Friday, 31 January 2014

How to Always Be Ready to Adapt Your Business to 

Change


How to Always Be Ready to Adapt Your Business to Change

If you've achieved some success in your startup's first product, how do you keep growing? What should you do if an upstart gives your customers a product that delivers more bang-for-the-buck than yours? How do you know when the needs of your customers are changing and adapt to those changes effectively? How should you alter your startup's business strategy to take advantage of new technology?

I've seen startups use all kinds of strategies to stay ahead of changing customer needs, new competitors and evolving technology. One CEO acted as chief customer service officer, visiting with each customer after the sale to ask for feedback and adjust offerings as needed. Another wrote press releases three years into the future to create a vision of what the company should be doing three years from now.

Both of these approaches have their benefits -- providing motivation to move forward and a clearer vision into the future. But what if your vision of the future is not the best one for your startup or your current customer doesn't represent your future target customer?

To tap into the strengths of some of these approaches while overcoming their weaknesses, I developed a six-step process to help entrepreneurs grow their business without boundaries.

1. Create a forward-thinking team-



You should lead a team consisting of key functional leaders in your company and select customers and suppliers who can help you rethink your startup strategy. Check in with them often to stay on top of their needs.

2. Map your startup's value network-



The value network is all the industries from your product's raw materials to the end consumer. Your team can gain valuable insights by fanning across the value network and finding which companies are growing fastest and why.

3. Choose who you listen to-


Monitor the market signals generated by the most interesting participants in your industry's value network. For example, what new products is your fastest growing competitor working on? Which customer segments seem to be adopting your product the fastest?

4. Generate a business model hypothesis-



Based on your team's analysis of these market signals, you should generate ideas about how you might change your strategy such as product features, target customer, pricing and distribution channels.

5. Get market feedback-



Launch the top three ideas and see what kind of feedback you get from the market. Do this launch as quickly and inexpensively as you can. You can always adapt and make changes later.

6. Refine based on feedback-



Add more features that customers want and take away ones they hate. Always be looking for ways to improve.

Thursday, 30 January 2014

6 Easy Steps to Being a Master Networker All of the 

Time




When there’s only so much time in the day, it’s easy to overlook the value of building and maintaining your professional relationships. But being stressed and busy is no excuse. Relationships take effort, of course, but throughout my career, I’ve constantly been reminded that my success is dependent on the strength of my network. You really can’t do it all alone!

Thankfully, I’ve discovered that the simplest tricks -- tricks you’ve heard before, but aren’t truly putting into practice -- have an enormous impact on relationship building. They don’t take a lot of effort, but they do take commitment. That said, even taking these six simple steps can help you prioritize relationships in your life almost immediately.


1. Remember names




Names have power. We’re all impressed when someone remembers our name, because it makes us feel important and worth remembering. Make an effort to cultivate that feeling in others. To help yourself remember, repeat someone’s name multiple times over the course of your conversation. Don’t be afraid to ask someone to repeat his or her name. And if you have forgotten a name, cop up to it. Asking to be reminded still shows you care.

2. Give people your undivided attention



Look people straight in the eye. Yes, it’s intimate but don’t shy away from that. Making good eye contact demonstrates interest. It will also make you appear confident and charming. Do not let yourself be distracted by other people or whatever else is going on around you. And definitely do not look at your phone. Making someone feel like the most important person in the room when you’re talking to them can go a long way in building your relationship.

3. Don't interrupt




There is no easier way to get people to like and respect you than to listen intently. We all love sharing our own points of view. It’s much harder to simply shut up and let someone express himself. When you let people speak without interruption, they will become more and more comfortable with you. Without having said anything, you’ll put them at ease. I’ve found this advice especially beneficial during negotiations and when trying to help employees or colleagues reach their full potential. Often, people just want to be heard. And they feel much happier after they have.
4. Ask questions




Start asking more questions. Asking questions demonstrates sincerity. If you meet someone who is quiet or having a hard time articulating his thoughts, ask him a question. Not too personal of a question, of course. But if you’re having trouble making conversation, start asking questions and you'll be surprise how talkative people can get. 

