Restaurant Training – Selecting Your Restaurant Cast

The hospitality business is like show business.

When you are casting, it is important to place people in suitable roles. The costs involved with hiring an individual should be a strong deterrent to rushing into decisions you may regret in 1 weeks time. Remember, once the casting decision has been made, your entire production’s reviews are going to depend on the various people you’ve chosen for the performance.

Don’t be fooled by first appearances and beware of being ove…

Keywords:
waiter training, restaurant training

The hospitality business is like show business.

When you are casting, it is important to place people in suitable roles. The costs involved with hiring an individual should be a strong deterrent to rushing into decisions you may regret in 1 weeks time. Remember, once the casting decision has been made, your entire production’s reviews are going to depend on the various people you’ve chosen for the performance.

Don’t be fooled by first appearances and beware of being overly impressed by what appears to be an excellent Resume/CV. Although these can provide a valuable insight, neither may be truly indicative of whether an individual is suitable for the role you wish to fill.

Obviously the show must go on, but it is important to invest the time and effort needed to get the right person- A well planned approach can go a long way in accomplishing this.

Here are a few casting tips to get you started.

1. Treat every vacancy like an open role in a play. Define the role you are auditioning people for in terms of the part the new cast members must play and how they’ll have to relate to the other members in the cast. Make people skills and technical knowledge of equal importance in your hiring.

2. Identify the skills needed for the role. Once the interview begins, it’s too late to start thinking about what you want to learn. Based on the job description and your knowledge of the role you are casting, what traits or personal attributes do you want new cast members to possess? Friendliness? Courtesy? Optimism? Creativity? How will you judge the presence or absence of those traits to your satisfaction? Focus the various stages of the selection process on the real-world skills demanded by the part you’re trying to fill.

3. “Screen test” your applicants. Consider the way applicants treat your staff, which may be a good indication of how they will treat your customers and their co-workers if hired. Try role-playing difficult customer situations with applicants, or posing “what would you do if” questions based on the kinds of situations likely to occur on the job. You don’t want to listen just for “right” or “wrong” answers. You can train them to use the right words later. Listen for orientation and attitude.

4. Use multiple selection methods. Remember test anxiety in school? Job applicants get it too. Instead of sifting all applicants through one coarse screen, use a succession of fine ones to help you differentiate.

5. Ask the right questions. There are questions that can be very effective in determining the general suitability of an individual applying for a role in your show. Following are several that can be adapted to your particular requirements

-What does “great service” mean to you?
-When was the last time you experienced great service and how did it make you feel?
-In visiting the restaurant today, did you feel welcome- did you notice things we could improve on?
-The restaurant business is a people orientated business- What
-Characteristics do you have that you feel are well suited for this role?
-How would you handle a difficult customer?
-What do you like most about being in the hospitality business?

6. Emphasize mutual selection. Applicants need to make as good a selection decision as you do. Just as you want to pick the right person, you gain by helping them pick the right position and organization. If they make a poorly informed decision and discover it only after being on board for a while, you will end up with a competent but unhappy camper.

7. Recruit actively. Good people may not always find you. Sometimes, you have to find them. Where have your best people been coming from? Reward your people for introducing new candidates by paying a bounty for bringing in friends, former colleagues, even relatives who are capable of filling roles in your production.

8. Hire people that are right for the role they need to play. Customer focused organizations have whatever kind of people it takes to dazzle the customer and bring them back again. It’s very human to overlay personal beliefs, values, likes, and dislikes on the selection process, but it’s seldom in the best interest of the customer to do so.

Next month’s article ‘Directing the performance’ will help you prepare for the show.

To view previous articles please visit the Archives section of our website.

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Why Your Marketing Plan Should Include A Blog, Starting ASAP!

Blogging is a great way for a business to effectively market their product or service without spending a lot of money. There are many benefits of business blogging. Businesses that keep up with a blog can introduce their products or services to consumers and can better communicate their customers. In addition, businesses that blog can understand what their customers want and serve them better.

A blog, sometimes called Weblog, is defined as a web page that serves as a journ…

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Blogging is a great way for a business to effectively market their product or service without spending a lot of money. There are many benefits of business blogging. Businesses that keep up with a blog can introduce their products or services to consumers and can better communicate their customers. In addition, businesses that blog can understand what their customers want and serve them better.

