Encourager-In-Chief Weekly Blog

Work-Life Balance in a Fast-Paced World

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 13:45:00 GMT

Strategies for Thriving Personally and Professionally.

Topics In This Article:

But Does Success Have To Mean Sacrificing Balance?
What You'll Learn in This Seminar

In today’s high-demand business environment, the line between work and personal life has become increasingly blurred. With constant emails, notifications, and the expectation to always be available, many professionals find themselves struggling to keep up. What starts as a dedication to a thriving career can quickly lead to stress, overwhelm, and eventually burnout. For many, success has come at a steep cost, long hours, missed family moments, declining health, and the pressure to always perform. Rather than experiencing the fulfillment of their hard work, they find themselves exhausted, disconnected, and questioning if the sacrifices are truly worth it.

But Does Success Have To Mean Sacrificing Balance?

The reality is, that without intentional boundaries and sustainable routines, burnout, strained relationships, and even financial instability become inevitable. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. That’s why I will be speaking on Work-Life Balance in a Fast-Paced World, a seminar designed to help professionals reclaim their time, set boundaries, and develop a balanced approach to success—without sacrificing well-being. This isn’t just about theory; it’s about practical action steps you can implement immediately.

What You’ll Learn in This Seminar:

The Hidden Impact of Constant Connectivity Technology has made it easier than ever to stay connected—but at what cost? This session will uncover how digital overload affects productivity, mental health, and relationships, and what you can do to regain control of your time.
Setting Healthy Boundaries Without Guilt Whether it’s defining work hours, limiting notifications, or creating tech-free spaces, setting boundaries is essential. You’ll learn strategies to confidently enforce boundaries that protect your well-being while maintaining professional excellence.
Designing Your Personal Mission, Vision & Value Statement Without clear direction, it’s easy to drift through life reacting to demands instead of making purpose-driven choices. You’ll craft a personal mission, vision, and value statement that aligns with your goals and future aspirations.
Building a Roadmap for Work-Life Success Once your mission and values are clear, you can design a structure that supports both personal and professional fulfillment. This session will help you develop routines and habits that promote success, stability, and balance.
Reducing Distractions & Increasing Focus Multitasking, frequent interruptions, and digital distractions steal time and energy. Learn how to eliminate distractions, create focused work sessions, and accomplish more in less time—giving you more freedom to enjoy life.
The Power of Rest & Self-Care Many high achievers view rest as a luxury, but in reality, it’s a non-negotiable for long-term success. Discover how sleep, movement, and mental breaks can enhance productivity, creativity, and overall well-being.
Taking Action: Practical Steps to Implement Today Knowledge without action won’t change your life, applying what you learn will. You’ll walk away with a personalized balance plan, designed to fit your lifestyle, career, and aspirations so you can start making changes immediately

Finding Balance.

For years, I was caught in the cycle of overwork, stress, and neglecting personal priorities. After leaving my corporate role and relocating, I set out to intentionally rebuild my life with balance at the center. Through tested strategies, mindset shifts, and planning, I created a life that aligns with my values, supports my success, and prioritizes what truly matters.

Now, I help other professionals do the same. In this workshop, I’ll be sharing the techniques that helped me achieve a sustainable work-life balance without compromising success.

I want to inspire you to explore your deepest goals, clarify your values, and create a life that reflects your true purpose. This journey isn’t just about your career, it’s about designing a life that serves both you and the people who matter most.

Are you ready to take control of your time, energy, and future?

Join me for this transformational session and start creating a life that aligns with your values, honors your priorities, and brings you lasting fulfillment.

Don't Look A Goldmine in the Mouth

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 15:39:00 GMT

Make The Most of Your Networking Opportunities.

Topics In This Article:

Why Entrepreneurs Stop Networking – And Why It’s a Mistake
Discovering a Goldmine: The Power of NRG Networking
Don’t Pay for a Network You Never Use
The Key to Business Growth: Consistent Networking
Make the Most of Your Networking Investment
More Referrals, Please!

There’s a saying I picked up many years ago. It goes, “Having books and not reading in the information age is like having seeds and not planting in the agricultural age.” If that statement is true, then it also follows that joining and paying for a networking organization, and not attending, is just like throwing money down the drain. Unfortunately, that’s what I see so many entrepreneurs do when they start getting busy.

Why Entrepreneurs Stop Networking – And Why It’s a Mistake

Most entrepreneurs will join a Chamber of Commerce or a networking affiliation early on and will be more inclined to attend those mixers until they get to the point where they feel they are too busy to network. This is a colossal mistake! The busier you are, the more you should be networking so that you can tell everybody how busy you are!

Discovering a Goldmine: The Power of NRG Networking

About a year and a half ago, I stumbled onto what I considered a goldmine. Several of my clients mentioned NRG to me. NRG stands for National Referral Group, and its founder, Mike Weiner, really impressed me the first time we met. I watched him conduct one of his many weekly Zoom networking sessions and rattle off referral after referral — not only to his paid members but also to his invited guests who were prospective customers interested in finding out more about his business.

Don’t Pay for a Network You Never Use

When I spread the word about Mike’s business to my client base, many of them signed up as members. However, I was shocked to learn that some of them rarely or never attended any of the networking sessions. The value of any system or service is only as good as the amount of time you spend using it. Networking is the most reliable and cost-effective way for you to grow your business.

The Key to Business Growth: Consistent Networking

As long as you’re in business, you’re never going to get to the point where you can afford to stop networking. I made this mistake once when I was running my business and stopped networking for about five years. It almost put me out of business. The key to my turnaround was that I started networking consistently and regularly until I got to the point where virtually my entire client base was coming to me as a result of my networking efforts.

Make the Most of Your Networking Investment

If you’re serious about growing your business, make a commitment to get the most out of your networking investment. If you won’t do it for yourself, do it for all of those prospects going to networking events hoping to find someone like you who can solve their problems.

“You're either networking or not working." – Dave Romeo

For more on this topic, please check out our course from our sister company, Romeo Network. Browse the entire "Survive and Thrive," category, as well as this topic: "Survive and Thrive V: Ramping up Referrals ."

More Referrals, Please!

Who doesn't love referrals? If you love networking, but prefer to connect from the comfort of your home or office, definitely check out NRG, and tell Mike we sent you his way! Your first meeting is completely free, and you even get three guaranteed referrals on the spot just for giving it a try. Give Mike a call, or shoot him a text, at (443) 756-9656 .

What Do You Instill When You Install Your Service?

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 14:00:00 GMT

It Should Be Confidence In Your Service

The Importance of Ease of Execution in Business

When was the last time you looked into your ease of execution? I’m talking about how easy it is for you to deliver your products and services to your customers and how easy it is for them to get them from you — which also includes ease of delivery.

A Real-Life Example: Carpet Installation Gone Wrong

After 27 years, I finally broke down to get some new carpet for my family room/exercise area/office area. Although I had never bought any products from this company before, they were an exceptionally well-known and well-established brand-name carpet and flooring company.

Setting Expectations: Employees vs. Subcontractors

I specifically asked if they would only send installers who were their employees, as opposed to
subcontractors. This was because we had a bad experience with another flooring company about three years ago. This company assured me they would send their own employees, although it would probably take a little longer to schedule them.

Delivery Delays and Mismanagement: Day One

The two installers showed up ½ an hour late on the first day. Keep in mind that all they were doing was one room and a flight of stairs. After about two hours, they left saying they were going to get the carpet. Their store was about an hour away round-trip from our home. Why they didn’t bring the carpet with them in one of the two vans they parked in our driveway, I’ll never know.

Poor Communication and Inefficiency: Day Two

The next day, the same two installers showed up on time. I asked them if they even had enough carpeting to do the stairs. They said yes, they had picked it up that morning from the store. Apparently, they were never going to get the job done in one day, since they didn’t even have all the carpeting with them when they initially arrived at our home.

The Customer Experience Matters

Before I could even get downstairs, they had moved my treadmill and elliptical machine back into the room. Unfortunately, I’d measured where they went so that I could line up everything else in the room. That meant everything had to be removed, measured, and moved back.

Key Takeaway: Instilling Value and Peace of Mind

The point of the story — besides allowing me the opportunity to get paid for venting — is to point out that when you install your service in a customer’s house, your goal should be to instill a sense of value and peace of mind in your customer, so that he or she feels like they got his or her money’s worth.

Credibility comes from results. Everything else is just marketing . – Richie Norton

Watch the Full Seminar for More Insights

Let me hear from you .

(This excerpt is taken from the seminar video 12 Easy Ways to Improve Any Business .) I encourage you to watch this video at RomeoNetwork Online Learning.

Credibility By Association

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 14:00:00 GMT

Your Network Speaks Volumes

Where you do business and who you do business with says an awful lot about you, whether you realize it or not. Your friends, family, customers, and prospects will evaluate you based on the company you keep.

A Chance Encounter That Proved a Point

Last year, a misdirected package brought me to the home of a woman I had never met. She turned out to be a widow of only 10 days and was recovering from knee replacement surgery. At 69 years old, she faced numerous challenges, including retrieving her car from an unreliable repairperson. Despite being strangers, she listened as I suggested businesses that might assist her. Since we lived in the same town, I asked if she was familiar with Carl & Scott’s Automotive. She immediately recognized the name and shared that she and her late husband had trusted them for service.

Credibility Through Trusted Associations

When I mentioned that Carl & Scott’s Automotive was one of my sponsors, her comfort level with me rose significantly. Their excellent reputation for fairness and reliable repairs translated to trust in me. With her guard down, I was able to guide her toward much-needed assistance with banking, estate planning, and real estate issues.

The Lesson: Reputability is Contagious

This interaction illustrates a critical truth: when you associate with reputable people and businesses, their credibility reflects on you. Customers and prospects are more likely to trust you if you use trustworthy tools, products, and services in your business. Make sure they know about these connections.

Build Your Ironclad Credibility

“ Tell me who you hang out with, and I’ll tell you who you are. ” – Burke Hedges's mother

Your network and partnerships play a significant role in how others perceive you. Align yourself with reputable associates, and their credibility will strengthen your own reputation.

Watch the Full Seminar

This excerpt is taken from the seminar video " How to Build Ironclad Credibility. " To dive deeper into strategies for strengthening your reputation, watch the full video at courses.romeonetwork.com.

Succession Planning Starts Now!

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 13:45:00 GMT

It’s Never Too Soon

Often, sole proprietors long for the company of others in their business. One reason is that it can get very lonely when you’re running your own business all by yourself. Second, you can delegate tasks to someone else if there’s no one else working with you. Third, if you don’t want to work for the rest of your life, you eventually have to have someone else to whom you can pass along what you’ve learned.

When Should You Start Succession Planning?

What’s wrong with today? If you have anyone else in your organization, are you evaluating their potential? Of course, not everyone is cut out to be a leader. Plus, you also have to make sure that the person isn’t as entrepreneurially oriented as you are, or that person may just go out on his or her own. You must find somebody who shares your work ethic and has a strong desire to grow and become more than they already are.

A Success Story: George Garrett of Garrett Electric

A few years ago, I met George Garrett of Garrett Electric. Even though he only had one employee at the time, the first thing he told me was that he wanted to scale his business. George did several things right. First, he made sure that he was setting an example by giving excellent customer service to his clients. He always gives more than is expected. Next, he instilled in his employees the same work ethic so that he could duplicate his brand. In addition, he made sure that he not only invested in his own education but made sure to provide similar business training to his future successors.

Assessing and Developing Talent

Early on, George could tell that different employees had different levels and desires to grow and learn. This makes it easy to decide where he should be investing most of his time in creating succession plans for his business. You’ll want to make sure that you’re doing the same thing in your business.

Take a talent inventory of your staff. If you do not have a staff, you should be constantly looking around for potential future employees. Most likely it’s going to be from those future employees that you cultivate a succession plan for your future. Even if you’re not ready to hire today, you can still be on the lookout today. As the saying goes, the worst time to start looking for a dentist is after you already have a toothache.

“No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself, or to get
all the credit for doing it.” — Andrew Carnegie

Let me hear from you.

(This excerpt is taken from the Leadership Academy.) I encourage you to click here to register for the Leadership Academy 5-part series running on five consecutive Tuesday mornings beginning March 18, 2025, through April 15, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time. This course alternates between in-room classes and live streaming each week.

AI for Business Professionals

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 14:15:00 GMT

Showcasing Your Skills with Chat GPT & Similar Tools

AI for Business Professionals: Tools and Tactics for Showcasing Your Skills with Chat GPT

In today's fast-paced professional world, staying competitive means adopting tools that enhance productivity while showcasing your unique skills. Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a powerful ally in this mission, and tools like Chat GPT are leading the way in revolutionizing how professionals approach their work. As Elon Musk aptly said, “AI will be the best or worst thing ever for humanity.” For business professionals, leveraging AI like Chat GPT can undoubtedly be one of the best tools to enhance capabilities, save time, and focus on what truly matters.
Amplify Your Expertise with AI
Artificial intelligence is not about replacing human capabilities; it’s about enhancing them. Chat GPT acts as a dynamic assistant that complements your expertise in various ways. It allows you to streamline research by quickly gathering and synthesizing information, enabling you to craft reports and presentations with accuracy and depth. Additionally, Chat GPT serves as a brainstorming partner, generating fresh ideas for creative projects, marketing campaigns, or innovative solutions to complex problems. When it comes to communication, this tool ensures your emails, proposals, and speeches are polished and professional, leaving a lasting impression. These advantages free you to focus on strategic, high-impact activities that drive results in your career.

Showcase Your Unique Skills
Using Chat GPT doesn’t just save you time—it allows your strengths to shine. For instance, you can showcase your problem-solving abilities by leveraging AI to analyze scenarios and suggest thoughtful solutions. This demonstrates your capability to handle complex challenges with clarity and confidence. Similarly, Chat GPT can serve as a creative catalyst, sparking ideas that you refine and present as innovative strategies, showcasing your visionary thinking. Finally, by streamlining repetitive tasks, you demonstrate efficiency and organizational prowess, showing others that you can deliver on time without sacrificing quality.
Ready to elevate your skills and take your business to the next level? Learn actionable insights at the "Experts In Business: AI - Leveraging Technology to Grow Your Business" forum. Don’t miss this opportunity! Click here to reserve your seat to one of Lancaster County's most sought after AI Summits .

Practical Applications and Recommended Tools

In addition to Chat GPT, several AI tools can help enhance your productivity and skillset in specific domains. For managing tasks and automating workflows, try Zapier or Microsoft Power Automate, which integrate with popular apps to streamline repetitive processes. For creating stunning visuals or presentations, explore Canva's Magic Write or Beautiful.ai, which leverage AI to simplify design and storytelling. Professionals in sales and marketing can use HubSpot's AI-powered tools for lead generation and customer engagement or Jasper.ai for creating persuasive ad copy and blog posts.

A powerful example of AI in action is using Chat GPT alongside Grammarly for crafting error-free, impactful emails or reports. Imagine drafting a client pitch: Chat GPT helps brainstorm creative hooks and organize key points, while Grammarly ensures your tone, clarity, and grammar are pitch-perfect. For more comprehensive project management, tools like Trello with AI plugins or Notion AI can assist in organizing ideas and collaborating effectively with teams. Exploring and combining these tools allows you to tailor AI to meet your unique professional needs, saving time while delivering exceptional results.

Want to explore how AI can improve operational efficiency and drive innovation? Join industry leaders on September 25, 2025, in Lancaster, PA, for a transformative AI-focused business forum. In person seating is limited - click here to reserve your spot now .

Try These AI Prompts!
Here are a few prompts and real-life examples you can try with Chat GPT:
Drafting an Email:

Prompt: " Write a concise and professional email inviting a client to a meeting to discuss partnership opportunities. Include three proposed times and emphasize the benefits of the partnership."

Brainstorming Marketing Ideas:

Prompt: "Suggest five creative ways to market a new online learning course for professionals."

Content Creation:

Prompt: " Write a 300-word blog post on the benefits of time management for business leaders."

Problem-Solving:

Prompt: "I’m struggling to prioritize tasks for a big project with a tight deadline. Provide a step-by-step guide to manage my time efficiently."

Creating a Presentation Slide:

Prompt: "Summarize key points about how AI improves customer experience for inclusion in a slide deck."
Try these out, and see how Chat GPT can transform your day-to-day professional tasks! Let us know how you like your results and tell us if you have any tips of your own, too!
Focusing on Results
One of the most significant benefits of adopting Chat GPT is the ability to shift your focus from mundane tasks to result-producing activities. By automating routine processes like drafting, editing, and research, you gain the freedom to dedicate more time to building relationships, closing deals, and devising strategic plans. With AI working efficiently behind the scenes, you can prioritize the tasks that matter most, ensuring your efforts are aligned with your goals and producing measurable outcomes.

An opportunity to plug into a networking lunch is included at the "Experts In Business" forum—gain invaluable insights while networking with like-minded professionals. Save your seat now!

Share Your Experience

Have you tried Chat GPT or other AI tools for any of these tasks? Share your experience in the comments below! We’d love to hear about the prompts you used and the results you achieved. If you have questions about leveraging AI in your business, submit them in the comments, and we’ll address them in future posts or at the upcoming forum. Your feedback and curiosity help shape the conversation around the future of AI in business.

Join us at Lancaster Bible College on September 25, 2025, to learn from experts and harness the power of AI to grow your business. Tickets are $125—reserve yours today!

Learning From Loss: A Christmas Miracle

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 19:36:00 GMT

A Christmas Miracle

Legacy and Impact
Over the last few weeks, I have been made aware of many great lives that have now passed on into eternity with Jesus. In particular, there are two that stand out as I write - Larry Katz, and Mike Shaffer. I did not Larry at all, but many people who I know knew him well and were spiritually impacted by him. After he passed suddenly in a car accident, I saw at least ten posts on social media from people impacted by his legacy of faith. The other, Mike Shaffer, was the loving father of childhood friends from church. He too left a legacy of life, faith, and love. He worked hard to provide for his family and was passionate about teaching the Word Of God.
The legacy of both of these men reminds me of the greatest love of all - the love of Jesus, which we all can share equally, not just in December, but all year long!
Grief During the Holidays
For many, the Christmas season is a time of joy, family, and celebration. Yet, for those who are grieving, it can feel like a stark reminder of what has been lost. Whether it's the absence of a loved one, a significant life change, or a personal hardship, the holidays can amplify feelings of sorrow. However, the true meaning of Christmas offers a powerful lens through which to navigate grief—a lens of hope, renewal, and unconditional love. This connection between loss and the transformative spirit of Christmas is a key focus of our seminar, Learning From Loss.

Letting Go of Guilt and Embracing Forgiveness
Grief often comes with a heavy burden of guilt—guilt over things left unsaid, actions left undone. One of the core teachings of Learning From Loss is the importance of letting go of guilt and embracing self-forgiveness; or possibly forgiving the loss of a damaged relationship. In the context of Christmas, this message resonates deeply. The season invites us to reflect on forgiveness and grace, themes central to the Christmas story itself. As we let go of guilt, we create space for the peace and love that Christmas embodies.

Staying Present and Finding New Beginnings

Another profound insight from the seminar is the importance of staying present while coming to terms with the past. The Christmas story is one of new beginnings, of light breaking into darkness. It encourages us to focus on the moments we have now and the future we can build together. By anchoring ourselves in the present, we honor our loved ones and experiences not by dwelling in pain but by living in ways that reflect their positive influence on us.

The photo above are of a “Thank You” card from my grandmother Evelyn.

It reads, "Dear John, Many thanks for serving as a pallbearer for Grandpa. It was a blessing to him to have you there and your kindness means a lot to me." Love, Grandma D.

She wrote me this note after I had been a pallbearer at my grandfather “Bud” Dittenhafer’s funeral. That was 20 years ago, in 2002. Four years later, she too passed on after a life well lived. I came across the note while getting out Christmas decorations… The handwriting is the spitting image of my mom Peggy’s handwriting. Between the topic of the note, the author, and the immediate connection between multiple generations of family, a flood of emotion washed over me. Grief. Loss. Legacy. Gratitude. Joy...
Gratitude and Respect, Anchors and Bouys
My grandfather was a man I grew up wanting to be like. Even though he was somewhat distant in my younger years, as I became a young adult I took notice to the legacy of service to others he (and my grandmother) were leaving - and to the worthy pursuit of the same in my own life. I took notice of how special it was to benefit from my own loving parents, both of which were working overtime to ensure I grew up in a loving home surrounded by sound morals to learn and grow from. Sure, things sometimes went awry, but nothing unexpected; certainly nothing less valuable than the example of love and care I had the privilege of experiencing. My grandfather was an anchor, and my mother and father were life buoys of support and connection to the same (this remains true today). Regardless of relation, we all have anchors and buoys in our lives. Who are yours? Tell us about in the comments, or on our social media channels.
Becoming a Beacon of Positivity and Hope
Finally, Christmas reminds us of the power of positivity and inspiration. Just as the seminar teaches us to grow stronger and inspire others through our resilience, the Christmas season calls us to be a light for those around us. By embodying hope and love, even in the face of loss, we heal ourselves and uplift those who share in our journey. Grief and Christmas may seem like unlikely companions, but together they remind us of the profound strength in embracing loss, finding meaning, and creating a legacy of hope. If you've been touched by loss and are seeking insights into how what you are going through can benefit you and others, be sure to check out "Learning From Loss," with Dave Romeo, at Romeo Network Online Learning.

"Grief is the price we pay for love." - Queen Elizabeth II
Let me hear from you .
This excerpt is taken from the seminar, “Personal Growth III: Learning from Loss.” I encourage you to click here to view this topic on demand .

Crafting A Compelling Sales Presentation

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 13:45:00 GMT

Setting The Stage For Success

In the high-stakes world of sales, mastering the art of a killer presentation can set you apart. Whether you're pitching a groundbreaking idea, a must-have product, or an essential service, how you present is often more important than what you present. In the fourth installment of the Anyone Can Sell series, we explore strategies to increase your confidence around new people, captivate your prospects, and boost your career accordingly.

Increase Your Confidence Around New People

Confidence is your superpower in sales. Start by mastering your introduction. A firm handshake, genuine smile, and direct eye contact create an instant connection. Know your material inside out—confidence blooms from preparation. Practice delivering your pitch until it feels second nature. Remember, people buy into you before they buy into your product, so believe in yourself and your product or service, and customers will follow suit.

Captivate Your Prospects

A memorable presentation engages the senses. Open with a story or compelling statistic that grabs attention. Use visuals to simplify complex ideas and maintain focus. Keep your tone dynamic and conversational—monotony is the enemy of engagement. Tailor your message to your audience’s pain points and aspirations. Make them see themselves benefitting from your solution. Finally, never underestimate the power of a pause—it adds emphasis and keeps your audience hanging on your words.

Give Your Career a Big Boost

A killer presentation doesn’t just close deals; it opens doors. Exceptional presentation skills showcase your expertise and elevate your professional image. Every successful pitch builds your reputation, expands your network, and solidifies your role as a trusted advisor in your field. The confidence and skill you gain from selling effectively translates into broader career opportunities, from leadership roles to speaking engagements.

Trust... It's Priceless!

Making a killer sales presentation is not about being pushy or using flashy gimmicks—it’s about building trust, delivering value, and connecting on a human level. When you exude confidence, captivate your prospects, and consistently deliver results, your career trajectory will soar to new heights. Take these principles to heart, and you’ll not only sell more—you’ll position yourself as a leader in your industry.
“Leaders must get across the “why,” as well as the “what.”
- John Doerr
Let me hear from you .
This excerpt is taken from the seminar A nyone Can Sell IV: How to Make a Killer Sales Presentation . I encourage you to click here to register for our upcoming seminar, held on April 17th, 2025. Don’t want to wait? View this topic on demand right now, at Romeo Network Online Learning.

Mastering Your Self-Esteem and Unlocking Your Destiny

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 14:16:00 GMT

Eight Simple Tools For Success

Poor self-esteem often acts like an invisible weight, holding us back from reaching our full potential. It impacts how we approach challenges, build relationships, and seize opportunities. However, self-esteem isn’t a fixed trait—it’s a skill that can be developed with intentional practice. By using the right tools and tactics, you can master your self-esteem and take charge of your destiny.

Challenge Negative Self-Talk The way we speak to ourselves shapes our perception of who we are and what we’re capable of achieving. If your inner dialogue is filled with phrases like, “I’m not good enough,” it’s time to rewrite the script. Replace those thoughts with empowering affirmations such as, “I am capable of handling this challenge.” Keeping a journal to identify patterns of self-doubt and practice flipping them into positive statements can be incredibly effective.

