I had noticed that only a few of my employees were taking advantage of suggestive sales out in the field and it always shocked me that everyone was not selling more. Coming from a background as a waiter I knew that the more suggestive sales I made the more money I would make in tips. And since I was paying my employees on commission I just assumed they would want to make more money based on more sales… well surprisingly, that wasn’t the case.

So back in October of 2007 I decided to create a fun sales game that would really turn up the suggestive sales in my team. We called it “Who wants to win an Xbox 360?” We picked the X-box 360 due to the fact that most of my employees were between the ages of 20 and 28 the Xbox is a gaming system that really appealed to them.

To launch the new sales game I brought in a brand new Xbox 360 and put a big red bow on the box and placed it right next to the time cards for everyone to admire every morning. The rules to winning the Xbox were based on a point system. For every employee that had a suggestive sale ranging from $3-$20 got one point. Suggestive sales ranging from $20-$50 were awarded two points and so on and so forth. If they were late they lost one point. If they had a bad attitude or showed up in the morning with no pep in their step, they lost a point.

We also rewarded extra points for taking the initiative on the job. If someone did something productive without being asked to; like wash the trucks, clean up the shop or the bathroom they got points. Now these extra credit points were awarded based on the management’s discretion, they weren’t predetermined.

The fun always came at the end of the month when we determined who had the most points because that was the winner! We kept a whiteboard in the shop where we have our morning meetings to keep track of the employees and their progress with the points.

I’m sharing this story with you because this game brought with it incredible results on more than one level. Not only did it generate the most revenue due to suggestive sales that my company had ever seen, but it also led to the best attendance record we’ve ever had! Nobody was showing up late, nobody had a bad attitude and everybody was gunning for the Xbox 360!

It became the topic at the water cooler, seeing each employee jockeying for his position on the whiteboard was amazing! Who would’ve thought that someone as simple as an Xbox could generate so much interest? I had tried cash bonuses, gift cards, and free dinners. You name it, I had already tried it and nothing had given me this kind of results.

I think the key to this game was the fact that we found something that everybody was interested in and we built a game around it. We made it fun, competitive and rewarding. Now suggestive selling wasn’t only fun, it became a challenge and it came with bragging rights!

Just to put this in perspective I bought an Xbox 360 gaming system for $390.00 and at the end of that month I had generated close to $12,000 in suggestive sales from this fun game at work. I’d say this wasn’t a bad return on my investment at all!

Do you think one of your employees would like the new iPad, iphone or the new Xbox Live? How about a weekend vacation get-a-way? The possibilities are endless! Think about what most appeals to your employees and give this game is shot. I would really love hearing how it works for you.

If you already have a great employee incentive program that works for your business please comment below. We always enjoy your feedback!

A good friend of mine Curt shares his perspective on fear and what he did to overcome it.

Do you remember when you were a little kid, riding your bike all over town? I sure do.

I remember when my bicycle was my key to freedom. I used it to escape the constant hostage of Saturday chores. In fact, sometimes I finished my homework before the sun went down I would sometimes just ride around until I couldn’t see the street anymore because of how dark it was.I’m not sure if it was a consequence or if it was in spite of it, but I was bitten by the bicycling bug. There was a time in my life just a mere 10 years ago, that I wondered if I could make a living just riding my bike.

The funny thing is, that it was only about that time when I was in my 20′s that I realized how to break the psychological trap that we’ve all experienced which is where the bike pull this off the curb even though were fighting with all of our might to stay up.

Perhaps I’m not explaining it very well, imagine writing down the sidewalk on your bicycle and inching closer and closer to the drop-off of the curb. You’re riding parallel to that 3 inch drop off and inching closer and closer to it. About the time your tire crosses the line that positions you within 4 inches or so to the edge, the curb becomes very magnetic––dare I say as if it was a black hole sucking you off and into the asphalt. You remember how funny you looked as you fought to keep your bike upright. But invariably, you end up either crashing, almost crashing, or just looking silly but no matter what you came off of the curb.

It wasn’t your fault.

In fact, even when I was beginning racing mountain bikes through the deserts of Arizona I was plagued with this terrible psychological pummeling when I tried to right along the curb.

Would you like to learn the secret?

