Read the blog post about Pony sneaker
Read more about branding.
May 19, 2007, Montreal Gazette, ALLISON LAMPERT
Edgy or over the edge?
Ads targeting hard-to-reach young consumers can land a company in hot water - just ask Couche-Tard.
The nun kneels beside a lamb, her arms outstretched toward the heavens. She gazes longingly toward the golden light - and at the image of an orange frosted drink emblazoned with the letters: "WTF." WTF is teenage text messaging and online lingo for "What the f---." Surprise, surprise - online forums and blogs and conservative Christian groups were having a field day this month debating and denouncing the ad, created for Quebec depanneur giant Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.'s Ontario convenience stores.
Read the rest of this article at the Montreal Gazette.
Read more about Viral Marketing to Teens
Read more about Mac's Bloody Zit Drink
April 30, 2007, Hamilton Spectator
Flick Off slogan should catch on with the young
Flick off. Congrats to a brilliant marketing campaign!
They know their target market and how to reach them. - teens and 20-somethings.
The slogan would appeal to the mindset of this target group while annoying others outside the group. An effective brand does that.
Read more about Flick Off...
March 2007: Where is George Torok Published?
Columnist and contributing writer
George Torok is a regular contributor to several print publications.
Torok’s articles recently appeared in Canadian Manager, The Trade Journal and Panorama.
In addition he is a regular columnist for Enterprise, The Business Link and SOHO Business Report.
March 2007, Progress Magazine
Gut Instinct: The Secret Weapon
Enjoy the first ever summary of the “Face to Face” business retreat. Our event team transcribed the presenters’ words of wisdom so that you could revisit what you learned and get psyched for this year’s event!
Neville Gilfoy
President & Publisher
Keynote speaker – George Torok on Gut Instinct
Logic, thinking, emotion, intuition, gut instinct. What do those words mean to you? How do they fit together? George Torok teaches people how you can learn to recognize, manage, and profit from those informing little tingles known as “gut instinct.”
Read the rest of this aritcle...
November 4, 2006 Globe and Mail Wallace Immen
Hone the message, trim out the confusing jargon
The wrong words can sabotage your presentations, WALLACE IMMEN writes.
"The fact is that when you are a CEO and you make self-sabotaging comments, no one is going to tell you. Even if you ask staff for feedback, they are going to say, 'Oh, you are a great boss,' " Mr. Torok says.
Read the rest of this aritcle...
March 30, 2006, Hamilton Spectator
Wearing pain like a badge of pride
Something incredible happened in Hamilton this past weekend. Almost 7,000 people accomplished the ‘impossible’. They ran, or walked 30 kilometres. How many people do you know who can walk or run 30 kilometres? This race included everyday people doing the impossible.
Read the rest of this aritcle...
February 27, 2006, The Hamilton Spectator
On balance, success seems to demand excess
The Olympic Games are a shining example of individuals who pursue incredible challenges at great sacrifice. The lesson is if you want to win, you need to sacrifice. If you are leading a “balanced” life, you are destined to be a loser. Why? Because those who succeed in any field are unbalanced.
Read the rest of this aritcle...
September 8, 2005 Globe and Mail,
It was finally time to overcome guilt
The year I turned 50 was the year I tackled a bigger milestone: the 25 years I had denied myself a motorcycle.
Read the full article…
April 2005, Contact for Canada’s Sales and Marketing Professionals
Present with Impact
Leverage the unique selling skills of three great communicators to present with power. Zig Ziglar - a passionate storyteller. Brian Tracy – a wealth of knowledge. Pierre Trudeau – confidence sells.
“But salespeople should understand the difference between passion and energy”, warns speaker and author George Torok. “Salespeople who sell with passion”, he says, “believe in what they’re selling and genuinely communicate that to the buyer. Whereas salespeople who lack passion often overcompensate by being loud or energetic. Buyers often interpret this as insecurity.”
“Confident salespeople ask questions and listen; nervous salespeople talk,” says Torok.
June 2005, Profit Magazine, Alan Britnell
Podium Power
Present like a pro with help from these super speakers. Bob Gray, Mike Lipkin, Robin Sharma and George Torok
To help you improve your performance, PROFIT asked some of Canada’s premier speakers to reveal how they make their speeches sing.
“Too many people just start yapping. I tell people to ask themselves, ‘What is it I want the audience to do or think when I am done speaking?’ Everything you say should move the audience in that direction.”
