Turn Five

How you measure success as a salesperson may be different from how you measured success beforehand. This is only made more true when you are selling for yourself and for no one else. That of course doesn’t mean that you don’t get any help, but rather that those people who help you are also in it for themselves. You will probably have some help at succeeding from your dealers and your friends and a spouse if you have one. You might even get some help from family members because taking care of a business on your own is a lot of work, but there is nothing that makes you feel more successful than knowing that all of the money that you made that month you made on your own, with your own resources. It is a very different feeling from having made the money working under someone else. Southwestern Company knows this, which is probably why they make a point of making sure that none of their interns each summer really works for them, but instead they are required to work for themselves, help themselves through the summer. It goes a long way in building a stronger character.

The truth about their student’s success is something that they often share with each and every one of them however. Those who are picked to be summer interns and sell books, those who can make it through one summer and are willing to come back for more, they would have been successful with or without Southwestern Company . It is because these are the people who are always willing to work hard . The company is actually there to bring it out in the young men and women. It helps unearth the potential in each person. This is why at the beginning of each year they like to honor those who did so well last year because it wasn’t Southwestern that made them who they are, they just brought it out in them and encouraged them. The awards and the ceremonies later are just to show them that they will be honored for what they do if they always work that hard.

If you are coming to New York to find work, try checking out the what the world considers the best employer to work for: Google. Fortune Magazine listed Google as the top company to work for back in 2009. There are several hotels not far from Google to book while you arrange for an personal interview.

Google is not a your ordinary company, and they don’t intend to ever become conventional. They do share the same qualities with the world’s most successful organizations such as total focus on innovations and smart and ethical business practices. They are continually growing and are committed to keeping the atmosphere of a small company. Google understands that every employee has an important part in the success of their company, and they are committed to providing individually tailored compensation packages, which includes competitive salaries, bonuses, and equity components. Plus, offer opportunities to further your financial bonuses and rewards.

Google as retained, for two years in a row, the ‘Best Company’ to work for. Google has cut back on hiring, but they are still hiring. California is the headquarters for Google, and New York City is a growing and vibrant home to one of Google’s largest engineering centers. They are looking for Software engineers who want to push the limits on distribution systems, scale and performance and who are experts in C++, Java, AJAX and HTML.

New York’s Google offices are located in the 17-story building at 76 Ninth Avenue, which used to house the Port Authority of New York, the hub of New Yorks massive transportation activites. There are 2.9 million square feet of modern offices and it is the 2nd largest building in Manhattan situated in the historic Chelsea districty, only a few blocks from the center of the U.S. media universe of ad agencies and Fortune 100 companies.

Of course there are other companies to work for in New York, but do they offer a gym, laundry rooms, massage rooms, haircuts, carwashes, dry cleaning, and commuting buses, plus a cafeteria that would shame any restaurant in town? Didn’t think so.

We live in a fast-paced, technological world that is always looking for a new and more efficient ways of getting the job done. For business owners this often means new ways of marketing their business and product.  It is no longer enough just to have a well-designed, easy to use website.  With millions of websites currently live, it is easy for one to get lost and fall between the cracks.  This is where search engine optimization can help.  Search engine optimization not only increases the websites ranking on search engines such as Google, but it also increases the traffic to the website.  This will help draw in new potential clients as well as advertise to new customer bases.  With an increase in internet and social media site use, marketing has never been easier or more affordable.

However, as with most things, we must take the good with the bad.  With more and more people creating and using blogs and personal sites, one disgruntled customer, or former employee, is all it takes to tarnish a business’ reputation.  In a method similar to the search engine optimization, marketing agencies can begin a process of reputation management.  This involves increasing the ranking of positive sites in an effort to lower the ranking of the negative.  It is not necessary to wait for those negative sites to pop up.  By beginning this process early, before there are any negative comments, there is less damage control that will need to be done if and when they do show up.

Reputation management is a method that is often used by politicians, celebrities and other high profile people.  If an effort to save their businesses, positions and endorsements they utilize the methods of reputation management.  However there are cases, such as Tiger Woods, where there is not much that can be done.

In the economy of today, the future belongs to people who are competent, caring and willing to learn.  Companies throughout the world are realizing that by continuing employee training programs through the recession they are ensuring that when the global financial situation recovers, their staff and their company will be ahead of the game.  That is what the concept of investment is all about, setting one’s sights on future possibilities, and making certain that the actions one takes today, allow for those possibilities to become realities.

