Despite the rave reviews from staff, have you seen any real change take place in the workplace? Would you know how to measure for it if you had? If your answer is NO, then I will share with you the importance of METRICS and why this buzz word is so important for you to understand, and how you can use the information to increase your business performance, get ahead of your competition and immediately effect positive change.

Companies who have introduced performance management cultures into their organizations have been found to have higher profits and stronger market performance. Performance management is the terminology being used in industry today to measure performance against business goals and employee competencies. If what these ”facilitators of change” are “selling” is not clearly defined in terms of measurable performance markers or proven sustainable outcomes, then their deliverables are of little use to an organization that is looking for that which can be clearly measured.

Organizations are measuring everything from employees skill levels, how many complaints they receive in a given week to how many sick days does an employee take in a given month if they are engaged in regular exercise and if they are not. Think about this for a moment. If the person you hired to speak cannot report measurable performance outcomes for their performance or training program then this may be where the crux of the problem lies. How can you notice that which you did not plan for? Do you know what success means to you, what it looks like? When it comes to measuring your performance outcomes it is very important that both the company and the facilitator know exactly what deliverables they are looking for and how BOTH of you are going to know if they have been met.

Deliverables need to be determined well before the facilitator reaches an audience. It is vital that you sit down with your trainer, and determine what outcomes the organization is looking for, how they will be measured and what would success look like when achieved! For example, let’s say you hire a speaker who specializes in time management. Some measurable outcomes may look like this:
a.) Work is not piled up on desks, chairs, floors
b.) More work is completed on time-
c.) employees work less overtime and you pay less overtime
d.) employees understand how to use identify what is important
e.) Less time off due to exhaustion

These are the kinds of outcomes that a company would decide on BEFORE the “expert” gets on stage. These results are measurable, and they are sustainable. Are you starting to understand?

If you have been following and/or embracing the industry trend for performance measurement these days, then you may be familiar with the studies that have already been conducted on the effectiveness of training with and without coaching. If not then please pay attention to this, because it is very important What you may not know, is the amazing difference that adding 8 weeks of coaching will make to your bottom line in terms of measuring the implementation of your ideas and training. Organizations that offer training without coaching result in a 22 % improvement, but add 8 weeks of coaching on to that, and the results are a staggering 88% in overall improvement and change.
These days another industry buzz word is ROI or return on investment. In a study conducted by MetrixGlobal, they actually showed that Coaching produced a 529% return on investment as well as significant intangible benefits to the business. When the financial benefits from employee retention were added into the mix, coaching actually boosted the overall ROI to 788%… (Merrill Anderson [merrilland@metrixglobal.net])
Can you imagine my delight at being able to offer you a proven measurement of 88% in performance enhancement and a 788% ROI? I am so excited about this, and you should be too!
No organization should spend thousands of dollars on a speaker or trainer, only to have all that great learning and enthusiasm go out the window within a few days.

For the past 25 years, I have been employed in both private and public sector organizations, working to enhance Leadership and management competencies, envision strategic direction, implement quality service standards, and introduce programs and initiatives that would advance and address organizational wellness and employee morale.

I KNOW why organizations look outside for assistance, because sometimes they are too close to the forest to see the tree. I used to be the one in charge of hiring the facilitators of change. My role was to decide on the learning outcomes for the organization, measure the effectiveness of the speaker and the event, and then deliver these numbers to our senior management committee. Whether or not we had this speaker back or even had a budget for another event, depended largely upon the results reported in my feedback! Let me stress this one more time “No organization should spend thousands of dollars on a speaker or trainer only to have all that great learning and enthusiasm go out the window within a few days”!
Not only is it time for you to begin measuring for success, but by hiring a business coach to help you implement the strategies and changes that your organization now wants to embrace, you have just strengthened your employees retention potential by 88%.
Through the power of Coaching, you can guarantee yourself a proven and effective method that will enhance performance and make it easier for your employees to make the transition.
Challenge yourself to re-examine your business model and think about adding a 12 week coaching component to your workplace, or better yet, add Coach training to the Performance Plans of your Leaders and Managers and have them become in house coaches.
You will be astounded by the metrics, but more importantly your employees and your customers will be pleased with the real changes that are going to take place as a result of implementing your best practices.

According to Hay Group,

To be successful in today’s ever-shifting market, people count for more — they can make or break the best business strategy, be the driver or brake in adopting new technologies. People are not an implementation issue, nor just an operational or strategic asset. People are the raw resource around which business success revolves.

Advantages of a Sole Proprietorship
- Easiest and least expensive form of ownership to organize.
- Sole proprietors are in complete control, and within the parameters of the law, may make decisions as they see fit.
- Sole proprietors receive all income generated by the business to keep or reinvest.
- Profits from the business flow directly to the owner’s personal tax return.
- The business is easy to dissolve, if desired.

Disadvantages of a Sole Proprietorship
- Sole proprietors have unlimited liability and are legally responsible for all debts against the business. Their business and personal assets are at risk.
- May be at a disadvantage in raising funds and are often limited to using funds from personal savings or consumer loans.
- May have a hard time attracting high-caliber employees or those that are motivated by the opportunity to own a part of the business.
- Some employee benefits such as owner’s medical insurance premiums are not directly deductible from business income (only partially deductible as an adjustment to income).

