NY Yankees, Manchester United, Guinness & IKEA: Some Thoughts on Multi-Cultural Aspects of Business

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NY Yankees, Manchester United, Guinness & IKEA: Some Thoughts on Multi-Cultural Aspects of Business

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I grew up in the United States thinking that despite the many differences apparent in the world, everybody thought the way that I did. I loved baseball, the New York Yankees in particular. Despite being well-read as a youngster, I was certain that deep behind the Iron Curtain, in the foothills and peaks of the Himalayas and in places as far-flung as Micronesia and Sierra Leone, while I was enjoying a hot dog and Coke at Yankee Stadium, millions of others in those far away locales had the game tuned in on their TVs.

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I grew up hating soccer, or "football" as it’s known in the rest of the world. Others around the globe surely felt as I did. Right? Little did I know that billions upon billions of other people think baseball to be an incredibly boring game, while watching Manchester United and other teams kick the ball around is practically a religion for 95% of the globe.

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Huh. Guess my "worldview" was a bit off.

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An Immigrant to a Foreign Country:

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Since immigrating from the US to Israel some thirteen years ago, I have found my worldviews challenged again and again. This tiny country is home to a convergence of the three major world religions as well as immigrants literally from around the globe (latest estimates are from 147 countries!). Since beginning my business here, I have completed work in English for Jews, Christians and Muslims alike, as well as for immigrants from, among others, Russia, Ethiopia, Denmark, India, South Africa, Morocco, Canada, France, the UK, Australia, Bosnia, Bulgaria and Belgium.

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On many occasions initially, I have begun projects based upon my own systems, my background of English and based upon my own assumptions of how the work should read, be written and sound. In many cases, I have been rightfully corrected. "Yoni, this is not how English resumes are structured in Israel." "Yoni, this is not how an Ethiopian, Belgian or person from France would structure this sentence in English." "Yoni, it’s a ‘lorry’ not a ‘truck’ and a ‘lift,’ not an ‘elevator.’" And "Yoni, I’ll have to give you some lessons on the war in Bosnia before you’ll be able to begin the project." Along the way I have been granted valuable cultural lessons and have been provided with valuable knowledge which I needed to complete the work correctly.

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It all went a long way in showing me how faulty and lacking my "worldview" truly was!

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"You Don’t Learn Cultural Aspects of Business by:"

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My affinity for a pint of Guinness Beer does not mean I know about the customs and traditions of Ireland.

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Taking my wife on her monthly pilgrimage to IKEA does not give me insight into Scandinavian culture.

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Watching Crocodile Dundee on Cable will give me about as much insight into the average Australian as watching The Sopranos while eating pizza will give me into the average Italian.

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Learning About Business Multiculturalism:

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My immersion in Middle-East business has taught me many things. A few are: most inter-gender business deals are begun and ended without a handshake; it’s considered immodest most of the time and sometimes even offensive. Putting an "immodest" photo in a blog article (even a picture of the beach which contains a woman in a swimsuit) can be reason enough for one of my faithful blog readers never to visit again. Prices in the Middle-East are rarely written in stone: visit any souk or marketplace and you’ll see how bargaining is an ingrained part of the culture. Time in the Middle-East is not always as exact as it is in other parts of the world; a business meeting called for ten-o’clock might begin at ten, ten-thirty or eleven…the best advice is to be on-time, though you might end up having to wait for the other party.

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So my words of wisdom?  Well, to be 100% honest, I’m not an expert in multi-cultural aspects of business. Not by a longshot! But what I have learned (with some help from my friends at IL Forums) and what I can impart to you is the following:

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1) Keep in mind that the Web is by default a multi-cultural venue. Focusing your writing such as blogs, articles and marketing exclusively on one geographic area and culture can be quite limiting in a business context.

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2) Realize that as immigration to Western countries increases, most countries are becoming more and more multi-cultural and multi-ethnic.

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3) Ask questions and request clarification when working for somebody from another culture. Even if someone from another culture speaks your language, be aware that there are nuances in speech, dialect and, oftentimes, meaning. What you hear is oftentimes not what is being said.

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4) Do a little bit of reading when doing business with people, companies or organizations who/which represent a different culture.

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5) Make yourself aware of cultural, religious and ethnic sensitivities. Often gestures, body-language, expressions and behaviors that are status-quo in one culture can be considered rude or offensive in others.

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6) See how your advertising and marketing will be affected by multiculturalism. Explore how you can tailor marketing to people from other cultures.

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7) Catch an hour of world news each and every day either on TV, in a newspaper or online. Knowing what’s happening will keep you more in-the-know.

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8) Check out some of the myriad of multicultural blogs which can easily be found online. Among my favorites are: Stanford University’s Cross-Cultural Blog: http://ccr.stanford.edu/blog/  and the Ethnic Events Multi Cultural Marketing Portal Blog: http://www.ethnicevents.com/multicultural-blog/

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Image Credits: All images in this article courtesy of all-free-download.com

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Hello. My name is Yonatan Maisel. I am a professional writer, published author and business-blogger.

I will not be available for the next month or two. I will, however, faithfully continue with my business-blog postings. Hope you enjoy them and, as always, thanks for visiting!

If you are seeking a skilled writer for your writing needs, might I suggest that you visit Job Shuk’s homepage and click on "Writing and Translation." Among the professionals whose profiles you will see, I’m certain you will find the perfect person to fulfill your needs!.

The First Year of My Small Freelancing Business: Mistakes, Corrections, and the Path Forward!

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The First Year of My Small Freelancing Business: Mistakes, Corrections, and the Path Forward!

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As my friend Martin Lindeskog from www.bizsugar.com  pointed out so eloquently the other day, it is important to recognize professional anniversaries, to look back, introspect and assess where you are, what you have learned and where you are going. It’s about positivity, adversity, leaping hurdles and finding the way. What do you expect…the guy’s a philosopher! www.martin.lindeskog.name/. His wonderful blog: www.egoist.blogspot.com .

