Sunny Greetings Reader,
I did get a bit carried away last week, and let personal feelings intrude into the business environment. I had my “knuckles rapped” by a few people, including Mike Clarke from COMPASS financial management (whose opinion I respect and value). I did cross the line, and I apologise. It does raise an important issue; that of the delineation between “personal” and “business”. While very large businesses may operate in an impersonal space, that is definitely not the case for small, and even medium-sized businesses. And, of course, the same applies for the customer-facing parts of large businesses.
The personal touch is what often distinguishes a great business from a so-so business. The right personal presentation and approach can make a big difference in your relationship with customers, clients or business associates. This is easily overlooked in our busy lives, but is so important.
Consider a retailer, who serves 12 customers per hour. During the working day, you meet more than 80 customers. After a while they all start to look alike, sound alike and get treated alike. WRONG! For each of those customers, you may be the ONLY retailer they have spoken to about this particular issue. They are looking for individual, personal attention – not just a template that roughly fit the previous 20 customers. Personalised, positive attention can make for a happy, satisfied customer (= return business!). The “template” approach may lose the same customer.
Last week I mentioned taxi drivers. I’m pleased to report that, since then, I’ve had a chance to meet with Dave Keeley from PMQ Taxi Cabs. Dave understands very well that taxi drivers fit exactly the outline I’ve just described. Together we are looking for a way to provide “cabbies” with current information on events and attractions to help them provide positive local tips and advice, particularly for incoming tourists – to add value to their trip from the airport. Hopefully it will also help the cabbies to build a more positive focus on the bigger picture of a healthy growing town with thriving businesses and lots of attractions, rather than the niggles about pot-holes, traffic and road works.
Finally, I am proud to report that last Friday, together with Gale Oxenford (Hastings Business Women’s Network), Kellon Beard (NSW Business Chamber), Peter Buckland (PM Chamber of Commerce) and Betty Hartnett (BCU), we presented to the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital a cheque for $1,955.oo, the proceeds of our charity auction held during our Combined Networks Christmas Party. The
We also had the opportunity to look behind the scenes at the
Now for this week’s activities:
+ = +
· GST & BAS Short course, Sat Jan 19th 1 session: 9:30am to 4pm - $89
· MS Word Essentials, starts Thurs Feb 7th 4 sessions: 6pm-9pm - $115
· Introduction to the Beach - Surf Safety Awareness, Fri Jan 25th 1 session: 9:30am-12noon - $25
Look out this week for your new PM Community College course brochure being delivered to your home
+ = +
HBEC Networking Breakfast – this Thursday, 17th January 2008
To start the New Year on the right foot, you can hear:
· From David Relf (Telstra Shop) about the reasons for changing over your mobile phone from CDMA.
· From Peter Loveday about why a quiet, unassuming businessman should suddenly turn political activist
· From Glenda Hamilton, Warrick Affleck and a mystery third person, a “Minute On My Business”
And much more!
Panthers Pier One Restaurant, 7.00am till 8.30am
Members $20 and Guests and Visitors $25
RSVP (so I can prepare name tags) to admin@hastingsbec.com.au
+ = +
BEC Member Wisborough are presenting a Positive and Powerful Leadership Programme
This Wisborough Programme of a two day workshop plus a one day follow-up will show you how to:
· Use the power of thoughts and feelings to motivate yourself and your team
· Help your team take personal responsibility for the success of their work and their relationships
· Use your communication skills to get the best from your customers, suppliers, colleagues and staff
· Choose the right approach for every situation to increase commitment and competence
· Recognise your sources of power and use them with integrity
· Manage and maintain change positively
· Be an authentic leader
Download this one-page brochure ( www.hastingsbec.com.au/downloads/wisborough2008.doc ) for full details of the programme that will run in early February 2008.
+ = +
Patron Member BCU is running a home loan campaign over the next 2 months, offering nil establishment fee, great rates and their usual rebate on banking fees. BEC Members can get more details by calling Betty Hartnett or Mark Mooney at the Port Macquarie BCU branch on 6584 9555 or by going to web link: www.bcu.com.au OR http://www.bcu.com.au/personal/don_t_get_stung_/
BCU also provides the following bit of explanation about the current international financial troubles:
“Here at BCU we want to dispel some of the myths and allay members’ fears about the recent US sub-prime mortgage crisis and its flow-on effects on Australian borrowers.
What’s a sub-prime or non-conforming loan?
They are loans offered to people who do not meet normal lending criteria, or who have impaired credit histories. Such loans are considered to be high risk and usually attract a higher interest rate.
What’s causing the
It’s been caused by a record number of sub-prime or non-conforming loans being offered to high-risk loan applicants in the
The flow-on effect has been an increase in the cost of money on the wholesale international market, and lenders who fund their loans this way may be facing increased costs and may raise their interest rates over and above those set by the Reserve Bank.
BCU is not directly affected by the
+ = +
HBEC Member Peter Loveday has, as you may be aware, recently become a bit of a political activist with his campaign to defend the right of residents to elect our own local government (rather than have an administrator appointed).
Peter is holding an official opening of his Campaign Office at
Peter invites you to come and see what has him all fired up, and to add your voice should you wish.
The Office will be open from 10.00am till 4.00pm daily, from Thursday.
+ = +
HBEC Member Mel Gray-Thompson advises of the following meeting that may be of interest to HBEC members:
RAN Forum to focus on Climate Change
Local Kendall resident Ian Oxenford was one of 162 selected from 2,000 applicants to the Al Gore Climate Project Leadership program held in
Ian will let us have his version of former US Vice President Al Gore’s now famous slide show on Climate Change which was the basis of the hit movie An Inconvenient Truth.
By profession Ian is an agricultural scientist & economist with thirty years experience in rural development throughout Asia-Pacific,
Ian’s slide presentation comprises:
· what is climate change;
· how is it caused;
· the impacts of climate change;
· solutions to this problem.
RAN hopes that this presentation will inform and inspire more people to take action.
The RAN Forum is open to all interested residents and President Sandy McClimont will deliver her usual informative and amusing report as well as inviting questions from the floor. There will be time to raise other issues of current interest to RAN members and the general community of the Port Macquarie-Hastings area.
For further information please contact: Penny Marshall, RAN Vice President, 6586 3294
+ = +
Mid Coast Safety Solutions is offering some interesting courses:
FORKLIFT - LOCAL Training and / or Assessment only
29, 30, 31st January
WorkCover Assessments
Dogman / / backhoe / front end loader / forklift / skid steer
RTA - Traffic Control, Worksite Planning - LOCAL
30th & 31st January
$400+GST (Red Card)
Early booking essential call 0433 179 999 or 6584 5777
+ = +
And that’s about it for this week.
Thought for the week: “You can be happy if you choose to be happy!”
No comments:
Post a Comment