Federal Tax Forms for Sole Proprietorship
(only a partial list and some may not apply)
- Form 1040: Individual Income Tax Return
- Schedule C: Profit or Loss from Business (or Schedule C-EZ)
- Schedule SE: Self-Employment Tax
- Form 1040-ES: Estimated Tax for Individuals
- Form 4562: Depreciation and Amortization
- Form 8829: Expenses for Business Use of your Home
- Employment Tax Forms
Partnerships
In a Partnership, two or more people share ownership of a single business. Like proprietorships, the law does not distinguish between the business and its owners. The partners should have a legal agreement that sets forth how decisions will be made, profits will be shared, disputes will be resolved, how future partners will be admitted to the partnership, how partners can be bought out, and what steps will be taken to dissolve the partnership when needed. Yes, it’s hard to think about a breakup when the business is just getting started, but many partnerships split up at crisis times, and unless there is a defined process, there will be even greater problems. They also must decide up-front how much time and capital each will contribute, etc.
Advantages of a Partnership
- Partnerships are relatively easy to establish; however time should be invested in developing the partnership agreement.
- With more than one owner, the ability to raise funds may be increased.
- The profits from the business flow directly through to the partners’ personal tax returns.
- Prospective employees may be attracted to the business if given the incentive to become a partner.
- The business usually will benefit from partners who have complementary skills.
Disadvantages of a Partnership
- Partners are jointly and individually liable for the actions of the other partners.
- Profits must be shared with others.
- Since decisions are shared, disagreements can occur.
- Some employee benefits are not deductible from business income on tax returns.
- The partnership may have a limited life; it may end upon the withdrawal or death of a partner.
Types of Partnerships that should be considered:
- General Partnership
Partners divide responsibility for management and liability as well as the shares of profit or loss according to their internal agreement. Equal shares are assumed unless there is a written agreement that states differently.
- Limited Partnership and Partnership with limited liability
Limited means that most of the partners have limited liability (to the extent of their investment) as well as limited input regarding management decisions, which generally encourages investors for short-term projects or for investing in capital assets. This form of ownership is not often used for operating retail or service businesses. Forming a limited partnership is more complex and formal than that of a general partnership.
- Joint Venture
Acts like a general partnership, but is clearly for a limited period of time or a single project. If the partners in a joint venture repeat the activity, they will be recognized as an ongoing partnership and will have to file as such as well as distribute accumulated partnership assets upon dissolution of the entity.

If you’ve ever worked in a team – and I’ve yet to meet someone who hasn’t – I know you have at least one horror story to tell about a team that crashed and burned. Isn’t it ironic that with all that’s been written about the negative impact dysfunctional teams can have on business and with all the training available to help correct the problem, success is still elusive.

It’s easy to ignore the damage that dysfunctional teams can do to a business, but the financial impact can be huge. Consider the wasted time in meetings debating the same issues again and again, as well as the constant squabbles and in-fighting over priorities that lead to inaction or worse, bad decisions that result in good money being thrown down the drain.

A recent Microsoft study found that U.S. workers spent an average of 5.6 hours per week sitting in meetings and 69 percent reported that they were not productive. Business is about increasing revenue and profits, so the financial implications to the organization are significant. A $100,000 worker will cost their employer roughly $13,000 to sit through meetings that waste time and do nothing to further the organization’s business goals. Ask yourself if you can afford the $130,000 price tag for having a 10 person team waste hours week after week.

Though some are jaded at the prospect that teams can work together successfully, I believe they can. Developing the cohesiveness that ensures success, though, requires that the root causes of team dysfunction are identified and cured. However, overcoming the issues that lead to dysfunction in the first place is a daunting task requiring openness, disciple and the courage to see it through. The reality is that many teams can’t or won’t summon the strength to tackle the challenge, but those willing to take it on will surely reap the rewards.

There are scores of reasons why teams don’t work. Common ones touted are a lack of clarity about team member roles, a lack of focus on doing the right things at the right time in the teaming process, a lack of appreciation for the unique strengths of every team member, and a failure to reward and recognize the contributions made by each person. Mix in conflicting professional agendas, increasing diversity, lack of trust, a global business world where people are teamed together “virtually”, as well as a resistance to clarifying goals and roles up front, and it’s no wonder teams are stuck.

For teams to perform at their peak, it all begins with trust, unfortunately a rare commodity these days. Trust is the first and most critical component of building a strong team. However, trust cannot be forged when team members put their personal agenda first, refuse to ask for help, when they are unwilling to admit mistakes and blame others, or they summarily dismiss the opinions and ideas of other team members. If team members don’t feel they can trust each other, effective teaming is impossible.

One way to begin building trust is to recognize that people behave differently; they exhibit different behavioral styles and they have different motivations. While you cannot motivate another person, all people are motivated. The mistaken assumption often made is that all team members are motivated by the same things and nothing could be further from the truth. For example, in a situation where a team is working together to achieve a sales goal, it might be easy to assume that everyone is motivated to hit the sales target. But are they really? What happens when not everyone on the team stands to earn compensation for hitting the goal? Sure, the sales person cares, but does the support staff have the same motivation if they don’t share in the commission? Doubtful.

Taking the time to develop a greater understanding of individual behavioral styles and motivations will foster a trusting environment, improve communications and builds a foundation for effective interactions with other people. And before you start griping about not having enough time, remember that it costs your company in more ways than one if you don’t make the time. Doing the upfront work positions teams for innovative performance.

Here are the basic steps of marketing & advertising you must know & use, if you want to make huge profits in your business.

Did you know?…

Marketing and Advertising work together you simply can’t overlook the fact that if you’re running a great ad for truck parts, you may want to think twice about running the ad in ‘Dolly” magazine. Yes it sounds logical, but you’d be surprised by how many times something like this will happen each and every day.

