- Mirror, Mirror On The Wall
Every day we use mirrors to reflect our image. We check our grooming, our clothing, our outward persona before going out into the world each day, but we don’t get an honest reflection. The vision we see is clouded by our own self-image or what we want to believe ourselves to be. - Try Listening for a Change
We are a society of people who work hard at the art of persuasion. We work to persuade our customers and prospects, our co-workers - Warm Fuzzies" or Real Service?
“Service” is one of those wonderful, “Warm Fuzzy” words like “love” and “happiness.” They are easy to say and sound so good, but unless they are backed with real substance, they mean so little. - Rely on Your Plan, not Yourself
Student pilots are taught to rely on their instruments when the airplane is in the clouds and visibility is impaired. Business executives and entrepreneurs, on the other hand, often rely on themselves to make snap judgments and instant changes in strategy. Then have to live with the positive or negative consequences of their action. - The Right Answer is "Yes!"
We were staying with friends while on a short vacation and naturally went on a buying excursion to give a “thank you” gift to our hosts. - Prove Yourself Every Time
Last week a disgruntled salesperson told me about a long-time customer who stopped buying from her. “Gosh, I thought we were good friends; - Turn a Promotion into a "Fest"
Almost every business holds promotions of one type or another – a Sale, a Seminar or Demonstration, an Open House, a “Customer Appreciation” Day. - It's a Marathon, Not a Sprint
Thirty-three years ago Heinz Ketchup lost their business with their biggest account, McDonalds. Since then they have been working to win it back..... - There is a Leadership Difference
I was standing around enjoying refreshments with a group of businesspeople recently. One asked, “Have you heard what XYZ Co. just did. The company mentioned is known as a hot, fast growth, quality company.” Everyone in the group leaned in a little to hear better. - Will You Be in the Innovation Hall of Fame?
Whoever invented the “drive-up window” surly deserves a place in the Innovation Hall of Fame. - Are You Making it Fun at Work?
Business is serious, but it can be made into serious fun. When games and competition are added to the workplace, teamwork and joy can happen, and more focus and productivity can be the result. - Giving it Away is a Good Investment
Prospects are naturally risk averse when looking at a new product or service. If you can figure out how to lower the risk to zero they'll try it and, if they like what they tried, come back to buy it - Plant The Culture Seed In The Right Place
Making your company culture understood, accessable, and transmitted to all the stakeholders requires nurturing and preparing the groundwork. Sow the seed well and it will bear delicious fruit. - Can A Minus Become A Plus?
Every business makes errors. Having a process for discovering them and eliminating them will substantially improve how you do business, improve customer satisfaction, improve staff satisfaction, eliminate waste, and raise the overall compentency level. - Persist Yet Again
Success rarely happens in an "instant of brilliance." Rather it happens slowly over time until, one day, you've reached it. Having a long-term perspective keeps the business in the game instead of quitting at the first point of non-acheivement. - Ever Tried Winking In The Dark
In order to be noticed and attract prospects / clients / customers etc. you have to get your message to them. Don't "wink in the dark" and wonder why no one notices. So it in the spotlight where they can see you. - Learned While Almost Naked
Proper communications instead of disregarding the concerns or needs of customers, clients, and patients, can improve retention and reduce customer defection. All it would have taken to keep me was a couple words of information. - Change Tense and Stop Self-limiting
We can change ourselves by changing our point of view, outlook, frame of reference, or just the tense in our text. - Getting Out Is Harder Than Getting In
There is a plethora of help (many books, SBA loans and educational programs, support groups, etc.) for those who want to start a business but far less help for those who are at the exit side of their careers. Yet, creating an exit strategy is equally important. Time (years) and creative thought should be devoted to it while advice from professionals with expertise can make the transition easier and more profitable. - Does Your Company Have A CVO?
A company without a vision is like a ship without a rudder; it is being tossed on the waves of the marketplace without intentional direction. To succeed, some time and attention must be focused on creating a vision of the future and methods of attaining it. Among the many hats a owner wears should be Chief Visionary Officer. - Don't Be Stuck for an Answer
When you have the opportunity to make a first impression make it a good one by describing your profession, do in an interesting, benefit-laden, thought-provoking manner that interests the other party and elicits deeper conversation. - Are You an Ostrich or Angry?
Avoidance and anger are at either end of the dispute resolving spectrum. In most cases, taking a middle road - discussion, negotiation, and building consensus works better and avoids angry conflict. - Please Don't Make Me Change Vendors
Taking your long-term customers for granted and giving them less-than-wonderful-service is a slippery slope to customer defections, lower sales, and a business in decline. Focus on continuing to give your customers full attention, great service, and they won't defect. - Got Hot Stuff? Jump On Early But Closely Manage The Risk!
Managing products (or services) through the ebb and flow of popularity requires vigilance, discipline, metrics, and guts. Do it right and you win big. Do it wrong and you lose out. - What's the "Experience" at Your Place?
The CEO of a fast-growth, iconic, category-busting company asks execs to look inward and reassess changes in "customer experience." Are you looking inward to see whether the "customer experience" is eroding? - Don't Forget the "Attaboy!"
Showing appreciation by praising those who do things right gives positive reinforcement that instills a sense of self worth, creates a better work atmosphere than dressing down those who underperform. - Got Goal Clarity?
The first steps towards achieving goals is to make those goals clearly understood, make them specific, and to insure everyone understands them. Otherwise they are just "wishes." With goal clarity, everyone knows the objective and works towards it without confusion, duplication of effort, or even obstruction. - Does Your Car Know The Time?
Companies that think first of customer needs or ways to add to the buying experience will create stronger bonds and retain their customers longer. It's even better if you can figure out how to do it at little or no cost. - Are You Doing the Right Thing or the Comfortable Thing?
Doing the right thing may not help you win a popularity contest but having the courage to do the right thing will win respect and help you become a stronger leader.
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