I’ll share with you, but you have to promise that you won’t laugh when you hear how simple it is.
It’s sometimes simplicity that makes us shrug off some of the most valuable pieces of information we’re ever given.
So: with that understanding I now share with you how to ride a bike along the curb without falling off.
Look where you want to go. Do not become distracted by staring at where you do not want to go.

See, I told you it was simple.

Go try it, get on your bike fix your vision exactly on the path you want to ride along. And you will be astonished. It’s that simple.

So what’s the meaning of me telling you this? It’s the irony that this is exactly how we as business owners are. If we stare full of fear at all of the terrible things that could happen to us, and allow our minds to be filled in clouded with all those fears and worries we will find that our focus is exactly where we don’t want it to be. That misguided focus will act as a tractor beam pulling us into exactly what it is we are trying to stay away from.

Do you believe that?

Do you spend your time focusing on what you want your business to become, who you want to become, or moving towards the goals you’ve set for yourself? Or do you just have some abstract idea of what you’re trying to stay away from and spend your entire day trying to keep that from happening?

Kind of interesting isn’t it? I can’t say I’m perfect, but I’ve learned to ride along the curb with about 90% success

Did this resonate with you? Share your comments below, what are the things that you are avoiding and what are the things you’re focused on?

About the author Curt Kempton owner of Five Star Window Care and creator of the Responsibid a revolutionary way to bid window cleaning jobs over the internet.

Or how about: “There are no good people out there!” or “If I only had two of Jane or one more of John, things would be so much better!”

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that the most valuable asset in a company is its people. We are, after all, only as good as our employees. So, why is this issue such a great problem in today’s business world? In this economy, isn’t there a lot of people job hunting right about now? Shouldn’t there be an abundance of good ones instead of a shortage?

Well, the truth is that really good people do exist and they are out there. We just have to have a little more patience and be a little more selective in our employee hunting. What I have come to realize over the years is that the true problem lies within our own inability to hire as employers. What I mean by this, is that at times, I believe we settle out of convenience. I’m including myself in this statement. I’ve noticed that every time I need a new employee its right after I’ve had to let someone go or just after someone quit. I’m sure you’ve experienced this same situation yourself… the phones are ringing off the hook and the business is coming in but you just lost a key employee! And our biggest mistake, as employers, is to search for somebody to fill his or her shoes as quickly as possible just to maintain the operation going – Bad idea! In my personal experience, every time I rushed to hire someone it led to bad results.

In this type of predicament, what we really need to do is take a step back, slow down and take a deep breath.

Here are five great tips to consider when hiring a new employee:

• Don’t wait until you have to hire somebody, plan ahead. Even if it means being overstaffed with a part-time employee that can easily step up if a position opens.

• Make note of the qualities you like most about your key employees and search for those qualities in a new hire.

• Create a MUST HAVE list of the essential skills and abilities that you require in a new employee and do not stray from that list.

• Always go with your first instinct, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been in the interview process and picked out one or two good qualities of that person and thought I could help them change the bad qualities – WRONG! It never works out the way you visualize it in your mind.

• Recruit from within. Talk to your main employees and find out if they have any friends that want a job. Great people usually surround themselves with other great people and having a referral from someone on the inside is always a good thing.

I hope these hiring tips are helpful to you search for good employees. I know that especially right now, with the economy the way it is, there are so many great people out there needing work. We just have to find the one that matches!

Just a few months ago I had to let go of one of my key employees that had been with me for five years. It took me a while to realize that I had been holding on to him out of convenience. The week after I let them go was a little bit hectic, but since that day I have never questioned my decision. I had to come to the realization that he was the cancer in our crew and once I got rid of him everybody else stepped up and did an even better job.

So take a long look at your employees is there a cancer in your crew? Remember, one bad apple ban easily spoil the bunch. If you have any suggestions on hiring or would like to share one of your stories please comment below.

What Networking Group is Best for My Company?

I have spent several years in the networking scene trying to figure out which networking groups would benefit our type of business most.  The fact of the matter is, is that just about any networking group can be beneficial.  Granted, there are some better than others and determining that alone can be a tedious task.  No worrries or “No wowwies” is what I like to say….  Shopping for the right group can be a fun and a rewarding adventure.  However in your search try not to over extend yourself (which is all too easy to do) and remember it’s ok to have a life outside of your business…..so keep your commitments within reason.

