We all have the same problems but solve them a little differently.
Share! Your story might be someone's light-bulb moment.
What's the most original way you've communicated your brand to your customers?
The winning answer:
Probably the one thing that has generated the most "buzz" about our Chamber is the way we caption our weekly e-newsletters. I realize that sending out an e-mail newsletter is no big deal today, so we had to think of some way to get people's attention. I originally labeled it the "60-Second Update", but after a few issues that got boring. So I decided one issue to call it the "61-Second Update" and other fun comments, so the following week I made it the 63-Second Update, then the 68-Second Update, 65-Second, etc. etc.
Each week I pick a different "seconds" between 60-69 and after four years of this people still come up to me and comment how they wait to see which number I'll use this week, and how long it really takes them to read it! It's been a very fun and simple way to get people to "notice" our brand!
From:
Bob Canter
President & CEO
Emeryville Chamber of Commerce
Non-Profit Business Association
bob@emeryvillechamber.com
510-652-5223
Tell us how you successfully handled a big change in your market or business?
The winning answer:
In a declining market in Real Estate what you have to do is -- or what I do is -- not admit to the decline and look at it as a challenge. If you do not have challenges you will not work as hard and your brain can't work in the way it needs to. If your brain is not stimulated you have a greater chance of falling into a depression. Also I'm using Malaga Corp. to expand my marketing. Marketing is key - if people don't know that you are still in business you can't get the business.
From:
Roman Fan
Korman & Ng Real Estate Services
roman@kormanandng.com
510-867-1433
What do you wish you had known before going into business?
The winning answer:
That there are people I can hire to do what they do best so that I can do what I do best! It's a win/win!
From:
Jojo Soriano
SEEDesign
Marketing & Graphic Design
jojos@seedesign.com
www.seedesign.com
510-245-8500
What's the best advice you were ever given?
The winning answer:
The best advice I ever got was to meditate because it means I get advice from my deeper self. For me meditation improves clarity, creativity and my enjoyment of what I’m doing. Sometimes I get my best ideas when I’m meditating and that helps both my personal life and business.
From:
Doris Smith
Malaga Corp.
doris@malagacorp.com
How do you reward yourself for a job well done?
The winning answer:
A trip to my favorite place that will take me out of the ordinary, give me time to replenish, and think objectively - like Sedona, or Kaua'I or Kenya.
Take time out and go to my next favorite place - Barnes & Noble and browse through books that give inspiration and new literary works that inspire!
Meditate and take time out and think of everything that came my way - the good the challenges, and even the pain - for what it's going to make out of me - and stay grateful!
Go hiking at Briones Park - it's so beautiful right now, and get inspired by nature's handywork!
From:
Jojo Soriano
SEEDesign
Marketing & Graphic Design
jojos@seedesign.com
www.seedesign.com
510-245-8500
What is your most effective method of delivering constructive criticism when it's needed?
The winning answer:
Actually this is the most difficult thing for me to do. So, I begin with praising what I consider the other party's strengths and then suggest that things I think are done poorly might be more effective if presented or done in a different way and I try to make suggestions.
From:
Carol Huffine
Retired Professor &
Clinic Director at Alliant International University
chuffine@pacbell.net
What do you do to encourage your employees to feel invested in your organization?
The winning answer:
The Daily Cal is a non profit student run newspaper. We have been successful in encouraging all student employees to feel invested in the health and well being of the newspaper by keeping them in the information loop, asking for and then acting upon their input and by creating a work environment where is is safe to make mistakes and learn.
From:
Diane Rames
The Daily Cal
drames@dailycal.org
www.dailycal.org
510-845-8300 ext 210
Giving thanks - how do you thank your employees, customers and vendors at the end of the year?
The winning answer:
Customers & Vendors - We send Thanksgiving Cards - they love them and they don't get them from very many of their other business associates. Our sales reps do the usual holiday lunches and boxes of See's candies for their very best customers. My staff: A nice company Holiday Dinner Party at a good restaurant & a Holiday cash bonus - as a gift from me personally!
From:
Diane Griffin
Radstons Office Plus
diane@radstons.com
www.radstons.com
510 964-9604
How do you keep from carrying work related stresses into your personal time?
The winning answer:
All the business to-do's are visually displayed with post-it notes on a wall board in my office, organized by category and prioritized. The high-priority ones - to be done in 14 days are in my computer and synced to my Palm Treo 650 which alerts me. If it is not on the wall or in the computer I don\'t worry about it. I leave it behind and focus upon my personal life when I walk out the door. It works for me...