Set and Celebrate Small Wins Building self-esteem requires setting and celebrating small wins. Big achievements are built on a foundation of consistent, small victories. Break larger goals into manageable tasks, like improving a skill or networking for career advancement, and celebrate each accomplishment along the way. These small celebrations reinforce your belief in your abilities and create momentum for larger successes.
Practice Self-Compassion It’s easy to be hard on ourselves when we make mistakes, but resilience and self-acceptance are far more productive. Spend a few minutes each day in quiet reflection, repeating affirmations like, “I am human, and I am enough,” or “Mistakes are part of growth.” When things don’t go as planned, treat yourself with the same kindness you’d offer a friend.

Surround Yourself with Positivity The people and environments you engage with significantly influence your self-perception. Take stock of your support network by identifying those who uplift you versus those who drain your energy. Prioritize time with people who encourage your growth and declutter your physical and digital spaces to remove negativity and distractions.

Take Ownership of Your Decisions To truly master your destiny, it’s essential to take ownership of your decisions. Commit to making at least one proactive choice each day that aligns with your values and long-term goals. A simple decision-making framework can help you evaluate options based on their impact on your future, keeping you on track toward success.

Invest in Personal Development Lifelong learning is a cornerstone of self-esteem and destiny-building. Commit to personal growth by dedicating 15 minutes each day to reading, listening to a podcast, or acquiring a new skill that boosts your confidence. Attending seminars like Designing Your Destiny IV: Mastering Your Self-Esteem and Your Destiny can provide valuable insights and connect you with like-minded individuals on similar journeys.
Visualize Your Best Self Visualization is a powerful tool for aligning your actions with your aspirations. Spend time each morning imagining what success looks and feels like to you. Picture yourself achieving your goals and thriving in the life you’ve designed. To keep this vision alive, create a vision board with inspiring images and quotes that remind you of your aspirations.
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged...”
– Joshua 1:9a
Take the First Step Toward Your Destiny Mastering self-esteem isn’t just about feeling better; it’s about living better. By integrating these tools and tactics into your daily routine, you can overcome barriers, unlock opportunities, and design a life filled with purpose and fulfillment.
Your destiny isn’t something that happens to you—it’s something you create. Start today and take the first steps toward the future you deserve. If you’re ready to take your growth to the next level, join us at Designing Your Destiny IV and discover the blueprint for unlocking your true potential!
Let me hear from you.
Join us for, " Designing Your Destiny IV: Mastering Your Self Esteem & Your Destiny. " I encourage you to click here to register for this seminar, held January 23rd, 2025 at Lancaster Bible College, from 9am- 12 noon. This event will also be live streamed.
This topic is also available on demand, at Romeo Network Online Learning. View the entire "Designing Your Destiny," category, streaming online now .

Finish Strong: How Much Do You Have Left?

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 13:45:00 GMT

Why Finishing What You Start Is ALWAYS The Best Option

The Best Intentions....
Have you ever started something with great excitement and big dreams, only to lose steam midway? If so, you’re not alone. Many people begin with the best intentions but fail to see their goals through to completion. The difference between dreaming about success and achieving it often lies in your ability to finish what you start.
This is the central idea behind the book “Crossing The Finish Line,” which inspires our seminar designed to help you break through barriers and achieve your destiny.
Why Finishing Matters

Starting a project or goal is exhilarating. There’s vision, energy, and hope. But the middle of the journey can get messy. Challenges arise, distractions pull us away, and sometimes the finish line feels out of reach. When you don’t finish, you not only miss out on the tangible rewards, but you also rob yourself of the personal growth and confidence that come from completing what you start.
What’s Holding You Back?
Procrastination, fear of failure, lack of direction, or simply losing interest—sound familiar? These roadblocks are common, but they don’t have to define your journey. With the right tools and mindset, you can learn to push past these hurdles and see your goals through to completion.
A Proven Formula for Success

In our “Crossing The Finish Line,” seminar and book; we provide a step-by-step formula for ensuring your success.

You’ll learn how to:

- Set goals that align with your true purpose. - Stay motivated and focused, even when the going gets tough. - Develop habits and systems that lead to consistent progress. - Embrace a finisher’s mindset, turning obstacles into opportunities.
This isn’t just about achieving one goal—it’s about becoming someone who finishes what they start.
How Much Do You Have Left?

Take a moment to reflect: How much do you have left in you to give? Finishing strong doesn’t mean sprinting to the end—it means finding the determination to keep moving forward, one step at a time, until you cross that line.
Let's Make This A Habit

Let’s make finishing a habit, not a rare occurrence. Join us for the "Crossing The Finish Line" seminar and learn how to complete your goals, accomplish your mission, and achieve your destiny.
“Without commitment, you’ll never start, without consistency, you’ll never finish ”
– Denzel Washington
Let me hear from you.
(This excerpt is taken from the seminar Designing Your Destiny VI: Crossing The Finish Line. I encourage you to click here to watch Crossing The Finish Line, or click here to order the book on which this seminar is based.

You Miss 100% of the Shots You Never Take!

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 13:45:00 GMT

The Reward Is In The Risk

Surviving and Thriving in Small Business: A Spotlight on Kelly Johnson Photography
When Kelly Johnson, the talented photographer behind Kelly Johnson Photography, opened the doors of her new studio in Manheim, PA, in spring of 2022, we were thrilled to be her first clients on that very first morning her studio was open in the new space.

Carefully designed to reflect her warm, artistic spirit, Kelly instantly set the stage for a unique experience with a personalized message she had prepared at her studio entrance as we entered.

Kelly's skill and eye for detail were immediately evident, especially in the stunning portrait she captured of my wife, Sarah, and me—a photo we’re honored to share with you in this article.
Opening a new studio is a bold move in any economy, but doing so amid current economic uncertainty showed incredible courage and foresight on Kelly's part.

A Harsh Reality: Is The Risk Worth The Cost?
The reality is daunting: half of all new businesses fail within their first five years, and of those that survive, another fifty percent close in the next five. Kelly’s decision to expand her studio was a testament not only to her confidence and talent but also to her willingness to forge her own path in a challenging business landscape.
In our online course, “ Survive and Thrive In Your Own Business ,” we highlight essential takeaways for entrepreneurs who want to break free from common pitfalls:
1. Dispelling the Myths of Ownership:

Many aspiring business owners hold onto outdated ideas about “doing it all themselves” or “flying solo” to achieve success. Kelly’s journey shows the power of calculated risk and delegation, traits of true entrepreneurship.
2. Pay Yourself First!

Kelly’s studio embodies the idea that investing in oneself and one’s brand is vital. Too many entrepreneurs put themselves last, reinvesting endlessly without personal reward. By opening her studio, Kelly has demonstrated a commitment to long-term growth that doesn’t come at the cost of her own well-being.
3. Understanding Passive/Diversified Income:

Owning a photography business can be labor-intensive, but savvy business owners diversify revenue streams, such as by selling prints or offering virtual consultations. Kelly’s expanded studio gives her room to do more than ever before, creating potential opportunities for passive income that will support her growth.
"Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain
Let me hear from you.
A New Breed Of Entrepreneurship:

Kelly Johnson Photography exemplifies a new generation of businesses where creativity, resilience, and smart strategy intersect. Kelly’s success story is an inspiring reminder that, despite the odds, those who adapt, invest wisely, and build purposefully can thrive in their own business! Thank you, Kelly, for all you do to inspire us and countless other entrepreneurs just like Sarah and I.
This excerpt is taken from the seminar Survive and Thrive In Your Own Business. We encourage you to click here to watch the seminar, available on demand at Romeo Network Online Learning.

Don't be Everything; Just be the Best

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 13:45:00 GMT

"Stick To The Knitting"

The Warning Signs of Over-Diversification
We once worked with a large accounting firm in the south-central Pennsylvania area. For a long time, the service was incredible, the people were friendly, and the work was always done properly. But over time, things began to change. The higher-ups decided that the firm needed to diversify. They targeted large companies — which was understandable. They targeted nonprofits — which made sense too. But then they decided to phase out services for small businesses, and that’s where the issues began.
The Consequences of Losing Focus
Soon enough, the personalized service we valued disappeared. It reached the point where, after we finally decided it was time to move on, it took nearly a year just to get our CPA on the phone to inform them that we wouldn’t be continuing with their services. That kind of disconnection is a problem for both the client and the service provider.
The Reluctance to Change Providers
When it comes to essential services like accounting, bookkeeping, website support, or any other function that keeps a company operational, clients don’t relish the idea of changing providers. Most of the time, they delay the switch far longer than they should, simply because they know it’s going to be a complicated process.
The Power of Sticking to Your Strengths
What we appreciate about Bertz Hess accounting services (where we ultimately moved our business) is that they “stick to the knitting.” This phrase, made famous by Tom Peters in his best-selling book *In Search of Excellence*, stands as one of his core principles for success. It means, “Concentrate on what you do best and don’t try to be everything to everyone.”
Why Specialization Wins
Working with Tom Wobber at Bertz Hess, we never have to wait long for a response. His expertise with small businesses is evident, and we always get the answers we need when seeking assistance.
The Key to Long-Term Success
The key takeaway here is that achieving success doesn’t require being everything to all clients. Instead, finding a niche, specializing in it, and excelling for many clients within that space can be the path to sustainable growth. If your business offerings seem scattered or unfocused, it might be time to consider a reset.
Take Action: Review Your Business Plan
We encourage taking the time to sit down with a business coach and revisiting your business plan. Ensure that what you initially set out to do aligns with what you’re doing now, or at the very least, verify that your primary focus remains on your core offering.

“To be successful, you have to have your heart in your business, and your business in your heart.” – Sir Thomas Watson
Let me hear from you.
(This excerpt is taken from the seminar Networking and Marketing Mastery II: Making Marketing Profitable. ) I encourage you to click here to watch the seminar Networking and Marketing Mastery II: Making Marketing Profitable seminar video available at Romeo Network Online Learning.

Turning a Weakness Into a Strength

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 12:45:00 GMT

Take Off The Shackles

An Introduction to Rich Pavlik

The best thing about working as a coach is that you meet the most remarkable people. In 2018, one of my season pass holders told me about an associate of hers by the name of Rich Pavlik who had been running his own carpet cleaning business for over 25 years. Ironically, he had been blind since just before he got married. I invited him to come to one of my seminars, and he became a season pass holder as well. In fact, over the next seven years, he took all 101 of my seminars at least once.
Embracing Challenges as Opportunities

As Rich and I got better acquainted, I learned a lot about him and his philosophy. First of all, Rich doesn’t know he’s blind — or at least he doesn’t act like he is. He does many things most sighted people do and probably a lot of other things that sighted people don’t bother to do. He doesn’t let anything hold him back, especially his blindness. But Rich wasn’t satisfied to just run one business, so he decided to start up another one called Blind Bean Roasters. He did this because he has a passion for great coffee and was dissatisfied with the convenience and quality of the coffee he had found on his own.

Using Adversity as a Conversation Starter

But the main lesson I want to impart to you about Rich Pavlik is that he never uses his blindness as a weakness. Instead, it’s a strength. It’s a conversation piece, in a way. People are drawn to him because of his outgoing and engaging personality. Rich is a walking entrepreneurial, underdog success story. You can’t help but be impressed by him and what he’s not afraid to do.

Your Turn to Rise Above

So, what about you? Are you letting any perceived weakness hold you back from being all you can be? I’m challenging you to take off the shackles and explore the possibilities of things you always wanted to do but somehow never got around to finishing. And when you discover that you’ve actually been able to achieve a goal that you’ve been procrastinating over in the past, why not give Rich Pavlik a call and discuss it with him over a good cup of coffee? I’m sure he’d love to hear all about it.

(This excerpt is taken from the seminar Designing Your Destiny .) I encourage you to click here to watch the Designing Your Destiny seminar video available at Romeo Network Online Learning.

Stop Running Scared

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 12:45:00 GMT

Find Your Courage

Stop Running Scared: Confronting Fear Head-On
Recently in my coaching sessions, I keep hearing people who say they are living in fear, working in fear, or being paralyzed by fear. I’ve also heard that the vast majority of people feel undervalued, insecure, or lost.

The Power of Faith Over Fear

Remember that the antidote for fear is faith. If you grow in your faith, you will vanquish your fears. Also, the more you focus on serving others, the less time you’ll have to think about your fears.

Why Intimidation Holds You Back

Many people are fearful because someone is intimidating them. It could be someone in a personal relationship, a family member, a boss, or negative friends who don’t understand your vision or share your passion. When micromanagers or toxic people try to break your spirit, just keep saying silently to yourself these 8 words: “I don’t care, what you think, about anything.”

Taking Back Control: Your Mindset Matters

You’ll be amazed at how liberated you feel when you take away somebody else’s power to make you feel small. As Tom Peters said, “If you’re not pushing hard enough to get fired, you’re not pushing hard enough.” I’m not saying I want you to lose your job. I’m just saying that you probably haven’t tapped into your full potential yet because of fear. I don’t ever remember taking a risk in business that I regret — even if there were negative consequences because at least I learned something.

Embrace Risk: Unlock Your Full Potential

So, I challenge you not to be afraid to push the envelope, and to release your inner-maverick. It’s high time you become a leader worth following by focusing on becoming a master problem solver. So, stop running scared and start lifting others up and help them lose their fear as well. That’s how you become an ultimate entrepreneur.

“Courage is knowing what not to fear.” – Plato
Let me hear from you.
(This excerpt is taken from the seminar Designing Your Destiny VI: Crossing the Finish Line .) I encourage you to click here to watch the Designing Your Destiny VI: Crossing the Finish Line seminar video available at Romeo Network Online Learning.
Don't miss our 2024 Hall Of Fame Ceremony, scheduled for November 14th, at Lancaster Bible College (Olewine Private Dining Room). Click here for details .

"Wowing" Never Goes Out Of Style

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 12:45:00 GMT

Unleashing the Power of Remarkable Experiences

As a seminar presenter, I always enjoyed using real stories to illustrate my points. However, some of them are so unbelievable that I’m sure there were some seminar attendees who must’ve thought that they were made up.
For example, there was a story about a man who drove all the way down from New York to come to Lancaster County for his friend’s seminar. He made it the entire 4 ½ hours trip without incident, only to arrive at his destination and learn that his brakes were failing. Naturally this occurred at 6 PM at night. Now what is he supposed to do? He’s going to be at a seminar that starts at 9 AM the next morning and he was supposed to drive back home that afternoon so that he could be at work the next day to open up his godfather’s delicatessen on Long Island.
To make matters worse, even after the two friends left repeated messages for the local automotive shop right down the street, all they got was an answering machine for a few hours. Finally, as time was getting critical, the pair once again called the repair shop. This time, a woman answered and explained that there was a serious problem with the car, but that the head mechanic was doing everything he could to get the parts to make sure the car would be roadworthy for the drive home. The mechanic even agreed to stay after hours to make sure that the car was done properly. He also took the driver underneath the car to show him exactly what was wrong so that when he got back to Long Island, he could show it to his own mechanic.
I know it sounds far-fetched that an auto mechanic would go through such lengths for a customer he might never ever see again in his life; however, this story did in fact take place in August of 2023 when my best friend, Peter drove down from Long Island for my 65th Birthday Bash seminar. Fortunately, Carl & Scott’s Automotive in Elizabethtown, PA is only about a mile from my house, and they have never let me down. They also didn’t let my best friend down when he needed them most. The moral of the story is this: If you’re going to “wow” customers to the point where people may not even believe the stories are real, you might want to get a written testimonial from your customers so that people will believe you. If you can’t get that, at least see if you can get them to write a blog about it.
“To ‘wow’ a client is to win a client.” – Richie Norton
Let me hear from you.
(This excerpt is taken from the seminar entitled Legendary Customer Services III: How to Wow. ) I encourage you to click here to register for the Legendary Customer Services III: How to Wow , Hall of Fame seminar on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at Lancaster Bible College in Lancaster, PA from 8:30 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time. This seminar is also available for live streaming.

What Does Wow Look Like?

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 12:45:00 GMT

Don’t make it longer. Make it clearer.

When Words Match Actions
When it comes to “wowing” your customers, everybody agrees it’s important, but not everybody knows exactly how to do it. While there may not be a one-size-fits-one answer, there are many different ways that you can set out to really impress your clients.
For years, I’ve maintained that one of the best definitions of “How to Wow” is demonstrating that you are more concerned that your customers have a great experience doing business with you than they are. I believe this is still accurate today, however it’s admittedly a bit too conceptual if you’re trying to write it into a procedure manual.

One Size Fits One
Sometimes it’s easier to understand what something is when you see it. For example, in 2023, I went to a networking mixer and met a woman by the name of Lorianna Sprague from Upfront Marketing. As it turned out, Lorianna had just started her own business that month. She made an impressive first impression because of her great eye contact. In addition, she was engaging, open, personal, and professional.
When I looked at her website, I was even more impressed by the content. She explained that the name, “Upfront Marketing” meant that her business would be upfront with customers and let them know exactly what to expect from her services, and her efforts to introduce her clients to customers who seek out their services.
But what really clinched it for me is when I asked Lorianna if she could help out with a project for my website. In just over a month, she completely finished the project that nine people who had been working on it over the past five years had not come close to completing. You could tell that it was a point of pride that she finished what she started and honored the deadline to which she had committed. This is how you create your own credibility and “wow” your clients.
How much does credibility cost?
If you’re trying to do the same thing in your business, start with establishing credibility. That means that people know if you say you’re going to do something, it means you’re going to do it. And when you demonstrate that you’ve done what you said you would do, then your customers will say, “Wow!”
“Don’t confuse visibility with credibility.” – Harvey Mackay
Let me hear from you .
Attend This Seminar
(This excerpt is taken from the seminar entitled Legendary Customer Services III: How to Wow ) I encourage you to click here to register for the Legendary Customer Services III: How to Wow live Hall of Fame seminar on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at Lancaster Bible College in Lancaster, PA from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time. This seminar is also available for live streaming.

Clarify the Complicated

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 12:45:00 GMT

Don’t make it longer. Make it clearer.

The Right Words Matter
Many of my coaching clients who sought to improve their sales complained vigorously about not having the right words to entice their prospects. It reminds me of something that the sales manager of a large manufacturing corporation once said to me. He said, “Often, my salespeople show up and throw up.” In other words, they don’t know when to stop talking. There’s a great quote that I heard once that says, “If you can sell them with blah, don’t say blah blah.”
Talk Less, Listen More

Salespeople, especially when they’re new and perhaps nervous, tend to talk themselves past the sale. This happens when they keep speaking in hopes of saying something that the prospect wants to hear and never realize that the prospect has probably tuned them out long ago and is waiting for them to leave. Don’t let this happen to you.
Simplifying the Complex: A Lesson from Dan Luckenbaugh
One of the things that I admire most about my Hall of Fame client Dan Luckenbaugh of Advanced Air Quality Services is that he simplifies the complicated when sharing his message. Being a specialist in mold remediation and improving the quality of indoor air, Dan frequently speaks to people who do not have his level of understanding about his technical field. To make them feel more comfortable, he speaks in the language of the listener. In other words, he breaks down his message into simple and understandable examples and metaphors. By doing so, he answers his prospects’ questions in a way they can easily comprehend.
The Language of the Listener
If you work in a technical field, you may have the same dilemma. I urge you to learn to speak in the language of the listener. Eliminate all jargon or technical abbreviations from your sales conversations. Don’t make your potential customers feel put off because they don’t understand what is familiar to you. If you’re planning to use the same technical terms more than once, at least have the courtesy to explain what they mean the first time. You may even have to repeat them once in a while until they sink in with your prospects. It’s not a bad idea to practice your sales pitch on a 10-year-old child. If he or she can follow what you’re talking about, there’s a good chance you won’t be speaking over your prospects’ heads.

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” – Leonardo da Vinci
Let me hear from you .
Join the Seminar

(This excerpt is taken from the seminar entitled Anyone Can Sell V: Asking for and Getting the Sale. ) I encourage you to click here to register for the Anyone Can Sell V: Asking for and Getting the Sale exclusive live Zoom seminar on Thursday, October 31, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time.

Breaking A Negative Cycle

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 12:45:00 GMT

Take Back Control Of Your Future

Breaking a negative cycle
Frequently, when I am presenting the Sales Academy, I learned some of my most impactful lessons from participants. One such lesson occurred during my final presentation of the Sales Academy in 2023. Sarah Ellis, of Birth Babes was explaining the value of her service. As a nurse, doula, and business owner, Sarah wears many hats. But in her primary role of serving her clients — women about to have babies — she is predominantly an advocate for them.
The Role Of A Doula

As I learned, often in the delivery room, the expectant mothers’ requests or preferences may be ignored by the doctors and hospital staff who often put protocol ahead of the mother’s personal desires. As a doula, Sarah speaks out for the mother’s specific requests such as if they don’t want any medical interventions, if they would like to be able to walk during labor, different delivering positions, or even the overall setting of the environment including music choices, lighting levels, and the number of people in the room. Sarah makes sure that these requests are respected and granted. This description did not bear the slightest resemblance to what I imagined a doula’s role to be.
Are You A Client Advocate?

Having a clearer picture allowed me to better understand how a doula should sell her service. It’s a matter of communicating that she is there to make sure that her client, the mother, gets exactly what she wants during the most intense and intimate experience of her life. It’s ironic that a woman would even need an advocate to speak up for her when she’s trying to deliver a baby. But that brings me to the point of this blog: People often give up what they want and settle for what a vendor is offering. Do you do that? And much more importantly, are you making your customers do that?
Sell Them What They Want...

There is great value in offering exactly what your customers want and not making them settle for what’s convenient for you to deliver. Remember that people will pay more to get a premium product or service when it’s done properly, conveniently, and enjoyably. I’m challenging you to stand up for your customers’ rights to get exactly what they want and to make sure that they can get it from you.
“A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower
Let me hear from you .

(This excerpt is taken from the seminar Organizational Excellence II: Combatting Complacency .) I encourage you to click here to register for the Organizational Excellence II: Combatting Complacency seminar on Thursday, October 17, 2024, at Bellomo & Associates in York, PA from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time. This seminar is also available for live streaming.

This content is also available on demand, at Romeo Network Online Learning. Click here to learn more about our complete Organizational Excellence series.

How to Responsibly Use AI to Streamline Your Business

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 12:45:00 GMT

Tools & Tips For Success

In today’s digital world, businesses have to evolve to stay competitive. One of the most effective ways to do that is by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) responsibly, behind the scenes to streamline operations, boost productivity, and make decision-making easier. Whether you’re a small business or large company, AI can be a game-changer by automating tasks, providing valuable insights, and freeing up time for creative or strategic work, aka working ON your business rather than IN your business. Here’s how AI can help streamline your business:
1. Automating Repetitive Tasks
AI can take over routine, time-consuming tasks like scheduling, note-taking, and even some customer service. Chatbots, for instance, can handle customer inquiries in real-time, answering questions, processing orders, and even solving common issues without human intervention. This allows your team to focus on more complex, value-driven tasks. Tools like AI-powered calendars and assistants can also help with appointment scheduling, email filtering, and reminders, keeping everything running smoothly without micromanagement. I know, I’m guilty of it too.
2. Enhancing Data Analysis
Data is one of the most valuable resources for businesses today, but manually sifting through it requires a lot of time that you don’t have. AI-driven analytics tools can help you analyze large sets of data in real-time, providing insights that can impact your business strategy and help you make more informed business decisions. These tools can track patterns, predict consumer behavior, and optimize processes, giving you a competitive edge. Whether it’s analyzing sales trends or monitoring web traffic, AI can give you deeper insights that help you make smarter, data-driven decisions.
3. Streamlining Content Creation
Content creation, from blogs (like this one!?) and social media posts to email newsletters, can be a real challenge for businesses. AI tools can help you automate parts of the process, allowing you to generate content faster without sacrificing quality. For instance, AI can assist in generating blog post outlines and headlines. While we absolutely still recommend humans for more complex video editing tasks, software powered by AI can streamline the editing process by automating tasks like caption generating, transcription, and even clip selection.
4. Optimizing Marketing and Sales
Marketing and sales teams can benefit from AI’s ability to personalize customer experiences and target the right audiences. AI-powered algorithms analyze consumer behavior, allowing businesses to create tailored marketing campaigns that resonate with individual customers. From email marketing tools that segment and target the right audience to recommendation engines that suggest relevant products, AI makes it easier to reach the right people at the right time. You can even have AI run your social media ads! Predictive analytics can even forecast which leads are most likely to convert, optimizing sales strategies and improving efficiency.
5. Improving Operations
AI can also help improve overall operational efficiency by optimizing workflows. For example, AI can automate inventory management by predicting stock needs based on historical data, ensuring you have the right amount of product at the right time. In manufacturing, AI-powered robots or systems can increase production speed and reduce errors, cutting costs and increasing output. Even HR departments are using AI to screen resumes and match candidates with open positions, reducing time-to-hire and improving the quality of new hires.
Conclusion
AI is transforming the way businesses operate by automating tasks, improving decision-making, and enhancing customer engagement. We encourage businesses to use AI-powered strategies behind the scenes so you can focus on what you do best, creating your final product or offering. At the end of the day, your customers are doing business with YOU. Don’t let AI produce your final product. By integrating AI into your operations, you can save time, reduce costs, and focus on what matters most—creatively driving growth and innovation.
Join us for "Experts in Business: Tools & Tactics For Streamlining Your Business"
. Learn more about an enlightening seminar featuring a distinguished panel of experts at the forefront of speaking, leadership, and artificial intelligence (AI). This dynamic event will delve into the intersection of these three pivotal domains, offering attendees invaluable insights, strategies, and inspiration to navigate the evolving landscape of communication, influence, and technological innovation.
I encourage you to click here to register for the Experts in Business: Tools & Tactics For Streamlining Your Business on October 3, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time at Bellomo & Associates in York, PA.
Enjoy learning at your pace, 24-7, on Romeo Network Online Learning .