In the continuance of education, in marketing, communication and sales training, is key to making certain that your business will not only survive the current economic climate, but that your employees will not only become more knowledgeable and productive, but so as you invest in them, they too will invest in you.  Technology and materials are plentiful, and very easy to access…what is not so easy to access are employees that are loyal and sufficiently satisfied with the work in which they do, but taking the time to train and offer classes which will benefit them, says quite simply that not only do you care about your company, but you care about them as well.  Knowledge and statistics are good, but they will not hold up for true achievement of long term goals.

In order for long term goals to be attained, a glimpse into the future must be something that all can see, that all can visualize.  It is this kind of innovative vision that will set one company apart from another.  Looking not only at what is in the now, but towards future products, future projects, and future services to be offered.  Seeing the future relies not only on knowledge, but in-depth knowledge and wisdom, taking from today and looking towards tomorrow.  This involves the investment in the skills of one’s employees.  It will be these companies that we will see next year, and in the next five years.  Investing in one’s employees, is one investment which will pay off, in more ways than one.

There are different opinions regarding whether or not excellent customer service is more important for Internet based business or in house companies. While this debate could go on indefinitely, Steve Barbarich is more interested in providing excellent care than debating its importance for any given company because he is well aware of the absolute need for great customer care and relations with any company, particularly his.

One of the important aspects of ensuring any business will offer quality service is to make sure that staff is properly trained and aware of this component of their job. Often staff members who are simply filling in their time with a company will view quality customer service as going above and beyond their job expectations. There are many personal reasons an individual staff person may not be focused on this during any particular day, and many of these reasons may seem to be valid. They can range from having too much work to complete in a finite amount of time to having just dealt with an extremely irrational and inappropriate customer and even to being in the middle of a personal crisis. However, whatever the reason any one staff person may slack on customer service skills, its effects on the company are the same. This is one of the strongest reasons many people will never visit or purchase from any given company again.

With all the given variables that exist and can mitigate the quality of service a company offers, it is all the more important that proper guidelines are established and enforced and that all staff are trained not only in developing customer service skills but in understanding the importance of it and incorporating it into a requirement of their job. It also contributes to the overall atmosphere of a company and increases the quality of professional relationships. With all of the arguments for excellent customer service, it is nice to know it benefits the company as much as it does the customer.

I was on a first date recently and really need to comment on the restaurant were we had dinner. It is actually less about the restaurant, some independently owned Italian place in Folsom, California, than it is about the service. In fact, I’d have to say that the relevance of the particular serviced we received is even more important to this story than the food itself. Also, certain ethical and intelligent business owners, such as Steven Barbarich will certainly understand the significance of this story.

I was kind of nervous because James was a really good looking guy I had my eye on for a while. We had met a party for a mutual friend and then ran into each other again recently at a coffee shop. I was stunned when he asked if I’d like to have dinner sometime and there we were. As they host sat us and asked to bring us a drink I noticed that Jim seemed to be a little nervous himself. I didn’t know what to do so I was relieved when our server showed up and delivered our wine. She was extremely nice and her personality seemed to relax both of us for a little while. At least she was something else we could focus on.

After our server took our order and returned with our soup, James accidentally knocked is wine over and spilled a little on the server. He turned bright red and seemed to be aghast and I felt horribly awkward for him. Fortunately, the server started laughing as she motioned to a bus person and she told us her favorite story about the time her niece had spilled wine on her favorite dress. Before we knew it, the table had been reset and we were both laughing as well. Instead of a potential tragedy, the great service quick thinking of this food server broke the ice for us and created an atmosphere that let us relax and enjoy our meal and the rest of the date. Which by the way, is personal.

It comes as no surprise that consumers nowadays can have a bit of apprehension when conducting business online.  E-commerce is the way to go, has been for some time.  Christmas shopping online takes the stress out of finding parking spaces, takes the stress out of dealing with crowds, and cuts down on the amount of the time spent looking through items that so many are looking through at the same time.  Online shopping takes care of all of that.  But, online shopping can make one wonder if they will really receive what they have paid for.

This was a concern for Steven Barbarich, and a concern well thought of, because he did not get what he paid for, and due to bad customer service,  found himself not compensated nor accommodated.  Years ago, he purchased a home spa online, and when it was delivered, not only could he not get it into his house, the customer service representative he called in reference to the misinformation regarding the size of the spa, really did nothing to help him.  When considering this himself, Barbarich decided that he could do much better, that he could run a company that produced and distributed high quality spas and jacuzzis, and also attend to the highest of standards with  regards to customer service.

Although spas are quite affordable these days, they are still a relatively high end purchase for many people, and Barbarich wanted to make sure that there was a an online company from which people could order products without the usual fear that accompanies a purchase of such kind without being able to physically see the purchase.  He wanted them to have a guarantee as to what they were buying and the information in which they were receiving.  Along with that, he takes pride now in a company that solves the customers issues and concerns, not one in which makes them all worse.  He learned a lesson through his dealings with poor customer service, and he used this lesson to help others.

