============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – December 25, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
Somehow, not only for Christmas but all the long year through,
The joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you.
And the more you spend in blessing the poor and lonely and sad,
The more of your heart's possessing returns to you glad.
--John Greenleaf Whittier
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Customer Returns = Thanks – Linda Fayerweather
2. 2007 Plan - Rebecca Booth
3. Holiday Doldrums - John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Customer Returns = Thanks
============================================================
In lean businesses, we want to eliminate defects and errors. If you are a retail business during the holiday return season, use this opportunity as a learning experience. Are there any trends in what is being returned – Color? Style? Quality? A simple tracking system will help you sell better all through the year and maybe help customers have fewer returns in 2007. Happy Holidays and a New Year.
Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. 2007 Plan
============================================================
Start the New Year off right by creating a marketing plan which details your 2007 marketing goals. Divide a piece of paper into 13 columns. At the top of the first column write “Initiative.” At the top of the remaining 12 columns fill in the months of the year. Now divide the page into rows, list each marketing initiative that you want to achieve under the initiative column. Make sure you include networking, advertising (specify what type), business lunches, direct mail, special events and anything else you’re going to do. Now place check marks under the months that you’ll be marketing. Spot any holes in the chart when you’re finished? If so, come up with different ways for filling up the voids. Frequency is one of the keys to great marketing.
Next week – Pay to Play #4
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Holiday Doldrums
===========================================================
The last 6 days of 2007 are upon us. Make the most
of them with your networking team. Since this is often a slack time in businesses, plan your January networking now.
Starting January with one-to-one meetings with
your referral partners will make the transition from
holiday to work smooth and prosperous.
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
Monday, December 25, 2006
Monday, December 18, 2006
Through your Customers Eyes
============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – December 18, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
“Commitment unlocks the doors of imagination, allows vision, and gives us the "right stuff" to turn our dreams into reality.”
--James Womack
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Listen to the Voice of Your Customer
– Linda Fayerweather
2. Pay-Per-Click Advertising – Mistake #2 – Vague - Rebecca Booth
3. Let’s Do Lunch - John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Listen to the Voice of Your Customer
============================================================
When working out problems with customer service, sometimes you will need to get in the shoes of your customer. We all know that customers have other places to go for goods and services, so realize that customers really want you to:
”Solve my problem completely”;
“Don’t waste my time”;
“Get me exactly what I want”;
“Reduce the number of problems I need to solve”.
If you learn the answers to these questions for your customers, you will help grow your value to them.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Pay-Per-Click Advertising – Mistake #3 – Pay to Play
============================================================
Not spending enough money to secure a top spot will not allow you to play the click through game. Pay-per-click advertising is based on an auction model, which gives you, the advertiser, great flexibility in deciding how much money you want to pay for particular search terms. The higher a price you pay, the higher up your ad will be. And paying the price is worth it once you hear this fact: 85% of all PPC clicks are on ads in one of the top three positions! As always, you’re not wasting money when people aren’t clicking through; however, no clicks equate to no leads; no leads equate to no new sales. So think about PPC as an investment in your success.
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Become "The Source”
===========================================================
The more active you become in your networks, the quicker you will become "The Source" for everyone around you. Inform family, friends, customers, prospects, etc., that if they ever need something, they should call you because you can help them or you know someone who can. When someone calls you looking for a good auto mechanic, and you're a banker, you have successfully become "The Source". Actively look to help people and they won't forget it.
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
Monday Morning Motivators – December 18, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
“Commitment unlocks the doors of imagination, allows vision, and gives us the "right stuff" to turn our dreams into reality.”
--James Womack
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Listen to the Voice of Your Customer
– Linda Fayerweather
2. Pay-Per-Click Advertising – Mistake #2 – Vague - Rebecca Booth
3. Let’s Do Lunch - John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Listen to the Voice of Your Customer
============================================================
When working out problems with customer service, sometimes you will need to get in the shoes of your customer. We all know that customers have other places to go for goods and services, so realize that customers really want you to:
”Solve my problem completely”;
“Don’t waste my time”;
“Get me exactly what I want”;
“Reduce the number of problems I need to solve”.
If you learn the answers to these questions for your customers, you will help grow your value to them.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Pay-Per-Click Advertising – Mistake #3 – Pay to Play
============================================================
Not spending enough money to secure a top spot will not allow you to play the click through game. Pay-per-click advertising is based on an auction model, which gives you, the advertiser, great flexibility in deciding how much money you want to pay for particular search terms. The higher a price you pay, the higher up your ad will be. And paying the price is worth it once you hear this fact: 85% of all PPC clicks are on ads in one of the top three positions! As always, you’re not wasting money when people aren’t clicking through; however, no clicks equate to no leads; no leads equate to no new sales. So think about PPC as an investment in your success.
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Become "The Source”
===========================================================
The more active you become in your networks, the quicker you will become "The Source" for everyone around you. Inform family, friends, customers, prospects, etc., that if they ever need something, they should call you because you can help them or you know someone who can. When someone calls you looking for a good auto mechanic, and you're a banker, you have successfully become "The Source". Actively look to help people and they won't forget it.
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
Monday, December 11, 2006
Mistake Proofing - Click - Let's Do Lunch
============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – December 11, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare."
--Japanese Proverb
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Mistake Proofing – Linda Fayerweather
2. Pay-Per-Click Advertising – Mistake #2 – Vague - Rebecca Booth
3. Let’s Do Lunch - John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Mistake Proofing
============================================================
Lean businesses do mistake proofing because a mistake is waste and even a small mistake repeated overtime will become a big headache. Here is a new lean term to remember “Poka Yoke” ????. Poka Yoke is Japanese for fail-safing. Need an example? You can’t remove your car key from the ignition unless the vehicle is in “park”. You have been stopped from making a potentially serious error. If you start looking around, Poka Yokes are everywhere from the little wooden cutout that doesn’t let the too-short-person on a ride to the attached tail on your gas cap. These Poka Yokes take the thinking and judgment out of a system and get your mind back to more productive work. When you look around your office or shop and see an error that too frequently appears, is this a Poka Yoke opportunity? If you would like some fun ideas, check out John Grout's website.
http://csob.berry.edu/faculty/jgrout/pokayoke.shtml
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Pay-Per-Click Advertising – Mistake #2 – Being Vague
============================================================
Unfortunately, pay-per-click advertising is very limited with what you can/can’t do in your ad. For instance, you are limited to just a handful of words – 190 characters (including spaces) is what Yahoo allows in a text ad. Google tightens that up to 70. If that’s not limiting enough, you can’t use color, photos or logos! Word choice becomes extremely important when you’re using this medium. Avoid words such as quality, economical and good service – these words are vague and meaningless. Instead zero in on what sets you apart from your competition, a patent you hold, a specific product you sell or exceptionally friendly warranties.
Remember: if you’re not specific enough people won’t click through. Lucky for you, you haven’t spent any money. However, you can lose big bucks if your ad causes clicks with people who are not potential clients. You’ll pay for these clicks only to find the leads going nowhere.
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Let’s Do Lunch
===========================================================
Remember, for people to pass you business, they must first get to know you. Set up a schedule to meet someone different from your networking group at least once a week for coffee or lunch. Divide the allotted time for them to share information about their business with you and for you to share information about your business with them. This type of schedule is very manageable and very helpful in building relationships.
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
Monday Morning Motivators – December 11, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare."
--Japanese Proverb
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Mistake Proofing – Linda Fayerweather
2. Pay-Per-Click Advertising – Mistake #2 – Vague - Rebecca Booth
3. Let’s Do Lunch - John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Mistake Proofing
============================================================
Lean businesses do mistake proofing because a mistake is waste and even a small mistake repeated overtime will become a big headache. Here is a new lean term to remember “Poka Yoke” ????. Poka Yoke is Japanese for fail-safing. Need an example? You can’t remove your car key from the ignition unless the vehicle is in “park”. You have been stopped from making a potentially serious error. If you start looking around, Poka Yokes are everywhere from the little wooden cutout that doesn’t let the too-short-person on a ride to the attached tail on your gas cap. These Poka Yokes take the thinking and judgment out of a system and get your mind back to more productive work. When you look around your office or shop and see an error that too frequently appears, is this a Poka Yoke opportunity? If you would like some fun ideas, check out John Grout's website.
http://csob.berry.edu/faculty/jgrout/pokayoke.shtml
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Pay-Per-Click Advertising – Mistake #2 – Being Vague
============================================================
Unfortunately, pay-per-click advertising is very limited with what you can/can’t do in your ad. For instance, you are limited to just a handful of words – 190 characters (including spaces) is what Yahoo allows in a text ad. Google tightens that up to 70. If that’s not limiting enough, you can’t use color, photos or logos! Word choice becomes extremely important when you’re using this medium. Avoid words such as quality, economical and good service – these words are vague and meaningless. Instead zero in on what sets you apart from your competition, a patent you hold, a specific product you sell or exceptionally friendly warranties.
Remember: if you’re not specific enough people won’t click through. Lucky for you, you haven’t spent any money. However, you can lose big bucks if your ad causes clicks with people who are not potential clients. You’ll pay for these clicks only to find the leads going nowhere.
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Let’s Do Lunch
===========================================================
Remember, for people to pass you business, they must first get to know you. Set up a schedule to meet someone different from your networking group at least once a week for coffee or lunch. Divide the allotted time for them to share information about their business with you and for you to share information about your business with them. This type of schedule is very manageable and very helpful in building relationships.
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
Monday, December 04, 2006
Eyes to See - Pay Per Click - Be Prepared
============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – December 4, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
“There is no "I" In team, but there is an "I" in win”
--Michael Jordan
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Eyes to See – Linda Fayerweather
2. Making the Most of Pay-Per-Click Advertising – Part 1 - Rebecca Booth
3. Be Prepared! - John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Eyes to See
============================================================
What makes our human eyes so great is that they are directly connected to our brains. What our eyes see is processed yet we often approach our business as if everything is always the same. Yes, we will notice when something is dramatically changed like when the ceiling fell onto the shop floor, but are we watching with the mind’s eyes? In Lean offices, the eyes are to see and watching work often leads to better work. Watch for wasted motions and wasted time. Sometimes after watching a process and studying it, you will want to sit back, close your eyes and draw from the memory of your eyes. Look for the small changes that when multiplied can make or break a business. Repeat the makers and eliminate the breakers. Take your eyes to your business every day and listen to them!
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Making the Most of Pay-Per-Click Advertising – Part 1
============================================================
Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is one of the most efficient lead generation tools on the web today. While it’s relatively inexpensive, you can’t afford to make mistakes in this medium because it can cost you thousands of dollars in a few short weeks. Below is one of four of the most common mistakes business owners make when engaging in a pay-per-click advertising campaign.
Mistake #1 – Using your homepage as the click’s landing page.
When you purchase a PPC ad, you decide where the link will land. Don’t put it on your homepage. There are too many choices on where to go after landing on that spot. Be as specific in your ad as possible and take your visitor directly to that product/service. People using the web to search want results – now. Don’t place them in a forest of information hoping that they’ll find the page they’re after. You’re wasting their time and energy. Get it right the first time by creating a specific ad and a pinpointed landing point for the click through.
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Be Prepared!
===========================================================
A successful networker always has the proper "Networking Tools". "Networking Tools" consist of a professional name badge, enough of your business cards, a card file of others cards, a computer database contact system and handouts about your business. Remember, no matter where you are, you always have the opportunity to pass or receive business if you are prepared to do so.
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
Monday Morning Motivators – December 4, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
“There is no "I" In team, but there is an "I" in win”
--Michael Jordan
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Eyes to See – Linda Fayerweather
2. Making the Most of Pay-Per-Click Advertising – Part 1 - Rebecca Booth
3. Be Prepared! - John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Eyes to See
============================================================
What makes our human eyes so great is that they are directly connected to our brains. What our eyes see is processed yet we often approach our business as if everything is always the same. Yes, we will notice when something is dramatically changed like when the ceiling fell onto the shop floor, but are we watching with the mind’s eyes? In Lean offices, the eyes are to see and watching work often leads to better work. Watch for wasted motions and wasted time. Sometimes after watching a process and studying it, you will want to sit back, close your eyes and draw from the memory of your eyes. Look for the small changes that when multiplied can make or break a business. Repeat the makers and eliminate the breakers. Take your eyes to your business every day and listen to them!
