The Productivity Post

Focus On Your Strengths, Delegate Your Weaknesses

Lorraine — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 23:59:47 +0000

To gain more of what you want out of life you need to use your strengths and delegate your weaknesses.

One of my clients runs a mail-order business and prior to being coached by me he used to spend 90% of his time working in his business being involved in every aspect from the bookkeeping to fulfilling orders.

His strengths lay in the development of his business and his people.

His time was being chewed up by activities he could pay other people to handle who would carry out these tasks in a fraction of the time he took.

Don’t waste another moment being involved in your areas of weakness, find other people to do that and you focus on your strengths. You’ll be happier and you’ll make more money.

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Are You Worth More Than Rubies?

Lorraine — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 01:17:12 +0000

Today my friend and long-time virtual assistant Kathie is doing a special launch of her book “Worth More Than Rubies”. It’s all about women who want to be home for their families, while still contributing to the household income.

With $1500 worth of free giveaways if you purchase the book on Amazon between the following hours, you’d be crazy to pass up this opportunity if this topic resonates with you.

Special offer (24 hours only): From 12.01am 27th June 2008 AEST
(10am 26th June - 9.59am 27th June US EDT)
I’ve also contributed a special gift of my e-course “How to Successfully Grow Your Business From Home“. Value $147.

Just click on the Amazon.com logo and you’re on your way!

After that go and enter your Amazon receipt details at the Campaign page to receive my special gift and many others too!

Lorraine For President?

Lorraine — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:29:48 +0000

Returning Phone Calls And Emails

Lorraine — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 23:59:47 +0000

I get annoyed when I constantly have to phone or email the same person because they don’t respond to my messages. The impression I form of them can include any or all of the following: they’re disorganised, don’t care or avoiding me, are too busy to be interested in what I may want (even if it is to spend money with them). There are often other reasons but these are the key ones that come up for me.

Make it a habit to return your calls and emails within 24 hours. If you’re unavailable, make sure someone else in your office can be or leave a recorded message on your phone or autoresponder on your email stating when you’ll be available.

People aren’t going to hang around waiting. They’ll take their business elsewhere.

**** This Week’s Success Tool***

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Recognition Increases Your Motivation

Lorraine — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 03:11:42 +0000

It’s great to receive a compliment or recognition for what you do. My blog was rated in the ‘Top 50 Productivity Blogs of the Year’ at Evan Carmichael’s ‘Entrepreneur Blog Network’. Having your own business is an achievement in itself and it’s easy to forget just how valuable you are. On a recent Client Teleconference, I asked those in attendance “when was the last time someone gave you a compliment or recognition for something you’d done?” They all had to think long and hard about that question. Pity isn’t it? Doesn’t take much to make someone’s day.

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Following Up Increases Your Profits

Lorraine — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 23:59:03 +0000

When do you usually hear from your insurance agent? Usually when the premium is due or when your direct debit bounces…and that’s the phone call I received this week.

Do you think he could make a note in his diary to ring me (or get one of his assistants to call) to see how my business is going and let me know about other insurance, which could interest me? That would blow me away. Chances are there is some insurance I may need but don’t even know I need it!

Do I have any loyalty to this agent? No way (and it doesn’t matter to me how nice a person he is). If someone else in his industry contacts me and can offer a better service (which isn’t hard to do), I wouldn’t think twice about changing.

The Sale After The Sale

It really is easy to increase business just by following up with the people you have already sold to.

Many people focus on that one-off sale, keep themselves busy, busy, busy and never look at the long-term value of a client. They have no follow-up systems in place to make it easy to do that.

All you need to do is make a note in your diary or scheduler on a particular date to make contact and then just do it!

Simple Checklists Can Make You More Money

Lorraine — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 23:59:00 +0000

A friend of mine recently sold her house through a local agent.

She was happy with them right up until the time she paid their $10,000 fee.

After that the service deteriorated. She left numerous calls wanting information about moving house and all the associated traumas associated with it. For $10,000 do you think it would have been difficult for them to supply her with a checklist of what she needs to do? How hard can it be?

When she finally spoke to the agent, he said, “No, we haven’t got anything like that!” For $10,000 do you think it would have been worthwhile for him to prepare a simple checklist and supply it to all their clients?

Instead of her being happy and recommending this agent to others, she is infuriated by their “couldn’t care, downright lazy” attitude and will certainly tell many others about it.

Such a simple thing can bring a good experience undone and lose potentially thousands of dollars of future business as my friend will not refer them to anyone else.

You’ve probably got heaps of valuable tips that you take for granted that would be of great benefit to your clients. They could be ‘value adds’ or something that people pay for.

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Clutter Creates Chaos

Lorraine — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 23:59:03 +0000

I visited a colleague’s home office recently and was amazed at how she could manage to work in it. There were papers and files scattered everywhere. You could hardly walk through the mess. Seeing this made me feel concerned about working with her in the future.

How would you rate your work environment? Do you feel good when you walk into your office? Or does it depress you?

Did you know that by making a few changes you can transform your office into a productivity powerhouse.

Simple things like having good lighting, pictures and music can make a huge difference to how energised you are.

A coat of paint can make a massive difference and of course clearing out the clutter will make you feel fantastic. You’ll be able to focus and get more done

Become a Leader and Be Careful Who you Listen To

Lorraine — Sun, 25 May 2008 23:59:39 +0000

I referred a friend of mine to one of my clients as she had the expertise required to help this client with the nuts and bolts of her retail store. My friend visited the store and made suggestions to the owner on how she could improve the day-day running of the store, the layout, stock, staff etc.

The owner was very new to the business world so coaching had been very valuable for her. Unfortunately she is surrounded by people who are not experienced in business and are very closed to new ideas.

My friend having experienced all the trials and tribulations of running a successful retail outlet new exactly what needed to be done. However, my clients’ staff thought they knew better even though they never had any prior experiences.

Unfortunately my client who is very ‘soft’ gave into the negativity of her staff and rather than get them off-side, didn’t make the changes that would expedite the success of her business and make her considerably more profit! She was more concerned about ‘keeping the peace’.

You must be very careful who you listen to.

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Overwork Doesn’t Mean You’re Productive

Lorraine — Sun, 18 May 2008 23:59:01 +0000

Are you one of those people that work long hours because there’s so much to do in your business?

Overwork and stress cause everything from a lack of creativity to stress-related illnesses that diminish your effectiveness.

A friend of mine has been in business several years and every time I speak with him, he’s always in a hurry and stressed out.

The silly thing is he wastes heaps of time doing administrative tasks which he could pay someone else to do, so he can spend his time building his business.

That’s exactly why his business hasn’t moved forward. He hasn’t got any time to be a business owner, only an administrator. Pity, as he is such a talented person and his business could be so successful and provide him with a great lifestyle.

Hey, but who am I to advise a friend? Giving free advice isn’t taken seriously.

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