5. Smile




It’s the number one thing you can do to put someone at ease. When someone smiles at you, you pause, right? It can even be disarming -- in a good way. Smiling does not come easily to everyone. You may need to practice. I’ve given many speeches and found that spending a few seconds simply smiling calmly at the podium before I get started helps put my audience at ease and get them on my side. It’s pretty remarkable how much power this very simple action holds.

6. Follow up



If you say you’re going to follow up, do. Actually, I think that always following up is a good practice. Again, this is a very simple thing, which actually can have a lot of power. You’ll be remembered as thoughtful and caring. Don’t let too much time pass before getting in touch.

These six strategies add up. If you use all of them, you will leave a lasting, great impression. That is pretty priceless. You can use these simple tips anywhere from a dinner party to a business meeting. If you do, I bet people will increasingly listen to you, look up to you, respect you and even follow you

Wednesday, 29 January 2014

Why The Competition Isn't Your Business Enemy

Why The Competition Isn't Your Business Enemy

I’ve heard many people say that in business you should focus your energy on beating an “enemy.” The notion is that if you concentrate on beating out your closest competitor, you will one-up them each and every time and “win.”

Ouch. This makes me wince. I’d much rather focus on my customers and what they need and want from me -- constantly striving to do better and better. I don’t need the motivation of beating someone else. My happiness comes from generating a love for my brand that instills incredible customer loyalty. That’s how I win.

But you can only do that if you continually keep an open and active relationship with your customers, better than they can get anywhere else. You need to keep your brand alive and fresh in their minds, so that they don't turn to your competitors.

Think about the brands surrounding your life. You’re probably loyal to a short list of brands that get you through your day. I can think of a handful I interact with each morning. I can’t imagine life without them. They have my loyalty because they focus on what I need. And those great brands never acknowledge their competitors because they know I wouldn’t care to hear about it.



I’m not advocating that you should ignore your competition by any means. You have to stay on top of what others in your category or industry are doing and benchmark against them. Keep a competitive spirit, but place your energy and time on customer satisfaction.

If you're looking for an enemy, make it mediocrity, complacency and apathy. Push back when others say, “We tried that before,” or when you’re confronted with someone telling you -- “that will never work.” That’s your enemy, and it can easily be beat with a passion and commitment to your customers

Tuesday, 28 January 2014

Be Selfless, and You May Develop Products Customers

 Actually Want. . 

When you set out to make your product solve a defined problem, you'll soon realize that you can't get by being selfish.

Your venture will rise or fall on the backs of its users, making their problems your problems, their needs your needs, and their happiness your success. A little empathy can go a long way when it comes to starting and growing a business focused on existing industry pain points. Be sure to remember these three selfless steps:

1) Solve problems. 




To find out what your future customers need, you have to see through their eyes and identify their everyday problems. How many times a day do you encounter a situation and think, "there must be a better way to do this?" That's your signal to start probing.

Before I built Bridgit, a mobile and web communication platform for the construction industry, I spent several co-op terms working on construction sites across Canada and the U.S. with a concrete restoration contractor. As the youngest person on site, I watched industry vets scribble notes on any scrap of paper they could find (often a crumpled donut box) and then input their notes into the computer at the end of the day. Cue, "there must be a better way to do this!"

After months of asking questions to hundreds of construction project managers and site supervisors, the answer became clear: No, there wasn't a better way to track construction deficiencies on site, and yes, I was going to be the one to fix that.

2) Ask questions.
 

Part of being a selfless entrepreneur is realizing that others know a lot more about their industry than you do, and the only way to learn what they know is by asking them.

My Bridgit co-founder, Mallorie Brodie, had no prior experience in the construction industry before founding Bridgit in 2012. Today, she is an expert working at the intersection of construction and mobile communication. From the day she took her first steel-toed step onto a construction site, she has asked more of the right questions than I ever thought possible, and people have happily answered every single one of them.
You're not always going to get the answers you want to hear. However, you're also not solving your own problems, so it doesn't matter what you want. Customers always win.

