Finding the Best Business to Start Right Now!

Finding the Best Business to Start Right Now!

Sure, follow the hot new-business trends. But also make sure your new business has the three traits that most often lead to start-up success.

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Over the past few years, I have spent a lot of time at workforce centers holding free seminars for dislocated workers on how to successfully start a small business. I have done this seminar more than 50 times, and in each session, I invariably get asked the same question: "What is the best business to start right now?"

The meaning behind this question is clear. The person asking the question is looking for the perfect business based on current growth trends and economic issues.

Looking for Recession-Proof Trends

I answer this question two ways. I usually start by explaining that various social or cultural trends can provide opportunities for business startups and even "recession-proof" businesses. For example, businesses that provide services to help aging seniors live more in dependant lives are a smart bet because the target market is growing rapidly.

Similarly, "green" businesses are being positively received right now. (The problem with "green" businesses is that many don't have a sustainable business model and can require a lot of start-up capital: just look at Solyndra!) Pet-related businesses also seem recession-resistant. For some reason, people will continue to spend money on their pets even when they are in financial trouble.

But be warned: Trends are important, but they can change rapidly. My experience in the video rental business taught me that.

Three Traits That Predict Startup Success

The second way I answer the question is to explain that any business can be a good business to start if it has three particular traits:

First, the business should have a significant competitive advantageover the competition. That means you can separate yourself from the pack and quickly gain exposure with prospective customers.

Trait number two is a business owner with vast experience in the industry. Deep experience flattens the learning curve and helps avoid unpleasant surprises. In many cases, the business owner's reputation can help the startup gain traction quickly.

Third, the business should be able to get to positive cash flow quickly. In today's credit markets, if your small business can't show how it will get to positive cash flow in the first 3-6 months; it will be difficult to obtain funding. Almost all investors and bankers want to see positive cash flow in at least the first year, but what they're really looking for is positive cash flow in the first quarter or two.

If your new business idea follows current growth trends and it possess all of three of these traits, it's likely a great business to start right now.

By: Bob Voss

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CRM Success by the Numbers - Part 7: Too Many Numbers – or Balls – in the Air

The CRM success goals you set should be measurable, achievable and agreed upon by the firm’s key CRM stakeholders. They should also be relevant. In a law firm, that means saving time, solving problems or, best of all, increasing revenue. Most importantly they should be limited in number. If you try to keep too many CRM success balls in the air, you will often end up dropping them all.

Here are some relevant goals that I’ve seen firms set – and achieve:

• Clean up just one list for an upcoming mailing or event – and then another – and another
• Categorize a group of contacts such as competitors or vendors so that we don't inadvertently invite them to our next event
• Get one BD-focused Practice Group to enter their reimbursable business development activities with prospects
• Print reports of marketing activities with top Clients to provide at the monthly client team meeting
• Input industry information or codes for the firm’s top 100 (or 200 or 500) Clients so that lists can be generated for industry-focused publications or events
• Build an expert witness database for the litigation group
• Create some specialized fields for firm personnel records to track languages, education or expertise for pitches
• Here’s a particularly (or not) relevant goal for quite a few firms: this year, let’s fix the holiday card list.

 Fixing that one may just pay for the CRM system. Better get started in August though…

Lifetime Annuity and Retirement Annuities are Big Financial Deals for Retirees

By Robert Cook

If you are on the verge of retirement and are worried about your financial condition post retirement then the best option would be to invest in annuities because they provide a financially secured retirement life by offering a steady flow of income for the rest of your life. Retirement offers a permanent break from work and not from life. It is the time to lead a relaxed and happy life. However, you can be relaxed and happy on when you have a financially secured condition. So invest in Lifetime Annuity and be relaxed and happy after retirement.

Lifetime Annuity can be defined as a contract between the insurance company and applicant. After taking up this scheme you can be assured of a steady income for your entire life regularly. Further, there are many policies of this scheme such as single life policy, joint life policy and period certain policy. In the first policy you will receive regular monthly income for lifetime.

However, it is to be noted that only you can avail the benefits under this scheme until you are alive. In the second policy of Lifetime Annuity you can provide financial security to your spouse even after your death. But the income that is received here is less than the single life policy. In the third policy you can provide financial support on monthly basis to a beneficiary in case of your premature death for a period of time mentioned by you in the contract.

Besides this you can even opt for Retirement Annuities. For investment in these you will have to make a payment to the insurance company initially. Then after a certain period of time you will receive payments depending on the returns on the money invested by you. This payment can be on periodic basis or on regular monthly basis. Further, it is to be noted that the returns received by you will depend on the amount of money you have invested and the type of annuity contract chosen by you. Apart from these there are personal factors as well which play an important role in deciding the amount of money that will be received by you from Retirement Annuities such as age, health and sex of the person. Hence, this scheme enables the retired people to lead a relaxed life without any financial worries.

Therefore, if you have a decent sum of money for investment then nothing can be a better investment scheme than Retirement Annuities.

Critical Thinking Strategies in Decision Making

By Steve Jones

Problem Analysis Article

Critical thinking is an essential part of everyone's daily lives and is not reserved for just the workplace and/or school. "Critical thinking is valuable in many contexts outside the classroom and the workplace" (Bassham, 2002, p. 27). The simplest decisions can have huge affects if the critical thinking process is not used. The problem described below is a good example of how small choices can impact an organization and its members in a detrimental way. The reader will see the product of what happens when the critical thinking process is left out and decisions are made on a whim.

"Computers cannot make decisions involving values and risk preferences. Here, human judgment is required" (Bazerman, 2002, p. 5); hence, the primary problem being that the Person in Charge (PIC) is not familiar with scale read-outs and therefore requires the assistance of the Mass Production Engineer (MPE) to complete the task safely and successfully. Due to a serious lack of judgment, miscommunication, and role ambiguity the uploading process had to be shut down in order to avoid a safety hazard. This series of problems violated safety measures and had the potential to negatively impact the companies bottom-line.

When the Spacecraft was being transferred from tooling to the transportation cart the PIC alerted the Manager that there was a problem, which led to the operation being halted. Once the Spacecraft was off-loaded, the PIC, Quality Inspector, Quality Engineering, Vehicle Engineer, and Manager assessed the situation. An Incident Report and an Electronic Process Anomaly Record were generated and an immediate investigation was launched. All personnel involved in the situation were interviewed and all data was collected. Additionally, photographs were taken of all the pertinent tooling and flight hardware.

The goal was to get to the root cause of the problem. The objective was to prevent this situation from recurring and to disseminate the findings to the enterprise. A Root Cause and Corrective Actions (RCCA) method, using Six Sigma, was used to frame the problem. When the RCCA committee gathered, a brainstorming session was initiated to obtain maximum information. A problem statement was formed and the background of the problem was investigated, which led to the exercise of containment actions. The result of the investigation was documented using a fault tree, of which the root causes were determined. Corrective actions were assigned to the responsible parties and estimated completion dates were announced; all findings and actions were implemented. All information and findings were then disseminated to the enterprise. The process was concluded when the Corrective Action Board documented all lessons learned in order to help the enterprise be proactive in all future activities.

