Take charge! Seven tips to successful meetingsWritten by Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D.
We've all been there. We attend a seminar or a meeting and gnash our teeth as leader falters, gets off track or allows other participants to waste our time. These tips create a strategy for effective leadership. 1. You're leader. Be strong! Don't abdicate your role to participants. 2. Get buy-in on your agenda and goals before you begin Begin with, "Here's what we're covering today. Do these topics meet your needs?" 3. Keep group on track. Sooner or later, a participant will toss out an irrelevant comment or (worse) a long-winded story. Another will dominate discussion. Be ready with tactics: "I'm sorry to interrupt, and I'd like to hear that story during our break." Or, "That's a great topic -- next week's class." Or, "Let's hear a question from someone who's been silent all morning."
| | How To Get More Business During The Winter MonthsWritten by John Satterfield
How To Get More Business During The Winter MonthsBusiness seems to drop, slow or even stop during winter months. As tourist traffic slows or stops during winter months so does incomes of many local business owners. The first step in overcoming this problem begins in your brain (don’t they all?) To begin with, don’t see these slow months as a dead time. See them for what they are , a time to build customer relationships and prepare for busy season to come. There are a few things that you might try to cushion slow season. Below you’ll find a list of strategies that just might work for your business. 1.Hold a class or Informational seminar-- Invite all your customers to come in for an educational session. Make sure that you have some nice deals for them on related items so that they can spend some money with you. It may well be worth considering doing class for free. (gasp!) Some of types of things that come to mind are Fishing, crafts, investments, flower arranging, interior decorating, travel tips, Information about certain surgerys, back pain relief, parenting, writing workshops and on and on…… 2.Work up package deals that will be available during “on” season but sell them now=get money now. Remember that money now is always worth more than money later! Here’s a great idea for a resort. Pay us $250 now and we’ll give you a two night stay and a boat rental (with 4 hours guided) and a picnic lunch. Just make your reservation any time in year 2004. I’ve seen this exact package sell over 20%! If you offered this to 1000 prospects and sold 200 You would gross $50,000! Could $50,000 now tide you over for a few weeks?
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