3)Build relationships. 

When Mallorie and I first started Bridgit, we knew that in order to make our product successful we needed to get to know our users, and we needed to know them better than any of our competitors.

At the time, we were both in our last year of university and had busy class schedules. Conveniently, construction work starts at the crack of dawn, so we got up each day at 5 a.m. We walked, uninvited, on to every construction site we could find and spoke to the first crew member we met, no matter their role. We asked everyone the same question: "what could we build to make your day better?" The crews were so happy to hear someone listening to their plight that they spoke without hesitation.

We built strong relationships with project managers and site supervisors, and were quickly invited to shadow workers and even attend weekly site meetings. This may sound like a stroke of luck, the "holy grail" of users' needs, but without the drive to get off the computer and physically go meet our users on their terms, it wouldn't have been possible. Bonus points are typically given out if the sun's not up yet and it's so cold you can see your breath.

At the end of the day, business credentials simply aren't as important to entrepreneurial success as the ability to empathize with other people and offer solutions to their problems. Selflessness will endear you to your customers, and taking time to familiarize yourself with their needs will keep you on the leading edge of innovation.

Monday, 27 January 2014

8 Ways to Come Up With a Business Idea


The start of the year is a great time to gear up to start a business. But, of course, you first need to figure out a winning concept. "You have to come up with a lot of ideas to be successful," says Stephen Key, cofounder of the website inventright.com based in Glenbrook, Nev., and author of One Simple Idea for Startups and Entrepreneurs: Live Your Dreams and Create Your Own Profitable Company, (McGraw-Hill, 2012).

Key, who has licensed more than 20 products in the last 25 years, says he generates ideas by finding different ways to engage his mind, from walking the aisles of stores to brainstorming about holes in the marketplace.

Here are eight techniques from Key and other experts that could help get your creative juices flowing:

1)Ask yourself, "What's next?"

Successful business ideas are often ahead of the curve. Think about trends and technologies on the horizon and how you might move into those areas, says Sergio Monsalve, partner at Norwest Venture Partners, a Palo Alto, Calif.-based venture capital group. He suggests, for example, thinking about innovations related to the living room and home entertainment systems now that companies like Apple are developing new television technologies. "What can that mean in terms of new ways to live in your house and be entertained?" he says.

2)Do something about what bugs you.

When Colin Barceloux was in college, he thought textbooks cost far too much. In 2007, two years after graduating, he decided to take action and founded Bookrenter.com, a San Mateo, Calif.-based business that offers textbook rentals at about a 60 percent discount. What began as a one-man operation created out of frustration now has 1.5 million users and 200 employees. "You just have to look at what frustrates you," he says. "There's your business idea right there."

3)Look for new niches.

Your business idea doesn't have to reinvent the wheel. Take a look at what some of the big players in an industry are missing and figure out if you can fill the gaps, Key says. In 2003, for instance, he started the company Hot Picks, now based in San Jose, Calif., after realizing the major brands in the guitar pick industry weren't offering collectible novelty picks. Key designed a skull-shaped pick that filled an empty niche and was sold in 1,000 stores, including Wal-Mart and 7-Eleven. "The big guys leave a tremendous amount of opportunity on the table," he says.

4)Apply your skills to an entirely new field.

Think about your skills and whether they might be useful in a new area, suggests Bill Fischer, professor ofinnovation management at IMD, the top-rated Swiss business school, and co-author of The Idea Hunter: How to Find the Best Ideas and Make them Happen (Jossey-Bass, 2011). Consider, for example, JMC Soundboard, a Switzerland-based company that builds high-end loudspeakers. Jeanmichel Capt invented the speaker by applying his experience building guitars as a luthier, using the same resonance spruce to create a loudspeaker that produces a high-quality sound and looks like a sleek wood panel. There's also Providence, R.I.-based Dear Kate, a company founded by Julie Sygiel, who used her training in chemical engineering to create a stain-resistant, leak-proof underwear material that active women can use without worrying about menstrual leakage during a workout.

5)Find a category lacking recent innovations.

