You absolutely MUST feed your brain with the good, the clean, the pure, the powerful, and the positive! You MUST feed your mind with motivational thinking! You can not, nor will not, think creatively, and positively if you let yourself become despondent and/or discouraged. When you’re not motivated.. You loose your excitement; you stop being gung-ho. You stop doing all the things that make the business go. FEED YOUR BRAIN!!!

Shotgun approach is much too expensive. Decide who your customer is. Follow 80-20 rule. Target those that will provide 80% of your business. Forget the others initially! They’ll find you if you’re good. If you don’t know who your customer is, you’ll do a poor job of reaching them!

It’s not who you are, it’s who the public perceives you to be. Image is everything. How you look. How you talk. How you treat others. How you respond to the needs of your customers. The kind of car you drive. How you answer the phone. Your business card. The quality of your stationary. The impression your people make.

What media works best in marketing to your customer. Be sure ALL communications is done professionally…….. Business cards, fliers, postcards, signs, vehicle lettering, letterhead, envelopes. Advertise on the outside of your envelopes. Offer a special event.. One that will benefit a charity; An event that provides an incentive for folks to attend; an event that will make your customers feel appreciated. In your marketing efforts, don’t stress who you are and what you do. Concentrate on what you can do to help others. It’s all about the customer…. Not you!

Make a commitment to SERVE YOUR CUSTOMERS. Provide service that is beyond the customer’s expectations. Don’t be haphazard in taking care of those that put food on your table! NEVER take your customers for granted. Do all the little things that says “I’m proud to serve you!” Turn customers into friends! Take care of them. Help them!

Yes, you are in business to make money, without making money, you can’t stay in business. You make money by concentrating on the needs of others, helping others, helping your customers get what they want… not concentrating on what you want.

Keep mailing lists, customers and potential customers. Frequent contact. Stay in contact with your customers. Give existing customers incentive to tell others about you and your business. Find a way to keep your name, address, and phone number in your customer’s house. Every one of us knows about 75 people….. And every one of the 75 people you know, knows 75 people…. 75 X 75 = 5,625 people. This is your referral “pool”. Find a creative way of saying “thank you” to your customers.

Nothing happens until a sale is made. Learn how to make sales. Learn the psychology of sales. Made a commitment to help the prospect get what they want. People make decisions based on emotions.

You are as good as your word. Pay your bills on time. Do what you say you will do. Your character is judged by how honest you are in dealing with others. Never take advantage of others.

Don’t participate in the conversation with customer….Listen to what your customer is saying and don’t detract from it. Make the customer feel important.

Draw on wisdom, education, knowledge, experiences, and abilities of others to help you get where you want to go. Don’t try to go it alone. Get others involved in helping you. Nearly everyone appreciates being asked for their opinions. Seek advice and opinions of others.