Tags |
|
|
Links |
|
|
Digg it UP - Increase Sales With Travel Incentives
A New Hire and An Aquarium
What does an aquarium have to do with a new hire? More than you think. Read on and see how an experience in ignoring the rules of good aquarium management resulted in a lesson that has much broader application.At 12 years old, I was a partner in an aquarium. Four of us owned it and the fish and plants that inhabited it. We got the money to buy new fish by scavenging 5 cent deposit beverage bottles. We'd gather the bottles, cash them in and go to the aquarium dealer and buy fish. We had developed a pretty good collection of Gouramis, Angelfish. Mollys and Neon Tetras, along with the necessary catfish and plants to make our freshwater aquarium look good, provide cover, and yet remain uncrowded.The one thing we had done was always buy two fish of the same kind. But one Saturday we went looking for bottles – pickings were scarce and we only found enough to get money for one fish. We really wanted to add a zebra fish to our collection, so we bought just one fish - even though the dealer advised against it - and brought it home.We introduced our new fish with little fanfare - we simply dropped it into the tank. All the other pairs had been put into the aquarium in their plastic bags for a few hours in order to let the community get to know them. We were tired from scavenging bottles, it was getting late, and we were in a hurry to see how our zebra fish looked in the aquarium.Our zebra fish darted around and s
eing smart. You've got to distinctively separate your business from the comWhat does an aquarium have to do with a new hire? More than you think. Read on and see how an experience in ignoring the rules of good aquarium management resulted in a lesson that has much broader application.At 12 years old, I was a partner in an aquarium. Four of us owned it and the fish and plants that inhabited it. We got the money to buy new fish by scavenging 5 cent deposit beverage bottles. We'd gather the bottles, cash them in and go to the aquarium dealer and buy fish. We had developed a pretty good collection of Gouramis, Angelfish. Mollys and Neon Tetras, along with the necessary catfish and plants to make our freshwater aquarium look good, provide cover, and yet remain uncrowded.The one thing we had done was always buy two fish of the same kind. But one Saturday we went looking for bottles – pickings were scarce and we only found enough to get money for one fish. We really wanted to add a zebra fish to our collection, so we bought just one fish - even though the dealer advised against it - and brought it home.We introduced our new fish with little fanfare - we simply dropped it into the tank. All the other pairs had been put into the aquarium in their plastic bags for a few hours in order to let the community get to know them. We were tired from scavenging bottles, it was getting late, and we were in a hurry to see how our zebra fish looked in the aquarium.Our zebra fish darted around and s
Mastering the ABCD's of Small Business Marketing & Selling
I believe that small business marketing and selling follows a certain flow. The pace of the flow may differ depending on what you’re selling, but I still see the flow for virtually every small business. If you acknowledge and understand the flow for your own business then you can implement processes and systems to work within the flow. I call it Mastering the ABCD’s of marketing and selling.Attention. The first step in the flow for attracting new clients is gaining attention. Your prospects need to know you exist and want to know more. This is going to be accomplished by effectively communicating your key marketing message. It comes down to what you say when someone ask what you do, or what attention grabbing headline you use in your letter or brochure, or what title you give your article or speech. Words are critical here.The key to generating attention is focus on results, not process. People want to know what they’ll get from you, not necessarily what you’ll do or how you'll do it. Don’t talk about you, talk about them. Focus on the primary problems, issues, and challenges you want to help them solve.Building Interest, Credibility, and Trust. The next step in the flow is building up their interest in what you have to offer as well as your credibility and trust. You’ve gained their attention and they want to know more. You need to give them information that will provide them with ideas they can actually
Today’s business environment has changed dramatically over the past 10 years, it can be a tough task to make a sale. Just being aggressive doesn't cut it any longer. Sales skills alone aren't enough to compete when so many new products and services become everyday commodities. Consumers nowadays are being smart. You've got to distinctively separate your business from the compI believe that small business marketing and selling follows a certain flow. The pace of the flow may differ depending on what you’re selling, but I still see the flow for virtually every small business. If you acknowledge and understand the flow for your own business then you can implement processes and systems to work within the flow. I call it Mastering the ABCD’s of marketing and selling.Attention. The first step in the flow for attracting new clients is gaining attention. Your prospects need to know you exist and want to know more. This is going to be accomplished by effectively communicating your key marketing message. It comes down to what you say when someone ask what you do, or what attention grabbing headline you use in your letter or brochure, or what title you give your article or speech. Words are critical here.The key to generating attention is focus on results, not process. People want to know what they’ll get from you, not necessarily what you’ll do or how you'll do it. Don’t talk about you, talk about them. Focus on the primary problems, issues, and challenges you want to help them solve.Building Interest, Credibility, and Trust. The next step in the flow is building up their interest in what you have to offer as well as your credibility and trust. You’ve gained their attention and they want to know more. You need to give them information that will provide them with ideas they can actually
How To Miss The Target