When coming up with ideas, Key likes to identify markets that haven't had many recent innovations. For example, when he realized there were few new developments in the product information label business, he created Spinformation, a label consisting of two layers—a top layer that rotates with open panels through which you can see, and a bottom label that you can read by spinning the top layer over it. Companies needing to fit more information about a medication, for example, could use the extra label space for the details.

6)Make a cheaper version of an existing product.

Companies often get their start by offering customers an existing product at a lower price. Take Warby Parker, an eyeglasses company launched in 2010 by four business school friends. The New York-based business sells prescription glasses, which are typically priced at $300 or more, for $95. Since its launch, it has grown to 100 employees.

7)Talk to shoppers.

To come up with an idea that meets people's needs, there's no better way than by talking to shoppers. If you are interested in mountain bikes, hang out in the aisles of sports and bike shops and ask customers what they wish they could find in the marketplace. If you're interested in developing an e-commerce business, consider sending an online survey to potential customers to learn about their needs and interests.

8)Play the mix and match game.

Walk up and down the aisles of a drug, hardware or toy store combining two products across the aisle from each other into one, Key says. That should spark quite a few ideas, but be prepared for most of them to be bad. "You will come up with all these horrible ideas, and every once in a while you will find some brilliant idea out there," he says.

Sunday, 26 January 2014

6 CLASSIC LESSONS: FROM THE WRITER OF “THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE”

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From: Stephen Covey
The 7 Habits has a way of seeping you in, with several life lessons touching on almost every aspect of life from marriage to parenting to leadership.

1. Putting First Things First

“Easy leadership is putting first things first”.
In order to be a great leader, one has to prioritize the most important things before others, and has to distinguish the most critical from the insignificant and place the critical first.
First in order, then first in priority and first in rank. If the critical is placed first, and given the critical focus and attention, there is certainly effectiveness in leadership with soar.

2. Begin With The End In Mind

It is important in everything that we do, we ask ourselves what we are trying to accomplish. It is more adept at answering this question for the short and medium term goals. You will realize, you can get better at beginning with the end in mind for longer term goals but you my still have to put in more effort to get there.

3. Think Of Win-Win Situations

“This is a frame of the heart and mind that always seeks mutual benefit in all interactions of humans”
According to Covey, Win-Win means agreements are mutually satisfying and beneficial. He says that the way people think in terms of dichotomies; win or lose, hardball or softball, strong or weak is fundamentally flawed.

4. Stick To Your Main End Goal

“The main goal is to keep the main goal the main goal”
It is important that you never lose sight of the big picture and always be determined by keeping the main thing the main thing.
Failure is hugely contributed to by losing focus. Even though you have a good start, it is essential that you avoid all sorts of distractions and attractions you may experience in life that may sidetrack you. Be focused on the main thing, and keep it the main thing!

5. Your Character Is Critical

Stephen Covey teaches us that our character is a composite of our habits, and therefore, we should know that character is very critical. Watch your habits because they determine your character and it is your character that defines your life. It is difficult to rise higher than your character’s fortitude. Your character forms the foundation for your life and for you to change your life, you have to change your character.

6. Be Good At Listening

Lastly, we first need to understand, to be understood. Listen to what other people have to say and try to understand them. Equally, they will grant you the same courtesy and respect your opinions just as you have shown them. Stephen writes,
“We have a tendency to rush things, and fix them up with good advice”
By,
Abin c Pascal
Asst. Manager Consulting
Bramma Learning Solutions Pvt Ltd
Mob: 9496695346 / 0484-2705535
Blog: abincpascal.wordpress.com

Friday, 24 January 2014

Be a Better Leader Today


Developing stronger leadership skills is an important act for virtually everyone in business. But becoming a better leader doesn't always require attending a pricey seminar. Sometimes, simple acts can have an immediate impact, says self-proclaimed "leadership freak" Dan Rockwell, a leadership coach and author of the Leadership Freak blog.
Here are four tips to help you be a better leader today:
1) Spend at least 15 minutes listening- Every day, spend at least 15 minutes with someone who has something to say about a challenge or opportunity your business is facing. It might be an employee or a contractor. But, the key is broach the subject and listen to the response without judgment.
 Rockwell says leaders often talk too much and don't truly listen to the people around them, who often have valuable insights. Listen to each person with the same level of attention and open mind as you would listen to a consultant or outside expert. You don't always have to follow the advice, but this exercise can help you get out of the same-old patterns of thinking.