The problems encountered with the PIC and MPE have made the organization liable for physical injuries and monetary losses. Due to the lack of judgment, product knowledge, and the breakdown of communication the organization is now required to thoroughly investigate the matter. The organization also has to invest additional time and money toward the formation of a Root Cause and Corrective Action Team. Additionally, the organization has the added expense of cross-training and offering continuing education in order to reduce the risk of the same problem happening again.

The problem that occurred is easily resolved, but if left unchecked the problem can cause further problems that affect the organization and its members. The decision-making models show many methods of solving problems, but mostly that the circle of improvement goes on. The company could implement an "always at your station" guideline, among others. The guideline, however, is not going to help the team solve the underlying problem of bad judgment. If common sense is used, the problem will be solved immediately. If the employees have difficulty using good judgment the team could possibly implement additional safety training as a reminder of how to stay safe.

The causes and forces of influence are relatively intangible because they have their root in the minds of all the employees involved in the operation. A foundation must first be laid in order to prevent similar incidents. The foundation, in this case, will indeed be a large quantity of paperwork, which includes many different forms and reports. Once proper information has been gathered and organized the information will then need to be disseminated and incorporated into existing procedures, and more notably, into the minds of the employees. The main force needed to accomplish the desired influence will be primarily monetary. Money is needed because physical documents, training, and man-hours all come at a price. Although money can and will fix the problem, funds must be carefully allocated and controlled.

Calibrating, training, and communication are some measurements that can be used to prevent reoccurring problems. To ensure the scale read-out is working properly, the scale should be calibrated once a month and logged for tracking purposes. The PIC and MPE should be aware of each other's job responsibilities in order to reduce role ambiguity; therefore, additional training should be given to both. Because the PIC and MPE are required to work together as a team, each party needs to remain in constant communication during lift operations; abandoning ones station is not an option. Furthermore, the PIC and MPE should ask questions when in doubt; this will help to reduce safety hazards.

One of the most effective methods for measuring a desired result is constructing a checklist of all the necessary procedures to be carried out. The checklist would consist of observations of proper calibration, lifting technique, communication, and all other necessary procedures. In order for the checklist to be properly evaluated it should be completed and carried out by an objective observer. Monetary resources are undoubtedly tight in the organization; therefore, said resources should be periodically monitored. However, the identity of the person doing the evaluation should be kept confidential. The criteria should be based on the checklist of all the necessary procedures including dynamic communication. The organization should conduct an example lift with a top PIC and MPE, wherein every employee is required to observe and thus base his or her actions on. A history of flawless execution of the procedure would be used to determine a successful outcome.

Alternative solutions include the PIC and MPE taking into consideration that each party will inevitably make individual decisions; however, when said decisions affect all aspects of the operation, each party needs to communicate his or her thoughts because one wrong decision could wipe out the entire operation and/or cause physical injury. "Tough decisions can produce bad outcomes no matter what precautions decision makers take, because key factors that influence the outcome is often governed by chance events. Bad decisions occur when foreseeable events are not recognized and managed" (Nutt, 1989, p. 42). The MPE could have avoided the risk of safety hazards by determining the scope and limitations before leaving his post, as the MPE had more experience and was directed to assist the PIC. Making a decision implies different alternative choices to be considered, but the key is to choose the solution(s) that best fits with company's goals and desires.

In conclusion, the MPE's bad judgment was due to his lack of critical thinking skills. Using a decision-making model, even in the simplest form, may have prevented the problem from occurring in the first place. Sometimes, when minute decisions are made, one may think that he or she does not need to analyze said decisions thoroughly; however, the above example proves otherwise. This example should help many understand why the critical thinking process is so important and how even the smallest of choices can make a tremendous impact.

References:
Bassham, G. (2002). Introduction to Critical Thinking. In (Ed.), Critical Thinking: A Student's Introduction, 1e (pp. 1-65). New York, NY: The McGraw-Hill Companies.

Jones, S (2012) http://www.study-aids.co.uk/busman/busman_essays.html

Bazerman, M. H. (2002). Introduction to Managerial Decision Making. In (Ed.), Judgment in Managerial Decision Making (pp. 5-29). New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Nutt, P. C. (1989). Preventing Debacles by Improving Decision Making. In (Ed.), Making Tough Decisions: Tactics for Improving Managerial Decision Making (pp. 1-43). New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Controlling Your Personal (Mental and Emotional) Energy

By Dr. Bob Rausch

Seven Rules for Increasing Mental Energy

It's all about what you tell yourself

Your boss just declared that you made a huge mistake on an important project. What you say to yourself afterward makes a world of difference in your attitude, performance, and energy. Every thought you think and every emotion you feel requires energy. Cars use gasoline. Light bulbs use electricity. Your body uses an unlimited supply of the energy we are all provided. How you choose to use your energy is up to you. The truth is that you drain more energy on mental and emotional issues than on physical ones. Here are seven rules to help you maintain higher mental and emotional energy.

1. Practice the Universal One-Third Rule. Psychologists have stated that no matter what you do there is a One-Third Rule. One-third of the people like what you do, one-third of the people don't like what you do, and one-third of the people don't care what you do. Just remember that, "People do things for their own reasons, not for yours."

1. Define the Focus of Importance. When you are working with others get your focus very clear. It's easy to spend too much energy worrying about what someone thinks of you. Keep the focus where it needs to be, on the other person. One way to achieve focus is to recite this statement: "It's more important what I think of you than what you think of me."

1. Depersonalize disappointments. This is about business, not your self-esteem. Life is not always fair, so love and help people, but do not allow them to define who you are or your level of success.

1. Reframe Energy Drains. People can't affect the outcome of your experience unless you let them. Nothing that is pushing against you takes effect unless you push back. Reframe the situation. "When you have an uncomfortable situation ask, ‘Is there something I can learn from this."

1. Evaluate the Energy Drain. Did you hear something negative or take something negatively? Your level of energy will determine how you hear information. When you are low on energy you are more vulnerable to feeling defensive.

1. Delete clutter. Develop a behavioral trash bin. If a behavior doesn't teach or offer you something, delete it and send it to your behavioral trash bin.

1. Celebrate your successes. Don't be modest. When you do well admit it to yourself. Celebrations are energy refuelers.

20 Tips for Success from Kemmons Wilson

1. Work only a half a day; it makes no difference which half-it can be either the first 12 hours or the last 12 hours.

2. Work is the master key that opens the door to all opportunities.

3. Mental attitude plays a far more important role in a person's success or failure than mental capacity.

4. Remember that we all climb the ladder of success one-step at a time.

5. There are two ways to get to the top of the oak tree. One way is to sit on an acorn and wait; the other is to climb it.

6. Do not be afraid of taking a chance. Remember that a broken watch is exactly right at least twice every 24 hours.

7. The secret of happiness is not doing what one likes, but in liking what one does.

8. Eliminate from your vocabulary the words, "I don't think I can" and substitute "I know I can".

9. In evaluating a career, put opportunity ahead of security.

10. Remember that success requires half luck and half brains.

11. A person has to take risks to achieve.

12. People who takes pains never to do more than they get paid for, never get paid for anything more than they do.

13. No job is too hard as long as you are smart enough to find someone else to do it for you.

14. Opportunity comes often. It knocks as often as you have an ear trained to heat it, an eye trained to see it, a hand trained to grasp it, and a head trained to use it.