Target setting in the workplace has for the longest time been seen as a key function of the manager.The manager considers all the factors of the past, of personnel, and of production then sets the target that his boss feels he should be achieving.It is not often that the target is based in reality or a practical assessment of what is possible.The boss wants to achieve greater production so the manager increases the target by an arbitrary number in the naive hope that his workforce will pull together like splendid fellows and achieve the new target for him because he is wonderful.When the target is not achieved the manager is then quite comfortable blaming the workforce for their failure to achieve it, because he was quite clear when he told them what the new target was.The fault therefore lies with the workforce.Or does it?Let us assume for one minute that the workforce is made up of human beings.What happens when we tell a human being what to do?The first thing, that is not visible to the casual observer, is that the little hairs on the back of their neck stand up.What happens next is a function of the relationship between the teller and the person being told.In a social situation the response will vary from "What did your last slave die of?" to an altogether more violent reaction if for instance ones partner was holding the iron when you told them to do the ironi
s, it can be a tough task to make a sale. Just being aggressive doesn't cut it any longer. Sales skills alone aren't enough to compete when so many new products and services become everyday commodities. Consumers nowadays are being smart. You've got to distinctively separate your business from the comTarget setting in the workplace has for the longest time been seen as a key function of the manager.The manager considers all the factors of the past, of personnel, and of production then sets the target that his boss feels he should be achieving.It is not often that the target is based in reality or a practical assessment of what is possible.The boss wants to achieve greater production so the manager increases the target by an arbitrary number in the naive hope that his workforce will pull together like splendid fellows and achieve the new target for him because he is wonderful.When the target is not achieved the manager is then quite comfortable blaming the workforce for their failure to achieve it, because he was quite clear when he told them what the new target was.The fault therefore lies with the workforce.Or does it?Let us assume for one minute that the workforce is made up of human beings.What happens when we tell a human being what to do?The first thing, that is not visible to the casual observer, is that the little hairs on the back of their neck stand up.What happens next is a function of the relationship between the teller and the person being told.In a social situation the response will vary from "What did your last slave die of?" to an altogether more violent reaction if for instance ones partner was holding the iron when you told them to do the ironi
Innovation Management - how will we make the go or kill decisions?
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.There are distinct processes that enhance problem identification and idea generation and, similarly, distinct processes that enhance idea selection, development and commercialisation. Whilst there is no sure fire route to commercial success, these processes improve the probability that good ideas will be generated and selected and that investment in developing and commercialising those ideas will not be wasted.One of the most important aspects of innovation management is the ability to know how and when to give further KILL or GO decisions once good ideas have been selected and are pushed into the pipeline, where they must measure-up alongside other good ideas.The pipeline is also known as an idea funnel or a stage gate system. These terms are useful as they address the fact that the good idea selection process continues in the development stage.The value of an idea is consistently changing and depends on where it is in the idea funnel process. Innovative firms accept that ideas have a high mortality rate and that GO or KILL decisions have to be made to focus resources on those ideas most likely to succeed.As the idea funnel narrows, the requirement for staying in the funnel becomes more rigorous – the process involves tinkering, experimentation, mark
it any longer. Sales skills alone aren't enough to compete when so many new products and services become everyday commodities. Consumers nowadays are being smart. You've got to distinctively separate your business from the comCreativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.There are distinct processes that enhance problem identification and idea generation and, similarly, distinct processes that enhance idea selection, development and commercialisation. Whilst there is no sure fire route to commercial success, these processes improve the probability that good ideas will be generated and selected and that investment in developing and commercialising those ideas will not be wasted.One of the most important aspects of innovation management is the ability to know how and when to give further KILL or GO decisions once good ideas have been selected and are pushed into the pipeline, where they must measure-up alongside other good ideas.The pipeline is also known as an idea funnel or a stage gate system. These terms are useful as they address the fact that the good idea selection process continues in the development stage.The value of an idea is consistently changing and depends on where it is in the idea funnel process. Innovative firms accept that ideas have a high mortality rate and that GO or KILL decisions have to be made to focus resources on those ideas most likely to succeed.As the idea funnel narrows, the requirement for staying in the funnel becomes more rigorous – the process involves tinkering, experimentation, mark
Customer Service for the Airlines
