A Review Of A MLM Network Marketing Company

A Review Of A MLM Network Marketing Company
I have taken from my Hero Brian Tracy his article Eight
Great Ideas for Multilevel Marketing and have started
reviewing MLM or networking companies based on his eight
great Ideas. So here we go with the first one Tastefully
Simple.

Look for Quality Products Brain says: If you're looking at
a multi-level marketing opportunity, here are eight key
considerations.

Brain says Key One: Look for a multi-level business which
has, number one, quality products with a good reputation.
Never waste your time trying to sell anything that is not
of excellent quality. Quality products is the starting
point of your success in business. No successful business
can ever be built on an average or mediocre product.

Dr Robin says: Becoming a product sold with the Tastefully
Simple label is a long process. You have to pass the test
with the consultants at nationals and at home parties.
Only the best make the cut. You can't be gourmet if you
aren't the best!

Check the Prices Against Competition Brain says: Number
two, look for a company that has prices that compare
favorable with the competition. Remember, nobody's going to
pay more for your product or service if they can get the
same or equivalent somewhere else at a lower price. So
check the price comparisons.

Dr Robin says: There is very little competition in this
business, but, for the few other companies that are out
there, our prices are at least as good if not better. Our
spices are a particularly good value. They are so full of
flavor that you do not need to use a lot at one time, but
you will want to use them often!

The Money Back Guarantee Brian says: The third thing you
look for is a 100 percent unconditional money-back
guarantee. In other words, the product must be so good and
the company must stand behind it so strongly that they're
willing to give a 100 percent refund guarantee on anything
that they sell. That's a very good rule for starting and
building any business.

Dr. Robin says: Tastefully Simple has a money-back
guarantee on everything they sell.

Low Or No Inventory Required Brian says: The fourth key in
finding a multi-level marketing opportunity is that there
should be a small or zero inventory requirement. You should
be able to get into a multi-level marketing business with
very little money. Not more than a hundred dollars.

Dr. Robin says: There are no inventory requirements with
Tastefully Simple.

The fifth requirement is that the company provides prompt
delivery and efficient internal bookkeeping Brain says: A
multi-level marketing business that's well-organized will
be able to deliver your products within 24 or 48 hours for
you to sell, or deliver to your customers. They'll also
take very good care of the books and give you accurate
financial statements each month.

Dr. Robin says: At Tastefully Simple, all products are
shipped directly to your clients. All statements, listing
of orders, downline reports and a variety of other
summaries is always available online.

Strong Support Organization Brain says: A sixth thing to
look for is a strong support organization. This is perhaps
as important, if not more important, than anything else.
Look for a support organization that will offer you
training, that will give you seminars on product knowledge,
that will give you motivation, and give you opportunities
for personal and business development.

Many people who have started with multi-level marketing
companies have gone on to be very successful in their own
businesses because of the training they got from the
multi-level company. If the company doesn't have a training
system, try to find a company that does.

Dr. Robin says: These opportunities abound with Tastefully
Simple. There are multiple training calls on multiple
topics each week. National and regional conferences are
affordable and accessible. There are also regional
training held. Leaders provide local support as well as
team meetings. If you are far away from your down line,
you can still stay connected through My Family websites,
training calls, and personal attention.

A Company to Be Proud Of Brian says: The seventh factor
that you require is honesty and integrity. Make sure that
the parent company has an impeccable reputation in the
marketplace. Remember it has to be a company that you can
be proud of. You should never have to make excuses for the
company you're working for.

Dr. Robin says: Tastefully Simple is a company that has
been built around its consultants. From the CEO was the
first consultant to the various advisory committees, this
company really knows how to show appreciation. Incentives,
gifts, recognition all abound. The CEO, Jill Blashak
Strayhan has been recognized for both her business savvy
and the company's success. Tastefully Simple is ranked as
one of the top companies for women in the country

Consumable Products Brian says: Number eight is that
products should be consumable, leading to reorders and
repeat business. You should try to sell a product that
people use up on a regular basis, so that if they're happy
with it, they'll continue to reorder and reorder and
reorder. And once you get a customer, sometimes you can
have a customer for years.

Dr. Robin says: Tastefully Simple is food! Need we say
more!!! Everyone eats and these products are great around
the house as well outstanding gifts. With direct shipping,
shopping is a breeze!

Action Exercises Brain says: Here are two things you can
do if you are considering a multi level marketing
opportunity:

First, look for a product that you really like, use and
enjoy yourself personally. You can only sell something to
someone else if your heart is in it. And if your heart is
in it you will enjoy using the product yourself.

Dr. Robin says: we use Tastefully Simple products in our
house A LOT. The products are great if you like to cook
since there are hundreds of variations (and thousands of
recipes online), but they are great if you don't like to
cook. Using Tastefully Simple products will allow you put
delicious food on the table with very little time or effort
and no talent!

