Growing Your Biz in 2013 - Get Squeezed

Did you know that some folks say you should wrap bacon around your neck when you have a sore throat?   You can rub bear fat on your knees for arthritis or maybe you might eat carrots to improve your eye sight.  I even remember hearing that sugar and whiskey would stop a cough in its tracks.  Don’t know if these “Old Wives Tales’ work but I do know that if you want a healthy business, your health is a top priority.

So, forget the bacon, the bear fat, the whiskey and the sugar and let’s look at what really works.  First of all, eat as many carrots as you like, even if they don’t improve your eyesight.

I read recently that we should start our day with the juice of 1/2 of a lemon in room temperature water 30 minutes before you eat anything.  The lemon juice...

1.    Improves your digestion - it stimulates bile production which aids in preventing heartburn and indigestion
2.    Boosts your energy level for the day- it has a detoxifying affect on your  body
3.     Helps you to loose fat - it aids in removal of toxins which will increase your energy

According to Mike Geary, Certified Norton Specialist....

"The health promoting benefits of lemons are powerful. For centuries, it has been known that lemons contain powerful antibacterial, antiviral and immune boosting components. We know that lemons are a great digestive aid and liver cleanser.  Lemons contain citric acid, magnesium, bioflavonoids, vitamin C, pectin, calcium and limonene, which supercharge our immunity so that the body can fight infection”.
The winter months are just around the corner, you may want to try some mellow yellow just to keep your immune system in check.  So fill your frig with lots of lemons, forget the “Old Wives Tales” and intentionally get yourself healthy, build that immune system and conscientiously decide to get healthy before all those nasty bugs start invading our bodies.  This could work for you employees too,  Grow UR Biz with a healthy you and a healthy staff.

Carol S. Ritter, Motivational Speaker
Results Only Business Coach & Featured Writer
CarolTalks.com
610-442-4545

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Watch for my new website launch coming soon.

Carol serves as a featured writer for the Home News and the Lehigh Valley Chamber Blog.Carol is an accomplished professional speaker, coach and educational consultant specializing in innovative leadership, outrageous fundraising, million dollar marketing, and building organizational alliances throughout the country.  Carol’s creative  leadership with bullet proof ideas for recruiting MORE MEMBERS, MORE MONEY AND TER LEADERS. www.caroltalks.com 610-442-4545 tellkids@aol.com  Like Carol on  Facebook at Caroltalks and CarolCoaches!  Carol S. Ritter, Immediate Past President, National Speakers Association Philadelphia

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Growing Your Business in 2013 - Grow Up

What did you want to be when you grew up?  Did you want to be a teacher, a chef, an astronaut, or maybe you wanted to be a movie star?  I wonder if you are what you dreamed of being when you grew up.  I’m not.  I never thought about being a motivational speaker or an executive coach.  I worked for a speaker and I remember being in the audience and thinking to myself,  “I could do that” and the rest is history. 

I follow Seth Godin, author of the Purple Cow and marketing expert.  He says, “No kid sets out to make Doritos commercials. No one grows up saying, ‘I want to go into marketing.’  More than ever, though, folks grow up saying, ‘I want to change the world.’ More than ever, that means telling stories, changing minds and building a tribe. You know, it’s marketing.”

Building your tribe is the most important piece of marketing your biz.  I tell my clients all the time, gathering a crowd will be the hardest piece of running a successful event or building your tribe of customers for your biz.  It’s easy to make a magnificent cake, it’s another thing to teach customers to love it, buy it and, most importantly, talk about it. 

This new generation of business owners just might be dreaming about changing the world but without the ability to tell your story and build a tribe nothing will change. 

Did you know....

Growing ur Tribe is key.  How do you do it?  I will give you ideas in my next article, THE TRIBE.

Reinvention is exponential - the time to reinvent is when you are growing.

“You’re either growin’ or your dyin’," CEO of Roto Rooter

Today’s version of cold calling is LinkedIn, bet you didn’t dream about that.

Remember the movie Peter Pan?  He sang the song, I Won’t Grow Up..... sing along, ‘I’ll never grow up, I’ll never grow up, I don’t wanna to be a man, I don’t wanna be a man,  I’ll never grow up, never grow up, not me.”  Sing louder!  This song is upbeat, fun and appealing to the masses, just like your biz should be, you may have grown up but there’s still time for dreamin.  DREAM BIG - DREAM OFTEN AND NEVER GROW UP.

Check out my new You Tube page at www.youtube.com/caroltalks.

Carol serves as a featured writer for the Home News and the Lehigh Valley Chamber Blog. Carol is an accomplished professional speaker, coach and educational consultant specializing in innovative leadership, outrageous fundraising, million dollar marketing, and building organizational alliances throughout the country.  Carol’s creative  leadership with bullet proof ideas for recruiting MORE MEMBERS, MORE MONEY AND TER LEADERS. www.caroltalks.com 610-442-4545 tellkids@aol.com  Like Carol on  Facebook at Caroltalks and CarolCoaches!  Carol S. Ritter, Immediate Past President, National Speakers Association Philadelphia

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Growing Your Business in 2013 - Think Lucky

I’ve heard it all, the answers to the question - what makes an entrepreneur successful?  Strong people skills, belief in yourself, ability to motivate others around you, being money wise, self-confidence and the list goes on.  But, do you need luck or does luck play an important role in your business’s success?  Luck is described as success or failure brought on by chance rather than one’s own actions.  Can you be successful without any luck might be the better question?

I luckily got an email from ArtsQuest the other week and noticed that the Drifter’s, who sing one of my favorite songs, “Under the Boardwalk” were coming to the Levitt Pavilion.  I luckily had the evening free and decided to go.  It was a beautiful night, perfect seats and great friends.  There had to be 4000 people there dancing, singing and just having a good old time. At the start they announced that they would be giving away a free CD and autographed picture of the Drifter’s to anyone who completed their survey. I thought,  ‘smart move.’  I’m a big believer in surveying your customers.  The concert ended and I just about turned around to leave and I heard over the loud speaker, Carol Ritter, you won!  OMGoodness, I won, am I lucky or was it just a coincidence? YOU DECIDE!

