Torontopreneur

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547040475106301363Fri, 06 Sep 2024 01:21:11 +0000ChrisChrisGreavesCustomCGreavesCustomSearchControlElementGoogleGreavesJavaScriptLANGUAGEEmailLoadingProductsSCRIPTServicesI’veI’llTalkChrisRewardsMississaugaAvalancheHere’sIt’sAheadBusinessChristmasTorontoComingFIRSTLinkedInCallCanadianCaroleDavidExcelFollowGoodI'veIt'sManagementMeasuresPictureAbsolutelyAccessBeerGuyBetchaBlogsCEOsCardsCashCathyChristianClientClientsCompanyDateDeliverablesDon’tENVELOPESExampleGettingGoalsGriseldaKeepingKnowPostageProposalProspectorAbandonAchingAddressAimingAirlinesAlbanoAlexAmazonAnatomyAnswersAntiAprèsArgumentsAskingAssumingAutomatedAutomationAvenueAwfulAxedBathroomBeatsBeigeBetty’sBillBirminghamBlewBlockingBonTonBoostingBoringBranchBrendonBucklerBudgetingBuffaloBunsenCFOsCIOsCOOsCalledCallingCallsCanada'sCanadiansCardCartridgesCatchCatchingCellCertainlyChainChallengedChannelsCheckChristopherChronicleCleanClearThinkingClearedClichéClickClosedClubColdColleagueColleague’sCommunicateCongratulationsConnectionsContactContactingCountCowansCtrlCurrentDELETEDUCADannyDanny’sDarnDatabaseDatingDaveDeadMeatDealingDecisionDeluceDeluce'sDeskDesktopDevotedDifferenceDifferentDocumentationDocumentsDollarsDoorDoubleDragDélugeEasyEconomyEinsteinEliseEmailingEntrepreneurEspeciallyEthicalEventEverybodyExecutiveExerciseExpressFailureFastFedsFinallyFinanceFingerFinishingFixingFlowFoldersFollowUpPastFollowUpTodayFollowersFoodForwardFourteenFourthFranciscoFreeFreebieFreebiesFrustratedFunnilyGREATGasolineGoalGoddamnGodinGoldGoneGrantGriselda’sGrizzlesGrowthGruntGuaranteeHarvardHavingHere'sHighHolidayHonestyHorseheadsHorton’sHoursHurdleI'llIHaveAWebSiteISPsIdeasImagineImportantInevitablyInsideInterestingIntroductionInvitationInviteKNEWLaserLawrenceLawyersLearnLegalLettingLinkedLinkedIn’sLoisLunchMacroMacroExpressMacrosMagentaMailedMailingMakeEnvelopeFromSnapshotMakesManagerMeasurementMerryMethodMillionNursingObjectivesObservationsObserveOfficeOftenOverallPROMISEPaperPatientPayingPeoplePersonalPerspectivePhonePlacePlanPorterPostPresidentPresidentsPricelessPrintPrioritiesProcessPromodPropertyQuantitiesReallyRickRobertRuleRunningSOMEthingScalesSchoolSethShiftSidewaysSimpleSometimesStarStayingStepStressSuddenlyTRENDTakesThe U.S. Economy ArnotTodayTouchTweetTweetingWeighTorontopreneurA DAILY muse on events along the path of developing and nurturing my business.http://torontrepreneur.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Under The Hood)Blogger752125en-usnomarketing,sales,diary,daily,Toronto,Mississauga,small,business,entrepreneur,startupA DAILY muse on events along the path of developing and nurturing my business.TorontopreneurCGreaves@ChrisGreaves.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547040475106301363.post-8635372441591427913Sat, 24 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-12-24T09:00:10.988-05:00AirlinesCashCGreavesChrisChrisGreavesCustomCustomSearchControlDeluceDeluce'sElementGoogleGreavesJavaScriptLANGUAGELoadingPorterProductsRobertSCRIPTServicesWho, and How Many are Your Suppliers?<span style="">In "</span><a href="http://www.moneyville.ca/article/1094846--what-porter-airlines-chief-learned-pumping-gas?bn=1">What Porter Airlines chief learned pumping gas</a>", Robert Deluce is quoted as saying "Never leave yourself with only one supplier; you must have choice and some tension to ensure value." <p class="MsoBodyText">Now as soon as you read that you thought of stationery, computer accessories, and ground coffee, right?</p> <h2>Well, yes.</h2> <p class="MsoBodyText">But as an entrepreneur, what do you value coming in more than stationery, computer accessories, and ground coffee?</p> <h2>That's right!</h2> <p class="MsoBodyText">Cash!</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">Think of your clients as suppliers, your most important suppliers, for without your clients you don't get revenue, and without revenue you can't consider stationery, computer accessories, and ground coffee.</p> <h2>That's a fact.</h2> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">Now Deluce said </span>"Never leave yourself with only one supplier; you must have choice and some tension to ensure value", and if that is true of your suppliers, and if your clients are suppliers, then Deluce's statement translates into "Never leave yourself with only one client; you must have choice and some tension to ensure value", and how often have you heard that?</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">I am in touch with one entrepreneur who has one well-paying client, yet is unhappy with the relationship.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">"So go get another client" I suggest, but Oh no, "better the devil you know".</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">Trouble is, once that client becomes unhappy with the relationship, my friend will be stranded high and dry.</p> <h2><span style="">As would you.</span></h2> <p class="MsoBodyText"><a href="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/ContactChrisGreavesCOM.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Talk to Me</span></a>!</p>http://torontrepreneur.blogspot.com/2011/12/who-and-how-many-are-your-suppliers_24.html0CGreaves@ChrisGreaves.com (Under The Hood)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547040475106301363.post-728375894173339195Fri, 23 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-12-23T09:00:05.516-05:00AnswersCGreavesChrisChrisGreavesCustomCustomSearchControlElementGoogleGreavesJavaScriptLANGUAGELoadingOftenProductsSCRIPTServicesTalkHow Often?<span style="">We all sat down and discussed "How often should I mail out my <span style="">eLetter</span>?".</span> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">Answers ranged from "It depends on your audience" through "26 times a year" to "3 times a year".</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">I think the best answer is </span>to the question "How often?" will be found by following the path of thought that starts with "What is my goal?"</p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">What is YOUR goal in issuing YOUR newsletter?</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">Write it down, write down the objectives (or sequence of steps you'll take to reach your goal), and you'll find the answer to your frequency question along the way.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">Oh, sorry!</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">I forgot that you wrote all that down when you were planning your newsletter; just take it out an re-read it.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">Again.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><a href="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/ContactChrisGreavesCOM.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Talk to Me</span></a>!</p>http://torontrepreneur.blogspot.com/2011/12/how-often.html0CGreaves@ChrisGreaves.com (Under The Hood)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547040475106301363.post-476261018897402346Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-12-22T09:00:03.403-05:00CGreavesChrisChrisGreavesCustomCustomSearchControlElementEspeciallyGoogleGreavesI'veJavaScriptLANGUAGELoadingPricelessProductsSCRIPTServicesTalkVolunteers are Priceless<span style="">A recent tweet said "</span> Volunteers are not paid; not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless." Hats off to those that share ...", but I disagree with volunteering in most cases. <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">Over my career I've found myself providing services for free to non-profit organizations who save a bundle through my suggestions, but run an office with a staff of ten, salaries, benefits and electricity bills.