Watching out for Value Parasites.

Business owners beware of people who seek to steal the value out of your products or services.

http://www.mediafire.com/?zmtndmfgnnv

Fixing the Cash Flow Problem

http://www.mediafire.com/?jwzzzytkemi

BIG MOUTH!!!

I am probably not like many of you I don't make a large amount of purchases through the year of products or services. I have my up years and then I have my lean years. However, I do have a BIG MOUTH! When I like a product I tell everyone. When I like the customer service I tell everyone. When the service is bad - Yep! I tell everyone.

Take for example my cell phone carrier. I had just about tried all the major carriers before I landed in the house of Verizon. You guessed it! Before landing in the house of Verizon everyone I knew in the market for a cell phone heard my opinion about the carriers I had to leave. Ironically, one of them is trying now to treat me with good customer service. OOOPS! To late. I am in the house of Verizon and as long as they keep having great service and friendly customer service I will stay with them. Of course, I will tell everyone.

Microsoft just recently surprised me with good customer service on a return. Granted I thought the product was overpriced but that is another issue. However, I must admit this subsided by the time I finished with customer service regarding my return. No problem and they understood my issue. I ended up downloading a free version and then ordering my own copy. You see business people. At times some of your customers just want to know you care and hear their issues.

Apple is another story. I think most of the items I have purchased from them the warranty must expire when I cross the threshold of my home. To extend the warranty you have to purchase Apple Care. It's not cheap!

I wonder how many business executives calculate the cost of a dissatisfied customer versus a satisfied customer. It seems there is a very small population of business owners and/or executives that understand the concept of taking care of the customer and it's long term affect on the bottom line and cash flow.

However, like I said earlier. I don't spend a tremendous amount of money on new products or services today. BUT I DO HAVE A BIG MOUTH!!!

Choices

Have you ever had the feeling in the pit of your stomach you needed to make a decision yet you tried to avoid it. Such as dealing with an employee with low moral. Perhaps moving a person you liked to another position because their work quality was bad. How about having to fire a customer?

You and I both know no amount of coaching makes these decisions easy so I won't try to sugar coat things. Delay of the action is not going to make it any more pleasant for either party. However, also think of the economic impact on your company. How many non-productive hours are being wasted by yourself, the person in question, and other staff. What would be the calculated cost & effect on cash flow? Remember everyone is still on the clock even though less work is getting done.

In may not seem apparent but everyones production has the potential to be impacted just because of the quiet voice of tension in the air. So do everyone a favor and take care of the issue.

In other words... Make the choice of the door you need to walk through and get it done.




Denise D Johnson
EDALS Consulting
Business Strategist

The Big Picture is Colored Outside the Lines

During our elementary school years we were taught to color in between the lines. If we went outside the lines it was a mistake. We were to conform to a set pattern that had been proven to work and deliver an end result. So why rock the boat. Ironically, it seems we tend to look at many things in life from the same perspective even how we operate our businesses.

We attend various coaching and training seminars with the newest great way to achieve quick success. Each telling us how so and so made it and now if we do just what they did we will get just what they got. Success!

Is there any point in time we stop and evaluate our business to see what factors are equivalent? What things are different? Many times we are led to believe we are doing everything wrong or otherwise we would be holding the training sessions. Therefore, we must saturate our entire organization with their methodology and then we shall see success.

In reality no two business entities are alike; therefore we can’t just stay within the colored lines of dictated methods. Let’s try to go outside the lines in some situations. Let’s start evaluating some of these programs and see what really fits and toss out the rest. Something that works for one organization may cause disaster in another. Be brave! Go outside the lines! Mix and match colors. Try crazy patterns because this may actually work for your market. Have fun and enjoy coloring your organization outside the lines.

Failure can be added up

Isn't it interesting that many of the company failures somehow get tide back to financials.

So what's my point.

Financials are perhaps the least interesting document for most management teams. Most view with as much interest as visiting the dentist. But this lack of interest may have cost millions.

Think of it this way. What is the least exciting amoung the two? An invoice from your lawyer handling a case of embezzled funds by your previous employee or reviewing your current cash flow statement.

Have a great time with the financials.

Denise D Johnson
EDALS Consulting
Business Strategist

Sitting Still

Sometimes we assume the only way to profit in our business is to keep moving. However, many times this just ends up being nervous activity that does not bare fruit.

Try to begin each day sitting quiet for a few minutes to hear your task for the day. Then visualize how they should look or be executed.

It may seem like you are wasting time but in reality you are using your time more effectively. Try it for a few days just to see what happens.


Denise D Johnson
EDALS Consulting
Business Strategist