This is my spot for idea bursts… which are usually – as the name suggests – random!
Actually, I would be quite happy if someone would invent – SECOND BRAIN – a bedside tablet. One that powers up with voice recognition, lets me voice my ideas and automatically transcribes it all into text – all without me having to get out of bed! Hmm. It would be nice if the tablet had a stylus to scribble notes with and a light that would turn on upon touch, transcribing my hen scratches into text. Thoughts and ideas are sometimes better related with pen then with typing, you know. Is there such a device?
Some would say, use a note book – actually I do – and always have them with me. I also have tons of notes, notebooks, even writing on the wall – but wouldn’t it be cool to have a ‘second brain?’ [Although, come to think of it I can get into enough trouble...er...fun with just the one!]
Surprise Someone… like a customer!
If you’ve read through my site, you’ll see I love paper and reading – here’s my thought. Share your joy with a customer that would enjoy your passion too:
- send a book [on a subject you know they have an interest in]
- a hand-written card or letter
- writing journal
- calendar [make it speical - not all about you]
Other ideas:
- random draws in store or from your database
- ask a customer what community group they volunteer with
- and make a donation in their name!
- random on-the-street give-a-way and coupon
The old Chair – has a life
Recently I decided to have an old piece of furniture re-upholstered. This piece has a label affixed from a previous re-cover in 1968 and just happened to be from the city I was born [that was cool to find]. So, I thought I’d save that and have it sewn back into the new re-cover along with the new upholstery company’s label. I asked to have that done and they said “oh! we don’t have labels”. I said “are you serious, you don’t label your work?” [which is fabulous work]. “Nope, never have” was their answer.
Here’s my thought…they are re-creating memories and it may seem trival to them to have a label, but I think they are missing the boat here…become a part of the memory/experience and pass it on! Not to mention…branding.
Take a Seat
What if a Card-shop (look at this Hallmark) had a section of the store dedicated to sitting down in a comfortable space to write out cards? Complete with suggestions, (great book – On a Personal Note, by Angela Ensminger & Keely Chace ) stamps and a mail delivery station! Why do I think this is a good idea? How many of us buy the cards, run home, leave them in the corner or maybe don’t even get them from the car? Or, by the time you actually take the time to write the card it should be “belated!” Remember this is only an idea burst and must be considered in relation to a business’s overall goal or vision. However, often the simple things create the most memorable customer experiences.
Follow-Up Required
If you participate in a trade show and don’t follow-up you may as well have taken all that money you invested and started a fire with it. You not only spent money, but time and other resources along with getting sore feet to be there and be noticed.
I recently attended a trade show and left my contact information in the many WIN! boxes, spoke with many people [and also met some others that you could plainly see did not want to be there, that's for another day] and I have not had one email, phone call or letter. Yes these are leads, not necessarily qualified yet…but they won’t be if you don’t ASK them, AKA – FOLLOW-UP.
Here’s the short – To get results…you must ACT! It is all up to you.
A Conversation in Passion!
If you are passionate about the results you deliver and you know that your clients will be better off, you owe it to others to be there with that expertise.
Have a conversation to see if they want the results you produce. Your actual product or service is the delivery tool. The outcome is the result they will get. Will it be less stress, more time, more style, more customers, higher productivity, happier employees? Think of a singer you enjoy: delivery tool – voice, result for you – the feeling you get from the story.
You know the results you deliver.You owe it to others to share that conversation!
Round Tuit Goal Setting
My first E-book is the Round Tuit Goal Setting Guide. I believe in keeping life simple and this e-book is just that – simple & realistic with easy to implement tools & ideas to help you achieve business or life goals! Check it out today.
