Answer You - Business

Marketing Tips 101 - Where Can I Get Clients From?
The following tips have come from a wide variety of sources; some from other successful businesses we know, some from our Home-Based and Small Business Support Group meetings and some we've developed by trial and error. Some of the ways to get clients are: contact previous employers; mailing lists; cold call your target market; attend group meetings and seminars for your target market (conventions for doctors, lawyers; computer seminars); attend local Chamber of Commerce meetings; join groups related to your target market; if your target market uses a specific system, for example accountants use the SafeGuard system, contact them and tell them that you are available to teach them how to use the system or you can do it for the

n Thursday. Keep notes

4 Call West coast manufacturers, follow same procedures

5 Consolidate information, start proposal

6 Overnight shipping and installation are separate line items

7 Double check your numbers, make sure totals are correct

8 Email proposal to client

9 Call to make sure they received the email

10 Ask for decision.

This example works in any type of business or personal situation. The more things you think about before you start the project, the more effective you are wit

Not So Stationary Stationery
The elements and functionality of the basic stationery system is changing. With the advent of email, fax, web and cell phones, stationery systems must be adjusted to meet the needs of today’s business.Business CardsThe biggest change by far in business cards is the amount of information they contain. Current cards often juggle multiple phone numbers, email, and web addresses as well as one or more street addresses. Companies are adopting logos with taglines and sometimes sub-taglines. We have even seen mission statements and bullet lists of services and product lines printed on cards. To corral the potential chaos, think carefully about the purpose of the card and how the end viewer will use it.Secondary informat

What’s really essential when making decisions about your life or work environment? Does life resemble a soap opera full of chaos from bad decisions or more like the Discovery channel where you learn from experience and you don’t make the same mistake twice? Consider the cost associated with time and how our mind processes information. When we are making definite choices without hesitation, after considering the QCL, that determines our productivity. Life doesn’t have to be complicated, all we need to do is break it down into workable pieces.

Here’s the QCL- Quick Check List
1 Calm analysis - look ahead, think about your choices
2 Get facts straight - make sure information is reliable
3 Clarify your list - what do you need to accomplish
4 Prioritize time - follow through and complete

How do you make decisions? If this is a challenge for you, consider this. Knowing what to do and doing it are two totally different things. But if your decisions are based on facts rather that thoughts or opinions and you prioritize according to importance or urgency, you have a much better chance of getting it right. Think inclusive, by not leaving anything out that relates to each particular situation.

* Start by writing down what you need to accomplish.
Here’s a page from my life. It’s 10am on Tuesday in California and I have a proposal to complete by the end of today for a client. I need to discuss compatibility issues and products with the Sound Engineer working at the studio and verify pricing and availability with manufacturers. Proposal needs to be itemized and within budget. If client accepts, the installation is Friday.

* Now prioritize your list.
Think about what information you need to proceed and consider the amount of time it takes to complete.

1 Call Engineer, confirm items on the proposal are correct

2 Double check versions of software for compatibility

3 Call East coast manufacturers first, for pricing and availability. Check the order processing and shipping times. Make sure you know exactly what needs to happen so equipment arrives on Thursday. Keep notes

4 Call West coast manufacturers, follow same procedures

5 Consolidate information, start proposal

6 Overnight shipping and installation are separate line items

7 Double check your numbers, make sure totals are correct

8 Email proposal to client

9 Call to make sure they received the email

10 Ask for decision.

This example works in any type of business or personal situation. The more things you think about before you start the project, the more effective you are with

The Five Stages of Change for Small Business Owners
Change is a tricky thing. If you are someone contemplating the changes that will occur by becoming a successful small business owner, it will be helpful for you to have a bird's eye view of where you are along the continuum.To that end, Dr. James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente developed a Transtheoretical Model of Change in 1982 that has been applied to everything from weight loss to drug addiction with great success and acclaim. Though their model has never before been applied to those considering starting up a successful small business, it is a very relevant model that will help take the pressure off individuals thinking they should be further along than where they are, and provide a compassionate understanding of where ea

orkable pieces.

* Now prioritize your list.
Think about what information you need to proceed and consider the amount of time it takes to complete.

1 Call Engineer, confirm items on the proposal are correct

2 Double check versions of software for compatibility

4 Call West coast manufacturers, follow same procedures

5 Consolidate information, start proposal

6 Overnight shipping and installation are separate line items

7 Double check your numbers, make sure totals are correct

8 Email proposal to client

9 Call to make sure they received the email

10 Ask for decision.

This example works in any type of business or personal situation. The more things you think about before you start the project, the more effective you are wit

Career Decisions; Unapparent Traps in Buying a Franchise
Buying a Franchise and owning your own business can be very rewarding career, but when things go wrong they can be financially devastating, including personal bankruptcy and loss of your home. Recently, I discussed a topic, which involved a trap that franchise buyers get into partly due to bureaucracy and partly due to an uneven playing field between franchisors and franchisees.A franchisee bought a franchise and the Franchisor was Head Quartered in Texas. Texas is a franchise notification state. The buyer of the franchise was in California, where the franchisee has permanent residence and where the franchisor had previously registered to sell franchises. In the franchise agreement there is an arbitration clause that any and a

ritize according to importance or urgency, you have a much better chance of getting it right. Think inclusive, by not leaving anything out that relates to each particular situation.