"Becoming a better leader is often about letting other people in to have a better understanding of how to move forward," says Rockwell. "The more you need to say, the more you need to listen," he adds.


2)Say, "Tell me more."- 

Instead of asking a barrage of questions, which can be intimidating to others and make them less forthcoming, Rockwell advises using the phrase, "Tell me more." This objective statement lets your discussion counterpart continue in his or her line of thinking without feeling interrogated.

3) Allow some doubt- Entrepreneurs are often successful because of their belief in their vision and ideals. Rockwell acknowledges how important that is, but advises them to periodically ask, "What if I'm wrong?" That's not to say you should become doubt-filled or ineffective. 
This is another exercise that helps you think in new ways and perhaps find opportunities that wouldn't be apparent if you simply charged ahead in one direction. Question yourself about the markets you serve - what if you're wrong that a particular segment wouldn't want your product or service? What if you're wrong about embracing new technology? What would the possibilities be if you took a different approach?

4)Go to lunch
Or, grab some coffee, dinner or breakfast at least once a week with someone you admire. You become like the people with whom you spend time - so get some good ones in the mix, Rockwell says. 


Even when it feels like you don't have time, you can always make time to have coffee or even a phone conversation with someone who has traits or experience from which you can learn. Whether it's a mentor, a colleague who always offers great insight, or someone who just seems to have it all figured out, the more time you spend with people you admire, the more they can inspire you, he says.

Thursday, 23 January 2014

The One Thing Your Startup Really Needs to 

Succeed

Photo: The One Thing Your Startup Really Needs to Succeed.. 

Your startup is not special. You are not going to get the big bucks from investors. You did not go to Stanford and are not located in Silicon Valley. You have no track record of running a business, and your business plan is based on made-up numbers and hoped-for assumptions.

All you have is a good idea -- and you know that history is littered with failed startups that were born of good ideas.

You suddenly realize that no more paychecks are coming in. Your friends who cheered you on when you launched your startup have disappeared into their own problems. No one is knocking on your door or offering help. You start to realize that people promise things and then don't deliver. You don't feel like you're accomplishing anything.

You look around and find that there are many others like you -- people dreaming of business success. And you know that most will fail. Will you?

Don't panic. Your startup can still succeed. But it will depend on one thing and one thing only. Can you guess what?

Customers.

Really? Doesn't this sound obvious? It is obvious. And yet, I meet so many "entrepreneurs" that get so wrapped up in being an "entrepreneur" and monkeying around with their spreadsheets and pontificating about their grand plans that they forget that in the end they're supposed to be running a business. And a business simply needs customers.

Your startup will likely need one or two years to be profitable. During that time you must bring in work. That means that while you're building your product you're also hiring yourself out as an engineer at an hourly rate. Or while you're developing that new killer application you're doing some other programming work on the side. Or while you get that shop set up you're selling your products on eBay or Craigslist. You will lose money, but you will learn and build some history.

Potential investors and lenders don't want stories, they want results. They're interested in an existing, viable business that needs their help to grow. They want to see real financial statements showing revenues from live customers that you're turning into a future model rather than fictional plans and ideas based on assumptions.

I'm sure your idea is good. And I'm sure your plans are fine. Just don't spend too much time obsessing over them. Build a business -- go out and get some customers with what you have.

Courtesy to Entrepreneur.com

Your startup is not special. You are not going to get the big bucks from investors. You did not go to Stanford and are not located in Silicon Valley. You have no track record of running a business, and your business plan is based on made-up numbers and hoped-for assumptions.

All you have is a good idea -- and you know that history is littered with failed startups that were born of good ideas.