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">A non-profit is not a non-revenue, and I fail to see why I should not take part in the revenue stream.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">I quit all this 15 years ago when a non-profit asked me to drive 10 km north to stand by while they did their first mail-merge. Why stand-by? In case it didn't work and they used a few sheets of paper unwisely.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">For a few sheets of paper I was to schedule 3 hours of my time, drive 10 km each way, ...</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">No. My time is worth more than that.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">I am NOT priceless; I am worthy of my hire of any organization in the business world that has a revenue stream.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">Especially if their revenue stream is greater than my revenue stream.</span></p> <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/ContactChrisGreavesCOM.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Talk to Me</span></a>!</span>http://torontrepreneur.blogspot.com/2011/12/volunteers-are-priceless.html0CGreaves@ChrisGreaves.com (Under The Hood)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547040475106301363.post-7653056218760189386Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-12-21T09:00:09.471-05:00CGreavesChrisChrisGreavesCommunicateCompanyCustomCustomSearchControlElementEmailFailureFastGoogleGreavesInterestingJavaScriptKnowLANGUAGELoadingProductsSCRIPTFailure To Communicate<span style="">A great blog item from the <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/1769962/failure-to-communicate-proceed-with-caution">Fast Company blog</a>. In essence a list of 20 common faults.</span> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">And a list of 4 things to do to begin resolving them.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">I took it a step further after reading item </span>6: “Telling the world how smart we are”. I do that all the time. And why not, I’m smarter than most people, I’m telling you!</p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">I collected the 20 faults and pasted them into a table that fit nicely onto a letter-sized sheet, printed it off on white card stock, then guillotined it into 20 separate small cards that fit easily in my shirt pocket.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText">Then each time I sat down to lunch with a friend or close colleague I asked them to select the three (of twenty) cards which THEY thought best described me.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">Interesting.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">After six such polls I tallied the scores and ranked the cards.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">That’s how I KNOW you all know how smart I am!</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">If you’d like a copy of the cards, send me an email.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><a href="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/ContactChrisGreavesCOM.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Talk to Me</span></a>!</p>http://torontrepreneur.blogspot.com/2011/12/failure-to-communicate.html0CGreaves@ChrisGreaves.com (Under The Hood)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547040475106301363.post-2087070076584264613Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-12-21T08:53:04.391-05:00AbsolutelyAskingCGreavesChrisChrisGreavesCustomCustomSearchControlElementEmailFreeFreebiesGoodGoogleGreavesGriseldaHere’sInviteI’llJavaScriptLANGUAGEHow to Get Paid for Freebies<span style="">We all have them (I hope); friends and colleagues, close associates, for whom we wouldn’t dream of charging a penny to help them with their spreadsheet, document, web site or accounting.</span> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">Sometimes it seems just too crass to even think about mentioning money.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">This is not the client who calls up saying “I know it will take you only 5 minutes”, selfishly overlooking the fact that you spent 50 hours learning how to do it.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">This is the colleague who drives you to lunch each time you meet, the one you phone to cry on a shoulder.</span></p> <h2><span style="">Here’s What You do</span></h2> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">I’ll take a spreadsheet as an example; you can change the scenery.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">Griselda wants to know how to set up her spreadsheet; you like Griselda and she likes you and you scratch each other’s back once a month or so.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">Invite Griselda over for the morning; she’ll miss her tweets and eMail, so she’ll not hang around for ever. That puts a time limit on the face-to-face stuff.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">Tell Griselda BEFORE she comes over that the spreadsheet is free, but if she feels bad about it she can buy you lunch. (Always order the corned-beef sandwich with spicy-fries; you can eat only half of it anyway; bring the other half home for a second lunch tomorrow).</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">Tell Griselda BEFORE she comes over that you’ll support her in her endeavors up to an including the last day of the following month. That’s anything from one to two months hand-holding.</span></p> <h2><span style="">Absolutely Free</span></h2> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">But tell Griselda BEFORE she comes over that after the end of the first complete calendar month you’ll charge her for support at 50% your regular rate, payable by retainer in advance.</span></p> <h2><span style="">Is that Asking Too Much?</span></h2> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">I think not.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">Griselda is acutely aware that she is "imposing” on you, and you on her; but as well she values your friendship and hates leeching off you; as you do her.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">This establishes, up front (“Good fences make good neighbors”) that a no-strings freebie is being offered, and accepted, but that if the task becomes onerous, you will be recompensed without placing a burden of guilt on here.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><a href="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/ContactChrisGreavesCOM.htm"><span style="text-decoration: none;color:#000000;" >Talk to Me</span></a>!</p>http://torontrepreneur.blogspot.com/2011/12/how-to-get-paid-for-freebies.html0CGreaves@ChrisGreaves.com (Under The Hood)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547040475106301363.post-1844471215241812555Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-12-19T09:00:04.548-05:00BusinessCEOsCFOsCGreavesChrisChrisGreavesCIOsCOOsCustomCustomSearchControlElementEmailGoogleGreavesHarvardJavaScriptLANGUAGELoadingPresidentPresidentsWhy Aim for the President?I am often asked why I am using <a href="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/Prospector/">The Prospector</a> to contact Presidents and CEOs, CIOs, CFOs, COOs and the like. <p class="MsoBodyText">The answer is given simply in a recent <a href="http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2011/11/get_to_know_your_bosss_boss.html">Harvard Business Review article</a> stated in part:-</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Your boss's boss has a broader perspective on your organization than you (or your boss), and can see more of what's coming down the pike — be it new products or possible new assignments.