Hub You - Business

Storytelling For High Concept And High Touch
After hearing Daniel Pink speak about his new book A Whole New Mind: Moving from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age for the fourth time, I finally read it cover to cover (less than a day). I finally got what he's talking about when he says jobs that are high touch are here to stay. That is, jobs that builds relationships between business and client whether it's B2B or B2C. To that end, he advocates that we incorporate more storytelling into our relationships, that we make a point with a story, not just facts which everyone knows they need but still find boring. The reason is that stories are easier to remember. He goes on to list some of our contemporary characteristics distinguishing stories from facts:Facts illuminate...

although he seemed so proud of his expanded office, I could see that he wished he had never signed the lease.

If only he had reinvested, written and stuck to a strategy for growth, done a cash flow and needs assessment and not been blinded by the cash.

This fellow has, fortunately, gotten himself some solid advisors who are leading him in the right direction. He understands what got him into the situation he’s in, both from a good (his ability to build a solid retail location) and bad (his lack of fiscal control). I believe that, in the end things will straighten out and he’ll be fine however, not without some pain on his part. At least his didn’t rent an entire vacant elementary school!

When it comes to growing your business take a full inventory of your needs and wants. List them down two sides of the same piece of paper. As your business grows cross of each need as it gets accomplished. After your needs list has been completely crossed off take a look at your wants list. Many of the items may seem unnecessary now. Some may still remain. Others may be added. The freedom you have achieved by taking care of your needs enables you to

100% is Not Enough - You Need 120%
I recently organized a service benchmarking visit to Singapore for 22 Korean sales and service trainers. In seven days we visited 23 leading organizations. A very busy week!At the Singapore Airlines Cabin Crew Training Centre, one visitor asked, 'How does Singapore Airlines stay on top all these years? And how do you plan to keep the lead while other airlines work so hard to beat you?'Senior Vice President, Mr Sim Kay Wee, answered clearly: '100% is not enough. When you reach #1, you need 120%.'Here's why: If you fly on a mediocre airline, your service expectation may be only 50%. If the cabin crew is in a better mood, they may actually deliver 65%. Then what is your opinion of the service? It's up 15%!'Now i

Not too long ago, my partner at the time, Drew and I were asked to go to the office of a prospect who inquired about our firm helping them promote their computer business.

The company was located in the Philadelphia suburbs in a large building that had been an elementary school. Drew and I figured that our prospect probably occupied a portion of the building and that other companies were housed there as well. As we entered we were shocked at what we saw. A huge banner hung from the ceiling, just beyond the entrance, that welcomed all to XYZ Computer’s grand new offices! I looked at Drew and he at me, both of us expressing bewilderment. After all, this was a start-up and I may add, much before the windfall of the .com 90’s.

We were directed into the CEO/President’s office. He was a big man who enjoyed the grandeur and status of his digs. He had the largest desk I have ever seen to go along with a huge office with a full-sized fountain (not one of those tabletop versions that mellow out the frantic business beast) surrounded by a rock garden that one would see on someone’s suburban landscape. Leather couches and chairs abounded.

The CEO/President greeted us and asked us to have a seat. He informed us that the company had opened its doors about two months before our visit and he wondered if we had seen his full-page advertisements in the newspapers.

We asked to see the ads and for some information as to what newspapers they had appeared. As he began to tell us where the ads ran we started to realize that he had placed many of them in the wrong publications for his audience. We were amazed. No wonder there were very few customers in the “store” even though the place was outfitted to the hilt.

It soon became evident that what we had on our hands was a corporate ego gone mad. As we left I turned to Drew and said, “That guy’s got a chapter 11 office.” Drew nodded in agreement. Within the year the company was out of business.

Too much overhead will eventually either kill a business or cause it to restructure itself and uncontrolled overhead can stop it before it really gets going.

There are things a businessperson can do to check their expenditures before they begin. It takes quite a bit of self-control for some types but it’s worth it. Here are some common situations to ponder.

· Take a long look at your ego. Is it controlling you and your business or are you using it as a tool to grow your business
· Don’t get larger offices than you need. You can always move or expand your existing space. Paying for more than you need because you think it looks good makes your landlord very happy and your revenues smaller.
· Don’t hire more people than you need. Although I am a great proponent of delegation, so you as a businessperson can grow, there should be a method and plan to your growth. There may be times when you will hire someone to help build your business within the structure of your plan, you may even pay them more than you make with the understanding that your payoff will come later. However hiring just to have a larger, “more professional looking” staff could signal ruination not far down the road.
· Don’t fall into that, “now that I’m a business owner or executive I should have a better car.” This one is extremely prevalent. Cars come later. Get the business consistent first and make sure it shows consistency over an extended period.
· Take less. Invest more. The more you invest back into the basic needs of your business the more money, security and equity you’ll have in the long run.