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Making the Most of Pay-Per-Click Advertising – Part 1
============================================================
Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is one of the most efficient lead generation tools on the web today. While it’s relatively inexpensive, you can’t afford to make mistakes in this medium because it can cost you thousands of dollars in a few short weeks. Below is one of four of the most common mistakes business owners make when engaging in a pay-per-click advertising campaign.
Mistake #1 – Using your homepage as the click’s landing page.
When you purchase a PPC ad, you decide where the link will land. Don’t put it on your homepage. There are too many choices on where to go after landing on that spot. Be as specific in your ad as possible and take your visitor directly to that product/service. People using the web to search want results – now. Don’t place them in a forest of information hoping that they’ll find the page they’re after. You’re wasting their time and energy. Get it right the first time by creating a specific ad and a pinpointed landing point for the click through.
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Be Prepared!
===========================================================
A successful networker always has the proper "Networking Tools". "Networking Tools" consist of a professional name badge, enough of your business cards, a card file of others cards, a computer database contact system and handouts about your business. Remember, no matter where you are, you always have the opportunity to pass or receive business if you are prepared to do so.
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Stop Doing That - Leads - Be Visable
============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – November 27, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
“The best predictor of future behavior is frequent past behavior.”
--Marcus Buckingham
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Stop Doing That! – Linda Fayerweather
2. Marketing Monstrosity #8 – Not Systematically Following Leads - Rebecca Booth
3. Be Visible - John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Stop Doing That!
============================================================
As the holidays begin to roll over all of us, you may find you are leading a busy but undisciplined life. Creating a “Stop Doing That” list instead of a “To Do List” is one way to get a handle on your time. Start making a list of all the things you aren’t going to do now or in the future. Some things on your list will need someone to do the job while other activities may be able to be quietly released. Not sure what to add to the list? Look for activities that take time, don’t increase customer satisfaction and often answer the question “we’ve always done it this way”. Now, get out there and “stop doing that!”
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Marketing Monstrosity #8 – Not Systematically Following Leads
============================================================
You already know that it takes 7-16 “impressions (or drips)” before someone will notice your business. But this doesn’t mean Thisthey’ll have the need to buy. If you look back into your historical archives, you should be able to see how long it takes for you to finalize a sale. (Cahners Publications, one of the nation’s largest publishers of trade magazines knows that 57% of their clients need a year or longer to reach a buying decision about advertising in one of their magazines.) Keeping leads alive need to involve more than an occasional sales letter or sales call. Did you know that 77% of all leads are close-able? Yet the majority of sales people will let them drop because of the lack activity/interest.
Avoid this marketing monstrosity by:
• Creating a systematic approach to lead follow up. Spice up your mailings with crazy and personal cards like a “It’s Eat What You Want Day! Bon Appetit” card versus the standard sales sheet regarding your latest product. Remember people buy from people they know and like. Get people to like you more by getting personal with your communication!
• Don’t become obsessed with generating more leads until you have exhausted the ones you already have.
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Be Visible
===========================================================
If you want to build your business through referrals, join non-competing organizations. Make sure you diversify the types of organizations you belong to that best fit your needs. For an example, join a formal referral passing organization such as BNI, a woman's business group like WEN, and your local chamber. By diversifying your networks, you're maximizing your opportunities.
Monday Morning Motivators – November 27, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
“The best predictor of future behavior is frequent past behavior.”
--Marcus Buckingham
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Stop Doing That! – Linda Fayerweather
2. Marketing Monstrosity #8 – Not Systematically Following Leads - Rebecca Booth
3. Be Visible - John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Stop Doing That!
============================================================
As the holidays begin to roll over all of us, you may find you are leading a busy but undisciplined life. Creating a “Stop Doing That” list instead of a “To Do List” is one way to get a handle on your time. Start making a list of all the things you aren’t going to do now or in the future. Some things on your list will need someone to do the job while other activities may be able to be quietly released. Not sure what to add to the list? Look for activities that take time, don’t increase customer satisfaction and often answer the question “we’ve always done it this way”. Now, get out there and “stop doing that!”
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Marketing Monstrosity #8 – Not Systematically Following Leads
============================================================
You already know that it takes 7-16 “impressions (or drips)” before someone will notice your business. But this doesn’t mean Thisthey’ll have the need to buy. If you look back into your historical archives, you should be able to see how long it takes for you to finalize a sale. (Cahners Publications, one of the nation’s largest publishers of trade magazines knows that 57% of their clients need a year or longer to reach a buying decision about advertising in one of their magazines.) Keeping leads alive need to involve more than an occasional sales letter or sales call. Did you know that 77% of all leads are close-able? Yet the majority of sales people will let them drop because of the lack activity/interest.
Avoid this marketing monstrosity by:
• Creating a systematic approach to lead follow up. Spice up your mailings with crazy and personal cards like a “It’s Eat What You Want Day! Bon Appetit” card versus the standard sales sheet regarding your latest product. Remember people buy from people they know and like. Get people to like you more by getting personal with your communication!
• Don’t become obsessed with generating more leads until you have exhausted the ones you already have.
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Be Visible
===========================================================
If you want to build your business through referrals, join non-competing organizations. Make sure you diversify the types of organizations you belong to that best fit your needs. For an example, join a formal referral passing organization such as BNI, a woman's business group like WEN, and your local chamber. By diversifying your networks, you're maximizing your opportunities.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Customers - Generic Leads - Being Generous
============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – November 13, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind
while your java gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Customer Service and Holidays – Linda Fayerweather
2. Marketing Monstrosity #6 – Generic Networking - Rebecca Booth
3. Be Generous - John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Customer Service and Holidays
============================================================
With Halloween behind us and the holiday season official looming ahead, we all know that customer service will make or break a business. Do an inventory now before the big rush. Get out your stop watch and help your staff have fun and find bottlenecks and speed bumps. Here are some areas to check and refine:
1. How quickly are phones answered, calls returned, and customers greeted? What is your stated standard? What is the customer’s expectation?
2. What specials are you going to have? Does everyone know about them?
3. How quickly are orders fulfilled or service provided? Is that what customers anticipate?
4. How many customers do you expect? Can you service them?
Do you see the theme? Before the holiday rush, make sure you know what to expect and how to fulfill your promise. Planning is always more fun than correcting!
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Marketing Monstrosity #6 – Generic Networking ? Specific Sales Leads
============================================================
Don’t get us wrong, networking is a terrific tool for everybody’s business, but it rarely generates a substantial amount of sales leads. Instead of going to functions where people “meet and greet”, think about creating relationships with others who sell to the same pool of clients as you do. Create long-lasting relationships with these people and focus on helping each other’s business by becoming referral partners. By actively meeting and discussing what types of business you want and what you’re looking for, as well as listening to your referral partner’s needs and wants, you’ll be better able to cut down on some of your networking activities.
Avoid this marketing monstrosity by:
• Co-marketing with a referral partner
• Cultivating relationships with referral partners
• Setting goals at all networking events you attend so you will meet that one person who swims in the same pond as you do.
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Be Generous
===========================================================
Be generous to those who are unable to attain what they cannot attain without the assistance of others. Go out of your way to help people who are unable to reach their goals without the help of others. There is power in numbers and with the help of others we can all reach new heights and accomplish together what could never be achieved alone and remember we all started small and scared.
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
Monday Morning Motivators – November 13, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind
while your java gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Customer Service and Holidays – Linda Fayerweather
2. Marketing Monstrosity #6 – Generic Networking - Rebecca Booth
3. Be Generous - John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Customer Service and Holidays
============================================================
With Halloween behind us and the holiday season official looming ahead, we all know that customer service will make or break a business. Do an inventory now before the big rush. Get out your stop watch and help your staff have fun and find bottlenecks and speed bumps. Here are some areas to check and refine:
1. How quickly are phones answered, calls returned, and customers greeted? What is your stated standard? What is the customer’s expectation?
2. What specials are you going to have? Does everyone know about them?
3. How quickly are orders fulfilled or service provided? Is that what customers anticipate?
4. How many customers do you expect? Can you service them?
Do you see the theme? Before the holiday rush, make sure you know what to expect and how to fulfill your promise. Planning is always more fun than correcting!
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Marketing Monstrosity #6 – Generic Networking ? Specific Sales Leads
============================================================
Don’t get us wrong, networking is a terrific tool for everybody’s business, but it rarely generates a substantial amount of sales leads. Instead of going to functions where people “meet and greet”, think about creating relationships with others who sell to the same pool of clients as you do. Create long-lasting relationships with these people and focus on helping each other’s business by becoming referral partners. By actively meeting and discussing what types of business you want and what you’re looking for, as well as listening to your referral partner’s needs and wants, you’ll be better able to cut down on some of your networking activities.
Avoid this marketing monstrosity by:
• Co-marketing with a referral partner
• Cultivating relationships with referral partners
• Setting goals at all networking events you attend so you will meet that one person who swims in the same pond as you do.
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Be Generous
===========================================================
Be generous to those who are unable to attain what they cannot attain without the assistance of others. Go out of your way to help people who are unable to reach their goals without the help of others. There is power in numbers and with the help of others we can all reach new heights and accomplish together what could never be achieved alone and remember we all started small and scared.
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
Monday, November 06, 2006
Lean Business Math
============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – November 6, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind
while your java gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
--Theodore Roosevelt
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Lean Business Math – Linda Fayerweather
2. Marketing Monstrosity #5 – Can the Target Afford You? - Rebecca Booth
3. Remember: P + C + E + R = Business Growth - John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Lean Business Math
============================================================
Big Businesses know their numbers. These numbers are benchmarks or metrics and they are tracked to illuminate the path to business objectives. To start your own business math, get your business objections or goals in front of you (maybe 2007 needs a plan, too). Once you have your time sensitive goals, you will want to decide what to track. Most businesses track and compare their goals to Sales and Gross Profit as starters. Now, think about other things that impact your business. Here are my favorites from the “lean” world:
• Costumers time in a waiting queue,
• Time customers spend from first contact to sale completion, and
• Your waiting for supplies or internal work.
Time is the only resource we can never make and waiting is waste! Spotlighting wasted time is a first step in Lean Business Math.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Marketing Monstrosity #5 – Can the Target Afford You?
============================================================
What’s worse than not having a target market or having a target market that’s too narrow? Why having a target market of those who can’t afford you! When was the last time you assessed affordability when it comes to marketing your business? Go back into your historical archives. Look at who’s hiring you. Look at how big that company is, as well as what their revenues and employee ratios are. Do you see a commonality between customers? Can you lump them into A, B and C groups needing different things but having some similarities? Look at the types of projects you want to sell. Who’s buying those? The worst client you could have is that guy who’s “giving their business one last shot by hiring you.”
Make sure you avoid this marketing monstrosity by:
• Knowing what types of businesses can afford you
• Identifying those businesses which have long-term potential for new and repeat sales.
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Remember: P + C + E + R = Business Growth
===========================================================
The four essentials to being a successful networker are participation, communication, education, and reciprocating. You need to put into action all four of these areas to get a full return on your investment in a networking organization. By participating, communicating, educating and reciprocating you will be remembered and that is the key!
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
Monday Morning Motivators – November 6, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind
while your java gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
--Theodore Roosevelt
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Lean Business Math – Linda Fayerweather
2. Marketing Monstrosity #5 – Can the Target Afford You? - Rebecca Booth
3. Remember: P + C + E + R = Business Growth - John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Lean Business Math
============================================================
Big Businesses know their numbers. These numbers are benchmarks or metrics and they are tracked to illuminate the path to business objectives. To start your own business math, get your business objections or goals in front of you (maybe 2007 needs a plan, too). Once you have your time sensitive goals, you will want to decide what to track. Most businesses track and compare their goals to Sales and Gross Profit as starters. Now, think about other things that impact your business. Here are my favorites from the “lean” world:
• Costumers time in a waiting queue,
• Time customers spend from first contact to sale completion, and
• Your waiting for supplies or internal work.
Time is the only resource we can never make and waiting is waste! Spotlighting wasted time is a first step in Lean Business Math.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Marketing Monstrosity #5 – Can the Target Afford You?