<span style=""></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText">The President has the best view of the most urgent strategic needs of the company. My project leader may well be two or even three levels down, but my best work is done for the good of the whole company.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><a href="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/ContactChrisGreavesCOM.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Talk to Me</span></a>!</p>http://torontrepreneur.blogspot.com/2011/12/why-aim-for-president.html0CGreaves@ChrisGreaves.com (Under The Hood)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547040475106301363.post-9058182448235557559Sat, 17 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-12-17T09:00:00.967-05:00AbandonBunsenCGreavesChrisChrisGreavesCustomCustomSearchControlElementEmailGoogleGreavesJavaScriptLANGUAGELoadingObservationsProductsSCRIPTServicesSuddenlyObservations"I didn't apply measurement to our marketing efforts in any sort of disciplined way," <p class="MsoBodyText">I learned this a couple of weeks ago when I was assembling a series of web-pages urging people to experiment and measure their efforts at vermicomposting.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">Suddenly realized that "experiment" means white lab-coats and Bunsen-burners to most folks in the domestic market. And who wants to invest in a set of gram-scales, count worms by hand etc?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">"I just want to have the worms eat my food scraps".</p> <h2>The Answer?</h2> <p class="MsoBodyText">Abandon the words "experiment" and "measure" and use the one word "observations".</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">Anyone can observe; I mean, that's just using my eyes, right?</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">And it's not a problem to write down, in my own words, what I have observed ...<span style=""></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><a href="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/ContactChrisGreavesCOM.htm"><span style="text-decoration: none;color:#000000;" >Talk to Me</span></a>!</p>http://torontrepreneur.blogspot.com/2011/12/observations.html0CGreaves@ChrisGreaves.com (Under The Hood)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547040475106301363.post-6250170948170974662Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-12-16T09:00:08.040-05:00CGreavesChrisChrisGreavesClubCustomCustomSearchControlElementEmailFunnilyGoogleGreavesHere’sInvitationJavaScriptLANGUAGELinkedInLoadingLunchProductsSCRIPTDoes Staying-In-Touch Work? – 3<span style="">Here’s another one:</span> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">I attended a free seminar sponsored by a major bank – definitely a member of the deep pockets Club, and in my target market.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">Funnily enough the seminar was marketing-related – all about LinkedIn.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">Next morning I resisted the impulse to ask the host for a LinkedIn connection, and instead dashed off a greeting card & flyer, popped it in the mail.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">I figure that asking/getting a LinkedIn connection is just a matter of form once we have met or had a chat by phone.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">I also figure that a hard-copy unsolicited essay lasts longer (“sits on my desk”) than Yet-Another-LinkedIn-Invitation.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">Sure enough, yesterday the phone rang, and for 75 minutes the host and I chatted.</span></p> <ul><li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style=""><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="">Sure! Send some stuff by email.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style=""><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="">Sure connect with LinkedIn!</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style=""><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="">Sure!</span></li></ul> <p class="MsoBodyText">Just what I wanted.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">Lunch can’t be far away ...</p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><a href="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/ContactChrisGreavesCOM.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Talk to Me</span></a>!</p>http://torontrepreneur.blogspot.com/2011/12/does-staying-in-touch-work-3.html0CGreaves@ChrisGreaves.com (Under The Hood)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547040475106301363.post-5720811383177011871Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-12-15T09:00:02.784-05:00AprèsAvalancheCGreavesChrisChrisGreavesChristmasCustomCustomSearchControlDélugeElementEmailGoogleGreavesI’veJavaScriptLANGUAGELoadingMerryProductsSCRIPTAprès le Déluge, What?<span style="">The Avalanche is dissipated.</span> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">I am close to completing the mail-out of nearly 400 cards celebrating the Christmas season. It looks like that task will be accomplished by the end of November.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">Then what?</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">My plan is to take a break from mailing out material and spend December on the phones.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">I think I might phone every person on my list to wish them Merry Christmas.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">It can be a short call.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">For one thing it will establish voice contact with those I’ve not previously called.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">For another it will allow me to determine which of all these new numbers are direct lines, and which are not.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">It will help if I have something up my sleeves to offer to them. Such as a PDF file I can send by email.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><a href="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/ContactChrisGreavesCOM.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Talk to Me</span></a>!</p>http://torontrepreneur.blogspot.com/2011/12/apres-le-deluge-what.html0CGreaves@ChrisGreaves.com (Under The Hood)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547040475106301363.post-4619101060923975662Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-12-14T09:00:11.471-05:00BlockingCGreavesChrisChrisGreavesCustomCustomSearchControlElementEmailGoogleGreavesJavaScriptLANGUAGELoadingProductsSCRIPTServicesTakesTalkTime Blocking<span style="">There’s an excellent little article on </span>Time Blocking <a href="http://www.davecheong.com/2006/07/26/time-boxing-is-an-effective-getting-things-done-strategy/">here</a>, and I recommend you read it. Takes about 60 seconds. <p class="MsoBodyText">There’s an excellent little time program <a href="http://blog.kowalczyk.info/software/15minutes/index.html">here</a>, and I recommend you download it.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">Then start cheering as your backlog disappears!