Unintended Consequences?
Chuck Violand points out that the most brilliant business advice can destroy your company IF implemented at the wrong time or in an impulsive manner. Read how to avoid the very dangerous “E-Drift” syndrome …
competition
How to avoid the ‘Boiling Frog’ syndrome in your company
SFS instructor Chuck Violand shares ideas on how to maintain the excitement, sense of urgency and yes, the sheer joy you had in the start-up phase of your company …
Steve’s latest Value Added Service “field trip”
Everywhere you go and every commercial transaction you make should be examined with your “Customer Eyeglasses”. For example, notice what Steve took out of a recent (and very sudden) sojourn to Brooklyn, New York …
Too high? Too low? HELP!
A new carpet cleaner is getting whip-sawed from both sides. Steve tries to bring a bit of sanity and balance to the eternal question, “How much should I charge?”
Avoiding cleaning business burn out …
Soooo … Feeling a bit tired, discouraged, beat-up-on-by-life, etc? You’re not alone. Jon-don’s VAST Coordinator, Jeff Cutshall, has a few burn-out cures …
Commercial proposal butterflies …
Our Strategies for Success member has captured the interest of a big commercial account. But he finds actually generating the proposal to be a daunting task. But fear not! Steve rides to the rescue with a step-by-step answer …
“So how long is it going to take?”
Steve waxes nostalgic when asked about his “success time-line” and then shares a few bone-headed mistakes he made over the years so you can avoid them!
Fear of the “Franchise Onslaught”!
It is so easy to get intimidated by the “big boys”. But Steve explains that there is a silver lining to this very scary cloud …
Where is their ‘sense of urgency’?
Watch it, folks. Steve is off on one of his rants about customer service and this time he is more fired up than usual …
How would you respond to this article?
The Post-Customer-Service Age, Steve Yastrow says customer service is no longer a differentiator in business. Let’s hear your thoughts.
Starbucks: Where’s the focus?
Market leaders cannot be everything to everyone. Different customers put different value on different things. Did Starbucks miss that idea in business school? Do they know something different about their customers? Or are they just desperate?
What’s It Going to Take to Persuade You?
Big Billy introduces us to the man who is the acknowledged master of influence and persuasion. Read 5 examples of how persuasive ideas can help your business …
Why don’t they like me?
Have you ever wondered why your competition views you with fear, anger, hatred and/or envy? Steve weighs in with a few thoughts …
Why do I bother? Part II
OK, I justly flogged AA a few hours ago. But what can YOU learn from their pompous, patronizing and totally wrongheaded approach toward recuperating from a service disaster? (By the way, this has been very cathartic! I feel much better now!)
Do I see a contradiction here?
OK, Steve, now you have me interested. On one hand a few days ago you said only give your Cheerleaders Value Added Service PLUS a hand written thank you note. But I also note you promote giving a “kickback” with the Jon-Don “Free Spotter for Life” program with Jon-Don’s Spot-Out program. Is it because you are raking in big bucks on your Spot-Out commissions????