1. Ten Tips for Starting a New Job
October 15, 2004


1. Get to know people. First meet those people in your department and then those in departments you interface with. Listen more than you talk. Ask lots of questions and get clarification if necessary so you truly understand how the office/department/business works. 2. Don’t try to change everything at once. Be open to learning “their” way before you suggest “your” way. 3. Get in synch with your bosses priorities. What are his/her expectations of you? Make sure you are living up to them. 4. Have lunch with different people in the organization. Learn the “unwritten rules” of your... (read more)

Author: Alvah Parker | Article Views: 2811

2. Believing the Plan
October 15, 2004


Mary had a delivery service business. Her idea was to market to senior citizens who couldn’t get out every day. She came to me as a SCORE counselor because her business was struggling and she thought she needed marketing help. She had been marketing to seniors for more than a year and was frustrated by her results. She hoped I would have the silver bullet that would change everything. My first question to Mary was had she written a business plan. I wanted to see her marketing plan and forecast of sales. Mary told me she had written one before she started but she said she “just didn’t ... (read more)

Author: Alvah Parker | Article Views: 2836

3. Book Review: The NEW Game Of Business
October 10, 2004


If you think you've seen and heard everything there is to say, The NEW Game of Business brings new distinctions and a fresh perspective to the world of business. This slim, easy-to-read soft cover book is so good that it should be required reading in business schools around the world. Every entrepreneur and every company employee, from the janitor to the CEO should read and reread this book. The author's quote in Chapter Five quite nicely summarizes the topic of this book. Mitchell Axelrod says this "I help you get from where you are, to where you want to be." The new game in town is... (read more)

Author: Bonnie Jo Davis | Article Views: 2742

4. Why radio advertising could be the best thing you ever did for your business
October 07, 2004


In the marketing world, radio has earned the reputation of being the odd step-cousin. You know the one. No one knows quite what to do with him. Especially at family gatherings when everyone tries hard to avoid sitting with him. (After all, who knows WHAT he'll start talking about.) Much of that reputation comes from radio being tough to track. On one hand, radio does work. Businesses do notice an increase in sales when they add radio to the mix. However, radio doesn't test well. In surveys and other tracking methods, radio tends to be the one with the dismal scores. A good friend of min... (read more)

Author: Michele Pariza Wacek | Article Views: 2770

5. Book Review - Manners That Sell: Adding The Polish That Builds Profits
September 20, 2004


This beautifully laid out trade paperback has a gorgeous and practical design both inside and out. I recommend you read this book with a highlighter and a pen and be ready to take copious notes in the blank pages thoughtfully provided between chapters. Manners That Sell: Adding The Polish That Builds Profits should be required reading for high school and college students and for anyone already in the business environment. Once upon a time, good manners were taught in school and at home, but that time has long since passed. This book provides the perfect refresher course for those of us ... (read more)

Author: Bonnie Jo Davis | Article Views: 2817

6. Effective Collaboration - Working With Your Ghostwriter
September 19, 2004


Using a ghostwriter to craft your free reprint articles and marketing materials is an excellent way to maximize your time and profit. The fastest and most effective way to find a freelance ghostwriter or editor is to post your writing projects on an on-line service like Freelance Work Exchange at http://tinyurl.com/3v69r . This allows interested writers to submit their proposals to you. It makes short-order of a needle-in-a-haystack task. If you've already posted a writing opportunity, you've probably received several proposals and/or bids from interested writers. Whether you're alrea... (read more)

Author: Bonnie Jo Davis | Article Views: 2830

7. Five Tips to Make Your Marketing More Creative
September 16, 2004


Same old same old just doesn't sell anymore. To make your marketing stand out, you need to get creative. Below are five tips designed to get your creative juices flowing. Some are brainteasers or are what Michael Michalko in "Thinkertoys" calls Linear Thinkertoys. Others fall under intuition or Intuitive Thinkertoys. Some tips may appeal to you more than others. My suggestion is to try them all. Even the ones you're not drawn to may still open some doors that wouldn't have opened any other way. These tips will work whether you sell a product, a service or both. 1. Find the "second rig... (read more)

Author: Michele Pariza Wacek | Article Views: 2857