============================================================
What’s worse than not having a target market or having a target market that’s too narrow? Why having a target market of those who can’t afford you! When was the last time you assessed affordability when it comes to marketing your business? Go back into your historical archives. Look at who’s hiring you. Look at how big that company is, as well as what their revenues and employee ratios are. Do you see a commonality between customers? Can you lump them into A, B and C groups needing different things but having some similarities? Look at the types of projects you want to sell. Who’s buying those? The worst client you could have is that guy who’s “giving their business one last shot by hiring you.”
Make sure you avoid this marketing monstrosity by:
• Knowing what types of businesses can afford you
• Identifying those businesses which have long-term potential for new and repeat sales.
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Remember: P + C + E + R = Business Growth
===========================================================
The four essentials to being a successful networker are participation, communication, education, and reciprocating. You need to put into action all four of these areas to get a full return on your investment in a networking organization. By participating, communicating, educating and reciprocating you will be remembered and that is the key!
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
Monday, October 30, 2006
Non-Value-Added is always Muda
============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – October 30, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind
while your java
gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.”
-- Colin Powell
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Non-Value-Added is not Always Waste – Linda Fayerweather
2. Marketing Monstrosity #4 – Targeting the Unreachable - Rebecca Booth
3. Flexibility Beyond the Gym
- John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Non-Value-Added is not Always Waste
============================================================
Lean is about eliminating waste or the errors and inefficiencies that impact costs, quality, customer satisfaction, and delays. All activities within a value stream must be in one of the following three categories:
• Value-added. Adding value or worth to the product or service.
• Non-value-added. Work that may not directly add value to the customer and is currently required for business or regulatory reasons.
• Waste. Non-value-creating work that can be eliminated immediately.
This is not as simple as it seems. At first glance, all support and administrative activities may appear to be non value-added. The challenge becomes deciding the difference between the non-value-added work and waste.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Marketing Monstrosity #4 – Targeting a Market You Can’t Reach
============================================================
A lot of financial advisors fall prey to not “thinking outside the box” when it comes time to create a target market. The vast majority only wants to get referrals from doctors, lawyers and CPAs. In the Toledo marketplace alone, there are over 3600 financial services people, but only 1437 doctors, lawyers and CPAs. So they’re trying to reach a market that they can’t reach because there’s too much competition. One financial advisor in town is ubersmart when it comes to target markets. Her market: employers who are willing to have her visit with their employees to talk about saving for retirement.
Avoid this marketing monstrosity by:
• Knowing how much competition you have in the marketplace.
• Identify characteristics of potential buyers by creating a detailed customer profile. What do these people have in common? What are their needs, wants, desires?
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Flexibility Beyond the Gym
===========================================================
Being flexible and adaptable are essential elements for survival and progress.
Never close your mind to learning new ideas and methods of doing something. Just because you have always done something one way, doesn't necessarily mean that it is the best way. Once you have named your limitations, they are now yours! If you remain open-minded and flexible to others suggestions, you will grow and prosper through their knowledge.
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
Monday Morning Motivators – October 30, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind
while your java
gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.”
-- Colin Powell
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Non-Value-Added is not Always Waste – Linda Fayerweather
2. Marketing Monstrosity #4 – Targeting the Unreachable - Rebecca Booth
3. Flexibility Beyond the Gym
- John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Non-Value-Added is not Always Waste
============================================================
Lean is about eliminating waste or the errors and inefficiencies that impact costs, quality, customer satisfaction, and delays. All activities within a value stream must be in one of the following three categories:
• Value-added. Adding value or worth to the product or service.
• Non-value-added. Work that may not directly add value to the customer and is currently required for business or regulatory reasons.
• Waste. Non-value-creating work that can be eliminated immediately.
This is not as simple as it seems. At first glance, all support and administrative activities may appear to be non value-added. The challenge becomes deciding the difference between the non-value-added work and waste.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Marketing Monstrosity #4 – Targeting a Market You Can’t Reach
============================================================
A lot of financial advisors fall prey to not “thinking outside the box” when it comes time to create a target market. The vast majority only wants to get referrals from doctors, lawyers and CPAs. In the Toledo marketplace alone, there are over 3600 financial services people, but only 1437 doctors, lawyers and CPAs. So they’re trying to reach a market that they can’t reach because there’s too much competition. One financial advisor in town is ubersmart when it comes to target markets. Her market: employers who are willing to have her visit with their employees to talk about saving for retirement.
Avoid this marketing monstrosity by:
• Knowing how much competition you have in the marketplace.
• Identify characteristics of potential buyers by creating a detailed customer profile. What do these people have in common? What are their needs, wants, desires?
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Flexibility Beyond the Gym
===========================================================
Being flexible and adaptable are essential elements for survival and progress.
Never close your mind to learning new ideas and methods of doing something. Just because you have always done something one way, doesn't necessarily mean that it is the best way. Once you have named your limitations, they are now yours! If you remain open-minded and flexible to others suggestions, you will grow and prosper through their knowledge.
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
Monday, October 23, 2006
Got Data? Not Much!
============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – October 23, 2006 ============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"Sooner or later, those who win are those who think they can.” -- Paul Tournier
============================================================
Table of Contents ============================================================
1. Got Data? Not Much. – Linda Fayerweather
2. Marketing Monstrosity #3 – Not Targeting a Niche - Rebecca Booth
3. Become a Great Storyteller - John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Got Data? Not Much.
============================================================
What data do you collect on your administrative processes? If you are like many companies limited data, if any, is collected on those internal processes. For support and administrative operations, determining what data to include depends on what questions you’re trying to answer about your value stream and how you define the “product” produced by these operations.
For example, if your goal is to reduce days waiting for receivables, it would be helpful to define “invoices” as the product and identify the
• Total number of invoices issued,
• Cycle time and queue time for processing, and
• Total cycle time including collection.
From this information, you can determine where bottlenecks most likely occur and eliminate areas of waste in your “future state” process.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Marketing Monstrosity #3 – Not Targeting a Niche Market ============================================================
If your target market is “everybody,” then your target market is really “nobody!”
Most small businesses want to sell their products to any person on the street.
The truly successful entrepreneur knows that they won’t lose money by niche-ing down. Instead, clients outside the target market are perceived as being “icing on the cake.”
You can avoid this marketing monstrosity by:
• Looking at a niche as being inclusive versus exclusive. Think of it as that cake.
• Spending the majority of your marketing dollars trying to get your niche market to recognize you, versus having you spend money willy-nilly in all sorts of publications to market to “everybody.”
• Remembering customers outside your niche are “icing on that cake.”
• Thinking specifically to receive more!
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing GoddessImagine That!
http://www.marketingsolutioneers.com/
===========================================================
3. Become a Great Storyteller
===========================================================
One sure fire way to help people remember who you are and what kind of business you are looking for is to be a great storyteller. People will remember how you helped others if you tell powerful stories about the situation or circumstances. What was the problem the person had? How did you help them? What were the results?
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com/
Monday Morning Motivators – October 23, 2006 ============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"Sooner or later, those who win are those who think they can.” -- Paul Tournier
============================================================
Table of Contents ============================================================
1. Got Data? Not Much. – Linda Fayerweather
2. Marketing Monstrosity #3 – Not Targeting a Niche - Rebecca Booth
3. Become a Great Storyteller - John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Got Data? Not Much.
============================================================
What data do you collect on your administrative processes? If you are like many companies limited data, if any, is collected on those internal processes. For support and administrative operations, determining what data to include depends on what questions you’re trying to answer about your value stream and how you define the “product” produced by these operations.
For example, if your goal is to reduce days waiting for receivables, it would be helpful to define “invoices” as the product and identify the
• Total number of invoices issued,
• Cycle time and queue time for processing, and
• Total cycle time including collection.
From this information, you can determine where bottlenecks most likely occur and eliminate areas of waste in your “future state” process.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Marketing Monstrosity #3 – Not Targeting a Niche Market ============================================================
If your target market is “everybody,” then your target market is really “nobody!”
Most small businesses want to sell their products to any person on the street.
The truly successful entrepreneur knows that they won’t lose money by niche-ing down. Instead, clients outside the target market are perceived as being “icing on the cake.”
You can avoid this marketing monstrosity by:
• Looking at a niche as being inclusive versus exclusive. Think of it as that cake.
• Spending the majority of your marketing dollars trying to get your niche market to recognize you, versus having you spend money willy-nilly in all sorts of publications to market to “everybody.”
• Remembering customers outside your niche are “icing on that cake.”
• Thinking specifically to receive more!
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing GoddessImagine That!
http://www.marketingsolutioneers.com/
===========================================================
3. Become a Great Storyteller
===========================================================
One sure fire way to help people remember who you are and what kind of business you are looking for is to be a great storyteller. People will remember how you helped others if you tell powerful stories about the situation or circumstances. What was the problem the person had? How did you help them? What were the results?
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com/
Monday, October 16, 2006
Map This
============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – October 16, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java
gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"Sooner or later, those who win are those who think they can.”
-- Paul Tournier
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Map This – Linda Fayerweather
2. Marketing Monstrosity #2: Doing What Your Competitors Do - Rebecca Booth
3. Manage Yourself as a Resource - John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Map This - Administrative “Value Streams”
============================================================
Administrative implies “office work” or to some, lots of Muda*. Achieving a lean office begins with mapping and analyzing each “value stream”. Value streams are the steps that comprise a given process from boss to co-worker to customer (internal or external). This can be challenging as often many people touch and add value to many different services and processes. Even so, it’s a vital first step to identifying the following:
* Who benefits from the work being done, and are their requirements being met?
* Are there steps in the process that don’t add value to the receiving “customer”?
* Are work tasks evenly distributed?
* Are work areas disorganized?
* Is there a continuous flow of work, or are there large ebbs and flows in work volume?
* Is there a lot of variation in how workers perform value-added tasks?
* Does material/information sit for a long time?
To get started, pick one process and identify all the steps to complete using postit® notes stuck to a flat surface. Study it; ask for input and feedback; move the tasks around; add or subtract; refine and you will end up with your first value stream map. Start small, document it and you will have a procedure that adds value and is repeatable by others.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
*Muda = Waste
============================================================
2. Marketing Monstrosity #2 – Doing What Your Competitors Do
============================================================
While it’s important to know what your competitors are doing, you shouldn’t let it dictate the marketing strategy for your business. Let your competitor be the “low price leader” while you focus on value. Oft times, low prices leaders attract low-end, high maintenance customers. By placing your focus on value, you’ll drop those problematic clients for a client who has higher standards. People are happy to pay more for a product that has more value to them in the long run.
Avoid this marketing monstrosity by:
• Meeting an unmet need or want of your target market – one that your competitors don’t meet.
• Identifying a niche market which will give clients a reason to choose you over your competition!
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Manage Yourself as a Resource
===========================================================
Others won't know you are a fountain of information unless you manage yourself as one. Always be prepared to give a referral. Carry others’ business cards with you. If you can't carry business cards, have your hand-held data base with you at all times so you can at least give out a name and phone number. If someone asks you if you know a plumber and your palm-pilot is sitting on your desk, it's hard to give a name and phone number on the spot.
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
Monday Morning Motivators – October 16, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java
gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"Sooner or later, those who win are those who think they can.”
-- Paul Tournier
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Map This – Linda Fayerweather
2. Marketing Monstrosity #2: Doing What Your Competitors Do - Rebecca Booth
3. Manage Yourself as a Resource - John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Map This - Administrative “Value Streams”
============================================================
Administrative implies “office work” or to some, lots of Muda*. Achieving a lean office begins with mapping and analyzing each “value stream”. Value streams are the steps that comprise a given process from boss to co-worker to customer (internal or external). This can be challenging as often many people touch and add value to many different services and processes. Even so, it’s a vital first step to identifying the following:
* Who benefits from the work being done, and are their requirements being met?
* Are there steps in the process that don’t add value to the receiving “customer”?
* Are work tasks evenly distributed?
* Are work areas disorganized?
* Is there a continuous flow of work, or are there large ebbs and flows in work volume?
* Is there a lot of variation in how workers perform value-added tasks?
* Does material/information sit for a long time?