Fire up the grill and bust out the popsicles, its summertime! Summer is one of the most fun filled times in American culture. You have baseball and Fourth of July fireworks, all contending with going to the swimming pool and drinking lemonade. All of the kids are out of school and there is just a more laid back vibe to the country in the summer time than any other time of year.

So if you are looking to have some summer fun, you can do so right in your own backyard. You may not be able to take that road trip or two weeks off like you used to, but you can still have fun at your own home this summer. Here are some summer things you can buy to instantly add fun to your life.

A trampoline: A trampoline is a great thing to have if you have children, grand children. They are great to jump on for exercise and kids absolutely love them! You just have to make sure that there are adults around to supervise because trampolines can be dangerous. But as long as there are adults, both children and adults enjoy these fun outdoor accessories.

A grill: What is summer without burgers and hot dogs? You can get a grill relatively inexpensively. You don’t have to go for the big, huge outdoor kitchen. Light it up charcoal style and defrost the burgers because summer is just not summer without a cookout.

A hot tub: If you are looking for a summer splurge, consider getting a hot tub. They add a great element to your backyard and are equally as entertaining. What is more relaxing than a hot tub really? You may never need to go on vacation again. Check out the website of Steven Barbarich, choosehottubsdirect.com for some great deals.

If you love outdoor adventure, one of the the Hawaiian islands of Kauai is made for you. With an enormously wide selection of exciting activities, there is something here for everyone, young or old. Take an off the beaten path tour where you can hike on some of the exquisite back country trails, enjoy a day’s horseback ride through some of the most lush terrain you will ever find, or cruise from one island to the next. Take surfing or scuba diving lessons or laze the day away snorkeling and swimming of one Kauai’s extraordinary beaches. Enjoy a bicycle or an ATV as you explore the island from tip to toe, or go on a guided mountain tubing adventure that ends with a delightful picnic lunch. At night you can take part in an authentic Hawaiian luau or an evening dinner cruise. Later you can walk in the star-studded Hawaii night or take off to one of the excellent nightclubs where you can dance til dawn. If you are traveling with the family, a Kauai vacation is ideal as there are many activities designed to get the kids involved. Stay in a family friendly resort, visit the natural history museum, head over to the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge or simply include the kids in all the fun outdoor activities like swimming, snorkeling, fishing, and dolphin watching.

Singapore is rich in cultural heritage and many aspects of the city represent this. There are numerous forms of traditional entertainment. There are also more progressive cultural entities and all of these are attractive to tourists. The Singapore Symphony Orchestra is among the many diverse offerings that are explored by vacationers. It presents over 50 concerts a year, so no matter what season a tourist wishes to visit, they are sure to find a current performance. It is a full time professional company with 96 members and their skill in diverse musical styles enchants tourists who are staying in one of the business hotels Singapore.

Choo Hoey is the orchestra’s Conductor Emeritus and was also its Music Director from 1979 to 1996. His experience and expertise guide the orchestra through their many concerts at the Singapore Esplanade. Hoey is well known and highly respected in the community. He has been given credit for the development of the orchestra’s diverse and progressive programming structure. Its pro-active orientation brings music directly into the community. It includes a Community Outreach Program that is geared toward educating children and helping to build a lifetime of music appreciation. Not only does it encourage the development of young musicians but helps to instill professional standards and ethics. This program extends beyond local schools and the company has toured internationally. They have performed concerts in the United Kingdom, Russia, Italy, Turkey and the United States, among numerous other places.

The symphony is a great supporter of local composers while also aiming to bride cultural gaps. They do this through uniting Eastern and Western styles and themes. This progressive structure was emulated in a major collaboration project in 1986. At this time they worked with the Houston Ballet to create a widely acclaimed performance. Also, in 1994 they worked with the Singapore Lyric Opera to create an enormously successful production of Madam Butterfly. This remains to be one of their most popular collaborations to date. While they symphony is an honored social institution, it has also gained recognition and respect from the international community.

With the bevy of MBA programs available these days it can seem like the most viable option to gain business training.

However, what is the actual cost of getting the degree? Is it really worth the cost of giving up your current job or the possibilities of finding a new one?

According the mbaprograms.org the real cost of an MBA could be as much as $80,000 for two years. But it really is the more yo pay the more you get with this type of management training. The cost of getting one at an amazing business school is actually more than the average wage in the UK or USA

And it’s not just about tuition either. You have To think about books, the possibility of having to buy a laptop, and foregoing full-time income.

Scholarships are available and if you are thinking about getting an MBA it’s a good idea to start applying for these as soon as you decide you would like to get an MBA.

