============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – February 11, 2007
============================================================
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
============================================================
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
============================================================
1. What do all Businesses Need to Succeed?
============================================================
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
============================================================
2. No More “buts” About It!
============================================================
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
===========================================================
3. Act Congruently
===========================================================
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
===========================================================
4. Getting the Word Out . . . FAST!
===========================================================
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 .
===========================================================
5. To Do This Week
===========================================================
Check out your Businesses “first impression” with a critical drive by.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Monday, February 04, 2008
Super Bowl - Easy? - Networking
============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – February 4, 2007
============================================================
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
"The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means."
-- Oscar Wilde
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Is it Ground Hog Day, Again? – Linda Fayerweather
2. Super Bowl Ads - Rebecca Booth
3. If It Were Easy. . . – Pat Altvater
4. Are you Being Consistent – Paula Frazier
5. To Do This Week
6. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Is it Ground Hog Day, Again?
============================================================
Since last Monday the U.S. has been busy with the Dow Jones having its biggest one week gain in 5 years; Eli Payton following in his big brother's footsteps becoming the Super Bowl MVP and it WAS Ground Hog day which either means spring is a mere six weeks away or we have six weeks more of winter.
Last week was all about change and Change is Good. Even though most business owners know Albert Einstein's quote "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." is true, it is difficult to actually change. Start small by taking the short month of February to help your business have the "biggest gains in 5 years" or becoming the "MVP to your customers" with this Monday Morning process:
· List no more than 5 things that are undone, unacceptable or worrying you each Monday. I'm a fan of a 2"x5" index card as I can keep it handy.
· Give each a one word title.
· Beside each title, put a big world issue that might relate.
Here is an example:
1. Need a line of credit and overdraft protection --> Cash --> Economy
2. Drafty office needs plastic on windows --> Window --> Global warming
Now, with our list, notice how our solved problems my actually link to other problems and by changing ourselves we will cause change around us. This week when you find yourself worrying about something on your list, get busy and change just that worry. Repeat each Monday and you may be very surprised by the end of the month and spring will be even closer!
Copyright 2008 Linda Fayerweather is Lean Certified
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Super Bowl Ads
============================================================
So, what did you think about the Super Bowl Ads last night? Not as exciting as the game, hands down. Actually, I watch the Super Bowl for the ads only as I live in a "Sports-Free Zone," but I found myself wanting to hurry up and get back to the game because I thought the majority of the ads were duds. What were the winners? According to the pros the standout ads were those that focused on the positive: Two giant balloons (Stewie & Underdog) battling it out over a Coca Cola, with Charlie Brown finally getting the football; and the Budweiser Clydesdale who got cut from the Budweiser carriage team only to train for a year with a Dalmatian and be picked in the first round. One of the many losers was the GoDaddy ad with Danika Patrick, which drove 1.5 million to their website, but that was a far cry from the 94.08 million viewers who actually watched the game. With all this said, what ads do you remember: Bud Light's Breath of Fire? Audi's take off on the Godfather? The Victoria Secret ad? Or Bud Light's the Wheel? You can relive them all if you simply sign on to Spike TV's website: www.spiketv.com/superbowl. Better yet, take the time to review years past ads, since this year's were stinkers. Yet, I do think I'll cancel my brow waxing appointment this week and stocking up on Planters Nuts. Did that chick have confidence or what?!
Copyright 2008 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
419-855-3399
www.rebeccaboothmarketinggoddess.com
===========================================================
3. If It Were Easy. . .
===========================================================
T. Harv Eker, founder of Peak Potentials Training and author of The Millionaire Mind says “If you're only willing to do what's easy, life will be hard. But if you're willing to do what's hard, life will be easy."
This is so true! If you want something, like a healthy body or financial abundance, and commit to that goal, but then don’t take appropriate actions (do the hard things) to attain your goal, you create confusion and self-doubt in your unconscious mind. With the Law of Attraction, this confusion is projected outward and what you attract is obviously NOT what you want.
When you commit to a goal, take the daily actions, some of which may take you out of your comfort zone, necessary to achieve the goal. Then you’ll have congruence and your unconscious mind will go to work helping you to achieve your greatest desires!
Pat Altvater
Licensed and Certified Strategic Attraction Coach
Certified Law of Attraction Practitioner
www.TransformationsInstitute.com
===========================================================
4. Are you Being Consistent?
===========================================================
Are you being consistent with your network? Are you being consistent with your networking activities? The big question…are you consistently and purposefully GIVING to your three main networks – information, support and referral? If not, it will be impossible for you to keep your referral pipeline full.