Turning Networking Into Net Earning

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 16:09:00 GMT

10 Tips To Success

In our digital world, the grounding of networking has become a crucial part of business growth. The phrase "It's not what you know, but who you know," continues to be a relevant part of business culture.
But how do you transform those connections into tangible financial benefits? In this blog post, we'll explore practical strategies to " turn networking into net earning ," helping you maximize the value of your professional relationships.
1. Understand the Value of Networking
Networking is more than just exchanging business cards or adding connections on LinkedIn. It's about building meaningful relationships that can lead to mutual growth and opportunities. The key is to understand that networking is a long-term investment. The relationships you cultivate today can become valuable assets in the future. Contacts and connections may take years to come to fruition, but those fostered relationships may be the key to future success.
2. Be Genuine and Authentic
People can quickly sense when someone is networking solely for personal gain. Instead, approach networking with a genuine interest in others. Ask questions, listen actively, and show that you care about their success as much as your own. Authenticity fosters trust, which is the foundation of any fruitful relationship with the well known saying that people do business with people they know, like and trust. To be known, you must be present. To be liked, you must be authentic. To be trusted, you must be a person of integrity.
3. Identify and Target Key Contacts
To turn networking into net earning , you need to be strategic about whom you connect with. Identify key individuals in your industry or related fields who can provide valuable insights, opportunities, or referrals. This could include industry leaders, potential clients, mentors, or collaborators. While at networking events, make sure to connect with one or two people intentionally.
4. Leverage Social Media
Social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and even Instagram can be powerful tools for networking. Share insightful content, engage with others' posts, and join relevant groups or discussions. By establishing an online presence, you can expand your network and reach individuals you may not encounter in your day-to-day life. There are posts on posts that could be written about LinkedIn and maximizing it to a networking benefit.
5. Attend Industry Events and Conferences
In-person events remain one of the most effective ways to build relationships. Attend chamber events, a solid networking group, and industry meetups to meet potential contacts face-to-face. Be prepared with a concise and compelling elevator pitch about what problems you solve, and don't forget to follow up afterward to keep the connection alive. Also, be strategic at these event. The goal is not to say hello to everyone, but have meaningful connections with the people you do interact with.
6. Provide Value First
One of the best ways to turn networking into net earning is by providing value to your contacts without expecting immediate returns. While balancing not working for free, offer expertise, share helpful resources, but specifically make meaningful introductions to other professionals. By being a valuable resource, you'll naturally attract opportunities and build a reputation as someone worth knowing. A great example is this blog post- my contact information is below and this article provides advice that is helpful to a target demographic that would also be ideal clients for me.
7. Follow Up and Maintain Relationships
Networking doesn't end after the first meeting. Follow up with your contacts to keep the relationship going. Send a thank-you email, make that email referral, or invite them to a coffee meeting. Regularly check in with your network and find ways to stay connected, whether through social media, email, or in-person events.
8. Turn Conversations into Opportunities
Be on the lookout for ways to turn conversations into concrete opportunities. If you notice a potential business deal, partnership, or job opening, don't hesitate to schedule the meeting right there. Propose ideas or solutions that highlight your skills and how you can add value. Being proactive can turn a casual conversation into a lucrative opportunity.
9. Track Your Networking Efforts
Keep track of your networking activities and the outcomes they generate. This could include the number of new connections made, follow-up actions taken, and any opportunities that arose from those connections. By monitoring your efforts, you can identify what works best and refine your strategy over time. You can be both strategic and authentic at the same time. Over time, you will see which types of events resulted in eventual sales and can best allocate your time and finances accordingly. I also keep a book of all prospects that I meet at an event, mark the day we meet, and then highlight when that conversion occurs.
10. Stay Patient and Persistent
Turning networking into net earning doesn't happen overnight. It requires patience and persistence. Stay committed to building and nurturing your relationships, and over time, you'll see the fruits of your labor. Remember, networking is about creating a solid foundation for long-term success. I have groups that I have attended for a year before I started seeing fruits of that relationship. My current job was the result of a three year networking building exercise as well.
Conclusion
Networking is a powerful tool that, when used effectively, can lead to significant financial and professional gains. By being genuine, strategic, and proactive, you can transform your network into a valuable source of opportunities and revenue. Start implementing these strategies today, and watch as your professional relationships blossom into net earning potential.
Authored by Jacquelynne Hess, of Unfair Advantage Marketing

Next Steps

To hear more more on this subject from Jacquelynne, I encourage you to click here to register for Go From Networking to NetEARNING on October 19, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time at Bellomo & Associates in York, PA.

Finding Financial Freedom

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 17:39:00 GMT

Achieving Financial Freedom: A Realistic Approach

For many people, financial freedom seems like an elusive goal. With inflation, stagnating wages, and other obstacles, it's easy to believe that barely surviving is the best one can hope for. However, financial freedom isn’t as hard to obtain as it may seem. The key is understanding that your definition of financial freedom is unique to you.

What is Financial Freedom?

According to an article from NASDAQ.com , “Financial freedom is a state where you have complete control over your finances, allowing you to make choices based on your desires and goals rather than being limited by how much things cost. It means having enough income or savings to cover your expenses, giving you the freedom to live life on your terms.”

Taking Control of Your Finances

The first step towards financial freedom is gaining control over your finances. Too many people manage their money like riding a bicycle with their eyes closed – they’ll get somewhere, but it won’t be where they want to go, and they may end up injured along the way. Being in control means having a plan for your money, which involves:

Creating a Monthly Budget: Write down your budget to hold yourself accountable.
Setting Goals: Establish clear goals for how you want to live your life and write them down.

Reducing and Eliminating Debt

Debt can rob you of opportunities and freedom by taking money from your future due to interest payments. Here’s how to tackle debt:

Reduce and Eliminate Debt: Focus on paying off debts to free up future income.
Build an Emergency Fund: Save 3-6 months’ worth of expenses to handle emergencies, which will inevitably arise.

Working as a Team

If you have a spouse, working together can amplify your efforts. Think of draft horses like Clydesdales: one horse can pull around 8,000 pounds, but two working together can pull 24,000 pounds.

Additional Tips for Financial Freedom

Consider these strategies to further your financial freedom:

Make Wise Purchases
Save and Give Regularly: Aim to save and donate at least 10% of your income.
Limit Expenses on Vices
Continually Educate Yourself: Learn good money management practices.
Surround Yourself with Like-minded People: Build a network of those who share your financial goals.
Protect Your Assets: Ensure you have appropriate insurance, a Will, Power of Attorney, and Medical Directive.

The Role of a Financial Advisor or Coach

Working with a financial advisor or coach can significantly boost your chances of achieving financial freedom. These professionals offer expert guidance, help you create a comprehensive financial plan, and keep you accountable. They can provide personalized advice tailored to your unique situation, ensuring you make informed decisions that align with your goals. According to studies, people who work with financial advisors tend to have better savings habits, higher levels of confidence in their financial future, and greater overall financial well-being. By leveraging their expertise, you can navigate complex financial landscapes more effectively and reach your objectives faster.

Accountability is Key

Having an accountability partner can significantly increase your chances of success. According to the American Society of Training and Development, you have a 25% chance of achieving a goal you set for yourself. However, this success rate jumps to 95% when you have someone to hold you accountable.

Conclusion

By implementing these steps and maintaining a strong determination to achieve financial freedom, you will be well on your way to enjoying the benefits of financial independence. Start today, take control, and watch as your financial future transforms.

Let me hear from you.
I encourage you to click here to register for Finding Financial Freedom , on October 10, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time at Bellomo & Associates in York, PA.

Before The Rebrand

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 12:45:00 GMT

The Importance of Discovery in Holistic Branding

Laying the Foundation: The Critical First Step in Branding

Before you build anything of lasting value, you need to lay a strong foundation. In branding, this means starting with a deep understanding of who you are, what you stand for, and where you fit in the market. This foundation isn’t just about gut feelings or creative whims—it’s grounded in rigorous analysis, the kind that only a holistic approach can provide. In this post we'll cover the benefits of a holistic approach to branding and even provide examples you can start using today to improve your brand's position in the market.

The Why: Digging Deep to Find Your Core Purpose

Before anything else, it’s crucial to understand the "Why" behind your brand. - And no, your "Why" can't be about making money—that's a given for any business. The "Why" is the driving force that gets you up in the morning, the reason your brand exists beyond profit. A creative consultant will push you to explore questions like:

Why did you start this business?
What are the core values that guide your decisions?
What problem are you solving for your customers?
How do you want to impact your industry or community?

Example Response:

“We started this business to empower small business owners by providing them with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed. Our core values are integrity, innovation, and community support. We solve the problem of accessibility to high-quality business tools at affordable prices. We want to be the go-to resource for entrepreneurs, helping them turn their dreams into reality.”

Discovering Your Brand Narrative: Crafting the Story

Once you’ve uncovered your "Why," the next step is to craft your brand narrative. This is the story that ties everything together—the reason people should care about your brand. It’s not just about what you sell; it’s about the journey, the challenges you’ve overcome, and the vision you have for the future. Your narrative should resonate with your audience on an emotional level, making them feel like they’re part of your story.

Key Questions to Explore:

What’s the origin story of your brand?
What challenges have you faced, and how have you overcome them?
How does your brand promise align with your audience’s values and needs?
What’s the vision you have for your brand’s future?

Example Response:

“Our brand was born out of a frustration with the lack of affordable, high-quality tools for small business owners. We faced challenges like limited resources and fierce competition, but we stayed true to our vision of empowering entrepreneurs. Our brand promise is to always prioritize quality and accessibility, aligning with our audience’s need for reliable and affordable solutions.”

The Importance of Expert Analysis

Before diving into the heart of your brand strategy and formulating an action plan, it's crucial to understand the landscape in which you operate and the unique attributes that set your brand apart. This is where a Holistic Creative Consultant comes into play. These professionals are naturally curious—driven by a passion for uncovering the nuances that make your brand tick and the dynamics that shape your industry.

A Holistic Creative Consultant doesn’t just scratch the surface; they dig deep into both your brand’s internal strengths and weaknesses, and the external market conditions that could either propel you forward or hold you back. Through comprehensive Competitive Market Analysis (CMA) and SWOT analysis, they provide you with a clear, well-rounded picture of where your brand stands today—and where it could go tomorrow.

These reports aren’t just a collection of data points. They are insightful roadmaps that reveal your brand’s true potential, spotlighting areas ripe for innovation and highlighting risks that need to be managed. The beauty of working with a Holistic Creative Consultant lies in their ability to synthesize this information into actionable strategies that are perfectly aligned with your brand’s mission and vision.

Competitive Market Analysis (CMA): Seeing the Bigger Picture

Think of CMA as your brand’s panoramic lens. It’s a comprehensive review of the marketplace, giving you a clear view of the competitive landscape. A thorough CMA examines your direct competitors, industry trends, customer behaviors, and market gaps. It answers key questions like:

Who are your main competitors, and what are they doing well?
What market trends are emerging, and how can your brand capitalize on them?
Where are there unmet needs or gaps in the market that your brand could fill?
How do customers perceive your competitors compared to your brand?

By understanding these dynamics, you can pinpoint where your brand stands—and more importantly, where it can stand out. CMA helps you identify opportunities to differentiate yourself, positioning your brand in a way that resonates with your target audience and sets you apart from the competition.

SWOT Analysis: Understanding Your Brand’s Core

While CMA provides a broad view of the market, SWOT analysis turns the focus inward. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats, and it’s a tool used to evaluate your brand’s internal and external environment. Here’s how it breaks down:

Strengths: What does your brand do well? These are your unique assets, resources, or capabilities that give you a competitive edge.
Weaknesses: Where does your brand fall short? Identifying these areas is crucial for understanding what might be holding your brand back.
Opportunities: What external factors could your brand leverage? These could be market trends, gaps identified in the CMA, or emerging customer needs.
Threats: What external factors could challenge your brand’s success? This includes anything from new competitors entering the market to changing regulations or economic downturns.

SWOT analysis is about balance—understanding not just where your brand excels, but where it needs to improve, and how external factors might impact your success. It’s an honest assessment that informs your brand’s positioning, helping you leverage your strengths, address your weaknesses, seize opportunities, and mitigate threats.

Why This Matters Before Establishing a Brand Position

In today’s fast-paced market, staying ahead of the competition requires more than just good instincts—it requires a deep understanding of both your internal capabilities and the external forces at play. That’s why conducting a thorough CMA and SWOT analysis is essential before establishing or re-establishing your brand position. These tools provide the clarity and direction needed to build a brand that not only resonates with your audience but stands strong against competitors and adapts to market changes.

But here’s the best part: you don’t have to navigate this complex process alone. Holistic Creative Consultants are born curious, and we thrive on learning new things—especially when it comes to helping brands like yours reach their full potential. Whether you’re just starting out or looking for a brand tune-up, a discovery session with a Holistic Creative Consultant could be the game-changer you need.

So, don’t hesitate to reach out. Let’s explore the possibilities together, dive deep into your brand’s unique story, and craft a strategy that ensures your brand not only survives but thrives in the ever-changing market landscape. Book a discovery session today and take the first step toward unlocking your brand’s true potential.

Let me hear from you.

Join us for "Experts in Business: Tools & Tactics For Streamlining Your Business"
. Learn more about an enlightening seminar featuring a distinguished panel of experts at the forefront of speaking, leadership, and artificial intelligence (AI). This dynamic event will delve into the intersection of these three pivotal domains, offering attendees invaluable insights, strategies, and inspiration to navigate the evolving landscape of communication, influence, and technological innovation.
I encourage you to click here to register f or the Experts in Business: Tools & Tactics For Streamlining Your Business on October 3, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time at Bellomo & Associates in York, PA.
Enjoy learning at your pace, 24-7, on Romeo Network Online Learning .

I Want to Work For You!

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 12:45:00 GMT

Become An Employer Of Choice

The Problem Of "Too Little Talent"

As both a coach and a seminar presenter, one of the most frequent frustrations I hear from employers is that they cannot find good employees. While it is true that in the last few years, the quality and quantity of employable talent seems to have diminished, that is not to say that there aren’t any. But what’s more important than ever before is that if you’re looking to hire top talent, you must become an employer of choice.
The Importance Of Values

While most employers are quick to complain about the shortage of quality employees, very few of them offer a place of employment that attracts the best people. This is partially because it’s expensive to offer the best benefit package and amenities to keep employees loyal and inspired. But it’s more than that. Most employers fail to establish a set of high values that jobseekers long to embrace.
Not What, But How

Still, for every rule there is an exception. If you are familiar with my Hall of Fame client Jeff Bellomo of Bellomo & Associates, then you’ll notice something quite different when it comes to hiring talent. There is a long line of the best people who yearn to work for Jeff’s business. Is it because they all long to work in the legal field, or in East York, or for a company that writes wills and helps plan and settle estates? No. The answer is not in what the company does, but in how it does it.
Jeff treats his employees like gold because he knows by doing so, they will, in turn, treat his clients like gold. Jeff is as selfless a person as I’ve ever met. I’ve never met a lawyer with more compassion. As a result, people go out of their way to apply for employment with his company.
One day, my wife said that she was watching a video that the Bellomo & Associates employees made to praise their leader on Bosses Day. She said that she didn’t watch the whole video because it went on for about ½ an hour. My point is this; you can complain about the current employment situation, or you can take steps to draw people to you because they identify with your vision and mission. You do this by treating people like gold, creating an intriguing and compelling vision, and becoming a connoisseur of talent and an employer of choice.
“The story of someone who has succeeded in spite of difficulty can stir our emotions.” – Jim Rohn
Let me hear from you .

Learn more, with our Inspired Leadership Series

(This excerpt is taken from the seminar entitled Inspired Leadership II: How to Retain and Inspire Employees. ) I encourage you to click here to register for the Inspired Leadership II: How to Retain and Inspire Employees exclusive live Zoom seminar on Thursday, September 26, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time.

Enjoy access on demand, 24-7, when you view this content in our content library at Romeo Network Online Learning.

Using Reserve Power

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 14:45:00 GMT

Dale Carnegie Was Right!

When I made the transition from printing industry headhunter to full-time seminar presenter and trainer, I read everything I could get my hands on to improve my skills. Not surprisingly, I spent a lot of time reading every single book Dale Carnegie has ever written. That time was well spent.
One of the most important lessons I learned from Carnegie was something he called, “reserve power.” His point was that you need to know 10 times more about your business, products, and services than you’ll ever need to tell your customers. In other words, you prepare to know your business inside and out, even if you never have to share all of it with a prospect. By doing so, you’ll be able to effortlessly answer any questions your customers have and do so with remarkable credibility. Not only that, the more confident you are in what you know about your business, the more confidence you will exude when speaking to a prospect. In case you didn’t know this, prospects love to do business with people they feel are confident because the prospects believe they will get what they want.
One of my Hall of Fame clients, Dan Luckenbaugh of Advanced Air Quality Products, practices reserve power on a regular basis. Perhaps because he’s been in business for more than 24 years, he knows his business inside and out. I’ve never met anyone who could explain every component of mold remediation and air purification better than Dan. The best part about it is he never struggles to come up with an answer. He knows them inherently because he not only knows his craft, but he’s mastered the art of crystal-clear communication. In addition, he uses a lot of metaphors to simplify the complicated.
Whether you work in a very technical field like Dan or not, the better you get at acquiring reserve power, the more equipped you will be to answer any question your prospects have about doing business with you. Not only that, but it will actually become a deterrent to your competitors, once they realized how thorough your knowledge is. I encourage you to invest heavily in understanding your business and niche better than anyone else.
“Improving yourself is a lot more profitable than trying to improve others.” – Dale Carnegie
Let me hear from you.
(This excerpt is taken from The Sales Academy . ) I encourage you to click here to register for The Sales Academy 5-part series running on five consecutive Friday mornings beginning on October 4, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time at Bellomo & Associates in York, PA.

The Best Teams Have The Best Leaders

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 12:45:00 GMT

What's Your Leadership Level?

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve ever learned from John Maxwell is from his best-selling book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. In it, he discusses The Law of the Lid. Its basic premise is that no leader can ever grow people beyond their own level of leadership. For example, let’s say that on a scale of 1 to 10, your leadership level is seven. That means that you are never going to be able to raise people to be eights, nines, or tens. Naturally, it follows that unless you grow your skills, you’ll never be able to grow the skills of the people you serve.
In coaching my Hall of Fame client, John Ellis of Create Socially, I tried to instill this lesson in him, since he is the successor for my own business. John has an awesome responsibility not only to grow his own business but also to expand Romeo Network. As we discussed, in order for him to grow his network, he needs to grow all the associate members of it. That’s why it’s so important for him to continuously grow as a leader for him to inspire growth in others.
So, what is your current level of leadership? It’s not only important that you know it, but that you are constantly looking to elevate it. In addition, you need to make sure that the other business owners that you work with know the leadership levels of their staff as well.
As you are evaluating the people in your organization, consider this: When one of them leaves, what level of leadership is leaving your organization? My point is this, if you have somebody who is a 10 and the person leaves your employ, are you replacing that person with a 10 or with a five? You have to be careful not to drain out all of the superior leadership qualities and talent from your organization or the level of service and leadership will diminish.
There is a saying that an average goaltender can make a great team average and a great goaltender can make an average team great. This premise holds true with leaders. The more committed you are to growing your leadership skills, the stronger you will be able to build your team.
“Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.” – Jack Welch
Let me hear from you.
(This excerpt is taken from the Inspired Leadership III: The Ultimate Team Building and Empowerment Workshop . ) I encourage you to click here to register for the Inspired Leadership III: The Ultimate Team Building and Empowerment Workshop. on Thursday, September 12, 2024, at Bellomo & Associates in York, PA from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time. This seminar is also available for live streaming.

Start With The Rocks

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 12:45:00 GMT

Systemize Your Priorities

A few years ago, one of my colleagues, by the name of Bill Stratton of EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems) was presenting a seminar as a guest speaker. His topic was an area that he knew extremely well – leadership. While I was familiar with much of his content (because I had read an excellent book called Traction by Gino Wickman), Bill reminded me of a point that I had never truly grasped before his presentation. He was talking about the importance of addressing the rocks.
Picture a college professor with a large jar filled with rocks up to the top of the container. The professor asks his students if the jar is full. They all agree that it is. He then proceeds to pour in gravel that fills in much of the space in between the rocks. Next, he pours in the sand that fills an additional space in between the rocks and gravel. Finally, he adds water right up to the brim of the jar. Obviously, the jar of rocks wasn’t full because there was so much more that could be added. The point that he was making for this experiment was this: If you don’t start by putting in the rocks — your most important priorities — they’ll never fit in later. All of the sand and gravel — the smaller nuisance projects that we face every day — will take up all of your time and space.
Bill Stratton specializes in helping businesses recognize what’s fundamentally most important to them. He makes sure that they place these priorities at the beginning of their business plans. Now, let’s think about your priorities. Are you making sure that your biggest projects are getting the most attention? Are you leaving enough time and resources to give them the focus they deserve?
Many times, we start out with the best of intentions and write down our goals, but we fail to organize them in the proper sequence. That means we may spend the majority of our time focusing on the unimportant and non-urgent tasks. If you make it your mission to focus primarily on the urgent and important first, and give your priorities the attention they require, you’ll find yourself accomplishing much more of what really matters.
“Plans are useless, but planning is essential.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower
Let me hear from you.
(This excerpt is taken from The Leadership Academy. I encourage you to click here to register for The Leadership Academy 5-part series which runs on five consecutive Tuesday mornings beginning on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at Bellomo & Associates in York, PA from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time. Classes 2 and 4 will be presented exclusively on Zoom.

Here's What I Want!

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 12:45:00 GMT

Communicate With Clarity

One thing I’ve learned as a job coach is that when jobseekers are trying to impress an employer, they tend to pad their resumes with a lot of information that is not necessary. It usually leads to a longer resume than needed. I always offered the same advice: “Don’t make it longer, make it clearer.”
The same recommendation is true when you’re working with a new vendor for the first time. While everybody wants to have things done the way they want them, not everyone communicates clearly enough to get the results they seek. For years, I worked with a pest control service that did not understand what I wanted, which was a house free of bugs and mice. I believe what they thought I wanted was an annual pest control service agreement, with regularly scheduled treatment dates.
It wasn’t until I discovered Sam Peters of Peters Pest Control that I found someone who truly understood what I was looking for. The first thing that Sam did was come over and assess my entire house. He let me know every place where mice could be getting into our house, and then I contracted with a separate handyman service to plug all the holes. As a result of Sam’s advice and the handyman’s follow-through, our home has been “mice-free” for six years. The point is; Sam understood what we wanted — no pests!
If hiring a vendor to provide a service, make your needs and expectations crystal clear. Don’t leave any room for ambiguity. Remember, the more clear your message, the greater the likelihood is you’ll wind up getting what you want out of the agreement.
“Learn to communicate in the language of the listener.” – Dave Romeo
Let me hear from you .

(This excerpt is taken from the seminar entitled The Psychology of Selling V: Selling What People Really Want . ) I encourage you to click here to register for The Psychology of Selling V: Selling What People Really Want exclusive, live Zoom-only seminar on Thursday, August 22, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time.
This program is also available on demand 24-7 at Romeo Network Online Learning. Click here to learn more and try it FREE!

