July 1st, 2010
1. Be Likable: Likability is the gateway to connections and ultimately to relationships.
If others don’t find you likable, then it is virtually impossible to form profitable
business relationships. If you are not likable, people will not buy you or from you. Likability
is responsible for first impressions because it happens in an instant, and it is responsible for
ongoing impressions because it can be lost in an instant. When people find you likable, the door
opens to emotional connections, to trust, and ultimately to business relationships that help
you build a successful career and income. Smile and use your positive attitude and optimism
to project a cheerful, smiling, outgoing personality.
People love to be around happy, optimistic people.
2. Connect: The key to connecting is listening
deeply with your eyes and ears. Listen to what your customers say and observe their emotions.
There are things they are passionate about. Look for common ground here. When you truly connect
with someone, you take rapport to the next level. You begin to move from a business relationship
to a friendship. Connecting tears down walls that tend to get in the way of real communication
and understanding. When people feel connected with you they feel more comfortable telling you
their real problems. With this information in hand, you have the opportunity to solve problems
that really matter. This ability provides real value and engenders true loyalty. Strong
connections are hard to break and are the foundation of truly prosperous, long-term
business relationships.
3. Solve Problems: One of the immutable laws of the universe is that when you give to others,
you are rewarded ten-fold. Problem solvers are the champions of the business world. However,
it is impossible to solve problems you do not know about, which is why connecting is so
critical. The essence of business is one person solving another person’s problem. A solved
problem is the value that buyers pay for. It is the most important lever in the People Buy
You philosophy. The most successful business people take problem solving to the next level.
These individuals are constantly on the look-out for problems they can solve-even if it
has no direct impact on their business. They live by the motto, “By helping others get
what they want, I will get what I want.”
4. Build Trust:Trust is the glue that holds
relationships together and the foundation on which all long-term relationships rest. Trust
is developed with tangible evidence that you do what you say you will do, that you keep
promises, and that you maintain a consistent commitment to excellence. It means going the
extra mile in everything you do. In a world in which most people are doing just enough
to get by, those business professionals who consistently do more than they have to, will
stand out. Buyers appreciate and reward this commitment to excellence with repeat business,
referrals, and ultimately with trust.
5. Create Positive Emotional Experiences:
Learn to make dealing with you fun, relaxing, and rewarding. You always want to leave your
customers and prospects thinking about you and remembering you positively so it is
imperative that you find ways to create positive emotional experiences for your
customers. The key is to focus on the little things. Remember birthdays, send handwritten
notes, do the unexpected. Just as an anchor is used to hold a ship in place against
currents, wind, tide, and storm,; positive emotional experiences anchor your relationships.
They leave people wanting more of you.
Tags: corporate incentives, point rewards, reward, reward programs
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May 25th, 2010
We have all heard Oprah Winfrey and others say “pay it forward”. Pay it forward is not a new thing, it is something that many savvy people have known for a long time. Giving makes a difference in their life, the lives of others and in their business. Just the mere surprise of someone generosity is enough to stop someone in their tracks and make them pay attention. A powerful act that usually reaps rewards when done with a sincere heart.
When we give without intention of a pay back, the natural progression of things brings positive results. We feel that we have contributed to others which provides a warmth in our hearts and is a great way to get others to join in. If we volunteer, donate or offer our time to others we will meet people that add to our own lives and businesses. Many networks based on philanthropic interests build strong alliances they are bussiness owners that serve the community and take interest in it.
Take conventional business wisdom and stir with collaborators from complementary industries that have an equal interest. Target others who have the same charitable goal that do not compete with your own. Maximize the fusion between social networks and search engines with well known high quality rewards and incentives to motivate donors. Learn how to use branding and marketing software to retain and build momentum.
Some ideas to to increase donations:
- Upscale attractive and create brown bag lunch auction
- Mentor hours offered to help other entrepreneur
- Weekend cruises
- Virtual shopping mall offering their choice of incentive
- Fundraising competition between industries for free advertising
- Host a chocolate party with prizes
- Free office rent
- Mini golf fundraiser interesting all participants
Particularly in this economy, people feel more inclined to give back. People are grateful for what they have and want to help others.
