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Casual Articles - Small Business Opportunities And The Ten's
Handling any sort of conflict requires you to draw on all your resources. In particularly your communication skills. The reality is that we all have many communication skills but don’t always use them effectively and certainly we do not take the opportunity to improve them as often as we shouldWe relate to people on two levels:Consciously: when we carefully select our words, gestures and behaviours.Subconsciously: when unknowingly we send out subliminal messages. These often have the most impact on people and can make them feel uncomfortableListening Skills:There are two aspects to communicating: receiving and sending messages i.e. it is a two way phenomenon.Would you say you are a good listener? Consider the following questions:• Do you have a tendency to interrupt or finish other people’s sentences?• Do you find yourself losing patience or concentration?If so, you need to work on your listening skills. Or:• Do you stay focused when another person communicates with you?• Do you make notes, give good feedback and demonstrate that they have your full attention?Showing people you are listening by nodding and asking questions is a good way of demonstrating that you are taking them seriously and interested in what they have to say.Listening Skills:Listening, however, is a difficult task for most people. It requires us to:• Block out all distractions• Be observant – use eyes and ears more than mouth!• Keep an open mind and not be judgemental• Stay calm, not rising to any bait• Keep all personal prejudices at bay• Listen all the way through• And also listen for what is not being said – read between the lines.Language:In difficult situations most people are careful to choose their words by avoiding:• Inflammatory language, e.g. “That’s impossible, no one else has complained about that”• Criticism, e.g. “You should have contacted … dept”• Swearing, e.g.!!**?*!!• Insensitive language, e.g. “It’s not designed for people over XXX kilos”• Negativity, e.g. “It’s not possible- we can’t do that”• Overbearing, e.g. “It absolutely must be returned by …”Non-Verbal Language:Inappropriate words can hurt or incite anger in another. However, it is not the most powerful form of communication. According to the experts the breakdown is a follows:Language: Words used etc 7%Voice: Tone, pitch etc 38%Visual: Gestures, facial expression etc 55%This is particularly true of communication relating to emotion. Positive language
Once your commitment is in place, all you need to succeed is to commit to it "NO MATTER WHAT". Success is inevitable inside this kind of commitment. Failure (the back door in this case) is just not an option. You are doomed to honor your WORD as YOUR SELF and you give your word to yourself.
"Yeah right", you say!
Yup! That's right!
At least, I believe it to be one of the most profound truths about business... and suc
One of the questions I receive most often from my newsletter subscribers is what do I do when I've "blown it?" As one good friend said: "I forgot all the great ways I know to address a conflict. I reprimanded an employee by basically attacking her character. I did apologize, and, thankfully, she is not quitting. But things feel awkward, and I'm wondering if there's something I can do to help the situation besides apologize."First, this person did just the right thing—she apologized, and she didn't wait too long to do it. It's important to remember that we all react occasionally in ways that we think better of later. Once you apologize, give it time. Continue to center, breathe, smile, and treat the employee with respect.In addition, hold the vision that with time your relationship will be back on the right track. Visualize how you want the relationship to look as you continue to work together, and begin acting on that vision in your daily communication.Think of a physical wound--it takes time to heal. While it's healing, you treat the wound gently, keep it clean, maybe smooth some cream on it to help the healing process.It's the same with healing a relationship. Keep your communication clean, gentle, and yet honest and direct. Say hello, how's it going? Treat her as you would under normal circumstances, yet with the awareness of what did occur. You don't pretend the conflict never happened, but you don't have to abase yourself either.Finally, remember that it's not only up to you. You have a part in this, and so does she. You cannot do her part for her; you can only do yours. If you give the employee room, she will find her way back to the strong connection that once existed.
One of my favorite quotes is by Alfred d'Souza. It goes like this:
"For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin, real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be got through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life." - Alfred d'Souza
What I love about the above quote is that it has a very strong yet well hidden message in it.
Let me attempt to have you get it!
Any business that belongs to you is better than any job where all you end up doing is making someone else's dreams come true at your expense.
However, where most people fail in business, as in Life, is when they find themselves waiting for their issues to get handled before ever even starting on their own road toward their very own dreams and aspirations.
You see; most people fail in business because they never get started in the first place. "there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be got through first"
Hence they shut down their project prematurely, somehow justifying the act because of some circumstance that was in the way (not enough money, experience etc.) Yet, they fail to realize that this wasn't something new in their lives.
They get sucked in to the drift of being human. They give up! They abandon ship!
