If we believe the groundhog, there’s six more weeks of winter coming.

Me? I’m still wondering where January went. In case you missed this week’s posts in addition to January, here’s a recap.

3 Ideas for Taking the Sting Out of Rejection

This was a popular post with readers.

We all experience rejection in both our personal and business life. This post offers some ideas on dealing with our business rejections.

Check out the great comments and add one of your own.

When Does Being Seen Everywhere Turn Into Annoying?

Our readers had their own ideas on annoying.

Some matched those in the post, while others shared a few of their own. Like most things, annoying is in the eye of the beholder.

What do you see?

The Great Open Links Debate: Where Do You Stand?

Okay, so maybe the great debate isn’t so great.

This little tongue-in-cheek post captured few votes and even fewer comments.

If you’re feeling charitable, click on over and vote today. Avoid the rush – comment, too.

Is Avastin for Breast Cancer Coming Back?

Over at my health care blog, Simply stated health care, the post explores two new studies on Avastin, a drug formerly used for breast cancer until the FDA revoked its use for that treatment.

The studies do not close the door on its use, but they also don’t open the floodgates.

Hop over to the health care blog for more information.

At the Personal Blog

The Unique Spin Doctor is In

At my personal blog, millercathy.com: A Baby Boomer’s Second Life, there are more Miller musings.

This one deals with multiple citings of Pareto and other unique spins. Intrigued?

Spin on over for a look-see. It’s just what the doctor ordered.

That’s a Wrap

Next week, we roll into the first full week of February.

Take time for your weekend and I hope to see you here next week.

Enjoy.

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Social media – you gotta love it.

Where else can you find a debate on whether or not you should use a new window to open a link?

As a firm believer in the right to do your own thing, I figured that’s why the gods of the internet give you a choice.

• Open link in new window
• Open link in same window

Simple, right? Apparently not.

Lacking Link Love

I don’t remember how I stumbled on a rant about links opening in a new window, but it was the first I heard about the controversy.

It’s the techies versus the marketing strategists.

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)

This is an international standards organization and W3C recommends you do NOT open links in new windows.

• The techies argue it’s about control for the users
• Besides, all browsers give users ways to open links in a new window

How? Right click on the link and you will see a pop up that looks something like the image below.

Marketing Strategists

The strategists recommend links open in new windows so readers are not tempted to leave your site so quickly

If you Google should links open in new windows, you get 642 million results.

• Who knew it was such a big deal?
• The results show discussions dating back to 2004

What’s Old is New Again

Since I am a relative newbie to blogging (since 2008), this long-debated topic was news to me.

That’s what I try to explain to my veteran friends. No matter what the topic, it’s new to someone.

So, what do you think?

• Take our very scientific poll
• If you clicked on the links in this post, you know my vote
• Share any of your thoughts on this great debate in Comments

Take Our Poll

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Do you struggle with how much online visibility is too much? Me, too.

There are those who take the response – I see you everywhere – as an incredible compliment. Their social media strategy is working.

Or is it?

When does being seen everywhere go from great to downright annoying?

For me, there are 3 classifications of annoying –

• The hands-down annoying
• The borderline annoying
• The not sure it’s annoying

Hands-Down Annoying

These are the no-brainers of annoying.

Same-day Postings of the Same Thing

This activity applies to the same posting on the same day – over and over again – to the same social media platform.

• We heard you the first time
• Or we meant to ignore you the first time
• And we’ll go from ignoring you to blocking you

Posting Explosion

This one is the cousin to the Same-day/Same-thing Postings.

You swear someone’s computer just threw up all over the internet.

• Multiple postings
• Minute by minute
• Clogging up our streams

I have one question – do you ever sleep?

Shotgun Responses

This technique is used by some who respond to questions in Answers, the LinkedIn category where users pose questions on a variety of topics.

It’s like a race to see who can post the most inane, worthless answers in the least amount of time.

They’re so bad, LinkedIn needs a new category – Spamsers.

Borderline Annoying

You know when someone tells you a story they told before?

• 1st time – you grin and bear it
• A few more times – okay, now it’s borderline annoying

If the person keeps telling that story, it’s going to move into Hands-down Annoying.

