|
The Trusted Advocate |
|
 |
|
 |
|
The sales environment has been
forever altered by e-commerce and price centered commodities.
Competition has become stiffer, and quotas have become higher.
The demand for performance has
created brutal pressure in a lonely profession, and increasing the
number of cold calls is not enough to survive.
Success requires closing a higher
percentage of opportunities and growing existing business. But how do
you achieve such lofty goals?
Designed to revitalize sales
professionals,
The Trusted Advocate is perfect for managers, coaches, and
trainers to help rapidly accelerate individual or group performance.
Use your strengths as your
competitive edge, enjoy your profession, and advance in your career! |
|
Look
Inside! |
THE TRUSTED ADVOCATE
Available in
Hardcover
- or-
Paperback

|

 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|

John Mehrmann is an
international speaker, trainer, and author with more than twenty years
of management experience. He founded
Executive Blueprints
with the purpose of empowering performance.
Visit John online at
www.JohnMehrmann.com
|
|
The Trusted Advocate:
Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrity is
available through many online book resellers.
Amazon
Hardcover
- or-
Paperback
Barnes & Noble
Borders
Target
iUniverse
|
|
|
|

101 Great Ways to Improve
Your Life Volume 3
Featuring
John Mehrmann
Ken Blanchard
Byron Katie
Les Brown
Marc Victor Hansen
"Just imagine
getting five minutes of personal insight and advice from any one
of the world's leading experts. Then imagine having it handed to
you from 101 of them. It is a treasure trove of knowledge
compiled in this book."
|
|

|
|
|
|

Reverse
Logistics Financial Model
by John Mehrmann
www.RLMagazine.com
January / February 2008 Edition
|
|

Seeing
Green at the End of the Line
by John Mehrmann
www.RLMagazine.com
August / September 2007 Edition
|
|

A
Pragmatic Approach to Partners
by John Mehrmann
www.RLMagazine.com
March / April 2007 Edition
|
|
|
|

Where to Find Loyal Customers
by John Mehrmann
www.ProsCommunications.com
January / February 2007 Edition
|
|
|

Executive Book Summaries
PROBLEM: So many great business books. So little time.
SOLUTION: Read Less. Learn More. Subscribe to Soundview
Executive Book Summaries!
Listen to summaries of today's top business books with your MP3
player! Download summaries any time from your online library.
Click to learn more and listen to one of our most popular
summaries FREE!
|
Find
People, Find Jobs,
Find Services, get Linked in.
|
|
TESTIMONIALS |
|
"John Mehrmann is a true leader, establishing direction and expectations for
people as well as demonstrating thought leadership to maximize company and
personal performance. His principles and values drive his actions and the
outcome is an extremely high level of trust and the knowledge that he is going
to do the right thing for both clients and business associates."
- Eric Nelson
President,
Strategic Technology Solutions, LLC |
| “John
Mehrmann’s integrity and honesty creates win-win relationships with a rare level
of openness, making difficult transformations achievable. His unusual
combination of strategic vision for innovation and a real talent for tactical
delivery execution has resulted in new ways of doing business across business
partners and has challenged those around him to follow, raising the bar for
industry excellence.”
- Mel Beale
Client Executive/GM
EDS |
|
"John Mehrmann is one of the
finest business professionals that I have had the pleasure to work with and he
has my highest recommendation. He is very knowledgeable in his field, a great
communicator, committed, dedicated, and a true leader who also leads by
example."
- John Midavaine
President
Global Solutions Unlimited |
|
 |
| "John
Mehrmann is a smart guy and generous with his knowledge. I asked him to take a
call from another client to advance his understanding of an obscure logistics
application. John couldn't have been more helpful and forthcoming."
- Jack Finnell
Senior Account Executive
Gartner |
|
"I can highly recommend
John based on direct experience working with him in a top level sales and
product environment. His great attitude, his high level of ethical behavior and
his wide ranging expertise were of great benefit to the organization and in
aiding me in the performance of my duties as well. John is a tenacious, focused
professional that can accomplish seemingly impossible tasks under difficult
conditions with good humor and great results."
- Rob Kaplan
Executive Vice President
Centric Media |
|
"Demanding, challenging, and supportive are the words that come to mind when
reflecting on my experience with John Mehrmann during a competitive and
complicated RFP process and roll-out at Toshiba. He is a focused and patient
leader who sets the bar high. His vision and guidance was ultimately the key to
the success of the project."
- Greg Gadbois
Executive Vice President of Sales
Service Net |
|
 |
| “During
the course of a long, critical and complicated business transformation
initiative, John Mehrmann showed himself to be a true leader in difficult
situations, as well as someone fun and creative to work with. He works across
boundaries and through organizations to create a truly united team.”
- Jude Aranha
Vice President Technology and Business Solutions
Service Net |
"John Mehrmann is the
consummate sales professional. I have had the privilege on working alongside
John on several customer engagements. His listening skills and presentation
skills, coupled with the ability to design customized solutions that show
tangible results, are remarkable. He truly cares deeply about people. I
recommend John as a highly respected and highly trusted business professional.
It is an honor to know this man."
- Rick Driscoll
National Sales Director,
HP Programs,
Data Exchange Corporation |
| “I worked
with John Mehrmann to strengthen the partnership of our collective companies
(Toshiba and Siemens). While our time working together was fairly brief, I
quickly realized that John is a very astute Executive, with the ability to
effectively assess the needs of the business, and translate those needs into
effective business solutions.”
