Are you Presidential?

In honor of President’s Day, I set out to find the things that U.S. presidents did or said, as well as some other unique facts about them.  I was hoping to find a correlating thread they had among them – beyond being POTUS of course.  What I discovered was fascinating: the office of President has been held by men of diverse backgrounds, achievements, passions, and accomplishments.

Here are 12 items about U.S. presidents that caught my interest:

• Thomas Jefferson had two pet bears
• John Quincy Adams was a journalist
• James Madison was the shortest President at 5’4”
• William Henry Harrison had the longest inaugural address.  He was outside in inclement weather and was not wearing an overcoat or a hat.  He died of pneumonia a month later.
• Herbert Hoover spoke fluent Mandarin Chinese
• Grover Cleveland was a sheriff and the pubic executioner
• Theodore Roosevelt was the first American to receive the Nobel Peace Prize
• Woodrow Wilson raised a flock of sheep on the White House lawn and donated the wool to the Red Cross
• Warren Harding suffered nervous breakdowns at 24 years old, and had to spend some time in a sanitarium
• Lyndon Johnson was a school teacher
• At 69, Ronald Regan was the oldest man to be elected President
• Barack Obama has two Grammy Awards

Reading this gives me hope.  One of the greatest things about our nation is the fact that anyone has the chance to become President.  It could be you, the person sitting next to you, or even your boss or employee.  So make sure you are nice to the employees around you and play your cards right, you might get a cabinet position.

Of course, that is just my opinion…and 0pinionsVary!!!

-Shad

Do you love your customers?

Well, another Valentine’s Day is here.  The greeting card industry and florists across America are giggling with excitement as they have one of their biggest months of sales.  But why do we wait until Valentine’s Day to show our love?  In our business world, are we showing our love for our customers as much as we should?  Here are some innovative ways you can show your customers the love every day:

 

1)      Provide the best Customer Service every day. Just like in any relationship, you should strive to do your best to show your love every day.  You should also make sure you are providing amazing customer service every day.   Just one mistake can quickly shift your customers from loving you to hating you.  So nurture them like you would any other loving relationship.

2)      Remember their special days. Most salespeople are good at remembering the major holidays, such as Valentine’s Day and Christmas.  They utilize these days to take the opportunity to say thank you and send well wishes. But what about those other special day?  Do you know your customers’ birthdays and work anniversaries?  What about other days, such as their partnership anniversary with you?  People love to be recognized when they least expect it.  Make sure you take every opportunity to recognize your customers.  Even a $.99 eCard can make their day more special and let them feel the love.

3)      Pass on a referral. Do you actively try to find ways to grow your customers’ business?  Referrals are the backbone of sales and, by referring more business to your clients; they hopefully will do the same for you.  Pay it forward.  Nothing shows more love in business than helping someone make more money.

4)      Add more value.  Are you more than the sum of your services?  You need to be.  Sometime you need to be (but not limited to): Psychologist, Therapist, Area Expert, and a variety of other jobs that add more value to a business relationship.  The more things you can be for your customers, the more they feel that you care about their success.

 

And remember, just saying you care is easy!!!  Meaning it is more challenging.  Care about the success of you customers.  Show them the love and they will show you love in return.

Of course, that is just my opinion…and 0pinionsVary!!!

-Shad

What is your business barometer?

In 1643, Evangelista Torricelli invented the barometer.  He wanted to see what the weather was like.  Also, he wanted some insight into what the weather was going to be.  Little did he know that his invention would revolutionize the world!  Today, we have meteorologists on TV to predict the weather.  So where do barometers fit into our daily lives?  Let’s start by looking at barometers in business.

As an example, in the apartment industry, businesses that are in transition are a great barometer.  Businesses that are hiring, building, moving, or asking for loans, are great indicators that jobs will be made available, hiring will take place, and apartments will be needed.  Other industries have their own barometers they use to predict their economic future.  The ability to look at a trigger event in order to predict the future – this is the barometer for business.  What is the barometer for your sales model?

Also, barometers can be used to study the present.  Look inside your own office.  Who inside of your office is the barometer?  Is the staff upbeat?  Is efficiency at an all-time high?  Is there disgruntlement in the office over recent decisions?  Every office of more than three people has that person you can watch to gauge what the general mood of the office is.  Knowing who to watch can equal knowing how to act when an internal decision needs to be made or how to react when a decision is controversial. Who is the mood barometer in your office?

