This question demands that we know not only what prod

Here are seven questions we should all ask to unravel what is required to deliver superior customer service.

1. What customers do we need to make our business successful?

   This question demands two answers.

   The first is what is our business? In reaching this understanding it is beneficial to remember the truths embodied in the following story.

   One of the world's leading manufacturers of electric power tools invites its new executives to attend an induction course, at the opening session of which they are urged to consider a slide projected onto a large wall screen. The image put before them is of a gleaming electric drill and the executives are asked if this is what the company sells.

   The executives look uncertainly around at one another and tend as a group to concede that, yes, this is indeed what the company sells. It seems like a safe bet. They are immediately challenged by the next slide, however, that of a photograph of a hole, neatly drilled in a wall.

   "That is what we sell", the trainers suggest with some considerable satisfaction. "Very few of our customers are passionately committed to the deployment of electric power tools in their homes. They want holes. And it is your jobs as executives in this corporation to find ever more competitive, efficient, and imaginative ways of giving our customers what they want, holes in their walls".

   The second is what does a successful version of our business look like? What values of which financial, customer and community metrics describe our view of a successful business?

   The two answers enable us to start to determine how many customers, with what problems, we need to solve in order to have a successful business.

2. What do our preferred customers expect?

   This question demands that we know not only what prod

   So You've Invented Something, Now What?
   So you’ve invented the next big thing (or at least something that may solve a problem for a select group of people)? Now what?Well, sorry to say, but there’s quite a bit you need to tackle. To give you just a taste, there’s patenting, licensing, marketing, and manufacturing. So goodness, where do you start?First of all, you need to figure out if you are going to be able to make a profit from your invention. Patenting and marketing your invention are not inexpensive, easy tasks. They are very costly and take time!Chances are you’d like to make some money out of all this, so you first need to do a little research. Find out if you can make enough money from your invention for it to be a worthwhile endeavor.So first things first, do a little digging around on the marketability of your invention.The reality is, a patent in and of itself is worthless. It
   he first is what is our business? In reaching this understanding it is beneficial to remember the truths embodied in the following story.

   One of the world's leading manufacturers of electric power tools invites its new executives to attend an induction course, at the opening session of which they are urged to consider a slide projected onto a large wall screen. The image put before them is of a gleaming electric drill and the executives are asked if this is what the company sells.

   The executives look uncertainly around at one another and tend as a group to concede that, yes, this is indeed what the company sells. It seems like a safe bet. They are immediately challenged by the next slide, however, that of a photograph of a hole, neatly drilled in a wall.

   "That is what we sell", the trainers suggest with some considerable satisfaction. "Very few of our customers are passionately committed to the deployment of electric power tools in their homes. They want holes. And it is your jobs as executives in this corporation to find ever more competitive, efficient, and imaginative ways of giving our customers what they want, holes in their walls".

   The second is what does a successful version of our business look like? What values of which financial, customer and community metrics describe our view of a successful business?

   The two answers enable us to start to determine how many customers, with what problems, we need to solve in order to have a successful business.

3. What do our preferred customers expect?

   This question demands that we know not only what prod

   Thank-You Notes: Your Thoughtfulness will be Rewarded
   I get asked these questions over and over: "Should I send separate thank-you notes to everyone who interviewed me? Can I just send one thank-you note to the hiring manager and ask him/her to thank others involved in the process?"The answers are yes and no, respectively.Send a separate thank-you note to everyone who interviewed you, whether it was an informal pre-interview phone call, an interview lunch meeting, or the final formal interview after a lengthy process.Don't be stingy with your thank yous!It's an easy thing to do, it will only take a few minutes--and it will make the recipients feel good about you!Why wouldn't you jump at the chance to do that?You can make your thank-you notes relatively short. They can be sent via snail-mail or email.(There are differing opinions on which is best. I prefer the now "special" touch of a real letter
   electric drill and the executives are asked if this is what the company sells.