According to Richard Wiseman, PHD, a professor at the University of Hertfordshire in England.  "Luck, it is a way of thinking and behaving." He insists that we have far more control over the element—and outcome—of chance in our lives than we realize. In fact, he argues that only 10 percent of life is truly random. The remaining 90 percent is "actually defined by the way you think."

Just maybe there is such a thing as a lucky person or maybe it’s just the fact that they grasp the wisdom of luck and they embrace it.  As a business owner and entrepreneur, are you thinking good luck today or bad luck?

Check out my new You Tube page at www.youtube.com/caroltalks

Carol serves as a featured writer for the Home News and the Lehigh Valley Chamber Blog.
Carol is an accomplished professional speaker, coach and educational consultant specializing in innovative leadership, outrageous fundraising, million dollar marketing, and building organizational alliances throughout the country.  Carol’s creative  leadership with bullet proof ideas for recruiting MORE MEMBERS, MORE MONEY AND TER LEADERS. www.caroltalks.com 610-442-4545 tellkids@aol.com  Like Carol on  Facebook at Caroltalks and CarolCoaches!  Carol S. Ritter, Immediate Past President, National Speakers Association Philadelphia

Carol S. Ritter
Motivational Speaker/Business Coach
www.caroltalks.com
610-442-4545



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Growing Your Business in 2013 - Evil Eye

Guest Blog from Carol Ritter of CarolTalks.com

Just loving vacation time!  Someone told me once that if we worked as hard as we do the week before vacation we would be so much more productive.  I scrambled all week, cleaned up all my emails, returned every call, finished last minute responsibilities and left for vaca feeling like I’m ready to refresh and forget about everything except fun in the sun. 

Until we arrived!

The first day can be stressful, the heat was oppressive (just like the Lehigh Valley).  The place wasn’t cleaned, we were thirsty and hungry and patiently waiting and waiting and waiting.  It got to be 3:30pm and we decided to go to my favorite “green cafe”  Looking for a thirst quenching smoothie and a small salad, I was greeted by the “EVIL EYE.”  I walked in, stood there waiting.  Five servers were sitting at the tables folding napkins, one looked up and shot me the “EYE” again?  I stood, looked around and noticed a sign that they close at 4pm.  EVIL got up and said, “May I help you?”  I was sure I was completely inconveniencing her.  I asked to be seated and she said, “We stop table service at 3:30.” We can get you take out if you want.” All said with an attitude.” I decided to leave, thinking this shouldn’t happen on vacation! 

Next morning, my friends talked me into going back for a fresh “Green Juice.”  It’s vacation, I’ll forgive and forget and move on.  The waitress came outside to greet us, and she could not have been friendlier and the juice was fabulous. 

The real question is who is responsible for the flip flop service?  One day I get the “EVIL EYE” and the next day over the top service with a big smile.  It all begins with the top banana, the owner, the leader, and the decision maker.

Do you have anyone working for you who has the nerve, the audacity, the bad judgement to give someone who provides you with your livelihood the “EVIL EYE?” And, if you do, do you have a solution. 

1. Give them a reasonable chance to correct the situation.

2. Make them financially responsible for the customer complaints, when a customer complains about their treatment, give them a free meal and “Evil Eye” pays.

or, BYE BYE EVIL EYE!

Carol serves as a featured writer for the Home News and the Lehigh Valley Chamber Blog.Carol is an accomplished professional speaker, coach and educational consultant specializing in innovative leadership, outrageous fundraising, million dollar marketing, and building organizational alliances throughout the country.  Carol’s creative  leadership with bullet proof ideas for recruiting MORE MEMBERS, MORE MONEY AND TER LEADERS. www.caroltalks.com610-442-4545 tellkids@aol.com  Like Carol on  Facebook at Caroltalks and CarolCoaches!  Carol S. Ritter, Immediate Past President, National Speakers Association Philadelphia

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Growing Your Business in 2013 - 181.9 Million

Guest blog post from Carol Ritter of CarolTalks.com

Did you know that “181.9 million Americans watched 38.8 billion digital content videos in April 2013.  Media is a $4 billion business that’s expected to reach $9 billion over the next three years,” Kenneth Parks, Chief Marketing Officer of DigitasLBi North America told CMO.com. This year will see a lot of growth in original digital video from the biggest players in media–such as Conde Nast–so buyers and publishers are now committing their money to the medium.  Are you?  Does your business have a marketing plan that includes a budget for media?  Are you marketing your biz in many different venues or are you doing the same old same old.

I recently met someone who has a business on a notable Main Street.  She said to me, “I’m only interested in selling to people in my town.”  I stepped back stunned, recognizing the lack of vision and the ability to see into the future.  Even more interesting, her business is not flourishing, new customers should not only be defined geographically.

The world is changing, and you can sit there and hope for the best limiting your ability to to attract new people or you can take on the future with zest.

1. Build a Business Facebook page, FREE Marketing

2. Definitely hire a media specialist and teach your customers to click and learn preferably with a little entertainment 

3. Design a state of the art Marketing plan with dollars attached

4. Pay attention to what your competition is doing, check out their media

Remember those 181.9 million Americans are just dying to see you and your product live on YouTube.  A $4 billion dollar business is nothing to shake a stick at, get on board, build your business and THINK MILLIONS!

Carol serves as a featured writer for the Home News and the Lehigh Valley Chamber Blog. Carol is an accomplished professional speaker, coach and educational consultant specializing in innovative leadership, outrageous fundraising, million dollar marketing, and building organizational alliances throughout the country.  Carol’s creative  leadership with bullet proof ideas for recruiting MORE MEMBERS, MORE MONEY AND BETTER LEADERS. www.caroltalks.com 610-442-4545 tellkids@aol.com  Like Carol on  Facebook at Caroltalks and CarolCoaches!  Carol S. Ritter, Immediate Past President, National Speakers Association Philadelphia

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Growing Your Business in 2013 - The Little Guy

Guest blog post from Carol Ritter of CarolTalks.com.