To get started, pick one process and identify all the steps to complete using postit® notes stuck to a flat surface. Study it; ask for input and feedback; move the tasks around; add or subtract; refine and you will end up with your first value stream map. Start small, document it and you will have a procedure that adds value and is repeatable by others.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
*Muda = Waste
============================================================
2. Marketing Monstrosity #2 – Doing What Your Competitors Do
============================================================
While it’s important to know what your competitors are doing, you shouldn’t let it dictate the marketing strategy for your business. Let your competitor be the “low price leader” while you focus on value. Oft times, low prices leaders attract low-end, high maintenance customers. By placing your focus on value, you’ll drop those problematic clients for a client who has higher standards. People are happy to pay more for a product that has more value to them in the long run.
Avoid this marketing monstrosity by:
• Meeting an unmet need or want of your target market – one that your competitors don’t meet.
• Identifying a niche market which will give clients a reason to choose you over your competition!
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Manage Yourself as a Resource
===========================================================
Others won't know you are a fountain of information unless you manage yourself as one. Always be prepared to give a referral. Carry others’ business cards with you. If you can't carry business cards, have your hand-held data base with you at all times so you can at least give out a name and phone number. If someone asks you if you know a plumber and your palm-pilot is sitting on your desk, it's hard to give a name and phone number on the spot.
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
Monday, October 09, 2006
Office Wasting Disease
============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – October 9, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java
gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"Lean is about leadership. It starts at the top - from the highest level all the way through the organization."
-- Glenn Haley, Business Manager, Owens Corning
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Office Wasting Disease – Linda Fayerweather
2. Avoiding 10 Typical Marketing Monstrosities - Rebecca Booth
3. Be Willing to be a Resource - John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Office Wasting Disease
============================================================
Although Office Wasting Disease will not affect your hunting season, it can and will stall out your profit. Don Tapping, author of Value Stream Management for the Lean Office states that “60 to 80% of all costs related to meeting customer demand are administrative.” If your company wants to be “Lean,” Lean must be understood, implemented, and sustained throughout the entire organization.
Benefits of Lean Office:
--Company level, lean can help accelerate those processes that touch external customers and suppliers (be thinking order entry, customer service, distribution);
--Managerial level, lean streamlines support processes (such as IT or human resources) and improves communication and cross functional cooperation;
--Department level, lean reduces activities that add time with little value, improves workflow, and measures progress;
--Individual level, lean can reduce paperwork and errors and clarify roles, responsibilities, and objectives.
Here are the reasons why Office Lean is not the norm and Office Wasting Disease is affecting businesses:
1. Lack of clearly defined administrative “value streams”;
2. Limited data collection;
3. Lack of understanding between “waste” and non-value-added activities in office environments.
Next week: Exploration of administrative value streams.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Avoiding 10 Typical Marketing Monstrosities
============================================================
Over the next several weeks we’ll be discussing monstrous marketing mistakes that small business owners and entrepreneurs make time and time again. We hope that you benefit from knowing what the mistakes are before you set out to market your product/service.
Marketing Monstrosity #1 – Sinking Money into Unproven Products
Is your business idea based on valid market research or on a hunch? All too often, entrepreneurs fall in love with their own product/service before they determine if there’s a real market out there for it. Worse yet, they throw tons of cash into the venture only to see it fail.
You can avoid this marketing monstrosity by:
• Doing your own market research with potential users – not your friends or family – before the product’s been developed.
• Test drive the idea in the marketplace once you have a few working prototypes in place.
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Be Willing to be a Resource
===========================================================
You may not know all the answers, but you should be prepared to find them. If you are asked a question and you don't know the answer, let the person know that you will try and find the answer for them or at least refer them to the right person. This will go a long way in building your credibility.
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
Monday Morning Motivators – October 9, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java
gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"Lean is about leadership. It starts at the top - from the highest level all the way through the organization."
-- Glenn Haley, Business Manager, Owens Corning
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Office Wasting Disease – Linda Fayerweather
2. Avoiding 10 Typical Marketing Monstrosities - Rebecca Booth
3. Be Willing to be a Resource - John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Office Wasting Disease
============================================================
Although Office Wasting Disease will not affect your hunting season, it can and will stall out your profit. Don Tapping, author of Value Stream Management for the Lean Office states that “60 to 80% of all costs related to meeting customer demand are administrative.” If your company wants to be “Lean,” Lean must be understood, implemented, and sustained throughout the entire organization.
Benefits of Lean Office:
--Company level, lean can help accelerate those processes that touch external customers and suppliers (be thinking order entry, customer service, distribution);
--Managerial level, lean streamlines support processes (such as IT or human resources) and improves communication and cross functional cooperation;
--Department level, lean reduces activities that add time with little value, improves workflow, and measures progress;
--Individual level, lean can reduce paperwork and errors and clarify roles, responsibilities, and objectives.
Here are the reasons why Office Lean is not the norm and Office Wasting Disease is affecting businesses:
1. Lack of clearly defined administrative “value streams”;
2. Limited data collection;
3. Lack of understanding between “waste” and non-value-added activities in office environments.
Next week: Exploration of administrative value streams.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Avoiding 10 Typical Marketing Monstrosities
============================================================
Over the next several weeks we’ll be discussing monstrous marketing mistakes that small business owners and entrepreneurs make time and time again. We hope that you benefit from knowing what the mistakes are before you set out to market your product/service.
Marketing Monstrosity #1 – Sinking Money into Unproven Products
Is your business idea based on valid market research or on a hunch? All too often, entrepreneurs fall in love with their own product/service before they determine if there’s a real market out there for it. Worse yet, they throw tons of cash into the venture only to see it fail.
You can avoid this marketing monstrosity by:
• Doing your own market research with potential users – not your friends or family – before the product’s been developed.
• Test drive the idea in the marketplace once you have a few working prototypes in place.
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Be Willing to be a Resource
===========================================================
You may not know all the answers, but you should be prepared to find them. If you are asked a question and you don't know the answer, let the person know that you will try and find the answer for them or at least refer them to the right person. This will go a long way in building your credibility.
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
Monday, September 25, 2006
Lean and Solving the Problem
============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – September 18, 2006 ============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal."
--Hannah More
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Lean and Solving the Problem – Linda Fayerweather
2. Making the Most of Media Deadlines - Rebecca Booth
3. Don’t Shrug Off Chance Encounters - John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Lean and Solving the Problem
============================================================
How to solve a problem reminds me of untangling the garden hose. It is always getting kinked, twisted and knotted but eventually will deliver the water. Once, I actually went out and bought a new one and threw the old one out hoping it would be kink free. So, take a deep breath and try this 7-Step Problem-Solving Model for serious problems.
-------------------------cut & keep--------
1. Describe the Problem
2. Describe the Current Process
3. Identify Root Causes
4. Develop a Solution and Action Plan
5. Implement the Solution
6. Review and Evaluate the Results
7. Reflect and Act on Learnings
-------------------------------------------
When faced with a problem from a unique employee or a failed process, often we miss steps 1, 2, 3 and go directly to number 4 and forget that implementing the solution must be followed by evaluation and reflection to maximize success. At least I have the winter to contemplate the root cause of my garden hose dilemma.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Making the Most of Media Deadlines
============================================================
Did you know that the best day for your press release to arrive is between Tuesday and Thursday? Monday is everybody’s busiest day and Friday through the weekend there are fewer staffers working at most media outlets.
Here are some basic rules of thumb on the type of lead time the following media need:
• Magazines – allow 3-4 months minimum; 5-6 months is ideal
• Daily or Weekly Newspapers – 2-3 weeks minimum for non-breaking news
• Radio – 1-2 weeks minimum, 3+ weeks if it is a major media event
• TV – 2-3 weeks minimum; 3+ weeks if it is a major media event
Remember, you will have a love/hate relationship with the press – they love you when there’s a crisis at your place of business, they hate you when you’re trying to push a story. So the best way to bridge the gap is to play by their rules. Make sure your releases are newsworthy, arrive on time and answer Who, What, Where, When, Why and How!
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing GoddessImagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Don’t Shrug Off Chance Encounters
===========================================================
Be aware of the value of important chance encounters. Most people don't take advantage of meeting or running into someone they haven't seen in a long time. Instead of believing they crossed paths for a reason, most people shrug off chance encounters as just a coincidence. Even if it is a coincidence, take advantage of it!
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
Monday Morning Motivators – September 18, 2006 ============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal."
--Hannah More
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Lean and Solving the Problem – Linda Fayerweather
2. Making the Most of Media Deadlines - Rebecca Booth
3. Don’t Shrug Off Chance Encounters - John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Lean and Solving the Problem
============================================================
How to solve a problem reminds me of untangling the garden hose. It is always getting kinked, twisted and knotted but eventually will deliver the water. Once, I actually went out and bought a new one and threw the old one out hoping it would be kink free. So, take a deep breath and try this 7-Step Problem-Solving Model for serious problems.
-------------------------cut & keep--------
1. Describe the Problem
2. Describe the Current Process
3. Identify Root Causes
4. Develop a Solution and Action Plan
5. Implement the Solution
6. Review and Evaluate the Results
7. Reflect and Act on Learnings
-------------------------------------------
When faced with a problem from a unique employee or a failed process, often we miss steps 1, 2, 3 and go directly to number 4 and forget that implementing the solution must be followed by evaluation and reflection to maximize success. At least I have the winter to contemplate the root cause of my garden hose dilemma.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Making the Most of Media Deadlines
============================================================
Did you know that the best day for your press release to arrive is between Tuesday and Thursday? Monday is everybody’s busiest day and Friday through the weekend there are fewer staffers working at most media outlets.
Here are some basic rules of thumb on the type of lead time the following media need:
• Magazines – allow 3-4 months minimum; 5-6 months is ideal
• Daily or Weekly Newspapers – 2-3 weeks minimum for non-breaking news
• Radio – 1-2 weeks minimum, 3+ weeks if it is a major media event
• TV – 2-3 weeks minimum; 3+ weeks if it is a major media event
Remember, you will have a love/hate relationship with the press – they love you when there’s a crisis at your place of business, they hate you when you’re trying to push a story. So the best way to bridge the gap is to play by their rules. Make sure your releases are newsworthy, arrive on time and answer Who, What, Where, When, Why and How!
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing GoddessImagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Don’t Shrug Off Chance Encounters
===========================================================
Be aware of the value of important chance encounters. Most people don't take advantage of meeting or running into someone they haven't seen in a long time. Instead of believing they crossed paths for a reason, most people shrug off chance encounters as just a coincidence. Even if it is a coincidence, take advantage of it!
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
Monday, September 18, 2006
Lean and Value Mapping
============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – September 18, 2006 ============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
“The art of simplicity is a puzzle of complexity.”--Doug Horton
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Lean and Mapping Value – Linda Fayerweather
2. More on PR – Rebecca Booth
3. First Impressions are Lasting - John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Lean and Mapping Value
============================================================
Every since I was a kid I have played with maps and today we are going to start
making treasure maps for your business. A value stream map uses simple graphics
or icons to show the sequence and movement of information materials and actions in
your company’s value stream. Start a map by asking employees to individually map
a value stream prior to meeting. By comparing ideas, a more accurate map will be developed.
Here are some tips to get started:
1. Don’t work from memory; observe the process in action.
2. Make observations of what is happening not judgments.
3. Use Post-it® notes and a wall to start the map as these can easily be rearranged. Use pictures and symbols to be brief.
4. Identify all activities and materials used that do not add value to the customer.
5. Identify all the storage locations of materials and resources.
6. Time the meeting so this mapping will not get lost in chit-chat.
Once the group feels they have mapped the process, they will ask others that are in the process to review the map to make sure you have not missed an activity. A good map will help you find the treasure of satisfied customers, less waste and more profit.
If you are ready to get started and need some symbol ideas, you can download value stream icons here: Icons
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. More on PR
============================================================
Writing a press release is easy if you follow these few simple rules:
1. Use an “inverted pyramid” style in your lead paragraph. This is what
newspapers/magazines do to entice the reader. The majority of the subject is
featured in this graph. Here’s an example:
The 10th Annual WEN Business Conference is slated for Friday, September 22, 2006
at the Dana Conference Center in Toledo, Ohio. The event features 12 educational
workshops and two keynote speakers including Scott Ginsberg, The Nametag Guy
and Gail Goodman, CEO of Constant Contact. Cost for the event is $99 WEN
members and $149 nonmembers.