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So, whether you yourself are a freelancer, small, independent businessperson, or are contemplating venturing into these "territorial waters," I present to you my first-year lessons. They are based, somewhat surprisingly, on regret (strange, I consider myself to be a happy and optimistic person), corrections (perhaps most important) and leaps forward (the end-product). Perhaps you have faced some of these issues, perhaps if you are thinking of taking the path of the freelancer you will. Perhaps my trial-and-errors can help you to avoid similar dilemmas?

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I Used to Regret…that I quit a job outright to become a freelancer. A more gradual move into it would have been an easier transition. Counting on it as your only source of income initially is a huge gamble! But now I have made the transition, I am my own boss, I’m making progress and despite the fact that my bank account is approximately $999,000 short of my first million, I am happier than I could ever have imagined!

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I Used to Regret…that in the beginning I didn’t realize fully that being a freelancer requires a great deal of initiative. No more traditional workplace boss handing you your next assignment. You are now on your own to sink or swim. I have since come to realize that finding that next job and extricating oneself from downtime requires taking the initiative!

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I Used to Regret…that in the beginning I thought a small business could exist in a vacuum. No social media at first, no marketing, no real advertising, no "getting connected." Since then I have found out that "no man is an island," nor is any business an island. This is the 21st-century, word-of-mouth referrals, networking and the sharing of ideas, tips, advice and knowledge now take place online for the most part. 

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I Used to Regret…that in the beginning I waited (mostly in vain) for customers to find me when I should have been taking the initiative to find them. The business-world is a huge place…the chances of them just showing up at your doorstep are small. I started looking and found them!

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I Used to Regret…that I stubbornly refused (against my wonderful wife’s advice) to find forums, online sites and other venues for professional socialization opportunities to network and forge business ties. I have since, much to my satisfaction, given in! Networking is not an option any longer, it is a necessity!

 

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I Used to Regret…that I waited so long to begin blogging for business. In retrospect, it was the biggest mistake of them all. Biz-blogging is, I have no doubt, the single best, most cost-effective means (absolutely free!) to demonstrate your skills, acumen, talents and abilities to the public and business community. I now blog regularly and can happily say that upwards of 80% of my new clients now find me and contact me for business as a direct result of my blog! A blog attracts customers like a magnet. I have stopped counting how many times readers have sent me emails saying: "Nice blog…by the way, are you available for a project?"

 

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I thank modern-day philosopher and businessman Martin Lindeskog for giving me the inspiration to take a look back, assess the present and plan the road forward. It is about seeing negatives turn into positives, regrets turn into achievement and watching how when being stuck in neutral it can only take a few corrections to get the "vehicle" into forward gear. Sometimes it takes the mind of a philosopher to help us see the path!

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Image Credit: Brian G. Rossington, all-free-download.com 

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Hello. My name is Yonatan Maisel. I am a professional writer, published author and business-blogger.

I will not be available for the next month or two. I will, however, faithfully continue with my business-blog postings. Hope you enjoy them and, as always, thanks for visiting!

If you are seeking a skilled writer for your writing needs, might I suggest that you visit Job Shuk’s homepage and click on "Writing and Translation." Among the professionals whose profiles you will see, I’m certain you will find the perfect person to fulfill your needs!

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How to “Butcher” A Sale or Gain a Loyal Customer in One Easy Lesson

How to "Butcher" A Sale or Gain a Loyal Customer in One Easy Lesson

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Very recently my wife and I moved to a new neighborhood. And a new apartment (rental of course…not many banks give mortgages to freelancers 🙁  Along with all of the other acclimations to a new neighborhood came the finding of new places to do our food shopping.

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Strolling along the main thoroughfare in one of the adjoining areas, we came to a butcher shop. Our refrigerator was empty from the move and we decided there and then that we would do some restocking of meat (apologies to any vegetarian readers).

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Scene 1: "The Businessman Who Feels He Deserves and is Entitled to Have You as a Customer"

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We went to the freezer for some frozen ground-beef and asked the somewhat dour-faced man behind the counter for some breast of chicken. When it was time to pay, my lovely wife took out the only bill she had in her wallet, 200 shekel (shekel is the local currency which runs about four-to-the-dollar). The butcher’s dour face turned into a full-fledged grimace. "I hate it when people come in here with big bills," he began, "I’m not a bank. Don’t you have anything smaller?" We explained that we didn’t. He rolled his eyes and huffed and puffed.

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That’s when my wife and I looked at each other and frowned. I knew what she was about to say. "I’ll take my money back! You can keep your meat. We’ll go elsewhere!"

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And go elsewhere we did.

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Scene 2: "The Businessman Who Feels Honored and Privileged to Have You as a Customer"

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We were directed to another butcher about five blocks away.

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We began gathering the same items, though this time we received an approach and attitude which was quite different…

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…a butcher who was smiling, humming a snappy little tune, and one who began a pleasant conversation with us. "I don’t remember seeing you in here before?" he inquired. And thus, we explained that we were new to the area. He welcomed us both to the area and to his shop. Then he did something I have never seen done in a butcher shop in my life. Instead of weighing the chicken breast, trimming it as we had asked, and charging for the meat and the discarded trimmings as most do, he trimmed and then weighed. The savings might only have been a few dollars worth, but it was a wonderful gesture and policy which we commented and complimented on. He smiled and said, "It’s my policy to my valued customers."

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The butcher shop owned by him and his equally friendly brother is where we have been going since. Every time we go into the store we are treated like family. 

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How Not to "Butcher" the Deal: Lessons Taught to Me by a Great Businessman and Purveyor of Meat:

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The experience has taught me some valuable lessons and reinforced others:

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1) In business, first impressions can "make or break" the deal! In one case it broke it, in the other case it made it.

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2) Attitude can draw in a potential client/customer or drive them away. Nobody, I mean nobody, wants to deal with a miserable sourpuss!

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3) Seemingly small gestures of generosity and kindness can instill loyalty within the hearts and minds of customers.

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4) Customers are to be earned, valued and won, not taken for granted.

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5) If a customer is not satisfied with the service, professionalism, quality or attitude of a business or businessperson, there are plenty of other places to do business!

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6) Customers want, need and deserve to feel that they are human beings who are valued.

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These principles are relatively simple and take little more than common-sense to internalize. But as we found out in a butcher shop one sunny morning in Jerusalem, there are people who understand them and live by them…and there are some who just don’t understand!  

