Decisions

Archive for May, 2009

Customer service is not given the attention it should be given. If there is one aspect of more importance to your business than any other, it is this. This might seem a little of an exaggeration, and you may well consider that your accounts, your products, your marketing or your retail structure are of more importance. But ask yourself one important point- where would any of your accounts, your adverts, your marketing strategies, your prices, products or service be if it wasn’t for the very blood of your business – customers?

The answer is, of course, precisely nowhere. Customers are the whole purpose of any business or retailer, and there is little point in any of us doing a day’s work if we do not have the customers in the forefront of our minds, and the motivation for whatever we do.

Too many businesses have targets and performance standards in place, yet all too frequently these can be centered on the business itself, rather than on the customers. Statistics which focus on the sheer volume of sales, profit margins, types of product or service selling well, advertising costs and promotions can all seem rather pointless to those more concerned about the customers themselves.

It would be true to say that the business which fails to take into account the customer’s needs, wishes, thoughts or concerns is the business people will be talking about in the past tense before too long. Customers can make, or break, a business. And this is a fact becoming ever more apparent and clear in today’s global market, and global economy, with communication now easier and quicker than ever. Good news can travel very quickly, and so can bad news.

This means that if your customer service is of an excellent quality, helps to resolve the issue, makes it clear that you’re trying hard to resolve the problem, put’s the customer at ease, and keeps promises, rather than using words without any action to follow, then this will almost certainly become known.

With forums, review sites and discussion boards increasingly popular as a way for customers to share their experiences, treating your customers well, giving them the attention they deserve, the time they need and the answers they want will almost certainly find you listed in these sites with positive comments and reviews. This will, undoubtedly, assist you in the future and good reviews will do you a great favour. More and more customers today are turning to review sites and discussion boards before actually making a purchase or committing to a company. This means that they can share experiences, and in some cases only one or two bad reviews can mean the difference between gaining that customer, and losing them to your competitor.

Bad reviews are even more prevalent. The sad thing is that a satisfied customer is actually less likely to post a review about a company than a dissatisfied one. This is generally the way we work – if we have a good experience, we’re pleased, but consider that the treatment we received was only what we deserved. After all, the person at the other end of the phone was being paid to be pleasant.

However, if we experience a bad customer service representative, with poor communication skills, little understanding of the product or service, little effort made to resolve the situation, or failed promises to return calls or escalate issues, then we immediately feel the need to rant, to let off steam, and get back at the company in at least some way. It’s only a natural human reaction.

For this reason, the vast number of bad reviews on the internet has been written in the heat of the moment, possibly exaggerated, but certainly causing harm to the name of the company about whom they have been written.

These reviews will very likely stay to hang around the neck of the business for many years. For this reason, if you are setting up a business today, you need to be thinking about your customer service, and putting together plans to make sure it works well for the customer as much as for the business. Then you will stand a better chance of avoiding becoming the target for vindictive reviews that you’ll be unable to do anything about.

Getting customer service right from the start is a sound business move, and one that can easily work in your favour, just as it could work against you if you cut too many corners. This is equally true for online and offline businesses; for corporate and for home businesses.

About the Author:
Naz Daud – CityLocal http://www.citylocal.co.uk/ http://www.citylocal.ie/ http://www.citylocal.co.uk/businessfranchise/

Keyword tags: customer service, offline businesses, home businesses, customers, business

Losing your job is one of the most stressful events that can happen in your lifetime. It can wreak havoc with your finances, your relationships, and your self-esteem. With little control over much of the situation, it’s easy to feel helpless and hopeless, but in reality your perception of your circumstances can make a huge difference.

Losing a job may change many aspects of your life, but it can also be an opportunity for growth. Like most life challenges, how you react to this situation will determine whether you ultimately wind up better or worse for the experience.

Grief

Dealing with job loss is similar to dealing with the death of a loved one. It’s natural to have feelings of shock, sadness and mourning. Some people think they should keep a stiff upper lip, but suppressing emotions can lead to depression. It’s important to allow your feelings to flow and not try to stop them.

Feel whatever you feel, but don’t jump to negative conclusions about what losing your job means. Take each day as it comes, feel into the nature of the changes you’re facing and be willing to discover the next step that makes sense to you, rather than jumping to the conclusion that all is lost. It’s also helpful to reach out for support from others.

Regret

Is it your fault you lost your job? Was there something you could have done to prevent it? It’s natural to ask these questions but you can’t turn back the clock.

Instead of banging yourself over the head with recrimination, forgive yourself and focus on what’s possible rather than dwelling on the past.

It’s also helpful in tough economic times to realize many jobs are lost to downsizing, so don’t blame yourself for external circumstances you can’t control.

You will work again; so in the meantime, think about where you’d like to go and what you’d like to do. Considering future possibilities can help you decide not only what you want to accomplish, but how you’d like to be in the world.

You Are Not Your Job

If you define yourself solely in terms of your outward accomplishments, you can become very disoriented when you lose your job. Some people jump to negative conclusions: I’m not a good breadwinner or parent; so there’s no use for me anymore.

