Category Archives: Doink Moments

How To Make Lifelong Customers

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(I originally published this article in the Galion Inquirer on Dec. 7, 2011)

How many times have you dreaded calling a large company, even for something as simple as a billing question? You know the routine: A 20-minute maze of phone prompts, several transfers, then a series of never-ending sales pitches. Somebody really missed the mark, here.

Most small business owners wouldn’t survive very long if they treated their customers like some of those large companies do. You’re willing to take my money every month, but I’m not even important enough to you that I can to speak to a human when I call, and not get buried under sales pitches?

So here’s a little tip: Try to turn your customers into your friends. Help them when you can. Treat them like you would like to be treated. Let the Golden Rule become your guiding principle in the world of business.

Sure, a lot of people shop on price alone, but ask yourself: Who do you (personally) prefer to deal with? The cheapest mechanic you can find, or one that you’ve known for years and he knows your name? In a pinch he might even stay late to help you out of a jam, or accept payments if you can’t afford that huge bill all at once.  

Read more... (1298 words, 1 image, estimated 5:12 mins reading time)

Lisa Gansky: The future of business is the “mesh”

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I came across this video on Ted.com.  I found Lisa Gansky’s ideas to be very interesting in terms of how things in the world of business are changing.  (Border’s Books could have learned alot by paying attention to emerging trends, in my honest opinion.) If you aren’t willing to adapt to changing market conditions, you probably won’t survive very long. It pays to be aware of emerging trends.

Lisa Gansky is the author of “The Mesh: Why the Future of Business Is Sharing,” and the instigator behind the Mesh Directory (www.meshing.it). For more than 18 years, Gansky has been an entrepreneur and environmentalist focused on building companies and supporting ventures where there is an opportunity for well-timed disruption and a resounding impact. A founder and CEO of several internet companies, including GNN (the first commercial web publication) and the largest consumer photo sharing and print service, Ofoto (now Kodak Gallery), Gansky’s attention is on sustainable ventures with positive social impact. Gansky currently serves as a Director of Dos Margaritas, an environmental foundation focused in Latin America.

The video lasts just about 15 minutes.  Take a look.  Let me know what you think of it.

One Secret of Success in Business: The Proper Mindset

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A huge part of success in any business, especially when you’re just starting out, is having the proper mindset for success.  If you’ve been to any of my seminars, or have been reading this blog for any length of time, you know that I’m all about taking ownership and running your business your way.  You don’t want to follow cookie-cutter methods that everyone else uses.  They might not work for you.  Everyone is different.  And even if they do work, that means you’ll blend in with the crowd.  That’s not a good thing for a business.  You need to find a way to stand out from the crowd, to differentiate yourself.  That’s what will make your customers come to your bookstore instead of the other ten bookstores in town.

“An entrepreneur can become moderately successful doing the same thing that everyone else does. But if you want to become wildly successful, you have to do what no one else has done.”  -Tim Gill

In my earlier post, 4 Magic Words,  I mentioned an important concept: mastering your own universe.  I thought I’d give you a few examples of how I master my own universe, and how you can use the concepts to master your own.  All of these concepts deal with how you think about what you do.  Try them out, and let me know how they work for you.  

Read more... (838 words, 1 image, estimated 3:21 mins reading time)

Recharge yourself with this six minute break.

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Tired?  Stressed out?  Burned out?

Take the next six minutes to forget about your problems and let your sense of wonder marvel at what can be accomplished.  This video was done by 5 sound  engineers who went around the world recording individuals performing this song.  They  then blended them together into one song and video, which is, in my humble opinion, wonderful.  

I hope you enjoy this video as much as I do.

Be well.  John.