YourMercedes-Benz Dealer Blog

Whether it’s Mercedes Benz vehicles or an understanding of fine wines, there are some things that mark a refined lifestyle. While not everyone enjoys a good cigar, cigars are nevertheless becoming an increasingly popular sign that you have reached a certain level of sophistication.

Part of cigar smoking is understanding cigar cutters. Cigar cutters can be a tricky thing to navigate. There are several different types of cigar cutters. There is the punch cutter and the guillotine cutter, as well as the V-cutter. Everyone has their own opinion about what cutter is the best.

Each cigar cutter type has its pros and cons. The punch cutter, for example, is the easiest to use. The punch cutter also makes the cleanest cut in your cigar. The guillotine cutter is the only type of cutter you can use if you smoke a torpedo cigar, so it has its place, as well. V-cutters work well, but can lead to moisture collecting at the cigar tip.

Cutting a cigar with a punch cutter is relatively easy. You simply push and twist the circular blade of the punch cutter until it’s around an eight of an inch deep. From there, you’ll pull it out.

A guillotine cutter is a bit more difficult to use. The best way to use your guillotine cutter is to take off the tip of the cigar on a curve. You want to avoid taking the entire cap off at a right angle. Carefully pierce the tobacco on the cap, and slowly rotate your cigar until the cap is removed. This allows you to cut the cigar without causing it to start to unravel. Many cigar aficionados prefer a guillotine cutter with double blades. They believe that the double bladed guillotine makes a much cleaner cut than the guillotine with just a single blade.

Like your choice of vehicle, your choice of cigar cutter is, in the end, very much about personal preferences. You should try different cutters until you find one that you can effectively use, and one that is to your liking.

To further your sophisticated image, why not stop by your Princeton, NJ Mercedes Benz dealer and pick up a new Mercedes vehicle?

A recent study shows that 12% of CEOs in the United States drive a Mercedes Benz vehicle. This puts Mercedes nearly in a tie with BMW (which garnered 13% of CEOs who responded). One especially interesting aspect of the survey was that, out of all the employees who were interviewed, only 10% did not know what kind of vehicle their CEO drives.

This begs the question: what does your CEO’s car say about her?

Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart, is famous for having driven a Ford pickup for most of his life. Warren Buffet drove the same Lincoln Continental for seven years. Some CEOs choose to drive a hybrid to show their concern for the environment. Some CEOs drive sports cars, to demonstrate that they are risk-takers or quick movers.

When your CEO drives a Mercedes vehicle, however, it says something different. It says that your CEO cares about quality. In many ways, it also says, “I’m a success, and so is our company. I’m proud of what our company has done, and want to show it off with a Mercedes vehicle.” In some ways, it helps to give employees confidence that the company is doing well.

Of course, choice of car can have an unintended effect, too. If a CEO is generally disliked around a company, any car choice will be the wrong one. If employees see their CEO as distant and even stuck up, they’ll criticize his choice of a BMW. On the other hand, if that same CEO drives a GMC pickup, they’ll criticize him for “pretending” to be able to relate to them.

CEOs who have a lot of dealings with client companies or vendor companies may choose to drive Mercedes vehicles to demonstrate to those other companies how stable and successful his company is. They recognize that a person’s choice of vehicle says a lot about them, and they want to put out the best possible impression. A Mercedes is one of the best ways to do just that.

Clearly, a CEO’s choice of vehicle is an extension of his relationship with his employees, with his company, and even with those his company does business with.  If you’re a CEO or are interested in portraying an image of success, visit your Devon area Mercedes Benz dealership today.

When you buy a new Mercedes car for the first time, you become a Mercedes lover. Everyone falls in love with their new Mercedes car, and it’s natural to want to spend time with other people who share your passion. It’s not just a car, after all. It’s a lifestyle. Well, look no further than BenzWorld.org, a place for Mercedes-Benz old and new.

First off, check out the forums. Anything and everything that has to do with Mercedes-Benz is here — and people are talking about it. If you’re interested in racing and motorsports, vintage Mercedes-Benz vehicles, or even events and meet ups, there’s something for all interests. If you’re looking for the best way to wax your car or you want to discuss the finer details of your stereo system or you want to find out what’s new in the world of the finest automaker, everything’s here to see, read, and participate in.

If you’re in the mood for something a little longer to read, head over to the Mercedes-Benz owners’ blogs. With over 200 different blogs to choose from, you can hear from like-minded car enthusiasts with their finger on the pulse of all things auto. Help a fellow Benz owner out with answers to their questions or just hang out and relax with people who love their Benz as much as you love yours.

