Business Leadership Skills - Managing the Human Being Behind the Business
September 30, 2007
Managing the Human Being Behind the Business
It’s a common problem and we’ve all seen it - business owners that are just ‘too busy’ all of the time, and as a result, do not enjoy the success in business they had hoped for. Let’s not kid ourselves, there is a lot to focus on: technology, employees, sales, marketing and so on. These functions are essential and need to be well organised and managed.
But there is a second aspect to business success that is often overlooked ? the effectiveness of the person running the show. Businesses are a reflection of the people who run them. If those people are ‘too busy’, stressed, or poorly organised, then these characteristics are reflected back in the business. The underlying behaviour and values of the business owner drive how much control they need, how they will delegate and how they use their time.
Growth of the business and the business owner need to match up If the business is to grow, then the owner has to take the necessary time to learn the new roles and skills that a growing business will demand. Imagine for one moment where you would like your business to be in 5 years time. Then ask yourself: "Is it possible that I can be exactly the same person in 5 years that I am today and fulfil that growth strategy for my business? The answer has to be no.
Your Money Or Your Life
September 29, 2007
Have you stopped to realize that although you go to school to learn about important subjects, no one teaches you how to manage your money?
Money is an essential part of life in our pursuit of happiness, yet very rarely will a parent sit down and tech their child how to handle their money.
This is true in grade school, high school and worst college. So what happens? Many of us end up in an extremely large amount of debt. We can’t seem to get it together even if we make more money.
I found myself in this trap about 13 years ago. I had an okay job, a car, and an apartment. Nice I thought soon I would buy a house and live the "American dream". Wrong! I could never save enough to buy a house. I had plenty of credit cards, so many that I never had enough money due to many payments to put aside for my dream home.
How Your Habits Control Your Small Business Success
September 28, 2007
Habit: A consistent behavior you perform so frequently that it is automatic.
For example, if you learned to drive a car with a standard transmission, the first few lessons were pretty jerky while you learned to synchronize the clutch with the accelerator pedal. If you released the clutch too fast, the car would stall. If you pressed the accelerator too fast without releasing the clutch, you raced the engine but you and the car were still sitting there! However, with practice, practice, and more practice, you learned to synchronize control of the clutch with control of the accelerator so that you don’t even think about it any more. It is now a habit.
All habits consist of knowledge combined with skill from practice. What all this means is that you can learn new habits to replace those that are no longer working for you. You have to change what you’re doing, how you’re doing it, and the choices you make in order to change your business results.
If you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’ll keep getting what you’ve always gotten.
How to Critique Your Own Yellow Page Ad
September 27, 2007
Forget what you know about your business Your goal is to see your Yellow Page display advertisement the way a directory user sees it. You can’t act like you know anything about your enterprise that isn’t there, on the page. Look at your ad without pride or being identified with your operation. If you pretend it’s someone else’s, you can spot the flaws you’d otherwise overlook. Mentally put the competition’s name on your ad. Does what you say apply equally well to them? If it does, you haven’t effectively set yourself apart.
When all the ads seem alike buyers think they can get the same thing from any of them (and are more likely to select by price). The goal isn’t just to look different, but to actually be different in ways customers notice and care about. Does the ad provide the facts readers and callers need? Directory users have already decided to buy something. So they’re looking in the Yellow Pages to find who provides it. This is the educational phase of the buying process. As soon as a person finds enough information to take the next step, they close the directory and move on.
Increase Your Response Rate By Using This Simple Technique
September 27, 2007
Increase Your Response Rate By Using This Simple Technique
by: Karl Stadler
Picture this, you have just sent out your mail and viola the first order arrives! You are so happy you hug the cat and give the dog a kiss, the rest of the household is of course not interested in your success, but the dog however franticly wags it’s tail sharing your every emotion.
In our real world the cat and dog will remain but if your letter is not structured so that readers can clearly understand what you are trying to say, only the dog will be happy.
