Attitude... The key ingredient for success

Everything begins and ends with your attitude. It is the foundation for our success. In fact, in many companies a good attitude is not only nice, but also essential. It keeps people from getting hired and in other cases it is a reason for dismissal. For example, if you apply for a job at one major hotel chain and you do not smile at least five times in a five -minute interview then your chances for getting hired are almost non-existent. In another instance, one major hardware store has managers who observe employees and if they see anyone with a bad attitude they relieve them of their duties immediately. All this "attitude" stuff may seem fluffy to some, but to attract and keep clients we must project an upbeat, caring and concerned attitude. A recent survey stated it best when they asked clients why they don't go back to a business. The overwhelming response was "an attitude of indifference by the owner, manager or employee."

... more

Predictions for 2009

Mark Anderson, one of the tech industry’s favorite prognosticators, offered at least a glimmer of hopeful news at his annual “Predictions” dinner at the Waldorf Astoria.

http://adjix.com/v63i

Seven Tips for Managing Price Increases

Consumers get hit with the price-increase hammer every time they drive past a gas station. Harvard Business School professor John Quelch offers tips on how marketers can cope with inflation and consumer sticker shock

http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/5957.html

The new PR - create experiences and relationships

PR is now about creating experiences and being a "professional relationship" expert

Robert Scoble

The Starbucks Experience

: 5 Principles for Turning Ordinary Into Extraordinary (Hardcover)by Joseph Michelli

From the Reviews

It's important to understand that "The Starbucks Experience" is not, and is not meant to be, an "exposé" of Big Coffee. People seeking that should look elsewhere

What "The Starbucks Experience" is, is a very interesting inside look at the approach to business that has made Starbucks not only a commercial, but also a cultural, phenomenon.

Starbucks is an exemplar of the values-driven business model that will set apart the next generation of business leaders. Joseph Michelli has taken us deeper inside that business model and pointed out some important ways that all of us, whatever our job or station in life, can adopt and adapt "the Starbucks experience" for our own uses.

He explores the various levels on which Starbucks succeeds, from its generous HR policies and lively work environment to its attention to detail and genuine concern for social causes—all of which highlight how singular a company it is. (Michelli throws in the word "unique" as often as twice a sentence.) The genius of Starbucks success lies in its ability to create personalized customer experiences, stimulate business growth, generate profits, energize employees, and secure customer loyalty-all at the same time. With unique access to Starbucks personnel and resources, Joseph Michelli discovered that the success of Starbucks is driven by the people who work there-the “partners”-and the special experience they create for each customer.

The company's practices are undeniably innovative and inspiring, and there's surely something in this book that's applicable to most businesses. It's up to the reader to decide how much of this is relevant and useful, and what the important lessons may be.

Michelli reveals how you can follow the Starbucks way to
· Reach out to entire communities
· Listen to individual workers and consumers
· Seize growth opportunities in every market
Custom-design a truly satisfying experience that benefits everyone involved
Michelli believes that Starbucks is guided buy five principles that make the business successful:
1) MAKE IT YOUR OWN The people who work in the stores, who do the everyday work you see are called PARTNERS, not workers, not employees. The objective is to get a lower level associate functioning in an entrepreneurial fashion. Somehow Starbucks gets it done. Basically, each partner is asked to conduct himself in accordance with what the company calls the "FIVE WAYS OF BEING".

A) Be Welcoming

B) Be Genuine

C) Be Considerate

D) Be Knowledgeable

E) Be Involved

2) EVERYTHING MATTERS There are two fabulous quotes that are used in this section. We should all memorize them:

A) Retail is Detail

B) All Business is Detail

I was floored by these quotes. When you think about it, Starbucks is completely right. You have to get those DETAILS right. If you do that, the mosaic that you are trying to create between store, coffee and customer - it all comes together.

