Happiness from a Grilled Cheese Sandwich – is.gd/zg7H
Driving Home a Dirty Message – is.gd/zgaJ
HBO Appeals to Voyeuristic Instincts – is.gd/zgdD
Freaking Out Whopper Lovers – is.gd/zgeP
Cleaner Copper Coins – is.gd/zgg4
A Diamond of an Idea – is.gd/zghR
Restaurant Serves Up Creative Destruction – is.gd/zgl5
Popularity: 7% [?]
Developing time management skills is a journey that needs practice along the way.
Become aware of how you use your time as one resource in organizing, prioritizing, and succeeding in the context of your life: activities, work, family, etc.
Ask: How do I spend my time each day?
Using your time wisely: Plan for blocks of time on your schedule to accomplish your goals.
Using your time wisely: Challenging material may require more frequent breaks to refresh your mind and body.
Using your time wisely: Plan blocks of time when you are most productive, as morning person or night owl!
Using your time wisely: Schedule weekly reviews and updates on your goals and strategies.
Using your time wisely: Sunday night is an excellent time to review your calendar for the week.
Using your time wisely: Be mindful that as deadlines approach, you must adapt.
Using your time wisely: Learn to prioritize, delegate, eliminate and postpone non-essential tasks when facing a critical deadline.
Using your time wisely: Created the habit of beginning with the most difficult task.
Using your time wisely: Build in “reaction time” when you can get feedback on tasks and assignments before they are due.
Using your time wisely: Don’t work out the details until your concept is fully developed.
Using your time wisely: Remove “Perfection” from your vocabulary – roughly draft your idea and proceed from there.
Using your time wisely: Develop alternative places free from distractions to maximize concentration
Using your time wisely: Use your “free” time wisely.
Using your time wisely: Review notes and research prior to meetings, being prepared speeds up tasks.
Effective aids in using your time wisely: Create a simple “To Do” list.
Effective aids in using your time wisely: Daily and weekly planners.
Effective aids in using your time wisely: Write down appointments and meetings and stop relying on your memory.
Effective aids in using your time wisely: First thing in the morning, check what’s ahead for the day; always end the day knowing that you’re prepared for tomorrow.
Effective aids in using your time wisely: Long-term planner so that you can plan ahead.
Effective aids in using your time wisely: Long-term planners also serve as a reminder to constructively plan time for yourself to recharge!
Popularity: 7% [?]
Building relationships is about building trust and reputation.
Effective networking is about choosing the best person to approach, determine the best networking technique and determine the best networking strategy.
Prepare yourself to have successful conversation. Create 3 Q’s regarding the event or something you want to know.
Prepare yourself to have successful conversation. Focus on general subjects to open conversations like weather, sports, theater etc.
The best way to remember a name is to get it upfront and use it several times in the first few statements.
Unwanted behaviors: 1. The Tank: pushy to aggressive/loud – “the end justifies the means”
How to deal with The Tank: hold your ground, interrupt the attack, match volume by 75%, back track the conversation, aim for the bottom line and fire
Unwanted behaviors: 2. The Sniper: they get even not mad.
How to deal with The Sniper: use Q’s to expose behavior, “What does that have to do with this?” Suggest a civil future.
Unwanted behaviors: 3. The Know It All: knows 98% of everything. They don’t listen to you.
How to deal with The Know It All: be prepared, know your stuff, backtrack, present your views indirectly, blend their doubts and desires
Popularity: 8% [?]
Successful communication with clients happens when we by pass emotional issues using conflict resolution.
When someone calls with a complaint, you’re guaranteed to have “their” undivided attention. What other time are you guaranteed to have “their” undivided attention?
Having “their” undivided attention allows you to re-establish the value of your company and enhance the relationship.
Conflict resolution is nothing more than realizing you have a responsibility to understand and deal with people’s problems.
Peple read letters and don’t think about whether they’re well-written or not; they react depending on whether or not they feel the letter’s message will benefit them.
3 Points for effective communication: know your goal, state what the client will benefit from and specify the clients actions
The average person spends only 9-12 seconds reviewing sales-related materials…
…and a brief 4-11 seconds when reviewing a print ad. So – GRAB your clients attention fast!
Your message should start with your purpose and your purpose must benefit and interest the client.
Call to action… “Call us with your future graphic needs. You already know us for our quality and timely delivery.”
Purpose and Results: focus on what your purpose is, what you need to communicate and what result you want to achieve. Anything else is not fit to print.
Popularity: 8% [?]