   The executives look uncertainly around at one another and tend as a group to concede that, yes, this is indeed what the company sells. It seems like a safe bet. They are immediately challenged by the next slide, however, that of a photograph of a hole, neatly drilled in a wall.

   "That is what we sell", the trainers suggest with some considerable satisfaction. "Very few of our customers are passionately committed to the deployment of electric power tools in their homes. They want holes. And it is your jobs as executives in this corporation to find ever more competitive, efficient, and imaginative ways of giving our customers what they want, holes in their walls".

   The second is what does a successful version of our business look like? What values of which financial, customer and community metrics describe our view of a successful business?

   The two answers enable us to start to determine how many customers, with what problems, we need to solve in order to have a successful business.

4. What do our preferred customers expect?

   This question demands that we know not only what prod

   Why Have Multiple Streams Of Income
   Multiple streams of income is something each person or family should be striving for. It really gives you a better sense of security should any trouble arise. What it means is having more than one place where you are earning income. If the one source of money goes away, then you will still have another source. I recommend trying to get at least 5 sources of income as soon as possible, and then gradually build it up to about 10. Each does not need to be much, maybe about $300 per month. Last time I checked, 10 x $300 is $3,000 per month. This would be pretty good, as most of it will be residual. Let’s look at a simplistic view of multiple streams of income.Rental income: Most of us have never had any rental income, and probably do not know where to start. There are plenty of books out there to get you started. In this case, you would buy a house with a mortgage of $400.
   est with some considerable satisfaction. "Very few of our customers are passionately committed to the deployment of electric power tools in their homes. They want holes. And it is your jobs as executives in this corporation to find ever more competitive, efficient, and imaginative ways of giving our customers what they want, holes in their walls".

   The second is what does a successful version of our business look like? What values of which financial, customer and community metrics describe our view of a successful business?

   The two answers enable us to start to determine how many customers, with what problems, we need to solve in order to have a successful business.

5. What do our preferred customers expect?

   This question demands that we know not only what prod

   Rewriting Your Resume? 7 Easy Ways To Give Yourself An Upgrade
   In today's competitive job market, a first class resume is an essential tool for winning an interview. The way in which you present your skills, achievements and experience on paper will profoundly affect the way in which a hiring company considers your application.An expertly crafted resume not only captures the attention of its reader through careful attention to layout and formatting; it also targets the specific needs of the potential employer by matching and highlighting your abilities and background to the key requirements of the position.So what exactly is the 'perfect resume'?It's well-nigh impossible to get recruitment professionals to agree on this. For example, take the vexed question of the 'resume objective'. Some employers prefer to see a clearly stated objective as evidence of a candidate's career focus; others consider including an ob
   ness look like? What values of which financial, customer and community metrics describe our view of a successful business?

   The two answers enable us to start to determine how many customers, with what problems, we need to solve in order to have a successful business.

6. What do our preferred customers expect?

   This question demands that we know not only what products or services a customer group needs, but what problem needs to be solved.

   Customers will expect us to solve their problem, not just to meet their need. In solving their problem what will they expect in terms of sales, credit, logistics, billing and communication?

   We must match the minimum of what they expect with the minimum of what we provide. We must be willing to ask what customers need and not fall into the trap of using the opinion of one (ours). Conducting well constructed and sampled qualitative research is a good way to find out the relative importance of customer expectations and quantitative research to find out how many customers exist with groups of expectations. If we cannot afford to then we should talk to the people from whom our preferred customers buy.

7. What would surprise them?

   This question demands knowledge of customer's unmet needs.

   In addition to understanding what our preferred customers expect as a minimum, we must understand the range of services which they would not expect, but value. In doing so, we will know what services to give to deliver superior service. Typically, these services are low cost ones which we can afford to give away.

   For example, following up a customer in retail sales of medium to high value goods or services has high impact on reducing any feelings of remorse over the purchase and highlights any issues over the purchase to be dealt with quickly. The cost is a few minutes of labour and a phone call. The service is unexpected and in the vast majority of cases very welcomed and valued.