Second, look for a product that has something new or
special that makes it different and better than any other
similar product in the market today. The number one reason
that any product fails is because it is not superior to and
different from the competition.

Dr. Robin says: Tastefully Simple products have survived
the test of time. From our standard products that have
been around for 12 years and still going strong to new
items introduced each season, each product brings its own
taste and variety to your table. There is something for
everyone with Tastefully Simple!

----------------------------------------------------
I would say that Tastefully Simple passes the Brain Tracy
test with flying colors. But don't take my word for it;
check it out for yourself at http://www.tastefullykathy.com
. Watch for other reviews and see how your company stacks
up!If you'd like to learn more about a Network Marketing
system that builds YOUR primary business
and get a free E-Book authored by Robert G. Allen go here:
http://www.bookwisepro.net/blindguy55

Creating your own "Calgary Stampede" Of New Clients

Creating your own "Calgary Stampede" Of New Clients
Yahooooo...

Starting this Friday, Calgary (where I live) turns into a
total country party town for 12 days.

The Calgary Stampede is an event that's been running since
1886 ' and lays claim to The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.

We get probably half a million visitors in to Calgary
during the 10 day event (which is amazing since Calgary is
1 million people- we add 50% of our population in 10 days).

Get this, the total take home winnings from the Stampede
Rodeo is a whopping $1.6 Million ' which is now the largest
prize winnings of any rodeo in the world, from my
understanding.

You'd certainly have to pay me well to sit on a bucking
bull!

$1.6M would about do it

What would make people travel from all over the world to
see the Stampede?

HINT: The lessons of the Stampede can easily be adapted to
your business.

1) An annual event like no other ' there are rodeos all
over the world ' but Calgary has a 1 million dollar rodeo
purse so this is NOT like all the others. People look
forward to the Stampede for months to come. The best Rodeo
stars from across the world gladly come to Calgary to fight
for the main prize.

Make your special events special ' and something worthwhile
coming to.

2) The customers "get into it" like no where else in the
world. Imagine this... Thursday night before the party
begins on Friday you leave your office all dressed in suit
and tie (I remember it well ' uhhgg). Friday morning '
everyone from the corporate CEO's right to the mail clerks
dress up in their western attire (hats, boots, belt
buckles, and jeans). And they stay that way for the whole
10 days.

WARNING: If you are in Calgary from out of town and
mistakenly wear a tie ' it WILL be cut off by the nearest
person with a pair of scissors.

The customers dress the part and *gladly* become part of
the culture.

3) The Party racks up there with the best in the world '
many people save their money, and their livers, for the
party that happens.

The saying for the week is: "Drink triples, see double and
act single" ' and lots of people heed that advice.

The bar staff is dressed skimpy enough to make Hugh Heffner
smile with glee.

And people really do travel from across the world ' JUST
for the party.

Make an event so exclusive that they are willing to do
whatever it takes to be there.

4) Tons of events, goodies, and freebies. Every day during
the stampede you can walk down the street and catch
yourself some free breakfast ' pancakes, sausage and eggs
(and if you catch the good private parties they are serving
vodka and orange juice by 7 am ' told you it was a party).

Line ups around the block for the Stampede Breakfasts
(almost always complimentary).

Corporate Calgary's way of giving back and saying thank you.

5) It is unique to have an entire city dress, act and drink
the part. Tons of fun (drinking or non) for the whole
family. Great midway with tons of rides and things to do.
The people watching are nothing short of amazing in itself.

When everyone is part ' it's a very amazing experience for
everyone involved.

Lessons from the Stampede for Your Business

- Make your special events special ' and something
worthwhile coming to.

- The customers dress the part and gladly become part of
the culture.

- Making an event so exclusive that they are willing to do
whatever it takes to be here.

- Giving back and saying thank you to all those that got
you there.

- When everyone is part (from CEO's to entry level clerks)
-it is a very amazing experience for everyone involved.

Have fun and lighten things up a little and people will
notice.

----------------------------------------------------
Troy White, The Marketing Results Mentor and Expert
Copywriter helps clients achieve HUGE growth surges in
their business in very short periods of time. If you're an
entrepreneur in need of quick cash flow surges ' here is
the quick-hit solution to put money in your bank.... The
Wild West Wealth Summit! Make sure you visit
http://www.WildWestWealth.com or sign up for the Free Cash
Flow Surge Newsletter at http://www.CashFlowSurges.com

Why Social Networking is So Big

Why Social Networking is So Big
When the Internet first came out email was huge. It still
is to this day. It gives people away to communicate back
and forth at the click of a button, and you don't even have
to be a computer expert to do it. However times are
changing, and so is the Internet and how people are
communicating with one another.

Now you see all these so called "Social Networking" sites
popping up all over the place around the world such as
myspace, hi5, facebook etc. These social networking sites
are growing by thousands daily. So why is there so much
excitement over these websites, and why are people just
rushing to join them?