Apply to as many scholarships as you can. The more that you apply for the better your outcome may be.

Search around for scholarships, try to find less competitive scholarships and get your name in those pools as well.

As long as you make sure you really know how much an MBA will cost you it could be a sound investment. Also don’t forget there are going to be fees to apply as well. Or let your leadership skills shine through naturally on your next job interview.

Next Day Blinds has announced a new policy that enables them to replace their extensive fleet of cars with energy efficient hybrids. Next Day Blinds announced in May of 2008, only high-mileage hybrid vehicles will be considered for fleet additions and replacement vehicles. Over time, Next Day Blinds intends to replace their existing non-hybrid vehicles with hybrids. Their goal is to reduce gasoline consumption as part of a larger energy conservation initiative.

A total of 8 vehicles have already been replaced with hybrids, before the implementation of this policy. As leases for their retail fleet vehicles expired, they were replaced with hybrid Camrys. In addition, four vehicles from the measuring fleet have already been replaced with Priuses. Next Day Blinds estimates that roughly 30% of its fleet will be converted to energy-efficient hybrid vehicles by the end of the year, and 50% by the end of 2009.

Roughly sixty percent of the existing Washington-area fleet of nearly one hundred vehicles is comprised of cars, with the balance being cargo vans and box trucks. “We are adding hybrids to our fleet on an ongoing basis and are targeting replacement for the majority of our cars by the end of 2009,” said Meghan Hodge, the Director of Marketing for Next Day Blinds. “We are hoping suitable replacements will become available for our full-size trucks and vans at some point in the future”

www.NextDayBlinds.com — Next Day Blinds is a high quality manufacturer of custom blinds, shades and shutters. Made for your home right here at home.

With Dubai Fashion Week about to storm the region, it’s easy to see how the city has become the shopping and fashion capital of the Middle East. The third annual event, which takes place April 5 – 9, 2009, showcases 28 regional designers to buyers and fashion media from across the region.

Dubai is also home to the world’s largest shopping mall. The Dubai Mall, measuring 12 million square feet or the size of 50 football pitches, opened in November 2008 in Downtown Burj Dubai. The Mall will eventually house 1200 retailers and feature a “Fashion Avenue” with designers such as Stella McCartney, Versace, Hugo Boss, Fivenchy, Roberto Cavalli, and Tom Ford.

Cartier opened a flagship store in the Dubai Mall on March 27th. It is the brand’s largest boutique in the Middle East, with a showroom measureing over 7500 square feet. The opening was attended by international celebrities and Bollywood stars such as Monica Bellucci and Anil Kapoor.

Future retail developments in Dubai will include the Mall of Arabia, scheduled to open its first phase in 2010. Once all phases are complete, it will house over 1400 outlets. Additionally, the Isla Moda will be the world’s first dedicated fashion island. Moda will feature fashion-themed restaurants and hotels as well as residential villas with personal shoppers and stylists. It plans to host high profile fashion events once complete.

Most famous for the luxurious Dubai beach resort, the city is home to over 50 shopping malls such as the Wafi Mall in Wafi City (an Egyptian-themed development) and the Dubai Outlet Mall. The Mall of the Emirates is home to the first indoor ski destination in the Middle East, Ski Dubai.

Twice a year, Dubai hosts events designed to call attention to it’s retail industry and development. The Dubai Shopping Festival is held each January while the Dubai Summer Surprises takes place in July – August.

Many sales organizations do not give their employees enough sales training for them to succeed.  Making sure your employees have adequate training is one thing companies can do to make sure their work force is operating at the highest level possible.  Companies traditionally hire based on how well they think an employee will fit into the organization and perform the duties required of the job.  While there is nothing wrong with this approach and it often leads to successful hires, these organizations can increase the level of productivity and further show the employee that they are interested in keeping them around by investing in training that is going to help them perform their job.

Management training courses can help employees further develop the skills they need to succeed in the workplace.  In becoming successful managers, leadership skills development courses can also help speed up the process.  Possessing leadership skills is vital for anybody looking to move into a senior role where they will be interacting with team members on a daily basis.

Most people think of receiving an annoying phone call during dinner when they think of the word, "telecommunications." But for a few people, ballet is what comes to mind. This is because deeply involved in both telecommunications industry and the world of ballet is Arthur Trueger.

Silicon Valley, California, is where many venture capitalists, like Arthur Trueger, invest in telecommunications equipment and medical industries. And when these people think of this, they think of Mr. Trueger since he is a patron of the San Francisco Ballet.

He is also an avid flyer, bicyclist and language enthusiast. He is currently learning Japanese, which will be his fourth language.