15. You cannot procrastinate-in two days, tomorrow will be yesterday.

16. Sell your wristwatch and buy an alarm clock.

17. A successful person realizes his personal responsibility for self-motivation. He starts himself because he possesses the key to his own ignition switch.

18. Do not worry. You can't change the past, but you sure can ruin the present by worrying aver the future. Remember that half the things we worry about never happen, and the other half are going to happen anyway. So, why worry?

19. It is not how much you have but how much you enjoy that makes happiness.

20. Believe in God and obey the Ten Commandments.

Are Your Employees Happy? How do You Know?

Ever wonder if the people who work for you are happy? Have you ever asked them? If not, how do you know they are unless they come in every morning skipping to the tune of "Whistle While You Work"? As a leader in your organization, you have so many things on your mind crowding your brain for space, that it is no wonder you might find yourself unable to answer this most basic of questions relative to how you manage your people. If this troubles you, this article is for you. On the other hand, if this doesn't trouble you, this article is even more for you. If yours is the mentality that employees don't get paid to be happy, they get paid to work, you would have had a lot of company thirty years ago before smart leaders started to realize that employee satisfaction i.e. their happiness, is critical to productivity and competitive edge. Any organization that underestimates the business value of happy employees is doomed to a never-ending cycle of recruiting and hiring without any significant increase in profits or customer satisfaction. On that happy note, let's assume for argument's sake that employee satisfaction is critical for organizational success and look at ways you, as a leader, can figure out where things stand with your own employees. Here are ten ways that will help you determine if they are actually happy or they are just putting in time until something better comes along. First,

1. They tell you they're happy. People are usually pretty upfront about how they feel about their job, their supervisor, and the company they work for, especially if you ask them. For many, the trick is to do so in a way that is safe and confidential and with guarantees of anonymity. Fear of reprisal is real and totally understandable. Employees will only tell you what they think you want to hear unless they have confidence that their honesty will not get them into trouble. They have families to support and careers to aspire to, and they absolutely will not jeopardize those things just to tell you truth. On the other hand, when employees voluntarily tell you that they are happy with their job you can probably rely on that. Only the worst kind of suck-ups voluntarily lie about this and tell you they are happy when they are not. If you are a keen observer of your people you can also see signs of their job satisfaction. Are they upbeat when you talk to them? Do they seem excited to talk about their job and their daily activities? Do they have positive things to say and valuable input into current challenges? All of these are indicators that employees are engaged and happy in your organization.

1. They stay with you. One of the highest indicators of job satisfaction is low attrition. Study after study has proven that people do not stay in a job for the money. They stay in a job for the people around them and the satisfaction the job brings. Look at how long your people have been with you and why they haven't left yet. Granted, there are generational differences in this data given that Baby Boomers are much more inclined to stay in a job longer than the Gen Xers and the Millenials. However, regardless of the age group, people stay longer if they are happy. Leaders do not want to recruit, hire, and train new people every few months. It is extremely costly both in terms of profits and customer satisfaction. So, if your people tend to stick with you they are probably pretty happy. The only exception concerns those employees who are not performing to company standards. These guys normally fall into two groups, the ones whose performance is so poor they can't find a job someplace else, and the ones who are your B flat performers who believe in just kicking back and "letting Jesus take the wheel". These guys might be with you forever but not because they are happy. You won't be either.

1. They get along with each other most of the time. Depending on the size of your organization this might be hard to figure out by just observing your employees since it may not be possible see everyone every day. However, you can get a great gauge of this in two ways. First, observe closely the relationships between the people you do see every day. How do they seem to get along? Do they work well as a team? Do they appear to be having fun working with each other? Is there humor in their relationship? They don't have to indulge in party hats and whoopee cushions every day, but being able to laugh together is a great sign. Second, take a look at your complaint process. What are the trends? Are complaints going up or down in numbers? Is there significance to the trend, meaning is it more prevalent in one part of the organization over the others? What is the nature of the complaints? Looking at this data will tell you far more than simply asking your middle managers how their staff gets along with each other. Even the best middle managers will want to put on a happy face to this question because otherwise, it could reflect badly on their own ability to build and sustain effective teams.

1. They produce well. It is a fact that happy employees produce better results. Oh, wait, that sounds dangerously like the commercial that ties happy cows to better cheese. But the fact is animals and people both produce better whenever they are happy. If cheese producers can figure this out, organizational leaders should be way ahead of the concept. That is not to compare people with bovines, but instead, simply to emphasize the importance happiness is to the end product. Think about it, as a leader, you are probably no different. The happier you are the better you feel overall and the more energy, creativity, and initiative you have. It's a simple concept. A foundation for employees' happiness starts by ensuring clarity in exactly what their jobs entail and the scope of their responsibilities. Happy employees have a sound understanding of what they are supposed to be doing and what flexibility and limitations are involved. They are more creative and innovative in their problem-solving and take more interest in the organization as a whole rather than just their own small part in it.

1. They socialize normally and easily. Once again, depending on the size of your organization you may not be able to see this firsthand for all employees. But, you certainly can observe how the people around you socialize. That is not to imply that you should want your employees to party continuously or hang out at the local watering hole every day unless you want them to all end up in AA together. On the contrary, socializing among employees just means they are easy in each other's presence even outside work. Activities can vary widely both in terms of frequency and focus. The concept of employees socializing normally and easily means simply that they voluntarily see each other outside normal work hours because they want to, not because they feel compelled to. While outside socializing is certainly not a prerequisite to employee happiness, employees who are not happy at work make a beeline out of there just as soon as the bell rings and are determined not to see anyone from work until they have to drag themselves back in the next day.

1. Others notice the camaraderie. Happy employees have built supportive relationships with each other that are seen and felt by others who come in contact with them. Customers and clients feel better when they are around happy employees because when they see positive interaction among employees is makes them feel like they are in good hands. Other leaders who come in contact with employees in that organization are envious of the camaraderie there and want to duplicate this in their own companies. One of the keys to employee satisfaction is an effective communication plan that keeps employees connected with each other and with their leader. Leaders who make a concerted effort to ensure that employees are comfortable in their presence know that this sets the tone for interactions in the entire organization. Demanding salutes and clicking heels may get results but not happy employees.

1. You can recruit by reputation. If your attrition is low, you don't have to do a lot of recruiting. That is a good thing for many reasons, primarily because it saves time and money. However, most employees do change jobs once in a while and they do retire, so smart leaders are always in the business of recruiting for the day they have vacancies to fill. If your employees are happy you have no trouble getting qualified applicants to apply for your vacant positions. Smart applicants have done their research and see that yours is an organization that values its employees and takes pride in their accomplishments. Smart leaders have an effective marketing strategy that showcases their efforts to train and develop people, acknowledge excellence and implement programs that foster intellectual growth. Once yours is known as a great organization to work for, you can move the money normally reserved for recruitment to other more critical needs.

1. Your employees are your best recruiters. Happy employees talk about the organization to their friends and family on a regular basis. They are excited about what they are working on and talk freely about their assignments. They highly recommend the organization as a great place to work. When asked for specifics they can quickly name at least five things that they like about working there, such as the fact that they feel appreciated and respected, that organizational leaders partner well with labor unions, and company policies follow not just the letter but also the intent of the law. Even when there are no vacancies, they encourage others to try to get a job there someday. And, whenever there are vacancies, they spread the gospel and actively look for good candidates. They are proud of the company, its leadership, and their part in its success.