2. Make sure you cover Who, What, Where, When, Why and How. How is frequently
overlooked in press releases and it’s the most important. Think of it as “how to get in touch
with you” for more information! By the way, that was a shameless plug for the WEN
Conference! If you’re in the Toledo area and would like to more information on the
conference simply click this link: www.wen-usa.com.
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. First Impressions are Lasting!
===========================================================
Be aware of the signals you send out by simply entering a room. Ask yourself this
simple question; "If I were to see me walk into a room, would I want to do business
with me?" Are you confident? Are you professional? Are you sloppy? Are you
loud and obnoxious? As the old saying goes, "You don't have a second chance
to make a good first impression!
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
Monday Morning Motivators – September 18, 2006 ============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
“The art of simplicity is a puzzle of complexity.”--Doug Horton
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Lean and Mapping Value – Linda Fayerweather
2. More on PR – Rebecca Booth
3. First Impressions are Lasting - John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Lean and Mapping Value
============================================================
Every since I was a kid I have played with maps and today we are going to start
making treasure maps for your business. A value stream map uses simple graphics
or icons to show the sequence and movement of information materials and actions in
your company’s value stream. Start a map by asking employees to individually map
a value stream prior to meeting. By comparing ideas, a more accurate map will be developed.
Here are some tips to get started:
1. Don’t work from memory; observe the process in action.
2. Make observations of what is happening not judgments.
3. Use Post-it® notes and a wall to start the map as these can easily be rearranged. Use pictures and symbols to be brief.
4. Identify all activities and materials used that do not add value to the customer.
5. Identify all the storage locations of materials and resources.
6. Time the meeting so this mapping will not get lost in chit-chat.
Once the group feels they have mapped the process, they will ask others that are in the process to review the map to make sure you have not missed an activity. A good map will help you find the treasure of satisfied customers, less waste and more profit.
If you are ready to get started and need some symbol ideas, you can download value stream icons here: Icons
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. More on PR
============================================================
Writing a press release is easy if you follow these few simple rules:
1. Use an “inverted pyramid” style in your lead paragraph. This is what
newspapers/magazines do to entice the reader. The majority of the subject is
featured in this graph. Here’s an example:
The 10th Annual WEN Business Conference is slated for Friday, September 22, 2006
at the Dana Conference Center in Toledo, Ohio. The event features 12 educational
workshops and two keynote speakers including Scott Ginsberg, The Nametag Guy
and Gail Goodman, CEO of Constant Contact. Cost for the event is $99 WEN
members and $149 nonmembers.
2. Make sure you cover Who, What, Where, When, Why and How. How is frequently
overlooked in press releases and it’s the most important. Think of it as “how to get in touch
with you” for more information! By the way, that was a shameless plug for the WEN
Conference! If you’re in the Toledo area and would like to more information on the
conference simply click this link: www.wen-usa.com.
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. First Impressions are Lasting!
===========================================================
Be aware of the signals you send out by simply entering a room. Ask yourself this
simple question; "If I were to see me walk into a room, would I want to do business
with me?" Are you confident? Are you professional? Are you sloppy? Are you
loud and obnoxious? As the old saying goes, "You don't have a second chance
to make a good first impression!
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
Monday, September 11, 2006
Lean and Values
============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – September 11, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java
gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
“A merchant who approaches business with the idea of serving the public well has nothing to fear from the competition.’
--James Cash Penney
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Lean and Values – Linda Fayerweather
2. Defining Newsworthy – Rebecca Booth
3. On Your Mark, Get Set, GO!– John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Lean and Values
============================================================
Looking at the value stream of your business refers to all the activities your company must do to design, order, produce, and deliver its products or services to customers. A value stream will have three sections:
1. The flow of all materials from beginning to customer;
2. How the raw materials or knowledge is transformed into finished products; and
3. The flow of information that supports the two above.
Because this often sounds bewildering, value stream maps are created in companies to help everyone identify how their work affects the experience of the customer. Building a value stream map is often the first step a company will do that wants to develop an overall lean-initiative. Creating a value stream map also provides a visual interpretation of the work to be done. Once done, this process will eliminate the need to ever hear again “are we on the same page?” because now, we will have a map of how our business is delivered to our customer. Next week we will build some maps to help you change lanes to a lean business.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Defining Newsworthy
============================================================
We all know that press releases are a “free” way of getting publicity for your company, but what most people don’t know is that it does come with a steep pricetag, if it’s not done right. The price: loss of credibility if you’re not sending newsworthy stories to the press. Here is a listing of appropriate press release topics:
• Changes in your company
• Awards won
• Significant special events – 20th anniversary, sponsorship of a memorial run
• Remarkable business trends
• Human interest stories on service work – especially those involving kids, animals or how the “little guy wins”
• Novel or quirky happenings
• New products
• New facilities
• Events with local-national or global ties
• Solutions to problems
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. On Your Mark, Get Set, GO!
===========================================================
The best antidote for fear is to prepare well then blast out of the starting gate. Successful networkers are not necessarily fearless, they're just not afraid to get out of their comfort zone. Know what you want, figure out how to get and go after it! Will Rogers once said, "You may be on the right track, but if you're just sitting there you'll get run over!"
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
Monday Morning Motivators – September 11, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java
gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
“A merchant who approaches business with the idea of serving the public well has nothing to fear from the competition.’
--James Cash Penney
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Lean and Values – Linda Fayerweather
2. Defining Newsworthy – Rebecca Booth
3. On Your Mark, Get Set, GO!– John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Lean and Values
============================================================
Looking at the value stream of your business refers to all the activities your company must do to design, order, produce, and deliver its products or services to customers. A value stream will have three sections:
1. The flow of all materials from beginning to customer;
2. How the raw materials or knowledge is transformed into finished products; and
3. The flow of information that supports the two above.
Because this often sounds bewildering, value stream maps are created in companies to help everyone identify how their work affects the experience of the customer. Building a value stream map is often the first step a company will do that wants to develop an overall lean-initiative. Creating a value stream map also provides a visual interpretation of the work to be done. Once done, this process will eliminate the need to ever hear again “are we on the same page?” because now, we will have a map of how our business is delivered to our customer. Next week we will build some maps to help you change lanes to a lean business.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Defining Newsworthy
============================================================
We all know that press releases are a “free” way of getting publicity for your company, but what most people don’t know is that it does come with a steep pricetag, if it’s not done right. The price: loss of credibility if you’re not sending newsworthy stories to the press. Here is a listing of appropriate press release topics:
• Changes in your company
• Awards won
• Significant special events – 20th anniversary, sponsorship of a memorial run
• Remarkable business trends
• Human interest stories on service work – especially those involving kids, animals or how the “little guy wins”
• Novel or quirky happenings
• New products
• New facilities
• Events with local-national or global ties
• Solutions to problems
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. On Your Mark, Get Set, GO!
===========================================================
The best antidote for fear is to prepare well then blast out of the starting gate. Successful networkers are not necessarily fearless, they're just not afraid to get out of their comfort zone. Know what you want, figure out how to get and go after it! Will Rogers once said, "You may be on the right track, but if you're just sitting there you'll get run over!"
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Lean and Vocabulary
============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – September 5, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java
gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
“When you meet people, show real appreciation, then genuine curiosity.”
--Martha Beck
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Lean and Vocabulary – Linda Fayerweather
2. Marketing to Men – Rebecca Booth
3. Don’t Shrug off Chance Encounters – John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Lean and Vocabulary
============================================================
School has started here in Ohio which always draws me to the school supply section of any store. This year, chanting the Japanese word “Muda” is my key to saving money and being lean when shopping for supplies. Muda is Japanese for waste and it is the opposite of Lean. Anything in your business that doesn’t add value to the customer can be seen as Muda which leads me back to school supplies. If a particular supply will save me time it could be a good choice. My job is to translate that time savings to my customer. Will I be able to provide better service? Will I be able to give a better price? Will I be able to provide a better product? Keeping these thoughts in mind helps me eliminate muda and I recognize when a purchase is really a toy.
Over the next few weeks we will be discussing the vocabulary of Lean. I promise no Pop Quiz, but look for some new definitions to help you create a lean mean profit machine.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Marketing to Men
============================================================
A few months ago, I shared pointers on marketing to women because they make 80% of all buying decisions within a household. Interestingly, this weeks’ BusinessWeek (9/4/06) has “revealed” the Secrets of the Male Shopper. They split the male shopper into these 5 groups:
1) The Metrosexual – an affluent urban sophisticate who’s between the age of 20-50. He believes shopping is an art and likes upscale things like men’s grooming products.
2) The Retrosexual – a pure traditionalist who rejects feminism and is happy to flaunt traditional male behavior. He wants things the way they were done in the “good old days.”
3) The Maturiteen – a teen with a penchant for technology. He does so much research on the net that he becomes the “in-house shopping consultant.”
4) The Modern Man – neither retro nor metro, he’s a sophisticated consumer in his 20s and 30s who’s a bigger shopper than his day but just as much of a football nut.
5) The Dad – probably the most ignored group of all men! Unfortunately, they’re getting stereotyped as the goofy father looking for advice on how to be cool, yet these men tend to be at the peak of their earning years, so to ignore them is a mistake!
To find out more about marketing to the male shopper, visit BusinessWeek online at: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/toc/06_36/B3999magazine.htm
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Don’t Shrug off Chance Encounters
===========================================================
Be aware of the value of important chance encounters. Most people don't take advantage of meeting or running into someone they haven't seen in a long time. Instead of believing they crossed paths for a reason, most people shrug off chance encounters as just a coincidence. Even if it is a coincidence, take advantage of it!
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
Monday Morning Motivators – September 5, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java
gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
“When you meet people, show real appreciation, then genuine curiosity.”
--Martha Beck
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Lean and Vocabulary – Linda Fayerweather
2. Marketing to Men – Rebecca Booth
3. Don’t Shrug off Chance Encounters – John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Lean and Vocabulary
============================================================
School has started here in Ohio which always draws me to the school supply section of any store. This year, chanting the Japanese word “Muda” is my key to saving money and being lean when shopping for supplies. Muda is Japanese for waste and it is the opposite of Lean. Anything in your business that doesn’t add value to the customer can be seen as Muda which leads me back to school supplies. If a particular supply will save me time it could be a good choice. My job is to translate that time savings to my customer. Will I be able to provide better service? Will I be able to give a better price? Will I be able to provide a better product? Keeping these thoughts in mind helps me eliminate muda and I recognize when a purchase is really a toy.
Over the next few weeks we will be discussing the vocabulary of Lean. I promise no Pop Quiz, but look for some new definitions to help you create a lean mean profit machine.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Marketing to Men
============================================================
A few months ago, I shared pointers on marketing to women because they make 80% of all buying decisions within a household. Interestingly, this weeks’ BusinessWeek (9/4/06) has “revealed” the Secrets of the Male Shopper. They split the male shopper into these 5 groups:
1) The Metrosexual – an affluent urban sophisticate who’s between the age of 20-50. He believes shopping is an art and likes upscale things like men’s grooming products.
2) The Retrosexual – a pure traditionalist who rejects feminism and is happy to flaunt traditional male behavior. He wants things the way they were done in the “good old days.”
3) The Maturiteen – a teen with a penchant for technology. He does so much research on the net that he becomes the “in-house shopping consultant.”
4) The Modern Man – neither retro nor metro, he’s a sophisticated consumer in his 20s and 30s who’s a bigger shopper than his day but just as much of a football nut.
5) The Dad – probably the most ignored group of all men! Unfortunately, they’re getting stereotyped as the goofy father looking for advice on how to be cool, yet these men tend to be at the peak of their earning years, so to ignore them is a mistake!
To find out more about marketing to the male shopper, visit BusinessWeek online at: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/toc/06_36/B3999magazine.htm
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Don’t Shrug off Chance Encounters
===========================================================
Be aware of the value of important chance encounters. Most people don't take advantage of meeting or running into someone they haven't seen in a long time. Instead of believing they crossed paths for a reason, most people shrug off chance encounters as just a coincidence. Even if it is a coincidence, take advantage of it!
