On this final day of 2008 I want to not only extend my wishes to you for Success & Blessings in the New Year, but I also feel compelled to share this great thought as the world reflects on the past year & sets out to move forward in 2009.
Now more than any time throughout a given year, people from all over are setting goals - or at least have thought about preparing to set goals (tee hee!) - for the new year. Now is the time that commitments are being made to finally step up to the plate and make things happen, be it losing weight, business growth, etc. So why lose momentum halfway through February? Not enough pepper on that launch? Within each of us is the incredible ability to accomplish anything we set our minds to! Isn't your business worth great success?
In your party plan business - in your life - do you realize you're not the only one out there setting the goal to be #1, to be successful, to be extraordinary? January 1st offers a clean slate for everyone. Even the top leaders in your company have $0 in sales at some point on the first of the month. If you don't step up to the plate and jump on in there, somebody else will. If you don't stay committed to your goals - even halfway through February - somebody else will. If you don't get those bookings, somebody else will. If you don't get those prospects, sales, opportunities, events, recruits... somebody else will. If you don't get those things NOW, when? Why hurry up and wait? Worry and fear have never served anyone anything but bondage. (What a delightful picture, bondage on a silver platter.) When mid-February rolls around, will you remain on target? Ask yourself each and every day "If Not Now, When"? Your gain will be a direct result of your efforts; how great will your gain be? That is entirely up to you. Abundance is yours! You CAN be unstoppable - there are no limits. Make your life extraordinary - begin with today!
Wishing you a New Happy Year! Yes, a "New Happy Year" - because this and every year is a happy one if you make it so.
Success and Blessings to you in the New Year!
© 2008 Jennifer Stoll The Stand Up Coach All Rights Reserved
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE?
Please do, as long as the following blurb is included in its entirety: Entrepreneur Jennifer Stoll, The Stand Up Coach, is Founder and Editor of “Info Buffet” a free ezine for professionals in the Direct Sales/Party Plan industry. An author, speaker, and success coach, Jennifer provides principle based resources in a fun & humorous way. If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, make more money and have more fun in your business then visit Jennifer at http://www.thestandupcoach.com/.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Are You Already Ready Already?
I know, I know, redundancy abounds with me. But you have to admit - that title is awefully fun to say - and very thought provoking! So, seriously, are you already ready already for 2009? I've had to remind myself numerous times just this week that September has come and gone and the new year is literally around the corner. Talk of resolutions is in full swing both off and online, and I'm finding that many people are asking "will you have any resolutions in the new year?" or "do you plan to have any resolutions?" and this cracks me up. Let me ask this - why do we need to hurry up and wait? Why must the starting line for 'resolutions' be on the 1st of the year? Was this universal law written by the same people who said 'thou shalt not wear white after labor day'? (If that's really taboo then ignore my new handbag, mkay? Just sayin'.)
Now really, be an over-achiever and get a head start on the majority. Does your next step really have to wait until January 1st? You're extraordinary, and extraordinarily successful people rarely follow the crowd. In fact I think it's safe to say you'll find us extraordinarily successful people a good 50 feet ahead of that crowd. That crowd is practically chasing after extraordinary, wanting to know how they too can start an unbeaten path of their own.
Sure, I understand it's nice to start on an even (or in this case odd, technically) note - after all the beginning of a new year is a great & easy way to keep track of a beginning. New year equals new beginnings. Chew on this: just think of how great it will be to say "Oh I started that already back in 2008". Holy moley, you've already tacked on what seems like an entire year, even though it's technically the end of the year. It reminds me of when we were kids and people would ask us our age. Do you remember that? We'd tack on as much as we could for the sake of experience. "I'm 8 and 3/4." These next few days count as a jump start in your business experience. Funny to think about, I know, but it's so true.
What happens if after today your resolution takes a break? Hey, you still have Jan 1st as a springboard, am I right? (Tee hee!) But what happens after a January 1st resolution takes a break. "Oh, I guess it wasn't meant to be; resolutions never stick anyway..." and by January 15th 'tis but a vapor. I say jump on the opportunity now - today - get that puppy rolling! Why hurry up and wait? There's no need to wait for a date. Your resolutions/goals/dreams are ripe on the vine. You're already ready already! Go!
