How to Make Connections

How to Make Connections

Making connections with others is an essential part of growing your business and continually moving it forward. It is in your best interests to master this skill, which involves much of what you likely do already. Tap into your social/personal side and have fun connecting with others. Many of these connections will help lay the foundation for a more definitive business relationship.

Keep the greeting short and natural. Whether you are meeting in person, on the phone, or via social media, make sure you greet him or her with a brief and natural exchange of introductions. Some make the mistake of launching into some kind of sales pitch right from the start, which is almost a surefire way to make sure the other person tunes you out. Greet the person as you would anyone else, keeping it short, to make a solid first impression.
Stay humble and approachable. You’re without a doubt a busy person, but adopt an attitude that your door is always open for others to approach you with whatever they may need. Avoid the common mistake of trying to impress others with your business owner status; you may unknowingly come across as conceited instead. A humble person is almost automatically likeable, and you’ll get much more of a response from others when they feel you will welcome their questions and concerns.
Focus on the other person, listen, and then reply naturally. Focus the conversation on the other person’s interests rather than your own. People generally respond very well to sincere attention to themselves. Carefully listen to what they are telling you and reply naturally where appropriate. A good idea is to find some common ground to help make your connection. When you do, remember to refocus the dialogue back on the other person. He or she will come away with the impression that you truly listened to them and will remember you in the future.
Be yourself. People can see through a fake demeanor, which is an immediate turnoff. Know your strengths and use them to socialize and build relationships with others in your business. It is nearly impossible to keep up appearances that are not based in reality anyway. Embracing who you are, faults and all, will only benefit you in the long run.
Find out as much as possible in the given context and time. Evaluate the situation to figure out what you can actually accomplish in your exchange. If you are running into an acquaintance at the supermarket, chances are you don’t have a ton of time to have a long conversation. However, if you are in a scheduled meeting with someone, that might be a time when you can delve a bit deeper. In any situation, find out as much as possible to help you focus your efforts in connecting with the other person.
Don’t try to sell anything or yourself. Your ultimate goal may be to acquire a new client or pitch a new product, but while making that initial connection is probably not the time to do so. Without a good sense of who you are and the knowledge that you are interested in them, people won’t want to listen to you go on about what you’re selling. Your main objective is to make that connection now, so you can have a contact later on.

Making connections can be a fun skill to practice, as it allows you to learn about others and yourself. Being yourself and listening to others are the two most important ways to do this.

How do you make connections? Please comment below with your ideas!

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Make Every Day Successful

Make Every Day Successful

When you are self-employed, you have the wonderful opportunity to take charge of your professional life every single day. Small business ownership has its challenges, so it is of utmost importance that you set yourself up for success with each new day. Maintaining a positive outlook can really strengthen your resolve and keep you motivated. The following are some suggestions for making every day successful.

Start the day with 10 minutes of inspirational thoughts/readings/music. Just as breakfast is the most important meal of the day because it fuels your body for what lies ahead, inspirational thoughts can do the same for your mind. Find your inspiration in any number of places; the most important thing is that you connect with it on some level, whether it be your favorite song, a poem, scriptures, or even a free app on your phone or tablet that provides an inspirational quote each day. Anytime you get stressed out or just need a mental pick-me-up, you can reflect on that morning’s inspiration to help you continue.
Remind yourself of the deeper “why” of your work. Why did you decide to run your own business? What is the reason that this particular line of work interests you? How does it fulfill you? You may have answered these questions a long time ago, but reminding yourself of those answers can get you back on track when you may be having a hard time. Success most often begets success, so remember that you’ve already achieved more than many others ever could, and remind yourself why you love what you do.
Put on a smile (even if you don’t feel it)…because after awhile, you probably will! If you’ve ever spent time with someone who is often smiling, you’ve probably noticed that you smile as well. When you smile, you exude a positive feeling, and others feel comfortable and happy to be around you. This is true and important not only for your customers, but also for colleagues, staff, family, and friends. Giving others a pleasant feeling is a very important element in the world of business.
Keep your conversations positive. When someone asks, “How are you today?” your answer should be a positive one, rather than a play-by-play of everything that’s gone wrong so far. People feel good when others have positive things to say, so choose your words carefully in order to stay upbeat.
Do the most important things first. Prioritizing that undoubtedly long list of to-do’s focuses your energy and sets you up for success. There is no way you would finish a lengthy list of tasks in one day, so choose one or a few to do first so that when you complete them, you’ve actually succeeded in doing what you set out to do that day.
Maintain a good work/life balance. It’s true that success comes from hard work, but a life without other fulfilling things can really bring you down and negatively affect your business. Make sure you are spending quality time with family, making time for hobbies you enjoy, or even finding some time just for yourself on a regular basis. A proper balance of professional and personal fulfillment is the key to overall success. You are not a one-dimensional person who only needs to work and nothing else. Embrace your well-rounded nature, and give yourself time to do what you love to do outside of work.