A blog, sometimes called Weblog, is defined as a web page that serves as a journal or diary for individuals. Most blog writers update their blog on a regular basis and writers often share what most interests them. Individuals are not the only ones that have found blogging beneficial. Businesses have learned that this new way to communicate is a good marketing tool for their products and services.

Every company should consider have a regular blog for their businesses. Larger businesses may opt to hire a several special writers with certain areas of expertise to update their blog. A smaller company may have one writer that can effectively write about their product. The idea of blogging for any size business is to get the word out to readers. A reader who frequents a certain blog is more likely to share the blog with others. Also, blogging is a great marketing tool because it allows consumers to be better informed.

When a business chooses to blog, it allows them to introduce their product or service to consumers. Keywords and search engines help consumers quickly find the blog they are looking for with ease. For example, if a company specializes in making handmade jewelry and keeps a blog that is on a search engine, then that search engine would list their blog on a search. Blogging allows customers to research the product they are looking for with ease.

Companies that keep a regular can also use their blog to communicate with their readers and customers. There are many features that a blog site can offer that will allow a reader to enter comments and contact the writer. Companies that encourage their readers to leave comments can take the comments and improve their services and products. In addition, companies can email their customers back and let them know that they are interested in what they have to say. In addition, a company that uses blogging to market their service or product should always rely on an experienced writer to update the blog. Business blogs should be polished and easy to read.

Another good reason why businesses and companies should include a blog in their marketing plan is because a blog provides a unique way to understand what customers want. Companies that are in tuned with their customer’s needs and wishes can better serve them. Keeping an updated blog will initiate more customer communication that can help a company know right away how to improve. Blogs provide good public relations and are generally much cheaper to maintain than a regular web site. Also, a business that keeps a blog can reach out to other complimenting companies and link those blog sites together. This will help build readership and customers.

When setting up a blog for business purposes it is important to look for a blog-hosting site that can offer the right kind of features. Most businesses will use a site that can offer them more search engines and options to add links and URLs on their page. Free blog sites may not have the capabilities to offer as many features as the ones that charge a monthly fee. The search engine option is very important for a company that keeps a blog. This will ensure that readers can easily locate the company’s blog page. Also, a company setting up a blog should always keep the links and contact information within the blog current. A customer will not want to continue using a blog page that is full of broken links or outdated contact information. If a company relies on their customers to read the blog, then those customers will always rely on the company to make their blog experience a positive one.

Blogging can be a great marketing tool for any size business. It is important for businesses to realize that blogs are not a passing fad, but a unique way to interact with customers and gain recognition in a particular field.

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Do I Need to be Computer Savvy to Use Google Adsense?

You don’t have to be a techno-geek to use Google Adsense. In fact, you don’t need any more technical knowledge than you do to surf the web. Google Adsense is very user-friendly with a comprehensive support site to answer any question you might have.

Keywords:
adsense, google, google adsense, account, deposit, site, program, test deposit, bank, test, don’t, click, support, waiting, approved, ones, need,

You don’t have to be a techno-geek to use Google Adsense. In fact, you don’t need any more technical knowledge than you do to surf the web. Google Adsense is very user-friendly with a comprehensive support site to answer any question you might have.

You are first walked through the sign-up process where you are prompted for any and all information needed. You will then have a couple of days while you are waiting for your account to be approved. This would be a good time to familiarize yourself with the program policies, which of course you read before you signed up. But look again. Make sure the site you are registering doesn’t have any of the no-nos listed. For instance, some profanity is allowed, but nothing excessive. What is excessive? That could be a gray area, but if you’re in doubt, don’t register that site. There’s plenty of sites with little or no profanity.

Look at the support site while you are waiting on Google Adsense and see what other’s are saying and doing. Most of all, have fun. Your Google Adsense dollars are just waiting to be counted.

Does Google Adsense Offer Direct Deposit?

Google adsense offers various payment options for publishers.

Electronic Funds Transfer (ETF) is offered in 16 countries whereby your payments are deposited directly into your bank account in your local currency. Check Google Adsense support to see which countries participate in this option. You will need to sign up for this option after your application is approved by signing into your account. You then click the edit link adjacent to the payment header. After you fill out the bank information, Google Adsense will make a small test deposit into your account. This is for security purposes to assure the account is really your own.