- Dennis Barlow
Client Executive
Siemens Business Solutions, Inc
|
|
 |
| "John
Mehrmann is an outstanding person, businessman, and professional. During one of
the first conversations I had with him, I mentioned a research project that I
was pursuing. Immediately afterward, John sent me a list of contacts, whom he
thought might be useful to me with my research. John has vast experience in a
variety of areas and is willing to give of his time, talents, and expertise."
- Whitney Ransom
Public Relations Director
Executive Excellence |
| “John
Mehrmann brings a positive and cheerful outlook into his professional
engagements. I appreciate his ability to view business from a strategic angle.”
- Raja Narayanan
Vice President,
Mobility Solutions
TOSHIBA |
| “John
Mehrmann has the unique ability to blend solid processes with excellent field
presence. John was able to greatly impact not only my sales team’s confidence in
our service offerings at Toshiba BUT was able to create an environment of trust
with our large enterprise accounts. John exhibits leadership and team skills, is
both trustworthy and a pleasure to work with.”
- Barry George
Director of Sales
TOSHIBA |
|
"John Mehrmann is an extremely
talented and dedicated professional. He has demonstrated incredible business
acumen in his approach to the challenges he has faced. His decisions were always
well thought out and based on sound judgment. John's insight has enabled him to
be an effective mentor and coach to many employees. His talent and experience
will be a valuable asset to any organization."
- Maggie Merante
Director Corporate Relations and System Engineering
TOSHIBA |
|
"My experience reporting
directly to John Mehrmann was nothing less then excellent and positive! John
Mehrmann directed the national services business for a fortune 50 high tech
manufacturer while managing field market engineers responsible for several
billion dollars in hardware and services sales. His integrity and honesty
unfailing, he positively challenged his employees to perform at optimum
abilities while creating trust and camaraderie amongst an eclectic group of
“type A” technical sales engineers (not an easy task). John Mehrmann held all
team members to the high standards of workmanship and company ethics in
supporting standards customers and acquisition business, increasing sales in
several market segments as he understands the role of the services component to
support the life line sales of the business! Several times I observed John
Mehrmann rethink and change managerial directives based on employee feed back as
he listens to his employees on the ground and unselfishly agrees when his
employees have better ideas for direction or mandates. I would report to John
Mehrmann again without hesitation!!"
- Michael Bone
Sales / Marketing Engineer
TOSHIBA
|
| "All of
John Mehrmann's outstanding traits have been highlighted by the people who have
worked with him and for him. I could count on John to be successful at any
assigned task. John is a forward thinking individual with excellent knowledge of
the service Industry. Anyone that partners with John's company will reap the
rewards of success."
- John Keyser
Channel Sales Manager
TOSHIBA |
|
 |
| “John
Mehrmann is a wonderful manager. He is forward thinking, highly organized and is
a genuine, caring person. I have learned so much from John. I can't thank him
enough for all the coaching and mentoring that he has given me. I am a better
manager and person having worked with him.”
- Jami Fronk
Operations Support Manager
TOSHIBA |
| “I was
fortunate to work for John Mehrmann when he held the position of National
Service Manager at Toshiba Imaging Systems Division. By his examples, I learned
the value of hard work, integrity and honesty. His management style has left a
lasting impression on me that I value in my work today. I am proud to a part of
his associate network.”
- Ralph Abramo
Service Operations Manager
TOSHIBA |
|
"John is an exceptional
supervisor, mentor, and team leader whose creative, enthusiastic, tireless
energy with clear direction helped us to excel our given responsibilities. He
knows how to bring out individual team member's best and utilize them, and wins
their trust. He supports and encourages his team members to be equipped with
advanced knowledge. I am proud of my experience under his leadership and
treasure them."
- Im Lee
Planning Analyst
TOSHIBA |
|
"John Mehrmann was one of the best managers that I had the pleasure to work for.
He was the main reason I left the training department and applied for my current
position. He is a great mentor and a strong leader. Our loss will be Executive
Blueprints gain.”
- Seth Pollman
Service Specialist
TOSHIBA |
| “John
Mehrmann is one of the most effective managers I have ever known in 30+ years in
business. He is productive, creative, efficient, focused with flexibility, and
enthusiastic. He has the power to help employees embrace company goals. He
candidly is just exceptional at anything he does. I am proud to know him, proud
to have worked with him, and I would be proud to work for him!”
- Bill Billups
Regional Sales Manager
Mustek |
|
 |
| “I highly
recommend John Mehrmann. He brings a very strong business minded approach to
Supply Chain problem resolution.”
- Ron Kula
Vice President of Supply Chain Solutions
Data Exchange Corporation |
| “I was
very fortunate enough to have the chance to work with John Mehrmann on
implementing a new project. John’s knowledge, leadership and expertise have been
invaluable.”
- Patti Leoni
Regional Sales Manager
Data Exchange Corporation |
| “John is
an incredible sales and marketing professional. I value my association with him
both personally and professionally. John is a rare talent and an awesome person.
Truly a one in a million.” - Kevin Ross
Regional Sales Director
Data Exchange Corporation |
|
 |
| “I worked
with John Mehrmann to introduce and develop the market for the digital
photography category. No one knew more keenly than John that this was truly a
lifestyle changing technology. John as well possessed a sense of the market's
ability of acceptance. Having as clear a vision of the big picture assisted
greatly in attaining the goals of the day.”