Making every day a success requires a positive mindset above all else. You’ll benefit with more confidence and a greater enjoyment for what your do professionally.

How do you make every day successful? Please share with us in the comments section!

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DSEF & CBBB: Always Getting Better: Applying Sports Theory to Business

DSEF & CBBB: Always Getting Better: Applying Sports Theory to Business

Continuous Improvement and the 2012 Olympics

Top Olympic athletes and their trainers achieve continuous improvement with constant examination and measurement. The proof of their success can be measured in seconds, inches, pounds, or, in the case of the 2012 Olympics, in personal improvements and world records: 44 new world records, 117 new Olympic records. In business, teams can adopt a similar philosophy in order to identify and confront key issues.

Kaizen vs. TQM

Kaizen is a Japanese word that translates to “continuous improvement” in English. The Kaizen philosophy points to a disciplined process of systematic exploration, controlled experimentation, and adopting new procedures.

The Kaizen philosophy is only the Japanese version of what business professionals the world over call Total Quality Management (TQM).

TQM incorporates continuous improvement though increasing quality and performance in order to meet (or hopefully exceed) the customer’s expectations. This is done by integrating key functions and processes throughout the business and examining overall quality measures used by the company.

How is this done? Lots and LOTS of data. Big Data.

BIG Data

Today’s Olympic athletes are “big data,” in that every facet of their health, diet, and performance are measured to the smallest increment. They are the most quantified athletes in history; the so-called quantified self.

In business, recent advances in technology provide easier access to more robust data and different kinds of digital dashboard software available. You can measure your company’s health and performance too: it simply comes down to choosing the right software in order to measure your data.

The more data you have about your company, the more you can drive a culture for continuous improvement. The more you measure your business processes, the more you learn about how the customer is affected by each process.

Bring it on Home

TicketPrinting.com utilizes a number of different techniques for managing and improving our customers’ experience such as call center software, emails, and live chat. Each one can be measured in terms of success and overall customer satisfaction.

Measuring our customer’s satisfaction with surveys provides customer-specific feedback and allows us to take into account specific issues that matter most to the customer and improve them to provide the best possible experience. Just like a professional athlete, we measure our success and then strive for perfection.

Record-breaking 2012 Olympics

Over the course of time, we can see that athletes who compete in the Olympics are getting better, stronger, and faster than their previous counterparts. For example,Usain Bolt’s incredible 100m world record breaking time was worlds away from any gold medal winner’s time back in the early 1900s. In fact, today the top U.S. sprinter in the 8 year old age group, would handily beat the gold medal winner from the early 1900s’. Amazing.

The 2012 Olympic competitors broke 44 world records and 117 Olympic recordsthroughout the games. This would not have been possible without a philosophy of continuous improvement. Every four years, records are broken and new ones are set, which means, Olympic athletes are only getting better and better.

To continuously improve your business, you must think like an Olympic athlete in terms of getting better. Nothing is more indicative of ways to improve then measuring your own performance.

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Improving Your Outlook Will Improve Your Business

Improving Your Outlook Will Improve Your Business

Have you ever imagined that something in your situation is different? Perhaps while waiting outside for the train in single digit temperatures, you hold your coffee cup tight and visualize yourself on the platform in the middle of summer with the sun shining in a cloudless sky. For those few seconds or minutes, you’ve distracted your brain from the biting cold and survived your wait a bit longer.

This same concept can benefit your business. Here are some suggestions for improving your outlook in order to improve your business.

