by Rex Richard | Sep 26, 2012 | Business, Personal Development
Did you know that gratitude can be used as a way to grow your business? When you consider that the definition of gratitude is: a positive emotion that acknowledges a benefit that one has received or will receive – and in business, even if your clients are paying you a fee, they are still probably grateful for the service you perform. The reason for their gratitude is that, without you performing that service, they will have to search for someone else to do it for them and the service you provide likely helps them concentrate on their core competencies.
Here are some actions you can take to express gratitude toward your clients:
- Saying thank you goes a long way. These two words benefit you both in and outside of business dealings. Thank them for their business. Thank them for referrals. A “thank you” is a true customer-building tool.
- Be willing to take the extra step. There are times you feel you can’t offer anything more, but if you’re willing to go the extra mile, your willingness to serve will be remembered.
- Positivity counts. In any situation, you should look for the positive. There are times this is difficult but if you’re calm in the face of an angry customer you can easily diffuse the situation.
How do you practice gratitude with your clients?
by Rex Richard | Sep 5, 2012 | Personal Development
Have you ever been faced with a project that, for some reason, you just can’t seem to get yourself to move forward on? Have you ever considered the fact that it might be perfection that’s holding you back? In some cases, that is true. Some individuals get so caught up in the idea that everything they’re going to put forth and introduce to the public has to be perfect.
In reality, there is no perfect. If you put your best into everything that you do, and you call upon trusted mentors and advisors for input, the product you offer and the service you provide will be as perfect as you can make it. There are three ways you can help propel your projects forward and let go of the perfection procrastination:
- Focus on the final outcome and how your clients and potential clients will benefit from what you have to offer.
- Practice lends itself to your personal perfection. The product or service you’re offering is valuable in the market because only you possess your particular brand of expertise.
- Be open to mistakes. Everyone makes them. Be big enough to own up to them. If you have a typo on a press release or in a blog post, thank the person that points it out and fix it. You’re only human!
by Rex Richard | Aug 28, 2012 | Business, Customer targeting, Personal Development, Renewing The Mind
Your parents likely tossed around cliches and their “words of wisdom” which, chances are, you didn’t pay much heed to. When I think back though, my parents were the first teachers I ever had and as I get older I realize that some of their words ring true in both my business and my personal life.
Here are a few of the old adages I remember:
- If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well. There is no denying that this should be true in your dealings with clients and people with whom you interact
- You catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Surround yourself with positive people and be positive yourself. Even when you’re having a bad day, try not to “share” it with others.
- Everyone has something to contribute. While not every person in your organization is a good fit for every task that needs to be completed, chances are, every person on your team brings his or her own unique take to a project — tap into his unique talent.
Do you have any mottos or words of wisdom that you live by on a daily basis?
by Rex Richard | Aug 21, 2012 | Business, Personal Development
Are you a reader of self-help books? Do you find they truly help you or once you’re done reading them do you think, “I already knew that!”? Here are some thoughts I have had about my reading of self help books, so much of it is common sense and this is what I have gleaned in my years of reading:
- Set realistic goals. If you’ve had a “bad” habit for years, you won’t be able to change it overnight. Not achieving a goal may make you get disenchanted and stop your forward momentum.
- Commit to your goal for at least 21 days — that’s the length of time that the experts tell us it takes to make a new habit stick.
- Believe in yourself and the goal you’ve set. If you’re simply setting a goal because you feel you need to, your heart isn’t in it.
- Find a friend or trusted colleague in whom you can confide your goal and help keep you accountable.
- Break your goal down into manageable chunks. If you have more than one goal to reach, take baby steps to get there.
What is your next goal and how will you achieve it?
by Rex Richard | Aug 14, 2012 | Business, Personal Development
You’ve heard the adage that if you love your job you’ll never truly work a day in your life, right? Do you love your job? Do you have a passion for what you do? If so, chances are you look forward to getting up in the morning and pursuing your career or entrepreneurial path of your dreams.
Here are five tips for finding your passion for the job that you’re in:
- Be an expert at what you do. The more you know about your job, the better you will perform it and the better you will feel about what you do. Be an expert in your field.
- Incorporate your hobbies into your career, if possible. If you can’t, then make certain you pursue your hobbies and passions outside of the office as a way to make the rest of your life more enjoyable.
- If you’re not in the career of your dreams, then make the time you spend there about the journey. For example if you want to be an editor or business coach, learn what you can from your current position and surround yourself with people who can help you realize your dream.
- Uncover what you do enjoy about your current position and work that into more hours of your work day. See if you can offload or trade work duties with a fellow co-worker and maybe both of you can balance out the tasks you love with the tasks you don’t.
- Change careers if necessary. In some cases, you will simply find a job that isn’t a good fit for you and vice versa. If this is the case, you need to look into changing career paths until you find a job that lets you follow your passion.
Do you love what you do?
by Rex Richard | Jul 24, 2012 | Business, Personal Development
Networking is as crucial to your business success as it providing quality goods and services. While it may take a few networking events or follow up meetings with potential clients, the fruits of your labor will eventually pay off.
Business owners are faced with myriad tasks on a daily basis, but you need to make certain that while you’re making your weekly to-do list that you add networking into the schedule. You may say you don’t have time to leave the office, but truthfully, you can’t afford not network. Being a business owner means you will need to perfect your elevator pitch and learn to be comfortable shaking hands and talking about your business.
Here are steps to take to chase away nervous butterflies and make the most of your time at meet-and-greets:
- Know who you want to meet at a particular event
- Try not to leave a networking event unless you have three solid leads with whom you can follow up
- If you know someone at the meeting, ask him or her for an introduction to someone you don’t know. Your networking efforts will be for naught if you only interact with people you already know. Networking is about growing your contacts
Follow up is crucial. Don’t let more than three days pass before you contact the people you met at the networking meeting.
