Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Daily Post
Focusing on what you don’t want leads to getting more of the same, and to unhappiness. When you focus on what you do want, two powerful things happen. First, you will be happier, simply because you are actually giving your time and attention to things that make you happy. Secondly, you will start getting what you want, because your thoughts and actions will be aligned with your desires. Focus on what you want, and let the rest go.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Daily Post
Perfection is extremely illusive – it rarely, if ever, happens. And, when the pursuit of perfection is combined with an attachment to specific outcomes it’s often punishing to everyone involved. Rather than playing a game you can't win, aim for excellence instead. Do the best you can given the circumstances - shoot for what can be over what has to be, and what will be may surprise you.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Daily Post
Every challenge provides you with the wonderful opportunity to learn, grow and become your greater self, as long as you use them for this purpose. Rather than taking yourself down in the face of challenges, build yourself up by working through them.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Daily Post
You've probably heard the saying, "We hurt the ones we love the most". It is common for people to modify their behavior at work and in public so as not to offend, to not appear mean and to not get fired. However, family members are often taken for granted, and this can lead to treating them poorly as frustrations are taken out on them. The truth of the matter is that you can be fired from your family as well, and at the very least, damage the relationships. I suggest a basic rule of thumb: work to be grateful for all the people in your life, and treat them as you want to be treated - "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you".
Article: Instilling Confidence In Your Customer Base
The quality of the customer service your business provides is absolutely essential to the growth of your operations. If your desire is to retain and grow your customer base, do so by instilling confidence in them through exceptional customer service experiences.
Just this week I had an experience that clearly illustrates paltry customer service. I returned to a local men’s store to pick up two sport coats that had been fitted, and to exchange a pair of dress shoes that were the wrong size. I went in with receipts in-hand, excited to receive my items and conclude my business with them.
As I walked in the store, it was apparent that the manager who “greeted” me had quickly sized me up, and concluded from my casual dress that I did not represent much value to him. His enthusiasm was nonexistent, and it was obvious he did not care about me.
I explained to him why I was there, and he returned with my sport coats. The attached tags indicated that a fee for tailoring still needed to be paid, and he let me know this with an accusatory tone. After showing him my receipts - which proved prepayment for the service - he offered no apology for his negative attitude toward me. As he continued looking through the receipts, two of them fell to the floor. He made no attempt to pick them up, and when I did, he did not move aside to make room for me, nor did he apologize for dropping them.
I was instructed to try on the jackets for fit while he retrieved the correct sized shoes. While the jackets had been altered correctly, they were covered in loose threads, chalk marks and lint. When he returned, I asked if it was their store policy to return items to customers in this condition. Without thought or concern, he simply took them from me and said he would have them cleaned up.
I tried on the new shoes he brought out and they were too small. Only then did he indicate that they were a half size smaller than what I’d requested. I was then informed that the correct size would have to be special ordered, and that due to an inventory restriction, I would not have them for another 10-14 days. He told me all of this without concern for what my needs were. I agreed to have them ordered and, as he took my jackets away for cleaning, I looked at the shoes on display … sitting there was the size I had asked for.
Upon his return, with jackets that were barely cleaned or attended to, I shared with him my discovery and asked to take the shoes I had found. At this point, two things were clear: I was the one who had done all the work to find a solution to the situation we were dealing with, not he; and, little care had been taken to really do a good job at cleaning my coats. Due to the exceptionally low quality of customer service I had received, I simply wanted to finish my business and leave.
At the checkout counter, he provided me with his business card and - “in consideration for my inconvenience” – offered a 20% discount on my next purchase of a full-priced suit. On the surface this seemed like a caring offer, but in reality it was merely an appeasing gesture. Their sale prices are already a significantly better deal than this, and I was not interested in suits, something he hadn’t bothered to ask.
The up-side to my experience is that, when I contacted the corporate customer service division, I was treated with the utmost regard. They thanked me for notifying them of my experience, assured me that this situation would be addressed with the manager, and provided me with compensation to correct my negative experience. They communicated that I was a valued customer and worked toward a meaningful resolution. The company’s genuine interest and care for me renewed my confidence in them, and therefore, I am likely to do business with them again.
The lesson here is to never give a customer reason to doubt you. Paltry customer service that leaves the patron of any business feeling unimportant and devalued will hurt your company in more ways than you can imagine. Conversely, when your customer service comes from the grateful hearts and caring minds of you, and your entire team, the benefits to your business are tremendous.