Install Your Service

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 20:56:00 GMT

Become One With Your Customer

When people start up a business, they usually want two things; customers, and repeat customers. Naturally, we want people to start patronizing us, but even more importantly, we want them to like their experience with us and to keep coming back for more. So, how does a new business differentiate itself from its competition to the point where customers remain loyal and lifelong? One of the best ways to do this is to find a way to “install your service.” In other words, make it a part of your customers’ life. I was recently having lunch with EpitomeFit owner Neo DaVinci who is one of my Sales Academy grads and we were brainstorming about his business. As he was describing how many of his customers are over 40 and are interested in sports and athleticism, I noticed something about his choice of words. He said most of them are running around chasing their grandchildren, running their own companies, and trying to keep up with life in general. As we talk further, I suggested that Neo become even more integral to his customers by reinforcing their personal and professional lives and their workouts.
In my own case, I work out all the time, but I don’t enjoy it. Most of the time I’m working out, I’m thinking about my own interests. I suggested that Neo might want to install customers’ interests throughout the workout. For example, if you have someone working on a treadmill, encourage them that the longer they run on that machine, the easier it will be to run after the grandchildren. Business owners should remember that if they can run a company, there’s no reason they can’t run another quarter of a mile past the previous record. Anyone who works with weights should remember that lifting up people is just as important as lifting iron.
There is definitely a link between physical conditioning and mental conditioning. Business owners face countless different issues, problems, strategies, and challenges every single day. By helping Neo's customers during their workout, not only can he help them better condition themselves physically and improve their stamina, but also mentally equip them to better solve the issues they face when they leave his fitness club.
If you provide a service to your customers, such as coaching, therapeutic massage, physical therapy or Pilates, I’m challenging you to find ways to install your services so that what you offered to them during their time with you, will be just as valuable after your session as it is during.
“A business absolutely devoted to service will have only one worry about profits. They will be embarrassingly large.” – Henry Ford
Let me hear from you .
(This excerpt is taken from The Sales Academy.) I encourage you to click here to register for The Sales Academy 5-part series running on five consecutive Friday mornings at Bellomo & Associates in York, PA, beginning on October 4, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time.

This program is also available through live streaming, and available on demand 24-7 at Romeo Network Online Learning. Click here to learn more and try it FREE!

Proactively Eliminate Complaints

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 12:30:00 GMT

How To Avoid Savage Customers

Let’s face it, no one likes to get savage customers, but that doesn’t mean they won’t show up occasionally. If you think about the last time you got really upset with poor service, identify what triggered it. In my case, it’s usually because the person I’m speaking with is not taking me seriously or dismissing my problem as unimportant. This can be very frustrating and lead many customers to either erupt or leave and never come back. Sometimes, they do both.
One of the things I like best about Linda Rouleau of ABTS Accounting Services is that she proactively became an enrolled agent. Unlike a CPA, and enrolled agent can actually communicate more thoroughly with the IRS and resolve issues for clients in a much more thorough fashion. Becoming an enrolled agent was a proactive decision that Linda Rouleau made when she began her business.
The key quality we’re talking about here is being proactive. You have many decisions to consider when you’re starting up your own business. Depending upon your specialty, you may consider building a customer service de-escalation plan in the event that somebody is very upset with your service. Of course, not every business thinks this far ahead.
There should be a sequence of what to do when a customer complains — and you’ll want to make sure that everyone in your business knows exactly what those steps are and the sequence in which they are to be followed. First of all, listen intently to the client who had the problem. Go out of your way to make sure that you get the details and avoid being defensive. Next, thank the customer for alerting you to the problem. Even though you haven’t solved anything, the customer will tend to be less emotional if he or she feels like you are taking him or her seriously. Next, propose a solution to solve the problem. Many clients will be happy that you’ve taken these steps to address the issue. Still, you may have to go further, such as replacing or substituting something the customer wants instead. If this doesn’t work, you may even have to give them their money back. This is usually a last resort, but the good thing is, most customers just want you to address their issue. If it does come to giving money back, do it graciously and cheerfully and wish them well. You’ll probably never see that customer again, but at least you’ve disarmed him or her from having ammunition to badmouth you to everyone they know — including your competition.
When it comes time to deal with a highly-volatile customer, you’ll be glad that you proactively took the time to put in plan in place to calm the person down. And, if you do this well, the irate customer will know that you did so, and respect you for your foresight.
“No one can make you serve customers well. That’s because great service is a choice.” – Ken Blanchard
Let me hear from you.
(This excerpt is taken from the seminar entitled Legendary Customer Services IV: Soothing the Savage Customer ) I encourage you to click here to register for the Legendary Customer Services IV: Soothing the Savage Customer live Super Summer Bash seminar on August 8, 2024, at Lancaster Bible College in Lancaster, PA from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time. This seminar is also available for live streaming.

Prefer to learn on demand, access this content whenever you like, at Romeo Network Online Learning. Click here to get started.

Stay Liquid!

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 12:45:00 GMT

Expect The Unexpected!

On one of my favorite action shows, SWAT, the team often finds itself in extremely dangerous situations. Because their circumstances are so volatile, they usually repeat this saying before they engage: “Stay liquid.” What that means is that you have to be ready for anything. It also means you have to be adaptable and expect that your conditions are going to be in flux and will continuously change around you. Your mindset has to be one of flexibility and fluidity as you negotiate every new twist and turn. So, what does this have to do with your business?
Considering I ran my business for 25 years without ever having one employee, I learned that I had to depend on business alliances and strategic partners to accomplish most of my larger projects. One of my key strategic partners was my seminar sponsor, Mick Owens of Mick's All-American Pub in Mount Joy, PA. Since I would frequently bring my seminar attendees to Mick’s All-American Pub for lunch, it was crucial to communicate how many people would be coming over. This was information I often only received about 30 minutes before we arrived.
However, for my final seminar, we anticipated that there would be a much higher number of attendees than usual going to lunch. Our initial plan was to have a table set up for 20 people. However, our count was seriously underestimated. We wound up with 38 people. Fortunately, Sam and Tony in the Mount Joy location, scrambled continuously to solve problems and accommodate all of the guests — many of whom never even knew that any of our plans had changed.
You only get this level of responsiveness by equipping your people in advance to anticipate the unexpected and to be flexible as each situation plays out. Thanks to their quick thinking, all 38 guests were accommodated and enjoyed a pleasant lunch and participated in a valuable focus group that day. This is the value of working with strategic alliances who value your business and who proactively plan for unexpected outcomes. I highly encourage you to begin this practice in your own business today, if you have not already done so. I guarantee that once you get into this habit, you’ll reduce the level of stress in your own life, and also please even more of your most demanding customers.
“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” – Colin Powell
Let me hear from you .
(This excerpt is taken from The Leadership Academy . I encourage you to click here to register for The Leadership Academy 5-part series which runs on five consecutive Tuesday mornings beginning on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at Bellomo & Associates in York, PA from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time. Classes 2 and 4 will be presented exclusively on Zoom.
Prefer to learn on demand, access this content whenever you like, at Romeo Network Online Learning. Click here to get started.

You Set The Leadership Standard

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 12:30:00 GMT

Don't Supervise, Super Lead!

One of the toughest challenges any business owner faces is getting his or her staff to serve customers at the same level that made that business successful in the first place. Naturally, leadership starts at the top. However, if you don’t make sure that it trickles down to all levels of your staff, you are bound to disappoint your customers.
In the beginning, if it’s only you who are dealing with customers, you know exactly what level of service they are getting. But for most business owners, the goal is to grow large enough that you have other people serving your customers. So, how do you make sure that your customers are still taking care of, once somebody else is responsible for dealing with them? It all comes down to setting the correct leadership standard.
What that means is, everyone needs to know what to do and how to do it. You’ll need to set written down guidelines. I stress the word, “guidelines,” and not, “rules,” because leadership is fluid and changes all the time depending upon the circumstances and the people involved. You show people how to do it by equipping them during training — not on real customers. Make sure that you are satisfied with their responses. If not, instruct them on what to do differently until they can do it consistently without direction.
In talking with my Hall of Fame client Jeff Bellomo of Bellomo & Associates, we both agreed that it’s not enough for the leader of an organization to do things right and serve customers properly. Part of the leader’s responsibility is to make sure that every person who touches a customer is authorized, empowered, and equipped to take whatever steps are necessary to solve a client’s problem. One of the things that Jeff has done to ensure this happens in his business is to recruit and hire the top people he can find. Of course, that in itself is not enough. You also have to train them and give them the ability to solve the problems without your involvement or interference.
If you want to build an organization that is going to consistently deliver great performance to all of your customers — regardless of who they interact with — you need to become a leader worth following and give your people all the direction, tools, time, and encouragement they need to perform exactly the way you expect them to when they are serving customers in your absence.
“A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others.” – Douglas MacArthur
Let me hear from you.
(This excerpt is taken from the seminar entitled How to Deliver Inspired Leadership . ) I encourage you to click here to register for the How to Deliver Inspired Leadership exclusive live Zoom seminar on Thursday, July 25, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time.

How To Find A Needle In A Haystack

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 12:45:00 GMT

Geo-Targeting For Results

John Wanamaker once famously said, “Half the money you spend on marketing is wasted. The trouble is, I don’t know which half.” There’s a lot of truth in that statement. It’s not unlike using chum to fish. You throw out a lot of unwanted bait that’s never going to catch you any fish, in hopes that as a result, you will catch something. Marketing is a very tricky field because it’s not an exact science. As you know from being a customer, you might see something today that you absolutely love and purchase it instantly. On any other given day, it might not even catch your notice. Also, you may not be in a position to financially afford it on one day, but the next time you see that same ad, you might be holding a big commission check in your hand. Timing plays a big part in whether or not somebody purchases anything. But that’s not the only factor.
Marketing also has to do with fishing with the right bait in the right pond. For example, one of my Hall of Fame clients, Ray Fitzgerald of Greatest Hits Websites was working with a dental practice who only wanted to identify potential patients who were close by their location, but may not be happy with their current dentist. As a result of his geo-targeting efforts — in other words, specifically sending notifications only to potential customers in the precise geographic area — Ray was able to get incredible results for his client. In fact, he got 40 new patients for his client in just two months!
Since that approach worked so well, Ray decided to use the “success leaves clues” strategy from the Sales Academy to really narrow down his target audience for some of his clients. Ray was also able to get four new clients based on the results of the first one. While geo-targeting has been around for a little while, it is only now starting to gain greater traction and awareness from smaller businesses. The great thing about it is it’s an inexpensive way to level the playing field and help you find exactly who you’re looking for.
If you haven’t already explored geo-targeting, you might want to consider it for your business. It’s ideally suited for anybody who is physically located in one location and feels he or she is overlooking customers that are right under his or her nose. Remember, the more specific you can be about who you’re looking for and where they are, the more effective this marketing technique will be when you use it in your own business.
“Become the person who would attract the results you seek.” – Jim Cathcart
Let me hear from you.
(This excerpt is taken from the seminar entitled The Psychology of Selling V: Selling What People Really Want . ) I encourage you to click here to register for The Psychology of Selling V: Selling What People Really Want exclusive, live Zoom-only seminar on Thursday, August 22, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time.
Access The Psychology of Selling V: Selling What People Really Want on Demand, 24-7, at Romeo Network Online Learning. Click here to view the entire learning category.

Mastering Networking

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 12:45:00 GMT

It's An Every Day Journey!

I realized quite a few years ago the value of networking but, like most things in my life, the way I network today isn’t typical. I am a working mom who still homeschools 6 of our 8 children while launching a non-profit. In my past business endeavors, networking looked very different than it does now, but it is still equally as crucial and beneficial. Perhaps, you want to master networking, but you are under the false impression it needs to look a particular way. Rest assured it doesn’t and chances are you are already doing more networking than you think. Below are some tips on how you can ensure you are incorporating networking into your everyday lifestyle. So, get ready to fill your “ N . E.T.,” with new contacts and prospects when you, “ N ever Forget to E levate Others and T ake Risks.”
1. Never Forget
Never forget the value of networking, because it is arguably the most valuable tool in your toolbox! It is the necessary fuel to get you where you are going. In most cases it doesn’t cost a penny and when it’s done well, your profit margins skyrocket, you will reach your goals, and your overall success will be multiplied. You’re probably familiar with the following quotes: “Together, we’re better,” “Two are better than one,” and “United we Stand. Divided we fall.” There’s even song lyrics to back up the sentiment - “One is the Loneliest Number...” Any one of these quotes could be the slogan for networking.

The point is, if you aren’t networking, you can’t function at your highest capacity. Like a car with no gas or a person with no food, a lack of networking will leave you feeling sluggish or stuck professionally. So why struggle when you don’t have to?! Remember you have a priceless tool at your fingertips. When we forget we slack. Never forget to network!
2. Elevate Others

I’ve never met someone who has mastered networking that doesn’t lift others up. When you put others first and elevate their needs above yours it's crazy how your network will grow naturally. Show a genuine interest in people and they will show a genuine interest in you. Be kind, honest, real, vulnerable, and authentic. Listen with no hidden agenda. These traits will leave an impression on people that will last - and trust me you will get referrals simply because of your character.
3. Take a Risk
For some of you, follow-up feels risky. Like the thousands of pictures in your camera roll that never got developed, you have thousands of contacts you’ve never reached out to. Don’t overthink it. Make the calls. What if it’s a, “No?” No isn’t a four-letter word! Like Mel Robbins says in her book “The 5 Second Rule” once the thought hits to follow up, count backward… 5,4,3,2,1 go! Counting backward from 5 ensures your brain can’t think of all the excuses. You just need to do it! The truth is following up or reaching out for that big ask isn’t risky. It just feels that way and feelings are lousy leaders. There are times when following up is scary; not because you are afraid of, “No,” but because you are afraid of a “Yes.”

“Yes,” means you’re doing this and doing this is risky! Take the risk!

I hope to see you at Proven Success Skills From Business Women: Networking Mastery Forum , on June 27th,2024, where you can learn more about Mastering Networking.
About the Author:

Julie Godwin is a busy homeschooling mom. She and her husband live in York City with 6 of their 8 children where she actively serves the people in their community. She is the former Women’s Ministry Coordinator for a large church. Julie is the President and Founder of Authentic Pursuit Ministries, a non-profit ministry committed to helping people pursue an Authentic Relationship with Jesus. She is a sought-after speaker and life coach. Her first Video based Bible Study workbook will be released this month. Known for keeping things real, she has a gift of connecting with people of all ages and in all stages of life. In her free time, she loves to read, and you will rarely see her without a cup of coffee in her hand. Spending time with her children and Grandson is one of her favorite things to. Weather permitting, you may see her riding solo or on the back of a motorcycle with her husband.
I hope you to see you at Success Skills From Business Women: Networking Mastery Forum on June 27th,2024.

Maximizing Your Networking Potential

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 20:34:00 GMT

Tips for Organizing Business Cards and Time Management

Three years ago, I stumbled into the world of networking. Before that, I had run a successful direct sales business solely based on cold calling and texting. Wow, what a difference networking makes! Over time, I have developed systems to stay organized and maximize my time while building relationships and working. This blog post will provide some tips on how to handle all the business cards you receive and optimize your networking efforts.
While some argue that business cards are outdated and suggest using QR codes instead, I believe that relying solely on digital means expecting someone who has never met you to remember your name or business to find you in their phone’s contacts. A physical business card can jog a memory. There have been instances when I received a call after a year because a card was left on a desk or in a drawer until the contact needed my services. Business cards can be a powerful tool in maintaining connections over time. At most networking events, I use a pocket system. I keep cards from people I want to connect with and potential clients in one pocket and cards from less relevant contacts in another pocket.
This system allows me to easily sort cards after the event and begin appropriate follow-up emails and calls. As you network, you will build relationships with people. The essence of networking is that you will do business with people you know, like, and trust, and vice versa. To keep track of these connections, I carry a portable business card book. This way, when I am in conversation, I can refer business to others. Over time, I have become known as the person who "knows people," and my network often reaches out to me before looking elsewhere. This also creates opportunities for my own business when they need my services.
Let’s dive into the specifics of my business card organization. I keep a portable card holder in my bag with the companies I refer the most. Some are from networking groups I regularly attend, and others are from various networking events around town. I often jot a tiny note on the cards to remind me where I met them. I also keep two copies of each business card—one to give out and one to remind me to reconnect with the business. My second business card holder is for prospective future clients. If I meet a company that needs my services immediately, I use this holder for easy follow-up. The third card holder is a box on my desk, organized alphabetically, for cards that don’t fit into my portable book but might be useful later. Maximizing your networking time also involves batching your time effectively. I often meet at coffee shops for one-on-one chats. Once I book one appointment at a location, I try to fill the rest of the day with meetings at the same location. For instance, if I’m meeting a client from Mechanicsburg, I choose Rise Bake Shoppe in Mount Joy and schedule subsequent meetings there. This strategy reduces driving time and dead time between appointments.
To further optimize your time, use a free booking app like Calendly. Including the link in your email signature allows you to easily schedule meetings via text or email and offers the option for virtual meetings. I use the paid version to manage multiple calendars, enabling me to set up in-person meetings in different locations on specific days. This ensures efficient time management and maximizes my networking efforts.
Networking is a powerful tool for growing your business. By staying organized and managing your time effectively, you can build strong relationships and become a go-to person in your network. Happy networking!

Discover more from Proven Success Skills From Business Women at Romeo Network’s " Proven Success Skills From Business Women: Networking Mastery Forum ," on June 27th. This event will be an invaluable opportunity to discover more networking and business tactics from experienced business women and expand your own professional network.

About the Author Jacquelynne Hess serves as the Director of Development at Unfair Advantage Marketing Company, where she specializes in creating and managing magazines tailored for high-end, influential neighborhoods nationwide. With a keen focus on fostering strong community ties and cultivating meaningful partnerships with advertisers and residents, Jacquelynne has successfully grown her business. Her expertise lies in understanding the unique needs of these affluent communities and delivering exceptional content that resonates with their lifestyles and interests. Learn more.

Building Success Through Genuine Connections

Tue, 28 May 2024 14:06:00 GMT

My Networking Journey

Over the last year, I have learned first-hand that networking is a vital skill for any business professional, especially in today's oversaturated online and offline marketing environment. As the Founder & CEO of UPFRONT MKTG, LLC, I’ve seen how effective networking can propel a business - my business! - to new heights. At launch I was a solopreneur, and I had two clients my first month, May 2023. By December of 2023 I had grown to 6 clients, and two part-time contractors to support the business. By February of 2024, I was bringing on two more contractors to shoulder the workload. Today I have 17 clients (and growing) and a team of 7 to support the work. How did I do it? Through networking, and word of mouth referrals. As a marketing agency, I feel somewhat hesitant to admit that I didn’t grow through my own services - but it’s the truth. Yes, I launched a website with SEO in mind, and I did some advertising that got me leads and repeat customers, but the majority of our growth came through referrals.
With our company growing 90% through local networking and word-of-mouth referrals since its launch, I want to share three key tips to help you master the art of networking.

1. Be Genuine and Authentic

The most effective networking occurs when you build genuine connections. People can sense when you’re being authentic and when you’re not. Approach networking with a mindset of curiosity and a genuine desire to learn about others. Listen more than you talk, ask open-ended questions, and show interest in their stories and experiences. Authentic connections often lead to long-term professional relationships that are mutually beneficial.

2. Follow Up and Stay Connected

Networking doesn’t end when you leave an event. Follow-up is crucial to maintaining and nurturing the connections you make. Send a personalized message within 24-48 hours, referencing something specific you discussed to jog their memory. Use LinkedIn to stay connected and engage with their posts. Regularly check in with your network, share relevant information, and offer your help when possible. Consistency in your follow-up will set you apart and keep you top of mind. Ironically, and any of you who know me can probably attest to this, I am not the best at following up. I have done so with intention, but as my business has grown, and I have become busy with the internal needs of staff, and maintaining client relationships, these steps have fallen to the wayside. Shame on me! HA! Just kidding - if you don’t execute perfectly, give yourself grace.

3. Provide Value Before Asking for Help

This is a big one. I never approach someone at a networking event with the thought, belief, or expectation that THEY will be a future client. I expect that they may stumble on someone at some point who needs me, and I want to make sure that I have built a relationship, left a good impression, and treated them with the same level of importance that I will treat the future leads they send my way. Everyone is important, and should be valued in my book. Before you ask for favors or assistance, think about what value you can offer to your connections. Whether it’s sharing an interesting article, providing a useful contact, or offering your expertise, giving first creates a foundation of goodwill.

When you provide value without expecting anything in return, people are more likely to want to help you when you do need something. This approach builds stronger, more collaborative relationships. Sometimes this has even looked like giving my time, attention, and a listening ear. Running a business is hard, and many individuals at networking events are trying to start a business while still working, or juggling family and health issues. Showing compassion in those moments shows your character, and the quality of your character has a great deal of impact on whether someone may be willing to recommend you to someone else in the future.
These tips are just the beginning. To dive deeper into mastering the art of networking, I invite you to join us at the Romeo Network’s " Proven Success Skills From Business Women: Networking Mastery Forum " on June 27th. This event will be an invaluable opportunity to learn practical strategies from experienced business women and expand your own professional network.
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About the Author

Lorianna Sprague is the Founder & CEO of UPFRONT MKTG, LLC, a marketing agency launched on May 1, 2023. Under her leadership, UPFRONT MKTG, LLC has grown significantly through local networking and word-of-mouth referrals. Lorianna is passionate about helping businesses thrive through effective marketing and networking strategies. Learn more about Lorianna on LinkedIn and her marketing agency website.
Join us at the Networking Mastery Forum to gain more insights and connect with like-minded professionals. Visit romeonetwork.com for more details.

A Fundraiser Worth Singing About

Tue, 21 May 2024 12:45:00 GMT

Reviving Nonprofit Fundraising

In the midst of a tumultuous world, the post-COVID era presents an urgent need for fundraising. Nonprofit entities find themselves grappling with scant resources and depleted staff, even as demand for their services escalates. The challenges are palpable for both the organizations and the communities they serve.
Within the realm of nonprofit operations, myriad fundraising strategies beckon consideration, adding to the weight of decision-making. How does one navigate the delicate balance between generating revenue and addressing heightened needs, all while contending with diminished resources and personnel? This is the conundrum they face.
Fortunately, there exists a beacon of assistance amid these turbulent waters. Assistance is at hand, poised to offer guidance and support in navigating the complexities of fundraising in this demanding landscape.
Norman Wasserman, the esteemed founder of Friend Entertainment USA, boasts a remarkable legacy spanning over three decades in fundraising for nonprofit causes. With an unwavering dedication to making a positive impact, Wasserman established Friend Entertainment USA with the vision of offering top-tier entertainment to nonprofit organizations. His journey began with a profound realization of the significant need to effect change in the world, catalyzed by his involvement in charitable endeavors from the outset.
Recognized affectionately as "The Music Man," Wasserman's affinity for music as the "Universal Language" is palpable in his diverse repertoire, spanning genres from Disco to Motown. His multifaceted linguistic prowess in the realm of music reflects his commitment to delivering unparalleled experiences. However, beyond his musical acumen, Wasserman's reputation as a meticulous perfectionist underscores his commitment to excellence. His stringent standards ensure that every tribute band or performer aligns with the ethos of Friend Entertainment USA, promising nothing short of stellar performances brimming with showmanship.
Under Wasserman's guidance, Friend Entertainment USA has pioneered a transformative fundraising strategy dubbed "The Fundraising Cure." Through the power of professionally curated concerts, nonprofits have reaped the rewards, garnering substantial financial support totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. Wasserman's holistic approach encompasses every facet of event management, from artist bookings to venue arrangements, program printing, and comprehensive publicity efforts. With Friend Entertainment USA, nonprofits find a reliable partner in achieving their fundraising goals while fostering a community united by the spirit of giving and enjoyment.

“Fundraising is the gentle art of teaching the joy of giving.” Hank Rosso

Let me hear from you.
(This excerpt is taken from the seminar entitled Designing Your Destiny V: Winning with Integrity . ) I encourage you to click here to register for the Designing Your Destiny V: Winning with Integrity exclusive live Zoom seminar on Thursday, June 13, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time.

Reserve your seat, or view the entire series at Romeo Network Online Learning!

Treat Your Customer's Priorities Like Your Own

Tue, 14 May 2024 12:45:00 GMT

Perform With Pride

Have you ever watched someone performing the task that you paid them to do? Were you able to do it without them knowing that you were watching them? If you watch carefully, you’ll be able to tell if they’re just going through the motions or if they’re actually taking pride in their work.
I’ve had contractors over the years who were more focused on how quickly they could get home than making sure the job I asked them to do was done correctly and thoroughly. That’s a problem for both the customer and for the contractor. For the customer because he’s dissatisfied with the work; and for the contractor because he probably won’t be invited back for future jobs.
One of the things I’ve learned by watching Ryan Schwarz of Schwartz Ponds take care of my ornamental bass pond and waterfall is that when he’s working, you would think he was working on his own property. I don’t have to be around Ryan to know the type of personal pride he takes in the job he does. He’s using the right philosophy, realizing that people who work with pride get asked back and get referred to other customers. I frequently refer Ryan to others. Ironically, even people who don’t own ponds are impressed with the way he presents himself as a serious professional even in his conversation. As a result, he gets referrals by talking with people who don’t even have ponds!
This approach can work for you as well if you take pride in what you do, and you let people see how you work. Encourage your customers to share their reflections on the jobs you’ve done for them with others. You’ll find that people refer business to you, even if they themselves don’t need your service. I’m challenging you to perform work for others as if you are doing it for yourself.
“Quality is never an accident. It is always the result of intelligent effort.” – John Ruskin
Let me hear from you.
(This excerpt is taken from the seminar entitled Designing Your Destiny V: Winning with Integrity . ) I encourage you to click here to register for the Designing Your Destiny V: Winning with Integrity exclusive live Zoom seminar on Thursday, June 13, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time.