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Image Credits: Courtesy of all-free-downloads.com

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Hello. My name is Yonatan Maisel. I am a professional writer, published author and biz-blogger. 

So, whether you are a regular visitor or first-time reader of my business blog, you might have noticed that the place where I proudly choose to place my main profile and blog is at this wonderful place called Job Shuk.

Job Shuk is a website and organization whose mission is "Connecting Israel’s Businesses with the World." Within the site itself are the profiles of over 1,000 business professionals, each an experienced, skilled representative of his or her field of endeavor. From programmers to marketers, from writers to website-builders, from graphic artists to healthcare professionals, transcribers, voice-over pros and much, much, much more. By clicking the icon below, your are cordially invited to check out the site and see the many business benefits which it has to offer!

Outsource to Israel 

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Disclaimer: Yonatan Maisel, the author of this article, is not officially affiliated with Job Shuk. He is not an employee, nor does he receive any financial renumeration. He is simply a very satisfied member!

World’s Most Famous Unemployed Person Lands a Great Job!

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World’s Most Famous Unemployed Person Lands a Great Job!

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For those of you who might have missed the story recently in the mainstream media, I present the story here in my business blog in my own words and with my own commentary.

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Paul Nawrocki looks for work wearing a sandwich board reading

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You see, there’s been a man walking the streets of Midtown Manhattan for the past several years now. Not any man; he’s actually been clad in a “sandwich-board” advertisement, the kind reminiscent of those worn by Depression-era job-seekers.

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Paul Nawrocki (pictured at the top of the article), a toy company executive, lost his job in 2008. When efforts to find another job in the midst of the economic downturn proved fruitless, he constructed the sandwich-board and began walking the streets. He handed out his resume and pitched himself to all who might be interested in acquiring his expertise, services, potential and abilities. His plight soon garnered the attention of the media: first local, then national and finally, international.

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This week, amidst the massive media frenzy which was surrounding his plight, and as his unemployment compensation was poised to expire, Paul Nawrocki was hired by the Fantasma Toy Company whose magic division is the exclusive product supplier to the highly-respected, upscale, New York-based FAO Schwarz.  

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So how does Nawrocki sum up his unique experience?

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“It was very inspiring for me. It truly changed me spiritually as a person.”

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So what do I believe we can we learn from Mr. Nawrocki’s quest?

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1) In the world of the usual, the unusual stands out. Mr. Nawrocki became the “eye-catching.” He became the unordinary. And yes, people tend to notice the unordinary. It’s what in the world of business has the amazing potential to turn the unordinary into the extraordinary! It’s a principle with major implications for all.

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2) There is a huge crowd out there, don’t risk getting lost in it! Mr. Nawrocki, or so I would like to think, knew that by going the ordinary route of job-seeking, the odds were heavily stacked against him. Think of the tens of thousands of executives who are out of work at this time. Instead of blending into the crowd, he stood out from it in an almost inconceivable way!

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3) When it comes to “selling” yourself, don’t be shy! Would you have had the guts to do what Paul Nawrocki did? I sure wouldn’t. But when looking for a job, or as a person who is already employed, seeking the next client is no time to be shy! It is the time to put your talents, goals, ambitions and abilities on full display for all to see!

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4) Carpe Diem! “Seize the Day!” Find out where initiative can be taken and take it! The business world is a crowded place. Sitting back and waiting for the next client or project is an approach which seldom bears fruit.

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5) Persistence, Persistence, Persistence! By all accounts, Mr. Nawrocki made this his full-time job, traveling on the subway each and every day to achieve his goal. Landing that next job, client or project might not happen overnight, but hard work, grit, determination and tenacity greatly increase the chances of success! The Anderton Law website provides comprehensive legal support on a no win no fee basis for those who have been mistreated at their place of work or been dismissed..

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I thank God that I am not unemployed. To those reading this article, I hope that you too are succeeding in a steady job. But the fact is that the lessons personified by Paul Nawrocki do not apply only to those who are out of work and seeking employment.

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The principles demonstrated by this highly-unusual, gutsy, “never-say-die” man are universal principles in the world of business. They are about bringing visibility to yourself, establishing a name and image for yourself and about taking the initiative to attain the goals, aspirations and dreams necessary to ensure your economic survival.

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Hats off to Paul Nawrocki! Best of luck to you sir!

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Image credits: Paul Narocki photo: New York Daily News; Depression-era unemployed man and “Success” picture: all-free-downloads.com

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Hello. My name is Yonatan Maisel. I am a professional writer, published author and business-blogger.

If you are seeking an experienced, proficient, skilled writer for your writing needs, I believe that you have come to the right place! I specialize in giving my clients that “personal touch” and in injecting vibrancy, vitality, enthusiasm and creativity into all of my written work! From resumes to corporate bios, from research to speeches, from ghost-blogging to web-content and much more…I will deliver a quality product at a very reasonable price. By clicking the following link http://jobshuk.com/yoni67 you will be redirected to my profile where you will find a summary of the services which I provide as well as a link to my website where my portfolio, testimonials and pricing can be found. 

Slice of Business Life: A Freelancer Goes to the Bank to Apply for a Home Mortgage Loan

Slice of Business Life: A Freelancer Goes to the Bank to Apply for a Home Mortgage Loan 

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Those of you who are freelancers might have had a situation similar to the one in this article. Those who are thinking of going the route of freelancer: this article might provide you with a bit of insight into the financial world of the freelancer.

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You see, there are many, many benefits to leaving the traditional workplace, becoming your own boss and living on your own terms. No more traffic jams. No filling up the gas tank twice a week. No workplace politics. No obnoxious bosses. No superiors stealing your ideas and passing them off as their own. Yes, there are a whole lot of plusses and benefits. But financial stability?

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Let’s take a look as we follow a certain work-from-home freelance writer as he goes to the bank with his wife in a recent effort to leave behind the world of apartment rental and graduate to the dream of home-ownership. Although the writer bears an uncannily striking resemblance to me, we’ll call him "Mr. Douglas."

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Face Of A Lady clip art Loan Officer: "Well Misses Douglas, your salary seems quite impressive."