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
Monday, August 28, 2006
Customer Surprises & Process Improvement
============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – August 28, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java
gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"Begin somewhere; you cannot build a reputation on what you intend to do."
-- Liz Smith
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Customer Surprises & Process Improvement – Linda Fayerweather
2. The "Es" of Writing Content-Driven Copy – Rebecca Booth
3. Give Something to People You Meet – John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Customer Surprises & Process Improvement
============================================================
You’ve started a new offering, you did the promotion and you know it will be a success and then . . . it is! In fact, it is so successful you are swamped with orders, the team is going crazy and everything seems to be falling apart. Take a deep breath and realize:
1) You are a very lucky business and
2) Review your process plan to see what can be done NOW and in the FUTURE.
Build the NOW plan quickly with input from all points in the process. Staying in touch with your customers will be critical if delivery delays are likely. Letting them know before they contact you may be the best solution.
The FUTURE plan will include the salient things you have learned to better plan your next product/service launch. When things settle down, help your staff understand what worked and what didn’t without finger-pointing. The next time you do a launch, you will have new tools to surprise the customer instead of the customer surprising you.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. The "Es" of Writing Content-Driven Copy
============================================================
Whether you're penning a website or writing a newsletter or corporate brochure, follow these four E-zee steps to improve your content:
1) Excite - Your information should be new as well as interesting.
2) Educate - What can the reader take with him when he's done reading?
3) Encourage - Spur your reader into action. Get them to choose between one of two products, get them to call for a white paper or to go online to download the full article.
4) Endear - Make sure the information you're sharing endears your readers to you and your business. Give them a REASON to keep your newsletter/bookmark your Web page.
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Give Something to People You Meet
===========================================================
Make a decision that any time you come into contact with someone, you will give him or her something - a card, flowers, compliment, etc. This will help them remember you and will separate you from probably 95% of the other people they meet. A simple contact will cement a budding relationship.
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
Monday Morning Motivators – August 28, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java
gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"Begin somewhere; you cannot build a reputation on what you intend to do."
-- Liz Smith
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Customer Surprises & Process Improvement – Linda Fayerweather
2. The "Es" of Writing Content-Driven Copy – Rebecca Booth
3. Give Something to People You Meet – John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Customer Surprises & Process Improvement
============================================================
You’ve started a new offering, you did the promotion and you know it will be a success and then . . . it is! In fact, it is so successful you are swamped with orders, the team is going crazy and everything seems to be falling apart. Take a deep breath and realize:
1) You are a very lucky business and
2) Review your process plan to see what can be done NOW and in the FUTURE.
Build the NOW plan quickly with input from all points in the process. Staying in touch with your customers will be critical if delivery delays are likely. Letting them know before they contact you may be the best solution.
The FUTURE plan will include the salient things you have learned to better plan your next product/service launch. When things settle down, help your staff understand what worked and what didn’t without finger-pointing. The next time you do a launch, you will have new tools to surprise the customer instead of the customer surprising you.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. The "Es" of Writing Content-Driven Copy
============================================================
Whether you're penning a website or writing a newsletter or corporate brochure, follow these four E-zee steps to improve your content:
1) Excite - Your information should be new as well as interesting.
2) Educate - What can the reader take with him when he's done reading?
3) Encourage - Spur your reader into action. Get them to choose between one of two products, get them to call for a white paper or to go online to download the full article.
4) Endear - Make sure the information you're sharing endears your readers to you and your business. Give them a REASON to keep your newsletter/bookmark your Web page.
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Give Something to People You Meet
===========================================================
Make a decision that any time you come into contact with someone, you will give him or her something - a card, flowers, compliment, etc. This will help them remember you and will separate you from probably 95% of the other people they meet. A simple contact will cement a budding relationship.
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
Monday, August 21, 2006
Lean: Lakes and Rocks
============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – August 14, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java
gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
“There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”
--Kenneth Graham
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Lean: Lakes and Rocks – Linda Fayerweather
2. Writing Copy that People Actually Want to Read – Part 2 – Rebecca Booth
3. Helping Others – John Meyer
4. To Do This Week
5. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Lean: Lakes and Rocks
============================================================
Toyota uses the metaphor the Lake and the Rocks to refer to problems. The lake is the work in process, or inventory, or maybe partially completed tax returns and the rocks are the problems that slow the process. Anyone that has boated knows how rocks can slow your boating pleasure. Lowering the level of the water will allow you to better see the rocks. Translating this to your business means the less unfinished work (water in the lake) the more visible the causes of problems become. Of course, you will also discover more and deeper rocks. Don’t despair, a business that wants to be lean, IS will always working in the lean process as the boater will be ever watching for rocks and snags.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Writing Copy that People Actually Want to Read – Part 2
============================================================
Last time we talked, you were ready to stick needles in your eye instead of writing that ad copy you had to do today. Here are more ideas to write copy that people actually want to read:
Step 4: Remove the clichés. What you might think is fresh and carries meaning, clichés are really dead as doornails – and what is a doornail anyway? Keep them in your first draft, because we don’t want to slow down your creative writing. But edit them out before you go to press. Substitute the cliché for something fresh.
Step 5: Use concrete examples rather than concepts. Instead of telling me about your customer service, reliability or effectiveness, show me. Use a client testimonial to get your point across or write a story about a customer who had a problem that you so handily solved!
Step 6: Use strong verbs. Substitute “state of being” verbs – is, am, were, was, are, be being, been – with true action verbs. For instance instead of saying “XYZ sports drink is a drink that will give you energy” use “Reawaken your body with XYZ!”
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Helping Others
===========================================================
The easiest way to get what you want is to help others get what they want. The more effort you put forth finding out how to help others get what they want, the more receptive they will be to help you get what you want. From simple kindnesses to making great referrals to others, all plant the image of you as a giver. If you are not willing to help others, how can you expect them to help you?
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
============================================================
4. To Do This Week
============================================================
Prepare now for the end – the end of the year, that is.
Monday Morning Motivators – August 14, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java
gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
“There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”
--Kenneth Graham
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Lean: Lakes and Rocks – Linda Fayerweather
2. Writing Copy that People Actually Want to Read – Part 2 – Rebecca Booth
3. Helping Others – John Meyer
4. To Do This Week
5. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Lean: Lakes and Rocks
============================================================
Toyota uses the metaphor the Lake and the Rocks to refer to problems. The lake is the work in process, or inventory, or maybe partially completed tax returns and the rocks are the problems that slow the process. Anyone that has boated knows how rocks can slow your boating pleasure. Lowering the level of the water will allow you to better see the rocks. Translating this to your business means the less unfinished work (water in the lake) the more visible the causes of problems become. Of course, you will also discover more and deeper rocks. Don’t despair, a business that wants to be lean, IS will always working in the lean process as the boater will be ever watching for rocks and snags.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Writing Copy that People Actually Want to Read – Part 2
============================================================
Last time we talked, you were ready to stick needles in your eye instead of writing that ad copy you had to do today. Here are more ideas to write copy that people actually want to read:
Step 4: Remove the clichés. What you might think is fresh and carries meaning, clichés are really dead as doornails – and what is a doornail anyway? Keep them in your first draft, because we don’t want to slow down your creative writing. But edit them out before you go to press. Substitute the cliché for something fresh.
Step 5: Use concrete examples rather than concepts. Instead of telling me about your customer service, reliability or effectiveness, show me. Use a client testimonial to get your point across or write a story about a customer who had a problem that you so handily solved!
Step 6: Use strong verbs. Substitute “state of being” verbs – is, am, were, was, are, be being, been – with true action verbs. For instance instead of saying “XYZ sports drink is a drink that will give you energy” use “Reawaken your body with XYZ!”
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Helping Others
===========================================================
The easiest way to get what you want is to help others get what they want. The more effort you put forth finding out how to help others get what they want, the more receptive they will be to help you get what you want. From simple kindnesses to making great referrals to others, all plant the image of you as a giver. If you are not willing to help others, how can you expect them to help you?
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
============================================================
4. To Do This Week
============================================================
Prepare now for the end – the end of the year, that is.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Lean Metrics: Measurement Missteps
============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – August 14, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java
gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"The future belongs to those who believe in their dreams."
-- Eleanor Roosevelt
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Lean Metrics: Measurement Missteps – Linda Fayerweather
2. Writing Copy that People Actually Want to Read – Part 1 – Rebecca Booth
3. Ask to Have Information Published About You – John Meyer
4. To Do This Week
5. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Lean Metrics: Measurement Missteps
============================================================
Last week we talked about the importance of collecting data. Now, let’s explore some of the major pitfalls that happen when data is gathered.
--Measuring everything. Focus on a few critical measures that will guide your improvement efforts. Too much data will overwhelm you and your employees.
--Misinterpreting data. Help your staff understand why and how data is collected and how the data will be used. When all involved in the process understand why the data is collected, the quality of the collection will be enhanced.
--Collecting unused data. Stop collecting data you don’t need. Your time is valuable, your staff’s time is valuable and your customer’s time is valuable so just stop collecting data you won’t use.
--Pointing fingers. When data reveals a process that needs fixing, spending time doing public humiliation or harmful fault finding only slows improvement. Deal with individual corrections privately.
Collecting data wisely is essential to customer satisfaction.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Writing Copy that People Actually Want to Read – Part 1
============================================================
Uh-oh, you’ve got an ad that you have to write this week and you’d rather stick needles in your eyes than write it. Well, search no longer. Over the next two weeks I’ll share six key steps to writing better copy – copy that people actually want to read!
Step 1: Tell a story. Notice the picture I painted with sticking needles in your eye. It tells a visual story that engrosses your reader and draws them into it.
Step 2: Use short words. One and two syllable words are much better than three or four syllable words. Not only are they easier to read and comprehend, they make reading a breeze!
Step 3: Write short sentences and paragraphs. Have you ever read a James Michener novel? Or Tom Clancy? I just can’t! I don’t like books that have paragraphs that are as long as my leg! I gravitate to books with tons of dialogue versus lots and lots of description. It makes reading go more quickly and easily!
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Ask to Have Information Published About You
===========================================================
Network members may be able to get information about you and your business printed in publications they subscribe to and in which they have some input or influence. For example, a referral source that belongs to an association publishing a newsletter might help you get an article published or persuade the editor to run a story about you.
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
============================================================
4. To Do This Week
============================================================
Review your business’s print image.
Monday Morning Motivators – August 14, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java
gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"The future belongs to those who believe in their dreams."
-- Eleanor Roosevelt
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Lean Metrics: Measurement Missteps – Linda Fayerweather
2. Writing Copy that People Actually Want to Read – Part 1 – Rebecca Booth
3. Ask to Have Information Published About You – John Meyer
4. To Do This Week
5. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Lean Metrics: Measurement Missteps
============================================================
Last week we talked about the importance of collecting data. Now, let’s explore some of the major pitfalls that happen when data is gathered.
--Measuring everything. Focus on a few critical measures that will guide your improvement efforts. Too much data will overwhelm you and your employees.
--Misinterpreting data. Help your staff understand why and how data is collected and how the data will be used. When all involved in the process understand why the data is collected, the quality of the collection will be enhanced.
--Collecting unused data. Stop collecting data you don’t need. Your time is valuable, your staff’s time is valuable and your customer’s time is valuable so just stop collecting data you won’t use.
--Pointing fingers. When data reveals a process that needs fixing, spending time doing public humiliation or harmful fault finding only slows improvement. Deal with individual corrections privately.
Collecting data wisely is essential to customer satisfaction.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Writing Copy that People Actually Want to Read – Part 1
============================================================
Uh-oh, you’ve got an ad that you have to write this week and you’d rather stick needles in your eyes than write it. Well, search no longer. Over the next two weeks I’ll share six key steps to writing better copy – copy that people actually want to read!
Step 1: Tell a story. Notice the picture I painted with sticking needles in your eye. It tells a visual story that engrosses your reader and draws them into it.
Step 2: Use short words. One and two syllable words are much better than three or four syllable words. Not only are they easier to read and comprehend, they make reading a breeze!
Step 3: Write short sentences and paragraphs. Have you ever read a James Michener novel? Or Tom Clancy? I just can’t! I don’t like books that have paragraphs that are as long as my leg! I gravitate to books with tons of dialogue versus lots and lots of description. It makes reading go more quickly and easily!