Most small business opportunities start-up as solutions driven projects, backed by much enthusiasm. Yet they end up as "just another string" of events and small bursts of activities (brilliantly executed with much success I might add) ending by making yet another "almost successful entrepreneur" right about his or her failure.
I have been working closely with YOU for many years now and this, I have discovered to be true.
The real challenge with small business opportunities as opposed to big business opportunities is that; with a small business, less is at stake making it easy to give up.
Big business means higher stakes. You can't walk away for big business the way you can from small businesses. There simply is no option to walk away...
Herein lies one of the best kept secrets in business (there are many others but this is one of my favorites. I call it the "NO BACK DOOR" approach. It requires a unique commitment to keeping your word. It also requires a further commitment to keeping that commitment of keeping your word.
Once your commitment is in place, all you need to succeed is to commit to it "NO MATTER WHAT". Success is inevitable inside this kind of commitment. Failure (the back door in this case) is just not an option. You are doomed to honor your WORD as YOUR SELF and you give your word to yourself.
"Yeah right", you say!
Yup! That's right!
At least, I believe it to be one of the most profound truths about business... and succ
Learn to recognize potential problems before they threaten the survival of your business.During the bleak days of the Depression, an aggressive politician from New York named Franklin Roosevelt made a bold promise that his administration would put “two chickens in every pot and a car in every garage.” As it turned out, this was one of the few times in history when a political exaggeration was actually an economic understatement.Today, poultry is so inexpensive that it is the most common meat used in pet food. And the automobile has become such a fixture in the American home that owning just one is a handicap rather than a privilege. In fact, we have such an innate understanding of the internal combustion engine that most of us have a rough idea of how it works and why it sometimes doesn’t.Unfortunately, many business people have not come quite as far since the Depression in their ability to discern what makes a company or organization work and what needs to be done to ensure its survival. There are basically nine “danger signals” that indicate the strength and viability of a business.1. Declining gross income, combine with operating losses. In most instances, declining sales will not be targeted as a problem until operating losses deplete cash reserves. Normally, operating costs will remain high and not be adjusted as sales decline. This creates the operating losses that eat up cash reserves.2. The absence of an operating plan to guide the company. Most managers do not use a carefully crafted planning procedure to create an ongoing validation system. It a planning document exists, it is often shelved and forgotten as day-to-day concerts take precedence over future goals. When this happens, management has little or nothing to measure itself against and is oblivious to hidden dangers.3. Breakdown in communications between upper management and the labor force. Failure to communicate vertically creates a situation where upper management cannot identify conflicts that exist in the on-going operation of the organization.4. Inadequate cash flow. The ability to generate cash flow is the key ingredient in a successful business operation. Without adequate cash flow, an organization is doomed to failure. While it is normal for most organizations to have seasonal fluctuations, balancing these adjustments is critical for the survival of any organization.5. Inability to convert accounts receivable to cash promptly. The slow collection process of accounts receivable can be a danger signal that poor job of screening accounts and granting credit has taken place.6. Inability to convert inventory to cash promptly. A slow down in inventory may signal a problem in the quality of products sh
Let me attempt to have you get it!
Any business that belongs to you is better than any job where all you end up doing is making someone else's dreams come true at your expense.
However, where most people fail in business, as in Life, is when they find themselves waiting for their issues to get handled before ever even starting on their own road toward their very own dreams and aspirations.
You see; most people fail in business because they never get started in the first place. "there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be got through first"
Hence they shut down their project prematurely, somehow justifying the act because of some circumstance that was in the way (not enough money, experience etc.) Yet, they fail to realize that this wasn't something new in their lives.
They get sucked in to the drift of being human. They give up! They abandon ship!
Most small business opportunities start-up as solutions driven projects, backed by much enthusiasm. Yet they end up as "just another string" of events and small bursts of activities (brilliantly executed with much success I might add) ending by making yet another "almost successful entrepreneur" right about his or her failure.
I have been working closely with YOU for many years now and this, I have discovered to be true.
The real challenge with small business opportunities as opposed to big business opportunities is that; with a small business, less is at stake making it easy to give up.
Big business means higher stakes. You can't walk away for big business the way you can from small businesses. There simply is no option to walk away...
Herein lies one of the best kept secrets in business (there are many others but this is one of my favorites. I call it the "NO BACK DOOR" approach. It requires a unique commitment to keeping your word. It also requires a further commitment to keeping that commitment of keeping your word.