Just this week I had an experience that clearly illustrates paltry customer service. I returned to a local men’s store to pick up two sport coats that had been fitted, and to exchange a pair of dress shoes that were the wrong size. I went in with receipts in-hand, excited to receive my items and conclude my business with them.
As I walked in the store, it was apparent that the manager who “greeted” me had quickly sized me up, and concluded from my casual dress that I did not represent much value to him. His enthusiasm was nonexistent, and it was obvious he did not care about me.
I explained to him why I was there, and he returned with my sport coats. The attached tags indicated that a fee for tailoring still needed to be paid, and he let me know this with an accusatory tone. After showing him my receipts - which proved prepayment for the service - he offered no apology for his negative attitude toward me. As he continued looking through the receipts, two of them fell to the floor. He made no attempt to pick them up, and when I did, he did not move aside to make room for me, nor did he apologize for dropping them.
I was instructed to try on the jackets for fit while he retrieved the correct sized shoes. While the jackets had been altered correctly, they were covered in loose threads, chalk marks and lint. When he returned, I asked if it was their store policy to return items to customers in this condition. Without thought or concern, he simply took them from me and said he would have them cleaned up.
I tried on the new shoes he brought out and they were too small. Only then did he indicate that they were a half size smaller than what I’d requested. I was then informed that the correct size would have to be special ordered, and that due to an inventory restriction, I would not have them for another 10-14 days. He told me all of this without concern for what my needs were. I agreed to have them ordered and, as he took my jackets away for cleaning, I looked at the shoes on display … sitting there was the size I had asked for.
Upon his return, with jackets that were barely cleaned or attended to, I shared with him my discovery and asked to take the shoes I had found. At this point, two things were clear: I was the one who had done all the work to find a solution to the situation we were dealing with, not he; and, little care had been taken to really do a good job at cleaning my coats. Due to the exceptionally low quality of customer service I had received, I simply wanted to finish my business and leave.
At the checkout counter, he provided me with his business card and - “in consideration for my inconvenience” – offered a 20% discount on my next purchase of a full-priced suit. On the surface this seemed like a caring offer, but in reality it was merely an appeasing gesture. Their sale prices are already a significantly better deal than this, and I was not interested in suits, something he hadn’t bothered to ask.
The up-side to my experience is that, when I contacted the corporate customer service division, I was treated with the utmost regard. They thanked me for notifying them of my experience, assured me that this situation would be addressed with the manager, and provided me with compensation to correct my negative experience. They communicated that I was a valued customer and worked toward a meaningful resolution. The company’s genuine interest and care for me renewed my confidence in them, and therefore, I am likely to do business with them again.
The lesson here is to never give a customer reason to doubt you. Paltry customer service that leaves the patron of any business feeling unimportant and devalued will hurt your company in more ways than you can imagine. Conversely, when your customer service comes from the grateful hearts and caring minds of you, and your entire team, the benefits to your business are tremendous.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Daily Post
We all want to be heard, yet we often do not extend this same kindness. Truly listening to others increases the likelihood that they will return the favor, and this two-way listening creates mutual respect and rapport - an environment where both parties feel heard, valued and appreciated. With this in place, more is shared, there is greater understanding, and this allows assumptions and judgments to fall away. Learn to empty your mind while listening to others, absorb all they are sharing with you, and deepen your relationships by giving people the gift of your undivided attention.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Daily Post
There is no doubt that we encounter challenging moments in life, however, seeing these as “problems” is a creation of the human mind. As you learn to perceive everything that happens in your life as a gift, simply because you are alive to meet it and because there is something you can learn from it, life becomes simpler and more enjoyable. Embrace everything in your life as something that is happening for you, and not to you, and you will eliminate problems from your life.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Daily Post
Free yourself to be who you want to be now, by releasing yourself from the bonds of who you have always been. As you become aware of any belief and its corresponding behaviors that limit you and your life, you position yourself to be able to make a change. And when you do, you will discover the joy of being who you are, and living a life that aligns with what you value.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Daily Post
Time goes so very quickly. If you want to make a change, experience something new, realize a dream or improve yourself and your life, now is the time. Your happiness and success await your action; they are available to you as soon as you move toward them. Take one step each day toward whatever you want, and before you know it you will have accomplished your goals.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Daily Post
There are many things that could interrupt the flow of your day if you let them. Sometimes a river runs steady and smooth, and at other times, fast and furious, but a river never stops flowing. So it is with you. Make the best of the circumstances at hand as you move through your day, removing the logjams where they appear and continuing on in the direction of the kind of day you want to have.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Daily Post
The greatest part of any day is waking up because it means that you have another day of life. What you do with your day is up to you. What you make of your gift of life is in your hands, as you alone will determine the quality of your day. Use your gift of life wisely; make the most of it so that you will find the joy in life, and be a joy to others.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Daily Post
As you consciously move out of your yesterdays and into the present moment, you will give yourself the opportunity to make each day all it can be. Allow a new day to dawn in your heart and mind, and you will find that this day is far greater than you ever imagined.