Watch your account for the test deposit to post, usually within just a few days. After you have received the deposit from Google, log back in to your account and in the Payment Details section, click Verify Account. You then will need to enter the amount of the test deposit. If you do not complete this step, your payments will be on hold. Once you enter the test deposit amount correctly, your bank will be approved and selected as your form of payment.

Google Adsense: How to Explain the Google Adsense Program to Others

We’re not talking about strangers here. For the strangers that visit your site, your content will have to do all the talking for you. But for the people in your daily life, the ones you want to click on your referral button, the ones you want to read and comment on your blog; these are the ones you want to be able to enlighten about the Google Adsense program.

First, excitement breeds excitement. Get excited about your new venture and others will too. Learn everything you can about the Google Adsense program, not only will this increase your earnings, but you’ll be better equipped to explain the mechanics of the program to others.

Show them the money. There’s nothing like a little proof to make a believer out of someone. You don’t have to wait until you’re making thousands per month, although that’s a healthy goal. But even a small deposit in your piggy bank is enough to intrigue most people. Can’t you just count those referrals now?

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Recognition As Part Of Performance Management

Performance Management is a system developed out of the best practice of top performing organizations to provide managers with a structured approach to the key retention criteria. Simplistically, most people will feel motivated and will want to stay in their job if their manager:
pays attention to their work provides them with a job to match their skills, knowledge and experience gives them opportunities to grow and develop judges their performance objectively

Most Perfor…

Keywords:
employee, recognition, employee recognition, motivation, employee motivation, rewards, staff rewards

Performance Management is a system developed out of the best practice of top performing organizations to provide managers with a structured approach to the key retention criteria. Simplistically, most people will feel motivated and will want to stay in their job if their manager:
pays attention to their work provides them with a job to match their skills, knowledge and experience gives them opportunities to grow and develop judges their performance objectively

Most Performance Management processes contain critical opportunities for recognition.

Appraisals

Traditionally, the annual appraisal is the only meeting during the year when an average or better worker will meet their boss to discuss performance. People with poor performance can and do have a regular audience with their manager; sometimes on a weekly basis. Your appraisal form is “the” document that is held on file as a record of how good, bad or indifferent you might have been. For some, this may be the only time in the year that they receive plaudits and even these may be guarded comments because of the close link in everyone’s mind between appraisal and pay rise despite repeated denials. Too much praise might raise expectations of a large pay increase. Poor performers, however, frequently receive far more than their fair share of management attention throughout the year.

If paying attention to our employees is one of the greatest motivators, when did we decide that high performers need less motivation than poor performers? Of course they don’t! Many of the top performing companies in the world have introduced regular coaching and mentoring sessions to supplement the appraisal system and to give all employees a regular, sometimes fortnightly, opportunity to talk about their job, their performance against their objectives, their motivation and their aspirations.

Coaching

Often you can see situations where managers act as spectators. Their behavior plus the words they use along with their body language would not be out of place at a soccer or baseball match. They would be sitting in the stands eating a hot dog, throwing down a beer and belting out criticism at the players (their staff) on the field. There is almost no connection between the manager and the staff other than they just happen to be sitting in the same building.

This image is used to point out the profound difference between the ‘manager as coach’ and the ‘manager as spectator’. A coach works individually with players, helping them to overcome setbacks and obstacles to progress forward. They know and understand how their players respond to different types of motivation and how their family life and health impact their performance.

The majority of coaching is done on a very frequent basis. You simply don’t wait for the big match to deliver your advice to the team in the way the ‘manager as spectator’ does. You work very closely with everyone in the team, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of your defense and your strikers before they are tested under pressure.

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How To Create More Value By Giving Less Content

In this article I want to show you the exact reason why providing less content can prove to be better at building value for your readers than providing more content.

First, let me ask you some rhetorical questions…

Is an ebook that’s 308 pages better than an ebook that’s 102 pages? Is an audio file that’s 327 minutes long better than an audio file that’s 125 minutes long? Is a cheesecake that’s three layers better than a cheesecake that’s two layers?

What do you th…

Keywords:
product creation,writing tips,ebook creation

In this article I want to show you the exact reason why providing less content can prove to be better at building value for your readers than providing more content.

First, let me ask you some rhetorical questions…

Is an ebook that’s 308 pages better than an ebook that’s 102 pages? Is an audio file that’s 327 minutes long better than an audio file that’s 125 minutes long? Is a cheesecake that’s three layers better than a cheesecake that’s two layers?