An effective brand must have a clear definition of its audience and objectives that the brand needs to achieve.
What are the objectives you expect to achieve with your brand?
Your brand should make a dynamic impression, it is your basic framework.
With a strong brand you build credibility, influence your market and motivate clients to purchase.
To determine your brand objectives ask: What is it that you expect your brand to do for your company?
To determine your brand objectives ask: What do you want others to know about your products or services?
By defining your objectives it is easier to develop a plan of action to achieve those objectives.
By defining your objectives you are able to map out a plan for achieving those objectives.
Let’s say one of your objectives is to become an industry expert. Part of your plan might be to write and publish articles in multiple media platforms.
Let’s say one of your objectives is to become an industry expert. Part of your plan might be to volunteer to speak at associations and organizations you belong too.
Once you’re objectives have been determined build and develop your brand strategy by looking at how, when, and what you are going to do to accomplish to meet your objectives.
List each objective and map out to accomplish it!
Once you have your list break it into “to does” by the month and quarter. Now schedule those action items in your calendar.
Popularity: 8% [?]
The question you should ask yourself is “Why is it essential that my company have a logo?”
A business with no sign is a sign of no business. Logos are very effective and often times the least expensive form of advertising for the small business.
A logo is your “handshake” with clients and it identifies your business to existing and potential customers.
Logos are advertising for you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They are like the “heart” of your business…always on the job and working for you.
You’ve heard the old saying, “you can’t judge a book by its cover”, unfortunately people do judge a business by how it looks and presents itself. How are you being judged?
Many company’s increase their business measurably just by adding a professional logo.
The opposite is also true, many have gone out of business because they did not identify themselves. Potential customers didn’t know of their existence.
According to the United States Census Bureau, 18% of households relocate each year. As your customers move out, you need to replace them by attracting new customers.
Here’s some of what aBi considers when designing a logo: easy to recognize, readable in different scales, attractive in black & white
Here’s some of what aBi considers when designing a logo: easy to interpret and a clear symbol with a message
Popularity: 8% [?]
Be a self-starter. This means that you have to be self-motivated to learn and immerse yourself in the knowledge of your field.
You have to have passion. Your source for motivation will come from your passion. If you’re not passionate about what you’re doing, it will be hard to keep going.
Be persistent. You need a certain amount of creativity and self-discipline to do it. Pave your own way.
It helps to have a tribe. It will be much easier to stay true to your goals when you have support from a group of like-minded people or from a mentor.
When creating your brand it is important to perform a careful analysis to market conditions that can keep you from achieving success.
Market conditions could include the following: Competition, Timing, Financing, Location, Lack of Demand
A careful and thorough analysis will assist you in answering the following Qs…Do you have a niche market? What problem does your product or service solve?
How will you determine the price of your product or service? Who are your potential clients? How and where can you find them?
Who makes up your target market? Where are they located? Review industry surveys and research to help answer these questions.
Who are your biggest competitors? What can you do better than they do? How will you market and advertise? Where will you find your target market?
You can start by researching keywords. This will allow you to see how often your product or service is searched for on the Internet.
Analyze your market and discover what you may come up against.
Your company image is all about the appearance and first impression given to the client. What is your company image saying?
Your company image has a negative or positive influence on the purchaser.
A negative impression can send a potential client in another direction – like to your biggest competitor.
A positive impression can influence a client to stay, buy and build a relationship with you.
Your brand is an inherent part of your business. It must be represented by common business tools: business cards, web site, email address and more…
What image does your common business tools give your market? What do they saying about your company?
What are your business cards saying? We are strong, clean, confident, experts, etc…or is your image weak, messy, muddy, lost etc…
What is your web site saying? Is it professional? Is it clear and easy to navigate? Or do your visitors find it messy, cluttered and hard to find the information they are seeking?
What does your email address say? Is it easy to remember and professional? Or is it to personal for business – “1hotchick @ hotmail dot com”? Is it time for a change?
Remember a picture can paint 1000 words – so what is your image painting in the mind of your clients and market?
The objectives a dynamic brand should achieve: It delivers a clear message
The objectives a dynamic brand should achieve: It confirms your credibility
The objectives a dynamic brand should achieve: It connects with your target market emotionally
The objectives a dynamic brand should achieve: It motivates the buyer
The objectives a dynamic brand should achieve: It builds user Loyalty
To understand branding and marketing read as much as you can. This is one of the best ways to expand your mind. Minimize TV time, maximize reading time.