Early last year I realized that my referral pipeline was nearly empty! Why wouldn't it be? I’d spent so much time speaking, training and investing in relationships outside of my region that I had neglected to nurture my local networks. No referral activities equals no referrals! Even scarier, no relationship building activities equals no relationships. I had to get back to practicing what I’d taught so many people to do – give proactively, purposefully, strategically and consistently to develop reciprocal referral relationships.
This week, take some time to plan your activities. Give some thought to the following:
• Who are you going to give a referral to this week?
• Who are you going to call this week?
• Who are you going to meet with face to face this week?
• Who are you going to connect with someone else in your network this week?
• Who are you going to send a note card this week?
• Who are you going to invite to an upcoming event?
With a little planning, you can consistently nurture your referral relationships. Don't get lazy with your network or you may find your pipeline has dried up at the time you need it most.
Copyright 2008 Paula Frazier and Hazel M. Walker are Master Trainers for Referral Institute and Executive Directors for BNI. To learn more about building your business network visit http://www.referralinstitutevirginia.com or http://www.bni.com.
===========================================================
5. To Do This Week
===========================================================
Declutter your entrance to your business or office.
Monday Morning Motivators – February 4, 2007
============================================================
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
"The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means."
-- Oscar Wilde
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Is it Ground Hog Day, Again? – Linda Fayerweather
2. Super Bowl Ads - Rebecca Booth
3. If It Were Easy. . . – Pat Altvater
4. Are you Being Consistent – Paula Frazier
5. To Do This Week
6. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Is it Ground Hog Day, Again?
============================================================
Since last Monday the U.S. has been busy with the Dow Jones having its biggest one week gain in 5 years; Eli Payton following in his big brother's footsteps becoming the Super Bowl MVP and it WAS Ground Hog day which either means spring is a mere six weeks away or we have six weeks more of winter.
Last week was all about change and Change is Good. Even though most business owners know Albert Einstein's quote "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." is true, it is difficult to actually change. Start small by taking the short month of February to help your business have the "biggest gains in 5 years" or becoming the "MVP to your customers" with this Monday Morning process:
· List no more than 5 things that are undone, unacceptable or worrying you each Monday. I'm a fan of a 2"x5" index card as I can keep it handy.
· Give each a one word title.
· Beside each title, put a big world issue that might relate.
Here is an example:
1. Need a line of credit and overdraft protection --> Cash --> Economy
2. Drafty office needs plastic on windows --> Window --> Global warming
Now, with our list, notice how our solved problems my actually link to other problems and by changing ourselves we will cause change around us. This week when you find yourself worrying about something on your list, get busy and change just that worry. Repeat each Monday and you may be very surprised by the end of the month and spring will be even closer!
Copyright 2008 Linda Fayerweather is Lean Certified
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Super Bowl Ads
============================================================
So, what did you think about the Super Bowl Ads last night? Not as exciting as the game, hands down. Actually, I watch the Super Bowl for the ads only as I live in a "Sports-Free Zone," but I found myself wanting to hurry up and get back to the game because I thought the majority of the ads were duds. What were the winners? According to the pros the standout ads were those that focused on the positive: Two giant balloons (Stewie & Underdog) battling it out over a Coca Cola, with Charlie Brown finally getting the football; and the Budweiser Clydesdale who got cut from the Budweiser carriage team only to train for a year with a Dalmatian and be picked in the first round. One of the many losers was the GoDaddy ad with Danika Patrick, which drove 1.5 million to their website, but that was a far cry from the 94.08 million viewers who actually watched the game. With all this said, what ads do you remember: Bud Light's Breath of Fire? Audi's take off on the Godfather? The Victoria Secret ad? Or Bud Light's the Wheel? You can relive them all if you simply sign on to Spike TV's website: www.spiketv.com/superbowl. Better yet, take the time to review years past ads, since this year's were stinkers. Yet, I do think I'll cancel my brow waxing appointment this week and stocking up on Planters Nuts. Did that chick have confidence or what?!
Copyright 2008 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
419-855-3399
www.rebeccaboothmarketinggoddess.com
===========================================================
3. If It Were Easy. . .
===========================================================
T. Harv Eker, founder of Peak Potentials Training and author of The Millionaire Mind says “If you're only willing to do what's easy, life will be hard. But if you're willing to do what's hard, life will be easy."