Article: Freeing Yourself From The Burden Of Clutter
Sixty eight percent of the population does not have effective organizational skills. How about you? Is your desk and office a mess? Could your filing system use a solid reorganization? Are important projects, tasks, and follow-ups with customers and suppliers falling through the cracks? Do you feel the weight of your disorganization, and do you avoid the clutter because you don’t know where to start given the size of the undertaking?
Being organized not only feels better, it also allows you to be more efficient and effective in the running of your business. You have tasks and goals that are vital to the continued growth and development of your company, and if you are not able to stay on top of things the quality of your operations definitely leaves something to be desired.
In addition, your external reality is typically a reflection of your internal reality – a cluttered and disorganized work space can often be due to a cluttered and disorganized mind. As you bring order to your work, your mind will become clear and organized, which will position you to operate more effectively in all areas of your business.
Another reason to bring organization and efficiency to your work space is to provide a powerful example for your team to follow. You see, maintaining an organized work space requires self-accountability and consistent action, and modeling this will help to instill this same trait in your team members which will absolutely improve the quality of your operations. Your leadership will grow stronger in their eyes.
Now that you’re more keenly aware of your current clutter and disorganization, you might be asking, “Where do I start?”
• Clear out: I suggest you begin with your desk, the place where most of your work is done. Set aside dedicated time to simply go through everything on your desk. Immediately throw away all that is not needed.
• Categorize: With the important things that remain, create one pile for what is “not in progress” and a second pile for what is currently “in progress”.
• File: The next step is to file away those things in the first pile, that are not in progress, and that do not need to be in front of you for top of mind awareness. This gets them off of your desk and in a place where they are easy to access.
• Organize: With the second pile, create files or folders for all that is still in progress and place these in front of you for top of mind awareness, preferably in a standing file holder on your desk. It is wise to create a system for these particular files that allows for ease of access and visibility, and that helps you to stay on top of them.
• Stay the course: The last step is to stay on top of your desk space daily so that it does not get on top of you ever again.
Once you have successfully accomplished the process of cleaning up and organizing your desk, you are now ready to take on the rest of your office. Follow the same process outlined above for all of your file cabinets, shelves, drawers and closets. Each time you make more headway with your clutter and disorganization your burden is lightened. This feels great and it works, which further inspires you to keep the new habit going.
In over seven years of coaching business owners, not a single one has ever regretted bringing greater organization to their own workspace. They repeatedly recount to me how much better they feel, that they don’t avoid their office anymore, how projects and tasks are completed in a timely manner and how they feel on top of things as they have become more efficient and effective on a daily basis.
As you move into 2012, position yourself for greater happiness and success by bringing organization to your office and making it a place you enjoy. It is an empowering experience to take control of your own space, and the more empowered you are as a business owner, the stronger and smoother your operations will be.
Being organized not only feels better, it also allows you to be more efficient and effective in the running of your business. You have tasks and goals that are vital to the continued growth and development of your company, and if you are not able to stay on top of things the quality of your operations definitely leaves something to be desired.
In addition, your external reality is typically a reflection of your internal reality – a cluttered and disorganized work space can often be due to a cluttered and disorganized mind. As you bring order to your work, your mind will become clear and organized, which will position you to operate more effectively in all areas of your business.
Another reason to bring organization and efficiency to your work space is to provide a powerful example for your team to follow. You see, maintaining an organized work space requires self-accountability and consistent action, and modeling this will help to instill this same trait in your team members which will absolutely improve the quality of your operations. Your leadership will grow stronger in their eyes.