One other way barometers can be used is at the point of sale.  What factors impact your sales environment?  An example of this is that McDonalds sells more hotcakes on rainy mornings.  In addition, the holiday season creates a barometer for the retail industry. This is in turn used by the Food Service industry to predict restaurants’ volume of sales.  What factors create a spike or decline in your sales volume?  Using these as a barometer helps you always be ready for the best and worst of times.

Barometers are wonderful tools of measurement used by scientists.  You can be a scientist that studies your business environment in order to achieve a better ROI (Return on Investment).  What you learn could earn you the Nobel Prize for Sales Success.

Of course, that is just my opinion…and 0pinionsVary

-Shad

Are you going to be a Water Cooler Brand?

The Super Bowl is under a week away and the Internet is buzzing with random information about the teams, the players, the coaches, and the host city of New Orleans.  But that is not what is getting the most attention.  Social Media is taking the center stage in an ever-evolving race for the best commercials.

We all love the Super Bowl commercials – more than the game itself at times.  And the day after, it is the commercials – not the game – that gets the most conversation time around the “water cooler”.  With an estimated 167 million people watching this year’s game, it is no wonder that companies are shelling out more than $3 million per 30-second spot.  The advertising however, does not end with the televised show.  Millions more are being spent in an attempt to have “The Viral Ad” of the year.

The 2011 Star Wars Volkswagen ad has over 56 million views on You Tube.  This year, the popular car company has spent more than $10 million with its “Get Happy” campaign.  So, for every dollar they are spending, they are receiving five million views; assuming the trend remains.  And Volkswagen is not alone.  Ford, Pepsi, Coca Cola, Audi, Doritos, and Mercedes-Benz are all trying to cash in and win big.  Many of the commercials even have “pre-commercials” already on You Tube (I personally love Coke’s “Coke Chase” campaign”).

So, when you are at your next marketing strategy meeting; look around the room and ask yourself, “Who here is going to come up with the next viral idea?”  That person (hopefully it is you) could win the Super Bowl of advertising and have your company become the next Water Cooler Conversation.

Volkswagon “Get Happy”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfCm9P8naDQ

Coke Chase: www.cokechase.com

Of course, that is just my opinion…and 0pinionsVary.

-Shad

What is your business costume?

As I watched the Inauguration ceremonies Monday, I wondered how people choose what to wear.   It is easy to know that you should wear a tuxedo or gown to a formal ball and jeans and a t-shirt to a rock concert.  But what are you supposed to wear to watch the President take the Oath of Office?  Do you wear the red tie or the blue tie, the black dress or the green blouse?  It all has to do with the perception you want to create.

The same concept goes with business.  I was once was told that I should always be the best dressed man in the room.  Is that concept still true today?  Is there a time when more inconspicuous attire is more appropriate?  It is sometimes hard to decide which business costume is best to wear.  

 

Here are some thoughts:

 

 

 

• If you want everyone to notice you and generate more respect – dress better than everyone else in the room
• If you want to blend in and be inconspicuous – dress the same as everyone but wear muted colors
• If you want to have a bolder impact – wear bolder colors
• Avoid prints – people spend more time paying attention to the print instead of you
• When choosing accessories – less is more

In the ever-changing business climate, it is imperative that you create the right impression.  Often times, the decision to do business is made before a conversation has even been had.  You might never get a chance recover from a bad first impression.  Make sure that when you put on your business costume you ask yourself a question…”Do I look like a clown?”

Of course, that is just my opinion…and 0pinionsVary!!!

-Shad

Letters between an employee and a manager

Dear Manager,

Do you see me?  Do you see my efforts…my passion for my job?  I sit here on the front lines every day, making money for…YOU.  While you go off to your “meetings” and other important items, I keep the business running.  I miss lunches, come in early, and stay late.  I get less vacation time, less sick time, and heaven forbid that I ever need a personal day off.  I don’t do this for the money.  It is what needs to be done.

For most of my coworkers, they only give the extra effort when more money is on the line.  I give extra effort every day.  No one does the job better than me.  I am your superstar and you don’t even know it.  You live in your office and only know what is in your email or on your desk.  Pay attention to me.