Well social networking is becoming the next generation of
how people communicate online today. It takes your ability
to talk and speak with people to a whole new level. Most of
your typical networking sites will allow you to create and
online profile about yourself, where you'll be able to
upload photos, videos, music, and just about anything else
you want to add to it.

You can make your profile standout, and customize it to fit
your style. With millions joining these sites daily you
can quickly meet and make new friends from all sides of the
world, and easily communicate back and forth.

Experts all over are saying that networking sites are
growing at rates of 84% per year, and that number is only
suppose to grow as time continues on. So how can you take
advantaged of this new worldwide social network explosion?

You'll probably notice that some people have turned their
personal profile pages into billboards, and have some
advertisements on them. You too can do the same, however
you will not want to do it in such away you make people
feel as if all you are doing is trying to get them to join
something.

When using your profile page to advertise just be yourself,
and tell people what it is you do, and what you like about
it. If they are that interested that will find away to
contact you. Now if you try to over due it, and hit them
with to many sales pitches on your page you will only cause
them to stop viewing your page, which is not a good thing.

Think if you went to someone's myspace page, and all you
saw was ads all over the place, and you couldn't understand
anything. Would you want to stay on that person's page?
More then likely you're not going to stay on it very long.
So think about that when you setup your page.

----------------------------------------------------
Chris Rohrer has been working online for over 3 years, and
has successfully been helping teach other how they too can
run a home based business. To learn about a hot brand new
program, and how it can have you earning profits daily
visit http://www.profitwealthonline.com/fwin

How To Gain Respect

How To Gain Respect
There's a secret to gaining respect - one that I had the
good fortune to learn early in my career - and from a most
improbable source. The secret to getting respect is to give
respect.

Read on to see how that lesson was taught to me by a very
special person.

Early in my career I was Branch Manager of a temporary help
service. The largest part of our business was done in the
Labor Division. The workforce was made up of day laborers -
men who had fallen on the hardest of times. They were paid
by the hour, and could receive a daily draw against wages
earned. For most of them, working and getting the draw was
the difference between having food and shelter or going
hungry and sleeping in the Mission - or worse.

Every morning at 5:30 AM our office would open, and in
would file the men looking for work.There were as many as a
hundred who waited, drank free coffee, and hoped to be
assigned and dispatched to a job. Many were assigned - some
were not.

Early morning was a time when lots of bad things could
happen - anger at not getting assigned - anger at perceived
insults - anger at life - and anger at being treated poorly
by the full time staff. The result had been a number of
fist fights, knife fights, and one attempted shooting.
Those problems resulted in a decline in business. I was
sent there to correct the situation.

Our product was the labor that these men performed. It was
in our best interests to maintain a positive relationship
with our own people. Unfortunately, many men left for jobs
feeling angry, patronized and disrespected. Some never
showed up at their assignments, others walked off the jobs,
some forged their time tickets.

Observing the situation for a week I could understand why
the men felt that way. They were patronized - they were
treated as the bottom of the barrel - they were not given
any reason to feel valued. And when one was publicly
humiliated - and that happened too often - they all felt
that humiliation. The only thing most of these men had left
was a shred of self respect - or at least the need to feel
respected. When that need for respect was abused, when it
was not recognized, bad things happened.

The first step to change occurred when my boss gave me a
sign to put up in the office - visible only to the full
time staff. It said "There but for the grace of God, go I."
A constant reminder of the thin line between good fortune
and bad fortune.

And then we set up four rules that full time staff were
required to follow:

1 - Every man who showed up for work, regardless of his
condition or qualifications was to be addressed as "Mister"
followed by his last name. First names could be used once
the person was known. The use of any abusive name,
description or nickname was prohibited

2 - Any discipline would be done confidentially, and
without the use of abusive and demeaning terms

3- No assignments that were known to be unsafe would be
accepted

4 - Assignments would be given on the basis of length of
service, ability, past performance and availability.

Those were the rules. Some full time staff had a problem
with these simple rules - they were replaced.

Into this environment walked a man named Riley Bentley. Mr
Bentley was an African American - like about half of our
workforce. He was big, muscular and an intimidating looking
and acting man. He had a silver earring long before they
were popular, and he had a "keep away from me " manner. He
was sober, he had no problem filling out the application,
he looked you right in the eye. He was hired. From the
first day, every job he was sent on resulted in excellent
reports. He would come back every night, get his draw, and
leave. No talk, no socializing - nobody messed with Mr
Bentley.

He worked for us for about six months, then, like so many
others, he stopped showing up. We had customers tell us if
he came back they wanted to know - so they could get him
back.

