By Michael Angier | February 8th, 2010
Being alive means we have and will have problems.
And if we’re going to be confronted with problems the rest of our lives, then becoming good at facing and solving problems seems to me to be a worthy endeavor.
Before I jump into my list, allow me to share a few of my thoughts ABOUT problems.
I believe there is almost always more than one solution to any problem. And if you think there’s only one, you will be significantly limiting yourself. » (Read More)
By Kim Sheehan | February 7th, 2010
We all love it when a customer raves about our business. But what about when customers don’t rave about our business…or when they have a bad experience? What happens if they talk about this bad experience?
This idea scares so many businesspeople that they won’t even start a word of mouth campaign. Losing control of the message is a disincentive for some. However, in recent conversations with a few great small businesspeople, some great tips on dealing with negative word of mouth have come to light. » (Read More)
By Dan DeGreef | February 6th, 2010
We’ve all been in a high pressure sales situation as a buyer. And, if you are like me, the only thing you wanted to do was run away!
The most effective salesmen create a relationship with the buyer and give him or her the information necessary to make a smart decision. Salesmen who help in this way usually have buyers pressuring them to sell them the car. Instead of running away, the buyer might say, “I’ve done my research and this is the car for me! I’m ready to buy.” » (Read More)
By Charlie Cook | February 5th, 2010
I’m always amazed at how many smart people try a marketing strategy and then quit before they can reap the benefits. Imagine you’d make a commitment to get fit, lose a few extra pounds and build up your strength so you could run five miles a day.
If you tried it for two days and discovered that you hadn’t lost any weight and didn’t feel any fitter – would you quit?
Of course not. You’d stick with it for months if not years, using the same strategy, eat less, exercise a bit more each week, until you’d reached your goals. » (Read More)
By Jeffrey Dobkin | February 5th, 2010
Here’s how to get your best prospects to call you, and the cost to you is $20. Send me the $20 and I’ll tell you.
It was a joke. Come-on, lighten up. You can send me the $20 later. It does cost $20 a lead, but hey, they’re your best prospects — and you’re going to get to them to call you. How much is that very warm lead worth? What are you paying to get each lead to call you now? » (Read More)
By Shakira Brown | February 4th, 2010
On my way to a recent visit to the hospital with my teenage son who got injured during a wrestling match (a benign injury that required an x-ray), I wondered what I would write my next blog post on. Within in 10 minutes of our arrival I had the answer. I should have known a visit to the hospital would lead to good material.
The emergency room process at a quality suburban hospital is quite simple: check-in, see the desk to verify insurance, see a nurse to write a report and then sit in a patient room until the on-call doctor shows up to check you out. My issue was with the insurance check part of the process. » (Read More)
By Charlie Cook | February 3rd, 2010
Tired of all the bad news about this economy?
Here is a bit of good news – I’ve spent the last six months documenting the 8 simple rules you can and must use to survive and profit in this lousy economy. I urge you to do whatever you can to get your hands on them. » (Read More)
By Eric Garner | February 3rd, 2010
If you want to move up the ranks of masterful communication, you have to watch what you say to others. Not just in the showpieces of communication such as a presentation or a meeting, but in everyday interaction. Learn the following 7 rules and you can quietly become a master of one-to-one communication:
1. Be Kind.
Whenever you engage with people, you always have two choices. You can communicate from a standpoint of love or from one of fear. When your communication is laced with sarcasm, blame, threat, anger, anxiety, worry, and control, you are communicating fear. » (Read More)
By Michael Katz | February 2nd, 2010
May I speak frankly? I’ve been on crutches for three weeks now and have come to one, simple conclusion: There’s nothing very convenient about it.
You can’t carry anything; you can’t find a good place to put the crutches when you’re sitting in a restaurant, or a movie theater, or an airplane; and you may as well not even bother trying to take care of business in a public restroom.
No, my friend, I’m sorry to say that crutches add nothing to your overall speed and mobility, a fact that explains why so few land mammals have evolved to the point where they are born with these appendages already attached. » (Read More)
By Tom Borg | February 1st, 2010
Several years ago I was doing a talk for my local Kiwanis Club and met a most delightful individual by the name of Greg Ferman. He was courteous and upbeat and happened to be an optometrist. I mentioned to him that I was looking for a new optometrist since mine had unfortunately passed away. He gave me his business card and invited me to set up an appointment to come in for a checkup.
A few weeks later I made an appointment to see Dr. Ferman and was totally impressed by this man’s very helpful and pleasant staff and office ambiance. » (Read More)