“When will I see a return in my investment?”  Ahhh yes, everyone wants money.  Hands down without a doubt, networking is a MUST.  I can’t tell you where to cut corners, but this isn’t one of them. 

Once you have found which group(s) fit you best be sure to follow through with it. Attend most meetings if not all meetings and you will see it won’t take you long to establish relationships.  Those relationships will turn into business, either first hand or recommendations.

In my ventures over the years I have found that networking groups that other business owners attend as well as groups that are tailored to our industry works best for us.  We belong to several organizations and I thought I’d highlight a couple of them. 

We are a locally owned business so one group that I found was a good fit is Quality Service Pros.  This group was established quite a few years ago by other business owners.  Whether you need your windows cleaned, house pressure washed, health insurance, landscaping, Website Building&hosting,  remodeling, you name it we have it.  Every member must be a legitimate company, licensed and insured etc.  Visit Quality Service Pros to learn more.

 A large portion of our customer base is the construction industry.  The  Lee Building Industry Association (LBIA) is another perfect fit for us.  Their knowledge of the building industry, their influence and their dedication to the community is phenomenal.  Regardless of what type of business you own, this organization is definitely worth looking into.  visit www.bia.net to learn more.

Good luck in your ventures.  Hope my little words of advice were helpful.  Get to know us a little better too!  Visit us at TMRestrooms.com!

~Jennifer

If you’re like me you LOVE networking and meeting people but you just aren’t in love with the negative people you inevitably run into. Every group, in every town, in every state has at least one Debbie Downer or Grumpy Greg hanging around spreading their negativity to anyone who will listen. Sadly, everyone avoids them and they’re the only one that doesn’t realize it. No matter how much time goes by they still seem to attract an incredible amount of downfalls and depressing life dilemmas and drama. They never seem to run out of things to complain about and they always want you to listen to ALL of it!

I’ll admit to my share of dodging in all my networking around town but what I wish I could do was pull them aside and “wake” them up. I’d like to let them know that EVERYONE has problems and the economy is hard on all of us. The reality is that complaining never solved anything for anyone… not that I’ve heard of anyway.

The truth is that we all have to check our attitude at the door and make sure that we are putting our best face and best foot forward, always. We have to leave our problems behind and embrace optimism and just have faith that everything is going to work out in the end. When I look at the people that impress me the most and make me “feel” like I want to do business with them I noticed something they all have in common: a positive, happy attitude.

No one said life was going to be easy but nothing great was ever accomplish by easy either. The best way to get great results out of networking is by letting the people that will refer us tomorrow see that we’re going to handle that referral with confidence and by doing our best. They need to see that we have everything under control and that even when the going gets tough we just get going and get the job done.

So the next time you’re feeling down and out and have a networking event or sales call to go on, remember to check your attitude at the door and smile anyway. Allow yourself to believe in yourself and know that many people have been where you are and made it out ok – that means you can too!

Implementing the “Two Foot Rule” will change your life.   It’s a great way to network!

Do you find yourself staring straight ahead when you’re in a crowded elevator?

What about when you’re in the line at the grocery store? Do you try to avoid conversation by flipping through the latest edition of the Enquirer wondering if Brad and Jenn are getting back together?

Or who is the latest girl to come forward in the Tiger Woods scandal?

What you should be doing is implementing the “Two Foot Rule”.

I recently had the chance to witness this rule in action…

A good friend of mine, Bryan, a financial advisor in Fort Myers, Florida and I were enjoying dinner at a local restaurant…

When a couple across the way overheard our conversation concerning whether the Miami Dolphins, or the New York Jets, were a better football team.

They screamed “The Jet’s rule!”

At that point, things got interesting…

If you’re like most, you’d probably just smirk, or the shrug the comment off.   Bryan, on the other hand, saw it as an opportunity, and with the lines of communication being opened, grabbed his drink, and continued talking to the couple for about 20 minutes!

The conversation went well beyond who the better football team was, and when all was said and done, Bryan had networked with two more people!