So many times we forget about “The Little Guy,” amazingly loyal, consistently present but he or she doesn't necessarily bring in a lot of cash flow.  Last week I met with a new friend/colleague.  As I listened, he taught me about his business and the services he provides.  There was one thing he said that resonated with me, it’s something that you rarely hear coming from a business owner.  He stated that he is HONORED to have the trust and loyalty of his customers.  HONORED?  So many times we are honored to be in someone’s presence, or we are honored to be recognized but I've never heard anyone say they are honored that their customers trust them.  I decided to look up the word.  Webster’s says it means a good name or public esteem or the showing of merited respect.  Well, now it makes sense.  Merited respect, earned not assumed is just one part of growing your business but one big part.  He then talked about his “BIG” clients and the smaller ones.  Interestingly, both were valued on the same level even though “The Little Guy” doesn't bring in as much of the bacon.

Small businesses cannot rely on one, two or three “BIG” customers.  The risk is incredibly high and when you lose one, maybe even through no fault of your own, it hurts badly.

Here’s What “The Little Guy” means to your business....

1. Figure out how many “little guys” you need to equal the “BIG” customer revenue
2. The word of mouth epidemic you are creating  is very dependent on “the Little Guy”
3. There’s a chance “the Little Guy” will become a “Big GUY” someday
4. “The Little Guy” may be someone who can help you via advice, exchanges or possibly referrals

If you want to Grow Ur Biz, merited respect for all who walk through the door is not only an idea but a necessity.  That “Little Guy” must be treated the same as the “BIG Guy” because you never know where that business/relationship will lead or, better yet, a “BIG Guy” could be right behind “the Little Guy” with a fantastic referral.  “Little Guys Rock”

Carol serves as a featured writer for the Home News and the Lehigh Valley Chamber Blog.
Carol is an accomplished professional speaker, coach and educational consultant specializing in innovative leadership, outrageous fundraising, million dollar marketing, and building organizational alliances throughout the country.  Carol’s creative  leadership with bullet proof ideas for recruiting MORE MEMBERS, MORE MONEY AND TER LEADERS. www.caroltalks.com 610-442-4545 tellkids@aol.com  Like Carol on  Facebook at Caroltalks and CarolCoaches!  Carol S. Ritter, Immediate Past President, National Speakers Association Philadelphia

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Growing Your Business in 2013 - Fix It!

Guest Blog from Carol Ritter of CarolTalks.com

I thought it was simple, you order something, they ring it into the machine and you get it.  STOP thinking that!  I recently went to a coffee shop, I ordered iced regular coffee with cream, I got hot decaf with no cream, I sent it back, I ordered oatmeal with no sugar, I got oatmeal with sugar that looked like wallpaper paste, I sent it back. I ordered an egg sandwich cut in half and I got one whole, I sent it back.  I’m not done yet, I ordered decaf coffee with cinnamon flavor and I got regular with chocolate, I sent it back.  Now, how can that happen to one person - one order- in about 5 minutes?  I was wondering, “how many orders must be wrong in a day?”   I understand most of us are in the people business but I don’t think I’ve ever had that many things go wrong with one simple order.  By the time I left I was frustrated, didn’t enjoy my food and was asking myself WHY didn't I eat at home.  FIX IT!

On the contrary, I worked in New Jersey last week and found a wonderful seafood restaurant.  I walked in and the hostess greeted me with a big hello and seated me within seconds.  The bubbly waitress was at my table within a minute with water in her hand, introduces herself as “in training” and looking forward to serving me.  Every waitress and waiter was dressed in sailor garb, pressed to the nines, a nice touch.  I watched as the servers almost ran from table to table making guests comfortable.  I was so pleased to see over the top service after my coffee experience.  I ordered a salad with dressing on the side, I kept it.  I ordered an unsweetened ice tea with lots of ice, I kept it.  I ordered an entree with no butter on the veggies, in came out right, I kept it and, to top it off, I ordered decaf and got it, kept it.  NO NEED TO FIX IT!

Fix it, owner, manager, leader, vice president or whoever is in charge of the restaurant.  How can that much go wrong in one order and why doesn’t the owner, manager, leader, vice president know they are providing horrible service?  Fix it!  The leadership is clearly responsible for the failure.  Conversely, the restaurant owner, manager, leader, vice president of the seafood house is also reaping the rewards of over the top service.

Everything begins and ends with the leader.  Here is how you fix it..

1. The coffee shop could have offered the meal complimentary
2. Better yet, an apology, didn't even get that
3. A coupon to visit again and get free coffee

The end of the story is, I’m never and I mean never going back, I've told many family and friends what happened and this all could have been avoided just by FIXING IT!  The end of the seafood house story is the waitress at the end brought out a survey, they actually cared enough to ask me what I thought.  I will be going back, the tip went up and I've told many friends and family to go there.  See what happens when you FIX IT!

Carol serves as a featured writer for the Home News and the Lehigh Valley Chamber Blog.
Carol is an accomplished professional speaker, coach and educational consultant specializing in innovative leadership, outrageous fundraising, million dollar marketing, and building organizational alliances throughout the country.  Carol’s creative  leadership with bullet proof ideas for recruiting MORE MEMBERS, MORE MONEY AND TER LEADERS. www.caroltalks.com 610-442-4545 tellkids@aol.com  Like Carol on  Facebook at Caroltalks and CarolCoaches!  Carol S. Ritter, Immediate Past President, National Speakers Association Philadelphia

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Growing Your Business in 2013 - You've Got Mail!

Guest Blog from Carol Ritter of CarolTalks.com.

Sometimes email gets a bad rap.  The real question is, does it make more work for you or does it make it easier to communicate with your colleagues and friends?  What do you think?  For my work, I love it.  I can crank out an answer in seconds and I love crossing things off my to-do list.  Then, there’s the junk and the sales (sometimes good sales) and don’t forget the drugs you don’t need or want that they are trying to sell you. 

Remember that movie, You’ve Got Mail?  Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan would rush home to turn on their computers and wait for the mysterious, sometimes humorous emails from each other.  Back then I wonder if they ever thought email would become such a BIG piece of our lives.  Even though I love it, I do have my limits.  Here are my Pet Peeves:

Carol’s 5 Email Pet Peeves - You’ve Got Mail

the fake email dressed up like it’s from a friend and it’s really from a scam artist

the emails that don’t let you unsubscribe but say they do

the class reunion emails from people I did not go to school with

the emails from someone stranded in a foreign country who needs money immediately

and the emails telling me I should join a dating site for people over 55

Now that we are done complaining, here are my ideas for utilizing email in your biz....