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Girl Face clip art Mrs. Douglas: "Well, I’ve been working nine-to-five at my company for four years now, steadily moving up the ladder."

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Face Of A Lady clip art Loan Officer: "And I wish you continued success! So Mister Douglas, let’s talk about your salary."

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Sas Face Colour clip art Mr. Douglas: "Okay. Let’s start with November, ’09 which was a great month for me. I earned two-thousand dollars." He beams with pride from ear to ear.

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Face Of A Lady clip art Loan Officer: "Very nice…And December?"

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Sas Face Colour clip art Mr. Douglas: "Yes, December" he begins with a slight hesitation. "Five-hundred."

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Face Of A Lady clip art Loan Officer: "I’m not talking about a week in December Mr. Douglas, I’m asking about the month of December."

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Sas Face Colour clip art Mr. Douglas: "Ma’am, the five-hundred was for the month of December. I guess with the holidays and all of that… people were a bit too busy to think about writing projects. Things get kind of slow. There’s just a lot of downtime."

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Face Of A Lady clip art Loan Officer: "I see." Her smile disappears, replaced now with a stern, stony-faced façade.

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Sas Face Colour clip art Mr. Douglas: "But Ma’am, if you go back to April, 2009, you’ll see I made twenty-three hundred dollars, my best month yet as a freelancer."

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Face Of A Lady clip art Loan Officer: "Yes, but that amazing month seems to be almost completely cancelled out by…this must be a misprint…it says that in July you earned…this can’t be right…one hundred and seventy dollars?

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Sas Face Colour clip art Mr. Douglas: "It was the summer Ma’am. You know, people on vacation, trips to the beach, summer-break for students who account for a great deal of my work. And I guess that was when I was sick for a week. No paid sick-days for freelancers…"

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Face Of A Lady clip art Loan Officer: "And six-hundred and twenty dollars for the entire month of August?"

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Sas Face Colour clip art Mr. Douglas: "Still summer. It’s seasonal…the nature of the freelancing beast. B-But just look how things picked up in September!"

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Face Of A Lady clip art Loan Officer: "Mr. and Mrs. Douglas…I’m terribly sorry I just can’t help you. Mrs. Douglas, you have a steady salary. It’s possible to see from month-to-month exactly how much you’ll be bringing in…but Mr. Douglas with you it can be…how can I say this nicely…feast or famine from month to month. I’m sorry. Perhaps you’ll come back next year if your situation changes…"

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Sas Face Colour clip art Mr. Douglas: "B-But…please…"

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Face Of A Lady clip art Loan Officer: I’m sorry Mr. Douglas, you might just have to consider getting a real job if you want…

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Yes, there are many, many GREAT reasons to become a work-from-home freelancer!

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Waking up and already being at work. Completing your projects in pajamas rather than a business suit. Spending lunch-break walking the dog in the woods breathing in the fresh air as butterflies lazily float by. Flexible hours. And the list goes on. And on…

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If however, you are looking for financial stability, the life of a freelancer might not be for you. It can be an economic roller-coaster ride. It is a life of not knowing what your salary will be from one month to the next. "Downtime" is an ever-present concern. Time between projects can be hours (ideally), days (mercifully), weeks (agonizingly)…or worse! Despite best efforts to drum up business, it is something which a freelancer has little control over.

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Leaving the 9-to-5 life to become a freelancer is a decision to consider and weigh with the utmost care. Just look at the recent trip to the bank which I…hmm…I mean "Mr. Douglas" took. "Yeah…Mr. Douglas." 

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Image credits: All images in this article are courtesy of http://www.all-free-download.com/

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Hello. My name is Yonatan Maisel. I am a professional writer, published author and business-blogger.

If you are seeking an experienced, proficient, skilled writer for your writing needs, I believe that you have come to the right place! I specialize in giving my clients that "personal touch" and in injecting vibrancy, vitality, enthusiasm and creativity into all of my written work! From resumes to corporate bios, from research to speeches, from ghost-blogging to web-content and much more…I will deliver a quality product at a very reasonable price. By clicking the following link http://jobshuk.com/yoni67 you will be redirected to my profile where you will find a summary of the services which I provide as well as a link to my website where my portfolio, testimonials and pricing can be found. 

 

“Take Your Damn Sticker Off My Car!” When Company Branding Goes Horribly Wrong

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"Take Your Damn Sticker Off My Car!" When Company Branding Goes Horribly Wrong     

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Marvin Gaye, Strange Noises & In Need of a Service-Provider:

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It happened while driving down the road the other day. An event that both you and I dread. That little noise which you think is an additional drum beat in the song you are listening to on the radio. Nope, I’m a big fan of Motown and I’ve heard the late, great Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On enough times to know that the extra pounding notes do not belong. The noise gets progressively louder, eventually drowning out the crooner’s sweet voice. That’s when the white smoke begins pouring from my exhaust pipe, engine torque and compression cease and I find myself on the side of the road cursing the fact that I figured I’d save a few bucks and not sign up for the optional towing service that my insurance company offers.

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Estimates and Promises:

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We’ll call him "Stan." He’s the garage owner that the tow truck operator recommends when I ask if he knows where I should have my car towed to. "Stan" is affable from the get-go. He looks more apt to be found in a Hollywood movie than in the pair of greasy overalls which he wears. Stan assures me after fiddling around for fifteen minutes that the problem is not a complicated one and that "by this time tomorrow you’ll be back behind the wheel for $300, maybe a "tad more." I smile…I’ve dodged a bullet.

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I will not go into all of the details of what transpires over the next three days. You don’t need to hear it…I’m sure you’ve been through it before. "Stan" gives an estimate. The price begins to exceed the estimate. "Stan" needs more parts. "Stan" proceeds with work without asking me or informing me. No phone calls to let me know things are getting more complicated and the price is going up…he just assumes I would approve. Days go by, each finding me in taxis. A $300 estimate now exceeds $700. "$700 is the most it will be?" I now ask "Stan," exasperated. "You have my word," he answers with a wry smile. The engine is now dismantled, certainly there can’t be any more hidden costs! The next day, I find out that the bill tops $1,000 dollars, approximately half the value of my fourteen year-old Fiat. That’s when I confront Stan…

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Did I not deserve to be kept abreast of the progress of this project? Was he not experienced enough to know what the original problem entailed? Why did he go ahead with additional repairs without my consent? And most importantly, "Stan, you gave me your word! What happened to your word?" His original smile is gone, his affability has evaporated, his pleasant voice is now gruff and menacing and his sour look and grimace now transform his face from Hollywood-like to dour and downright creepy. He blames me for not having the foresight and knowledge to have known that the job could turn into a big one. Now who is the expert? Me? No "Stan" YOU are the expert! 

