Heart@Work

Latest Update

2006-11-05T11:25:00.000-07:00

All the challenges of working long hours and not attending to what i have started, blogging. It is a great tool, once again one still has to continue to write.

you can now find my services at www.heartatworkinc.com a newer website. I look forward in serving you from there. If you have any questions please email me at info@heartatworkinc.com

Thank you.

Mari-Lyn

Forever changing

2006-04-30T15:02:00.000-06:00

Who do you expect your clients to be?

Have you ever thought of this question? Would you be willing to deliver what your clients want from you? I know what I want my clients to know what kind of services or products have. It's all about the setting it up so that they will buy from you. Do we trust ourselves enough to deliver?

Have you set-up values in which you are living by in your business and your personal life? What are they?

There are few Authors that speak about these values, in their books. Here are three of them, that I know of:

1. Attracting Perfect Customers by Stacey Hall & Jan Brogniez
2. Excuse me, Your life is waiting for you by Lynn Grabhorn
3. Attractor Factor by Dr. Joe Vitae

Check them out, do your own research. I offer this as I have read them all, done my homework and now going to take a session with Attracting Perfect Customers. I will keep you posted.

Mari-Lyn

Improving your Customer Services

2006-01-19T07:49:00.000-07:00

Volume 3 Number 6 January 17, 2006

Marketing Tip #30

Have a meeting or ask for ideas in how you can improve the services you offer
your clients/customers right now. Or put a suggestion box out for ideas.

Is your business slow in January?

2006-01-19T07:46:00.000-07:00

Volume 3 Number 5 January 9, 2006

Marketing Tip #29

Is your business slow in January? Why not go through all the people who contacted
you last year, but didn't buy? Simply send out a short "just checking in" email
and ask if they need your services now. You'll be surprised at how this generates
business with very little effort.

This Marketing Tip is from Wendy McCelland. Wendy was one of my article writers' in my Build Your Own Business Owners Manual from 1999.

Wendy has always lived a "Think Without Boundaries" life, and has now named her business after her philosophy. As a single parent for the past ten years, today raising three young adults she is careful to balance her family, health and work to create a life that works. As a business and personal mentor, life coach and marketing consultant she hopes to assist others to find balance in their own lives. www.thinkwithoutboundaries.com

Marketing Tip #28

2006-01-03T08:08:00.000-07:00

Marketing Tip #28

List your biz or submit articles to: www.smartads.info

Gives & Gets:
This is where you can post a tip, an event, looking for help, or a contact? submit your request.

CGAA meets every Wednesday at 11:45pm It's a referral club. Call Rob Winters
780-913-2136.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Marketing Tip #27

2006-01-03T08:05:00.000-07:00

Marketing Tip #27

Form a Mastermind Group.

A Mastermind is a community of committed people who accomplish their goals individually. They come together as a positive, proactive, supportive group who believe that anything is possible. The group is to support and encourage one another. With like-minds together synergy is created therefore manifestations occur.

I have found since i have facilitated a few in my time, that 2 - 6 people is ideal and that you sign-up for weekly meetings in 8 weeks sessions. The most successful groups of course who are committed no matter what, go on for months and years.

Why for a Mastermind group?
You would be surprised how much you actually get completed
You will have much more success
Your partners will be a sounding board
You will have to do what you said you would, as there is accountability to your partners
You will have new friends
Your partners will believe in you
Your partners will offer ideas and contacts for you
You will miss your partners if you miss a meeting

Be careful what you ask for, you may get just what you wanted!

How's your reputation?

2005-12-15T09:17:00.000-07:00

This article i wrote on a rant, as I was not getting my phone calls returned. Our biz habits carry into our personal lives visa versa. I know sometimes that i forget to follow-up, but certainly more conscious of it. (just click on the title for the link)

Our Reputation/s is all we have, whether it's our personal relationships or biz relationships.

Wishing you all a fabulous Holiday Season!

Much Love & Success

Mari-Lyn

Marketing Tip #26

2005-12-11T17:06:00.000-07:00

Volume 3 Issue 3

Form a Mastermind Group.

A Mastermind is a community of committed people who accomplish their goals individually. People come together as a positive, proactive, supportive group who believe that anything is possible. The group is to support and encourage one another. With like-minds together synergy is created therefore manifestations occur.

I have found since I have facilitated a few in my time, that 2 - 6 people is ideal, everyone would sign-up for weekly meetings in 8 week sessions. The most successful groups of course who are committed no matter what, they go on for months and years.

Why a Mastermind group?
You would be surprised how much you actually get completed
You will have much more success
Your Mastermind Partners become your sounding board
You will be accountable to your partners what you said you were going to do
You will have new friends
Your partners will believe in you
Your partners will offer, share ideas and contacts for you
You will miss your partners if you miss a meeting

Be careful what you ask for, as you will get it!

Women, if you are interested in a no holds bar MM group, a few of us meet every Monday 7:30am at Starbucks. Contact me if you are interested.

Marketing Tip #25

2005-12-06T10:32:00.000-07:00

Heart@Work a Relationship Co.
My Concierge & Errand Services Specializing with the Men in mind.