What do you think?

Of course, higher numbers always sound better don’t they? This is especially true when you’re looking at purchasing information products. Although you know that more information is not always better, your subconscious mind tells you that it likes to see larger numbers.

So logically, you know that higher numbers don’t mean crap. Emotionally, you feel attracted to larger numbers. Since emotions overpower logic when it comes to the sales process, it would make sense that products which reveal higher numbers convert more customers than products which reveal lower numbers.

That’s why, if you’re creating an an ebook that’s 50 pages and under, it’s best not to reveal how many pages it is. To your customer, why should it matter? It’s not an issue until you make it an issue.

As long as you provide all the information that’s mentioned in the sales letter, you shouldn’t worry how many pages your ebook is or how long your audio file is.

I often see sales letters where the authors say that their ebook is only 27 pages etc, but that they do not reveal any fluff unlike other ebooks.

There’s nothing wrong with a 27 page ebook. It may be a problem if you don’t provide good information in those 27 pages. If you provide good solid information in 27 pages then you should not worry about the length of the ebook.

If you end up with only 27 pages of information then launch your product with that many pages. If you find that you’re getting a lot of refunds because of the size of your book then you can add more content later.

So what’s my point?

If you create an ebook that does have a lot of pages then mention that in your sales letter. If you create a product with what you consider to be a few pages, don’t mention it in your sales letter. Same goes for audio products. If your audio is longer, mention it.

If it’s shorter, don’t mention it. If you don’t have enough content but you feel that your content is good, just let it be. Don’t add content for the sake of content.

I’ve been very satisfied with ebooks I’ve purchased which were under 30 pages. I’ve also been very dissatisfied with ebooks over 200 pages. It’s all a matter of the value of the content.

Another thing I’d like to point out about providing less content is that your content will be seen as more valuable.

When you break down a topic and focus on just one or two aspects of it, your information is more targeted and thus valuable. If your focus is on many different topics, you cannot devote your expertise to one specific topic.

Readers who focus on one specific topic will feel that your information is better because they’ll have a better learning experience. The more topics they have to focus on the less likely they’ll remember any one topic.

When they feel that their learning experience is better they’ll appreciate your content more. So if your ebook or audio file is short, it doesn’t matter since the prospect will not focus on the quantity of your product but rather the quality.

Therefore, you can use less but more focused content in any type of communication to give the feeling of value. Use this when writing articles, press releases, solo email promotions, website ad copy etc.

Remember, less is more…

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Flyer Delight

Flyers are effective and affordable promotional materials. Your flyer will serve as your business card so as much as possible include only the necessary information such as the product or service that you offer, your address and contact number among others.

Keywords:
flyer, printing, design

You would often see people handling out a piece of paper in the street. Out of your curiosity you would probably like to see what these people are handling out. So, you would get near them and ask for a piece of the paper that they are giving out. Then perhaps you would found out from the piece of paper that your favorite salon will be having a big discount on all their services this weekend. Good thing you ask for a piece of the paper and you learned about the discount. You surely cannot let this opportunity pass.

These pieces of paper that businesses often give out are called flyers. Flyers are valuable and cost effective form of promotional material. For small businesses who are just starting up or do not have enough money to produce more expensive advertising materials, flyers are a good alternative. If you have extra money to spare you can ask a professional to make the flyer for you but of course you can always do the flyer yourself.

If you are designing the flyer yourself make sure that you do not just use ordinary white paper. Make your flyer attractive by using colorful, cheerful and attractive papers, one that would really interest a passer by to have a look at your flyer. Your flyer will serve as your business card so as much as possible include only the necessary information such as the product or service that you offer, your address and contact number among others. If you are offering a sale or discount on your products or services, put inclusive dates to get people to act as soon as possible.

Additionally, put comments of satisfied customers in your flyers and ensure that you put yourself aside from other companies by listing your qualifications. The back part of the flyer can be used for listing additional comments, qualifications and offers. When you have effectively designed your flyer you are now ready to distribute it. As much as possible hand it out in areas where your target customers are found. You can also post it in bulletin boards, grocery stores, offices or any other place that allow postings.