George Torok
Read the rest of this article at Profit Guide
Spring 2005, Speaking of Impact, the Voice of Canadian Meetings
The Mystery of Mastery Unveiled
George Torok talks to the masters to unveil some of the mystery of mastery.
He asks and finds answers to these questions:
How do you identify the masters in any industry? .
What is mastery? .
What to you recognize mastery in speakers? .
How does one become a master? .
What was common about these masters? .
What’s next for you? .
Read the full article...
February 2005: Contact Magazine CPSA
Learning Success
Whether it’s a formal or informal relationship, mentoring can lead to professional growth for both the mentor and protégé.
April 2004: Report on Business The Globe and Mail
John Lorinc’s article “Tell me about it” (March), on the topic of jargon was “sick.” Jargon exists not only in business but in all aspects of communicating. One area that we’re all familiar with is teenager jargon. I recently learned that these days, “sweet” and “sick” both mean good. In my day it was “cool.”
July 2003: Hamilton Spectator
Opportunities for Business
Life and business is full of surprises, challenges and opportunities. Surprises must be accepted. Challenges can be ignored, complained over or accepted. Opportunities can be missed, ignored or recognized by the innovative.
Click for full article...
Fall issue: 2001 Biz Magazine:
One Hundred Bests: The Timeless Pursuit of Excellence
Best at dropping a line: George Torok who never seems out of touch, no matter how far afield his speaking engagements take him.
July 2001: Halton Business Times, Murray Townsend
Systems, Systems and more systems key to power Marketing
George Torok doesn’t believe in luck. That’s leaving too much to chance. “You don’t wait for luck. Luck is how you take advantage of a situation.”
Apr 2001: Business Venture Guelph
Book review: Power marketing secrets surprise
The Secrets of Power Marketing takes the marketing neophyte on a very thorough investigation of all the facets of successfully marketing your business product or self. It is laid out in well-defined chapters so you can either read straight through or pick your topic.
Mar 2001: Panorama Hamilton Chamber Magazine
Value of Recognition: Plaques on the wall can translate into profits on the bottom line
Very things in business translate directly to the bottom line. Sales is the only direct impact – everything else is a cost that indirectly impacts the bottom line.
However, plaques on the wall can pay off in a few indirect ways – all of them positive and we need more of that.
Mar 2001: The Sudbury Star, Liane Beam
Marketing guru offers tips on selling you and your business
How do you expect to get noticed if you are doing the same thing as everyone else? During the downsizing of the 1980’s Torok made a habit of keeping in touch with his contacts in case he lost his job. Two of his marketing steps, building relationships and maintaining a database, were important during that time. His tips also work for job hunters. Torok lives in Burlington, Ontario. He talks to major corporations and associations throughout North America.
Feb 2001: Chatelaine
Book review: Power to the People
Whether you are a novice or an old hand at marketing, you will pick up a new trick or two from Secrets of Power Marketing… There’s also a wealth of info about marketing your business to the media via news releases- and about dealing with print or broadcast journalists.
Feb 2001: Northern Life, Vicki Gilhula
Power Marketing or common sense?
When I started reading the book I was hooked. Does the advice in Secrets of Power Marketing work? Torok wanted to get my attention. He did.
Feb 2001: The Sudbury Star, Debbi Nicholson
Marketing is Key to Success
You won’t want to miss one of Canada’s most respected authors, radio host and professional speaker who emphasizes that marketing is everything you do – or don’t do.
Jan 2001: Canadian Society of Association Executives, Trillium Chapter
Book Review: Secrets of Power Marketing
If you have something to sell and most of us do, why not do so more effectively? Whether you sell your association’s benefits to your members, your professional services as a consultant, or sell any other service as a consultant, or sell any other servile or product in our competitive world, Secrets of Power Marketing can help you do it better.
Dec 2000: Business Bulletin Mississauga Board of Trade
The Secrets of Power Marketing
Speaking at a Board of Trade seminar, Torok explained that if you are a natural born marketing genius you will do well. But if you are not, you need to have a system, which is simply a matter of doing the right things consistently over time… Said Torok, “Market Yourself with passion. The world needs to know.”
Oct 2000: Mississauga Business Times, Mike Beggs
One of the highlights of this year’s expanded Small Business Week schedule within Mississauga is sure to be the new author series. In his first writing effort George Torok released “Secrets of Power Marketing” and saw it land on the Canadian bestseller list. For the entrepreneur just starting up or wanting to expand, Torok says the first question is, “How well am I marketing myself, my services or product.”