Volume 3 Number 2

Marketing Tip

Have you ever thought of forming Affinity Partnerships?

Leverage is one of your greatest assets for your business. It's one of the ways to benefit from joint marketing initiatives.
In developing your own business, you work hard to get clients so why not take next step, give your clients extra servcies
to help them succeed even more.

Your clients will repay you with increased loyalty and generate more revenue for you. Here are the key benefits for you to form affinity partnerships. It's another revenue stream.

3rd party referrals
Diversification
A new source of revenue
Increased client retention

Affinity Partners are performance based and you'll find them in your vertical market. For example since I offer My Concierge Services this vertical is under Other Services, so my Affinity partners will be Florists, Gift Basket Companies, Auto repair, Auto dealers, Maid Services, Drycleaning, etc.

In this case we would agree to provide services to a wider audience and their would be a revenue stream for each of us. A good partner is one that wants satisfied customers, not just out for a bounty or the money.

(You would find your vertical markets on the chart that was discussed at the networking session.)

If you know of anyone that you that is looking for Affinity Partners give me a call.

Gifts for the Holiday Season
Looking for a unusual gift for yourself or a friend?
Mady Mooney R.M.T.
Gift Certificates are available for January 14, 2006
A relaxing massage and a workshop "The Healing Power of Art."
$100.00 www.webhealthsupport.com

Strategic Alliances

www.longtermclients.com

www.wowedmonton.com

www.wowedmonton.com/Arts/eaac

www.blueprintbooks.com

www.madsensstudios.com

www.ethicaladvisor.com

Book Reviews

2005-11-23T21:14:00.000-07:00

Have you read Tom Sanders Love is the Killer App yet?

It's a must read, I listened to his book on a CD and wrote about 6 pages of ideas down. I got so excited that I was buzzing for a week. The FUZZIES are back!

Tom talks about Evangelizing your business, you must add value to it and everyone else around you. Be a Love Cat!

How do people FEEL in your presence? Biz loves gets all the attention. We are starved for attention yet, advertisers hit us up 27x times before we pay attention. That's because we are starved for personal attention.

Show Compassion - how much do you care? Consider listening more, feeling more, caring more. Lead your knowledge and network.

Biz Love is: Love Cat Success
Be an outstanding brand as a person. Be Powerful!
Be liked and trusted
Differentiation is a premium value
Compassion is memorable and productive

There is alot more in the book. Visit www.tomsanders.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tom Peters quoted this in Re-imagine, is another read.

The Seven Lively Smarts
Diversity isn't just a good idea, it's a definitely attributes to the human spirit. Harvard Profession Howard Gardner has developed the concept of MI or Multiple Intelligences. There are 7 formal measurable varieties of intelligences.
1. Logical - math
2. Linguistic
3. Spatial
4. Musical
5. Kinethetic
6. Interpersonal
7. Intrapersonal
each variety has an unique value in terms of framing the world. The problem with educational efforts and hiring companies only focusing on logical-math is perhaps with linguistic- math and emotional education sneaking in the side door, thus we end up discarding 5 out of the 7 varieties. The result is: Multiple Stupidities!

ML

2005-11-12T13:23:00.000-07:00

Networking Workshop

2005-11-12T12:29:00.000-07:00

Highly qualified customers are seeking you out and they have the buying power to do business with you. Do they know who you are?

It’s all about who knows you!

Networking is the life blood of our business. Knowing how to network and promote yourself is vital in getting business, a Job, or other opportunities.

Learn how not to leave your money on the table!

This networking workshop you will learn simple tools to be more effective and successful at networking.

Learn how to make networking more fun, enjoyable and successful. This session is for anyone who is in sales, Marketing, or looking for a job.

• Learn how you can be more memorable
• What are the three 12 second rules?
• Learn what the top 4 values that you can use in your U.P.S.
• How to write new scripts in getting what you want

Mari-Lyn has been Coaching SME’s Businesses since 1994 in the areas of Business Development, Marketing, Networking, Branding and Sales. Co-author of Build Your own Business, B.Y.O.B. It’s a owners manual in planning and developing your business. She considers herself a Connector. (you want to have Connectors on your team)

RSVP your seat in this powerful session, you won’t want to miss it! Come experience the Big “O.”

Cost: $20.00
Where: Royal Glenora Club River Valley Road
Date: November 28, 2005
Time: 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Contact: Toll Free: 1-866-667-0166 or E-mail: kindnessinc@myway.com

It's all about who knows you!

2005-11-01T08:09:00.000-07:00

This topic came about as my very good friend Bette Daoust Ph.D. Dr. Know she is going by now, owner of BluePrintBooks.com has written a series of business topics to assist business owners. The first one is 150 ways to Promote Yourself.

What can do to improve on to be more memorable? As the saying goes “It’s about you knows you?”

Just this past weekend I went through all my business cards – cleaned everything out. You would be amazed how many I threw out. Yes I know them, but how many of those contacts know me? Or took the time to keep in touch?