Here is what you can do to help me.  A little recognition is a good start.  If I do a good job, tell me so.  Put an award on my desk even.  Another thing you can do is to ease up a little. I am harder on myself than you will ever be on me.  Finally, think of my family.  They sacrifice a large part of their life with me so that I can provide for this business.  A day off early, a day to come in late, or even a longer lunch sometimes allows me to show them that they are the most important thing in my life.

Sincerely,

Your Loyal Employee

________________

Dear Employee,

Thank you for your hard work; I know that I do not say it often enough.  I would love to, but I have a terrible burden of stress distracting me right now.  If we do not meet the goals set up by the company, we will all be out of a job.  Profits are down, productivity is down, and the industry is on the move.  We need to find way to evolve with the industry so that we can remain relevant.

I also am working my fingers to the bone.  I would much rather be out with you, but my bosses won’t leave me alone. They call and email non-stop with requests for updates, reports, explanations, and plans.   When I go home, it does not stop.  My family sees me but I am not there.  When I try to go to sleep, my mind is still here.  Everywhere I go…this company follows me.

Please understand that I need you to continue to work hard.  You are appreciated, even if I do not say so.  However, I need you to be less needy.  We are all in the same boat together and if my part sinks…we all sink.  I want more time with my family and for my life too.. But that is not possible right now. What is important to me right now is to keep my job successful so that I can provide for my family.  Isn’t this what you want to?  We all need to do our part.  One day, we will be able to go have a drink together and put the past behind us.

Sincerely,

Your Loyal Manager

Of course, these are not just my opinions, and 0pinionsVary

-Shad

What type of Salespeople are you growing in your garden?

When I am not providing Social Sales Support Services to our valued partners, I love to be outdoors.  I love nature and green is one of my favorite colors.  Grass, plants, trees, and flowers all give me a feeling of tranquility.  Nature is full of beauty and wonder.  So is being in Sales.  The art of finding customers, engaging them, closing sales, and even follow-up, has the opportunity to be a beautiful part of business.  Customers are amazed when their needs are fully met after a great sales experience.  So what type of salespeople do you have:  Orchids, Oaks, or Bamboo?

Orchids – Orchids are some of the most beautiful and unique flowers out there.  They come in every size, shape, and look imaginable.  They are specialists in their environment.  Many succeed in growing where nothing else will grow.   They often create partnerships between themselves and other plants in order to create mutual success.  An orchid is a true specialist that can provide a stunning impression.

However, orchids are a challenge to care for and even the most experienced experts can have difficulty in dealing with their unique needs.  They are delicate and a slight change in the environment threatens their well-being.  They are high maintenance at times and even though they get great results, they are limited in what they can achieve.

Oaks – Oaks are incredibly broad and strong.   Their canopy covers a broad and diverse area underneath.  They are well rooted and can survive storms and the ever-changing environment.  They produce an endless amount of results (acorns) and can always be counted on.

Unfortunately, oaks are somewhat limited: they are almost generic.  If you have seen one oak, you have seen them all.  Even though they produce an endless amount of (results), these results are small and you have to have a volume of them to produce a great return.  Also, if you plant an oak, it takes a long time to grow.  The slow oak will always be with you and will always produce a steady supply of basic results.

Bamboo – When the storms come and the winds howl, bamboo is strong and flexible.   It will weather any storm.  It grows very quickly and begins to spread out.  The more time bamboo get, the more it spreads and dominates.  It seems nothing can stop it.

But, that is the challenge in itself.  If you are not careful, bamboo takes control over everything around it.  You may want other things in your yard, but bamboo will act jealously to make sure it is the only thing growing there.

 

So, be thoughtful when planting the garden that is your business.  All three of these plants will serve you well.  But be prepared.  You are as only as good as what your sales garden produces.

Of course, that is just my opinion…and 0pinionsVary!!!

-Shad

Are you Exit Marketing?

Why is it that we do not market to people leaving our business?  We spent tons of money – in some cases, thousands of dollars – to get them to come through the door in the first place.  We ask them to stop by and see what we have to offer.  We tell them to try out our food, our products, our services and they will see how great we are. 

So they come in and spend time with us.  In some cases, they spend their hard earned dollars with us.  They give us the chance to remain a profitable business and provide them exemplary service.  Then, it comes time for them to leave.  And in most cases, we just let them walk right out the door.  What did we give them to remember us by?  Have we missed an opportunity to market to these people?