Oct 2000: Hamilton Spectator, Suzanne Bourret
Be first, get noticed, follow your plan
Motivational speaker George Torok of Burlington, who speaks all over North America, says emotion is what sways people, not logic. Q&A with George Torok
Sept 2000: Toastmasters District 60, The Spirit of 60, Sarah Kellog
Accolades to George Torok for the gift of his book, Secrets of Power Marketing to all the Pubic Relations ambassadors.
Sept 2000: Progressive Purchasing, Darryl Legault & Guylaine St-Louis
Network Purchasers
A close second to Harvey Mackay’s books is Secrets of Power Marketing, by George Torok and Peter Urs Bender. In this user friendly guide to networking, Bender and Torok offer five simple and inexpensive ways for individuals and companies to enhance their public image, even if networking isn’t their natural inclination.
May 2000: Contact, Canada’s Sales & Marketing magazine
All Aboard
Marketing guru, George Torok, hosted breakfast meeting on a VIA train. Anyone can hold a breakfast meeting to network, inspire and inform association members and staff. But on March 1 2000 the Canadian Professional Sales Association did one better. The CPSA held its breakfast meeting on a train – first class ,Via Rail no less.
Mar 2000: Timmins Times
Future is ours for the Taking
Chamber of Commerce conference on Timmins in the New Millennium
George Torok, a motivational speaker went through various marketing techniques that business could take advantage of in order to succeed.
Mar 2000: The Business Executive
Best selling author donates 100 books to Junior Achievement Canada
George Torok, co-author of the national best-seller, Secrets of Power Marketing, donated more than 100 books to Junior Achievers who attended the Ontario Junior Achievement Conference in Hamilton. Keynote speaker, George Torok inspired, encouraged and advised the JA’ers to believe in themselves; recognize their individual genius and to market themselves persistently and consistently.
Mar 2000: Yukon News, Jane Gaffin
Business & Finance: Have tongue will travel and succeed
Power Marketing…George Torok, a professional public speaker was in Whitehorse recently to give seminars in marketing. While on his first trip to Whitehorse he chose to do something to benefit the community. He set aside a day for one-on-one half-hour consulting sessions (with local business). Then he gave (all) the money to a worthwhile cause. Since reading. Learning and growing have been such big parts of his life for the last 10 years he decided a literacy organization would be the perfect benefactor.
Feb 2000: The Hamilton Spectator
For the Record: Put Power in your personal marketing
An except from the keynote address given by George Torok to an Ontario Junior Achievement conference at the Sheraton Hamilton on Feb 5.
Feb 2000: E-office, Monica Kruger-Bandy
Editorial: One of our primary strengths is our columnists. Many of our readers have probably heard of our Marketing columnist, George Torok. I had the pleasure of hearing him give a talk a the chamber. He is quite a dynamic speaker with practical advice for those of us who aren’t marketing specialists.
Jan 2000: Modern Purchasing, Darryl Legault
Book Review: Renowned New York Times best-selling business networking author Harvey Mackay just got some serious competition – and it’s Canadian. The competition is Secrets of Power Marketing. Why on earth am I reviewing a book on marketing? Because without good personal marketing and networking we are reducing our chances for success both in our current organizations and in today’s competitive employment market. To quote Tom Peters, “to be in business today, our most important job is to be head marketer for the brand called ‘You.’”
Jan 2000: The Columbus Dispatch, Jeff and Marc Slutsky
BizSmart: An appropriate quote can help you jump-start your day. While reviewing Secrets of Power Marketing, a book by Peter Urs Bender and George Torok, we were intrigued by the many different quotes from well-known people used to punctuate various points…we found them all to be interesting and motivational in business and life.
Jan 2000: Business Matters, Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce
The Secrets to Power Marketing
In today’s fast-paced and increasingly competitive business environment, marketing cannot be a separate function, or a non-function for that matter. According to George Torok everything you do or don’t do – sends important messages to your clients about your company and yourself.
Winter 1999: Canadian Manager, Shannon Moore
Personal Marketing – It’s all about focus, determination & persistence
Marketing … what word in the modern business lexicon is surrounded by more mysticism! Yet as long as you keep thinking of it as something separate from yourself, you’ve got the wrong slant on it.
Mar 1999: The Hamilton Spectator, Ed Rogers
Teaching the secrets of power speaking
Presentation skills can the key to success in business. George Torok is not a large man. But get him in front of an audience and he takes on a new dimension.
You can contact George Torok for interviews at Local 905-335-1997, Toll Free across North America 800-304-1861
Who calls George Torok?