Finally, if you’re just looking for eye candy, take a look at the photo gallery. This is where Benz owners take pictures of their beautiful new Mercedes cars and their vintage models. Get ready for your mouth to water as you flip through the pictures of everything from the sleek and powerful CLS Shark II to the sleek and stately vintage varieties from days gone by.

There was once a time when owning a new Mercedes car was a goal that was completely unattainable by all but the richest few. For decades, owning luxury cars was something done by only those with too much money on their hands. But for nearly ten years, Mercedes has been gaining more and more market share as it brings its luxury into the reach of buyers in almost all price ranges.

According to economists, marketers and trend researchers, there are many factors going into this change. First is the rising power of women in the workplace. Women directly control an estimated eighty percent of buying decisions, and women on the whole like nice things. More women in the workforce also equals more two income households — something almost unbelievable just sixty years ago. Two incomes means it’s a lot easier to get your hands on a luxury car.

Second is the rising use of credit. For centuries, a person bought what they could pay for in cash. Generally speaking, not many people could buy a new Mercedes car with a wad of money. Now that personal credit is widespread and socially acceptable, your new Mercedes doesn’t have to be paid for in full before you drive it off the lot.

Lastly, prices are changing. According to an article in USA Today, research was done to see how much certain “luxuries” cost in terms of hours worked. In 1953, the average person had to work 140 hours to buy a dishwasher. In 2003, one only had to work 28. In 1959, one had to work 562 hours to buy a color television. Today, one has to work 23. As prices get lower — whether due to industry competition or simply the lowered cost of production and distribution — more people can buy.

For a new Mercedes Benz, stop by your Devon area Mercedes dealer today.

For better or worse, cigars have made a comeback in American culture, particularly among executives. Many people assume that, if you drive a Mercedes-Benz, you probably understand something about cigars. While you don’t have to be an aficionado to run a company, in some business situations you might find it advantageous to at least be familiar with some of the basics surrounding cigars.

Cigars use different tobaccos than cigarettes, and from one another. Cigars are known by their tobacco. Cigar makers try to find the perfect blend of tobaccos from different regions and even different times of harvest in an attempt to find the best combination.

Cigars are made by hand, usually by a skilled worker who can make between 100 and 300 cigars a day. The process works like this: the cigar roller presses the tobacco leaves together in his hand. He places the leaves on a flat, somewhat elastic binder leaf. He rolls it all together and puts it into a mold. A full box is then put into a press. After the cigar has been pressed, it is removed and put into a wrapper leaf. Finally, he uses some vegetable glue to hold the wrapper together. Three to four months later, the cigar is give its wrapper and sold.

The reason you get the big corner office and the reason you can drive a Mercedes-Benz is because you have to make the tough decisions. You are the one who is ultimately responsible for the success or failure of your company. You set the tone, you provide the path to success or failure.

One of the worst tasks you’ll ever have as an executive is firing a manager. Managers are the link between you and the company’s employees. In many ways, they are your face to the rest of the company. You hate to see a manager underperform, because it directly reflects on you. If a manager isn’t able to perform, you’ve got to let them go. But, how do you know when it’s time?

There are five warning signs that it may be time to let a manager go:

1. The manager fails to build trusting and positive relationships with employees.
2. The manager doesn’t get things done, at least not the right things.
3. The manager isn’t open to help or advice from anyone, including you.
4. The manager is dishonest about how things are going in her department.
5. The manager isn’t liked by anyone, whether it’s peers or employees.

These aren’t the only reasons you’ll ever need to fire a manager, but they are certainly among the most common.

Your management team is probably the most important component of your business. A good manager is like a Mercedes: reliable, efficient and worth the extra money for the quality. You rely on your managers to inspire your employees, keep them motivated and handle day-to-day problems within the organization. Here are some things you need to make sure any potential manager has before you hire her:

Confidence

Nothing undermines a manager’s authority more than a lack of confidence. Your managers need to know their abilities and be able to use them effectively to keep your company running smoothly.

Leadership

Likewise, your managers need to have an air of leadership. They need to be able to look at their employees and set the tone and pace for their division’s work. The most important part of this is that they can lead by example. If managers aren’t dedicated to the task, employees won’t be either.

Loyalty

You don’t want a bunch of “yes men” working for you. You want managers who are willing to tell you the truth, and give you honest opinions. However, you also want managers who are willing to step in line behind you, even when you make a decision that they don’t especially agree with.

Courage

Managers have to make the tough calls. They have to be able to fire people, and to tell people when they’re not doing a good job. They also have to be able to tell their employees when they are doing well, making sure to be generous in their praise of a job well done.