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38
ll as extravagant prizes like cars and cruise vacations–which have sold for as much as $250,000. Other auctions have included education internships, gourmet dinners with top chefs and vineyard vacations
Charitybuzz auctions upscale merchandise as we
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Maximize the fushion between social networks and search engines with well known high quality rewards and incentives. Learn how to use branding and marketing software to retain and build your business.
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ll as extravagant prizes like cars and cruise vacations–which have sold for as much as $250,000. Other auctions have included education internships, gourmet dinners with top chefs and vineyard vacations
Tags: charity, point rewards, reward, reward programs, rewards
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May 20th, 2010
Want to make more money, share the wealth. Share your time, your experience and yourself freely with others. We are all here to be part of a big family learning, giving and experiencing a fruitful life. We need to stop looking at the success of others as something that is preventing us from obtaining our goals. Some of us sit in front of the television watching reality T.V. watching others amass wealth and popularity and don’t take the tips we learn and put them into action. It is ACTION that is the key to success. Study how these people achieved their success. Watch them interact with others, how they deliver their product or service. Most importantly how do they interact with others? Long gone are the days when hard work was almost automatically rewarded and tenure was the key to retirement. It is now more than ever all about strategic action from the first day on the job.
How do you strategically plan for a promotion and added opportunities without loosing my own identity? You ask others to evaluate your performance, your delivery and your presence. It may be tough but you will learn that there is more to the image you see in the mirror. Ask your family to be brutally honest because they will provide you the balance you need between co-workers, superiors and how others that have known you for years may see you. You may have changed more positively or need to change to keep up with the times. Ask yourself when the last time was that you attended a class, read an industry article and participated in a company team building event. Mash all together and stir with your own identity.
People are always asking themselves “what have you done for me lately”, where is my incentive to a mentor or promote this person? Being a giver will place you in the forefront of their minds when opportunities present themselves. Always be asking for more information creating learning opportunities for yourself. In doing so, you will also hear about business developments and changes within the organization sometimes before others do. Why because most people like being a resource, givers. While they are giving be sure to return the favor with helpful information that you have learned and ideas to help them succeed.
- Create your plan. Make an effort every week to connect with someone outside of your business unit.
- Be the one to invite others to lunch or coffee. Be the one to start conversations because those who do the invitating are complimenting the other. You are demonstrating that you are interested in them and you will be remembered for it.
- Invite others within your business unit to coffee or to lunch. Nuture your relationships just like you would your house plant. Feed and water often!
- Don’t be shy. Share your success and give credit to all that helped you achieve it.
- Remember if you don’t ask, you don’t get. Ask for opportunities to attended classes or participate in presentations that are given by other business units.
- Dress to impress. We have all heard that if you want the corner office job, you need to dress like you already have it. Keep up with style trends. Keep your shoes clean and in good shape.
- Exercise and sleep well so that you can be at your very best. Being sharp and responsive will not only make you look like you are an active participant it will make you stay young.
- Love thy self and value what you have to offer. Value your life and be grateful for all that you have. If you value yourself, others will too.
Your incentive is the reward of achievement.
Love thy self and value what you have to offer. Value your life and be grateful for all that you have. If you value yourself, others will too.
Your incentive is the reward of achievement. Love thy self and value what you have to offer. Value your life and be grateful for all that you have. If you value yourself, others will too!
Tags: awards, corporate incentives, donor incentives, motivation, reward
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April 7th, 2010
How do some seem to walk into a room and draw the attention of everyone? They seem to easily communicate and don’t have to work at getting the attention of those in power. Charismatic people often do this naturally but many others have learned the fine art of charisma. If you take a moment to exam those in Hollywood there are actors and actress that can flash a smile or appear in a scene and draw every one’s eyes to them. These individuals are usually not the most beautiful or handsome and are not from glamorous beginnings. Charisma can be described as a charming personality that draws others to them. These individuals are socially attractive and magnetic. They have a terrific ability to communicate both verbally and non-verbally.
Your incentive to enhance your charisma is not about having more friends it is about making the right connections, drawing opportunities easily towards you and increasing your marketability. Those with charisma find themselves working less and receiving more.
1) Exude confidence and a great attitude when you walk into the room. Walk confidently and smile, keep your eyes moving across the room when you walk into it. Move throughout the the room and introduce yourself. Many admire people who have the confidence to break the ice first.