1. They don't sweat the small stuff. Happy employees minimize conflict by focusing on the organization's mission and goals. They have a profound understanding and universal buy-in of the purpose of the organization and their role in it. They are models of courtesy and respect. There is a maturity about the way they handle themselves that comes from gratitude for their job and understanding that no job is without its stresses and challenges. They are astute enough to distinguish between what is critical and what is simply annoying and refuse to indulge in theatrics over little things. Happy employees demonstrate great humor in their attitude and outlook which helps them have fun even under the most strenuous circumstances. That makes them fun to be around. Remember: If you aren't happy around your employees, they probably aren't happy around you. That means everybody loses.

1. They don't engage in negative behaviors. Organizations with higher percentage of unhappy employees lose productivity to non-productive behaviors. Employees who are unhappy in their job spend valuable time complaining, speculating about what they think management is up to, and trying to organize a mutiny with co-workers based on rumors and innuendo. They see collusion and subterfuge everywhere. They are insecure about their own standing in the organization and as a result, couldn't care less about their colleagues or customers. On the other hand, happy employees are so engaged in their work that they have neither the time nor the inclination to indulge in this kind of stuff and they shun the guys who do. Happy employees are trusting and loyal and can disagree constructively without holding a grudge. And, here is a huge payoff: They strive to create solutions for their leaders rather than problems.

Well now, have you made an assessment of how your employees stack up? Do they seem to be having a good time when you observe them, or do you find yourself wading through a miasma of gloomy faces and dragging feet. Are there areas you still need to work on? If so, encourage employee participation in improving these areas. One of the keys to keeping employees happy is soliciting their input and implementing their most valuable suggestions. Look at areas like how you communicate with your employees, how you integrate the mission and values into your interactions with them, and how you tell them thank you. And, if you find yourself still wondering if employee happiness is all that important? Put the question to the test. Take a few steps like those recognized above and then compare the findings. I promise you that you will find that while wages and benefits will get you employees, their happiness will get you results.

Jeanne Miller Rodriguez

April 2012

Website: www.readysetbooks.net

Blog: www.workwellsolutions.wordpress.com

Crowdfunding Your Startup

Summary: Crowdfunding offers a new and exciting way for entrepreneurs to obtain startup financing. Check out the top crowdfunding sites to learn how to get your share.

If you've been looking for funding to start your business, this is a very good time to be alive.

While banks are not lending and venture capital is hard to find, there's a new way to raise money for your business that you may not know about. And it is quickly transforming small and mid-size businesses.

Social funding (also called "crowdsource" funding or just crowdfunding) is taking on a life of its own and redefining how small businesses raise money for startup and growth. Crowdfunding websites enable individual investors to learn about and invest in companies, usually for a small "reward" in return -- and they are popping up like dandelions in springtime.

Much has been written about KickStarter.com (such as this great piece, Kickstarter Offers Creative 'Donor' Financing Option, by AllBusiness writer Carol Tice), so let's take a quick look at my other favorites:

• 40Billion appeals directly to the startup entrepreneur who is seeking capital from friends and family. If you're an only child, don't worry: 40Billion has managed to connect with both Facebook and LinkedIn to make you part of the larger social "family." The site promotes loans and gifts. There is also a score given to each applicant. Pay attention to this score, as investors will certainly be watching.
• PeerBackers offers "anyone with an idea, project, business, or invention" a way to tap crowdfunding. The site coordinates donations or gifts from funders and the "rewards" offered by entrepreneurs (ranging from product samples and company updates to invites to product release parties) in a format similar to KickStarter. This is an exceptionally easy site to navigate.
• ProFounder is working within the federal fundraising laws to do something really unusual: let you offer a percentage of your future profits to your investors. Although this is not actually "stock" in your company, there are legal limits -- and some forms -- required by state and federal law. ProFounder helps you stay within the law, invite funders to participate, and distribute the profits quarterly.
• IndieGoGo is a global funding market with projects and investors in 163 countries. Although it tends to emphasize projects that have a social benefit, there is plenty of room for for-profit enterprises. If you have a tax deduction available for investors, this platform will help you promote that, too.
• InvestedIn has everything from a beauty queen in need of pageant fees to a social network looking for marketing dollars. Like most crowdfunding sites, this is a gift/reward site.

Also of note:

• WebEquity manages to get around the legalities of offering stock by pairing entrepreneurs with "sweat equity" workers. Most requests on this site are for Web or app developers, but the concept could apply to any skill set. Need a chief executive officer? How about a great salesperson? WebEquity can match your need with someone willing to work for stock. Others in this space include Go Big Network and Foundrs.
• Cofundit is a European effort. (But remember, money and good ideas know no borders!) By putting a formal evaluation step into the process, Cofundit takes a major step toward quality assurance. This is an important step for investors, and it helps explain why the companies seeking money on Cofundit are looking for $200,000 to $500,000 or more. Other European sites include WiSeed, which you can review if your French is better than mine.

Whichever site you choose, think of crowdfunding like social networking. If you are on Facebook, it doesn't mean you can't also be on LinkedIn. For a serious fundraising campaign, join several of these sites to reach the maximum number of funders.

But -- also like social networking -- remember to hit up your friends. You've got to build a crowd for crowdfunding, and getting your friends involved is a good start.

BY David Worrell

A Guide to Persuasive Speech

By Jeff Ingram

A persuasive speech is characterized by steering the audience to believe and accept what the speaker is offering them. The main aim is to persuade and win over the audience by explaining to them why the offered idea is a great one. It is generally not hard to win over the audience and be successful in persuasion. It just needs a little more gusto than usual, and in some cases, a combination of conviction and charisma. Here are some tips that can be of help for speakers to be successful in their speeches.

The first thing the speaker must do is to establish his rapport with the audience. There has to be a strong connection between the speaker and the audience, since doing so means getting their attention. The speaker must get the attention of his audience in the first few minutes of the speech. This is to ensure that they will hear, understand, and eventually evaluate the facts and cases given by the speaker so the audience will hopefully accept the latter's proposition. There are many ways on how to do this: some speakers use humor, surprise, movement and anecdotes. It is up to the speaker what method he likes to use as long as he can get the attention of the audience.

The second factor in having an effective persuasive speech is for the speaker to establish authority and leadership. It is a given fact that people will more likely follow the trends and ideas of someone they look up to, or someone who has an authority over them. This is a tricky business to go on with since it is difficult to identify at which point one can say that authority is already present. However, it can be done by telling the audience why they should believe in the ideas presented by the speaker. Why should they make it their own? It is more than just quoting a list of credentials and good background. The speaker should know all the facets of his topic to make the speech as natural and knowledgeable to the audience as possible.

Lastly, the persuasive speech must have a backup plan to answer the non-believers. This is usually the "so-what" phrases. It is also important to have a majestic "close" or that last phrase that urge the audience to take a stand. It must be creative and fully thought-changing, so that even in the last phase of the speech the audience will reconsider their options and with any luck, take the idea that was just presented to them.

3 Ways to Recover from a Mistake at Work

What did you do now? What did you say that got you into hot water? Did you accidentally insult the boss? Did you blame a co-worker for work that went undone? Did you praise the competition too much during the marketing presentation to top management?