Once your commitment is in place, all you need to succeed is to commit to it "NO MATTER WHAT". Success is inevitable inside this kind of commitment. Failure (the back door in this case) is just not an option. You are doomed to honor your WORD as YOUR SELF and you give your word to yourself.
"Yeah right", you say!
Yup! That's right!
At least, I believe it to be one of the most profound truths about business... and suc
If you own a mobile oil change business, well then it might make sense to change employee’s oil in their cars while they are at work. And if you do this it might make sense to find the places with the most employees to service while their cars are all in one place. It therefore makes sense to change oil in the parking lots of large corporations.This discussion recently came up between two entrepreneurs in the mobile oil change sector and one gentleman asked; “I have been setting up "employee days" where everyone in the company knows I am going to be on-site on a certain day each month offering service.”Sounds complicated, but the idea is worthy, good strategic thinking. We simply have them email the entire company to alert them that it is on Thursday our oil change vans will be there to change oil in the cars. But you must sign up by 5 PM Tuesday. We fax a sign up sheet; they fill it all out and then fax it back to us on Wednesday.We buy the filters we need on the way there on Thursday, set up, pick up keys and envelopes line the cars in a row, Start 5 engines and do them five at a time by similar types or engine sizes. Heck it is a regular production, but realize unlike the washing of cars every week, it only happens one time per month or every three months at some places. I recommend every month so they can drive a different car on your Employee day, such as their spouses car or even their RV, trailer their boat or second cars. Consider all this in 2006.
They get sucked in to the drift of being human. They give up! They abandon ship!
Most small business opportunities start-up as solutions driven projects, backed by much enthusiasm. Yet they end up as "just another string" of events and small bursts of activities (brilliantly executed with much success I might add) ending by making yet another "almost successful entrepreneur" right about his or her failure.
I have been working closely with YOU for many years now and this, I have discovered to be true.
The real challenge with small business opportunities as opposed to big business opportunities is that; with a small business, less is at stake making it easy to give up.
Big business means higher stakes. You can't walk away for big business the way you can from small businesses. There simply is no option to walk away...
Herein lies one of the best kept secrets in business (there are many others but this is one of my favorites. I call it the "NO BACK DOOR" approach. It requires a unique commitment to keeping your word. It also requires a further commitment to keeping that commitment of keeping your word.
Once your commitment is in place, all you need to succeed is to commit to it "NO MATTER WHAT". Success is inevitable inside this kind of commitment. Failure (the back door in this case) is just not an option. You are doomed to honor your WORD as YOUR SELF and you give your word to yourself.
"Yeah right", you say!
Yup! That's right!
At least, I believe it to be one of the most profound truths about business... and suc
Too many small business owners focus on advertising as the only way to generate new business. Before you buy any advertising, you should know what you're trying to accomplish. That goal comes from your overall marketing plan.Let's back up a moment. Start with your business goals. What would you like to accomplish this year? If you want 20% growth in revenue and a similar growth in profits then you'll need more sales. You'll need to attract new customers or get additional sales from existing customers.Either way, marketing is what will help you reach your goals. Marketing is all about figuring out who you want to do business with and sending the right message to them so they will want to do business with you. It helps you create awareness of your product, service or brand among your target market, so they believe you can help them accomplish their goals (as they relate to your product or service).Advertising is just one way to deliver your message. Depending on your specific business, you could have hundreds of ways to reach your target market.The best marketing puts your message in front of your audience in a variety of ways. The more ways someone hears about your business, the more they will remember you and the more credible your message is. Try to find at least five different ways to deliver your message to your target audience.Remember, your marketing system exists to deliver exposure. It exposes your target market (your audience) to your message. Your goal is to obtain as much exposure as possible within your budget.If you have a huge budget then you have a lot of options. If you have a small budget, then you have fewer options. No matter what your budget is though, you should look at different options to deliver your message.So, plan your marketing expenditures and think of them in terms of buying exposure. Make them all work together to get better results.
I have been working closely with YOU for many years now and this, I have discovered to be true.
The real challenge with small business opportunities as opposed to big business opportunities is that; with a small business, less is at stake making it easy to give up.
Big business means higher stakes. You can't walk away for big business the way you can from small businesses. There simply is no option to walk away...
Herein lies one of the best kept secrets in business (there are many others but this is one of my favorites. I call it the "NO BACK DOOR" approach. It requires a unique commitment to keeping your word. It also requires a further commitment to keeping that commitment of keeping your word.
