by Suellen | Meeting the Challenges, Success
Do Your Customers Trust You?
It’s a well-known fact that people like to do business with people that they know, like, and trust.
So every now and then we have to take a personal inventory. How do we measure up?
When I think about this concept, I almost break out into laughter, because I am reminded of one of my favorite all-time businesses.
Are you ready?
A tire store. Mac’s Tire Store in Tupelo, Mississippi. Let me tell you about that store.
You may have heard that my husband and I lived in Mississippi for about 25 years. We had some wonderful times while there, and I loved the area.
However, there were a couple of times when I would suddenly find my tire low in air, and I wouldn’t know what to do about it. (It seemed that Mickey was out of town or in a business meeting when those times came).Could it be fixed easily, or was it serious? I certainly didn’t know.
So I would take my car to Mac’s and confidently wait with my cup of coffee in hand and a pleasant magazine to browse.
I was confident because I knew these people. Their service would be quick and first rate. They would do a good job, and they woudn’t try to sell me something that I didn’t need. In fact, once I went in thinking that we needed new tires and they talked me out of it!
Now that’s my kind of a store!
It’s funny because I don’t even care about cars. Much less tires. But when I was in trouble, I knew these people would help me. They came to my rescue, and I was incredibly grateful.
The kind of trust that Mac’s had with me (and others), didn’t come over night. They had worked at building their business on a strong foundation of integrity and friendliness. They knew that most people think of tires as an unpleasant necessity, and so they worked at making the experience at their store to be the best it could be.
Have you thought about this element in your business lately? I have. Every now and then, I like to take a step back and look at this issue. How trustworthy do my customers see me?
I think that this is even more important for online businesses. Since people can’t see us and talk with us face to face, it’s even more important to convince them that they can trust the products and courses they buy from us. They need to know that we understand their needs and concerns and help them meet those needs.
I’m determined to build my own business around the same concepts which made Mac’s so great.
The following points to improve your trust ranking and build better relationships in your business. They can also be used to regain trust too.
- Understanding and Empathy – try to look for things that you have in common with people and then build trust from there.
- Being Honest and Open – don’t be scared to show your true emotions and viewpoints. Of course be receptive to other people’s opinions too.
- Be Genuine – show people that you care.
- Have Respect – you need to respect yourself and others and treat people as equal. Do not blame or criticize anyone or make them feel guilty.
- Listening – really pay attention to what someone is saying and demonstrate that you understand them. All it takes is a quick nod in agreement to achieve this and trust will quickly build.
- Best Interests – learn how to take other people’s interests into account, not just your own. Look for solutions so that everyone becomes a winner.
- Being Reliable – when you promise to do something, follow through and get the task done. Don’t make promises that you have no intention of keeping.
Think about how you can take these principles and apply them to your business practices. If you promised to look into something for a customer, actually follow through and do so. Even if you don’t locate what it was they were looking for, at least you made the effort and tried. This will no doubt be totally appreciated by them and helps build trust and respect.
Sometimes mistakes happen or you sell or refer a product that isn’t suitable. When this happens be honest and tell your customers or clients that you made a mistake. This helps demonstrate solid business practices along with trust.
If you truly want to run a business with honesty, integrity and trust then take steps to build relationships with everyone you meet on a day to day. Be personable. Open.
One of the best ways to build trust is to write a book. Share your life. Your stories. Your point of view.
For material to help you get started, check this out.
In the meantime, Keep on Soaring!
by Suellen | Meeting the Challenges, Writing a Book
I am thinking back to a special August day in 2010. My husband and I had just celebrated the birth of a beautiful grandson, so I was already on an emotional high. And then as we arrived back home and saw the box on our porch, I could hardly contain the excitement.
My books had arrived! My very own books!
With trembling hands, I opened the box and saw my name staring back at me. My beautiful books. All the work I had put into this masterpiece (at least to me, it was a masterpiece) – had paid off.
It was done. My very own book ready to give and to sell. Ready to bring encouragement to those who read it. Ready to open new doors for me since now I was a published author.
I began to reflect. I had wanted to write this book for a long time – mulling over ideas for many years. Why had I waited so long to actually do it?