* Now prioritize your list.
Think about what information you need to proceed and consider the amount of time it takes to complete.

1 Call Engineer, confirm items on the proposal are correct

2 Double check versions of software for compatibility

4 Call West coast manufacturers, follow same procedures

5 Consolidate information, start proposal

6 Overnight shipping and installation are separate line items

7 Double check your numbers, make sure totals are correct

8 Email proposal to client

9 Call to make sure they received the email

10 Ask for decision.

This example works in any type of business or personal situation. The more things you think about before you start the project, the more effective you are wit

Find Out the Best Magazine Printing Solutions
When you need to search for alternatives to reach higher market exposure, magazines are a good form of media, they can reach audiences better. They are more geared to lifestyle compared to other forms of printed materials. This can be used for business purposes; it can easily provide your clients with constant flow of top-notch illustrations and content.The printing methods are simply more convenient these days. You can be well off searching an online printer as they can have many benefits to your business. They can eliminate costly production and other troubles in producing your magazines.Magazines are one of the best casually read printing materials; they can be produced with a credible online printer. You can select

eds to be itemized and within budget. If client accepts, the installation is Friday.

* Now prioritize your list.
Think about what information you need to proceed and consider the amount of time it takes to complete.

1 Call Engineer, confirm items on the proposal are correct

2 Double check versions of software for compatibility

4 Call West coast manufacturers, follow same procedures

5 Consolidate information, start proposal

6 Overnight shipping and installation are separate line items

7 Double check your numbers, make sure totals are correct

8 Email proposal to client

9 Call to make sure they received the email

10 Ask for decision.

This example works in any type of business or personal situation. The more things you think about before you start the project, the more effective you are wit

Praise Matters
In working with businesses and organizations of all kinds, I repeatedly hear many of the same concerns: How do we increase productivity?How do we improve Customer service?How do we keep people actively engaged in their work and with others on their team?How do we reduce turnover?How do we improve safety?Even if you aren’t thinking about or concerned about every one of those questions, I’m sure at least one of them has been on your mind in the past. As leaders we think about these things because they impact the success of the organization. As coaches we think about how to impact these things day-to-day, person-by-person. As a coach, someone helping people improve their performance for the benefit

n Thursday. Keep notes

4 Call West coast manufacturers, follow same procedures

5 Consolidate information, start proposal

6 Overnight shipping and installation are separate line items

7 Double check your numbers, make sure totals are correct

8 Email proposal to client

9 Call to make sure they received the email

10 Ask for decision.

This example works in any type of business or personal situation. The more things you think about before you start the project, the more effective you are with your time and money. Say you need to paint the den so it can be turned into your new office. Decide what you need to accomplish and what you need to buy. Start with the list and prioritize the essential items, and work it until complete. There’s no sense running in circles because you forgot something or making three phone calls when you could have completed it with one. The idea is to work smart, not hard.

Having a plan B for back up, provides for the unexpected. Think about how to handle situations in advance like “What would I do if the car broke down today?” My auto club card is current, I’ll call them when something happens. If I need a ride, I’ll call a taxi. But consider the person who doesn’t have auto club and their car breaks down and every call they make, no one answers. Now the cell phone battery goes dead and there’s no backup. That’s a bad day that only gets worst. You’re late for work and your clothes are dirty from pushing the car to the side of the road. You have no cash in your pocket and you’re walking five miles to work. Now, what are you thinking about?

When issues are causing difficulties and you need to make a decision about someone or something, take a blank page and at the top write out what’s bothering you. Put right/good on one side and wrong/bad on the other. All the negative factors go on one side and the positive attributes on the other. When we keep things locked up inside our head, they get stuck. Visualize your thoughts in writing so the issues become clear and you can make logical decisions. When you can’t think of anything else, put the list aside and come back to it later. Sleep on it and review in the morning. It’s amazing how the subconscious works during the night when we’re asleep and our body is regenerating. We can see more clearly in the morning, when our brain is fresh and our thoughts are lucid. After deciding what the answer is, write it down. Then verbalize what you need to do. Talk it over with someone close to you that has your best interest at heart and is not involved with the outcome of your decision.

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Answer You - Choice Theory - Comprehensive Decisions 4 Your QCL Productivity

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