- John Nystrom
Owner
Dean Cooper Company |
|
| |
|
John Mehrmann on QVC
demonstrating the PDR-M61
Toshiba Digital Camera
|
|

|
RLTS Reverse Logistics Trade Show
February 5-7, 2007 Las Vegas, NV
Exclusively for After Market Supply Chain Organizations
|
|
|
|
|
Articles |
|
You may distribute articles freely, print them, sell them, or
include them as part of a package as long as the articles remain
intact, unchanged and delivered in the original format with
acknowledgement to Executive Blueprints Inc. |
Business Sales
-
Secret to
Successful Sales
[Business: Sales]
What
is the secret for successful sales? Is it low cost? Is it a famous
brand name? Is the secret to successful sales to have the most
features, at the best price, with the best quality or performance,
before the competition? The secret to successful sales may surprise
you.
-
Where to Find Loyal Customers
[Business: Sales]
What is a loyal customer worth to you?
What is the value of repeat business and customer referrals compared to
acquiring new customers? How could this help to increase your sales and
profit? Find out where to find this customers now!
-
Make the Competition Irrelevant
[Business: Sales]
Is
there an easy way to make the competition irrelevant? In an age with
so much access to information, bombarded by advertisements and
commercials, is it possible to keep the attention of your potential
customers? What is the secret to help customers make an easy
decision to buy? There is a secret formula that works for
e-commerce, retail, bids and proposals. It is a simple formula that
has worked since the days of bartering beads, beans and burrows.
-
Are You Marketing or Selling?
[Business: Sales-Training]
Once upon a time there was a deaf
salesman named Aesop. He tried to sell his wares to the blind brothers
Grimm, but no matter how much he elaborated on the features of his
wares, the brothers Grimm could not see the benefits. The brothers tried
to explain to Aesop that they could not see the features that he
described so eloquently, and that they would like to hold the wares so
they could appreciate them from their own perspectives. Unfortunately,
Aesop was busy talking and could not hear their requests, so the parties
separated in mutual frustration and disappointment. How could the grim
results of this fable be avoided?
-
Make Gossip Work for You
[Business: Marketing]
Are
you harnessing the power of gossip, communities, and social networking
to promote your brand? Whether your brand is a product, a service, or
yourself, this is the era of connectivity and belonging. The Internet
has become a powerful medium for connecting people with more than
information access. It is creating communities and relationships by
making it easier to find individuals with similar interests and
preferences. Tapping into this communication is the new face of
marketing, and it has a new set of rules to go along with it.
-
Secrets to Powerful Negotiations
[Business: Negotiation]
We negotiate every day. There are
negotiations in sales, customer service, interviewing for a position,
and relationships between vendors and suppliers. Make a checklist of
these five items and apply it to your next negotiations. You can
immediately become more powerful and effective in your negotiations.
-
Sales Techniques, Lessons from a Pet Store
[Business: Sales]
Every market is a microcosm of the
environment. "Lessons from a Pet Store" is a series of observations and in a
commonly recognized environment that can be easily applied to virtually any
market.
-
The
Power of Niche Sales
[Business: Sales]
Many
successful organizations have survived turbulent economic conditions and fierce
competitive environments by consistently nurturing a niche, and the loyal
consumers in the niche community. It is possible to expand and grow business in
addition to the niche. Unfortunately, several other organizations have lost
their identities in an effort to copy the competition, rebrand themselves, or
casually jettison a loyal constituency due to change in focus. Let's compare and
contrast a few recognized examples.
-
Measuring the
Benefits of Sales Catalogs
[Business: Sales]
What to Victoria Secret,
DELL, Staples, Radio Shack, and Montgomery Ward have in common? Each
of these companies has used the catalog to achieve a dominant
position in a competitive marketplace. Each organization has used
the catalog in a slightly different manner, but each has achieved
the ultimate goals of market-share and profitability. How did they
do it?
-
Taboo Topics
[Business: Sales]
Can
avoiding taboo topics in communication have a critical impact on
clients, partners, peer, family, and friends? How do candid
conversations empower a trusted advocate?
-
Why People
Buy
[Business:
Sales]
Selling products or services, it is important to understand why
people buy. Marketing, sales, operational infrastructure, and
customer service should be crafted with the consumer purchasing
perspective.
-
Make Sales Effort More Effective
[Business: Sales]
We have all noticed individuals who
excel at sales, customer service or leadership. What is the secret
formula, the common denominator, something that these people all have in
common that places them at a higher level of achievement?
-
Seven Steps to Successful Sales
[Business: Sales]
Being a successful salesperson does not
happen by accident or blind luck. Success is the result of diligent
effort applied to a structured system with commitment and passion.
These seven steps are designed to help develop a system in a matter
of minutes. Building on success to achieve your dreams is determined
by how passionately committed you are to achieving the dreams of
your customers. The first step is as easy as listening to them.
-
Year of
the Customer
[Business: Sales]
The
rules have changed. The Internet has made it easier, faster, and
more convenient for consumers to compare prices, quality, features,
and previous customer experiences. With a suddenly level playing
field for brand comparison of commodities, what is the new
differentiation? Trust, confidence, and relationships the new
differentiation. How well you connect with customers in marketing,
sales, and customer service excellence are the essence of success.
-
The Skills Gap
[Business: Sales-Management]
The Computer Technology Industry
Association ("CompTIA") recently conducted a survey of 273 CompTIA members to
determine the biggest challenges for the next 12 months. Filling vitally
important functional positions in sales and technical customer service ranked as
the most critical obstacles in the coming year.
-
Sales Force
Motivation
[Business: Sales]
Your
Sales Force is your Revenue Generating Engine. Does the engine need a tune-up?
Are you giving high octane fuel to your sales force engine, or are you pushing
the pedal to the metal and never getting out of second gear? The right
motivation can accelerate sustainable revenue growth.