There were a few I kept as at one time or another we have helped each other along the path of entrepreneurship or our journey together in business.

So, who knows you? What do you do to keep in touch with people?

Last week, I also make the point in meeting with people where we have met at a networking function or an introduction and are just meeting for the 1st time for a coffee; a one on one. I like doing this just to find out more of what the other person does, who they are outside of work and it helps me to keep an eye out for a contact, a referral or support that I can offer them along my travels.

I hope with what I have shared with you, will help you think about being more memorable. My question is to you: What do you do to be more memorable to other people and to your colleagues.

One gal whose story really touched me was Wendy McClelland, she has now started a new company called Think Without Boundaries. Take a moment and go to her site: www.thinkwithoutboundaries.com

Until next time, take care of each other. Pay something kind forward.

Mari-lyn

Marketing tip #24

2005-10-19T10:47:00.000-06:00

Start a Blog. Why would you consider this? If you don’t have a website like myself, you can post your newsletters on it, write, promote your business, add links, start being an expert in your field. It’s Free and easy to publish. It is also used as a place where people can get more information about what you do.

Start a blog at www.bloggerspot.com
www.WOWedmonton.com

Marketing Tip #23

2005-10-19T10:45:00.000-06:00

Marketing Idea:

Write Thank you cards to your mentors, referral partners, your customers, or to people that support you past or present along the journey.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How are your customers finding you? Are they lost? They are looking for you and don’t know where you are!

Ask about how they can find you.

Request:
Here's the url for the Rendezvous Pub
http://www.westcanoon.com/bobstuff/rendevous.htm

Edmonton's Rendezvous Pub (10108 149 St) is looking for classic rock, country, blues and original roots music, for Friday night's "Do Your Own Gig". If you're a local band or know of one that wants a gig, visit us at http://www.westcanoon.com/bobstuff/rendevous.htm

We have a full sound system (speakers, monitors, mics, sound board) and lights. You charge the cover, we do the promotion. You can also sell CDs and if you have a website, we'll link to it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Heart@Work is once again sponsoring the “Heart on the line Awards” Please email your nominations to: kindnessinc@myway.com or fax: 780-439-0521 or
snail mail to: 302, 10015-85th Avenue, Edmonton, AB T6E 2J9
Visit: www.heartatworkbusinessdevelopment.blogspot

Choosing Prosperity

2005-10-10T14:39:00.000-06:00

A fun game to play and learn to let go of your brakes to prosperity.

www.choosingprosperity.com

2005-09-26T18:59:00.000-06:00

Marketing Idea:

Tag line. What is yours? Do you have one?
Something new, we are having a contest on who can come up with the best Tag Line.
It can be funny, something that rhymes, something that describes what you do easily, something that people can get what you do quickly.

By next week send in your tag by Monday, and I put it in the next ezine for us to judge as the winner. The prize is a gift certificate for a career planning session, a $100.00 value.

Heart on the line Awards

2005-09-26T18:56:00.000-06:00

It is once again that time of year where Heart@Work is sponsoring the Heart on the line Awards. They will be given out on November 13, to celebrate World Kindness day, to acknowledge and appreciate those that inspire us in some kind way.

Requesting that you think about who inspires you in some kind way, whether they are a friend, a colleague or a fellow business owner. This is all perfect, is there someone you would like to nominate for 2005?

I have enclosed the past winners and a nomination form. Please take the time to participate in these awards, they are meant to appreciate the people that do make a difference in a positive way in our world. Everyone makes a difference as it is a ripple effect. So let’s get on with it.

Winners for 2001
Workplace: Telus
Community: The Distress Line
CSR: The Arts Group, David Alpin & Associates
Youth group: Circle K – a Kiwanis group

Winners for 2002
Workplace: UniglobeGEO Travel
Bioware
Yotta Yotta
CSR: EPCOR, Signature Printing, Grower Direct,
ArdrossanElementary Environmental Club

Individuals: Robert Petit, Emergency Services – Montreal, Quebec
Tracey Burkitt – UniglobeGEO Travel
Barbara & David Wilson – apartment managers
Wendy Enders – Youth services
John Riley of Intercoast Sales Agency Inc.
Community: U of A Nurses of Dialysis

Winners for 2003/2004
Workplace: Intuit
ORMED
CSR: Quik Card
Taylor Financial
Community: Suicide Prevention, Red Deer

Winners for 2005 ?

Nomination form for the Heart-on-the-line Awards, deadline is October 30, 2005 midnight.

Nominees contact information:

_____________________________________________________________________________
Name Company

_____________________________________________________________________________
Tel: E-mail:

Category:

__________ Colleagues of a workplace _________ A company best place to work

__________ A company who supports the local community

Why you are nominating them:

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Nominator contact information:

____________________________________________________________________________
Name Company

____________________________________________________________________________
Tel: E-mail:

Please E-mail to: kindnessinc@myway.com or snail mail to: Heart@Work
302, 10015-85th Avenue, Edmonton, AB T6E2J9.