We are going to make mistakes, and we must have strategies to identify them quickly, and to implement a recovery plan. It's essential that we quickly determine when we erred. We must know what to fix.

Incompetent people are sometimes described as those who don't know that they don't know. For these individuals, mistakes are common because they are unwilling to accept that they could be wrong.

While we are professionals, we are not pro athletes. We are not going to miss a last-second shot, throw an interception, or swing-and-miss at strike three. When the clock hits 5:00 pm, we can keep going. It's time to put it in overdrive, and not worry about the pressure of overtime.

Here are three strategies to recover from a mistake at work:

#1: Accept responsibility for the mistake, and develop a plan to resolve it.

Your boss will appreciate that you accepted responsibility for the mishap, and you went a step further to fix it. Avoid having others remind you of the problem. The sooner you determine what went awry, and how it can be corrected, the sooner you can put it behind you.

#2: Convert the mistake into a long-term benefit for the organization.

In many cases, mistakes are made because we are careless. For example, we failed to have a checklist in place, which means that the customers were not informed of the change in venue.

Once you fix the mistake, pull together a team to discuss how you can avoid this problem in the future. In essence, you are creating a quality control measure that will help the organization in the future. In quick order, your mistake has led to process improvement, and your leadership team will recognize the importance of this effort.

#3: Do whatever possible to avoid making the mistake in the future.

You must ensure that mistakes are not repeated. If you failed to make an important meeting because you forgot to add the item to your calendar, make sure that you have a back-up notification plan for future meetings. You can have your assistant text you 30 minutes before the scheduled meeting. It's important that you have a plan in place. Making the same mistake continually is a sign that you lack professionalism, and it will eventually lead to bigger problems.

We're not perfect, and that's for sure. The fact that we are imperfect makes us human, and provides us with a chance to showcase our wherewithal. We also learn the unpleasant feeling of doing something silly, and its immediate impact on our business operations.

However, once we assume accountability, we can find a solution. The leadership team respects those who identify the problem, implement an immediate fix, and seek a long-term solution. In fact, perseverance is an important trait for successful leaders.

The lesson here is to avoid fretting about mistakes. Unlike pro athletes, we have more wiggle room to get out of a pickle.



Jimmie Flores - About the Author:

Dr. Jimmie Flores,PhD,PMP,ITIL,SSBB,SPHR,GPHR is a
seasoned organizational development and continuous
improvement professional with 20 years of experience. In
2006, he founded the Flores Consulting Group, a company
based in San Antonio, TX. Dr. Flores is also an expert
in project management, ITIL, Six Sigma, Entrepreneurship,
and Sports Officiating.

Please feel free to share your success stories with me. You can reach me at jflores@jmbok.com or by calling 210-601-1996 and also you can visit my website at http://www.jmbok.com

China's economy: What are the challenges and opportunities?

By alanlambert

For the past twenty years, the economic growth that no other country can achieve has turned the Chinese economy from a pool of stagnant water into economic power stations, and at an alarming rate, the country has absorbed goods and capital from the rest of the world. Countries such as Canada, Australia and other major resource-producing countries take this express train to achieve their own great prosperity. Today, this huge red machine is at an important turning point. One critic has ever questioned whether China has become the world's largest bubble economy, a huge fraud which is about to be exposed? Or is it really a waking and would-be dominator of the world.

The practice of China's massive injection of capitals has produced results. Critical infrastructure and social housing projects have been put into practice rapidly. Large government subsidies have helped so many factories to maintain. However, low-cost credit and the influx of investment funds have also caused dangerous bubbles in real estate sector as well as other assets.

Nowadays, the Beijing government is taking more stringent measure, that is, to slow economic train speed to curb rising inflation, and not to derail this train. The new "second five" lists a clear agenda, intending to shift the increasing focus to promoting domestic consumption, and thus to reduce the dependence on low-cost manufacturing industries. At the same time, the country will encourage the development of the service industries and the investment in the biotechnology and other "emerging strategic industries". The policies it has adopted to squeeze the buddle out of the present economic system shows its determination in shifting the model of the economic model. More measures will be taken to encourage domestic consumption to foster the economic development.

According to the estimation of some economists', if this economic transformation achieves success, with the growth in wages and narrowing of income gap, China will be able to adapt to a lower annual growing rate. China's supporters believe that a pragmatic and flexible leadership can take control of this very important and difficult balancing act again. They believe that this country is still on the road to taking place of the U.S. and Europe which are challenged in the finance and are suffering the political paralysis and it will be the next superpower, one which will far surpass its rivals within the country, just as Britain dominated the 19th century and the United States dominated the 20th century.

Use a Mobile Website, But Don't Make These Mistakes

Everyone is appealing accustomed with the internet and websites. After all, just 10 years ago you apparently didn't dream about accomplishing your cyberbanking on-line or booking hotels and vacations through a website. Now, it's a accepted accident and about 'second nature' and has become the 'normal' way of accomplishing business.

But accept that just because you accept a website, it doesn't beggarly that it's optimized for the adaptable web. Optimizing a website for the adaptable web absolutely agency that you accept to actualize a bare down adaptation of your absolute website that provides alone the a lot of important advice about your auto account shop. That is, how to acquaintance you and acquisition you.

When you're ambience up your adaptable website, be abiding that you don't accomplish these accepted mistakes:

Don't try to absolute adaptable visitors to your approved website. Internet experts are absolutely adage that there's two internets; One for the desktop or laptop user; the added for the adaptable user. Accept that even admitting smartphone users can 'pinch' and 'squeeze' pages to zoom in and apprehend them, a lot of just bang away. Above that, your approved website takes too continued to load. If you wish to be acknowledged in the adaptable world, you accept to alpha by apropos your visitors time and bandwidth consumption. Accomplish your adaptable website with abate pages and faster loading.

Don't accomplish visitors punch the buzz to allocution to you or jot down a amount area they can 'text' you. Your adaptable website should use scripts and links that automatically let visitors 'tap' or bang to alarm you. The hotlink automatically brings up their buzz with your buzz amount abounding in. They just accept to columnist the 'send' button! Likewise you can add links to let them 'text' anon to your phone. Just like the buzz links, the user is taken to their argument messaging with your amount already in the appropriate field! (What a abundant way to alpha a chat and a claimed accord with your barter and prospects!)

Don't accomplish the adaptable user guess. When adaptable users appointment a adaptable website, they are attending for the facts; Just the facts ma'am, just the facts! Don't accomplish them assumption on area to acquisition you. Accommodate alternate maps so they can get admonition or added advice (if they wish or charge to). In short, accomplish it simple for them. The acerbic analysis is to get somebody who doesn't apperceive who or area you are and ask them how continued it took them to get what they need. When it comes to adaptable websites, account is not just an issue, it's a huge issue. Otherwise, visitors just bang away.

When creating your adaptable website, bethink that your visitors absolutely just wish the basal facts so they can acquaintance you. Keep the pages short, fast loading and accommodate the advice your company needs to call, argument or appointment you.

