tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169277059588172174Tue, 16 Jun 2026 11:10:59 +0000Taking the Mystery Out of Businesstime managementbusinessbook reviewcommunicationmarketingsalesGLBAHIPAALinda FaulknerNorLights PressNorlightsPress.comStressbusiness tipscustomer attentioncustomer servicemanagementtraining5-star reviewAlain BurreseAmazonBarnes and NobleCECustomer Attention. Customer serviceDNCDeirdra Eden CoppellEnglishFCRAHITECHJanel QueenLilliam BrummetLost DogsMaryann MillerMatt MedeirosMissoula Businesswomen's NetworkMontana TodayMonte TurnerPrivacy RuleSafeguard RuleSales tipsSchool of BusinessSlocum StudioTV InterviewUniversity of MontanaWriters in BusinessZig Ziglaradviceattitudebacking upbook coverbook giveawaybook signingbusiness advicebusiness failurebusiness resourcesbusiness successcarlareadscompetitioncomputersconfidentialityconsumer protectioncontestcontinuing educationcopybloggercreative blog awardemployee moralefacebookfairnessfreefree business advicefrustrating aspects of businessgenerosityguest bloghelphow-tointegrityinterpreter servicesinterviewlawsuitsleadersleadershiplearning stylesmarketing tipsnegativitynetworkingnonfictionoffice hoursphone callspositivitypromotionpublic speakingpublisherrelationshipsresourcereviewsalespersonsaying noself helpself-helpsellingspeaking in publicstressorsteamworktelemarketingtelephonetelephone tipstime wastersvoicemailwomen-owned businesswork life balancewritingTHE FIRST IN SERIES OF BOOKS ABOUT SIMPLIFYING THE MYSTERIOUS WORLD OF BUSINESShttp://takingthemysteryout.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (LINDA FAULKNER)Blogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169277059588172174.post-7556097664832033127Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:24:00 +00002012-01-16T10:24:21.227-05:00Linda is now blogging over at her website, now.  You can visit us there:  http://lindafaulkner.com/writing/taking-the-mystery-out-of-business/http://takingthemysteryout.blogspot.com/2012/01/weve-moved.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (LINDA FAULKNER)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169277059588172174.post-3696872666031128149Tue, 04 Oct 2011 03:59:00 +00002011-10-04T00:00:11.440-04:00confidentialityfacebooklawsuitsConfidentiality. It's a big deal in the world of business. But what's the difference between sharing your opinion and violating your employer's confidentiality?  Or that of a co-worker? Personally, I'm a fan of not burning bridges--especially in business.  If I have a gripe with someone, I generally discuss it with him or her.  Of course, there are people who choose not to http://takingthemysteryout.blogspot.com/2011/10/how-employer-might-treat-facebook-faux.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (LINDA FAULKNER)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169277059588172174.post-186736266785768335Sun, 04 Sep 2011 16:06:00 +00002011-09-04T12:06:15.749-04:00communicationEnglishinterpreter servicesWe've all encountered clients who weren't born speaking the same language we speak.  If you were born in America, your first language was probably English. For many people in this country, however, English is not the first language they learned to speak.  And while many people are bilingual or have learned to speak English, understanding the terminology and concepts in certain businesshttp://takingthemysteryout.blogspot.com/2011/09/how-to-help-non-english-speaking.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (LINDA FAULKNER)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169277059588172174.post-6141071767836486932Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-08-19T10:00:07.991-04:00phone callstime managementvoicemailI recently received an inquiry from a client with respect to managing her time at the office. Seems her employer expects her to respond to her voice mail messages as soon as they're received and to leave an outgoing message that says she'll respond to all voice mail messages within the hour. Personally, I don't like this method for two major reasons: By allowing only a one-hour window of http://takingthemysteryout.blogspot.com/2011/08/time-management-lesson-1.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (LINDA FAULKNER)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169277059588172174.post-8691083395859144141Sun, 07 Aug 2011 14:51:00 +00002011-08-07T14:22:22.614-04:00book giveawaycontestI'm working on a project that involves the development, writing, and presentation of three customer service webinars. Of course, I know how I've done certain things in the business world during the past 30+ years. But I'm wondering how YOU do certain things. If you make a comment and share details about how YOU do one or more of the following, your name will be entered a giveaway for a free http://takingthemysteryout.