Being conservative for the financial good of your company can help you get through the down times. It’s those monetary reserves that help pay the bills when your sales base shrinks. It also enables you to stay on course and plan for the upturn.

There is another benefit to the fiscal conservation of funds from a business and personal perspective as it relates to the business owner. I recently met a gentleman who, after many years of struggling in business found his retail enterprise taking off. He was flush with cash. Not long after the money started to flow he bought a new house, not just any house but a nice, new, big house. In addition he purchased himself a substantial luxury automobile and decided to expand his office space (even though there was no apparent need). He even opened a second location.

In my conversations with him he began to reveal that he had over extended himself and now he needed more cash than he was generating from his initial location. The second store was draining him. His mortgage and car payments were squeezing him and although he seemed so proud of his expanded office, I could see that he wished he had never signed the lease.

If only he had reinvested, written and stuck to a strategy for growth, done a cash flow and needs assessment and not been blinded by the cash.

It's All About the Consumer
Spoiled defined as an adjective means to treat with excessive indulgence. Have you been accused of being spoiled? I have. Admittedly, I spoil myself regularly. Manicures, pedicures, Day Spa pampering and other things that are no doubt the norm for many others are enjoyed and necessary for me.Since I spoil myself after working hard, smart and passionately, I have come to expect preferential treatment when I'm spending this hard earned money I make. Nowadays, practically every retailer I infrequent, I am only setting myself up for disappointment, frustration, and astonishment with that great expectation. I typically enter a store humming a song. I do not necessarily like shopping and this puts me in a better mood t

resident greeted us and asked us to have a seat. He informed us that the company had opened its doors about two months before our visit and he wondered if we had seen his full-page advertisements in the newspapers.

Too much overhead will eventually either kill a business or cause it to restructure itself and uncontrolled overhead can stop it before it really gets going.

If only he had reinvested, written and stuck to a strategy for growth, done a cash flow and needs assessment and not been blinded by the cash.

How To Recruit and Build An Explosive Network Marketing Organization
For many people the subject of recruiting is the deathblow to their network marketing dreams.Does it have to be this way? Why do so many people join multi-level marketing organizations, only to dropout in disgust within the month? There is no denying this fact: Recruiting can be tough.The toughest thing about recruiting is not approaching people and discussing the opportunity-- your enthusiasm for the business will see you through any hesitancy in this area. And lack of interest and outright refusal on the part of your prospects to recruit can demoralize you.But the most devastating thing to network marketing careers is disappointment and discouragement. Disappointment and discouragement can eat through your excitem

ponder.

If only he had reinvested, written and stuck to a strategy for growth, done a cash flow and needs assessment and not been blinded by the cash.

First Job is the Worst Job
After spending months looking for first post-college job, many recent grads settle for a job they really don’t want. It’s common for new grads to feel trapped in their first job and many stick around longer than they should. Most twenty-somethings stay at their jobs because of credit card debts, student loan bills or just to appease their parents. However, recent studies and some first job advice may give help to these miserable entry-level hires.Many new career hopefuls stay at their jobs because of fear that there isn’t anywhere else to go. With financial burdens faced by most real world newcomers, losing a consistent paycheck is more threatening then prolonging unhappiness. According to “More New Grads Find Job Mobility Is Lim

basic needs of your business the more money, security and equity you’ll have in the long run.

If only he had reinvested, written and stuck to a strategy for growth, done a cash flow and needs assessment and not been blinded by the cash.

School Fund Raising
Have you ever noticed that at these contemporary times everything can be found in the internet? Be it clothes, perfume, chandelier, rugs and computers, among the many others. With the instant mushrooming of its availability in the information superhighway, academic institutions have also joined with the trend. In the creation of websites, there should be adequate money to support the programmers. That is the reason why there is a school fund raising program in order to bring it into reality.You might be a parent and you are questioning the importance of a school fun raising program when they can simply post notices in the bulletin boards if the administration would want to forward any communication. Yes, they can do that but the

although he seemed so proud of his expanded office, I could see that he wished he had never signed the lease.

If only he had reinvested, written and stuck to a strategy for growth, done a cash flow and needs assessment and not been blinded by the cash.

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In any type of business, one of the most important aspects is your employee morale. While this may sound like some type of HR buzzword, it is a vital piece of the puzzle. Unhappy workers produce less work. Not to mention, the quality of the work usually leaves something to be desired. Happy workers produce more quality work.

Design a brand for your business with 7 Secret Tips for Branding Your Business. Brand Recognition depends on you business logo being identifiable at a glance. The best way to do this is to Brand Your business with a Recognizable Logo simple enough to remember.

This article can be used as a guide for a heavy equipment dealer that is contemplating the sale of his company.

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