Public gatherings such as parades are great places to hand out flyers. You have to remember though that if someone gives back your flyer accept it back and just smile. Do not thrust your flyer on anyone. And before you post or leave your flyer in any place make sure that it is allowed in that area. When you have taken these few tips into consideration, chances are you will have a wonderful time giving out your flyers and increasing your sales over a period of time.

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Office Plants For A Healthy & Happy Workplace

The effect of plants in the workplace has been the subject of repeated scientific investigation. Time after time the conclusion is the same: plants work.

Keywords:
Office Plants For A Healthy Happy Workplace

It is difficult to completely control the indoor climate in an office. It can easily become too hot, too cold, too dry or too damp. Furthermore, it can never be perfect for everyone: what one person finds too hot is too cold for someone else.

In addition printers, copiers, computer monitors, floor coverings, paint and wallpaper release substances into the air which affects the quality of the indoor climate.

The potential consequences of poor air quality are well known: irritated eyes, headache, skin complaints and dry membranes in the nose and mouth. This is not only unpleasant, it is also unhealthy.

Dry throat? Burning eyes? Recurrent headaches? Plants improve your working environment all year round

In winter, when the heating is running at maximum, it is the lack of moisture in the air which causes problems. Most people find a relative humidity of between 30% and 60% pleasant. But many offices do not even achieve the lower level of 30% in winter months. It is no fun indoors in the summer either. Sealed climate control systems with non-opening windows means that you cannot control the environment yourself. Even in offices with the latest climate control systems, more than a quarter of the staff are dissatisfied with the temperature or the humidity.

Yet you can easily improve the indoor climate buy using plants! Plants help create a healthy indoor climate and a happier workplace. Not only do they put water vapour back into the air, they also absorb heat and filter dust and harmful substances out of the air. Some indoor palms give off a lot of water, and sword ferns and gerberas cleanse the air of the formaldehyde released by building materials, paper and furniture. Other good air-purifying plants are the rubber plant, English ivy and date palm.

Which plants?

Different plants have different effects – some purify and some humidify the air. Plants with a high level of water consumption can increase humidity by to 15%. Recommended plant types to purify the air are: Parlour Palm, Kentia Palm, Ficus, Ivy, Boston fern, Philodendron, Spathiphyllum and Mother-in-law’s Tongue. Recommended plant types to humidify the air are: Ferns like Boston fern, African Hemp, Cyperus and other grasses, Spider plant, Bamboo and Spathiphyllim

Fewer complaints & less illness

The effect of plants in the workplace has been the subject of repeated scientific investigation. Time after time the conclusion is the same: plants work! One study looked at the effect of plants on the health of staff in the radiology department of a Norwegian hospital. Once plants were placed in the department and artificial daylight was introduced, the level of health complaints amongst those studied fell noticeably. This resulted in a permanent reduction in absence due to illness from 15% to 5% within 6 months. The instances of the following complains fell by a significant percentage:

Symptom Reduction in complaints (%)
Eye irritations – 15%
Dry throat – 31%
Fatigue – 32%
Cough – 38%
Headache – 45%

More plants – less stress

The presence of plants does not just affect the indoor climate. Researchers have discovered that a view of greenery can result in a demonstrable reduction in stress within five minutes. Research in the Netherlands has shown that people who spend more than four hours a day working at a computer monitor feel better and are more productive with plants in the workplace!

The green view

A green indoor environment
Companies are increasingly willing to accept that they have a key role to play in protecting the environment and the welfare of their employees, and therefore often strive for a ‘green’ image. Presenting such an image starts with a healthy indoor environment. Plants at work fit perfectly within the area of company policy which nowadays is labelled ‘health management’. As an employee, you can hold your employer to account on this.

Improve your workplace

Anyone wishing to do themselves, their colleagues and their business a healthy favour will ensure that there are plants in the workplace. This guarantees a better working atmosphere, but above all a healthier climate in which to work. The benefits for employers are also substantial: less absence due to illness and better performance.

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What You Must Know In Order To Succeed In Your Network Marketing Business

There are many reasons why people fail in network marketing.

However, instead of looking into each of these causes, the purpose of this article is to explain what people MUST know when they start their network marketing business so that they will have a better chance to succeed.

This is what you must know in order to succeed in your network marketing business:

1) What is your “job” scope?

2) What is expected of you in your “job”?

3) What you should expect in yo…

Keywords:
network marketing, mlm, home-based business, networking,prospecting

There are many reasons why people fail in network marketing.