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-do-you-do-it-book-giveaway.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (LINDA FAULKNER)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169277059588172174.post-5955814439026165072Thu, 23 Jun 2011 02:10:00 +00002011-06-22T22:10:37.421-04:00helpteamworkHow do you feel about asking for help? Do YOU ask for help when you need it? How do you feel when other people ask YOU for help? Do YOU think asking for help is a sign of weakness? Once upon a time, I used to think that if I tried harder, I could be perfect. Okay, not perfect ... exactly. No one's perfect--everyone knows that. But close to perfect. Real close. Which meant I had to do http://takingthemysteryout.blogspot.com/2011/06/whats-your-take-on-asking-for-help.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (LINDA FAULKNER)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169277059588172174.post-7998994532662117037Sat, 18 Jun 2011 16:37:00 +00002011-06-18T12:37:52.873-04:00time management Molly and Max, Writing Assistants I am being bombarded with discussion about Time Management lately. Of course, I have all kinds of answers (check out Chapter 7 in Taking the Mystery Out of Business) - but I'm interested in what YOU have to say. Do you believe in "quiet time" at the office? Do you download your e-mail every 5 minutes, every 20 minutes, or once an hour? What does the http://takingthemysteryout.blogspot.com/2011/06/calling-for-help-on-time-management.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (LINDA FAULKNER)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169277059588172174.post-107361805190600968Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:00:00 +00002011-06-13T11:00:05.811-04:00integritysalessalespersonBooks have been written on the subject. In fact, the second book in the Taking the Mystery Out series will focus on sales and marketing. I won't attempt, in this short blog post, to provide you with all the ingredients required to create a superb salesperson. I will, however, focus on what I believe is the single most important quality a salesperson can possess: integrity. Webster defines http://takingthemysteryout.blogspot.com/2011/06/what-makes-good-salesperson.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (LINDA FAULKNER)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169277059588172174.post-7986567754910357157Fri, 10 Jun 2011 12:42:00 +00002011-06-10T08:42:00.297-04:00public speakingspeaking in publicMost people hate the prospect of standing before a group of people for any reason, let alone to talk. Their stomachs seize, their hearts race, and they imagine all manner of catastrophe. That doesn't happen to me anymore. Instead, I get killer migraines about three hours afterward. Seriously, I do. So, you're wondering, what's so terrific about getting migraines instead of stomach distresshttp://takingthemysteryout.blogspot.com/2011/06/whats-so-wonderful-about-speaking-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (LINDA FAULKNER)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169277059588172174.post-2206230938515380664Sat, 30 Apr 2011 15:52:00 +00002011-04-30T11:52:29.711-04:00This review is from: Taking the Mystery Out of Business (Paperback) The author debuted her first mystery fiction novel, "Second Time Around," in 2010. Now she's drawn on her years in business and training, as well as her understanding of the language and structure of genre fiction to put together a brief but complete handbook for almost anyone at any level of business activity. Whether one is ahttp://takingthemysteryout.blogspot.com/2011/04/latest-review-by-carl-brookins.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (LINDA FAULKNER)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169277059588172174.post-2586593832668564939Thu, 21 Apr 2011 02:10:00 +00002011-04-20T22:11:08.442-04:00My word for the day is ROTTEN. Why? Because that's the first "R" word I thought of. Not because I'm negative, mind you, but because it brings to mind something I said to someone today when we were talking about salesmanship. I've been in sales practically my entire life. And one of the things a lot of salespeople think is absolutely necessary in sales is to quote "apples for apples" when tryinghttp://takingthemysteryout.blogspot.com/2011/04/rotten-apples.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (LINDA FAULKNER)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169277059588172174.post-2636480120598413618Thu, 14 Apr 2011 02:06:00 +00002011-04-13T22:06:46.022-04:00trainingWorkplace training is essential. Yet how can you conduct (or receive) training in a productive, efficient manner? The most important thing to keep in mind is that people learn and communicate differently: Visually, Auditorally, or Kinesthetically (hands-on). How do you think it's going to go when a trainer communicates and learns visually and is responsible for training a newbie who http://takingthemysteryout.blogspot.com/2011/04/how-do-you-like-your-training.