Electronic House Call - January 25, 2008

ELECTRONIC HOUSE CALL - January 25, 2008

Is it just me or does it seem like a particularly strange time right now? The weather is screwy. The media drones on about who said what about whom in the latest Presidential "debate." The lead story on the nightly news is about how close we are to a recession.

Somewhere in the background, our young people continue to die in Iraq. Our currency is tanking. The real estate market is in freefall and the rest of the world hates us. The only good news is that we haven't heard anything about Paris Hilton for months!

IT TAKES TWO
Creating A Positive First Impression
If you want to create a positive first impression (... and you most certainly do!), it takes more than one person on the door or front desk. When you only have one person there and the phone rings, what happens to the people who are waiting while the phone call gets handled?

First of all, it is awkward to eavesdrop on somebody else's conversation but it also makes the person waiting feel like a second class citizen. Why should someone on the phone get the priority over someone who cared enough to show up in person? What happens to the guests who walk in while one greeter is taking guests to their table? The longer newly arrived guests stand there feeling ignored and awkward, the lower their mood gets, the less money they are likely to spend, the more they are likely to complain and the less likely they are to return.

You could cover this by making sure that everyone in the place is alert to new arrivals and takes personal responsibility to be sure that nobody can walk in the door without being warmly greeted, but it is still a worthwhile investment to have dedicated backup on the front line.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

MARCH MARKETING MADNESS
How to Make Yourself Recession-Proof
For months, the media has been saying America is very near a recession ... or perhaps we are already there. But whether the economy technically meets the definition of a recession or not is academic. The public is scared and starting to cut back their spending, so the effect on your business is the same.

That's why Joel Cohen and I have planned a special EMERGENCY STRATEGY SESSION in Minneapolis on March 9-10. In these two days we will show you how you can actually be MORE profitable during the coming economic downturn ... even as your competitors struggle to keep their heads above water.

Because that possibility probably sounds crazy, we call the event MARCH MARKETING MADNESS. If you would like to be one of the 56 people in the group, get more information.

THE JANUARY SURVEY
What Keeps You Awake at Night?
Since we are starting a new year, the January survey asks about your biggest concern for 2008 and what you plan to do about it. I would also like to know what issues you would like to see addressed in future surveys.

As usual, I will send copies of the survey results to everyone who participates. In the meantime, you can download copies of all past EHC surveys -- including the massive WOW Ideas collections.

Add your thoughts to this month's survey.

HERE’S WHAT YOU’RE MISSING
In This Week's EHC Special Edition ...

* A Blinding Flash of the Obvious - a powerful insight that struck me on Maui just as I was about to speak at a convention
* Help Stamp Out Flat Restaurants - a discussion of how adding sparkle makes your restaurant come to life
* What Did You Learn From Your Staff Today? - why the quality of your listening is more important than what you hear
* Special Offers on management resources and services

UPGRADE TO THE SPECIAL EDITION
This is the Complimentary Edition of the Electronic House Call. The EHC Special Edition is included as part of my Gold Group membership and the Peak Performers Coaching Group.

If you are not subscribed to either of these two groups but would still like access a wider range of articles as a source of discussion topics for your staff meetings -- or a challenge to your current way of thinking -- subscribe to the EHC Special Edition. It contains three times the insights for a nominal subscription of $39 a year -- just 75 cents an issue!

To sweeten the deal, I am offering a SPECIAL BONUS to those who upgrade to the Special Edition before the end of January -- an offer so good that I actually end up paying YOU to upgrade! Click here to find out more.

Of course, you can continue to receive this Complimentary version as my gift. My hope is that the option of choosing as much -- or as little -- information as you want will help the EHC remain a welcome resource that you look forward to reading each week.

LIGHTEN UP!
The Noble Experiment Continues
Here is the weekly report on my personal project to lighten up:

Goal: -50 Last Week: -5 Total: -21

OK, that's more like it. In another week I will mark the six-month mark in my year-long quest to drop 50 pounds. I'll be interested to see if I can be halfway to my goal by then. But whether or not I hit the numbers, I am now steadily losing weight and I am not on a deprivation diet. I am just more conscious of what I am consuming.

A number of folks have joined me in this audacious venture. I applaud their courage in "going public." Do you have a goal regarding your weight? Do you have the courage to put yourself on record? We all seem to get better results when we are held accountable.

Mary Jo Beniger -- Goal: -25 Last Week: 0 Total: -11.5
Tom Combs -- Goal: -65 Last Week: -1 Total: -17
Chris Corrigan -- Goal: -25 Total: -4 (No report this week)
Trice Micheals -- Goal: -50 Last Week: -2 Total: -12
Steve Ulrey -- Goal: -12 Last Week: -1 Total: +3
Bill Breslo -- Goal: +5 As of 11/21: +3.5 (No report this week)

If you are interested in how it's going for us, scroll down to the bottom of the EHC each week and check out the progress. If you could care less, don't!