Many things had held me back from experiencing this moment.
There had been confusion. And overwhelm. How could I write a whole book? What if I didn’t have enough to say? Who would really want to read it? Would it cost too much? And on and on…
Obstacles of thought and emotions. Fear, anxiety, and overwhelm.
I just wasn’t sure that I could do it.
Do you relate to what I’m saying? Do you have obstacles of mind and emotions which hinder you from accomplishing what you want?
Let’s face it. Each of us has obstacles in our life’s journey.
Some of these are because of our environment, our health, or our unique circumstances. We may be dealing with sickness in ourselves or a close family member. We might be going through a major life change – such as a divorce or the death of someone close.
Sometimes demands are made on our time and energy by good seasons in our lives. We may have several small children who need an usual amount of attention. Or we may be getting married or starting an engaging career.
Yet when life is rolling along at a more even pace (if that ever really happens), we can still face obstacles in our minds. Our thoughts, our emotions, and our habits can cause us to stand still and not move forward.
We may occasionally dream about the “what if’s,” but we don’t take any steps toward accomplishing those dreams. We treat our lives as if we will either win the lottery – or not. The big moment will come, or it won’t.
And in the meantime, we remain idle without moving toward those dreams.
Well I have met many people who have a dream of writing a book. Maybe they have a great story concerning their own unique experiences. Perhaps they realize that a book would be just the thing to introduce Jesus to those who don’t know Him. cement their credibility in their field. Maybe they want to make some extra money from the book sales.
There are many reasons for writing a book.
Yet here is the truth: Many talk about it, but very few ever really get it done. They dream and they talk, but they never actually do it.
I understand this dilemma, because that’s the way I was for many years. I would think about it. I would even occasionally jot down a few notes. But I just couldn’t get over that unidentifiable roadblock. It just seemed too hard. Out of reach. I would put it aside and forget about it for awhile.
Well my day finally came, and what made that switch for me?
I began studying about self-publishing. I read books, attended seminars, and online webinars. Somehow, during that process, I gained courage and began the journey. One step at a time, I completed the trip and published my first book.
I realized that those who were writing their books were just like me – like you. If they could do it, then so could I.
Now several years later, I have more than 20 books published in paperback and on Kindle. Once I started the process, each one became easier.
Now my goal is to help others who were just like I was.
Maybe you are one of them.
If you have been thinking about writing your book but haven’t done it yet, then maybe overwhelm or confusion is holding you back.
In my series of 12 On Demand Webinars, Audios, Transcripts, Action Step Sheets, and Bonuses, I take you step by step through the process. Your Planning, Writing, Pre-marketing, Designing, and Publishing can be accomplished by you – just as they were by me. One step at a time – and it’s done.
Please check out the opportunity. At https://OurCBI.com. The world needs to hear from you.
And for a limited time, the entire course will be half price.
In the meantime, Keep on Soaring!
by Suellen | Meeting the Challenges, Vision and Goals
When I was a child, we had fill-in-the-blank Saturdays. Sometimes we had some extra time to sleep. Often we would take excursions just for fun.
Then there were those other Saturdays. The kind when you would wake up to a morning of “Clean-out-the-closets.” Or “Work-in-the-yard.”
Ugh!
Those Saturdays were boring. Not fun at all!
Now on the Saturdays when we had fun activities on the calendar, I would hop out of bed – even before the alarm went off. There was excitement in the air as we packed our picnic lunches or loaded our beach equipment.
Not so on those “other” days. My Dad would have to call to wake me several times before I would hear him. Then I would drag to get dressed. Drag to eat breakfast. And drag around even more as I attempted to put off the inevitable.
What was the difference? Why did I eagerly wake up on some days and dread facing the day on others?
Motivation. The kind of motivation which only comes by having a clear vision of what will be happening. (more…)
by Suellen | Meeting the Challenges
Are you living from the sidelines? So many people are doing just that – without even realizing it.
When I was a child, my piano lessons were very important to me. And as each year drew to a close, the Piano Recital was the grand finale. So we gathered in the large auditorium with our families and friends assembled to cheer us on.
