Remembering Bill Mignogna & Living in the Present

I’m just back from the funeral of a friend, colleague, fellow member of the Executives’ Association of the Palm Beaches. I am honored to be a member of Execs and when I was approved for membership a couple of years ago, I didn’t really comprehend how close-knit this organization, and especially this chapter, is. Think fraternity (because yes, most of our 70+ members are men) of business leaders who have each others’ backs at all times. It is an amazing family and thankfully we were there for each other today.

We were all there attending the mass to honor Bill Mignogna and support his wife and family this morning, along with a couple hundred other people. Bill was always ready and willing to help another – kind and generous, hardworking and supportive. I heard someone say this all seems surreal. How can it be? Bill was just here, we were hanging out, laughing with him only a few weeks ago. And then, October 17th, a drunk driver ran a red light and Bill spent 10 days in the hospital. He was 57 years old.

During his eulogy, one of Bill’s life long friends said that this past summer he and his wife had tried to find some time to come down to Florida to visit, but they never did. When the call came last week though, somehow he found a way to get here within 24 hours. We’ve all heard these kind of stories and maybe you even have your own regret in this area. And every time we hear another one, we remind ourselves once again how crucial it is to live in the present and to make the time for the people we love and not put important things off. We dwell on these thoughts of mindfulness for a few days or weeks, and then we go back to life as it always was and we forget. Until the next time something happens that makes us remember.

I’m including this post in my blog today because I needed to express my thoughts. But I also included it because if you’re reading it now, maybe you needed a reminder too. Now, today, before something traumatic or irreversible happens, make the time to do whatever it is that you didn’t have the time to do yesterday.

Gift Ideas for Teachers

Finding memorable gifts for teachers can be a struggle for parents. Of course you want to find something different, distinctive and appropriate, within a reasonable budget. Oh, and if it could be a gift that the teacher would genuinely appreciate, that would be perfect!

Forget handmade crafts or the ugly scarf. The Gratitude Cookie™ is the perfect present for teachers. Think about it. The reason these cookies are so named is because when you give them, you’re showing appreciation for the person you’re presenting them to. Plus, we encourage the person eating them to think about something they’re grateful for too, so the chain of gratitude expands.

Spare yourself the time and stress of searching for gifts for piano teachers, dance teachers, soccer coaches and scout leaders. Show your appreciation for everything these educators do for your kids.

One idea is the Signature Box, which holds 20 Gratitude Cookies™. The card that goes in the front of the box can be customized, perhaps with a picture of your child, and whatever message you’d like to include. At $25.00 a box, it makes a great impression and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

The Gold Seal Gratitude Box is another great gift package for teachers. A dozen all-natural butter-sugar cookies, this box says a lot for $12.95, making it a fantastic choice for when you have a bunch of people to buy for. In fact, this particular package is available in cases of 12, so you can keep a few boxes on hand for last minute gifts.

And for just a little token of appreciation, the Pillow Packs are perfect for making a notable impact. Four yummy cookies give your teacher a few minutes of zen-blissful time.

As the season for giving teacher gifts approaches, it can be to find unforgettable gifts that you and your child are excited to give.

It’s Customer Service Week

Seriously, they have a week for this? I guess it makes sense, there’s a week for everything else. But shouldn’t EVERY week be customer service week?

If you’re so inclined to celebrate, I recommend doing something extra specially nice for your customers. I mean, only if you like them, and want them to continue supporting your business.

A few ideas:

1. If you have face to face contact with them (kind of a rarity anymore, huh?), look them in the eyes and tell them how much you value their business.
2. Send out a handwritten note to say thank you to each of your clients.
3. Go to www.ZenRabbitCookies.com and order boxes of Gratitude Cookies or bags of Zen Crunch to show your immense appreciation for their loyalty.

If you have a staff of customer service reps in your business, take a cue from my new Twitter friend at Business & Legal Resources (@BLR_Inc). They compiled a bunch of stories from the front lines that will have you shaking your head at the ridiculousness of some people. Check it out here.