<span style=""></span></p> <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/ContactChrisGreavesCOM.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Talk to Me</span></a>!</span>http://torontrepreneur.blogspot.com/2011/12/time-blocking.html0CGreaves@ChrisGreaves.com (Under The Hood)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547040475106301363.post-91195842686400363Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-12-13T09:00:02.074-05:00CGreavesChrisChrisGreavesContactingCustomCustomSearchControlElementEmailGoogleGreavesIHaveAWebSiteJavaScriptLANGUAGELoadingProductsSCRIPTServicesTalkThank You for Contacting<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";">Thank you for contacting me at IHaveAWebSite. I will get back to you as soon as I can. Many thanks; I’m Me.</span> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">I don’t know about you, but I get a tad cheesed off when I am hooked up with an email address which uses an auto-responder to let me know “your call is important to us”.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">I think it’s the height of insolence to use a robot to respond to my hand-crafted enquiry.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">I think it’s ABOVE the height of insolence to use a robot to respond to my subsequent hand-crafted responses.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><a href="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/ContactChrisGreavesCOM.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Talk to Me</span></a>!</p>http://torontrepreneur.blogspot.com/2011/12/thank-you-for-contacting.html0CGreaves@ChrisGreaves.com (Under The Hood)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547040475106301363.post-8913277088726219541Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-12-12T09:00:08.434-05:00CEOsCGreavesChrisChrisGreavesChristmasCustomCustomSearchControlDifferentElementEmailGoogleGreavesI'veIt'sJavaScriptLANGUAGELoadingProductsSCRIPTServicesWhat's Different this Christmas?<span style="">I can be a bit slow on the uptake sometimes.</span> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">It's just dawned on me that out of about 200 Christmas cards mailed out so far in the past month, not one has been returned.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">Of course, now that I've typed THAT, there'll be a flood next week!</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">What's different between this year and past years?</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">(<span style=""><span style="">1</span></span>) I have spent more time this year "touching" my contacts, either by phone, by email, or by letter; and issuing letters is one way to check on mobility of the addressee.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">(<span style=""><span style="">2</span></span>) My contacts are higher-echelon, the C-crowd, and CEOs, presidents and the like move around less than do middle-level managers and clerks.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText">There are probably more reasons, but it is comforting to know that this year my mailings are reaching their targets.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><a href="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/ContactChrisGreavesCOM.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Talk to Me</span></a>!</p>http://torontrepreneur.blogspot.com/2011/12/whats-different-this-christmas.html0CGreaves@ChrisGreaves.com (Under The Hood)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547040475106301363.post-7468305779619757148Sat, 10 Dec 2011 15:25:00 +00002011-12-11T10:57:57.677-05:00BusinessCanadianCGreavesChainChrisChrisGreavesCustomCustomSearchControlElementEmailGoogleGreavesI’llJavaScriptLANGUAGELoadingOverallPerspectivePicturePostWhen the Supply Chain Goes Bad<span style="">If you’ve been following along, you’ll know that I order postage stamps and they arrive by Canada Post.</span> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">That they arrive is a bit of a miracle. The short story is that I enquired of the supplier as to why the stamps arrived anywhere from 4 to 28 days after being ordered. Turns out Picture Postage is at the mercy of Canada Post, who stipulate “</span>that we must allow 5-15 business for delivery once the order is shipped”.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">Now 5 business days (BUSINESS days) to mail a letter from a major Canadian city to another major Canadian city seems a bit much to me.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">15 days is downright lacking in responsibility.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">My enquiry has resulted in the supplier advising Canada Post that the shipment has been “what they consider to be lost in the mail”, so now I’ll wait while another order is prepared and, perhaps, lost-in-the-mail or else takes 3 weeks (15 BUSINESS days!).</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">The clincher is this:</p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal">I have the option of using an overnight courier other than CPC, that is not looked at fondly around here as all parties would like to keep everything closely tied together from an overall business prospective.<span style=""></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText">The Overall Business Perspective seems to be that the supplier and CPC have to work together on this, but the supplier ships within 48 hours of receiving the order, so CPC is letting down the side.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">And where, in the name of all that’s profitable, is the client (me) in all of this?</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">I don’t hear anything about “Gee we’d better make sure this gets tightened up”.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">All the more incredible because I am, after all, ordering postage stamps that should be delivered by the very organization (CPC) that profits by my making use of postal services!</p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><a href="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/ContactChrisGreavesCOM.htm"><span style="text-decoration: none;color:#000000;" >Talk to Me</span></a>!</p>http://torontrepreneur.blogspot.com/2011/12/when-supply-chain-goes-bad.html0CGreaves@ChrisGreaves.com (Under The Hood)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547040475106301363.post-8376836898773190896Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:23:00 +00002011-12-09T10:23:00.790-05:00BudgetingCashCGreavesChrisChrisGreavesCustomCustomSearchControlDollarsElementEmailFIRSTFlowFoodGoogleGreavesHoursI’veJavaScriptLANGUAGELettingBudgeting with No Cash-Flow<span style="">It matters not whether we are talking dollars or hours; it is the same principle.</span> <h2><span style="">Let’s Talk Dollars</span></h2> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">My neighbour complains that she’s always short of cash, but she has a regular job, gets paid each fortnight. To me it’s an easy no-brainer: Sit down and map out your expenses; trim some. Cook at home instead of ordering take-out, and so on.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">Me? I live from cheque to cheque. Never know when the next cheque is coming in. low bank-balance, the usual.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">Yet I budget my dollars better than my neighbour.</span></p> <h2><span style="">How?