Now that you’re more keenly aware of your current clutter and disorganization, you might be asking, “Where do I start?”
• Clear out: I suggest you begin with your desk, the place where most of your work is done. Set aside dedicated time to simply go through everything on your desk. Immediately throw away all that is not needed.
• Categorize: With the important things that remain, create one pile for what is “not in progress” and a second pile for what is currently “in progress”.
• File: The next step is to file away those things in the first pile, that are not in progress, and that do not need to be in front of you for top of mind awareness. This gets them off of your desk and in a place where they are easy to access.
• Organize: With the second pile, create files or folders for all that is still in progress and place these in front of you for top of mind awareness, preferably in a standing file holder on your desk. It is wise to create a system for these particular files that allows for ease of access and visibility, and that helps you to stay on top of them.
• Stay the course: The last step is to stay on top of your desk space daily so that it does not get on top of you ever again.
Once you have successfully accomplished the process of cleaning up and organizing your desk, you are now ready to take on the rest of your office. Follow the same process outlined above for all of your file cabinets, shelves, drawers and closets. Each time you make more headway with your clutter and disorganization your burden is lightened. This feels great and it works, which further inspires you to keep the new habit going.
In over seven years of coaching business owners, not a single one has ever regretted bringing greater organization to their own workspace. They repeatedly recount to me how much better they feel, that they don’t avoid their office anymore, how projects and tasks are completed in a timely manner and how they feel on top of things as they have become more efficient and effective on a daily basis.
As you move into 2012, position yourself for greater happiness and success by bringing organization to your office and making it a place you enjoy. It is an empowering experience to take control of your own space, and the more empowered you are as a business owner, the stronger and smoother your operations will be.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Daily Post
When communicating with others, remember that they value their perspective and what they are saying as much as you value yours. When you don't discount others, they have the tendency to not discount you, and this leads to the mutual respect and rapport that is so necessary to effective communication and solid relationships.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Daily Post
There is no doubt that you can let almost everything that occurs in your day irritate and frustrate you, however, choosing to do so only leads to feeling miserable. Therefore, is this the wisest choice you can make? Instead, welcome all occurrences in your life; be grateful that you are still alive to meet them, and use the incredible power of your own mind to overcome the challenges you face in your day so that you will create victory and not defeat.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Daily Post
Communication with a significant other can be touchy, especially when hurts and resentments from the past are brought up. A key component to successful discussions – one’s that create a positive outcome - is to leave the past where it belongs, in the past. A new reality in close relationships belongs to those who speak of the present, and who work constructively with each other for an improved future.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Daily Post
The opinions and actions of others do not define you, unless you let them. Be the very best version of yourself - be a person that you are proud of and that you respect - so that the opinion you have of yourself will be a positive one.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Daily Post
Living fully takes real intention and sustained effort. Head into your day intent on having a positive impact in your own life, and in the lives of others. Bring the very best that you have, and give it with all that you are, so that at day’s end you may reflect and experience pleasure of having lived fully.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Daily Post
Given how precious the gift of life is, to waste a day of it is senseless. We all have a degree of awareness as to whether we are living a day that is meaningful to us, or not. Use this knowing to align your thoughts, actions and words with the kind of day you want to have, so that you will feel that you made the most of this valuable day in your life.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Daily Post
If you are to live an authentic and happy life, it is vital that you do not define yourself by the negative opinions and actions of others. We all have free will and the right to choose. Make sure to not give your power away to the choices of others. Be who you want to be, and bring your uniqueness to the world because that is your greatest gift to share.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Daily Post
Today, make as many positive steps as you can in the direction of what you want in your life. Celebrate your successes, and be grateful for the opportunity to learn, grow and become more. Cut yourself some slack, remember to enjoy your journey and make this a great day.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Daily Post
Your happiness is an inside job. There is no doubt that wonderful events in life make it easier to be happy, and that unpleasant circumstances seem to make it more difficult. However, as long as you have the power of choice and free will, you can always choose thoughts, actions and words that lead you to the feeling of happiness, no matter the situation. You get to decide how happy you will be, and how consistently you will enjoy this sensation.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Daily Post
Boldly move into this new day. Make gratitude your best friend and constant companion. Stay focused, and intent on creating a day that is meaningful and rewarding. Let your desire for happiness be your guiding light, and follow it to new heights in your precious life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)