Customer service for the airlines is so important these days because the weary traveler is already upset with the treatment, heightened security at the airports and the cut backs of meals on planes and other amenities. What can an airline do to increase customer service to insure a pleasurable flying experience these days?Surely they can do something seeing as staff has been cut at the ticket counters, baggage and ground crews to save costs and keep the airline flying. A better attitude would also be nice although this is also tough with pensions being raided, lay off announcements and increasing fuel costs meaning the money will be made up somewhere, probably including pay decreases, lessened benefits or less sick time.No matter what if the airlines do not have good customers they will watch their best customers migrate to other airlines and that means disaster down the road. Currently, we see customer service awards being awarded to Delta Airlines even though there pilots have taken a pay cut and may lose part of their pensions. Even though the company has cut back on the number of in-flight meals and other services, airline travelers still rate them very high.How are they able to do this? Surely the competition is asking themselves the same thing, as they assumed that Delta Airlines would go out of business leaving more routes open for them. It seems the employees have taken it upon themselves to offer exceptional
products and services become everyday commodities. Consumers nowadays are being smart. You've got to distinctively separate your business from the comCustomer service for the airlines is so important these days because the weary traveler is already upset with the treatment, heightened security at the airports and the cut backs of meals on planes and other amenities. What can an airline do to increase customer service to insure a pleasurable flying experience these days?Surely they can do something seeing as staff has been cut at the ticket counters, baggage and ground crews to save costs and keep the airline flying. A better attitude would also be nice although this is also tough with pensions being raided, lay off announcements and increasing fuel costs meaning the money will be made up somewhere, probably including pay decreases, lessened benefits or less sick time.No matter what if the airlines do not have good customers they will watch their best customers migrate to other airlines and that means disaster down the road. Currently, we see customer service awards being awarded to Delta Airlines even though there pilots have taken a pay cut and may lose part of their pensions. Even though the company has cut back on the number of in-flight meals and other services, airline travelers still rate them very high.How are they able to do this? Surely the competition is asking themselves the same thing, as they assumed that Delta Airlines would go out of business leaving more routes open for them. It seems the employees have taken it upon themselves to offer exceptional
5 Business Lessons I learned from Hanging out in Hip-Hop Class
I’ve been a dancer my entire life. I started out at the tender age of 4 with my first pair of shinny black tap shoes with little pink bows. I later graduated to jazz, swing, ballroom, a little country line dancing and in my mid 20s returned to my love of tap where I studied with a professional dancer who taught the likes of Paula Abdul and other celebrities how to shake a leg.So when I decided I wanted to drop a couple of pounds before the holidays hit I went back to my roots and signed up for a series of dance classes.Going in I knew that dance requires creativity, focus, control and power. But driving home one day I thought about how much learning to dance is like running a business. Here are 5 business lessons I've learned from hanging out in a hip-hop class.I can do a whole lot more than I thought.Each lesson is broken down into sections. It doesn’t matter what class I’m in the instructor belts out 8 counts of new steps and I watch thinking, “my body doesn’t do that”.You know what, after it’s broken down and we practice a bit, “my body can do that”. It’s the same with your business. What business tasks, systems, phone calls, and risks are you not taking because you think you can’t? All it takes is breaking it down and a little practice and you’ll be amazed at what you can do.It gets easier with time.My first day in hip-hop class I looked around at the room full of 20somethings and through
eing smart. You've got to distinctively separate your business from the competition and lead each of your prospects and customers to think, 'I would have to be a complete idiot to do business with anyone else... regardless of the price.' They are shopping for the best bargains and they all seem to want more than what they paid for. Every industry both online or offline needs
I’ve been a dancer my entire life. I started out at the tender age of 4 with my first pair of shinny black tap shoes with little pink bows. I later graduated to jazz, swing, ballroom, a little country line dancing and in my mid 20s returned to my love of tap where I studied with a professional dancer who taught the likes of Paula Abdul and other celebrities how to shake a leg.So when I decided I wanted to drop a couple of pounds before the holidays hit I went back to my roots and signed up for a series of dance classes.Going in I knew that dance requires creativity, focus, control and power. But driving home one day I thought about how much learning to dance is like running a business. Here are 5 business lessons I've learned from hanging out in a hip-hop class.I can do a whole lot more than I thought.Each lesson is broken down into sections. It doesn’t matter what class I’m in the instructor belts out 8 counts of new steps and I watch thinking, “my body doesn’t do that”.You know what, after it’s broken down and we practice a bit, “my body can do that”. It’s the same with your business. What business tasks, systems, phone calls, and risks are you not taking because you think you can’t? All it takes is breaking it down and a little practice and you’ll be amazed at what you can do.It gets easier with time.My first day in hip-hop class I looked around at the room full of 20somethings and through
HTTP = HTML link (for blogs, profiles,phorums):
<a href="http://www.diggitup.net/article/29631/diggitup-Increase-Sales-With-Travel-Incentives.html">Increase Sales With Travel Incentives</a>
BB link (for phorums):
[url=http://www.diggitup.net/article/29631/diggitup-Increase-Sales-With-Travel-Incentives.html]Increase Sales With Travel Incentives[/url]
Related Articles:
The New Art of The Start -- Three Growth Secrets from Guy Kawasaki
Bookmark it:
|