Make sure future customers can email you through your free social media-Facebook & LinkedIn

Have your email address on all marketing materials (make it easy to find) - I was recently at a networking event, a guy gave me his business card with no email address on it

Don’t forget to offer free stuff and specials- keep customers coming back

Collect email addresses at your place of business or through networking

I really don’t mind getting emails telling me what’s on sale, where I can get a deal or a nice note from a friend.  I love the fact that I have written documentation of tasks completed and a quick response sometimes saves the day. When it comes to GROWING UR BIZ - email is now a necessity, so turn on your computer, click on your email and see if You’ve Got Mail!

Carol serves as a featured writer for the Home News and the Lehigh Valley Chamber Blog. Carol is an accomplished professional speaker, coach and educational consultant specializing in innovative leadership, outrageous fundraising, million dollar marketing, and building organizational alliances throughout the country.  Carol’s creative  leadership with bullet proof ideas for recruiting MORE MEMBERS, MORE MONEY AND TER LEADERS. www.caroltalks.com 610-442-4545 tellkids@aol.com  Like Carol on  Facebook at Caroltalks and CarolCoaches!  Carol S. Ritter, Immediate Past President, National Speakers Association Philadelphia

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Growing Your Business in 2013 - Carol's Ten Listening Lessons

Guest blog from Carol Ritter of CarolTalks.com

Sometimes what’s on the menu just doesn't work.  We all have special needs when it comes to dining out. I call it “MENU”... You know, you order regular and you get decaf, you order no onions and your salad is loaded with them, you order unsweetened and you get sweetened, or you order well-done and you get medium rare. Sometimes this is due to an honest mistake but many times it’s due to poor listening skills. I've heard more people say, “she’s not listening to me, he’s not paying attention.”

A friend of mine ordered a sandwich with no onions, clearly stating that she cannot eat them and will get sick if she does.  The waiter, not paying attention, orders the sandwich with no onions but then gives her a salad smothered with big purple onions.  Now, if she said she will get sick on onions on the sandwich a person who pays attention would know, no onions on anything, a non-listener doesn't pay attention and it feels like they just doesn't care about you, your needs or your onions.

Listening sometimes, takes thought and practice, try these lessons...

Lesson 1. Pay attention to your customer, make them feel like they are the only one in the room

Lesson 2.  Stay focused on your task

Lesson 3.  Stop Talking - you can’t listen if you are talking

Lesson 5.  Repeat back what the person just said to you

Lesson 6. Make eye contact

Lesson 7. Watch for body language, it’s another way to communicate

Lesson 8. Be emphatic

Lesson 9. Do not judge, help them get to what they need and how you can help

Lesson 10.  Don’t be distracted, the customer can easily identify your lack of interest

Listening requires concentration. Sometimes we get so wrapped up with all the distractions in life we don’t take the time to listen, learn and serve our customers based on what they want, not what we want.  So, don’t cry over onions, just listen. It may even lead to profitable relationship.

Carol serves as a featured writer for the Home News and the Lehigh Valley Chamber Blog.
Carol is an accomplished professional speaker, coach and educational consultant specializing in innovative leadership, outrageous fundraising, million dollar marketing, and building organizational alliances throughout the country.  Carol’s creative  leadership with bullet proof ideas for recruiting MORE MEMBERS, MORE MONEY AND TER LEADERS. www.caroltalks.com 610-442-4545 tellkids@aol.com  Like Carol on  Facebook at Caroltalks and CarolCoaches!  Carol S. Ritter, Immediate Past President, National Speakers Association Philadelphia

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Growing Your Business in 2013 - WINNING!

Guest blog from Carol Ritter of CarolTalks.com

Not everything is rosy in running your own small business.  Stuff happens whether you are prepared or not.  Dr. Phil just wrote a new book, “New Rules for Winning in the New World”.  Winning, remember just a few short months ago Charlie Sheen coined the word “winning” in order to tell the world he was in charge and always ahead of the next press release or rag magazine.  Dr. Phil states, “Success is created, and, just as importantly, once obtained, it must be managed and protected. I didn’t see a single success story in which the person at the center, the hero, the victor, didn’t come under some attack at some point. You’ve heard the saying “It’s lonely at the top,” and it’s true”.

In the game of life, being able to identify evil can and can put you in a better position for success.  Even those of us who have been in business for many years can be fooled by someone who isn’t exactly of upstanding character.  Dr. Phil has stated his “Evil Eight” as the way to identify evil before it hits you square between the eyes.  Do you know anyone with these traits?

1) Arrogant entitlement personality
2) Lack of empathy
3) No remorse/guilt
4) Irresponsible/self-destructive
5) Thrive on drama
6) Brag about outsmarting
7) Short-term relationships
8) Live in a Fantasy World/Delusional

A friend of mine recently watched a colleague with all these traits begin to self-destruct.  He will get his way or win at all costs, throwing trusted work-mates under the bus, compulsively lying and bringing his personal life drama into work.  It took almost a year to identify the Evil Eight.  Everything seemed “rosy” in the beginning, then you begin to question the intentions, then you have proof of the betrayal and then it’s time to say good-bye.

Statistics show, on average, it takes two years to get to know someone, because it takes that long for us to reveal our true selves to one another.  If you have a collegue that exhibits even half of these traits, you may want to try this...

Begin to document everything -
Set up the black and white guidelines (example: personal stuff stays personal)
Set up weekly meetings to identify the issues and share soluntions
Let them go if they become the focus of all your employee issues

Winning does not necessarily mean you will be successful, however if you can’t identify these 8 traits and take action on it, I can see WINNING in your future!

Carol serves as a featured writer for the Home News and the Lehigh Valley Chamber Blog. Carol is an accomplished professional speaker, coach and educational consultant specializing in innovative leadership, outrageous fundraising, million dollar marketing, and building organizational alliances throughout the country.  Carol’s creative  leadership with bullet proof ideas for recruiting MORE MEMBERS, MORE MONEY AND TER LEADERS. www.caroltalks.com 610-442-4545 tellkids@aol.com  Like Carol on  Facebook at Caroltalks and CarolCoaches!  Carol S. Ritter, Immediate Past President, National Speakers Association Philadelphia
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Growing Your Business in 2013 - Cheers!