Think of everything as a gift. This includes events you host or attend and experiences you have in your business. Instead of approaching it like a job, go into it like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This change in mindset will allow you to get the most out of the situation and maximize your enjoyment. For example, you’re about to meet with a potential client. Don’t think of it as another sales call; do think of it as a chance to get to know someone new, to talk about why you love your job, and to learn something from another person that you’ll eventually take with you to use in the future. You’ll find yourself feeling more cheerful and more grateful about your professional life. This positivity will rub off on those around you for a more fulfilling and successful business.
Do things that make people smile. Tap into your desire to please others and your inner sense of humor. Even the smallest things that can make someone smile can make you feel good as well. Compliment your partner’s new hair cut, or leave some snacks and a handwritten note of appreciation for your custodial staff. When you take even a little bit of time to show others you care or are thinking of them, your attitude improves and you become motivated to continue – not to mention that it makes others appreciate you as well. These positive effects on your business will be demonstrated in staff morale, increased drive to succeed, and happier customers.
Write down 3 positive things every day. Post your list somewhere in plain view, like on the refrigerator, and revisit it often. No matter what obstacles you face throughout your day, focusing on the positive is an effective way to get yourself through. Sometimes just the reminder that you shouldn’t sweat the small stuff can be enough to re-energize yourself and take on the day with determination and pride.
Consider everyone you meet a potential friend. Think of some of the important people in your life; how did you meet them? There’s no doubt a funny story about how you met your best friend or how you came to hire your valued assistant. You never know when that next experience is right around the corner. No, you won’t become friends with everyone you meet in the true sense of the word. However, by considering the possibility, you will always put 100% into every interaction with clients, prospects, and staff. Those you meet will recognize and appreciate your attitude that you are truly glad to meet them. From there, relationships can be built, which are the backbone of your business.

In what ways does your improved attitude benefit your business? Please share your comments below!

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What You Need to Know if You’re New to Sales

What You Need to Know if You’re New to Sales

A career in sales can be a rewarding one. It is an opportunity to harness your enthusiasm and excitement for a great product line, and embrace all that lies ahead. If you’re new to selling, however, there are some basics you’ll need to master in order to get in the right mindset and reach your professional goals. Read on for some tips on how to get started.

Ask questions to quickly find out what the problem is and/or what the customer needs. The product or service you’re selling is secondary. No one wants to feel like they’re being “sold to.” Your objective should be to find out what problem the customer has that needs solving. Do this right away, and as soon as you identify it, quickly explain the solution that your product provides. Your customers will be more open to what you have to say once they realize that they could benefit from what you’re selling.
Use language that is simple to understand. Don’t make the mistake of using business jargon or uncommon words in hopes of impressing the customer. Speak to them in a natural, conversational tone just as you would a friend. Remember that you’re building a relationship, so choose your words carefully and make a connection with the customer. Perhaps you both follow the same NFL team, or maybe you both have a child the same age. Use easy-to-understand language when describing your product just as you would while talking about the Broncos or your 2-year-old.
Create and describe a picture for the customer. Tapping into your customer’s imagination can be a very effective way to demonstrate his or her need for your product or service. For example, you’ve identified that the customer’s problem that needs solving is that the family dog constantly sheds year-round. Encourage your customer to visualize the dog hair on the couch that’s nearly impossible to vacuum, the daily morning ritual of de-linting his suits before leaving for work, and the feeling that the house is never truly clean because of dog hair dust bunnies that always appear even after the floor has just been swept. Now, when you propose your solution of more consistent grooming and a complementary de-shedding tool, you can create a different picture of a hair-free couch, clean suits, and shiny wood floors. By creating pictures, you’ve helped the customer compare their lives with the problem to what their lives could be with the solution you offer.
Ask more questions and listen carefully to their answers. This is especially true when you’re faced with objections or hesitation from the customer. Ask specific questions that get to the heart of the skepticism and truly listen to the answers. Some salespeople call this “getting to the no.” Instead of being afraid to hear the word “no,” get right to it so you can begin to address the customer’s concerns and overcome objections. Careful listening will help you focus your discussion to the customer’s specific needs.
Think of yourself as a guide. As a guide, it’s your job to lead the customer to the solution. Help him or her navigate the roadblocks such as price points, time commitments, or value. Don’t get your prospect lost by losing your focus and going off on tangents about irrelevant topics. Address each concern and demonstrate the effectiveness of your proposed solution. Putting yourself in the role of guide will give you a more personable approach to sales.