Using “The Two Foot” rule – Bryan says no matter where he is, or what he is doing, he never passes up the opportunity to strike up a conversation.

So, I ask you that the next time you’re:

• In line at the movie theatre.
• Waiting at the car wash.
• In line at the grocery store.
• Waiting for you luggage at the airport.
• Sitting in the bleachers at your kids baseball game.

You remember the Two Foot Rule, and see what you can do with it!

It just might change your life.

Thank you Bryan for sharing such a great tip!

If you have any tips or suggestions we would love to hear them!

- Jason

After enjoying a few hours at the swimming pool we decided to participate in a bomb fire with all the works, marshmallow roasting and sing along included.

This fine event was kindly offered at the vacation resort we booked. Now I know what you are thinking… there’s nothing more fun than having a bunch of children hanging around a fire with burning lava balls on the end of a stick to get your weekend going right?

Well before you judge me, here me out!

 I was sitting back relaxing dodging the occasional fire ball while listening to some of the old classics, “Jack and Diane”, “Don’t Stop Believing” and “Take It on the Run” by Reo Speedwagon… ah don’t I wish! Ok, the truth was more like Mary Had a Little Lamb and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, but we can keep that between us. Just as the music got good and I was sitting back watching the scene before me, it hit me and I realized how good kids are at networking. Every time a new kid would walk up to the bomb fire my daughter would walk over introduce to herself and ask him or her to play. Emma was the new friend she had just made and they were both sitting in front of me playing in the sand. I listened as my daughter asked “How old are you?” “Where do you live?” “Do you have any brothers or sisters?” “How long are you going to be staying here?” “Do you like Taylor Swift?”… you get the idea.

The thing I noticed most was that she wasn’t talking about herself at all; she was truly interested in Emma and getting to know more about her. I felt she was really building a quality rapport and being genuine. This is what makes networking great and effective because it really allows us to connect to others beyond the superficial level.

I think as adults we lose some of that innocence because we are too busy thinking about the end result, which in most cases is business. We tend to rush through the conversation doing the dreaded 15 second elevator pitch! Come on, have you ever really created a great relationship leading with the elevator pitch? The honest answer is No! You have created quality relationships by asking questions, and truly wanting to get to know someone in a sincere and genuine manner.

So next time you’re sitting at a kid’s birthday party – take a moment to just sit back and watch the dynamic’s of the way children interact with each other. Watch, observe and take it all in so you can remember it and use it the next time you’re out networking. Come to think about it, I’m sure this is why some kids have more friends than their parents… they’re better at it!

The gun fires suddenly and now you’re off and running fast, amazingly it’s the perfect start! You come around the first turn and you have a three person lead. “This is it”

you think to yourself, all the training is finally going to pay off…. If you can just keep this momentum going and the race is yours to win. The excitement is overwhelming, you’re on a high…

Then suddenly something unexpected happens, wait a minute – what’s going on? You start to hear the footsteps slowing down behind you. The crowd’s cheers slowly turn to whispers and you don’t understand. You look ahead and realize that the unthinkable has happened. Somewhere, somehow, someone forgot to put up the finish line. How can this be? Now what?

Who can keep up this momentum with no goal in sight? You already know the people behind you are quitting. It’s just a matter of time before you quit as well right? RIGHT!

Remember this story the next time you set a goal for yourself or your business without a finish line. You and your team will most likely lose your momentum after a while. Its easy coming out of the gate with enthusiasm and excitement the hard part is maintaining it. Usually what keeps us going is the vision of accomplishing our goals.

By Definition:  Goal setting is the process of deciding what you want to accomplish and devising a plan to achieve the result you desire.

This goal setting definition emphasizes that goal setting is a two part process. For effective goal setting, you need to do more than just decide what you want to do; you also have to work at accomplishing whatever goal you have set for yourself with the end result in mind.

For many people, it’s the second part of the goal setting definition that’s problematic. They know what they want to do but have trouble creating a plan to get there. Goals without action plans are just words. If you are not setting goals with clear action plans for yourself and your company now I suggest you start today.

After you have defined your goals and decided on a plan to get there, remember to always walk in the direction of your goals. You can’t get to California if you’re facing towards New York and going in that direction. Every now and then review your goal list and action plan. When it comes time to making an important decision ask yourself, will this take me closer to my goal or further away?