Losing your job is just that: losing your job. But you’re much more than your job. As important as it might have been to you, your job was not the sum total of who you are.

You have many other qualities and skills in your life besides the work you do. Now is the perfect time to take a look at areas of your life you may have neglected: relationships, community involvement, creative expression, even something as simple as cooking or gardening. By engaging in other interests, you may find comfort and a sense of accomplishment that you never expected.

Nothing is Permanent

A healthy way to live – in good times as well as challenging ones – is in the moment. Everything is impermanent; nothing remains the same. Although this basic truth can feel somewhat daunting, it can also be very liberating: when you recognize and acknowledge that everything is constantly changing you can stop wishing for what was and pay attention to what is and what could be.

It’s not uncommon for people who have lost a job to later say it opened up other possibilities they might never have explored, otherwise. It woke them up and made them focus on how they really wanted to spend their life.

You Will Be All Right

You’ll have ups and downs throughout your unemployment and at times you may feel like you’re on an emotional roller coaster. You may be in for a rough ride, but with the right attitude, you will get through the experience and arrive in a better place. You may look back on this time as a road you needed to travel to get where you needed to go.

It’s not only how we deal with external circumstances that enhances our well-being in the world, but the realization that no matter what happens to us, we are fundamentally all right. And we can trust in our own responsiveness to deal effectively with whatever challenges life brings our way.

About the Author:
For some documented keys to a happier life go to http://www.your-pathway-to-happiness.com and get your free report “14 Proven Ways to Raise Your Set-Point of Happiness.” Rik Isensee, LCSW, is a licensed psychotherapist, coach and author of Shift Your Mood: Unleash Your Life! Your Pathway to Inner Happiness

Keyword tags: Rik Isensee, losing your job, career advice, unemployment, laid-off, self help, psychology, job loss

Although a name change may often seem like the right thing to do, it is worth being careful when it comes to applying for a name change. If you are changing it after marrying, or changing it back after a divorce, then there is no reason not to proceed so long as you are happy with your choice. Equally, if you are changing your name as a result of naturalization as an American citizen, or formalizing the name that you took upon religious conversion, then there is every reason to proceed with your decision. There are, however, cases in which your name change may be rejected, and others in which you might regret it. There is therefore plenty of reason why it is essential to think long and hard before changing your name.

For one thing, your name change petition is going to have to be ratified by a judge, and there is little desire on the part of the court to formalize frivolous name changes. It is in the judge’s discretion to uphold or reject a name change petition should he or she feel that there are reasonable grounds for doing so. This means that – as amusing as it may seem at the time – changing your name to “Superman” or “Luke Skywalker” may not come off as you had hoped it would. As long as the change is relatively harmless there is a chance that a judge may green light it, but remember it is in the hands of the judge, so you may be well advised to have a reasonable explanation for your request.

As it costs a lot of money to change your name, you need to decide whether the process is worth bothering with. Particularly as it costs money to get the forms in the first place – so even if your petition is rejected by the judge you will still be out of pocket. It is a matter of balancing the importance of having the name you choose against the time and money invested in making the change. If your name change will help your business, for example, then as long as it is rubber-stamped it is worth bothering with. Equally, if you have the money to spend and just fancy something different, then as long as you can justify your request legally.

Changing one’s name for malicious reasons is, however, not allowed. If your neighbor has done something to raise your hackles and you want to give him what for, then you will need to look at other legal approaches for this purpose, because changing your name to “[Neighbor's Name] Is A [Term of Abuse]” is considered malicious and will be instantly junked by the court. Equally, changing your name to incorporate a term of racial, homophobic, religious or other such abuse is not going to be accepted. Changing your name for the purposes of impersonation is, again, not likely to pass, so the chances of making mischief by changing your name will be heavily restricted. Essentially, if you are planning to change your name, make sure it is for the right reasons.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter.

About the Author:
http://LegalBuffet.com is a complete online resource that compares the legal services offered by various online companies. Find the best company to help you change your name at http://legalbuffet.com/name-change-services/.

Keyword tags: change your name, name change, online name change, name change online, how to change your name, name

A card file is one of the most perfect ways to track information so you don’t lose it. There are many things you may need access to later on. For example the immunization records for your children, their last physicals, the prescription for eyeglasses or contacts for your family members, and even the shot records for your dog.

No matter what items you have that need to be tracked, this is a great way to do it. Even if you have a file cabinet, most of these items are smaller than a standard size of paper. That means they are more likely to get lost in the shuffle and that means you can end up frustrated trying to track then or struggling to replace them.

This type of card file is very appealing too so you can leave it on a shelf or display it on your desk. All of the items you need will be right there at your fingertips. These files are available in a variety of sizes 3×5, 4×6, and 5×8. You will also find that they are offered with a variety of depths including 3,6,9, and 12 inches.

You can consider the items you will want to place into the card file and then decide which of them will work the best for you. In fact, you may find that several different sizes help you to stay organized with a variety of things in your home. They are offered in a variety of colors too so there is no reason why the ones you have can’t blend in nicely with your other items.