The art of selling is one that is developed over time. The more experience you gather, the more confident and capable you will become.

What else do you think should be added to our list? Please share your ideas below!

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Four Ideas to Innovate

Four Ideas to Innovate

Every once in awhile, it’s a good idea to incorporate fresh, new elements into your business. Finding ways to inject something new into your business is definitely within your reach. Tapping into your own creativity as well as reaching out to available resources are great ways to start. Consider the following four ideas to bring innovation to your business.

Review client feedback on a regular basis. Sometimes, the best way to generate new ideas is to acquire a different perspective. Pursuing customer feedback allows you to look at your business through their eyes. For example, you may have an online payment system that works well on your end, but customers find it difficult to use if they just want to browse products instead of ordering something specific. Reaching out to your clients for honest feedback and taking the time to review it will help you figure out where to begin implementing new ideas.
Incorporate competitors’ ideas. Who says you have to reinvent the wheel? Research your competitors and tweak their ideas to fit your own business. Of course, you want to be careful not to infringe on any copyrights or trademarks, but their logistical ideas and even marketing strategies can help you breathe some fresh air into your own business. Perhaps the competing stationary shop across town has begun offering their customers the opportunity to receive texts when their orders are ready or when certain products debut or go on sale. If you find that a good amount of their clients are taking advantage of that convenience, then it could be time for you to incorporate that as well. Staying on top of what your competitors are doing is a good idea anyway, especially to prevent customers from leaving you for them.
Continually brainstorm to improve upon existing ideas. Reflect upon your own ideas. Ask yourself what works really well and what could use improvement. Don’t be afraid of some trial and error when looking to improve certain areas of your business. If something isn’t working as well as you had hoped, scrap it and try a different approach. You might, for instance, experiment with different layouts of your retail area, revisit your training process for new employees, or overhaul your professional development events for your colleagues. When you make it a habit to constantly pursue improvement, your business will always benefit.
Look to other industries for new ideas. Don’t just limit yourself to what others in your field are doing; other industries or even bigger businesses can be wonderful resources for generating new ideas. If that clothing store nearby holds a monthly customer appreciation event that attracts a large amount of new prospects, begin to implement a similar idea for your restaurant, salon, or gift shop. Businesses across all industries have many common goals, so think outside the box by paying attention to what other industries do to achieve success.

Inspiration for new ideas can come from a variety of places. The key is knowing where to look and not limiting yourself to the usual and the comfortable. Take the initiative to acquire feedback, research competitors and other industries, and reflect on your own ideas.

How do you find ideas to innovate your business? Please share them with us in the comments section below!

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How To Manage Your Time on Social Media

How To Manage Your Time on Social Media

As a business owner, social media marketing is an important element of your business. It’s a way to generate conversations that may attract more people to your business, and it’s an easy way to let people know what’s going on with your business in a social setting. Yet there are many activities you need to do to run a successful business, and social media is only one of them. How do you put in the time that is required to maintain an effective social media presence, while still running your business? Here are some tips:

Start From the Results You Want: Instead of just jumping online, spend a few minutes thinking about what you want social media to do for your business. For example, if you are hoping to introduce new customers to your business, you’ll want to spend time planning posts that encourage existing customers to tell their friends about your business. As a result, you might decide to run a contest that rewards people for sharing. If you would like to encourage existing customers to purchase again, then you might focus on offering Facebook-only specials on your Facebook Page, and creating lots of conversation with people who already know what you have to offer. Knowing what you want can help you decide what to do online.
Plan Ahead: Nothing is a bigger time waster than sitting at your computer wondering what you’ll post that day. Create an editorial calendar for your online business presence, writing out your main posts at least a month in advance. By writing them all at once, you’ll get the creative juices flowing so that the posts come easier, and you will also be able to get a sense of the overall flow of your content. Are you too salesy? Not enough? Looking at an entire month’s worth of posts will not only help you be more efficient, but will also make your content better. (Also spend some time looking back at previous months’ posts. Did a particular type of post generate results? Then create more posts like it!)
Go Mobile: Don’t limit your time on social media to the minutes you can steal away to sit down at a computer. Use your mobile device to check in on your sites regularly, and jump in on conversations often. Instead of one block of time, you might spend a few minutes several times a day. Your customers will feel like you’re more responsive this way.
Avoid Spreading Yourself too Thin: Ask your customers where they spend their time online, and then set up one or two social media presences on the sites they use the most. One of these places is probably Facebook, but should you also be on Pinterest, Instagram or Twitter? By understanding how your customers want to connect with you, and where, you’ll use your time most efficiently instead of doing more than you need to.
Stay Focused: It can be very easy to get distracted on social media sites and waste time. Keep a list of the activities you want to accomplish that will help you reach your goals online, and when you’re using social media for your business, stick to the list. This will help you avoid distractions that take you away from your primary purpose.