Reserve your seat, or view the entire series at Romeo Network Online Learning!

Become A Category Of One

Tue, 07 May 2024 12:45:00 GMT

You Are Uniquely YOU!

Discovering the keys to successful networking and marketing can truly revolutionize your career, no matter what field you're in. That's where Romeo Network's Networking & Marketing Mastery series steps in, offering a friendly guide through the common hurdles many encounter when seeking to excel in these areas. Whether you're struggling to tap into your network effectively or find it tricky to explain what makes you stand out - this series is here to lend a helping hand!
Delving into crucial topics, this series addresses the everyday challenges faced by professionals when networking and marketing their product or service. From uncovering strategies to attract businesses to you, to the magic of narrowing down your niche, you'll gain priceless insights at our upcoming mega mixer event! Work with others to craft a memorable message that truly showcases your strengths and sets you apart from the competition in your field of expertise. With these tools in your arsenal, you can take charge of your niche and soar to new heights in your career!
Ready to take your networking and marketing skills to the next level? Don't miss out on our two-part series, "Crafting Your Memorable Message" and "Effective Networking," happening on May 16th at Lancaster Bible College from 9 am to 12 pm Eastern. It's time to embrace the journey and unlock the full potential of your network. Secure your spot today and embark on a journey that promises to reshape how you approach networking and marketing, all in a warm and welcoming environment.
Remember, every business person brings their unique twist to solving problems for their customers. This event will help you harness your individual strengths, setting you apart in any industry.

“Growth and comfort do not coexist.” – Ginni Rometty
Let me hear from you.
(This excerpt is taken from Networking & Marketing Mastery I; Crafting Your Memorable Message (Part I) & Effective Networking (Part II) . Looking to set yourself apart without the need to reinvent yourself? If you answered, "Yes;" then this event is not to be missed! See you there! Reserve your seat , or view the entire series at Romeo Network Online Learning!

Unleash Your Sales Potential: Defeating the 2000-Pound Telephone

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 12:45:00 GMT

Pre-Plan Your Sales Calls.

It’s ironic that the first place most salespeople procrastinate is in making sales calls. I could spend most of this blog trying to make my case, but I believe most of you already agree with me. You may even see it in yourself. One client once asked me, “How do you pick up the telephone when it weighs 2000 pounds?” What he meant was that he had a fear of picking up the phone and making sales calls because he felt he was going to receive a lot of rejection. While that may be true, it doesn’t mean that you don’t pick up the phone — no matter how much you visualize it weighing. The better solution is, start now and don’t ever stop.
One of the best ways to make sure that your phone calls are going to be made is the pre-plan your phone calls. That means that you create a list of the people you want to speak with and include all the information you’re going to need before you call. That includes the person’s name, the phone number, and the reason for your call. You may also want to include the name of the business your client contact works for, especially if you’ve never spoken to this person before.
If you don’t already know this, for every minute of preplanning you take, you will save five minutes of execution. I strongly urge you to have at least one days’ worth of sales calls ready to go before you pick up the phone. Also, plan your calls the day before you’re going to make them. You never want to use valuable sales time to do administrative prep work.
Another key to success is to make sure that you don’t put your phone down in between calls. Keep it in your hand and once you’ve disconnected with your last call, start dialing the next number. You’ll be amazed at how many more sales calls you can make in a day when you incorporate this strategy into your daily routine. Not only will you start getting more sales, but you’ll notice that your phone is rapidly getting lighter.
“Growth and comfort do not coexist.” – Ginni Rometty
Let me hear from you.
(This excerpt is taken from The Sales Academy. ) I encourage you to click here to register for The Sales Academy 5-part series running on five consecutive Friday mornings beginning on October 4, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time offered in person at Bellomo & Associates.

Create Greater Ease of Use

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 12:45:00 GMT

Focus on Convenience.

I’ve spent a lot of time listening to customers complain about how hard it is to make a sale — especially if what they sell is more expensive than their competition. But the reality is that salesmanship is not about being the lowest-priced bidder. It has far more to do with being the most valuable service in your customers’ perception.
One of my top coaching clients, Chris Judy of Total Merchant Services taught me his unique perspective on how and why he is so successful at providing merchant accounts for his customers. Chris doesn’t look for startup businesses that only have an occasional need for credit card transactions. He focuses on established businesses that are raking in a lot of money and are focused on providing convenience to their customers and their service providers. These customers understand that no one wants to have to wait to spend money on something they want. By providing a superior service to his merchant account clients, Chris enables them to reach more customers faster, and in a much more efficient and convenient way.
Today, more and more purchases are being made online and without the direct involvement of a human being. Because some of the behemoths (and you know who they are) have mastered this process so well, it’s only natural that your customers will compare your infrastructure and ease of use with other similar online services. Therefore, it is in your best interest to make purchasing from you as convenient as possible for your customers.
I’ve heard it said that if you’re not taking credit cards, you’re just pretending to be in business. I urge you to heed this warning: Your customers will make your competitors rich if you don’t make their lives easier when purchasing from you. Although this is not the only place where you want to make your customers’ experience more convenient, it’s a perfect place to start if you have not already done so.
“The customer experience is the next competitive battleground.” – Jerry Gregoire
Let me hear from you.
(This excerpt is taken from the seminar entitled 12 Easy Ways to Improve Any Business . ) I encourage you to click here to register for the 12 Easy Ways to Improve Any Business exclusive live Zoom only seminar on Thursday, May 23, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time.
This seminar is part of our Business Skills series. Feel free to browse the entire category for other similar topics.

Who Are You To Your Customers?

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 12:45:00 GMT

Make Sure You Know The Answer.

Have you ever listened to how salespeople and business owners explain what they do at a mixer or a networking event? People practice their “elevator speeches” for years trying to perfect them. But as a coach, I can tell you that most people don’t have a clue as to what they are in their customers’ eyes. Furthermore, most of them have no idea why their customers are buying from them.
Perhaps you have a product that is so superior that you sell more than you can handle, and you never have to worry about why your customers are buying it. But, more than likely, you don’t sell as many as you would like, and you’d like to know how you could increase your sales. The secret lies in understanding why your clients buy from you in the first place.
This usually means asking the customers why they love what they get from you. Don’t be afraid to ask them yourself. The more customers you ask, the more you’ll understand the value of what you sell. Having worked with Lou Leyes of Stages Planning Group since 2006, I can tell you very clearly what we get from his service: Lou guards our financial future and provides us with financial peace of mind. In good times or bad, Lou keeps us constantly informed of what’s happening in the market and its impact on our financial future. We may not always like the outcome, but there’s never a question that we are in good hands and that he is well-informed on what’s going on and what we should be doing.
So, what are you giving your clients? What are you to them? Be proactive and ask them before they question it themselves and before your competitors ask them. The sooner you understand what you provide to your customers, the sooner you’ll know what to say the next time somebody asks, “So, what exactly do you do?”
“It doesn’t matter what you think you sell. It only matters what the customer thinks they are buying.” – Dave Romeo
Let me hear from you.
(This excerpt is taken from the seminar entitled Networking and Marketing Mastery I: Crafting Your Memorable Message. ) I encourage you to click here to register for the Networking and Marketing Mastery I: Crafting Your Memorable Message live seminar mega-mixer on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at Lancaster Bible College in Lancaster, PA from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time. This seminar is also available for live streaming.
This seminar is part of our Networking and Marketing Mastery series. Feel free to browse the entire category for other similar topics.

Customizing a Commodity

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 12:45:00 GMT

Know What Makes You Different.

One of the common complaints salespeople and business owners share that they don’t know how to differentiate what they sell. This is especially true if what they sell is considered a “commodity.” A commodity is something that is easily available through many different resources and is hard to differentiate its value from one source or another. Some people might consider table salt, gasoline, or water to be commodities. However, whether something is a commodity or not is usually in the eye of the beholder.
For example, most people agree that water is water is water. However, bottled water is the highest-selling commercial beverage in the United States, claiming 25% of the market. In 2017, sales were over $24 billion. It’s important to note that it’s not the water that has changed. It is the convenience, portability, the availability, the size, and variety of the containers that has transformed it from a commodity to a best-selling soft drink.
With this in mind, Rich Pavlik of Blind Bean Roasters set out to prove that coffee need not be a commodity either. While Starbucks may have had a head start on Rich, he’s taken the concept one step further. Although his own personal love of fine-tasting coffee motivated him to start his business, he also realized that there were upscale restaurants and eateries that would also like to feature a coffee that could differentiate itself from commoditized coffee. By grinding the beans himself and immersing himself in the process of the coffee business, Rich now has clients from coast-to-coast who are paying a premium price for his superior brand of coffee.
When it comes to customizing a commodity, you don’t need to change the actual product. You can change the delivery method, the convenience of receiving it, the packaging, and the accessibility. You can also make sure that it is consistently better than your competitors. In this case, it might be determined by personal taste or shelf life. The point is that when it comes to customizing a commodity, you have only your creativity and imagination to limit you. However, you’ll want to pick something that you are completely passionate about. This is not something that can be faked. If you’re an end user of the product, you will know what makes it better and worth paying more for to consumers.
“I never cared much about fitting in. I always preferred standing out.” – Eartha Kitt
Let me hear from you.
(This excerpt is taken from the seminar entitled 12 Easy Ways to Improve Any Business . ) I encourage you to click here to register for the 12 Easy Ways to Improve Any Business exclusive live Zoom only seminar on Thursday, May 23, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time.
This seminar is part of our Business Skills series. Feel free to browse the entire category for other similar topics.

Level The Playing field

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 17:38:00 GMT

Clari fy Your Specialty

Usually, when people start their own business, they want to get as many customers as possible. Often, they make the rookie mistake of trying to be all things to everyone. This doesn’t work. At best, you’ll disappoint many sincere prospects who wish to give you a try. At worst, you’ll fall prey to price shoppers and scam artists who will take advantage of your naïveté (and mourn your failure to all who will listen).
On the contrary, the key to successful business is having a clear message that you offer something that a great number of people like and want, and that you can provide it in a convenient and problem-free method, at a price that most people feel is worth the exchange for the value they receive. While this might be simple to understand, it usually takes much trial and error to perfect this formula.
I witnessed the transformation in one of my Hall of Fame clients, Ray Fitzgerald of Greatest Hits Websites the second time he took my Sales Academy training program. It was as if all the lessons Ray had heard the first time started to crystallize in his mind and form a simple strategy for success. I had known Ray for five years when he took the Sales Academy the second time. I knew his business and I’ve referred numerous clients to him — virtually all of whom have hired him to build their websites. But what Ray demonstrated during his second round in the Sales Academy showed that he had clearly identified his niche. He repeatedly explained how his goal was to level the playing field for smaller and new entrepreneurs against their behemoth competitors by offering his clients affordably-priced websites that looked great and are completed within 30 days.
Of course, part of the success of this formula is to make sure that you can keep your promise and that is something Ray has done by systematizing his work and providing easy instructions for his customers to have everything ready to go, so that he can deliver on his word.
You too can level the playing field for your customers if you provide them with a simple way of competing against “the big guys” and offer their customers similar products and services while delivering superior, personalized attention. Once you’ve perfected this formula, create a message that clarifies your value in seven words or less. The simpler you make it, the faster your prospects will get it.
“If you want to increase your sales, narrow your niche.” – Laura Clampett Douglas

Let me hear from you.

(This excerpt is taken from the seminar entitled Networking and Marketing Mastery I: Crafting Your Memorable Message . ) I encourage you to click here to register for the Networking and Marketing Mastery I: Crafting Your Memorable Message live Super Seminar Mega-Mixer on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at Lancaster Bible College in Lancaster, PA from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time. This seminar is also available for live streaming.

This seminar is part of our Networking and Marketing Mastery series. Feel free to browse the entire category for other similar topics.

Prospects Abound!

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 12:45:00 GMT

Don’t Keep Them Waiting

As I was wrapping up my seminar career of 25 years, I had the opportunity to compare notes with my role model, friend and sponsor, Jeff Bellomo of Bellomo & Associates Elder Law and Estate Planning. Anyone who knows Jeff knows him to be an astute attorney and an incredibly nice person. I’ve rarely met anyone who invests more heavily in the development and growth of his employees.
As we were discussing the value of seminars, I mentioned to him that sometimes employers send their employees to seminars, but they don’t take full advantage of the opportunity. It’s one thing to go to a seminar for the content in hopes of learning new information. It’s another to invest time spent with other people who also wish to grow. It is in these interactions that some of the longest lasting customer relationships are cultivated. In addition, they can also lead to future employees who hear about your company’s culture and what it would be like to be part of your team.
While there is no shortage of great networking organizations around these days, one should not overlook the contacts made at training seminars — especially those open to the general public. I’ve always been impressed to see bank presidents sitting next to hotel cleaning staff at the same seminar and bonding over learning something new and useful. It levels the playing field and allows each person to be valued — not for the role they currently hold, but for their shared desire to learn and grow personally and professionally.
If you start with the mindset that virtually anyone you meet at a networking mixer, an open house, or a general public seminar could become a future customer or coworker, you’ll realize that prospects abound virtually everywhere you go. If you train the reticular activating system in your brain to look for opportunities to build new relationships or deepen existing ones, you will be amazed at how great the results can be by investing yourself in learning about others.
“You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years trying to get them interested in you.” – Dale Carnegie
Let me hear from you.

(This excerpt is taken from the seminar entitled Networking and Marketing Mastery I: Crafting Your Memorable Message . ) I encourage you to click here to register for the Networking and Marketing Mastery I: Crafting Your Memorable Message live Super Seminar Mega-Mixer on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at Lancaster Bible College in Lancaster, PA from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time. This seminar is also available for live streaming.

This seminar is part of our Networking and Marketing Mastery series. Feel free to browse the entire category for other similar topics.

Create Confident Connections!

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 12:45:00 GMT

It's The Best Way To Grow Your Business

One thing I’ve learned as a business owner is that you never turn down an opportunity to visit a networking association’s meeting. As a coach, the more I know about an association, the better able I’ll be to refer clients to the right one.
One day, one of my Hall of Fame clients introduced me to Mike Weiner of NRG (Network Referral Group). NRG is a national, Zoom-based association that currently holds about 27 1-hour on-line networking sessions every week. What I knew before the introduction was that two of my best customers had already joined NRG. After speaking briefly with Mike, he invited me as his guest to attend one of the networking sessions. He also promised me that I would get three referrals just for taking part in it.
While it wasn’t my intent to join NRG (I was only four months away from retirement at the time this took place) I was very anxious to learn more about the organization. As it turned out, Mike Weiner is a master of creating confident connections. There were about 10 people on during the session I participated in and he rattled off referrals to each one of the members off the top of his head — also providing phone numbers and additional contact information as appropriate. Because I was retiring, I said I didn’t need any referrals, still I wound up getting six new customers as a result of my participation in that one meeting.
Since, like Mike, I also like to make connections, I made about a dozen introductions to the people in that group the same day and more subsequently as I thought of them. I also made about 15 referrals to Mike Weiner and several of them joined NRG on the spot! What I learned from this experience is that Mike created a very effective business model that produces immediate results. All customers want big and quick returns on their investment. One lady on the initial call said that she’d only been in the organization for several months and had already received a 35-time return on investment for her membership fee.
If you’re going to take the time to create confident connections for other people, they will stop seeing you as a networking contact and view you more as a revenue source. This is an excellent way for you to build your business indirectly while focusing directly on helping others build their businesses.
“Succeeding in business is all about making connections.” – Richard Branson
Let me hear from you.
(This excerpt is taken from the seminar entitled Networking and Marketing Mastery I: Crafting Your Memorable Message .) I encourage you to click here to register for the Networking and Marketing Mastery I: Crafting Your Memorable Message live Super Seminar Mega-Mixer on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at Lancaster Bible College in Lancaster, PA from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time. This seminar is also available for live streaming.

You Don't Need a Team to be a Leader

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 12:45:00 GMT

As Long as You're a Leader Worth Following

As the excellent speaker and author Mark Sandborn said, “You don’t need a title to be a leader.”

While I completely agree with that quote, it’s also true that you don’t need a team to be a leader. I saw the statement play out about a year ago in the Leadership Academy. Dan Luckenbaugh of Advanced Air Quality Services was taking the program. During those five weeks, I got to know him very well. Dan is a sole proprietor, but you probably wouldn’t think it to hear how much he gets done. He has the ability to influence and persuade people to lend a hand when needed.

Dan shared how he can sometimes get public officials to go above and beyond to solve problems for customers. This is because he’s developed a greater level of credibility with the officials they know of him, his work, and is reputation. This didn’t happen because he was in a higher position than them. It happened because he leads with integrity and sets an example that others wish to emulate. All this is good news to anyone who was an entrepreneur, especially if you are sole proprietor. There’s always more work to get done than one person can handle. That’s why it’s so important to develop exceptional leadership skills that other people can recognize.

When I was getting ready to start work on the Focused on Success television series, the executive producer said to me, “This will be a great forum for you to show off your leadership.” I was somewhat taken by surprise by that statement. After all, I had no employees so I didn’t know who I would lead. I asked her to clarify her statement and she explained that the way I could attract people to attend my seminars, to sign up for coaching, and to take actions to improve their lives demonstrated my leadership. In other words, I didn’t need a team to be a leader. Neither do you.

People are going to look at how you handle yourself and others. That’s what will determine if they want to follow you. If you ever want to test your leadership skills, try leading a group of volunteers. That is the true test of a natural leader. People only follow you if they believe in you and want to join your cause. In the end, it all comes down to people skills. Once you develop the ability to influence and inspire others to grow, you’ll watch a team assemble before your very eyes.

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” – John Maxwell
Let me hear from you.

(This excerpt is taken from The Leadership Academy . I encourage you to click here to register for The Leadership Academy 5-part series which runs on five consecutive Tuesday mornings beginning on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at Bellomo & Associates in York, PA from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time.

Please note that classes two and four will be presented exclusively through live streaming.

This Course is also avaialble on demand 24-7, at Romeo Network Online Learning. Click here to enroll today!

Adaptability Quotient: Is Your Team Ready for Massive Change?

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 13:45:00 GMT

Is Your Team Ready For Massive Change?

Artificial Intelligence is not writing this blog—but maybe it should be. The future is here. Change is upon us. Am I going to be able to adapt enough by the end of the year? By the end of the decade? We made it through Covid. We’re battling another recession. I think I know what our biggest threats are this year—but by 2025? Who knows? How long can we hold on?
Perhaps you’ve had thoughts like these recently.
In their Workplace Learning Report published in 2021, a LinkedIn survey of over 5000 hiring professionals showed that Adaptability had dethroned Creativity as the #1 most in-demand skill. Around the same time, The World Economic Forum released a study indicating that 40% of current jobs would not exist within ten years’ time. Whether your team is ever going to need to use Artificial Intelligence or not, changes will come. Some will surprise you, others won’t, but all of these changes will require an ever-increasingly adaptable workforce. Job descriptions will change. Old ways of doing things will go the way of the buffalo.
The good news is, adaptability is a skill. Just as learning to play the piano or catch a baseball is a skill, some time and energy may need to be invested to hone that skill. What’s even more exciting is that the Adaptability Quotient can now be assessed and measured, so that one can get a true picture of an individual or a team’s improvement!
An assessment gives us a picture of which aspects of a person or team’s adaptability might need work—and specific interventions can be developed. A second measurement, six months down the road, gives empirical evidence of growth and change.
There’s a bright new future ahead for those who embrace the challenge of building their abilities, transforming their character, and constructing environments and cultures which promote and celebrate change.
To whet your appetite, here are just a few of the 17 facets of Adaptability that the AQ measures:
GRIT UNLEARNING MENTAL FLEXIBILITY THINKING STYLE HOPE …
A few years ago I was visiting the main office of the local public high school when a teacher wandered in. I overheard her sharing with someone that she had finally turned in her laptop to the tech team for an upgrade. She was the last instructor in the entire school to do so. She had made it through all the threats, resisting the changes that would no doubt throw her for a loop until she could resist no more or face disciplinary action. And she seemed proud of the fact that she was the last holdout! I thought to myself, Well, here’s one of the least adaptable teachers in the school system, at least in terms of technology. I’m terrified of changes to my computer, too, but this is blatant!
I’m sure by now you’re already wondering to yourself, Could we help that certain person on our team become less resistant to change and more adaptable?
And the answer is … When it comes to change in the world, yes, change is imminent. When it comes to change in humans, it’s possible to learn to adapt.
By Adam G. Fleming, PCC
Let me hear from you .

(This excerpt is taken from the seminar entitled Adaptability Quotient: is Your Team Ready for Massive Change? ) I encourage you to click here to register . for this event. Adam Fleming's seminar takes place on Thursday, April 4th, 2024, at Bellomo & Associates, in York, PA from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time.

This seminar is also available for live streaming. Livestream details provided after registration.
For content from a similar topic, check out, " The Fine Art Of Pivoting ," available exclusively at Romeo Network Online Learning.

3 Keys for Keeping a Dissatisfied Customer

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 13:45:00 GMT

Listening, Sincerity, and Problem Solving

If you own your own business, getting customer complaints is not so much a matter of “if,” as it is of “when.” The reality is that when you’re trying to take care of your customers, remember that one size fits one. Every customer is going to have a unique expectation of what he or she gets from you. Your job is to do your best to make sure that you live up to those expectations. But realistically, sooner or later, somebody is going to be dissatisfied.
So, what do you do when that happens? Here’s a three-pronged approach that is sure to help make the situation better. First of all, start with intentional listening. Pay great attention to exactly what is bothering your customer. It goes without saying that you do not want to interrupt the customer when he or she is talking with you. However, it is appropriate to ask for clarification and more details when there is a pause. For example, “Can you tell me when this incident happened?” or, “Do you happen to remember the name of the employee you spoke with about this?” By digging a little deeper, it will make it easier for you to piece together what went wrong.
Next, be sure to approach your customer with sincerity. For the past six years, I worked very closely with John Ellis of Create Socially. Not only has he been my customer, I’ve also been his. In fact, he even bought my business. One of the qualities I like best about John is that if there is a problem, he wants to know about it and he wants to fix it. He doesn’t look for blame, he looks for solutions. Having someone who genuinely wants to understand what happened so that he can solve the problem makes me want to do business with him because I feel that I’m being taken seriously.
Finally, you must solve the problem. Problem-solving is not something you develop after a problem occurs. It should be a mindset that you cultivate the day you decide to go into business. This is a two-part process. First you solve the immediate problem that the customer is experiencing. Once you have done this to the customer’s satisfaction, go back and identify the reason that the problem occurred in the first place. If you can eliminate the possibility of this problem reoccurring, you will be turning your customer service and problem-solving skills into a proactive marketing plan for your business.
Although each customer service issue will be as unique as each customer, using this three-step formula will make it substantially easier for you to find common ground and keep a dissatisfied customer from leaving.
“Customer service is the new marketing.” – Derek Sivers
Let me hear from you .

(This excerpt is taken from the seminar entitled Legendary Customer Services IV: Soothing the Savage Customer ) I encourage you to click here to register for the Legendary Customer Services IV: Soothing the Savage Customer live Summer Bash seminar on Thursday, August 8, 2024, at Lancaster Bible College in Lancaster, PA from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time. This seminar is also available for live streaming.
This seminar may also be accessed on demand before and after the event, at Romeo Network Online Learning. Click here for instant access !

Use the Power of Personal Warmth, Likability, and Patience

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 13:30:00 GMT

It's A Winning Formula

I frequently meet young salespeople just starting out in business who think that they have to be pushy, aggressive, and overbearing in order to sell. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. There is a natural tendency when one is just beginning on his or her sales journey to want to get things moving as soon as possible. That’s a natural tendency and a good one to keep. Staying hungry often keeps you financially set. However, there’s a difference between being hungry and enthusiastic and being pushy and overbearing.
There’s a story I’ve heard over the years about two salesmen who go to a networking mixer. One is a senior sales professional and the other one is just starting out. The young salesman looks at the crowd and says, “Wow! Look at all the prospects in there! Let’s run in and get one.” The senior sales professional responds, “I’ve got a better idea. Why don’t we walk in and get them all?”
This approach reminds me of one of my Ultimate Service Providers, Wendell Hoover of Iron Valley Real Estate. For as long as I’ve known him, he’s been networking with the intent of adding value to others. He does this by allowing his personal warmth and natural likability to shine through. Wendell is patient, not pushy. He’s approachable, not overbearing. There’s a natural comfort around somebody we find likable yet confident in their work.
What about you? Are you presenting yourself as somebody who is warm, likable, and patient? This is not a difficult formula to learn and practice. If you’re getting most of your new customers through your networking efforts, you will do well to put this combination into regular use whenever you are meeting potential prospects and customers.
“How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” – Ancient African proverb
Let me hear from you.