Guest blog from Carol Ritter of CarolTalks.com

It’s Little League time! For loyal parents and grandparents it’s time to stand out in the freezing cold, get burned on a sunny day or sit there in the pouring rain just to get a glimpse of a hit, home run or a great catch.  I was driving by a little league field last week and all I heard were Cheers, Cheers, Cheers.  My guess is that someone’s child hit the big one over the fence.

Then the next day I went to a local restaurant and was served the most delicious coffee, I told the waitress how wonderful it was and she told me that I can buy it there, free trade, organic, ground for me or I can grind it at home.  CHEERS, not only did I pay for breakfast, two cups of coffee, muffins to go, but I purchased some Joe for the road.  Hello, she gets it!  What does that mean?  It means that someone in the restaurant family has trained their staff to up-sell their customers, CHEERS.  So, the question is, how do you get your staff to drink the customer service kool-aid.  Here’s some ideas...

1. Reward them for their efforts
2. Raise the expectations, one for all and all for one
3. Make sure the rest of the staff knows who’s selling
4. Appreciate them; not only as employees but as people
5. Come up with new ideas to push product through the door

Baseball says it all, it’s a team effort, they may have a team star at a game but, overall, the whole team benefits by the efforts of one.  CHEERS, and the game is never short of CHEERS.  On occasion, a fan gets irritable but so do your customers.  Does that stop the game?  No, it’s just a little spill while you are running into home plate.

Cheering for your staff is not only good for the moral of the team, it’s a major league idea.

Carol serves as a featured writer for the Home News and the Lehigh Valley Chamber Blog. Carol is an accomplished professional speaker, coach and educational consultant specializing in innovative leadership, outrageous fundraising, million dollar marketing, and building organizational alliances throughout the country.  Carol’s creative  leadership with bullet proof ideas for recruiting MORE MEMBERS, MORE MONEY AND TER LEADERS. www.caroltalks.com 610-442-4545 tellkids@aol.com  Like me on  Facebook at Caroltalks and CarolCoaches!  Carol S. Ritter, Immediate Past President, National Speakers Association Philadelphia

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Growing Your Business in 2013 - Shark Weak

Guest blog from Carol Ritter of CarolTalks.com

If you own a business, I insist you watch Shark Tank on Friday night at 8 p.m. This amazing show hosts the worlds most famous investors. Barbara Corcoran, a real-estate mogul, Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, Robert Herjavec, founder of 125 million dollar technology company, Daymon John, creator of global fashion brand FUBU, Lori Greiner, the Queen of QVC, and the villain Kevin O’Leary, chairman of O’Leary Funds. The purpose of the show is to help struggling entrepreneurs with money, connections and mentorship.  Each week a number of wanna-be’s show up for their once in a lifetime opportunity to “GROW UR BIZ.”

The wanna-be’s walk, run, jump into the ‘tank’ and present their pizzazz. The SHARKS begin the drill, how many have you sold, what is your market, how much does it cost you to make, is there a patent pending and how much money of your own have you invested. Their answers have everything to do with whether or not they will get a deal.

How about you? Are you SHARK STRONG or SHARK WEAK? Can you answer the questions above and would these SHARKS be interested in your biz? What’s your pizzazz, your WOW factor?

A a small business owner recently said to me, “business is so slow.” I offered suggestions, he had little response. Summer is approaching, the SHARKS are ready to attack, if your biz is SHARK WEAK you may want to consider a jump into the SHARK TANK

Take more time to network, get out of the office
Hold events at your biz - bring people in 
Hold customer appreciation days - give something away
Promote your pizzaz, up your marketing 50%
Join a “Mastermind Group”  for idea sharing and problem solving

BTW, Lori Greiner, QVC, recently paid $150,000 for 65% stake in ReadeRest, a magnetic reading-glasses holder. The end of the story is $3.5 million in sales on QVC and climbing.

This wanna-be entrepreneur is now SHARK STRONG, how about you?

Carol serves as a featured writer for the Home News and the Lehigh Valley Chamber Blog. Carol is an accomplished professional speaker, coach and educational consultant specializing in innovative leadership, outrageous fundraising, million dollar marketing, and building organizational alliances throughout the country.  Carol’s creative  leadership with bullet proof ideas for recruiting MORE MEMBERS, MORE MONEY AND TER LEADERS. www.caroltalks.com 610-442-4545 tellkids@aol.com  Like me on  Facebook at Caroltalks and CarolCoaches!  Carol S. Ritter, Immediate Past President, National Speakers Association Philadelphia

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Growing Your Business in 2013 - To What Degree?

I was cruising to my grandson’s Lacrosse game and listening to talk radio. The show was hosted by a financial consultant and he was talking about young people who graduate from prestigious schools with prestigious degrees and have no plan and no job. He then quoted research that stated that only 2% of MBA graduates have a plan for the future. That is a staggering statistic. I find that more often than not when I work with organizations, no plan is in place.

Do you have a plan for your business? Do you take time to plan? If you have a plan, do you have a plan to implement that plan? Or, are you just wishing and hoping?

When I begin to coach a new client, I ask where do you want to be in 3, 6 and 12 months. Many times they never thought to plan even in a short term.

Here are my 7 easy steps to begin a business plan:
1. Ask yourself where you want to be in 3-6-12 and 24 months (goals)
2. Write an executive summary (describe you biz, who are you and what do you do)
3. Think about your position in the community (Position yourself for a share of the market)
4. Design an outline with benchmarks (a sliding scale of accomplishments)
5. Look at the strengths and weaknesses of your competition (build on that)
6. Describe Inside Operations - how will your company function day to day
7. Design a budget including income and expenses

I like to use the word “action plan” instead of plan. Put this document into action, make it a living document, visit it once a month, change your course when things go wrong (and they will).

