Let’s talk about what I call “calculator-itis.” My definition of “calculator-itis” is when business owners and sales reps continue to charge customers the same margins year after year without any routine, timely reviews. Continuing to charge customers the same margins over time doesn’t make sense because our value to customers grows as our expertise grows,…
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The five “w’s”and the “h” were the reminders for aspiring journalists to include in every story: who, what, when, where, why and how. These elements make a story compelling, informative and complete. They are also critically important to you as you write your own life story. 1. Who Are You? How have you defined yourself?…
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In an effort to protect Planned Parenthood against proposed defunding, companies are stepping in to create promotional products with proceeds benefiting the nonprofit. Power and Light created a tote bag that went viral, and these Nasty Women T-shirts helped raise more than $100,000 for Planned Parenthood. Now, it seems the fashion world wants in on…
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As business owners and sales reps, we love to hear “yes.” Yes to scheduling new appointments. Yes to earning opportunities for quotes and proposals. Yes to winning new business. We love hearing “yes.” However, business owners and sales reps are going to hear “no” many more times than they hear “yes.” So, it’s time to…
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We know you’re still settling into your post-holiday routine. It seems like just yesterday you were hanging the stockings on the fireplace and singing “Auld Lang Syne.” But like it or not, Valentine’s Day will be here soon, and there’s nothing worse than waiting ’til the last minute to plan for it. If your clients…
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Question: I am interviewing a bookkeeper who is familiar with QuickBooks. Is that all I need to know? Answer: No! Setting aside the issues of the complexity of a bookkeeper’s former experience, which is the subject of another blog, you need to know more about which QuickBooks this person has used in the past. QuickBooks…
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With Amazon preparing to dominate the athletic apparel market, many are wondering if it will live up to the hype. Lately, Amazon has been setting its sights on everything from shipping to cashier-less grocery stores, and there are no signs of stopping. But apparel? Certainly the e-commerce giant can’t disrupt an already over-saturated market, right? Wrong. Let’s…
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I did it. I went direct. I cut out the distributor. I cut out the supplier. I bought directly from China. It wasn’t bad. In fact, it was quite good. Delivery was three weeks. Product quality was excellent. Service was outstanding. English wasn’t a problem. I’ve already ordered a second time. I bought glasses directly…
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It’s hard to believe that Donald Trump’s Inauguration Day is almost here. And while many people are focusing on the actual politics, I always have a different angle. Working in this industry, I know one thing is true—it’s all about the promotions. During the election, I took a look at some of the weirdest political…
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For those of you who regularly read my blog, I want to caution you that this article tackles some very real and sensitive topics. But I want to share with you how I have been able to use what I’ve experienced in my personal life as motivation, and how you can use even the most…
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