However, instead of looking into each of these causes, the purpose of this article is to explain what people MUST know when they start their network marketing business so that they will have a better chance to succeed.

This is what you must know in order to succeed in your network marketing business:

1) What is your “job” scope?

2) What is expected of you in your “job”?

3) What you should expect in your “job”?

Network marketing is a business and not a job! In fact, in the network marketing or MLM circle, the acronym J.O.B. stands for:

- Just Obey Boss (Work on a job and take orders from the boss.)

- Just Over Broke (Work on a job, get paid, and after you pay all your bills, you’ll be just over broke.)

- Journey Of the Broke (Work on a job and you’ll likely end up broke after working their whole life!)

- Jump Out of Bed (Hit the alarm clock and jump out of bed each morning to get yourself ready for another day’s work.)

So, what am I talking about?

WHAT IS YOUR “JOB” SCOPE?

Say, you check out a job on a classified ad. You’ll be looking at the job title and then the job description. Some ads are so small that you really wonder what’s involved. So, you write that perfect job application letter, update your resume and secure your interview. And besides the salary that you’d most interested in, you’d be finding out the duties and responsibilities of the job.

Bottom line: You know the scope of your job when you get one.

Now, when you start out in your network marketing business, do you know your “job” scope?

As a network marketer, this is your “job” scope:

- Understand your product and offerings

> Learn about the products especially those that you want to focus on (if your company offers a wide range)

> Find out the unique selling proposition of your products. In other words, what are the benefits of your products?

> Be a product of your products so as to know their pros and cons and you’ll be able to share from first-hand experience.

- Understand the company, its mission and vision

> Find out when and how was the company started

> Find out who owns it and who’s who in the management team

> Find out where are the regional offices (if any) and visit some of them if possible

> Know the company’s mission and its vision

- Understand the compensation plan

> Study the compensation plan and know how to explain to others clearly

> Know the merits of your company’s compensation plan and how it compare with other compensation plans.

- Understand the network marketing industry

> Find out about the network marketing industry and how it started

> Study the difference between legitimate network marketing and illegal pyramids

- Build your network through duplication

> Realize that network marketing is not sales but a “people” business

> Build your network through your circle of influence and relationship, friendship, partnership and leadership

> Provide training and support to duplicate your downline business partners

> Multiply your efforts so as to grow your business exponentially through the power of LEVERAGE

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF YOU IN YOUR “JOB”?

Once you got that job and started working, you are expected to learn and pick up your skills from your seniors and your peers and even from your subordinates.

It is in fact not much different in network marketing. And these are the things that are expected of you:

- To get into a “business” mind set

> Realize that since this is a business, you must take responsibility as a business owner

> As you are your own boss, you owe it to no one except yourself whether you succeed or fail

> A business takes time to grow, so be patient with yourself

> Network marketing is a “get rich sure” and not a “get rich quick” business

- To practice the “success” mind set

> Set your goals and plan your strategy, then take action

> When you do not get the results you want, don’t give up easily but adjust your strategy and take action again

> Keep adjusting your strategy as necessary to achieve the results you want

> In this business, you cannot fail if you practice the “success” mind set

- To have the right attitudes

> In network marketing, you can only succeed if you help others succeed

> Use less of “I, me, myself” and think about how you can add value to your prospects and partners

> Be prepared to walk the extra mile and get busy once your network starts to grow

> How fast your network grows depends on you as you are the leader of your own network

> Whatever you DO, not whatever you say, is duplicated by your network

- To learn the “business” skills

> It’s not money that makes you rich, it’s business skills

> Learn the basic business skills that you need to make this business work

> These are essentially inter-personal and communication skills encompassing prospecting, inviting, presenting, closing, following up, training and support

- To share the business with others

> If you had started a traditional business with $100,000, would you open your door to do business everyday? Yes, of course.

> Network marketing is a word of mouth business. Thus, to do business means you simply tell others about your products or services.

> When you share your business everyday, you are in fact opening your door to do business everyday.

> Sharing your business is just making a referral. Do not confuse it with selling. A good example is to refer a friend to a restaurant because you thought the food was great. However, you most likely won’t know how they cook or what ingredients the chefs use. You just loved the taste of the food or perhaps the service there.

WHAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT IN YOUR “JOB”?