To degree or not to degree is not the question, with or without the degree, without a plan you have no idea where you are going! Think about his, “Never look back unless you are planning to go that way.” Henry David Thoreau, “Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes; but no plans.” ― Peter F. Drucker

Carol serves as a featured writer for the Home News and the Lehigh Valley Chamber Blog.
Carol is an accomplished professional speaker, coach and educational consultant specializing in innovative leadership, outrageous fundraising, million dollar marketing, and building organizational alliances throughout the country.  Carol’s creative  leadership with bullet proof ideas for recruiting MORE MEMBERS, MORE MONEY AND TER LEADERS. www.caroltalks.com 610-442-4545 tellkids@aol.com. Like me on  Facebook at Caroltalks and CarolCoaches! Carol S. Ritter, Immediate Past President, National Speakers Association Philadelphia

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Growing UR Biz in 2013 - Leap Frog

Guest blog from Carol Ritter of CarolTalks.com

Excuses, excuses, excuses, do they make the world go ‘round?  When I talk to small business owners, excuses for not growing your business are plentiful.  I don’t have time to attend a seminar, that’s vacation season I can’t go to a networking event, I can’t join a Master Mind group it’s during my busy time, my business will fall apart if I’m not there.  But, the most frequent statement I hear is business is slow so I cannot leave.  Well, if business is slow the good news is you may recognize it, the bad news is you may not be taking the LEAP to change that today.

Remember the game Leap Frog, a children’s game in which players vault over each other's stooped backs?  Games of this sort have been called by this name since at least the late sixteenth century. They also played this in colonial America.

The first participant rests hands on knees and bends over, which is called giving a back. The next player places hands on the first's back and leaps over by straddling legs wide apart on each side. On landing he stoops down and a third leaps over the first and second, and the fourth over all others successively. When all the players are stooping, the last in the line begins leaping over all the others in turn. Anyone could play and we had a lot of fun taking the LEAP to further yourself in the game. I’m not sure what the purpose was of the game, but we were competitive trying to jump higher and further than any of our friends.

How are you doing in the game of “LEAP frog?” Are you ‘leaping’ into solid and extraordinary cash flow? Or, do you have excuses, excuses, excuses.  If you want to increase cash flow, grow your business and take your biz to a new level, you may want to consider LEAP Frog.

First, LEAP into the “NO WHINING” zone
Second, LEAP into the learn everything you can about how to grow ur biz
Third, LEAP into training, seminars, reading, and coaching

If you don’t take the initiative to LEAP forward in the 21st century, you may be left behind in the pond with all the other frogs.

Carol serves as a featured writer for the Home News and the Lehigh Valley Chamber Blog. Carol is an accomplished professional speaker, coach and educational consultant specializing in innovative leadership, outrageous fundraising, million dollar marketing, and building organizational alliances throughout the country.  Carol’s creative  leadership with bullet proof ideas for recruiting MORE MEMBERS, MORE MONEY AND TER LEADERS. www.caroltalks.com 610-442-4545 tellkids@aol.com. Like me on  Facebook at Caroltalks and CarolCoaches! Carol S. Ritter, Immediate Past President, National Speakers Association Philadelphia

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Master It - Growing Your Business in 2013

Guest blog from Carol Ritter of CarolTalks.com

Am I the only one in the Lehigh Valley who doesn't watch golf and the Masters Tournament?  Two golfing friends battling down to the end, then 32 year old  Adam Scott from Australia won the the tourney for the first time ever.  Some thought Adam Scott’s devastating lost in last year’s British Open might scar him for the rest of his career, but he said it ultimately helped him win the Masters.

I don’t know anything about golf. I wish I did, love the clothes, seems like there’s a lot of camaraderie, and the view at these beautiful courses is breathtaking and I would love to take a ride in one of those surreys or carts!!

How is it that a 32 year old has the wisdom to know that his loss in the British Open helped him win the Masters?  Every single time he enters a golf tournament he’s taking a risk but, more importantly, he’s willing to take the risk.

How about you? So many times we go into business with a dream of being the best in town.  Or, we love what we do so much that it’s ok if we don’t make money.  It’s time to Master it because DREAMS don’t come true without CASH FLOW and, I might add ,DREAMS don’t come true without risk.

Here’ are some Masterful Ideas....

- Join or start a MasterMind group (likeminded business leaders)
- Run risky ideas by your colleagues and teammates
- Minimize the risk by researching free marketing first
- Use Adam’s theory, he learned more from a loss than a win
- Change your thinking - a loss can be a bungle, no big deal or a glitch- not the end of the world

Everywhere I went this weekend folks were talking about the Masters, now that’s what you want for your business.  So pick up the clubs, get out on the course and you can win the beautiful green jacket.  To learn more about MasterMind Groups email Carol at tellkids@aol.com

Carol serves as a featured writer for the Home News and the Lehigh Valley Chamber Blog.
Carol is an accomplished professional speaker, coach and educational consultant specializing in innovative leadership, outrageous fundraising, million dollar marketing, and building organizational alliances throughout the country.  Carol’s creative  leadership with bullet proof ideas for recruiting MORE MEMBERS, MORE MONEY AND TER LEADERS. www.caroltalks.com 610-442-4545 tellkids@aol.com  Like me on  Facebook at Caroltalks and CarolCoaches!  Carol S. Ritter, Immediate Past President, National Speakers Association Philadelphia

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Growing Your Business in 2013 - Colossal Olives

Guest blog post from Carol Ritter at CarolTalks.com

I need black olives for my salad, I love black olives. In fact, I love all olives. So you wander on over to the olive aisle or maybe the olive bar and look for the perfect olive to put in your salad. If you are in the olive aisle, your choice is small, medium, large, or colossal. If you are at the olive bar your choice is bright green, red, black, purple, dark green olives. You might even get a little crazy with olives stuffed with garlic and hot peppers.

My question for you is, ‘Why would anyone buy a small black olive when a colossal olive is available?” A colossal olive has confidence, it knows who it is and it’s ready to offer you not only a delectable taste but an appearance of confidence. That olive has swagger!

What about your business? Are you colossal or just standing in the background wish-in and hop-in someone walks in. Are you marketing your business with confidence, are you spending a nice percentage of your time marketing or are you sitting in the small olive can wishing and hoping someone buys you.