Call for Submissions for stories that you would like to share, where you have experienced a kind deed, or generous offer during a challenging or difficult time at work. Please send your stories to the above address. The deadline is December 31, 2005.

The stories selected will be published in 2006. You will be notified. Please include your contact information, so that we may be in-touch with you.

Heart@Work

2005-09-13T12:19:00.000-06:00

Heart@Work

2005-09-13T11:30:00.000-06:00

Heart@Work

2005-09-13T10:47:00.000-06:00

Heart@Work

If You Were to Brand Kindness...

2005-09-07T12:32:00.000-06:00

How would you?

There seems to be some confusion of what Kindness is and what it is not.

Kindness in the workplace looks like?

Kindness to strangers in need, looks like? Say for example for the Katrina survivors?

Kindness to your customers? What would this look like?

Kindness to the kids at school or at home or?

My friend Perry says "It's like having the fuzzies at work."

Unitl you activate Kindness in your life, you won't recieve any benefit from it.

Use it generously, as it sticks us together. It's all about your relationships.

Please post your comments about the questions I have posted.

Thanks for participating.

Mari-Lyn

Marketing Tip Volume 2 #7

2005-09-07T12:14:00.000-06:00

This weekly marketing tip e-zine is available to you, so that you can quickly read it, delete it or save it if you think the idea would work for you. I would Love just to get paid for my ideas, I get so many that I don’t even know what to do with them all, so I decided just to share them with you, and if something works for you great!

Embrace your evangelists by:

Developing a business development team, these are your co-partners or alliances. Work with infected people who are passionate about your product or service.

Check out these sites:
www.albertashow.com
www.wowedmonton.com

Marketing Tip Ideas

2005-08-31T18:44:00.000-06:00

Brag about someone else’s business, perhaps an associate or a vendor. You can do this by:
• Profiling them in your newsletter.
• Pass out their business card instead or along with your business card at
networking functions.
• Put a link of their website below your email signature.
• Send out a card or postcard to another business introducing them
• Nominate a business or colleague for the Heart-on-the-line awards.

See the post above in how you can nominate a business or colleague.

Thank you.

My Way - Sign In

2005-08-31T18:43:00.000-06:00

Hello Everyone,

I am looking for original stories from people who have experienced Kindness or acts of kindness in difficult or challenging times. The stories ought to be from your colleagues, your customers, your employees or your company or an employer.

• No more than a 1,000 words

• Submit text in an email no attachments please.

• The selected stories will be published in 2006, no payment/s will be made, you will received an
acknowledgement with your name and contact information if you would like.

• When you send your story, include your contact information. We will confirm the details with you.

• kindnessinc@myway.com by December 31, 2005.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nomination form for the Heart-on-the-line Awards, deadline is October 30, 2005 midnight.

Nominees contact information:

_____________________________________________________________________________
Name Company

_____________________________________________________________________________
Tel: E-mail:

Category:

__________ Colleagues of a workplace _________ A company best place to work

__________ A company who supports the local community

Why you are nominating them:

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Nominator contact information:

____________________________________________________________________________
Name Company

____________________________________________________________________________
Tel: E-mail:

Please E-mail to: kindnessinc@myway.com or snail mail to: Heart@Work
302, 10015-85th Avenue, Edmonton, AB T6E2J9.

The stories selected will be published in 2006. You will be notified. Please include your contact information, so that we may be in-touch with you.

Heart@Work

2005-08-10T21:23:00.000-06:00

I am looking for original stories from people who have experienced Kindness or acts of kindness in difficult or challenging times. The stories ought to be from your work, with your colleagues, your customers, your employees or your company or an employer.

• No more than a 1,000 words

• Submit text in an email no attachments please.

• The selected stories will be published in 2006, no payment/s will be made, you will received an acknowledgement with your name and contact information if you would like.

• When you send your story, include your contact information. We will confirm the details with you.

• kindnessinc@myway.com by December 31, 2005.

Thank you.
Mari-Lyn Hudson
href="http://www.heartatworkbusinessdevelopment.blogspot.com/">Heart@Work

Heart@Work

2005-08-02T19:49:00.000-06:00

Heart@Work
Heart@Work is once again sponsoring the “Heart on the line Awards” the winners will be announced on November 13, 2005 (World Kindness Day). If you know of any one in business that you feel deserves a Kindness Award, please email your nomination to: kindnessinc@myway.com

Your nomination should include why they deserve an award, include the nominees’ and your contact information. (if anyone has a fax that they would let us use, please let me know)

The deadline for the nominations will be: November 1, 2005. Thank you.

The past Recipients have been:
In 2001 - Telus, The Distress Line, The Arts Group David Alpin & Associates, Circle K the youth Kiwanis.
In 2002 – Uniglobe GEO Travel, Bioware, Yotta Yotta, EPCOR, Grower Direct, Signature Printing, Ardrossan Elementary Environment Club, Robert Petit of Montreal, Tracey Burkitt, UofA Nurses of Dialysis, Barbara & David Wilson, John Riley, Wendy Enders
In 2003 – Taylor Financial, QuikCard, ORMED, Suicide Prevention in Red Deer, Intiut (Intuit would not accept receiving the award because, they never heard of it before?) strange.