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I pay the $1,180 bill (nearly triple the original estimate) with a heavy heart and have some more nasty words for "Stan." I drive away angry as hell. And the story could have ended there. Except for one small thing…

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That DAMN Sticker! Adding Insult to Injury:

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As I pull into a gas station on the way home, I notice a new addition to my back hatchback window. A sticker. "I Had My Car Serviced at Stan’s!" Next to the wording is a smiley-face…. Apparently they don’t ask…they just assume you are a satisfied customer, want one on your car and wouldn’t mind providing them with some free advertising!

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I drive back to the garage, stop with a squeal of my brakes and approach "Stan." I have only one thing to say…

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               "Take Your Damn Sticker Off My Car!"

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Your Word, Promise and/or Handshake: The Mark of Integrity:

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As business-owners we all have names and reputations to build, foster, nurture, cultivate and guard. Each of us is a potential "Stan." We might not repair autos, but each and every one of us affixes a "sticker" to our work. It is our name, reputation and good-standing. It should be our mark of honesty, distinction, satisfaction, legitimacy, pride of a job well-done and honor. To the recipient of that sticker it can be a source and symbol of contentment, satisfaction and INTEGRITY or of scorn, disdain and regret. It can mean great word-of-mouth referrals or harmful bad publicity.

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Remember that every customer speaks about their experiences doing business with friends, family, colleagues and with anyone who asks. If a business is great and the client was treated well, people will hear about it. The same is true for someone who receives poor service and was not treated well. A satisfied client is crucial no matter what we need to do to ensure satisfaction.

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I will remember this with every project I take on from this day forward. I will have additional impetus and cues to show me how to act towards those valuable and valued customers and clients who entrust their work and money to me. I will internalize more than ever what giving "your word" truly entails. And I will know how not to act…I have the example of "Stan" to guide me. 

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Image Credits: istockphoto.com

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Hello. My name is Yonatan Maisel. I am a professional writer, published author and business-blogger.

If you are seeking an experienced, proficient, skilled writer for your writing needs, I believe that you have come to the right place! I specialize in giving my clients that "personal touch" and in injecting vibrancy, vitality, enthusiasm and creativity into all of my written work! From resumes to corporate bios, from research to speeches, from ghost-blogging to web-content and much more…I will deliver a quality product at a very reasonable price. By clicking the following link http://jobshuk.com/yoni67 you will be redirected to my profile where you will find a summary of the services which I provide as well as a link to my website where my portfolio, testimonials and pricing can be found. 

 

A Pint of Guinness, Bowling & Blogs: Notes from Our 1st Biz-Blogger Convention

A Pint of Guinness, Bowling, Billiards & Blogs: Notes from Our First Biz-Blogger Convention

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The first meeting/convention of our newly-established biz-blog "think-tank" took place last month at our local bowling alley. The following are points which all five participants (if "three is a crowd" why can’t five be considered a convention?) reached consensus on as being critical factors in business blogging:

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  1) Blogging is the single best, most-cost effective way to promote a business. It is 100% free! If you don’t like free for some reason and are intent on spending money, go rent a blimp, billboards, a newspaper ad, or get out your credit card for any other type of paid advertising you so desire. Our advice: blogs are free and free advertising is good!

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  2) Consistency is the key! Time needed is minimal and will pay dividends. 2-4 hours/week should suffice to keep a blog going strong.

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  3) A blog must be informative, educational, timely and relevant. If not, it will be, well…uninformative, uneducational, untimely and irrelevant. That’s not good. A biz-blog is the perfect venue to display your knowledge, acumen, skills and to prove to prospective clients that you are an expert in your field of endeavour. Show them that you are someone who is worthy of being hired!

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  4) A blog can and should be entertaining, witty, thought-provoking, unconventional (if the moment calls for it) and/or intriguing to keep readers coming back.

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  5) A regular blog should be thought of as a regular blog (not that there is anything wrong with a regular blog). A business-blog on the other hand should be thought of as a means for drumming up business and establishing your name and the name of your company in the business world. It is a crucial mindset!

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  6) Never forget that every prospective reader of your blog is a prospective customer! Give them links to your profile and/or website, testimonials and portfolios. If they are interested in the services or goods which you provide, give them every reason to stick around after they finish reading your article.

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  7) A blog should offer tidbits and snippets of advice and tips, and/or steps, lessons and principles to achieve a certain goal. Readers love feeling that they are getting something worthwhile…so give it to them!

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  8) A bland, black and white, generic blog template is, well…bland, black, white and generic. Jazz it up with a bit of color. Change some fonts. Add some photos that are relevant. Embed a video if you have one. Make it more than just words, make it an experience!

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  9) Once you start writing a blog, don’t just stop. A business whose last posting was two, three, four or five months ago looks like a business that went belly-up. Customers might wrongly assume that you are no longer in business. Additionally, a blog which ceases abruptly gives the message of lack of follow-through, commitment and perseverance. It just looks bad 🙁

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  10) If you want business as a result of your blog, you must sell yourself in your blog! Speak about yourself somehow in the blog or use a byline at the end to tell the reader who you are, what your business is and what you have to offer. Your blog is your opportunity to shine…don’t be shy about it.

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  11) A blog can’t exist in a vacuum! It must be linked to relevant social networking sites and bookmarking sites. A general rule of thumb is: if your blog can’t be found, it won’t be read!

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  12) A blog needs life. Don’t just speak about a subject on its own. Relate it to life itself, current events, news, politics, sports, trends, technology, etc. Breathe life, energy, vigor, and enthusiasm into each piece. There is a whole world of subjects out there to incorporate into blog articles. Use them!

