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Monday Morning Motivators – April 16, 2007
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Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
“Time waste differs from material waste in that there can be no salvage.”
-- Henry Ford
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Table of Contents
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1. Waste Not – Linda Fayerweather
2. What’s In Your Customer’s Head? - Rebecca Booth
3. Social/Business Organizations - John Meyer
4. To Do this Week
5. Fine Print
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1. Waste Not
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When a person decides to “get lean” they usually watch their waist along with their caloric intake. When a business wants to get lean, the business will key in on waste. Waste or muda comes in all sizes and shapes like material waste or overproduction but the most insidious waste is the wasting of time. Wasted time does not end up in the trash bin or on the shop floor. It cannot be recycled or recaptured. Wasted time is gone. Wasted time in office settings often starts with interruptions and distractions. Amazingly, time waste can slide down and up the corporate ladder depending on how managers and employees interact. Using a team approach, most offices can identify common time wasters and implement routines to shrink their waste more quickly than the average person can shirk their waist.
Copyright 2007 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
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2. What’s In Your Customer’s Head?
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Knowing the different listening styles people possess can help you identify if people are listening to your pitch or not.
• Mind Reader – you hear little or nothing as you wonder “what is that person really thinking or feeling?
• Rehearser – you tune out the speaker by thinking “Here’s what I’m going to say next.”
• Filterer – you hear only what you want to hear.
• Dreamer – you drift off during the conversation and are forced to ask your conversation partner to repeat what was said.
• Identifier – you relate everything you hear to your own experiences.
• Comparer – you get sidetracked assessing the messenger instead of the message
• Derailer – you like to change subjects quickly
• Sparrer – you discount or belittle what’s been said
• Placater – you agree with everything you hear just to be nice or to avoid conflict.
Copyright 2007 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
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3. Social/Business Organizations
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These types of groups combine business and pleasure. An example of these groups is the Jaycees. Associations such as these openly combine social activities with business or networking. Some groups tend to lean toward the "Singles Bar" mentality, but the opportunity to receive some business still exists. Before joining this type of organization, fully research what type of activities they do and determine if there is a true opportunity to do business. In some cases it will be a good opportunity, in others it won't be. Make sure you do your homework first. The Jaycees tend to be very focused and professional, so if this types of organization interests you, you may want to initially look at them.
Copyright 2007 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
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4. To Do This Week
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Five Week Kaizen of your office.
Week Two – Simplify so you can find anything in 5 seconds (or less).
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Chess or Checkers
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Monday Morning Motivators – April 9, 2007
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Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"Don't wait for a light to appear at the end of the tunnel, stride down there and light the bloody thing yourself."
-- Sara Henderson
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Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Checkers or Chess? – Linda Fayerweather
2. Are You Working Your Strengths? - Rebecca Booth
3. Professional Associations - John Meyer
4. To Do this Week
5. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Checkers or Chess?
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Are you playing checkers or chess with your staff? If you are playing checkers, you see each and every interaction with your employees as having a few simple moves – single slides or jumps – and each employee has the same “skill set”. But in chess, part of the strategy is learning how the individual pieces move and interact – a lot more like the average employee. Knowing what makes employees “tick” and also how they can help move the company forward is critical to keeping your company ahead of the competition. Lean companies strive to play chess and capitalize on the strengths of the individual.
Copyright 2007 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
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2. Are You Working Your Strengths?
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Marcus Buckingham penned a best seller a few years ago called Now Discover Your Strengths. He’s followed it up this year with Go Put Your Strengths to Work. Both are fascinating explorations of how we should rethink how we work. Instead of working on improving our weaknesses, Buckingham advises that we should improve our strengths instead. He cites Tiger Woods’ success at golf as a perfect example. We all know what a star Mr. Woods is, but did you know that he really, really stinks when he gets his ball stuck in a sandtrap? Instead of practicing how to get out of that situation more, Tiger focuses more on developing his turf game. What are you doing to capitalize on your strengths? Are you asking your teams to improve versus bloom? Twist the way you think about strengths and weaknesses and allow yourself and your employees to strengthen your business by parlaying their strengths!
Copyright 2007 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
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3. Professional Associations
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Professional Associations or as John Naisbitt describes them "Knowledge Networks" have been around for a long time. Some examples of these types of organizations are the AMS, American Management Society, or the Bar Association for Attorneys. These groups bring people of like businesses together to discuss their own industry. They exchange information and ideas and are sort of like a support group for their own kind. The benefits to joining these groups are twofold. One is the ability to talk about challenges and changes in your industry with people who are dealing with the same situations. Second is that you can develop friendly competitive alliances with others in your line of work. Remember that competitors can be a source of business also.