</span></h2> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">I sit down at the start of the month and work out what I absolutely have to pay; typically rent, telephone, internet, postage. Food.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">If I have cash to cover those, I write the cheques and send them out. Then I economize for the rest of the moth.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">If I don’t have the cash to cover all my creditors – I phone them up and tell them so; they appreciate knowing I’ve not skipped the country, and I sleep a little easier at nights.</span></p> <h2><span style="">Let’s Talk Hours</span></h2> <p class="MsoBodyText">My friend complains that there just aren’t enough hours in the day. She’s wrong.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">There are 24 hours in each day, always have been, always will be. (This is not the place to discuss the moon’s gravitational impact on tides and their frictional impact on the earth’s rotation; we know we know that stuff …)</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">Like you, I woke up this morning with another 24 hours.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">Like you, I get to choose what to do.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">If I find that I need twenty wide-awake hours to get through the load, I decide that that can’t be done, and I shed tasks until the hours come down to a reasonable level.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">Then I start work.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">First task is a short email to a couple of people advising them that they WON’T receive an update today after all.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">That they won’t receive an update is a pre-ordained fact; I don’t have that much time.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">Letting them know in advance that updates won’t arrive allows them to plan their day accordingly.</p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">When you don’t have the resources, managing the resources you do have is doubly critical.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><a href="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/ContactChrisGreavesCOM.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Talk to Me</span></a>!</p>http://torontrepreneur.blogspot.com/2011/12/budgeting-with-no-cash-flow.html0CGreaves@ChrisGreaves.com (Under The Hood)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547040475106301363.post-6741645611880220825Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:22:00 +00002011-12-08T10:22:00.832-05:00CGreavesChrisChrisGreavesClientCustomCustomSearchControlElementEmailGoogleGreavesJavaScriptLANGUAGELoadingProductsProposalSCRIPTServicesThe Proposal<span style="">My client’s client is having problems; I have a solution.</span> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">I submit a proposal for 10 hours work, and a few days later word comes back that “they like your proposal but think it should be only seven hours”.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">My immediate reaction is to hit back, so I go to bed with a book, instead.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">In the morning things seem much clearer.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">I have 13 points now against the rejection, many of them knee-in-the-groin arguments, which never help in business relationships.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">But I’m very proud of the first three, so I share them with you:-</span></p> <ul><li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style=""><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>Client doesn’t know how to do it; that’s why they approached me. How can they know what work is involved?</li><li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style=""><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>If Client doesn’t know what work is involved, how can they know how long it will take to do the work?</li><li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style=""><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>If Client doesn’t know how long it will take to do the work, why do they think it can be done in 30% less time than I think?</li></ul> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">My business, you see, is the application of logic to business problems, and this is just another business problem (mine this time) that can be resolved by the application of logic.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><a href="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/ContactChrisGreavesCOM.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Talk to Me</span></a>!</p>http://torontrepreneur.blogspot.com/2011/12/proposal.html0CGreaves@ChrisGreaves.com (Under The Hood)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547040475106301363.post-3012491558761380586Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:21:00 +00002011-12-07T10:21:00.593-05:00CGreavesChrisChrisGreavesClientColleagueColleague’sCustomCustomSearchControlDon’tElementEmailGoogleGreavesGriseldaGriselda’sGrizzlesI’llJavaScriptLANGUAGELoading“A Client is Bad-Mouthing Me!”<span style="">No, not me, but a colleague of mine.</span> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">Seems that the product was shipped and failed to meet expectations. In fact, the product was dead, due to an series of delays in the shipping service.</span></p> <h2><span style="">That Happens</span></h2> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">What happened next is not normal, or abnormal, if you prefer.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">My colleague’s client waited a year then sent an email reminding colleague that the shipment was (literally) dead-on-arrival.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">Why wait a year?</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">Why bring the issue up again? Colleague said she was sorry, offered a refund, a fresh shipment etc.</span></p> <h2><span style="">No wait! There’s more!!</span></h2> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">Colleague’s Client took care to point out the they are now letting everyone they know (church, friends, school etc) that colleague takes the money then ships dead products.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">“Don’t worry” I tell my colleague.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">“There’s one in every crowd”.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">Every now and then you’ll run up against someone who is never happy unless they are both miserable and trying to make everyone around them (church, friends, school etc) miserable.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">The good news is that everyone around them (church, friends, school etc) already knows that Griselda is a whiner, 100% negative, unforgiving, resentful, spiteful.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">Griselda’s Grizzles will be shed like water off the proverbial duck’s back.</span></p> <h2><span style="">P.S.</span></h2> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">Come to think of it, Griselda is probably doing my colleague a favor by spreading the word; 50% of the people she tells will think “Griselda is always so wrong and negative; this supplier might just be good! I’ll go take a look at the web site …”.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><a href="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/ContactChrisGreavesCOM.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Talk to Me</span></a>!