What is the purpose of your business?

Posted on December 17, 2012 by David
Wishing you a steady stream of customers.

Wishing you a steady stream of customers.

You’re probably in business to make money, right? Certainly nothing wrong with that.

Offer a product or service, set the price, sell it. Now what?

Do it all over again. And again. And again. Lather, rinse, repeat.

It’s not just a one-time thing. You don’t spend money on a fancy store just to make one sale. That’s what movies are for. You know . . . build a set, shoot a scene, tear it down.

The point is to attract and retain customers . . . for life. If you want to become successful, learn how to do this.

Posted in Business Growth, Customer for Life, Purpose, Success | 1 Comment

Blue ribbon worthy

Posted on December 15, 2012 by David
Ribbon . . . Pin . . . Reward . . . Achievement

Ribbon . . . Pin . . . Reward . . . Achievement

Call it what you will. A blue ribbon is a symbol of high quality and excellence.

Is there someone on your team worthy of recognition? How do you let them know?

It can be a public affair or a private moment. Either way, there’s probably no such thing as too much employee recognition. It can come in the form of quarterly meetings, a yearly awards ceremony or even just a spontaneous “atta boy” when you see an achievement of one of your team members.

Don’t leave your team members starving for recognition.

Posted in Recognition, Success, Team | 1 Comment

Getting ready

Posted on December 12, 2012 by David
Tomorrow's workday comes in like the tide. You can be ready or you can be overwhelmed.

Tomorrow’s workday comes in like the tide. You can be ready or you can be overwhelmed.

What do you do to prepare for the workday?

It’s still called work.

Here are 4 tips you can use to prepare for the next workday. And to my coworkers, I’m trying to take my own advice. 🙂

1. Know what’s on the calendar. Is there a special meeting? Are you traveling offsite? Is someone coming to see you? You can prepare for the known events of the day. It’s preparing for the unknown events that drives success.

2. Have your supporting documents ready. Making a presentation? Have your presentation ready the night before you need it. Taking a trip? Finish packing the night before.

3. Create your to-do list. Some people suggest putting your to-do list by your bed so you’ll see it first thing in the morning. Others say put it on the center of your desk. Either approach can work as long as you see it. As you complete a task, check it off your list.

4. Prioritize. Be realistic. Some days you can get more done than others. Learn to say no.

Be prepared mentally and physically for the next day. This will help you be more productive.

Posted in Planning, Preparedness, Priority | Comments Off on Getting ready

Using your words for good or evil?

Posted on December 11, 2012 by David

He encouraged me by running with me, not ridiculing me for being out of shape.you

Are you lifting your team up or tearing others down just to make yours look good?

October was National Anti-Bullying Awareness Month. Did you know about it?

Bullying doesn’t just happen on the playground at school. It can happen in the business world, in your neighborhood and even in your own house. It can happen at anytime.

With the spread of social media, it becomes even easier for a bully to practice his abuse. Text messages, emails, fake websites, chat messages and posting embarrassing photos or videos of you or your business are all forms of bullying that doesn’t involve a bloody nose or a black eye.

But what can you do to fight it? You can operate yourself and your business with respect and confidence. Projecting a positive, assertive attitude means keeping your head up, back straight and avoiding people who might cause trouble.

“The cruel words of one are nothing to the shouts of many.” Jennifer Livingston

Watch Jennifer’s story here.

Posted in Edify, Encouragement, Extra Mile | 1 Comment

How are your drawing skills?

Posted on December 10, 2012 by David

How is your approach working?

Mine are horrible. That is if you’re talking about my artistic abilities.

How are you at drawing people? Stick figures don’t count.

If you know where you’re going, have you turned around recently to see if anyone is following you? It’s not a popularity contest. If you’re leading just to be famous, you’re doing it for the wrong reason.

“If you are leading others and you’re lonely, then you’re not doing it right. Think about it. If you’re all alone, that means nobody is following you. And if nobody is following you, then you’re not really leading.” –John Maxwell

Posted in Leadership | 6 Comments