And we still have no idea why.
Firstly, there are no hard and fast rules to writing. Some believe this to be true others not, however if you want to be successful you have to write with passion. If you are not truly exited about the product or service you are selling, this will convey in all your writing.
Get to know your product or service before even attempting to write a email or sales letter, this holds true for affiliate programs as well. Make sure that you believe in the product, whether it is your own or you have resell or other rights to it, only then will you be able to write something appealing that will compel your reader to buy into your product.
Any Job is an Honorable Job
September 26, 2007
Seeing your job as an honorable job, adds more meaning and peace to your life. Also, seeing the honor in what you do now, creates an ideal foundation upon which a career change can be built.
At fifteen, my first job was that of a waitress at a local truck stop. One day, back then, I happened to meet the elementary principal of my past. She mentioned she had heard I was working part time and wondered at what.
Shamefacedly I mumbled, “Oh, I am just a waitress.” That wise, old, stern headmistress said to me, “Teresa, any job is an honorable job. Don’t you ever forget it!” And I never have.
Of course, seeing the honor in our job is not always an easy task.
Societal Values Demean our Work & Worth
Our societal values make it difficult to honor so-called menial jobs. Our sick societal values esteem big bank accounts, fancy houses, new cars, extended paid vacations, prestigious jobs, beautiful, youthful looks, and perfectly cloned behaviors. These societal values wring the worth from the vast majority of hard-working folk.
Do Not Consider Running the Same Yellow Page Ad until You Read This
September 25, 2007
Grant Businesses have a love-hate relationship with the Yellow Page directory On the one hand, business owners know they need to be there - even though everyone they compete against is there, too. They rightly fear their ad won’t get noticed. That’s why questions like, “How big should it be?” become important (along with up-grades that jack up an ad’s cost). Are they worth it? Who knows! The whole topic is complicated and a tad intimidating. A lot is riding on the ad’s ability to pull in more business. Advertisers don’t feel they understand Yellow Page issues well enough to make the “right choice.” So they often avoid thinking about it altogether. Even when they realize their ad isn’t drawing much business, an advertiser is reluctant to make changes. To what? So, what’s the rush? The Yellow Page directory only comes out once a year. Whether an ad performs like a dynamo or a disappointment, the business is stuck with it until the next directory comes around. So there’s plenty of time to consider what could make it better. But somehow, people seldom do. But at some point, the ad shifts from back burner to urgent, as the next directory’s deadline approaches. Decisions about what it will look like are often made “on the fly.” So it never gets the scrutiny it deserves, so it can deliver the most “bang for the buck.” Time pressure (coupled with the urging of the Sales Rep) leads many business owners to just “stick with what I have.” That decision means hardly having to think about it at all. For another year, anyway. But that’s not the best strategy - just the quickest. A business owner should carefully consider the wisdom of each aspect of their directory listing - wording, images, size, options, which directories or headings, etc. Change involves more than the ad’s appearance Never change your ad just to make it prettier. Modifications should help you connect even better with directory user’s needs. That involves focusing your message and distinctive style (which is communicated in a glance) so it grabs them. Get the advice you need to fine-tune your ad from industry experts at http://www.yellowpagesage.com There’s no need to feel stuck with an under-performing ad. Changing your ad can involve increasing or decreasing its size or features (or going in an unrelated direction). But such revisions are simple, compared to more complex and influential issues, like whether it communicates your distinctive personality and benefits. If you’re unclear about your message, don’t be surprised if readers don’t get it. Sharpening your customer-grabbing message should be an ongoing concern, and not just for the Yellow Pages. Directory users are looking for information to make their buying choices easier. Looking and sounding like every other ad doesn’t serve their needs - and it doesn’t serve you, either. Re-assess the wisdom of your Yellow Page strategy What you spend for your Yellow Page listing is only a portion of your advertising budget. How big a slice should it be? Resist the temptation to over-spend for the value received (as most advertisers do). Costs should bear some relationship to the amount of business coming through them - which