Great Gossip and how to get more

Gossip is not something that is normally considered a good thing. But when you take a minute to think about it - we all love a bit of gossip now and then! We love hearing it, sharing it and spreading it. So what does this have to do with business? Your business needs to be the focus of (great) Gossip!

We have all done it - had an experience in a shop or business and let more than one person know about 'what happened'. Now unfortunately we are more likely to spread negative stories (we love gossip - but we love to have a whinge too!), and alot of the business advice you read or receive is focused on this fact. How about focusing on the fact that when people have a funny, odd or sensational experience - they will share that with friends too.

What can you do in your business to start the gossip ball rolling?

What your business services are will depend on what can you do, but some ideas may include;

Putting in a kids corner to keep clients kids occupied (parents LOVE it when their kids are entertained for 10 minutes), colouring in competition, giveaways, lucky door prizes, free delivery, carrying goods to the car for people, free wifi for clients, complimentary tea and coffee while they wait, up to date magazines and books, a library of books or equipment that is specific to your business that your clients can borrow, these are the basics - then you can add to this list the 'quirky'. How about giving everyone who comes in the door a flower on valentines day? An egg at easter (beware of allergies), the list can go on.

Think about who your business caters for, and then think about who else you cater for by default. If your business caters to kids - they have adults that bring them along - what are you providing for them? Your business caters to adults - they may have friends or family that come along - how can you cater to them?

Get the gossip cranking today!

Here's to a great week in business. Tanja

Adventures In Manifesting

Adventures In Manifesting

So, 12 weeks ago I stumbled across an e course called Adventures in Manifesting. Ididn't really know what to expect in the course, having never done one before, and Iwasn't really sure what I would get out of it. To be perfectly honest I ummed and ahhhedfor probably 2 days before clicking on that 'buy now' button. What made me finally do it ? I knew that I wanted more in my life, and I had read Sarah's book - which, to me (having my own book in stores, and knowing what it takes to get to the finished product on shelves), meant alot.

I could not have possibly imagined the journey that was ahead. If you are reading this because you are trying to decide - then do it. I can try to describe the camaraderie, the RESULTS, the shift in mindset, the accountability, the laughter, the tears, the gratitude, the love and all the great, awesome, exceptional things that come into your life, the higher level of understanding and the growth you experience as a person, but it would just be words.

Truth be told, if you have found out about this course, and you are reading up on it, then go for it - you have attracted it into your life for some reason, why question it?

www.adventuresinmanifesting.org

#LOA

From the heart

Tanja

Moving the washing Basket

Moving the washing basket.

Seems like an odd title for a business e-news, but stay with me. I was putting away my washing the other day, and was going from the basket to the robe or the draw putting clothes where they belong, and it dawned on me - why don't I move the washing basket?

Women readers of this news are probably chuckling right now - they know how to effectively and swiftly manage the housework - you move the wash basket to the robe so you don't have to walk, you spin the washing line so the empty space comes to you - you don't walk to it. There are probably hundreds. What has this got to do with business? Everything.

Is your office, workspace or place of business fitted out in such a way for ease of use? Or do you have little obstacles, that now have become so 'normal' to you, that you don't notice them anymore? Take a fresh look around, ask a friend if you have to, should you move anything for 'ease of use'. Another name for this is "Feng Shui" or "wind and water" and the philosophy behind it is simply ease of energy flow.

If you put absolutely no stock whatsoever in energy flow - let me put it to you this way. If it takes a team member, who uses the printer 16 times a day, 30 seconds to walk to the printer, and 30 seconds to walk back, that's 16 minutes a day in walking to the printer - maybe you could move it closer to them and save yourself approximately 3840 minutes of 'wasted wages'.

Does your place of business welcome the customers? Do you have a welcome mat? Is your doorway open and inviting, or cluttered and small? Does your team have to negotiate desks, chairs and cupboards to get around the office, or can they just walk in straight to their desk?

From the larger items - like the actual placement of office furniture, to the simple moving the washing basket, take a fresh look at your systems - are things where they are "because that's where they have always been". Maybe its time for a mini move to spice things up - they say that change is as good as a holiday!

Here's to a great week in business. Tanja

Consistency - do you deliver?

Consistency - do you deliver?

In all business' there basic tasks and functions that we do on a regular basis. We need to ensure that each member of our team, is consistent in delivering the experience of our business. By designing an experience for our clients we offer several benefits. Comfort. Human beings thrive on comfort - we all have favourite restaurants, chairs, beaches or holiday spots - why? Because there is a sense of security in familiarity. When we know what something is going to be like - we feel 'warm and fuzzy'.