© 2008 Jennifer Stoll The Stand Up Coach All Rights Reserved
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE?
Please do, as long as the following blurb is included in its entirety: Entrepreneur Jennifer Stoll, The Stand Up Coach, is Founder and Editor of “Info Buffet” a free ezine for professionals in the Direct Sales/Party Plan industry. An author, speaker, and success coach, Jennifer provides principle based resources in a fun & humorous way. If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, make more money and have more fun in your business then visit Jennifer at http://www.thestandupcoach.com.
Now really, be an over-achiever and get a head start on the majority. Does your next step really have to wait until January 1st? You're extraordinary, and extraordinarily successful people rarely follow the crowd. In fact I think it's safe to say you'll find us extraordinarily successful people a good 50 feet ahead of that crowd. That crowd is practically chasing after extraordinary, wanting to know how they too can start an unbeaten path of their own.
Sure, I understand it's nice to start on an even (or in this case odd, technically) note - after all the beginning of a new year is a great & easy way to keep track of a beginning. New year equals new beginnings. Chew on this: just think of how great it will be to say "Oh I started that already back in 2008". Holy moley, you've already tacked on what seems like an entire year, even though it's technically the end of the year. It reminds me of when we were kids and people would ask us our age. Do you remember that? We'd tack on as much as we could for the sake of experience. "I'm 8 and 3/4." These next few days count as a jump start in your business experience. Funny to think about, I know, but it's so true.
What happens if after today your resolution takes a break? Hey, you still have Jan 1st as a springboard, am I right? (Tee hee!) But what happens after a January 1st resolution takes a break. "Oh, I guess it wasn't meant to be; resolutions never stick anyway..." and by January 15th 'tis but a vapor. I say jump on the opportunity now - today - get that puppy rolling! Why hurry up and wait? There's no need to wait for a date. Your resolutions/goals/dreams are ripe on the vine. You're already ready already! Go!
© 2008 Jennifer Stoll The Stand Up Coach All Rights Reserved
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE?
Please do, as long as the following blurb is included in its entirety: Entrepreneur Jennifer Stoll, The Stand Up Coach, is Founder and Editor of “Info Buffet” a free ezine for professionals in the Direct Sales/Party Plan industry. An author, speaker, and success coach, Jennifer provides principle based resources in a fun & humorous way. If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, make more money and have more fun in your business then visit Jennifer at http://www.thestandupcoach.com.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Customer Service - Delight or Disaster
I must say, customer service has increasingly become a thing of the past. Are you finding the same thing? It is becoming so obsolete we are almost accustomed to NOT having genuine service when we are out and about. From calling the phone company and getting their automated system ("press 1 to hear me say the words 'press 1' again, press 2 to hear other options NOT including the ability to speak to a live human being...") to cold attitudes at department stores; customer service as we know it is indeed a lost art.
Maybe it's just me - let's see if this scenario rings true for you.
Upon approaching the 'gates' of WalMart you're greeted with a grizzly "Welcome to WalMart" (interpretation: get your stuff and get outta here, I'm only saying 'welcome' cuz I have to). As the greeter is clearly glued to the official greeter stool/bench, you almost feel compelled to say "Hey, you know what, I'll get a cart for myself - thanks - don't get up" but you want to be polite so you bite your tongue. It doesn't take you long to realize they've completely rearranged the store from last week so everything as you know it is now flipped around and in completely different aisles. (It's actually a marketing strategy to keep customers in the store longer. Their hopes are that you'll come across something you didn't realize you needed until now, thus buying more.)
Discovering that locating just one particular item from your list will now be more like a scavenger hunt, you try to find an associate to help you. Lucky to have found someone after about a 10-minute search, you hear "Oh, that's not my department so I don't know" and they walk off. You feel compelled to say "That's ok, you could use that big ol' intercom system to find the appropriate associate (hey that rhymes) but, you know, I've been looking for that item for an hour and a half, I'm sure I'll find it eventually" and you decide you don't need that item today. (Hello - lost sale.)