After a three month absence, Mr Bentley walked back in. I
was running the Labor Office - it was hard to get and keep
full time staff who would obey the rules and treat the men
properly, and when they left or were fired, I filled in. I
was glad to see Mr Bentley and I told him so. He had lost
some weight, but he was still the strongest, hardest
working man we had. One night, Mr Bentley came back to the
office just before 6 PM - closing time. He looked me right
in the eye and said I could call him Riley. I said that he
should call me Andy, and we shook hands on it. He walked
with me to my car after I had closed up - I asked him if he
needed a ride - he said no and kept walking. That became a
regular thing. He would arrive at the office just before
closing time after working hard all day - and then chat
with me and then walk me to my car and head off into the
night.

And then Riley was gone - and I hoped he had found a full
time job - he deserved one.

A few months later Riley was back, thinner, but still as
strong as ever. I noticed he perspired a lot, even though
it was fall and cold and he did not wear a jacket. While he
was gone we had gone through two new full time staff - and
I was back to opening and closing the Labor Office. Riley
resumed coming in every night and spending time leaning on
the counter and looking out to the street while we talked
and I took care of business. Part of the business was
paying the men in cash. We kept a large sum of money in
small bills for that purpose. We had a safe but it was so
busy during the after work hours that the money was in the
safe, but the safe was kept unlocked. Anyone could have
come in and held me up. Riley could have turned me upside
down and taken the money and there would have been no way
for me to prevent it. I think Riley read my mind. One night
he told me the reason he always stayed until I locked up
and why he walked me to my car was to thank me for showing
him respect - and his thanks was to provide me with his
personal protection. I was ashamed for my concerns - and
glad I had Riley - our office was in a very tough part of
town.

Riley worked a few more weeks - he seemed to be in distress
when he came in at night - perspiring heavily, shivering,
but he persisted. He would not discuss his physical
condition, and he would never accept a ride or any other
kind of help.

And then he was gone. A few weeks later one of our regular
men came in and told me Riley had been found in his room -
in a chair - and he'd been dead about a week. I was
stunned, and saddened, and sorry about the loss of my
friend - because we were friends, in our own special way.
Riley had given me his protection as his way of expressing
his respect. I had given him respect because it just made
sense - on a personal and business level, to recognize the
humanity of our people. I was repaid a hundredfold for that
by Riley.

Ever since that time, Riley Bentley is in my prayers - and
he always will be.

Riley taught me the secret to gaining respect. The secret
has stayed with me since that time. It's pretty simple. The
secret is you get respect by giving respect. I will be
forever grateful to Riley for that lesson.

There are other elements to gaining respect, such as
keeping your word, making good on commitments, honoring
what you promise. But aren't they all part of giving
respect? I think so - giving respect is the cornerstone to
getting respect.

In your own life, take the time to recognize people that
you may have passed by. There's a saying " The true measure
of a person is how they treat someone who can do them no
good nor any harm." We all can profit from remembering that
saying, and making it part of our daily self talk and
behavior. And if you're really lucky, maybe you'll find a
Riley Bentley in your life.

Start today.

----------------------------------------------------
Andy Cox helps clients align their resources and design and
implement change through the application of goals focused
on the important few elements that have maximum impact in
achieving success - as defined by the client. He can be
reached at http://www.coxconsultgroup.com or at
acox@coxconsultgroup.com

Tips For Buying Corporate Business Gifts Online

Tips For Buying Corporate Business Gifts Online
These days it seems like any business activity or purchase
can be done online, including ordering and buying all your
corporate business gifts. No matter if you're acquiring
that single perfect gift for a special boss or ordering
1000's of promotional items for your customers, it can all
now be done from the web.

You can order large volume orders of promotional business
gifts from inexpensive pens, calendars and chocolates to
slightly more costly items such as USB Flash Drives, desk
accessories and clothing - all branded with your company's
name and logo, of course.

Almost any business gift imaginable can be found online;
even unique "one-of-a-kind" luxury items can be obtained if
you know where to look.

However, while buying your corporate gifts online does
present some distinct advantages, you still have to make
sure you avoid certain pitfalls when ordering any product
from the web. With this thought in mind, here are some
simple tips to remember when ordering your corporate gifts
online:

1. Shop Around

The whole point of the Internet is to give us options.
Almost all well-known stores and companies now have an
online presence or outlet. Use the web to shop around from
the comfort of your office or home and do your homework
before you buy or order your corporate gift.

Not that you want to be a Scrooge when it comes to gift
giving but a little fiscal restraint never hurt anyone
especially if you have a large work-force, so shop around
and find the ideal gift at the right price. Just remember
to remove the price tag before giving the gift!

2. Check Out the Merchant

Of course, ordering and purchasing does come with some
hazards along with all that convenience; mainly you must
make sure you're dealing with a reputable company. With
most large well-known online retailers such as Amazon this
is not a problem. Just make sure if you're using a smaller
company or store to do a quick check of this company.