This is so true! If you want something, like a healthy body or financial abundance, and commit to that goal, but then don’t take appropriate actions (do the hard things) to attain your goal, you create confusion and self-doubt in your unconscious mind. With the Law of Attraction, this confusion is projected outward and what you attract is obviously NOT what you want.
When you commit to a goal, take the daily actions, some of which may take you out of your comfort zone, necessary to achieve the goal. Then you’ll have congruence and your unconscious mind will go to work helping you to achieve your greatest desires!
Pat Altvater
Licensed and Certified Strategic Attraction Coach
Certified Law of Attraction Practitioner
www.TransformationsInstitute.com
===========================================================
4. Are you Being Consistent?
===========================================================
Are you being consistent with your network? Are you being consistent with your networking activities? The big question…are you consistently and purposefully GIVING to your three main networks – information, support and referral? If not, it will be impossible for you to keep your referral pipeline full.
Early last year I realized that my referral pipeline was nearly empty! Why wouldn't it be? I’d spent so much time speaking, training and investing in relationships outside of my region that I had neglected to nurture my local networks. No referral activities equals no referrals! Even scarier, no relationship building activities equals no relationships. I had to get back to practicing what I’d taught so many people to do – give proactively, purposefully, strategically and consistently to develop reciprocal referral relationships.
This week, take some time to plan your activities. Give some thought to the following:
• Who are you going to give a referral to this week?
• Who are you going to call this week?
• Who are you going to meet with face to face this week?
• Who are you going to connect with someone else in your network this week?
• Who are you going to send a note card this week?
• Who are you going to invite to an upcoming event?
With a little planning, you can consistently nurture your referral relationships. Don't get lazy with your network or you may find your pipeline has dried up at the time you need it most.
Copyright 2008 Paula Frazier and Hazel M. Walker are Master Trainers for Referral Institute and Executive Directors for BNI. To learn more about building your business network visit http://www.referralinstitutevirginia.com or http://www.bni.com.
===========================================================
5. To Do This Week
===========================================================
Declutter your entrance to your business or office.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Procrastination - Reviews - Patience - Beyond Referrals
============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – January 28, 2007
============================================================
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
Profit in business comes from repeat customers, customers that boast about your project or service, and that bring friends with them.
--W. Edwards Deming
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Entrepreneurial Procrastination – Linda Fayerweather
2. Product Reviews: Can you pass the test? - Rebecca Booth
3. Patience means Patience! – Pat Altvater
4. Networking is More than Referrals – Paula Frazier
5. To Do This Week
6. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Entrepreneurial Procrastination ============================================================
Procrastination is a lot like playing Trivial Pursuit®, you spend time, have some fun but when you are done; the dishes are still in the sink to wash! Well, entrepreneurs are famous for finding ways to start the next adventure before making sure the last one is complete. And often it doesn’t mean you, the entrepreneur need to do the work, it just needs to find a way to get done. If you don’t like the work, delegate it to an employee or outsource it. If it is yours to do, here are some simple tips to help you get the work.
1) Identify some rewards you will get when a project is completed – the bigger the project completed the bigger and better the reward;
2) Break big projects into smaller steps, this is a simple process that lean manufacturing does to keep quality high;
3) Get an accountability buddy or support group or challenge team and connect at least weekly;
4) Clean up the clutter in your workspace – clutter serves as reminders of other projects.
Know that you will not kick the procrastination habit quickly, but each step will get you closer to your goal and don’t forget – DELEGATE and OUTSOURCE are great tricks!
Copyright 2008 Linda Fayerweather is Lean Certified and details about getting your business lean are at: Changing Lanes LLC
============================================================
2. Product Reviews: Can you pass the test?
============================================================
What role do product reviews play in consumers' decisions on what to buy? According to the February 2008 issue of Entrepreneur magazine, they play an important role. Here's what they found:
-62% of shoppers read consumer-written product reviews online.
-80%+ say their purchase decisions have been directly influenced by reviews.
-70% of shoppers share product reviews with their friends, family or colleagues.
-18% of consumers say they will look for more product information than what's on the product's packaging. They are turning to online sources and other locations to find out more about the product they've just purchased.
Interesting stuff. How would consumers rank your products? Check FaceBook and other social networking sites to see if people are talking about your products or services. Better yet, see what they're saying about your competitors' products/services as well. Who knows, you might find another void to fill; thereby, giving you a competitive advantage. Rock on!