Copyright 2007 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
===========================================================
4. To Do This Week
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Begin a Five Week Kaizen of your office.
Week One – Sort your office.
Monday Morning Motivators – April 9, 2007
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"Don't wait for a light to appear at the end of the tunnel, stride down there and light the bloody thing yourself."
-- Sara Henderson
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Checkers or Chess? – Linda Fayerweather
2. Are You Working Your Strengths? - Rebecca Booth
3. Professional Associations - John Meyer
4. To Do this Week
5. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Checkers or Chess?
============================================================
Are you playing checkers or chess with your staff? If you are playing checkers, you see each and every interaction with your employees as having a few simple moves – single slides or jumps – and each employee has the same “skill set”. But in chess, part of the strategy is learning how the individual pieces move and interact – a lot more like the average employee. Knowing what makes employees “tick” and also how they can help move the company forward is critical to keeping your company ahead of the competition. Lean companies strive to play chess and capitalize on the strengths of the individual.
Copyright 2007 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Are You Working Your Strengths?
============================================================
Marcus Buckingham penned a best seller a few years ago called Now Discover Your Strengths. He’s followed it up this year with Go Put Your Strengths to Work. Both are fascinating explorations of how we should rethink how we work. Instead of working on improving our weaknesses, Buckingham advises that we should improve our strengths instead. He cites Tiger Woods’ success at golf as a perfect example. We all know what a star Mr. Woods is, but did you know that he really, really stinks when he gets his ball stuck in a sandtrap? Instead of practicing how to get out of that situation more, Tiger focuses more on developing his turf game. What are you doing to capitalize on your strengths? Are you asking your teams to improve versus bloom? Twist the way you think about strengths and weaknesses and allow yourself and your employees to strengthen your business by parlaying their strengths!
Copyright 2007 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Professional Associations
===========================================================
Professional Associations or as John Naisbitt describes them "Knowledge Networks" have been around for a long time. Some examples of these types of organizations are the AMS, American Management Society, or the Bar Association for Attorneys. These groups bring people of like businesses together to discuss their own industry. They exchange information and ideas and are sort of like a support group for their own kind. The benefits to joining these groups are twofold. One is the ability to talk about challenges and changes in your industry with people who are dealing with the same situations. Second is that you can develop friendly competitive alliances with others in your line of work. Remember that competitors can be a source of business also.
Copyright 2007 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
===========================================================
4. To Do This Week
===========================================================
Begin a Five Week Kaizen of your office.
Week One – Sort your office.
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Kaizen - Blooming Real Estate - Service Clubs
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Monday Morning Motivators – April 1, 2007
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Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
“To GET you must ASK.”
--John Gray
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Kaizen! – Linda Fayerweather
2. Blooming Real Estate in a Buyers’ Market - Rebecca Booth
3. Community-Service Clubs - John Meyer
4. To Do this Week
5. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Kaizen!
============================================================
“Holy Kaizen, Batman” said Robin to the Cap Crusader who was practicing his Spanish. Yes, Batman was learning a new language as part of his Kaizen.
Kaizen is the Japanese word for “change for the better” and the English equivalent is “continuous improvement”. Lean companies will sometimes have a Kaizen Event or Kaizen Day where everyone will focus on a pressing problem needing solutions or learning a new standard work process. To embrace Kaizen, one must operate with three key principles in mind:
-Process and Results – not results only;
-Systemic Thinking – the big picture, not the narrow view;
-Non-judgmental – judging and blaming are wasteful – muda*.
Continuous improvement is challenging to achieve but a key element to creating your own personal paradise. As your business creates its own lean oasis, individuals often realize that they are responsible for their own satisfaction and stumble out of their “bat cave” to emulate Kaizen in their own lives.
Copyright 2007 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
*Muda = Waste
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2. Blooming Real Estate in a Buyers’ Market
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‘Tis the season to sell that house! Follow these tips to attract more buyers:
• Get the House on the Net – Over 80% of homebuyers will check out home listing sites online before they buy. Have at least six good pictures of your home and a video tour online. Research shows that listings with six photos get almost 300% more viewers than those with single shots.
• Dress Up the House – Hire a designer to “stage” your home for showing. They will help you clear the clutter and dress the house up so that it looks more spacious and inviting.
• Price It Right to Begin With – Gone are the days of massive profits in real estate. If you want to sell your house fast, price it right the first time. Too many houses are on the market place today; don’t be surprised if you have to slash your price by 10% to get it to sell.
• Forget the “As Is” Listing – fix up that fixer-upper yourself before you sell it. Maybe replace that faux wood paneling with a nice coat of taupe paint.