The first three months you spend as a CEO at a given company will set the tone for your entire tenure. This is not only a period of transition, but a time of vulnerability, as well. If you want to succeed in the long term as CEO, you’ve got to make an impact in those first three months.

Here are some of the most important things you can do as a new CEO to get through the transition period and make sure you tenure will be a strong one:

Prepare for the Job
Generally speaking, you should have some time before you actually move into the new position to make some preparations. There are three key areas that you need to prepare: technical, cultural and political. Technical preparations include understanding the processes involved at the company, it’s organizational requirements, its customer base, and its markets. Understanding the former CEO’s strategy will help, as well. In the cultural area, you need to understand the basic habits and values of the organization, and see how deeply they are entrenched. Politically you need to understand where the centers of power lay, and know what coalitions control the organization.

Define Success
If you believe you’re succeeding as CEO but the board doesn’t, they you aren’t succeeding. Understand what it is that the board expects, and explain to the board what you believe success will look like. Come to an agreement that is realistic and that can be measured.

Build the Right Team
You’ll probably inherit several senior executives. Some of them will be skilled, some may not. Some may be dedicated to helping the company succeed, some may be interested only in their own ambitiions. Evaluate the existing team, but be careful about removing a senior management member, but don’t hesitate to get rid of someone who is bad for the company.

Make Allies
It’s important not just to know who the key players are, but to know how to get them on board with your vision. Identify things that you can provide to those key players, and ways that you can help them succeed as well. Learn who you can count on for support and identify those people who may cause problems.

Don’t let something simple like a flat tire or failing to get regular maintenance on your Mercedes be the thing that puts you out of your spot as CEO. Come by your local Mercedes dealer in Philadelphia, Fort Washington Mercedes or Mercedes Benz - Wilmington, DE for routine maintenance and to make sure it’s in top condition.

More and more, vision boards are becoming a popular activity to help motivate and inspire people. A vision board typically takes the form of a bulletin board on which you can pin pictures, quotes, and anything else that strikes your fancy. A vision board can help you remember what you want out of life and provide constant motivation toward that goal.

For example, you might put a picture of your favorite flavor of Mercedes on your vision board. You might put the floor plan for your dream house up there. If you have children, they’ll have a place on your vision board, as well.

You can use a vision board at your company to inspire employees, too. Find out what it is that they want to accomplish at your company, or even use their yearly goals. If the goal for your sales department is a 7 percent increase in sales, for example, use some imagery representing growth or an upward trend. For example, you could put a picture of a rocket launching. If your sales department has a competition going on, put pictures of a race. Really, your company’s vision board will depend, largely, on the goals and objectives you have for your company.

or a successful business meal, it’s not enough for you to show up in your Mercedes. One of the hallmarks of a successful CEO in the social setting is the ability to handle ordering and drinking wine. Believe it or not, some clients are watching to see how comfortable you are with wine, and will consider your ability to handle wine as a reflection of your character.

Here are a few things you can keep in mind that will be sure to impress at your next business meal:

Pay attention to your guests.

Ask whether your guests have any interest in wine. If the answer is distant or your guest seems uninterested, she probably doesn’t know or care much about wine. If she answers in a specific fashion, such as naming her favorite wine, express an interest in that wine and order it if it is available and appropriate for the meal.

Make the server your ally

Ask for help in a subtle way. When you receive the wine list ask “is there anything of special interest I ought to know about?” or “have you tasted anything lately that’s distinctive?” Both of these statements imply that you know something about wine, and that you’re asking the server to fine-tune your selection process with his knowledge of the particular wine list.

Handle red wines carefully.

Expensive red wines should age at least six years. This rule applies especially to French Burgundy, Bordeaux and Rhone Valley wines, as well as Italian triple crown winners and Spanish Vega Sicilia Unico wines. Ask that older red wine be decanted, and ask for the larger red wine glasses. Both of these procedures add flavor to the wine.

Know how much to spend.

Wine is another part of the meal, not just a beverage. Don’t order the most expensive wine on the list or you may seem pretentious. Order wine that is priced about the equivalent of the full meal for a single person. If the average meal price is $100, then you’ll want to spend $100 for the wine to go with the meal. This demonstrates that you care about quality, but aren’t foolish with company money.

When you’re courting an important client or meeting with significant people in your business, make sure your car stands out as much as your knowledge about wine. Bring your Mercedes in to your local Mercedes dealer in Philadelphia, South Jersey or the Delaware Valley for routine maintenance and to make sure it’s in top condition.