Once your commitment is in place, all you need to succeed is to commit to it "NO MATTER WHAT". Success is inevitable inside this kind of commitment. Failure (the back door in this case) is just not an option. You are doomed to honor your WORD as YOUR SELF and you give your word to yourself.
"Yeah right", you say!
Yup! That's right!
At least, I believe it to be one of the most profound truths about business... and suc
How many times have you had a customer say to you; I’ve been shopping around and XYZ mortgage company can get me a better rate and won’t charge me any points.well . . .The lower rate might hold some truth to itbut lets face it . . .Nobody works for free!Here are three things you can do too win your customer over when faced with rate and pricing challenges.1. Sell YourselfWhen a customer is shopping around, the information they give you is usually false, because they are bluffing. You can’t blame them, they, like all of us, are looking for the best deal possible.With this in mind, tell them what you can offer them based on what limited information they can provide you with.During this process, stick to your guns, and give them all the information you can about as many products as you can, this will let them know just how knowledgeable you are, and you will earn their respect.Don’t waste your time asking questions about the programs offered to them by other banks, and telling them the rate they were quoted was probably an ARM, they will find this an insult to their intelligence.Be as courteous and honest as possible, tell them if XYZ bank can get them the rate they quoted you, than they should go with it, they will admire your honesty.Finally . . .Ask them for their name and phone number so you can follow up with them in a weeks time, and assure them that they can call you at any time with any questions or concerns they may have.2. AvailabilityWhen confronted with the challenge of having to deal with your competitor’s lower rate, make your customer aware that although you might not be able to match the rate, what you can offer them is superior customer service.If you take this route, you must be committed to it.Let them know that they will be able to call you any time, night or day. You can start by giving them your office number, as well as your cell phone number.Let them know that you will be more than happy to meet them one on one at your office, or you can arrange to meet them at their home at a time convenient for them.Clients like to know that they have an advocate they can trust and depend on. Supplying them with this comfort zone means a lot to them, and more often than not will win them over.3. Buying TimeSometimes you need to buy time in order to prepare yourself.When a prospective customer hits you with the rate obstacle, the challenge can be a tough one!Tell your customer that the rate they have been quoted is a very good one, and that you would like to do some research to see if you can possibly come up with a better one.Take their number and assure them that you
Once your commitment is in place, all you need to succeed is to commit to it "NO MATTER WHAT". Success is inevitable inside this kind of commitment. Failure (the back door in this case) is just not an option. You are doomed to honor your WORD as YOUR SELF and you give your word to yourself.
"Yeah right", you say!
Yup! That's right!
At least, I believe it to be one of the most profound truths about business... and success in Life for that matter.
So how does one apply a truth such as this in real Life?
First, there must exist "thinking" (and I mean original thought), not all this nonsense that you and I call thinking.
I refered, in an earlier Newsletter, to that "little voice" we listen to while we shower in the morning. The joke is that we believe these (automatic) thoughts to be thinking.
Sorry guys and girls! These are just thoughts. Quite different from thinking! Yours and my automaticity is our worst enemy as entrepreneurs. We must find a way to break the drift (of these thoughts) and replace it with a new kind of thinking. The kind of thinking that wasn't going to happen anyway. Therein lies, I believe, many more ideas and secret keys to lead you to whatever level of success you desire.
At this point, I'd like to share some guidance, some fundamental laws of business that if you put a little heart and lots of thinking into them, you will find yourself supercharged for success.
Small Business Opportunities are everywhere to be found. Whatever business opportunities attract you, remember to apply some golden rules. I must thank Quincy Scarborough for his great insights into the following passages.
Here are a few:
==>TEN RULES FOR SUCCESS IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM
Expect Volatility - We are witnessing an exponential increase in the velocity, complexity, and unpredictability of change. This increase creates a hyper-competitive international environment that bears little resemblance to the one that existed even five years ago.
Invent New Rules - Invent your own and make others follow you! Competitive advantages and profits will belong to innovators who transcend the existing parameters of competition.
Innovate or Die - Develop conscious strategies and mechanisms to promote consistent innovation. Resting on your laurels is simply not an option: winners are innovating and surpassing themselves constantly.
Break Barriers - 21st Century companies must dismantle the internal barriers that so often separate people, departments and disciplines. The boundaries between firms and their outside suppliers, customers and sometimes even competitors are also under severe pressure.
Be Fast - Implementation is everything and it better be fast. These days it's far better to be 80 percent right and quick than 100 percent and three months late.
T
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