Casual Articles - Business

Six Sigma Assessment
Assessing Six Sigma is not end-of-the-process post implementation, although an analysis of a failed Six Sigma project points out the lack of commitment by upper management and lack of attention to the cultural and business investment required for accomplishing and sustaining new tiers of performance. It is in this context that assessment of Six Sigma becomes necessary, especially when new attempts by companies on improvement projects, reveal that the journey will be long and hard.Assessing The Different Implementation Stages of Six SigmaThe key to the success of Six Sigma implementation lies in assessing the status quo at various stages. Assessments reveal the deviations the implementation efforts have taken from the intended line of progress. As the deployment of Six Sigma is signified by emphasis on accomplishing benchmarks in process opt

so you can make the most out of your first 60 seconds. Prepare an easy-to-understand overview of what you do, or the product or service you offer.

Here’s an example of a simple and effective introduction sequence you can use:

* Give your name.

* Give your business name or profession.

* Give a benefit statement about one particular product or service you offer that tells people what you do that benefits others.

* Then, get them to talk about themselves, and listen carefully.

The key to success in networking is follow-up. Just like any other form of marketing, it takes time to cultivate the relationship before a lead can be converted to a referral or an actual sale. You must follow-up with your new contact with an invitation to coffee, lunch, or an after-hours meeting. Always send a card, note, or e-mail to the people you’ve met within twenty-four hours after the event. Mentioning some key points from your initial contact in your follow-up note is a great relationship builder.

Always remember that the most successful people and companies are those that are the most trusted. Trust doesn’t happen overnight. You must gain the confidence of other people by nurturing long-la

Performance Appraisal - What IS The Point? From Blaming To Better Performance
Probably the most misused and abused and disused management tool in history is the performance appraisal. It's the strangest thing. Ask managers or human resources staff whether they think performance appraisal is an important thing to do, and you'll find they usually agree. "Of course it is", is the common response. If you ask why it's important, they will tell you and tell you and tell you. But they don't tell you the right thing!The odd thing is that they often don't get done, and managers, supervisors and employees hate the darned things. Human resource professionals spend a lot of time whipping people into doing them, while managers look for a variety of reasons to delay and delay. Why is that?It's uncomfortable to do performance appraisals. But why is it uncomfortable? Because people undertake them for the wrong reasons and wrong pers

Here’s one of the most important success principles you’ll ever learn. It is this: The more people you know and who know you in a favorable way, the more successful you will be in your business or profession.

When you look around at the most successful people in your city, industry, or profession, you will find that they are the ones who are known and respected by the greatest number of people. One of the hallmarks of highly successful men and women, and most self-made millionaires, is that they network continually, everywhere they go and with almost everyone they meet. By learning and developing the skill of networking you can move ahead faster, rise further, and accomplish more in a shorter period of time.

Networking should be an integral part of any marketing plan. Networking produces word of mouth, which in turn produces referrals. Every businessperson and professional knows that word of mouth is the most effective and least expensive approach to attracting new business. Yet few people really understand how they can create it.

Networking is making contact to establish relationships that can lead to business. Sometimes the path to business is direct; other times it is indirect leading to referrals. Often times the person who you meet at a networking event will know someone else who needs your products or services.

Many people go to networking events hoping to business right then and there, but it very rarely works that way. Business is not done directly at networking event. When you attend a networking event, your goal should be to meet two or three people, find a reason to follow-up, and start a relationship. Any future business will come from an indirect referral, someone they know who might need your products or services.

Networks often have a greater impact than their size might indicate. Each member of a network knows dozens of people who, in turn, know dozens of others, and so on. Because of this mushroom effect, a group of 30 or 40 people might know literally thousands of other people throughout the local, national, and even international business community. The possibilities are enormous. Being a member of a well-organized network is like having dozens of salespeople working for you all the time. Each referring prospective customers your way.