Perfect Customers

2005-07-25T19:28:00.000-06:00

I have been writing alot about perfect customers and how to attract them. The real key is just to get real clear of what you want. The ideal customer is usually the same ones you want in your life period.

Sometimes it takes a few hard knocks before we actually get it, (I am speaking for myself at the moment) in order to attract anything we also have to let it go, have confidence, to trust, to expect and be kind to yourself in order to get it.

So on a sheet of paper draw a line down the middle and write on the left side - side 1 "My perfect client/person in my life is".. on the right side - side 2 write "What makes them tick?" If you don't know then ask them. If you don't have any customers then ask around if someone would be willing to help you get clear.

After you do that, on the left is side 3 "My perfect client expects me to.."
side 4 write "I expect my clients to be.."

If you would like more info about this subject, you gotta get "Attracting Perfect Customers" by Stacey Hall & Jan Brogniez. it's an awesome book- truly a much better way to get clients, rather than the hard sell way.

Another book which I really have enjoyed is "The Attractor Factor" by Joe Vitale. once again it's about getting clear, and attracting it.

These two books really compliment each other very well.

If you haven't recieved your copy of the "Blueprint for Networking Success" yet, you can order at: orders@blueprintbooks.com. It is written by Bette Daoust, Ph.D. Dr. Know

Dr. Daoust's true love is in sharing information with others and helping any business achieve a great success. (another one of my values - helping others to succeed)

If you are interested in a Co-branding book, the BluePrintBooks are available for private labelling by calling: 1-866-667-0166. There are a series of topics in which you can choose from. What a great idea to to have your logo or company information out in the hands of people everyday! Just helping you and yours to succeed.

As a Sidebar: I do a weekly ezine called-
"Marketing Ideas" that come out every Tuesday. I get so many ideas, that i don't know what to do with them all, so I share them with my subscribers. It's a nice feeling when they actually send me an email or call me to thank me for their new marketing ideas.

This is just one of my values I want my perfect customers to be. I am appreciated, as I appreciate them.

you can subscribe at: kindnessinc@myway.com

2005-06-23T17:19:00.000-06:00

Random Acts of Kindness

2005-06-23T17:18:00.000-06:00

The City Skycape

Healthy Workplace Survey

2005-06-21T19:14:00.000-06:00

Do you work in a Safe, Healthy and Vibrant Workplace?

1. Does your organization experience lower than average turnover, disability claims or absenteeism?
2. Do stress levels seem to be decreasing?
3. Does your organization experience high staff morale?
4. Does your organization have proactive, tangible strategies to foster positive working relationships between staff and management?
5. Does your organization offer staff benefits and actively promote wellness in the workplace?
6. Does your HR team have an open door policy?
7. Is your employer "caring" both professionally and personally?
8. Does your workplace promote a strong sense of respectful community?
9. Does your workplace have a "zero tolerance policy?"
10. Does your organization have clearly outlined values and a mission statement?

How does your workplace rate?
If you answered 'no' to even one of the about questions, there is room for improvement.

If you answered 'no' to 2-5 questions, it is important for you to know what else they can do to be an employer of choice.

If you answered 'no' to more than 5 questions it is likely that there are large opportunities to increase overall employee health and wellness.

If you would like to get more information about how you get be healthier at work, you can contact McIvor & Company at mcivorconsulting@telus.net.

Relationship questions

2005-06-12T13:56:00.000-06:00

Do you ever notice how often businesses are measured by $$, or profits? Do you think relationships are important to anyone in business?

Do you think that we ought raise our standards about relationships? Do you ever notice how many times people keep in touch with each other? Do you find that you are always doing the calling?

These are just some things i have noticed - i like people i would like to think that i treat people well in my relationships so why is it that i find myself doing the initiating? am i missing something?

i just thought, that if someone was reading this they would respond or give me some feedback. What has this got to do with business development? Well, to me without people how do you have a business that is successful?

Cheers,
Mari-lyn

Attracting Your Perfect Customers

2005-05-30T16:32:00.000-06:00

We have captured the new trend in doing business by working with collaboration and cooperativeness, rather than competitiveness.
Written by Mari-Lyn Hudson - Managing Director for Heart@Work Business Development Group. You can reach her at 1-866-667-0166 or kindnessinc@myway.com.
There is a much easier way to develop clients, to retain employees and still make a profit it’s called collaboration and cooperativeness. With this concept you will make more money. First, you need to develop a profile of the perfect client/customer, or even perhaps the kind of employees that you desire to have. Upon working with your profiled customer you will begin to attract them. That’s right attract them!

You will still plant seeds to get new customers for your business, just like working in your garden with care and attention. When you truly give more in use value that you take from your customers, then you are adding more value to your business services and products. When your clients/customers feel they have received value from doing business with you, you will then start to attract your desired profiled customers. The ones which are perfect for you!