Wishing and hoping doesn't work, it’s way too risky and way too unintentional. I was talking to someone over the weekend who is thinking about changing jobs. She said, “It’s a risk.” My response was “everything in life is a risk.” And if you think about it, it is a risk to take the job and a risk to not take the job.

Well, it’s time to market with swagger. It’s a risk to market your biz and it’s a risk not to, so let’s do it.  I’m going to assume you already have a vibrant service or product so the ROI (return on investment) is of value.  Here are some ideas.....

* Create the Colossal offer, at the very least offer your customers something heavily discounted or free weekly or monthly

* Give your customer lots of choices, red, green, purple or even olives stuffed with garlic and hot peppers

* Reach out beyond the olive bar - look for that new customer and give them a welcome gift

* Get your name everywhere in the community, become the first thought in a customers mind

* or email me for my 14 GrowURBIZ RECHARGE IDEAS...tellkids@aol.com

If you just can’t make changes in your business, eat COLOSSAL Olives!

Carol serves as a featured writer for the Home News and the Lehigh Valley Chamber Blog.
Carol is an accomplished professional speaker, coach and educational consultant specializing in innovative leadership, outrageous fundraising, million dollar marketing, and building organizational alliances throughout the country.  Carol’s creative  leadership with bullet proof ideas for recruiting MORE MEMBERS, MORE MONEY AND TER LEADERS. www.caroltalks.com 610-442-4545 tellkids@aol.com  Like me on  Facebook at Caroltalks and CarolCoaches! Carol S. Ritter, Immediate Past President, National Speakers Association Philadelphia.

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Growing Your Business in 2013 - You Are My Sunshine

Guest blog post from Carol Ritter of CarolTalks.com

You are my Sunshine....My only Sunshine.....You make me Happy.....When skies are Gray, You’ll never know, Dear.....How much I love you....Please don’t take my sunshine away!  

I was working in Philadelphia this week and was privileged to hear a national known speaker and comedienne.  She spoke on change.  She began her talk by singing, “You are my Sunshine, pause, My only Sunshine, pause, You make me happy, big pause”.  We were on the edge of our seats wondering where she was going with this song.  It was the pause that created the curiosity, mystery and anticipation.  After completing the first verse, she launched into a story about old Johnnie Mason and how every Satuday night he would dress up in his plaid sport jacket, his striped slacks and his polka dot tie to take his wife Sadie dancing.  Once they hit the dance floor he began to sing, “You are my Sunshine”.  After years and years of singing and dancing, Sadie passed away.  But every Saturday night, Johnnie would still dress up in his Sunday best to remember those good old days.  She asked Johnnie, “Why, why do you continue to dress up on Saturday nights?”  “Because, in life we all have to adjust and change when we are dealt a bad hand.  You have two choices, you can sit back and be miserable or you can adjust to the change and celebrate the future.” 

I ask my audiences all the time, how do you feel about change?  Most say they hate it, many say it’s hard to escape and only a few love it.  How does your business adjust to change?  What happens to you when the economy tanks or business is seasonally slow? What about when Congress passes a new law that affects your bottom line?   Or better yet, how do you adjust when business is through the roof and you might need more staff and product? I think we all know that we can’t hide from it and it will come around the corner sometimes when we least expect it.  So, why not prepare for change. 

Here are some ideas: 

Keep yourself in the know, keep up on buying trends

Follow the economic trends and current events

Become an economic ‘prepper’, save for a rainy day

Track your sales and, if you can, your competitions sales so you can better plan for the future

The other night dear....When I was sleeping..... I dreamt I held you in my arms...You’ll never know dear.....How much I love you....Please don’t take my sunshine away. 

No matter how well you plan your SUNSHINE may be taken away!

Carol serves as a featured writer for the Home News and the Lehigh Valley Chamber Blog.

Carol is an accomplished professional speaker, coach and educational consultant specializing in innovative leadership, outrageous fundraising, million dollar marketing, and building organizational alliances throughout the country.  Carol’s creative  leadership with bullet proof ideas for recruiting MORE MEMBERS, MORE MONEY AND BETTER LEADERS. www.caroltalks.com610-442-4545 tellkids@aol.com  Like me on  Facebook at Caroltalks and CarolCoaches!  Carol S. Ritter, Immediate Past President, National Speakers Association Philadelphia

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Growing Your Business in 2013 - In Someone We Trust

Guest blog post from Carol Ritter of CarolTalks.com

I recently read a poll on trust.   “How much do you trust the following people?”  The poll results state that we trust our friends the most 81%, we trust our doctor 68%.  That’s the good news.  We trust Congress 12%, our bankers 45% and we trust CEO’s 3 to 5%  - the least.  Oh my goodness, where do you think you rank, what percentage would your customers rank you?  I was thinking about who I might trust, completely.  I trust my family, I trust most of the people I work with, I trust my doctor, my dentist, my master-mind group, my favorite restraurant and more.

I checked Webster...trust means reliance on the integrity & strength of a person-having confidence

But then the REAL question.  Who don’t we trust?  My answer is I don’t trust people or companies who break the trust.  Those establishments who don’t deliver.  Think about friendships, when you have a friend who betrays you, it takes a long time to regain the trust.  Sometimes, it’s over forever. It’s the same with business, if you betray a customer or client they might be gone forever.  Or even worse, you may spend an inordinate amount of time regaining the trust.  Time translates to money in most businesses.

In order to build trust and confidence with your customers try this....

1. Be the first to take responsibility for a mistake, don’t blame others
2. Listen more - Talk less - the greatest human need is to be listened to
3. Be willing to “make up” with some free stuff
4. Be sincere when your apologize, customers can identify phoney
5. Do what you say you will do, do it one time and do it correctly
6. Train your staff, model trustworthy behavior
7. Raise expectations, always be willing to go over and above to not only gain trust but to maintain it

You may want to...Trust your own instincts.

Your mistakes might as well be your own, instead of someone else's.
Billy Wilder, Hollywood Filmaker- think about this!