• You see it in online visibility
• Maybe it’s people in training for the higher category

Heck I’ve been guilty of it. Lucky I can blame it on boomer brain. Okay, maybe not.

These are a few examples. See if you agree.

• Retweeting RTs of your Tweet with original message and names attached
• Comments teetering on canned responses
• LinkedIn invitations to connect with the pre-formatted request text

This kind of activity doesn’t send your blood pressure soaring, but it might have you twitching a bit.

Not Sure It’s Annoying

If you are like me, you sometimes question your social media strategy.

This is one award where you don’t want the top category. Here are some from my not sure it’s annoying category.

Same Post – Multiple Platforms

The growth of various platforms has many scrambling for recognition.

So we post the same blog posts to the biggies.

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Google+
• LinkedIn

And then we add them to networked blogs and other places.

The theory is that not all people are on all platforms so post everywhere.

Good strategy or annoying?

Same Day Posting Revisited

We established we hate the same postings on the same platforms multiple times a day.

But, is same-day posting okay in moderation?

• Is twice okay?
• Three times?
• Four?

How many times a day is too many? And who decides that?

Signs You Are Annoying

There are signs when you are pushing the envelope on annoying.

• People stop responding to your posts
• Comments are getting more personal and hostile
• You even annoy yourself

It’s a fine line between online visibility and flashing. How do you keep your trench coat buttoned up?

Share your annoying categories. I hope this post isn’t on the list.

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In the past, the drug, Avastin had been used in treating breast cancer.

Due to potential risks, the Federal Drug Administration revoked its use for breast cancer.

Two new studies had interesting results.

Here’s a sneak peek.

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Is Avastin for Breast Cancer Coming Back?

Rejection hurts.

It doesn’t matter if it’s business, and not personal.

• A lost sale
• A rejected proposal
• Business communication that falls flat

It still hurts. It’s tough not to take it personally.

Here are three ideas for removing the sting.

#1 – Make sure it’s a rejection.

Sometimes we take certain signs to mean rejection.

• The lack of response after a really good meeting
• Silence on the airwaves after submitting our proposal
• Grousing over our fees

Lack of Response

We’ve all been there.

We have a great meeting with a prospect or an interview for a job – then nothing.

• No follow-up email
• No phone call
• No letter

Do you hide and lick your wounds? Or do you follow up and ask for an update?

One thing I often saw in my corporate days was how long it took for the interview process.

When I was in management, I stressed to my supervisors how important it was to update the applicants.

For all the employers out there, here’s how you can help.

• Let applicants know when to expect a response
• Encourage them to call if they have not heard within that timeframe

If you are the applicant or a sales person who attended that great meeting – follow up.

A lack of response does not always equal rejection.

Silence

Creating a proposal for your services takes a lot of time.

You owe it to yourself to hear from the prospect.

Be smart about when and how you follow-up.

• Leave stalking to your competitors
• Respect the prospects’ process for notification
• But do follow up

Ask for feedback.

• Is there additional information the prospect needs?
• If not indicated, ask when they expect to make a decision

Grousing Over Fees

Real or imagined, some prospects view themselves as great negotiators.  For some, they never buy a product without negotiating.

If the first response you receive is grousing about the fee, it may be the signal to rev up your negotiating skills.

• Of course, it could mean they’re cheap
• You decide if there is room for negotiations

#2 – Feel bad about it.

Surprised by that suggestion?

It’s okay to feel bad about rejection – as long as you learn from it and move on.

Let’s face it, our products and services are our babies. When someone says no to them, it’s like calling your baby ugly.

Allow yourself to feel bad, but then put on your business hat and look at it objectively.

• Are your fees noncompetitive or is the prospect unable to afford the best right now?
• Are your products/services lacking or is the prospect not a good fit?
• Was your business communication effective as it could be?

Rejection may have nothing to do with the quality of your product or service. You won’t know if you don’t ask.

#3 – Make it a positive experience.

Rejection – positive?

Sure it is.

• You receive valuable feedback
• You have another opportunity for the future

If you leave the prospect with a professional response, they will remember you.