How to stay positive

By Zellmanke

How to stay positive and keep a positive attitude

Almost everyone gets days that they feel life is dragging them down. There can be many causes for these negative feelings, but there are ways to overcome negativity and stay positive. There has been a time in my life when I had to work actively on staying positive. I had to find ways to get rid of my negativity at home and sometimes at work as well. This is why I want to share some tips and quotes with you all today on how to stay positive.

Tips on how to stay positive

1 .Ground yourself and find your own path: One of the main reasons people don`t know how to stay positive is because they live their lives to please others. Stop. Get to know yourself…who you are and what you want and need in life. Boost yourself by focusing on what is important to you personally. Set achievable goals for yourself and strive to reach them. Remember that exceptional people do exceptional things – try to push the boundaries of your potential. Some things in life are just random and what you do with it is what matters. Your life is your own. You can choose the direction you want to take and pursue it one small step at a time.

2. Appreciate yourself: Look on the inside and find things that you like about yourself, even if it is something small. Are you funny? What do you have pride in? Are you good with people? Do you have a lot of patience? When you focus on the positive things about yourself, you might have a positive influence on others without even knowing it. Appreciate your physical attributes. Do you have nice strong nails or beautiful feet? Does your haircut make you look great? Find things that appeal to you.

3 .Change the way you look at things: If you cannot change something, change your attitude towards it. It all depends on how you choose to look at things. Let yourself dream and get excited about possibilities. If you cannot change something, do not waste your time worrying over it. If you can`t control it let it go.

"If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." - Dr Wayne Dyer

4. Block out negative thoughts: If you find yourself in a bad mood decide to change your mind. Do not focus on the negatives. Ask yourself the right kind of questions like "what can I learn from this" rather than "why did this happen to me?". Make your self-talk positive. Get feedback and support from positive people in your life that make you feel good about yourself and know how to stay positive themselves. Do not automatically assume that nobody cares. Realize that most people have ups and down in their life as well as moments of low self-esteem. Remember that there will always be a tomorrow, next week, next month… Some things pass with time and most things tend to get better.

5. Do not stop yourself from feeling joy: Let yourself enjoy life. Take the time, step back and just enjoy the moment. It is important to smile and laugh – even if your situation is not the best. Have fun for fun`s sake, even it is "not important".

"There are always flowers for those who want to see them." - Henry Matisse

6. Reminisce and take time for yourself: This is an important how to stay positive tip. Think about happy memories. Think back about all the good things you have experienced, felt, achieve – it doesn't matter how small. Remember that in the future there will be many more good things and do not allow a few obstacles to get in your way. Another how to stay positive tip is to spend some quiet time alone, without any distractions like a cell phone or television, and listen to your inner self.

7. Be consciously grateful: Find things, people or experiences to be grateful for EVERYDAY! Take stock of your life and consciously appreciate the people and the things in it. It do not have to be big things, but I am sure if you have access to this blog post on a computer – any computer – you must have something to be grateful for. There will always be people out there that are much worse off than yourself but are still able to stay positive.

A final way I learned how to stay positive is to keep healthy, stimulated and challenged by doing loads of activities.

Stress Management Techniques for a Calmer Life

By Ben Brafman

Stress management plays an important role in how effectively we're able to combat stress and other anxieties we experience in our everyday lives. We all have things that stress us out, be it bills piling up, an upcoming deadline at work or problems at home, and we all deal with those stresses differently. Stress levels that aren't healthily managed and worked on are capable of wreaking havoc on our minds, bodies, emotions and behaviors. The key word mentioned in the previous sentence is healthily, as Americans especially are notorious for utilizing unhealthy tactics to combat their stress like smoking, drinking and abusing pills and drugs to name a few.

Since avoiding stress altogether is just not reasonable, it's imperative that we all learn and practice effective stress management techniques so we don't become overwhelmed with anxiety and consumed with worry. Nonprofit organization Help Guide offers some insight on healthy ways to deal with stressful situations by utilizing their "Four A's: Avoid, Alter, Adapt and Accept."

Stress Management Using the Four A's

Avoid- Avoid unnecessary stress. This is not advising you to avoid all stress in your life as again, that's not possible nor is it healthy. For example, a large part of effective stress management is knowing your limits and when you're close to reaching them. When you have a full plate, you have to learn how to say "no" to taking on additional responsibilities that you're unable to handle. This could be at work, home or even in your social life. If there are people, circumstances or even topics of conversation that are hot-button issues for you, either limit the amount of time you're exposed to them or avoid them entirely.

Alter- Alter the situation. If a stressful situation is unavoidable, think of different ways you can alter it so it doesn't continue to come up and provide you with excess stress. Many of us are guilty of bottling our feelings up and not being open and honest about things that upset us. The longer we go without expressing how we feel the more resentment builds up inside us. A great stress management technique is simply voicing our feelings as a method of altering the situation. Honesty can lead to understanding, which can lead to compromise, which can lead to reaching a happy middle ground for all.

Adapt- Adapt to the stressor. If you can't change the situation or individual that is causing you stress, change how you respond to it. Start by reframing the problem in a more positive light. Give yourself some perspective by looking at the big picture. Is this something that's still going to matter in a day, a month, a year etc? One of the most effective forms of stress management is to focus on all of the positive things you have going on in your life. The simple act of taking some time to breathe and be reflective and thankful for all the good in your life can be incredibly calming and help you keep things in perspective, while not sweating the small stuff.

Accept- Accept the things you cannot change. One of the hardest things for us as individuals to do is to accept the fact that we can't control everything as it can make us feel powerless against the things that cause us grief. That said, achieving this acceptance and stopping your efforts to control things out of our control can be incredibly empowering and another important focus of stress management. Accept the fact that you cannot control the behavior of another person but you can control the manner in which you let it affect you and react to it. No one is perfect and everyone makes mistakes. Accepting that people are going to mess up from time to time and choosing to let go of lingering anger and resentment is another great way to free yourself from unnecessary stress.

Pub Marketing Using SMS

Pub business has become abundant added important in contempo years due to the bread-and-butter bearings that we acquisition ourselves in. Because of this, the pub barter has been heavily afflicted by the actuality that humans accept beneath money to absorb on affluence items and that they are traveling out to socialise on beneath occasions.

So, how do we get the bulletin beyond to our barter to accomplish them added acquainted of the actuality that you are still there? You could use acceptable business methods such as commercial in your bounded newspaper, handing out flyers in the street, or accepting posters in your establishment.

Let's bound go through anniversary of these:

Newspaper Advertising: This adjustment has been accurate to plan to a baby degree, about the simple actuality of the bulk is that a lot of of us now if we're account book media accept become 'immune' to adverts and so tend to skip over them. Bi-weekly commercial is aswell apathetic moving, ie, you abode the advert in the advertisement today, and it may not be printed for addition 5 days. This is not the boilerplate you charge if you accept a advance or accident you wish humans to apperceive about tomorrow.

Street Flyers: You could absorb a few hundred pounds to get a few thousand flyers printed off with alcohol promotions that you commonly accept active in adjustment to duke them out in the artery to casual humans on a Friday night. The botheration with this adjustment is that almost ninety to ninety-five per cent of humans out walking in the artery already apperceive breadth they are traveling and will just abandon the flyer and avoid it. So for the environmentally publican, alive that they accept about blowzy their bounded breadth with hundreds or thousand flyers does not consistently sit simple on the mind. Also, with the actual 5 to ten percent of humans who do not apperceive breadth they are aiming for on a night out, you are alone acceptable to abduction a baby bulk of those to airing through your doors. So you accept to decide, is it account paying out to accept these printed for a baby scattering of added customers?