Here are a couple of examples:
(a) If you are offering consulting services and you are willing to spend extra time with a new client without the thought of time or money that is ticking away. When your new clients feel valued in your presence thus he/she will become a repeat customer.
(b) If you are a teacher/facilitator and you give the kind of instruction that you contribute to or give to the needs of your student’s well-being than the cost of the class, this will be reflected in whether they feel valued in your class. Thus, they will become your sales force or word of mouth customers.

If you are not conscious of what you are thinking or feeling then you will enter into the field of “competitiveness” or “free consulting.” It’s all in the kind of energy that you put out that your client will feel, whether they want to be your client/customer. If they feel pressurized in any way the new client/customer may decide not to do business with you or be a repeat customer. Many of us don’t want to be pressurized to do business with someone.

When we provide more value than thinking about the price tag we are also working cooperatively with our clients/customer. Thus, we now begin the dance of collaboration.

Once we embrace the idea of collaboration and cooperation in getting more customers/clients we are now working towards teamwork, partnerships and joint efforts, which lends itself to more repeat customers.

Who is your ideal or perfect customer?

May of us get stuck in thinking it’s everyone, that could be true, what I have found is that anyone or everyone means just that, no one. Anyone and everyone usually doesn’t show up at all, or the ones that do, are the ones we don’t want.

Here are a couple of examples:
(a) A printer told me that everyone needs printing, so anyone is his customer. I am thinking to myself, NOT. The real question is who is your perfect customer?
(b) An owner of a janitorial service company said that everyone needs cleaning. Many people need cleaning help it’s whether you want the commercial or residential target. It’s the who and what kind of customers we want to have. It was easier for this owner to come up with the kind of employees that she wanted than the customers she wanted.

Here’s what you will do to figure out what your perfect customer is:
On a sheet of paper write at the top of the page a No and Yes.

NO YES

they don’t pay on time They pay on time
they aren’t honest Honest & tell the truth
they don’t do as they say they will They do what they say they will
they don’t return their phone calls
They keep on canceling their appointments. They keep their agreements

These are just some ideas. Once you have completed the No’s first, then turn around and write in what kind of customers you do want in the YES column. As it won’t matter what targeted market you want, it’s the characteristics of your perfect customer that you want to develop. The perfect client/customer will be the same in what ever your targeted market is.

A word of caution here once you decide what you want as a perfect customer, you will now need to be that perfect person yourself. Do you pay on time, are you truthful, do you keep your appointments, do you return your calls within 48 hours?

If you aren’t, then start practicing being the person that you want your clients/customers/employees to be.

Business Development

2005-05-30T16:29:00.000-06:00

Business Development

Branding Yourself

2005-05-30T16:21:00.000-06:00

The New Branding Awareness – The Value Based Concept
Written by Mari-Lyn Hudson - Marketing

The new branding awareness is about when you take ownership of a commodity, a special talent, concept or product. What is it that you stand for? What you stand for is an experience that your customers feel from you.

Don’t Be Shy
When it becomes for you to take a stand, you cannot be shy about it, you need to back it up totally, no matter what other people think of you, say about you, you need to promote it and be it.

Your brand needs to be value-based, like giving extra WOW customer service and being good corporate citizens will build brand equity, the end result will lead to more sales. The good feeling experiences you provide, is what will count for the customer to buy from you. Did you know that 72% of North Americans prefer to buy form value-based companies?

Developing your brand starts with you, from the inside out.
The first step in branding you is learning to be who you are and if you don’t like who you are then you need change your attitude. If you are losing customers and you don’t know why, ask them. You may discover some great feedback.

What’s your attitude like?
Do you go to work with it’s an exciting new day! Do you rejoice in it and give thanks for your new day? Or do you start the day with oh, it’s Monday or it’s just another crummy day. Your attitude or the stand that you take in how you begin the day makes a difference. If people see that you are smiling, friendly and helpful they will pick up on that energy and feel good about you and even perhaps themselves.

A true story of an Actionable act of Branding with a co-worker..
A girlfriend of mine,(we’ll call her Connie) was getting upset the other day, saying some people just don’t get it. What she was talking about was the lack of compassion people have for each other, whether it was her boss or people in general. Connie said, “She smiles at people in the grocery store, makes idle chit chat when standing in line, and sometimes people just don’t respond.” A few of us girls discussed this with her, and we all agreed that if we each person would continue to be friendly, like her, that soon everyone around us will become more friendly. All it takes is one person, who is willing to Pass it Forward can and will make a difference for someone else.

For example, Connie just found out about a co-worker that was in the hospital and went to visit him. (we’ll call him Brent) It turns out that Brent has prostate cancer and was not given long to live about two months.. Connie asked, Brent what would help him be more comfortable? Brent said “An X-Box would help him pass the time.”

Connie, went to her boss, the sales manager and asked him if the company would buy him an XBox? Her sales manager said, NO. She was stunned, by his answer. Connie thought that he was not being very compassionate and he certainly did not get it. After all, Brent has been working for the company for eight years. She pursued the matter and contacted the Head Office, and talked to someone in HR. Connie, asked if something like this could be done for Brent? The Head Office, wasn’t aware of this employee and his condition as said, absolutely YES, do it!