Try BBB or check for customer/user complaints and also
check the store's online ratings. Contact former or present
clients to inquire about the quality and support of your
chosen merchant or supplier. Make sure there is a physical
address listed, along with the usual phone/fax/contact
information.

3. Look for Bargains & Coupons

The online corporate gift sector is an extremely
competitive field, especially when it comes to branded
promotional gifts and luxury corporate gifts. There are
thousands of stores and companies competing for your
business, so check out any online gift deals, bargains and
coupons. Always check for a special price on volume orders.

4. Use a Gift Guide & Organizer

As we all know, finding the appropriate gift for a
demanding boss or employee can be a real pain sometimes, so
to lessen your struggle try using gift guides and
organizers. These guides can save you time, money and make
your corporate gift buying a whole lot simpler. The gift
guide and organizer created by Amazon has proven very
popular in past years.

5. Use Auction Sites for Finding Unique Gifts

Unique original gifts are some of the best gifts to give
because they show you have put a lot of consideration and
thought into getting that special item; you have gone out
of your way to please a special boss or employee. Some
great places to find unique gifts are the online auction
sites; try using eBay for finding that unique
"one-of-a-kind" gift that will truly delight the receiver.

6. Look for Free Shipping & Gift Wrapping

Many gift companies will offer free shipping and gift
wrapping especially during special holidays such as the
Christmas giving season. So always check for free shipping
and gift wrapping, you might be pleasantly surprised
especially if you have a large order or an expensive gift.

7. Order Early

Make sure you order early especially if you have a large
volume order or are giving personalized engraved or
monogrammed gifts. At special gift-giving occasions such as
Christmas, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day...
most popular gift shops and stores are extremely busy and
backed up with orders so make sure you plan in advance and
order early to avoid disappointment at those special times.

8. Last-Minute Corporate Gifts

We are all human. If the inevitable happens and your
corporate gift order is late/delayed or you just forgot to
buy a gift, be assured there's a whole market sector formed
around last-minute corporate gifts. From magazine
subscriptions to concert/sports tickets to gift
certificates to an impromptu night out at a popular
restaurant or club, most online corporate gift stores and
sites will have a section on last-minute corporate gifts.
Use them to save your corporate derrière.

Just remember, your next corporate gift-giving occasion
doesn't have to be a major chore or pain. Simply relax,
take a deep breath, turn on the computer and browse the web
for those special gifts that will delight and please your
boss, employees or clients. Just keep some of these online
corporate gift buying tips in mind as you get ready to play
corporate Santa.

----------------------------------------------------
For the latest corporate gift ideas for any occasion and a
handy Amazon Gift Guide & Organizer try here:
http://www.bizwaremagic.com/corporate_business_gifts.htm
For Timely Special Savings/Deals/Coupons on Corporate
Gifts...Click Here:
http://www.bizwaremagic.com/executive_business_gifts.htm
2007 Titus Hoskins. This article may be freely distributed
if this resource box stays attached.

Delegation...Essential to your Success

Delegation...Essential to your Success
How do you find the time to develop your people?
Delegation both frees up your time and can develop your
people. It also increases productivity, morale and
commitment. As the economy becomes more dependent on
knowledge, managers need to delegate to be effective
leaders. The number one reason for management failure is
an inability to delegate.

So, why don't managers delegate? The following are common
reasons with my counter-arguments:

1. They think it's easier and more efficient to do it on
their own. In the beginning, that is probably true!
However, if they continue to do it on their own, their
employees will never learn how to do it and they will be
stuck doing it, as opposed to having more time to focus on
more strategic initiatives.

2. Some managers simply aren't sure how to do it correctly.
Delegation is both an art and a science. There are some
basics in terms of doing it—find the right person,
set clear expectations, settle on a regular check-in time.
There is also the art of knowing people well enough to know
how much they can handle; to stretch them without breaking
them.

3. Other managers have a lack of trust in their people.
These managers need to work on developing that trust. If
they don't trust their employees, it is quite likely their
employees don't trust them. Building trust is essential to
retention of employees. That can be done by getting to
know them on a more personal level (within reason, of
course!) and by showing them trust—including
delegation. In other words, one way to start trusting your
people is to just do it—delegate to them and trust
that it will get done well. When you have put the correct
systems in place (discussed in detail below) you mitigate
the risk of someone failing in a delegated project.

4. Finally, other managers have the perception that there
is nobody they could delegate to. Many managers tell me
that everyone is too busy. Realize that delegating may
require you to help some of your employees prioritize their
work more. In other cases, nobody reports to the person so
they assume they can't delegate. There may be other people
in your company who would be better suited for some of your
tasks. Talk to your manager about who could take on some
of those responsibilities.

