November 28th, 2008 by Jim Donovan
Well, it’s that time of year again, at least here in the US, when everyone starts talking about being thankful and grateful. Personally, I think that’s great, especially since “like attracts like,” so feeling thankful is a great way to attract more situations and experiences to feel thankful for.
What if you don’t feel particularly thankful right now? What if, like so many people, you’re having a difficult time and are feeling a bit of self pity? Now, along comes Thanksgiving with all if its added pressures and family obligations and you’re faced with all those “grateful” people telling you to count your blessings.
“Bah, humbug!” you say, if you felt like I do, you wouldn’t be so darned smiley.
So just how can you change how you feel even when you’re feeling down and would rather just sit and have a pity party?
Let’s face it, we’ve all been there at one time or another and will probably be there again. We’ve all experienced times when we just did not feel very thankful. I know I have. We have all experienced times when life just seemed to be singling us out for difficulties. What do we do then?
The fastest and most effective way I know to change how you’re feeling about yourself is to get out of yourself. Get out of your own problems and concerns. Go out and do something for someone else. I guarantee you will feel better after doing this.
You could do anything from volunteering to help feed the homeless at a soup kitchen, like President Elect, Barak Obama and his family did, to delivering a bag of groceries to someone in need, or donating some of your unwanted, good condition, clothing, visiting someone in a hospital or nursing home, or any number of things that will enable you to step out of yourself long enough for your perspective to change. You’ll be amazed how much your “problems” have changed when you’re finished.
Following are a couple of other things you can do to make this a happier, more enjoyable holiday season:
Write a list of everything that is good in your life.
What’s working? What are you grateful for? Be sure to list every little thing you can think of, the more the better. It’s a fact that a person cannot feel gratitude and be in self pity at the same time.
Refuse to take part in gossip
Gossip serves no one. Remember what you give out comes back,. Besides who do you think the gossips are talking about when you’re not there? If you want to be happier and more at peace, choose not to partake. A great practice for family gatherings.
Relax and enjoy your holiday
Contrary to what retailers would like you to believe, there’s still lots of time to shop before Christmas. You don’t have to rush to the stores at 5:00 am the day after Thanksgiving just because some companies choose to open at that time.
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November 13th, 2008 by Jim Donovan
(Editors note: This is the unedited version. I figured with so many small business people under pressure, rather than wait until I finish writing the entire article and proof and edit, I’d just start posting. Hey, it’s a blog, right:-)
Your greatest opportunity for business growth, regardless of the economy, are the assets you already have in your business. From personnel, customers – past and present – relationships with colleagues and suppliers, and other “people” assets, to your investment in equipment and technology, the assets you’ve already built represent your greatest opportunity.
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And the really good news is they will require the least in either time or money.
Of these “hidden” assets, your customers are the easiest and most obvious place to begin. Do you know who they are and why they do business with you?
This may seem like an obvious question, however, many businesses do not know who is buying from them or why. Once you’ve ascertained this, you’re in a position to explore how else you might serve them.
One of my favorite questions has always been, “is there anything else I can help you with?” This simple question can increase your business tenfold.
A friend of mine is a graphic designer and print broker. One day she asked her client this question to which the client replied, “Yes there is. Can you help us get some of those imprinted jackets with our logo on them?” She happily replied that she could and took the order. (hint: if you own a small business, the answer, within reason, is always, “Yes.” You can figure out later how to deliver.)
Don’t fall into the trap if thinking just because you’ve been around a while that people know everything you do. Often we “ass-u-me” that our customers know what we do.
Back when I had a marketing and advertising business, I did a lot of business with a local printer. They had been printing a newsletter for one of the high schools for 25 years. One month, they asked the school to pick up their order since the delivery person was out sick.
I happened to be standing there, watching the woman from the school reading the sign behind the counter as she waited for her order. The one listing all the various items the printer had available.
“Oh,” she exclaimed, “I didn’t know you printed letterhead and envelopes too. We’ve been going somewhere else for them but if you can do that it would be easier for us!”
For more than 25 years the printer did business with the school and never bothered to make sure the customer knew everything they could do for them. This can be a very costly mistake.
Are all of your employees, regardless of their job title, trained in the basics of sales and taught to look for opportunities to present your products and services to your customer? Are they compensated for making the extra effort?
Ms. Jones walks into the bank one day and, as she approaches Fred the teller, he notices she’s not her usual joyous self. Fred inquires if everything is okay, only to have Ms. Jones tell him about how her car keeps having problems. Being a trained representative of the bank, Fred sees the opportunity and, casually, mentions to Ms. Jones that the bank has a special on new car loans and offers to walk her over to a bank officer to learn more.
Not only did Fred help his company by recognizing the new business opportunity but, equally important, he solved a problem for the customer.
Are your people like Fred or would they have said, “Gee, Ms. Jones, that’s too bad about your car,” and gone on performing their job.
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November 10th, 2008 by Jim Donovan
Writing a post for my friend, Kevin Puls, site “For-the-Troops,” got me thinking about my time in the Army.
As I stepped off the plane in Seoul, Korea I experienced an immediate culture shock. Prior to landing in Korea, my world travel consisted of a trip to South Carolina, Fort Jackson to be exact, and passing through Seattle on my way to report in at Ft. Lewis, Washington for my flight to Seoul.
Up until that point, most of my life had been spent in New York City and nearby New Jersey. Having spent most of my enlistment at Fort Monmouth, I was quite content to stay there so being sent to Korea was unsettling, to say the least.
You can read more of my views of being stationed in Korea and witnessing the historic release of the crew of the USS Pueblo here.
Below are some photos – then and now.
Please take a minute to think of all the men and women serving in our military and all those who have given their life for their country. Perhaps, one day, we will move past killing one another and their sacrifice will not be necessary.
American Forces Korea Network (AFKN TV), Seoul, Korea
Radio control room at AFKN (American Forces Korea Network), Seoul. Yes, I was that young once:-)
It was not the 4 Seasons but it was home for 12 months. This is where me and 11 others called home, heated by a kerosine stove that went out about 3 AM. Made for chilly mornings. Of course, going outside to the latrine to shower didn’t help either:-)
Riding north over the Imjin River bridge on our way to cover the release of the crew of the USS Pueblo. A few days I’ll never forget.
Now, back to the present. It’s nice to be able to look back and only remember the good times.
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Tags: added pressures, gratitude, homeless, increase your income, President Elect Barak Obama, Thanksgiving, volunteering
