September 15, 2008
5S - Sort
Getting started with 5S for your office does mean that Sort will be done first. Sorting takes time and recognize that you may need to stop everything for a day to truly get control of your office. To get started, you are going to create new piles and sometimes labeled boxes will work best. Start with these subjects.
1. Trash - broken, defective, non-recyclable, junk;
2. Doesn't belong here;
3. Return to sender/owner;
4. Recyclable - anything that can be recycled, sold, given away;
5. Used once per day;
6. Used about once a week;
7. Used about once a month;
8. Seldom used;
9. Don't know what it is, why it is, unknown.
When everything on your desk, in your desk, under your desk and hidden around your office has been sorted, you are now ready for the next S - Set the order. Now, don't forget to take out the trash and recyclables.
Copyright 2008 Linda Lucas Fayerweather
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
The Profitable Route to Success
Last week's pocket 5S guides are in the mail. If you would like a pocket guide to 5S, Please email your Name, Address, City, State, and Zip code to linda@changinglanes.biz
Marketing? We don't need no Stinking Marketing.
Part 1 of 4
When the economy starts to falter, most entrepreneurs become cowboys by aggressively cutting their costs. Typically the first to go is marketing. Bad move dude. Here are four vital steps you should take to keep your marketing going during any economic downturn:
I. Assess what's working and what's not. Take a close look at how you spent your money last year. Determine where your new clients came from. Assess how much money was garnered by new clients. How much by current clients? Where did they hear about you? And what was the cost for getting that client? Once you know, you can make a decision as to reinvesting in the marketing method or not. Keep in mind that it costs seven times as much money to get a new client than it does to get business out of a current client. Make sure you can afford to chase after the newbies.
Copyright 2008 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
419.855.3399
Celebrating 10 years of delivering results for our clients.
http://www.rebeccaboothmarketinggoddess.com/
http://www.marketinginabox.biz/
Abundance is everywhere!
"Abundance will never be a factor of how much money one has. Rather it is always a factor of how one feels about what money one does have."
This quote from Stuart Wilde's book, The Trick to Money is Having Some, gives us something to consider. His premise is that abundance is a feeling. I've found that to be true - people who have limiting core beliefs, such as "you have to work hard for money", "money doesn't grow on trees", or "easy come, easy go", create negative emotions surrounding abundance and thus find it difficult to create sustainable businesses.
Spend some time this week listening to your thoughts and emotions to see what type of energy you are creating regarding abundance and money. If you find yourself worried over money, bills, or the economy, then you will push away what you desire. Instead of worrying, spend some time each day, visualizing your life as wonderful and abundant, even if it is not so, and as you see your world this way, it becomes so. In fact, once you get your mind to agree that abundance is natural and that there will always be enough, you'll begin to see your finances shifting.
Copyright 2008 Pat Altvater
To find out more about releasing limiting beliefs, read Journey to WOW - Ignite the Power Within, http://www.ignitethepowerwithinbook.com/
http://www.transformationsinstitute.com/
Have You Evaluated Your Referral Relationships Lately?
Hello Monday Morning Motivator Readers,
This week's referral marketing scenario was written by one of my colleagues at Referral Institute, Glenna Smith. It's about two long term referral partners that aren't willing to have a difficult conversation to overcome obstacles and move forward in their relationship. Is this you?
Recently, I was working with a business owner, Rob, who had a referral relationship that had gone sour. Rob and Phillip had been active referral partners for the past couple of years. They were more than business associates; they were friends.
When I asked him, "What happened?" Rob shared that he and Phillip had a client in common. Rob had advised the client against refinancing a home in order to buy a new car. Phillip ended up doing the refinance anyway. Rob felt that the client's best interests had not been served and decided that he was no longer going to refer any more business to Phillip. He didn't feel Phillip could be trusted.
Then I asked Rob, "What did Phillip say when you spoke to him about your concerns?" Rob told me and that he'd never discussed the issue with Phillip and that six months had passed since the transaction!
This was surprising to me because they still work in the same business circles and see each other almost weekly. Phillip had no idea about Rob's feelings or his decision to no longer refer business to him.
I have learned that the phenomenon of "avoiding" an uncomfortable discussion with a referral partner is very common.
I know Rob wants to have strong business relationships in which quality referrals are continually given and received. The problem is that if he is not able to have those (sometimes) tough conversations with any of his referral partners, he will never see those important business relationships deepen.
Here are some tips to help you evaluate your business relationships:
1. Meet regularly (weekly, bi-weekly or monthly). These meetings should have purpose and focus but that does not mean that you cannot enjoy yourselves.
2. Set the ground rules at the beginning of the relationship. How will problems be handled? If ground rules were never established, set them now.
3. Discuss Business Expectations. Periodically ask each other if expectations of the business relationship are being met and how those expectations can be exceeded.
4. Be Diplomatic when you do have those uncomfortable conversations. Stay focused on resolving the issue.
5. Remember to Thank your Referral Partner either with a call, a card, or even a thoughtful gift.
In order to "Avoid Avoiding" those sometimes tough situations with your referral partners, remember the importance of evaluating your business relationships and facing those difficult conversations. Show them that you care enough to work through the issues to make the relationship more meaningful and more profitable!
Have you evaluated your referral relationships lately?
Glenna E. Smith is the owner of the Referral Institute of Nevada and works strictly by referral. She is a passionate writer, speaker, and facilitator that specializes in referral marketing. Glenna can be reached at Glenna@referralinstitutenv.com .
Copyright 2008 Paula Frazier is a referral marketing trainer, coach, consultant and keynote speaker. She is an Executive Director for BNI and part of a select team of Master Trainers for Referral Institute. You can connect with Paula at paula@referralinstitute-va.com or paula@bniswva.com .
To Do This Week
Start small - sort a closet.
Enjoy a wonderful week.
Sincerely,
Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