The University of Michigan did a study that found that 70%
of managers' work could be delegated. To delegate more of
your tasks do the following exercise:

1. In a two week period, list all of the tasks that you
perform. Be as detailed as possible (in other words,
instead of listing "responded to e-mails", track which ones
take a while to reply to or require action to be taken).

2. At the end of that time period, decide which ones you
could delegate to someone else. Focus on full projects, as
opposed to individual tasks. Be creative—for example,
realize that you do not need to attend every meeting that
you are invited to.

3. Decide who would be the best person to delegate to,
keeping in mind each person's strengths, needs for
improvements and workload.

4. Finally, put in place a structure to delegate,
including clear expectations and check-in points. If
things are not getting done correctly, evaluate whether it
is a training issue or an ability issue. If it is
training, work with the person to make sure they get the
knowledge they need. Coach them when possible. If it is
an ability issue, re-evaluate what responsibilities that
person has. If things are not being done in a timely
manner, address it immediately with the person.

Finally, make sure that you are delegating authority with a
project. This will save you time in not having the person
continually coming back to you asking for permission to
make decisions.

Delegation is a practice that can be developed over time,
learned by observing great managers do it and honed through
coaching. It will greatly enhance your abilities as a
leader, through helping you develop your people and
allowing you to focus on more strategic work.

----------------------------------------------------
Kerrie Halmi of Halmi Performance Consulting specializes in
increasing women's success in business through speaking,
coaching and facilitation. Kerrie has over fifteen years
of experience in the Human Resources field with such
clients as eBay, Wells Fargo and Kaiser. She received her
MBA from the University of Michigan and is certified in
coaching with Corporate Coach University International.
See
http://www.halmiperformance.com

Asking for Feedback After a Job Interview

Asking for Feedback After a Job Interview
Asking for Feedback

Imagine leaving the interview with a report on how you did
and where there were some concerns. Not in this lifetime!
You're not asking for a lot. You would just like to hear
how you did - where you are lacking, or how you could
improve your skills for your next interview. But, you may
find it difficult to get a straight answer. The standard
notification is something like, "We have identified a
candidate (or several candidates) with experience that more
closely matches our current staffing needs." What was it
about those other candidates that matched so closely? Will
they tell you?

You Can Always Ask

The answer is always, "No," unless you ask the question.
Most HR departments have policies against giving out
interview information. They fear claims of discrimination
if a candidate misinterprets the feedback. But, every once
in a while, you will get lucky and find someone who is
willing to give you a break. They might be willing to tell
you something that is quite revealing. One candidate for a
sales job was told she did not shake hands with the panel
upon completion of her interview, and that was held against
her performance.

If you draw enough courage to make that call and ask for
feedback, be prepared to hear things that could be
upsetting. One candidate was told, "We didn't think your
personality type would fit with our culture." She was quite
taken back by that comment and felt as though there was
something wrong with her personality.

Another reaction you might experience is one of
defensiveness. "But, I have had the necessary experience
you were seeking," one candidate argued. The conversation
was brought to an end in a hurry. The decision has been
made – learn and let go.

Handling a response

If you do get someone willing to take a risk and give you
pointers there are some basic rules to follow.

- Be sure to relay your disappointment in not getting the
offer. And, state that you would be interested if anything
were to open up. Tell them that this company is still your
#1 choice.

- Ask, politely, if there is any feedback that would bring
light as to what you can do to improve your chances in your
next interview. Was there anything, in particular that
could have helped your chances of being the "chosen"
candidate?

- If you do receive feedback, listen carefully, and take
notes to refer to later. Do not argue or defend yourself.
You are asking for feedback, not a chance for a rebuttal.

- Ask one or two follow up questions, and end the
conversation.

- Thank your interviewer for the feedback and the chance to
improve your skills. Reiterate, if another opening comes
up, you would be very interested in being kept in mind.

- Take the advice given and think about changing some of
your techniques to improve on your next interview.

If you cannot get feedback, rate your own performance. If
you feel you could improve your performance, practice and
prepare so that you can go into the interview with renewed
confidence. Preparation will give you more confidence to
give a better performance. You can learn and improve from
every interview experience, whether or not you receive
feedback.

----------------------------------------------------
Carole Martin, America's #1 Interview Expert and Coach, can
give you interviewing tips like no one else can. Get a copy
of her FREE 9-part "Interview Success Tips" report by
visiting Carole on the web at http://www.interviewcoach.com

Useful Tips On Housebreaking a Puppy

Useful Tips On Housebreaking a Puppy
Could You Use Some Housebreaking a Puppy Tips

Housebreaking a puppy should be based on prevention rather
than punishment. A key to housebreaking a puppy, or dog for
that matter, is close supervision. In just a matter of
seconds your puppy can have an accident, so to help prevent
that from occurring you should watch for signs that your
puppy needs to potty.

If your puppy starts to run in circles, sniffing at the
door. or suddenly runs out of site, than they are trying to
let you know it's potty time.

