It’s hard to leave money lying on the table. I’ve heard a lot of people eager for the sale, drooling over the pennies that could easily be had. “Money is money,” they will opine and blame and shame you for not picking up the easy bucks. Here’s the problem with the easy bucks: They keep…
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User Experience vs. User Interface
“User experience” is a buzzword, and with buzzwords come overuse. Nevertheless, a great user experience is critical in today’s world, both offline and online. Disney has done user experience offline better than anyone well before anyone started paying attention. Apple brought forward the importance of user experience when it introduced the first iPhone. A great…
Read MoreCan I Switch from QuickBooks Online to Premier?
Question: Last year, I called QuickBooks to ask which program I should buy. They told me QuickBooks Online, and switched me from QuickBooks Premier to Online, but it doesn’t do what I need it to do. Can I convert back to QuickBooks Premier? Answer: Yes, but it’s not easy. Intuit sells QuickBooks Online as a…
Read MoreDirector of Client Retention
Where’s your focus? It seems like all the glamour and excitement in sales and marketing focuses on account acquisition. Everyone loves the “rainmaker,” the professional who reels in the big fish and new, headliner clients. We spend our time, our resources and our money on carefully crafted marketing plans. We think through objectives, strategies and…
Read MoreIt’s About the Experience
Yesterday my friend gave me a T-shirt. It was for his band. I’ve been friends with this guy for close to 20 years, and we hang out on a very regular basis, but I was still excited to receive this free T-shirt. Why? It didn’t have anything special about it. Sure, it has a neat…
Read MoreTrade Shows + Social Media = Marketing Bliss
The trade show—one of the main staples of offline marketing. Social media—one of the backbones of online marketing. As marketing continues to evolve and shift, it’s increasingly more important to have a blend of both online and offline channels. And, thankfully, mobile technology has made it easy to do both at once. I’m talking about…
Read MoreThe Law of Attraction: Gratitude Is the Attitude That Impacts our Altitude
In my last article, I discussed the fact that our thoughts are vibrating waves that don’t stop at the edges of our skulls. Our thought waves are vibrations that become part of the universe. I’m told that we humans have up to 60,000 thoughts a day. Our thoughts shape our lives. Henry Ford said, “Whether…
Read MoreYour Defining Moment
It would be his only at bat in the World Series. After sitting in the dugout with a hamstring pull and worn-out knees, his team down 4-3 with two outs and a teammate on first base, he was called on to pinch hit. He was facing Dennis Eckersley, the 45-save relief ace of the winningest…
Read MoreIs This Bookkeeper Right for You?
Question: A bookkeeper has been recommended to me. What should I ask to learn if this person can help me as well? Answer: A bookkeeper who works well for another type of company may or may not be suitable to you as a promotional products distributor. In addition to the common bookkeeper concerns for all…
Read MoreThe Importance of a Stop-doing List
If you are going to thrive in any economy, you must commit yourself to a laser-like focus on doing first-things first and a ferocious understanding of what you are not going to do. For me, having a “stop-doing list” has become more important than my to-do list. Here’s what works for me: After 23 years of…
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