Carol serves as a featured writer for the Home News and the Lehigh Valley Chamber Blog.
Carol is an accomplished professional speaker, coach and educational consultant specializing in innovative leadership, outrageous fundraising, million dollar marketing, and building organizational alliances throughout the country.  Carol’s creative  leadership with bullet proof ideas for recruiting MORE MEMBERS, MORE MONEY AND BETTER LEADERS. www.caroltalks.com 610-442-4545 tellkids@aol.com  Like me on  Facebook at Caroltalks and CarolCoaches!  Carol S. Ritter, Immediate Past President, National Speakers Association Philadelphia



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Growing Your Business in 2013 - I Hate Rules

Today's guest blog post is from Carol Ritter of CarolTalks.com.

Rules make the world go ‘round! I was checking out of a hotel recently and I said to the gal respectfully, “I have two issues with my bill before I check out.” She looked down and started to type like crazy. I waited and waited and waited, she looked up and said, “You’re all set.” I looked confused and said, “What about the two issues I have with my bill?”  She said,  “You have to do that before I check you out.” “I told you I had two issues.” She replied, “I know but you didn't say what it was.” THE RULES ARE THAT YOU HAVE TO TELL ME BEFORE YOU CHECK OUT. “I did and your response was to type. How are you going to fix this?” She told me to go down three floors to the bell captain and tell him you were charged for parking. I didn't really have time for that, I was in a hurry and that would take too long. She ultimately fixed the problem by re-doing everything that she should have done the first time around.

 If your business is going to be successful, wildly popular, with outrageous cash flow, I might suggest you consider Carol’s Grow UR Biz - UnRULES.....

1. Hire BIG Personalities - those with the courage to break the rules for the sake of a lifelong customer
2. Don’t FEAR Change - those who do just generally don’t have enough information
3. Hire IMPERFECTION - Perfectionists will never launch you into greatness, they are just too cautious
4. DREAM BIG, DREAM OFTEN - dreams turn into vision, vision turns into mission, mission turns into action
5. Strength Building will lead to high performing personnel, don’t spend much time managing the weaknesses of your staff, focus on strengths

START TODAY...did you know that when people over 65 were asked, 'If you could live your life over, what would you do differently?' They answered these three things: 'I'd take time to stop and ask the big questions. I'd be more courageous and take more risks in work and love. I'd try to live with purpose -- to make a difference.  Now, that’s inspiring, I know we need rules but some of them interrupt the possibilities to GROW UR BIZ.   -

Carol serves as a featured writer for the Home News and the Lehigh Valley Chamber Blog.
Carol is an accomplished professional speaker, coach and educational consultant specializing in innovative leadership, outrageous fundraising, million dollar marketing, and building organizational alliances throughout the country.  Carol’s creative  leadership with bullet proof ideas for recruiting MORE MEMBERS, MORE MONEY AND BETTER LEADERS. www.caroltalks.com 610-442-4545 tellkids@aol.com  Like me on  Facebook at Caroltalks and CarolCoaches!  Carol S. Ritter, Immediate Past President, National Speakers Association Philadelphia

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Growing Your Business in 2013 - Good NEWS Bad NEWS

Guest blog post from Carol Ritter of CarolTalks.com

Speaking of traveling, I’m blessed to work for a company that brings me opportunities to experience the state of Pennsylvania’s businesses at their best and at their worst.  I’m speaking every Saturday in February in various cites throughout PA.  My audience is wonderful, caring, giving folks who truly care about their communities.  That’s the Good news.  The bad news is that when you travel, the experience of just getting dinner or a hotel can be...to say the least, interesting and sometimes frustrating!

First week, asked the young hotel clerk for a local restaurant with good food.  He recommended the restaurant across the street (lots of high fat hot wings). Why did I ask?  I finally found a wonderful, well-know restaurant with a flare for buying local.  I went in and asked the gal a question and her surly reply was, “How would I know?”   I opened the menu and a different name was on the menu than the restaurant I was supposed to be in.  I asked,  “Am at the Rock Restaurant?”  She said, “No, just go out the door and turn left, they are over to the right.”  So I did.  If she was interested in advocating for her restaurant she would have said something to make me stay.  Bad news for customer service. 

Second week, had to leave early due to impending snow.  Hotel issues, they had my reservation but not payment from the company.  The clerk went over the top to solve the problem with the biggest smile on her face.  She must have apologized 10 times.  Good news for customer service.  Then...... dinner.  I was sent to a neighborhood place on the corner in a very run down neighborhood.  I went in and walked right out.... if you know what I mean.  On to the next adventure!  Checking my phone app for another restaurant, I found a beautiful quaint hotel with a lite menu, turned on the GPS and off I went.  I turned the corner and OM goodness, the hotel was burnt to the ground.  I’m giving up the ‘buy local’ so I decided to visit Red Lobster, 1 1/2 hour wait, I give up, just want to eat dinner.  I left Red Lobster and drove to a subtle, little Mediterranean restaurant, parked and literally waited for guests to leave. “How’s the food here?”  A gentleman replied, “Best place in town.”  My luck had changed. The hostess greeted me with a smile and I sat down to a lovely dinner with live Jazz music.  Good news for customer service.

The first question most people ask when looking for a restaurant is always, how’s the food?  We never seem to ask, how’s the service?   Most of us are in the “PEOPLE BUSINESS ” no matter what, we come into contact with the public while doing our jobs.  And people talk, I read that we all have 10 people in our lives that we love and trust, those are the people we tell about our Good news, Bad news experiences. 

The Good news is that some business owners understand and are committed to extraordinary customer service. The Bad news is some just don’t care and they will let a future customer walk right our the door.  Train your employees well and no one will walk out the door again.  NOW THAT'S GOOD NEWS!!

Carol serves as a featured writer for the Home News and the Lehigh Valley Chamber Blog.

Carol is an accomplished professional speaker, coach and educational consultant specializing in innovative leadership, outrageous fundraising, million dollar marketing, and building organizational alliances throughout the country.  Carol’s creative  leadership with bullet proof ideas for recruiting MORE MEMBERS, MORE MONEY AND BETTER LEADERS. www.caroltalks.com 610-442-4545 tellkids@aol.com  Like me on  Facebook at Caroltalks and CarolCoaches!  Carol S. Ritter, Immediate Past President, National Speakers Association Philadelphia.

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