Businesses blow hundreds and thousands of dollars everyday on ads that do absolutely nothing and pull zero response! Later we will learn why.

Businesses everywhere need this information and any business that’s “in” business, is in the business of MARKETING! That’s what it really boils down to…

Simply reading this information won’t bring sales into your business. It’s all about taking massive action and testing your ads over and over again.

The key is PERSISTANCE. As with anything, unless you persist, most of the time nothing much happens. Don’t get too disappointed if you ads don’t work the first time around…just keep trying new things till you get it right.

But remember always focus on the benefits of what your product or service will do for your prospect, NOT the features, or company or YOU for that matter!

Here’s 9 Golden Must Do Steps You Need To Follow To Get The Most From Your Advertising and Start Making More Money Today!

1) Focus on buyer benefits, not features. Your prospect is only interested in one thing. THEMSELVES!
2) Know who your prospects are, where they are and how you will reach them.
3) Understand your competition. Where are they and what are are they currently doing to source prospects.
4) Understand the frustrations & problems of your prospects and how you can solve them quickly and easily.
5) You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on advertising – there are plenty of low cost and no cost ways to market and advertise your business effectively.
6) Look at offering your prospects irresistible bonuses if they act on your offer within a specific time frame.
7) Always ask for the sale. Don’t expect your customer to shove money at you – they are waiting for you to ask!
Be Persistent. This is probably the most important rule of them all. Never ever give up!
9) Focus on buyer benefits and not on product features, it’s not about YOU!

Competition and strategies
The most frightful competition where gumball vending machines are considered is candy vending machine, and soda vending machine. Candy vending machines are an alternative to gumball ones, because they are both considered to be sweets. The difference however, is the fact that gumball vending machines are so much cheaper, so they have more popularity among people. Sales from a gumball vending machine are much higher than a candy one. And besides, the gumball vending machines are smaller and can be placed in any food store. A gumball vending machine is first of all a vending machine business niche element. So in order to make profit and be successful in your business, you most certainly must think about positioning the gumball vending machine. Considering the fact that candy vending machines can’t be placed in a local food store - a gumball dispenser is, however, a great replacement, being smaller and much more adaptable to a local store. Kids are the main targets to a gumball vending machine, so placing vending machines in locations where kids go is a major factor in increasing your revenue and developing a profitable vending machine business.

The gumball vending machine business
It’s true that gumball machines produce gum that is extremely cheap, so the price can’t be so high. But think again, because things can be different. Having gumball sold in million pieces a day, you can even make a fortune out of gumball vending machines. Purchasing more than just one gumball machine is the key to increasing your profit. And placing them in children’s way is the key to a successful vending machine business. One of the major factors that can bring you trouble is direct sunlight. Having your gumball vending machine put straight into the sunlight can affect the quality of the gum not to mention the color that will slowly fade away. So, in order to protect your vending machine business, make sure you place your gumball vending machines in a shady cool place for the durability and good maintenance of the quality of the gumballs.

The restaurant was small, no more than 15 tables, and located in strip mall. While the food was good, the noise was deafening. It wasn’t from the kitchen, it wasn’t the acoustics, it was Alberto the Mandolin player. Turns out the owner is a relative. He was a strolling and serenading Mandolin player. All conversations ceased when he was nearby. Since it was a small restaurant - he was nearby a lot.

Just before the server brought the check the owner came to our table and asked about our dinner. We said the dinner was terrific but the music made it all but impossible to have a conversation. She told us that Alberto was a cousin and a fixture at the restaurant on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

He may be a fixture - but we won’t be going back. I wonder how many other customers feel the same way. I also wonder if she has ever done the math on the lifetime value of a customer - probably not.

The customer is king.

Last week I was getting my haircut at a place called Yellow Strawberry. Desmond, who is the owner, cut my hair for the second time. He did a good job the first time so I went back. He also has a delightful English accent. We traded restaurant stories and he told me this one . . .

A friend in San Francisco went to dinner with a group that totaled eight people. After they were seated, they waited more than 20 minutes for anyone to come to their table. It was down hill from that point on. Service was slow - extremely slow. According to Desmond’s friend half the meals had to be sent back to the kitchen for a variety of reasons.

This is a long story made short. When the bill came Desmond’s friend asked to speak to the owner. They reviewed everything with the owner and asked for a break on the bill considering what they had been through. To make matters worse, because it was a group of eight, the restaurant automatically added a 18% gratuity.

The owner conceded there were some problems and yet wouldn’t cut them any slack on the tab. As the group was leaving, the owner gave Desmond’s friend a $200 gift certificate for dinner at the restaurant. The group had no plans of ever going back. Desmond’s friend, spotted a homeless person as they walked backed to their cars. He gave the person the certificate and suggested he take some of his buddies out to eat at the restaurant around the corner.

The customer is king.

One more dining experience and this was a good one. Three times a year I meet with 8 of my speaking friends at the DoubleTree Hotel near Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. Attached to the hotel is Gibson’s Restaurant - a fine place if ever I’ve been to one.

We make it an evening and it’s usually impossible for us to leave without spending $100 per person. Bill Lee, a member of our group, was celebrating his birthday. We arranged for our waiter and other servers, to bring a small cake, and to sing their version of Happy Birthday to Bill.

Later, when the check came, it amounted to the usual $100 per person. Our server looked at us and said, “I took care of the Birthday Cake for you.” It was a small thing that had a big impact - it actually made me smile.

The customer is King.