Another thing that helps in housebreaking a puppy is
keeping their diet consistent. High quality premium brand
dry puppy food is a better choice that canned food or table
scrapes. If you need to change their food for any reason
try and do it gradually over a period of 5-8 days,
gradually increasing the amount of new food each day.

Remember, the more changes you make the more difficult
housebreaking your puppy will be.

During the day when your puppy can not be supervised I
highly recommend your puppy, or young dog, be kept in a
crate or a small confined area. If done properly crate
training is a safe and very effective way of housebreaking
a puppy. In order for the crate to be used in housebreaking
a puppy it should not be used for long periods of time or
for punishment.

This my sound like common sense but puppies need to urinate
soon after they eat, drink water, or sleep. Those having
troubles housebreaking a puppy tend not to think about
that. Another thing that is over looked is the fact that
most puppies over 13 weeks of age will need to go 8 or 10
times a day.

So, keep a record of your puppies potty times for a few
days. The secret to housebreaking a puppy is figuring out
the amount of time between potty times and subtracting
about 15 – 20 minutes.

For housebreaking a puppy we call the "Safety Zone". By
doing this we can figure out how long our little puppy can
be trusted to hold out after their last potty break.

Another trick to housebreaking a puppy is not setting him
up to fail. What I mean by this not allowing them access to
areas of carpeting, rugs, etc. Puppies like certain places
to do their business. When you find one make a note of it
and try and keep them away from it.

When your little angel does have an accident, despite their
best intentions, use a neutralizer with an enzyme based
deodorizer to clean the area. There are a number of pet
safe products available and should be added to your
housebreaking kit.

One area that is overlooked is submissive peeing. It is
completely involuntary and scolding your puppy for it will
do more harm than good. It should be avoided at all cost.

The last thing you need to do when housebreaking a puppy is
to use lots of praise. Find a trigger word both you and
your puppy can live with and use that in combination with
praise and rewards as soon as your puppy potties . This
positive reinforcement lets your puppy know that you're
pleased with them and they will try even harder to please
you.

----------------------------------------------------
Mendy Stern is the owner of Doggypads.com, America's most
trusted puppy pads provider. In addition to selling dog
supplies, Mendy is the ceo of a dog training school in
southern California that provides low cost dog obedience
training to some of the southlands poorest neighborhoods.

Sales & Marketing, Prepare to Engage! - Why These Two May Finally Be Getting Together

Sales & Marketing, Prepare to Engage! - Why These Two May Finally Be Getting Together
Everybody knows the story. Marketing is "high concept;"
sales is "real world." Marketing is "long term;" sales is
"seize the moment." Marketing is all about the brand; sales
is all about, well, the sale.

There are countless treatises on this eternal conflict,
many right here within in these pages. People with very big
brains spend an inordinate amount of time trying to figure
out how to bridge the gap between these two critical, but
often conflicting business disciplines.

But are the pundits simply perpetuating a legendary feud, a
culture of conflict that really isn't relevant anymore? I
mean, without this topic, what else would they write about?
Are they like the dentist who doesn't really want cavities
to go away, at least not all of them?

I for one believe we can start burying the S&M hatchet once
and for all. Because today, effective sales and marketing
really aren't so different. "Effective" is the key word, of
course. But in the current business environment, the chasm
that has always existed between those who create the brand
and those who push the product seems to be closing.

In fact, the fundamental qualities of good marketing and
good sales were never all that out of alignment. The most
immediate goals of those practicing their respective crafts
were, and that probably led to all the misunderstanding.
But in the end, very similar principles applied. And
whatever real differences there may have been are rapidly
fading away, simply because both sides of the debate are
now reporting to a new boss, one that has never been so
powerful, so critical, so fickle and so unforgiving –
their target audience.

THE AUDIENCE CALLS ALL THE SHOTS

In the past, we sales and marketing experts held most of
the cards. Marketers pushed information to audiences
through a relatively small number of communication channels
– traditional broadcast, print, outdoor, direct mail,
PR. Sales professionals were pitching prospects who had
few, if any available options. Of course there was always
competition lurking in the shadows; but they were
relatively scarce when compared with today's competitive
landscape, where access to messages, promises, deals and
promotions is virtually unlimited.

People just aren't so easily persuaded anymore. The world
is totally transparent to anyone who cares to look inside,
and as a result, audiences of all kinds demand greater
accountability from the companies they do business with.

Today there are endless options, and endless methods of
accessing them. The reality is, we can no longer tell our
targets anything they don't want to hear. Because someone
else is right there waiting for the chance to provide
exactly what they're looking for.

LET'S GET ENGAGED!

So what's the answer? How can marketers and sales
professionals alike get their respective audiences to say
"yes"?

By engaging them.

"Engagement" is undoubtedly the word du jour of the
marketing world. And while the term may not be used as
frequently in weekly sales meetings, engagement has always
been the goal of any good salesperson.