Before you begin to network, you must have a positive attitude. When you join a networking group, remain focused on the reason why you’re there. Too many people go to networking events and get caught up in nit-picking, such as “the speaker was mediocre,” as so on. These factors are secondary to the quality of contacts you are making. Never loose sight of the reason why you‘re there.

It is also important to understand that people buy from people they know and trust. So to effectively network you must be a good listener. Listen to the people you meet to see how you might assist them in what they do. Giving first and giving more than receiving is a very important rule of networking.

Contacts to establish relationships that can lead to business, only happen when the relationship is mutually beneficial. Networking is giving first, and then receiving. If one party does all the giving, then the relationship will not last and the networking ends. Networking relationships takes work and cooperation by all parties involved.

Networking is not a skill you are born with, it is an acquired skill. It is developed through education, training, and practice. Many business people spend plenty of time trying to network, but very few spend any time trying to learn how to do it correctly. The way you learn to network is by reading books and listening to audio programs about networking, and by talking to other people who network well. And most importantly, practice what you learn.

Before you attend any networking event you must have clearly defined, realistic goals. Most people go to networking events with the goal of handing out as many business cards as they can. This is wrong. Your goal in networking should not be to pass out business cards. Your goal should be to receive as many business cards as you can. Your goal should be to make as many contacts and get as much information as you can that will lead to increased business.

At networking events, make sure your nametag identifies your company or profession. Always carry plenty of well-designed business cards with you. Use the backs of the cards you receive from others to make notes that will help your memory kick in about each individual. And, carry a card case with the cards of other people you network with, so you can hand one to anyone interested in their services.

When you attend a networking event, greet people, hand out your card, and then ask for their card. Introduce yourself in a way that is brief, effective, and memorable. Take the time to plan and rehearse your introduction so you can make the most out of your first 60 seconds. Prepare an easy-to-understand overview of what you do, or the product or service you offer.

Here’s an example of a simple and effective introduction sequence you can use:

* Give your name.

* Give your business name or profession.

* Give a benefit statement about one particular product or service you offer that tells people what you do that benefits others.

* Then, get them to talk about themselves, and listen carefully.

Always remember that the most successful people and companies are those that are the most trusted. Trust doesn’t happen overnight. You must gain the confidence of other people by nurturing long-las

Frankly My Dear, Thanks For Giving A Damn!
That would be music to your ears! Hearing your clients say, thanks for giving a damn! And how often have you felt appreciated? All the time? Most of the time? Or seldom?Well it’s not that difficult to do! What I’m about to share may surprise you – hopefully it reinforces what you’ve known all along. So here it is:It’s Not About You!Let me explain. At six years old, I learned that giving my audience/customer what they wanted was the only way to get what I wanted – in my case, appreciation, applause and money.Here’s what happened.I have 2 younger brothers who, bless their hearts,are curious. So it was easy back then to get them to come and sit on little crates in front of my stage. I watched them waiting eagerly from behind my makeshift curtain (torn bed sheet).I was trembling with excitement, ready to enc

rrals. Often times the person who you meet at a networking event will know someone else who needs your products or services.

Here’s an example of a simple and effective introduction sequence you can use:

* Give your name.

* Give your business name or profession.

* Give a benefit statement about one particular product or service you offer that tells people what you do that benefits others.

* Then, get them to talk about themselves, and listen carefully.

Always remember that the most successful people and companies are those that are the most trusted. Trust doesn’t happen overnight. You must gain the confidence of other people by nurturing long-la

5 Steps to Exceed Customer Expectations
We all have a common set of expectations from certain industries we do business with that we won’t compromise if those expectations aren’t met. We expect to hear a dial tone when we pick up the telephone when no one else is using it. We expect our cars to start in the morning when we get ready to leave for work. It’s implied that a restaurant will prepare our food properly and follow satisfactory sanitary guidelines. If we pay our electric bill on time, we expect the lights to work when we flip the switch. Same goes for the water bill—we expect water when the faucet or shower is “started.” These are expectations set, in part, by the industries providing the service, but they are also engrained in our culture as things to gripe about quickly should there be any form of disruption.When is the last time you weren’t alarmed by a

’re there. Too many people go to networking events and get caught up in nit-picking, such as “the speaker was mediocre,” as so on. These factors are secondary to the quality of contacts you are making. Never loose sight of the reason why you‘re there.