A friend of mine is also a professional speaker. He sells lots of books and CD’s. About three weeks ago a sales rep ordered one of his books. Two weeks later he called and said he never received the book. My friend said he would take care of it. He sent him another copy of the book plus an additional CD and gave him a 100% credit for his inconvenience.

He remembered the customer is King. He also remembered what the lifetime value of a good customer is.

How are you at taking care of the “Little things” for your customers?

I guess it’s all about the little things. Probably, it’s also the reason why so many of you wanted to get your hands on my new CD, “75 Little Things You Can Do To Grow Your Business And Boost Your Income.” http://www.meisenheimer.com/products/75thingscd.htm

Let’s go out and sell something . . .

Every restaurant has a line of specials that they serve. Servers may suggest the special, or describe it, but a button can really show it. People are stimulated by what they see – hence all the pictures in menus. It would just make sense to have an appetizing photograph of your daily special or weekly special on a button to attract attention. The server might suggest the special while pointing to the button “As you can see, today for our special we have a delicious pot roast with mixed vegetables”.

Buttons and badges are a really inexpensive way of advertising your specials and increasing your sales. Buttons can also be used to advertise the next night’s special to tantalize your guests to return. Want to increase the dessert sales? Nothing makes the mouth crave cool creamy ice cream more than a photograph of a hot fudge Sunday or a malted milkshake – words just can not describe those types of images well enough. These buttons can be made and handed out to the staff each day or each week of the special and then returned. Buttons are small enough to store easily, reusable, durable, and still large enough to make the mouth water when covered with pictures of your luscious entrées.

Do you have a unique or unusual theme to your restaurant? Sell souvenir buttons with your restaurant logo. If you are in a travel location, such as along an interstate, buttons with the state information and name on it are also great souvenirs. These buttons can be sold for as little as a dollar and still generate a handsome profit. “I always eat at Joe’s Bar and Grill” or “World’s Greatest Bar-be-Que” over a picture of your restaurant would be a simple button to make and could also be sold as a souvenir. Do you have a signature dish or a super large portion? For that guest who accomplishes the clean plate give them a button. For example, “Survivor” stamped over a picture of a porterhouse steak with your restaurant’s name at the bottom would certainly get people’s attention.

Making up buttons with your logo and address on them are great for sponsored events as well. Does your restaurant support a local youth sports team? Making up buttons to let people know who you sponsor and to give out to the team players is a great way to get the word out that you are involved in the community. Staff members can wear these buttons in the restaurant to let guests know that your establishment inspires youth activities. These buttons can also be made with the team’s final placement or the word “Champions” over your restaurant’s logo. This is a keepsake for the team members and a way of getting your logo and name out in the public.

Would you like to reward your frequent repeat customers? A button that reads “Thank You for Your Business” can be a great way to say thanks and will get the word outside the restaurant that you appreciate your guests. These can also have a discount on them. If you have regulars who visit often, give them a button for five or ten percent off their next meal. These buttons can be returned at the time of the purchase, just like a coupon, and saved for the next customer you want to reward. This is an inexpensive way to promote your establishment at openings as well. Pass these buttons out to new customers to draw them back in, and maybe even their friends.

Use buttons as nametags for employees. These can be customized with the restaurants logo and address or if you are a less formal establishment, have the servers and staff design their own buttons – within reason of course. Buttons are also large enough to include years of service. Rewards for staff can also be made out of buttons. The employee of the month or week can wear a button saying “Employee of the Month” or “This week’s Star Performer”.

Common Sense
Common sense and logic aren’t so common. Common sense
says solid telephone skills cannot be taken for granted and
shows our customers we value them and their business.
Here are some common telephone blunders and common
sense solutions to keep your company on track. Even if you
have been guilty of practicing some or all of these blunders,
take charge now and reshape your focus to create a
customer-focused organization.

1. No Call Back
I am referring to calls from a co-worker, business associate,
vendor, or someone with which you have a standing
business relationship. The reasons people choose not to
return a call may include the following:

* “I don’t have any new information to share.”
* “I’m waiting for so-and-so to return my call or answer my
e-mail.”
* “I don’t have a need for this service right now.” (Though I
may in the future).
* “I’m not the person with whom they need to speak.”
* “I haven’t made a decision yet.”

Unfortunately, when you realize you were negligent and
overdue for a call back, panic and embarrassment set in and
you feel it’s easier to duck, dodge, and dance around rather
than make the call. This only compounds the problem and
doesn’t alleviate your uneasiness.

The solution is to pick up the phone. Begin by apologizing
for not calling back. Do not make excuses such as, “I was
busy.” Instead, be honest and forthright, which goes a long
way to building and maintaining solid business relationships
and your reputation. Next, proceed to resolve the business
at hand. In the future, begin with the positive intention of
answering calls in a timely fashion. If you don’t have any
news or there is no change in circumstances, let the caller
know. Inform him or her when you plan to call back, or
provide a future date when the caller can contact you – and
be sure to pick up the phone.

2. Untimely Voice Mail
Imagine you call a business the day after Labor Day and hear
the following message, “Thank you for calling ABC
Company. You have reached the desk of Jane Doe. I’ll be
out of the office on business from July 3 through July 15th.
Please leave a message.” What does this outdated message
really say about you to your customers? For one, it says I’m
too busy to change a voice message, so, perhaps, I’m too
busy to meet and service your business needs. Remember,
your message represents you in your absence. Be sure all
messages are timely and reflect a professional image. If the
customer needs immediate assistance, be sure to state whom
they can contact, along with a phone number.