Just what is engagement? While there still seems to be no
definitive definition, as a starting point, engagement is
about building meaningful relationships with audiences (or
prospects), on their terms. Engagement is all about
involvement, entertainment, relevance, relationships,
customer focus, listening much more than we speak, then
speaking in our audience's language rather than our own.

All of this might seem self-evident. But it's easier said
than done in today's world of continuously shifting tastes,
interests and communication/entertainment options. Both
sales and marketing professionals have a lot to think about
if they're going to effectively engage their targets. And
each can learn a trick or two from the other.

THREE ENGAGEMENT SKILLS MARKETING CAN LEARN FROM SALES

Nimbleness. Great salespeople have always been able to turn
on a dime. They know that the prospect leads the dance, and
if they are to succeed, they must be in concert with their
partner, sensitive to their subtlest move and quick to turn
and spin and dip whenever they're ready. Many marketers
still want to lead. They know about this engagement thing,
but at the end of the day, still think they know better
than the audience what the audience really wants. Learn
from your sales colleagues. Give the audience what they're
asking for, even if it changes day-to-day. They decide, you
provide.

Immediacy. There are no more long-term propositions, at
least not in the way there once were. Everything is "now,"
this moment. In fact, now is already old news. Super sales
pros have always been ready to move when the time was right
– before a competitor beat them to the punch.
Marketers have traditionally been more deliberate in their
efforts -- research, develop, research again, refine,
research. Take that tack today and you'll soon be a
footnote in the business history books. Think Wang Word
Processors. "You snooze, you lose" is true more than ever.

Over-Service. The really great salespeople are never too
proud. They're always ready to bend over backwards for a
valued customer – and hopefully enjoy a fleeting
moment of customer loyalty. The successful sales pro is
there whenever needed – nights, weekends, early
mornings, holidays. Because that's what customers demand.
Marketers have always had it a little easier. Set the
campaign in motion and watch as the audience eats it up. No
more. Today, the most successful marketers are engaging
audiences whenever and wherever that audience demands
– in the street, on three screens, in their
neighborhoods, on vacation. Don't expect them to come to
you anymore; they won't. Go where they are and give them
everything you've got!

THREE ENGAGEMENT SKILLS SALES CAN LEARN FROM MARKETING

Research. Marketers have always put a lot of stock in
getting to know their audience, spending millions to
understand just who they are, how they think and most
important, what they'll buy. Today, effective sales
requires an equally inquisitive approach. Learn everything
you can about your prospects – married or single;
golf or tennis; Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts; where they
were born and where they went to school. And of course,
what matters to them in their career and their life. The
more you know about your audience, the better you will be
able to speak their language, and the more engaging your
sales efforts will be.

Thinking Big. Master marketers have always focused on the
"big idea," the overriding brand benefits their audience
values. They don't sell a neat product, they promise a
solution. Likewise, "solution selling" is all the rage
these days, and for good reason. It works. Look for ways to
provide big picture solutions to clients, ideally ones that
encourage a long-term relationship. Don't make their life
better today. Give them the hope that it will be better
tomorrow, for the next year, the next decade. Not with this
sale, but with an understanding of their needs and an
ongoing commitment to providing answers. That's real
engagement.

Strategy First. The most effective marketing programs have
always been based on a carefully designed strategy,
essentially ensuring that the right message is being
delivered to the right audience in the right way, in order
to achieve a desired objective. Sales has traditionally
involved a bit more hip-shooting. And while "nimbleness" is
listed above as an important sales skill marketers can
benefit from, a strategic approach is equally beneficial
for sales professionals in today's chaotic selling
environment. Before ever making the first call or sending
the first email, develop specific, measurable goals, work
to identify your ideal prospects, determine what's
important to them and craft your proposal appropriately.
Determine just how they can be most effectively engaged and
only then execute your strategy flawlessly. Plan your sale,
sell your plan.

It all used to be easier, I think. People could be led to a
desired outcome, even manipulated when necessary. Today
it's the smart salespeople and marketers who know, they're
the ones being led, and are willing to follow along. Ask
what the audience wants and how they want it, and then give
it to them. Whether it's a brand or a product, a message or
a service contract. Make sure it's all part of an immersive
experience that meets and exceeds all their expectations.

Only by being fast, flexible and completely responsive to
the needs and desires of our audiences will engagement
happen – and relationships thrive.

----------------------------------------------------
Keith Harmeyer is EVP of Marketing and Creative Services at
C2 Creative in New York City. He is a marketing,
communication and presentation skills expert, author,
speaker and creator of The SuperSkill (sm), a proven method
for using traditional marketing techniques to achieve
personal and professional success. You can email Keith at
kaharmeyer@gmail.com, or visit his website at
http://www.thesuperskill.com .