Here’s an example of a simple and effective introduction sequence you can use:

* Give your name.

* Give your business name or profession.

* Give a benefit statement about one particular product or service you offer that tells people what you do that benefits others.

* Then, get them to talk about themselves, and listen carefully.

Always remember that the most successful people and companies are those that are the most trusted. Trust doesn’t happen overnight. You must gain the confidence of other people by nurturing long-la

2007 Thoughts on Marketing Your Brand - Small Business Series
We all know why brands are so important in business, but what can a small business to cash in on brand marketing? We will discuss how brand marketing has been used in the corporate world and how these methods can be applied to small businesses, nonprofits and even government agencies.Believe it or not it is very simple for a small business to adopt a brand name marketing strategy. We will discuss secrets that I have used in growing my companies. As a Franchisor, who started out as a very small business, I realized early on that we needed a brand marketing strategy if we were to grow into a state-wide operation.Our company started very small like any small business, eventually we were operating in 53 cities and then we decided to franchise. Within 10 years we have set up operations in 450 cities, 110 major markets, 23 states and four coun

ng to audio programs about networking, and by talking to other people who network well. And most importantly, practice what you learn.

Here’s an example of a simple and effective introduction sequence you can use:

* Give your name.

* Give your business name or profession.

* Give a benefit statement about one particular product or service you offer that tells people what you do that benefits others.

* Then, get them to talk about themselves, and listen carefully.

Always remember that the most successful people and companies are those that are the most trusted. Trust doesn’t happen overnight. You must gain the confidence of other people by nurturing long-la

Branding and Business Identity - Image is Everything!
Underestimating the importance of image is a common marketing mistake. When we talk about image in business, it encompasses a broad spectrum. We’re talking about overall image of storefront; interior design, marketing materials, website and even your people, (staff members). All of these elements determine how your business is perceived. They also tie in with your overall brand and help people decide if they will do business with you, or not.The heart of your business identity is your logo. It represents who you are and what you do. The image of your business is the foundation of your marketing and advertising efforts. If your logo and identity package is weak, your advertising and marketing efforts will not be as successful as they could be. If you aren’t familiar with the term “identity package,” it refers to your business cards, letterhead and

so you can make the most out of your first 60 seconds. Prepare an easy-to-understand overview of what you do, or the product or service you offer.

Here’s an example of a simple and effective introduction sequence you can use:

* Give your name.

* Give your business name or profession.

* Give a benefit statement about one particular product or service you offer that tells people what you do that benefits others.

* Then, get them to talk about themselves, and listen carefully.

Always remember that the most successful people and companies are those that are the most trusted. Trust doesn’t happen overnight. You must gain the confidence of other people by nurturing long-lasting relationships. Only then will you see a steady crop of new customers, referred by the people with whom you’ve networked.

What it really comes down to is this: You can have anything you want in business, or in life, if you’re willing to help enough other people get what they want. It is a simple and time-tested universal law. Yet, it is still a mystery to so many people in business. When you send a few people a day out to help other businesses in your network, you’ll find that the door also swings the other way: thousands of customers every year will go out of their way to buy from you, because they will be driven to your business through the power of networking.

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It is amazing how many advertising account executives there are and it is amazing that we even allow them to call themselves advertising account executives because it almost sounds like they are seasoned executives who specialize in advertising and know something that we do not.

We all know people who are like human dynamos. They seem to make an art form of building their business and still enjoy quality time with friends and family. It isn’t magic, you can do it too.

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