I have a petrol station near my home. It is a locally owned business, and they offer 'good old fashioned' service. They pump the fuel for you, and as an added bonus, they have a prize draw each month for $50 worth of fuel - no cost to enter - if you purchase fuel, you get a ticket. Its great, when I first went there I made the decision to make that "my petrol station". So I go out of my way, past another petrol station, and away from where I am heading (90% of the time I head north up the highway, and this petrol station is south), because of all these great benefits, and I like to support locals. 6 months down the track and I don't think I have received consistent service once. There are 3 attendants that work there. The older man always pumps the fuel, and gives me a ticket, the young boy often pumps the fuel and sometimes gives me a ticket, the lady always pumps the fuel and never gives me a ticket. Yesterday I pull in, and the older man is having a smoke and talking to one of his mates - he doesn't pump the fuel, and he doesn't give me a ticket. So I leave, disappointed. And the funny thing is I realise that I would rather go to the other petrol station, and get consistently average service, than go to the "good service" petrol station and get disappointed.

So are your team members on board with the service experience that you want to deliver? For example - does your business provide a service for children? If so, are all of your staff walking around talking to the kids like the wiggles - or a half of them doing that, and the other half 'boring'. Because parents want their kids to get the same experience every time. Decide the atmosphere that you want to portray (professional, fun, serious, exciting) and make a few rules and guidelines (consistencies) for your team to follow.

Here's to a great week in business. Tanja

Focus & Reward

I'm big on goal setting.

The more thought you put into a goal, the better chance you have of achieving it. I have been focussed on expanding my writing - both online and published (magazines and books). I want to be a regular contributor to a 4 websites, and a columnist in 4 or 5 magazines. Well, i focussed, put the word out, and I am already up to 2 websites!

I am now a regular contributor to Property Toolbox and Saving Money Expert. See my first articles below!

http://propertytoolbox.com.au/property-update/?p=363

http://savingmoneyexpert.com.au/features/guides-3/the-ultimate-guide-to-investment-properties-on-a-budget-part-1

What goals are you working on?

Heres to a great week,

Tanja

Do you instil confidence in your clients?

Confidence is a key factor in your clients decision making process. Deciding to stay with you, or deciding to become your client in the first place starts with their confidence that you can provide the service that they are after. Once confidence has been established, the relationship continues to go 1 of 2 ways - it either builds, and they begin to trust you, and eventually trust you and begin to recommend you to their friends and relatives. The opposite direction is the relationship does not build, it even declines, the client starts to question the initial confidence they had in you, in the first place.

How to we give the clients the confidence that they need?

Knowledge + Honesty = Confidence which builds to Trust.

Knowledge. You must be the dictionary of your field. The encyclopedia that is referred to by your client for answers. If you are a Real Estate Agent - you must know (not only your own properties) What is on the market, what has sold recently, what developments are happening soon, where it flooded, where it didn't, where all the major "landmarks" are. If you are a personal trainer - you need to know about nutrition, carbs, sugars, low fat, no fat, gluten free, all the different 'pop culture' diets around, if your client is injured in an area - how do you still workout with that injury. If you sell widgets - you need to know what widgets are on the market, what the old widgets did, what the new widgets do & what your competition is selling widgets for.

It doesn't stop there, go the extra mile for your clients and look after them. Is there a new book out on real estate, nutrition or widgets? Recommend it (after you read it!) to your clients. This is showing your client that you care about their needs and think about them even after hours.

A note here - It is ok to say that you do not know something, and that you will find it out, and get back to the client - this displays honesty (NEVER LIE!).

Do a quick self assessment - what questions could your clients ask that you can't answer today? Take the time to do some research!

Want more ? Register for your free Chilli News - our weekly newsletter filled with business tips - www.chilliconsulting.com.au

Who are your clients and who are your customers?

In pretty much every business you can differentiate between clients and customers. For example, in a real estate office - your clients are you landlords and vendors - they have entrusted you with their asset to manage or sell. Your customers are your tenants and prospective buyers. In the retail sector your clients are those loyal ones - the ones that come to you every time the need an X. They refer friends and relatives, and they are happy to see your business flourish. If you are an events co-ordinator - your clients are the ones who are backing you, sure, you may have entertainers that make up a big part of the show, and you need to look after them too - they are your customers, but your clients are the agents of the entertainers that are bringing you 'talent' time after time.

Both clients and customers are an integral part of your business. And the goal is to 'upgrade' everyone to client status. If you own a butcher shop for example, your clients are the ones who buy all of their meat at your shop - they don't buy 90% of their meat at the supermarket, and come to you for a weekend barby. Your weekend barby buyers as customers are still vitally important, and you want to service them in such a way that they want to become clients.

Take a minute to identify the clients and customers in your business - maybe its time to 'go the extra mile' for a client or two.

Here's to smart business

Tk