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (LINDA FAULKNER)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169277059588172174.post-2469929235405971412Mon, 04 Apr 2011 18:00:00 +00002011-04-04T20:05:26.698-04:00businessrelationshipsI've always been a believer that my personal and business lives should remain separate. On the other hand, I'll do business with friends and relatives and I'll be friendly with clients. But there are certain relationships and behaviors I've always avoided when mixing business with pleasure. Why? Because once you allow your personal feelings to enter a business relationship, it colors http://takingthemysteryout.blogspot.com/2011/04/how-friendships-affect-businesses.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (LINDA FAULKNER)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169277059588172174.post-260029498812599473Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:50:00 +00002011-03-29T11:52:13.371-04:00saying nowork life balanceI'm a workaholic. I admit it. I even blogged about workaholism last month (http://bit.ly/guJEv6). In the past, I've found finding a balance between my work and personal lives difficult. I'm facing and overcoming that challenge at the moment--but your suggestions and advice are certainly welcome. You know the old adage When it rains it pours? Well, that's my life right now: it's http://takingthemysteryout.blogspot.com/2011/03/work-life-balance-how-do-you-do-it.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (LINDA FAULKNER)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169277059588172174.post-194854254743907244Sat, 26 Mar 2011 20:39:00 +00002011-03-26T16:39:48.808-04:00creative blog awardDeirdra Eden Coppell Thank you to Deirdra Eden Coppell for awarding the Taking the Mystery Out blog with the Creative Blog Award. You can find her blog at: http://astorybookworld.blogspot.com/ You can find her website at: http://www.knightess.com/http://takingthemysteryout.blogspot.com/2011/03/thank-you-to-deirdra-eden-coppell-for.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (LINDA FAULKNER)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169277059588172174.post-8808422934895412970Sat, 19 Mar 2011 22:40:00 +00002011-03-19T18:40:49.505-04:00generosityMatt MedeirospromotionSlocum Studio photo courtesy of SlocumStudio.com  I can't emphasize enough how important it is to be generous in the business world. None of us achieves success operating from within a bubble despite the belief of some people that it's possible. A professional in an online group of which I'm a member insists he's achieved success by NOT being a team player. All I can say is: guess how much more http://takingthemysteryout.blogspot.com/2011/03/generosity.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (LINDA FAULKNER)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169277059588172174.post-3848397429941995887Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:31:00 +00002011-03-15T09:31:51.618-04:00leadersleadership stockvault.net  Webster defines leader as a person who has commanding authority or influence. Webster's definition of lead has multiple components but the one most of us accept is to guide along the way. Clear as mud, like many definitions. Guide, or lead, implies being at the head of a line composed of people who follow. I get that. But who picks the leader? What's the way? Is there http://takingthemysteryout.blogspot.com/2011/03/whats-your-take-on-leadership.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (LINDA FAULKNER)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169277059588172174.post-8698209799699663590Wed, 02 Mar 2011 19:07:00 +00002011-03-02T14:11:29.318-05:00Customer Attention. Customer service http://stockvault.net/ I've always had an issue with business people and businesses that believe customer service is something you provide AFTER a sale, AFTER receiving a complaint, or AFTER a drop in revenues. In fact, I dislike the phrase customer service because it doesn't have a universally accepted meaning--not any more. What's service anyway? Webster says it's the act of serving. Yep. http://takingthemysteryout.blogspot.com/2011/03/whats-difference-between-customer.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (LINDA FAULKNER)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169277059588172174.post-4252554219022909827Sat, 26 Feb 2011 01:59:00 +00002011-02-25T21:01:24.501-05:00salesSales tipsEvery business needs an influx of new customers on a regular basis to offset customers lost by a number of things:  attrition, moving away, death, and (oh no!) disappointment with their relationship (aka poor customer attention).  