(This excerpt is taken from Networking and Marketing Mastery III: Turning Contacts into Contracts.) I encourage you to click here to register for the Networking and Marketing Mastery III: Turning Contacts into Contracts seminar on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at Bellomo & Associates in York, PA from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time.

This seminar is also available for live streaming.

For your convenience, this same content is also available on demand, at Romeo Network Online Learning. Click here to watch on demand.

Understand Your Customers' Wants

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 13:45:00 GMT

If You Don't Know, Ask Them

In 25 years of coaching clients, one thing has become clear; most customers have no idea what their customers want. It’s usually only after they take the time to ask each customer what he or she wants that they even get an inkling as to what their customers value and expect from them.
For example; one of my long-standing clients is Stages Planning Group . For many years, I’ve had the privilege of coaching the owner of the business, Lou Leyes. Lou is an exceptional leader and an outstanding financial planner. In our case, he was my client, and I was his. The advantage of having your coach as a client is that he can give you the perspective of what it feels like to be a customer in a way that’s easy for you to understand.
As a customer, I don’t expect a financial planner to control the market. I don’t expect a financial planner to make sure that my investments never lose any money. What I do expect is that my financial planner can explain to me — at a level I can easily comprehend — exactly what’s happening in the market and what I should expect going forward. I expect guidance during tough times and recommendations when the market takes an upswing.
In your business, do you clearly understand what your customers want from you? If not, I challenge you to immediately start calling them and asking them what role they see you in. And remember, "one size fits one."

That means you need to call multiple customers in order to make sure you understand exactly what they’re looking for from you.
“Harley-Davidson sells a 43-year-old accountant the ability to dress up in black leather, to ride around in a small town, and to have people be afraid of him.” – Former CEO of Harley-Davidson
Let me hear from you .

(This excerpt is taken from The Sales Academy 5-part series). I encourage you to click here to register for The Sales Academy running on five consecutive Friday mornings beginning on April 5, 2024, at Bellomo & Associates in York, PA from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time. This seminar is also available for live streaming.
For your convenience, this same content is also available on demand, at Romeo Network Online Learning. Click here to secure your spot!

Start Planning Now for Future Hires

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 04:24:00 GMT

It will really pay off.

It never fails that when I run into one of my entrepreneurial coaching clients, they always want to know where they can find good employees. One thing that has always remained the same since I started in the staffing industry in 1990 is that there are plenty of great employees. The only question is, “How do you get them to want to work for you?”
The first thing to understand is that everyone is motivated to do something. The problem is what motivates you may not be what motivates them. With that being said, what you want to do is identify what perks you offer that would be valuable to potential employees. One of the most obvious ones would be opportunities for growth.
While not every employee is looking to grow as a human being, the ones that aren’t, are not the employees you want to have in the first place. That’s why it’s so important to ask potential new hires what their top three values are. That one question will fill you in on what you need to know about the person’s disposition and suitability for your opening.
It’s unrealistic to think that you will fill your company with people who will be there until the day they retire, but that’s not important. What is important is that you take the time to understand what drives them. Once you do this, it’s your responsibility — as a leader — to give them an understanding of how working with you will help them achieve their goals.
It’s also never too soon to start establishing for your talent pool. I highly recommend that you do this from amongst your friends’ children. They’re going to be the next generation of employees. Find out if they have any interest in sports or extracurricular school activities. That’s a good way to learn if they are growth oriented. Start getting to know them and develop a rapport. It might turn out to be a good place for you to start planning your future recruiting efforts.
“Never tell me the sky is the limit when there are footprints
on the moon.” – Anonymous
Let me hear from you .

(This excerpt is taken from the seminar entitled How to Hire Winners! ) I encourage you to click here to register for the How to Hire Winners! live seminar on Thursday, March 7, 2024, at Bellomo & Associates in York, PA from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time. This seminar is also available for live streaming.

For your convenience, this seminar is also available on demand at Romeo Network Online Learning, under the Business Skills collection. Click here to take this course.

Unleash the Power of Inbound Marketing: A Path to Success for Small and Local Businesses

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 13:45:00 GMT

A Path to Success for Small and Local Businesses

In today's fast-paced digital world, traditional marketing methods alone won't cut it. Small and local businesses need to adapt and embrace inbound marketing to thrive in the online landscape. But what exactly is inbound marketing, and why does it matter? Let's dive into the world of inbound marketing and explore how it can revolutionize your business.
What is Inbound Marketing?

Inbound marketing is a customer-centric approach that focuses on attracting, engaging, and delighting your target audience. Unlike traditional outbound marketing, which interrupts potential customers, inbound marketing aims to provide valuable content and solutions that align with their needs and interests. It's about building meaningful relationships and guiding prospects through their buying journey.
Why Does it Matter for Small and Local Businesses?

Cost-Effective: Inbound marketing typically costs less than traditional advertising methods like print or TV ads. Small and local businesses can make the most of their limited budgets by investing in digital strategies.
Targeted Reach: Inbound marketing allows you to target specific demographics, ensuring that your efforts reach the right people at the right time. This is especially crucial for local businesses looking to connect with their community.
Builds Credibility: By consistently delivering valuable content and solutions, inbound marketing establishes your business as an authority in your industry. Trust is a valuable asset for local businesses.

Aspects of Inbound Marketing:

Content Creation: Producing relevant, high-quality content is at the heart of inbound marketing. Blogs, videos, social media posts, and eBooks are all tools to engage and educate your audience.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Optimizing your website and content for search engines ensures that your business appears in relevant search results, increasing visibility and traffic.
Social Media Marketing: Engaging with your audience on social platforms helps build relationships and encourages sharing, expanding your reach.
Email Marketing: Personalized email campaigns nurture leads and keep your audience informed about your products or services.
Analytics and Data: Inbound marketing relies on data analysis to measure results, identify areas for improvement, and refine strategies.

Ready to Dive Deeper?

If you're intrigued by the potential of inbound marketing and eager to learn more, join us for " The Inbound Marketing Workshop [Click here to register] , " on February 22, 2024, at Bellomo & Associates (York PA), and streaming online!

Founder of UPFRONT MKTG, Lorianna Sprague will guide you through the essentials of small business marketing, share real-world success stories, and provide hands-on guidance to help you implement these strategies for your business.

Don't miss this chance to take your business to new heights in the digital age. See you there!

Make Super-Responsiveness Your Superpower

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 13:45:00 GMT

Set Yourself Apart From Your Competition

I’ve often heard it said that it’s better to be first than to be the best. When you have an urgent need, you don’t waste time shopping around for the best price. You go with the first service who can solve your problem — especially if you have a clogged toilet in your restroom or you’re standing knee-deep in a basement full of water.
I experienced the most extreme differences between two people who worked on my ornamental bass pond. The gentleman who built it was an exquisite craftsman. However, he disappeared after it was done and probably couldn’t be found even with the assistance of the FBI when it came to maintaining the pond after was built. Fortunately, I looked up Schwarz Ponds online and was immediately impressed that the young owner Ryan Schwarz answered the phone even though he didn’t know who I was. Not only that, but he instantly made arrangements to come out to my house — which was not even located in his territory — and got my pond ready to open.
In fact, at every opportunity when I needed assistance or a question answered, Ryan immediately took the call or followed up with me in an extremely short period of time. It appeared that being super-responsive is one of his superpowers. As a pond owner, I love and enjoy spending time near my pond. Unfortunately, I’m not an expert on maintaining it. That’s why it’s so important to me to have a specialist who treats my sense of urgency like his own.
If you are going to provide an ongoing service to a client, understand that the client is evaluating you based on how seriously you treat his or her sense of urgency. The better you get at honing this skill, the more satisfied customers you will have and the more referrals they will be providing to you.
“Anyone can do my job, but nobody else can be me.” – Jeff Umberger
Let me hear from you.
(This excerpt is taken from the seminar Stop Procrastinating Now!) I encourage you to click here to register for the Stop Procrastinating Now! live seminar on Thursday, February 15, 2024 at Bellomo & Associates in York, PA from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time. This seminar is also available for live streaming.

Capitalize on the Simple

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 13:45:00 GMT

Specialize in What Others Skip

Often, when we start a business, we tend to make things harder than they need to be, because we want to be better than the competition. However, in reality, the simpler you make your business, the easier it will be to provide value, and the easier it will be for your customers to see its value.
Ask anyone running a business today how hard it is to stay in touch with your customers and prospects. Regardless of the multiple communication methods available to us, the simple and necessary task eludes most businesspeople. Naturally, they wonder why they get cancellation notices from their clients or learn that customers have decided to go elsewhere to receive the same service. This happens because we allow it to happen. We simply do not stay in contact with our clients — or if we do, it’s not in a personal manner that keeps them loyal to us.
Understanding this difficulty, Susan Chinault of Calling All Customers was inspired to start her business. Unlike most sales call services, Susan doesn’t specialize in making cold calls. Instead, she specializes in making warm, professional, and personal calls to existing customers of her clients. She bridges the gap between her clients and her clients’ customers. This way, the connection stays strong even when her customers cannot directly speak to a client. Of course, whenever Susan realizes that a client needs some attention, she relays the information to her customer.
In addition, she can keep moving the sales process along for prospects who may be interested in working with her client companies. We all know how often it takes multiple attempts to reach a prospect once the sales cycle actually begins. By focusing on the simple and often overlooked step of following up, Susan is able to keep momentum in the sales process until a prospect is ready to get serious. Once this occurs, she either closes the deal or hands it back over to her client company.
Regardless of how you stay in touch with your clients and prospects, make sure that you are doing this more seriously than your competition does. It would be a shame to lose a valued client or a future one by skipping such a simple step like following up and following through.
“Genius is the art of seeing what everyone else has missed.” – P.T. Barnum
Let me hear from you.
(This excerpt is taken from the seminar Communication Excellence V: Focus, Follow up, and Follow Through.) I encourage you to click here to register for the Communication Excellence V: Focus, Follow up, and Follow Through live seminar on February 8, 2024, at Bellomo & Associates in York, PA from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time.

This seminar is also available for live streaming, and on demand at Romeo Network Online Learning.

SmallBiz HR Mastery

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 13:45:00 GMT

Got Employees?

If you answered yes to the question, chances are you need some form of HR. While you may not need a full-time HR professional, there are many challenges employers are facing today. Attracting top talent, retaining good talent, complying with labor and employment laws, maintaining proper documentation throughout the employee life cycle, and navigating unemployment compensation benefits, are a few that immediately come to mind.
Attracting the right talent goes far beyond company culture. Ironically, while the intention behind seeking culture fit is to attract the perfect employee, it ultimately fails to attract and retain top talent. Placing excessive emphasis on culture fit causes teams to overlook highly qualified candidates who possess valuable skills and capabilities. Moreover, it can make employees feel the need to conform or suppress their authentic selves.
As an employer, did you know that the termination reason you put on an unemployment claim may automatically guarantee unemployment compensation benefits to the employee? I have seen numerous unemployment compensation claims that say, “poor performance”. Without the ability to prove the act of poor performance was intentional, employers are on the hook to pay these benefits.
With most states being at-will, it has become best practice (and I would argue a necessity) for employers to document employee behaviors such as poor performance, frequent absences, and policy violations. Without proper documentation, employees may have a case for wrongful termination.
Many states have specific labor and employment laws, coupled with specific pay practices that must be followed. If you employ individuals, know your rights and responsibilities to reduce unnecessary fines, and even worse, the potential to be shut down!
HR is full of myths and employee issues. You do not know what you do not know! If you would like to learn more about the world of HR as it is seen today, join me on January 25, 2024 for a seminar packed full of practical strategies that will elevate your business to new heights.

Come Prepared or Stay Home

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 14:00:00 GMT

Come Prepared Or Stay Home

Don’t waste your customers’ time!
Our home is strategically located in Elizabethtown — about halfway between Harrisburg and Lancaster. That means that when we have contractors come to our house, they may have to make a journey back to their home base in order to get all the supplies and items needed to complete their assigned task. After living in this house for the past 26 years, we understand that that comes with the territory. However, since we have been working with some of our vendors that entire time, one would think that they would make arrangements to anticipate what they need and bring those items with them.
In the past, we had a contractor drive out to assess the job, leave for 1 to 2 hours, and then return to finish the task. Mind you, we do try to be as thorough as possible, when explaining what the task is over the phone. To add insult to injury, we often get charged for the additional travel time back and forth to pick up the items that were not packed on the truck before the contractor originally left to come to our location.
Sometimes, we get complacent and assume that is the way things are, the way things should be. However, sometimes you get someone who breaks the rules and redefines what is acceptable. That happened when we started working with George Garrett of Garrett Electric .

One of the things I learned early on with George is that he anticipates what a job might require and proactively stocks extra inventory on his company van in order to make sure that he’s equipped to solve the problem when he arrives and that he is not wasting his customers — or his own — time running all over creation, looking for parts at the last minute.
Once a customer encounters a superior level of service, it makes it much more difficult for mediocre contractors to continue to get away with average service. So, you have a choice. You can either play catch-up after your customers notify you that they are no longer willing to accept poor performance, or you could become a trendsetter and provide that exceptional level of service that customers love to share with others. It all starts with commitment; followed up with discipline and focus. So, what will you do?
“You’re allowed to be surprised once. After that, you’re unprepared.” – John Maxwell
Let me hear from you.
I encourage you to click here to register for the Organizational Excellence IV: Get Organized Now! live seminar on Thursday, January 18, 2024, at Bellomo & Associates in York, PA from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time.

This excerpt is taken from the seminar entitled Organizational Excellence IV: Get Organized Now!. If you re unable to attend the live event, review it 24-7 online, at Romeo Network Online Learning .

Introduce, Refer, and Sign

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 13:45:00 GMT

How to close new prospects.

More and more people are using networking as their primary way of meeting new customers. That is an excellent practice. For more than 25 years, I’ve found that virtually all my best customers have come as a result of networking efforts. However, I realize that not everyone who networks get the same results. Ideally, the plan is to have some of the people you encounter become your customers, or at least refer you to other people who will.
If you are new to networking, here’s a good strategy for you to follow: Introduce yourself to others. Do not wait to be introduced to people you don’t already know. Many of my best clients are introverts. We have an excellent relationship; however, it’s usually me that made the first move when we met for the first time. Introverts will not mind you doing this. It’s not a trait that comes naturally to them. You will be making it easier for them to interact with others.
Another thing to remember is that “one size fits one.” Everyone’s different and has different preferences. Invest the time to develop a relationship so that you can understand what the person you are meeting really values. You do this by listening — not by monopolizing the conversation. It’s a good idea to ask questions and listen to the replies.
If you want to get somebody’s attention, make introductions to other people whom they should know or introduce them to people you know. In this way, you serve almost as an ambassador of goodwill. Your new contact will naturally be appreciative of your help. As you build up a positive balance in your “relationship bank account,” it’s okay for you to inquire as to whether or not your new contact may be interested in doing business with you. Just remember to do the appropriate legwork and make sure that what you have will benefit your prospect.
And one last piece of advice about mixers: Don’t judge them by how many people attend them. As long as you are there and one other person is there, you have the potential to either turn that person into a customer or a referral source. Just make sure that you focus on to the other person’s needs first.
“Your mission is the vehicle that drives you to fulfilling your purpose and vision.” – Bob Choat
L et me hear from you .
This excerpt is taken from the seminar entitled Networking and Marketing Mastery III: Turning Contacts into Contracts. I encourage you to click here to register for John Ellis’s exclusive live in person presentation of Networking and Marketing Mastery III: Turning Contacts into Contracts on Thursday, March 21, 2024 from 9 AM to 12 noon Eastern Standard Time at Bellomo and Associates in York, PA. This seminar will also be available through live streaming.

Put Off Procrastination.

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 13:45:00 GMT

Do it now!

When I first became a motivational speaker, I was so charged up when I’d see people writing down high- impact phrases that they’d pulled from my presentation. As they’d leave the room, you could see the enthusiasm in their eyes and they looked as if they could take on the world. Little did I know back then that most of the motivation and encouragement that they carried out of the room would evaporate by the time they got back to their offices.
Numerous distractions, unexpected phone calls, endless junk mail, and countless interruptions would destroy all of that enthusiasm before they had a chance to act on any of it. And while this didn’t happen to everyone, the fact that it happened to any of them at all was a tragedy. As my mentor Brian Tracy said, “Procrastination is the thief of time.” It’s very easy for us to be distracted by life’s little surprises and not focus on what we really want to do. I’m telling you that it does not have to be this way for you. You can make the decision to change the course of your life simply by making a commitment to do what you say you will do — and do it immediately.
When you find yourself with a great idea for a project you want to pursue, write it down and put your start date next to it. Then do everything you can to envision that start date. Start removing all of the distractions that could trespass upon your predetermined onset. If you know you’re going to be faced with interruptions, do something about them now. Don’t bring your phone with you. Stay off your computer. Put up a “Do not disturb” sign if necessary. Put yourself in a place where you can give all of your focus and energy to achieving your goal.
You may think that this sounds too easy to be true. The truth is, it takes no more effort to follow through on your goals than it does to address all of the interruptions and distractions that are currently preventing you from doing so. Remember, knowledge is not power. Knowledge, plus action, plus disciplined follow-through, is power. “Don’t let procrastination take over your life. Be brave and take risks. Your life is happening right now.” – Roy Bennett
Let me hear from you.
This excerpt is taken from the seminar entitled Stop Procrastinating Now! I encourage you to click here to register for John Ellis’s exclusive live in person presentation of Stop Procrastinating Now! on Thursday, February 15, 2024 from 9 AM to 12 noon Eastern Standard Time at Bellomo and Associates in York, PA. The seminar will also be available through live streaming.

Are You a Talent Scout?

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 13:45:00 GMT

Be on the lookout for great hires!

Recently, my team found itself in a predicament. We were in the process of loading numerous videos to populate Dave Romeo Online University. In the middle of the project, the main producer had to exit unexpectedly. In the meantime, the leaders were left holding the bag and felt stumped as to what the next step should be.
I mentioned that Romeo Network could solve this problem. After having spoken with the two gentlemen who originally built the site, I contacted both of their sons who are now grown man. One of them was very eager to work on this project. In addition, I contacted one of my best customers whose son was serendipitously in between jobs. While he was in the midst of regrouping after an unfortunate circumstance, he also expressed an interest in helping out. This all took place within 24 hours.
The point of the lesson I want to impart on you is that you always need to be a talent scout — ever searching for the key people who can help you either now or in the future. Are you sizing up potential hires that you may need down the line?
In my very first full-time job, I worked as a bank teller. I’m not sure how much of a future that position held, but within six months of taking the job, I was offered a better position and received a significant pay increase that led to several upward promotions. How did this come about? At my graduation party, my future employer happen to be an invited guest of my cousin. We met only briefly during the occasion but he remembered me and sought me out when an opportunity arose.
Even if you are not currently in need of good help, that doesn’t mean you should not be constantly on the search for top talent. And one more very important point, make sure that your first impression on your potential future hires are positive ones. That’s what they’ll remember about you when you approach them about coming on board with you. “Time spent hiring is time well spent.” – Robert Half
Let me hear from you.
This excerpt is taken from the seminar entitled How to Hire Winners. I encourage you to click here to register for John Ellis’s exclusive live Zoom presentation of How to Hire Winners on Thursday, March 7, 2024 from 9 AM to 12 noon Eastern Standard Time.

Give the Client 100% of Your Attention.

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 13:45:00 GMT

Focus on the customer.

How responsive are you to your customers? I ask you this for a specific reason: Ever since my parents passed away, I had been responsible for my foster brother’s well-being. This includes taking care of his life insurance premiums. For years, this had gone smoothly. However, starting in 2022, the company started sending me emails about making the premium payments. When I called to inquire about how much the amount was, I was told that the company couldn’t tell me. I explained that the company emailed me to ask me to make a payment — wouldn’t it make sense that they would want me to know how much the payment is? Believe it or not, it took three levels of employees before I could get somebody who would cooperate with me and give me the information. The company also said that if I had my brother sign a permission slip, the company would have no trouble working with me in the future. After two months of waiting, I discovered that the group home where my brother resides never got the permission slip from the insurance company. When I called the insurance company back to explain what had happened, they said (and I’m not making this stuff up), they couldn’t send my brother’s permission slip for him to sign until he gave them permission to send it to them. Keep in mind that it took me 37 minutes to even get this reply after spending about 30 minutes on hold waiting for somebody to answer the phone. When I explained that I wanted to speak with someone who was capable of solving a problem, I was told that there was no one there at that level who could help me, but they would have a supervisor call me back. It’s now been over five hours and I still haven’t heard back from anyone there. By the way, I had agreed to take an automated survey at the end of my phone call. They asked me to rate the service from 1-5. At first, I rated it minus 100 but it didn’t understand my reply. I tried to rate it a zero and again, it didn’t understand my reply so it hung up on me. I guess this is how they keep their ratings high. I’ve also had a similar problem with my own merchant account vendor. He’s only returned one of my phone calls in the last two years. I contrast that against Chris Judy of Total Merchant Services. Not only is he super-responsive to my phone calls, but he’s always quick to follow up with any leads I give him. And all of my leads for clients in need of a merchant account go to Chris because he demonstrates how much he prizes his customer relationships. If you don’t focus on your customers, soon you won’t have any customers on whom to focus. Customer service is supposed to be designed to serve customers. If all you’re doing is following policies that your own company set up, you’re doing your employer and your customers a disservice. Remember, there’s a big difference between lip service and legendary customer service. “Ignore the problem and the customer goes away.” – Dave Romeo Let me hear from you.
This excerpt is taken from the seminar entitled Communication Excellence I: Connecting With Customers. I encourage you to click here to register for John Ellis’ exclusive live Zoom presentation of Communication Excellence I: Connecting With Customers on Thursday, February 8, 2024 from 9 AM to 12 noon Eastern Standard Time.

Are You an Overcomer?

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 13:45:00 GMT

How to manage a marathon.

Have you ever seen the movie Overcomer by the Kendrick Brothers? It’s an incredible story of a teenage girl with asthma who is raised by her grandmother and goes on to become a champion, long distance runner. As she progresses through her rigorous training routine, you see her grow in strength and in competence. This is exactly what an entrepreneur needs to do in order to become successful.
Just that word in itself — overcomer — means that you already know that you’re going to be facing obstacles but that you are not going to be defeated by them. The best thing about getting past an obstacle is learning that while it can slow you down, it doesn’t have to stop you completely.
Running a marathon requires you to think both in the present and in the future. You have to keep your eye on what is happening right now, but you also have to realize that there is a distance between where you are and where you want to finish. As Stephen Covey said, “The long view sharpens the short view.” That means that you can’t expend all of your energy right now or you’ll never get to your destination. You have to learn how to conserve some of it now and also when to pour it on later.
Overcomers don’t fear adversity; they expect it and they plan for it. Are you preplanning for the next downturn in the economy? Are you keeping your eye out for potential, great new employees in the future? Are you paying attention to requests that your customers are making about new items or services they’d like to see you offer? Overcomers don’t get to the finish line because they avoid hardship. They get there because they are mentally prepared for it and have learned to harness the rush that comes from moving past it.
“Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out that they have a second.” – Anonymous
Let me hear from you .
This excerpt is taken from my all-new seminar entitled Designing Your Destiny VI: Crossing the Finish Line. I encourage you to click here to watch the Designing Your Destiny VI: Crossing the Finish Line seminar video at Dave Romeo Online University or purchase my brand-new book Crossing the Finish Line at www.romeonetwork.com.

Stay the Course!

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 13:45:00 GMT

Plan for the long haul.

I’ve said many times that the biggest turning point in your life occurs when you decide not to give up on a dream or goal just because it becomes difficult. This is true in every aspect of your life. Did you ever fail an aptitude test and give up on your career? I did. I was planning to go to college as a music major, but I failed my audition. I didn’t mind and I didn’t give up. I just changed my plans and became an English major. That decision has allowed me to write blogs, books, television episodes, and seminar lesson plans for the past quarter of a century.
Just because you begin on one path doesn’t mean you have to stay on it. The key is to make sure that you’re on the right path to begin with. As I learned, my musical interests change drastically from the time I picked up my first guitar until the time I donated my last one to a charity fundraiser. However, my interest in writing has never waned. It’s only grown stronger over the years and has helped make a living and a career for the past 25 years.
Once you begin on the right path, you understand that it will take commitment, hard work, and discipline not to give up when the road gets rough. No one goes from 0 to 100 without hitting a few speed bumps. The key is to mentally set your mind on finishing what you start. That means that you have to anticipate tough times and setbacks. That means you understand that — like in marriage — you have to keep on going in sickness and in health. You can’t turn off momentum. You seek it when it is absent and you seize it when it returns. Then, you ride it as long as you can.
The long haul is just that…long. It means that you can get worn out and tired out. It means you will be tempted to give up and give in. But the key to long distance success is stepping up and digging in. So, put on a pair of comfortable, quality running shoes and be willing to go the distance because you’re not running away from your competitors. You’re running away from mediocrity.
“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” - T.S. Eliot Let me hear from you.
This excerpt is taken from my all-new seminar entitled Designing Your Destiny VI: Crossing the Finish Line. I encourage you to click here to watch the Designing Your Destiny VI: Crossing the Finish Line seminar video at Dave Romeo Online University or purchase my brand-new book Crossing the Finish Line at www.romeonetwork.com.