Copyright 2008 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
419-855-3399
www.rebeccaboothmarketinggoddess.com
===========================================================
3. Patience means Patience!
===========================================================
A few weeks ago, I discussed setting a goal for attracting 5 new clients for January. What happens if you get to today and only have 3? Impatience and comments like “I tried making an attraction plan for my perfect customer and this doesn’t work!”
Yes, it does! The Law of Attraction always works, just not on our time table. So if you haven’t achieved your goals for January, examine what you have achieved, what worked, what you could maybe tweak to have better results and keep moving yourself towards your goals. Who knows what may be going on behind the scenes that won’t be revealed to you for another month or two! So focus on enjoying the NOW moment and express gratitude for everything you attracted this month.
Pat Altvater
Licensed and Certified Strategic Attraction Coach
Certified Law of Attraction Practitioner
www.TransformationsInstitute.com
===========================================================
4. Networking is More than Referrals
===========================================================
One of my long time clients asked me for someone to one time this week. I’m always glad to spend quality time with my customers, but I wasn’t quite sure what they wanted to accomplish. When I asked about the nature of the meeting so I could prepare, they didn’t have a clear answer. Business or personal? She said it was both, but more personal. Clear as mud!?!
We finally met today and it was one of the most rewarding conversations I’ve had in a long time. We’re wired for referrals in BNI and Referral Institute, though we’re also acutely aware of the importance of building two other main networks – information and support. That’s exactly what she wanted!
She’d attended one of our workshops and we posed plenty of questions, questions that typically fall on deaf ears. This one really made her think – “Why do you do what you do?” It isn’t about products and services or features versus functions. It’s about YOU and what keeps you excited about the business you’re building. It’s your story . . . your most unique selling position. They’re like snowflakes. Each one is different and beautiful in its own way. Each one is unique.
Here are a few questions to help you begin to discover your unique selling position:
-What is your company mission? Your personal mission? How are they in alignment?
-What segment of your business gives you the most pleasure and the most profit?
-Are you seen as the vendor of choice? Why should people seek you out?
-How did you get started in your industry?
Of all the people who do what you do . . . why you? Your story is one of the very few things that can truly separate you from your competition. What’s your story?
Copyright 2008 Paula Frazier is a Master Trainer for Referral Institute and an Executive Director for BNI, the world’s leading referral organization. To learn more about marketing your business by relationship visit http://www.referralinstitute.com or http://www.bni.com .
===========================================================
5. To Do This Week
===========================================================
Enjoy today for just what the are.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Pockets - Equality - Responsibility - Bad Referrals
============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators - January 21, 2007
============================================================
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 http://www.mondaymorningmotivators.com/
"Maintaining a complicated life is a great way to avoid changing it."
--Elaine St. James
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Ask Your Customers - Linda Fayerweather
2. Not All Prospects are Created Equal - Rebecca Booth
3. Take Responsibility for Your Life - Pat Altvater
4. Referral Gone Bad - Paula Frazier
5. To Do This Week
6. Fine Print
============================================================
Ask Your Customers What They Want
============================================================
Pockets - that is what this customer wants, lots of pockets. Now if you are a guy and just read that you may be scratching your head because most men generally have at least 5 pockets even when they aren't wearing a jacket! Believe it or not, it is a luxury for women's pants AND jackets to have pockets. Being more a geek than a lady, I only carry a large wallet so my keys are in my left pocket, my cell phone and business cards are in my right which leaves me in a pickle when I don't have TWO pockets. Now, I have queried sales professionals about this lack of pockets and have been told...
"Pockets spoil the line of the outfit."
"Clothes with pockets are costly to make, translating to higher prices."
"Women carry purses."
Well, listen up manufactures of women's clothing:
1. Most hand bags I've seen tend to spoil the fashion more than pockets and are a nuisance to organize and keep track of;
2. My grandson, who is only 2'7" tall, recently wore pants with 4 pockets, a shirt with 2 pockets and he isn't coordinated enough to even use pockets;
3. Oh yes, I pay more for my pocket-less pants than my husband pays for his many pocketed pants;
4. Women carry purses, well, see number 1.
What's a woman to do? I don't know, maybe just vent - but I know for a fact that if any politicians running for any office went on the Pocket Platform, they would have my vote.
I do digress, and since we can't solve the pocket problem this morning, maybe you might want to ask your customers if there is something your product or service is missing that would make their life better. You may not be able to change things for all customers, but sometimes just listening is important!