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  13) Stick a picture of yourself in your blog articles or in the template. People like to see who is doing the writing. It personalizes and humanizes the whole experience.

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Not-Necessarily-Blogging-Related (though nonetheless deemed important) Points from the Convention Itself:

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1) Bowling rules! It is a great pastime and a perfect backdrop for a blogging convention.

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2) Bowling shoes can make anybody look like a dork!

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3) If your bowling alley has a bar, you are looking for the best quality beer, and price is not a concern, nothing, NOTHING beats a pint of Guinness!

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4) If your local bowling alley has billiard tables (ours does), a game or two of pool ("snooker" if you’re European) is a great way to wrap up a biz-blogging convention!

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5) If you have enjoyed an alcoholic beverage or two, have a designated driver at your disposal or take a cab home from your blogging convention. Drinking, driving & blogging don’t mix!

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Image Credits: All images in this article are royalty-free and courtesy of the provider. Pool balls: istockphoto.com; "BLOG": clipart.com. Guinness Beer is a registered trademark of Guinness & Co. 2009.

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Disclaimer: Guinness beer is not a sponsor of this blog, nor did the writer, Yonatan Maisel, receive any financial compensation from them.

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Hello. My name is Yonatan Maisel. I am a professional writer, published author and business-blogger.

If you are seeking an experienced, proficient, skilled writer for your writing needs, I believe that you have come to the right place! I specialize in giving my clients that "personal touch" and in injecting vibrancy, vitality, enthusiasm and creativity into all of my written work! From resumes to corporate bios, from research to speeches, from ghost-blogging to web-content and much more…I will deliver a quality product at a very reasonable price. By clicking the following link http://jobshuk.com/yoni67 you will be redirected to my profile where you will find a summary of the services which I provide as well as a link to my website where my portfolio, testimonials and pricing can be found. 

The Power of Descriptive Words in Biz Marketing and a Sumptuous, Succulent Grilled Steak

The Power of Descriptive Words in Biz Marketing and a Sumptuous, Succulent Grilled Steak

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I recently saw an advertisement and accompanying flyer which was being passed out for a new steak restaurant which had just opened. Impactful? Dynamic? Absorbing? Compelling? Charismatic? No…unfortunately the ads neither shared nor contained any of these crucial characteristics.

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The hallmark of the campaign is the restaurant’s business lunch advertised as: "A 10-ounce steak, baked potato, soup and your choice of vegetables."

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It sounds on the surface like a wonderful meal and for those on a strict budget such as myself, the price sounded right. But where was the "umph"? I asked myself? Where was the attraction? The photo (not contained in this article) of the meal looked somewhat lacking, but then again, I can’t criticize: I’m not a photographer. Photos which I take are just as likely to contain my thumb or to be completely out of focus. I am, however, a writer. As such, I instantly noticed what was so sorely missing from the ads: descriptive words.

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Descriptive words, without going into boring grammatical lessons, are adjectives. They are crucial in doing what descriptive words are meant to do: yes, describe, communicate, illustrate, portray, expound and convey. In the case of the restaurant, they were the missing link!

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Words instantly popped into my head which, in my mind and taste-buds, could have brought the campaign to a whole new level:

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The Steak: sizzling, broiled, grilled, seared, tender, juicy, aged, distinctive, tantalizing, mouth-watering, choice, ethereal, succulent, divine, scrumptious…

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The Baked Potato: crispy, melt-in-your-mouth, delectable, roasted, simmering, tempting…

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The Soup: hearty, robust, appetizing, gratifying, savory, satisfying, exquisite…

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The Vegetables: zesty, zestful, fresh, delicate, healthy, seasoned, sautéed, stir-fried, effervescent, seasonal, invigorating…

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As I’ve mentioned, I am no photographer, nor for that matter am I a chef or caterer. An expert in these fields might offer a more comprehensive list of food terminology than these few descriptors taken off the top of my head. The point of this article, from my perspective as a writer, is simply to address the power of description.

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Describing as a Key to Marketing:

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Describing is the key to marketing and selling!

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Sure, in more advanced stages, it is you, your credentials, goods, services, skills, acumen, drive, motivation, track-record and personality which will close the deal, but the initial "contact" with a client/customer is usually through the written word: your website, blog postings, business articles, pamphlets, profiles, etc.

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Whether it is a product or services you are selling or marketing, or whether you are selling yourself , it is crucial to go the extra mile to set yourself apart, tempt, attract, entice, charm, captivate, intrigue and draw prospective clients and customers to you, your product, your website and even your profile and resume.

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Without proper description, unfortunately, things tend to get passed over, ignored and lost in the crowd.

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The POWER of Words:

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There is POWER in words! The power to transform the seemingly ordinary into the extraordinary. The mundane into the eye-catching. The boring into the glaring. The banal into the original. The common into the uncommon. And the tasty into the absolutely succulent and delectable!

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With a little bit of time, effort, imagination, visualization, and with the assistance of valuable resources such as a thesaurus and the myriad of descriptive-word lists which are only a single, simple mouse-click away on the web, sales and marketing power can increase exponentially!

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Here’s hoping that the information contained in this article will assist you in describing you and your business to the highest degree, potential and capacity possible. 

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As always, "Thank You" for visiting my blog and for taking the time to read what I have written!

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Image Credits: All images courtesy of istockphoto.com

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Hello. My name is Yonatan Maisel. I am a professional writer, published author and business-blogger.

If you are seeking an experienced, proficient, skilled writer for your writing needs, I believe that you have come to the right place! I specialize in giving my clients that "personal touch" and in injecting vibrancy, vitality, enthusiasm and creativity into all of my written work! From resumes to corporate bios, from research to speeches, from ghost-blogging to web-content and much more…I will deliver a quality product at a very reasonable price. By clicking the following link http://jobshuk.com/yoni67 you will be redirected to my profile where you will find a summary of the services which I provide as well as a link to my website where my portfolio, testimonials and pricing can be found. 

 

What Hospital Care Can Teach Us About Running Our Own Business

What Great, Quality Humanistic Hospital Care Can Teach Us About Running Our Own Businesses

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Every two weeks, as the result of a very rare genetic disorder, I spend the better part of the day in the hematology treatment unit of a local hospital. No need to feel bad…I don’t. In the grand scheme of things, God has blessed me.  