Got any good customer service stories of your own? SHARE with us by posting a comment!

Update on Shine A Light

Sad news, at least for me. Zen Rabbit was not chosen by the judges as a Shine A Light finalist. There were thousands of entries and I have no idea how the judges waded through them all to get to their final decisions.

While I am a bit disappointed, because YES, I truly did believe Zen Rabbit had as good or better a chance at becoming a finalist as anyone else, I am honored to have been nominated and to have such an amazing and supportive network of people who endorsed my nomination! This is just one step in the continual process of building a business.

Thanks to everyone who partipated. Stay tuned, I’m sure something else is just over the horizon.

PS: If you want to see the companies that were chosen as finalists, visit http://shinealight.ivillage.com/nominees/

Shine A Light: Inspiring Small Business

So exciting! Zen Rabbit has been nominated for an opportunity to win $100,000 in grant and marketing support from American Express, in partnership with NBC Universal.

In order for Zen Rabbit to be eligible to become a Shine a Light finalist, we need your help in the form of an endorsement by September 13, 2009.

If you are so inclined, and you haven’t already, here’s what you need to do to endorse:

Go to this page: http://tinyurl.com/nyfnef

First you have to REGISTER at top right corner of the page. (Remember to scroll down/read the Program Rules & click on “I Accept Terms”.)

After you click SUBMIT, come BACK to Zen Rabbit’s page either through this link http://tinyurl.com/nyfnef or by going to the NOMINEES page and putting Zen Rabbit in the search/go box at top of page there. Click on ENDORSE NOW and you’re done!

Yes, I know it’s somewhat involved and not so user-friendly. So I REALLY appreciate your time and effort to support me! Once we win, celebrations will include Cookies & Crunch for all!

Also, if you’re so inclined, tweet and post on Facebook & LinkedIn to help spread the word and garner more endorsements.

THANK YOU!!!

Resources for Work at Home Moms

My friend and colleague Sandy Fowler, of ReclaimU, knows what it’s like to be wife, mom and business owner who works from home. She says, it can be fun and it can be challenging. So to make it all a bit easier, she put together a collection of tools specifically for Work at Home Moms to help them:

• Get some fabulous information
• Discover some great experts to rely on
• Save some time and some dough
• Learn something amazing

She asked me to contribute, so among the incredible tools you’ll find there, is a special report called, “Building Rock-Solid Relationships With Your Clients That Yield More Business & Increase Your Income.”

It’s all completely FREE. To get your goodies, just go to http://www.thegreatwahmgiveaway.com/

Customer Experience Lessons

I’ve been a subscriber to Derek William’s ezine, The WOW Awards, as well as a great proponent of his whole  concept of “Catching People Doing Things Right,” for quite a while. Loved reading about his recent experience at Wagamama’s restaurant and had to share it with you. (He lives in the UK, in case you’ve not heard of Wagamama’s before – I hadn’t.)

Wagamama – communication lesson # 1
A recent trip to Wagamama’s restaurant produced some interesting experiences. We arrived at about 9.30 pm – after the main rush of people was over. This particular restaurant is always busy and lots of people must have eaten that evening before us. Maybe even hundreds.

Wagamama have a greeter to show guests to their table. And as I approached the desk, I asked the greeter, “How are you today?”

“WOW!” she says. “You are the first person all evening to ask me how I am.”

I could see that she was delighted to be asked and had an extra spring in her step as she showed us to a table and took our drinks order.

Many years ago when I wrote 3 Dimensional Care, I devoted a chapter to Getting an extra slice of the pie. And, guess what? It was all about getting better service in a restaurant. And here it was in real life.

Did we get better service through asking that one little question? Would you give a customer better service if they took an interest in you?

Wagamama – lesson #2
The second interesting experience at Wagamama came when I settled the bill and added a tip to the credit card payment.

My daughter works in a restaurant and relies on her tips. So my wife and I always wonder if the tip we give at a restaurant is going to the person who served us or is it going to the owner of the business.