Copyright 2008 Linda Fayerweather is Lean Certified and articles about getting your business lean are at: Changing Lanes LLC
============================================================
2. Not All Prospects Are Created Equal
============================================================
Sure, all prospects are important, but some require special attention. It's best to assess each of your prospects and put them into ABC categories. You can either sort your ABCs by the prospective value of the new piece of business or by readiness to buy. Those prospects on your "A" list will need more contact from you, but make sure that contact isn't always a "buy from me" or "buy now" message. Instead pepper your communications with personal notes attached to articles of interest for the prospect as well as invitations to your company's special events (tours, seminars, exhibitions in which you're participating). FYI, this same concept holds true for communicating with clients. ABC your way to higher profits in 2008!
Copyright 2007 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
http://www.rebeccaboothmarketinggoddess.com/
===========================================================
3. Take Responsibility for your Life
===========================================================
Rebecca Booth and I had the pleasure of attending a Jack Canfield Success Principles presentation in Detroit this past week. Principle #1 is to take 100% responsibility for your life because you created it! Everything that is in your current reality is there because of choices you made in the past - everything! You attracted it with your beliefs, thoughts and emotions. So if you want a different outcome in your life, all you need to do is change your inputs (your beliefs, thoughts and emotions). Start today and your tomorrows will be different.
I highly recommend Canfield's book, The Success Principles. To find out more about it, click here.
Copyright 2008 Pat Altvater
Owner, Transformations Institute
Author, Journey to WOW - Choose Health NOW
http://www.thesecretofpermanentweightloss.com/
===========================================================
4. When Good Referrals Go Bad . . .2008 Fatalities!
===========================================================
At a recent Certified Networker training, one of the conversations was around the significance of branding in a referral marketing plan. As a result, there was a husband and wife team participating that decided there was not enough consistency in some of their everyday marketing tools - business cards, letterhead, envelopes, banners, t-shirts . . . even their website. They realized the importance of pulling them together to effectively send a clear, memorable, repeatable message to create brand recognition in their market, and they were ready to take action.
So, I arranged a face to face introduction with a branding specialist that I was in relationship with to help get them on track. We all arrived the day of the meeting and THAT's when a perfectly good referral went bad . . .
Case #1 - Relationship Hi-Jacking: The person I trusted with my client's branding needs sent someone else to the meeting in their place, someone I'd only met a couple of times and that I truly didn't know well enough to entrust with my valuable relationships. The whole meeting could have been designated as a crime scene:
1. He (unintentionally) insulted me within the first 5 minutes.
2. He (inadvertently) insulted my clients within the first 10 minutes.
3. He (nervously) spent the first 20 minutes talking about his high profile/high budget clients and hadn't asked my clients the first question about their business.
4. And he neglected to properly thank me for the introduction. How rude!
Case Notes: If someone refers YOU, they are referring YOU not your business. They trust YOU not your co-workers. When it comes to whatever it is YOU do, they consider YOU to be the best. If it can't be YOU; they get to decide who, not YOU.
Are they guilty of relationship hi-jacking? No. They are innocent. They may have attempted it, but I allowed this injustice to happen. Remember, you're in charge of your relationships. Case closed!
Paula Frazier is a Master Trainer for Referral Institute and an Executive Director for BNI. While these are both international companies, she and her family have made Roanoke Virginia their home. To learn more about referral marketing opportunities in your area visit http://www.referralinstitute.com/.
===========================================================
5. To Do This Week
===========================================================
Pick on item this week you are procrastinating on and do it till it is done!
Enjoy a wonderful week.
Sincerely,
Linda Fayerweather, Editor
Changing Lanes LLC
Monday Morning Motivators - January 21, 2007
============================================================
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 http://www.mondaymorningmotivators.com/
"Maintaining a complicated life is a great way to avoid changing it."
--Elaine St. James
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Ask Your Customers - Linda Fayerweather
2. Not All Prospects are Created Equal - Rebecca Booth
3. Take Responsibility for Your Life - Pat Altvater
4. Referral Gone Bad - Paula Frazier
5. To Do This Week
6. Fine Print
============================================================
Ask Your Customers What They Want
============================================================
Pockets - that is what this customer wants, lots of pockets. Now if you are a guy and just read that you may be scratching your head because most men generally have at least 5 pockets even when they aren't wearing a jacket! Believe it or not, it is a luxury for women's pants AND jackets to have pockets. Being more a geek than a lady, I only carry a large wallet so my keys are in my left pocket, my cell phone and business cards are in my right which leaves me in a pickle when I don't have TWO pockets. Now, I have queried sales professionals about this lack of pockets and have been told...