</p>http://torontrepreneur.blogspot.com/2011/12/client-is-bad-mouthing-me.html0CGreaves@ChrisGreaves.com (Under The Hood)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547040475106301363.post-7354259203977607602Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:21:00 +00002011-12-06T10:21:00.460-05:00Betty’sCellCGreavesChrisChrisGreavesCustomCustomSearchControlElementEmailFreebieGoogleGreavesI’llI’veJavaScriptLANGUAGELoadingPhoneProductsRickCell Phone for FreebieRick needs help with his system, and he phoned me. <p class="MsoBodyText">He will buy himself an external drive and download RoboCopy and install that then run it to mass-copy everything from his failing hard drive to his new 2.3TB external.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">I’m glad, because too many people leave the backup until “After I’ve tidied up the hard drive a bit”, and the hard drive fails terminally while they are tidying up.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">I’m SO pleased that I’ve told him I’ll have my cell phone with me tonight when I go up the street to fix Betty’s TV.</p> <h2>Why am I on call for a freebie?</h2> <p class="MsoBodyText">Why not?</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">It defines my level of service, plus chances are Rick won’t call anyway.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">But it will make an impression on him, and he’ll remember that, and talk about it.</p> <h2>P.S.</h2> <p class="MsoBodyText">Rick did call me around 9:30 p.m. while I was adjusting Betty’s TV, and over the phone we wrote a little batch file and he saw it start to run, and learned how to adapt it, so life just got better!</p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><a href="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/ContactChrisGreavesCOM.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Talk to Me</span></a>!</p>http://torontrepreneur.blogspot.com/2011/12/cell-phone-for-freebie.html0CGreaves@ChrisGreaves.com (Under The Hood)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547040475106301363.post-4137714267930407806Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:19:00 +00002011-12-06T10:17:02.816-05:00CGreavesChrisChrisGreavesCustomCustomSearchControlDeskElementEmailGoogleGreavesJavaScriptLANGUAGELoadingOfficeProductsRuleSCRIPTServicesShiftSidewaysShift Desk Sideways<span style="">My second 10-foot length of plywood, a.k.a. "The Other Desk", shows no surface area. It has become a storage depot for stuff.</span> <h2><span style="">Office Rule:</span></h2> <ul><li><span style="">Tables and desks are for working on or at, not for storage.</span></li></ul> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">So starting this morning I’m going to be shifting stuff leftwards towards the other end. </span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">Some item has to be taken OFF the desk and stored where it ought to be stored; even if that dumpster gets emptied twice a week.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">The space it leaves will be occupied by something else, and the right-hand side of my desk will become clear.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">By the end of the week, or even by the end of the hour, the desk should be a beautifully long and wide working area.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><a href="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/ContactChrisGreavesCOM.htm"><span style="text-decoration: none;color:#000000;" >Talk to Me</span></a>!</p>http://torontrepreneur.blogspot.com/2011/12/shift-desk-sideways.html0CGreaves@ChrisGreaves.com (Under The Hood)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547040475106301363.post-3426075103531591705Sat, 03 Dec 2011 14:14:00 +00002011-12-03T09:14:01.207-05:00AchingAutomationCGreavesChrisChrisGreavesCustomCustomSearchControlElementExpressFingerGoogleGreavesGruntGuaranteeJavaScriptLANGUAGELoadingMacroMacroExpressMacrosFinger-Numbing, Wrist-Aching Grunt Work <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">From a longtime friend and dear colleague:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I know you are a huge macro fan, as am I. Many, many years ago (2001?) I bought this program that has saved me thousands of hours. There's nothing more satisfying than sitting back and watching the computer go to work doing finger-numbing, wrist-aching grunt work. Macro Express - Macros for your Windows Automation Needs <a href="http://www.macros.com/">www.macros.com/</a> <span style=""></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText">I haven’t used <span style="">MacroExpress</span> and am not endorsing it, but my colleague’s statement is just so RIGHT:</p> <p class="MsoNormal">There's nothing more satisfying than sitting back and watching the computer go to work doing finger-numbing, wrist-aching grunt work.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">If you aren’t using macros (in your word-processor, spreadsheet etc) or batch files (in your boot sequence), why aren’t you?</p> <h2>I Guarantee that Your Wrists are Aching</h2> <p class="MsoBodyText">Either that or you are postponing tasks that ought to be completed by now.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><a href="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/ContactChrisGreavesCOM.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Talk to Me</span></a>!</p> <h2>P.S.</h2> <p class="MsoBodyText">Do yourself a favor and check out <a href="http://macrosinminutes.blogspot.com/">Macros in Minutes</a></p>http://torontrepreneur.blogspot.com/2011/12/finger-numbing-wrist-aching-grunt-work.html0CGreaves@ChrisGreaves.com (Under The Hood)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547040475106301363.post-4468305221956791518Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:13:00 +00002011-12-02T09:13:00.359-05:00BetchaCGreavesChrisChrisGreavesCustomCustomSearchControlElementExcelGoalsGoddamnGoogleGreavesI’veJavaScriptKeepingLANGUAGELawyersLinkedInLoadingMailedDoes Staying-In-Touch Work? - 2<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">2011/06/03 11:18 Mailed Goddamn.pdf //</span> <p style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal">2011/08/10 11:14 mailed Lawyers.pdf //</p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal">2011/10/12 08:09 mailed Excel.pdf //</p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal">2011/10/13 15:39 I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn. //</p> <h2>Does Staying-In-Touch Work?</h2> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">You Betcha!</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">The four entries above are taken from the memo/comments field of a single contacts-database record.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">In June I mailed a one-sheet 2-page flyer with an article I’ve written (about Goals, Objectives and so on)</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">Two months later I mailed another flyer, this one about using <a href="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/Prospector/">The Prospector</a> to generate more revenue from existing clients.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">While a third flyer was winging its way out, my contact sent me an unsolicited invitation to join his network.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">Is it possible that two flyers (the third crossed in the mail) made contact?</span></p> <h2>Does Staying-In-Touch Work?</h2> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">You Betcha!