After the waitress had processed our payment she came back to our table and said, “Thank you so much for the tip. It really is appreciated and I just wanted to let you know that it will be shared between all of us.”

Many of the things that are a worry for your customers have nothing to do with the food. Understand the questions that are never asked and you will win customers for life.

FYI, this article was reproduced with permission from Derek William at The WOW! Awards www.thewowawards.co.uk

Authenticity

I was recently introduced to Chris Guillebeau’s blog, The Art of Nonconformity, when he posted an article on authenticity. The ideas and thoughts he put forward there are so good, I want to share them with you. And since he’s already written it, and done such a good job, it doesn’t make sense for me to reinvent the wheel. Go read it on his site.

Here’s the link:
http://chrisguillebeau.com/3×5/authenticity-you-has-it/

Can This Improve Productivity?

There’s something extra delicious and relaxing about taking a vacation day. Slipping off (like playing hooky) to the beach or the lake or the mountains one day when all the rest of the world is working. It’s like you get extra relaxation and rejuvenation that somehow isn’t possible on a weekend, even if you were to do the exact same thing.

I think there’s power or energy in the idea that you’re “supposed to be working” but you’re not. I don’t know about you, but it’s nearly impossible for me to ever turn off the cell phone – which is also my business line – and not turn on the computer for a whole 24 hours. God forbid the world could need something from me.

Yesterday I conducted an experiment and did just that. I found a fairly uninhabited section of beach, parked myself under my umbrella wearing factor 50 sun screen, and basically did nothing for several hours. More than once I had to stop myself from turning the phone on, just to see who may have called. And yes, I should have left the phone at home, but I brought it with, you know,  just in case of an emergency.

I’ve just finished reading Esther and Jerry Hicks’ book “Ask and It Is Given.” In it, they contend that if you’re not getting all that you desire in life, it’s because you are vibrationally not matching what it is you are asking for. And the only way to increase your vibration is to bring more joy and happiness into your experience. To not try so hard to make things happen. So I decided to see what happens when I stop pushing so hard. (note, this is not to say stop taking action; it is about being more relaxed, less stressed about it.)

I did feel a lot better and had more energy at the end of the day. I’m thinking of making this a monthly exercise. Let me know if you’d like to join me.

PS: I still got burned, so bring extra sun screen.

Getting Clients at Trade Shows

Thus far, it’s been a month of trade shows. First as attendee, at the Fancy Food Show in NYC and then as an exhibitor at the Atlanta Gift Mart. I’ve met great people, created opportunities and seen some interesting behavior. I’ll post first on some observations from my perspective as a show attendee and write later about the view from the other side.

Exhibitors at the Fancy Food Show are companies with all kinds of food and beverage, as well as suppliers to the food industry. They’re selling to restaurants, caterers, gourmet markets, gift basket companies, catalogs, manufacturers, pretty much anyone with a connection to the food industry. (# of vendors) take up two full floors at the Javits Center for three days.

There were swarms of people walking the aisles, tasting samples at each booth. It’s pretty costly to exhibit, so you’d think that the people working the booths would be proactive in talking to potential customers and collecting contact information so they can follow up. Unfortunately, some of those companies are going to conclude that the show wasn’t worthwhile because their people committed the most deadly trade show sins.

At some booths, the rep was sitting in the corner reading or standing around talking to a co-worker. C’mon now, at the very least, you need to acknowledge people passing by, engage them in conversation, get them to stop. (I didn’t say accost, I said engage!) More than once, I approached a booth, looking to talk with someone and was totally ignored. One woman was clearly on the phone with a friend and handed me a business card and waved me away, perhaps so I would call her later? I threw it out.

Some of the people I did talk with never asked to scan my badge, which would give them all my contact info, or requested a business card. Follow up is key for trade show success. What are they thinking? I hope they’re not counting on attendees to contact them, even if they did hand out a pound of promotional material.

What kind of experience have you had recently as a trade show attendee?