-
Motivation with Direction
[Business: Sales-Management]
How do you communicate when sales are
below forecast, you are over budget, or you are not on plan? What impact
does this have on moral and motivation for the organization? Are
demoralized and intimidated employees more likely to rise to the
challenge and improve performance than inspired contributors with clear
direction and leadership?
-
Dear Office Dweller
[Business: Sales]
The following s a dedication to road
warriors. It is a composite of feedback from the field to the much
respected and appreciated office dwellers who occupy the maze of
cubicles in the ivory towers.
Business Management
and Leadership
-
Seven Principles for Business
[Business: Management]
Document the definitions for your
business, organization, or your role in
the organization. If you can document
it, you can share it. With defined and
aligned goals and purpose, individuals
with an organization are empowered for
personal success. The following seven
principles may seem simple and obvious,
as they should. However, would your
definitions be aligned with everyone
else in your organization or your
customers?
-
Corporate Consistency
[Business]
A
business can be defined by the same
character traits that are typically
associated with an individual
personality. A business can be bold,
aggressive, compassionate,
inconsiderate, caring, trustworthy,
deceptive, cautious, or friendly. A
business is often the reflection of the
conglomeration of members, leadership,
and an accumulation of character traits.
If a company is large, the character
traits may be influenced by years of
pride of internal culture. If the
company is small to medium, the
character is often a direct reflection
of the leadership or ownership of the
company. Regardless of the size, a
business is a collection of individuals
and talents, and it is a collection of
personalities that define the character
of the company.
-
Business Recession Response Plan
[Business]
Is it
possible to "'recession-proof" your
business? Most business experience slow
periods, recession, seasonality, growth,
and varying profitability. When going
through a period of recession, keep
going.
-
Matrix Management
[Business: Management] Matrix
Management is a compelling buzzword with
a tempting nirvana of shared resources
and unlimited access to expertise that
lies in other functional areas. But are
the resources really ready to be
monopolized by multiple managers in a
redesign of the organizational
structure? Think twice before you plug
yourself into the matrix.
-
Trusted Management Score Card
[Business: Management]
Share this article with coworkers in an
email and enter your TOTAL SCORE in the Subject Line, ask for a reply to
see how your score relates to others in your organization. Trust is a
fundamental foundation for any relationship, business or personal.
Without it, the relationship has defined limits and greater risk of
gradual erosion or collapse. With Trust, the relationship is
exponentially stronger than the sum of the individual contributors.
-
Tips for Effective Training
[Business: Management]
Training can be used to educate, motivate, and cultivate the work
force, partner organizations, and customers. When administered
effectively, training is an interactive conduit for delivering
measurable benefit to the participants. Whether you are a trainer, a
manager responsible for selecting or delivering training, or if you
are interested in enhancing the experience of your customers and
partners by making training available, consider these seven simple
tips for effective training.
-
Risk Management
[Business: Management]
Losses Associated with Customer Records,
Confidential Information and Intellectual Property have created a surge
in Information Protection Spending.
IDC predicts that the Information Protection and Control
(IPC) Solutions market will surpass $3 Billion in 2011. This will be a
major area of investment over the next five years, representing a
compound annual growth rate of 33%. This tremendous growth is fueled by
protection of key sensitive information and complying with privacy
regulations.
-
Consistency
[Business: Management]
Communicate your purpose and reasons
with consistent actions. Expect the same
from the people around you, and watch
the group transform into a cohesive
operational team.
-
Character
[Business: Management]
Leaders set the course for behavior as
well as the strategic direction. As a
leader, others will watch your
confidence, your integrity, your
response and your enthusiasm.
Demonstrating good character does not
guarantee respect, but it is a sure
thing that you will lose respect without
it. Every time that you give advice for
behavior, take a moment afterwards to
reflect if your own actions are
consistent with your advice.
-
Disciplined Leadership
[Business: Management]
You want to manage a disciplined team,
focused on achieving results, beating
the competition and demonstrating
continuous improvement. You want to
generate enthusiasm while making
measured progress toward common goals.
You want the entire team to succeed, to
work together and be the best that they
can be. You may be wondering how to
begin
-
Reliable, Respected, Revered or Feared
[Business: Management]
What is most the most important
attribute to developing your reputation?
Would you prefer to be known as
reliable, respected, revered or feared?
Is it possible to be all of these things
over time? Constructing your reputation
is like solving a Rubik's Cube puzzle.
It takes time, several steps and the
right combination of twists and turns.
It is also important to know what it
should look like when you are done. When
you have the goal in your mind, then you
can go about solving the puzzle.
-
Methods of Management
[Business: Management]
Are your methods management or madness?
The following are some common management styles. See if you can find
characteristics of yourself, or your management, in one or more of the following
categories.
-
Your Most Important Investment
[Business: Management]
Imagine a company spending one-third of the revenue on a capital
investment or an interest payment and never addressing it with
shareholders in their annual report. Measure, monitor, and invest
appropriately in the biggest impact to your business.
-
Managed by the Mob
[Business: Management]
Is
your business, department, division or project being managed by the mob?
Do you have a clear and defined strategy, or are you being run ragged
with no sense of accomplishment or direction? Decision by committee is
tantamount to management by the mob and may indicate a lack of
leadership. What can you do about it?
-
The Difference
between Being Right and Doing the Right
Thing
[Business: Management]
Is it
better to be right, or to do right? Is
there a real difference between being
right and doing the right thing? When it
comes to communications, support, and
teamwork, there is a perceptible
difference between the two.
-
It's OK to be Human
[Business: Management]
There are many important attributes to
leadership. To be fully effective with the technical and tactical
elements it is also necessary to be able to communicate and connect
effectively with those around you. Integrity and understanding should be
combined with compassion.