involves tracking your calls and sales. Consider directory costs relative to all the ways customers find you. Where does most new business really come from? Are marketing dollars better spent elsewhere? Figure the source of new business before getting caught by secondary questions like: how large, or which headings, or whether options like color make sense. Recognize the changes affecting directory usage. Buyers aren’t relying on the print directory like they used to. Many use the Internet Yellow Pages (IYP) and search engines focused with local terms. Think about whether to direct some directory dollars there. Update your information to keep it current Business changes occur all the time. Don’t forget to bring your data up to date when placing your next year’s advertising. Business changes affecting your ad - Change of business name, or splitting into more than one company or brand - Added or different phone numbers; same with addresses - Add your Web site address (domain URL) or email address - Changed your policies, hours, services (like free delivery) - Additional product lines or services (like classes or supplies) - Update years in service (if in your ad) - New awards, degrees, etc. that can bolster credibility - Adding a partner (especially for professions) - Remove what’s no longer true or relevant Think long and hard about what will make you stand out in the directory during the year (not just at renewal time). The success of your business could depend on how well your ad does its job. (c) 2004, Lynella Grant
Helping Others Develop Their Potential
September 24, 2007
Most of us find ourselves in a position to help others achieve more of their potential than we realize. Sure, as leaders, supervisors, and parents we can see ourselves in that position; but the fact is that all of us are uniquely qualified to help at least one other person in our lives reach their potential. I believe it is part of our purpose in life to serve others in this way ? to encourage and support people we care about in becoming their best selves.
Many books (some of which sit on my bookcases) have been written about coaching and helping people develop their skills. This article won’t be a definitive list, but it will share my perspective on the essential ingredients in helping others reach their potential.
Help Them See
The first step in developing the potential in others is for the "others" to recognize that they have potential and to know for themselves what it is! We’ve already talked about his but you can’t forget it ? it is a critical step. Our goal should be to help them get where they want to go ? even if their vision is slightly different from ours.
Great Hires: Avoid Costly Mistakes
September 23, 2007
Picking people for a job is like going to the store to buy apples. Before you go, you ought to know whether the apples are to be eaten fresh, make into applesauce, baked into a pie or made into juice. Then, you can make the appropriate choices. This is also true for hiring winners.
The goal of selection interviews, buying apples, is to make the most appropriate choices…to hire the right people for the job. The goal is to match applicants with openings. More specifically to match applicant’s qualifications with the job requirements. The interview is a subjective tool that attempts to forecast a candidate’s performance.
No selection tool can predict future performance with absolute certainty. But, if you understand the job requirements, examine the applicant’s past performance and use good interviewing techniques, you’re more likely to avoid bad hires. These are people who turn out to be a round pegs in square holes; people who you train and then leave; and people who just aren’t motivated to give their best.
So how can you avoid such costly hiring mistakes?
Internet Productivity–Lofty Goal or Oxymoron?
September 22, 2007
Internet Productivity–Lofty Goal or Oxymoron?
by: Yvonne Bailey
When you work for yourself and do business on the internet you have to be a great strategic leader and a skilled tactician; even under the best of circumstances, it’s hard to be both.
In the corporate world, goals and milestones are the absolute measure of productivity and success. But when you work for yourself there’s no objective-other than to hold you to your goals and keep you on track. Add to that the untamed complexities of doing business online and suddenly setting and achieving goals takes on the magnitude of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Despite its promise of efficiency, the web has for many home-based and small business owners become a seductive quagmire of distracted action, chaotic click-thrus and paralyzed productivity.
It’s natural to look to others for advice and information on how to navigate the landscape, but in the process, you often get distracted, take detours, follow the road that leads to nowhere, and before you know it you’ve lost sight of your ultimate goals.
What does it take to get where you’re going