Don't Finish Alone.

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 13:45:00 GMT

Remember your teammates.

As it turns out, sometimes we accomplish our greatest feats in isolation. There may be nobody there at the finish line with us to cheer us on. When that happens, it can feel like a hollow victory. The reality is, we never really accomplish much on our own. Even if there is nobody else with us at the very end, we know in our heart of hearts that the only reason we crossed the threshold is because others believed in us, encouraged us, and contributed to our goal.
The best way to get somebody else to be enthusiastic about your goal is to include them in it. Stop using the word, “I,” and substitute the word, “we,” and you’ll notice how much more eager people are to get involved with your project.
A great, two-pronged approach to gaining the support of others is to take the blame and give away the credit. People love to be part of a winning operation — even if it’s a small part and even if it’s behind the scenes. Introverts especially don’t need a lot of glory but it never hurts to make sure you acknowledge and recognize them for what they’ve done for the benefit of others.
I remember hearing how Steven Spielberg was the first director to list all of the people involved with a motion picture in the credits when he created the movie, Jaws. Nowadays, it’s a common practice. People love recognition for their accomplishments and deservedly so. Whenever it’s time for you to take your next bow, I encourage you to remember, recognize, and call attention to those people without whom you would have never been able to complete your journey.
“Teamwork gives you the best opportunity to turn vision into reality.” - John Maxwell Let me hear from you.
This excerpt is taken from my all-new seminar entitled Designing Your Destiny VI: Crossing the Finish Line. I encourage you to click here to register for my live in person Designing Your Destiny VI: Crossing the Finish Line seminar on Thursday, November 16, 2023 from 9 AM to 12 noon Eastern Standard Time at Melhorn Manor in Mount Joy, PA. This event will also be available through live streaming.

Handling the Hurdles.

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 13:45:00 GMT

Take them one at a time.

As I was preparing to write this blog, I got word that one of my dearest friends, clients, and role models passed away as he was about to embark on a very intensive battle against cancer. I had spoken to him just two days before he died. I couldn’t believe he answered the phone. He said he was getting ready to go into surgery that afternoon. It was the last time we ever spoke. His name is John Gill.
I don’t know if I’ve ever met anyone quite like John. His whole life was dedicated to serving others — especially those less fortunate. He opened up his home to people after they were getting out of jail and needed a place to stay at least 14 times. I still remember when he was inducted into the Dave Romeo Seminars Hall of Fame and I didn’t find out until afterward that he had recently been robbed by one of the people he’d helped. It happened more than once. Yet, that wasn’t the last time he opened up his heart and his home to others.
John understood that we all have hurdles we need to handle. Paying your debt to society doesn’t mean that you stop paying when you get back on the outside. You have new challenges that you must face. He always believed in giving people a chance to redeem themselves — and most amazingly of all, he never stopped believing in the good in others.
One of the most profound things I ever heard John say was that, “You need to find someone who you can pour yourself into and mentor them.” He also said, “At some point, you need to be willing to let them go.” That perspective has helped me in so many situations — both as a coach and a mentor.
Perhaps the most important lesson I learned from John was that he hated his last job. He often called me in frustration, saying that he wanted to leave, but he never did. He stayed with it until he was too sick to do it anymore. The lesson I’d like you to take away from his life is that if you don’t like what you’re doing right now, take a good long look in the mirror and decide how much more of your life are you going to pour into something that doesn’t fulfill you.
John had 65 years on this Earth. Not everyone will have that much. Wherever you are right now in life, make sure you’re handling the hurdles in front of you and more importantly, make sure they’re the hurdles you should be handling.
“You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore to decide to be happy.” – Jane Marczewski (a.k.a. Nightbirde) Let me hear from you. This excerpt is taken from my all-new seminar entitled Designing Your Destiny VI: Crossing the Finish Line. I encourage you to click here to register for my live in person Designing Your Destiny VI: Crossing the Finish Line seminar on Thursday, November 16, 2023 from 9 AM to 12 noon Eastern Standard Time at Melhorn Manor in Mount Joy, PA. This event will also be available through live streaming.

Collaborate on Your Goals.

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 21:00:00 GMT

Be open to opportunities.

One of the most interesting things I’ve learned in 25 years of running a seminar and coaching business is that if you concentrate on what you do best and give the best of yourself to others, you will undoubtedly cross paths with others who have the same vision. And, if you’re fortunate enough, your paths will cross and complement one another. And every once in a while, when you sharpen your focus, you’ll find that your goals overlap. That’s exactly what happened when I met John Ellis of Create Socially at a networking event in Lancaster County in 2019. We instantly got along great and I thought that John might enjoy coming to my seminars occasionally. But our interaction grew much bigger and more significantly than that. As the pandemic interrupted my “in person” seminar schedule, John contacted me with a proposition. If I wanted to continue doing my seminars remotely, he could set up live presentations on Zoom so that people could continue going to the rest of the seminars as scheduled. Not only did it save my business from massive delays and the potential loss of customers — many of whom had already prepaid for their seminars — John’s idea introduced me to a nationwide audience that I had previously not been able to serve. My seminar revenue has doubled since implementing John’s idea. That interaction taught me that you must always be focused on your core business and open to ideas that may result in your massive growth. It’s easy to get distracted when the world around you is constantly changing. Customer preferences can also change as their priorities shift and their interests wane. As smart entrepreneurs, we need to be business savvy and read the trends. It doesn’t mean that we have to follow them, but it does mean we need to figure out how to make our business more visible — especially where our customers and prospects are looking. Because John Ellis had a vision — for not only his business, but mine as well—both of our organizations have benefited and he, along with his wife Sarah, will be carrying my vision forward in the future. This is what happens when you look for collaboration among like-minded entrepreneurs. In your business, you need to keep looking straight ahead while using your peripheral vision to notice the incredible possibilities and opportunities that are all around you. Not all of them are going to help you scale your business but picking one or two can make all the difference in the world to your company’s future. Most entrepreneurs do not experience a straight line from their starting point to massive success. It’s the ones who are focused and are open to minor tweaks that seem to outdistance and outlast their competition. I challenge you to make exploring collaborations one of your goals. “Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dream in your heart.” – Anonymous Let me hear from you. This excerpt is taken from my most popular seminar of all-time entitled Designing Your Destiny. I encourage you to click here to register for my live in person Designing Your Destiny seminar on Thursday, October 12, 2023 from 9 AM to 12 noon Eastern Standard Time at the Comfort Suites in Manheim, PA. This event will also be available through live streaming.

Get Goaling!

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 21:00:00 GMT

Set a date with destiny.

So there I was, sitting in a performance review with the supervisor that I did not respect. I was looking forward to getting it over with so that I could get on to more important things. However, she did say one thing to me that really stayed with me. She happened to mention that a motivational speaker by the name of Tony Robbins was doing a special event called Date with Destiny. For some reason, that phrase just resonated in my mind. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. When was my date with destiny? When was I really going to begin doing something that mattered?
About a year later, I left that staffing company. Although I was working as an owner in another staffing company I wasn’t doing any staffing. But one day, I filled in for one of our recruiters who happen to be out. She scheduled an appointment with a gentleman who was a salesperson in a large printing company. We developed a great rapport and before he left, he pulled out an index card from his wallet and showed it to me. It happened to be a handwritten goal list for the previous year. He’d written it in pencil and he also had the results for every goal he’d set. Frankly, it blew my mind and my life has never been the same since that day. Looking back, I realize that that was my date with destiny.
I began writing goals down in the year 2000. Since 2023, I’ve completed every goal I’ve set which now total 5,800. Goalsetting became prevalent in every aspect of my life from weight loss, to sales, to travel, to writing books, and to marking special days with special people. I could not have accomplished any of this had I not started to write my goals down. So, how about you? Are you writing your goals down? If you did, you are in the minority, but bravo! If not, I’m challenging you to start writing them down and checking them off. There is nothing like the thrill of seeing what you thought you could not do become a reality. That’s what I want for you. The time is now; the day is here. I’m challenging you to seize your date with destiny! “A goal, perfectly set, is halfway reached.” - Zig Ziglar Let me hear from you.
This excerpt is taken from my most popular seminar of all-time entitled Designing Your Destiny. I encourage you to click here to register for my live in person Designing Your Destiny seminar on Thursday, October 12, 2023 from 9 AM to 12 noon Eastern Standard Time at the Comfort Suites in Manheim, PA. This event will also be available through live streaming.

Customers Always Love Appreciation.

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 21:00:00 GMT

It's still true!

When was the last time someone made a special effort to make you feel important and special when you were buying from them? Can you remember? I often ask that question in my seminars and sadly, many people cannot remember the last time it happened. So, here’s a more important question: If I asked your customers when was the last time you made them feel important and special, would they be able to remember?
In the mid-90s, I was working for a staffing company in Lancaster County, PA. My specialty was the printing industry, but the office in which I worked also handled temporary administrative positions as well. One Friday afternoon at about 4:30 PM, a woman with whom I’d never spoken before called in and said that she was on her way to the office to pick up her paycheck, but she wasn’t sure if she would be able to get there before 5 PM when we closed. I assured her that I would wait until she got there to make sure that she got her paycheck that day.
Many other temporary employees came in that same day to pick up their checks. I didn’t know most of them and many of them were very gruff and unfriendly. But all of a sudden, a pleasant, young woman came into the office. She was well-dressed and looked as if she had been working in an office all day. She said that she was the one who called about her paycheck. While I would have stayed for any of those employees if they needed me to, I could tell that this woman truly appreciated that I waited for her.
A year later, she came into my office at a new location and mentioned that she was working on opening a school. Unfortunately, the school never opened because the person for whom she was working turned out to be a fraud. Naturally, she was disillusioned and looking for another job. I asked her if she’d ever consider working with me in staffing. Fortunately, she agreed. To this day, she has become the finest recruiter I’ve ever met. She is also gone on to run two businesses of her own and she is also one of my most successful coaching clients and dearest friends.
If you make a customer feel important and special, I can’t guarantee that you will get the same results. I can guarantee you that if you ignore your customers’ need for appreciation, they will soon become someone else’s customers. I had no idea that waiting an extra 15 minutes that Friday afternoon could turn into such an extraordinary relationship for more than 25 years. The point is, if you do it all the time, eventually you’re going to be rewarded for treating your customers like gold.
“Here’s a powerful yet simple rule. Always give people more than they expect to get.” – Nelson Boswell Let me hear from you.
This excerpt is taken from the seminar entitled The Psychology of Selling I: Think like a Customer. I encourage you to click here to register for my live in person The Psychology of Selling I: Think like a Customer seminar on Thurs day, November 2, 2023 from 9 AM to 12 noon Eastern Standard Time at the Comfort Suites in Manheim, PA. This event will also be available through live streaming.

Follow-up on Negative Feedback.

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 21:00:00 GMT

Listen for your customers' cries for help.

I recently stopped buying from a pizza parlor that my wife and I have been patronizing since 1997. The owner couldn’t be nicer. Even his family was very pleasant and I knew most of them by name. The location is very convenient for us. Not only is it nearby, I’m constantly shopping at the supermarket, the gas station, the drugstore, and the Chinese restaurant which surround it. It’s also ½ a block from our ATM and our bank. As the new management took over the restaurant, I sat down with the owners to help them with their pricing — which was lower than it should have been for their industry. I also discussed their sauce which became so spicy my wife can no longer stand it. So, why would we give up doing business with this establishment which was our staple virtually every Friday night and many weekday and Saturday nights as well? Part of the problem stemmed from making numerous attempts to place an order and not being able to get through. At times, I wondered if the place was even still open. But the straw that broke the camel’s back was that, despite repeated requests for them not to overcook our food, week after week, the pizza was burnt to a crisp and most of their other food looked like it had been cremated. If you ask any one coaching a restaurant business, they will tell you there are three things you have to get right in order to be successful. The food needs to be tasty, the pricing needs to be profitable, and the service needs to be good. If you get these three things right, most of your customers will allow you to get away with other mistakes. However, if you have poor food and your service suffers, you are in big-time trouble. Is the same thing happening in your business? Are customers trying to tell you that they have a problem (which really means that you have a problem) and are their attempts falling on deaf ears? Remember that a customer that complains is doing you a service. He is letting you know that something is wrong and giving you the opportunity to fix it — and not just for him. When you fix one customer’s problem, you fix it for your other customers as well and you prevent new customers from ever knowing it was a problem to begin with. Your customers are not responsible for telling you when something is wrong but when one does, you have the responsibility to act on it quickly and fix it permanently. And when your customers see that you do, they can become your best, long-term customers. “Customer service is the new marketing.” – Derek Sivers Let me hear from you. This excerpt is taken from the seminar entitled Turning Complaints into Compliments. I encourage you to click here to register for the exclusive live Zoom presentation of Turning Complaints into Compliments on Thursday, October 19, 2023 from 9 AM to 12 noon Eastern Standard Time.

How to Stumble Onto Success.

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 21:00:00 GMT

Capitalize on your competitors mistakes.

In 2021, I had one of my coaching clients build a bass pond in my backyard. It had always been a lifelong dream of mine to have my own pond. Unfortunately, the builder was not a good communicator. After the pond was built, it became nearly impossible to reach him by phone and he rarely ever answered an email. This not only affected me but also several other clients to whom I had referred him.
It got to the point in 2022 that I needed some help and I could no longer wait to get a hold of him. I made one call to Ryan Schwarz of Schwarz Ponds in Bird-In-Hand, PA, whom I’d found online. He answered his phone on my first call. He gave me confident and valuable feedback and made arrangements to come out and take a look at my pond. He instantly advised me on how to fix an aquatic vegetation problem I had and so I switched over to his company to handle all of my pond maintenance.
In the winter of 2022, when my pond froze over, Ryan recommended that I use a small, electric heater that would always leave one spot unfrozen to allow gases to escape and my fish to survive through the winter. This was a much more convenient solution than the one I got from the original pond builder: Take a pot of boiling water from the kitchen stove, carry it down two flights of stairs on my ice-covered deck, and wait in the freezing cold while the pot sat on the pond’s service and eventually melted through the ice. (After all, what could go wrong with that plan!)
Not long after I started working with Ryan, another client (whom I’d introduced to the original pond builder) called me to find out if I had heard from the builder. Apparently, my other client couldn’t find him either. I put him in touch with Ryan Schwarz and the next thing I knew, Ryan was taking care of that property as well.
The point I’m trying to make is this: Your competitors are going to drop the ball. Whether or not you stumble onto success is up to you. When you see an opportunity to help someone in a bind, be super- responsive and make sure that you put your best foot forward. You never know who the person you’re helping knows and how much additional business you could be gaining by making a great, first impression and then following it up with great service every single time.
“Success is about taking advantage of opportunity.” – Mike Ditka Let me hear from you.
This excerpt is taken from my 5-part series entitled The Sales Academy. I encourage you to click here to register for my exclusive live Zoom presentation of The Sales Academy program, which will be held on five consecutive Friday mornings on October 6, October 13, October 20, October 27, and November 3, 2023 from 9 AM to 12 noon Eastern Standard Time.

When I Really Learned How to Sell.

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 12:45:00 GMT

Kyle Slaymaker tells his story.

What you are about to read is a story about how sales changed my life. No, this is not some hokey story that is filled with tired, old clichés that you have undoubtedly heard time and time again. This is a real and raw account of the single-biggest moment in my professional life and one of the biggest moments in my life in general. I got into sales at the urging of my girlfriend because I was in a job that I absolutely hated after being out of the military for a few years. I was making ridiculously, good money for what I was doing but I was lost, seriously miserable, and a borderline alcoholic. Seeing a “Now Hiring” sign outside of a dealership, the woman I was with pulled in and told me to apply for a sales position because she couldn’t be with me one more day in the job I was in. I went in and applied and was hired on the spot. Little did I know that about 2 or so months later, I would experience the biggest, pivotal moment of my career; a moment that set me down the path to where I am at right now. So, where am I? I’m a two-time bestselling author, have been featured in Selling Power magazine, labeled a disruptor in my industry by Authority magazine, and rubbed elbows with the Cubans (Yes, the Shark Tank Cubans). I’m also in the process of putting on the biggest business summit that Central PA has ever seen and am a sought-after speaker around the world. What could have possibly happened to this kid in Amish country at a local car dealership to set him on this trajectory? What could have happened that led to him devoting all of his efforts to ensuring that those he worked with succeeded in business beyond their wildest dreams? The answer is simple. I stopped being selfish and I started being selfless. Listen, I’m not going to tell the entire story here, just the message. I have told this story on many stages, on YouTube, during seminars, in my first book, and in Selling Power, so you can find the story anywhere. But what you can’t find just anywhere is the value that I am about to drop in this blog for my dear friend, Dave Romeo. Here is a very little-known fact: Dave heard me tell this story at a networking event and asked me to come to speak at one of his events. I happily obliged and I have been proud and honored to call Dave a friend ever since. So, when he asked me to run an entire seminar for him and for people who take their business seriously enough to attend his events, I was happy to do so. You see, I wasn’t joking when I said I stopped being selfish. I realized after this event that every, single person who makes a purchase is motivated by an emotional need. Even if they think they are purchasing a very extrinsically, satisfying need, they are doing so to fulfill an underlying need or problem. With this mindset shift, I started to see a drastic shift in more than just my closing rate. I saw that my customer satisfaction was skyrocketing over the status quo salespeople at the car dealership. I saw that these transitional employees were not providing a “rockstar” customer experience and were getting less referrals. When you completely focus on the customers’ needs over your own paycheck and when you put your clients before your commission, you are going to see an astronomical increase in the things I listed above. I will be going into much more detail about this and more in my upcoming seminar, so I look forward to seeing you there! “Selling is not something you do to someone. It’s something you do for someone.” – Zig Ziglar Let me hear from you.
Kyle Slaymaker of The Slaymaker Method will be my guest speaker for the Selling With Integrity seminar. I encourage you to click here to register for the Selling With Integrity seminar on Thursday, October 5, 2023 from 9 AM to 12 noon Eastern Standard Time at the Comfort Suites in Manheim, PA. This event will also be available through live streaming.

Focus on the Future.

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 17:09:00 GMT

Keep an eye out for hiring opportunities.

As employers today continuously complain that they cannot locate great employees, one question must be answered: “Have I created a place where people want to work?” There are many ways to accomplish this. Naturally, a good wage is a given, but quality employees seek much more than this. They may want the chance to take the lead and demonstrate their talents. They may want to grow in their abilities so that they can become more valuable to you or another employer in the future. They may be looking for a proving ground so that someday they may be able to set out on their own entrepreneurial journey.
But if we talk about what keeps employees loyal, a great part of that is the sense that their employer is looking out for their well-being. George Garrett of Garrett Electric makes it his mission to find and mentor people who want to be hands-on, electrical contractors. His plan is to grow his organization by identifying potential new participants who pride themselves on their craftsmanship. If you think about it, it’s almost like being a talent scout for your business. So, are you a talent scout for your business?
When I was sponsored by fishing tackle companies and working their trade shows, I learned of an industry rep group that represented several of my sponsoring companies. The most interesting thing I remember about that experience was that the owner of that company was looking for loyalty from his employees. He put together a package so attractive that the sales rep that told me about it said he would be the first person to retire from that company with $1 million.
If you’re worrying about losing quality employees, start thinking about how you can incentivize them to stay with you long term. I encourage you to look into a long-term plan that will let them know that you care about their financial needs when they’re ready to retire. It won’t work for everyone and it’s not supposed to. Not everyone you bring on board will stay with you until they retire, but it will help you to identify those like-minded individuals who want to go the distance with you.
“To get rich, you have to make money while you’re asleep.” – David Bailey Let me hear from you.
This excerpt is taken from my 5-part series entitled The Leadership Academy. I encourage you to click here to register for The Leadership Academy program, which will be held on five consecutive Tuesday mornings on October 3, October 10, October 17, October 24, and October 31, 2023 from 9 AM to 12 noon Eastern Standard Time. This program will be presented partially in person at the Comfort Suites in Manheim, PA (classes 1, 3, and 5) and on Zoom for the other classes. This event will also be available through live streaming.

Who's Next?

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 12:45:00 GMT

Do you have a leadership succession plan?

When most entrepreneurs are getting started, their only thought is how are they going to get people to buy from them. They don’t give much thought as to what will happen when they finally decide they no longer wish to run their own business. More and more of my coaching clients mention that they cannot find someone to take over their business. Most of the time, their employees are not interested in those responsibilities or do not take it seriously enough to be considered. In addition, many of the employees who work for you do so because they have no interest in being an entrepreneur. And, if they do, they usually want to run their own business — just like you did.
There is nothing wrong with any of the examples in the previous paragraph. Some people just have an entrepreneurial bent and that’s all they want to do. Others prefer to be employees with 9-to-5 jobs and be able to go home and leave their work concerns behind. Sometimes, entrepreneurs just want to work for somebody else to learn more about business before they decide to break out on their own and run their own enterprise. That’s actually a wise thing to do. So, where are you supposed to find someone to take over your business when you’re ready to retire?
Naturally, you can sell your business — provided that you have created systems and structures that are easily duplicated and that you’ve made it possible for others to run profitably without your involvement. But that still doesn’t answer the question as to who is going to do it.
My friend and colleague Bill Stratton of EOS (which stands for Entrepreneurial Operating Systems) specializes in helping businesses plan for their future and identify and equip tomorrow’s leaders. His approach is to help a company’s leaders solve their own problems and carve their own path forward. The time to start thinking about a succession plan isn’t when you’re ready to retire. It’s right now. As you look over your employees, gauge whether or not any of them has the inclination and interest to follow in your footsteps. If not, you may want to look at some of your best customers. They have certainly been invested in your business already. Perhaps you may find one who likes what you do so much that they’d like to do it themselves, but lack the capital needed. I’ve seen a number of my clients get some of their best people this way. It’s called sweat equity. A person buys into the company by investing themselves — if not their money — into your operation.
There are always investors who are looking for great places in which to get involved. Make yours as attractive as possible by finding the pillars who will keep your operation running smoothly, with or without you.
“The great use of life is to spend it for something will outlast it.” – William James Let me hear from you.
This excerpt is taken from my 5-part series entitled The Leadership Academy. I encourage you to click here to register for The Leadership Academy program, which will be held on five consecutive Tuesday mornings on October 3, October 10, October 17, October 24, and October 31, 2023 from 9 AM to 12 noon Eastern Standard Time. This program will be presented partially in person at the Comfort Suites in Manheim, PA (classes 1, 3, and 5) and on Zoom for the other classes. This event will also be available through live streaming.

Is Your Value Worth Your Price?

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 12:45:00 GMT

That is the question!

One of the most common mistakes new entrepreneurs make is not charging enough for what they sell. The root of this problem lies in a fear of rejection and an insecurity as to whether or not the market believes that what the seller is selling is worth the price.
There are two problems that derive from this fear. First, price shoppers can “smell” inexperienced salespeople who do not know how to price their offerings appropriately. They will sniff them out and take advantage of their naïveté. They’re usually very flattering as they scoop in and devour what you are practically giving away. Then, after you go out of business, they will start nosing around for the next inexperienced victim.
The second problem is that you cannot stay in business and be competitive if you’re pricing yourself so far below your value. Remember that a business can survive longer with sales than it can with unprofitable sales. One of the biggest problems you face in this situation is that if you are underpricing yourself, your customers may not tell you since it means they will be spending more money. This is something you either have to figure out on your own or get help from someone more experienced than you. This could be a mentor, a friendly competitor – perhaps in a different city, or a business coach.
Don’t fall into a common mistake of basing your price on your costs. Aunt Anne’s Pretzels sell for about $2.50 to $4.50, depending upon what toppings you want. Aunt Anne’s Pretzels only cost about $0.26 to make. The company does not worry about having high profit margins because they put out a great product that many people like and continuously buy. They’ve sold over a billion of them!
As you look to price your products, figure out what the value is. People are paying for the value you provide, not to cover your costs. Start with how much profit you need to make in order for you to earn the living you want and then work backwards to set your price based on the perceived value of your customers. If you’re still unsure how to do this, you can hold a focus group. Get a bunch of potential customers and demonstrate the value of your offering. After you’re done, ask them, independently, to write down their perception of what the price should be. Ultimately, the decision is yours to make but gaining greater insights from your potential buyers will help you validate when your pricing is reflective of their perceived value.
“Only a fool thinks price and value for the same thing.” – Antonio Machado
Let me hear from you.
This excerpt is taken from the seminar entitled Anyone Can Sell I: Preventing the Top 10 Sales Mistakes. I encourage you to click here to register for the exclusive live Zoom presentation of Anyone Can Sell I: Preventing the Top 10 Sales Mistakes on Thursday, September 28, 2023 from 9 AM to 12 noon Eastern Standard Time.