Copyright 2007 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Community-Service Clubs
===========================================================
When joining a Service organization such as Kiwanis or Rotary, make sure you have realistic expectations about the possibility of receiving business. These types of organization are to give back to the community, not for you to promote your business. You will be able to get business, but that is not the reason for their existence. Service clubs meet regularly so they provide an opportunity to develop relationships. Talking openly about you or your business at a Service Club meeting will usually cost you some money, which is the opposite of Strong-Contact Networks or Casual-Contact Networks. Membership of Service Clubs is historically made up of CEO's, Management from large companies and local dignitaries, not a bad group of people to have lunch with every week!
Copyright 2007 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
===========================================================
4. To Do This Week
===========================================================
Multiple Choice Personal Kaizen – Pick One
A. Extend your exercise time
B. Shine your shoes
C. Change your diet
D. Participate in a community service project
E. Listen to advice
F. Learn a foreign language
Monday Morning Motivators – April 1, 2007
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
“To GET you must ASK.”
--John Gray
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Kaizen! – Linda Fayerweather
2. Blooming Real Estate in a Buyers’ Market - Rebecca Booth
3. Community-Service Clubs - John Meyer
4. To Do this Week
5. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Kaizen!
============================================================
“Holy Kaizen, Batman” said Robin to the Cap Crusader who was practicing his Spanish. Yes, Batman was learning a new language as part of his Kaizen.
Kaizen is the Japanese word for “change for the better” and the English equivalent is “continuous improvement”. Lean companies will sometimes have a Kaizen Event or Kaizen Day where everyone will focus on a pressing problem needing solutions or learning a new standard work process. To embrace Kaizen, one must operate with three key principles in mind:
-Process and Results – not results only;
-Systemic Thinking – the big picture, not the narrow view;
-Non-judgmental – judging and blaming are wasteful – muda*.
Continuous improvement is challenging to achieve but a key element to creating your own personal paradise. As your business creates its own lean oasis, individuals often realize that they are responsible for their own satisfaction and stumble out of their “bat cave” to emulate Kaizen in their own lives.
Copyright 2007 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
*Muda = Waste
============================================================
2. Blooming Real Estate in a Buyers’ Market
============================================================
‘Tis the season to sell that house! Follow these tips to attract more buyers:
• Get the House on the Net – Over 80% of homebuyers will check out home listing sites online before they buy. Have at least six good pictures of your home and a video tour online. Research shows that listings with six photos get almost 300% more viewers than those with single shots.
• Dress Up the House – Hire a designer to “stage” your home for showing. They will help you clear the clutter and dress the house up so that it looks more spacious and inviting.
• Price It Right to Begin With – Gone are the days of massive profits in real estate. If you want to sell your house fast, price it right the first time. Too many houses are on the market place today; don’t be surprised if you have to slash your price by 10% to get it to sell.
• Forget the “As Is” Listing – fix up that fixer-upper yourself before you sell it. Maybe replace that faux wood paneling with a nice coat of taupe paint.
Copyright 2007 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Community-Service Clubs
===========================================================
When joining a Service organization such as Kiwanis or Rotary, make sure you have realistic expectations about the possibility of receiving business. These types of organization are to give back to the community, not for you to promote your business. You will be able to get business, but that is not the reason for their existence. Service clubs meet regularly so they provide an opportunity to develop relationships. Talking openly about you or your business at a Service Club meeting will usually cost you some money, which is the opposite of Strong-Contact Networks or Casual-Contact Networks. Membership of Service Clubs is historically made up of CEO's, Management from large companies and local dignitaries, not a bad group of people to have lunch with every week!
Copyright 2007 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
===========================================================
4. To Do This Week
===========================================================
Multiple Choice Personal Kaizen – Pick One
A. Extend your exercise time
B. Shine your shoes
C. Change your diet
D. Participate in a community service project
E. Listen to advice
F. Learn a foreign language
Monday, March 26, 2007
Unexpected Positive Action
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Monday Morning Motivators – March 26, 2007
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"It takes less time to do a thing right, than it does to explain why you did it wrong.”
--Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Unexpected Positive Action – Linda Fayerweather
2. Chasing Value Not Sales - Rebecca Booth
3. Casual Contact Networks - John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Unexpected Positive Action
============================================================
Most of us have experienced the “Customer Service Scowl” and know exactly how it feels when we as customers are not appreciated. On the other side of the counter, empowering employees to deal with “Customers Scowling” is even trickier. On a recent trip to the discount store, I unknowingly selected the checkout line with a scowling customer ahead of me. She needed three price checks, two credit cards and one cell phone to complete her transaction. I knew it wasn’t the clerk’s problem as she efficiently did her part. When my turn arrived I chuckled and said “She was kind of high maintenance”. The clerk, still flustered, nodded and said “Sorry for your wait”. We exchanged some pleasantries and when she handed me my sales receipt, she pointed to the bottom and said “I gave you a 10% discount for your patience.” I thanked her and expressed surprise. Now, that 10% was only $2.50 yet that young clerk had been empowered to please customers. The unexpected positive action on her part made me feel valued reaffirming that actions DO speak louder than words.
Copyright 2007 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Chasing Value Not Sales
============================================================
There are 4 basic groups of customers:
1) Easy to get, easy to retain
2) Easy to get, hard to retain
3) Expensive to get, easy to retain
4) Expensive to get, hard to retain.
Which type of customers is your sales team focusing on? Typically it's #1. But did you know that the "Easy to get, easy to retain" customers generally account for only 20% of profits and 33% of sales? Not that good huh? The "Expensive to get, easy to retain" customers deliver more: 40% of profits and only 15% of sales. Get your team to turn their heads to greater profits.
Copyright 2007 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Casual Contact Networks
===========================================================
A perfect example of a Casual Contact Network is a Chamber of Commerce. These types of groups are general business groups that have no restrictions on the number of people represented in any profession. They usually meet monthly and have general business mixers. Chambers offer great benefits to their members and also act as a voice to the government for the business community. Those two reasons alone are why some people to join their local Chamber. Others join strictly to network. If you join for the networking opportunities, you have to realize that most chambers give you a chance to meet hundreds of people in a large environment, which takes more time to develop business, but it can happen. Above all else, don't expect to get any business if you don't become active. At Casual Contact Networks, you will usually find corporate sales reps, business owners and community leaders. This is a good way forum for them to stay visible and stay in contact with other business professionals.
Copyright 2007 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
Monday Morning Motivators – March 26, 2007
============================================================
Espresso business tips are designed to "caffeinate" your mind while your java gets you going. Subscribing and Unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
"It takes less time to do a thing right, than it does to explain why you did it wrong.”
--Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Unexpected Positive Action – Linda Fayerweather
2. Chasing Value Not Sales - Rebecca Booth
3. Casual Contact Networks - John Meyer
4. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Unexpected Positive Action
============================================================
Most of us have experienced the “Customer Service Scowl” and know exactly how it feels when we as customers are not appreciated. On the other side of the counter, empowering employees to deal with “Customers Scowling” is even trickier. On a recent trip to the discount store, I unknowingly selected the checkout line with a scowling customer ahead of me. She needed three price checks, two credit cards and one cell phone to complete her transaction. I knew it wasn’t the clerk’s problem as she efficiently did her part. When my turn arrived I chuckled and said “She was kind of high maintenance”. The clerk, still flustered, nodded and said “Sorry for your wait”. We exchanged some pleasantries and when she handed me my sales receipt, she pointed to the bottom and said “I gave you a 10% discount for your patience.” I thanked her and expressed surprise. Now, that 10% was only $2.50 yet that young clerk had been empowered to please customers. The unexpected positive action on her part made me feel valued reaffirming that actions DO speak louder than words.
Copyright 2007 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Chasing Value Not Sales
============================================================
There are 4 basic groups of customers:
1) Easy to get, easy to retain
2) Easy to get, hard to retain
3) Expensive to get, easy to retain
4) Expensive to get, hard to retain.
Which type of customers is your sales team focusing on? Typically it's #1. But did you know that the "Easy to get, easy to retain" customers generally account for only 20% of profits and 33% of sales? Not that good huh? The "Expensive to get, easy to retain" customers deliver more: 40% of profits and only 15% of sales. Get your team to turn their heads to greater profits.
Copyright 2007 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
===========================================================
3. Casual Contact Networks
===========================================================
A perfect example of a Casual Contact Network is a Chamber of Commerce. These types of groups are general business groups that have no restrictions on the number of people represented in any profession. They usually meet monthly and have general business mixers. Chambers offer great benefits to their members and also act as a voice to the government for the business community. Those two reasons alone are why some people to join their local Chamber. Others join strictly to network. If you join for the networking opportunities, you have to realize that most chambers give you a chance to meet hundreds of people in a large environment, which takes more time to develop business, but it can happen. Above all else, don't expect to get any business if you don't become active. At Casual Contact Networks, you will usually find corporate sales reps, business owners and community leaders. This is a good way forum for them to stay visible and stay in contact with other business professionals.
Copyright 2007 John R. Meyer
District Director, BNI Ohio
http://www.bni-ohio.com
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