By being strategic about your use of social media, you can use these highly effective tools in a way that helps you build your business and reach your customers.

How do you manage your time on social media? We would love to read your thoughts in the comments below!

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How to Handle Daily Stress

How to Handle Daily Stress

Everyday stress is a normal and inevitable part of modern life. If not handled appropriately, however, it can hinder your achievement of personal and professional goals. In order to avoid this, take a look at the following list with ideas about how you can better react to daily stress and even use it to improve.

Be prepared by anticipating what can go wrong. Almost worse than an actual setback is the feeling of being blindsided. Prepare yourself for such obstacles by anticipating what could go wrong, and then putting into place plans to overcome those challenges. This could mean having a “rainy day fund” set up for financial security or possibly a new marketing idea you’ve been sitting on because you haven’t seemed to need it. Think of the “what-if’s” in your business and have simple backup plans to quickly recover from setbacks as painlessly as possible.
Take small breaks throughout your day. Stretch, breathe deeply, go outside for some fresh air, or simply think of something fun. Your brain needs a little down time, and you’ll be more productive overall by giving yourself those much-needed breaks. Furthermore, you’ll increase your “work stamina” by pacing yourself and prevent midday burnout. Find a way to spend five or ten minutes a few times each day that refreshes your body and mind in an enjoyable way.
Visualize a great day where you handle everything well and accomplish your goals. Use your mind’s eye to give yourself the confidence that you can stay on top of your responsibilities, handle them with grace, and best of all, complete your daily to-do list. Visualization is a very effective tool you should be using to improve yourself in any area of life. If you see yourself accomplishing something, you are more likely to make it happen.
Learn from close calls and past mistakes. Think back to when you first learned how to drive. Most likely, you had some close calls when you accidentally cut someone off while changing lanes or perhaps nearly rear-ended someone while not paying close enough attention to the road. Now that you have been driving for many years, you don’t make those types of mistakes anymore, and you’ve become a safer, more capable driver. The same goes for your business. What close calls and mistakes have happened in the past and how can you learn from them? Answering such questions can ease your mind and reduce stress because remembering mistakes can actually help us grow.
Focus on how good things are right now. An important part of handling stress is not to make it the center of your day. Focus on the good things in your life: you are your own boss, you love what you do, you’ve already accomplished a great deal, and you provide a product/service that helps others make their lives better. Remind yourself of what is positive in your life right now to more easily handle daily stress that arises.

Coping with daily stress effectively is a skill that can be practiced and improved. Recognize the significance of handling stress well and make the effort to work on it. Your attitude and overall well-being will benefit from your efforts.

How do you handle daily stress? Please share your comments below!

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Developing Business Support Groups and Masterminds to Help You Succeed

Developing Business Support Groups and Masterminds to Help You Succeed

In your quest to meet and even surpass your professional goals, you will no doubt need and want some help along the way. A business support or mastermind group can serve as a valuable tool to help you generate innovative ideas and deal with the challenges you may face as a small business owner.

When forming such a group, it is important to find the right kind of people to maximize the effectiveness of the group as a whole. Look for like-minded people whose ambitions and goals are similar to yours.