Send a formal thank you

Thank the prospect for their time, their feedback and wish them continued success

Make it easy for them

Most people do not like to deliver bad news. Prospects appreciate a gracious, professional response.

Taking the sting out is a two-way street.

Some prospects avoid the uncomfortable feeling of delivering bad news by not responding at all.

If I suspect the reason is something like they cannot afford my fees, I make it easy for them to say no.

Why would I do that? Hearing something beats silence.

I send them a follow-up email asking –

Have you made a decision about my proposal or have you decided to go another route?

I always receive a response back – and more than once – they hired me.

How do you handle rejection?

Have you turned rejections into sales? Please share your story.

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Helping you Keep it simple, clear & uniquely yours – contact me for help with your business writing needs.

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Next week rolls into February.  Can you believe it?

If you were tied up with January resolutions and missed this week’s posts, here is a brief recap.

Enjoy.

Making a Date With Your Business

Is your business feeling neglected? A simple solution is making a date with your business. It’s never too late to plan the perfect business date.

What do you do on a date with your business? Check out this post for Dating 101.

The Pebble Effect That Causes Big-Time Business Problems

How does so little cause so many problems?

This post shares the Pareto Principle and how you can use its concept in managing your business activities.

Don’t worry, you won’r be between a rock and a hard place. Click on over and take a look around.

Stress Study Shows More Words Than Action

If the fleeting year is causing you stress, you are not alone.

Over at my health care blog, Simply stated health care, the post reviews a study on stress and its impact on our health.

The study shares who has the most stress in a number of areas. Don’t stress. Check it out.

The Personal Blog

Who Knew Cathy Miller Went With Chef?

Over at my personal blog, millercathy.com: A Baby Boomer’s Second Life, I was pleasantly surprised to be named the latest inductee into the Word Chef’s Wordie Hall of Fame.

What the heck is that? It wouldn’t be any fun to spill the beans here.

Cruise over to lift the lid off that one.

That’s a Wrap

The holidays are a faded memory and the New Year’s fun has just begun.

I hope you enjoy your weekend and I hope to see you here next week.

Take care.

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Helping you Keep it simple, clear & uniquely yours – contact me for help with your business writing needs.

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Imagine you have a pebble in your shoe.

Now imagine you’re a glutton for punishment. What would happen if you continued to walk on it?

1. You’d start favoring that foot
2. That throws off your gait
3. It puts your body out of alignment
4. Your knee hurts – your hip is sore – your back screams
5. You end up with surgery

Extreme? Sure.

You wouldn’t keep walking with a pebble in your shoe.

Then why do we ignore business issues that cause so many problems?

Find the Pebble

There’s a management theory known as the Pareto Principle. You may know it as the 80/20 rule.

Originally it was an observation by Italian economist, Vilfredo Pareto, that 80 percent of Italy’s wealth was owned by only 20 percent of the population.

Later, quality management innovator, Dr. Joseph Juran, put a different spin on the 80/20 rule.

• It recognized “the vital few and trivial plenty”
• 20 percent is responsible for 80 percent of the result

If you hate math, think of it this way.

To avoid major surgery – find the pebble in the shoe

Focus on the Pebble

I participate in the 3-Day, 60 Mile Walk for the Cure.

The littlest thing can cause the biggest problem.

• The pebble in the shoe
• One tiny blister
• A too-full fanny pack

The irritant quickly becomes your focus.

Concentrate your efforts on the few issues causing the biggest problems.

Here are a few business examples.

Business Communication

Spend most of your time on the upfront work for writing.

• Create an outline that acts as your blueprint
• List the type of information you need for research
• Scan resources for highlights, then zero in on the relevant information

Time well-spent on preparation produces fewer problems in the end. 

Case Study

Here is an example taken from my past life as a consultant in the health insurance industry.

One of my roles was managing claim audit projects on behalf of our employer clients.

• Our auditing system selected a random sample of claims for review
• A team of field auditors worked onsite at the insurance carrier’s claims office
• We produced a statistical analysis and observation report for the employer client

Programming errors caused a significant percentage of payment and claim processing errors.