</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">There is a bonus here: If my objective was to “touch” this contact once every two months, I can now send an <span style="">eMail</span> and advance the follow-up date by two months; that is, my response to his LinkedIn invitation surely counts as “Keeping my name in front of him”.</span></p> <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/ContactChrisGreavesCOM.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Talk to Me</span></a>!</span>http://torontrepreneur.blogspot.com/2011/12/does-staying-in-touch-work-2.html0CGreaves@ChrisGreaves.com (Under The Hood)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547040475106301363.post-4882409930368630497Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:11:00 +00002011-12-01T09:11:00.459-05:00CGreavesChrisChrisGreavesCustomCustomSearchControlDoorDoubleElementGoogleGreavesIt'sJavaScriptLANGUAGELoadingPayingProductsSCRIPTServicesSimplePaying Double At the Door<span style="">“We have an event tomorrow, and 26 people have registered online but only handful have paid $10 online. When these unpaid who turn up at the door, will be charged $20. Can some one explain to me, why are they prepared to pay double at the door, while they can get away paying only $10.’</span> <p style="font-weight: bold;" class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:130%;">It's Simple.</span></p> <p class="BodyTextBullet"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style=""><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>I may get a better offer elsewhere before your event.</p> <ul><li>When registration (online) is free, people will register.</li><li>When it comes to parting with money, we all think twice.</li></ul> <p class="MsoBodyText">And hedge our bets!</p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><a href="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/ContactChrisGreavesCOM.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Talk to Me</span></a>!</p>http://torontrepreneur.blogspot.com/2011/12/paying-double-at-door.html0CGreaves@ChrisGreaves.com (Under The Hood)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547040475106301363.post-8802874153986070668Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:11:00 +00002011-11-30T09:11:00.664-05:00ArgumentsCGreavesChrisChrisGreavesChrisRewardsCustomCustomSearchControlElementGoogleGreavesIt’sI’veJavaScriptLANGUAGELoadingMississaugaQuantitiesSCRIPTTalkTorontoWho is this Guy Chris Greaves? -2Two months ago in <a class="nav" href="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/Business%20Development/WhoisthisGuyChrisGreaves.htm"> Who is this Guy Chris Greaves? </a> I issued some crude statistics on what a CEO would see if he received a mailing from me and decided to check me out by using the Google search engine. <p class="Body_Text">I have re-issued the search with these results:</p> <p class="Picture"><img src="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/Business%20Development/ChrisGreaves2_only.png" alt="Visit www.ChrisGreaves.com for this image! ChrisGreaves2_only.png" /></p> <p class="Picture"><img src="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/Business%20Development/ChrisGreaves2_toronto.png" alt="Visit www.ChrisGreaves.com for this image! ChrisGreaves2_toronto.png" /></p> <p class="Picture"><img src="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/Business%20Development/ChrisGreaves2_mississauga.png" alt="Visit www.ChrisGreaves.com for this image! ChrisGreaves2_mississauga.png" /></p> <p class="Body_Text">Quantities may vary if you repeat the search, depending on the date, and on the size of your monitor screen.</p> <p class="Body_Text">The results can be summarized as follows</p> <table class="TableFormatGrid8"> <tbody><tr> <th><p class="Body_Text_Table">Name Only</p></th> <th><p class="Body_Text_Table">& Toronto</p></th> <th><p class="Body_Text_Table">& Mississauga</p></th> </tr> <tr> <td><p class="Body_Text_Table">4 out 7 or 57%</p></td> <td><p class="Body_Text_Table">10 out of 10 or 100%</p></td> <td><p class="Body_Text_Table">Top 6 out of 10 or 60%</p></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="Body_Text">The only change is in the Mississauga rankings (I live in Toronto, but right on the border of Mississauga), so this is an improvement, but not by much.</p> <p class="Body_Text">The good news is that “Arguments with the 407-ETR” has dropped off the radar; that sort of thing isn’t likely to impress a CEO at first glance.</p> <p class="Body_Text">Over the past two weeks I’ve been working diligently at tweeting my blogs, products and services, but I know I need to get more out there.</p> <p class="Body_Text">It’s a process, not an act!</p> <p class="Body_Text"><a class="nav" href="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/ContactChrisGreavesCOM.htm"> Talk to Me </a>!</p>http://torontrepreneur.blogspot.com/2011/11/who-is-this-guy-chris-greaves-2.html0CGreaves@ChrisGreaves.com (Under The Hood)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547040475106301363.post-5434906616286994477Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:02:00 +00002011-11-29T09:02:00.949-05:00CGreavesChrisChrisGreavesClientsCustomCustomSearchControlDesktopDocumentsDragEasyElementFoldersGoogleGreavesHere'sI'veIt'sJavaScriptLANGUAGELoading1 Easy Way to Get THAT Task DoneWe all have them. The proposal that ought to have been completed yesterday; the article that should have been submitted last Tuesday. <p class="Body_Text">I've been using a simple solution for several years now.</p> <p class="Body_Text">Here's the trick.</p> <p style="font-weight: bold;" class="h2"><span style="font-size:130%;">Clear Your Desktop!</span></p> <p class="Body_Text">I've got you there, haven't I? Because you don't know whether I mean your real desktop (made of wood) or the screen that faces you as you read this.</p> <p class="Body_Text">I refer to the screen that faces you as you read this.</p> <p style="font-weight: bold;" class="h2"><span style="font-size:130%;">No wait! There's more</span></p> <p class="Body_Text">Most users I see have a screen desktop that is a vast un-navigable array of icons. There are shortcuts and there are documents, and I get paid $100 per hour to sit while they mutter "It's here somewhere".</p> <p style="font-weight: bold;" class="Body_Text"><span style="font-size:130%;">Silly really.</span></p> <p class="Body_Text">"A place for everything and everything in its place" was a motto my mother never taught me; if she had have done so, my early life would have been a great deal more pleasant.</p> <p class="Body_Text">I had to learn the hard way.</p> <p class="Body_Text">Make an effort, today, to start filing things on your hard drive in a logical pattern - client data in a subfolder of "Clients\", personal data in a subfolder of "Personal\".</p> <p class="Body_Text">And stop storing data on your boot partition (drive C) in that "Documents And Folders" thing. Drag everyone of them to your data partition (probably drive D) and stop using your desktop as a landfill site.</p> <p class="Body_Text">Use the QuickLaunch toolbar for those tasks (programs or documents!) you use throughout the day.</p> <p class="Body_Text">Then your desktop will be as tidy as mine:-</p> <p class="Picture"><img src="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/Business%20Development/Desktop001.png" alt="Visit www.ChrisGreaves.com for this image! Desktop001.png" /></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;" class="h2"><span style="font-size:180%;">Here's the 1-Step</span></p> <p class="Body_Text">At the start of the day, make a shortcut icon to ONE, and only one task that should be completed before the end of the day.