For several years I did a show called “Talking Business” on a local radio station. (Thank you Neighborhood National Bank for sponsoring it!) One of the most popular shows was “Four questions business owners should ask themselves every day.”
When in doubt, do without.
JoAnn shared the best advise she ever received from her grandmother; “When in doubt, do without.” The advice rings in her ears when she shops, when she ponders taking a vacation on a credit card and most recently when she was approached by a friend to get a tattoo.
Everything can change tomorrow – Can you adapt?
John Nese’s business was going broke. His family-owned grocery store was being eaten alive by big chain stores. So, when a woman called looking for a unique mint soda, he saw an opportunity. Today John’s store, Galco, sells every imaginable kind of soda from around the world. Business is good. John Nese was able to adapt, here are other examples:
Make People Talk About You
I walked into a purchasing manager’s office and noticed his wall was peppered with quotes on blue postcards. There were quotes about quality, pricing and appreciation. I asked about them and he enthusiastically explained that a supplier sends a quote-card every month as a thank you for doing business with them. He even pointed out his favorite.