In-house Posters: These are abundant for if you already accept the humans central your pub, but how will it get them into there in the aboriginal place?

An another business adjustment for pubs is adaptable business application SMS. This is an old technology acclimated in a new way to get your bulletin out to humans and is actual amount able compared to added methods. The acumen for this is that beneath UK law it is actionable to forward out unsolicited argument letters to humans who accept not autonomous in to accept them from you, so those that get them wish to apprehend what offers, promotions and contest you're running.

SMS business is aswell badly responsive. If you al of a sudden book a bandage to play that evening, or you are accepting a decidedly quiet night you can blazon up your bulletin and accept it in the approach of hundreds of humans in seconds. There is no cat-and-mouse for a bi-weekly to be published, no auctioning of flyers you've had printed, it actually is burning marketing.

SMS letters aswell accept a ninety-six per cent apprehend rate, which dwarfs the boilerplate fifty-five per cent for artery flyers, and the almost ten percent of bi-weekly advertising.

Want To Achieve Your Goals? Five Reasons Why You Need To Build Self Confidence Now

By Farouk J Roberts

Building self confidence without a doubt is essential to you achieving yours goal - whether personal, business, or family.

Five (5) Reasons Why Self Confidence Increases the Probability of the Success of your Goals:

http://www.onegoalsynergy.com

1. Goals Are More Likely to be Completed

Ever felt like giving up before the end? Well building self confidence helps to avoid that.

When we believe in our abilities and that of our team, it gives us an extra boost of encouragement and will power to see that our goal is completed on time and as successful as possible. We are motivated and determined by the fact that we believe that we have the required talent and skill to get the job done or by the fact that we have access to the skills required. Without this assurance doubts will continue to pop up ever so often into our minds and sooner than later we will begin to believe those doubts even if they aren't factually true. This is the sad result when we allow doubts to take root into our minds. Therefore it is essential to continuously remind ourselves that we have what it takes.

2. Commitment Is Ensured

There is no greater regret than not knowing if we could have succeeded had we not given up midstream.

Confidence builds and sustains interest and loyalty in our goals. It spurs that internal voice that says "no matter what I am going to give my all." Surely there will be challenges that will come and there will be times when we just want to throw in the towel and give up, but if we ever hold onto believing in ourselves we quickly turn that idea of giving up completely around, and become even more determined to remain committed to the goal. Especially when we are dealing with a personal or business goal, there is an internal satisfaction that comes when we have battled these kind of thoughts and have won. The confidence of a champion says "come what may I am going to stick it out."

3. Confidence Spurs Creativity and Innovation

If you want to think outside the box, a sure way to get that done is to believe in yourself and in your team.

When we believe in ourselves, there is something that happens in our minds when we're faced with a challenge or a problem; we begin to see multiple ways of achieving our goal. We have to remember that life is not a one road street, it is filled with many paths just waiting to be explored. Doubting our abilities will stagnate our will and drive to put in the effort to think creatively - even if we're naturally creative. A songwriter would tell you that if they ever lacked the confidence in their talent to write a great song, any song that is created in that moment is not worth being heard by someone else. If we are to bring something fresh and new in our lives, we must believe in ourselves - it is the only way that we can allow our mind to sync with our talent on a whole new level. As a business person or as a family member, you owe it to yourself to entertain the new ideas that will come through confidence.

4. Our Full Potential Can be Seen

It is amazing what we can be achieved when we believe

Higher achievers have one important factor in common - they believe in themselves totally! Even if you are not a high achiever, think back to a time when you achieved something great and highlight the level of confidence you had. Research has shown that we normally do not rate ourselves on par with our true potential. We somehow always believe that we can only achieve less rather than more. This ideology has stifled many of us and definitely it has capped the level of the success of our goals. But as our confidence rises we will recognize that we are able to achieve more and more and better and better. Confidence stretches our minds concerning what we believe to be possible. Mankind has come so far in technology, definitely confidence played an important role. Imagine what you can achieve in your life with an extra dose of confidence.

5. A Positive Attitude is Encouraged

If you think you can you can - if you think you can't then you won't

Our attitude plays an important role when it comes to our goals, whether personal or otherwise. If your try to accomplish something great with a negative mindset you will fail or your level of success will be minimized significantly. No one likes a person with a bad attitude, so why should you be the one to have one? When confidence is absent a negative attitude thrives. When confidence is present a positive attitude thrives. What we believe to be true will ultimately become our lives. NO buts about it, if you do not believe in yourself or your goal, it makes no sense trying to accomplish it. We have to be honest with ourselves first then we have to deal head on with that negative attitude. It is okay when negative thoughts pop into our minds but it is not okay when we entertain them. Therefore ensure that you continue to build your self confidence and your team confidence, so that you can be certain that 99% of the time that a positive attitude will fuel and inspire the success of your goals.

To view the orginal article be sure to visit our website http://www.onegoalsynergy.com/theconfidencelink

Recession Proof Your Business

Well, there are lots of things you can do, and I'm traveling to allotment one of these with you adapted now. It is a simple address that you can apparatus immediately, which will not amount you a penny, but could access sales by as abundant as 10%, 25% or even 50%.

Do you wish to apperceive what that is? It's simple...

... Ask anyone who has just purchased something to buy something else.

Let me explain:

Take McDonald's - what's their bolt phrase? "Would you like chips with that?" Before they alien 'Value Meals' that catechism apparently gave them an added £300 - £400 actor in sales anniversary year worldwide. Now they say, "Would you like to go large?" (Or words to that effect).

Whatever you are selling, at the time of acquirement you accept an befalling to advertise something else. You accept a customer, at your till, acclimation something over the telephone, or affairs something from your website. You do not accept to absorb any added money to get them there. They are a bound admirers - all you accept to do is ask them one simple question. "Would you like... ?"

Let me accord you some examples:

A Shell account base in Australia won a antagonism for affairs the accomplished aggregate of engine oil. When the buyer was asked how he did it he replied, "It's easy. We say to everyone, 'Please lift your beanie and I'll analysis your oil'". Since RACQ analysis begin that 75% of all cars run low on oil, that Shell account base sells lots and lots of oil which is awash at the abounding amount - not just the boilerplate discounted petrol sale.

What would appear if you endemic a shoe abundance and you asked your barter as they were about to pay for their purchase... "Would you like some shoe brightness with that?" If you serve 50 barter a day and alone 1 chump in 5 takes you up on the offer, it agency 10 added sales. Sales you never would accept had. At say £1 accumulation per item, you accept £60 per anniversary added profit. That's £3,120 per year. For one tiny item!

Car dealers are experts at up-selling. You alpha with a basal £10,000 car, again you add covering seats, admixture wheels, air conditioning, electric windows, ABS brakes and you've just spent addition £3,500. All in the endure 10 account of the sale... afterwards you've already active up for the basal car! They don't accomplish abundant money on the car itself, they accomplish it on the extras.

How can you administer this in your business?

A clothes boutique could action addition account of accouterment or an adapted accent - for archetype a chaplet and adornment set with a appealing dress, or a tie with a shirt.