Now it's check-out time. Well, sort of. Only 2 out of 22 possible check-out lines are open. (I ask you, why did they build 22 check-out lines when they were only planning on opening up a few at a time? Even around the holidays only half of them are open. We wouldn't want to interrupt the important discussion between the 4 or 5 teenage checkers hanging out around the courtesy desk by asking them to - I don't know - do their job? Ok, I digress.) Exhausted, paying customers are now pooling at the front of the store, making it nearly impossible for those who are still shopping to make their way through.
Woo Hoo - now it's your turn to check out! You're thinking you can brighten her day with a smile, after all you're the chipper one of the bunch and you're a professional. Too bad she's not making eye contact, right? You're lucky to even get a 'hello' from her, let alone a smile. Instead you receive a glare of inconvenience because she's not able to engage in the teen conversation at the courtesy desk, thanks to you. The glare returns if you're not taking your bags full of twice-beeped items off that spinning carousel of doom. (I kid you not - I once had a checker who stopped scanning my items and stared at me because I didn't take my bags right away to make room on her carousel for her. After saying "Ugh!" she stomped from behind her cash register and threw my bags into my cart. Nice.) You receive a complimentary, yet swift, kick in the behind when the checker hands you your receipt. The grand finale is: NOW the greeter is kind as you're leaving and says "Thanks for shopping at WalMart." Now in all fairness, not every WalMart I have ever been to has been like this, just our local store.
Where has all the service gone? It must be where lost socks go in the laundry. I mean really, don't they understand they're in the service industry? Let's look into that a bit. Herein lies the difference: Those who lack service are working there solely to pay their bills. That's it. They're not in it to improve their skills, reach a higher goal or fulfill a lifelong dream - it's just a J-O-B to them. It's all about their perspective. So why should it make any difference to them whether or not the customer is satisfied?!? This is truly their perspective, otherwise they would behave differently on the job. You can tell the ones who are truly thankful for their jobs. We as direct sellers have a GREAT opportunity to give unbelievable customer service. It's very easy for us because there is such a lack of service everywhere we turn; so even the tiniest snippet of customer service will go a LONG way! We are in our businesses to help people (and, oh ya, the paychecks are mighty nice too). That's where we can come from a place of service and really serve our customers! What a privilege! What an honor! It's about more than making money, we're helping people and making them feel good (which, in turn, makes us feel good)! We're making a difference, leaving a legacy and building on something that will outlive us! Doesn't it make sense that our business will flourish when we come from a place of service? I can hear it now: "Hello, Customer Delight Department, my name is Jennifer. How can I serve you today? Billing discrepancy? No problem, Mark in accounting will take good care of you as that's his specialty - my pleasure to connect you!" Aaahhhh... breath of fresh air! Next time you experience a lack in customer service, and it's almost a guarantee that you will, be thankful that you can enjoy what you do. Remember, others can tell whether you're thankful for your 'job'. Makes you think about sharing the business opportunity with that 'spinning-carousel-of-doom' checker, doesn't it? Hmmmm...
© 2008 Jennifer Stoll The Stand Up Coach All Rights Reserved
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE?
Please do, as long as the following blurb is included in its entirety: Entrepreneur Jennifer Stoll, The Stand Up Coach, is Founder and Editor of “Info Buffet” a free ezine for professionals in the Direct Sales/Party Plan industry. An author, speaker, and success coach, Jennifer provides principle based resources in a fun & humorous way. If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, make more money and have more fun in your business then visit Jennifer at http://www.thestandupcoach.com.
Maybe it's just me - let's see if this scenario rings true for you.
Upon approaching the 'gates' of WalMart you're greeted with a grizzly "Welcome to WalMart" (interpretation: get your stuff and get outta here, I'm only saying 'welcome' cuz I have to). As the greeter is clearly glued to the official greeter stool/bench, you almost feel compelled to say "Hey, you know what, I'll get a cart for myself - thanks - don't get up" but you want to be polite so you bite your tongue. It doesn't take you long to realize they've completely rearranged the store from last week so everything as you know it is now flipped around and in completely different aisles. (It's actually a marketing strategy to keep customers in the store longer. Their hopes are that you'll come across something you didn't realize you needed until now, thus buying more.)