3) SURPRISE AND DELIGHT It might be opening a store an hour early because you see a customer standing outside. Perhaps you had 10 regular customers from the library across the street, and now the library has moved. You run the Starbucks, so what do you do, you visit the new Starbucks where the library moved, and you introduce your old customers to the new Starbucks. Who does this type of thing; what business has such people affiliated with it? The answer is Starbucks. Somehow this company has managed to create these types of dedicated professionals.

4) EMBRACE RESISTANCE Most companies seem to fight off criticism or complaints - not Starbucks. They look upon criticism as an opportunity to learn from the person doing the criticizing. A case in point is a high level Starbucks executive calling up a person who did a radio show flailing against what he viewed as a lack of consistency in the coffee and service at his local Starbucks. The company embraced the criticism as an opportunity to learn on a company-wide basis. This is very unusual to say the least.

5) LEAVE YOUR MARK It's right in the company's mission statement. The company will "contribute positively to our communities, and our environment." From buying environmentally friendly products to constantly worrying about developing a reputation for integrity, Starbucks takes what it does seriously. This is reflected in every nuance of the customer experience

Filled with real-life insider stories, eye-opening anecdotes, and solid step-by-step strategies, this fascinating book takes you deep inside one of the most talked-about companies in the world today.

For anyone who wants to learn from the best-and be the best-The Starbucks Experience is a rich, heady brew of unforgettable user-friendly ideas. We're not all in a position to shape corporate policy, but one of the powerful truths Starbucks teaches is that everyone can have a big -- even a defining -- impact on a customer's experience of your product or service. You don't have to be a Starbucks fan to get a mental caffeine-buzz off an idea like that.

“…as someone involved in the non-profit world, namely a church, I can see how these principles would work for charities, churches, schools, social service agencies, and other nonprofit organizations. The book promotes excellence in a caring, committed, and purposeful way which can change the way corporations can do business and can help nonprofits remain innovative and relative too.”

There's still time

There's still time to sign up for Derek Gehl's FREE "Build-a-Biz" video training series!

The first video is being released next Monday (April 21st). -- but is ONLY available to people who registered for it.

You can still register right now by going to: www.marketingtips.com/xtreme-challenge/t/1087521

In these videos, Derek is going to show you the exactsteps you need to take to build a money-making website in ONE WEEK (or less!).

... How?

By doing it himself -- ON CAMERA, right before your very eyes!

Quite simply, there's no other learning tool like this. Sure, you can buy a bunch of books (as thick as a lawtextbook and just as exciting to read), or watch a bunch of speakers on stage, TELLING you what to do instead of SHOWING you what to do.

But when have you ever seen anyone sit down and physically demonstrate how the entire process WORKS -- from the first spark of an idea, all the way through to the very first sale?

And how would it help YOU to watch something like this?

Finally, those gaps in your understanding would all be filled...

Imagine the "turbo-boost" it would give to your business efforts!

So if you'd like to learn the steps you need to take to build your own money-making website in as little as ONE WEEK (or less!)

...... Reserve your FREE "front-row seat" NOW at: www.marketingtips.com/xtreme-challenge/t/1087521

Thanks,

Bronwyn

P.S. A lot of people are wondering if Derek is going to fall flat on his face

...... But I know he has a "secret weapon" in his corner that's going to make it EASY for him to build a money-making website in less than a week!

To discover what this "secret weapon" is, sign up for Derek's FREE videos at: www.marketingtips.com/xtreme-challenge/t/1087521

"Your Frontline Business Guide Book"

Tactical entrepreneur

Award winning author Brian Hazelgren once again puts his expertise into the hands of the Entrepreneur. In his first books “Your First Business Plan” and “The Big Book of Business Plans” Brian instructed his readers in writing winning business plans

Now in “Tactical Entrepreneur” Brian discusses topics such as

• How to make it in the brutal world of business ownership

• Acquire the TACTICAL abilities needed to be successful

• Creating the FREEDOM needed to reach your goals

• Establishing Calculated Risks

• Learning from others mistakes

• Do you have what it takes?

