One of the biggest mistakes businesses make is a lack of investment in proper hiring techniques. I am not talking about an investment in money and processes, as much as an investment of TIME. Some simple words of advice in hiring staff during economic downtimes— learn to interview for the candidate who could be perfect for multiple jobs, not simply the one you are hiring today. FLEXIBILITY is key. People have always worn multiple hats, but even more so with company financials under such pressure.

It is true that if you hire people mainly because of a good personality, you will need to have a strong training process. However, if you hire people mainly because they are skilled, you will often spin your wheels trying to teach them to become flexible to your other needs. Flexibility is a harder skill to teach.

Watch for a candidate with a good personality ...

A tremendous amount of the traditional work day is spent thinking of things we have yet “to do.” We blame the unexpected items that come up in our day for causing a shift of priorities away from those which were most important. Making a few adjustments in behavior can reshape the standard level of seamless daily accomplishments.

1. D.O.C. [Don’t Over Commit]
If you start every week with five days worth of task expectations, you WILL stumble through every month with just a bit less than you can realistically get done. People often fool themselves into believing that a short week means they can get more done. Ultimately, this is failing to look at the “big calendar picture”. (While it can happen, remember sometimes it is just better practice to be realistic with your objectives). When planning your expectations there are multiple weeks each quarter with fewer than five days. ...

Passion-by-Appreciation can lead to Deep Passion… but only via Direct Connection. Take this universal example as a sample path to word-of-mouth, viral business growth:

1. Step One - Passion-by-Appreciation [You heard someone was passionate about a product.] Your friend lit up when he told you about a song or a band. You appreciate the value it has given to your friend.

2. Step Two – Direct Connection [Open-mindedly you evaluate the impact of the product.] After waiting to hear a song, you think it is kind of catchy. “Rinse and repeat”, as your connection grows.

3. Step Three – Deep Passion [This product now FEELS like a need. Loyalty and additional purchases will only occur at this stage.] A new album comes out, you are now a loyalist. You have an overall heightened awareness of additional purchasing opportunities- things like concert tickets, t-shirts, i-Tunes downloads, etc.

This loyalty is what ...

Growing up we are taught over and over, “Don’t talk to strangers.” So is it any surprise that cold calling is scary for many? Sales are changing; so many people are now playing a dual role. This means many who were not making cold calls are now trying to learn the ropes… and fast!
Some of the best advice for those who struggle with this is simple. Change your approach. Instead of calling with a script and treating the person answering the door as a gate keeper, be refreshing. Recognize that the person answering the phone often knows more about the company than anyone.
   1. First, acknowledge they are busy. - Seek to make your point quickly and politely.
   2. Open with honesty if you are less than comfortable. – This is a genuine ice breaker.
   3. Explain the “VALUE” your service or product can bring to ...

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