From:
Bob Benninghofen
Choice Awareness (Business Coaching & Mentoring)
bob@choiceawareness.com
www.choiceawareness.com
650 226-3018
What’s your favorite problem solving method? (diagramming, charting, chunking, etc.)
The winning answer:
At my office, many of my peers have come to me to resolve their problems as they occur. From my work experience, I have learned that my favorite problem solving method is Patience. I normally take the time to first understand what the objective is, then see where the problem occurred, then try to troubleshoot by understanding what steps were taken to have the problem occur and sure enough, the problem can be very minimal where it can be just an oversight or can be challenging which gives me reason to not give up...and once you've resolved the problem, you bring a smile to the one you've helped and it leaves me with a smile on my face knowing that I helped someone today solve their problem.
From:
Cecille
Malaga Corp.
cecille@malagacorp.com
www.malagacorp.com
What are your indicators for success? The numbers? Time w/family? Other?
The winning answer:
At work, having a plan, checking performance vis-s-vis the plan, making adjustments. Additionally, surrounding myself with people that have a passion for and are interested in our mission, working hard and effectively and having fun! Finally, having a good balance between work, family and the community. We're all in this together!
From:
Ted Garrett
Berkeley Chamber of Commerce
ted@berkeleychamber.com
www.berkeleychamber.com
510 549-7000
Thanks Ted! We appreciate your sage advice!
(Name and contact info published with permission.)
How do you know when to “fire” a client? What’s your last straw?
The winning answer:
That's a tough one, because often, the most difficult clients end up singing your praises to everyone they know, once you've made them happy. But the questions I ask myself are:
- Does the client respect me enough to be considerate of my time?
- Is it possible to make this client happy?
- Is the client trying to "get over" on me?
- Is the client disruptive to my business or staff?
Obviously, this is a very subjective thing, so if I'm not in a good state of mind, I'll wait to make such a judgment.
From:
Patrick Romani
Face Reality Acne & Skin Care Clinic
info@facerealityskincare.com
www.facerealityskincare.com
510 351-1842
Thanks again Pat! We appreciate your sage advice!
(Name and contact info published with permission.)
What do you do to get perspective on your business? (To see the forest, not the trees.)
The winning answer:
There are so many aspects to growing and maintaining a business, and I am too ignorant about most of them to make a good decision without some help. So, I consult experts. I do a little research, hire someone that I believe is competent, then scrutinize what they tell me. If I don't feel confident in them, then I'll check in with someone else. I use to be very wary of consultants because I've wasted a lot of money on them in the past. However, I believe that I am a much better entrepreneur, with a much better perspective as a result of the counseling and advice that I've gotten from experts such as: web developer, personal coach, IT specialist and Qucikbooks consultant.
From:
Patrick Romani
Face Reality Acne & Skin Care Clinic
info@facerealityskincare.com
www.facerealityskincare.com
510 351-1842
Thanks Pat!
(Name and contact info published with permission.)
What’s the most important quality you look for when hiring?
The winning answer:
Probably the most important quality to look for in a new hire is a sincere positive attitude. I'm not talking about the 'happy face' that we all put on when we want to make a good impression. I mean the open, sincere ability to communicate, perhaps without words, the willingness to learn, grow, and work with you toward the goals of the organization. If you have that quality in an employee, everyone will be successful!!
From:
Dee Pearson
Phoenix Rising Consulting Group (Small Business Coaching)
deepearson@yahoo.com
www.e-phoenixrising.net
510 235 9349
Thanks Dee!
(Name and contact info published with permission.)
Why are you in the job you’re in? What’s your motivation?
The winning answer:
I'm one of those rare people who loves his job and can say with complete honesty that I still look forward to going into work each morning. Why? Because:
(1)I'm free to be creative, innovative and entrepreneurial;
(2) I connect businesses and all aspects of the community;
(3) I get invited to a LOT of great events!
(4) Every day is different;
(5) It's fast-paced; and
(6) It's fun!
From:
Bob Canter
Emeryville Chamber of Commerce
bob@emeryvillechamber.com
www.emeryvillechamber.com
510-652-5223
Thanks Bob!
(Name and contact info published with permission.)
How do you handle an angry customer?
The winning answer:
-Ask the customer to tell you in detail what happened.
-Listen with great interest.
-Ask a few questions.
-Never make a judgment on what they have done.
-Show great concern.
-Ask them what they want you to do and then do it.
From:
Warren Boschin
Payroll, Accounting & Management Expert
wboschin@earthlink.net
www.payrollmastersmarketing.com
925-299-8975
Thanks Warren!
(Name and contact info published with permission.)