Isn’t asking someone to return an essential part of marketing?  Shouldn’t we ask each person if they enjoyed their experience?   This would allow us to learn what we can do to earn their business or visit again.  Are we so busy in our daily grind that just saying, “thank you for coming” or “we appreciate your business” is too much trouble?

I was recently at a restaurant for a dinner date and the greeter asked for my name and number.  She said that, the next day, someone would call to see how I enjoyed my time.  I was very impressed the next day when I received that call.    I also love it when stores want me to take a flyer or brochure with me when I leave.  It may or may not inspire me to return quickly.  But later on, it will remind me that I was there and cause me to consider that option.

Spend some time and effort trying to capture return business or prospects.  You could truly stand out in your marketplace by focusing efforts on them as well.  Your time, and your effort, will be rewarded with good information that will help you grow your business and opportunities to make more money.  Anything is better than continuing to just let them walk right out the door.

Of course, that is just my opinion…and 0pinionsVary!!!

-Shad

Business from 20 Millions Years Ago

20 million years ago, dinosaurs ruled the Earth.  They did not have any of our modern conveniences.  They did not have cell phones, or iPads, or GPS, or plasma 3-D TVs.  Dinosaurs ruled for millions of years, because they were really good at one thing…just being dinosaurs.

 But, things changed.  The dinosaurs became extinct.  Modern scientists have argued for years over the exact reasons why.  Global cooling, an asteroid, lack of adequate food, and other reasons have been suggested.  But one fact still remains…the dinosaurs became extinct because they did not evolve.

 Businesses today are the same way.  For years – even during the economic downturn – they have been successful.  But now, a new world has emerged and many of these once successful businesses have begun to suffer.  They are having ill effects, caused by not keeping up with the times and not staying informed about what is on the horizon.

 The information age has made most preexisting sales and business systems obsolete.  Gone are the days where you receive referrals from only word of mouth.  We used to “take someone’s word” on the quality of your business.  Now review sites rule the day for exploring brand quality.  Word of mouth has now become “I saw on Facebook…”.  If you are answering an email request within 24 hours, that is most likely 24 hours too late.  The only relevant time frame in NOW!!!

 To be a valuable company today, you must extend your reach beyond your products and services.  You must provide added intellectual or creative service.  You can no longer rely solely on traditional propaganda and advertising.  You must find ways to become part of a larger conversation that is happening via Social Media.  Everything you do will be scrutinized by the modern consumer.  You must become more than the sum of your products and services.  If you do not evolve to meet the needs of the NEW consumer, your company will go the way of the dinosaurs.

 Of course, the is just my opinion…and 0pinionsVary

-Shad

Where is your 2013 business resolution?

Another year has left us and a new one has just begun.  Thousands of people go back to work and start their attempts to succeed in this year’s resolutions.  Whether it is diet related, home finances related, health related, or relationship related, the use of the New Year to…”turn over a new leaf” is an important part of the celebration.  But why do we keep this strictly to personal growth?  Why do we not also apply this to business?

Here are some business resolutions that will help make your wallet bigger in 2013:

 I resolve to be on time:  This not only counts for showing up for work, but keeping to all of your deadlines and schedules.  Nothing irritates customers and co-workers more than having to wait on someone else.

I resolve to stay organized:  This means no piling on the desk, keeping up with the email inbox, and not over-promising.  Make sure that you take the time to keep yourself streamlined.  Your team and customers will be impressed.

I resolve to be aware of the needs of my team and clients:  Many of the needs that our business relationships have go unnoticed.  Take the time to ask a few extra questions, to remember special events (like birthdays and anniversaries), and to focus to the little things.  We get so caught up focusing on the big picture that we often forget about those small needs that make a partnership successful.

I resolve to take care of me: In order to be more productive at work you need to take care of you.  Get a good night’s sleep and live a healthier life.  Take care of those personal life distractions so that you can focus on work when you are at work.  This also means when you are not working, that you are NOT WORKING!!!  It is very rare that it cannot wait until you are back in the office tomorrow.

By taking the time and by being on time, you can achieve the most important business goal that you can have in 2013.  I resolve to be better at business and to make more money.

 Of course that is just my opinion..and 0pinionsVary

-Shad