2) Before you attend a networking mixer, find out what kind of companies will be represented. Do your homework so that you can speak about light and interesting topics about their business. Your reward, will be you will learn a lot and meet great people.
3) When you meet people listen more than you speak. Take interest in the other person by asking questions to learn more about them.
4 ) Be aware of body language. Is the person you are speaking with becoming bored? What is your body language coinciding with your verbal communication?
5 ) Be truly passionate. When you are excited you exude it, when you are angry others know it and when you are happy you are contagious!
6) Be genuine, people don’t like those they don’t get a feeling for or can’t seem to know where you might stand.
7) Be polite and pleasant. Treat everyone with respect.
8) Empower people by helping them feel important and more confident.
9) Laugh and have fun.
10) After meeting someone shake hands and look them in the eyes to say it was nice meeting them.
Stand out from the crowd using the head/heart connection. Tap into yourself and others physically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually. The reward is an enrich business and personal life.
Tags: employee rewards, reward, reward programs, rewards
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March 31st, 2010
Negatives and positives are most always based on perception and tend to rent space in our minds and largely dictate our reaction to situations. - M. Raymond Sheppard
How do your customers perceive your business? Do you view your employeeas your best asset. Those that work in Customer Service and Sales not only complete three to four main functions, they are the key to your business' success. Your front line people are often closer to your customers than you are. They hear unscenored customer complaints, suggestions and are a wonderful creative source. Customers freely communicate what they want and need each and every day because they feel comfortable doing so. Your front line contacts are your best source of marketing information reducing your guess work.
If we changed our perception of our front line employees and truly listened, we would find how valuable they really are to our success. They may not be some of your key managers or most educated but they are immensely important to your business. By changing your perception of front line employees, their perception of you will also change. They will feel appreciated, empowered and help you create customer driven products and services leading to more business. Customer Service and Sales staff in essence becomes an important part of our marketing teams.
Employee incentive and empowerment programs that unfold organically in their minds while avoiding forced creativity and action will prove to be immediately effective. To begin your employee incentive and customer driven solutions campaign you need to focus on a few things first:
1) Participative Management - Schedule opportunities to meet and exchange ideas that are fun in their environment.
2) Put People at Ease - Mirror your front line and leave your management hat in your office. Answer the phone or work in the sales field. Walk and talk their language.
3) Self-Awareness - Ask yourself some honest questions. Do you visit your front line staff often? Do you congregate only with certain types of people? Do your front line employees approach you warmly? Do you greet employees in the parking lot or at lunch? In other words, do they know you are a real human being?
4) Do they have an opportunity to see a part of the real you? Do you participate in charity drives, brown bag lunches and summer picnics?
Offering your employees a part of yourself and a point reward program will provide immediate benefits. Employees will feel that they are part of your team and they will invest themselves into the success of the company. A reward program will maintain their interest because it rewards them with theirchoice of rewards. They can select quality merchadise, travel and share it all with the entire family. Platforms are attractive seamless and will keep your employees engaged.
According to the Service Research Bureau, 59% of lost business is the result of a poor customer service experience. Can you imagine the loss and the time it took these companies to earn that business? Frontline employees have a tough job. They need to be cheerful and helpful, provide solutions, communicate well, and know about the workings of your company. Not an easy task. Retaining qualified people is not easy and is more important than ever. Buyers are shoping around for the best service more than ever before. Because many front line jobs are considered entry level with a sometimes a long road to advancement, an incentive program is crucial for these employees and to your business.
Can these front line employees really make a difference? Here are just a few examples:
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One Forest Service employee suggestioned that money collected from visitors to forests and campgrounds into the Treasury account be completed weekely rather than monthly. This simple suggested was projected to save $1 million over five years in employee time, transportation costs and bank deposit fees.
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A Support Clerk from Grand Junction, Colo., Veterans Affairs Medical Center suggested that VA hospitals allow veterans take home any unused prescriptions after they're discharged, instead of throwing the medications away saving in excess of $14 million dollars.
Empower and train your front line employees. Invest in your employees to retain and grown your business!
Tags: incentive programs, reward, rewards
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August 24th, 2009
There is a tide in the affairs of men
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries
—William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar
So you walk a little today, get your heart rate up a bit, you lift a few weights, you eat a little differently, then tomorrow morning you wake up and look in the mirror… and see the same old flubber. You have to be pretty well along the path to see any significant results. What keeps you doing this simple thing, day after day?