• Targeting your market

• How to build a successful marketing plan

• Business Planning

• Plus Much More!

The book also contains worksheets, brainstorming techniques, the nine signs of an entrepreneur and a sample business plan. This book is a must for anyone who is just starting out or the seasoned professional who needs a refresher course.

Get your own copy of Tactical Entrepreneur visit http://www.tacticalentrepreneur.com/?afid=2215

Businesses are made by people - Quotation

Businesses are made by people. We've proven time and time again that you can have wonderful shop, and put a bloke in there who's no good, and he'll stuff it up. Put a good bloke in, and it just turns around like that.

Gerry Harvey

Top tips: Being diverse gets results

US author and entrepreneur Frans Johansson answers questions about diversity.

Q. What does diversity bring to a business, and how can it make money?

A. Diversity brings the possibility to leapfrog competitors. By leveraging different perspectives, a company can create "Medici Effect", an explosion of groundbreaking ideas. A corporation must first understand the need for diversity and then how to use it. With those two pieces in place, however, it will outperform. This is ultimately reflected in shareholder value. Diversity can make money in several ways. The most fundamental is in how it drives innovation. When Volvo Cars decided to create an all-female engineering team it came up with hundreds of ideas, most of them never suggested before - and many were brilliant. In addition, diversity can help us find unique market opportunities. When the Hispanic networking group at Frito-Lay in the US (part of PepsiCo) suggested the company develop a "Guacamole Chip", the company went for it and made $100 million in its first year of sales. Read on ....

Business quote for the week

Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision.

- Peter F. Drucker, 1909-2005, Austrian-born Management Consultant and Author

More quotations on the Pivotal Quotations pages

WHAT ARE YOU COMMITTED TO?

What do you think of when you hear the word commitment?

Perhaps you picture a loving husband caring for his invalid wife.

Maybe you envision a business owner who puts her resources and reputation on the line to lead her company through a crisis.

Perhaps you see a dedicated teacher who spends hours of his own time tutoring underprivileged children.

Or maybe the scene that comes to mind is one of a group of soldiers who willingly enters harm's way to protect their countrymen.


These are all wonderful examples of commitment. But have you considered the fact that individuals who act in less admirable ways also are committed? People who watch the clock at work are committed to making it through the day so they can go home. People who spend most of their free time in front of the television are committed to taking life easy. People who cheat on their income taxes are committed to beating the system.
Do you understand what I'm saying? When it comes to living a life of significance, the vital question isn't, "Am I committed?" It's, "What am I committed to?"

Click here to read the complete article.

Imagination Engineering: your toolkit for business creativity

Imagination Engineering: Your Toolkit for Business Creativity (Paperback)
by Paul Birch

One of the most difficult questions facing managers and executives today is how to manage creativity. They must constantly re-create the fundamental nature of their businesses. This book provides an excellent review of some of the best cutting edge creativity technologies, as well as many useful new tools. The authors have outlined their practical processes into stages and each stage provides tools or activity exercise, an explanation of the techniques of the tools, and practical examples.

Re-imagine

Re-imagine! (Hardcover) by Tom Peters

"We're in a new business climate and we'd better make some big changes. And what changes does Peters propose--or, shall I say, demand?
Try these on for size:
* Basing all business (from the smallest department to the biggest megacorp) on projects and the professional service firm model, thus increasing value.
* Embracing branding and design--and providing experiences to Clients rather than just products and services.
* Charging after new markets: Boomers, seniors and--especially--women.
* Relentlessly pursuing talent, especially among (again) women.
* Rebuilding education to prepare young minds for the new world they will soon face."

Author, provocateur, and business visionary Tom Peters is recognized around the globe as one of the most influential and revolutionary management gurus of the last century. The author of more than 10 best-selling books on innovative business practices, including the groundbreaking In Search of Excellence, Peters gives more than 100 major seminars each year and serves as the chairman of Tom Peters Company.

Amazon

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Tags: tom peters, business, success