You suddenly realize that no more paychecks are coming in. Your friends who cheered you on when you launched your startup have disappeared into their own problems. No one is knocking on your door or offering help. You start to realize that people promise things and then don't deliver. You don't feel like you're accomplishing anything.

You look around and find that there are many others like you -- people dreaming of business success. And you know that most will fail. Will you?

Don't panic. Your startup can still succeed. But it will depend on one thing and one thing only. Can you guess what?

Customers
.



Really? Doesn't this sound obvious? It is obvious. And yet, I meet so many "entrepreneurs" that get so wrapped up in being an "entrepreneur" and monkeying around with their spreadsheets and pontificating about their grand plans that they forget that in the end they're supposed to be running a business. And a business simply needs customers.

Your startup will likely need one or two years to be profitable. During that time you must bring in work. That means that while you're building your product you're also hiring yourself out as an engineer at an hourly rate. Or while you're developing that new killer application you're doing some other programming work on the side. Or while you get that shop set up you're selling your products on eBay or Craigslist. You will lose money, but you will learn and build some history.

Potential investors and lenders don't want stories, they want results. They're interested in an existing, viable business that needs their help to grow. They want to see real financial statements showing revenues from live customers that you're turning into a future model rather than fictional plans and ideas based on assumptions.

I'm sure your idea is good. And I'm sure your plans are fine. Just don't spend too much time obsessing over them. Build a business -- go out and get some customers with what you have.

Wednesday, 22 January 2014

5 Morning Rituals to Keep You Productive All Day Long. . 
5 Morning Rituals to Keep You Productive All Day Long
Most of us work long hours: 40, 50 or even 60 hours each week. But chances are, given distractions like online entertainment, office snacking habits and ill-designed time management, we're only churning out high-quality work a portion of each day.

Here are five practical steps to incorporate into any morning routine to optimize your time at the office and maintain productivity all day long:
 

1)
7 minutes of exercise - Yep, not 10 -- just seven. Why? It's short enough that it won't impact the rest of your morning routine and long enough to shake off any residual sluggishness from the night before -- including that extra glass of wine.
There are endless fitness routines to turn to, but the one I like best is called the 7 Minute Workout (and yes, there's an app for that). In just seven minutes, it works all major muscle groups with 12 total exercises.


2)
Start your day out green - Sure, we've all been told that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and it's pretty easy to reach for a bagel, bowl of cereal, egg sandwich or cup of yogurt to get your metabolism going.


While all of these options are fine choices once in a while, you'll be shocked at the morning lift you can get from a green smoothie. And healthy juicing requires less time in the morning than toasting a bagel and slathering it with low fat cream cheese.

I go quick and easy, blending (for about a minute): one apple, one banana, one orange, a handful of spinach, half of a cucumber, any juice or coconut water on hand, a few cubes of ice and some flax seed. It's cheap, easy and energizing.

3)
Pick 3 wins for the day- While you're waiting for that smoothie to blend, get ahead of the evening's conversation with your significant other -- you know, the one that starts, "How was your day?"
Decide on the three things that you'd like to accomplish in the next 12 hours in order for you to feel like the day was a success. Sure, not every day will be an epic win, but strategizing in this way will help to move the ball forward.

4)
Block your calendar to achieve wins - One of the most common mistakes people make at the office is not turning to-do lists into time-bound, effective project lists. I've found that people who have mastered this hack are far more likely to deliver tasks on time.

It's simple: For each of the big things on your list, block off the amount of time on your calendar that you estimate the task might take -- and then add 33% more time just to be sure.
If a project is multi-day or has dependencies, break it up into digestible chunks. Use one block to plan and a second or third block to accomplish.

This simple method will help hold you accountable and immediately help you refocus on the tasks you've prioritized when you do get distracted. Too often, we let one distraction steamroll an entire morning -- now you don't have to let that client email derail you from your winning plan for the day.

5)Power up after lunch- Take the 15 minutes right after lunch to refocus on the day -- a kind of professional meditation. Get away from your computer, turn it off, go sit in a conference room and determine what you have on tap for the rest of the day.Think about how the list you set in the morning is shaping up. Are you ahead of schedule? Behind schedule? You'll find that these 15 minutes help you identify how you got derailed, what's causing you distractions and help you to rediscover a rhythm to be productive all day long.