Will power! It’s like my dad (mom, teacher, boss, older brother, minster, self) always told me… I just need more will power.
Really? I don’t think so. (A friend of mine used to say that people on diets who complain that they lack will power are usually suffering more from a lack of won’t power!) Will power is vastly overrated. For most people, will power ends up looking and feeling like some sort of grim self-tyranny, and involves creating an elaborate, artificial reward-and-punishment system.
Do you want to change? If so, I can show you how to tap into the most powerful force for change there is. Would you like to know what it is? Are you ready? Here it is: TIME.
Position your daily actions so time is working for instead of against you. Because time will either promote you or expose you.
What keeps you on the path is your Slight Edge philosophy, which includes your understanding of the secret of time. Knowing the secret of time, you say: If I stay on this road long enough, I’ll get the result I seek. It’s not a question of your mood, your feeling or your attitude. And it’s not a question of will power. It’s a question of simply knowing.
When you enter a darkened room, why does your hand reach out for the light switch? Because you know that when you hit the switch, the light will go on. You don’t have to give yourself positive self-talk about how you really ought to hit that light switch, or set up a system of rewards and punishments for yourself around whether you follow through or not with hitting the light switch. You don’t need any rigmarole; you just hit the switch. Why? Because you know what will happen.
You know.
It’s the exact same thing here; you walk a little every day, lift a few weights, eat a little better, and leave the penny in the purse (hit the light switch) because you know it will make you healthy and wealthy (the light will turn on).
It’s the exact same thing, no different—except for one thing, and that is time.
Tags: reward, rewards
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August 21st, 2009
Give me a simple pleasures! A free movie, an ice cream sundae, a piece of chocolate or dinner on you. Demonstrate to me that I made the right choice by doing business with you.
I am not only a looking for the ease of technology, I looking for traditional customer service and a warm greeting or two. I want options of online products and services along with face to face service. I like variety in my life with lots of options. As Gen Xer, I want to know you are interested in my family, friends and I. I want to know you are working on new online services that are easy to use with lots to offer. I also want rewards because they are at the top of my list when making my purchase decisions. I be interested in a credit or ATM card unless, I get a good deal and incentive rewards.
Point reward programs are interesting due to the variety of incentives that they offer. I can either earn points to buy my mom something, save up for a green vacation or donate to my favorite charity. I definitely do not want to stuff my closet with another t-shirt or put add to my coffee mug collection in my kitchen.
I am your employee and your customer, I am your best advertising. I will speak positively and energetically about my experience and believe in our relationship as an your employee and as your customer.
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August 18th, 2009
After having struggled for so long, it took a shift in attitude for my family and me when success started to happen. When I started making a little extra money at age 25, Schoaff taught me to also let it serve as a new inspiration for lifestyle. Take my family to dinner after I’d had two or three pretty good weeks and it looked like it was going to continue. I would say, “Today we get to order from only the left-hand side of the menu, we don’t have to look at the right-hand side”. Didn’t cost much, just a little extra. But you can’t believe the effect on the family, wow, that these are new days.
It’s called changing your life as well as changing your skills and earning more money. It’s best to invest some of that early money in lifestyle. Go to the movies. Take two vacations instead of one. Just some little extra things that now the family gets inspired by this new commitment to earning more and becoming more and learning more, taking some night classes, whatever you have to do. Now you make it more worthwhile for the family by thinking of lifestyle changes that now become very exciting. Go to the concerts. My parents said don’t miss anything. Don’t miss the play, the music, the songs, the performances, the movie—whatever is happening.
When I started making some extra money, I opened up an account for my wife and I called it the “No Questions Asked Account.” I said, “Here is the checkbook for a new account and it’s called no questions asked. I’ll just keep putting money in there and you spend it for whatever you wish.” It was life-changing. It wasn’t a fortune. But she didn’t have to ask for money anymore. I could sense that it was a little embarrassing at times when she had to ask me for money. I thought, that’s not good, so the first time I get a chance, here’s what I’m going to do. And sure enough, I did it. The “No Questions Asked Account.” You can’t believe what that did. It was absolutely amazing.