Once you got that job and started working, you are expected to learn and pick up your skills as soon as possible but not instantly. (Unless of course you already have relevant experience in a previous similar job.) So, you actually go through a probation period of 3, 6, 12 or even 24 months. And then, initially, there’s so much to learn and so exciting. However, this wears out as time goes by…

It is in fact not much different in network marketing. And these are the things that you should expect:

- There is a learning curve

> No matter how simple your product or compensation plan seems, there is simply a learning curve

> If you are starting network marketing from scratch, you need time to learn and develop the “business” and “success” mind sets as well as your “business” skills.

- Your initial excitement will not last long

> Your initial excitement when you join a network marketing company can only last for 1 to 2 months

> So, you need to maintain your enthusiasm by building your belief and commitment by attending meetings, training, reading or listening to audio, etc

- Replenishment is necessary

> People come and people will go whether in jobs or in network marketing

> As this is inevitable, you need to constantly replenish your network by sponsoring new people till you reach a critical mass whereby the growth in your network exceeds the attrition rate. I have written an article, “How To Create A Surefire Stream Of Prospects For Your Network Marketing Business” which you can download from http://www.rogerloh.com/mlmtips

- There will always be rejection

> No one has a 100% record in sponsoring no matter how good they are.

> Realize that rejection is part of the “job” and that they are rejecting the opportunity, not you

> Dismiss the rejection by chanting, “Some will, some won’t, so what, someone else is waiting”

> There are many reasons why people reject your business opportunity. It could be due to money, time, family or personal problems, fear of rejection, fear of failure, etc.

> There is a ratio like 1 in 10 will join you after you share your business with them. So, the key is to share with as many people as possible. And the good news is that your ratio will increase.

To recap, this is what you must know in order to succeed in your network marketing business:

1) What is your “job” scope?

2) What is expected of you in your “job”?

3) What you should expect in your “job”?

In summary, your job is to share your business through word of mouth with your family and friends. So, learn to share as much as you can and you will get better each time.

However, the decision to join you or not lies with them, not you

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Understanding Marketing: 5 Common Misconceptions

Everybody seems to know Marketing. The world is full of Marketing gurus. We all talk about with a remarkable ease and confidence, though most of the times we are not Marketing professionals and not even close. What are the most frequent mistakes in understanding Marketing practices and theories?

1. Defining Marketing
There is clearly a general tendency in employing the notion of Marketing within a confusing mix of Public Relations, Advertising, or Media Planning. Regardle…

Keywords:
marketing,misconception,definition,mistake,advertising,theory,concept,business,development,strategy

Everybody seems to know Marketing. The world is full of Marketing gurus. We all talk about with a remarkable ease and confidence, though most of the times we are not Marketing professionals and not even close. What are the most frequent mistakes in understanding Marketing practices and theories?

1. Defining Marketing
There is clearly a general tendency in employing the notion of Marketing within a confusing mix of Public Relations, Advertising, or Media Planning. Regardless of the degree in evolution and growing of Marketing, many of us still cannot understand what Marketing really is and only see the its extreme manifestations. Many believe Marketing is a useless, fancy field, eating up budgets and giving little in return. Others see Marketing as an artistic field, where all you need is creativity to develop a memorable ad.

2. Marketing is still confused with Communication
This common mistake is, again, the result of sufficient understanding of Marketing. Marketing professionals are often thought to be responsible for creating advertisements, logos, slogans. What people usually see is the mere top of the iceberg, forgetting that there is a product, a price and a distribution strategy to be developed before even thinking of advertising.

3. Under- or overestimating the role of the marketer
On one hand, the marketer is often seen as a must-have within a company, but (s)he has an indefinite role and ends up doing a little of everything (Marketing, Advertising, Public Relations, Customer Care, Account Management etc.) On the other hand we might be faced with the other extreme, where the marketer is an omniscient, all-powerful creature eclipsing everyone else.

4. Segmentation
In spite of the abundance in resources and consulting services aimed at researching the consumers base, segmentation is still done intuitively at least at small-business level. Large companies might have whole departments assigned to work on segmentation research and strategy, and still not be fully failure-proof.

5. Marketing for the sake of it
This is an attitude I have met in too many occasions not to mention it. People (and again, small-business owners are the usual culprits) do marketing because everyone else does it, because they heard they should do it, because it is a fashionable thing to do.

Surely, the list above is not exhaustive, and it only points at several attitudes leading nowhere on the Marketing battlefield.