One coding error for a covered procedure would create a processing error – over and over again.

One error – big-time problems.

Working Smarter

One of my goals each year is working smarter.

To accomplish that, think Pareto Principle.

• Focus on what matters
• Focus on the right things

Focus on that pebble.

What pebbles have you found?

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The topic this week is stress.

Who doesn’t have stress? This annual study breaks down our woes, the impact of stress and who seems to have the most stress.

Here’s a sneak peek.

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Stress Study Shows More Words Than Action

Isn’t it amazing how quickly the champagne bubbles of the New Year go flat?

• Resolutions slip
• Life takes over
• And another month is gone

It’s not too late to regroup.

Make a date with your business.

• Pick a day
• Any day
• Keep your business date every month

For some of us, a date once a month far exceeds recent experience, but that’s okay. My date with my business this year is the last day of each month.

Remember the old adage –

You got to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince.

Find your prince of a solution for your business.

No Blind Dates

You don’t want your business date to turn into another bad blind date, so have a plan in place to sit down and assess where you’re at.

• Shake off the negative
• Review what went right
• Look at what went wrong
• Adjust your plan

For me, the negative was an unexpected technology problem.

Are technology problems ever expected? Probably not.

So, I’ll shake off the technology problem that is behind me (I hope) and assess the first month.

Getting Ready for Your Date

Your business plan is like deciding what you’re going to wear on your date – it might not work, but it beats going out naked.

If you don’t have a business plan, there’s your first adjustment of the year.

Pick out your outfit

Once you have your plan, pick out categories for review. For example –

• Monthly income goals
• Marketing goals
• Continuing education

Look in the Mirror

Take a look at each category and assess how well you did this month.

• Did you meet your target?
• If not, why not?

Don’t beat yourself up over how you look.

You can always adjust.

Accessorize – or not

Once you’ve taken a good look at your results and compared them with your plan, now you can adjust things.

• Do you need to kick up your marketing plan?
• Are there overdue invoices?
• Should you consider outside help?

If you’re looking good – smile, then plan on next month’s targets to keep looking good.

If you’re NOT looking good – adjust your plan.

Remember the mantra we used for our business communication plan –

The nice thing about plans is you can always change them.

After the Date

What do you do after a blind date?

• Talk about it with friends
• Bask in the glow of a good date
• Or move on if it stunk

Do the same with your business date.

• Share results with colleagues for accountability
• Reward yourself for the little successes
• Adjust your plan and move on from what didn’t work

Plan your first business date of the year for a long life of success.

How is your year going so far?

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Doesn’t it seem like we were just singing Auld Lang Syne?

Where has the month gone?

We’ll turn back the clock and deliver a summary of the past week’s posts. We wouldn’t want you to miss out.

Pinterest 10 Seconds Creates No Interest

Pinterest is all the rage. This invitation-only site has hooked more than a few people.

• Me? I guess I’m less visual than I thought
• Check out this post
• It reminds us how challenging it is capturing readers’ attention
• And keeping it

You know I can twist almost anything into a business communication lesson.

7 Simple Strategies for Strangling the Shoulder Satan

Wouldn’t you love to share the caustic comments of that little devil whispering in your ear?

• This post offers some alternative strategies for keeping the little devil at bay
• Check out the comments for some really great additions to the 7 strategies

Are Baby Boomers & Their Parents Playing Health Care Roulette?

Over at my health care blog, Simply stated health care, this week’s post explores a report that seems to indicate some unhealthy behavior.

Skip on over to see what the over 50 crowd is up to.

The Personal Side

First Snow of the Season Unites Snow and Beach Bunnies

At my personal blog, millercathy.com: A Baby Boomer’s Second Life, the snow bunnies are dancing.

If you’d like to see what all the excitement’s about and get a snapshot of Idaho, check out this post.

More than one reader had a chilling experience.

That’s a Wrap

As the rain melts the snow, we’re flowing into the weekend.

I hope you take some time to enjoy yours and I hope to see you here next week.

Take care.

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Helping you Keep it simple, clear & uniquely yours – contact me for help with your business writing needs.

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