Getting them talking – How to get others to open up and share about themselves to build connections and establish strong business relationships. In order to curiously listen to those with whom you are building business relationships, first you’ve got to get them talking. How do you do that? Ask solid questions. Great, interesting questions lead to great, informative answers, … [Read more...]
What is it 30-somethings want?
It's been a few years since I was 30. My younger daughter just celebrated her 30th birthday this past Monday. I do recall, however, that at age 30 I wasn't thinking about retirement. In fact, at that age I believe I was working as a newspaper reporter and loving every minute of it. The reason I bring this up is because I overheard two conversations while at lunch the … [Read more...]
Is Speed of Service an Added Value?
Customer service sometimes means how we approach our business...how we "do" our business. For our businesses to be profitable, we need customers and clients so we devote much time and attention to promotion and advertising. Another big percentage of our business is our interaction with our customers and clients in the buying and selling or product and service interface. A … [Read more...]
It’s important to be your own best customer
If you have a business, are involved in commerce in any way, you have customers. Customers are the people who pay money for the products or services or combination of products and services that your business offers. [Even if you are involved in a barter-type commerce, each side of a barter or trade is the other's customer.] This is not news to any of us with small or … [Read more...]
Without Walls
Honoring the 20th Anniversary of the Berlin Wall tumbling down reminded me of the children’s nursery rhyme-- “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall Humpty Dumpty had a great fall All the king’s horses and all the king’s men Couldn’t put Humpty together again” Curious verse; so here is my interpretation. When we fall and perhaps feel … [Read more...]
3 Websites you already know about
Or you might not...I don't want to be presumptuous. I love discovering new-to-me things. When I received my laptop as a Valentine's Day gift from my husband a few years ago, it virtually opened up the world. My local world is somewhat isolated by current necessities and I felt cutoff and frustrated. I had tried starting one little business after the other, but when you … [Read more...]
Business Stalled? A Killer Question
Halloween is a scary time of year. Ghosts, goblins, vampires and other creatures of the night stroll around making ugly faces and uttering growls and, like my dad used to do, they slap their shoe on the coffee table when you don't expect it scaring the bejezzus out of you. Actually it was pretty funny because we kids could always see it coming and mom never could and she … [Read more...]
Your Product or Service: How to Price it Right
I've always believed that you must price your particular product or service at a level that provides value for others at a price they're willing to pay. There are two parts of a price tag: one is the actual sale price of the item. The other is the value that the purchaser finds in buying that item. The actual sales price is just a number. However, the item is essentially … [Read more...]
How Many Hours A Day Can You Be Productive?
I once had a boss who would walk around the office at 5:05 to see who was sitting at their desk and who had already left for the day. He said that if you were able to leave at 5 every day, you didn't care about your job. So, we all sat around for an extra hour a day twiddling our thumbs so as not to arouse his suspicion. Sure, some days we had plenty of work to carry us to … [Read more...]
Reinvent Your Business
In reading More magazine's online version recently about their Reinvent Yourself feature I was struck by an idea: reinvent your business. I liked reading the articles that answer their questions: "...Have you turned your passion into a business or a nonprofit? Have you pursued a dream, nurtured an artistic talent, or mastered a new hobby?..." I know a few women who have … [Read more...]