"Pockets spoil the line of the outfit."
"Clothes with pockets are costly to make, translating to higher prices."
"Women carry purses."
Well, listen up manufactures of women's clothing:
1. Most hand bags I've seen tend to spoil the fashion more than pockets and are a nuisance to organize and keep track of;
2. My grandson, who is only 2'7" tall, recently wore pants with 4 pockets, a shirt with 2 pockets and he isn't coordinated enough to even use pockets;
3. Oh yes, I pay more for my pocket-less pants than my husband pays for his many pocketed pants;
4. Women carry purses, well, see number 1.
What's a woman to do? I don't know, maybe just vent - but I know for a fact that if any politicians running for any office went on the Pocket Platform, they would have my vote.
I do digress, and since we can't solve the pocket problem this morning, maybe you might want to ask your customers if there is something your product or service is missing that would make their life better. You may not be able to change things for all customers, but sometimes just listening is important!
Copyright 2008 Linda Fayerweather is Lean Certified and articles about getting your business lean are at: Changing Lanes LLC
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2. Not All Prospects Are Created Equal
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Sure, all prospects are important, but some require special attention. It's best to assess each of your prospects and put them into ABC categories. You can either sort your ABCs by the prospective value of the new piece of business or by readiness to buy. Those prospects on your "A" list will need more contact from you, but make sure that contact isn't always a "buy from me" or "buy now" message. Instead pepper your communications with personal notes attached to articles of interest for the prospect as well as invitations to your company's special events (tours, seminars, exhibitions in which you're participating). FYI, this same concept holds true for communicating with clients. ABC your way to higher profits in 2008!
Copyright 2007 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
http://www.rebeccaboothmarketinggoddess.com/
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3. Take Responsibility for your Life
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Rebecca Booth and I had the pleasure of attending a Jack Canfield Success Principles presentation in Detroit this past week. Principle #1 is to take 100% responsibility for your life because you created it! Everything that is in your current reality is there because of choices you made in the past - everything! You attracted it with your beliefs, thoughts and emotions. So if you want a different outcome in your life, all you need to do is change your inputs (your beliefs, thoughts and emotions). Start today and your tomorrows will be different.
I highly recommend Canfield's book, The Success Principles. To find out more about it, click here.
Copyright 2008 Pat Altvater
Owner, Transformations Institute
Author, Journey to WOW - Choose Health NOW
http://www.thesecretofpermanentweightloss.com/
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4. When Good Referrals Go Bad . . .2008 Fatalities!
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At a recent Certified Networker training, one of the conversations was around the significance of branding in a referral marketing plan. As a result, there was a husband and wife team participating that decided there was not enough consistency in some of their everyday marketing tools - business cards, letterhead, envelopes, banners, t-shirts . . . even their website. They realized the importance of pulling them together to effectively send a clear, memorable, repeatable message to create brand recognition in their market, and they were ready to take action.
So, I arranged a face to face introduction with a branding specialist that I was in relationship with to help get them on track. We all arrived the day of the meeting and THAT's when a perfectly good referral went bad . . .
Case #1 - Relationship Hi-Jacking: The person I trusted with my client's branding needs sent someone else to the meeting in their place, someone I'd only met a couple of times and that I truly didn't know well enough to entrust with my valuable relationships. The whole meeting could have been designated as a crime scene:
1. He (unintentionally) insulted me within the first 5 minutes.
2. He (inadvertently) insulted my clients within the first 10 minutes.
3. He (nervously) spent the first 20 minutes talking about his high profile/high budget clients and hadn't asked my clients the first question about their business.
4. And he neglected to properly thank me for the introduction. How rude!
Case Notes: If someone refers YOU, they are referring YOU not your business. They trust YOU not your co-workers. When it comes to whatever it is YOU do, they consider YOU to be the best. If it can't be YOU; they get to decide who, not YOU.
Are they guilty of relationship hi-jacking? No. They are innocent. They may have attempted it, but I allowed this injustice to happen. Remember, you're in charge of your relationships. Case closed!
Paula Frazier is a Master Trainer for Referral Institute and an Executive Director for BNI. While these are both international companies, she and her family have made Roanoke Virginia their home. To learn more about referral marketing opportunities in your area visit http://www.referralinstitute.com/.
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5. To Do This Week
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Pick on item this week you are procrastinating on and do it till it is done!
Enjoy a wonderful week.
Sincerely,
Linda Fayerweather, Editor
Changing Lanes LLC
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