Are You A Trendsetter Or Do You Just Follow The Trend

A friend of mine posted this via his Facebook profile (it is verbatim):

We are all free to run our businesses as we see fit, but I see many small business owners running away from competition instead of using competitive forces to push us to do better. Of the last 17 NASCAR Champions, TWO of them share 9 championships and are often in the top 10 standings for, it seems like, forever. That is Jeff Gordon and Jimmy Johnson. These guys trade paint every Sunday, trying to be number one. But Monday through Friday, they work together to have the top two teams on the track. 

Whether you are a hairstylist, photographer, model or any other business, find a driving force to help you get better. Jordan had the Pistons, the Lakers have the Celtics, The Thunder have the Heat. The best competitive drive often come from the friends who want you to do better so THEY can do better. © 2013 Leighton DaCosta

When I read this, it really made me think I began to ask myself if I was being competitive enough in all the business ventures.  One of the problems I run into is with my direct sale business I began to allow myself to believe that the market that I live in is too saturated. Often times it, feels to me that the goals that are required are too hard to meet with such a large population where 1 in every 10 women are direct sales representatives for this particular company. Especially a company that kind of makes you wants to have loyal customers so it is not really frowned upon but it is one of those unwritten rules that you do not try to bribe a customer from another consultant.  However once I really thought about his post I began to realize that I did not need to feel that the population ratio was uneven or even the worry about stealing a customer all I had to do was be different and make buying from me more rewarding and therefore I have a few strong loyal customers.

I say all of that to say this be a driving force in your profession do not let someone else set the trend you should be a trendsetter.

Preparation is based on one driving force for me and that is to be relaxed enough to be able to listen to what the candidates are saying and react appropriately. ~Jim Lehrer

Trends don’t interest me. ~Manolo Blahnik

Do You Use Proper Business Etiquette?

In today’s competitive business market, what distinguishes an ordinary professional from an extraordinary one is a clear understanding of business etiquette. When you think of your clients, you should realize that your clients come to you for your expertise, your services, and your products.  They become loyal to you because of your interpersonal skills (the way you communicate with them, thank them, and interact with them outside of business).  They stay with you because of your ability to establish and maintain relationships.

Learning how to specialize in opening doors that look close and sealing deals are only one part to being successful in business. Using some of these ideas can help you secure a deal and do it efficiently and effortlessly:

• You have to know how to create a lasting first impression,
• communicate with courtesy, 
• using the internet to develop relationships,
• phone etiquette,
• dressing for the occasion and for business no matter what
• dining in business,
• networking on and offline and doing it with pose,
• learning how to develop personal skills to position for a lateral move
• and knowing the exact words to put in writing whether it is a business card, thank you note, business letter, or simply a holiday card.

Many small business owners as well as large corporations seem to have forgotten business etiquette due to how digital our lives are.  It is no surprise that these organizations are losing valuable customers due to it.  If you think about it how often, do you walk into a store and no one acknowledges you or says hello or maybe the associate helping you seems so out of place because they are dress for a party rather than work. Your actions are effecting your bottom line because direct connection and business etiquette is a direct correlation to it. 

A few more tips that can be helpful with first impressions. Are you attempting to make an impression on a new client a great way to do that is to constantly use their names in your conversation. Be on time not early and defiantly not late.  If it were a large company then I would say its okay to be at the most five minutes early but no more than that.  Some think being early makes a good impression it really does not because you may be causing a conflict in schedule because no business wants to have someone standing in the middle of their office waiting on one of their executives.

Keep your social life out of your business life especially on social media if you have a personal Facebook page please use the settings it can cause you less stress later.  I’ve had this happen to me I had already landed the job however my trainer had looked up my Facebook page which mind you had not a whole lot of privacy settings set but thank goodness that I’m very selected about what I post and who I allow to post on my page. The cellphone the biggest deal breaker if you can turn it off but at the least silent, it and do not read under the table believe me it is more obvious then you realize. The biggest number one issue never ever publicizes your public views because they do not belong in business and you are bound to lose customers behind it.

There are so many business etiquette ideas and rules that I can go on for days offering you advice but I’ll let you do a little more research or if you need to feel free to reach out to me and I’ll provide advice if you need it.  

Sometimes you have to fake it until you make it and when you fake it make it look good!

Best Regards,

Misherald “Missy” Brown