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Ask to Have Information Published About You
===========================================================
Network members may be able to get information about you and your business printed in publications they subscribe to and in which they have some input or influence. For example, a referral source that belongs to an association publishing a newsletter might help you get an article published or persuade the editor to run a story about you.
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
============================================================
4. To Do This Week
============================================================
Review your business’s print image.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Lean Metrics: What to Measure
============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – August 7, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java
gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"If you are on the road to nowhere, find another road."
-- Ashanti proverb
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Lean Metrics: What to Measure – Linda Fayerweather
2. Don’t Tell Me, Empower Me! – Rebecca Booth
3. Have People Follow up on Referrals They Give You – John Meyer
4. To Do This Week
5. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Lean Metrics: What to Measure
============================================================
After talking about Lean Metrics for 8 weeks, some readers may still be saying “How do I decide what to measure?” Since lean companies know that all processes should add value to the customer, measurements should reflect that goal. Select metrics that are balanced among the three measurement categories (financial, behavioral, core-process). A very small company may find that three to six will be plenty as each metric needs a champion to own it. Too many will confuse employees and too few may not provide you with enough detail. When deciding which metrics to use, consider the following points:
- What are we measuring?
- What will be the frequency of measurement?
- How long will data be collected?
- Who will measure it?
- How will it be measured?
- What action will be taken after the data is interpreted?
- Who will be responsible for follow-up action?
Keeping lean does require looking backwards to move forwards.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Don’t Tell Me, Empower Me!
============================================================
A few weeks ago we talked about presenting the problem first, then the solution. Here is more on that topic. Have you ever received an email from Travelocity or another travel agent? They usually have tons of information on fabulous trips and deals to exotic places. But the problem with these types of emails is they’re selling solution, solution, solution. Nine times out of 10 there isn’t an immediate need so the email gets deleted. And the next one that comes in gets deleted before it’s even opened. Instead of pushing solutions, why not give me information that I can use? Solve problems that I have when I travel, like tips on how to beat jetlag, how to upgrade a ticket without losing your shirt, or how to deal with an oversized luggage bag.
When you empower me with the problem and the solution, two things happen:
1) Your “pitch” is legitimized because I can use the information and even pass it on to someone else and
2) You look like an expert in your field to me.
So, who am I going to call when it’s time to book that next cruise? Why you of course!
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Have People Follow up on Referrals They have Given You
===========================================================
Ask people to contact prospects they referred to you to see how things went after your first meeting, answer their questions or concerns and reassure them that you can be trusted. They can also give you valuable feedback about yourself and your products or services, information that you might not have been able to get on your own.
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
============================================================
4. To Do This Week
============================================================
Develop and record your emergency computer plan.
1. Password journal.
2. Critical data backup.
Monday Morning Motivators – August 7, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java
gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"If you are on the road to nowhere, find another road."
-- Ashanti proverb
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Lean Metrics: What to Measure – Linda Fayerweather
2. Don’t Tell Me, Empower Me! – Rebecca Booth
3. Have People Follow up on Referrals They Give You – John Meyer
4. To Do This Week
5. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Lean Metrics: What to Measure
============================================================
After talking about Lean Metrics for 8 weeks, some readers may still be saying “How do I decide what to measure?” Since lean companies know that all processes should add value to the customer, measurements should reflect that goal. Select metrics that are balanced among the three measurement categories (financial, behavioral, core-process). A very small company may find that three to six will be plenty as each metric needs a champion to own it. Too many will confuse employees and too few may not provide you with enough detail. When deciding which metrics to use, consider the following points:
- What are we measuring?
- What will be the frequency of measurement?
- How long will data be collected?
- Who will measure it?
- How will it be measured?
- What action will be taken after the data is interpreted?
- Who will be responsible for follow-up action?
Keeping lean does require looking backwards to move forwards.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Don’t Tell Me, Empower Me!
============================================================
A few weeks ago we talked about presenting the problem first, then the solution. Here is more on that topic. Have you ever received an email from Travelocity or another travel agent? They usually have tons of information on fabulous trips and deals to exotic places. But the problem with these types of emails is they’re selling solution, solution, solution. Nine times out of 10 there isn’t an immediate need so the email gets deleted. And the next one that comes in gets deleted before it’s even opened. Instead of pushing solutions, why not give me information that I can use? Solve problems that I have when I travel, like tips on how to beat jetlag, how to upgrade a ticket without losing your shirt, or how to deal with an oversized luggage bag.
When you empower me with the problem and the solution, two things happen:
1) Your “pitch” is legitimized because I can use the information and even pass it on to someone else and
2) You look like an expert in your field to me.
So, who am I going to call when it’s time to book that next cruise? Why you of course!
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Have People Follow up on Referrals They have Given You
===========================================================
Ask people to contact prospects they referred to you to see how things went after your first meeting, answer their questions or concerns and reassure them that you can be trusted. They can also give you valuable feedback about yourself and your products or services, information that you might not have been able to get on your own.
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
============================================================
4. To Do This Week
============================================================
Develop and record your emergency computer plan.
1. Password journal.
2. Critical data backup.
Monday, July 31, 2006
Lean Metrics: Equipment Effectiveness
============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – July 31, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java
gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"Live out of your imagination, not your history."
-- Stephen Covey
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Lean Metrics: Equipment Effectiveness – Linda Fayerweather
2. Being Specific About Your Target Market – Rebecca Booth
3. Ask People to Arrange a Meeting on Your Behalf – John Meyer
4. To Do This Week
5. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Lean Metrics: Equipment Effectiveness
============================================================
Equipment effectiveness causes many small business owners and managers to yawn and not pay attention because “we are just a service business, we don’t make anything with equipment.” In the last month, here are the pieces of equipment that small business owners have complained to me about:
1. Credit Card machine is jamming;
2. Computer is overheating due to heat and has to be turned off regularly;
3. Copy machine is out of toner and the store had to order our cartridge;
4. Flood water soaked our phone lines; and
5. We ran out of ______________(you fill in the blank - paper, ink, stamps, toilet tissue)
Overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) is a metric that measures the availability, performance efficiency and quality of your equipment’s output. All businesses have equipment and Steven Covey’s 7th habit is “Sharpen the Saw” reminding us that well maintained equipment is essential. Look around this week and see what your business can do to make your equipment more effective. And if you run into a good excuse this week, let me know at www.mondaymorningmotivators.blogspot.com
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Being Specific About Your Target Market
============================================================
When you need to hire someone, you place a classified ad outlining the specific position for which you’re hiring. The same holds true for any online dating service ad you may place. You specify the kind of person you want to meet in the personal, sometimes down to the body type and hair color! So why is “everyone” your target market?
By being specific you’re painting a picture in someone’s head as to what your ideal client looks like. Here’s an example: Jeans West is a jeans manufacturer competing against Levis, Gap, etc. Their ad campaign focuses on the price of time. One woman says, “These jeans cost me 2 hours.” Another says, “These jeans cost me 45 minutes.” Who’s their target market? Hard-to-fit professional women who have overbooked lives.
Is that too small of a niche? Certainly not! What Jeans West has done is stamped their niche very clearly in the minds of their customers. They’ve also stamped a clear picture into the minds of those not needing jeans today. Chances are the next time those people are shopping for a new pair of jeans they’ll remember Jeans West because their specialty is the right fit!
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Ask People to Arrange a Meeting on Your Behalf
===========================================================
When one of your sources tells you about a person you should meet, someone you consider a key contact, they can help you immensely by coordinating a meeting. Ideally, she will not only call the contact and set a specific date, time, and location for the meeting, but she will also attend the meeting with you.
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
============================================================
4. To Do This Week
============================================================
Develop and record your emergency financial plan –
think: What if the power is off for 7 days?
Monday Morning Motivators – July 31, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java
gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"Live out of your imagination, not your history."
-- Stephen Covey
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Lean Metrics: Equipment Effectiveness – Linda Fayerweather
2. Being Specific About Your Target Market – Rebecca Booth
3. Ask People to Arrange a Meeting on Your Behalf – John Meyer
4. To Do This Week
5. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Lean Metrics: Equipment Effectiveness
============================================================
Equipment effectiveness causes many small business owners and managers to yawn and not pay attention because “we are just a service business, we don’t make anything with equipment.” In the last month, here are the pieces of equipment that small business owners have complained to me about:
1. Credit Card machine is jamming;
2. Computer is overheating due to heat and has to be turned off regularly;
3. Copy machine is out of toner and the store had to order our cartridge;
4. Flood water soaked our phone lines; and
5. We ran out of ______________(you fill in the blank - paper, ink, stamps, toilet tissue)
Overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) is a metric that measures the availability, performance efficiency and quality of your equipment’s output. All businesses have equipment and Steven Covey’s 7th habit is “Sharpen the Saw” reminding us that well maintained equipment is essential. Look around this week and see what your business can do to make your equipment more effective. And if you run into a good excuse this week, let me know at www.mondaymorningmotivators.blogspot.com
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Being Specific About Your Target Market
============================================================
When you need to hire someone, you place a classified ad outlining the specific position for which you’re hiring. The same holds true for any online dating service ad you may place. You specify the kind of person you want to meet in the personal, sometimes down to the body type and hair color! So why is “everyone” your target market?
By being specific you’re painting a picture in someone’s head as to what your ideal client looks like. Here’s an example: Jeans West is a jeans manufacturer competing against Levis, Gap, etc. Their ad campaign focuses on the price of time. One woman says, “These jeans cost me 2 hours.” Another says, “These jeans cost me 45 minutes.” Who’s their target market? Hard-to-fit professional women who have overbooked lives.
Is that too small of a niche? Certainly not! What Jeans West has done is stamped their niche very clearly in the minds of their customers. They’ve also stamped a clear picture into the minds of those not needing jeans today. Chances are the next time those people are shopping for a new pair of jeans they’ll remember Jeans West because their specialty is the right fit!
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Ask People to Arrange a Meeting on Your Behalf
===========================================================
When one of your sources tells you about a person you should meet, someone you consider a key contact, they can help you immensely by coordinating a meeting. Ideally, she will not only call the contact and set a specific date, time, and location for the meeting, but she will also attend the meeting with you.
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
============================================================
4. To Do This Week
============================================================
Develop and record your emergency financial plan –
think: What if the power is off for 7 days?
Monday, July 24, 2006
Lean Metrics: Wait Time
============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – July 25, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java
gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"If you want to get somewhere you have to know where you want to go and how to get there. Then never, never, never give up."
-- Norman Vincent Peale
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Lean Metrics: Wait Time – Linda Fayerweather
2. Marketing Solutions Pose Problems – Rebecca Booth
3. Ask People to Introduce You to Their Clients in Person – John Meyer
4. To Do This Week
5. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Lean Metrics: Wait Time
============================================================
Whether you are a ball bearing waiting to be installed or a customer trying to buy the newest snappy footwear, waiting may be part of the story. Scientists actually call this Queuing Theory and it is studied, analyzed and restudied. Where inventory will quietly wait, people often don’t. Sometimes they will, hang up the phone, leave the shop or buy a different brand. If the waiting is for an appointment like a doctor or dentist, the customer my just get annoyed.
Knowing when customers will have to wait and why is something you want to explore in your business and then set standards. Having a plan is key to keeping customers happy.
Things that work:
1. Keeping customers informed of wait time;
2. Cross training staff so that when needed, a staff person will be available;
3. Eye contact when a customer is waiting – they just want to know they are seen; and
4. Planning for known busy times – think toll booths and December 24!
Now, what works for your business? Post your best practice for keeping customers happy while waiting below in the comment spot.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Marketing Solutions Pose Problems
============================================================
Ok, so you’re selling your benefits instead of features in your marketing promotions, right? Well, that could be problematic if you’re not addressing the problem first. Instead of leading with the solution, you should be getting people on board by qualifying them as having a problem. Why? It’s been proven time and again that you can’t sell to anyone who doesn’t want to buy. The only reason a person will buy is because they have a need or because your product solves a problem for them.
Think problem first. Hungry?
Then think solution: Try the $.85 McDoggle Burger!
Problems serve as a means for perking up the ears of your target market. Present the problem, then the solution and you’ll see better results from your efforts.