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Health-Care and Hospitals ARE Businesses and Not All Are Created Equally! What Are the Implications for Our Own Small Businesses?

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One thing I have learned through experience recently is that not all hospitals are the same, and as a hospital can and must surely be considered a business, not all businesses are equal. Recently I switched from one hospital to another for a short time, and then back to the original. It took a taste of the "not so great" to put into perspective how good I really had and again have it. I thought the closer one would save me time, and as such serve my interests better; I was wrong. I had sacrificed exceptional quality in the name of a shorter commute. 

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I believe that from the moment you enter a hospital, it is though you are entering a business, your business or mine for that matter. Throughout the stay, during care and right up until discharge, the same holds true. You are the customer/client of a business.

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What the Great Health-Care Models Can Teach Us About Our Own Businesses:

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Here is my sequence of events which pertains to both a hospital and a business from the moment a client begins services until the moment he or she departs as either a satisfied or dissatisfied person. I believe they are ideals, factors, mentalities and approaches which can be analyzed and incorporated into any business. I have used the valuable lessons they have imparted for mine.

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1) Intake. From the moment one enters a good hospital, a comprehensive assessment is made of the patient (client/customer). In Business the same assessment must be made. Where is the client in terms of well-being? What are their needs? How best can they be served? What are their fears and anxieties? What are their hopes, goals and aspirations? Where do they hope to be…what is their destination? What is the time-frame for a successful outcome?

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2) Listening. In a hospital, as a patient/client it is essential to feel not just that you are speaking, but that you are being heard. In Business we must strive to listen to those who are considering entrusting their services to us. Initially, it is important to keep our interruptions to a minimum. People often have a story they need to tell and letting them do so uninterrupted can usually assist us in getting to the root of the issue. When they have finished, there is plenty of time for clarification and expansion on our part. Let your client communicate!

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3) Development of a plan of action. In a hospital setting a plan of action is an integral component in the restoration of health. Good hospitals recognize that patients are people, enjoy a great deal of satisfaction from personal autonomy, and expect and deserve to be active, not just passive, participants in the plan of action. In Business our clients deserve the same autonomy. They should have an active hand in directionality. The finished product is ultimately theirs. We may have suggestions, input, experience and expertise, but the project, whatever it may be, should adhere to the expectations, desires and wishes of the client/customer.

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4) Regular updates. In a hospital which I considered to be somewhat lacking, I often laid in my bed for hours wondering what the heck was going on. In the other hospital which I consider to be of vastly superior quality, updates were frequent, compassionate, heartening, warm and forthcoming. In Business our clients deserve to be kept abreast of the situation. If the duration of a project is two weeks, an update when the work is completed probably will not suffice. A weekly update might not either. A paying customer deserves to be updated on a regular basis as to how the work is progressing, any changes which arise and any complications which might require his or her input. A daily or every-other-day email or phone call to bring the client up to speed can be a very effective tool which fosters both efficiency and a positive air of cooperation.

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5) Bed-side manner. In a hospital, it’s all about attitude. Are you a case-number? Are you somebody who must be spoken to while the doctors and nurses make rounds just so your chart can be checked? Or are you a human being who is made to feel that you are a person of interest whose feelings, well-being and future are a legitimate concern for the staff? In Business the attitudes which we convey as professionals can make or break a professional relationship. Do we treat clients as a number, a job or a paycheck or do we make them feel that we are invested in their happiness and satisfaction. Going the extra mile to make the client feel human, worthy and of value other than monetary can make all the difference in the world.

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6) Discharge. A good hospital provides a comprehensive discharge. Updates are provided. A final assessment is made. A plan for further treatment and examinations is discussed. In Business "discharge" should mean a whole lot more than handing over a project and the exchange of money. The meeting of expectations should be discussed. Are there any last minute changes which need to be made? Is this a one-time project or might there be a need for follow-up? Did my service meet your expectations? Are you satisfied? Can I count on you to turn to me with any projects or work you might need in the future?

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7) Reputation. In many countries, hospitals are ranked according to quality standards. More than that, they are affected by word of mouth. A satisfied patient (client) will often go to great lengths to publicize the positive nature of their care. Conversely, a patient whose care ranged from sub-par to uncaring to disastrous will speak to others of the negativity of their experience. In Business it is essential to remember that each and every one of our clients has the means to rate the quality of our service both online and by word of mouth. It is essential to strive for satisfaction!

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8) Quality! Whether it is in healthcare or in any small business from catering to gardening, from writing to legal services, there is no substitute for quality! Quality here is an all-encompassing theme. It is in the work which is done. It is in meeting deadlines and expectations. And it is in the way we treat others who entrust us to work for them!

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I have learned, as many of you might have, that in the world of hospitals, there are the average, the not-so-good and the exceptional. I have been a part of all of these. I am now back at the one where I started out…one which is simply GREAT! I have learned many lessons from the treatment which I receive and will continue receiving. But as you can see from this article, treatment and business are about a whole lot more than a simple service….

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It is also about the "human factor!"

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Image Credits: drawing courtesy of clipartguide.com. Hospital sign and doctor with stethescope courtesy of iStockphoto.com royalty-free images.

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As always, "Thank You" for visiting my blog and for taking the time to read what I have written!

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Hello. My name is Yonatan Maisel. I am a professional writer, published author and business-blogger.

If you are seeking an experienced, proficient, skilled writer for your writing needs, I believe that you have come to the right place! I specialize in giving my clients that "personal touch" and in injecting vibrancy, vitality, enthusiasm and creativity into all of my written work! From resumes to corporate bios, from research to speeches, from ghost-blogging to web-content and much more…I will deliver a quality product at a very reasonable price. By clicking the following link http://jobshuk.com/yoni67 you will be redirected to my profile where you will find a summary of the services which I provide as well as a link to my website where my portfolio, testimonials and pricing can be found. 

 

The Business-Blog Idea Warehouse: Where Next Postings are Born, Stored & Published

The Business-Blog Idea Warehouse: Where Next Postings are Born, Stored & Published

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warehousescopy.jpg warehouse image by manydrums

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"How do you manage to come up with business blog subjects and ideas on such a regular basis" asked a reader of mine who called me last week.