Another voicemail blunder is allowing a mailbox to fill to
capacity so the box won’t accept any more messages. I
know people who purposefully do this just so they won’t
receive any more calls, which translates in their mind to not
having more work. This is a very unprofessional and
unacceptable practice. Check your voice mail periodically
throughout the business day. Save messages when
necessary. If you expect you will not be available for an
extended period of time, state when you expect to check
messages and return calls. If you find your mailbox often
fills up faster than you can keep up, consider having a live
operator accept your calls.

3. Unpreparedness
Have you ever had a caller phone and say, “I need so-and-
so’s number.” You offer the information off the top of your
head only to have the caller interrupt you and say, “Hold on
a minute. Let me get a something to write with.” Why do
people call for specific information and yet are unprepared to
take the information down? The caller has now wasted
his/her time and yours. Every telephone needs always to
have three items beside it: a pen, paper, and a mirror. (See
the next item as to why you need the mirror.)

4. No Mirror
What you see is what the customer gets. Keeping a mirror
next to your phone lets you see what your customers hear.
A warm smile can be heard over the phone. If a call has
come at a bad moment, better to allow the caller to leave a
message than risk taking out your frustrations on the caller.

5. Hanging Up Before The Customer
When you hang up the phone before the customer does,
you risk the client hearing comments that aren’t meant for
his/her ears. “That Jim is such an idiot. How dare he try to
haggle over price after three months of negotiations! Oh, hi,
Jim. I didn’t realize you were still on the line.” Oops, how
embarrassing! I have personally heard some very interesting
and embarrassing conversations begun before I hung up,
and I can assure you I took my business elsewhere because
of it.

6. The Noisy Hang Up
You’ve heard the crackle before –a page is sent over the
public address system and at the end of the message you
hear what sounds like a shot put thrown at the Olympic
games. When the phone is disconnected, it sounds as if the
handset was thrown halfway across the room. A better and
quieter solution is to click the release or switch hook button
first and then put the handset down into place.

7. Phone Tag
A great game of phone tag not only wastes time, it can be
downright frustrating. Cut down on the number of “tags”
and leave a message that tells callers specifically when you
can be reached or when you’ll be out of the office (so they
don’t call then). Believe it or not, some people call on
purpose when you’re out – now why would they ever want
to do that?

8. Fast Talking
I’m a former New Yorker and I usually have no problem
understanding the swiftest speaker. However, I’ve had
people I have never met leave me a message with a phone
number that is spoken as fast as an auctioneer. Slow down!
Leave a message assuming the other person doesn’t know
how to spell your name or already know your number. A
proper message includes your name and number stated twice
– once in the beginning of the message and again at the very
end. This way if I can’t understand or want to confirm the
information, I can do so without replaying the message over
and over again. Be sure to speak slowly and clearly. Don’t
be shy about spelling any piece of information for clarity.

9. Choosing Not to Invest in a Headset
Juggling a pen, paper, and handset, while typing on a
keyboard with the phone cradled in the crook of your stiff
shoulder and aching neck, just isn’t productive. Ease your
pain and invest in a quality headset and make life easier.
You’ll find you can locate information, write, or simply listen
with ease. While you’re at it, pick up an extra one for your
cell phone, too.

10. Misusing the Speakerphone
The use of a speakerphone is useful when dialing, waiting on
hold, and conference calls. There are times, however, when
it is misused and abused. Examples of this are when private
information is shouted into the speaker box so loudly that
everyone in a one-mile radius can hear or having a
speakerphone conversation without informing the caller that
others are in the room. Don’t ever assume the caller doesn’t
mind being on the speaker. Ask for permission first. Also,
always inform callers before they utter a word that someone
(if appropriate, who) is present in the room with you to give
fair warning.

The previous manager, although well-intentioned, had been gruff with customers and staff alike. Most of the staff were teenagers, and sometimes I didn’t blame him. Look, I was a teenager myself, and can remember not always being the best employee. Not because I was bad, but just because I was a teenager. You remember? Right?

Anyway, I worked with the departing manager fo about a month and then I was in charge.

One of the first things I did, even before the old manager left, was to make sure I called everyone, including my 16-year-old employees, “sir” and “ma’am. I also made certain they got plenty of praise for a job well done, and gentle but firm guidance (always in private) when they erred.

It wasn’t long before, “YO! Dude! Bring me some ketchup!” was replaced by “Excuse me, sir (or ma’am)! Could you please bring me some ketchup?”

Over the next few weeks, the lunch crowd slowly began to grow, as did the dinner crowd, and I wasn’t absolutely certain why. I DID know that my young ladies and gentlemen were making the customers feel more comfortable in our establishment, and the employees themselves were taking on more responsibility for taking care of the customers and getting the job done and seemed to be enjoying themselves in the process.

Of course, we had our regulars, and one day I noticed a pair of gentlemen I had never seen before. What struck me was that they were watching the employees and myself with eagle eyes. As I moved around the room, chatting briefly with diners and making sure they were taken care of, one of the men called me to his table.

This is what he told me…

He and his friend worked in a nearby office building and had once been regular lunch customers, but had quit coming in several months before I came to work there. The reason they had stopped dining at our establishment was simply that they did not like the way the previous manager had treated the employees, and they had also felt the trickle-down affect in the negative way the employees interacted with customers and other employees.

Recently, people in their building had begun talking about how pleasant it had become to eat in our restaurant since the “new manager” had taken over. They had decided to check it out for themselves. Even though they enjoyed the food and the restaurant was nearby, they had been choosing to go elsewhere because of their discomfort in the previous atmosphere. They told me that they were extremely pleased with their experience and really liked the way I treated the employees and the employees treated each other and the customers. They definitely would be returning regularly.