Discovering that locating just one particular item from your list will now be more like a scavenger hunt, you try to find an associate to help you. Lucky to have found someone after about a 10-minute search, you hear "Oh, that's not my department so I don't know" and they walk off. You feel compelled to say "That's ok, you could use that big ol' intercom system to find the appropriate associate (hey that rhymes) but, you know, I've been looking for that item for an hour and a half, I'm sure I'll find it eventually" and you decide you don't need that item today. (Hello - lost sale.)
Now it's check-out time. Well, sort of. Only 2 out of 22 possible check-out lines are open. (I ask you, why did they build 22 check-out lines when they were only planning on opening up a few at a time? Even around the holidays only half of them are open. We wouldn't want to interrupt the important discussion between the 4 or 5 teenage checkers hanging out around the courtesy desk by asking them to - I don't know - do their job? Ok, I digress.) Exhausted, paying customers are now pooling at the front of the store, making it nearly impossible for those who are still shopping to make their way through.
Woo Hoo - now it's your turn to check out! You're thinking you can brighten her day with a smile, after all you're the chipper one of the bunch and you're a professional. Too bad she's not making eye contact, right? You're lucky to even get a 'hello' from her, let alone a smile. Instead you receive a glare of inconvenience because she's not able to engage in the teen conversation at the courtesy desk, thanks to you. The glare returns if you're not taking your bags full of twice-beeped items off that spinning carousel of doom. (I kid you not - I once had a checker who stopped scanning my items and stared at me because I didn't take my bags right away to make room on her carousel for her. After saying "Ugh!" she stomped from behind her cash register and threw my bags into my cart. Nice.) You receive a complimentary, yet swift, kick in the behind when the checker hands you your receipt. The grand finale is: NOW the greeter is kind as you're leaving and says "Thanks for shopping at WalMart." Now in all fairness, not every WalMart I have ever been to has been like this, just our local store.
Where has all the service gone? It must be where lost socks go in the laundry. I mean really, don't they understand they're in the service industry? Let's look into that a bit. Herein lies the difference: Those who lack service are working there solely to pay their bills. That's it. They're not in it to improve their skills, reach a higher goal or fulfill a lifelong dream - it's just a J-O-B to them. It's all about their perspective. So why should it make any difference to them whether or not the customer is satisfied?!? This is truly their perspective, otherwise they would behave differently on the job. You can tell the ones who are truly thankful for their jobs. We as direct sellers have a GREAT opportunity to give unbelievable customer service. It's very easy for us because there is such a lack of service everywhere we turn; so even the tiniest snippet of customer service will go a LONG way! We are in our businesses to help people (and, oh ya, the paychecks are mighty nice too). That's where we can come from a place of service and really serve our customers! What a privilege! What an honor! It's about more than making money, we're helping people and making them feel good (which, in turn, makes us feel good)! We're making a difference, leaving a legacy and building on something that will outlive us! Doesn't it make sense that our business will flourish when we come from a place of service? I can hear it now: "Hello, Customer Delight Department, my name is Jennifer. How can I serve you today? Billing discrepancy? No problem, Mark in accounting will take good care of you as that's his specialty - my pleasure to connect you!" Aaahhhh... breath of fresh air! Next time you experience a lack in customer service, and it's almost a guarantee that you will, be thankful that you can enjoy what you do. Remember, others can tell whether you're thankful for your 'job'. Makes you think about sharing the business opportunity with that 'spinning-carousel-of-doom' checker, doesn't it? Hmmmm...
© 2008 Jennifer Stoll The Stand Up Coach All Rights Reserved
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE?
Please do, as long as the following blurb is included in its entirety: Entrepreneur Jennifer Stoll, The Stand Up Coach, is Founder and Editor of “Info Buffet” a free ezine for professionals in the Direct Sales/Party Plan industry. An author, speaker, and success coach, Jennifer provides principle based resources in a fun & humorous way. If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, make more money and have more fun in your business then visit Jennifer at http://www.thestandupcoach.com.
Monday, December 15, 2008
The Essence of Ferf
I think it's only fitting to christen this blog with a Muppet video I found on YouTube. They've captured the hearts and laughter of many, and their goofiness is an inspiration. I just love the Muppets. I don't care who you are, they're fun! Enjoy!
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