-
Aligned Management - Responsible for Personal Success
[Business: Management]
"In management, you have responsibility
for the success of the individuals within your organization." While this
may seem like an obvious statement, the definition of success is much
more difficult. In most cases we define business success for the
individual as accomplishing the assigned tasks and job related goals to
measurements defined by the position or by the management. Many managers
struggle with the concept of individual motivation and expect members of
the organization to share the same desire to contribute toward the
success of the team.
-
Secrets to Effective Staff Meetings
[Business: Team-Building]
A Survey reveals stunning similarities
in staff meeting results. How can you make your meetings more effective,
and how can you measure your results? Quick and easy suggestions to
improve meeting performance.
-
Rewarding Teamwork
[Business: Team-Building]
Teamwork can be its own reward, as
demonstrated by the exceptional success of the New England Patriots Football
Team. As a coach, manager and leader within your organization, what can you
learn from other successful teams? How can you build teamwork from within the
organization? What organizations already have teamwork as a measured performance
indicator? You have the power to develop teamwork from any position within the
organization, by virtue of your personal commitment and the power of your own
actions.
-
Root Cause Analysis
[Business: Management]
"It
is far better to have a Good Solution for an Exact Problem than to have
a Great Solution for the Wrong Problem"
-
Selecting Professional Assistance
[Business: Careers and Employment]
Guide
to differentiate training, consulting and executive coaching for improved search
and selection of professional assistance.
-
Real World Cost of Ethics
[Business: Management]
Ethics embraced in the organization can
impact public perception, avoid or invite improper behavior of
executives and associates, and be a foundation or a detriment to
financial stability. Review the Quick Quiz on the stated and embraced
approach to ethics in your organization.
-
Executive Jobs, A Guide to Managing Your Career
[Business: Careers and Employment]
Guide
to prepare for executive career transition, or seek an executive
position. Quick reference for preparing a resume, using a recruiter,
posting a resume, and preparing for an interview
Business Customer Service
-
Quality
Customer Service
[Business: Customer
Service]
What does it mean to be a Trusted
Advocate in Customer Service? To be truly successful in delivering
service, it is necessary to understand and support the many collective
individuals who are part of the complex chain in delivering customer
satisfaction.
-
Reward Your MVP
[Business: Customer-Service]
No matter what the sport or business, we
all have a Most Valuable Player. Surprisingly, most businesses either do
not recognize the MVP, do not realize the importance of demonstrating
appreciation, or fail to include the MVP in the most important business
decisions or processes.
-
Waves of Communication
[Business: Workplace-Communication]
Are you in a position that interacts
with customers or clients? Are you in a management or a leadership role?
Would you like to improve your communication with someone else who is in
a management or leadership role? Communication is the key to success in
a professional capacity and in our personal relationships. Communication
creates a bond between individuals, for better or worse, it can bring us
closer together or identify gaps in understanding or appreciation. The
most honest communication contains emotion and the ability to exchange
ideas with passion.
-
Turn Customer Complaints into Assets
[Business:
Customer-Service]
Virtually every organization encounters
customer complaints from time to time. Sometimes it is easy to get
caught up in the complaints and to lose track of how many satisfied
customers say nothing at all. Even worse, sometimes it is hard to
remember just how valuable a customer complaint can be to the
organization. Contrary to how it may feel to be the recipient of a
customer complaint, it is a wonderful opportunity if embraced with
commitment and integrity. You can turn customer complaints into valuable
assets.
-
How to
Respond to Angry Customers
[Business:
Customer Service]
Ten powerful steps to diffuse angry
customers, address the issues and sustain customer loyalty.
-
How to Lose Customers
[Business:
Customer-Service]
Have you found that you have just too
many customers? Are you looking for a way to get rid of some of
those pesky customers who seem to keep coming back and taking up all
of your time? Would you like to have time to do more important
things, like spend your time trying to get new customers, rather
than spend so much time taking care of existing customers? Have no
fear, we have gathered some of the top ten tips for weeding out the
heard and getting rid of customers.
-
Business Health, Wealth and Workers
[Business: Entrepreneurialism]
Condensed highlights are only a glimpse
of the many incredible accomplishments from the life of this prolific
entrepreneur. Many may ask, "What inspires and enables a man to achieve
so much in a single lifetime?" To this question he has demonstrated the
answer in actions as well as his own words. His business success was
founded on a genuine commitment to the workers. From humble beginnings
and a romantic quest, he was lifted to astounding success on the
shoulders of the workers and the values that he supported. See if you
can recognize this man by his accomplishments before you get to the last
paragraph.
Business Careers & Resumes
-
The Easy Way to a Stellar Resume
[Business: Resumes-Cover-Letters]
The rules have changed. Shopping for
employment is a hybrid of automated filter applications, on-line search engines
and good old fashioned human interpretation. To be effective you need to make
sure that your resume is designed to perform in all of these areas. In the hunt
for a new job, a better job, or just keeping your Resume current, use these ten
simple steps to draft a stellar resume.
-
Interview Questions - Things to Think About Before the Interview
[Business: Resumes-Cover-Letters]
Whether you
are preparing to interview, preparing to be interviewed, or just
interested in conducting a quick self-analysis, the following topics
tips will help you develop a perspective. An ounce of preparation is
prevention from a pound of Preparation H.
-
Interview Your Next Employer
[Business: Careers-Employment]
Before you go on your next interview,
prepare the questions that you will ask your next potential employer.