THE MENU AND FOOD PREPARATION HAD NOT CHANGED.

THE FACILITIES WERE THE SAME.

THE EMPLOYEES WERE THE SAME.

BUT…

THE ATTITUDE AND ATMOSPHERE HAD CHANGED.

With the right attitude and with lots of respect for peers and customers alike, your business can grow even if you sell the same product or service as thousands of other internet or brick-and-mortar businesses.

So! Why not sell service? There’s sometimes quite a lack of competition there.

Postscript: Between the time I drafted this article and typed it up, I received an email from a webmaster who complained that while I had a nice website, it was just like several others he had seen, and he doubted I would have any success with it.

Avoid the Self-Employment Trap

If you quit your job and hang up your own shingle, you might work harder for less money. You may enjoy working from home or choosing your own clients, but you might end up living from client to client without building any real wealth.

Many self-employed people I know suffer from feast or famine. They spend lots of time and money marketing their services and get lots of clients. They get really busy doing the work and stop marketing and then their prospective client pool dries up.

If you set up your business so that you do everything - marketing, sales, bookkeeping, operations, and fulfillment, then you are limiting your success potential from day one. You will spend lots of time on non-income generating activities and may get frustrated and burned-out in a short time.

The real key to successfully creating wealth outside of a job is to avoid the mistake of trading one boss for another boss. You need to stop trading your time for dollars. Stop thinking like a wage slave. Look beyond earned income.

Think Like a Business

There are many problems with earned income. The biggest one is that you are trading your time for money. If you stop trading your time, the dollars stop coming. This is a huge problem if you decide to have a baby, get sick, want to take an extended vacation, or are ready to retire.

The IRS penalizes self-employed people who operate as a sole proprietorship with a hefty self-employment tax. How can you avoid this? Well, I am not an accountant or CPA, so I am not giving legal or accounting advice, but I have learned to think like a business. Before you quit your job, interview local tax advisors to educate yourself on different business entities and tax strategies. Start thinking big.

Build a Company with Multiple Passive Income Streams

You need to build a company that works for you. My best advice on how to quit your job is to build a business that offers multiple streams of passive income in addition to your earned income. There are so many exciting ways to design your income portfolio. It requires imagination, courage and planning.

Structure your business so that your daily activities are fun and challenging. Identify the things that you don’t enjoy or are not good at and find other people to do these activities – outside partners, independent contractors, or employees.

How to Quit Your Job

How to Educate your Prospects
By Abe Cherian
Copyright ? 2005

There’s a saying about business that goes, “You’re too
close to your business and services to see them the same
way others do.”

You might assume your clients know more than they actually
do. You don’t want to assume they will remember things. You
live for your business. You live and breathe it within your
industry. Your prospects don’t. They have their own lives.
You know every detail about your products and services.
They don’t. You want to educate them instead of just
advertising your business through conventional means.

One of the great ways to do this is through a newsletter.
It takes time for them to learn about your products and
services. You may see them just once a year and although
you may do a great job educating them, they’re still not
going to remember you a year from now. Just because your
product and service is your life doesn’t mean it’s theirs.

If you don’t have an on going product or service program in
place, you should begin one immediately. This will keep
your company at the top of your client’s mind.

What kind of valuable information can you provide? Quite a
bit. Show them extra ways, tips and techniques to use your
products and services. If you constantly educate them over
and over again, then they’re going to feel more connected
with you.

Your goal should be to get all of your customers to explain
your products and services then you’d really be doing a
great job. Believe me, your bank account will reflect this.

Always Give Them Something. you can mention this in your
newsletter. You never want to leave a prospect or client
without giving them something. You don’t want to leave them
empty handed.

You don’t want them to walk out of your store or leave your
web site without taking something with them. You don’t want
to leave a customer or prospect’s house without’ leaving
them with something. You don’t want to leave a meeting with
a prospect without giving them something.

It can be something you sell, a small token, or create
something specifically for this reason. You can create a
special report. This might be an after service or after
purchase report that shows them how to get the most
benefits out of your product or service.

A certificate for a complimentary maintenance, tune-up,
telephone conversation or something to enhance the initial
purchase. a free gift such as a pen, paper weight, calendar
or discount coupons fqr another purchase.

Vital Information:

• Start-up Investment: $300-$700 (advertising costs)

• Break-even time Two weeks to one year

• Estimate of Annual Revenue and Profit: $15,000-$25,000 Part time $40,000-$50,000 Full Time

Who needs a Relocation Consultant?

• a single parent who has a demanding job with working hours that directly conflict with apartment or home rental research, would find the services useful.

• Workers who have been replaced or who are going to be relocated.

• People who are returning to work from an extended stay away, due to an injury or illness.

• Companies who are expanding or relocating.

• Companies who have traveling employees.

• People living in heavily populated cities.

What does a Relocation Consultant do?

A Relocation Consultant’s duties consists of locating neighborhoods, apartment and home dwellings, childcare services, religious organizations and selecting a moving company for individuals, families, and employees for relocating businesses.

More specifically, as companies continue to downsize and or relocate, there’s a growing need for the services provided by a Relocation Consultant.

Often, companies contract with Relocation Consultants so that the consultant’s services are readily accessible in the event that an employee or numerous employees are relocated.

The Relocation Consultant will match an employer or an employees’, living requirements and requests as closely as possible.

Additionally, a Relocation Consultant’s services are solicited for individual’s who are relocating for reasons other than employment.