Marketing is surely not an art, thought it does employ a certain flaire and creativity. Marketing is not a science either, but it operates with precise instruments. Marketing is not for everyone and not to be performed regardless of the conjuncture around the business.

We should keep in mind that Marketing operations have a clear objective: increasing the profitability of a business. To bring money, to be more clear. Marketing is therefore just as important as everything else in the company: if a product has functional faults we would blame the production department, but when a product does not sell for reasons beyond production it is usually the Marketing department to take the blame.

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Praise Matters

As a coach, someone helping people improve their performance for the benefit of both the individual and the organization, there are typically two types of feedback that you could provide on their performance at anytime. The most important and most overlooked is positive feedback which I call praise.

Keywords:
constructive feedback, constructive criticism, praise, feedback, positive feedback, criticism, coaching, leadership, encouragement

In working with businesses and organizations of all kinds, I hear the same concerns everyday:

How do we increase productivity?

How do we improve Customer service?

How do we keep people actively engaged in their work and with others on their team?

How do we reduce turnover?

How do we improve safety?

Even if you aren’t thinking about or concerned about every one of those questions, I’m sure at least one of them has kept you up at night in the past.

As leaders we think about these things because they impact the success of the organization. As coaches we think about how to impact these things day-to-day, person-by-person.

As a coach, someone helping people improve their performance for the benefit of both the individual and the organization, there are typically two types of feedback that you could provide on their performance at anytime. Constructive feedback (sometimes called criticism) and positive feedback (which I will call praise).

Forgetting the words for a minute, these two types of information are important to anyone trying to do anything better. We need to know what we aren’t doing quite right, so we can adjust, and we need to know what we are doing well, so we can replicate that. Makes sense doesn’t it?

Now, let’s look at the words. I looked up criticism in my thesaurus and here is what I found:

“1. censure, faultfinding, disapproval, condemnation, disparagement 2. a judgment, evaluation, appraisal, analysis, assessment, estimation, valuation, 2 b critique, review, commentary.

I also looked up the word praise, and found:

“v. 1 acclaim, laud, applaud, pay tribute to, compliment, commend, eulogize, extol, honor, sing the praises of, pay homage to, endorse…”

Now, think about these two lists of synonyms. Granted, not all of them make sense in a business context, but ask yourself these questions:

· Which of these things have I received more of in my professional life?

· Which of them motivates and inspires me to strive for greater achievement and higher performance?

And now with your coach’s hat on, think about these questions:

· Which of these things do I share more often?

· Which will help me most inspire and motivate others to reach their potential?

If you are like me and most everyone I’ve ever discussed this with, you have received more negative, “constructive” feedback than positive, encouraging feedback at work. And you believe that with more encouragement or praise you might have been more successful quicker.

The point in two words?

Praise matters.

Want some more proof?

According to a Gallup survey outlined in the book, How Full is Your Bucket? 61% of American workers received no praise at work last year. 61%! And the #1 reason people leave their jobs is because the feel unappreciated.

It is undeniably true. You can prove it from your personal experiences and from the hard data. Praise matters. And it is vastly underused as a coaching tool by most people most of the time.

As you finish reading this and walk away from your desk and begin interacting with people (whether you coach them or not), keep these things in mind:

· Everyone needs recognition and reassurance. Hopefully the exercise and the data above confirm this fact for you.

· Praise gives us pride in our jobs. Given a choice, would you rather have people who take pride in their work, or not?

· Praise generates enthusiasm and commitment. Committed people can work miracles, so it pays to build commitment.

· Praise builds loyalty. What are the real and hidden costs of employee turnover?

· Praise prevents people from feeling taken for granted. When people feel taken for granted they are less committed and loyal, aren’t they?

· Praise motivates us to “go the extra mile.” The extra mile is often where we find satisfied customers, higher returns and more.

· Praise improves our relationships. Would you like to have better relationships with those you lead, coach and work with?

· Praise takes hardly any time and costs nothing. There are few things in life that can produce such great returns for such a small investment.

Get that praise tool out of your toolbox. Dust it off and allow it to become shiny with use. It is an easy tool to use. It is a fun tool to use. You might even want to take it out of your mental toolbox and lay it on top of your desk so you remember to use it more often.

If you want answers to the questions at the beginning of this article, start with praise, because praise matters.

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