Not Making a Decision is Still a Decision.

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 12:45:00 GMT

(But it's usually not a good one)

When I first became a results coach, I went into a printing company to speak with the account reps and the salespeople. One of the first things I remember hearing was a statement from one of the account reps complaining about the leadership of that company. She said, “Management views not making the decision as winning.” She went on to explain that the longer the president could go without making a decision, the better he liked it. Whether or not that woman’s statement was true, the company went out of business.
The higher up you go in a leadership role, the more important it is for you to make decisions. And we’re not even talking about making good decisions yet. The fact is, many of the decisions you make may not be that great. The important thing is that you do something. Otherwise, you risk the perception that you are ineffective in your role.
As a new leader, you crave wisdom, experience, and insights from more seasoned leaders. However, if you are an entrepreneur, you may not have that luxury. If this is the case, you should be looking into getting a mentor and/or a business coach.
Now, as far as making good decisions go, you may have to rely on your intuition at the beginning. It never hurts to get information from those who have more experience than you — even if they are subordinates. I encourage you to use the ready, fire, aim method. In other words, give it your best shot right now, evaluate your results, and adjust accordingly as needed. The more decisions you make, the better it will get making them. Also, remember that, in business, most mistakes are not fatal. If you find yourself having difficulty making decisions, practice making a lot of small decisions with little or no consequences.
As you find yourself learning from the results of your small decisions, you’ll be able to gauge how good your decision-making judgment really is. And the more decisions you make, good or bad, the quicker you will gain more experience, wisdom, and better judgment. Best of all, years from now, you’ll be better equipped to serve as somebody else’s mentor when he or she is starting out.
“The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridges to cross and which to burn.” – David Russell
Let me hear from you.
This excerpt is taken from the seminar entitled Inspired Leadership IV: Delegation & Decision Making for Leaders. I encourage you to click here to register for the exclusive live Zoom presentation of Inspired Leadership IV: Delegation & Decision Making for Leaders on Thursday, September 21, 2023 from 9 AM to 12 noon Eastern Standard Time.

Fun Time Versus Downtime.

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 12:45:00 GMT

Do more of what you love.

Years ago, I was speaking with a gentleman who worked for a landscaping company. He asked me one of the most valuable questions I’ve ever been asked by a salesperson. He said, “How you feel about your lawn?” At the time, I explained that I divided time into two categories: Fishing time and downtime. Taking care of the lawn fell into the latter category.
The reason that question was so important is because it determined how I would look at his service. If he was trying to sell me the world’s greatest lawnmower with the most silent engine and the greatest fuel efficiency, equipped with surround sound headphones, and state-of-the-art air conditioning, he still wouldn’t be able to sell me one because that’s not how I like to spend my time.
On the other hand, if he said “How would you like to be able to go fishing anytime you want and never have to worry about your yardwork or your wife complaining about how bad it looks or getting dirty looks from your neighbor because you haven’t kept it up? What if we do the work while you’re out enjoying your fishing trips so that your lawn will always look like the nicest one on the block?” I would instantly say, “Sign me up,” because this person has appealed to what matters most to me. Instead of trying to determine how I spend my downtime, he was working on increasing my fun time.
Are you doing this for your customers? Are you providing them with the convenience and peace of mind that allows them to enjoy more of what they love to do while you remove some of the work that falls into their downtime category? I’ve known Tim Quade of Heaven on Earth Lawn Care for about 25 years. I’ve rarely ever met anyone who is more dedicated toward serving his customers. He’s created a symbiotic relationship with them; he tends to the beautifying of their property, thus allowing them to spend more time enjoying their property.
This is what you want to do for your customers. Show them that, by working with you, you will remove more of their downtime and replace it with more of their fun time.
“The way we spend our time defines who we are.” – Jonathan Estrin Let me hear from you.
This excerpt is taken from the seminar entitled Time Mastery. I encourage you to click here to register for my live in person Time Mastery seminar on Thursday, September 7, 2023 from 9 AM to 12 noon Eastern Standard Time at the Comfort Suites in Manheim, PA. This event will also be available through live streaming.

Let's Get Real!

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 12:45:00 GMT

Success comes from being real.

Over the last few years, real estate sales have been booming. There is a greater demand for people to leave the big cities and move out into more rural settings. As I speak to clients who have recently worked with realtors, they usually fall into two categories: Really good or really bad.
In my own experience with a realtor, I noticed that he was very attentive until he no longer needed anything from my wife and me. Once that happened, he was virtually impossible to get on the phone. I can still remember the night before we were about to go to our closing and I had a quick question - I needed to ask him about whether or not our title insurer needed to be at the meeting the following day. Try as I did, I couldn’t get him on the phone. Finally, I called his office and told them that if he didn’t call me back that night, we would not be at the closing. He finally did call me back and answered a simple yes or no question in five seconds. My point is that five seconds can determine whether or not your customers love you or hate you. It’s interesting to remember that he gave us a Longaberger basket as a housewarming gift with his name plate affixed to it. When my wife liked the basket, she still keeps it with his nameplate facing the wall because it’s a negative reminder of what he put us through because he couldn’t bother giving me an answer when we needed one.
By contrast, Wendell Hoover of Iron Valley Real Estate has been a consistent customer since 2005. I can always count on Wendell to return a phone call or take it directly if he’s available. The other thing that always impressed me about Wendell is that he took great pride in fixing up decrepit properties in his community to beautify them and increase their value. It’s his passion. Neighborhood building is a real way to demonstrate how you care about where you live. It’s not just improving your own station but also those of the people around you.
If you are a realtor, be real with people. Demonstrate who you truly are. There are some outstanding realtors in the area. I know I can count on the ones I know to take phone calls or return them. That’s an easy place to start when you want your prospects to know they can believe in you and count on you being there when they need you.
“The starting point of all achievement is desire.” – Napoleon Hill
Let me hear from you.
This excerpt is taken from the seminar entitled Stumbling Onto Success. I encourage you to click here to register for the exclusive live Zoom presentation of Stumbling Onto Success on Thursday, August 24, 2023 from 9 AM to 12 noon Eastern Standard Time.

Time Versus Value.

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 12:45:00 GMT

Is your time well spent?

For a very long time, I did not need to see a chiropractor. Fortunately for me, my health has long been good. However, in the last two years, I started developing excruciating lower back pain. It got so bad that it was difficult to make it through an entire three-hour seminar presentation.
At the same time, I had been introduced to Dr. Sonja Powers of Lifestyle Chiropractic & Wellness. Multiple different people recommended Dr. Sonja to me, although I wasn’t looking for a chiropractor at the time. In addition, her office was in East Petersburg and I live in Elizabethtown. It seemed like a long way to go for a chiropractor, especially since there are so many located in between these two towns. To make matters worse, Dr. Sonja moved her practice to Willow Street — an even further distance from my home.
It got to the point where I just couldn’t take it anymore and so I decided to go to Dr. Sonja. Why would I make the trip so far away? I wasn’t going there for just a chiropractor. I wanted to go to someone who shared my values, who unapologetically brings her spiritual beliefs into the equation, and who understood and appreciates what I do. The fact that she was a chiropractor was almost a secondary consideration.
I tell you this because customers value their time and their money. In most cases, they could probably buy what they get from you from someone else. So, why do they buy from you? What are you providing to your customers that makes it a unique and valued experience that they would not trade off for someone closer or more convenient to them?
Yes, my drive to Dr. Sonja is longer, but it’s never wasted. It allows me at least 45 minutes to make phone calls and catch up with clients, prospects and business contacts. The healing that takes place in her office is not just physical, but emotional and psychological as well. I cannot imagine experiencing the same immersion session with another chiropractor. As the saying goes, “You get what you pay for.” Make sure that you are spending your time wisely and make doubly sure that your customers feel the same way when they buy from you.
“Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time.” – Jim Rohn Let me hear from you.
This excerpt is taken from the seminar entitled Time Mastery. I encourage you to click here to register for my live in person Time Mastery seminar on Thursday, September 7, 2023 from 9 AM to 12 noon Eastern Standard Time at the Comfort Suites in Manheim, PA. This event will also be available through live streaming.

Three SEO Tips To Help Boost Your Website

Mon, 18 Mar 2019 17:01:00 GMT

SEO, also known as Search Engine Optimization, is the process of growing the online visibility of a website in organic, non-paid search engine results. Usually, the earlier or higher your website is on a search engine and the more frequent it shows up, the more visitors it will receive from the search engine’s users. If your website is selling items, if your site has good SEO , it can potentially lead to more customers.

With the right SEO strategy, your website can increase its page views, engagements, and sales. Here are three SEO tips to help boost your website.

Optimize You Page Titles

Each page title needs to be unique that describes your page’s content. Your goal is to help the user understand what your page is about by being brief and descriptive. Use the right keyword in your page title so it shows up in search engines. For example, if your website is about sports, your page title should include sports in it.

Creating SEO Friendly Permalinks

Permalinks are the URLs for your website and it’s pages. For example,

http://permalinkexample.com/SEO-permalinks-tips

In your URLs, use text rather than numbers in order for your site to show up more frequently in search engines. Use hyphens to separate words and prioritize your keywords with the more important words coming first. Here’s an example. Let’s say I write for “moviereviews.com” and I’m writing an article about the latest trailer for Avengers: Endgame. Keep your permalink brief and concise.

Bad: http://moviereviews.com/latest-trailer-for-Avengers-Endgame

Good: http://moviereviews.com/Avengers-Endgame-trailer

Link To Internal Pages On Your Site

Internal links are links that point to other pages on your website. Internal links are an way to promote the other pages on your website. Make sure to include internal links in every article you post and on every page on your website.

6 Reasons Why You Need a Digital Media Strategy

WCAdmin@marketamerica.com (Market America WebCenters) — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 14:51:40 GMT

Everyone needs a digital media strategy, and not for the reasons you may expect. In fact, if you think digital strategies are just promotional, think again.

#1 Most Important Part of Your Campaign

WCAdmin@marketamerica.com (Market America WebCenters) — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 14:50:46 GMT

If you think money is the only thing that matters in your campaign, think again. There are many more things to think about.

Notes from the Other Side

WCAdmin@marketamerica.com (Market America WebCenters) — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 14:49:26 GMT

Always wondered what happens on the other side of your campaign. Well, now you’re going to find out.

Why Technology isn't Enough for Your Digital Campaign

WCAdmin@marketamerica.com (Market America WebCenters) — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 14:48:21 GMT

Just because you have a snazzy Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat campaign doesn’t mean you’re covered.

10 Reasons You Should Love Blogging

WCAdmin@marketamerica.com (Market America WebCenters) — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 14:43:18 GMT

Blog posts are a great way to get recognized within your community and share your voice. Here are the top 10 reasons you should love writing blog posts.

Anyone can make one:
For better or worse, anyone can write a blog post about anything they want. Everyone has a voice and thet voices will rise to the top.

The writer can show their personality:
In blog posts, the writer has more leeway to add in their voice and personality than other types of writing.

Blogs are a great form of mass communication:
You can help people, learn new things, entertain your audience-the possibilities are endless and amazing. Blogging opens up all of these to a very wide audience.

You can make money:
Get the right blog going and you can make a lot of money through advertising and sponsored posts.

It allows people to craft better thoughts:
Instead of reading haphazard, uneducated Facebook statuses, it's much better to see people's thought process in a well-written blog post.

You can establish a community:
Blogging allows you to connect with other individuals who share the same interests. Sharing ideas and opinions within your community helps establish yourself as a thought leader.

Good for SEO:
Keeping content on your site fresh and relevant, you can use your blog to boost the search engine ranking (SEO) of your site and your business.

It brings people back to your site:
If your blog is strong enough and updated regularly, people will come back looking for more and bring traffic back to your site as well.

It's free:
It costs you a grand total of zero dollars to post to the blog, so if you have something to say, there's nothing to stop you.

You can establish yourself as a thought leader:
A blog is a great place for your original thoughts, and it can be a wonderful way to show off your individuality. If people like your ideas, you can become a thought leader in your industry!

What else do you love about blogs? Let me know!

Emotions And Leadership: Do They Mix?

Fri, 08 Feb 2019 18:18:00 GMT

In Daniel Goleman’s Primal Leadership , it is difficult to choose just one point made on the topic of emotional intelligence and its ability to resonate with the reality of the ultimately paramount role that emotions play in effective leadership. As a supporter of leadership and the dynamic role emotions play in the success, failure, or “existence (just getting by, yet not thriving),” of organizations, Goleman hits the nail squarely on its “emotional” head. Of all the content in Primal Leadership , the following points stand out most concerning the topic of emotional intelligence and its role in leadership.

Specifically, chapter 9, The Emotional Reality of Teams, and chapter 11, Creating Sustainable Change resonate the most loudly with this concept. First, Goleman writes the value of “open discussion and [healthy] disagreements about ideas…sharpen[s] decision making,” in reference to group dynamics and emotions driving either collective and individual choices. He writes “when teams face their collective emotional reality, they begin a healthy reexamination of the shared habits that create and hold that reality in place (p. 172).”

Having been a part of several teams and groups charged with collective decision making, I can say with certainty that Goleman’s position is absolutely correct. When teams are not in tune with the collective nature of group think, and the impact individual emotions play on the whole, the results are never as powerful or sustainable as they could be. When “shared habits,” or typical modus operandi is overlooked in exchange for what feels politically correct, the decision to do so is akin to snipping open a caterpillar’s cocoon in an attempt to ease its transition into the butterfly it hopes to emerge as. The tension of dealing with, and understanding emotional dynamics is a necessity, just as the tension built up as the caterpillar struggles out of the cocoon gives the strength for flight as a butterfly. Without a healthy degree of tension, and a respect for collective differences, the whole is never able to truly operate as something truly greater than what its parts should add up to.

Similarly, Goleman writes, in chapter 11, “…there are a number of reasons why leadership development initiatives fail…” namely, choosing to “ignore the [emotional] state of the organization,” “Attempt to change only the person, ignoring the norms of the groups they work in every day…,” and finally, “Fail[ure] to develop a language of leadership…and emotionally intelligent leadership practices (p. 232).” When emotions are left out of the equation, team members will inevitably struggle to feel as if they have a true steak into the heart and soul of the organization or mission. Without being emotionally vested, loyalty and creativity suffers, and without loyalty or creative energy, all that really exists is a shell with the absence of a true heartbeat. Remove emotion from the dynamics of effective leadership, and you have essentially removed the heart of any lasting influence that an organization or individual might accomplish.

About the author of Primal Leadership :

Dr. Goleman is an internationally known psychologist who lectures frequently to professional groups, business audiences, and on college campuses. Working as a science journalist, Goleman reported on the brain and behavioral sciences for The New York Times for many years.

Post by: John Ellis, CEO, Create Socially.
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Launching Your Website: Simple Steps to Success

Fri, 30 Mar 2018 04:12:00 GMT

People sure do use the internet a lot these days. It is an excellent tool to gain information and learn new things. Naturally, businesses all over the globe are flocking to harness the buying power of billions of people browsing the internet through desktop, laptop, or a tablet or smartphone. It is important to weigh the options when launching a new website, or improving upon an existing

Plan Your Website

Begin with the end in mind. Start by asking yourself a few questions and jotting down the answers. Here are a few to get you started:

What do I want people to do on my website?
Who will build it – am I doing it myself, or hiring someone?
When do I want to launch my website by?

In this example below, a nutritionist may have the following goals in mind for their website:

Having a clear definition of the actions you want customers to take on your website is a great way to measure your success after publishing your site. Be sure to set realistic and concrete goals that you can measure . Your goals will need to fit within the scope of your mission and values, and fit within a timeframe. In the example above, this might be as follows:

With these goals in mind, you are then able to picture the “how” of these goals. How will your customers find you? From a business card? Searching online? A Facebook or Google Ad ? A customer testimonial and recommendation on social media?

Identify Your Audience

Consider your niche. Whatever it is that makes your business special and unique is a great place to start. What types of people are most likely to buy and enjoy your product or service? The better you can streamline your niche, the more specific you can get with your message and targets.

What choices should this feeling compel them to make? Knowing your ideal audience allows you to better predict what they expect from a product or service, as well as giving you an idea why they choose to buy in the first place .

Knowing your buyers persona will aid greatly in helping you to choose the message and tone of your website and brand. An awareness of buyer preference will provide you with a clear picture of how best to harness the elements of life that define their preferences. Consider tools like Search Engine Optimization, and Digital Advertising (Search Engines, Social Media Marketing) to reach your desired audience.

Design Your Site

This buyer information is also a key component that influences your website’s actual design. Knowing the answers to the questions above will give you plenty of data about the look and feel of your website . Invest some time into searching online for similar products and services that match the impression you want customers to have. Choose at least five websites that stand out, and make some notes about what you like. It’s important to also determine what you do not like. Take into consideration elements like layout, color, and structure. You will want to note what you like, for example, about the layout of menu links (the top portion of a webpage), or a website footer (the bottom of the webpage). Once you identify these preferences, it’s time to design something completely unique to your brand – those other sites are just a springboard for your own unique ideas!

Now that you have a clear picture of what “success” looks like, it’s time to get to work! But first, a little housekeeping to ensure you have all the tools to grow your brand and business. Without a domain name and a way to process payments you are up the creek – without a paddle!

If you are launching a business from scratch, you might want to start here first. In the ever growing marketplace of website domains, you may need to get creative when choosing a domain name that properly represents your product and service. Typically, the highest performing domains will end in “.com,” however there are also other options to choose from (.net, .org, .US, and others). Take steps to protect your brand – consider securing “yourwebsite.net,” and also “yourwebsite.com.”

Be sure your payment processing company can provide a competitive rate that does not dramatically increase as your business grows. Be sure to get all the information you need up front about rates and fees.

Let’s Recap

We covered best practices for the following:

Whether you plan to go “DIY” or hire someone, following these steps will benefit you immensely . If you’re ready to get started now, we’d love to work together to assist with getting your business the growth you seek. As a digital and social marketing agency, we specialize in growing business. Let’s get to it! Give us a call , drop a comment, or shoot us an email . We look forward to hearing from you!

P: 717.683.5343 , E: Hello@CreateSocially.com
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram @ CreateSocially

Omnichannel Marketing: Your Best Bet for Capturing New Business

Tue, 14 Apr 2015 19:38:00 GMT

Forbes Magazine calls omni-channel marketing “the choice that consumers have in how they engage with a brand.” The term best represents how brands enable their clients and consumers to interact with them before and after making a purchase.

To bring this into context, let’s view this concept from the eyes of a real life scenario. If I am new to an area (Let’s say I just moved to Houston from Seattle), and I have some plumbing that needs repaired in my home, but do not yet know any local recommendations, I am likely to start off by pulling my smartphone out of my pocket, and searching Google for “ plumbers in Houston .”

Odds are, I’m at my house when I do this. As of the date this post is published, Abacus Plumbing is a top hit. I chose them for this example because not only are they a top hit in the search query on Google, they also utilize multiple social channels. If you visit their website, you will notice immediately that their social channels are incorporated into the site header. Clicking on the Facebook icon, I was sent to their page and was immediately impressed – with over 1000 “likes,” this is surely a company with a positive reputation, certainly key in influencing purchasing decisions. I might not immediately decide to use this company, but I would likely give them a “like” to keep in touch in the event I want to use their services. Odds are, I might do this with four or five different companies before taking the leap and having someone come give me an estimate and do the work. Today’s modern customer is likely to purchase because of an experience that begins online, and customers have numerous options for how they may want to interact with a brand before buying. These options may be print mailers, online video, google search , and Facebook ads . Each environment is an opportunity for vendors to present a positive image that leads to a purchase online or in store.

Ask yourself: Am I happy with my presence in the market – online, on TV, and print; is it yielding positive, measurable results? Is there room for improvement, and if so, where?

We offer scalable Facebook and Google Ad Word Campaigns, as well as social media management . As you can tell, image is certainly a significant factor in buyer choice. This video from Google provides a glimpse into a few scenarios like the one discussed in this post:

We’re here to help you make an intelligent choice when it comes to how you market your business with the omni-channel customer in mind. Call 717-683-5343 or email web@earnsocially.com to schedule an overview an learn how to get started with an action plan to grow your business.

#SHOPSMALL This Saturday, Nov. 29th, Small Business Saturday

Thu, 27 Nov 2014 00:04:00 GMT

Small Business Saturday is on November 29th! The follow up to big box retailers and national chain stores’ Black Friday thrust. Traditionally, Black Friday is considered the day when business owners go into “ the black, ” and finally begin to turn a profit thanks to the onset of holiday spending.

Thanks to American Express , small business’ all across North America will enjoy a spike in business similar or better than their larger competitors see on Black Friday .

You probably won’t have branding on your mind this week, but rather turkey and stuffing as you prepare and partake of family time and friendship over the Thanksgiving holiday. Yeah, we get that. So to help us, and you out as well we’re doing our part to participate in Small Business Saturday, entrepreneur style. We’re sure that sometime in the next year, you or someone you know will be in need of something we offer – so we’re willing to hold our discount until whenever you need it! In the spirit of this Saturday, you’ll need to do your part to participate and get your discount.

Patronize any local business on Saturday, November 29th and tell us which business it was, and what you bought. You’ll then enjoy 25% off ANY project with us for the next twelve months* when you do so. Offer is good for print, web, and graphic design for you or someone you know!

Not sure who is participating in your city? Click the SHOP SMALL map to see what’s going on in your location. Each blue marker indicates a participant, and you can drill down based on the industry you’re looking to shop from.

Enjoy a fun-filled Small Business Saturday! Happy shopping!

*Expires Saturday, Nov 28 2015, limit one per person.

Wondering Wednesday: SEO Tip

Wed, 05 Nov 2014 23:06:00 GMT

Have you ever wondered how to enhance your Google or Bing placement, or how to get your business listed in more places on the internet? One of the secrets to effective SEO has little to do with spending large amounts of money on marketing – in fact it can cost you nothing to at least get started.

Let’s cover a few basic steps:

Submit your information to listing companies . Most companies will allow you to list your business information for free with the hopes that you will pay more for better placement in search – much like Google. Here is a list to start with.

If you’re stumped about how to submit to the big three – Google , Yahoo , and Bing , never fear. Part of your package with Create Socially includes placement and submission to those for free. If you want to go further into enhancing this, our customer support team is standing by 24-7 to assist (1-866-932-4357).

Enroll in the major social media channels. Even if you do not regularly post on all of them, having links to your business allows an additional option for someone’s search for a product or service to convert into a new customer. We recommend regularly contributing to Google+ , Facebook , and Twitter . If you want to branch out, add Pinterest and Instagram . Brands that are interactive would also benefit from a YouTube presence.

Need some help? Call us at 717-683-5343 or email web@earnsocially.com and we’ll see what we can do to assist directly.

Media Monday: Images in Posts and Status Updates

Mon, 27 Oct 2014 21:51:00 GMT

Greetings! Sarah and I had a very pleasant weekend, and we trust you did as well. That being said, it’s time to begin charging full speed ahead into the work week with blogging. Falling behind? I’m sure of where to start this week? Never fear, catchy images are here. No, really, we mean it. A catchy images one of the number one ways to get your post noticed, particularly when sharing in social media streams in hopes that an audience will notice it. Take for example this photo used on this web page at Fast Company in an article about newsletters .

TGIFriday Roundup

Fri, 24 Oct 2014 19:25:00 GMT

For now, we can only tell you that it’s an Equine Assisted Therapy group basing its operations at a location in York, Pennsylvania. There will surely be more to come as we finalize the agreement and begin constructing their web and media presence! We are VERY excited to tell you more, and will be doing do as we prepare for media blitzed, and all things promotional. Sit tight, and buckle up, because it is going to be a LOT of fun working with this organization.

Did you miss our last post? Never fear, we’ve served up those blogging tips, and you can find them here ! Cheers, and enjoy the weekend!

Your Business: Three Vital Tips for Blogging

Wed, 22 Oct 2014 10:00:00 GMT

(1) Blogging with customers allows for a conversational style on websites, and allows companies to build brand loyalty, and more importantly – drive traffic.

(2) Writing a blog is best if done at specific days and times – this helps search engines know when to expect new content, which is then indexed and provided in user search results on major search engines like Google , Yahoo , and Bing .

(3) Blogging is a great way to communicate credibility . Writing content that customers and casual searchers will find helpful and practical increases the likelihood that they’ll return for more.