</p> <p class="Picture"><img src="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/Business%20Development/Desktop002.png" alt="Visit www.ChrisGreaves.com for this image! Desktop002.png" /></p> <p class="Body_Text">Just one. Not two.</p> <p class="Body_Text">That icon will remind you that there is a priority task.</p> <p class="Body_Text">And it will get done.</p> <p class="Body_Text"><a class="nav" href="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/ContactChrisGreavesCOM.htm"> Talk to Me </a>!</p> <p class="h2">P.S.</p> <p class="Body_Text">Tomorrow is another shortcut!</p>http://torontrepreneur.blogspot.com/2011/11/1-easy-way-to-get-that-task-done.html0CGreaves@ChrisGreaves.com (Under The Hood)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547040475106301363.post-8220065851458393364Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:59:00 +00002011-11-28T09:01:41.765-05:00BusinessCallCallingCardsCertainlyCGreavesChrisChrisGreavesChristianChristmasColdComingCustomCustomSearchControlElementEntrepreneurEthicalFIRSTGoodGoogleChristmas Is Coming! - 3<span style="">In </span><a href="ChristmasIsComing2.doc">Christmas Is Coming! (2)</a> I continued an outline of plans for printing Christmas Cards. <p class="MsoBodyText">Today there’s a fresh idea that can be used by all of us.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">First off: Do you sometimes shudder at the thought of picking up the phone and making a “cold call”?</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">I knew you did.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">I do too.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">Sometimes.</p> <h2>Here’s What’s Good About this Time of Year</h2> <p class="MsoBodyText">Call it Christmas, Hanukah, The Big Sleepover, or what you will: just about everybody is going around TELLING people to have a prosperous New Year.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">Now let’s suppose you are a practicing Christian; you’ll be OK saying “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year”, except for your fear of cold-calling.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">Now let’s suppose you are a practicing Jew; you’ll be OK saying “Happy Hanukkah and a Happy New Year”, except for your fear of cold-calling.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">Now let’s suppose you are atheist; you’ll CAN be OK saying “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year”, except for your fear of cold-calling.</p> <h2>Is it Ethical to Wish, Say, a Muslim a Merry Christmas? </h2> <p class="MsoBodyText">I think so. Does your Muslim (or Jewish or atheist) contact celebrate Christmas? Possibly not.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">Does your contact recognize that in your country Christmas (Hanukah etc) is a major festival? Certainly so?</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">But what if your contact is a rabid anti-Christmas (any-Hanukah etc) fanatic?</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">Then you probably don’t want to be doing business with them anyway.</p> <h3>Think About it</h3> <p class="MsoBodyText">Business is about compromise; we compromise on features, price, delivery date, schedules. The whole thing about the word “Entrepreneur” (“between”-“taker”) is about give and take, flexibility.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">You aren’t asking your contact to meet you for midnight mass on December 24<sup>th</sup>.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">You are calling to express a genuine hope that the next week or two will be peaceful and restful, and that following the break, the next months will be prosperous for your contact.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">Of course you want them to be prosperous: if your contact gets prosperous, there’ll be enough money in the budget to retain you!</p> <h2>Now About that Cold-Calling</h2> <p class="MsoBodyText">Cold-calling has a bad reputation because it seems founded on approaching a total stranger and asking for money; that’s getting awfully close to a hold-up, and that’s not good.</p> <p class="BodyTextBullet"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>But for the next 4 weeks you aren’t calling to sell anything.</p> <p class="BodyTextBullet"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>For the next 4 weeks you aren’t calling to probe about anything.</p> <p class="BodyTextBullet"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>For the next 4 weeks you are calling SOLELY to emit a wish from you to them.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">That’s it.</p> <h2>Visualize the Call</h2> <p class="MsoBodyText">“Hi Jerry, it’s Chris. I’m just phoning to wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year”.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">Suppose the phone goes into voice-mail. That’s a bonus. Your shyness doesn’t matter. You’ve left a short and positive message, and you have re-established your name in the front of your prospect’s mind.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">Suppose you get a gatekeeper? You can ask to be put through to Jerry’s line, and if the gatekeeper asks to take a message, You can ask to be put through to Jerry’s voice-mail (see above).</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">Suppose you get straight through on Jerry’s direct line? That’s just great. “Hi Jerry, it’s Chris. I’m just phoning to wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year”.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">And that’s ALL you need to say.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">You aren’t selling today.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">That can come in the New year.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText">Today you are calling ONLY to express your wish that your contact enjoys this time of year.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><a href="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/ContactChrisGreavesCOM.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Talk to Me</span></a>!</p> <h2>P.S.</h2> <p class="MsoBodyText">Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Hanukah, Seasons Greetings, Have a great ....</p>http://torontrepreneur.blogspot.com/2011/11/christmas-is-coming-3.html0CGreaves@ChrisGreaves.com (Under The Hood)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547040475106301363.post-7149135723042050217Sat, 26 Nov 2011 14:54:00 +00002011-11-26T09:54:00.166-05:00CGreavesChrisChrisGreavesCustomCustomSearchControlDon’tElementEmailGoogleGREATGreavesJavaScriptLANGUAGELoadingProductsSCRIPTServicesTalkYou’re Right!<span style="">Don’t you just love hearing that?</span> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">Don’t you just love it when the other person puts you on a pedestal with those two words?</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">I know that those two words make me feel just GREAT!</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="">So why aren’t I using them more often to make people warm to me?</span></p> <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.chrisgreaves.com/ContactChrisGreavesCOM.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Talk to Me</span></a>!</span>http://torontrepreneur.blogspot.com/2011/11/youre-right.html0CGreaves@ChrisGreaves.com (Under The Hood)