Donald Cooper's Management Newsletter ~ October 2008
Donald's "Quote of the Month"
"There are 10 reasons why our staff don't perform as well as they should...and only a few of them are actually their fault."
|
Greetings and welcome. Sorry for being late with this month's Newsletter. It has been one of our busiest months ever. But this month's articles and insights are definitely worth waiting for, including our October Trivia Quiz, with semi-valuable prizes.
The entire Newsletter will take about 7 minutes to read.
1. Why are some of your staff not performing...and whose fault is it?
(time to read this article is about 2 minutes)
There are about 10 reasons why your staff may not be performing...and most of them aren't their fault. So, much of the time when we're unhappy with them, it's actually because we haven't been effective leaders or managers. (article continued)
2. Two questions to ask your team to get their creative juices going:
(time to read this article is about 40 seconds)
In the past I've written about the value of creating an "Idea Fest" in your business to get your team sharing their thoughts and insights on how to WOW customers, operate more effeciently and be a better place to work. (article continued)
3. Here's how you could get a complimentary half-day of business coaching with me
(time to read this section is about 40 seconds)
This past week I spoke to business people in 3 different communities, all organized by their local Chambers of Commerce. These events were all a huge success with most attendees rating the experience a 6 out of 5.
So, here's how you can get a half-day of 1-on-1 coaching with me, at not cost. Just pick up the phone, call your local Chamber of Commerce or Business Development Group and recommend me as a speaker for an extraordinary "Accelerate Your Business" seminar. Ask your Chamber people to contact Sharen Skene, our wonderful Director of Marketing, in Toronto at 416-252-3704, or by email at sharen@donaldcooper.com and she will take it from there. Don't forget to send Sharen a quick email yourself so she knows that it was you who made the recommendation.
If we're successful in arranging a booking, based on your proactive assistance, I will cheerfully work with you for a half a day of 1-on-1 business coaching, for which we normally charge $3500.
4. Are women paid fairly in your business?
(time to read this section is about 30 seconds)
Many women are still not being paid fairly...and it needs to stop. I recently had the opportunity to mentor a number of business managers across Canada and here's what I discovered. (read article)
5. Bits and Pieces:
(time to read this section is about 60 seconds)
Item #1: Let's hear it for all those lazy believers. According to a recent survey, the Province of Quebec has the highest percentage of Canadians who believe in God...but Quebec also has the lowest church attendance of all Canadian Provinces. Go figure.
Item #2: What additional products or services do your customers need? Chubb Insurance now offers a new coverage that can be added to its Homeowners Package for an extra $102 a year. The new insurance covers expenses related to child abduction, stalking, car-jacking or home invasion, all of which, sadly, are becoming more prevalent.
How has life changed for your customers and what can you now offer them to reduce their stress, improve their lives and grow your business?
Item #3: Canadians are wired, eh? 84% of Canadians actively use the internet, making us, percentagewise, the worlds's #1 internet users. Australia is #2, Japan #3 and the USA at 72% is #4.
Item #4: Given all the economic turmoil going on these days, here's a little piece of philosophy sent to my by a good friend. "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...it's about learning to dance in the rain."
Item #5: Speaking of the recent economic crises, here's an investment update from one of our American clients...
| - |
If you had purchased $1,000 of Delta Air Lines stock one year ago, you would have $49 left. |
| - |
With Fannie Mae, you would have $2.50 left of the original $1,000. |
| - |
With AIG, you would have less than $15 left. |
| - |
But, if you had purchased $1,000 worth of beer one year ago, consumed all of the beer, then turned in the cans for the aluminum recycling REFUND, you would have $214 cash. |
Clearly, the best current investment advice is to drink lots of beer and recycle."
Item #6: Donald is in Atlantic Canada again. The Fredericton Chamber of Commerce is bringing me in to deliver my one-day "Accelerate Your Business" Management Boot Camp on Wednesday, November 5th. Read our brochure on this business-transforming program. Register today by clicking-here or call the Chamber at (506) 458-8006.
You're worst nightmare is that your competitors attend...and you don't!
6. When the world's largest business changes its positioning statement, pay attention:
(time to read this article is about 40 seconds)
Just a few weeks ago Wal-Mart changed their positioning statement...and their logo...and there's an important lesson for all of us. (article continued)
7. Our quick Quiz of the Month:
(time to read this section is about 40 seconds)
"Thanks" to all of you who answered our September Quiz, which was, "What country is home to the world's largest swimming pool?"
The answer The world's largest swimming pool is at the San Alfonso del Mar resort in Chile. It is one kilometre long and the size of 6,000 regular swimming pools. It has turned the resort into a world-class destination. That's the point of being extraordinary.
Congratulations to Nathalie Turmeau of LotusWest Business Consulting. She takes home our Sell more, manage smarter, grow your bottom line...and have a life" DVD Seminar as her prize.
This month's Quiz Question:
The official language of most Latin American countries is either Spanish...or, in the case of Brazil, Portuguese. But, strangely, in one Latin American country, the official language is English. This month's quiz question is, "Can you name that country?"
Send your guess to Sharen Skene, our wonderful Director of Marketing, at sharen@donaldcooper.com. Each correct answer received will go into the 'pot' and one winner will be randomly selected before our next Newsletter mailing. The winner will receive his or her choice of any of our excellent DVD Seminars.
8. Whether you're the boss or an employee, here's how to use this Newsletter to get ahead:
(time to read this article is about 40 seconds)
If you have a boss and you want to grow your career and your salary...or if you are the boss and you want to put some of my ideas to work then read on.
9. Put me to work in your business for only $15:
(time to read this article is about 30 seconds)
Want to turn your automobile into a marketing university? When we created our excellent 3-hour DVD Video Seminar on "Human Marketing®", we ordered a large quantity of the same breakthrough program as an Audio CD...but we've never marketed it properly.
So, it's time to move them out. Here's the deal: 1 to 10 units are now $15 each and, in quantities of 11 or more, they're just $10 each...plus whatever it actually costs us to ship them to you.
"Human Marketing®", is my unique and powerful approach to understanding your customers on a whole new level and then creating compelling value that will clearly differentiate you from your competitors, make you famous and grow your bottom line....all for just 15 bucks.
If your car sound system plays CDs, this is a great opportunity to stop listening to bad news and bad music on the radio and jump-start your business.
To order, just click-here or email the wonderful Sharen lady at sharen@donaldcooper.com.
10. That's all for this month:
(time to read this section is about 15 seconds)
Thanks for all of your great feedback and suggestions. We especially love to hear of your successes using our insights.
Don't forget to visit our Free Articles section on our website for lots more valuable articles on how to sell more, manage smarter, grow your bottom line...and have a life.
Also, let us know what you'd like to hear more about...or less about. And, do send us your stories and examples of great, horrible or just plain bizarre business practices that you find in your travels.
Finally, if you were sent this Newsletter by someone else and would like to subscribe yourself simply click this subscribe link.
Donald Cooper, MBA
Certified Speaking Professional
Member of the Canadian Speaking Hall of Fame
For information about booking Donald for your company or Association, contact Sharen Skene our wonderful Director of Marketing at Sharen@donaldcooper.com.
Back Issues of our Newsletters are available on our website (along with lots of other valuable articles and implementation tools). |