Now you can toss out those old shoe boxes that you have items placed in. They are an eyesore and not something you want to display where other people can find them. You will also find plenty of uses for such a card file in an office setting. If you frequently see clients then you don’t want them to assume you can’t handle the job. Items that are neatly stored instead of all over your desk is going to give them a better impression.

If one of your goals is to become more organized, then any one of these well made card files can help you to do so. You are going to find them to be extremely versatile as well as extremely well made. That means you can use them again and again for many different things. In fact, each one comes with a 12 month money back guarantee so you can be confident these are well made items.

Many people love the fact that these card files are hinged in the back. That makes them easier to use and helps to ensure a proper fit for securely closing when you are done. In fact, the appearance of such a card file is going to give the impression that they are very expensive. Yet you will be very happy with the low prices offered for them.

Not only will you be able to keep track of your important papers this way. You can also buy them as gifts for other people. They will definitely appreciate the quality of such a great item. They will also find plenty to do with it so this is one gift that won’t be collecting dust in the back of their closet.

About the Author:
Successimage – Supplier of exclusive hardwood card file boxes, index card file boxes and a wide range of hardwood office accessories. See us at http://www.card-file.successimage.com Creating Workspaces That Inspire!

Keyword tags: card file, card files, cards file, index card file, card file box, index card files, index card file

Recently I redone my old site, Cheap-Attorney. Back then, I had found a really great site of a fort worth criminal attorney, This site, www.bakerdameron.com is the web presence of the Texas law firm Baker & Dameron. The website is well set out and contains plenty of good, solid information from a respected criminal attorney fort worth, Texas. The number of successful cases they have handled is very impressive. Craig Dameron specializes in dwi cases in the Fort Worth, Texas area, whereas James Baker, handles a wide spectrum of cases, including Criminal Assault. As well as a Law degree, James Baker has a biology degree which is useful in cases involving forensic evidence. Altogether I found this site had all the information that I needed. Any person charged with Criminal Assault in Texas and looking for a fort worth assault attorney can be assured that using this law firm will be a positive experience. I am extremely happy that I found this website and recommend it to other people in a similar situations.

Shop floor managers are taught from early on that believing in themselves is an important trait in their personal success—and in instilling that same belief in their team members. In these troubled economic times, however, self-assuredness won’t buy you as much mileage as it used to. At least that’s the conclusion of a recent Birmingham Post article titled “Confidence can take those on factory floor only so far.”

Citing the case of an expensive, elite British car design that is actually built in Austria and has become “the first vehicle from the luxury carmaker to be made outside the UK,” the report ends on an enlightening note:

To some extent the market runs on confidence – whether it’s from consumers or from producers – once people start to think things are going to be all right, they soon will be.

But ultimately confidence can take you only so far.

It’s all very well talking about the green shoots of recovery; what the people on the factory floor will want to know is when they are going to grow into something.

While they wait out the recession, shop floor managers might want to nip this uncertainty in the bud with a technological confidence booster. A real-time data collection system that provides job tracking and factory floor control can give them the tools they need to maximize their operations—and hopefully keep their manufacturing in house so that their employees don’t lose out to lower cost-of-living workers elsewhere in the world.

By helping them get in touch with the factory floor, a lean paperless manufacturing execution system can assist shop floor mangers in increasing performance, delivery time and profitability—and what could be more confidence building than that? Indeed, the factory floor innovation such a system provides can bring about the lean manufacturing measures that are so vital in a global economic downturn.

Lean manufacturing is the key to improving a company’s floor performance, its customer responsiveness and, ultimately, its bottom line. Why then aren’t more firms implementing such an approach? Because they fail to understand what such an implementation takes.

A real-time data collection system utilizing touch screen capabilities takes the guesswork out of lean manufacturing. In fact, it provides the visible feedback and floor level management…the very foundations for lean manufacturing.

What then can your company do to make the correct moves towards lean manufacturing? One of the obvious, but often overlooked, tools is information from an electronic floor system. A floor information system can help manufacturers move forward with the essential lean concepts of identifying problems, following the flow of parts and measuring changeover times. Today’s manufacturing companies have the opportunity to improve on lean concepts with information systems that can be married into a lean process improvement program.

With information systems, the analysis of the factory floor processes and the flow of parts, sometimes referred to as a “current state map,” are visibly tracked throughout production. If a company is going to take action to improve the manufacturing process, then why not make the flow process visible and available all day to all of the employees? Therefore, improvement will be continuous…an ongoing goal for both the management and the floor workers—and one that ultimately leads to firm-wide confidence.

About the Author:
Carmen Fontana is a Web Services Manger for Western Reserve Internet Services. Learn more about http://www.factivity.com/Shop-Floor-Management.htm shop floor control using lean manufacturing software at http://www.factivity.com the Factivity website.

Keyword tags: Machine monitoring, Shop floor control, lean manufacturing software, factory floor management