Find people who:

Share your level of passion and goals. People in business support groups don’t have to all be in the same industry or come from the same field of experience. However, they should all have a strong passion for their business and an equally strong commitment to achieving their goals. This ensures that each person will contribute value to the group rather than holding it back by being the weak link. Create a list of questions to ask a potential group member that he or she can answer to give you a good idea of what drives this person to success. Ask about what the person hopes to get out of the group, what the person can contribute, and where the person sees him/herself in five years. If you can relate to most of the answers, then this person could be the right fit for your group.
Can get together in person. Conference calls and Skype sessions are very useful and efficient when in-person meetings are not possible or practical, but don’t overlook the benefits of meeting as a group in person. Non-verbal communication is just as powerful as words, and it’s imperative that the people in the group have a certain level of trust among each other. Meeting in person also allows you to more easily share materials in a tactile way. Holding something in your hand is always more effective than seeing it on a screen. If at all possible, form a group who can commit to regular meetings in person, or at the very least commit to in-person retreats annually or semi-annually.
Will motivate each other. Business support groups are not just about exchanging ideas and feedback. Be each other’s cheerleaders. If someone in the group is experiencing a difficult time such as an unforeseen financial setback, be encouraging, attentive, and empathetic. Point out to the person what his or her strengths are, especially because during times of personal failure, we seem to forget those. You can also be objective, and point out steps the group member can take to move forward, that he or she may not see because the failure has clouded his or her view. Motivate each other in good times and bad and develop a rapport that allows group members to count on each other as allies. A good morale will increase the effectiveness of what a support group can offer.
Complement your strengths and weaknesses. Find people who support your strengths and fill voids of your weaknesses. For instance, if you are an idea person, but have trouble mapping out a plan of action, look for someone who is detail-oriented and can help you execute your ideas. Or if you are a creative mind when it comes to advertising but don’t have a head for numbers, look for a person who can help you maximize the limits of your budget. A group whose members have a variety of strengths and weaknesses will be able to offer the most support and assistance to each person involved.

Although forming and participating in a business support group or mastermind can be time-consuming, it is an important investment of time. Such a group can help you meet your goals, grow your business, and achieve success.

What else should you look for in a business support group? Share your ideas below!

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How to Overcome Failures

How to Overcome Failures

Those that succeed often deal with their share of failure along the way. It is a good idea to actually expect and prepare for setbacks so that you can quickly overcome them and move on toward your ultimate goals. If you use failures and mistakes to your advantage, you can more easily bounce back and from them, and even find success that much faster.

Here are some tips for overcoming setbacks, and using them as stepping stones towards success.

Take responsibility for your failure. Your initial reaction might be to play the blame game. “This person didn’t give me a fair chance,” “The economic climate is holding me back,” or “My staff didn’t work hard enough,” are all common ways to avoid taking responsibility for your mistakes. Take some time for self-reflection, figure out where you went wrong, and identify what you need to do differently next time. The empowerment you create by holding yourself accountable for failures will strengthen your resolve and allow you to move ahead.
Surround yourself with the right people. Look around at those in your inner circle; if you’re the most hard-working and successful person, then you’re probably in the wrong circle. It is crucial to position yourself with likeminded people who will motivate you through their hard work and ambition. Avoid the temptation to commiserate with others about your failure because it will only slow you down and hinder your efforts to move past your mistake.
Take action now. No matter what it is, don’t stop until it is done. Procrastination will wear down your motivation and determination to overcome your failure. For example, if your goal was to partner up with another local business for an upcoming event, and the owner declined your proposal, your first instinct might be to pack it in for the day and deal with it another time. Do yourself a favor and take immediate action instead. Rework your proposal for a few other local businesses and make appointments to meet with them as soon as possible. By taking immediate action, you can rest easy with the knowledge that you’ve already moved beyond your failure and are working towards your goals.
Live up to what’s expected. People may have a lot of expectations of you, and this can create a fair amount of pressure to live up to that expectation. No one can predict the future, but you can live up to expectations by adhering to a few business basics: Treat others fairly, conduct business ethically, build meaningful relationships, and use your success to pay it forward by giving back to the community. No matter how many rough patches your business may experience, you can be proud that you will have already lived up to your potential by conducting yourself appropriately.
Volunteer to create opportunities. After any failure, you learn something about yourself or the business. Why not use your newfound knowledge to help others who may be dealing with the same kinds of obstacles? Volunteer within your community to help others avoid the same kind of mistake. Teaching a workshop at the local library, or hosting an event for young people interested in entrepreneurship are ways that you can pass on your experiences to others.

Overcoming failure requires a certain mindset. You need to be able to analyze your mistakes, move on quickly, and plow ahead using what you’ve learned. How do you overcome failure? Please share your ideas in the comments section!