If your target market is women or if you’re selling “community”, keep in mind what community truly means to your target market! This will enhance your success.
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Ask People to Introduce You to Their Clients in Person
===========================================================
Your sources can help you build new relationships faster by introducing you in person. They can provide you with key information about the prospect. They can also tell the prospect a few things about you, your business, how the two of you met, some of the things you and the prospect have in common, and the value of your products and services.
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
============================================================
4. To Do This Week
============================================================
Check your business site for its “first impressions”.
Monday Morning Motivators – July 25, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java
gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"If you want to get somewhere you have to know where you want to go and how to get there. Then never, never, never give up."
-- Norman Vincent Peale
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Lean Metrics: Wait Time – Linda Fayerweather
2. Marketing Solutions Pose Problems – Rebecca Booth
3. Ask People to Introduce You to Their Clients in Person – John Meyer
4. To Do This Week
5. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Lean Metrics: Wait Time
============================================================
Whether you are a ball bearing waiting to be installed or a customer trying to buy the newest snappy footwear, waiting may be part of the story. Scientists actually call this Queuing Theory and it is studied, analyzed and restudied. Where inventory will quietly wait, people often don’t. Sometimes they will, hang up the phone, leave the shop or buy a different brand. If the waiting is for an appointment like a doctor or dentist, the customer my just get annoyed.
Knowing when customers will have to wait and why is something you want to explore in your business and then set standards. Having a plan is key to keeping customers happy.
Things that work:
1. Keeping customers informed of wait time;
2. Cross training staff so that when needed, a staff person will be available;
3. Eye contact when a customer is waiting – they just want to know they are seen; and
4. Planning for known busy times – think toll booths and December 24!
Now, what works for your business? Post your best practice for keeping customers happy while waiting below in the comment spot.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Marketing Solutions Pose Problems
============================================================
Ok, so you’re selling your benefits instead of features in your marketing promotions, right? Well, that could be problematic if you’re not addressing the problem first. Instead of leading with the solution, you should be getting people on board by qualifying them as having a problem. Why? It’s been proven time and again that you can’t sell to anyone who doesn’t want to buy. The only reason a person will buy is because they have a need or because your product solves a problem for them.
Think problem first. Hungry?
Then think solution: Try the $.85 McDoggle Burger!
Problems serve as a means for perking up the ears of your target market. Present the problem, then the solution and you’ll see better results from your efforts.
If your target market is women or if you’re selling “community”, keep in mind what community truly means to your target market! This will enhance your success.
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Ask People to Introduce You to Their Clients in Person
===========================================================
Your sources can help you build new relationships faster by introducing you in person. They can provide you with key information about the prospect. They can also tell the prospect a few things about you, your business, how the two of you met, some of the things you and the prospect have in common, and the value of your products and services.
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
============================================================
4. To Do This Week
============================================================
Check your business site for its “first impressions”.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Lean Metrics: On Time Delivery
============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – July 17, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java
gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"Better three hours too soon than a minute too late.”
--William Shakespeare
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Lean Metrics: On Time Delivery – Linda Fayerweather
2. The Power of Women Communities – Rebecca Booth
3. Ask Fellow Networkers to Make Initial Contact with Referral Sources – John Meyer
4. To Do This Week
5. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Lean Metrics: On Time Delivery
============================================================
One of the core process metrics is On Time Delivery (OTD). All businesses have some form of delivery of product or service to their customers. What does it mean to your business? In the language of lean, the actual measurement will be the percentage of units you produce that meet your customer’s deadline. Isn’t it interesting that it has to do with the customer’s deadline.
This weekend at the movie theater it became very clear to me that the concession attendant cared more about getting the phone number from the man flirting with her than she cared about me getting to the movie on time. OTD of my popcorn may seem trivial, but as a customer, I always have choices and a slow delivery may mean next weekend I get a video and just stay home! OTD takes many shape and forms but the ultimate goal of all businesses is satisfied customers. Getting lean will keep customers.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
Need to listen to Manic Monday? Music Clip
============================================================
2. The Power of Women Communities
============================================================
You’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it again: Women are from Venus; Men from Mars. When it comes to defining community, men look at it as “a place where I live/work”. Women, however, view community as a more complicated, interwoven tapestry of relationships that will span a lifetime. Community traits to women include:
• Longevity,
• Constancy,
• A secondary focus of caring/cause,
• Offering emotional fulfillment and balance to their time-strapped lives, and
• Fun, friendly, support outlet that shares mutual respect.
One Boomer woman from Savannah said, “Community gives me a sense of belonging, a place to get emotional support – they key is being there for each other – that makes community work!”
Most companies think community is sending me a bunch of email tips, or putting a picture of what they think my ‘group’ is on a mailer. They don’t ask my opinion and don’t find out anything about me and what they might do to engage me outside of buying their stuff.”
If your target market is women or if you’re selling “community”, keep in mind what community truly means to your target market! This will enhance your success.
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Ask Fellow Networkers to Make Initial Contact with Referral Sources
===========================================================
Rather than just giving you the telephone number and address of an important prospect, ask your network member to make a phone call or meet the prospect first and tell him about you. Then, when you make contact with the prospect, he will be expecting to hear from you and will know something about you.
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
============================================================
4. To Do This Week
============================================================
Check the location and fitness of all fire extinguishers.
Monday Morning Motivators – July 17, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java
gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"Better three hours too soon than a minute too late.”
--William Shakespeare
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Lean Metrics: On Time Delivery – Linda Fayerweather
2. The Power of Women Communities – Rebecca Booth
3. Ask Fellow Networkers to Make Initial Contact with Referral Sources – John Meyer
4. To Do This Week
5. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Lean Metrics: On Time Delivery
============================================================
One of the core process metrics is On Time Delivery (OTD). All businesses have some form of delivery of product or service to their customers. What does it mean to your business? In the language of lean, the actual measurement will be the percentage of units you produce that meet your customer’s deadline. Isn’t it interesting that it has to do with the customer’s deadline.
This weekend at the movie theater it became very clear to me that the concession attendant cared more about getting the phone number from the man flirting with her than she cared about me getting to the movie on time. OTD of my popcorn may seem trivial, but as a customer, I always have choices and a slow delivery may mean next weekend I get a video and just stay home! OTD takes many shape and forms but the ultimate goal of all businesses is satisfied customers. Getting lean will keep customers.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
Need to listen to Manic Monday? Music Clip
============================================================
2. The Power of Women Communities
============================================================
You’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it again: Women are from Venus; Men from Mars. When it comes to defining community, men look at it as “a place where I live/work”. Women, however, view community as a more complicated, interwoven tapestry of relationships that will span a lifetime. Community traits to women include:
• Longevity,
• Constancy,
• A secondary focus of caring/cause,
• Offering emotional fulfillment and balance to their time-strapped lives, and
• Fun, friendly, support outlet that shares mutual respect.
One Boomer woman from Savannah said, “Community gives me a sense of belonging, a place to get emotional support – they key is being there for each other – that makes community work!”
Most companies think community is sending me a bunch of email tips, or putting a picture of what they think my ‘group’ is on a mailer. They don’t ask my opinion and don’t find out anything about me and what they might do to engage me outside of buying their stuff.”
If your target market is women or if you’re selling “community”, keep in mind what community truly means to your target market! This will enhance your success.
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Ask Fellow Networkers to Make Initial Contact with Referral Sources
===========================================================
Rather than just giving you the telephone number and address of an important prospect, ask your network member to make a phone call or meet the prospect first and tell him about you. Then, when you make contact with the prospect, he will be expecting to hear from you and will know something about you.
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
============================================================
4. To Do This Week
============================================================
Check the location and fitness of all fire extinguishers.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Lean Metrics: Analyze Details
============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – July 10, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java
gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"Get off to a fast start Monday; chances are the rest of the week will flow better."
-- Kenneth Zeigler
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Lean Metrics: Analyze Details – Linda Fayerweather
2. Contests – Rebecca Booth
3. Your Networking Contacts Should Provide You with Referrals – John Meyer
4. To Do This Week
5. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Lean Metrics: Analyze Details
============================================================
Just another Manic Monday – sounds like a good song title, no wait, it was a song by the Bangles in 1990. What does this have to do with lean? Monday is the day that sets the tone for each work week and in a lean environment we want all activity to affect the customers’ value and perception of value. Your best week will be enhanced by analyzing how each Monday goes. Tips by Kenneth Zeigler include:
1) Get off to a good start on Monday by starting early;
2) Avoid having staff meetings on Monday – they tend to de-motivate people, Friday’s are better;
3) Plan your Monday Morning on Sunday by packing lunch, selecting clothes, filling the gas tank, anything that will promote a calm start;
Now, if your Morning was Manic today, cut and print this lean tip and put it with your calendar for Friday – make next Monday a morning where you are in charge.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
Need to listen to Manic Monday? Music Clip
============================================================
2. Contests
============================================================
When was the last time you and your business associates did something out of the norm? Today’s a good day to start thinking out of the box and doing things a little differently. Let’s hold a contest. But instead of creating a normal contest with your sales associates, let’s hold a wacky contest. One that’s destined to get you noticed!
Contests are beautiful things. Why? Because you can promote your contest to your prospects, clients and the media. The best contests will have multiple winners. When you’re putting together your contest, be imaginative and try your best to tie the contest in to your business. For instance let’s say you’re a photographer, you could host the World’s Worst Grade School Photo Contest and give away portrait packages as a prize. Publishing the photos in a newsletter or posting them to your website are sure-fire ways to get the buzz started!
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Your Networking Contacts Should Provide You with Referrals
===========================================================
The kind of support you'd most like to get from your sources is of course, referrals - names and contact information for specific individuals or companies who need your products and services. Sources can also help by giving prospects your name and number. As the number of referrals you receive increases, so does your potential for increasing the percentage of your business generated through referrals.
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
============================================================
4. To Do This Week
============================================================
Check and replenish your office first aid kit.
Monday Morning Motivators – July 10, 2006
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java
gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"Get off to a fast start Monday; chances are the rest of the week will flow better."
-- Kenneth Zeigler
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Lean Metrics: Analyze Details – Linda Fayerweather
2. Contests – Rebecca Booth
3. Your Networking Contacts Should Provide You with Referrals – John Meyer
4. To Do This Week
5. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Lean Metrics: Analyze Details
============================================================
Just another Manic Monday – sounds like a good song title, no wait, it was a song by the Bangles in 1990. What does this have to do with lean? Monday is the day that sets the tone for each work week and in a lean environment we want all activity to affect the customers’ value and perception of value. Your best week will be enhanced by analyzing how each Monday goes. Tips by Kenneth Zeigler include:
1) Get off to a good start on Monday by starting early;
2) Avoid having staff meetings on Monday – they tend to de-motivate people, Friday’s are better;
3) Plan your Monday Morning on Sunday by packing lunch, selecting clothes, filling the gas tank, anything that will promote a calm start;
Now, if your Morning was Manic today, cut and print this lean tip and put it with your calendar for Friday – make next Monday a morning where you are in charge.
Copyright 2006 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
Need to listen to Manic Monday? Music Clip
============================================================
2. Contests
============================================================
When was the last time you and your business associates did something out of the norm? Today’s a good day to start thinking out of the box and doing things a little differently. Let’s hold a contest. But instead of creating a normal contest with your sales associates, let’s hold a wacky contest. One that’s destined to get you noticed!
Contests are beautiful things. Why? Because you can promote your contest to your prospects, clients and the media. The best contests will have multiple winners. When you’re putting together your contest, be imaginative and try your best to tie the contest in to your business. For instance let’s say you’re a photographer, you could host the World’s Worst Grade School Photo Contest and give away portrait packages as a prize. Publishing the photos in a newsletter or posting them to your website are sure-fire ways to get the buzz started!
Copyright 2006 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Your Networking Contacts Should Provide You with Referrals
===========================================================
The kind of support you'd most like to get from your sources is of course, referrals - names and contact information for specific individuals or companies who need your products and services. Sources can also help by giving prospects your name and number. As the number of referrals you receive increases, so does your potential for increasing the percentage of your business generated through referrals.
Copyright 2006 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
============================================================
4. To Do This Week
============================================================
Check and replenish your office first aid kit.
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