-
Get Ahead, Tips
for Career Advancement
[Self-Improvement: Goal-Setting]
What is the magic formula for getting
ahead? What can I do to accelerate my career advancement? What
should I do to get noticed and promoted? These are common questions,
and the secret to unlock potential for career advancement is nearly
as common.
-
Proper Perspective on Priorities
[Self-Improvement:
Time-Management]
Sometimes it seems that the
responsibilities that we have for coworkers, company, career and
family are in tragic conflict. How can we balance the requirements
and the responsibilities between personal and professional lives?
There are a limited number of hours in a day, so how do we measure
them and where do we draw the line?
-
Why We Work
[Business: Careers-Employment]
Once you embrace your personal
motivation, you can make plans and daily decisions that influence and
support your motivation. It may be taking another look at your savings,
how you use your energy or your time management. Fuel your personal
power by recognizing how your daily efforts contribute to your personal
motivation and your enthusiasm will be contagious.
-
Life Career
[Business: Careers-Employment]
The perceived value of separation
between work and personal life is the objective to maintain a balance, as if
these aspects of our being can be compartmentalized with private and segregated
emotional barriers. Despite our best efforts, there are demands in both the
personal and public aspects of our lives that require sacrifice, generate
reward, and impact our emotional responses in all aspects of our lives.
Business
-
Get Email Under Control
[Business: Workplace-Communication]
Email was designed to be a tool to
expedite and simplify communication. Tools are effective when managed
properly. What happens when the tool starts to manage the person? What
happens when a tool for communication replaces conversation and personal
interaction? What happens when a time saving tool begins to consume our
time? Then it is time to get email under control.
-
Improving Conference Calls
[Business: Workplace-Communication]
Do you find yourself frustrated by long
and unproductive conference calls? What reputation do you have for
managing conference calls? Establish expectations and a reputation for
short and effective conference calls. Get your time back for other
activities.
-
Building Customer Loyalty
[Business]
The following tips can apply to
virtually any profession or industry. If you think that these are
self-evident, then I challenge you to take a personal assessment. Print
this page and keep the list on your desk for one week. Place a checkmark
next to each item when you conduct an activity that fulfills one of
these objectives. Can you check all of these items in one week? Are you
actively practicing the commitment that you desire from your customers?
-
Strategy by the Numbers
[Business]
The following is a simple
step-by-step process for creating a
strategic plan by the numbers. This is a
ten step process that can be used by a
group, an organization, or an
individual. Print out the steps and
prepare to organize your ideas into a
tactical plan for progress.
-
Implementing New Technology
[Business]
There
are amusing and horrific stories of the
trials and tribulations associated with
the transfer of technology, and the
implementation of new systems and
architecture. There are lessons that we
can learn from those who have blazed the
trails before us, and those who have
been burned by the blaze. Get your
fingers ready to count the five
fundamental considerations for
implementing new technology.
-
Namastrategy
[Business]
Namastrategy
(noun) is derived from the words Namaste
(Sanskrit), and Strategy (Greek). It is
a long term plan of action, and a method
of winning, that is based on respect and
recognition for the value of partners
and clients, in acquisition, merger,
expansion, and diversification.
-
Reverse Logistics in Supply Chain
Management
[Business]
The evolution of reverse logistics for
manufactured products is developing in
direct proportion to the rapid
advancements in technology and the
subsequent price erosion of products as
new and improved products enter the
supply chain at a faster pace. With such
thin margins and so much competition,
mismanagement of the supply chain can be
devastating. Those organizations with
the infrastructure to capture and
compare the composite value of
components with real time intelligent
analysis and disposition based on
changes in refurbishment cost, resale
value, spare parts, repair and overall
demand will not only become more
profitable, but such flexibility and
scalability will allow them to
outmaneuver and eliminate the
competition.
-
Supply Chain Integration
[Business: Outsourcing]
Let's take a quick look and analyze your
position in the Supply Chain. You are
either the one driving the truck, the
one pumping the gas, or the one paying
the other two. It does not matter if you
are a vendor, supplier, manufacturer,
dealer, service supplier or customer,
the cost of freight either impacts the
amount you charge, the amount you are
reimbursed or the price you pay. It is
safe to assume that you are the center
of the universe for your personal Supply
Chain and that suppliers and customers
revolve around your business.
-
WEEE and RoHS Environmental Guidelines
[Business]
Hazardous Substances, Electrical and
Electronic Equipment have been
categorized for labeling, tracking,
restriction, and recycling. The
objective is to promote the use of
environmentally friendly materials and
manufacturing processes. The financial
burden to support this transition in
production is assigned by requirements
to provide adequate programs for
collection, recycling, and disposal.
These costs are primarily carried on the
shoulders of the manufacturers and
producers of the products. To remain
competitive and to support the
environmental initiatives, manufacturers
and industry associations will need to
work together and collaborate on
solutions that facilitate consistent
programs and processes.
-
Race to the Middle
[Business: Strategic-Planning]
There are new competitors emerging who
can take advantage of new facilities,
new technology and lean organizations.
These organizations are competing with
established organizations that have an
established network of business
relationships, an established
infrastructure and associated overhead
costs. What industry is this? it
pertains to your business.
-
Supreme Court Ruling on MAP
[Business]
The Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4
decision to make it easier for
manufacturers to require retailers to
honor manufacturer assigned Minimum
Advertised Price (MAP). Dissenting
justices said that the ruling would
likely drive up retail prices. What will
be the ruling of the consumers?
Self-Improvement
-
Overcome Fear of Failure
[Self-Improvement:
Motivation] A common fear that everyone
experiences at some time or another is the fear of failure. If you
have encountered this fear, or battle it from time to time, you can
have some comfort in the knowledge that you are not alone. Be
assured that when that concern does arise, you can beat it.
