I am discovering the sweetest sound to people truly is their name. When I am in a store or obtaining customer service on the telephone, I use the person's name at the beginning and the end of the telephone call, if they provided it. A quick glance at their name badge, when in person, or kindly asking their name before you start receiving service goes a long way to the type of customer service you receive. In fact, in an unscientific way, I found that the quality of customer service goes up significantly when on the telephone. Perhaps it warms the interaction.

I did not make this up. I am simply taking a page from Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People, Chapter 6, to be precise. Try it. Let the other person hear the sweetest sound!

Savor life's best,

Aimee

As an enterpreneur, I observe how other service professionals treat their customers.  I also take note of the gap between how I expect service professionals to treat me as their customer and how I am actually treated.  This is just one way I seek to improve my level of customer service.

On a regular basis, I get a lesson on customer service from our Yardman.  Yes, he has a name.  However, he refers to himself as the Yardman.  I absolutely love it.  Why?  When he says it, I know exactly what we are getting.  It is like a Pavlovian response.  Here is what it signals to me:

1. He is reliable and is right there when we need him.

2. He takes care of our yard just as he promised.

3. He makes subtle suggestions on other areas we might need work on, like he is not ignoring other ways we may need service.

Our Yardman makes us feel taken care of and that we are not just another client where he only does his original assignment.  I see him as a true professional. Who could ask for anything more from someone you do business with on a regular basis?

Savor life's best,

Aimee

You know that "cream" rises to the top.  The "crop", so to speak, is the crowd or the rest of the population.  Those in the "crop" may keep pace yet they are not unique or do not stand out.  I often wonder how people think of themselves.  I know I like to consider myself the "cream".  One of personal values is always do your best and I teach that to my son.  I work hard and strive for continual improvement in all that I do and the roles I play - mom, daughter, sister, employee, entrepreneur, friend, and business associate, to name a few.

When I think about the reasons people may not work as hard as they can or put their personality into what they do, whether it is work or play, I think about whether they are motivated and inspired to perform.  How many of us know people who do the minimum and expect magic to happen in terms of returns - income, experience, exposure, opportunity for advancement, etc?.

Hanging back in the crowd and subscribing to the "crop" membership will not get you ahead or fill your life with joy.  To get ahead, you must become the "cream". 

Here are three quick tips to become the "cream':

1. Find out what makes you unique. 

2. Play to your uniqueness.

3. Keep being you, no matter what.

Here's to the cream of the crop!

Savor life's best,

Aimee

Valuable lessons can be learned from mistakes.  I made a few mistakes when placing my content on websites that I did not have control over, like Ning groups and a blog provided through an association membership.  Also, I put an information line telephone number that I did not establish on my business cards.  The information line was disconnected before I finished passing out the supply of business cards. 

Now I am wiser and will only share the information from sources under my control.  Keeping the control, especially when providing information that is in the public domain must be a priority when you plan to engage in a long-term project.

Savor life's best,

Aimee

Are you like me, pressed for time in your schedule?  If you're a business owner, would you like to attend networking events but have other obligations occupying your time, too?

Today, I attended a lunchtime networking event with Women of Willow Grove.  We get the opportunity to network, have a delicious lunch, and hear a dynamic speaker.  Here's where the two-for-one (aka "tofer") comes in.  The meetings are primarily held at a local Giant grocery store.  Yes, I picked up items for dinners right after the meeting.  I do it every meeting I attend and it saves me lots of time.  I love it.

Savor life's best,

Aimee

www.OccasionsToSavor.com

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