From a study done at Yale University in 1953 in which the graduating class were asked if they had clear, written goals. 3% of the students said they had written goals, 13% had goals they had not written down and 84% had no clear goals.

At the class reunion 20 years later, further investigation is said to have discovered that the 3% with written goals were worth more than the other 97% put together!

Yah! I think I’m setting some goals.

The biggest obstacle to overcome are the ones we never challenge ourselves to do. Life can become stagnant if we do not push ourselves to try new things. Setting goals and working toward them is the achievement, even if the outcome is not exactly what you expected.

To set a goal, first, you need to figure out what will make you happy. Being happy is the benefit of working hard toward a goal. Next, you need to write it down & let others know.

Having support from others will keep you accountable on your journey and make the success of achievement even greater. Writing down your goals and reading them often will also keep you on track. Last, work hard! Everyone has days where we fall behind or lose focus. These set backs are necessary to the process. Achievements are not easy, if they were, we would lose the greatest feeling of earning the goal.

Start today, write down your goals. You can start with daily goals and work on bigger goals like 10 year & lifetime goals. Stress Release Reminders custom journal is a wonderful tool for daily goals. The easy insert style of daily goals, daily affirmations, & a few highlights of the day can help you focus on the path of success. Also, visit Stress Release Reminders Facebook wall page under discussions. You can add your goal to the discussion board. This will keep you accountable, along your journey, & allow you to help others succeed.

Goal Facts:

1. Specific, realistic goals work best
2. It takes time for a change to become an established habit
3. Repeating a goal makes it stick
4. Pleasing other people doesn’t work
5. Roadblocks don’t mean failure

A special thanks to Kelly Evers  from Stress Release Reminders for sharing this blog post.

If you enjoyed this posting please share it

Purpose- The object toward which one strives or for which something exists.

I hope you enjoy this week’s blog post on “What do you want to be remembered for?”  I cannot take credit for this post; I contacted the author directly and asked if I could re-post this great message…. Thank you Kelly for your great insight

Have you ever asked yourself; how do I want to be remembered? What do I want to be remembered for? What can I do daily, weekly, yearly to achieve my ultimate goal?

Goal setting and working toward your ultimate desire is easy to forget. Stress can cloud our decisions and make us live a life with no purpose. It is important to take time out, many times a day to focus on your goals.

 Stress Release Reminders last step in the calming technique is to finish with the thought of your goal. This keeps you grounded to what you want out of life and reminds you to let go of the insignificant stress of every day living.  This is why the Stress Release Reminders technique is so effective.

It can be difficult deciding what you want out of life. Many people automatically think of monetary achievements.  Which can be very nice and make life simpler, but can money buy happiness? This is a great question to ask yourself. What would you do if you had extra cash laying around? How would you spend it? Would it make you happy?

Have you ever asked yourself; How do I want to be remembered? What do I want to be remembered for? What can I do daily, weekly, yearly to achieve my ultimate goal?

Goal setting and working toward your ultimate desire is easy to forget. Stress can cloud our decisions and make us live a life with no purpose. It is important to take time out, many times a day to focus on your goals.  Stress Release Reminders last step in the calming technique is to finish with the thought of your goal. This keeps you grounded to what you want out of life and reminds you to let go of the insignificant stress of everyday living.  This is why the Stress Release Reminders technique is so effective.

It can be difficult deciding what you want out of life. Many people automatically think of monetary achievements.  Which can be very nice and make life simpler, but can money buy happiness? This is a great question to ask yourself. What would you do if you had extra cash lying around? How would you spend it? Would it make you happy?

The simplest way for me to explain your ultimate goal is to look at the story Peter Pan. Peter wanted desperately to be able to fly. In order for him to do so, he had to think of his happiest thought. He tried many times and had no luck with the shallow superficial answers. Once he dug deep, he was able to fly. What would make you fly? This is your goal. Now, living to keep this thought in your daily living, is what will keep you satisfied, and on track.

Contact information about the author;

Kelly Evers

Kelly@stressreleasereminders.com

www.StressReleaseReminders.com