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"I’m a writer," I responded…"I guess it just kind of comes naturally. But…"

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The subject quickly turned to the unwelcome, frustrating curse of writers the world over…yes, "writers’ block." This phenomenon unexpectedly rears its ugly head in all writing venues: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and, yes, blogging. Without warning, it renders a writer helpless and devoid of ideas.

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"Does it ever happen to you?" asked the reader, herself an aspiring biz-blogger.

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"Of course!" I responded.

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Then she proceeded to pose the question…"So what’s the solution?"

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I hesitated…then revealed my secret. "It’s…"The Idea Warehouse"

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What is the Idea Warehouse?

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The Idea Warehouse is something which I developed and have used ever since becoming a writer. Whether for my literary pursuits such as fiction or poetry, or in the context of this article, for business-blogging, it has proven a very valuable tool.

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The Idea Warehouse is an incubator for the birth of ideas and subject matter and a storage facility to record thoughts for later use, in the context of this article, for business blog postings. The Idea Warehouse utilizes a form of radar which scans, acquires and uses everyday thoughts, events, occurrences, prompts, stimuli, stories, news events, etc. to form the basis for one’s next published piece.

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For me, it is something which even today is undertaken only with the assistance of a pen and a small notepad…yes, I am one of the last holdouts who shuns everything which even smells mildly of technological advancement. If you prefer, however, feel free to use your iPhone, Blackberry, or whatever it is the technology mavens are using these days.

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Simply keep your eyes and ears "tuned" to the world around you and you will pick up the following types of material to write about in your blog. When the idea hits you, however big or small, record it in the warehouse. Why is it a warehouse? Because you can store as many ideas in it as you like simultaneously…that way you can have subjects and topics for many blog posts ready to go at a moment’s notice; just choose the one you want to use at any particular time and develop it.

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Sources for Blog Ideas and Topics to Store in Your Warehouse:

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1) "Out and About" Material: Business blog subjects can begin from the minute you wake up in the morning until the moment you go to bed at night. Had a hard time sleeping last night? Alleviating job-stress in order to get a good night sleep is a great subject! Had a great or horrible interaction with a salesperson yesterday? Dissect and analyze the interaction as the basis for another great post. From taxis to busses, from stores to the workplace, from relationships to successes and setbacks, it’s all there for the choosing.

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2) "I’d Love to Change the World" Material. "I’d Love to Change the World" is a great song by the 60’s rock band Ten Years After and it’s a great source of blog material. Have you used a product which could be better? Are you using a status-quo system of your profession which could be improved upon? Have you found a method which is more efficient, user-friendly or less time-consuming? Rework and reinvent a better system, change things around and put it in your blog!

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3) "Tip and Advice" Material. Blog readers absolutely adore tips and advice. For me, it has proven one of the most effective blog tools and has resulted in quite a few readers turning into paying customers. Anything which you see during the day which you can offer as a professional tip or tidbit of advice is a coup-d’etat! Design an entire article around it.

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4) "Steps and Ways" Material. See something interesting at work? In life? Great! Break it down into steps. One of the most common formats for business blogs begins with something like, "7 Steps to…" or "5 Ways to…" It could be anything. "7 Steps to a More Informative Website."  "5 Steps to a Better Relationship with Your Boss."  "10 Ways to Land That Next Client." "Top Ten CEOs and What We Can Learn From Them." With this one the possibilities are endless!

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5) "Flashback" Ideas. Many of the blog articles I have received the best feedback on and many of those I most enjoy by other writers are of this variety. Close your eyes and think back to things you’ve experienced, people you’ve met and places you’ve been. You will soon find yourself coming up with things like, "Everything I Know About Business I Learned in the Army." Or "Everything I Know About Great Customer Service I Learned at Disney Land." My most recent of this variety was "Everything I Know About Business Success I Learned While Fishing." Again here, the possibilities are limitless!

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6) "Media" Ideas. As a cure for writers’ block, pick up the newspaper, turn on the television or think about the book you’re reading. A half an hour of reading, watching the tube or checking out a movie is usually enough time to come up with the seeds for an entertaining and informative blog post. Some of the great ones I have seen recently include "Damage Control Lessons Learned from the Enron Fiasco," "Agatha Christie on Researching Business Investments" and "The Jedi Knight Business Credo."

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7) "Trivial, Weird and Existential" Ideas. I remember hearing several months back that it would take the space shuttle 177,000 years to travel to our nearest star (I checked the math and it’s right!). I turned it into a marketing idea for a blog which asked how by this comparison, prospective customers could expect to find your business in the vastness of cyberspace, an entity with vastness comparable to real space?" It got me a few projects. Many interesting facts, pieces of trivia and existential principles can form a very nice backbone for a business article.  

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One of the classic traps that I see business bloggers falling into is the belief that every posting or article has to be directly related to their business. This is simply not true! How boring would it be to read that? Would you read my blog if all I discussed were verb-tenses, correct usage of participles and how to list references on your resume? Blogs can and should be about life and business!  

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Whether in your Blackberry, Palm Pilot, laptop, or like me, with good old-fashioned pen and paper, keep your storage instrument for recording your thoughts at the ready. You never know where you’ll be when that next big idea comes to fruition. Be constantly alert to little things around you. Even the seemingly mundane, trivial and barely-noticeable can turn into the catalysts for phenomenal articles.   

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As always, "Thank You" for visiting my blog and for taking the time to read what I have written! .

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All images courtesy of photobucket.com   

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Hello. My name is Yonatan Maisel. I am a professional writer, published author and business-blogger.

If you are seeking an experienced, proficient, skilled writer for your writing needs, I believe that you have come to the right place! I specialize in giving my clients that "personal touch" and in injecting vibrancy, vitality, enthusiasm and creativity into all of my written work! From resumes to corporate bios, from research to speeches, from ghost-blogging to web-content and much more…I will deliver a quality product at a very reasonable price. By clicking the following link http://jobshuk.com/yoni67 you will be redirected to my profile where you will find a summary of the services which I provide as well as a link to my website where my portfolio, testimonials and pricing can be found.