-
Get Ahead with Time Management
[Self-Improvement: Time-Management]
Print out this quick tip to get ahead
with time management and try it for one week to see how it works for
you. It can take less than five minutes for you to get ahead of your
projects, your schedule and your competition.
-
Public Speaking, Sales Presentations or Group Meetings - Be in the
Moment
[Writing-and-Speaking: Public-Speaking]
If you are speaking to a large audience,
a small room full of people, or conducting a personal presentation,
nothing is as effective and engaging as living in the moment. This is a
lesson taken from the stage to the boardroom by Pat Dolan, Fine Arts
Chair of St. John's. "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women
are merely players."
-
Achieve the Life You Desire
[Self-Improvement: Inspirational]
Here is a different perspective on
achieving your dreams, holding on to them, and obtaining the life that
you desire. This is a simple and practical exercise that takes only a
few minutes of your time to complete, but worthy of reflection that
could last a lifetime.
-
Five Character Traits for Commitment
[Self-Improvement]
When it comes to commitment, there are
five types of character traits
-
For Better Sleep - Indulge the Senses
[Health-and-Fitness] Are you having
trouble sleeping? Do you wake up tired? Does it seem like you are
putting in more hours of work every day but you just can't seem to
catch up? Do you find yourself getting sleepy in the middle of the
afternoon, irritable with other people if they delay you in the late
afternoon, or staying awake at night and thinking about what you
need to do the next day? If you are not getting enough rest, and the
right kind of rest, it can slow your productivity, impair your
decisions and affect your outlook. There are things that you can do
to gain control.
-
Healthy Lifestyle
[Self-Improvement: Goal-Setting]
New Year Resolutions are full of great
intentions, with 364 more days to fulfill the promises and commitments
made on New Years Eve. By focusing on the goal, and not on the process,
sometimes we try to do too much at once. Creating a healthy lifestyle
means adjusting your daily routine. If you can repeat something for 30
days, it becomes part of your routine and part of your lifestyle. You
can adjust your lifestyle gradually over time, achieving your goals in a
manner that can be sustained and maintained.
-
A Source of Inspiration
[Self-Improvement: Inspirational]
Having trouble finding your own source
of inspiration at work? Inspiration and
motivation permeate the work
environment, you just need to know where
to look for it.
-
How to
Cope with Stress
[Self-Improvement]
Stress can be addictive, contagious, debilitating, or invigorating.
Relentless pressure to perform, personality conflicts, and lack of a
sense of purpose can be damaging over time. Identify the causes,
learn to control harmful stress, and use healthy stress to your
advantage.
Inspirational
-
The Blacksmith and the Horseshoe
[Self-Improvement: Inspirational]
In the midst of overwhelming challenges
and against all odds, a simple observation from old country wisdom can
be a powerful inspiration. If you should find yourself in circumstances
in which the bad news and losses seem to keep coming in waves, remember
the story of the blacksmith and the horseshoe.
-
A Gift for Grandma G
[Women's-Interests] Isn't it amazing
how the lessons that are passed from mother to child can come back
to us across generations and in such unexpected ways?
-
Raise Goals, Lower Expectations and Share Laughter
[Self-Improvement: Goal-Setting]
There is a simple strategy for
getting more out of life and getting more satisfaction on the
journey to achieving your success.
-
100 Year Project
[Self-Improvement: Goal Setting]
Imagine what you could accomplish if you were given 100 years to
complete any project of your choosing. How would you approach your
project management and your time management? What would your timeline
look like?
Travel
-
Airline
Travel
[Travel-and-Leisure]
Rising fuel prices have impacted airline
travel. Be prepared, and adjust your plans accordingly.
-
2008
Passport Restrictions
[Travel-and-Leisure]
Effective January 31, 2008, adult United
States and Canadian citizens reentering the United States and Canada by
land, ferry, or by small boat must carry a passport or a government
issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, plus proof of citizenship,
such as a birth certificate. It can take six to eight weeks to get a
passport. Since August 2007, the United States has been issuing
Electronic Passports only. The United States Customs and Border
Protection (CBP), and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), are
cooperating in NEXUS, a joint venture to simplify passage for
pre-approved low risk travelers. Learn what you need to know before you
go.
-
US International Travel Restrictions
[Travel-and-Leisure: Aviation] If you are planning travel between
US, Canada or Mexico by air or sea, be prepared to present your
passport. The same rules apply for the Caribbean and Bermuda. If you are
planning business travel, a ski trip, Spring Break, family vacation or
warm weather excursion, be prepared to carry a federally recognized
identification to enter the US, even if you are a US citizen. The same
rules will apply to roads and land border crossings in 2008
-
Airport Restrictions, Your Personal Checklist
[Travel-and-Leisure: Aviation]
Packing for airline travel requires
advance planning and consideration. The following is a list of revised
restrictions regarding what is permitted or banned from US flights by
the Transportation Security Administration. Print the list and keep it
in your luggage as quick and convenient reference when you prepare to
travel or pack to return home.
-
Before Your Frequent Flyer Miles Expire
[Travel-and-Leisure: Aviation] Many airlines are adjusting the
policies for frequent flyer miles. The miles that you have been saving
for a special trip or vacation may expire faster than you had planned.
Rather than take chances, review your frequent flyer policy, your status
and your options for spending earned miles.
-
Flight Delayed or Cancelled, Know Your Options
[Travel-and-Leisure: Aviation] If your flight is cancelled or delayed for
reasons other than weather, Rule 240 states that the airline should put you on
the next available flight to your destination at no extra charge, even that
means using another carrier.