Many individual’s seek the services of a Relocation Consultant due to time restrictions which prevent them from locating desired living arrangements.

Getting started in the Relocation Consultant Business

• Advertising your Business

Run Classified ads and 1-2 inch ads in newspapers and magazines in both the Metro areas as well as suburban areas. Good examples are Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, New York….

Internet Classifieds work well also.

Consider leaving brochures at various Hotels and Motels.

• Tips for running a Successful Relocation Business

One of the keys to success in this business is your ability to network with others around the country.

Successful Networking will provide you with the ability to thoroughly examine an area prior to running advertisements.

So…it’s important to develop business relations the country. Of course, the internet and email provide the perfect vehicle for this type of relationship building.

Understand that your learning curve NEVER ENDS. You will need to regularly develop your business skills. Don’t be fooled into thinking that “a good product sells itself.”

“Consumers buy you” is what I used to teach to my telemarketers.

I’ve listed on my site, a few Home Business Courses to get you off to a good start.

Don’t stop there. Continue to research and develop skill.

For example, I dedicate at least 5 hours weekly toward increasing my personal business building techniques.

• Visit the Relocation Council.

This Organization has been in operation for a number of years. They have a Newsletter and other training materials to help you to develop your skills.

On their site, you’ll notice that there is an option to become Certified. In the event that you decide that you want to expand your part time business into a full time career, having employees…you can prepare for your certification with the Relocation Council also.

erc.org 1-202 - 857- 0857

Note: When you are ready to begin larger ad campaigns, visit, Standard Rate and Data srds.com SRDS has a database of media rates for at least 100,000 publications.

The Relocation Consultant Work At Home Business is a very inexpensive Business to start. It’s fairly straight forward and it has the potential to create a full time income while working part time. This one is Really worth considering.

• If you decide that this is the Work from Home business opportunity for you, continue reading our Ezine for continued Home Business Start-Up’s since there will be ideas and information in each issue that you can tweak a little to benefit you within your Business of Choice.

To eliminate some trial and error, in our Ezine, also provide you with ongoing Small Business support…deals on business tools, marketing research information, and more.

• You will need to create a Business Plan if you are serious about creating a profitable Home Based Business.

I found a good Business Plan workbook that you will find quite useful. Writing Business Plans can be frustrating… I won’t lie. Thus Using a workbook and/or software is by far the popular choice for those who don’t want to pay $700-$1,500 to have one professionally prepared.

• Ensure that you take your business to the internet. I’ve evaluated a few web hosting Companies and I’ve listed their advantages as well as their disadvantages. You’ll also find discount computer hardware locations.

You may find that marketing your business using RSS is an unthinkable opportunity to overlook. You’re right. I’ve listed free RSS readers and software that you can use To get your feeds up and going WITHOUT the need of studying all the techie stuff. Just visit our Resource Page.

If you have not read AND STUDIED, the World’s Famous, “Think And Grow Rich”, you can receive it Free:

This is a must read. Creating a proper mind-set is critical. In addition to your studying your business, you will need to develop a mind for business.

Wealth is NOT about Money. Download it And see for yourself.

For example, one of the most common workmen’s compensation claims has to do with back pain. Most of the time, people do not realize that there is a good and a bad way to lift heavy items. So, they just bend down and lift. But, lifting from your back can cause a number of problems including painful tears, stretches and even problems with the spine. If employees are taught to lift with their legs instead, they can help reduce the injuries that could happen. Providing safety videos to help bring this issue to the front would not only allow them to hear what you need them to do, but to see it too.

Safety videos are much more complex than this though. Teaching employees how to handle hazardous chemicals as well as helping them learn the right way to wash their hands before touching food are also available. While you may be thinking that these are common sense things that people should know, many people unfortunately need to be told. So, investing the time and money into safety videos can do this for you quite effectively.

1. Take the time out to explore and understand whether or not you are compatible with running our own business. Some people are just plain happier and better off financially on the other end of the paycheck.

2.Get your personal finances in order. Before you jump into the entrepreneurship world, get your own money matters squared away.

3. Pick your niche. Many small business owners succeed in businesses that are hardly unique or innovative. Take stock of your skills, interests, and employment history to select the business that is best suited for you.

4. Benefit from your business plan. The exercise of creating a business plan is what pays the dividends. Answer the tough questions now before the meter starts running.

5. Do not think you need bankers and investors at the outset of your business. The vast majority of small businesses are bootstrapped.

6. Acquire the proper background. In the early months and years of your business, you will have to acquire many skills. Gain the background you need to oversee all facets of your business well, but determine what tasks you should outsource or hire employees.

7. Remember that nothing happens until a sale is made – How many good products go nowhere because they do not reach the shelves? Sales drive your business. You will need a good marketing plan to sell your product or service.

8. You have to see a customer to know one. N o matter how busy you are, spend at least 25% of your time with customers. You cannot make the proper business decision without understanding their viewpoint.

9. Solve your customers’ problems. The best way to satisfy your customers is not by selling them products but by giving solutions to their problems. There is a big difference.

10.Quality takes minutes to lose but years to regain. Quality is not a destination, it is a never ending journey. After you have strayed from quality’s path, your journey maybe sidetracked forever.

11. Put profitability first, rewards seconds. In small businesses, profitability must come first. Find out how to measure your cash flow and understand key financial ratios.

12. Hire supporters. If you intend to create a growing business, your number one duty is to assemble a great team of employees.

13. Do not do it alone. Find such help from small business peers, a mentor, even trade associations. They can help take some of the trial and error of beginning your business.
14. Vendors are partners too! Treat your vendors like customers and watch your partnership grow.

