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Monday Morning Motivators – February 11, 2007
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Enjoy your java with an eclectic collection of tips and ideas to use today and to get energized for the week ahead. Subscribing and unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the
things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So
throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch
the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
-- Mark Twain
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Table of Contents
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1. What do all Businesses Need to Succeed? – Linda Fayerweather
2. No More “buts” About It! - Rebecca Booth
3. Act Congruently – Pat Altvater
4. Getting the Word Out . . . FAST! – Paula Frazier
5. To Do This Week
6. Fine Print
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1. What do all Businesses Need to Succeed?
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Sure you need capital, great employees, a dynamite location, and a plan to make it happen. The one thing you must have to survive is CUSTOMERS – and more than one or two! Providing magnificent service is the key to keeping and attracting customers. Even in slow economic times, knowing your key customers, keeping them informed of your business and asking “how you can help them succeed” will keep your business flourishing. Have you thanked your customers today?
Copyright 2008 Linda Fayerweather is Lean Certified
Helping Businesses change lanes to a brighter route
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
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2. No More “buts” About It!
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Here’s your challenge for this week: push yourself to replace the word “but” with “and” instead. This bolsters your ability to be persuasive. “But” generally conveys disagreement. For example, saying “I agree with you, but . . .” is actually contradictory. The simple solution is to replace “but” with “and” to avoid the contradiction and show your support. ? This shows your listeners that you are actively listening, trying to offer suggestions and provide a give and take with the conversation. Who wouldn’t love to hear “I agree with you, and . . .”?
Copyright 2008 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
419-855-3399
www.rebeccaboothmarketinggoddess.com
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3. Act Congruently
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Psychologists report that people who satisfy their needs and wants by delaying gratification are much more successful in life, because they focus on long-term results desired and make decisions today that help them achieve their future goals. In fact, each time you keep a commitment to yourself, regarding a future goal, you strengthen your level of self discipline and over time it strengthens your character, confidence and self-esteem.
If you have chosen to BE healthy or wealthy and commit to acting congruently, but then choose instant gratification by having the $3+ Café Mocha (instead of saving the money or calories), you’ve broken the commitment you made to yourself. This incongruency affects your unconscious mind because it doesn’t know what you really want – to be healthy or wealthy or satisfy an immediate urge.
So, if you aren’t attracting what you want in your life, look for any incongruencies between what you say you desire and how you act.
Pat Altvater
Licensed and Certified Strategic Attraction Coach
Certified Law of Attraction Practitioner
www.TransformationsInstitute.com
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4. Getting the Word Out . . . FAST!
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Congratulations, you’ve decided to start your own business. It’s critical to get the word out as soon as possible. Right?!?
You’ll need business cards, stationery and envelopes. You may choose to budget for print, TV and radio advertising. How about some billboards? Technology is also on our side. You could have a website developed and take advantage of some additional on-line advertising. You’d better get plenty of promotional items like coffee mugs and pens. Customers and prospects LOVE that stuff. Don’t forget to plug into some local networks like BNI, the chamber and even a service organization.
WHOA!!! I meet business people every day that get so excited about building their business vision and getting the word out that they send their message before they’ve developed their message.
Whether you’re thinking about starting a new business or you have an established business, I encourage you to consider taking the following steps to build or strengthen your businesses’ brand and image:
1. Collaborate with Referral Institute to identify a target market, develop your message and design an annual referral marketing plan.
2. Get referred to a top notch web designer. Please know that graphics and colors could and should stay consistent and be integrated throughout all of your marketing efforts.
3. Get referred to a quality printer for business cards, stationary, envelopes, invoices, etc.
4. Get referred, as you’re interested and willing to budget, to advertising specialists in the following areas – print, TV, radio, on-line, billboard . . . even fax advertising is available. Don’t forget the promo items.
5. Bring them all together at the same place/time to communicate and collaborate BEFORE any serious action is taken.
It’s critical to get the word out as soon as possible. Right? Wrong! It’s critical to get the RIGHT word out in the RIGHT way at the RIGHT time . . . as soon as possible.
Paula Frazier is one of five Master Trainers throughout the world for Referral Institute and an Executive Director for BNI, the world’s leading referral organization. To contact Referral Institute or BNI in your area, visit http://www.referralinstitute.com or http://www.bni.com .
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5. To Do This Week
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Check out your Businesses “first impression” with a critical drive by.