This simple little story an act of Branding - of Paying it Forward, tells of how a simple concern will build your presence or brand. Your customers, employees need to feel this for, in your presence. Connie’s Brand or Presence is that you feel genuinely cared for around her. For as long as I have known Connie, she truly helps her customers above and beyond her job description.

Since this article was written Brent got married to his long time girlfriend and very recently past way. Our condolences to his family.

Marketing Tips

2005-04-14T19:55:00.000-06:00

_______________________________________________________________________

April 2005 Heart@Work Business Development Group Volume 1 Issue 2
“Inspiring you to reach your fullest potential in your business.”
________________________________________________________________________

The Latest News Tips
Contents:
Marketing Magic
Attracting Perfect Customers
CRM ideas
Events
Workshops
Recommendations
When is your ship coming in?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Marketing Magic
Dr. Bette Daoust, Ph.D

Dr. Bette Daoust says, Marketing has several aspects to it, the five core points are:
1. Positioning yourself
2. Packaging
3. Promotions
4. Persuading
5. Performance
All these lead into each other. Marketing even extends into the area of selling, measuring and determining customer’s responses. The first step is to define your business solution. Find your focus in what you are offering.

If you don’t understand what you are trying to sell, either in product or services it’s really difficult for customers to determine what they are trying to buy from you. Don’t try to sell to everyone, like “I sell silverware but I also carry computer hardware etc.” Who hasn’t met the consultant that knows everything? Once you know your core service then you will know who your ideal customer is.

Bette is an author of many books – her publishing company is Blueprint Books. The next title is Best Networking Practices – 150 ways to Network Yourself. It will be available this summer of 2005. www.blueprintbooks.com

Attracting Perfect Customers
Stacy Hall & Jan Brogniez

“We are more attractive when we say YES to opportunities that come our way.”

I love this book, instead of looking for perfect customer, you can easily attract your perfect customers. This book is a must-read and must-do book. The book guides you in developing a Strategic Attraction Plan. I know when I first heard about it, I said, oh I will get it soon. I finally put my money down and ordered the book. It’s a WOW, it’s the way I prefer to do business, and yet so many people are stuck in the old way of working competitively, rather than co-operatively and with collaboration. That’s a lot of struggling, and who wants to struggle in getting sales?

I am re-reading the book. You have the Power to Attract Whatever you Desire. Chapter 2. “If you can envision it, you can manifest it. It’s that simple.”

When you believe in yourself, the actions that follow will be completely different from those in the past. You will share information that you never considered sharing before. You will be likely to ask questions that you never thought to ask before. You will allow yourself the freedom to not to know all the answers. You may even find that you don’t have to work as hard.

I highly recommend that you read it. If you are interested in meeting other people and working in collaboration, please give Mari-Lyn a call. We can form a Mastermind group. The girls do have a daily attraction email. If you would like to receive it let me know. kindnessinc@myway.com

Did you know…in 2000, when Heart@Work was first speaking and marketing Kindness as a strategy in your business it was challenging. I was called a Polly-Anna – I said to that guy that called me that “Boy, it’s guys like you that keep me going. You are proof that we need kindness.” to “Get a life” to “Package it up and make it expensive then maybe I will buy it.” I bet you that while some people paid attention are winning greatly and the others well… I wonder if they would be willing to share their stories.

Now, Kindness has made it around the block a few times and is considered “The Killer App for CRM” It just took a while, but hey I am glad someone is listening. CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management. If you aren’t too shy to ask for help, Mari-Lyn is still available to help you with CRM. Not only will it help you for CRM but also ERM.

If you have a story about Kindness in Business, please forward it on and we will post it in our newsletter.

Workshops coming up are:
• Developing your Corporate Image – The do’s and don’ts before, during and after you employ a designer or printer.
• How do your marketing materials relate to your business? Do your marketing materials relate at all?
• Home-based Business Blues – Do you feel like you are working in a vacuum? A brain storming session on how to beat the feelings of isolation and be productive!!
• So, you want to be an Entrepreneur, are you sure? Exploring reality on both sides of the fence, workbook included.
• Do know where your Sales are coming from? Come learn how to develop a sales plan.
• Power Marketing your Business. An e-mail class in developing relationships for a referral business. Workbook included
• “Attraction Factor” A Mastermind Group will meet locally and is available via email

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When is Your Ship Coming in?
Raphael Cushnir

What is it that you really want? Raphael says “When we are really ready to claim what we really want, we can jump start our dreams.” Here are the steps to start what is stopping us.
1. Find the flinch – identify an important action you haven’t taken. This could be making calls, doing research or just setting your foot into your home office.. What’ crucial is that you recognize the moment when you check out from your dream, project or whatever.
2. Go for the jugular – if there wasn’t anything challenging for you to feel, you’d have no need to check out. Ask yourself what’ the worst thing that could happen if I went forward in this goal or moment? Rather than think about an answer let the answers come to you. Once you have discovered the worst-case scenario, ask, If this happened, what’s the most awful feeling, I’d have to endure? It may be fear, failure, loss, guilt rejection, rage, hurt, or something uniquely yours. You know you’re on the right track when your original flinch deepens, when you want to head for the hills.
3. Weather the storm – Think about what you feel, this takes real courage, but the only alternative is an unfulfilled dream. So imagine that the worst has come to pass how are you feeling now? Let your awareness remain without attempting to do anything about it, allow everything to change just like the weather.
4. Repeat as necessary – The emotion you thought was intolerable actually isn’t and that means it can no longer deter you dream. You’ll be able to stop procrastinating, work longer and harder, uplifted by an exhilarating flow. You may have to repeat these steps whenever you find yourself yearning to escape, the process will be easier and quicker each time.