15. Make use of benefits. Understand how to provide insurance and other benefits for your employees and cut your tax bill at the same time.

16. Ignore regulatory issues at your peril. Federal, state, and local governments require licenses, registrations, and permits. Obey them or face losing your business.

17. Know the tax laws. Invest in understanding tax issues that affect your small business.

18. It’s the people! Whatever happens to a small business happens at the hands of the people who work for it. The evolution of the business is a result of their efforts.

19. Fast, good, cheap. Pick any two. Serious trouble awaits those who attempt to be all three in the market place. Stick with what you do best.

Thinking Skills You Don’t Have Aren’t Important.

So you have no idea how to keep records and accounts, or you don’t know how to maintain a mailing list. You need to learn these things! Too many home business owners just do the things that they know how to do, and assume that they can probably get by without everything else.

You need to realise that when you’re running a home business, you’re going to need to do as much as you can for yourself, especially when you’re starting out. This means that you can’t get by if your business skills are lacking. I always say that everyon’e who is thinking of starting a business should take an inexpensive and quick local business course, and I stand by it — even if you think you’ll be fine, it can’t hurt, can it?

Not Managing Your Time.

When you’re used to working nine to five, an easy trap to fall into is not managing your time effectively. Your home is full of distractions, and there won’t be anyone there to tell you to get on with it. If you’re prone to daydreaming or procrastinating then this can be disastrous — whole days can go by with only tiny amounts of work getting done.

You need to be sure that you have a schedule, and you stick to it. Draw a clear line between work and non-work time, and don’t cross the line in either direction. Apart from that, the word to remember is ‘prioritise’: appreciate that you won’t always be able to do everything, but make sure you get at least the important things done.

Making Clients Think You’re a Joke.

There are many home businesses where clients might need to visit your home — but make sure it’s fit for visiting! You can’t lead them into a messy office, or be holding your dog back from barking at them when you first meet. Remember that professionalism is important, and it’s too easy to end up looking silly if you don’t plan how you’re going to make a good impression when you invite people to your home.

If you can’t afford a ‘business annex’ to your house, then consider hiring someone to look after your dog or children for a few hours while you have a business meeting there. It might also be worth paying a cleaner to give the place a quick once-over, if you haven’t had time to clean up for a while.

Not Specialising.

Too many home businesses, when asked who their target market is, say ‘well everyon’e, silly’. Your target market is never everyon’e — if it is, you will fail. You can’t just choose an industry and advertise your new-found profession to everyon’e, in the hope that someone will work out that the fact you’re an electrician means maybe they should ask you about re-wiring their house.

The key to success is this: think about what you can do, and then market that to people who will want it. Advertise in places where these people are. If your business has no target market, then you have no business, period.

Making Start-Up Costs Too High.

Finally, too many people overestimate how much money it’s going to take to start a home business. Do you really all brand-new equipment? If you’re spending thousands of dollars before you’ve made any sales at all, you’re setting yourself up for a disappointment.

Here are some of the things you need to think through to make a good decision when selecting POS equipment and systems for your business. Use this list as a starting point for your planning process.

* First of all, price should not be the main consideration when buying a POS system. The improved efficiency, greater flexibility and better reporting should pay for the investment in a reasonable period of time.

* Don’t start off by calling for lists of features of various POS systems. Instead, start with a comprehensive analysis of what your business requires.

* Do you have operations spread over multiple locations? What are the implications?

If you run a restaurant, for example, you may need to keep some parameters common across locations while varying others. For instance, your menu may be identical at all locations, but prices of some items may vary from one outlet to another. The system you choose must be capable of implementing such differences.

* How easily can you make changes to the system? You can be sure that your business will keep changing in many respects — employees join and leave, prices go up or down, your product range expands, locations get added or deleted and so on.

Ask yourself if the programming interface will easily allow your employees to execute such changes.

* Will it be possible to make changes ahead of time? For example, if you’re beginning a special promotion on November 15, can you input the price changes well in advance and set the system to automatically effect the changes on that date?

This as well as other types of flexibility are essential for many retail operations.

* To what extent will the POS system need to integrate with your accounting system? Does it have to be real time? Or is it enough to have an export of entries at day-end?

* If you are running a bar, does the POS system need to work with liquor control devices? A liquor control device tracks pours from bottles. This makes billing easier and reduces shrinkage.

* Will the credit / debit card processing system in the POS equipment work well with your merchant account?

* Will the system allow you to implement special deals for frequent shoppers? For instance, each purchase could have points associated with them and these points could eventually translate into lower prices or free gifts.

* What reporting capabilities will you need? If you work across multiple locations, will the system give you an online real-time report of transactions completed?

Most dealers will have sample reports available. Ask to see them so that you can compare better.

* In most cases, the POS system will have to be upgraded as your needs evolve and expand. How quickly can the dealer respond to your needs?

Also, most dealers put out regular software upgrades. Are they included in the contract or does the dealer charge extra for them?

For the sake of avoiding compatibility problems, plan to purchase new hardware of the same kind as the original. That way you’ll ensure everything works well together — and even if there are problems, you can get the dealer to handle it.

* Support is a critical consideration. What happens if your POS system goes down? This can have a serious impact on the business. You need to get a detailed written agreement on how the dealer is going to handle breakdowns.

The dealer may try to diagnose and solve the problem over phone initially. If that doesn’t work, they may send support staff to your location. And if the problem can’t be solved quickly, you may need to get equipment on loan till your system is repaired.

POS system downtime can have serious implications. Make sure you get the support you need.