Knowledge: Knowing a fact. Application: Knowing how to use the fact.
Comprehension: understanding a fact. Analysis: breaking down info into its parts.
Learn as much as you can about everything and anything. The more you know, the more options you will have. Don’t limit yourself to any one field. Ideas cross over.
Will You Reach Your Goals This Quarter? Work Smarter. Believe More. Achieve More.
Time is a limited resource. Time management is extremely important to accomplish your 2nd Qtr goals.
As 2009 continues let’s make it a positive experience through dedication and friendship – Twitter style!
Time management is a conscious management of decisions to determine which actions to take – effectively utilizing your time.
Manage your activities by defining the desired outcomes and then taking a course of action to reach these goals.
To maximize the 2nd Qtr revisit and revamp your goals.
Recognize that you have the ability to control your own activities, consider that you are the pilot of your life!
Use S.M.A.R.T goals – goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely.
Nothing can be achieved without effort, confidence, and selflessness in all areas of life.
Break goals down to the activities that can be achieved in 90 days. Measure the results from the first week and set the activities for the next week.
At the end of the quarter, re-establish specific goals for the 3rd quarter and repeat weekly activities and weekly reviews.
We never take on a challenge without realizing that real pride comes from knowing we are doing our best.
I love the 80/20 Rule. Pareto’s 80/20 Rule applies to just about everything – 80 percent of the outcomes will be generated by 20 percent of the activities.
Goals for the 2nd Qtr of 2009: stay goal-focused with the actual completion of targeted goals.
Goals for the 2nd Qtr of 2009: be in control of your life and destiny and the achievement of personal discipline, which is very powerful.
Goals for the 2nd Qtr of 2009: Create a positive experience and live in the moment.
Goals for the 2nd Qtr of 2009: Re-establish your winning attitudes and commitment.
Delegate activities to the staff with the appropriate skills.
Prioritize your daily work by reviewing the next day’s important activities in a ‘to do list’ at the end of each day.
Maximize personal productivity by focusing on your list the next day – resist the urge to be distracted!
Treat everyone with respect and honesty.
Clean up your desk. Handle each piece of paper only once and never more than twice: Don’t set aside anything without taking action.
Learn to say “No”. This maybe the most effective way to maximize your personal utilization of time and is often the hardest word to use.
Allow yourself every opportunity to reach your potential.
Don’t work during lunch. You shouldn’t deny yourself important stress-relieving time or important energy input.
Remember the harder you work, the more you need to balance your leisure and exercise time.
Set aside personal relaxation time during every workday.
Time management is the foundation for achieving your goals in every aspect of your life.
Be confident in our ability to win.
Pay attention to small details that stick out. Look at things from different points of view.
Use both sides of your brain. Your creative side is on the opposite side of your brain from your analytical style.
Learn how you learn. Learning includes seeing, hearing, talking, listening, touching, manipulating, reading, interpreting ideas and writing.
Feel free to doodle, talk out loud, or play with a toy. Color. Any of these activities can help facilitate your thought process.
It is on the edges of change that knowledge, innovation and discovery happen.
Question conventional wisdom. People once believed the world was flat.
Practice. Rehearse, scribble, sketch, talk to yourself or to your pet, try what you’re doing in different ways. Experiment.
Wisdom is learning from mistakes. Do not fear mistakes, view them as learning opportunities.
Keep an open mind. Don’t discount an unexpected outcome. Instead, evaluate it. Solutions can come from many different areas in life.
As adults we forget to imagine, dream and fantasize. Follow your interests with passion just like you did when you were a kid!
When you find yourself stuck, try something else for a while. Sometimes inspiration will strike after the pressure is off.
Introduce a random concept and follow another path for awhile to get your creative juices flowing.
When you learn something new, try to apply it and connect it to what you already know immediately. The sooner you use it the less likely you are to lose it.
If something is complicated or difficult, break it down into smaller pieces and explain it in your own terms.
Find your talents and interests, and develop your strengths. Try lots of different things. Remember passion is a renewable resource.
Keep a notebook and pencil by the bed. Sometimes dynamic bursts of creativity happen when the mind is just on the edge of consciousness!
Collect ideas. Many great ideas are small variations or remixes of existing ideas. Create a better mousetrap!
Schedule time every day to let yourself play, dream or your mind wander. You will find it refreshing and it recharges you.
This is a great place to stop. Think about the last Tweet. Make a list of your talents and interests you might be amazed with the outcome!
Popularity: 9% [?]