Contact: Heart@Work - Creating Legacies
Toll Free: 1-866-667-0166
kindnessinc@myway.com

You are most welcome to share this newsletter with your associates and friends. Pay it Forward.

Thank you.

What's your opinion?

2005-03-05T19:03:00.000-07:00

Give us your opinion about Business Development.

1. How long how you been in business?

____ < 1 year _____ 1-3 years ______ 5-10 yrs _____ over 10 years

2. What does business development mean to you?

____ Sales _____ Marketing ______ Developing alliances ____ Referrals

Other ___________________________________________________________________________

3. What is most important for you right now?

____ Corporate ID ______ Business Plan ______ Marketing Plan

____ Sales Plan ______ Sales Training ______ Acquiring new technology

____ More clients

Other ______________________________________________________________________

4. What resources would be most helpful to you?

_____ Financial ______ HR Services _____ Next Level Marketing

_____ Graphic Design ______ Website _____ Finding qualified staff

Other ________________________________________________________________________

5. What are your personal priorities?

_____ Managing yourself _____ Stress Management _____ Health & Wellness

_____ Isolation factors _____ Family _____ Finding more Friends

Other _________________________________________________________________________

6. What services would be helpful for you in a business development group?

_____ Buying club _____ Networking online ______ Networking face to face

_____ Round table discussions

_____1/2 a day Workshops ______ Full Day ____ 2x a week

____ Conferences

____ Cheerleading, encouragements, endorsements

____ Newsletter

____ Referral marketing

Other _________________________________________________________________________

Comments:

________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for taking the time out to fill out this survey.

Kindness in Business

2005-02-26T19:23:00.000-07:00

What is Kindness?

It all means to provide heart felt experiences within your business and in your community at large. Have you ever experienced simple kindness from a stranger, from someone at work and been touched in some way that you say to your self, WOW! That was really nice.

A kind act towards someone else without an expectation of return. To live consciously, by playing your part wherever you go or are.

Does kindness have a place in business?

Yes, absolutely!

I was at a networking session the other day, and we are chatting and after I heard what a gentleman did, he asked me what i do, and I said, "I am in the Kindness business." He said, "That's a great business to be in." I almost felt like feeling his forehead and asking him if he was feeling okay. In my travels of promoting kindness in business i have been called many things and comments like that was not one of them.

As this guy said, "Businesses are made up of people and without people we don't have a business." great comment.

Using Kindness as a strategy in planning or to improve your relationships with family, customers, friends raises the bar in how we treat people. How we treat people shows how successful we are in our lives. By the way, this includes how we treat ourselves.

How about customer service? If we treated everyone poorly, do you think we would have any customers or employees left? Do you have this problem now? Perhaps your service to these people is not working for them. Are you paying attention? WAKE-UP!

The idea of a Kindness Program is to have three components:
1. Kindness to oneself
2. Kindness to our co-workers
3. Kindness to our community

Kindness for oneself would be taking time for ourselves, to re-juvenate our mind and body. Some ideas would be to meditate, exercise, have fun, socialize, a bubble bath with candles, massages, pampering, time away from people. If you don't take care of yourself who is?

Kindness to our co-workers perhaps is to cheer someone one, give encouragement, a kind word, a smile, even just a hello! If you are not having fun and you would like to create more of a cooperative team, it may be time to set up a structure of benefits, a wellness program, a reward program, i am sure if you asked you would get lots of ideas from your co-workers, bosses and any one else who works with you.

Kindness in our community would be finding a cause that you believe in or see a need to change something and go do it. It only takes one person to start, soon other people will join you. Create a social committee if you don't already have one, find a way to give back to the community that you live and work in.

I figured in a 24 hour period we could take 9 hours to sleep, or take time for ourselves. 8 hours with family, friends and reach out to other people. 8 hours to work. Now I know, some of you will say that you got to work more, or don't have the time to do any of this, have you ever noticed that when you work less you actually accomplish more? Try it and see!

I have heard all the excuses and reasons why you can't start, from package it up and make it expensive to it's just too simple to do. It's really like the latest commercial "I decided to do something different, to lose wieght." This isn't any different. When we all decide to be more conscious being kind we can have all have healthier and happier lives. Which then leads to more successful relationships (as it really just is the simple little things that we do for each other) that make the difference.

I leave this post to say, I Challenge you to "Make A Difference Today."

With Love,
Shameless