Give this simple formula a try for a week and I think you'll be pleased with the results. 

Tuesday, 21 January 2014

The Positive Power of Saying 'No'


Why is saying no so hard? In my personal and professional relationships, I have a difficult time turning people down, even when there are good reasons I should. I'm not completely sure why so many of us feel this way, but I think it has something to do with our culture. We respect busyness. We're in awe of people who seem like they do it all. We want to please.

But over the years, turning opportunities down that aren't a good fit for me has been far more beneficial than I could have possibly imagined. It takes courage to be true to yourself -- to admit when you're not willing, uninterested, or simply want better.

"No, this job isn't right for me."

"No, I don't want to live here -- I want to live somewhere prettier."

"No, I want a bigger salary."

"No, this relationship isn't healthy."
What if you hurt someone's feelings? What if this business opportunity never comes along again? Who are you to think you deserve more? But the truth is, when we stretch ourselves thin, we're not helping anyone. I've discovered that when we're willing to say no, we create an opportunity for a frank, open discussion of what we do want. And the only way to get what you want is to let it be known.

When I've walked away from a business deal, nine out of 10 times the company has come back to me with a better offer. That's right -- 90 percent of the time. At first, I was shocked to discover this. I had more power than I realized! In the movie, American Hustle, there's a scene where Christian Bale's character says, "If you tell them 'no,' they will keep coming back for more." He's right.

When you turn someone you down, explain why. If you're dealing with a personal relationship, consider writing down your thoughts first. Be concise and to the point. Don't make excuses and don't be afraid to slow things down if you think they're moving too fast. You will be surprised to discover there's usually a second offer waiting for you. But some situations just aren't meant to be. If you gut tells you to walk away, do it. Rarely has a situation I felt unsure about gotten better, unfortunately.

In telling the truth, you set the stage for a more meaningful, fruitful relationship. The people you work with will respect your courage and honesty. It will give you strength and confidence.

It's easier to say no when you have other options. Hold out for positive relationships that will help grow your business in the right direction. Looking back, most of the business relationships I said yes to when I should have said no turned out poorly anyway.

Embrace the freedom you have to say no! You will be surprised at all of the positives that result.

Monday, 20 January 2014

NARROW YOUR FOCUS WHEN YOUR SALES IS GETTING DOWN..?

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How to increase sales when the economy is down..? Its a very frequently asked question!!!!
Recently when I went through the business line, I read an article that discuss about some real factors that can bring your sales up even when the industry is down… The answer is simple:-
“NARROW YOUR FOCUS…”
When the economy gets down then the companies become panic and the CEO and other managers only give more focus on sales, so they blindly focus on marketing rather than thinking and well planning to face the situations.
As the result of this panic scenario, they may reduce the price of products, they may increase the product line but what happens at the end of the day is that they also sink with the dawning economy.
So what should be the method to get up and rise..?
The method is called “Narrow your focus..”, which means “cut down the areas that cost high and have no results. ” Companies are like plants, over time, plants expand in every direction so a good gardener trims them from time to time. ” Companies should also take this with them, they should narrow your focus on things that can shine and provide better results.
So to alive in the economy you need to build a brand, of course local companies will exist when the market is up and they will no marks when the economy is down, somake a brand and trim your focus as many companies do in the real market.
For e.g. In the case of Apple, Apple has only one or two models and that replace the older one when they release new. And they are strong and made such a brand name that no any other companies even made with their ‘n’ number of items. But when we take Blackberry or Nokia, last year they introduced more than 15 models but what about their sales..? Nothing when compared toApple. This is called the “narrowing  focus..” and the“brand name..”
So “Narrow Your Focus..” and keep going with a brand name…
Abin c Pascal
Asst. Manager Consulting
Bramma Learning Solutions Pvt Ltd
Mob: 9496695346 / 0484-2705535
Blog: abincpascal.wordpress.com