A acrylic and asphalt boutique could accept a account of aggregate that would be bare to complete the job - the chump can attending at it to see they've got aggregate they need. If they haven't, area do anticipate they'll get it? From you of course.

A appliance abundance could action bedside cabinets with every bed, or lamps for the cabinets.

Computer companies could up-sell a awning for the computer or a box of CDs.

Alarm installers can accept a account of added casework the homeowner ability need. Things such as fencing, carpets, landscaping. They can again accredit those leads to added humans for a fee or allotment of the sale.

Whatever you do, you accept to do it able-bodied - so that it is of account to your chump - not artlessly aggravating to advertise them something. Humans adulation to buy but abhorrence to be sold.

Give them aberrant account and they'll adulation you and acclaim you to all their accompany - and access your coffer antithesis at the aforementioned time.

It amazes me every time I go to a café and adjustment coffee, the sales abettor will ask, "Would you like annihilation else?" Of beforehand my accepted acknowledgment is "no". However if he/she were to say, "Would you like a block with that? Our amber brownies are actually delicious", I may able-bodied say, "Oh why not? Just this once".

Look at the ample civic companies - supermarkets consistently accept deals on 'Buy one get one free' or '2 for £3'. You can administer these attempt on a abate scale.

What if you don't accept a artefact but are alms a service? You could action a additional and third account at a hardly discounted amount if the chump paid for all three in advance.

Whatever you choose, the key is to analysis and admeasurement aggregate on a baby calibration first. Trial altered offers, altered means of affairs the added artefact or account (I am fractional to amber but I apperceive not anybody is).

You could actualize a antagonism amidst your agents to see who could advertise the a lot of widgets during a accustomed anniversary or ages - annihilation like a bit of antagonism to get things moving.

When I was a apprentice (a continued time ago) I becoming added banknote alive in the Little Chef. They already had a antagonism whereby every time we awash a Prawn Cocktail we had the befalling to win a holiday. That summer we awash a lot of Prawn Cocktails - How? We artlessly asked, "Would you like a Prawn Cocktail to start?"

The point is - it works. Analysis it and see your profits soar. Be artistic in what you offer. Get your agents complex - they will adulation to appear up with altered ideas.

Your chump will feel that you care, because you are anxious abundant to advance something they may need.

Do let me apperceive how you get on and how abundant added accumulation it has fabricated you.

Sets Appointments With Real People

Are you cerebration that the appellation is just decrepit with the obvious? You ability anticipate afresh if you accede the prevailing attitudes appear online communication. There are times if humans accept become so adequate with who they acquaint online, that they overlook how simple it is to lie on the internet.

And how can it not be? It takes a lot to verify the advice getting relayed through online channels. However, you accept to be able to do that if you don't wish any agitation for your business. It's important for you to accomplish abiding that you're affair with absolute humans from a absolute company.

Please bethink that there's no amount to any abundance of advice unless you can about-face that advice into able leads. That includes advice from acquaintance data, advice on the needs of your prospect, and furthermore, advice that identifies them as an accurate business.

You should never set an arrangement and ascertain a business' needs afterwards aboriginal authoritative abiding that said business is absolute in the aboriginal place! You anticipate telemarketers accept been stigmatized by scams? Website and amusing media profiles can be ambiguous too!

Websites - Anybody with a half-decent web architecture aggregation can put calm a believable web page. That doesn't beggarly those humans are in actuality a business. Some 'online businesses' are in fact, online betray sites that are out to abduct acute advice and bulb awful software!

Amusing Media - Don't abolish the alarming belief of humans assuming as anyone they're not (whether it's on Facebook, Twitter, or even on LinkedIn). Abiding you apprehend mostly balmy cases but the actuality is, not anybody on a amusing arrangement is who they say they are.

Be accurate about ambience accessories just because you've chatted for a account with them on the internet. You ability anticipate you accept a nice continued agency of appointed affairs or a able account of attendees to your webinar. But if the acute day comes, hardly anyone in actuality shows up. If you try to chase up, you've accomplished that they've concluded their accounts, their websites, and get no responses from their email. In added words, you've been had.

This is why, as a business, you accept to be able to expend abundant assets to verify that your anticipation is absolutely a absolute business entity:

Get online advisers to access the IP addresses of admission email inquiries.

Accept your business accord an absolute buzz alarm to your anticipation aggregation afterwards conversing with their assembly on amusing media.

Set up all-important safeguards in case your advisers run into apprehensive websites (and maybe even do a bit of online analysis if necessary).

If you can't allow to advance in the all-important accoutrement and cadre again at atomic try to outsource a acclaimed online business aggregation or telemarketing firm.

After that, alone again you can you even anticipate about accepting accessories set.

Now there's no agnosticism that online advice can be accurate if you've appear to assurance a accurate source. Regardless, it's bigger to be safe than sorry. And if you anticipate about it, you're not the alone one alert of internet technology's accommodation for bamboozlement and infiltration. Your affairs would wish to affirm that you're a absolute business as able-bodied so it in actuality goes both ways!

The Role of HR & Other Departments in Customer Experience

Your customer experience strategy needs the active support of all departments.

Reading about how to improve the Customer Experience (CX) is a great deal like reading about CRM. Most of the discussion seems to be focused on technology, either CRM or Voice of the Customer, when the reality is, that’s only about 20% of the total strategy. I’m not discounting technology, but there’s more to Customer Experience than just rolling out Voice of the Customer software. Relationships need to be built with other departments so that they will do their part in helping your organization implement a successful CX strategy. Here are four factors that impact the CX. Your Human Resources Department plays a make or break roll in every one of them. Other departments such as Legal and Finance also have an influence.

1. Attitude—The attitude your customer facing staff demonstrates is vitally important. At the strategic level your organizational culture is going to be a huge factor in the attitude your employees display. Are you truly customer-focused or moving in that direction, or are you just paying it lip service. Attitude is also impacted by the individual’s personality and professionalism. Employee engagement also drives attitude. All of the above means your Human Resources Department needs to be on board with your customer experience strategy. When hiring, are they screening for the right competencies?

2. Knowledge—Your customer facing staff should also have expertise in product and industry knowledge. Again your HR department comes into play here as they must devise relevant training programs that bring new employees up to speed and keep more experienced employees up to date on industry changes. An effectively managed CRM strategy should be able to help you with your prospect and customer knowledge. The department responsible for CRM software and strategy also needs to be involved.

3. Skills—Your HR department’s trainers should be providing state of the art relevant sales and product training. Harder to train for is the ability of the individual to be an effective listener, to be able to put the customers’ needs before his own. Listening is a mission-critical skill. This is directly impacted by the degree to which your organization is customer-focused.

4. Support-- Just as an operating system like Linux or Windows isn't obvious as it operates behind the scenes, your employees need support from other departments which aren’t always obvious to the customer. This includes departments such as finance (for car dealers) customer support (for copy machine sellers) and legal (ensuring that polices do not conflict with the customer experience). Your organizational culture surfaces here as well since the more you empower your employees to create truly innovative customer experiences, the more liley you are to achieve true customer-focus.

If your customer experience strategy is just seen by others as the responsibility of one department, you could be in for a tough implementation. Gaining support and buy-in from other departments is mission-critical.

Regards,
Glenn

By: Glenn Ross