Decked out in my formal best, I waited for my name to come up on the program. I would sit, supposedly listening to the others, but totally distracted from the music being presented. I was waiting for my time to come. That’s what I was there for. My performance.
When we got closer to our moment and our group finally went back stage, it would have taken the National Guard to keep us from running and playing as we waited. We definitely weren’t listening to the others, we were waiting for our moment.
I’m sure that if you played sports, you would have similar recollections. When the game was on, you were there to do your part. Of course, you pulled for the team, but you wanted to be in the game.
Why do we as adults develop a bleachers mentality?
So what happened to us? As children we longed to be in the game. Why do we as adults develop a bleachers mentality? Maybe put-downs or discouragements, maybe setting goals so high that only supermen could have accomplished them. For whatever reason, as adults we are different.
This bleachers mentality causes us to sit on the sidelines and watch. No longer do we want to be in the game, but we live from the sidelines. As a result, we cheer for our football team, and if they win, we think we have won. If they lose, it’s as though we personally have failed.
Then we turn on TV and watch our favorite news program or some reality show. Later we pick up the latest magazine and discover who is in crisis, but also, who is buying the most expensive cars, or having the most elegant wedding, or which business mogul is making the most money.
We are watching from the sidelines. We are not really in the game.
Even in the church this mentality exists. We watch celebrity teachers, and love the big accomplishments of big ministries. We often sit on the sidelines and think that’s what it is all about. We were there or we heard the teaching on TV, so that was our part. But do we do what we learned?
Or as writers, speakers, and entrepreneurs, we listen to the latest webinar, and somehow we think that listening was enough. We trick ourselves into thinking that we have accomplished great things by our learning. We are living from the sidelines.
I say, No longer!
I know that God gave me this life, and I want to live it in an active, robust way.
I don’t want to live from the sidelines. I know that God gave me this life, and I want to live it in an active, robust way. I want to fulfill all that He has for me.
Of course, I have received lots of inspiration and understanding from big ministries and successful instructors. But the important thing is not what I heard, it’s what I did with what I heard. How has the instruction impacted what I do with my life?
We have an uncanny way of tricking ourselves.
Bill Phillips, the famous Body For Life fitness expert, has an interesting take on this phenomenon. He became amazed at the numbers of out-of-shape people who would approach him and thank him for his books. They didn’t seem to realize that he would notice that they weren’t implementing what he advised. So he came up with a challenge to toss to his students.
Now he tells them to Face the Abyss
And what is the abyss? It’s that infinite chasm between knowing and doing. It’s a great gulley that is hard to cross.
As Mr. Phillips explains it, when he instructs them, people are motivated. They begin to envision glamorous pictures of their new bodies and their incredible energy. So they learn some more…Then they learn some more…They may purchase some gym equipment and even a new jogging outfit.
They may try a little, but many people never benefit from his program, even though it could be the most successful one they have ever tried.
They won’t face the abyss – that great chasm – which requires that we take action when we know what to do. They listen and learn, but they never follow through with action.
So what abyss are you facing? And why don’t you just leap over it? Or at least build a bridge across it one step at a time?
There are many reasons that we as adults fail to be doers. Sometimes it’s fear of failure. Sometimes it’s not recognizing our potential. Sometimes it’s just procrastination or laziness. Or lack of vision – that burning desire.
Are You doing what you know to do?
In the next few weeks, I am going to be elaborating on some of these hindrances.
In the meantime, take some time to think about your personal mission. Are you doing what you know to do? Are you following through with your plans for action?
Be honest with yourself. How much are you implementing?
I have done some soul-searching and I have made a decision. I refuse to sit in the bleachers of my life. No longer will I just be on the sidelines watching others perform. I am determined to get into the game and fulfill the purpose God has for me.
I will face the abyss and take action. I will do what I know to do. I will take those necessary steps to make it happen.
I refuse to live from the sidelines.
I hope you’ll join me. We can do this.
Blessings, and May Your Journey Be Forever Upward.
Christian Bloggers International (https://OurCBI.com)
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P.S. James 1:22-25 Don’t merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the Word and does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently at the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it – not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it – they will be blessed in what they do. (NIV)