Acquiring new customers is also a very nice way to build revenues and grow a business, which is why so many businesses spend a great deal of money each year http://takingthemysteryout.blogspot.com/2011/02/want-some-sales-tips.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (LINDA FAULKNER)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169277059588172174.post-4163473936459211665Wed, 16 Feb 2011 23:00:00 +00002011-02-16T18:00:00.950-05:00employee moralefairnessmanagement http://www.bigfoto.com/ Morale of employees in the workplace is essential to the smooth running of any business.  More importantly, it is essential to the well-being of both employees and customers. I was talking with a fellow recently about the disintegrating morale in his workplace.  Here are the details:  Doug, in his late forties and married, is one of three customer http://takingthemysteryout.blogspot.com/2011/02/hows-employee-morale-at-your-workplace.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (LINDA FAULKNER)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169277059588172174.post-7764815460924087324Mon, 14 Feb 2011 19:00:00 +00002011-02-14T14:00:03.504-05:00free business advicetelemarketingtelephonetelephone tips www.freepixels.com  How many of you hang up the moment the person on the other end of the phone begins to sound like a telemarketer?  How many of you use either Caller ID or your answering machine to screen your calls for the purpose of avoiding telemarketers?  How many of you have to make phone calls for your job and just hate it when the person on the other end of the phone http://takingthemysteryout.blogspot.com/2011/02/free-business-advice-telephone-tips.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (LINDA FAULKNER)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169277059588172174.post-2445300945514523422Thu, 10 Feb 2011 21:57:00 +00002011-02-10T16:58:49.103-05:00Stressstressors http://www.bigfoto.com/ I just read a terrific article in my most recent issue of Romance Writer's Report (which is available to all RWA members). In it, the author explains that stress is anything that causes you or your body to tighten up. Webster defines stress as a constraining force or influence (yes, I looked it up). Which got me thinking and doing a little research. Consider http://takingthemysteryout.blogspot.com/2011/02/stress-what-drives-you-crazy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (LINDA FAULKNER)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169277059588172174.post-1159337730147202992Tue, 08 Feb 2011 16:06:00 +00002011-02-08T11:15:47.511-05:00competitionmarketingsalesHere's a blog post I stumbled upon via a Tweet from my Twitter friend, Matt Medeiros. It's titled: Why You Should Start Writing, Stop Hiding, and Quit Worrying About the Competition: http://bit.ly/hlGoNK The blog is titled The Sales Lion and has EXCELLENT marketing and sales information that all businesses and professionals will find helpful.http://takingthemysteryout.blogspot.com/2011/02/why-you-should-quit-worrying.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (LINDA FAULKNER)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169277059588172174.post-8183389258514438480Mon, 07 Feb 2011 19:26:00 +00002011-02-07T14:33:55.416-05:00attitudenegativitypositivityTaking the Mystery Out of Business http://www.freefoto.com/  What kind of person are you: is your glass half-full or half-empty? Which of the following two poem excerpts is the REAL you? The Optimist - author unknown The otimist fell ten stories, At each window bar he shouted to his friends, "All right, so far!" The Pessimist - Ben King Nothing to do but work, Nothing to eat but food, Nothing to wear but clothes, To keep onehttp://takingthemysteryout.blogspot.com/2011/02/whats-in-attitude.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (LINDA FAULKNER)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169277059588172174.post-160302904001664927Wed, 02 Feb 2011 03:07:00 +00002011-02-08T12:19:47.103-05:00book reviewJanel QueenSchool of BusinessTaking the Mystery Out of BusinessUniversity of MontanaJanel Queen, Director of Career Advancement, School of Business, University of Montana Yes, Clueless is a dangerous place to be!  That’s why, regardless of whether someone is a budding entrepreneur, a new graduate just getting started, or an experienced professional, Linda’s book is a must read! For those who haven’t run a business or managed people, it might save their career or their http://takingthemysteryout.blogspot.com/2011/02/review-from-school-of-business.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (LINDA FAULKNER)0