News and Society
-
Global Education
[Reference-and-Education] If we
could represent the demographics of the world into a village of 100
people, what would it look like? If we gave that global village
access to 161 billion gigabytes of data, what would they do with it?
If six billion gigabytes of data were shared in email in 2006, what
would it contain? Most important of all, how is this incredible rate
of exponential change be reflected in the education of children
today? Where is the education really coming from, in schools, at
home or on-line?
-
September 11 Remembered
[News-and-Society] Most people have vivid personal memories of what they
were doing at the exact moment that this tragedy occurred. Many of us can
remember how we held our friends and family a little closer in the days and
weeks that followed. There was a greater unspoken appreciation for the life and
love that can be taken so unexpectedly. There was a greater understanding of how
coworkers and neighbors can be shelter in times of trouble.
-
Glacier Girl
[News-and-Society] The true story of
The Lost Squadron, a band of pilots and crewmen who survived a harrowing
landing on the ice in Greenland. Glacier Girl is the incredible story of
a P-38, rescued from under 268 feet of ice, "the finest restoration of
any warbird ever done". Glacier Girl prepares to complete a journey to
England that started in 1947, and you can see history fly.
Computers, Technology and Home Entertainment
-
Web Site Checklist
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online: SEO]
Free for you, a checklist of secrets for
beginners from Master Web Designers. This is a Checklist for Web Design and
Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Basic Design and layout considerations to make
your web user friendly, boost marketing and visitors. Also includes a separate
checklist for slightly technical stuff to consider and compare when building
your web site, and a few cool tools.
-
Trends
in Technology
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online]
Garter, Inc analysts highlighted the top ten strategic technologies and trends
for 2008. Gartner defines a strategic technology as one with potential for
significant impact on enterprise in the next three years. Take a few moments to
get familiar with the definitions of technology trends that will impact your
business.
-
Marketing with Streaming
Video
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:
Internet-Marketing]
Are
you using video effectively to communicate messages on your web site? Are your
advertisements amusing, entertaining, and educational enough that consumers are
compelled to share them? Audio and video can be broadcast by the Internet, cell
phones, and personal mobile devices. Harnessing this media can give you a voice
and breathe life into your message.
-
Voice of
the Customer
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:
Internet-Marketing]
What do you do to reward your existing customers and confirm your
commitment in a manner that captures the imagination of the friends
and family that they will influence? The Internet, Email, Blogs, and
the access for instant communication have changed the way that
consumers buy. The word of the brand is less effective than word of
mouth. What are you doing about it?
-
Essential Elements for Effective Marketing
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:
Internet-Marketing]
If you are selling a product or a
service, on the web or over the counter, the five essential steps for effective
marketing is a check-list to make sure that you are maximizing the return on
your efforts.
-
Create Your Own Google Toolbar Buttons
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:
Internet-Marketing]
These
quick and easy instructions will show you how to create your own custom
buttons for the Google Toolbar. If you have a web site or a Blog and you
want to share your custom icon or search function for the Google Toolbar
button to the world, this tutorial includes step-by-step instructions
for you. By creating a custom icon or search function, you make it
convenient for others to return to your site or search it. Take command
of the toolbar and add a personal touch with icons and useful functions.
-
Cell Phone
Tips and Tricks
[Computers-and-Technology:
Software]
Several Internet based applications are designed to work with your
cell phone text messaging service. This is a convenient way to
schedule reminders for appointments, manage your schedule, find
driving locations, and even get traffic alerts at designated commute
times during the day. Spend a little bit of time to get familiar
with these web based applications and you will have a powerful
personal administrative assistant in your pocket.
-
Instant Messaging Trends
[Business] Half of the people
responding to the survey on Instant Messaging indicate that it is
beneficial for communicating with colleagues and obtaining quick answers
for making business decisions. Almost as many respondents are using IM
to maintain contact with friends and family while at work. Is it a
substantial improvement to productivity or an opportunity to facilitate
personal communication?
-
Buying or Selling on the Internet
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:
Auctions]
The facts and figures from Symantec
Security Response and the Internet Crime Complaint Center are both
fascinating and alarming. If you have thought about buying or
selling on the Internet, especially with Internet Auction Sites,
make sure that you are aware of the best practices and the potential
pitfalls before you do. An identity is a terrible thing to waste.
-
Preview Microsoft Office and Vista
[Computers-and-Technology: Software]
Are you considering a transition to
Vista or the new Microsoft Office suite and wondering if your current
computer can handle it? Are you thinking about making the investment
into a new computer and want to make sure that it can support the Vista
and Office in six months? Are you wondering how long you can wait to
make the change, and what you will have to deal with if you stay with
the current operation system and applications? These top ten tips are
designed to give you an informed perspective of the current step in the
transition of technology.
-
The Rapid Pace of Evolution in Consumer Electronics
[Home-and-Family: Home-Audio-Video]
The evolution of consumer electronics,
high definition displays, digital broadcasts, displays and media is
happening at an increasingly rapid pace. Advancements in technology are
occurring much faster than before, reducing the time to deliver new
technologies to market at an exponential rate. The algorithm for
designing and delivering new technology is nearly a fifty percent
reduction in time with every significant breakthrough. With such a rapid
race for invention the simultaneous introduction of diverse technologies
is as inevitable as price erosion and shortened life cycles for what is
considered "new" in consumer electronics.
-
Analog to
Digital Television
[Home-and-Family:
Home-Audio-Video]
Congress passed a federal law, the
Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005, mandating
the last day of full | | | |