BUSINESS MONITOR PASSED:Layout 1 17/03/2009 10:54 Page 20
FOCUS BUSINESS ON: MONITORMOTORSPORT
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organisation has over 200,000 members. set a positive tone.
hearing should be far less ‘master to servant’ Amongst the best deals they offer – and there Start the day with some exercise. Walking or
than hitherto and it’s sure that they are far more are lots – is free business banking with the Co- cycling to work is ideal but even if it’s only a five-
responsive to customers who do keep them operative Bank. That alone can be worth the minute trip round the block, it helps. The reason
informed. Don’t wait until problems arise, do it membership cost. is simple: it gets fresh air into your lungs and kick
now while your status with the bank is good. Be more selective over your consumption of starts the whole system. Teachers repeat
How good is your constantly that children who
accountant? If you’re walk to school are more
dissatisfied, find a better one, alert, more enthusiastic and
preferably someone who
“
Avoid the Eeyores. You might feel like a
perform better than those
actually knows something who are driven. The same
about this business sector.
couple of beers at lunchtime after a
truth applies to adults.
Apply for all possible reliefs Avoid the Eeyores. You
and grants. Right now, a good depressing morning, but if the pub is full of might feel like a couple of
accountant should recognise
moaners and groaners it’ll do more harm
beers at lunchtime after a
that, if he insists on fees for depressing morning, but if
every second of his time, he’s
than good. The same goes with suppliers.
the pub is full of moaners
likely to be part of the and groaners it’ll do more
problem, not the solution. Tell any who carp and bind in your premises harm than good. The same
I have recommended here
quite bluntly that you don’t want to hear it
goes with suppliers. Tell any
before to join the Federation who carp and bind in your
of Small Businesses. I repeat
– this is a positive environment and they
premises quite bluntly that
that idea. You get access to you don’t want to hear it –
advice, help lines, significant have to join in or get out.
savings and a customer base.
”
this is a positive environment
and they have to join in or
get out.
Pre-plan full days for
yourself and push all the staff to do likewise.
the media. I’ve commented before that Personally, I find a list of activities chopped up
newspapers and TV news are scary, so be picky into small pieces – each phone call, each letter,
about what you read, watch and listen to. That each visit separated out makes you do each bit
might seem an odd thing for a journalist to write, and offers the satisfaction of ticking off a job
but it’s the truth. You’ll find more positives in the done. I accept that this may not necessarily
local press and radio and the trade media, plus generate business, but it works better than a
more business opportunities. If you have a diary entry that says, “Call existing customers”.
national daily delivered to your premises, I’d At the same time, never do nothing. If you have a
cancel it. You’ll save some money and you won’t gap in the day, go and visit some new customers.
have your staff starting the working day full of its Yes, cold-calling. It may deliver no results but
doomy, gloomy headlines. doing something – anything – positive is better
Let’s get those smiles in place. You presumably than sitting there fretting.
know the golden rule of putting a smile on your Can you introduce an element of
face to use the phone. Make sure your whole entertainment into your letters and e-mails to
team are doing it. Encourage everybody to prospects, and even more so, to existing
apply the same thinking in all personal customers? Can you inject
contacts: let’s make this a fun place to be, not some humour into the
just for the benefit of customers, but for all of process? If customers
us. think a letter from
Have you got a joker in the pack? Most you is going to give
businesses do. Get him or her to them a lift, they’ll
put a joke on everyone’s read it. Clearly this
desk every Monday requires sensitivity
morning, better and care and a
still every day. certain talent –
Starting the not everyone
day/week can write wittily.
with a good You might just
laugh helps say: “we’re smiles
better;
we’re
continued on page 22
| 20 | April 2009 www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk
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