With that little extra money, work at creating lifestyle. Social friendships, church, community, country. All those things that make a composite of our overall life. Start furnishing that with new vigor, vitality, money, whatever it takes to expand your life into what I call the good life as well as economics.
And it doesn’t always take a lot of money. How much is a movie? Even for a person of modest means. $8 or $10? It might cost $60 million to make it and it only costs $8 to see it.
When I discovered those kinds of concepts at age 25 you can imagine it was hard for me to sleep nights that first year. I got so excited about changing everything. And one discipline leads to another. One change leads to another. Feeling good about yourself and starting to make the turn to do something you’ve never done before, then it starts to work, wow, and then you get excited about changing other areas of your life as well.
Now after you have made your fortune, the money and extravagance might not seem as big a deal. And fortunately you can then create even more powerful opportunities, in particular, opportunities for benevolence, philanthropy and giving.
Now I’m certainly not saying to focus only on external pleasures and rewards. Your relationships, health and spirituality are all of more consequence.
But in the beginning, when the rewards of your hard work begin paying off, make sure and treat yourself and those closest to you to a new world of lifestyle and celebrations.
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July 9th, 2009
You Get What You Give
Ralph Waldo Emerson, in his essay, “Compensation,” wrote that each person is compensated in like manner for that which he or she has contributed. The Law of Compensation is another restatement of the Law of Sowing and Reaping. It says that you will always be compensated for your efforts and for your contribution, whatever it is, however much or however little.
Increase Your Value
This Law of Compensation also says that you can never be compensated in the long term for more than you put in. The income you earn today is your compensation for what you have done in the past. If you want to increase your compensation, you must increase the value of your contribution.
Fill Your Mind With Success
Your mental attitude, your feelings of happiness and satisfaction, are also the result of the things that you have put into your own mind. If you fill your own mind with thoughts, visions and ideas of success, happiness and optimism, you will be compensated by those positive experiences in your daily activities.
Do More Than You’re Paid For
Another corollary of the Law of Sowing and Reaping is what is sometimes called the, “Law of Overcompensation.” This law says that great success comes from those who always make it a habit to put in more than they take out. They do more than they are paid for. They are always looking for opportunities to exceed expectations. And because they are always overcompensating, they are always being over rewarded with the esteem of their employers and customers and with the financial rewards that go along with their personal success.
Provide the Causes, Enjoy The Effects
One of your main responsibilities in life is to align yourself and your activities with Law of Cause and Effect (and its corollaries), accepting that it is an inexorable law that always works, whether anyone is looking or not. Your job is to institute the causes that are consistent with the effects that you want to enjoy in your life. When you do, you will realize and enjoy the rewards you desire.
Action Exercises
Here are two things you can do immediately to put these ideas into action.
First, remind yourself regularly that your rewards will always be in direct proportion to your service to others. How could you increase the value of your services to your customers today?
Second, look for ways to go the extra mile, to use the Law of Overcompensation in everything you do. This is the great secret of success.
Do your people (customers, prospects, team, colleagues) know they’re important to you? Always? Sometimes? Rarely?
Remember… It’s your occasional words and continual actions that’ll help them know best
Tags: employee rewards, loyalty point rewards, point rewards, reward, rewards
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July 4th, 2009
Five signers were captured by the British as traitors,
and tortured before they died.
Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.
Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army;
another had two sons captured.
Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or
hardships of the Revolutionary War.
They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes,
and their sacred honor.
What kind of men were they?
Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists.
Eleven were merchants,
nine were farmers and large plantation owners;
men of means, well educated,
but they signed the Declaration of Independence
knowing full well that the penalty would be death if
they were captured.
Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and
trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the
British Navy. He sold his home and properties to
pay his debts, and died in rags.
Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British
that he was forced to move his family almost constantly.
He served in the Congress without pay, and his family
was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him,
and poverty was his reward.
Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer,
Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.
At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that
the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson
home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General
George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed,
and Nelson died bankrupt.
Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed.
The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.
John Hart was driven from his wife’s bedside as she was dying.
Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill
were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests
and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his
children vanished.
So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and
silently thank these patriots. It’s not much to ask for the price they paid.
Remember: freedom is never free!
Fourth of July has more to it than beer,
picnics, and baseball games.
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